Passage 1
According to a survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students, today‘s traditional-age college freshmen are "more materialistic and less altruistic" than at any time in the 17 years of the poll.
Not surprising in these hard times, the student‘s major objective "is to be financially well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life." It follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting.
Interest in teaching, social service and the "altruistic" fields is at a low. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up.
That‘s no surprise either. A friend of mine (a sales representative for a chemical company) was making twice the salary of her college instructors in her first year on the job-even before she completed her two-year associate degree.
While it‘s true that we all need a career, it is equally true that our civilization has accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge in fields far removed from our own and that we are better for our understanding of these other contributions-be they scientific or artistic. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs.
Weekly we read of unions who went on strike for higher wages, only to drive their employer out of business. No company: no job. How shortsighted in the long run! But the most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense. I saw a cartoon recently which shows a group of businessmen looking puzzled as they sit around a conference table; one of them is talking on the intercom: "Miss Baxter," he says, "could you please send in someone who can distinguish right from wrong?"
From the long-term point of view, that‘s what education really ought to be about.
According to the author‘s observation, college students _____.
根据文章第一段"...today‘s traditional"age college freshmen are "more materialistic and less altruistic" than at any time in the 17 years of the poll."可知， 现在大 学生更加的现实， 更追求物质， 本题答案为A。
The students‘ criteria for selecting majors today have much to do with _____.
根据题目， 定位到现在大学生的专业选择， 在第二段中， "...the student‘s major objective "is to be financially well off."说明现在的大学生在选择自己的专业的 时候， 更加看重物质条件能不能得到满足， 本题答案为B。
By saying "While it‘s true that.., be they scientific or artistic?" (Para. 5), the author means that _____.
根据题目， 定位到第五段， 这句话的意思是"我们的文明已经累积了许多不可估量的智慧， 这些智慧远远不止我们身边的这些， 而这些都有助于我们更好地理解其它的概念， 无论是艺术还是科学"。 因此， 这里是说我们不能够忽略教育的广度， 本题答案为D。
Studying the diverse wisdom of others can _____.
根据第五段"...in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs"， 学会从不同的角度看问题， 有助于我们去思考问题， 也有助于我们看清事物间的联系， 用正确的角度去看待各种问题。 本题答案为B。
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
根据文章最后一段"No company: no job. How shortsighted in the long run!"以及文章第五段内容， 作为认为要从不同的角度看问题， 而不是短视。 因此我 们不能只看眼前利益。 本题答案为D。