52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?
- A. More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.
- B. It remains alive among the majority of American people.
- C. Americans' idea of it has changed over the past few decades.
- D. An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.
答案：C
答案句：The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the American dream-and what it takes to achieve it-looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.
参考译文：最近的《国家期刊》民意调查询问受访者关于美国梦、实现目标所需的条件，以及他们是否感到对自己成功的能力有重大控制力。压倒性地，结果显示，如今美国梦的概念——以及实现它所需的条件——与20世纪末相比看起来大不相同。
定位线索：题干“latest National Journal poll”对应原文“The most recent National Journal poll”；题干“concerning the American dream”对应原文“asked respondents about the American dream”；原文“looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century”对应选项C“has changed over the past few decades”（过去几十年已改变）。
解析：答案句明确指出民意调查结果显示美国梦的概念与20世纪末相比大不相同，即观念已改变，对应选项C。选项A、B、D在原文中未提及，属于无中生有。
53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?
- A. It still remains open to debate.
- B. It has proved to be beyond doubt.
- C. It is no longer as important as it used to be.
- D. It is much better understood now than ever.
答案：C
答案句：In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority-52 percent-think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.
参考译文：在过去七年里，美国人对教育引领成功的力量变得更加悲观。尽管他们认为上大学是一个相当可实现的目标，但大多数人——52%——认为年轻人不需要四年制大学教育就能成功。
定位线索：题干“Americans now think of the role of college education”对应原文“Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education”；原文“do not need a four-year college education”对应选项C“It is no longer as important as it used to be”（不再像过去那么重要）。
解析：答案句表明美国人对教育的作用更悲观，且多数人认为不需要大学教育也能成功，说明其重要性下降，对应选项C。选项A、B、D在原文中未提及，属于无中生有。