Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanican, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment—and therefore, more fixed incomes—and , second, employment in skilled or semi-skilled occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard-working and they look down upon members of the “low” class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.
Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college(especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents. (Home-owning rises with social class.)
A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success.
【小題1】 Which of the following is true about the working class?

Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanican, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment—and therefore, more fixed incomes—and , second, employment in skilled or semi-skilled occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard-working and they look down upon members of the “low” class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.

Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college(especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents. (Home-owning rises with social class.)

A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success.

1. Which of the following is true about the working class?

2. The word “hit” in paragraph one roughly means__________.

3. Most people in the working class ________.

4. Many members from the working class are not satisfied with their jobs because _____.

Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanican, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment—and therefore, more fixed incomes—and , second, employment in skilled or semi-skilled occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard-working and they look down upon members of the “low” class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.
Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college(especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents. (Home-owning rises with social class.)
A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success.

1. 1.

   Which of the following is true about the working class?

   1. A.
      They are often offered jobs with high incomes.
   2. B.
      They are employed as skilled and semi-skilled workers.
   3. C.
      They are often considered lazy and dishonest.
   4. D.
      They are often exploited by the public.
2. 2.

   The word “hit” in paragraph one roughly means__________.

   1. A.
      have bad effects on
   2. B.
      break up
   3. C.
      beat
   4. D.
      strike with a blow
3. 3.

   Most people in the working class ________.

   1. A.
      have at least some experience of college
   2. B.
      receive houses from their parents
   3. C.
      buy houses by themselves
   4. D.
      have difficulty increasing their savings greatly
4. 4.

   Many members from the working class are not satisfied with their jobs because _____.

   1. A.
      they are not interested in their jobs.
   2. B.
      they could not earn much money
   3. C.
      they are not their own bosses
   4. D.
      they could not rise in the ladder of success

Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanican, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment—and therefore, more fixed incomes—and , second, employment in skilled or semi-skilled occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard-working and they look down upon members of the “low” class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.

Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college(especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents. (Home-owning rises with social class.)

A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success.

1. Which of the following is true about the working class?

A. They are often offered jobs with high incomes.

B. They are employed as skilled and semi-skilled workers.

C. They are often considered lazy and dishonest.

D. They are often exploited by the public.

2. The word “hit” in paragraph one roughly means__________.

A. have bad effects on　　　　　 B. break up

C. beat　　　　　　　　　　　 D. strike with a blow

3. Most people in the working class ________.

A. have at least some experience of college

B. receive houses from their parents

C. buy houses by themselves

D. have difficulty increasing their savings greatly

4. Many members from the working class are not satisfied with their jobs because _____.

A. they are not interested in their jobs.

B. they could not earn much money

C. they are not their own bosses

D. they could not rise in the ladder of success

.

III 閱讀（共兩節, 滿分40分）

第一節 閱讀理解（共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分）

    閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

Carl’s parents had started a small grocery store and had built it over the years into a major supermarket. Carl now worked there full time.

He liked working at his parent’s business; it was an honest business. He had been brought up to be honest, to tell the truth, and more — he knew that there was such a thing as truth. A year ago, his homeroom teacher had said in front of the whole class:

“There is no such thing as truth.”

Carl Savinski had stood up and said, “That would make your statement false.”

“Huh?”

“That would make your statement false,” Carl had repeated. “If there is no such thing as truth, then your statement is not true. To say that there is no such thing as truth is absurd — you dumb piece of shit!”

Carl was expelled from school for two weeks. He didn’t go back. He joined his parent’s business instead.

In the past year he had learned that to be honest was not only the right thing to do but also the practical thing to do. He saw how his parents had built this business. He saw that they had made reasonable rules for the staff and employed them equally without favoritism. The staff liked working there and his parents had gained a competent work force that cared about the future of the company.

His parents had gained more customers by treating them honestly, by being fair, by giving them more value for their money. If produce was too old, they threw it out; they didn’t sell three-day old bread as fresh.

They stuck to terms with their suppliers: if payment was required in thirty days, they paid in thirty days. If a supplier accidentally shipped more than they were invoiced for, they paid for the extra; but if this happened too often, they changed suppliers. They built up honest relationships with their suppliers. And they gained: they were first to be offered a commodity in short supply, and first to receive a discount if a supplier was over stocked.

In the past year Carl Savinski saw with his own eyes, in his day-to-day job, that being honest paid. He saw that to be reasonable, to be honest, to tell the truth was practical — that one did not suffer a loss by being honest, but made a gain.

41. How long had Carl worked in his parents’ supermarket?

A. For half a year.                                         B. For more than a year.

C. For a year.                                                      D. For years.

42. What does the underlined word “expelled” mean?

A. cut off                 B. driven off              C. set off                   D. warned of

43. Why did the staff like working for Carl’s parents?

A. Because the staff were all equally paid without favoritism.

B. Because Carl’s parents made strict rules for their business.

C. Because the future of the company was really promising.

D. Because the regulations were effective and the staff were equally treated.

44. Which of the following can be seen as an honest operation of the company?

A. They gave more discounts by raising the price.

B. Their butcher cut more fat off the meat.

C. They changed suppliers for cheaper goods.

D. Their contracts are occasionally not carried out.

45. What does this story mainly tell us?

A. Being honest pays off.                                 B. Being honest makes a loss.

C. Not all people believe in truth.                      D. People have a false belief in truth.