Section II Reading Comprehension
Part A
Directions:
Read the following four texts. Answer the questions after each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on the ANSWER SHEET. (40 points)
Text 2
More Americans are opting to work well into retirement, a growing trend that threatens to up end the old workforce model.
One in three Americans who are at least 40 have or plan to have a job in retirement to prepare for a longer life, according to a survey conducted by Harris Poll for TD Ameritrade. Even more surprising is that more than half of “unretirees”–those who plan to work in retirement or went back to work after retiring–said they would be employed in their later years even if they had enough money to settle down, the survey showed.
Financial needs aren’t the only culprit for the “unretirement” trend. Other reasons, according to the study, include personal fulfillment such as staying mentally fit, preventing boredom or avoiding depression.
“The concept of retirement is evolving,” said Christine Russell, senior manager of retirement at TD Ameritrade. “It’s not just about finances. The value of work is also driving folks to continue working past retirement.”
One reason for the change in retirement patterns: Americans are living longer. The share of the population 65 and older was 16% in 2018, up 3.2% from the prior year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s also up 30.2% since 2010.
Because of longer life spans, Americans are also boosting their savings to preserve their nest eggs, the TD Ameritrade study showed, which surveyed 2,000 adults between 40 to 79. Six in 10 “unretirees” are increasing their savings in anticipation of a longer life, according to the survey. Among the most popular ways they are doing this, the company said, is by reducing their overall expenses, securing life insurance or maximizing their contributions to retirement accounts.
Unfortunately, many people who are opting to work in retirement are preparing to do so because they are worried about making ends meet in their later years, said Brent Weiss, a co-founder at Baltimore-based financial-planning firm Facet Wealth. He suggested that preretirees should speak with a financial adviser to set long-term financial goals.
“The most challenging moments in life are getting married, starting a family and ultimately retiring,” Weiss said. “It’s not just a financial decision, but an emotional one. Many people believe they can’t retire.”
26. The survey conducted by Harris Poll indicates that .
[A] over half of the retirees are physically fit for work
[B] the old workforce is as active as the younger one does
[C] one in three Americans enjoy earlier retirement
[D] more Americans are willing to work in retirement
27. It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that Americans tend to think that .
[A] retirement may cause problems for them
[B] boredom can be relieved after retirement
[C] the mental health of retirees is overlooked
[D] “unretirement”contributes to the economy
28. Retirement patterns are changing partly due to .
[A] labor shortage
[B] population growth
[C] longer life expectancy
[D] rising living costs
29. Many retirees are increasing their savings by .
[A] investing more in stocks
[B] taking up odd jobs
[C] getting well-paid work
[D] spending less
30. With regard to retirement, Brent Weiss thinks that many people are .
[A] unprepared
[B] unafraid
[C] disappointed
[D] enthusiastic
【答案解析】
26. [D] more Americans are willing to work in retirement
【解析】本题为细节题。根据题干关键词The survey conducted by Harris Poll定位到第二段①句：One in three Americans who are at least 40 have or plan to have a job in retirement to prepare for a longer life。D项中的are willing to work in retirement(愿意在退休后工作)是对原文have or plan to have a job in retirement(已经或计划在退休后获得一份工作)的同义转述，所以本题选D。
27. [A] retirement may cause problems for them
【解析】本题为细节题。根据题干关键词Paragraph 3定位到第三段，Americans tend to think that在第三段中没有对应内容，第三段整体分析了美国人选择在退休后继续工作的原因。①句说明经济需求不是唯一原因，②句列举了其他原因，诸如保持精神健康，避免无聊或沮丧，由此可反推，美国人认为退休会给自身带来此类问题，所以本题选A。
28. [C] longer life expectancy
【解析】本题为细节题。根据题干关键词Retirement patterns are changing定位到第五段①句One reason for the change in retirement patterns: Americans are living longer。C项longer life expectancy(更长的预期寿命)为该句中Americans are living longer(美国人的寿命越来越长)的同义转述，所以本题选C。
29. [D] spending less
【解析】本题为细节题。根据题干关键词increasing their savings可定位到第六段①句Americans are also boosting their savings to preserve their nest eggs，及②句Six in 10 “unretirees” are increasing their savings in anticipation of a longer life，这两句都在描述美国人增加储蓄的事实，紧承的③句Among the most popular ways they are doing this, the company said, is by reducing their overall expenses提出了最受欢迎的方式之一减少总体开支，对应了D项，所以本题选D。
30. [A] unprepared
【解析】本题为细节题。根据题干关键词With regard to retirement，Brent Weiss定位到第七段①句Unfortunately, many people who are opting to work in retirement are preparing to do so because they are worried about making ends meet in their later years, said Brent Weiss。由该句because they are worried about making ends meet in their later years(因为他们担心晚年入不敷出)可推知，许多人并没有准备好退休，对应了A项，所以本题选A。
