单选题 Though it is mere 1 to 3 percent of the population, the upper class possesses at least 25 percent of the nation's wealth. This class has two segments: upper-upper and lower-upper. Basically, the upper-upper class is the "old rich"—families that have been wealthy for several generations—an aristocracy of birth and wealth. Their names are in the Social Register, a listing of acceptable members of high society. A few are known across the nation, such as the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, and Vanderbilts. Most are not visible to the general public. They live in grand seclusion, drawing their income from the investment of their inherited wealth. In contrast, the lower-upper class is the "new rich". Although they may be wealthier than some of the old rich; the new rich have hustled to make their money like everybody else beneath their class. Thus their prestige is generally lower than that of the old rich, who have not found it necessary to lift a finger to make their money, and who tend to look down upon the new rich.
However its wealth is acquired, the upper class is very, very rich. They have enough money and leisure time to cultivate an interest in the arts and to collect rare books, painting, and sculpture. They generally live in exclusive areas, belong to exclusive social clubs, communicate with each other, and marry their own kind—all of which keeps them so distant from the masses that they have been called the out-of-sight class. More than any other class, they tend to be conscious of being members of a class. They also command an enormous amount of power and influence here and a broad, as they hold many top government positions, run the Council on Foreigh Relations, and control multinational corporations. The actions affect the lives of millions.

单选题 All the following statements are true EXCEPT that______.
A. the upper-upper class is of aristocratic origin
B. the "old rich" enjoy higher prestige than the "new rich"
C. the "old rich" isolate themselves and lead a lonely life
D. the upper class owns at least a quarter of the country's wealth
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】“旧富”与世隔绝,过着孤独的生活。从第二段可知,虽然他们深居简出,但他们并不寂寞。他们有足够的金钱和时间培养艺术爱好和收集稀有书籍、画作和雕塑。他们进出专门的俱乐部并互相交流。选项A,B,D都在第一段被提及。A,上等阶层有贵族血统。B,“旧富”比“新贵”享有更高的声望。D,上等阶层至少拥有全国财富的1/4。
单选题 The "old rich" get richer______.
A. through the Social Register
B. through their reputation
C. by investing their inherited wealth
D. by collecting paintings and sculptures
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】通过用继承来的财产投资。从第一段可知,他们深居简出,通过用继承来的财产投资来获取收入。A,通过社会名人录。B,通过他们的名声。D,通过收集画作和雕塑。
单选题 The reason why the "old rich" look down upon the "new rich" is that______.
A. the former are wealthier than the latter
B. the latter sweat themselves to make money
C. the "new rich" have no interest in arts
D. the "old rich" are conscious of being members of the upper class
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】后者拼命靠工作来赚钱。从第一段段尾可知,“新贵”与其他人一样靠拼命工作来赚钱,而那些“旧富”却不必付出任何努力去赚钱,因此他们瞧不起那些“新贵”。A,前者比后者富有。从文中可知,“新贵”比有的“旧富”要富有。C,“新贵”对艺术不感兴趣。D,“旧富”意识到自己是上层社会的一员。
单选题 The upper class is also called the out-of-sight class because______.
A. they keep away from the general public
B. they spend most of their time abroad
C. they don't communicate with any people
D. they move frequently from place to place
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】他们远离公众。从第三段可知,他们住在专门的地区,出入专门的俱乐部,只是相互之间交流,只与自己同类的人结婚。他们远离大众,因此被称为看不见的阶层。B,他们大多数时间在国外。C,他们不和任何人交流。D,他们经常从一个地方搬到
另一个地方。
单选题 We can learn from the passage that______.
A. the upper class is powerful and influential
B. the upper class collects rare books to make money
C. the upper class holds all top government positions
D. the "old rich" makes much more money than the "new rich/
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】上等阶层有权势,影响力大。从文末可知,他们在国内和国外都拥有巨大的权势和影响力,因为他们占据了很多政府高职,掌管对外关系委员会,控制跨国公司,他们的行为影响众多人的生活。B,上等阶层收集稀有书籍以挣钱。C,上等阶层占据政府所有高职。D,“旧富”比“新贵”挣的钱多很多。