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①During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realties. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.
在过去十几年里，美国那些曾经可以依托辛勤快动和公平条件以维持其收入稳定中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实变化了。目前，一份解雇告知书、一种不利诊断成果或配偶去世所有也许在多种月之内将一种家庭从稳定中产阶层家庭降格成为一种新贫困家庭。
middle-class adj.中层社会, 中产阶级
count on v.依托, 指望
spouse n.配偶(指夫或妻)
1、During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities.
【译文】 在过去一代，美国中产阶级家庭曾经依托努力工作和平等公正以保持财政安全，但是却被经济风险和新现实所变化。
【析句】 句子主干构造是the American middle-class family...has been transformed by economic risk and new realities，family后接一种定语从句。
【讲词】 generation指一代人，一般为。
count on表达"指望，依托"，例如：You can count on my help.（你可以指望得到我协助。）
fair play原是体育用语，意为"公平比赛"，转义指"公正待遇"或"公平竞赛条件"。
secure作形容词表达"安全,可靠,放心,无虑"。
transform意为"转变；转换；变形"，其名词是transformation。
In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. ②Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Today’s families have budgeted to the limits of theirs new two-paycheck status. ③As a result, they have lost the parachuted they once had in times of financial setback – a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. ④This “added-worker effect” could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.
在仅仅一代人时间里，数百万妈妈出去工作，变化了基本家庭经济状况。学者、决策者和各类批评人士对这些变化社会意义争论不休，但是，很少有人关注这些变化副作用：家庭风险增长了。目前家庭根据其新双收入限度安排开支。因此，它们失去了它们在经济萧条时期曾经有过缓和举措——一种后备挣钱者（一般是妈妈），如果家庭核心挣钱者失业了或病倒了，她可以出去工作。这种“额外工人效应”可以支撑失业保险或残疾保险提供安全网，以便协助家庭渡过难关。但目前，家庭财产损失再也不也许通过呆在家里其他伴侣额外收入弥补了。
debate v. n.争论, 辩论
【巧】debate=de（强调）+ bat（打）+e→辩论
【联】combat（v.n.战斗，格斗）←com一起+bat。
【例】Debate is the best catalyst of thought.争论是思想最佳催化
implication n.牵连, 含意, 暗示
【巧】im + plic（fold）+ation→implication（话没有明着说出来）
【例】What’s the implication of the statement.这份声明含义是什么？
parachute n.降落伞
setback n.挫折, 退步, 逆流
unemployment insurance 失业保险
disability insurance 残废保险
disruption n.中断, 崩溃, 破坏
【记】disrupt v. 使中断,使崩溃, 使陷于混乱, 破坏
【例】market disruption市场混乱；environmental disruption 公害, 环境失调；The state was in disruption.国家处在分崩离析之中。
2、Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well.
【译文】 学者、政策制定者和各行各业批评者对这些变化社会意义进行了辩论，但是几乎没有人关注次要影响：家庭风险也增长了。
【析句】 全句是一种转折句，冒号后来成分是一种完整句子，作the side effect同位语。
【讲词】 stripe意为"斑纹,条纹"，all stripes意为all walks（各行各业）。
implication表达"牵连，涉及；含意；暗示"，如：his implication in the crime（她涉及这起罪行）。It is important to consider the wider implications of making such a decision.（很有必需考虑作出这一决定深远意义。）implication动词是implicate。
side effect一般表达药物等副作用，在句中表达"次要影响"。
3、As a result,they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick.
【译文】 因此，她们已经失去了经济困难时曾有保障，即家中核心挣钱人一旦失业或生病，预备挣钱人（一般是妈妈）可以加入劳动大军。
【析句】 as a result作状语，表达某种成果。a back-up earner (usually Mom)在句中作the parachute同位语，背面接一种定语从句。
【讲词】 parachute字面意思是"降落伞"，但在句中表达"保障"。
setback意为"挫折"，financial setback表达财政或经济上困难。
primary意为"核心；首要"，跟major，main等意思相近。如要表达"次要"，英文是secondary。earner在句中指wage earner，即挣钱人。
workforce指"就业大军；劳动力（工人总数）"。
lay off意为"失业"。
4、This"added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times.
【译文】 这种"附加工人效应"可以支持失业保险或残疾保险所提供保障制度，以协助家庭渡过困难时期。
【析句】 句子主干是This"added-worker effect" could support the safety net，过去分词offered引导构造作定语修饰the safety net。
【讲词】add意为"增长"，added可以表达"附加"，如：added value（附加值，净增值）。
safety net指社会保障制度。
unemployment insurance指"失业保险"，disability insurance指"残疾保险"。
weather在句中作动词，表达"抵御；承受；平安渡过"，如：weather a crisis（渡过危机）。
bad times意为"坏时光；艰苦日子"，其反义词是good times。
During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. ⑤Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. ⑥For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families the picture is not any better. ⑦Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen – and newly fashionable health-saving plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families’ future healthcare. ⑧Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent – and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance – have jumped eightfold in just one generation.
在同一时期，规定家庭在其退休收入中承当更多风险。钢铁厂工人、航空公司职工和汽车产业工人加入了数百万不得不紧张利率、股市波动和也许比其退休收入存在时间更长严酷现实家庭。在去年大部分时间里，布什总统始终致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式，规定退休人员将其大多数或所有保障报酬用来互换依托投资回报所得报酬。对于更年轻家庭来说，前景不容乐观。卫生保健和家庭承当份额绝对成本所有上涨了——并且，近来实行健康储蓄筹划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛职工，涉及大量更高减免，并且给家庭将来卫生保健带来诸多新投资风险。甚至人口记录状况也对中产阶层家庭不利，由于有一种体弱、年迈父母——和由此而产生所有物资和经济援助——就在仅仅一代人时间里增长了8倍。
5、Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money.
【译文】 钢铁工人、航空公司雇员，和在汽车工业中就业人，她们目前和数百万家庭同样，必需操心利率和股票市场升降，紧张她们退休金不够用严峻现实。
【析句】 句子主干构造是Steelworkers...are joining millions of families，families背面跟一种定语从句。而在定语从句中，主语是who，谓语是worry about，宾语是interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the hash reality。that they may outlive their retirement money是一种定语从句，修饰the harsh reality。
【讲词】worry about表达"操心；紧张"。
interest rates指"利率"，stock market指"股票市场"，fluctuation指股票市场波动，retirement money指"退休金"。
outlive意为"比......长命；比......耐久；经受住"，如：This regulation has outlived its usefulness.（这一规则没用却仍然存在。）
6、For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns.
【译文】 在过去大部分时间中，布什总统履行社会保障制度改革，力图把它变成储蓄帐户模式，让退休人员拿出大部分或所有旳拟定付款，以换取依托于投资回报付款。
【析句】 句子主干构造是President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model，介词with所接成分作状语，阐明储蓄帐户模式。
【讲词】campaign作名词表达"竞选；战役；政治或商业活动"，作动词表达"打仗；竞选；开展某种活动"，如：campaigned for human rights（开展人权运动）。
social security指"社会保障（制度）"。
guarantee意为"保证"，如：The government guaranteed to free the captives.（政府保证释放俘虏。）guarantee freedom of speech（保证言论自由）。
7、Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen-and newly fashionable health savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare.
【译文】 绝对医疗保险费用和家庭所承当（部分）费用均已经上涨，而新型医疗储蓄筹划正从立法机构推广开来，（甚至）涵盖沃尔玛超市工人，这一筹划浮现了更多扣除条款，并给家庭将来医疗保险又增长了一笔很大投资风险。
【析句】 全句涉及两个并列分句，介词with所引导成分阐明newly fashionable health-savings plan内容，一是更高扣除条款（就像保险公司做法同样，广告上说大病保险，但事实上所谓大病并不是所有"大病"，保险合同中扣除条款太多），一是增长了一笔很大投资风险（缴纳医疗保险费用被拿去投资）。
【讲词】absolute意为"绝对旳"，反义词是relative。
healthcare（医疗保险），health-savings（医疗储蓄，类似中国医保卡），legislative halls（立法机构，在美国指国会）。
deductible"可减免，可扣除"，文中指"保险合同扣除条款"。
dose作名词表达"剂量；(一)服"，作动词表达"服药"。a dose of表达"一定量"。
⑨From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.
从中产阶层家庭角度来看，大多数状况是可以理解，这主线不像一种发挥更多支付能力机会，而是像一种将经济风险大规模转向那些已经承当过重家庭令人恐惊加速行为。经济副作用已经开始，政治副作用也许也将开始。
8、Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent-and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance-have jumped eightfold in just one generation.
【译文】 甚至人口分布数据也和中产阶级家庭作对，由于家中有一位体弱高龄爸爸或妈妈也许性在仅仅一代人时间里增长了8倍，照顾家中老人就需要体力和财力付出。
absorb vt.吸取, 吸引
【记】be absorbed in= concentrate on=集中
【例】This job absorbs all of my time. 这件工作占用了我所有时间。
retirement income 退休收入
stock market n.股票市场
fluctuation n.波动, 起伏
【记】fluctuate vi.波动, 动摇 vt.使动摇, 使波动, 使起伏
【例】fluctuation in the exchange rates兑换率波动；fluctuation of temperature 温度变动
Harsh adj. 粗糙；刺耳；严肃
【例】harsh terms苛刻条件；a harsh climate 令人难受气候；harsh to the taste 味涩
outlive v.比...长命, 比...耐久,渡过…而存在,经受住
【例】The ship outlived the storm.这只船从暴风雨中脱险了。
legislative adj.立法, 立法机关 n.立法机关
deductible adj.可扣除
【记】deduct vt. 扣除, 演绎
demographic adj.人口记录学
odds n.也许机会, 成败也许性, 优势, 不均, 不平等, 几率, 差别
【析句】 全句是一种复合句，主句是Even demographics are working against the middle class family，as所引导从句表达因素。两个破折号之间成分和a weak elderly parent同样作having宾语。
【讲词】 demographics"人口记录状况，人口分布数据"。
work against表达"和......作对"。
odds意为"成败机率或也许；几率；差别"，句中意思是possibility。又如：The odds are that she will get the nomination on the first ballot.（她在第一轮选票中获得提名也许性大。）at odds意为"争执；意见冲突"，by all odds表达"毫无疑问地"。
9、From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders.
【译文】 从中产阶级家庭角度来看，不难理解，这在很大限度上看上去不大像是承当更多经济责任，而更像是加速把大部分经济风险转移到已经承当过重肩膀上，这种状况旳确让人感到恐惊。
perspective n.透视画法, 透视图, 远景, 前程, 见解, 见解, 见解, 观测
【例】see thing in perspective对旳地观测事物；a perspective of lakes and hills湖山远景
acceleration n.加速度
【巧】ac（加强前缀）+celer（速度）+ation（名词后缀）
【反】deceleration减速：de向下+celer+ation。
【例】abrupt acceleration 忽然加速
wholesale n.批发, 趸售 adj.批发, [喻] 大规模
【例】wholesale prices 批发价格；a wholesale slaughter 大屠杀wholesale westernization“全盘西化”
overburden vt.装载过多, 承当过多, 使过劳 n.过重承当
【例】The trees are overburdened with fruit. 树上果实累累, 压得树枝所有弯了。
fallout n.辐射微尘, 原子尘, 附带成果
【析句】此句主语是much of this，谓语是looks...like，介词like有两个宾语：an opportunity和a frightening acceleration。不定式构造to exercise... 修饰opportunity，of介词构造（of the wholesale shift of financial risk）修饰acceleration，onto介词构造（onto their already overburdened shoulders）作shift逻辑状语。
【讲词】 perspective意思较多，如"透视画法；远景；前程；见解；视角"。
exercise作动词，表达"承当"。所谓承当经济责任，即要往外掏钱。
acceleration意为"加速"，其动词是accelerate。
wholesale可作名词、动词、形容词和副词，意为"批发；大量地，成批地；大量，成批"。
overburden作动词意为"装载过多；承当过多"，作名词表"过重承当"。overburdened表"承当过重"。
31. Today’s double-income families are at greater financial risk in that
[A] the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.
[B] their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.
[C] they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.（C）
[D] they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.
31.[C]细节事实题为什么今天双职工家庭会面临更大经济风险?根据原文第二段第四、五、六句可知选项[C]“她们更易于受到家庭经济变化影响”是原文同义替代，故为对旳答案。选项[A]讲“过去安全网已经消失了”。 disappear是一种文中未提及信息;选项[B]“被解雇机会增长”属于答非所问;选项[D]“她们不能享有失业保险”和原文第五句中“support”，明显相反。（注意：这个解释不怎么好。）
［解析］本文提到了美国中产阶级家庭，因国家经济衰落而要面临巨大风险。本题目问："今日这种夫妻双收入家庭会面临更大财务风险是由于什么因素？"我们此前两段中可以看出：由于经济因素目前夫妻双方所有要出去找工作。这样，本来妻子在家里操持家务，同步万一丈夫生了病或失业了也可以出去找工作以协助家庭渡过难关这把保险伞就没有了。因此选C。
32. As a result of President Bush’s reform, retired people may have
[A] a higher sense of security.
[B] less secured payments.
[C] less chance to invest.（B）
[D] a guaranteed future.
32.[B]细节事实题。由于布什总统改革，退休职工也许会如何?根据题干中布什总统定位到原文第三段。根据第二段第四句“For younger.families, the picture is not any better.年轻家庭日子也不会好过”，既然年轻人日子也不好过，立即获悉退休职工日子不好过。选项[B]“安全性变差”和原文意思相符。选项[A]“更有安全感”和选项[D]“将来有保证”所有阐明退休职工过得好，和原文意思相反;选项[C]“更少投资机会”文中未提及退休职工与否投资。（注意：这个解释不怎么好。）
［解析］众所周知，钱存在银行比较保险可以稳定拿利息，但是把钱投入股市或用于创业风险要大诸多，但一旦获益也比存银行要强诸多。在去年大多数时间里，布什总统始终致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式--规定退休人员将其大多数或所有有保障收入变成必需依托投资收益收入。对于略为年轻家庭来说，状况也好不到哪去。医疗绝对费用和家庭必需承当份额所有在上升。这阐明，退休人员可靠收入也许更少。因此［B］为对旳选项。
冯卓个人解释，解题核心是“not any better”, any better是好部分意思，“年轻比（退休）也不会好部分”，向上推得到意思“退休人遭遇不好”。
33. According to the author, health-savings plans will
[A] help reduce the cost of healthcare.
[B] popularize among the middle class.
[C] compensate for the reduced pensions.（D）
[D] increase the families’ investment risk.
33.[D]细节事实题。根据作者见解，健康储蓄账户筹划如何?选项[A]“有助于减少健康护理成本”属于对词义曲解，文中saving指是“储蓄账户”，而非“减少成本”概念;选项[B]“在中产阶级中很普及”这一信息在文中未提及;原文第三段第三句中“their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns”既然取决于投资，那么肯定是具有不拟定性，因此和选项[C]“补偿减少养老金”意义相反;而选项[D]“增长了家庭投资不拟定性”是原文同义替代。 ［解析］本题仍应从第三段中找，由于34题问"从末段中可以看出：？"因此，本题应在末段前这一段内，本段提到了：healthsaving plan are...of investment risk for families’ future healthcare .据此，我们鉴定可以选D。选项A、C原文均未提及。至于B（医疗费用节省筹划将在）中产阶级中间得以推广和原文不符。原文谈到：医疗费用节省筹划正在从上层立法院大厅究竟层沃尔玛超市职工之间广泛铺开。
34. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that
[A] financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.
[B] the middle class may face greater political challenges.
[C] financial problems may bring about political problems.（C）
[D] financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.
34.[C]推理题。从最后一段，我们推断出什么?根据选项，很明确应当相应原文末句“The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.经济上副作用已经显现，那政治上副作用也许也不远了。”选项[A]“经济风险加剧了政治风险”和原文意思相反;选项[B]“中产阶级会面临更大政治挑战”是一种无中生有比较;选项[D]“经济责任心是政治身份象征”，其中“responsibility和status”是文中没有浮现过概念。选项[C]“经济问题也许引起政治问题”为原文同义替代。［解析］本题问"从末段可以看出什么？"我们仅从末段末句总结中可看出作者想说是：（美国）经济滑落已经开始了，那政治上跌落也许不是很远了吧。
35. Which of the following is the best title for this text?
[A] The Middle Class on the Alert
[B] The Middle Class on the Cliff
[C] The Middle Class in Conflict（B）
[D] The Middle Class in Ruins
35.[B]主旨题。文章最佳标题是什么?选项[A] "on the Alert警告”，既然是警告，阐明问题还没浮现，和原文意义相反;选项[C] "in Conflict冲突”，文章中没有讲过冲突概念;选项[D]"in Ruins消灭”阐明中产阶级已经崩溃，和原文不符。选项[B] "on the Cliff岌岌可危”符合原文，选项[B]为对旳答案。
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