An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
Professor John Beath, the president of the society, and a leading lecturer at St Andrews University, said his first-year lectures—which are open to students from all departments—were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done.” He added.
University applications rose 7% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the public sector, which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said: “It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”
【小题1】Professor John Beath’s lectures are .A．given in a traditional wayB．open to both students and their parentsC．connected with the present situationD．warmly received by economics【小题2】Ines in the public sector are more attractive because of their .A．greater stabilityB．higher payC．fewer applicationsD．better reputation【小题3】In the opinion of most parents .A．economics should be the focus of school teachingB．more students should be admitted to universitiesC．children should solve financial problems themselvesD．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened【小题4】According to Hocking, the global economic crisis might make the youngsters .A．have access to better equipmentB．wiser in money managementC．confident about their future careers D．get jobs in Child Trust Funds【小题5】What’s the main idea of the text?A．Universities have received more applications.B．College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty.C．Economics is attracting an increasing numbers students.D．Parents are concerned with children’s subject selection.C
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(答案→)C
解析：文章主要讲述了由于金融危机在大学里越来越多的人申请读经济学，经济学受到热捧。同时公共行业的专业也很受学生的青睐，因为这些行业的收入在经济危机中更为保险。
【小题1】细节题。从One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done.可知，Professor John Beath 的讲座主要是有关当代发生的一些事情，与当前的形式联系的很紧密，故选C
【小题2】细节题。从Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the public sector, which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.可知，公共行业被看成是在经济危机中更加有保障的，所以很多申请公共行业的专业学习。故选A
【小题3】细节题。从A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters,可知，家长们希望老师更多教一些金融方面的知识，故选D
【小题4】细节题。从最后一段It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that’s financially wiser 可知，全球金融危机可能会使年轻人在金钱管理方面更为明智，故选B
【小题5】主旨题。文章主要介绍了当前经济危机下，很多人都申请学经济学来更好的理解经融系统的运行模式和职能，即经济学吸引了越来越多的人，故选C