单选题 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. 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.
In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. 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. Today"s families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. 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. This "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.
During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. 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. For 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. 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. 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.
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. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

单选题 Today"s double-income families are at greater financial risk in that

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。本题问当今的双收入家庭财务方面存在更大危机的原因是什么。根据关键词定位到第一段。文中提到“has been transformed by economic risk and new realities. 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”，句中的transform告诉我们现在与过去比起来财务危机更大，第二句具体举例说明现在家庭在应对各种生活变化情况时财务很脆弱。所以选C项“他们更容易因家庭经济状况受到打击”为正确答案。

单选题 As a result of President Bush"s reform, retired people may have

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。根据题干定位到第三段。由第三句“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.”可以分析布什总统改革的结果可能会减少退休工的有保障的报酬，所以选B项“less secured payments(减少保障性报酬)”为正确选项。其余选项均不符合题意。

单选题 According to the author, health-savings plans will

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。根据题干定位到第三段。由“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.”可以看出养生保健的成本在不断上涨，与此同时健康的理财储蓄计划也在不断流行，这对家庭未来的家庭保健而言增加了很大的投资风险。所以D项正确。其余选项均不符合题意。

单选题 It can be inferred from the last paragraph that

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 推断题。根据题干定位到最后一段。第一句很长，采用了一个词组“looks far less like..., and a good deal more like...”，这句主要讲的是中产阶级家庭对新生储蓄计划的看法和观点。最后一句“The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.”是说财务余波已经到来了，同时受其影响的政治风波也不会很远，因此C项“财务问题可能会带来政治问题”为正确选项。其余选项均不符合题意。