英语一2014年阅读真题Text1Inorderto“changelivesforthebetter”andreduce“dependency”,GeorgeOsborne,ChancelloroftheExchequer,introducedthe“upfrontworksearch”scheme.OnlyifthejoblessarriveatthejobcentrewithaCV,registerforonlinejobsearch,andstartlookingforworkwilltheybeeligibleforbenefit—andthentheyshouldreportweeklyratherthanfortnightly.Whatcouldbemorereasonable?Moreapparentreasonablenessfollowed.Therewillnowbeaseven-daywaitforthejobseeker’sallowance.“Thosefirstfewdaysshouldbespentlookingforwork,notlookingtosignon,”heclaimed.“We’redoingthesethingsbecauseweknowtheyhelppeoplestayoffbenefitsandhelpthoseonbenefitsgetintoworkfaster.”Help?Really?Onfirsthearing,thiswasthesociallyconcernedchancellor,tryingtochangelivesforthebetter,completewith“reforms”toanobviouslyindulgentsystemthatdemandstoolittleeffortfromthenewlyunemployedtofindwork,andsubsidiseslaziness.Whatmotivatedhim,weweretounderstand,washiszealfor“fundamentalfairness”—protectingthetaxpayer,controllingspendingandensuringthatonlythemostdeservingclaimantsreceivedtheirbenefits.Losingajobishurting:youdon’tskipdowntothejobcentrewithasonginyourheart,delightedattheprospectofdoublingyourincomefromthegenerousstate.Itisfinanciallyterrifying,psychologicallyembarrassingandyouknowthatsupportisminimalandextraordinarilyhardtoget.Youarenownotwanted;youarenowexcludedfromtheworkenvironmentthatofferspurposeandstructureinyourlife.Worse,thecrucialincometofeedyourselfandyourfamilyandpaythebillshasdisappeared.Askanyonenewlyunemployedwhattheywantandtheanswerisalways:ajob.ButinOsborneland,yourfirstinstinctistofallintodependency—permanentdependencyifyoucangetit—supportedbyastateonlytooreadytoindulgeyourfalsehood.Itisasthough20yearsofever-tougherreformsofthejobsearchandbenefitadministrationsystemneverhappened.TheprincipleofBritishwelfareisnolongerthatyoucaninsureyourselfagainsttheriskofunemploymentandreceiveunconditionalpaymentsifthedisasterhappens.Eventheveryphrase“jobseeker’sallowance”isaboutredefiningtheunemployedasa“...
