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
In her novel of "Reunion, American Style", Rona Jaffe suggests that a class reunion "is more than a sentimental journey. It is a
In her novel of "Reunion, American Style", Rona Jaffe suggests that a class reunion "is more than a sentimental journey. It is a
admin
2012-05-08
33
问题
In her novel of "Reunion, American Style", Rona Jaffe suggests that a class reunion "is more than a sentimental journey. It is also a way of answering the question that lies at the back of nearly all our minds: Did they do better than I?"
Jaffe’s observation may be misplaced but not completely lost. According to a study conducted by social psychologist Jack Sparacino, the overwhelming majority who attend reunions aren’t there invidiously to compare their recent accomplishments with those of their former classmates. Instead, they hope, primarily, to relive their earlier successes.
Certainly, a few return to show their former classmates how well they have done; others enjoy observing the changes that have occurred in their classmates (not always in themselves, of course). But the majority who attend their class reunions do so to relive the good times they remember having when they were younger. In his study, Sparacino found that, as high school students, attendees had been more popular, more often regarded as attractive, and more involved in extracurricular activities than those classmates who chose not to attend. For those who turned up at their reunions, then, the old times were also the good times!
It would appear that Americans have a special fondness for reunions, judging by their prevalence. Major league baseball players, fraternity members, veterans groups, high school and college graduates, and former Boy Scouts all hold reunions on a regular basis. In addition, family reunions frequently attract blood relatives from faraway places who spend considerable money and time to reunite.
Actually, in their affection for reuniting with friends, family, or colleagues, Americans are probably no different from any other people, except that Americans have created a mind-boggling number and variety of institutionalized forms of gatherings to facilitate the satisfaction of this desire. Indeed, reunions have increasingly become formal events that are organized on a regular basis, and in the process, they have also become big business.
Shell Norris of Class Reunion, Inc., says that Chicago alone has 1,500 high school reunions each year. A conservative estimate on the national level would be 10,000 annually. At one time, all high school reunions were organized by volunteers.
The first college reunion was held by the alumni of Yale University in 1792. Graduates of Pennsylvania. Princeton, Stanford, and Brown followed suit. And by the end of the 19th century, most 4-year institutions were holding alumni reunions.
The variety of college reunions is impressive. At Princeton, alumni parade through the town wearing their class uniforms and singing their alma mater. At Marietta College, they gather for a dinner-dance on a steamship cruising the Ohio River.
Clearly, the thought of cruising on a steamship or marching through the streets is usually not, by itself, sufficient reason for large numbers of alumni to return to campus. Alumni who decide to attend their reunions share a common identity based on the years they spent together as undergraduates. For this reason, universities that somehow establish a common bond -- for example, because they are relatively small or especially prestigious — tend to draw substantial numbers of their alumni to reunions. In an effort to enhance this common identity, larger colleges and universities frequently build their class reunions on participation in smaller units, such as departments or schools. Or they encourage "affinity reunions" for groups of former cheerleaders. editors, fraternity members, musicians, members of military organizations on campus, and the like.
Of course, not every alumnus is fond of his or her alma mater. Students who graduated during the late 1960s may be especially reluctant to get involved in alumni events. They were part of the generation that conducted sit-ins and teach-ins directed at university administrators, protested military recruitment on campus and marched against "establishment politics". If this generation has a common identity, it may fall outside of their university ties — or even be hostile to them. Even as they enter their middle years, alumni who continue to harbor unpleasant memories of college during this period may not wish to attend class reunions.
What is the passage mainly about?
选项
A、Reasons for popularity and (non)attendance for alumni reunions.
B、A historical perspective for alumni reunions in the United States.
C、Alumni reunions and American university traditions.
D、Alumni reunion and its social and economic implications.
答案
A
解析
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/ztiO777K
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
A、Longrangeinvestments.B、Profitableinvestments.C、Thenumberofinvestingcountries.D、Thenumberofcountriesreceivingfor
ItwastheEnglishscientist-philosopherFrancisBaconwhosaid,"Knowledgeitselfispower."Thisisanimportantdictum,buti
NationalParksInAmerican【1】,priorityisgiventotheamusementofthepublic.ButfortheNationalParks,thepriorityis【
______canbesimplydefinedasthestudyofmeaning.
WHO,workingcloselywithitsMemberStates,otherUnitedNationsagenciesandnon-governmentalorganizations,isfocusingonma
A、threatenedUSshores.B、lashedtheLouisianaorupperTexascoast.C、hittheCaribbeanislandsveryclosetoMiami.D、erupted
EconomicconditionshaveimprovedduringthepastdecadeinmanyNorthAmericanandEuropeanCBDs,primarilybecauseofanunpre
EconomicconditionshaveimprovedduringthepastdecadeinmanyNorthAmericanandEuropeanCBDs,primarilybecauseofanunpre
AspectsThatMayFacilitateReadingⅠ.DeterminingyourpurposeA.Readingfor【1】______:likereadingthelatestHarryPott
Athrongofbeardedmen,insad-coloredgarmentsandgraysteeple-crownedhats,intermixedwithwomen,somewearinghoodsandot
随机试题
A.夺气B.郑声C.谵语D.少气热扰心神的表现是
导致感觉性共济失调的原因是()
关于枕先露的分娩机转,正确的是
酶能加速化学反应的进行是由于哪一种效应
欲编制某地区某特定人群的寿命表,需利用该人群的
产品市场相对占有率较高,但行业成长率较低,是()业务的表现。
王甲应邀到朋友孙乙家吃饭,席间,孙乙家的宠物狗将王甲咬伤。饭后,孙乙开始兴高采烈向王甲炫耀,自己家祖传的宝贝“明朝的免死金牌”,价值40万元。王甲请孙乙展示给自己看,王甲觉得这宝贝很有价值,便问孙乙能不能卖给自己,孙乙说:都是朋友,30万元卖给你
2016年年初某企业进行2015年的所得税汇算清缴,自行申报的产品销售收入为700万元,减除成本、费用、税金后,利润总额为-15万元。经税务师事务所进行所得税审计,发现下列问题:(1)企业发生的业务招待费10万元全额列入管理费用。(2)财务费用中有支付
商品的价值
A、 B、 C、 D、 B
最新回复
(
0
)