单选题 Office jobs are among the positions hardest hit by computation(计算机自动化). Word processors and typists will lose about 93,000 jobs over the next few years, while 57,000 secretarial jobs will vanish. Blame the PC: today, many executives type their own memos and carry their "secretaries" in the palms of their hands. Time is also hard for stock clerks, whose ranks are expected to decrease by 68,000. And employees in manufacturing firms and wholesalers are being replaced with computerized systems. But not everyone who loses a job will end up in the unemployment line. Many will shift to growing positions within their own companies. When new technologies shook up the telecom business, telephone operator Judy Dougherty pursued retraining. She is now a communications technician, earning about $64,000 per year. Of course, if you"ve been a tollbooth collector for the past 30 years, and you find yourself replaced by an E-ZPass machine, it may be of little consolation(安慰)to know that the telecom field is booming. And that"s just it: the service economy is fading; welcome to the expertise(专门知识)economy. To succeed in the new job market, you must be able to handle complex problems. Indeed, all but 1 of the 50 highest-paying occupations — air-traffic-controller—demand at least a bachelor"s degree. For those with just a high school diploma(毕业证书), it"s going to get tougher to find a well-paying job. Since fewer factory and clerical jobs will be available, what"s left will be the jobs that computation can"t kill. Computers can"t clean offices, or care for Alzheimer"s patients(老年痴呆病人). But, since most people have the skills to fill those positions, the wages stay painfully low, meaning computation could drive an even deeper wedge(楔子)between the rich and poor. The best advice now: never stop learning, and keep up with new technology. For busy adults, of course, that can be tough. The good news is that the very technology that"s reducing so many jobs is also making it easier to go back to school — without having to sit in a classroom. So-called Internet distance learning is hot, with more than three million students currently enrolled, and it"s gaining credibility with employers. Are you at risk of losing your job to a computer? Check the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics" Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is available online at bls.gov.

单选题 From the first paragraph we can infer that all of the following persons are easily thrown into unemployment EXCEPT______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】解析：本题信息点是the following persons are easily thrown into unemployment“容易失业的人群”，要求考生获取哪些人很容易失业的信息。该信息出现在文章第一段，第一段提到其工作很容易被电脑取代的人或职业为：word processors，typists，secretarial jobs，stock clerks，employees in manufacturing firms，wholesalers。由此可见选项C没有被提及，为本题答案。

单选题 In the second paragraph the author mentions the tollbooth collector to______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】解析：本题信息点是the tollbooth collector，要求考生获取作者提到收费员的目的何在的信息。根据我们以前讲过的例子分析题的解题思路，我们知道此类题型的做题步骤是：先找到作者的举例，然后仔细阅读上文并理解作者举例所要证明的观点或现象，最后根据理解与四个选项逐一对照做出正确选择。作者在第二段前两句表述了自己对计算机取代人们工作的看法：But not everyone who loses a job will end up in the unemployment line．Many will shift to growing positions within their own companies．随后便举出一个例子证明计算机使人们丢掉工作，但最终并不是每个人都会失业。Juay Dougheny就是经过retraining再次就业。紧接着提到本题考查的举例，由此可见作者试图用本例证明这位多年从事收费员工作的人可能很难再找到工作了。选项B“证明他年纪太大，不能再找到工作”符合文章内容，为本题答案。

单选题 By saying "...computation could drive an even deeper wedge between the rich and poor"(Line 5, Para. 4)the author means______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】解析：该句出现在文章第四段第四句话：But，since most people have the skills to fill those positions，the wages stay painfully low,meaning computation could drive an even deeper wedge between the rich and poor.考生应该能注意到在要求理解的这句话之前有一个单词meaning(意味着)，由此可以得知本句中前半部分是后半部分的原因。其大意为：由于大多数人有从事那些岗位的技能，所以薪水非常低。由此可见computation使得从事那些岗位的人拿到很低的薪水，结果便是computation could drive an even deeper wedge between the rich and poor 由此可见本句大意为：使贫富差距拉大。所以选项C符合文章内容，为本题答案。

单选题 What is the author"s attitude towards computers?

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】解析：态度题。本题信息点是computers，要求考生获取作者对computer的态度。我们解答态度题的基本原则为“听其言，观其行”，所以解答本题的关键便是在文章中找到作者对计算机的评论。作者在文章中对计算机及计算机威胁人们工作岗位的评论性语句有：Never stop learning，and keep up with new technology．…The good news is that the very technology that’s reducing so many jobs is also making it easier to go back to school．由此可见作者对计算机的态度是肯定的，本题答案为A。