During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realties. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.

　　In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Todays families have budgeted to the limits of theirs new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachuted they once had in times of financial setback a back-up earner who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This added-worker effect could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.

　　During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen and newly fashionable health-saving plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance have jumped eightfold in just one generation.

　　From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

　　1. Todays double-income families are at greater financial risk in that

　　A. the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.

　　B. their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.

　　C. they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.

　　D. they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.

　　2. As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may have

　　A. a higher sense of security.

　　B. less secured payments.

　　C. less chance to invest.

　　D. a guaranteed future.

　　3. According to the author, health-savings plans will

　　A. help reduce the cost of healthcare.

　　B. popularize among the middle class.

　　C. compensate for the reduced pensions.

　　D. increase the families investment risk.

　　4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that

　　A. financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.

　　B. the middle class may face greater political challenges.

　　C. financial problems may bring about political problems.

　　D. financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.

　　5. Which of the following is the best title for this text?

　　A. The Middle Class on the Alert

　　B. The Middle Class on the Cliff

　　C. The Middle Class in Conflict

　　D. The Middle Class in Ruins

　　1. C 细节事实题为什么今天的双职工家庭会面临更大的经济风险?根据原文第二段第四、五、六句可知选项C他们更易于受到家庭经济变化的影响是原文的同义替换，故为正确答案。选项A讲过去的安全网已经消失了。 disappear是一个文中未提及的信息;选项B被解雇的机会增加属于答非所问;选项D他们不能享受失业保险与原文第五句中的support，明显相反。

　　2. B 细节事实题。由于布什总统的改革，退休职工可能会如何?根据题干中的布什总统定位到原文第三段。根据第二段第四句For younger.families, the picture is not any better.年轻家庭日子也不会好过，既然年轻人日子也不好过，马上得知退休职工日子不好过。选项B安全性变差与原文意思相符。选项A更有安全感和选项D将来有保证都说明退休职工过得好，与原文意思相反;选项C更少的投资机会文中未提及退休职工是否投资。

　　3. D 细节事实题。根据作者观点，健康储蓄账户计划如何?选项A有利于减少健康护理的成本属于对词义的曲解，文中saving指的是储蓄账户，而非减少成本的概念;选项B在中产阶级中非常普及这一信息在文中未提及;原文第砚段第三句中their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns既然取决于投资，那么肯定是具有不确定性的，因此与选项C补偿减少的养老金意义相反;而选项D增加了家庭投资的不确定性是原文的同义替换。

　　4. C 推理题。从最后一段，我们推断出什么?根据选项，很明确应该对应原文末句The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.经济上的副作用已经显现，那政治上的副作用可能也不远了。选项A经济风险加剧了政治风险与原文意思相反;选项B中产阶级会面临更大的政治挑战是一个无中生有的比较;选项D经济责任心是政治身份的象征，其中的responsibility和status是文中没有出现过的概念。选项C经济问题可能引发政治问题为原文的同义替换。

　　5. B 主旨题。文章最好的标题是什么?选项A on the Alert警告，既然是警告，说明问题还没出现，与原文意义相反;选项C in Conflict冲突，文章中没有讲过冲突的概念;选项Din Ruins毁灭说明中产阶级已经崩溃，与原文不符。选项B on the Cliff岌岌可危符合原文，选项B为正确答案。

　　During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure had been transformed by economic risk and new realties. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.

　　In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Todays families have budgeted to the limits of theirs new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachuted they once had in times of financial setback a back-up earner who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This added-worker effect could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.

　　During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen and newly fashionable health-saving plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new dose of investment risk for families future healthcare. Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance have jumped eightfold in just one generation.

　　From the middle-class family perspective, much of this, understandably, looks far less like an opportunity to exercise more financial responsibility, and a good deal more like a frightening acceleration of the wholesale shift of financial risk onto their already overburdened shoulders. The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.

　　1. Todays double-income families are at greater financial risk in that

　　A. the safety net they used to enjoy has disappeared.

　　B. their chances of being laid off have greatly increased.

　　C. they are more vulnerable to changes in family economics.

　　D. they are deprived of unemployment or disability insurance.

　　2. As a result of President Bushs reform, retired people may have

　　A. a higher sense of security.

　　B. less secured payments.

　　C. less chance to invest.

　　D. a guaranteed future.

　　3. According to the author, health-savings plans will

　　A. help reduce the cost of healthcare.

　　B. popularize among the middle class.

　　C. compensate for the reduced pensions.

　　D. increase the families investment risk.

　　4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that

　　A. financial risks tend to outweigh political risks.

　　B. the middle class may face greater political challenges.

　　C. financial problems may bring about political problems.

　　D. financial responsibility is an indicator of political status.

　　5. Which of the following is the best title for this text?

　　A. The Middle Class on the Alert

　　B. The Middle Class on the Cliff

　　C. The Middle Class in Conflict

　　D. The Middle Class in Ruins

　　1. C 细节事实题为什么今天的双职工家庭会面临更大的经济风险?根据原文第二段第四、五、六句可知选项C他们更易于受到家庭经济变化的影响是原文的同义替换，故为正确答案。选项A讲过去的安全网已经消失了。 disappear是一个文中未提及的信息;选项B被解雇的机会增加属于答非所问;选项D他们不能享受失业保险与原文第五句中的support，明显相反。

　　2. B 细节事实题。由于布什总统的改革，退休职工可能会如何?根据题干中的布什总统定位到原文第三段。根据第二段第四句For younger.families, the picture is not any better.年轻家庭日子也不会好过，既然年轻人日子也不好过，马上得知退休职工日子不好过。选项B安全性变差与原文意思相符。选项A更有安全感和选项D将来有保证都说明退休职工过得好，与原文意思相反;选项C更少的投资机会文中未提及退休职工是否投资。

　　3. D 细节事实题。根据作者观点，健康储蓄账户计划如何?选项A有利于减少健康护理的成本属于对词义的曲解，文中saving指的是储蓄账户，而非减少成本的概念;选项B在中产阶级中非常普及这一信息在文中未提及;原文第砚段第三句中their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns既然取决于投资，那么肯定是具有不确定性的，因此与选项C补偿减少的养老金意义相反;而选项D增加了家庭投资的不确定性是原文的同义替换。

　　4. C 推理题。从最后一段，我们推断出什么?根据选项，很明确应该对应原文末句The financial fallout has begun, and the political fallout may not be far behind.经济上的副作用已经显现，那政治上的副作用可能也不远了。选项A经济风险加剧了政治风险与原文意思相反;选项B中产阶级会面临更大的政治挑战是一个无中生有的比较;选项D经济责任心是政治身份的象征，其中的responsibility和status是文中没有出现过的概念。选项C经济问题可能引发政治问题为原文的同义替换。

　　5. B 主旨题。文章最好的标题是什么?选项A on the Alert警告，既然是警告，说明问题还没出现，与原文意义相反;选项C in Conflict冲突，文章中没有讲过冲突的概念;选项Din Ruins毁灭说明中产阶级已经崩溃，与原文不符。选项B on the Cliff岌岌可危符合原文，选项B为正确答案。