A
In many developed countries, people who have high degrees begin to work longer than those who don't. About 65% of American men aged 62－74 with a professional degree are in the workforce (劳动人口), compared with 32% of men who only finish high school. This gap is part of a deepening divide between the welleducated wealthy and the unskilled poor. Rapid technological advance has raised the incomes of the highly skilled while squeezing those of the unskilled. The consequences, for individuals and society, are profound.
The world is facing an astonishing rise in the number of old people, and they will live longer than ever before. Over the next 20 years the global population of those aged 65 or more will almost double, from 600 million to 1.1 billion. The experience of the 20th century, when greater longevity (长寿) translated into more years in retirement rather than more years at work, has persuaded many observers that this shift (变化) will lead to slower economic growth, while the swelling (渐增的) ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems.
Policies are partly responsible. Many European governments have abandoned policies that used to encourage people to retire early. Even the betteroff must work longer to have a comfortable retirement. But the changing nature of work also plays a big role. Pay has risen sharply for the highly educated, and those people continue to reap (获得) rich rewards into old age because these days the educated elderly are more productive than the preceding (先前的) generation. Technological change may well reinforce (强化) that shift: the skills that complement (补充) computers, from management knowhow to creativity, do not necessarily decline with age.
语篇解读：本文主要讲述了在发达国家有专业技能的人的工作年限更长及其原因分析。
1．What is the common phenomenon in the workforce in rich countries?
A．Younger people are replacing the elderly.
B．Welleducated people tend to work longer.
C．People with no college degree cannot find any job.
D．Unemployment rates are decreasing year after year.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据文章第一段的第一句“In many developed countries, people who have high degrees begin to work longer than those who don't”可知，在发达国家，受过良好教育的人的工作年限更长，故选B。
2．In view of the experience of the 20th century, many observers predict that ________.
A．economic growth will slow down
B．government budgets will decrease
C．more people will try to receive higher education
D．there will be more competition in the job market
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据第二段的最后一句“The experience of the 20th century ... slower economic growth, while the swelling (渐增的) ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems”可知，选A。
3．According to the text, what is the result of policy changes in European countries?
A．Unskilled workers may choose to retire early.
B．More and more people have to go abroad to hunt for jobs.
C．People may be able to use computers to do more complicated work.
D．Even wealthy people must work longer to live comfortably in retirement.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据最后一段的第三句“Even the betteroff must work longer to have a comfortable retirement”可知，欧洲国家政策的变化导致富有的人也必须工作更长时间才能过上舒服的退休生活，故选D。
4．The underlined word “knowhow” in the last paragraph probably refers to “________”．
A．a completely different environment
B．practical knowledge and technical skills
C．a better understanding of policy changes
D．the courage to face difficulties and dangers
解析：选B 词义猜测题。根据最后一段的最后一句“Technological change may well reinforce (强化) that shift: the skills that complement (补充) computers, from management knowhow to creativity, do not necessarily decline with age”可知，knowhow是对skills的限定修饰，由此可推知，knowhow指相应的技能和知识，故选B。
