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  3. As a wise man once said, we are all ultimately alone. But an increasing numb

As a wise man once said, we are all ultimately alone. But an increasing numb

游客2023-09-17  22
问题     As a wise man once said, we are all ultimately alone. But an increasing number of Europeans are choosing to be so at an ever earlier age. This isn’t the stuff of gloomy philosophical contemplations, but a fact of Europe’s new economic landscape, embraced by sociologists, real-estate developers and ad executives alike. The shift away from family life to solo lifestyle, observes a French sociologist, is part of the "irresistible momentum of individualism" over the last century. The communications revolution, the shift from a business culture of stability to one of mobility and the mass entry of women into the workforce have greatly wreaked havoc on(扰乱) Europeans’ private lives.
    Europe’s new economic climate has largely fostered the trend toward independence. The current generation of home-aloners came of age during Europe’s shift from social democracy to the sharper, more individualistic climate of American-style capitalism. Raised in an ear of privatization and increased consumer choice, today’s tech savvy(精通技术的) workers have embraced a free market in love as well as economics. Modern Europeans are rich enough to afford to live alone, and temperamentally independent enough to want to do so.
    Once upon a time, people who lived alone tended to be those on either side of marriage—twenty something professionals or widowed senior citizens. While pensioners, particularly elderly women, make up a large proportion of those living alone, the newest crop of singles are high earners in their 30s and 40s who increasingly view living alone as a lifestyle choice. Living alone was conceived to be negative—dark and cold, while being together suggested warmth and light. But then came along the idea of singles. They were young, beautiful, strong! Now, young people want to live alone.
    The booming economy means people are working harder than ever. And that doesn’t leave much room for relationships. PimpiArroyo, a 35-year-old composer who lives alone in a house in Paris, says he hasn’t got time to get lonely because he has too much work. "I have deadlines which would make life with someone else fairly difficult." Only an ideal woman would make him change his lifestyle, he says. Kaufmann, author of a recent book called "The Single Woman and Prince Charming", thinks this fierce new individualism means that people expect more and more of mates, so relationships don’t last long—if they start at all. Eppendorf, a blond Berliner with a deep tan, teaches grade school in the mornings. In the afternoon she sunbathes or sleeps, resting up for going dancing. Just shy of 50, she says she’d never have wanted to do what her mother did—give up a career to raise a family. Instead, "I’ve always done what I wanted to do: live a self-determined life."
选项 A、they are driven by an overwhelming sense of individualism
B、they have entered the work force at a much earlier age
C、they have embraced a business culture of stability
D、they are pessimistic about their economic future
答案 A
解析 由题干定位到文章首段第4句The shift away from family life to solo lifestyle，observes a French sociologist，is part of the "irresistible momentum of individualism" over the last century．语义题。题干问越来越多的欧洲年轻人单身的原因，而文中首段第4句引用一位法国社会学家的话指出从家庭生活向独身生活方式的转变是上个世纪“不可抗拒的个人主义势头”的一部分。也就是说，年轻人选择单身生活是“个人主义”的表现之一，也正是“个人主义”思想驱使着他们想要过独居生活，因此A是正确的。
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