在这样严谨的考试时间安排流程下，“排除法”这种答题的策略和技巧是一定要准备好的。
as a wise man once said, we are all ultimately alone. but an increasing number of european are choosing to be so at an even earlier age. this isn’t the stuff of gloomy philosophical contemplations, but a fact of europe’s new economic landscape, embraced by sociologists, real-estate developers and ad executives alike. the shift away from family life to solo lifestyle, observes a french sociologist, is part of the “irresistible momentum of individualism” over the last century. the communications revolution, the shift from a business culture of stability to one of mobility and the mass entry of women into the workforce have greatly wreaked havoc on(扰乱)europeans’ private lives.
europe’s new economic climate has largely fostered the trend toward independence. the current generation of home-aloners came of age during europe’s shift from social democracy to the sharper, more individualistic climate of american-style capitalism. raised in an era of privatization and increased consumer choice, today’s tech-savvy(精通技术的) workers have embraced a free market in love as well as economics. modern europeans are rich enough to afford to live alone, and temperamentally independent enough to want to do so.
once upon a time, people who lived alone tended to be those on either side of marriage—twenty something professionals or widowed senior citizens. while pensioners, particularly elderly women, make up a large proportion of those living alone, the newest crop of singles are high earners in their 30s and 40s who increasingly view living alone as a lifestyle choice. living alone was conceived to be negative—dark and cold, while being together suggested warmth and light. but then came along the idea of singles. they were young, beautiful, strong ! now, young people want to live alone.
the booming economy means people are working harder than ever. and that doesn’t leave much room for relationships. pimpi arroyo, a 35-year-old composer who lives alone in a house in paris, says he hasn’t got time to get lonely because he has too much work. “i have deadlines which would make life with someone else fairly difficult.” only an ideal woman would make him change his lifestyle, he says. kaufmann, author of a recent book called the single woman and prince charming, thinks this fierce new individualism means that people expect more and more of mates, so relationships don’t last long—if they start at all. eppendorf, a blond berliner with a deep tan, teaches grade school in the mornings. in the afternoon she sunbathes or sleeps, resting up for going dancing. just shy of 50, she says she’d never have wanted to do what her mother did—give up a career to raise a family. instead, “i’ve always done what i wanted to do: live a self-determined life.”
52. more and more young europeans remain single because __________________.
a)they are driven by an overwhelming sense of individualism
b)they have entered the workforce at a much earlier age
c)they have embraced a business culture of stability
d) they are pessimistic about their economic future
这道题应用排出法就可又快又稳地做出。52.题干问越来越多的年轻欧洲人还在单身是因为什么?b)项是说他们在较早的年龄阶段开始工作，文章中没有谈到。c)项是说经济环境是稳定的，这恰好跟作者的分析说明相反。大家在速读文章时应该抓到 “the shift from a business culture of stability to one of mobility…”。d)项是说年轻欧洲人对经济未来悲观，文章也没有讲过。答案是a)。
53. what is said about european society in the passage?
a) it has fostered the trend towards small families.
b) it is getting closer to american-style capitalism.
c) it has limited consumer choice despite a free market.
d) it is being threatened by irresistible privatization.
这道题也非常适合用排除法做。
53.题干问文章中关于欧洲社会作者有哪些评论?
a)项是说小规模家庭是趋势，文章没有提到过家庭大小的问题。
c)项是说不发展自由市场而是限制了消费选择，也是与事实情况正好相反。
d)项是说受到私有化的威胁。也是跟文章叙述的实情相反。
但是，用好“排除法”的前提条件是大家要对整个文章的关键信息有80%以上的掌握。那么我们之前也讲过通过各种方法四六级阅读抓关键信息(不要让生词成为拦路虎)。
