A
An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to (归因于) the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at Alevel were also up.
Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecturer at St Andrews University, said his firstyear lectures—which are open to students from all departments—were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn't traditionally done.” he added.
University applications rose 7% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people's renewed interest in careers in the public sector (部门), which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said：“It's possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that's financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”
本文是一篇说明文，介绍了由于金融危机在大学里越来越多的人申请读经济学，经济学受到热捧。同时公共行业的专业也很受学生的青睐，因为这些行业的收入在经济危机中更为保险。
1．Professor John Beath's lectures are ________.
A．given in a traditional way
B．connected with the present situation
C．open to both students and their parents
D．warmly received by economists
答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段中One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn't traditionally done.(今年我所做的一件事是将我的教学与当代事件联系起来，这是一种传统上从未做过的事情。)可知，Professor John Beath的讲座主要是有关当代发生的一些事情，与当前的形式联系的很紧密，故选B项。
2．In the opinion of most parents, ________.
A．economists should be the focus of school teaching
B．more students should be admitted to universities
C．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened
D．children should solve financial problems themselves
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据倒数第二段第一句A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters.(最近的一项研究表明，近三分之二的家长认为，学校应该在财务问题上做更多的教育。)可知，家长们希望老师更多教一些金融方面的知识，故选C项。
3．What's the main idea of the text?
A．Universities have received more applications.
B．Economics is attracting an increasing number of students.
C．College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty.
D．Parents are concerned with children's subject selection.
答案：B
解析：主旨大意题。根据第一段An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attribubted to the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.(申请大学经济学专业的学生人数增加，原因是全球经济危机唤醒了公众对金融体系运作方式的渴望。)可知，本文主要介绍了当前经济危机下，很多人都申请学经济学来更好的理解金融系统的运行模式和职能，即经济学吸引了越来越多的人，故选B项。
