As more and more young Chinese complete their exodus from major metropolises to less polluted small towns, their counterparts in the US are increasingly finding themselves stuck in big cities. For decades, young people in the US flocked to New York, Los Angeles to build their careers before taking their earnings into the suburbs to raise families. That pattern appears to be fading now, as more young workers are staying put. According to an analysis of census data, before the recession, about 50,000 adults aged 25 to 34 left both the New York and Los Angeles metro areas annually. The recession diminished this flow. Fewer than 23,000 young adults left New York annually between 2010 and 2013. Only about 12,000 left Los Angeles—a drop of nearly 80 percent.Big cities offer highest-paying jobs for a generation that was starting their careers when the recession hit. But after a few years, they find it increasingly difficult to get an economic foothold that would allow them to leave. Earnings for full-time US workers aged 18 to 34 have fallen 10 percent since 2000, after adjusting for inflation. This drop means young people, many of whom are also shouldering big student loan debt, have had a hard time saving money and building the good credit needed to secure a mortgage and buy a house elsewhere. The mobility of young workers has been a tremendous asset to the US economy. In previous decades, cities like New York and Los Angeles attracted 20-somethings with educational or professional opportunities, and then those would migrate to places where they could settle down with a family. This geographic dispersal of highly-skilled workers meant the gains of states with stronger economies could be spread to those with weaker ones. But the new trend might have negative implications for the economy. If younger people move less, some could get stuck in jobs that aren’t good matches for them, reducing the economy’s productivity, making the labor force less flexible and less able to compete internationally in an era of rapid technological change and globalization, according to The Wall Street Journal.1. The meaning of the underlined word “exodus” (Para. 1) is closest to ________.A) vocationB) departure C) ambitionD) resolution2. What does the author say about young Americans in previous decades?A) They enjoyed life in major metropolises.B) They would raise families in the suburbs. C) They spent the whole life struggling in big cities.D) They would leave the big cities after retirement.3. How did the recession influence young people’s life?A) It provided them with more professional opportunities.B) It forced them to repay the bank loan as soon as possible.C) It made buying a house elsewhere impossible. D) It depressed people and made them feel less secure.4. What contributes to the US economy according to the passage?A) The high technology.B) The flow of young workers. C) The geographic advantage.D) The real estate industry.5. What does The Wall Street Journal say about the influence of the new trend?A) Young people have to change their jobs frequently.B) The workforce would become less competitive in the world. C) The technology will stop making progress.D) The populous metropolises may face serious housing problem.

As more and more young Chinese complete their exodus from major metropolises to less polluted small towns, their counterparts in the US are increasingly finding themselves stuck in big cities.  For decades, young people in the US flocked to New York, Los Angeles to build their careers before taking their earnings into the suburbs to raise families. That pattern appears to be fading now, as more young workers are staying put.  According to an analysis of census data, before the recession, about 50,000 adults aged 25 to 34 left both the New York and Los Angeles metro areas annually. The recession diminished this flow. Fewer than 23,000 young adults left New York annually between 2010 and 2013. Only about 12,000 left Los Angeles—a drop of nearly 80 percent. Big cities offer highest-paying jobs for a generation that was starting their careers when the recession hit. But after a few years, they find it increasingly difficult to get an economic foothold that would allow them to leave. Earnings for full-time US workers aged 18 to 34 have fallen 10 percent since 2000, after adjusting for inflation. This drop means young people, many of whom are also shouldering big student loan debt, have had a hard time saving money and building the good credit needed to secure a mortgage and buy a house elsewhere.  The mobility of young workers has been a tremendous asset to the US economy. In previous decades, cities like New York and Los Angeles attracted 20-somethings with educational or professional opportunities, and then those would migrate to places where they could settle down with a family. This geographic dispersal of highly-skilled workers meant the gains of states with stronger economies could be spread to those with weaker ones.  But the new trend might have negative implications for the economy. If younger people move less, some could get stuck in jobs that aren’t good matches for them, reducing the economy’s productivity, making the labor force less flexible and less able to compete internationally in an era of rapid technological change and globalization, according to The Wall Street Journal.1. The meaning of the underlined word “exodus” (Para. 1) is closest to ________.A)  vocationB)  departure C)  ambitionD)  resolution2. What does the author say about young Americans in previous decades?A)  They enjoyed life in major metropolises.B)  They would raise families in the suburbs. C)  They spent the whole life struggling in big cities.D)  They would leave the big cities after retirement.3. How did the recession influence young people’s life?A)  It provided them with more professional opportunities.B)  It forced them to repay the bank loan as soon as possible.C)  It made buying a house elsewhere impossible. D)  It depressed people and made them feel less secure.4. What contributes to the US economy according to the passage?A)  The high technology.B)  The flow of young workers. C)  The geographic advantage.D)  The real estate industry.5. What does The Wall Street Journal say about the influence of the new trend?A)  Young people have to change their jobs frequently.B)  The workforce would become less competitive in the world. C)  The technology will stop making progress.D)  The populous metropolises may face serious housing problem.