Generations of people in the United States have seen higher education as the best path towards a well-paying and satisfying job. But the cost of attending colleges and universities in the country has increased greatly over the last 30 years. And there is no guarantee that earning a degree will lead to a job that pays a person enough to support a family.
So, some people turn to other forms of education and training. These include programs that lead to credentials(证书) that prove a person's abilities in a given field, from construction to healthcare. These kinds of programs often cost less than traditional degree programs. And they usually take less time to complete.
New research, however, suggests that these programs are not helping women as much as they are helping men. It is found that about 27 percent of adults in the country hold at least one of these credentials. Adults who had one of these non-degree credentials made more money and were more likely to be employed than those who did not.
Yet the public policy research group New America found some troubling information within that data. Experts there found that men and women earn these credentials at about the same rate. But men who have the same credentials as women are more likely to be employed. They also make more money.
For example, 74 percent of men with a certificate but no four-year college degree were employed. By comparison, 67 percent of women with a certificate but no four-year degree were employed.
In terms of pay, 46 percent of women with a credential but no four-year degree made less than $30,000 a year. The same was true for 25 percent of men. Seventeen percent of men with only a non-degree credential earned more than$75,000. Just five percent of women with similar credentials earned that much.
1. What is the advantage of nontraditional degree programs?| A．Free of charge. | B．Less expensive. |
| C．Interesting to attend. | D．Popular with employers. |
| A．Women lost interest in non-degree programs. | B．Men looked down upon women. |
| C．Men and women are not equal. | D．Women are unwilling to work. |
| A．46%, | B．25%. |
| C．17%. | D．5%. |
| A．Non-degree Programs Benefit Men and Women Unequally |
| B．Non-Degree Programs Replace the Traditional Universities |
| C．It's Unfair That Men and Women Get Paid Differently |
| D．College Costs Are Becoming Higher and Higher |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Baby seabirds that have not yet hatched communicate with their siblings (兄弟姐妹) in neighboring eggs by vibrating (震动) their shells (蛋壳), scientists have discovered.
A study of yellow-legged gulls revealed one of the known examples of embryo-to-embryo communication. When exposed to the alarm calls of an adult bird responding to a dangerous predator, developing chicks apparently were able to convey the presence of danger to their nest mates by vibrating inside their eggs.
The team collected 9 yellow-legged gull eggs from Sálvora Island and sorted them into nests of three. When the eggs were six days off hatching, two of the three eggs in each nest were temporarily removed from the nest and exposed to either a recording of a predator alarm call or white noise each day until the chicks hatched. The noise was delivered four times a day at random for three minutes at a time. The third egg from each group remained in the nest.
It was found that the embryos in the shells responded to the external alarm calls by vibrating and sounding less, and that this message appeared to be passed on to the third nestmate. It was seen to copy the vibrations. It experienced genetic changes and had an increase in the production of stress hormones (荷尔蒙) as well.
“This kind of communication—embryo to embryo—can generate developmental changes that can have potential benefits to the birds after hatching,” said Noguera, the lead author of the study.
A rise in stress hormones makes birds more aware of their surroundings after hatching. When hatched chicks were exposed to alarm sounds, it was found that those who had listened to the noises previously in the eggs were quicker to run away and hide.
Noguera said the phenomenon was likely to occur in other bird species. His team now plans to investigate whether the chicks are able to pick up other clues about their external environment before hatching, such as how many other eggs are in the nest.
1. What do the unhatched birds mean to do by vibrating shells?| A．Fight with a predator. | B．Play with their nest mates. |
| C．Seek care from adult birds. | D．Warn others of danger. |
| A．The theoretical base of the experiment. | B．The subjects of the experiment. |
| C．The process of the experiment. | D．The findings of the experiment. |
| A．The presence of danger. | B．The external environment. |
| C．The third egg in the nest. | D．The embryo-to-embryo communication. |
| A．It makes them mature earlier. | B．It helps them adapt to life after hatching. |
| C．It allows them to develop physically. | D．It strengthens bonds with their siblings. |
【推荐2】I have some important information. The average American... Oh, wait.〈ding!〉New notification. CNN: something about Taylor and Travis. Hmmm.〈ding!〉And our dog food is out for delivery.〈ding!〉A winter sales promotion of soap and socks. Whew....
The average American reportedly gets about 70 smartphone notifications a day. And according to a new study, the number is far higher for teenagers, whose phones ding hundreds or even thousands of times. This constant sound puts us off from work, life, and each other.
“The simple ding of a notification is enough to pull our attention elsewhere,” Kosta Kushlev, a behavioral scientist at Georgetown University, told us. “Even if we don’t check them. This can have obvious effects on productivity, but also our own well-being and of those around us. Humans are not good at multitasking. It takes extra time and effort to switch our attention. We get interrupted so many times a day that these effects can add up to meaningful decreases in our well-being and social connection,” he added.
I am grateful to learn that the Bears have won. I’m eager for messages from my family. But I wonder why The New York Times feels it is urgent to inform me, as they did this week, about “The 6 Best Men’s and Women’s Sweaters”.
This is, of course, a circumstance mostly of our own creation, constructed click by click. We can choose to check notifications just a couple of times a day. But does that risk delay, real or imagined, in seeing something we really need to see? Or that would simply delight us?
The promise of instant communication has grown into information congestion (拥堵). So many urgent notifications, not many of which are truly urgent; and only a few are even interesting. So many hours spent staring at the small screen, and searching for news, gossip, opportunity, and direction, while so often being unaware of the world all around us.
1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?| A．Americans favor new notifications. | B．Smartphones can promote products. |
| C．New notifications constantly interrupt. | D．Push notification technology is advanced. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Favorable. | C．Doubtful. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．The prospect of push notifications looks promising. |
| B．Push notifications help users understand the world a lot. |
| C．Most of the instant notifications are unimportant. |
| D．Smartphone users should search for information directly. |
| A．Fewer Dings, Please! | B．Times Have Changed! |
| C．Information Era Is Approaching. | D．Smartphone Addiction Has Increased. |
【推荐3】Cartoons suit the way we like information to be presented these days: vividly and in small amounts. We are used to cartoons and comic series that take a biting look at modern life or provide a bit of escapism. But recently we have seen an increase in the number of comic books: book-length comics with a single, continuous narrative. Historically, comic books were not popular outside France, Belgium, Japan, and the US. The exception is the worldwide popularity of a young reporter-detective from Belgium, Tintin.
The creation of the Belgian cartoonist Herge, The Adventures of Tintin first appeared in a Belgian newspaper in 1929. Each story appeared as a cartoon series week by week, but soon after was republished in book form. One of the main attractions for readers was that they were taken to parts of the world they had never seen and probably never would: Russia, Congo, America. Herge himself only traveled outside Belgium later in life, but his passion was educating his readers about other cultures and places.
Two things set Herge apart as a comic novelist. The first was his technical drawing skills: with just a few simple lines he could communicate a particular facial expression or movement. The second was the careful research he put into his stories. In The Crab with the Golden Claws, Tintin follows an opium-smuggling (鸦片走私) ring to North Africa; in King Ottakar’s Scepter, he makes an attempt at a military coup (政变) in a central European country. While telling these stories, Herge also made a fine balance between serious topics and humor.
Tintin had more than his fair share of adventures, but perhaps the greatest is his journey to the Moon, told in Destination Moon and Explorers on the Moon. Written in 1953, sixteen years before the first Moon landing, the stories show a remarkable eye for technical detail and feeling for the nature of space travel. In the early 1950s, few could imagine what it was like to be looking down at our planet from outer space. And that is Herge’s true gift: to understand what a place was like without ever having been there.
1. What can be learned about comic books from the passage?| A．They mostly involve detective stories. |
| B．They present information in small amounts. |
| C．They are taking a positive look at modern life. |
| D．They were popular outside Belgium historically. |
| A．The stories were the first comic novel published in book form. |
| B．The stories used to be cartoon series that appeared week by week. |
| C．The stories had a good balance between serious topics and humor. |
| D．The stories enabled them to learn about places they had never been to. |
| A．To show Herge had a good sense of humor. |
| B．To show Herge liked touching on serious topics. |
| C．To illustrate Herge based stories on research results. |
| D．To illustrate Herge was expert at technical drawing skills. |
| A．Creative. | B．Devoted. |
| C．Serious. | D．Humorous. |
【推荐1】The world is filled with smart, talented, educated and gifted people. We meet them every day. A few days ago, my car was not running well. I pulled it into a garage and the young mechanic had it fixed in just a few minutes. He knew what was wrong by simply listening to the engine. I was amazed. The sad truth is that great talent is not enough.
I am constantly shocked at how little talented people earn. I heard the other day that less than 5 percent of Americans earn more than $100,000 a year. A business consultant who specializes in the medical trade was telling me how many doctors and dentists struggle financially. It was this business consultant who gave me the phrase, “They are one skill away from great wealth.”
There is an old saying that goes, "Job means 'just over broke（破产）’".And unfortunately, I would say that the saying applies to millions of people.Because schools do not think financial intelligence is intelligence, most workers "live within their means".They work and they pay the bills.Instead I recommend to young people to seek work for what they will learn, more than what they will earn.
When I ask the classes I teach, “How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald's?” ,almost all the students raise their hands. I then ask, “So if most of you can cook a better hamburger, how come McDonald's makes more money than you?” The answer is obvious: McDonald's is excellent at business systems. The world is filled with talented poor people. They focus on perfecting their skills at building a better hamburger rather than the skills of selling and delivering the hamburger.
1. The author mentions the mechanic in the first paragraph to show that__________.| A．he is just one of the talented people | B．he is ready to help others |
| C．he has a sharp sense of hearing | D．he knows little about car repairing |
| A．spend more than they can afford | B．do in their own way |
| C．live in their own circle | D．live within what they earn |
| A．They don’t work hard enough | B．They lack financial intelligence. |
| C．They don't make full use of their talents | D．They have no specialized skills. |
| A．how young people can find a satisfactory job | B．What schools should teach about finance |
| C．why so many talented people are poor | D．how McDonald's makes much money |
Older workers who take courses to keep their skills up-to-date will be more likely to keep their jobs, claims David Willetts, the higher education minister. He said the age limit on student loans to cover tuition fees had been lifted, making a degree course “great value” for older people. His comments followed a government report which found that the country's future economic success would depend on the skills and contributions of older workers.
One in four people will be older than 65 by 2033 and economists have warned thatthe ageing population will place a heavy burden on taxpayers unless more people work for longer. The state pension age is to rise to 67 by 2028. Ministers have warned that they have no idea when younger workers in their thirties will be able to retire.
Mr Willetts, who is accompanying David Cameron in India, urged workers older
than 60 to give further education serious consideration.“There is certainly a
pressure for continuing to get retrained and upskilled，”he said.“Higher education has an economic benefit in that if you stay up-to-date with knowledge and skills you will be more employable.”
Mr Willetts said a university course had “wider” benefits, making people more likely to lead healthy lives.“Education is such a good thing that it is not reserved for only younger people，” he said.“ There will be people of all ages who will want to study. There is great value in lifelong learning.” Under previous rules, students in England would get a loan to cover tuition fees only if they were younger than 54.
Latest figures showed that only 1,940 undergraduates starting courses last year were older than 60, out of a total of 552,240 students in Britain. Some 6,455 were aged between 50 and 60, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
1. We can learn from Paragraphs 1 & 2 that older workers ________.
| A．have no chance to get a loan to cover tuition fees |
| B．may hold back the country's future economic success |
| C．are encouraged to go back to university and retrain |
| D．should be retrained after retirement |
pension in 2028 in Britain.
| A．54 | B．67 | C．65 | D．60 |
| A．People of all ages can receive different education. |
| B．There is no need for workers older than 60 to receive further education. |
| C．University courses have nothing to do with a healthy life. |
| D．Education is only provided for younger people. |
| A．Britain: entering the ageing state |
| B．Over60s are told: go back to university and retrain |
| C．The situation of education in Britain |
| D．The system of pension in Britain |
【推荐3】With almost all big employers in the United States now using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in their hiring processes, the public is considering some urgent questions: How can you prevent discrimination in hiring when a machine is keeping the discrimination? What kind of methods might help?
Some 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, now use some form of automated tools as part of their hiring process, said the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s ( EEOC) chair Charlotte Burrows, at a hearing on Tuesday. She said everyone needs to speak up on the debate over these technologies. “The risks are simply too high to leave this topic just to the experts.”
Last year, the EEOC issued some guidance around the use of cutting-edge hiring tools, noting many of their shortcomings. The agency found that resume( 简历) scanners which prioritize keywords and programs which evaluate a candidate’s facial expressions and speech patterns in video interviews can create discrimination. Take, for example, a video interview that analyses an applicant’s speech patterns to determine their ability to solve problems. A person with a speech problem might score low and automatically be screened out. The problem will be for the EEOC to root out discrimination or stop it from taking place.
The EEOC is considering the most appropriate ways to handle the problem. It’s agreed that inspections are necessary to ensure that the software used by companies avoids intentional or unintentional discrimination. But who would conduct those inspections is a more challenging question. Each option presents risks, Burrows pointed out. A third party may turn a blind eye to its clients, while a government-led inspection could potentially stop innovation.
In previous remarks, Burrows has noted the great potential that AI decision making tools have to improve the lives of Americans, but only when used properly. “We must work to ensure that these new technologies do not become a high-tech pathway to discrimination,” she said.
1. What does Burrows suggest people do?| A．Make their own voice heard. | B．Follow the experts’ suggestions. |
| C．Stop using AI in hiring processes. | D．Watch debates about technologies. |
| A．By scanning keywords. | B．By evaluating resumes. |
| C．By analyzing personalities. | D．By assessing speech patterns. |
| A．High expense. | B．Unfair results. |
| C．Age discrimination. | D．Innovation interruption. |
| A．Favourable. | B．Disapproving. | C．Cautious. | D．Doubtful. |
【推荐1】If you’ve ever had trouble getting your teen up in the morning or you’ve seen your teen fall asleep during the school day, you’re not alone. Many teens have difficulty in waking up early for school, and that’s because they sleep late at night.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Adolescent Sleep Working Group reviewed studies about sleep in teens. Researchers studied the harmful effects of not getting enough sleep — anything less than 8.5 to 9 hours of sleep on school nights — could have on young people. They discovered not getting enough sleep may cause poor grades at school. Not getting enough sleep has also been connected to a higher risk of car accidents in teens.
It may seem as though the way to solve the problem would be for teens to just go to sleep earlier. But researchers say that isn’t likely to work. Teens experience physical changes that make falling asleep earlier difficult. Their biological clocks just won’t allow them to fall asleep at 8 p.m., even when they’re tired.
Studies have shown that just delaying (推迟) school by 30 minutes can have a great effect on a teen’s health and performance. So most researchers suggest the school start time be delayed until at least 8:30 a.m. for teenagers.
Some of the benefits could include:
·Teens may be more likely to get the necessary amount of sleep.
·The delayed start time could help teens sleep during their natural sleep.
·Teens may be less likely to depend on coffee to stay awake during the day.
·Enough sleep could help teens study better in class, which could help them do better in exams.
·Sleeping longer could reduce health problems caused by a lack of sleep in the long term.
·Getting home later in the afternoon may reduce the amount of time when some teens are home alone, and could reduce the possibility that teens will take part in unhealthy activities.
But doing that can also cause some problems.
1. What does Paragraph 1 show?| A．Many teens find school too boring. |
| B．Many teens fail to get enough sleep. |
| C．Today’s teens have many difficulties. |
| D．Today’s teens are too lazy to get up early. |
| A．All today’s teens have poor grades at school. |
| B．Teens should get at least 8.5 hours of sleep daily. |
| C．Today’s teens are in danger because of car accidents. |
| D．Teens can be negatively influenced by not getting enough sleep. |
| A．Because their homework is too much. |
| B．Because they love staying up late at night. |
| C．Because their physical changes make it hard. |
| D．Because they are excited. |
| A．The disadvantages of starting school later. |
| B．The benefits of getting enough sleep for students. |
| C．The methods of helping students get enough sleep. |
| D．The advantages of putting off the school start time. |
【推荐2】Because computer knowledge is important in our society today, many parents believe that the earlier their children begin to use the computer, the better. Accordingly, most children are spending a large amount of time on computers during their preschool years. But is it healthy for preschoolers to use computers? And if so, how can parents decide how much computer time is proper?
Some studies have shown that using computers from an early age has several advantages. Computer classes are given in most kindergartens and grade schools, so preschoolers who have already become familiar with the operation of the keyboard and mouse come out top in their studies. They may also have an advantage if they have the chance to play educational games, from which they can learn language and math.
The greatest benefits, though, are gained when preschoolers use computers side by side or when they work with adults. In these situations, preschoolers develop cooperative (合作的) problem-solving skills. They also have the chance to communicate with others, which will reinforce their overall learning.
In spite of many benefits, experts also point out disadvantages of preschool computer use.
Preschoolers’ muscles (肌肉) and bones are still developing, but computers and furniture, especially at home, are seldom set up properly for them. “Most parents,” says Peter Buckle of the Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics, “seem unaware of the possible dangers of preschoolers sitting for long periods unsupported, with necks and wrists (手腕) damaged.”
Another problem arises when parents put educational games into computers and believe it’s better for their preschoolers to play these games than sit in front of a TV. Educational expert and teacher Jane Healy disagrees. She doesn’t believe there is much difference between the two. “Simply watching a screen is not the same as real mental activity.” Healy says. She suggests that reading together, having family discussions, or playing are much more valuable. Besides, Healy also questions whether some popular computer games have educational value. “Some,” she says, “may even damage creativity, attention and motivation (动力) .”
To make the computer valuable for you and your preschoolers, you need to decide on rules and time limits. When purchasing software for your preschoolers, look for programs that offer many different functions, which can help improve preschoolers’ creativity and ability to solve problems. Above all, try your best to stay with your preschoolers rather than leaving them alone before the computer.
Here are some additional tips:
★Adjust （调整）the computer and furniture for your preschoolers’ use;
★Manage your preschoolers’ computer activities;
★Limit the amount of time your preschoolers spend on the computer.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 2 that _____.| A．computers are good for preschoolers’ learning |
| B．most preschoolers are familiar with computers |
| C．preschoolers shouldn’t use computers too early |
| D．preschoolers can learn to use computers easily |
| A．Protect. | B．Strengthen. |
| C．Continue. | D．Praise. |
| A．parents have realized the dangers of preschoolers’ using computers |
| B．using computers has many advantages for preschoolers |
| C．improper computer use can lead to health problems |
| D．preschoolers are developing too fast nowadays |
| A．forbid their preschoolers to watch TV |
| B．join in their preschoolers’ practical activities |
| C．encourage their preschoolers’ creativity |
| D．realize that educational computer games are valuable |
| A．give their preschoolers enough time to play computer games |
| B．place the computer and furniture properly |
| C．purchase all kinds of computer programs |
| D．stay with their preschoolers when they are using computers |
| A．Preschoolers shouldn’t use computers. |
| B．Computers have their advantages and disadvantages. |
| C．Preschoolers have benefited a lot from using computers. |
| D．Parents should help their preschoolers use computers properly. |
【推荐3】It's no secret that homework is stressful. But in recent decades, researchers have begun to wonder whether the anxiety it produces outweighs its benefits. One study in particular, from Stanford University, found too much homework not only leads to stress but causes difficulty sleeping, and other physical problems such as headaches.
Given this research, it was only a matter of time before schools began experimenting with a solution: removing homework altogether . The first to make news of trying this was an elementary school in Montreal, where the principal（校长）said he wanted his young students to be "playing" after school instead of working.
But now a school in Sweden has taken it a step further: banning not only homework but tests. The high school, located in a small town called Boden, reportedly informed its students of the new policy, aimed to reduce stress, in February. "It was my idea," Petronella Sirkka, principal of the Sturenskolan School said." The students express that they are relieved, since they were under a lot of pressure during our school year."
Sturenskolan’s homework and test ban has met mixed reviews in the town. But that hasn’t stopped Sirkka from pushing onward. Sirkka said that the curriculum（课程）her students study “is complex” and “places extremely high demands” on them individually. The anxiety that Sirkka’s solution is aimed at dealing with isn't unique to Sweden. Research shows that young Americans are more anxious than ever.
Although there are many contributing factors to the increasing anxiety among teens, the burden of homework is real. The research found that too much homework, along with adding stress, leads to decreasing socialization with friends and family.
1. What effect does homework have on students according to the study?| A．Homework has no benefits for children at all. |
| B．Children's health has been affected by homework. |
| C．Children with much homework suffer from headaches. |
| D．Students' physical problems are mostly related to homework. |
| A．Ask people for advice on homework. |
| B．Ask students to do difficult homework in class. |
| C．Forbid all the homework and tests formally. |
| D．Have students express themselves to reduce stress. |
| A．The students in the Sturenskolan School will feel relieved in class. |
| B．The students in the Sturenskolan School will be under greater pressure. |
| C．Her solution to dealing with anxiety is unique to all the Sweden. |
| D．Courses in the Sturenskolan School are complex and demanding. |
| A．Some schools ban homework to reduce stress. |
| B．Homework and tests have put children in trouble. |
| C．Teachers and parents should care for their children. |
| D．Stress is a big problem for most children at school. |
