考研英语阅读命题思路透析和真题揭秘(37)

2007年Text 3

During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.

In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Today's families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback -- a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This "added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.

During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest-rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen -- and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families' future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent -- and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance -- have jumped eightfold in just one generation.

From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

31 Today's double-income families are at greater financial risk in that
[A] the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.
[B] their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.
[C] they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.
[D] they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.

[答案] C

[解题思路]

本题对应于文章的第二段。A和D选项中的"safety net"和"unemployment or disability insurance"对应于该段倒数第二句"This "added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times"（ 这种"额外工人效应"可以支持由失业保险或残疾保险提供的安全网，以便帮助家庭渡过难关），但显然与原文意思相反，因为这种安全网依旧存在，因此两个选项均可排除。B选项在文中没有提及。C选项对应于第三、四句话"Today's families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback -- a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick"（ 如今的家庭根据双份收入限度安排开支。因此，它们失去了在经济萧条时期曾经有过的缓解举措--一个后备挣钱者（通常是母亲），她可以在家庭的主要挣钱者失业或者病倒的时候出去工作），即现代家庭中一旦遭遇变故则经济上有可能垮下来，因此C是正确选项。

[题目译文]

现在的双收入家庭面临很大的财务风险，因为
[A] 他们以前享受的安全网已经消失了
[B] 他们失业的几率大大增强了
[C] 他们面对家庭经济状况的改变更加脆弱
[D] 他们被剥夺了失业和残疾保险

32. As a result of President Bush's reform, retired people may have
[A] a higher sense of security. 
[B] less secured payments.
[C] less chance to invest.
[D] a guaranteed future.

[答案] B

[解题思路]

布什总统的这项政策出现在文章的第三段的第三句话"For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns"（ 在去年的大部分时间里，布什总统一直致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式，要求退休人员将其大多数或所有保障金变成基于投资回报所得的报酬），显然B为正确答案，而其余三个选项均与原文意思相反。

[题目译文]

布什总统的改革导致了退休人员可能会有
[A] 更强的安全感
[B] 更少有保证的收入
[C] 更少投资的机会
[D] 一个有保障的未来

33. According to the author, health-savings plans will
[A] help reduce the cost of healthcare.
[B] popularize among the middle class.
[C] compensate for the reduced pensions.
[D] increase the families' investment risk.

[答案] D

[解题思路]

本题对应于文章第三段的第三句话"For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen -- and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families' future healthcare"（ 对于更年轻的家庭来说，前景不容乐观。卫生保健的绝对成本和家庭承担份额都上涨了--而且，最近实施的健康储蓄计划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛员工，家庭将来的医疗保健都有更高的扣除成分和很大的风险投资），其中"much higher deductibles"和"a large new dose of investment risk"等信息说明家庭投资风险的增长，因此D为正确选项。

[题目译文]

根据本文作者，健康储蓄计划将会
[A] 帮助减少医疗保健的成本
[B] 在中产阶级中得到普及
[C] 补偿减少的退休金
[D] 增加家庭的投资风险