第二篇：
       At an average Millennial (千禧世代；Y 世代) get-together, it’s not unusual for friends to show off a hundred photos oftheir pets. From the amount of care Millennials exert to make their pets comfortable and stylish, it’s easy to see that theyconsider their pets as true members of the family. Young Americans may be less likely to be homeowners or parents of humanchildren, but they are leading in their rate of pet ownership. The $69 billion pet industry has already grown three times largerthan its size in 1996, and Millennials are driving the increase. With 44 percent of Millennials being unsure if they want to starttheir own family, it makes sense that their social media posts may be more full of fur babies than tiny humans. Although petsare undoubtedly cute, their vast popularity suggests a deeper reason why Millennials are choosing to have pets over children.
       Part of the explosion in pet popularity involves something not so warm and fluffy: personal finances. The GreatRecession (經濟大衰退) hit Millennials right as they graduated and entered the workforce, causing them a lifetime offinancial anxieties and student loan debt. The costs for a year of dog ownership range from $2,674 to $3,536. Seems expensive,right? Perhaps, but not when you compare it to the cost of raising a baby. Raising a child costs parents anywhere from $12,800to $14,970 per year. And that does not include the huge college bill. For couples with limited cash, a dog or cat is simply amore financially possible option.
       Aside from finances, individuals are also drawn to the freedom a pet can offer. Pets can provide purpose without thesacrifices required for raising a baby. Of course, pets still require work and frequent bathroom breaks, but they can be leftat home while owners go to work and out to social gatherings. While a pet can be left with minimal supervision, the samecannot be said for a child. 
【題組】46. What is the main idea of the passage?
(A) Millennials prefer pets over babies.
(B) Pets can greatly affect the economy.
(C) Millennial women tend to quit their jobs after having babies.
(D) What the world will become when Millennials get old.