spread distress because national morale has declined； and we have lost an earlier sense of national vision and purpose。
Contrary to rigid religions or political beliefs； as are found in totalitarian societies； our culture is one of the great individual differences； at least in principle and in theory； but this leads to disunity； even chaos。 Americans believe in the value of diversity； but just because our is a society based on individual diversity； it needs consensus about some dominating ideas more than societies based on uniform origin of their citizens。 Hence； if we are to have consensus； it must be based on a myth — a vision about a common experience； a conquest that made us Americans； as the myth about the conquest of Troy formed the Greeks。 Only a common myth can offer relief from the fear that life is without meaning or purpose。 Myths permit us to examine our place in the world by comparing it to a shared idea。 Myths are shared fantasies that form the tie that binds the individual to other members of his group。 Such myths help to ward off feelings of isolations； guilt； anxiety； and purposelessness — in short； they combat isolation and the breakdown of social standards and values。
26。In the eyes of the author； the greatest trouble with the US society may lie in
＇A＇ the nonexistence of consensus on the forms of the society should take。
＇B＇ the lack of divergence over the common organizations of social life。
＇C＇ the nonacceptance of a society based on individual diversity。
＇D＇ the pervasive distress caused by national morale decline。
27。The asocial personality of Americans may stem from
＇A＇ the absence of a common religion and ancestry。
＇B＇ the multiracial constituents of the US society。
＇C＇ the want of a shared myths they possess in life。
＇D＇ the counterbalance to narcissistic personality。
28。Homer’s epics is mentioned in Paragraph 1 in order to
＇A＇ exemplify the contributions made by ancient poets。
＇B＇ illustrate the role of shared fantasies about society。
＇C＇ show an ideal stage of eternal social progress。
＇D＇ make known myths of what a society ought to be。
29。The author concludes that only shared myths can help Americans
＇A＇ to bring about the uniformity of their culture。
＇B＇ to regain their consensus about a common experience。
＇C＇ to stay away from negative feelings in their life。
＇D＇ to counteract the effects of consensus about society。
30。It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that Christopher Lash is most probably
＇A＇ a reform advocate。＇B＇ a senior psychologist。
＇C＇ a reputed poet。＇D＇ a social historian。
Text 3
The early retirement of experienced workers is seriously harming the U。S。 economy； according to a new report from the Hudson Institute； a public policy research organization。 Currently； many older experienced workers retire at an early age。 According to the recently issued statistics； 79 percent of qualified workers begin collecting retirement benefits at age 62； if that trend continues； there will be a labor shortage that will hinder the economic growth in the twenty…first century。
Older Americans constitute an increasing proportion of the population； according to the U。 S。 Census Bureau； and the population of those over age 65 will grow by 60％ between 2001 and 2020。 During the same period； the group aged 18 to 44 will increase by only 4％。 Keeping older skilled workers employed； even part time； would increase U。S。 economic output and strengthen the tax base； but without significant policy reforms； massive early retirement among baby boomers seems more likely。
Retirement at age 62 is an economically rational decision today。 Social Security and Medicaid earnings limits and tax penalties subject our most experienced workers to marginal tax rates as high as 67％。 Social Security formulas encourage early retirement。 Although incomes usually rise with additional years of work； any pay increases after the 35…year mark result in higher social Security taxes but only small increases in benefits。
Hudson Institute researchers believe that federal tax and benefit policies are at fault and reforms are urgently needed； but they disagree with the popular proposal that much older Americans will have to work because Social Security will not support them and that baby boomers are not saving enough for retirement。 According to the increase in 401 （k） and Keogh retirement plans； the ongoing stock market on Wall Street； and the likelihood of large inheritances； there is evidence that baby boomers will reach age 65 with greater financial assets than previous generations。
The Hudson institute advocates reforming government policies that now discourage work and savings； especially for older worker。 Among the report’s recommendations： Tax half of all Social Security benefits； regardless of other income； provide 8％ larger benefits for each year beyond 65； and permit workers nearing retirement to negotiate compensation packages that may include a lower salary but with greater healthcare benefits。 However； it may take real and fruitful planning to find the right solution to the early retirement of older experienced workers； any measures taken must be allowed to prolong the serviceability of older experienced workers。
31。According to Hudson Institute researchers； the effect of the early retirement of qualified workers in the U。S。 economy is
＇A＇ constructive。 ＇B＇ significant。 ＇C＇ inconclusive。 ＇D＇ detrimental。
32。The older experienced workers in America tend to retire early because their prolonged service may
＇A＇ do harm to younger generations。 ＇B＇ end up with few or no benefits。
＇C＇ give play to their potentials。 ＇D＇ shed light on social trends。
33。The second paragraph is written chiefly to show that
＇A＇ there will be an acute labor shortage in the near future。
＇B＇ baby…boomers contribute much to the US economic output。
＇C＇ government policies concerning older people are out…dated。
＇D＇ older workers are enthusiastic about collecting social benefits。
34。When mentioning “the ongoing stock market on Wall Street”； the writer
＇A＇ is calling attention to the privileges to which baby…boomers are entitled。
＇B＇ is calling for the government to take countermeasures against labor shortage。
＇C＇ is refuting a notion about experienced workers’ early retirement。
＇D＇ is justifying the ineffectiveness of federal tax and benefit policies。
35。Towards the issue； what the writer is most concerned about will be
＇A＇ to advocate radically reforming government policies。
＇B＇ to take into account the benefits upon retirement。
＇C＇ to put in practice what Hudson researchers believe in。
＇D＇ to prolong the practicability of older experienced employees。
Text 4
The history of responses to the work of the artist Sandro Botticelli （1444—1510） suggests that widespread appreciation by critics is a relatively recent phenomenon。 Writing in 1550； Vasari expressed an unease with Botticelli’s work； admitting that the artist fitted awkwardly into his evolutionary scheme of the history of art。 Over the next two centuries； academic art historians defamed Botticelli in favor of his fellows Florentine； Michelangelo。 Even when antiacademic art historians of the early nineteenth century rejected many of the standards of evaluation adopted by their predecessors； Botticelli’s work remained outside of accepted taste； pleasing neither amateur observers nor connoisseurs。 （Many of his best paintings； however； remained hidden away in obscure churches and private homes。）
The primary reason for Botticelli’s unpopularity is not difficult to understand： most observers； up until the mid…nineteenth century； did not consider him to be noteworthy； because his work； for the most part； did not seem to these observers to exhibit the traditional characteristics of fifteenth…century Florentine art。 For example； Botticelli rarely employed the technique of strict perspective and； unlike Michelangelo； never used chiaroscuro。
Another reason for Botticelli’s unpopularity may have been that his attitude toward the style of classical art was very different from that of his contemporaries。 Although he was thoroughly exposed to classical art； he showed little interest in borrowing from the classical style。 Indeed； it is paradoxical that a painter of large…scale classical subjects adopted a style that was only slightly similar to that of classical art。
In any case； when viewers began to examine more closely the relationship of Botticelli’s work to the tradition of fifteenthcentury Florentine art； his reputation began to grow。 Analyses and assessments of Botticelli made between 1850 and 1870 by the artists of the Pre…Raphaelite movement； as well as by the writer Pater （although he； unfortunately； based his assessment on an incorrect analysis of Botticelli’s personality）； inspired a new appreciation of Botticelli throughout the English…speaking world。 Yet Botticel