At the heart of the debate over illegal immigration lies one key question: are i

At the heart of the debate over illegal immigration lies one key question: are i

题型:不详难度:来源:
At the heart of the debate over illegal immigration lies one key question: are immigrants good or bad for the economy? The American public overwhelmingly thinks they’re bad. Yet the agreement among most economists is that immigration, both legal and illegal, provides a small net boost to the economy. Immigrants provide cheap labor, lower the prices of everything from farm produce to new homes, and leave consumers with a little more money in their pockets. So why is there such a discrepancy between the perception of immigrants’ impact on the economy and the reality?
There are a number of familiar theories. Some argue that people are anxious and feel threatened by an inflow of new workers. Others highlight the stress that undocumented immigrants place on public services, like schools, hospitals, and jails. Still others emphasize the role of race, arguing that foreigners add to the nation"s fears and insecurities. There’s some truth to all these explanations, but they aren’t quite sufficient.
To get a better understanding of what’s going on, consider the way immigration’s impact is felt. Though its overall effect may be positive, its costs and benefits are distributed unevenly. David Card, an economist at UC Berkeley, notes that the ones who profit most directly from immigrants’ low-cost labor are businesses and employers —meatpacking plants in Nebraska, for instance, these producers’ savings probably translate into lower prices at the grocery store, but how many consumers make that mental connection at the checkout counter? As for the drawbacks of illegal immigration, these, too, are concentrated. Native low-skilled workers suffer most from the competition of foreign labor. According to a study by George Borjas, a Harvard economist, immigration has reduced the wages of American high-school dropouts by 9%. 
Among high-skilled, better-educated employees, however, opposition was strongest in states with both high numbers of immigrants and relatively generous social services. What worried them most, in other words, was the financial burden of immigration. That conclusion was reinforced by another finding: that their opposition appeared to soften when that financial burden decreased, as occurred with welfare reform in the 1990s, which curbed immigrants’ access to certain benefits.
The irony is that for all the overexcited debate, the net effect of immigration is minimal. Even for those most acutely affected — say, low-skilled workers, or California residents — the impact isn’t all that dramatic. “The unpleasant voices have tended to dominate our perceptions,” says Daniel Tichenor, a professor at the University of Oregon. “But when all those factors are put together and the economists calculate the numbers, it ends up being a net positive, but a small one.” Too bad most people don’t realize it. 
小题1:What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A.Whether immigrants are good or bad for the economy has been puzzling economists.
B.The American economy used to thrive on immigration but now it’s a different story.
C.The agreement among economists is that immigration should not be encouraged.
D.The general public thinks differently from most economists on the impact of immigration.
小题2:What is the chief concern of native high-skilled, better-educated employees about the inflow of immigrants?
A.It may change the existing social structure.
B.It may pose a threat to their economic status.
C.It may decrease .their financial burden.
D.It may place a great pressure on the state budget.
小题3:What is the irony about the debate over immigration?
A.Even economists can’t reach an agreement about its impact.
B.Those who are opposed to it turn out to benefit most from it.
C.People are making too big a fuss about something of small impact.
D.There is no essential difference between seemingly opposite opinions.
小题4:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.A debate about whether to immigrate.
B.A debate about the impact of illegal immigrants.
C.The great impact of immigrants on the economy.
D.Opposition to illegal immigration.

答案

小题1:D
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:B
解析

试题分析:本文论述了正反两方对于移民对本国的影响到底有多大,不同的人有不同的观点,文章最后Daniel Tichenor教授指出,其实移民给本国带来的是经济的一个很小的增长,只不过,有的人认识不到这一点。
小题1:这是概括大意题。这里指出,美国大众绝大多数认为移民对经济的影响是不好的。然而,大多数经济学家却一致认为,不管是合法还是非法移民,都为经济带来了小幅的净增长。由此可见,对于移民经济的影响问题,大众多多数经济学家存在分歧,故答案为D。
小题2:这是细节理解题。根据Among high-skilled, better-educated employees, however, opposition was strongest in states with both high numbers of immigrants and relatively generous social services. What worried them most, in other words, was the financial burden of immigration.他们主要担心财政负担重,故选 D。
小题3:这是细节理解题。根据The irony is that for all the overexcited debate, the net effect of immigration is minimal. Even for those most acutely affected — say, low-skilled workers, or California residents — the impact isn’t all that dramatic. 移民对各方面的影响很小,没有必要过于谈论它,故选C。
小题4:这是标题归纳题。根据从开头及整篇文章的内容来看,是主要谈论的移民的影响,故选B。
点评:文章标题是文章的点睛之笔。标题归纳题在英语阅读理解题中属深层理解题,它要求考生在通读全文的基础上,准确把握文章大意及作者的写作意图。一般说来,标题应该具有概括性、针对性、简洁性三个突出特点。其中概括性,是指标题应最大程度地覆盖全文,囊括文章的主要内容,体现文章的主题;针对性,是指标题的含义要直接指向文章的主要特点;而简洁性,则是指标题应言简意赅,能吸引读者的注意力,并唤起读者对文章的阅读兴趣等。
举一反三
If practicing an attitude of gratitude(感激) during the storms of life is too much for you right now, that’s OK. When things are tough, most people have a hard time being thankful. They’re so caught up in what’s wrong in the present moment that they simply can’t see some things are still right.
If that’s true for you, then accept it. You’re going through a particularly difficult or unhappy period of time, and you don’t like it one bit. Very normal, very human. But remember this: there is always something to be grateful for. It maybe only a small comfort right now, but it is a start. Make a list of some of the terrible things that didn’t happen. For example:
●You’re in debt...but you’re not homeless.
●You lost your job...but you didn’t lose your health.
●You broke your leg...but you didn’t break your neck.
●Your mother has Alzheimer’s disease...but your father doesn’t.
No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse. Start finding gratitude for what might have happened, but didn’t. It does help a lot. Of course, you may not be thankful for everything— but you can always be thankful for something.
小题1:The passage is intended for those who ________.
A.have done a lot for othersB.have met with difficulties in life
C.have something to do in returnD.don’t know how to be thankful
小题2:The writer thinks it ______ for people to feel unhappy in time of difficulty.
A.understandable B.necessary C.impossible D.helpful
小题3:How many “terrible things that didn’t happen” are listed in this passage?
A.Two. B.Three. C.Four. D.Five.
小题4:What is the purpose of this passage?
A.To discuss ways to make a list of terrible things.
B.To explain what is gratitude towards the storms of life.
C.To persuade people to be thankful for what didn’t happen.
D.To show people different ways to consider their tough situations.
小题5:How is the passage organized?
A.Explanation—Comparison—Topic
B.Argument—Opinion—Discussion
C.Comparison—Argument—Explanation
D.Introduction—Discussion—Conclusion

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
TOKYO (Reuters) – “Who played the father in the movie ‘Kramer versus Kramer’?” That’s one of the 50 questions Japanese men could face in a “daddy exam”, meant to raise awareness about fatherhood in a country where men tend to work long hours and leave their wives in charge of childcare and household work.
Even men who remember Dustin Hoffman struggling as a father in the movie may have a hard time answering questions ranging from baby food to politics.
Tetsuya Ando, director of Fathering Japan, a Tokyo non-profit organization that came up with the test and will offer it to eager dads from next March, said the exam was an attracting way to get fathers into parenting. “There just isn"t enough information about parenting for fathers. Through the exam, we want men to realize that they don"t know anything about bringing up kids,” he said.
For the price of 3,900 yen ($34), fathers can find out whether they qualify as a “Super Dad,” or are in need of more effort as a “Challenge Dad.”
“We have received inquiries(咨询) from fathers, single men, to-be-dads, grandfathers ... even an aunt who was concerned that her nephew is too busy with work to notice the fun of parenting,” Ando said. The image of fathers is gradually changing in Japan as younger men eschew their own dads’ hands-off way in favor of closer involvement, and a wave of new parenting magazines for male readers has been hitting newsstands. But it is still hard for Japanese fathers to cut down on their work hours and spend more time with their families. Only 0.5 percent of employed men in Japan took parental leave in 2011, compared with 14 percent in the United States and 12 percent in Britain in 2000.
小题1:The “daddy exam” is intended to          .
A.test to – be – dads’ fatherhood knowledge
B.test Challenge Dad’s parenting knowledge
C.attract the whole society’s attention to parenting
D.have fathers realize their responsibility for their families
小题2:In the exam, the Japanese fathers may find that         .
A.they almost know nothing about the questions
B.the questions only make sense to to – be – dads
C.there is ample information about parenting
D.it’s not a good way to get them into parenting
小题3:The underlined word “eschew” in the last paragraph can be replaced by the word “       ”.
A.avoidB.adoptC.improveD.admire
小题4:The magazines for male readers are popular most probably because many men        .
A.long to know how to do household chores
B.become more concerned about parenting
C.want to get high scores in the 50 – question test
D.like to know whether they are Challenge Dads
小题5:From the whole report, it can be inferred that        .
A.Japanese fathers show no interest in parenting
B.young Japanese men tend to set about parenting
C.young fathers value parenting less than their fathers
D.Japanese fathers value parenting more than British fathers

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
We may have hosted some difficult house guests once or on even more occasions. Are you still worrying about how to deal with them? Here below are some tips on how to deal with those difficult house guests.
You’ve been waiting an hour to eat breakfast but your guests are still sleeping.
“Unless you adjusted a time for breakfast the evening before, let your guests sleep-in and enjoy your breakfast without them. If possible, keep their breakfast warm. Or better yet, when entertaining it’s always a good idea to have cold breakfast (as well as lunch, dinner and snack) food on-hand.”
——Pamela Eyring,president and director of The Protocol School of Washington
Your guest’s teenage son is a Facebook addict and hogs your computer all day long.
“If you have a guest whose fingers are fixated to your keyboard, kindly let him know that you are expecting work email and give him enough time to finish using it.”
——Ummu Bradley Thomas, founder of the Freddie Bell Jones Modeling and Finishing School, Inc.
Your couch surfing, unemployed nephew has been here a month and is showing no sign of leaving.
“There is nothing wrong with saying ‘John, you have been here a month and have not put in any applications. What can I do to help you get your resume together? I would like to make a plan that will assist you in getting back on your feet and allow me to eventually have my extra room back for guests that will soon be arriving.’”
——Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas
Your guests expect you to accompany them to every single tourist attraction in your city. It’s tiring and expensive.
“If your guests didn’t offer to treat you, politely decline and offer to meet them afterwards for dinner or drinks. That way they know you enjoy their company.”
——Pamela Eyring, president and director of The Protocol School of Washington
You gave your friend a closet shelf for her stuff but her clothes are thrown all over the place.
“You should simply say ‘I am happy to have you use my closet but your clothes seem to have a mind of their own. Would you mind keeping your clothes on the top shelf? It would make it easier for me to find my things when I am in a rush and looking for them. Thank you.’”
——Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas
小题1:According to Ummu Bradley Thomas, which of the following is the best way to deal with the guests?
A.Kindly explaining to him you need to use the computer.
B.Politely asking him to stop using the computer at once.
C.Introducing other toys to him to play with.
D.Simply letting him keep using the computer as he likes.
小题2:The passage gives the following tips EXCEPT that _______.
A.declining the guests’ requests if you hate to accompany them everywhere
B.reminding them to keep their clothes on the top shelf
C.trying to offer at least one dish based on his or her preferences
D.keeping their breakfast warm or having cold breakfast food on-hand
小题3:Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A.How to Entertain Your Guests
B.How to Keep Good Personal Relations
C.How to Find the Best Solution
D.How to Deal with Difficult House Guests
小题4:In which section of a magazine can we most probably see this passage?
A.ScienceB.SocietyC.EconomyD.Education

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
Americans are thinking about national education standards recently developed by teachers and other education experts. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the effort.
  The United States, unlike other nations, has never had the same school standards across the country. What is the reason? Education is not discussed in the Constitution. That document limits the responsibilities of the federal government. Other responsibilities, like education, fall to each state.
Local control of education probably was a good idea two hundred years ago. People stayed in the same place and schools knew what students needed to learn. But today, people move to different cities. And some people work at jobs that did not exist even twenty years ago.
Many American educators say that getting a good education should not depend on where you live. They say that some states have lowered their standards in order to increase student scores on tests required by the No Child Left behind Act.
  Kara Schlosser is communications director for the CCSSO. She says the new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work.
  Forty--eight states have already shown approval for the standards. Two states refuse to accept the idea. Critics say that working toward the same standards in every state will not guarantee excellence for all. Some educators in Massachusetts say adopting the national standards will hurt their students because the state standards are even higher. Others say the change will be too costly, requiring new textbooks and different kinds of training for teachers. Still others fear federal control.
  Supporters say the standards are goals and do not tell states or teachers how to teach. They also say the federal government is not forcing acceptance. However, approving the standards will help states qualify (取得资格) for some federal grant money.
小题1:What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Local Control of Education Standards out of Date
B.American National Education Standards under Consideration
C.Education Standards in Each State--Good or Bad.
D.Acceptance of the New Standards in the United States
小题2:Why is local control of education no 1onger a good idea today?
A.Because local standards are limited.
B.Because it is required by the federal government.
C.Because people today moves among states more often than before.
D.Because America has never had the same school standards throughout the country.
小题3:Some people are against the nationa1 education standards because__________
A.the standards are higher than those of each state
B.they are not yet prepared for the new standards
C.the standards may prevent some students gaining excellence
D.they don"t want the federal government to train their teachers
小题4:If a state agrees to accept the national standards, it will probably get ________.
A.more studentsB.advice on how to improve teaching
C.better textbooksD.money from the federal government

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
Memory, they say, is a matter of practice and exercise. If you have the wish and really made a conscious(自觉的)effort, then you can quite easily improve your ability to remember things. But even if you are successful, there are times when your memory seems to play tricks on you.
Sometimes you remember things that really did not happen. One morning last week, for example, I got up and found that I had left the front door unlocked all night, yet I clearly remember locking it carefully the night before.
Memory “trick” work the other way as well. Once in a while you remember not doing something, and then find out that you did. One day last month, for example, I was sitting in a barber(理发师)shop waiting for my turn to get a haircut, and suddenly I realized that I had got a haircut two days before at the barber shop across the street from my office.
We always seem to find something funny and amusing(有趣的)in incidents caused by people’s forgetfulness or absent-mindedness. Stories about absent-minded professors have been told for years, and we never got tired of hearing new ones. Unfortunately, however, absent-mindedness is not always funny. There are times when “trick” of our memory can cause us great trouble.
小题1:If you want to have a good memory, .
A.you should force yourself to remember things
B.you should make a conscious effort of practice and exercise
C.you should never stop learning
D.you should try hard to remember tings
小题2:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.One night the writer forgot to lock the front door.
B.One night the writer forgot having locked the front door.
C.The writer remembered to lock the door.
D.the writer remembered unlocking the front door.
小题3:In the passage, the writer seems to tell you .
A.forgetting things is serious and dangerous
B.always forgetting things is understandable
C.forgetting things at times is natural
D.the way to protect yourself from memory “tricks”
小题4:The best title for this passage is .
A.How to Get a Good Memory
B.“Tricks” Of Memory
C.Forgetfulness and Absent-mindedness is Dangerous
D.Get Rid of Absent-mindedness

题型:不详难度:| 查看答案
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