In the ideal college, there would be no credits, no degrees, and no required courses. A person would learn what he wanted to learn. A friend and I attempted to put this ideal into action by starting a serials of seminars at Brandeis called “Freshman Seminars Introduction to the Intellectual Life.” In the ideal college, intrinsic education would be available to anyone who wanted it—since anyone can improve and learn. The student body might include creative, intelligent children as well as adults; morons as well as geniuses (for even morons can learn emotionally and spiritually). The college would be ubiquitous—that is, not restricted to particular buildings at particular times, and teachers would be any human beings who had something that they wanted to share with others. The college would be lifelong, for learning can take place all through life. Even dying can be a philosophically illuminating, highly educative experience.

　　The ideal college would be a kind of education retreat in which you could try to find yourself; find out what you like and want; what you are and are not good at. The chief goals of the ideal college, in other words, would be the discovery of identity, and with it, the discovery of vocation.

　　1.In the author’s opinion, the majority of education workers ___.

　　A.emphasize independent thought rather than well-memorized responses

　　B.tend to reward children with better understanding rather than with a goal for credits

　　C.implant children with a lot of facts at the expense of understanding the problem

　　D.are imaginative, creative and efficient in keeping up with our industrialized society

　　2.Children in the usual classroom learn very quickly when ___.

　　A.they are required to repeat what teacher has said

　　B.they read books that are not assigned by the teacher

　　C.they know how to behave themselves in face of the teacher

　　D.they can memorize the greatest number of facts in the shortest period of time

　　3.An extrinsically oriented education is one that ___.

　　A.focuses on oriented education

　　B.takes students’ need into account

　　C.lays emphases on “earning a degree”

　　D.emphasizes learning through discussion

　　4.To enter the author’s ideal college, a student ___.

　　A.has to pass an enrollment exam

　　B.should be very intelligent

　　C.needn’t worry about homework

　　D.can be best stimulated for creative work

　　5.The author’s purpose of writing the article is ___.

　　A.to advocate his views

　　B.to criticize college students

　　C.to stress self-teaching attitude

　　D.to put technological education to a later stage

　　答案：CACCA

　　Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the Protestant work ethic, still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological needs, the feeling of doing something for the good of the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work defines them; they are what they do. What happens, then when a person can no longer work?

　　Most Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire; but leaving one’s job, whatever it is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without jobs.

　　Retirement can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation is forcing prices higher each year; Social Security checks alone cannot cover Medicare (health care) and welfare (general assistance) but many senior citizens have to change their lifestyles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to but food, fuel, and other necessities.

　　Of course, many senior citizens are happy with retirement. They have time to spend with their families or to enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time; others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young people to get started in new business. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many opportunities for retirees.

　　Americans society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new housing, offering discounts in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services, such as free courses, food service, and help with housework.

　　Retired citizens are a rapidly growing percentage of the population. This part of the population is very important and we must respond to their needs. After all, every citizen will be a senior citizen some day.

　　1.The early immigrants considered work ___.

　　A.too hard

　　B.important

　　C.pleasant

　　D.dull

　　2.Why do Americans like working? Because working ___.

　　A.doesn’t only mean money but it is also psychological

　　B.can make life more comfortable

　　C.can prove people to be independent

　　D.gives people funny

　　3.We can safely put forward that retirees who ___.

　　A.have no financial problems still want to earn more money

　　B.have financial problems still feel lost

　　C.have no financial problems still feel lost

　　D.have no financial problems feels it’s hard to make ends meet

　　4.According to the passage the government ___.

　　A.hadn’t paid attention to the retirees’ problems

　　B.has already solved a lot of retirees’ problems

　　C.has just begun to pay attention to the retirees’ problems

　　D.won’t pay attention to the retirees’ problems

　　5.Which of the following is not steps taken for the benefit of senior citizens by the government?

　　A.New housing has been built.

　　B.The old are offered discounts in stores.

　　C.Senior citizens are provided free courses, food service.

　　D.None.

　　答案：BACCD