题目
A recent BBC documentary， The Town That Never Retired， sought to show the effects of increasing the state pension age by putting retirees back to work. Although the documentary was fun， they need not have bothered. Away from the cameras， a great numbers of older people are staying in work. Since the start of the economy declines that began in 2008， the number of 16 to 24-year-olds in work has fallen by 597，000. Over the same period the number of workers over the age of 65 has increased by 240，000. The greying of the British workforce dates back to around 2001， since when the proportion of older people working has nearly doubled. But it has accelerated since the start of the economy declines. There are several reasons why. Happily， people are living longer and healthier lives， which makes staying in work less daunting than it was. Less happily， low interest rates， a stagnant stock market and the end of many defined-benefit （固定收益） pension schemes make it a financial necessity. And changing attitudes， spurred by rules against age discrimination， are makingit easier than ever. Most older workers are simply hanging on at the office： 63% of workers over state pension age have been with their employer for more than ten years. Over two-thirds of them work part-time， mostly doing jobs that they once performed full-time. A big advantage is that they do not pay national insurance contributions-effectively a second income tax on younger workers. According to Stephen McNair， director of the Centre for Research into the Older Workforce， this flexibility explains why older workers have not suffered so much in the period of economy decline. Instead of cutting back the workforce， as in previous recessions， many firms have stopped taking on new workers and cut working hours. At small businesses in particular，keeping on older workers is cheaper and less risky than training replacements. Over half of workers over state pension age work for businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Christopher Nieper， who owns David Nieper， a women's wear manufacturer based in Derbyshire， prizes his semi-retired workers， who can be employed at short notice and do not need to work full-time to survive. Retired machinists can fill in if there is a surge in orders； former sales advisers can work as part-time consultants. As his competitors have moved production abroad， depleting the pool of trained labour， retaining older workers and their skills has become even more important. There is scope for the older workforce to expand. Workers over the age of 50 who are made unemployed find it harder to pick up new jobs， which could mean that more oldsters want to work than are able to. That would be good. The Office for Budget Responsibility， the fiscal watchdog， reported on July 12th that an ageing， unproductive population is the biggest long-term threat to Britain's economic health. Data from the OECD， a think-tank， shows that employment rates among workers approaching retirement age are split in Europe，with old workers hanging on best in the north. Government credit ratings follow a similar pattern. That Britain's ageing workforce more closely resembles Germany's than Italy's could prove the country's being saved from harm.（1）Which of the following can be inferred from the BBC documentary The Town That Never Retired？ ____ A. It has received good comments from the audience.B. What it intends to reveal is contrary to the reality.C. It aims to criticize the poor pension provision in the UK.D. It reflects the current phenomenon of retirees coming back to work.（2）According to the passage， "it" （Line 6， Para.2）refers to ____ .A. a financial necessityB. staying in work after retiringC. age discriminationD. the changing attitude（3）According to Christopher Nieper， why are semi-retired workers favored in hiring？ ____ A. Because the pool of labour in the UK is drained.B. Because they can fill in the job vacancy in a brief time.C. Because their working hours can be as flexible as they want.D. Because they work harder than the young because of economic pressure.（4）According to Paragraph 3， which of the following is TRUE about the older workers in the UK？ ____ A. Most of them are loyal to their former employers.B. Most of them rarely challenge themselves by seeking new types of jobs.C. They do not have to pay national income tax.D. 63% of them continue to work over the retirement age.（5）It can be concluded from the last paragraph that ____ .A. Britain's credit ratings are higher than Italy'sB. Britain's ageing workforce is similar to Italy'sC. Britain's rescue measure is better than Germany'sD. Britain's employment rates of ageing workforce are higher than Germany's
A recent BBC documentary， The Town That Never Retired， sought to show the effects of increasing the state pension age by putting retirees back to work. Although the documentary was fun， they need not have bothered. Away from the cameras， a great numbers of older people are staying in work. Since the start of the economy declines that began in 2008， the number of 16 to 24-year-olds in work has fallen by 597，000. Over the same period the number of workers over the age of 65 has increased by 240，000.
The greying of the British workforce dates back to around 2001， since when the proportion of older people working has nearly doubled. But it has accelerated since the start of the economy declines. There are several reasons why. Happily， people are living longer and healthier lives， which makes staying in work less daunting than it was. Less happily， low interest rates， a stagnant stock market and the end of many defined-benefit （固定收益） pension schemes make it a financial necessity. And changing attitudes， spurred by rules against age discrimination， are makingit easier than ever.
Most older workers are simply hanging on at the office： 63% of workers over state pension age have been with their employer for more than ten years. Over two-thirds of them work part-time， mostly doing jobs that they once performed full-time. A big advantage is that they do not pay national insurance contributions-effectively a second income tax on younger workers.
According to Stephen McNair， director of the Centre for Research into the Older Workforce， this flexibility explains why older workers have not suffered so much in the period of economy decline. Instead of cutting back the workforce， as in previous recessions， many firms have stopped taking on new workers and cut working hours. At small businesses in particular，keeping on older workers is cheaper and less risky than training replacements. Over half of workers over state pension age work for businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Christopher Nieper， who owns David Nieper， a women's wear manufacturer based in Derbyshire， prizes his semi-retired workers， who can be employed at short notice and do not need to work full-time to survive. Retired machinists can fill in if there is a surge in orders； former sales advisers can work as part-time consultants. As his competitors have moved production abroad， depleting the pool of trained labour， retaining older workers and their skills has become even more important.
There is scope for the older workforce to expand. Workers over the age of 50 who are made unemployed find it harder to pick up new jobs， which could mean that more oldsters want to work than are able to. That would be good. The Office for Budget Responsibility， the fiscal watchdog， reported on July 12th that an ageing， unproductive population is the biggest long-term threat to Britain's economic health.
Data from the OECD， a think-tank， shows that employment rates among workers approaching retirement age are split in Europe，with old workers hanging on best in the north. Government credit ratings follow a similar pattern. That Britain's ageing workforce more closely resembles Germany's than Italy's could prove the country's being saved from harm.
（1）Which of the following can be inferred from the BBC documentary The Town That Never Retired？ ____
A. It has received good comments from the audience.
B. What it intends to reveal is contrary to the reality.
C. It aims to criticize the poor pension provision in the UK.
D. It reflects the current phenomenon of retirees coming back to work.
（2）According to the passage， "it" （Line 6， Para.2）refers to ____ .
A. a financial necessity
B. staying in work after retiring
C. age discrimination
D. the changing attitude
（3）According to Christopher Nieper， why are semi-retired workers favored in hiring？ ____
A. Because the pool of labour in the UK is drained.
B. Because they can fill in the job vacancy in a brief time.
C. Because their working hours can be as flexible as they want.
D. Because they work harder than the young because of economic pressure.
（4）According to Paragraph 3， which of the following is TRUE about the older workers in the UK？ ____
A. Most of them are loyal to their former employers.
B. Most of them rarely challenge themselves by seeking new types of jobs.
C. They do not have to pay national income tax.
D. 63% of them continue to work over the retirement age.
（5）It can be concluded from the last paragraph that ____ .
A. Britain's credit ratings are higher than Italy's
B. Britain's ageing workforce is similar to Italy's
C. Britain's rescue measure is better than Germany's
D. Britain's employment rates of ageing workforce are higher than Germany's
The greying of the British workforce dates back to around 2001， since when the proportion of older people working has nearly doubled. But it has accelerated since the start of the economy declines. There are several reasons why. Happily， people are living longer and healthier lives， which makes staying in work less daunting than it was. Less happily， low interest rates， a stagnant stock market and the end of many defined-benefit （固定收益） pension schemes make it a financial necessity. And changing attitudes， spurred by rules against age discrimination， are makingit easier than ever.
Most older workers are simply hanging on at the office： 63% of workers over state pension age have been with their employer for more than ten years. Over two-thirds of them work part-time， mostly doing jobs that they once performed full-time. A big advantage is that they do not pay national insurance contributions-effectively a second income tax on younger workers.
According to Stephen McNair， director of the Centre for Research into the Older Workforce， this flexibility explains why older workers have not suffered so much in the period of economy decline. Instead of cutting back the workforce， as in previous recessions， many firms have stopped taking on new workers and cut working hours. At small businesses in particular，keeping on older workers is cheaper and less risky than training replacements. Over half of workers over state pension age work for businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Christopher Nieper， who owns David Nieper， a women's wear manufacturer based in Derbyshire， prizes his semi-retired workers， who can be employed at short notice and do not need to work full-time to survive. Retired machinists can fill in if there is a surge in orders； former sales advisers can work as part-time consultants. As his competitors have moved production abroad， depleting the pool of trained labour， retaining older workers and their skills has become even more important.
There is scope for the older workforce to expand. Workers over the age of 50 who are made unemployed find it harder to pick up new jobs， which could mean that more oldsters want to work than are able to. That would be good. The Office for Budget Responsibility， the fiscal watchdog， reported on July 12th that an ageing， unproductive population is the biggest long-term threat to Britain's economic health.
Data from the OECD， a think-tank， shows that employment rates among workers approaching retirement age are split in Europe，with old workers hanging on best in the north. Government credit ratings follow a similar pattern. That Britain's ageing workforce more closely resembles Germany's than Italy's could prove the country's being saved from harm.
（1）Which of the following can be inferred from the BBC documentary The Town That Never Retired？ ____
A. It has received good comments from the audience.
B. What it intends to reveal is contrary to the reality.
C. It aims to criticize the poor pension provision in the UK.
D. It reflects the current phenomenon of retirees coming back to work.
（2）According to the passage， "it" （Line 6， Para.2）refers to ____ .
A. a financial necessity
B. staying in work after retiring
C. age discrimination
D. the changing attitude
（3）According to Christopher Nieper， why are semi-retired workers favored in hiring？ ____
A. Because the pool of labour in the UK is drained.
B. Because they can fill in the job vacancy in a brief time.
C. Because their working hours can be as flexible as they want.
D. Because they work harder than the young because of economic pressure.
（4）According to Paragraph 3， which of the following is TRUE about the older workers in the UK？ ____
A. Most of them are loyal to their former employers.
B. Most of them rarely challenge themselves by seeking new types of jobs.
C. They do not have to pay national income tax.
D. 63% of them continue to work over the retirement age.
（5）It can be concluded from the last paragraph that ____ .
A. Britain's credit ratings are higher than Italy's
B. Britain's ageing workforce is similar to Italy's
C. Britain's rescue measure is better than Germany's
D. Britain's employment rates of ageing workforce are higher than Germany's
题目解答
答案
（1）B．推理判断题。根据第一段中的A recent BBC documentary，The Town That Never Retired，sought to show the effects of increasing the state pension age by putting retirees back to work.Although the results were entertaining，they need not have bothered.英国广播公司最近推出一部纪录片《永不退休的城镇》，该纪录片旨在表现通过促使退休人员重回工作岗位来提高国家退休年龄这一政策所带来的影响。片子虽然有趣，但影片制作者们真是杞人忧天了。可知，实际情况是人们到了退休年龄会主动要求继续工作，与这部纪录片所要表达的内容相反，故选B．
（2）B．代词指代题。根据第三段中的people are living longer and healthier lives， which makes staying in work less discouraging than it was.人们活得更长、更健康，这使得继续工作不再像以前那样令人沮丧。结合该段主题为英国劳动力老龄化及其原因，可知it指代退休后重返工作岗位，故选B．
（3）B．细节理解题。根据第六段中的Christopher Nieper，who owns David Nieper，a womenswear manufacturer based in Derbyshire，prizes his semi-retired workers.who Can be employed at short notice and do not need to work full-time to survive.Retired machinists call fill in if there is a surge in orders.克里斯托弗•尼珀是德比郡一家女装制造商大卫•尼珀的老板，他奖励他的半退休工人，他们可以在短时间内被雇佣，不需要全职工作就可以生存。如果订单增加，退休的机械师可以填补空缺。可知，克里斯托弗认为半退休工人在招聘中受到青睐是因为他们可以在短时间内填补空缺，故选B
（4）A. 推理判断题。根据第三段中的Most older workers are simply hanging on at the office： 63% of workers over state pension age have been with their employer for more than ten years. Over two-thirds of them work part-time， mostly doing jobs that they once performed full-time. （大多数年长的工人只是在办公室里继续工作：63%超过国家养老金领取年龄的工人已经为雇主工作了10年以上。超过三分之二的人从事兼职工作，大部分从事的是他们曾经全职从事的工作。）可知英国的大多数老员工都忠于他们的前雇主，由此可知答案选A.
（5）A．推理判断题。根据最后一段中的shows that employment rates among workers approaching retirement age are split in Europe，with old workers hanging Oil best in the north.Government credit ratings follow a similar pattern.That Britain's ageing workforce more closely resembles Germany's than Italy's could prove the country's salvation.可知，临近退休工人的就业率在欧洲是不平衡的，在北部的老年员工就业情况最好。政府的信用级别也与此成正相关。英国的老年劳动力更类似于德国而非意大利，这一点可以证实这个国家的自救措施在起作用。由此可知，英国的老年劳动力的就业情况好于意大利，所以其政府的信用级别要高于意大利，故选A．
（2）B．代词指代题。根据第三段中的people are living longer and healthier lives， which makes staying in work less discouraging than it was.人们活得更长、更健康，这使得继续工作不再像以前那样令人沮丧。结合该段主题为英国劳动力老龄化及其原因，可知it指代退休后重返工作岗位，故选B．
（3）B．细节理解题。根据第六段中的Christopher Nieper，who owns David Nieper，a womenswear manufacturer based in Derbyshire，prizes his semi-retired workers.who Can be employed at short notice and do not need to work full-time to survive.Retired machinists call fill in if there is a surge in orders.克里斯托弗•尼珀是德比郡一家女装制造商大卫•尼珀的老板，他奖励他的半退休工人，他们可以在短时间内被雇佣，不需要全职工作就可以生存。如果订单增加，退休的机械师可以填补空缺。可知，克里斯托弗认为半退休工人在招聘中受到青睐是因为他们可以在短时间内填补空缺，故选B
（4）A. 推理判断题。根据第三段中的Most older workers are simply hanging on at the office： 63% of workers over state pension age have been with their employer for more than ten years. Over two-thirds of them work part-time， mostly doing jobs that they once performed full-time. （大多数年长的工人只是在办公室里继续工作：63%超过国家养老金领取年龄的工人已经为雇主工作了10年以上。超过三分之二的人从事兼职工作，大部分从事的是他们曾经全职从事的工作。）可知英国的大多数老员工都忠于他们的前雇主，由此可知答案选A.
（5）A．推理判断题。根据最后一段中的shows that employment rates among workers approaching retirement age are split in Europe，with old workers hanging Oil best in the north.Government credit ratings follow a similar pattern.That Britain's ageing workforce more closely resembles Germany's than Italy's could prove the country's salvation.可知，临近退休工人的就业率在欧洲是不平衡的，在北部的老年员工就业情况最好。政府的信用级别也与此成正相关。英国的老年劳动力更类似于德国而非意大利，这一点可以证实这个国家的自救措施在起作用。由此可知，英国的老年劳动力的就业情况好于意大利，所以其政府的信用级别要高于意大利，故选A．