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The great recession may be over, but thisera of high joblessness is probably beginning. Before it ends,

itwill likely change the life course and character of a generation of youngadults. And ultimately, it is likely to reshape our politics,our culture, andthe character of our society for years.

Noone tries harder than the jobless to find silver linings in this nationaleconomic disaster. Many said that unemployment, while extremely painful, hadimproved them in some ways; they had become less materialistic and morefinancially prudent; they were more aware of the struggles of others. Inlimited respects, perhaps the recession will leave society better off. At thevery least, it has awoken us from our national fever dream of easy riches andbigger houses, and put a necessary end to an era of reckless personal spending.

Butfor the most part, these benefits seem thin, uncertain, and far off. In TheMoral Consequences of Economic Growth, the economic historian Benjamin Friedmanargues that both inside and outside the U.S. ,lengthy periods of economicstagnation or decline have almost always left society more mean-spirited andless inclusive, and have usually stopped or reversed the advance of rights andfreedoms. Anti-immigrant sentiment typically increases, as does conflictbetween races and classes.

Incomeinequality usually falls during a recession, but it has not shrunk in thisone,. Indeed, this period of economic weakness may reinforce class divides, anddecrease opportunities to cross them--- especially for young people. Theresearch of Till Von Wachter, the economist in Columbia University, suggeststhat not all people graduating into a recession see their life chances dimmed:those with degrees from elite universities catch up fairly quickly to wherethey otherwise would have been if they had graduated in better times; it is themasses beneath them that are left behind.

In the internet age, it is particularlyeasy to see the resentment that has always been hidden winthin Americansociety. More difficult, in the moment , is discerning precisely how these leantimes are affecting society’s character. In many respects, the U.S. was moresocially tolerant entering this resession than at any time in its history, anda variety of national polls on social conflict since then have shown mixedresults. We will have to wait and see exactly how these hard times will reshapeour social fabric. But they certainly it, and all the more so the longer theyextend.

36.Bysaying “to find silver linings”(Line 1,Para.2)the author suggest that thejobless try to___.

[A]seek subsidies from the govemment

[B]explore reasons for the unermployment

[C]make profits from the troubled economy

[D]look on the bright side of the recession

37.Accordingto Paragraph 2,the recession has made people_____.

[A]realize the national dream

[B]struggle against each other

[C]challenge their lifestyle

[D]reconsider their lifestyle

38.BenjaminFriedman believe that economic recessions may_____.

[A]impose a heavier burden on immigrants

[B]bring out more evils of human nature

[C]Promote the advance of rights and freedoms

[D]ease conflicts between races and classes

39.Theresearch of Till Von Wachther suggests that in recession graduates from eliteuniversities tend to _____.

[A]lag behind the others due to decreased opportunities

[B]catch up quickly with experienced employees

[C]see their life chances as dimmed as the others’

[D]recover more quickly than the others

40.Theauthor thinks that the influence of hard times on society is____.

[A]certain

[B]positive

[C]trivial

[D]destructive