As the price of a college degree continues to rise, there's growing evidence that the monetary（货币的） payoff isn't quite as big as often advertised. The best estimate now is that a college degree is worth about $300,000 in today's dollars--nowhere near the million figure that is often quoted.

"That million number has driven me crazy!" says Sandy Baum, a Skidmore economist who studied the value of a college degree for the College Board last year.

Baum's research showed that college graduates earn, on average, about $20,000 a year more than those who finished their educations at high school. Add that up over a 40-year working life and the total differential is about $800,000, she figures. But since much of that bonus is earned many years from now, taking away the impact of inflation means that$800,000 in future dollars is worth only about $450,000 in today's dollars.

Then, if you remove the cost of a college degree--about ,$30,000 in tuition and books for students who get no aid and attend public in-state universities--and the money a student could have earned at a job instead of attending school, the real net value in today's dollars is somewhere in the $300,000 range, a number confirmed by other studies.

But, especially these days, that still makes a college degree one of the most lucrative investments a person can make, Baum notes.

　Better yet, college graduates can go on to earn advanced degrees, which return even bigger payoffs. The average holder of a bachelor's degree earns about$51,000 a year, Baum calculates. But those who've gone on to earn MBAs, law degrees, or other professional degrees earn about $100,000 a year.

　In addition, Baum found that there are plenty of other rewards for a degree. The quality of the jobs college graduates get is far better, for example. College graduates are more likely to get jobs with health insurance. And it is easier for them to find and hold jobs. The unemployment rate for college graduates was just 2.2 percent last year, half the unemployment level of those with only high school diplomas.

There are lots of other nonmonetary benefits as well. College graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically, studies show.

Other researchers have found that the payoff of a degree is especially lucrative for students from low-income families, since the education and degrees give them a chance to break out of low-paying careers.

1.What can be inferred from Para 1 ?

   A. The payoff of a college degree is still big enough to match the advertised.

   B. It’s more and more difficult to get a college degree.

   C. The return of a college degree is less than often quoted.

   D. A college degree is worth about one million dollars.

2.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “lucrative” in Para.5?

   A. attractive                 B. worthless                C. approachable                 D. balanced

3.How can a college graduate increase his or her yearly income according to the passage?

   A. By getting jobs with health insurance immediately.

   B. By going on for higher degrees.

   C. By breaking out of low-paying jobs.

   D. By contributing more to his or her community.

4.Which of the following statements can be learned from the text ?

A.  According to Baum's research, high school graduates earn more than those who have college degrees.

B.  College education is enough to ensure you a good life.

C.  Nonmonetary benefits from the degree attract students more than monetary ones.

D. Students from low-income families still think degrees are profitable to change their life.

B
While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states — at least in getting people off welfare. It’s estimated that more than 2 million people have left the rolls（名册） since 1994.
　　In the past four years, welfare rolls in Athens Country have been cut in half. But 70 percent of the people who left in the past two years took jobs that paid less than $6 an hour. The result: The Athens Country poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent — twice the national average.
　　For advocates（代言人）for the poor, that’s an indication much more needs to be done.
　　“More people are getting jobs, but it’s not making their lives any better,” says Kathy Lairn, a  policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington.
　　A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed households were earning money on their own, but that average income for these households actually went down.
　　But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory.
　　“Welfare was a poison. It was a toxin（毒素）that was poisoning the family,” says
Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst. “The reform is changing the moral climate in low-income communities. It’s beginning to rebuild the work ethic（道德观）, which is much more important.”
　　Mr. Rector and others argued that once “the habit of dependency is cracked,” then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards.
45. From the passage, it can be seen that the author _______.
　　A. believes the reform has reduced the government’s burden
　　B. insists that welfare reform is doing little good for the poor
　　C. is overenthusiastic about the success of welfare reform
　　D. considers welfare reform to be basically successful
46. Why aren’t people enjoying better lives when they have jobs?
　　A. Because many families are divorced.
　　B. Because government aid is now rare.
　　C. Because their wages are low.
　　D. Because the cost of living is rising.
47. From the passage we know that welfare reform aims at _______.
　　A. saving welfare funds
　　B. rebuilding the work ethic
　　C. providing more jobs
　　D. cutting government expenses
48. According to the passage before the welfare reform was carried out, _______.
　　A. the poverty rate was lower
　　B. average living standards were higher
　　C. the average worker was paid higher wages
　　D. the poor used to rely on government aid

While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states—at least in getting people off welfare．It's estimated that more than 2 million people have left the rolls since 1994．

In the past four years, welfare rolls in Athens Country have been cut in half．But 70 percent of the people who left in the past two years took jobs that paid less than $6 an hour．T'he result: The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent—twice the national average,

    For advocates（代言人） for the poor, that's an indication much more needs to be done．

    "More people are getting jobs, but it's not making their lives any better," says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington．

A center analysis of US Census data nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed households were earning money on their own, but that average income for these households actually went down．

But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory．

"Welfare was a poison．It was a toxin（毒素） that was poisoning the family," says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst．"The reform in changing the moral climate in low-income communities．It's beginning to rebuild the work ethic, which is much more important．"

Mr．Rector and others argued that once "the habit of dependency is cracked," then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards．

1.Why don't people enjoy their better lives when they get jobs?

    A．Because they are used to relying on welfare to make livings．

    B．Because the cost of living is higher than before．

    C．Because many families are below average income．

    D．Because their wages are very low．

2.From the passage we know that the reconstruction of___ is the core of the reform．

    A．government aids

    B．work ethic

    C．welfare funds

    D．moral awareness

3.From the example of the Athens County, we know great efforts should be done for the poor to ___.

    A．improve their living standards

    B．to help them be employed

    C．to get them off welfare

    D．to increase their wage

4.From the passage, it can be inferred that the author ___．

    A．is completely certain about the success of welfare reform

    B．thinks that welfare reform has done little good for the poor

    C．insists welfare reform has increased the government's burden

    D．considers welfare reform fundamentally successful

While still in its early stages, welfare reform has already been judged a great success in many states—at least in getting people off welfare．It's estimated that more than 2 million people have left the list since 1994．

In the past four years, welfare list in Athens County have been cut in half．But 70 percent of the people who left in the past two years took jobs that paid less than $ 6 an hour．The result: The Athens County poverty rate still remains at more than 30 percent —twice the national average．For advocates（代言人） for the poor, that's an indication that much more needs to be done．

"More people are getting jobs, but it's not making their lives any better," says Kathy Lairn, a policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington．A center analysis of US Census data （户口普查资料） nationwide found that between 1995 and 1996, a greater percentage of single, female-headed families were earning money on their own, but that average income for these families actually went down．

But for many, the fact that poor people are able to support themselves almost as well without government aid as they did with it is in itself a huge victory．"Welfare was a poison．It was a poisonous substance that was poisoning the family," says Robert Rector, a welfare-reform policy analyst．"The reform is changing the moral climate in low-income communities．It's beginning to rebuild the work ethic （道德观）, which is much more important．"

Mr．Rector and others argued that once "the habit of dependency is cracked," then the country can make other policy changes aimed at improving living standards．

1.．From the passage, it can be seen that the author __    __．

    A．believes the reform has reduced the government's burden

    B．insists that welfare reform is doing little good for the poor

    C．is not interested in the success of welfare reform

    D．considers welfare reform to be fundamentally successful

2.． Why aren't people enjoying better lives when they have jobs?

    A．Because many families end their marriage．

    B．Because government aid is now rare．

    C．Because their wages are still low．

    D．Because the cost of living is rising．

3.．From the passage we know that welfare reform aims at____．

    A．saving welfare funds                   B, rebuilding the work ethic

    C．providing more jobs                                      D．cutting government expenses

4.According to the passage,____ before the welfare reform was carried out．

    A．the poverty rate was lower   

    B．average living standards were higher

    C．the average worker was paid higher-wages  

    D．the poor used to rely on government aid

As the price of a college degree continues to rise, there's growing evidence that the monetary（货币的） payoff isn't quite as big as often advertised. The best estimate now is that a college degree is worth about $300,000 in today's dollars--nowhere near the million figure that is often quoted.
"That million number has driven me crazy!" says Sandy Baum, a Skidmore economist who studied the value of a college degree for the College Board last year.
Baum's research showed that college graduates earn, on average, about $20,000 a year more than those who finished their educations at high school. Add that up over a 40-year working life and the total differential is about $800,000, she figures. But since much of that bonus is earned many years from now, taking away the impact of inflation means that$800,000 in future dollars is worth only about $450,000 in today's dollars.
Then, if you remove the cost of a college degree--about ,$30,000 in tuition and books for students who get no aid and attend public in-state universities--and the money a student could have earned at a job instead of attending school, the real net value in today's dollars is somewhere in the $300,000 range, a number confirmed by other studies.
But, especially these days, that still makes a college degree one of the most lucrative investments a person can make, Baum notes.
　Better yet, college graduates can go on to earn advanced degrees, which return even bigger payoffs. The average holder of a bachelor's degree earns about$51,000 a year, Baum calculates. But those who've gone on to earn MBAs, law degrees, or other professional degrees earn about $100,000 a year.
　In addition, Baum found that there are plenty of other rewards for a degree. The quality of the jobs college graduates get is far better, for example. College graduates are more likely to get jobs with health insurance. And it is easier for them to find and hold jobs. The unemployment rate for college graduates was just 2.2 percent last year, half the unemployment level of those with only high school diplomas.
There are lots of other nonmonetary benefits as well. College graduates are healthier, contribute more to their communities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically, studies show.
Other researchers have found that the payoff of a degree is especially lucrative for students from low-income families, since the education and degrees give them a chance to break out of low-paying careers.
【小题1】What can be inferred from Para 1 ?