Some performance evaluations require supervisors to take action. Employees who receive a very favorable evaluation may deserve some type of recognition or even a promotion. If supervisors do not acknowledge such outstanding performance, employees may either lose their (36)_____ and reduce their effort or search for a new job at a firm that will (37)_____ them for high performance. Supervisors should acknowledge high performance so that the employee will continue to perform well in the future.
Employees who receive unfavorable evaluations must also be given attention. Supervisors must (38)_____ the reasons for poor performance. Some reasons, such as a family illness, may have a temporary adverse (39)_____ on performance and can be corrected. Other reasons, such as a bad attitude, may not be temporary. When supervisors give employees an unfavorable evaluation, they must decide whether to take any (40)_____ actions. If the employees were unaware of their own deficiencies, the unfavorable evaluation can pinpoint (指出) the deficiencies that employees must correct. In this case, the supervisor may simply need to monitor the employees (41)_____ and ensure that the deficiencies are corrected.
If the employees were already aware of their deficiencies before the evaluation period, however, they may be unable or unwilling to correct them. This situation is more serious, and the supervisor may need to take action. The action should be (42)_____ with the firm’s guidelines and may include reassigning the employees to new jobs, (43)_____ them temporarily, or firing them. A supervisor’s action toward a poorly performing worker can (44)_____ the attitudes of other employees. If no (45)_____ is imposed on an employee for poor performance, other employees may react by reducing their productivity as well.
B) 应该填入动词原形。备选项中可能正确的动词是affect"影响，干扰"和assimilate"吸收；同化"。将affect填入空格，意思为“影响其他员工的态度”，符合句意，所以确定为本题答案。
45.
K) 应该填入名词。penalty的意思为"惩罚，处罚"，能够和 impose搭配构成固定短语impose penalty on "对……进行惩罚"，符合句意要求。
Part III Reading Comprehension
The College Essay: Why Those 500 Words Drive Us Crazy
【A】Meg is a lawyer-mom in suburban Washington, D.C., where lawyer-moms are thick on the ground. Her son Doug is one of several hundred thousand high-school seniors who had a painful fall. The deadline for applying to his favorite college was Nov. 1, and by early October he had yet to fill out the application. More to the point, he had yet to settle on a subject for the personal essay accompanying the application. According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee. “He wanted to do one thing at a time,” Meg says, explaining her son’s delay. “But really, my son is a huge procrastinator (拖延者). The essay is the hardest thing to do, so he’s put it off the longest.” Friends and other veterans of the process have warned Meg that the back and forth between editing parent and writing student can be traumatic (痛苦的).
【B】Back in the good old days—say, two years ago, when the last of my children suffered the ordeal (折磨)—a high-school student applying to college could procrastinate all the way to New Year’s Day of their senior year, assuming they could withstand the parental pestering (烦扰).But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
【C】If the time for heel-dragging has been shortened, the true source of the anxiety and panic remains what it has always been. And it’s not the application itself. A college application is a relatively straightforward questionnaire asking for the basics: name, address, family history employment history. It would all be innocent enough—20 minutes of busy work—except it comes attached to a personal essay.
【D】“There are good reasons it causes such anxiety,” says Lisa Sohmer, director of college counseling at the Garden School in Jackson Heights, N.Y. “It’s not just the actual writing. By now everything else is already set. Your course load is set, your grades are set, your test scores are set. But the essay is something you can still control, and it’s open-ended. So the temptation is to write and rewrite and rewrite.” Or stall and stall and stall.
【E】The application essay, along with its mythical importance, is a recent invention. In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability. By the 1950s, most schools required a brief personal statement of why the student had chosen to apply to one school over another.
【F】Today nearly 70 percent of graduating seniors go off to college, including two-year and four-year institutions. Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew. Nearly all application materials are submitted online, and the Common Application provides a one-size-fits form accepted by more than 400 schools, including the nation’s most selective.
【G】Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions. Applicants are asked to describe an ethical dilemma they’ve faced and its impact on them, or discuss a public issue of special concern to them, or tell of a fictional character or creative work that has profoundly influenced them. Another question invites them to write about the importance (to them, again) of diversity―a word that has assumed magic power in American higher education. The most popular option: write on a topic of your choice.
【H】“Boys in particular look at the other questions and say, ‘Oh, that’s too much work,’” says John Boshoven, a counselor in the Ann Arbor, Mich., public schools. “They think if they do a topic of their choice, “I’ll just go get that history paper I did last year on the Roman Empire and turn it into a first-person application essay!’ And they end up producing something utterly ridiculous.”
【I】Talking to admissions professionals like Boshoven, you realize that the list of “don’ts” in essay writing is much longer than the “dos.” “No book reports, no history papers, no character studies,” says Sohmer.
【J】“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven. “They don’t realize how typical their experiences arc. ‘I scored the winning goal in soccer against our arch-rival.’ ‘My grandfather served in World War II, and I hope to be just like him someday.’ That may mean a lot to that particular kid. But in the world of the application essay, it’s nothing. You’ll lose the reader in the first paragraph.”
【K】“The greatest strength you bring to this essay,” says the College Board’s how-to book, “is 17 years or so of familiarity with the topic: YOU. The form and style are very familiar, and best of all, you are the world-class expert on the subject of YOU ... It has been the subject of your close scrutiny every morning since you were tall enough to see into the bathroom mirror.” The key word in the Common Application prompts is “you.”
【L】The college admission essay contains the grandest American themes―status anxiety, parental piety (孝顺), intellectual standards—and so it is only a matter of time before it becomes infected by the country’s culture of excessive concern with self-esteem. Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
【M】“For all the anxiety the essay causes,” says Bill McClintick of Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, “it’s a very small piece of the puzzle. I was in college admissions for 10 years. I saw kids and parents beat themselves up over this. And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
【N】Many admissions officers say they spend less than a couple of minutes on each application, including the essay. According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application. Among public colleges and universities, the number drops to roughly one in 10. By contrast, 86 percent place “considerable importance” on an applicant’s grades, 70 percent on “strength of curriculum.”
【O】Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates. The thought is certainly enough to keep the pot boiling under parents like Meg, the lawyer-mom, as she tries to help her son choose an essay topic. For a moment the other day, she thought she might have hit on a good one. “His father’s from France,” she says. “I said maybe you could write about that, as something that makes you different. You know: half French, half American. I said, ‘You could write about your identity issues.’ He said, ‘I don’t have any identity issues!’ And he’s right. He’s a well-adjusted, normal kid. But that doesn’t make for a good essay, does it?”
11、46. Today many universities require their applicants to write an essay of up to five hundred words.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
12、47. One recent change in college admissions is that selective colleges and universities have moved the traditional deadline to earlier dates.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
13、48. Applicants and their parents are said to believe that the personal essay can sway the admissions committee.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
14、49. Applicants are usually better off if they can write an essay that distinguishes them from the rest.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
15、50. Not only is the competition getting more intense, the application process today is also totally different from what baby boomers knew.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
16、51. In writing about their own experiences many applicants slip into clichés, thus failing to engage the reader.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
17、52. According to a recent survey, most public colleges and universities consider an applicant’s grades highly important.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
18、53. Although the application essay causes lots of anxiety, it does not play so important a role in the college’s decision-making process.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
19、54. The question you are supposed to write about may seem outside the self, but the theme of the essay should center around its impact on you.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
20、55. In the old days, applicants only had to submit a sample of their school papers to show their writing ability.
A A
B B
C C
D D
E E
F F
G G
H H
I I
J J
K K
L L
M M
N N
O O
答案解析：46. 由题干中的up to five hundred words定位到G)段第一句。
Those schools usually require essays of their own, but the longest essay, 500 words maximum, is generally attached to the Common Application. Students choose one of six questions.
47. 由题干中的selective colleges and universities，traditional deadline 定位到 B)段最后两句。
But things change fast in the nail-biting world of college admissions. The recent trend toward early decision and early action among selective colleges and universities has pushed the traditional deadline of January up to Nov. 1 or early December for many students.
B)段倒数第二句提到，大学录取方面的事情瞬息万变。接着在最后一句中具体指出最近发生的变化：入学申请的截止日期由传统的1月份提前到11月1日或者12月初。题干中的"申请截止日期提前了一些"是对原文中提到的具体日期进行的概括性说明。其中的 I moved... to...是对原文中 pushed... up to...的同义转述。答案为B。
48. 由题干中的sway，admissions committee 定位到A)段第五句。
According to college folklore, a well-turned essay has the power to seduce (诱惑) an admissions committee.
Still, at the most selective schools, where thousands of candidates may submit identically high grades and test scores, a marginal item like the essay may serve as a tie-breaker between two equally qualified candidates.
定位句提到，在一些最具竞争力的高校里，候选人所提交的成绩和测验分数同样都很高，对于两位具有相同资格的候选人来说，论文之类的边缘项目可能会起到决定成败的作用。题干中的are usually better off是对原文中的 serve as a tie-breaker的同义转述，故答案为O)。
50. 由题干中的competition, intense, application process, what baby boomers knew 定位到F)段第二句。
Even apart from the increased competition, the kids enter a process that has been utterly transformed from the one baby boomers knew.
51. 由题干中的 slip into cliches，failing to engage the reader 定位到 J段。
“It drives you crazy, how easily kids slip into clichés (老生常谈),”says Boshoven.
J)段第一句提到Boshoven 对孩子们写作的评价，孩子们写作的内容往往是一些老生常谈的问题，会让人感到抓狂。最后一句提到，对于这样的论文，读者读完第一段就不愿意继续读下去了。题干将原文中具有因果关系的两件事情明确地表述了出来。题干中的slip into cliches和原文表述完全一致，题干中的failing to engage the reader 是对原文中的 lose the reader in the first paragraph的同义转述，故确定答案力J)。
52. 由题干中的 According to a recent survey，an applicant’s grades, highly important 定位至N)段。
According to a recent survey of admissions officers, only one in four private colleges say the essay is of “considerable importance” in judging an application.
N)段介绍了一项最近开展的对招生负责人的调研结果。本段最后一句提到，86%的学校认为申请人的成绩"非常重要"。题干中的According to a recent survey与原文表述完全一致，题干中的most—词是对86 percent的总结，确定答案为N。
53. 由题干中的 causes lots of anxiety，in the college’s decision-making process 定位到 M)段。
And at the vast majority of places, it is simply not a big variable in the college’s decision-making process.”
M)段第一句中提到了入学申请论文会导致很多焦虑。最后一句中提到，在绝大多数地方，论文在大学作录取决定的过程中并不是一个多么重要的因素。题干中的 in the college’s decision-making process和原文中的表述完全一致，因此确定答案为M。
54. 由题干中的 outside the self，its impact on you定位到L)段最后一句。
Even if the question is ostensibly (表面上) about something outside the self (describe a fictional character or solve a problem of geopolitics), the essay invariably returns to the favorite topic: what is its impact on YOU?
55. 由题干中的a sample of their school papers, writing ability 定位到 E)段第二句。
In the 1930s, when only one in 10 Americans had a degree from a four-year college, an admissions committee was content to ask for a sample of applicants’ school papers to assess their writing ability.
该句提到，在20世纪30年代，录取委员会如何评估申请人的写作能力：要求申请人提供在校期间的论文样本，这样就可以评估他们的写作能力。题干中的 a sample of their school papers 和 writing ability与原文中的表述完全一致，因此E为本题的答案。
Part III Reading Comprehension
Among the government’s most interesting reports is one that estimates what parents spend on their children. Not surprisingly, the costs are steep. For a middle-class, husband-and-wife family (average pretax income in 2009: $76,250), spending per child is about $12,000 a year. With inflation the family’s spending on a child will total $286,050 by age 17.
The dry statistics ought to inform the ongoing deficit debate, because a budget is not just a catalog of programs and taxes. It reflects a society’s priorities and values. Our society does not— despite rhetoric (说辞) to the contrary—put much value on raising children. Present budget policies tax parents heavily to support the elderly. Meanwhile, tax breaks for children are modest. If deficit reduction aggravates these biases, more Americans may choose not to have children or to have fewer children. Down that path lies economic decline.
Societies that cannot replace their populations discourage investment and innovation. They have stagnant (萧条的) or shrinking markets for goods and services. With older populations, they resist change. To stabilize its population—discounting immigration—women must have an average of two children. That’s a fertility rate of 2.0.Many countries with struggling economies are well below that.
Though having a child is a deeply personal decision, it’s shaped by culture, religion, economics, and government policy. “No one has a good answer” as to why fertility varies among countries, says sociologist Andrew Cherlin of The Johns Hopkins University. Eroding religious belief in Europe may partly explain lowered birthrates. In Japan young women may be rebelling against their mothers’ isolated lives of child rearing. General optimism and pessimism count. Hopefulness fueled America’s baby boom. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, says Cherlin, “anxiety for the future” depressed birthrates in Russia and Eastern Europe.
In poor societies, people have children to improve their economic well-being by increasing the number of family workers and providing supports for parents in their old age. In wealthy societies, the logic often reverses. Government now supports the elderly, diminishing the need for children. By some studies, the safety nets for retirees have reduced fertility rates by 0.5 children in the United States and almost 1.0 in Western Europe, reports economist Robert Stein in the journal National Affairs. Similarly, some couples don’t have children because they don’t want to sacrifice their own lifestyles to the lime and expense of a family.
Young Americans already face a bleak labor market that cannot instill (注入) confidence about having children. Piling on higher taxes won’t help, “If higher taxes make it more expensive to raise children,” says Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute, “people will think twice about having another child.” That seems like common sense, despite the multiple influences on becoming parents.
21、56. What do we learn from the government report?
A Inflation increases families’ expenses.
B Raising children is getting expensive.
C Budget reduction in around the corner.
D Average family expenditure is increasing.
答案解析：
56. 由题干中的the government report定位到文章第一段第一、二句。文章开头首句提到，在最有意思的政府报告中，其中之一是估算父母花在子女身上的费用的报告；第二句接着指出具体内容，这些费用急剧增加，这一点不足为奇。由此可见，抚养子女的费用急剧增加。由此确定本题的答案为B)。
22、57. What is said to be the consequence of a shrinking population?
A Weakened national strength.
B Increased immigration.
C Economic downturn.
D Social instability.
答案解析：
57. 由题干中的the consequence of a shrinking population定位到文章第二段最后两句。文章第二段倒数第二句提到，如果削减赤字加剧这些偏见，可能会有更多的美国人选择不要孩子或者少要孩子，最后一句指出其后果是经济衰退，所以本题答案为C。
25、60. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A To instill confidence in the young about raising children.
B To advise couples to think twice before having children.
C To encourage the young to take care of the elderly.
D To appeal for tax reduction for raising children.
答案解析：
60. 由题干中的purpose in writing the passage定位到整篇文章。本文的主题是生育子女的问题，作者认为抚养孩子的高额费用会导致出生率下降，从而最終会导致经济衰退，而生育子女受多种因素的影响，其中就包括政府政策。文章最后一段提到，年轻的美国人已经在面对萧条的劳动力市场，这样的市场无法向他们灌输生孩子的信心，累积更高的税收也不会起什么作用，而且还让抚养孩子的费用更高。由此可以推断，为了提高美国的生育率，作者呼吁为抚养子女而减税，故本题正确答案为D)。
Part III Reading Comprehension
Space exploration has always been the province of dreamers: The human imagination readily soars where human ingenuity (创造力) struggles to follow. A Voyage to the Moon, often cited as the first science fiction story, was written by Cyrano de Bergerac in 1649. Cyrano was dead and buried for a good three centuries before the first manned rockets started to fly.
In 1961, when President Kennedy declared that America would send a man to the moon by the decade’s end, those words, too, had a dreamlike quality. They resonated (共鸣) with optimism and ambition in much the same way as the most famous dream speech of all, delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. two years later. By the end of the decade, both visions had yielded concrete results and transformed American society. And yet in many ways the two dreams ended up at odds with each other. The fight for racial and economic equality is intensely pragmatic (讲求实用的) and immediate in its impact. The urge to explore space is just the opposite. It is figuratively and literally otherworldly in its aims.
When the dust settled, the space dreamers lost out. There was no grand follow-up to the Apollo missions. The technologically compromised space shuttle program has just come to an end, with no successor. The perpetual argument is that funds are tight, that we have more pressing problems here on Earth. Amid the current concerns about the federal deficit, reaching toward the stars seems a dispensable luxury—as if saving one-thousandth of a single year’s budget would solve our problems.
But human ingenuity struggles on. NASA is developing a series of robotic probes that will get the most bang from a buck. They will serve as modem Magellans, mapping out the solar system for whatever explorers follow, whether man or machine. On the flip side, companies like Virgin Galactic are plotting a bottom-up assault on the space dream by making it a reality to the public. Private space flight could lie within reach of rich civilians in a few years. Another decade or two and it could go mainstream.
The space dreamers end up benefiting all of us—not just because of the way they expand human knowledge, or because of the spin-off technologies they produce, but because the two types of dreams feed off each other. Both Martin Luther King and John Kennedy appealed to the idea that humans can transcend what were once considered inherent limitations. Today we face seeming challenges in energy, the environment, health care. Tomorrow we will transcend these as well, and the dreamers will deserve a lot of the credit. The more evidence we collect that our species is capable of greatness, the more we will actually achieve it.
26、61. The author mentions Cyrano de Bergerac in order to show that_________.
A imagination is the mother of invention
B ingenuity is essential for science fiction writers
C it takes patience for humans to realize their dreams
D dreamers have always been interested in science fiction
28、63. What does the author say about America’s aim to explore space?
A It may not bring about immediate economic gains.
B It cannot be realized without technological innovation.
C It will not help the realization of racial and economic equality.
D It cannot be achieved without a good knowledge of the other worlds.
答案解析：
63. 根据第二段中的“The fight for racial and economic equality is intensely pragmatic (讲求实用的) and immediate in its impact. The urge to explore space is just the opposite.”可知，探险太空不像种族和经济平等斗争那样立马见效。故选A。
29、64. What is the author’s attitude toward space programs?
