题目
For the past several decades， it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America： Get a college education， find a reliable job， and buy your own home． But do Americans still believe in that path， and if they do， is it attainable？ The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream， what it takes to achieve their goals， and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful． Overwhelmingly， the results show that today， the idea of the American dream-and what it takes to achieve it-looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century． By and large， people felt that their actions and hard work-not outside forces-were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out． But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy． In the last seven years， Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success． Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal， a majority-52 percent-think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful． Miguel Maeda， 42， who has a master's degree and works in public health， was the first in his family to go to college， which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did． While some， like Maeda， emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself， others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences． Sixty-year-old Will Fendley， who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree， thinks "personal drive" is far more important than just going to college． To Fendley， a sense of drive and purpose， as well as an effective high-school education， and basic life skills， like balancing a checkbook， are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America．（1）It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America， one had to have ____ ．A． a sense of drive and purposeB． an ambition to get aheadC． a firm belief in their dreamD． an advanced academic degree（2）How do some people view college education these days？ ____ A． It promotes gender equality．B． It helps broaden their minds．C． It needs to be strengthened．D． It adds to cultural diversity．（3）What is one factor essential to success in America， according to Will Fendley？ ____ A． A desire to learn and to adapt．B． A willingness to commit oneself．C． A strong sense of responsibility．D． A clear aim and high motivation．
For the past several decades， it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America： Get a college education， find a reliable job， and buy your own home． But do Americans still believe in that path， and if they do， is it attainable？
The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream， what it takes to achieve their goals， and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful． Overwhelmingly， the results show that today， the idea of the American dream-and what it takes to achieve it-looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century．
By and large， people felt that their actions and hard work-not outside forces-were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out． But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy．
In the last seven years， Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success． Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal， a majority-52 percent-think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful．
Miguel Maeda， 42， who has a master's degree and works in public health， was the first in his family to go to college， which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did．
While some， like Maeda， emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself， others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences．
Sixty-year-old Will Fendley， who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree， thinks "personal drive" is far more important than just going to college． To Fendley， a sense of drive and purpose， as well as an effective high-school education， and basic life skills， like balancing a checkbook， are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America．
（1）It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America， one had to have ____ ．
A． a sense of drive and purpose
B． an ambition to get ahead
C． a firm belief in their dream
D． an advanced academic degree
（2）How do some people view college education these days？ ____
A． It promotes gender equality．
B． It helps broaden their minds．
C． It needs to be strengthened．
D． It adds to cultural diversity．
（3）What is one factor essential to success in America， according to Will Fendley？ ____
A． A desire to learn and to adapt．
B． A willingness to commit oneself．
C． A strong sense of responsibility．
D． A clear aim and high motivation．
The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream， what it takes to achieve their goals， and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful． Overwhelmingly， the results show that today， the idea of the American dream-and what it takes to achieve it-looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century．
By and large， people felt that their actions and hard work-not outside forces-were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out． But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy．
In the last seven years， Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success． Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal， a majority-52 percent-think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful．
Miguel Maeda， 42， who has a master's degree and works in public health， was the first in his family to go to college， which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did．
While some， like Maeda， emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself， others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences．
Sixty-year-old Will Fendley， who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree， thinks "personal drive" is far more important than just going to college． To Fendley， a sense of drive and purpose， as well as an effective high-school education， and basic life skills， like balancing a checkbook， are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America．
（1）It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America， one had to have ____ ．
A． a sense of drive and purpose
B． an ambition to get ahead
C． a firm belief in their dream
D． an advanced academic degree
（2）How do some people view college education these days？ ____
A． It promotes gender equality．
B． It helps broaden their minds．
C． It needs to be strengthened．
D． It adds to cultural diversity．
（3）What is one factor essential to success in America， according to Will Fendley？ ____
A． A desire to learn and to adapt．
B． A willingness to commit oneself．
C． A strong sense of responsibility．
D． A clear aim and high motivation．
题目解答
答案
1． D．细节题．根据文章第一段内容，For the past several decades， it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America： Get a college education， find a reliable job， and buy your own home．在过去的几十年里，人们似乎对如何在美国取得成功达成了共识：接受大学教育，找到一份可靠的工作，然后买自己的房子．由此可知，以前人们普遍认为想要成功的话需要有一个好的学历，结合选项，故选D．
2．B．推理题．根据文章倒数第二段内容，others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences．其他人仍然认为大学是获得新观点和生活经验的一种方式．由此可知，现在很多人认为大学学历可以使得他们拓宽视野，结合选项，故选B．
3．D．细节题．根据文章最后一段内容， To Fendley， a sense of drive and purpose， as well as an effective high-school education， and basic life skills， like balancing a checkbook， are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America．对Will Fendley来说，一种驱动力和目标感，以及有效的高中教育和基本的生活技能，如平衡支票簿，是美国成功生活的必要因素．由此可知，对于Will Fendley而言，清楚的目标和超高的动力是成功的必要．结合选项，故选D．
2．B．推理题．根据文章倒数第二段内容，others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences．其他人仍然认为大学是获得新观点和生活经验的一种方式．由此可知，现在很多人认为大学学历可以使得他们拓宽视野，结合选项，故选B．
3．D．细节题．根据文章最后一段内容， To Fendley， a sense of drive and purpose， as well as an effective high-school education， and basic life skills， like balancing a checkbook， are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America．对Will Fendley来说，一种驱动力和目标感，以及有效的高中教育和基本的生活技能，如平衡支票簿，是美国成功生活的必要因素．由此可知，对于Will Fendley而言，清楚的目标和超高的动力是成功的必要．结合选项，故选D．
解析
考查要点：本题主要考查学生对文章细节的理解和推理能力，需要结合人物观点和文章主旨进行判断。
解题核心：
- 定位关键句：通过问题中的关键词（如“used to be commonly acknowledged”）快速定位原文对应段落。
- 区分观点差异：注意文中不同人物（如Miguel Maeda、Will Fendley）对大学教育的不同看法。
- 归纳总结：通过具体描述（如“drive and purpose”）匹配选项中的抽象表述。
第（1）题
关键句：第一段首句指出过去几十年的共识是“Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home”，明确强调大学教育是成功的关键。
选项分析：
- D选项“advanced academic degree”直接对应“college education”，其他选项未在原文提及。
第（2）题
关键句：倒数第二段提到“others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences”，说明部分人认为大学能拓宽视野。
选项分析：
- B选项“helps broaden their minds”与“new perspectives”语义一致，其他选项与原文无关。
第（3）题
关键句：最后一段中Will Fendley强调“drive and purpose”是成功必要因素。
选项分析：
- D选项“clear aim and high motivation”与“drive and purpose”完全对应。