考研英语阅读篇章奥巴马讲话帮助美国莘莘学子

　　篇章：奥巴马讲话 帮助美国莘莘学子

　　Hi, everybody.

　　This is commencement season, a time for graduates and their families to celebrate one of the greatest achievements of a young person s life. But for many graduates, it also means feeling trapped by a whole lot of student loan debt. And we ve got to do more to lift that Burden.

　　See, in a 21st century economy, the surest pathway into the middle class is some form of higher education. The unemployment rate for workers with a bachelor s degree is just 3.3 percent-about half what it is for high school graduates. The typical graduate of a four-year college earns $15,000 more per year than someone with just a high school degree.

　　But at a time when college has never been more important, it s also never been more expensive. That s why, since I took office, I ve worked to make college more affordable. We reformed a student loan system that gave away billions of taxpayer dollars to big banks and invested that money where it makes a bigger bang-in helping more young people afford a higher education.

　　But over the past three decades, the average tuition at a public four-year college has more than tripled. The average undergraduate student who borrows for college now graduates owing almost 30,000.

　　And I ve heard from too many young people who are frustrated that they ve done everything they were supposed to do-and now they re paying the price. I ve taken action on my own to offer millions of students the opportunity to cap their monthly student loan payments to 10% of their income.

　　But Congress needs to do its part. The good news is that Senate Democrats are working on a bill that would help more young people save money. Just like you can refinance your mortgage at a lower interest rate, this bill would let you refinance your student loans.

　　And we d pay for it by closing loopholes that allow some millionaires to pay a lower tax rate than the middle class. That s the choice that your representatives in Congress will make in the coming weeks-protect young people from crushing debt, or protect tax breaks for millionaires.

　　And while Congress decides what it s going to do, I will keep doing whatever I can without Congress to help responsible young people pay off their loans-including new action I will take this week.

　　This country has always made a commitment to put a good education within the reach of all who are willing to work for it. That s what made us an economic superpower. That s what makes us special.

　　And as long as I hold this office, I ll keep fighting to give more young people the chance to earn their own piece of the American Dream.

　　Thanks, and have a great weekend.