Question

It seems like people today are more easily offended than ever before.

If smoking in an elevator or talking in a movie theater were normal in the past, they are considered to be rude today. We used to be obliged to answer whatever questions a family elder directed our way, but now when a prying (爱打听的) relative asks about our test grades or dream university --- information that we’d rather keep to ourselves --- we feel offended, even if they mean well.

The boundary between “politeness” and “rudeness” has changed over the years, especially among young people.

But this change doesn’t just go one way --- things that used to be considered rude may also go across to the other side of the boundary. For example, to stand up for themselves, some youths may try to make statements by using phone cases printed with phrases like “Leave me alone” or “None of your business”. In their eyes, this is more like being independent than being rude.

“These phenomena involve rejecting previously moral order to ignore insults, recognize the good intentions of those who accidentally give offense, and be charitable (体谅的) toward those with whom we disagree,” wrote Time. “They suggest a new morality.”

And this fresh morality is introduced by a new group of people. According to The Economist, young people, or millennials (千禧一代), are “the best-educated generation ever”, which is why they tend to be more conscious about their privacy and personal space. They are also freer than previous generations, more eager to explore the world and refuse to be tied down by elders’ rules.

But there are, of course, people who think that millennials have gone too far to defend their own needs. An earlier Time article called millennials the “Me Me Me Generation”, saying that they are self-involved, less grateful and less tolerant of people.

But Lauren Martin, a lifestyle writer in the US, and a millennial herself, has a theory.

“Our generation is an anomaly (与众不同的事物),” she wrote on Elite Daily. “We refuse to do things their way, so they call us entitled. We refuse to sit in cubicles (办公室隔间), so they call us spoiled. We refuse to follow their plans, so they call us stubborn. What they are slowly realizing, however, is we’re not lazy, stubborn or entitled. We just refuse to accept things as they’re given to us.”

1.What is the article mainly about?

A. Why people today are more easily offended.

B. The definition of “politeness” and “rudeness”.

C. The morality of millennials and some views on it.

D. Key characteristics of the millennial generation.

2.What can we conclude from the first four paragraphs?

A. A prying relative always makes people feel offended.

B. Many young people can’t tell politeness from rudeness.

C. Young people today are more independent than ever.

D. Traditional morality has been rejected by some.

3.According to The Economist, millennials ______.

a. are more curious about the outside world.

b. are less thankful and understanding.

c. are more concerned about their privacy.

d. are more likely to challenge elders’ rules.

e. enjoy more freedom and are self-involved

A. a, b, c    B. a, c, d    C. b, d, e    D. c, d, e

4.What does Lauren Martin think of millennials?

A. They are too stubborn to listen to others.

B. They cannot get along well with others.

C. They have their own ways of viewing things.

D. They should adjust their way to defend their own needs.

5.What does the underlined word “entitled” mean?

A. Arrogant.    B. Lazy.    C. Conscious.    D. Independent.

Answer

1. C

2. D

3. B

4. C

5. A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述的是千禧一代的道德观和关于它的一些观点。

1.主旨大意题。根据第六段this fresh morality is introduced by a new group of people. According to The Economist, young people, or millennials (千禧一代), are “the best-educated generation ever”, which is why they tend to be more conscious about their privacy and personal space. They are also freer than previous generations, more eager to explore the world and refuse to be tied down by elders’ rules. 这种全新的道德是由一群新的人提出的。据《经济学人》报道，年轻人，或者说千禧一代，是“受教育程度最高的一代”，这就是为什么他们更关注自己的隐私和个人空间。他们也比前几代人更自由，更渴望探索世界，拒绝被长辈的规矩束缚。和第七段But there are, of course, people who think that millennials have gone too far to defend their own needs. An earlier Time article called millennials the “Me Me Me Generation”,当然，也有一些人认为千禧一代在捍卫自己的需求上做得太过了。早些时候的一篇文章将千禧一代称为“Me Me Me Me Generation”，称他们自我中心、不感恩、不宽容。可知，文章讲述的是千禧一代的道德观和关于它的一些观点。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第五段中“These phenomena involve rejecting previously moral order to ignore insults, recognize the good intentions of those who accidentally give offense, and be charitable (体谅的) toward those with whom we disagree,”可知，从前四段我们可以得出传统道德已经被一些人所摒弃。故选D。

3.排序题。根据第六段中which is why they tend to be more conscious about their privacy and personal space. They are also freer than previous generations, more eager to explore the world and refuse to be tied down by elders’ rules.可知，根据经济学家的说法，这就是为什么千禧一代更在意自己的隐私和私人空间。他们也比前几代人更自由，更渴望探索世界，拒绝被长辈的规矩束缚。故选B。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“We refuse to do things their way, so they call us entitled. We refuse to sit in cubicles (办公室隔间), so they call us spoiled. We refuse to follow their plans, so they call us stubborn. ---”可知，Lauren Martin认为千禧一代他们有自己看待事物的方式。故选C。

5.词义猜测题。根据最后一段中We refuse to do things their way, so they call us entitled. We refuse to sit in cubicles (办公室隔间), so they call us spoiled. We refuse to follow their plans, so they call us stubborn. 我们拒绝按他们的方式做事，所以他们说我们高傲。我们拒绝坐在小隔间里，所以他们说我们被宠坏了。我们拒绝听从他们的计划，所以他们说我们固执。由此推知划线词的意思是“高傲的”，故选A。