H) James Heckman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, has examined how the returns on education break down for individuals with different backgrounds and levels of ability. "Even with these high prices, you’re still finding a high return for individuals who are bright and motivated," he says. On the other hand, "if you’re not college ready, then the answer is no, it's not worth it." Experts tend to agree that for the average student, college is still worth it today, but they also agree that the rapid increase in price is eating up more and more of the potential return. For borderline students, tuition (学费)rise can push those returns into negative territory.
I) Everyone seems to agree that the government, and parents, should be rethinking how we invest in higher education—and that employers need to rethink the increasing use of college degrees as crude screening tools for jobs that don’t really require college skills. "Employers seeing a surplus of college graduates and looking to fill jobs are just adding that requirement," says Vedder. "In fact, a college degree becomes a job requirement for becoming a bar-tender."
J) We have started to see some change on the finance side. A law passed in 2007 allows many students to cap their loan payment at 10 percent of their income and forgives any balance after 25 years. But of course, that doesn't control the cost of education; it just shifts it to taxpayers. It also encourages graduates to choose lower-paying careers, which reduces the financial return to education still further. "You’re subsidizing people to become priests and poets and so forth," says Heckman. "You may think that's a good thing, or you may not." Either way it will be expensive for the government.
K) What might be a lot cheaper is putting more kids to work. Caplan notes that work also builds valuable skills一probably more valuable for kids who don’t naturally love sitting in a classroom. Heckman agrees wholeheartedly： **People are different, and those abilities can be shaped. That’s what we’ve learned, and public policy should recognize that."
L) Heckman would like to see more apprenticeship-style (学徒式)programs, where kids can learn in the workplace—learn not just specific job skills, but the kind of "soft skills，" like getting to work on time and getting along with a team, that are crucial for career success. "It’s about having mentors (指导者) and having workplace-based education,” he says. "Time and again I’ve seen examples of this kind of program working.
M) Ah, but how do we get there from here? With better public policy, hopefully, but also by making better individual decisions. ‘‘Historically markets have been able to handle these things,” says Vedder, "and I think eventually markets will handle this one. If it doesn't improve soon, people are going to wake up and ask, ‘Why am I going to college?"
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
46. Caplan suggests that kids who don't love school go to work.
47. An increasing number of families spend more money on houses in a good school district.
48. Subsidized loans to college students are a huge waste of money, according to one economist.
49. More and more kids find they fare worse with a college diploma.
50. For those who are not prepared for higher education, going to college is not worth it.
51. Over the years the cost of a college education has increased almost by 100%.
52. A law passed recently allows many students to pay no more than one tenth of their income for their college loans.
53. Middle-class Americans have highly valued a good education.
54. More kids should be encouraged to participate in programs where they can learn not only job skills but also social skills.
55. Over fifty percent of recent college graduates remain unemployed or unable to find a suitable job.
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