Because of the financial crisis in the US and UK, college students are beginning to struggle to find ways to pay their tuition fees and accommodations.

Recently, two major US student loan lenders — Citibank and JPMorgan Chase — announced they were leaving the student loan industry altogether. Because banks currently have a lack of credit, they are reluctant to offer students low-interest loans that need a several-year wait for any return of interest.

In the US, many undergraduates top up their financial needs with a private loan, although the majority can get government-funded loans. In the 2005­-2006 academic year, $17 billion in private student loans was used to finance higher education. The shortfall in private funding has yet to be covered and will hit many US students hard.

Across the Atlantic, UK students have been less troubled by the crisis. Most undergraduates in the UK cover their university expenses with government-funded loans and grants (助学金). Their biggest concern is a sudden steep increase in student rent.

Most young professionals now rent houses, since 80 percent of UK mortgage schemes (住房抵押贷款计划) have disappeared — a direct result of the credit crisis. This has boosted the house rent market.

In large cities, UK students are paying almost 6.5 percent more in rent than the previous year. Figures from the UK organization Accommodation for Student show students in big cities such as London paying an average weekly rent of ￡103. Yet, despite students’ suffering, the number of this year’s university applications is expected to grow. During economic slumps (经济萧条时期), people regard further education as a way to survive tough job markets.

1.According to the passage, banks are unwilling to offer students loans because ________.

A．the students are poor and sometimes they can’t pay off the debt

B．banks prefer lending the money to the young professionals

C．banks don’t have enough money left at the present time

D．they think college students are not studying hard

2.The underlined phrase “top up” in Paragraph 3 probably means ________.

A．put up     B．make up     C．fill up    D．pick up

3.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．UK college students have to pay more if they want to rent houses.

B．More UK students want to further their study in college.

C．It is not so easy for US students to loan money now.

D．College students’ tuition fees have risen greatly.

4.It can be inferred that ________.

A．there are no private student loan lenders in the UK

B．loans for US college students will be increased next year

C．private funding falls a little because of higher-interest loans in the US

D．private loans play a very important role in financing US students’ education

II. 完形填空（共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分）
A while ago my family and I went sledding(滑雪橇) and as I watched my children climbing up the slope I started thinking.
Many people are convinced that most of today’s   26    problems are because of the “me” generation. Youngsters are just out for themselves and pay no   27   to others or their needs. Indeed, a common belief is that today’s youngsters won’t do anything   28  there is something in it for them.
Yet, while sledding, I saw a   29  side. I watched my two oldest children (then five and four) take my youngest(then two years old)by the hand to help her up the slippery slope  30   they went up. They would have been   31  without her, but not once did they try to sneak （溜掉）by her without helping. And when the sled  32  my two daughters was aimed toward the edge, it was my five year old son who ran to them to  33  them from falling and hurting themselves.
These children sometimes   34  among themselves and, on occasion, behave horribly. But I can  35  them shopping and know that they won’t ask for anything, I can talk to them about tsunami or hurricane victims and know that they will offer to  36  some of their own money to the cause, and I can ask them to play with those children  37  on the sideline(作为旁观者) and know that they will befriend（照顾）them.
Perhaps, therefore, the “me” generation is to blame  38   much of society’s problems—not the youngsters who want everything,   39  the adults who have taught themselves.
Most adults have been   41  at some time or another, sadly, many   42  that disappointment down to their children. Then the children learn to put themselves first!
Most young children want to help. We can  43  that feeling by teaching the lesson my children learned while sledding: Life is a slippery slope with  44  of bumps(撞伤) and bruises(擦伤), but we can all make it to the  45  if we remember to help those who need it.
26.A.social            B.private                C.serious                  D.slight
27.A.thought            B.attention                    C.permission             D.pleasure
28.A.if                         B.as                         C.while                        D.unless
29.A.same                    B.different                    C.strange                  D.moral
30.A.some time             B.any time                    C.each time                  D.the time
31.A.faster                   B.slower                   C.easier                        D.lighter
32.A.containing            B.loading                        C.driving                D.carrying
33.A.avoid                   B.stop                          C.help                          D.warn
34.A.cry                       B.cooperate                  C.assist                         D.fight
35.A.take                      B.drive                         C.accompany            D.guide
36.A.lend                        B.send                          C.collect                   D.pay
37.A.forgotten                 B.missed                  C.left                           D.ignored
38.A.of                        B.within                       C.on                               D.for
39.A.and                  B.but                           C.thus                          D.though
40.A.consider           B.speak                        C.believe                  D.think
41.A.depressed              B.surprised                   C.disappointed              D.embarrassed
42.A.extend                  B.intend                  C.pass                          D.spread
43.A.encourage             B.strengthen                 C.discourage                 D.approach
44.A.opportunities     B.occasions               C.promises                   D.fates
45.A.top                   B.bottom                  C.middle                  D.tip