Americans of a"certain age"abound at the

练习题库2022-08-02  20

问题 Americans of a"certain age"abound at the upper levels of American governance.President Trump is the most obvious example.Just over half of US senators wrll be 65 0r older by the end of this year.On the Supreme Court,five of rtine justices are over 65.These"senior citizens"make crucial decisions for the majority of Americans younger than them.Just eight decades ago,when the Social Security system began,65 was codified as the start of"old age".Now many people of that age may feel in the prime of life.Measured by years alone,Americans are on average getting older.A popular notion is that a war is brewing between generations-young working Americans resenting that they must pay more into SociaJ Security and Medicare to support an expanding group of older Americans.There's truth in that sentiment.I,ast year,there were 25 people over 65 for every 100 people between 18 and 64.And the worker-to-retiree ratio is projected to be even worse by 2030.But that idea is being challenged.To begin with,programs like Social Security and Medicare can be adjusted,as ihey have in the past.while certain trends,such as Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections.A pair of new government reports show that funding for Medicare will run out in 2026.The Social Security trust fund will dry up by 2034.Despite these warnings,modest fixes are available,including making small changes in the age of eligibility that recognize lengthening life spans.Even that step may not be needed.By one estimate,increasing the Social Security payroll tax by 2.88 percentage points could eliminate the expected revenue shortfall for another three-quarters of a century.But actuarial tables,however useful for government planning,shouldn't impose artificial limits on what older Americans do.Aging isn't what it used to be.Today,75-year-olds on average will live just as many additional years as the average 65-year-old did in 1952.Categorizing by age can be just as harmful as by gender or race.Labeling people by an age category is a receiit phenomenon.The idea of being"middle aged"wasn't popularized until after World War I.Marketing continues to classify Americans by calendar years,walling off the beneficial effects of older and younger people rubbing shoulders.Companies are beginning to consider age diversity to be as important as racial and gender diversity.Some observers suggest businesses try the"shoe test":Look under desks.If everyone's wearing the same kind of shoes-whether wingtips or slipper-the business would benefit from more diversity.Today,suggests one expert,Americans have an opportunity to make a"fresh map of life itself",throwing off outworn ideas about aging.Policies that encourage older Americans to expand the possibilities of their"senior years"will help change limited perceptions and benefit all of society.Which of the following best represents the author's view?A.The worry about an aging society is in fact groundless.B.The new government report-s find little support.C.Delaying full retirement is a dangerous tendency.D.Issues arising from an aging society can be tackled.

选项 A.The worry about an aging society is in fact groundless.
B.The new government report-s find little support.
C.Delaying full retirement is a dangerous tendency.
D.Issues arising from an aging society can be tackled.

答案 D

解析 第三段指出,“人口老龄化将会给年轻人形成巨大的经济负担”这一看法正受到挑战:虽然政府报告警告“医保资金和社保基金数年之后将会枯竭”,但可以通过温和乎段进行解决,甚至无需推迟退休年龄,只需将社会保障工资税增加2.88%就可以填补未来75年的缺口。可见D.正确。[解题技巧]A.对第三段首句But that idea is being challenged断章取义,该内容说明“对老龄化社会的担忧可以解决”.且文中指出“担忧有据可依”(政府报告已警告社保基金枯竭,劳动者VS退休者之比确实在变糟)。B.错误理解⑤句转折之后信息:该内容并非指“政府报告不实、缺乏根据”,而是指“尽管有这些警告,但问题可以修复解决”。C.将Americans delaying full retirement,could alter the projections(“推迟完全退休趋势”有助于改变“老龄化将导致社保枯竭”这一预测)错误理解为“推迟完全退休是一种危险的趋势”。
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