Question

    The classic model of education — a burst at the start and company training — is breaking down. One reason is the need for new and constantly updated skill. Manufacturing increasingly calls for brain work rather than manual labor.

Pushing people into ever-higher levels of formal education at the start of their lives is not the way to handle the problem. Just 16% of Americans think that a four-year college degree prepares students very well for a good job. Although a vocational education promises that vital first hire, those with specialized training tend to withdraw from the labor force earlier than those with general education perhaps because they are less adaptable.

At the same time on-the-job training is shrinking. In America and Britain it has fallen by roughly half in the past two decades. Self-employment is spreading, leaving more people to take responsibility for their own skills. Taking time out later in life to pursue a formal qualification is an option, but it costs money and most colleges are meant for youngsters.

The market is innovating to enable workers to learn and earn in new ways. Providers from General Assembly to Pluralsight are building businesses on the promise of improving careers. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have turned away from lectures on Plato or black holes in favor of courses that make their students more employable. At Udacity and Coursera self-improvers pay for cheap, short programs. By offering degrees online, universities are making it easier for professionals to polish their skills. A single master’s program from Georgia Tech could expand the annual output of computer-science master’s degrees in America by close to 10%.

Lifelong learning starts at school. As a rule, education should not be narrowly vocational. The curriculum needs to teach children how to study and think. A focus on “metacognition” (元认知) will make them better at picking up skills later in life.

1.Which is the reason why traditional education is failing?

A.It bursts educators’ bubble in the beginning. B.Companies can’t afford training fees.

C.Old skills can’t meet the present needs. D.It fails to develop one’s brain.

2.What can we infer from the text?

A.The more knowledgeable one is, the more likely he is to be employed.

B.Most Americans are poor at their studies in the college.

C.More than 80% of Americans have to be self-employed now.

D.Returning to college after working is not considered worthwhile.

3.What does the underlined word “innovating” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A.Reforming its system. B.Declining little by little.

C.Booming all at once. D.Wasting time and energy.

4.How do colleges adapt to the present education model?

A.They open online courses. B.They provide easier access to updated skills.

C.They pay for cheap short programs. D.They lower the standard for master’s degree.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了美国如今的教育现状，和为了使工人能够以新的方式学习和赚钱，市场所产生的一些创新，大学也通过提供在线学位来让专业人士更容易提高他们的技能。文章最后指出终身学习从学校开始。通常，教育不应该局限于职业。课程需要教会孩子如何学习和思考。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段The classic model of education — a burst at the start and company training — is breaking down. One reason is the need for new and constantly updated skill. Manufacturing increasingly calls for brain work rather than manual labor.可知，传统的教育模式——开始时的爆发式增长和公司培训——正在瓦解。原因之一是需要不断地更新新的技能。制造业越来越需要脑力劳动而不是体力劳动。由此可知，传统教育失败的原因是旧的技能不能满足现在的需要。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Taking time out later in life to pursue a formal qualification is an option, but it costs money and most colleges are meant for youngsters.可知，在以后的生活中抽出时间去追求一个正式的资格证书也是一个选择，但是这要花钱，而且大多数大学都是为年轻人准备的。由此可推知，工作后再上大学被认为是不值得的。故选D。

3.词句猜测题。结合后文to enable workers to learn and earn in new ways.可知，市场的体制正在改革创新，以使工人能够以新的方式学习和赚钱。由此可知，划线单词“innovating”意思为“改革体制”。故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中By offering degrees online, universities are making it easier for professionals to polish their skills.可知，通过提供在线学位，大学让专业人士更容易提高他们的技能。由此可知，大学通过提供更容易获得更新技能的途径，即在线学位，来适应当前的教育模式。故选B。