Question

    Tuition and fees for a four-year private college averaged $35,830 in 2018-19; at four-year, in-state public colleges, it was $10,230, according to the College Board. And that’s not even adding in room and board or other expenses.

By the end of last year, the amount families actually paid was $26,458, on average, according to Sallie Mae’s 11th annual “How America Pays for College” report. That’s up from $23,757 in the year earlier.

Income and savings from parents and students combined covered nearly half, or 47 percent of that amount in 2017-2018, up from 44 percent the year earlier, the education lender found. “Some families do pay 100 percent out of pocket while some others do get a full ride, which means their children gain a full scholarship,” said Marie O’Malley, the senior director of consumer research at Sallie Mae. “Typically, though, people rely on a number of different resources to pull it together.”

Scholarships, in fact, were the single most-used resource to pay for an undergraduate’s college bill. The share of college costs covered by scholarships and grants - money that does not have to be paid back - accounted for 28 percent of the total expense. The average total award among those who used one or more scholarships was $7,760, Sallie Mae said. Of course, many families also borrow to pay for school. Borrowed money, or loans, covered nearly a quarter, or 24 percent of the bill, down from 27 percent the year before. Contributions from grandparents or other relatives or friends paid for the remainder.

The report surveyed about 800 parents of children aged 18-24 enrolled as undergraduate students and nearly 800 undergraduate students aged 18-24 online.

1.How much did the typical American family pay last year for college on average?

A.$35,830 B.$10,230 C.$26,458 D.$23,757

2.Which of the following best explains “out of pocket” underlined in paragraph 3?

A.borrowing from others B.at their own expense

C.free of charge D.with nothing rewarded

3.What kind of American college tuition has decreased in percentage compared with the year earlier?

A.loans B.savings

C.scholarships D.parents’ income

4.What contributes to the most part of the college expenses except the income and savings?

A.borrowed money B.money from relatives

C.money from banks D.scholarships

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章是关于美国大学生的学费支付情况的调查。一部分孩子的学费是用奖学金支付的，还有一些是通过贷款或者借款支付。通过后者支付的人的比例比过去减少了，而且从调查来看，除了收入和存款外，奖学金占支付大学费用的比例最大。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段By the end of last year, the amount families actually paid was $26,458, on average,可知，到去年末，平均来看，家庭实际支付的金额为$26,458。因此平均来看，去年典型的美国家庭支付的大学费用为$26,458。故选C。

2.词句猜测题。根据下划线后的句子while some others do get a full ride, which means their children gain a full scholarship可知，而另一些人靠的是全额奖学金，这一句与划线词所在的句子Some families do pay 100 percent out of pocket是转折关系，说明有些家庭是百分之百自费支付学费。根据上下文语境可以判断出，out of pocket的意思是自费。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段Borrowed money, or loans, covered nearly a quarter, or 24 percent of the bill, down from 27 percent the year before.可知，借钱或者贷款的占4分之一，或者占24% ，比去年的27%有所下降。因此，与之前相比，贷款的美国大学学费的百分比减少。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段Scholarships, in fact, were the single most-used resource to pay for an undergraduate’s college bill. The share of college costs covered by scholarships and grants - money that does not have to be paid back - accounted for 28 percent of the total expense.可知，事实上，奖学金是支付大学生学费的唯一最常用的资源。奖学金和助学金支付的大学费用占总费用的28%。由此可知，除了收入和存款外，奖学金是支付大学费用的最大部分。故选D。