Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage.

The United States is on the verge of losing its leading place in the world’s technology. So says more than one study in recent years. (11) The main reason for this decline is the parallel decline in the number of U. S. scientists and engineers. Since 1976，employment of scientists and engineers has gone up 85 percent. This trend is expected to continue. However, the trend shows that the number of 22-year-olds—the near term source of future PhDs—is declining. (12) Further adding to the problem is the increased competition for these candidates from other fields； law，medicine， business，etc. While the number of U. S. PhDs in science and engineering declines, the award of PhDs to foreign nationals is increasing rapidly. Our inability to motivate students to pursue science and engineering careers at the graduate level is compounded because of the intense demand industry has for bright Bachelor's and Master’s degree holders. (13) Too often，promising PhD candidates，confronting the cost and financial sacrifice of pursuing their education，find the attraction of industry irresistible.

 

题目

Passage 1

In this section you will hear several passages. Listen to the passages carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

Questions 11 to 13 are based on the following passage. At the end of the passage, you will be given 15 seconds to answer the questions.

Now, listen to the passage.

11.  The U.S. will come to lose its leading place in technology probably because ?

A. the number of PhD degree holders is declining

B. the number of scientists and engineers is decreasing

C. the number of 22-year-olds is declining

D. scientists and engineers are not employed

12. The candidates of the PhD in the field of science and engineering is facing a

competition from ?

A. technology B. foreign nationals

C. such fields as law D. postgraduates

13.  Many promising postgraduates are unwilling to pursue a PhD degree because .

A. they are not encouraged to be engaged in science

B. industry does not require PhD holders

C. they won't earn much money after graduation

D. they will face the cost and financial sacrifice

 

答案解析

Passage 1

11. B细节题。短文一开始点明主题，美国将逐渐失去它在技术方面的领先地位，原 因是科学家和工程师在数量上双双减少，接下来分析了减少的原因。B为正确答 案。A具有强干扰性，但不是博士生总量少了。而是从事科学和工程方面的博士生 少了，故应排除。

12. C细节题。文中提到工科博士减少的原因之一是报考博士的考生受到来自法律， 医学和商业方面的竞争，故C为正确答案。B具有强干扰性，但文中只提到越来越 多的博士学位颁发给外国人，但并未说对本国的科技领域构成竞争，故应排除。

13. D细节题。文章结尾说很难动员学生继续深造，因为工业需要大量本科和硕士毕 业生，对许多有望。继续攻读博士的学生来讲，继续深造就意味着在费用和财力方 面必须付出和牺牲。据此推断D为正确答案。