普通高中英语阅读理解材料(2)

　　普通高中英语阅读(三)

　　Arts in crisis

　　WHEN you consider what subject to study in college, chances are that you and your parents will think about what you can make out of it after graduation. You will likely ask the question: "Can I find a well-paid job or simply a job with a degree in this in the future?"

　　This consideration also influences students when they come to choose between studying science or humanities (人文学科) at college. People generally believe that the humanities, which include literature (文学), history, cultural studies and philosophy (哲学), do not prepare students for a specific vocation (职业). Science subjects, however, are considered vocational courses that produce scientists, engineers and economists (经济学家).

　　"I''ve decided to take finance (财政学) as my college major. My parents and I think this subject will help me get a good job or start a business," said Huachen Yueru, 17, a science student at Wuxi No 1 High School.

　　Even those who choose a liberal arts (文科) education often pick the humanities subject they think will best help them later find a job.

　　"I''m going to study Spanish in college, which I believe will open doors to a high-paying job for me," said Liu Chao, 18, a Senior 2 student at Dalian No 20 High School. He said few of his classmates show interest in subjects like philosophy and history, which are seen as "less promising" in job markets.

　　The popularity of liberal arts subjects among college students has also been decreasing in the United States. American scholars (学者) and universities are concerned that in the ongoing economic crisis (经济危机) liberal arts subjects will be hit hardest. As money tightens (紧缩), they worry that the humanities may become "a great luxury (奢侈品) that many cannot afford", according to the New York Times.

　　This concern recently led the Association of American Colleges and Universities to issue a report aimed at selling the humanities to prospective (预期的) college students. The report argues that the humanities have both practical and economic value, as they develop personal growth, such as critical (批判性的) thinking, increase historical knowledge and sharpen reasoning skills.

　　"The humanities have a lot to contribute to the preparation of students for their vocational lives," Derek Bok, a former president of Harvard, said to the New York Times. He said he was referring not only to writing and analytical skills but also to the type of ethical (伦理) issues raised by new technology like stem cell (干细胞) research.