2023年英语六级模拟真题及答案解析标准

2023年6月英语六级考试真题PartI Writing (30minutes)Directions:Forthispart,youareallowed30minutestowriteashortessayentitledOntheImportanceofaName.youshouldwriteatleast150wordsfollowingtheoutlinegivenbelow.1.有人说名字或名称很重要2.也有人觉得名字或名称无关紧要3.我认为...OntheImportanceofaNamePartII ReadingComprehension(SkimmingandScanning) (15minutes)

Directions:Inthispart,youwillhave15minutestogooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsonAnswerSheet1.Forquestions1-7,choosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].Forquestions8-10,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.HelicopterMomsvs.Free-RangeKidsWouldyouletyourfourth-graderridepublictransportationwithoutanadult?Probablynot.Still,whenLenoreSkenazy,acolumnistfortheNewYorkSun,wroteaboutlettinghersontakethesubwayalonetogetbackto"Longstoryshort:mysongothomefromadepartmentstoreontheUpperEastSide,shedidn’texpecttogethitwithawaveofcriticismfromreaders.“Longstoryshort:Mysongothome,overjoyedwithindependence,”SkenazywroteonApril4intheNewYorkSun.“Longstorylonger:HalfthepeopleI’vetoldthisepisodetonowwanttoturnoninforchildabuse.Asifkeepingkidsunderlockandkeyandcellphoneandcarefulwatchistherightwaytorearkids.It’snot.It’sdebilitating(使虚弱)—forusandforthem.”OnlinemessageboardsweresoonfullofpeoplebothapplaudingandcondemningSkenazy’sdecisiontolethersongoitalone.ShewoundupdefendingherselfonCNN(accompaniedbyherson)andonpopularblogslikethebuffingtonpost,whereherfollow-uppiecewasironicallyheadlined“MoreFromAmerica’sWorstMom.”Theepisodehasignitedanotheroneofthosedebatesthatdividesparentsintovocalopposingcamps.AreModernparentsneedlesslyoverprotective,oristheworldamorecomplicatedanddangerousplacethanitwaswhenpreviousgenerationswereallowedtowanderaboutunsupervised?Fromthe“she’sanirresponsiblemother”campcame:“Shameonyouforbeingsocarelessabouthissafety,”inCommentsonthebuffingtonpost.Andtherewasthisfromamotheroffour:“Howwouldyouhavefeltifhedidn’tcomehome?”ButSkenazygotalotofsupport,too,withwomenandmenwritinginwithstoriesabouthowtheywereallowedtotaketripsallbythemselvesatsevenoreight.Shealsogotheapsofpraiseforbuckingthe“helicopterparent”trend:“GoodforthisMom,”onecommenterwroteonthebuffingtonpost.“Thisisamuch-neededrealitycheck.”Lastweek,encouragedbyalltheattention,Skenazystartedherownblog—FreeRange,kids—promotingtheideathatmodernchildrenneedsomeofthesameindependencethathergenerationhad.Inthegoodolddaysnine-year-oldbabyboomersrodetheirbikestoschool,walkedtothestore,tookbuses—andevensubways—allbythemselves.Herblog,shesays,isdedicatedtosensibleparenting.“AtFreeRangeKids,webelieveinsafekids.Webelieveincarseatsandsafetybelts.WedoNOTbelievethateverytimeschool-agechildrengooutside,theyneedasecurityguard.”Sowhyaresomeparentssonervousaboutlettingtheirchildrenoutoftheirsight?Arecitiesandtownslesssafeandkidsmorevulnerabletocrimeslikechildkidnapandsexualabusethantheywereinpreviousgenerations?Notexactly.NewYorkCity,forinstance,issaferthanit’severbeen;it’sranked36thincrimeamongallAmericancities.Nationwide,stringerkidnapsareextremelyrare;there’saone-in-a-millionchanceachildwillbetakenbyastranger,accordingtotheJusticeDepartment.And90percentofsexualabusecasesarecommittedbysomeonethechildknows.Mortalityratesfromallcauses,includingdiseaseandaccidents,forAmericanchildrenarelowernowthantheywere25years’ago.AccordingtoChildTrends,anonprofitresearchgroup,between1980and2023deathratesdroppedby44percentforchildrenaged5to14and32percentforteensaged15to19.Thenthere’sthewholequestionofwhethermodernparentsaremorewatchfulandnervousaboutsafetythanpreviousgenerations.Yes,someare.PartoftheproblemisthatwithwalltowallInternetandcablenews,everymissingchildcasegetssomuchairtimethatit’snotsurprisingevennormalparentalanxietycanbeamplified.Andmanymiddle-classparentshavegottenusedtomanagingtheirchildren’stimeandshuttlingthemtovariousenrichingactivities,sotheideaoflettingthemoutontheirowncanseemlikearisk.Backin1972,whenmanyoftoday’sparentswerekids,87percentofchildrenwholivedwithinamileofschoolwalkedorbikedeveryday.Buttoday,theCentersforDiseaseControlreportthatonly13percentofchildrenbike,walkorotherwisetthemselvestoschool.Theextrasupervisionisbothacityandasuburbphenomenon.Parentsareworriedaboutcrime,andtheyareworriedaboutkidsgettingcaughtintrafficinacitythat’snotusedtopedestrians.Ontheotherhand,therearestillplentyofkidswhoseparentsgivethemalotofindependence,bychoiceorbynecessity.TheAfterSchoolAlliancefindsthatmorethan14millionkidsaged5to17areresponsiblefortakingcareofthemselvesafterschool.Only6.5millionkidsparticipateinorganizedprograms.“Manychildrenwhohaveworkingparentshavetotakethesubwayorbustogettoschool.Manydothisbythemselvesbecausetheyhavenootherwaytogettotheschools,”saysDr.RichardGallagher,directoroftheParentingInstituteattheNewYorkUniversityChildStudyCenter.Forthoseparentswhowonderhowandwhentheyshouldstartallowingtheirkidsmorefreedom,there’snoclear-cutanswer.Childexpertsdiscourageaone-size-fits-allapproachtoparenting.What’srightforSkenazy’snine-year-oldcouldbeinappropriateforanotherone.Italldependsondevelopmentalissue,maturity,andthepsychologicalandemotionalmakeupofthatchild.Severalfactorsmustbetakenintoaccount,saysGallagher.“Theabilitytofollowparentguidelines,thechild’slevelofcomfortinhandlingsuchsituations,andachild’sgeneraljudgmentshouldbeweighed.”GallagheragreeswithSkenazythatmanynine-year-oldsarereadyforindependenceliketakingpublictransportationalone.“Atcertaintimesoftheday,oncertainroutes,thesubwaysaregenerallysafeforthesechildren,especiallyiftheyhavegrownupinthecityandhavebeentaughthowtobesafe,howtoobtainhelpiftheyareconcernedfortheirsafety,andhowtoavoidunsafesituationsbybeingwatchfulandontheirtoes.”Butevenwithmoretrafficandfewersidewalks,modernparentsdohaveoneadvantagetheirparentsdidn’t:thecellphone.Beingabletocheckinwithachildanytimegoesalongwaytowardrelievingparentalanxietyandmayhelpparentsloosentheircontrolalittlesooner.Skenazygotalotofcriticismbecauseshedidn’tgiveherkidhercellphonebecauseshethoughthe’dloseitandwantedhimtolearntogoitalonewithoutdependingonmom—amajorprincipleoffree-rangeparenting.Butmostparentsaremorethanhappytousecellphonestokeeptrackoftheirkids.Andforthosewholiketheideaoffree-rangekidsbutstillstrugglewiththeirinnerhelicopterparent,theremaybeamiddleway.AnewgenerationofGPScellphoneswithtrackingsoftwaremakeiteasierthanevertofollowachild’severymovementviatheInternet—withoutseemingtointerfereorhover.Ofcourse,whentheygotocollege,theymightstartobjectingtobeingmonitoredasthey’reonparole(假释).注意：此部分试题请在答题卡1上作答。1.WhenLenoreSkenazy’ssonwasallowedtotakethesubwayalone,he________.A．wasafraidthathemightgetlostB．enjoyedhavingtheindependenceC．wasonlytoopleasedtotaketheriskD．thoughthewasanexceptionalchild2.LenoreSkenazybelievesthatkeepingkidsundercarefulwatchA．hinderstheirhealthygrowthB．addstoomuchtoparents’expensesC．showstraditionalparentalcautionD．bucksthelatestparentingtrend3.Skenazy’sdecisiontolethersontaketheSubwayalonehasnetwith________.A．oppositionfromherownfamilyB．shareparentingexperienceC．fightagainstchildabuseD．protectchildren’srights4.Skenazystartedherownblogto________.A．promotesensibleparentingB．shareparentingexperienceC．fightagainstchildabuseD．protectchildren’srights5.Accordingtotheauthor,NewYorkCity________.A．rankshighinroadaccidentsB．ismuchsafethanbeforeC．rankslowinchildmortalityratesD．islessdangerousthansmallcities6.Parentstodayaremorenervousabouttheirkids’safetythanpreviousgenerationsbecause________.A．therearenowfewerchildreninthefamilyB．thenumberoftrafficaccidentshasbeenincreasingC．theirfearisamplifiedbymediaexposureofcrimeD．crimerateshavebeenontheriseovertheyears7.Accordingtochildexperts,howandwhenkidsmaybeallowedmorefreedomdependson________.A．thetraditionsandcustomsofthecommunityB．thesafetyconditionsoftheirneighborhoodC．theirparents’psychologicalmakeupD．theirmaturityandpersonalqualities8.AccordingtoGallagherandSkenazy,childrenwhoarewatchfulwillbebetterabletostayawayfromUnsafesituations.9.Beingabletofindoutwhereachildisanytimehelpslessenparents’Theiranxietyandcontrol.10.NowadayswiththehelpofGPScellphones,parentscan,fromadistance,tracktheirchildren’sMovements.PartIII ListeningComprehension (35minutes)SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear8shortconversationsand2longconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,oneormorequestionswillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Aftereachquestiontherewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D],anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。11.A．Fredforgottocallhimlastnightaboutthecampingtrip.B．HeisnotgoingtolendhissleepingbagtoFred.C．HehasnotseenFredatthegymforsometime.D．Fredmayhaveborrowedasleepingbagfromsomeoneelse.12.A．Summerhasbecomehotterinrecentyears.B．Itwillcooldownabitovertheweekend.C．Swimminginapoolhasarelaxingeffect.D．Hehopestheweatherforecastisaccurate.13.A．TakingapictureofProf.Brown.B．Commentingonanoil-painting.C．HostingaTVprogram.D．Stagingaperformance.14.A．Shecanhelpthemantakecareoftheplants.B．Mostplantsgrowbetterindirectsunlight.C．Theplantsneedtobewateredfrequently.D．Theplantsshouldbeplacedinashadyspot.15.A．Changetoamoreexcitingchannel.B．Seethemoviesomeothertime.C．Gotobedearly.D．Stayuptilleleven.16.A．Bothofthemarelaymenofmodernart.B．Shehasbeamedtoappreciatemodemsculptures.C．Italianartists’worksaredifficulttounderstand.D．Modernartistsaregenerallyconsideredweird.17.A．Theyseemsatisfiedwithwhattheyhavedone.B．Theyhavecalledallclubmemberstocontribute.C．Theythinkthedaycanbecalledamemorableone.D．Theyfindithardtoraisemoneyforthehospital.18.A．Themanshouldn’thesitatetotakethecourse.B．Themanshouldtalkwiththeprofessorfirst.C．Thecourseisn’topentoundergraduates.D．Thecoursewillrequirealotofreading.Questions19to21arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.19.A．Currenttrendsineconomicdevelopment.B．Domesticissuesofgeneralsocialconcern.C．StoriesaboutBritain’srelationswithothernations.D．Conflictsandcompromisesamongpoliticalparties.20.A．Basedonthepollofpublicopinions.B．Byinterviewingpeoplewhofilecomplaints.C．Byanalyzingthedomesticandinternationalsituation.D．Basedonpublicexpectationsandeditors’judgment.21.A．Underlyingrulesofediting.B．Practicalexperience.C．Audience’sfeedback.D．Professionalqualifications.Questions22to25arebasedontheconversationyouhavejustheard.22.A．Theaveragelifespanwaslessthan50years.B．Itwasverycommonforthemtohave12children.C．Theyretiredfromworkmuchearlierthantoday.D．Theywerequiteoptimisticabouttheirfuture.23.A．Getreadyforecologicalchanges.B．Adapttothenewenvironment.C．Learntousenewtechnology.D．Explorewaystostayyoung.24.A．Whenallwomengoouttowork.B．Whenfamilyplanningisenforced..C．Whenaworldgovernmentissetup.D．Whenallpeoplebecomewealthier.25.A．Eliminatepovertyandinjustice.B．Migratetootherplanets.C．Controltheenvironment.D．Findinexhaustibleresources.SectionBDirections:Inthissection,youwillhear3shortpassages.Attheendofeachpassage,youwillhearsomequestions.Boththepassageandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaquestion,youmustchoosethebestanswerfromthefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D].ThenmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.PassageOneQuestions26to28arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.26.A．Tohelpyoungpeopleimprovetheirdrivingskills.B．Toalertteenagerstothedangersofrecklessdriving.C．Toteachyoungpeopleroadmannersthroughvideotapes.D．Toshowteensthepenaltiesimposedoncarelessdrivers.27.A．Roadaccidents.B．Streetviolence.C．Drugabuse.D．Lungcancer.28.A．Ithaschangedteens’wayoflife.B．Ithasmadeteensfeellikeadults.C．Ithasaccomplisheditsobjective.D．Ithasbeensupportedbyparents.PassageTwoQuestions29to31arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.29.A．Customersmaygetaddictedtothesmells.B．Customersmaybemisledbythesmells.C．Ithidesthedefectsofcertaingoods.D．Itgivesrisetounfaircompetition.30.A．Flexible.B．Critical.C．Supportive.D．Cautious.31.A．Theflowerscentstimulatedpeople’sdesiretobuy.B．Strongersmellshadgreatereffectsonconsumers.C．Mostshoppershatedthesmalltheshoestore.D．84%ofthecustomerswereunawareofthesmells.PassageThreeQuestions32to35arebasedonthepassageyouhavejustheard.32.A．Agoodstrainhitabuscarryingmanypassengers.B．Twopassengertrainscrashedintoeachother.C．Apassengertraincollidedwithagoodstrain.D．Anexpresstrainwasderailedwhenhitbyabomb.33.A．Therescueoperationshavenotbeenveryeffective.B．Morethan300injuredpassengerswerehospitalized.C．Thecauseofthetragicaccidentremainsunknown.D．Theexactcasualtyfiguresarenotyetavailable.34.A．Therewasabombscare.B．Therewasaterroristattack.C．Afirealarmwassetoffbymistake.D．50poundsofexplosiveswerefound.35.A．Followpolicemen’sdirections.B．Keepaneyeweather.C．Avoidsnow-coveredroads.D．Drivewithspecialcare.SectionC

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearapassagethreetimes.Whenthepassageisreadforthefirsttime,youshouldlistencarefullyforitsgeneralidea.Whenthepassageisreadforthesecondtime,youarerequiredtofillintheblanksnumberedfrom36to43withtheexactwordsyouhavejustheard.Forblanksnumberedfrom44to46youarerequiredtofillinthemissinginformation.Fortheseblanks,youcaneitherusetheexactwordsyouhavejustheardorwritedownthemainpointsinyourownwords.Finally,whenthepassageisreadforthethirdtime,youshouldcheckwhatyouhavewritten.Englishistheleadinginternationallanguage.Indifferentcountriesaroundtheglobe,Englishisacquiredasthemother(36)________,inothersit’susedasasecondlanguage.SomenationsuseEnglishastheir(37)________language,performingthefunctionof(38)________;inothersit’susedasaninternationallanguageforbusiness,(39)________andindustry.Whatfactorsandforceshaveledtothe(40)________ofEnglish?WhyisEnglishnowconsideredtobesoprestigiousthat,acrosstheglobe,individualsandsocietiesfeel(41)________iftheydonothave(42)________inthislanguage?HowhasEnglishchangedthrough1,500Years?Thesearesomeofthequestionsthatyou(43)________whenyoustudyEnglish.YoualsoexaminetheimmensevariabilityofEnglishand(44)________.Youdevelopin-depthknowledgeoftheintricatestructureofthelanguage.Whydosomenon-nativespeakersofEnglishclaimthatit’sadifficultlanguagetolearn,while(45)________?AttheUniversityofSussex,youareintroducedtothenatureandgrammarofEnglishinallaspects.Thisinvolvesthestudyofsoundstructures,theformationofwords,thesequencingwordsandtheconstructionofmeaning,aswellasexaminationofthetheoriesexplainingtheaspectsofEnglishusage.(46)________,whichareraisedbystudyinghowspeakersandwritersemployEnglishforawidevarietyofpurposes.PartIV ReadingComprehension(ReadinginDepth)(25minutes）

SectionA

Directions:Inthissection,thereisashortpassagewith5questionsorincompletestatements.Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.PleasewriteyouranswersonAnswerSheet2.

Questions47to51arebasedonthefollowingpassage.ThereisnothingnewaboutTVandfashionmagazinesgivinggirlsunhealthyideasabouthowthintheyneedtobeinordertobeconsideredbeautiful.WhatissurprisingisthemethodpsychologistsattheUniversityofTexashavecomeupwithtokeepgirlsfromdevelopingeatingdisorders.Theirmainweaponagainstsuperskinny(role)models:abrandofcivildisobediencedubbed“bodyactivism.”Since2023,morethan1,000highschoolandcollegestudentsintheU.S.haveparticipatedintheBodyProject,whichworksbygettinggirlstounderstandhowtheyhavebeenbuyingintothenotionthatyouhavetobethintobehappyorsuccessful.Aftercritiquing(评论)theso-calledthinidealbywritingessaysandrole-playingwiththeirpeers,participantsaredirectedtocomeupwithandexecutesmall,nonviolentacts.Theyincludeslippingnotessaying“Loveyourbodythewayitis”intodietingbooksatstoreslikeBordersandwritingletterstoMattel,makersoftheimpossiblyproportionedBarbiedoll.AccordingtoastudyinthelatestissueoftheJournalofConsultingandClinicalPsychology,theriskofdevelopingeatingdisorderswasreduced61%amongBodyProjectparticipants.Andtheycontinuedtoexhibitpositivebody-imageattitudesaslongasthreeyearsaftercompletingtheprogram,whichconsists,offourone-hoursessions.Suchlastingeffectsmaybeduetogirls’realizingnotonlyhowtheywerebeinginfluencedbutalsowhowasbenefitingfromthesocietalpressuretobethin.“Thesepeoplewhopromotetheperfectbodyreallydon’tcareaboutyouatall,”saysKelseyHertel,ahighschooljuniorandBodyProjectveteraninEugene,Oregon.“Theypurposefullymakeyoufeellikelessofapersonsoyou’llbuytheirstuffandthey’llmakemoney.”注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。47.Weredogirlsgetthenotionthattheyneedtobethininordertobeconsideredbeautiful?48.Bypromoting“bodyactivism,”UniversityofTexaspsychologistsaimtoprevent________.49.Accordingtotheauthor,Mattel’sBarbiedollsare________.50.ThepositiveeffectsoftheBodyProjectmaylastupto________.51.OneBodyProjectparticipantsaysthattherealmotiveofthosewhopromotetheperfectbodyisto________.SectionB

Directions:Thereare2passagesinthissection.Eachpassageisfollowedbysomequestionsorunfinishedstatements.Foreachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarked[A],[B],[C]and[D]YoushoulddecideonthebestchoiceandmarkthecorrespondingletteronAnswerSheet2withasinglelinethroughthecentre.

PassageOne

Questions52to56arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Forhundredsofmillionsofyears,turtles(海龟)havestruggledoutoftheseatolaytheireggsonsandybeaches,longbeforetherewerenaturedocumentariestocelebratethem,orGPSsatellitesandmarinebiologiststotrackthem,orvolunteerstohand-carrythehatchlings(幼龟)downtothewater’sedgelesttheybecomedisorientedbyheadlightsandcrawltowardsamotelparkinglotinstead.AformidablewallofbureaucracyhasbeenerectedtoprotecttheirprimenestingontheAtlanticcoastlines.Withallthatattentionpaidtothem,you’dthinkthesecreatureswouldatleasthavethegratitudenottogoextinct.ButNatureisindifferenttohumannotionsoffairness,andareportbytheFishandWildlifeServiceshowedaworrisomedropinthepopulationsofseveralspeciesofNorthAtlanticturtles,notablyloggerheads,whichcangrowtoasmuchas400pounds.TheSouthFloridanestingpopulation,thelargest,hasdeclinedby50%inthelastdecade,accordingtoElizabethGriffin,amarinebiologistwiththeenvironmentalgroupOceana.ThefigurespromptedOceanatopetitionthegovernmenttoupgradethelevelofprotectionfortheNorthAtlanticloggerheadsfrom“threatened”to“endangered”—meaningtheyareindangerofdisappearingwithoutadditionalhelp.Whichraisestheobviousquestion:whatelsedotheseturtleswantfromus,anyway?Itturnsout,accordingtoGriffin,thatwhilewehavedoneagoodjobofprotectingtheturtlesfortheweekstheyspendonland(asegg-layingfemales,aseggsandashatchlings),wehaveneglectedtheyearsspendintheocean.“Thethreatisfromcommercialfishing,”saysGriffin.Trawlers(whichdraglargenetsthroughthewaterandalongtheoceanfloor)andlonglinefishers(whichcandeploythousandsofhooksonlinesthatcanstretchformiles)takeaheavytollonturtles.Ofcourse,likeeveryotherenvironmentalissuetoday,thisisplayingoutagainstthebackgroundofglobalwarmingandhumaninterferencewithnaturalecosystems.Thenarrowstripsofbeachonwhichtheturtleslaytheireggsarebeingsqueezedononesidebydevelopmentandontheotherbythethreatofrisingsealevelsastheoceanswarm.Ultimatelywemustgetahandleonthoseissuesaswell,oracreaturethatoutlivedthedinosaurs(恐龙)willmeetitsendatthehandsofhumans,leavingourdescendantstowonderhowcreaturesouglycouldhavewonsomuchaffection.注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。52.Wecanlearnfromthefirstparagraphthat________.A．humanactivitieshavechangedthewayturtlessurviveB．effortshavebeenmadetoprotectturtlesfromdyingoutC．governmentbureaucracyhascontributedtoturtles’extinctionD．marinebiologistsarelookingforthesecretofturtles’reproduction53.Whatdoestheauthormeanby“Natureisindifferenttohumannotionsoffairness”(Line1,Para.2)?A．Natureisquitefairregardingthesurvivalofturtles.B．Turtlesarebynatureindifferenttohumanactivities.C．Thecourseofnaturewillnotbechangedbyhumaninterference.D．Theturtlepopulationhasdecreasedinspiteofhumanprotection.54.WhatconstitutesamajorthreattothesurvivalofturtlesaccordingtoElizabethGriffin?A．Theirinadequatefoodsupply.B．Unregulatedcommercialfishing.C．Theirlowerreproductivelyability.D．Contaminationofseawater55.Howdoesglobalwarmingaffectthesurvivalofturtles?A．Itthreatensthesandybeachesonwhichtheylayeggs.B．Thechangingclimatemakesitdifficultfortheireggstohatch.C．Therisingsealevelsmakeitharderfortheirhatchlingstogrow.D．Ittakesthemlongertoadapttothehighbeachtemperature.56.Thelastsentenceofthepassageismeantto________.A．persuadehumanbeingstoshowmoreaffectionforturtlesB．stressthateventhemostuglyspeciesshouldbeprotectedC．callforeffectivemeasurestoensureseaturtles’survivalD．warnourdescendantsabouttheextinctionofspeciesPassageTwoQuestions57to61arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Therearefewmoresoberingonlineactivitiesthanenteringdataintocollege-tuitioncalculatorsandgaspingastheWebspitsbackasix-figuresum.Buteconomistssayfamiliesabouttogointodebttofundfouryearsofpartying,aswellasstudying,canconsolethemselveswiththeknowledgethatcollegeisaninvestmentthat,unlikemanybankstocks,shouldyieldhugedividends.A2023studybytwoHarvardeconomistsnotesthatthe“labor-marketpremiumtoskill”—ortheamountcollegegraduatesearnedthat’sgreaterthanwhathigh-schoolgraduateearned—decreasedformuchofthe20thcentury,buthascomebackwithavengeance(报复性地)sincethe1980s.In2023,Thetypicalfull-timeyear-roundU.S.workerwithafour-yearcollegedegreeearned$50,900,62%morethanthe$31,500earnedbyaworkerwithonlyahigh-schooldiploma.There’snoquestionthatgoingtocollegeisasmarteconomicchoice.Butalookatthestrangevariationsintuitionrevealsthatthechoiceaboutwhichcollegetoattenddoesn’tcomedownmerelytodollarsandcents.DoesgoingtoColumbiaUniversity(tuition,roomandboard$49,260in2023-08)yielda40%greaterreturnthanattendingtheUniversityofColoradoatBoulderasanout-of-statestudent($35,542)?Probablynot.Doesbeinganout-of-statestudentattheUniversityofColoradoatBoulderyieldtwicetheamountofincomeasbeinganin-statestudent($17,380)there?Notlikely.No,inthisconsumeristage,mostbuyersaren’tevaluatingcollegeasaninvestment,butratherasaconsumerproduct—likeacarorclothesorahouse.Andwithsuchpurchases,priceisonlyoneofmanycrucialfactorstoconsider.Aswithautomobiles,consumersintoday’scollegemarketplacehavevastchoices,andpeoplesearchfortheonethatgivesthemthemostcomfortandsatisfactioninlinewiththeirbudgets.Thisaccountsforthewillingnessofpeopletopaymorefordifferenttypesofexperiences(suchasattendingaprivateliberal-artscollegeorgoingtoanout-of-statepublicschoolthathasagreatmarine-biologyprogram).Andjustastwoautopurchasersmightspendanequalamountofmoney