Question

A

While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy is ruining their life plans, I couldn't help but think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children who grow up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, I certainly share their disappointment –my husband and I probably won't be able to buy a house until we're in our forties, and we two are burdened by student loans. But why should it be different? Being young people in America, shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?

Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won't be able to have children for at least a decade because they can't afford to buy a house yet.

I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury（奢华）, not a fertility requirement.

A 26-year-old man in the story is disappointed that he can't afford to get a Ph. D. in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.

Yes, it's sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people's expectations grow up when their wealth appears to be increasing. Their parents probably see their home values rise along with their investments. "So we have people who have grown up in an environment where people have great expectations of what living well means," says Kobliner.

This recession（经济衰退） will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems much better for our mental health to focus on being grateful—for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day—than on longing for some kind of luxurious life.

1.In the passage, the writer mainly talked about _____.

A. young people’s high expectations result in their disappointment

B. the 20-somethings' high expectations and ambitions

C. the poor living conditions of the 20-somethings

D. the necessity of receiving high education

2.In the writer’s opinion, what is the reason for young people’s dissatisfaction?

A. The declining economy.

B. Their high expectations.

C. Poor living conditions.

D. Their constant failure.

3.What are some young people complaining about?

A. They are complaining their aims are hard to achieve.

B. They are complaining their parents can’t give them a good education.

C. They are complaining they can’t afford to travel abroad.

D. They are complaining poor economic condition is ruining their life.

4.How can we describe the writer?

A. Lost and disappointed. B. Passive and stressed.

C. Determined and helpful. D. Positive and grateful.

5.The passage is developed mainly by ________.

A．facts and descriptions

B．comparison and persuasion

C．examples and explanation

D．figures and conclusion

Answer 1

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.D

5.C

【解析】

文章大意：试题分析:本文讨论了二十几岁年轻人的现状。他们认为经济的衰退毁掉了他们的计划并且造成了他们生活的困顿：经济不能独立、买不起房子、完成不了学业。但是作者却认为问题不是经济的现状而是他们对生活过高的期望才是造成问题的根本所在。

1.A主旨大意题。文章开头提出了这些年轻人对生活的抱怨让作者禁不住想到这些年轻人就像是被娇惯的孩子一般，他们期望不需付出努力而生活中的一切就应该为他们准备好了。换句话说作者认为他们对生活有着过高的期望，而在下文中作者又通过Beth Kobliner的话进一步论证自己的观点，选A。

2.B细节理解题。根据 文章倒数第二段 Yes, it's sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality.可知作者认为年轻人对社会的期望太高而造成了他们的失落感，选B。

3.D细节理解题。根据首段While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy is ruining their life plans可知答案选D。

4.D推理判断题。根据文章首段Being young people in America, shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?和末段it seems much better for our mental health to focus on being grateful 可知作者面对生活是积极乐观并且懂得感恩的，选D。

5.推理判断题。作者在文章第二段和第四段分别提到了两个例子，来分析现在年轻人的想法，由此判断选C。

考点：考查社会类短文阅读