首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself fin
During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself fin
admin
2017-06-11
99
问题
During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realties. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.
In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect; family risk has risen as well. Today’s families have budgeted to the limits of theirs new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachuted they once had in times of financial setback—a back-up earner(usually Mom)who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This " added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise stay at home partner.
During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen—and newly fashionable health-saving plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families’ future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent—and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance—have jumped eightfold in just one generation.
From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.
According to the author, health-savings plans will______.
选项
A、help reduce the cost of healthcare
B、popularize among the middle class
C、compensate for the reduced pensions
D、increase the families’ investment risk
答案
D
解析
本题是细节题。A项“有利于减少健康护理的成本”属于对词意的曲解,文中saving指的是“储蓄账户”,而非“减少成本”;B项“在中产阶级中非常普及”这一信息在文中未提及;原文的第三段提到“their guaranteed payments for payments depending oninvestment returns”,C项“补偿减少的养老金”与此意义相左;D项“增加了家庭投资的不确定性”是原文的同义替换。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/vkFO777K
0
考博英语
相关试题推荐
Almostsincethebeginningofmankind,governmentshavebeenrecordingthenumbersoftheirpopulace.Thefirstknowncensusrepo
Overthepasttwodecades,thelivesofAmericanwomenhaveundergoneunparalleledchange.TheVirginiaSlimsOpinionPollhasc
Thereisnodenyingthatstudentsshouldlearnsomethingabouthowcomputerswork,justasweexpectthematleasttounderstand
Todaythiscityisahighlyskilledsocietywithouttheurbansprawlandruralpovertythatusually_____largernations.
Whenmostpeoplethinkaboutchangingtheirbodyshape,theyusuallyfocusonjustlosingweight.Booksandmagazinesaboutdieti
Whenaninventionismade,theinventorhasthreepossible【C1】______ofactionopentohim:hecangivetheinventiontotheworl
Therearethreegeneralmethodspeopleusetoexplainandunderstandtheirworld:beliefs,pseudo-science,andscience.Whata
Therearethreegeneralmethodspeopleusetoexplainandunderstandtheirworld:beliefs,pseudo-science,andscience.Whata
Today’sworkerisnolongerwillingtoworkinanauthoritariananddehumanizingenvironment.Workerswantmeaningintheirwork
Despitethefactthatthetwocouncilmembersbelongedtodifferentpoliticalparties.They______theissueofhowtofinanceth
随机试题
手工矫正薄板和厚板的方法不同,但基本原理都是一样的,都是通过一定的手段来调整钢板的松紧情况,使其达到均匀,从而使钢板矫正。
流体电阻法判断出水层的原理是什么?实施方法及其特点是什么?
有机玻璃是指()。
简述社会学研究筹划阶段的主要工作。
男性,50岁,肝区持续性钝痛2个月,疼痛可牵涉至右肩部,伴乏力,消瘦明显,食欲减退,有恶心、低热症状,来门诊就诊。查体发现右肋下可扪及肿大之肝脏,质地坚硬。根据病史及初步体检结果,哪一种疾病最可能
控制爆破可采用分段毫秒爆破方法,其最大段用药量Q按下式计算:R=(K/V)1/2.Q.M,式中与地质条件有关的参数是( )。
2007年1月1日,甲向乙签发了一张出票后3个月付款的银行承兑汇票,该汇票已经依法由A银行承兑,乙于2007年4月20日向A银行提示付款,下列说法中正确的是()。
【2013年淄博市属文昌湖区】心理因素在疾病的发生、发展中起主要作用的躯体疾病称为()。
()是公安工作的政治灵魂。
某市甲、乙两厂均生产一种“记忆增强器”产品。甲厂产品的质量比乙厂产品好得多,因而其市场占有率远远高于乙厂。王某是甲厂技术人员。乙厂为提高本厂的市场占有率,付给王某一大笔“技术咨询费”,获取其提供的甲厂技术秘密。乙厂运用这些技术对自己的产品进行了改进。同时,
最新回复
(
0
)