单选题
Over the last 25 years, British society has changed a great deal-or at least many parts of it have. In some ways, however, very little has changed, particularly where attitudes are concerned. Ideas about social class-whether a person is "working-class" or "middle-class"-are one area in which changes have been extremely slow. In the past, the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers' jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence. The typical working man would collect his wages on Friday evening and then, it was widely believed, having given his wife her "housekeeping", would go out and squander' the rest on beer and betting. The stereotype of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth. He was-and still is—in clined to take a longer-term view. Not only did he regard buying a house as a most important thing but he also consider the education of his children as extremely important. Both of these provided him and his family with security. Only in very few cases did workers have the opportunity (or the education and training) to make such long-term plans. Nowadays, a great deal has changed. In a large number of cases factory workers earn as much as their middle-class supervisors. Social security and laws to improve century, have made it less necessary than before to worry about "tomorrow". Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority they had in the past. In fact there has been a growing tendency in the past few years for the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position. The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen amongst younger people. They generally tend to share very similar tastes in music and clothes, they spend their money in having a good time, and save for holidays or longer-term plans when necessary. There seems to be much less difference than in previous generations. Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid (whatever the type of job they may have) and the low-paid. As long as this gap exists, there will always be a possibility that new conflicts and jealousies will emerge, or rather that the old conflicts will reappear, but between different groups.
单选题
Which of the following is seen as the cause of class differences in the past? A. life style and occupation B. attitude and income C. income and job security D. job security and hobbies
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】本题为细节题。第二段前两句话说In the past,the working-class tended to be paid less than middle-class people, such as teachers and doctors. As a result of this and also of the fact that workers' jobs were generally much less secure, distinct differences in lifestyles and attitudes came into existence., As a result of this中的this指代的就是前面一句话中说的income不平等的事情,and后面说到job及secure,然后引出distinct differences in life-styles and attitudes came into existence.即生活方式和态度上的明显差别就出现了,可知C项正确。
单选题
The writer seems to suggest that the description of ______ is closer to truth. A. middle-class ways of spending money B. working-class ways of spending the weekend C. working-class drinking habits D. middle-class attitudes
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】本题为推断题。由题干中的closer to truth定位到第三段的第一句话The stereotype of what a middle-class man did with his money was perhaps nearer the truth., 题干中的ways of spending money与原文中的did with his money意义相同,所以答案选A,其他选项文中未提及。
单选题
According to the passage, which of the following is not a typical feature of the middle-class? A. desiring for security B. making long-term plans C. having priorities in life D. saving money
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】本题为细节题。题干中用的是一般现在时,故询问的是现在的状况;注意题干中有not,所以需要选出非特点的一项。由第三段的He was-and still is-inclined to take a lon-ger-term view.推出B项正确;由第四段的Social security and laws to improve century, have made it less necessary than before to worry about。“tomorrow”可推知,middle-class还是需要social security的,所以A项正确;由第四段的Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority they had in the past可推知C项正确,故选择D项。
单选题
Working-class people's sense of security increased as a result of all the following factors except ______. A. better social security B. more job opportunities C. higher living standard D. better legal protection
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】本题为细节题。第四段中的factory workers earn as much及Social security and laws to improve分别为A、C和D项的根据,文中没有提及工作机会,所以答案选B。
单选题
Which of the following statement is incorrect? A. Changes are slowly taking place in all sectors of the British society. B. The gap between working-class and middle-class young people is narrowing. C. Different in income will remain but those in occupation will disappear. D. Middle-class people may sometimes feel inferior to working-class people.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】本题为综合题。原文一直在讲working-class和middle-class之间角色的变化,所以A项不对。一般含有all, only等绝对词的选项是错误选项。由倒数第二段的Working-class people seem slowly to be losing the feeling of inferiority they had in the past.和倒数第一段第一句的The changes in both life-styles and attitudes are probably most easily seen amongst younger people可推知B项正确;由倒数第一段的Nevertheless, we still have a wide gap between the well-paid (whatever the type of job they may have) and the low-paid可推知C项正确;由倒数第二段的the middle-classes to feel slightly ashamed of their position可推知D段正确。