第八篇 变化中的中产阶级.doc

第八篇 变化中的中产阶级The Changing Middle Class第八篇变化中的中产阶级The Changing Middle ClassThe United Statesperceives itself to be a middle-class nation. However，middle class is not a real designation（称号），nor does it carry privileges（特权）. It is more of a perception（感知，观念），which probably was as true as it ever could be right after World War II. The economy was growing，more and more people owned their own homes，workers had solid contracts with the companies that employed them，and nearly everyone who wanted a higher education could have one. Successful people enjoyed upward social mobility. They may have started out（开始） poor，but they could become rich . Successful people also found that they had greater geographic mobility. In other words（换句话说），they found themselves moving to and living in a variety of（多种的）places.The middle class collectively holds several values and principles. One strong value is the need to earn enough money to feel that one can determine ones own economic fate. In addition，middle class moralityembraces（包括） principles of individual responsibility，importance of family, obligations to others，and believing in something outside oneself. But in the 1990s those in the middle class found that there was a price for success. A U. S.News & World Report（美国新闻与世界报道）survey in 1994 indicated that 75 percent of Americans believed that middle class families could no longer make ends meet . Both spouses now worked，as did some of the children; long commutes became routine; the need for child care put strains on the family; and public schools were not as good as they once were. Members of the middle cIass were no longer financing their lifestyles through earnings but were using credit to stayafloat（使不至负债）. The understanding of just what middle class meant was changing.词汇：designation /dezignein/ n. 称号 commute /kmju:t/ n. 上下班路程mobility /mubilti/ n. 流动性注释：1. However，middle c1ass is not a real designation，nor does it carry privileges. 然而，中产阶级既不是一个真实的称号，也不会带来特别待遇。2. In addition，middle-c1ass morality embraces principles of individual responsibility，importance of family，obligations to others，and believing in something outside oneslf. 另外，中产阶级的道德观包括个人的责任感、家庭的重要性、对他人的使命感以及相信自我以外的事物。3. make ends meet：收支相抵，维持生活4. put strains on：带来压力练习：1. The information in this passage deals with_. A) an individual B) a social and economic group C) a political organization D) government 2. A common middle class value is that_. A) people should always have fun B) children should be seen and not heard C) debt is nothing to worry about D) the family is very important 3. In the years after World War II, the middle class could be defined as_. A) overburdened and in debt B) hard working and suspicious C) prosperous and optimistic D) young and foolish 4. The phrase “In other words” in the first paragraph means that the following statement is_. A) an exception to the previous idea B) a denial of the previous idea C) a restatement of the previous idea D) a contrasting idea 5. The word collectively means_. A) as a group B) hesitatingly C) unknowingly D) weakly 答案1. B 2. D 3. C 4. C 5. A 答案与题解：1. B 本题的问题是：本文的信息是关于？本文通篇讲述美国的中产阶级，指的是社会和经济群体，因此选择B。2. D本题的问题是：一个普遍的中产阶级价值观是？本篇第二段最后一句话讲到，“中产阶级的道德观包括个人的责任感、家庭的重要性、对他人的使命感以及相信自我以外的事物”。A、B、C三个选项不包括在内，因此正确答案是D。3. C 本题的问题是：在二战之后的几年，中产阶级可以被定义为，本篇第一段提到了当时美国经济不断增长并且人们生活水平有了提高，因此选择C选项，繁荣并且乐观。4. C 本题的问题是：第一段中的ln other words这个短语与下列说法一致的是，In other words汉语意思是换句话来说，因此正确答案是C。5. A 本题的问题是：单词collectively的汉语意思是“相同地”，选择A。 第八篇 变化中的中产阶级美国把自己看成是一个中产阶级的国家。然而，中产阶级既不是一个真实的称号，也不会带来特别待遇。它更是一个观念，一个也许在第二次世界大战之后会变得更加正确的观念。那时，美国经济不断增长，越来越多的人拥有了自己的家庭，工人们和雇佣自己的公司签订了可靠的合同，并且几乎所有想受到高等教育的人能够接受教育。成功的人士享受这种上升的社会流动性。他们也许之前很穷，但是他们能够变得富有。成功人士同样发现他们有更好的地理流动性。换句话说，他们发现自己正移居并生活在各种各样的地方。这些中产阶级都持有几种相同的价值观和原则。认为赚取足够金钱就可以决定自己经济命运的想法，是其中一种比较强烈的价值观。另外，中产阶级的道德观包括个人的责任感、家庭的重要性、对他人的使命感以及相信自我以