Question

    What’s the point of studying? It’s something you might ask yourself if you’re studying for a degree and you’re struggling to complete homework or in an exam, especially if your friends seem to be out having a good time, or are working and earning lots of money.

Many of us choose to go to university as a first step towards a good career but sometimes that career is to go to university as a first step towards a good career but sometimes that career is hard to achieve and graduates end up doing something they are overqualified for. With the increasing costs of university, students begin to ask themselves whether a degree path is the best route into a career, There is a need for much better career advice and guidance into employment in addition to university education.

But other new research says that a degree will in the long run, earn you more. However there are differences in your earning potential. Dr Jack Britton says that “graduates of the 24 Russell Group universities earn an average of £33,500 after five years - about 40% more than those who studied at other universities.”

However, it has found it’s not just the location but other factors that can play a part in what you can earn, such as the subject a student chooses to study. It discovered that five years after graduation, the income gap between students who studied the subjects that attract the highest and lowest salaries can be considerable. Graduates in subjects such as law, medicine, dentistry as well, tend to do well. And as they progress, the pay gap between these careers and others, such as the creative arts, widens. There are factors too that influence what you might earn: Five years after graduation, men earn on average 14% more than women. Also, a student’s social background can have an effect, with those from better-off household much more likely to go to university and particularly a good one.

But if you still feel university doesn’t deliver the best opportunities then there are encouraging words from Alistair Jarvis, head of universities UK, who told BBC News that “Employs are demanding more graduates and graduates are half as likely to be unemployed as likely to be unemployed as non-graduates. There are many good graduate outcomes coming from universities” So may all that studying is worth it-after all ‘no pain, no gain’!

1.Why do students start to question whether to go to university or not?

A. Because of the heavy studying burden.

B. Because they can’t get a degree after graduation.

C. Because they don’t need a degree for their career.

D. Because of the increasing costs of university.

2.Which major may most probably lead to a lower-earning career?

A. Medicine. B. Law.

C. Creative arts. D. Dentistry.

3.Which of the following is most likely to be fired according to Alistair Jarvis?

A. Graduates. B. Non-graduates.

C. Doctors. D. Employers.

4.What can be inferred from this passage?

A. Russell Group universities are top ones.

B. Most students go to university to get a good career.

C. One’s location has no effect on his income.

D. Graduates often have more academic qualifications than required for a particular job.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。上大学获取一个学位可不是件容易的事。大多数人相信，获得大学文凭对一名毕业生的未来职业发展必有帮助。但这一纸文凭究竟有那么管用吗？学生所学习的专业会影响其未来的就业和收入吗？短文讨论在英国，学历和收入之间的关系。

1.细节理解题。由第二段“ With the increasing costs of university, students begin to ask themselves whether a degree path is the best route into a career”可知，随着大学费用的不断增加，学生们开始问自己，大学学位是否是进入职业生涯的最佳途径。所以为什么学生们开始质疑是否要上大学是因为大学费用的不断增加。故D选项正确。

2.细节理解题。由第四段“And as they progress, the pay gap between these careers and others, such as the creative arts, widens. ”随着这些职业的发展，这些职业和其他职业之间的收入差距也在扩大，比如创意艺术。所以创意艺术专业最有可能是收入较低的职业。故C选项正确。

3.推理判断题。由最后段“Employs are demanding more graduates and graduates are half as likely to be unemployed as likely to be unemployed as non-graduates”可知，就业要求更多的毕业生，毕业生失业的可能性是未受高等教育失业的可能性的一半。所以通过数字的对比，可以判断出未受高等教育的人更可能失业。故B选项正确。

4.推理判断题。由第三段“Dr Jack Britton says that “graduates of the 24 Russell Group universities earn an average of £33,500 after five years - about 40% more than those who studied at other universities.”可知，罗素集团24所大学的毕业生五年后的平均收入为33500英镑，比其他大学毕业生收入高出40%。所以通过五年后的平均收入（33500英镑）以及比其它大学收入高出的百分率（40%），可以判断出，罗素集团的大学是一流的。故A选项正确。