17．An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to （归因于）the global economic crisis （危机） awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works．
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January，according to UCAS，the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service．A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up．
Professor John Beath，the president of the society and a leading lecturer at St Andrews University，said his first-year lectures-which are open to students from all departments-were drawing crowds of 400，rather than the usual 250．
"There are a large number of students who are not economics majors，who would like to learn something about it．One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn't traditionally done．"He said．
University applications rose 7% last year，but there were rises above average in several subjects．Nursing saw a 15% jump，with people's renewed interest in careers in the public sector（部门），which are seen as more secure in economic crisis．
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters，and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on，although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain．
Zack Hocking，the head of Child Trust Funds，said："It's possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that's financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty．"
46．Professor John Beath's lectures areB．
A．given in a traditional way
B．connected with the present situation
C．open to both students and their parents
D．warmly received by economics
47．Careers in the public sector are more attractive because of theirA．
A．greater stability B．higher pay
C．fewer applications D．better reputation
48．In the opinion of most parents，C．
A．economics should be the focus of school teaching
B．more students should be admitted to universities
C．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened．
D．children should solve financial problems themselves
49．According to Hocking，the global economic crisis might make the youngstersA．
A．wiser in money management
B．have access to better equipment
C．confident about their future careers
D．get jobs in Child Trust Funds
50．What's the main idea of the text？B
A．Universities have received more applications．
B．Economics is attracting an increasing numbers students
C．College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty
D．Parents are concerned with children's subject selection．
分析 本文主要介绍了由于全球经济危机，越来越多的学生想要学习经济学．Zack Hocking认为金融危机可以使年轻人更懂得合理安排自己的钱财，以便在经济不稳定的时期能平安度日．
解答 46．B 推理判断题．根据第四段There are a large number of students who are not economics majors，who would like to learn something about it．可知由于全球经济危机，使那些不是学金融专业的学生也来听John Beath的报告．由此推知，John Beath教授的讲座与现状有关．故选B．
47．A细节理解题．根据第五段with people's renewed interest in careers in the public sector（部门），which are seen as more secure in economic crisis．可知在公共部门的职业更具吸引力，是因为它们更安全，更稳定．故选A．
48．C 细节理解题．根据倒数第二段A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters，可知大多数的家长认为金融方面的知识教学应加强．故选C．
49．A 细节理解题．根据最后一段It's possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that's financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty．可知Zack Hocking认为金融危机可以使年轻人更懂得合理安排自己的钱财，以便在经济不稳定的时期能平安度日．故选A．
50．B 主旨大意题．根据第一段An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to （归因于）the global economic crisis （危机） awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works．可知本文主要说明了经济学吸引了越来越多的学生．故选B．
点评 本文考察学生的理解推断能力以及细心程度，只要抓住文章的关键词，采用寻读的方法查找细节，就能找到正确答案．
