Teenagers in America know that they’ll possibly need technical skills to find good jobs, but a new survey reveals that interest in technology-related careers may be decreasing.
The percentage of boys aged 13 to 17 who are interested in science, technology,engineering and math ---or STEM ---careers dropped from 36 percent in 2017 to 24 percent this year, according to a survey by Junior Achievement USA. The amount of girls interested in STEM careers stayed unchanged at II percent.
But the 1, 000 survey participants still named technology as one of two key skills that will be necessary to prepare them for their future careers.
"Kids don' t understand how technology can be applied to careers in addition to computers, and maybe robotics, "said Tammera L. Holmes, president of aviation consulting firm AeroStar Consulting(航空资询公司).“That’s all they know, so they can’t really translate that interest to career pathways. "
When Holmes was in high school, her mom sent her to an event that featured (以......为专题 )the pilots from World War II. One of the pilots took her for a ride and let her take the wheel. immediately that was the career for me. " she said.
Women remain outnumbered(超过) by men in fields like technology. For people working to increase the number of women in these areas, the lack of growth in girls interest in STEM careers is concerning.
Teenage girls are more interested than their male classmates in running after careers in which they can help others, said Ed Grocholski from Junior Achievement. Even with all the programs aimed at increasing girls' interest in STEM, "I don’t think we really talk that much about how we improve people’s lives through STEM, " Grocholski said.
Society needs to do better at making those connections for kids, said Katherine Latham, founder of an engineering firm. She used civil engineering as an example of a career that will continue to be important.
However, the fact that students know they will need tech skills in their future careers is encouraging.
The second skill they said they need is relationship-building.
"That's going to be the new type of engineers, " Latham said.
40. What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some successful of kids searching tech careers. |
B.Reasons behind teenagers decreasing interest in tech careers. |
C.The difference in choice of jobs between boys and girls in America. |
D.The popularity of tech careers among kids and its reasons. |
41. What is the reason behind kid’s losing interest in tech careers?
A.They see tech careers as boring. |
B.They find tech skills less important than before. |
C.They don' t think tech careers can bring rewards |
D.They can’t connect their tech interest with future careers. |
42. What can we learn from Grocholski's words?
A.STEM careers have nothing to do with people' s lives. |
B.Teenage girls are interested in running after STEM careers. |
C.The relationship between STEM careers and the improvement of people’s lives isn’t explained enough. |
D.Teenagers don' t know how to improve people’s lives through STEM. |
43. What aroused Holmes’ interest in her career?
A.A summer camp for pilots. |
B.Her parents' wish for her. |
C.A report about the life of pilots |
D.Her flight experience with a pilot. |
44. According to Grocholski, teenage girls are more interested in careers that____.
A.can make them look attractive |
B.can make friends with other people |
C.can make people’s lives better |
D.are different from those of their parents |