Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?A.Shock of gray:how we can fill the pension gap.B.Shifting views of seniors:less burden,more asset.C.An aging society:challenges,as well as opportunities.D.Young Americans:how to make a fresh map of life?
Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society.
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A.Shock of gray:how we can fill the pension gap.
B.Shifting views of seniors:less burden,more asset.
C.An aging society:challenges,as well as opportunities.
D.Young Americans:how to make a fresh map of life?
B.Shifting views of seniors:less burden,more asset.
C.An aging society:challenges,as well as opportunities.
D.Young Americans:how to make a fresh map of life?
参考解析
解析：文章首段先提出现象“年长者在发挥着重要作用”。第二、三段反驳流行看法，指出“老年人不会成为年轻人的负担”。第四、五段进一步指出“对人们贴以年龄标签有害，公司应注重年龄多样化、积极雇佣年长者，并从中受益”。最后一段总结指出”我们应抛弃关于年龄的旧有看法”。可见本文论述重点为“改变对年长者的看法”，将其视为“财富”而非“负担”．B.为恰当标题。[解题技巧]A.与第三段内容相符，但无力涵盖全篇。C.偏离文章论述重点：虽然文中提到老龄化社会带来的挑战和机遇，但论述重点在于：“否定”老龄化社会所带来的“挑战”，“强调”年长者的“作用”，两者并非并列关系。D.利用末段首句make a“fresh map of life itself”设置干扰，但文章的重点在于“劝告人们重新绘制生命之图（抛弃对年龄的旧有看法）”而非“教导年轻人如何绘制生命之图”。
相关考题：
This passage tells us that ________.A. the Americans like to eat sweet foods for breakfastB. all American foods come from other countriesC. not all American foods are really AmericanD. very few Americans have breakfast every day
–I’ve noticed most Americans are friendly to us Chinese.–(). A、Most of the time.B、True.C、Great!D、No, thanks.
III．阅读理解（20分）AEvery country has its own way of cooking． American people have their way of cooking，don’t they?Most people in the United States like fast food． But if you think that American people don’t like cooking， you are not right． It’s true that most Americans take fast food as their breakfast and lunch． But they also think cooking is interesting． Parents see the importance of teaching their daughters how to cook． And most Americans say that home cooked meal is the best．Americans have their own way of cooking． For example， baking(烘烤) is the most popu’lar way of cooking in America． We can see ovens in most American families． American cooks． pay attention to the balance of food． In planning a big meal， they try to cook meat， a few vege’ tables， some bread and often some sweet food．They also like to make the meal look beautiful．There are many kinds of food in different colors on the plate， so the meal is healthy and looks beautiful， too．( )21．Most Americans ________．A． don't like cookingB． cook food in the morningC． like home cooked meal
22． Which is similar to the sentence "It's true that most Americans take fast food as their breakfast and lunch"?A. Most Americans don’t eat fast food for their breakfast or lunch．B． Most Americans have fast food for their breakfast and lunch．C． Most Americans like to eat fast food for dinner．
It can be inferred from the passage that by the end of World War Ⅱ , most Americans ______.A. were very richB. lived in povertyC. did not own automobilesD. had own automobiles
Accordiiig to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? ( )A. Some Americans would not accept the value of conservation and environment protection, because this value would probably make them unemployed.B. Many Americans have been used to wasting, so it will be difficult for them to accept the new value of conservation.C. Some old values are still having a strong influence on American people, although they are harmful in this new age.D. Most Americans have fully realized the need to protect the environment, so they have taken measures to recycle junked goods.
根据短文提供的信息，完成 117～120各题。Taxes are a big part in the United States．Most Americans pay city taxes，state taxes，social security taxes，sales taxes…，and the list seems endless．The biggest tax for most Americans in that on the money they earn——the income tax．The personal income tax is called a“progressive tax”because it takes more from those who earn more fl or example，a person who earns about 3，500 dollars a year will pay a tax of only about 3．5％of earning. But of the same person earned 85，000 dollars a year， he would pay an In come tax of 35％．Over the、ears the income tax has become more and more difficult for people to un Dustan D．M almost only half of all-Americans now have t0 pay experts to prepare their tax fee pores in fact，preparing taxes and giving tax advice have become a big industry in America．第 117 题 Most Americans pay（ ）．A．taxes which are too many to list．B．taxes either t0 the cities or the states they live in．C．so many kinds of taxes that they even don't know the names．D．several kinds 0f taxes．
共用题干第二篇The American IndustryA history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap,but if properly handled,it may become a driving force.When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War,it had a market eight times larger than any competitor,giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale.Its scientists were the world's best,its workers the most skilled.America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably,the retreat from predominance proved painful.By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness.Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics,had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition.By 1987 there was only one American television maker left,Zenith.(Now there is none:Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July.)Foreign-made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market. America's machine-tool industry was on the ropes.For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors,which America had which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty.All of this caused a crisis of confidence.Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted.They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing,and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well. The mid-1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline.Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.How things have changed!In 1995 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling. Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle.Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride."American industry has changed its structure,has gone on a diet,has learnt to be more quick-witted,"according to Richard Cavanagh,executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,"It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity,"says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute,a think-tank in Washington,DC.And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as"a golden age of business management in the United States."The U.S.achieved its predominance after World War Ⅱ because______.A:it had made painstaking efforts towards this goalB:its domestic market was eight times larger than beforeC:the war had destroyed the economies of most potential competitorsD:the unparalleled size of its workforce had given an impetus to its economy
共用题干第二篇The American IndustryA history of long and effortless success can be a dreadful handicap,but if properly handled,it may become a driving force.When the United States entered just such a glowing period after the end of the Second World War,it had a market eight times larger than any competitor,giving its industries unparalleled economies of scale.Its scientists were the world's best,its workers the most skilled.America and Americans were prosperous beyond the dreams of the Europeans and Asians whose economies the war had destroyed.It was inevitable that this primacy should have narrowed as other countries grew richer. Just as inevitably,the retreat from predominance proved painful.By the mid-1980s Americans had found themselves at a loss over their fading industrial competitiveness.Some huge American industries, such as consumer electronics,had shrunk or vanished in the face of foreign competition.By 1987 there was only one American television maker left,Zenith.(Now there is none:Zenith was bought by South Korea's LG Electronics in July.)Foreign-made cars and textiles were sweeping into the domestic market. America's machine-tool industry was on the ropes.For a while it looked as though the making of semiconductors,which America had which sat at the heart of the new computer age, was going to be the next casualty.All of this caused a crisis of confidence.Americans stopped taking prosperity for granted.They began to believe that their way of doing business was failing,and that their incomes would therefore shortly begin to fall as well. The mid-1980s brought one inquiry after another into the causes of America's industrial decline.Their sometimes sensational findings were filled with warnings about the growing competition from overseas.How things have changed!In 1995 the United States can look back on five years of solid growth while Japan has been struggling. Few Americans attribute this solely to such obvious causes as a devalued dollar or the turning of the business cycle.Self-doubt has yielded to blind pride."American industry has changed its structure,has gone on a diet,has learnt to be more quick-witted,"according to Richard Cavanagh,executive dean of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government,"It makes me proud to be an American just to see how our businesses are improving their productivity,"says Stephen Moore of the Cato Institute,a think-tank in Washington,DC.And William Sahlman of the Harvard Business School believes that people will look back on this period as"a golden age of business management in the United States."What does"the American industry has gone on a diet"mean?A:Employees in the American industry are on a diet.B:The American industry has reduced redundant staff.C:The American industry has shrunk.D:The American industry has been made more efficient.
NRA members have branded Donald Trump's plans for stricter gun control legislation“stupid”And a“betrayal”after the president suggested reforms on Wednesday.In an open meeting with congressional Democrats and Republicans,Trump embraced raising the age limit on purchasing certain weapons and suggested that law enforcement should be allowed to confiscate people's guns before going through due process in a court During the meeting Trump called for a beautiful"bill which would expand background checks on gun purchases and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.But it was his suggestion that in some cases law enforcement should be allowed to"take the guns first,go through due process second"that most alarmed gun owners on the right Dave Kopel,a benefactor member of the NRA-the highest level of membership--was also'scathing.He referred to past allegations of romantic infidelity and nefarious business practices against Trump.It is not exactly shocking when he betrays the people who elected him,he said The NRA leadership,which has generally supported Trump,and spent more than 30m helping get him elected,tentatively pushed back against the president on Wednesday night."I thought it made for really good TV but I thought some of what was discussed is going to make for really bad policy,"the NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch told Fox News We're talking about punishing innocent Americans and stripping from them constitutional rights without due process,Loesch said The NRA is going to protect due process for innocent Americans and that is an approach that we're going to hold to.Due process must be respected."Robert McBride,a member of the NrA from Roscoe,Texas,said he was also troubled by Trumps idea to take away guns before a court ruling McBride said the plan would violate the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the constitution,which safeguard"life,liberty or property.Without those two amendments the government could just lock you up and throw away the key because some bureaucrat had a bad day or did not like the way you spoke to him.”Mc Bride said He was skeptical of Trump's advocating higher age restrictions for buying some guns.Twenty-one is not a magic age and if that's the bar for obtaining your second amendment right here in america then that should also be the bar for being put on trial as an adult,going to prison as an adult,enlisting in our armed services and voting in our elections.”What is the passage mainly about?A.Donald Trump plans to restrict purchasing and using guns.B.NRA strongly opposes the president's gun control billC.President Trump's gun control policies clash with NRAD.Donald Trumps'plan violates American constitutional treaty
Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society."That sentiment"（Line 4,Para.2）refers to the concern thatA.young working Americans will hinder social security reform.B.the young and the old will have conflicting notions about life.C.older Americans will be a huge financial burden for the young.D.the old will compete with the young for working opportunities.
NRA members have branded Donald Trump's plans for stricter gun control legislation“stupid”And a“betrayal”after the president suggested reforms on Wednesday.In an open meeting with congressional Democrats and Republicans,Trump embraced raising the age limit on purchasing certain weapons and suggested that law enforcement should be allowed to confiscate people's guns before going through due process in a court During the meeting Trump called for a beautiful"bill which would expand background checks on gun purchases and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.But it was his suggestion that in some cases law enforcement should be allowed to"take the guns first,go through due process second"that most alarmed gun owners on the right Dave Kopel,a benefactor member of the NRA-the highest level of membership--was also'scathing.He referred to past allegations of romantic infidelity and nefarious business practices against Trump.It is not exactly shocking when he betrays the people who elected him,he said The NRA leadership,which has generally supported Trump,and spent more than 30m helping get him elected,tentatively pushed back against the president on Wednesday night."I thought it made for really good TV but I thought some of what was discussed is going to make for really bad policy,"the NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch told Fox News We're talking about punishing innocent Americans and stripping from them constitutional rights without due process,Loesch said The NRA is going to protect due process for innocent Americans and that is an approach that we're going to hold to.Due process must be respected."Robert McBride,a member of the NrA from Roscoe,Texas,said he was also troubled by Trumps idea to take away guns before a court ruling McBride said the plan would violate the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the constitution,which safeguard"life,liberty or property.Without those two amendments the government could just lock you up and throw away the key because some bureaucrat had a bad day or did not like the way you spoke to him.”Mc Bride said He was skeptical of Trump's advocating higher age restrictions for buying some guns.Twenty-one is not a magic age and if that's the bar for obtaining your second amendment right here in america then that should also be the bar for being put on trial as an adult,going to prison as an adult,enlisting in our armed services and voting in our elections.”How does Dana Loesch think of President Trump?A.She believes Trump has betrayed his previous promiseB.She believes Trump deprived people's legal rightsC.She believes Trump tentatively opposes the NRA supportD.She believes Trump is good at TV and Twitter show
NRA members have branded Donald Trump's plans for stricter gun control legislation“stupid”And a“betrayal”after the president suggested reforms on Wednesday.In an open meeting with congressional Democrats and Republicans,Trump embraced raising the age limit on purchasing certain weapons and suggested that law enforcement should be allowed to confiscate people's guns before going through due process in a court During the meeting Trump called for a beautiful"bill which would expand background checks on gun purchases and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.But it was his suggestion that in some cases law enforcement should be allowed to"take the guns first,go through due process second"that most alarmed gun owners on the right Dave Kopel,a benefactor member of the NRA-the highest level of membership--was also'scathing.He referred to past allegations of romantic infidelity and nefarious business practices against Trump.It is not exactly shocking when he betrays the people who elected him,he said The NRA leadership,which has generally supported Trump,and spent more than 30m helping get him elected,tentatively pushed back against the president on Wednesday night."I thought it made for really good TV but I thought some of what was discussed is going to make for really bad policy,"the NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch told Fox News We're talking about punishing innocent Americans and stripping from them constitutional rights without due process,Loesch said The NRA is going to protect due process for innocent Americans and that is an approach that we're going to hold to.Due process must be respected."Robert McBride,a member of the NrA from Roscoe,Texas,said he was also troubled by Trumps idea to take away guns before a court ruling McBride said the plan would violate the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the constitution,which safeguard"life,liberty or property.Without those two amendments the government could just lock you up and throw away the key because some bureaucrat had a bad day or did not like the way you spoke to him.”Mc Bride said He was skeptical of Trump's advocating higher age restrictions for buying some guns.Twenty-one is not a magic age and if that's the bar for obtaining your second amendment right here in america then that should also be the bar for being put on trial as an adult,going to prison as an adult,enlisting in our armed services and voting in our elections.”NRA members view Donald Trump's plan for gun control withA.disapprovalB.toleranceC.skepticismD.uncertainty
Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society.By suggesting"shoe test",observers advise companies toA.allocate different tasks to people in different ages.B.create a pleasant working environment for the older.C.enhance cooperation among members.D.promote age diversity of employees.
Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society.Which of the following best represents the author's view?A.The worry about an aging society is in fact groundless.B.The new government report-s find little support.C.Delaying full retirement is a dangerous tendency.D.Issues arising from an aging society can be tackled.
NRA members have branded Donald Trump's plans for stricter gun control legislation“stupid”And a“betrayal”after the president suggested reforms on Wednesday.In an open meeting with congressional Democrats and Republicans,Trump embraced raising the age limit on purchasing certain weapons and suggested that law enforcement should be allowed to confiscate people's guns before going through due process in a court During the meeting Trump called for a beautiful"bill which would expand background checks on gun purchases and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.But it was his suggestion that in some cases law enforcement should be allowed to"take the guns first,go through due process second"that most alarmed gun owners on the right Dave Kopel,a benefactor member of the NRA-the highest level of membership--was also'scathing.He referred to past allegations of romantic infidelity and nefarious business practices against Trump.It is not exactly shocking when he betrays the people who elected him,he said The NRA leadership,which has generally supported Trump,and spent more than 30m helping get him elected,tentatively pushed back against the president on Wednesday night."I thought it made for really good TV but I thought some of what was discussed is going to make for really bad policy,"the NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch told Fox News We're talking about punishing innocent Americans and stripping from them constitutional rights without due process,Loesch said The NRA is going to protect due process for innocent Americans and that is an approach that we're going to hold to.Due process must be respected."Robert McBride,a member of the NrA from Roscoe,Texas,said he was also troubled by Trumps idea to take away guns before a court ruling McBride said the plan would violate the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the constitution,which safeguard"life,liberty or property.Without those two amendments the government could just lock you up and throw away the key because some bureaucrat had a bad day or did not like the way you spoke to him.”Mc Bride said He was skeptical of Trump's advocating higher age restrictions for buying some guns.Twenty-one is not a magic age and if that's the bar for obtaining your second amendment right here in america then that should also be the bar for being put on trial as an adult,going to prison as an adult,enlisting in our armed services and voting in our elections.”The expression scathing"（Line 2,Para.4）is closest in meaning toA.reproachfulB.detachedC.consentedD.appreciated
In the 20th century the planet's population'doubled twice.It will not double even once in the 1 century,because birth rates in much of the world have 2 steeply.But the number of people over 65 is set to 3 within just 25 years.This shift in the structure of the population is not as momentous as the 4 that came before.But it is more than enough to reshape the world economy.5 the UN's population 6,the standard source for demographic estimates,there are around 600m people aged 65 0r older 7 today.That is in itself remarkable;the author Fred Pearce claims it is 8 that half of all the humans who have ever been over 65 are alive today.But 9 a share of the total population,at 8%,it is not that 10 to what it was a few decades ago.By 2035,11,more than l.1 billion people-13%of the population-will be above the age of 65.This is a 12 result of the dropping birth rates that are slowing overall population growth;they mean there are 13 fewer younS people around.The"old-age dependency ratio"-the ratio of old people to those of working age-will 14 even faster.In 2010 the world had 16 people aged 65 and over for every 100 aduILs between the ages of 25 and 64,15 the same raLio it had in 1980.By 2035 the UN 16 that number to have risen to 26.In rich countries it will be much higher.Japan will have 69 0ld people for every 100 0f working age by 2035,Germany 66.17 America,which has a relaLively high 18 rate,will see its old-age dependency rate rise by more than 70%,t0 44.Developing counLries,19 today's ratio is much lower,will not see absolute levels rise that high;20 the proportional growth will be higher.Over the same time period the old-age dependency rate in China will more than double from 15 t0 36.Latin America wiU see a shift from 14 to 27.19选？A.whichB.thereC.whereD.that
In the 20th century the planet's population'doubled twice.It will not double even once in the 1 century,because birth rates in much of the world have 2 steeply.But the number of people over 65 is set to 3 within just 25 years.This shift in the structure of the population is not as momentous as the 4 that came before.But it is more than enough to reshape the world economy.5 the UN's population 6,the standard source for demographic estimates,there are around 600m people aged 65 0r older 7 today.That is in itself remarkable;the author Fred Pearce claims it is 8 that half of all the humans who have ever been over 65 are alive today.But 9 a share of the total population,at 8%,it is not that 10 to what it was a few decades ago.By 2035,11,more than l.1 billion people-13%of the population-will be above the age of 65.This is a 12 result of the dropping birth rates that are slowing overall population growth;they mean there are 13 fewer younS people around.The"old-age dependency ratio"-the ratio of old people to those of working age-will 14 even faster.In 2010 the world had 16 people aged 65 and over for every 100 aduILs between the ages of 25 and 64,15 the same raLio it had in 1980.By 2035 the UN 16 that number to have risen to 26.In rich countries it will be much higher.Japan will have 69 0ld people for every 100 0f working age by 2035,Germany 66.17 America,which has a relaLively high 18 rate,will see its old-age dependency rate rise by more than 70%,t0 44.Developing counLries,19 today's ratio is much lower,will not see absolute levels rise that high;20 the proportional growth will be higher.Over the same time period the old-age dependency rate in China will more than double from 15 t0 36.Latin America wiU see a shift from 14 to 27.15选？A.actuallyB.certainlyC.almostD.already
共用题干第二篇Call American Their NamesA great difference between American social customs and those of other countries is the way in which names are used.Americans have little concern for"rank",especially socially. Most Americans do not want to be treated in any especially respectful way because of their age or social rank;it makes them feel uncomfortable.Many Americans even find the terms"Mr.","Mrs."or"Miss" too formal.People of all ages may prefer to be called by their first names."Don't call me Mrs. Smith.Just call me Sally."Using only first names usually indicates friendliness and acceptance. However,if you do not feel comfortable using only first names,it is quite acceptable to be more formal.Just smile and say that after a while you will use first names but you are accustomed to being more when you first meet someone.Very often,introductions are made using both first and last names:"Mary Smith,this is John Jones."In this situation you are free to decide whether to call the lady"Mary"or"Miss Smith". Sometimes both of you will begin a conversation using last names,and after a while one or both of you may begin using first names instead.You have a choice:if you don't want to use first names so quickly, no one will think it impolite if you continue according to your own custom.According to the passage,most Americans feel______when they are treated especially respectfully owing to their age or social rank.A:sick B:sorryC:uneasy D:embarrassed
共用题干第二篇Call American Their NamesA great difference between American social customs and those of other countries is the way in which names are used.Americans have little concern for"rank",especially socially. Most Americans do not want to be treated in any especially respectful way because of their age or social rank;it makes them feel uncomfortable.Many Americans even find the terms"Mr.","Mrs."or"Miss" too formal.People of all ages may prefer to be called by their first names."Don't call me Mrs. Smith.Just call me Sally."Using only first names usually indicates friendliness and acceptance. However,if you do not feel comfortable using only first names,it is quite acceptable to be more formal.Just smile and say that after a while you will use first names but you are accustomed to being more when you first meet someone.Very often,introductions are made using both first and last names:"Mary Smith,this is John Jones."In this situation you are free to decide whether to call the lady"Mary"or"Miss Smith". Sometimes both of you will begin a conversation using last names,and after a while one or both of you may begin using first names instead.You have a choice:if you don't want to use first names so quickly, no one will think it impolite if you continue according to your own custom.In the first paragraph the author tells us that______.A:Americans do not talk about rank,especially sociallyB:Americans feel uncomfortable when talking about rankC:Americans take interests in social customsD:Americans don't care much about social rank
共用题干A Debate on the English LanguageA measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States .The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official lan-guage and the other says it is the “common and unifying（统一的）”tongue. But Americans found themselves divided on the issue.Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understandwhy the issue is so controversial（有争议的）.“The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,”says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University.“It's related to a worry about the changing demography （人口统计）of the US It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence.”In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding. John Adams lobbied（游说）in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since lawmakers saw it as a roy-alist（保皇主义者）attempt to define personal behavior.Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.The emotions surrounding language resurface（再次浮现）not because people feel comfortable with English .It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.“Language is never about language,”he says.According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old, 172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English. Among them,6 .5 million speak poor English and 3 .1 million don't speak English at all. Which statement is true according to the 2000 US Census Bureau report?A: 172 million Americans speak only English in their workplaces.B: 37 million Americans speak English.C: 209 million Americans are above the age of 18.D: 6.5 million Americans speak good English.
共用题干Self-relianceThe most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their_______(51)to "individualism".They have been trained_______(52)very early in their lives to consider them-selves as_______(53)individuals who are responsible for their own situation in life and their own destiny.They have not been trained to treat themselves as members of a tightly_______(54)family,religious groups or nation or other_______(55).You can see it in the way American treat their children.Even young children are given _______(56)to make their own decision and express their own opinions.A parent will ask a one-year-old child which candy bar he would_______(57),or_______(58)he wants to sits next to mommy or daddy.The child's_______(59)will normally be recognized._______(60)this practice,Americans come to consider themselves as separate human beingswho have their own opinions._______(61),many American books on how to_______(62)kids state that the parents'objective is to_______(63)their kid a responsible,independent individual who,by the age of 18,is ready to_______(64)the parents' house and make their own_______(65),and this advice is taken so seriously by Americans that every person beyond the age of 20 is supposed to lead an independent life._________(57)A:prefer B:refuseC:choose D:like
共用题干Self-relianceThe most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their_______(51)to "individualism".They have been trained_______(52)very early in their lives to consider them-selves as_______(53)individuals who are responsible for their own situation in life and their own destiny.They have not been trained to treat themselves as members of a tightly_______(54)family,religious groups or nation or other_______(55).You can see it in the way American treat their children.Even young children are given _______(56)to make their own decision and express their own opinions.A parent will ask a one-year-old child which candy bar he would_______(57),or_______(58)he wants to sits next to mommy or daddy.The child's_______(59)will normally be recognized._______(60)this practice,Americans come to consider themselves as separate human beingswho have their own opinions._______(61),many American books on how to_______(62)kids state that the parents'objective is to_______(63)their kid a responsible,independent individual who,by the age of 18,is ready to_______(64)the parents' house and make their own_______(65),and this advice is taken so seriously by Americans that every person beyond the age of 20 is supposed to lead an independent life._________(65)A:decision B:lifeC:earning D:living
单选题Most of us can see that British English has some differences ______ American English ______ spelling and pronunciation.Ain; fromBfrom; inCfrom; betweenDin; between
问答题Over the course of a year, a certain house appreciated in value by 10 percent while the house next door decreased in value by 10 percent as a result of foundation damage. At the end of the year, the reduced price of the second house was what percentage of the increased price of the first house? (1) The amount by which the first house increased in value was half as much as the amount by which the second house decreased in value. (2) At the end of the year, the second house was worth $70,000 more than the first house.
单选题Food and fiber production have ______Abeen the major concern of the US government of the last 50 years.Bbeen more than doubled over the last half century.Creduced dramatically.Dbeen the main source of export for US agriculture.
单选题What made the most negative impression on foreign visitors?AThe country’s vastness.BThe informal friendliness of Americans.CThe fact that the American accent is hard to understand.DThe fact that not many Americans can speak a foreign language.