勤思考研讲师解析2007考研英语真题与参考答案第三部分。为2013年的考生提供考研资料。勤思考研助愿每位考生都能考上自己理想的大学。如果对于考研专业课复习和报考存在疑问，可以留下问题，和勤思互动。
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During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realties. 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 theirs new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachuted 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-saving 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.
11. Today's double-income families are at greater financial risk in that
[A] the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.
[B] their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.
[C] they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.
[D] they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.
12. As a result of President Bush's reform, retired people may have
[A] a higher sense of security. [B] less secured payments.
[C] less chance to invest. [D] a guaranteed future.
13. According to the author, health-savings plans will
[A] help reduce the cost of healthcare. [B] popularize among the middle class.
[C] compensate for the reduced pensions. [D] increase the families' investment risk.
14. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that
[A] financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.
[B] the middle class may face greater political challenges.
[C] financial problems may bring about political problems.
[D] financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.
15. Which of the following is the best title for this text?
[A] The Middle Class on the Alert [B] The Middle Class on the Cliff
[C] The Middle Class in Conflict [D] The Middle Class in Ruins
Unit 14（2007） Part3
试题解析：
11. 【正确答案】【C】
【解析】细节题，题干中的“in that”表明本题是原因细节题。本题考查考生对文章第二段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“doubleincome”（文中用的是“twopaycheck”），出自文章第二段第三句话中。文章第二段首先提到了家庭经济状况的变化问题，指出，如今的家庭根据其新的双收入限度安排开支，这就使得它们失去了它们在经济萧条时期曾经有过的缓解举措——如果家庭的主要挣钱者失业了或者病倒了，后备挣钱者可以出去工作，以便帮助家庭渡过难关，但现在不可能这样了。这说明，原因是家庭经济状况的变化更容易影响它们。C为正确选项。文中是说“以前可以维护失业保险或残疾保险提供的安全网”，但并没有说现在没有了安全网，所以A与文意不符；B和D属于无中生有。
12. 【正确答案】【B】
【解析】细节题，题干中的“As a result of…”表明本题是事实细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“President Bush”，出自文章第三段第三句话中。文章第三段首先提到，家庭被要求在其退休收入中承担更多风险，随后指出，在去年的大多数时间里，布什总统一直致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式，对于更年轻的家庭来说，前景并不是更乐观，卫生保健和家庭承担的份额的绝对成本都上涨了，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新投资风险。这说明，退休人员得可靠收入可能更少。B为正确选项。A和D与文意相反；C是误解了该段倒数第二句话中“a large new dose of investment risk for families'future healthcare”这句话的意思。
13. 【正确答案】【D】
【解析】细节题，题干中的“According to the author”表明本题是观点细节题。本题考查考生对文章第三段内容的理解。题干中的信号词是“healthsavings plans”，出自文章第三段第五句话中。文章第三段提到健康储蓄计划时指出，最近实施的健康储蓄计划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛的员工，其可减免税高得多，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新投资风险。这说明，健康储蓄计划可能增加家庭的卫许多新投资风险。D为正确选项。A与文意相反；B和C属于无中生有。
14. 【正确答案】【C】
【解析】推论题，题干中的“can be inferred”表明本题是推论题。本题考查考生对文章最后一段内容的理解。文章最后一段指出，经济副作用已经开始，政治副作用可能也将开始。由此可知，经济问题可能导致政治问题的出现。C为正确选项。A和B是误解了文意；D属于无中生有。
15. 【正确答案】【B】
【解析】主旨题，题干中的“the best title for this text”表明本题是主旨题。本题考查考生对全文内容的理解。文章第一段指出，中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实改变了，如今，一个家庭可能在几个月之内从稳定的中产阶层家庭降格成一个新贫困家庭，随后的段落介绍了造成这种现状的原因。这说明，本文主要是介绍中产阶层面临穷困问题的现象。B为正确选项。本文并不是提请中产阶层注意什么问题，所以A不能表达本文的主题；本文并没有提到冲突问题，所以C不能表达本文的主题；D属于夸大其词。
全文翻译：
过去十几年里，美国那些曾经可以依靠辛勤劳动和公平条件维持其收入稳定的中产阶层家庭被经济风险和新现实改变了。如今，一份解雇通知书、一个不利的诊断结果或者一个配偶去世都可能在几个月之内将一个家庭从稳定的中产阶层家庭降格成一个新贫困家庭。
就在十几年内，数百万母亲出去工作，改变了根本的家庭经济状况。学者、决策者以及各类批评人士对这些变化的社会意义争论不休，但是，很少有人关注这些变化的副作用——家庭的风险也增加了。如今的家庭根据其新的双收入限度安排开支。因此，它们失去了它们在经济萧条时期曾经有过的缓解举措——一个后备挣钱者（通常是妈妈），如果家庭的主要挣钱者失业了或者病倒了，她可以出去工作。这种“额外工人效应”可以维护失业保险或残疾保险提供的安全网，以便帮助家庭渡过难关。但现在，家庭财产的损失再也不可能通过呆在家里的其他伴侣的额外收入弥补了。
在同一时期，家庭被要求在其退休收入中承担更多风险。钢铁厂的工人、航空公司的职员以及汽车产业的员工成为数百万不得不担心利率、股市波动以及可能比其退休收入存在时间更长的严酷现实的家庭。在去年的大多数时间里，布什总统一直致力于将社会保险体制转变成一种储蓄存款账户模式——要求退休人员将其大多数或所有保障报酬用来交换依靠投资回报所得的报酬。对于更年轻的家庭来说，前景并不是更乐观。卫生保健和家庭承担的份额的绝对成本都上涨了——最近实施的健康储蓄计划正在从立法机关扩展到沃尔玛的员工，其可减免税高得多，并且给家庭未来的卫生保健带来许多新投资风险。甚至人口统计状况也对中产阶层家庭不利，因为有一个体弱、年迈的父（母）亲——以及由此而产生的所有物资和经济援助——的可能性就在十几年内增长了8倍。
从中产阶层家庭的角度来看，大多数情况是可以理解的，这根本不像一种发挥更多支付能力的机会，而是像一种将经济风险大规模转向那些已经负担过重的家庭的令人恐惧的加速。经济副作用已经开始，政治副作用可能也将开始。
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