No, in this consumerist age, most buyers aren’t evaluating college as an investment, but rather as a consumer product—like a car or clothes or a house. And with such purchases, price is only one of many crucial factors to consider.

　　As with automobiles, consumers in today’s college marketplace have vast choices, and people search for the one that gives them the most comfort and satisfaction in line with their budgets. This accounts for the willingness of people to pay more for different types of experiences (such as attending a private liberal-arts college or going to an out-of-state public school that has a great marine-biology program). And just as two auto purchasers might spend an equal amount of money on very different cars, college students (or, more accurately, their parents) often show a willingness to pay essentially the same price for vastly different products. So which is it? Is college an investment product like a stock or a consumer product like a car? In keeping with the automotive world’s hottest consumer trend, maybe it’s best to characterize it as a hybrid (混合動力汽車); an expensive consumer product that, over time, will pay rich dividends.

　　6. What’s the opinion of economists about going to college?

　　A.Huge amounts of money is being wasted on campus socializing.

　　B.It doesn’t pay to run into debt to receive a college education.

　　C.College education is rewarding in spite of the startling costs.

　　D.Going to college doesn’t necessarily bring the expected returns.

　　7. The two Harvard economists note in their study that, for much of the 20th century, ________.

　　A.enrollment kept decreasing in virtually all American colleges and universities

　　B.the labor market preferred high-school to college graduates

　　C.competition for university admissions was far more fierce than today

　　D.the gap between the earnings of college and high-school graduates narrowed

　　8. Students who attend an in-state college or university can ________.

　　A.save more on tuition

　　B.receive a better education

　　C.take more liberal-arts courses

　　D.avoid traveling long distances

　　9. In this consumerist age, most parents ________.

　　A.regard college education as a wise investment

　　B.place a premium on the prestige of the College

　　C.think it crucial to send their children to college

　　D.consider college education a consumer product