As the price of a college degree continues to rise, there's growing evidence tha

As the price of a college degree continuesto rise, there's growing evidence that the monetary（货币的） payoff isn't quite as big as often advertised. Thebest estimate now is that a college degree is worth about$300,000 in today's dollars--nowhere near the million figure that is oftenquoted.

"That million number has driven mecrazy!" says Sandy Baum, a Skidmore economist who studied the value of acollege degree for the College Board last year.

Baum's research showed that college graduatesearn, on average, about $20,000 a year more than those who finished theireducations at high school. Add that up over a 40-year working life and thetotal differential is about $800,000, she figures. But since much of that bonusis earned many years from now, taking away the impact of inflation meansthat$800,000 in future dollars is worth only about $450,000 in today's dollars.

Then, if you remove the cost of a collegedegree--about ,$30,000 in tuition and books for students who get no aid andattend public in-state universities--and the money a student could have earnedat a job instead of attending school, the real net value in today's dollars issomewhere in the $300,000 range, a number confirmed by other studies.

But, especially these days, that stillmakes a college degree one of the most lucrative investments a personcan make, Baum notes.

　Better yet,college graduates can go on to earn advanced degrees, which return even biggerpayoffs. The average holder of a bachelor's degree earns about$51,000 a year,Baum calculates. But those who've gone on to earn MBAs, law degrees, or otherprofessional degrees earn about $100,000 a year.

　In addition,Baum found that there are plenty of other rewards for a degree. The quality ofthe jobs college graduates get is far better, for example. College graduatesare more likely to get jobs with health insurance. And it is easier for them tofind and hold jobs. The unemployment rate for college graduates was just 2.2percent last year, half the unemployment level of those with only high schooldiplomas.

There are lots of other nonmonetarybenefits as well. College graduates are healthier, contribute more to theircommunities, and raise kids who are better prepared academically, studies show.

Other researchers have found that thepayoff of a degree is especially lucrative for students from low-incomefamilies, since the education and degrees give them a chance to break out oflow-paying careers.

1.Whatcan be inferred from Para 1 ?

   A. The payoff of a college degree isstill big enough to match the advertised.

   B. It’s more and more difficult to get acollege degree.

   C. The return of a college degree is lessthan often quoted.

   D. A college degree is worth about onemillion dollars.

2.Whichof the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “lucrative” inPara.5?

   A. attractive                 B.worthless                C.approachable                 D.balanced

3.Howcan a college graduate increase his or her yearly income according to the passage?

   A. By getting jobs with health insuranceimmediately.

   B. By going on for higher degrees.

   C. By breaking out of low-paying jobs.

   D. By contributing more to his or hercommunity.

4.Whichof the following statements can be learned from the text ?

A.  According to Baum'sresearch, high school graduates earn more than those who have college degrees.

B.  College education isenough to ensure you a good life.

C.  Nonmonetary benefits fromthe degree attract students more than monetary ones.

D. Students from low-income families stillthink degrees are profitable to change their life.

试题答案

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

试题