阅读理解
As I was reading a recent story in Slate on 20somethings complaining about how the economy was
ruining their life plans,I couldn't help but think the 20somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled children
who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them.As a 20something myself,I certainly share their
disappointment:My husband and I probably won't be able to buy a house until we're in our 40s,and we
too are burdened by student loans (贷款)．But why should it be any different? Being young persons in
America,shouldn't they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the Slate story: Jennifer,29,owner of a twobedroom apartment
with her husband,worries that she won't be able to have children for at least a decade because they can't
afford to buy a house yet.
I read that,and I thought,what planet is she living on where you need to own a house in order to have
kids? Has she ever visited a developing country,or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is
a luxury (奢侈品),not a fertility requirement.
A 26yearold in the story despairs (绝望) that he can't afford to get a Ph.D.in literature.Well,that sounds
a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for
five years.
Yes,it's sad that these young people feel so lost.But I think the problem is their extremely high
expectations,not economic reality.Beth Kobliner,author of Get a Financial Life:Personal Finance in Your
Twenties and Thirties,says that she thinks people's expectations are slowly adjusting,but today's 20
somethings grew up at a time when everyone's wealth appeared to be expanding.Their parents probably
saw their home values rise along with their investments."So you have people who have grown up in an
environment where people had great expectations of what living well means," says Kobliner.
This recession (衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group.
In the meantime,it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful-for our onebedroom
apartments,for living in modern cities,or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day-than on
longing for some kind of luxury life.
1.What makes the author think the 20somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
A.They expect everything to be easy for them.
B.They complain that the economy is spoiling their life plans.
C.They are reluctant to face all of the challenges.
D.They are burdened by student loans.
2.The underlined word "fertility" in Paragraph 3 probably means ________.
A.baby production
B.pleasant
C.baby comfort
D.essential
3.Which of the following is NOT one of the complaints of the 20somethings?
A.They can't have children for at least a decade to buy a house.
B.They have only onebedroom apartment to live in.
C.They can't buy a house until 40 because of student loans.
D.They despair at not being able to afford a Ph.D.in literature.
4.What's the author's attitude towards the 20somethings with high expectations in Paragraph 5?
A.Intolerant.
B.Negative.
C.Unbelieving.
D.Understanding.
5.What is the BEST title for this passage?
A.How Young People Afford to Continue Their Study
B.Why Young People Can't Afford to Buy a House
C.When Young People's High Hopes Create Despair
D.What the 20somethings' High Expectations Are