[originaltext] Historically, the correlation between education and income ha

Historically, the correlation between education and income has been strong. But in the early 1970s, a contradiction developed between education and the economy. Our value of education and our average educational attainment outstripped the capacity of the economy to absorb the graduates. Experts have argued that this contradiction is at the heart of the problem of public education today. It is not, as business leaders claim, that the schools are failing to properly educate students, or that they are turning out young people who are inadequately prepared to function in the workplace.
    The real problem is a lack of economic opportunities for students who are not continuing on to college. College graduates are also having difficulty finding jobs. Even when they do, the jobs may not be in proportion to their training and expectations. Part of the problem is that too many young Americans aspire to have professional jobs, making disappointment and frustration inevitable for them.
    Many students assume that what is true of an individual—that the higher the education, the better the job opportunities—will also be true for the entire society. But when the number of better-educated young people becomes too great, the economy could no longer absorb them.
    Another part of the problem is the assumption that greater educational attainment guarantees career advancement. In fact, employers do not routinely reward educational attainment; rather, they reward it only when they believe it will contribute to the employee’s productivity. We should not overlook the fact that there is still a strong correlation between education, occupation and income. College graduates have a strong advantage over those with less education. But the payoff is neither as large nor as certain as it once was. Unfortunately, Americans have focused so strongly on the economic payoff that many consider their college education useless if it does not yield a desirable, well-paying job. Only in this sense can we speak of an “oversupply” of college graduates.
    We could argue that all or at least the majority of Americans would profit by some degree because higher education can enable the individual to think more deeply, explore more widely, and enjoy a greater range of experiences.
    Questions 23 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
    23. What is the contradiction between education and the economy since the early 1970s?
    24. What is the real problem causing the contradiction between education and the economy？
    25. What frustrates college graduates in the job market?