Question

    If Thelma Richards continues to pay $917 a month, every month, for the foreseeable future, she’ll pay off her student loans by the end of 2042. The problem is, by then she’ll be 87 years old. “I don’t think I’m going to live that long,” she says, laughing. “I’m not joking!” Richards, 65, who lives in Little Falls, N.Y., represents a growing number of older Americans, who are now more likely than ever to hold student debt well into retirement age. According to a January report from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the number of Americans aged 60 and older carrying student debt doubled in the past five years.

The rapid rise in older Americans taking on student loans has two main causes. The first is that parents and grandparents are co-signing loans to support the younger generation. The second is that older Americans are increasingly taking student loans for themselves. With blue-collar jobs decreasing, people in their 40s and 50s are going back to school to acquire new skills.

Richards, for example, who worked as a waitress while raising three children as a single mom, went back to college in her 40s to earn a degree in occupational treatment. While her new profession produces a higher income and health care benefits, it has also left her with a lifetime of debt. Trends leave older borrowers in a bind. They have less time in the workforce and are more likely to become ill, often in a weaker position to pay back loans. Making monthly payments on a fixed income is also more difficult than it is for younger borrowers, whose incomes are more likely to grow.

According to the CFPB report, more than a third of those aged 60 and older with student debt had given up medical care to afford their loan payments. And there’s no way out. Robert Farrington, the founder of the website the College Investor, says one main piece of advice for older borrowers is simply to avoid any loan that isn’t repayable in 10 years. “Remember,” he says, “if you don’t pay, they’ll come after you.”

1.How much should Thelma Richards pay from 1st April 2030 to 31st December 2050 for the student loan according to the passage?

A.Approximately $129,300 B.Approximately $140,300

C.Approximately $217,300 D.Approximately $228,300

2.For whom do Americans take student loans according to the passage?

A.Children. B.Grandparents.

C.The government. D.Themselves or kids.

3.Which of the following is NOT a reason why it is difficult for Americans to pay off student loans?

A.The banks are too greedy. B.They easily become ill.

C.Some have to attend school. D.Their work time is reduced.

4.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A.Student Loan Cannot Be Paid in America

B.The Government Should Reduce Student Loan

C.Retirees Shoulder a Bigger Share of Student Debt

D.Student Debt is the Biggest Trouble in America

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一片说明文。文章讲述了美国接受学生贷款的老年人迅速增加这一现象及其原因。

1.细节理解题。由第一段If Thelma Richards continues to pay $917 a month, every month, for the foreseeable future, she’ll pay off her student loans by the end of 2042.可知，如果西尔玛·理查兹在可预见的将来继续每月支付917美元，她将在2042年底还清她的学生贷款。从2030年4月到2042年12月，一共12年加9个月，(12×12+9)×917 = 140,301。故选B项。

2.细节理解题。由第二段The first is that parents and grandparents are co-signing loans to support the younger generation. The second is that older Americans are increasingly taking student loans for themselves. With blue-collar jobs decreasing, people in their 40s and 50s are going back to school to acquire new skills.可知，首先，父母和祖父母共同签署贷款来支持年轻一代。第二，越来越多的美国老年人自己承担学生贷款。随着蓝领工作岗位的减少，四五十岁的人又回到学校学习新技能。由此可知，美国人为自己或孩子承担学生贷款。故选D项。

3.细节理解题。由第二段With blue-collar jobs decreasing, people in their 40s and 50s are going back to school to acquire new skills.可知，随着蓝领工作岗位的减少，四五十岁的人又回到学校学习新技能。再由第三段的Trends leave older borrowers in a bind. They have less time in the workforce and are more likely to become ill, often in a weaker position to pay back loans.可知，趋势让年长的借款人陷入困境。他们的工作时间更少，更容易生病，往往无力偿还贷款。由此可知，老年借款人陷入困境，是因为他们需要去上学学习新技能，那么在工作中的时间更少，而且更容易生病，往往无力偿还贷款。故选A项。

4.主旨大意题。由第一段最后一句the number of Americans aged 60 and older carrying student debt doubled in the past five years.(60岁及以上的美国人背负学生债务的人数在过去五年中翻了一番)，第二段第一句The rapid rise in older Americans taking on student loans has two main causes.(美国老年人迅速增加的学生贷款有两个主要原因)，第三段最后一句Making monthly payments on a fixed income is also more difficult than it is for younger borrowers, whose incomes are more likely to grow.(固定收入的月供也比较年轻的借款人更困难，因为他们的收入更有可能增长)和最后一段第一句more than a third of those aged 60 and older with student debt had given up medical care to afford their loan payments.(在60岁及以上的学生中，超过三分之一的人放弃了医疗保健，以支付他们的贷款)可知，整篇文章主要介绍了退休者的负担比过去更重了，肩负着更多的学生贷款。故选C项。