8．At a time when many students still see college as their best hope for a rewarding career，higher education has become more expensive，far more than the steady increase in the cost of living．As a consequence，average student debt at graduation is currently pushing $30，000．In some cases，student debt reaches six figures．
But falling beyond the reach of these frightening statistics are many capable students who don't accumulate student debt because they can't afford to go to college in the first place．
Which raises a question：Wouldn't our nation be better off if all American students were encouraged，or even assisted，by public policy to push their intellectual capacities to their maximums？What if all higher education in our country were extremely affordable？Or even free？
As it happens，the Associated Press reported that both Oregon and Tennessee are considering the feasibility （可行性） of no-tuition policies for their community colleges．
The logic behind these efforts is well explained by Oregon State Senator Mark Hass："I think everybody agrees that with a high school education by itself，there is no path to the middle class．There is only one path，and it leads to poverty．And poverty is very expensive．"
Hass may overstate the case slightly．Despite the lack of good blue-collar jobs in our country obs that would firmly establish a worker in whatt's left of the middle class and provide paid vacation，a pension，and health insurance high school graduate might still piece together enough work to keep himself more or less above the poverty line，even though access to the true"American Dream"will still be very difficult．
But the second part of Hass's argument is undeniable．Our failure to educate ourselves to our full potential is very expensive．Hass refers to research from the Oregon University System that indicates that Oregonians with only a high school degree make less money and，therefore，pay fewer taxes than those with college degrees．They are also more likely to require food stamps and other sorts of public assistance．Republicans and Democrats agree on this．
Clearly，the closer we come to reaching our full educational capacity，as individuals and as a nation，the less likely we are to become criminals and prisoners．In fact，it's hard to think of a social ill that's unlikely to be improved by more education．
But，of course，there's no such thing as"free college"．The taxpayers have to come up with the money．
But，would our country be better off if all students had a real opportunity to push their educational capacities to the limit？Of course．There are long-term social benefits that ideology fools us into believing are unattainable．But versions of these goods and others have been achieved elsewhere，and they could be achieved in the United States as well．They may require some remedy （矫正，补救） to our nation's unfair redistribution of wealth in the direction of the already-wealthy，but more equality in income and wealth would be a healthy step，as well．
So，good for you，Oregon and Tennessee．Most of the world's problems come from ignorance，intolerance，greed and backwardness．Education is a very important remedy．
62．What's the problem with the current college education？C
A．It can't prepare students for a promising future．
B．It fails to recognize and admit talented students．
C．It becomes less accessible to students financially．
D．It lacks a set of evaluating criteria for students．
63．According to the passage，a graduate with only a high school degree willD．
A．likely become an established worker
B．have no means to make a living
C．never be a member of middle class
D．find it hard to realize American Dream
64．What does the underlined part in Paragraph 5 probably mean？A
A．Poor people are a costly burden to society．
B．Poor families can't afford schooling．
C．Education for poor children is expensive．
D．Poverty is related to high education fees．
65．What's the purpose of the author writing this passage？B
A．To describe the long-term plans for education．
B．To argue for free higher education．
C．To explain the importance of education．
D．To fight against unfair wealth distribution．
分析 文章主要讲述了高等教育学费变得更加昂贵，远远超过生活费用的而且在稳步增长从中分析了一系列问题，作者写这篇文章的目的在主张免费高等教育
解答 62．C 细节理解题．根据第二段"higher education has become more expensive，far more than the steady increase in the cost of living"可知高等教育学费变得更加昂贵，远远超过生活费用的而且在稳步增长，故选C．
63．D 细节理解题．根据第六段"high school graduate might still piece together enough work to keep himself more or less above the poverty line，even though access to the true"American Dream"will still be very difficult．"可知高中毕业生可能仍然能够找到工作，以保持自己或多或少高于贫困线，即使获得真正的"美国梦"仍然是非常困难的．故选D．
64．A 句意理解题．根据文章内容There is only one path，and it leads to poverty．And poverty is very expensive．"贫穷是非常昂贵的，因为它会给社会带来相应的负担，结合选项，故选A
65．B 主旨题．文章主要讲述了高等教育学费变得更加昂贵，远远超过生活费用的而且在稳步增长从中分析了一系列问题，作者写这篇文章的目的在主张免费高等教育．故选B．
点评 本文是科教类阅读理解．做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据
