Being sociable looks like a good way to add years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbours, even pets, will all do the trick, but the biggest longevity (长寿) boost seems to come from marriage or an equivalent relationship. The effect was first noted in 1858 by William Farr, who wrote that widows (寡妇)and widowers were at a much higher risk of dying than their married peers. Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to a man’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect holds for all causes of death, whether illness, accident or self-harm.
Even if the odds are stacked against you, marriage can more than compensate. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago has found that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearly four years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Likewise, a married man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as a divorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as partners are more likely to become ill or die in the couple of years following their spouse’s death, and caring for a spouse with mental disorder can leave you with some of the same severe problems. Even so, the odds favour marriage. In a 30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.
So how does it work? The effects are complex, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision, emotional support and other more physiological (生理的) mechanisms. For example, social contact can boost development of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and less chance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships may handle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportive partner.
A life partner, children and good friends are all recommended if you aim to live to 100. The ultimate social network is still being mapped out, but Christakis says: “People are interconnected, so their health is interconnected.”William Farr’s study and other studies show that _________.
| A．social life provides an effective cure for illness |
| B．being sociable helps improve one’s quality of life |
| C．women benefit more than men from marriage |
| D．marriage contributes a great deal to longevity |
Linda Waite’s studies support the idea that _________.
| A．older men should quit smoking to stay healthy |
| B．marriage can help make up for ill health |
| C．the married are happier than the unmarried |
| D．unmarried people are likely to suffer in later life |
It can be inferred from the context that the “flip side” (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _________.
| A．the disadvantages of being married |
| B．the emotional problems arising from marriage |
| C．the responsibility of taking care of one’s family |
| D．the consequence of a broken marriage |
What does the author say about social networks?
| A．They have effects similar to those of a marriage. |
| B．They help develop people’s community spirit. |
| C．They provide timely support for those in need. |
| D．They help relieve people of their life’s burdens. |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
| A．It’s important that we develop a social network when young. |
| B．To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network. |
| C．Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span. |
| D．We should share our social networks with each other. |
Maurice Sendak's children's book，Where the Wild Things Are，published in 1963，has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year.
The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper.Before long，Max's room magically becomes a forest，and he sails away to a land where monsters live.Max isn't scared，though，and becomes king of the wild things，but after a while，he begins feeling homesick.Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom.
Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis，an education professor，said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. “This allows children to shape the story themselves，” she said.
The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children，but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them.
Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. “The book talks about what all children go through，like ‘I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'” Davis said.
The book also encourages children to face their fears.“I think it's really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters，” Davis said.“Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them.I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience.”
Since the book has been successful throughout the years，a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it.Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children.“You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful'” Davis said.Teachers and professors like the book Where the Wild Things Are because it helps children ________.
| A．learn to draw their own pictures |
| B．understand their own fear |
| C．develop more quickly |
| D．become more imaginative |
What is the intention of using the larger words in the book?
| A．To add to the difficulty while children are reading. |
| B．To help challenge the children's reading skills. |
| C．To cause the children some confusion. |
| D．To help children get involved in the story. |
Which of the following is TRUE about the book?
| A．The character Max is brave enough in the story. |
| B．Max was sent to the forest as punishment. |
| C．It is suitable for people of all ages. |
| D．It is the most popular children's book ever published. |
What does Davis think of the movie?
| A．She thinks children of all ages will love it. |
| B．She encourages children to see it to fight against their fear. |
| C．She worries that it might be too frightening for some children. |
| D．She believes it will be a better choice for children than the book. |
What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To suggest ways to improve children's reading. |
| B．To comment on a famous children's book. |
| C．To encourage children to read scary stories. |
| D．To introduce a movie based on a children's book. |
In many countries today，laws protect wildlife.In India the need for such protection was realized centuries ago.
About 300 B．C.an Indian writer described forests that were somewhat like national parks today.The killing of game animals was carefully governed.Some animals were fully protected.Within the forest，nobody was allowed to cut trees，burn wood，or trap animals for their furs.Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were trapped or killed outside the park，so that other animals would not become uneasy.
The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before.About a thousand sorts of animals are in danger of extinction，and the speed at which they are being destroyed has been putting_on.With mammals(哺乳类动物)，for example，the speed of extinction is now about one sort every year；from A. D．1 to 1800，the speed was about one sort every fifty years.Everywhere，men are trying to solve the problem of saving wildlife while caring for the world's growing population.This report says that the need for protecting wildlife________.
| A．is met in many countries today |
| B．was understood centuries ago |
| C．is carried out in forests as well as in national parks |
| D．was described by an Indian writer about 2,300 years ago |
The report says that in Indian forests long ago________.
| A．hunters were given permits to hunt game |
| B．no killing of animals was allowed |
| C．only dangerous animals were killed |
| D．the killing of game animals was forbidden |
According to the report，men trying to save wildlife are thinking about ________as well.
| A．the animals in national parks |
| B．stricter laws against hunting |
| C．the trees in the forests |
| D．the needs of people |
The underlined phrase “putting on” in the third paragraph probably means ________.
| A．slowing down | B．rising |
| C．growing up | D．going on |
The growth of the world's population means________.
| A．greater danger to wild life |
| B．people like animals better |
| C．over a thousand sorts of animals are extinct |
| D．only one sort of animal is extinct every year |
Sure，it's good to get along well with your teacher because it makes the time you spend in the classroom more pleasant.
And yes，it's good to get along well with your teacher because，in general，it's smart to learn how to get along well with the different types of people you'll meet throughout your life.
In fact，kids who get along well with their teachers not only learn more，but they're more comfortable with asking questions and getting extra help.This makes it easier for them to understand new materials and makes them do their best on tests.When you have this kind of relationship with a teacher，he or she can be someone to turn to with problems，such as problems with learning or school issues(问题)．
Here is a question：what if you don't get along with your teachers？In fact，teachers want to get along well with you and enjoy seeing you learn.But teachers and students sometimes have personality clashes(个性冲突)，which can happen between any two people.If you show your teacher that you want to make the situation better，he or she will probably do everything possible to make that happen.By dealing with a problem like this，you learn something about how to get along with people who are different from you.
However if a certain teacher isn't your favorite，you can still have a successful relationship with her or him，especially ________.Here are some of those responsibilities(责任)：
Attend class ready to learn.
Be prepared for class with the right stationery，books，and completed assignments(作业)．
Listen when your teacher is talking.
Do your best，whether it's a classroom assignment，homework，or a test.The passage is written for ________.
| A．students | B．teachers |
| C．advisers | D．parents |
According to the passage，getting along well with your teachers will make you ________.
| A．have no problems with study |
| B．get a better seat in the classroom |
| C．get the best scores in the exams |
| D．have more pleasant time in the classroom |
The underlined word “that” in the fourth paragraph refers to ________.
| A．the happy time you have in the classroom |
| B．getting along very well with classmates |
| C．a better relationship between you and your teacher |
| D．the disappearance of personality differences |
“________”can be filled in the blank.
| A．if you fulfill(履行)your basic responsibilities as a student |
| B．if you are thought of as a good student |
| C．if you know some basic social skills |
| D．if you are easygoing and helpful |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The importance of friendship in schools. |
| B．The importance of a good relationship with your teachers. |
| C．Studying skills for students. |
| D．Useful skills to get along well with your teachers. |
Dana Cummings was in his thirties before he first went surfing. But, even more interesting is that Dana Cummings chose to learn the sport after losing a leg in a car accident. Now, nine years later, he helps other disabled (伤残的) people learn how to ride the waves in AmpSurf.
On the coast of Maine, he is working with 27-year-old Matthew Fish, who is partly blind. Cummings takes hold of Fish and leads him into the ocean. The surfboard floats next to them. Fish lies on the surfboard. He tries to stand up on it. After a few attempts (尝试) he is up and riding all the way back to land. “That was exciting,” Fish says.
A car accident in 2002 took Dana Cummings’ leg. He says the crash changed him more than just physically. “Losing my leg made me realize how precious (珍贵的) life is and get off the couch and start living. I do more things now than I ever did before. Next week I am going to compete in a contest in Hawaii,” Dana says.
One year later Dana Cummings formed AmpSurf. AmpSurf is a group that volunteers to hold surfing classes and events for people with all kinds of disabilities.
Recently, AmpSurf took its training programs to the East Coast. Eleven students attended the class in Maine. They came from all over the northeastern United States.
Dana Cummings thinks AmpSurf can change the way a disabled person thinks. “Most people with disabilities consider himself or herself unlucky and useless, but we want them to see what they can do. Who cares you lose your leg or you are blind, whatever? Have fun. Just enjoy life. Take the most advantage of it you can,” Dana says.Matthew Fish thinks learning to ride the waves is _____.
| A．interesting | B．easy |
| C．boring | D．difficult |
When did Dana Cummings set up AmpSurf according to the text?
| A．In 2002. | B．In 2003. |
| C．In 2008. | D．In 2011. |
According to Dana Cummings, AmpSurf can _____.
| A．ease the physical pain of the disabled |
| B．help the disabled learn to get used to their life |
| C．change the attitude of the disabled towards life |
| D．make the disabled pay more attention to their disabilities |
What is the best title for the text?
| A．Dana Cummings — a great surfer |
| B．AmpSurf — a training group |
| C．How to learn to live with disabilities |
| D．Disabled surfers ride the waves |
After a year of being prepared, Laura Dekker can’t wait to set sail .Last August ,the Dutch government decided that Laura Dekker was too young to take on the challenge of sailing around the world alone. But after a year of preparing herself , Laura has been allowed to sail.
”I was so happy I almost jump into the water,” Laura said , after learning of the court’s judgement. She was born on a yacht(游艇) in the South Pacific ,and now lives with her father in a boat. When Dutch child protection groups first heard about her plan to sail alone , they stopped her from doing so .
Since the decision, though, Laura had been preparing with her father to persuade the courts that she was ready. Last week she received the books and other materials she would need for school while she was at sea. She added safety equipment to a new, big ship. And she took her first aid course to learn several survival skills, like how to put out fires on the boat, take care of her own injuries and deal with lack of sleep. She also planned a safer course --- adding alternate routes(备用路径) to avoid pirate(海盗) attacks, and planning a course that would have her on dry land as she moved from port to port across the world.
Laura is using a larger and more safer boat. If she finished successfully in less than two years, she will take the title from current record-holder Jessica Watson, of Australia, who was 16 when she completed the journey.Why didn’t the Dutch government allow Laura Dekker to sail alone ?
| A．She was too old to take care of herself |
| B．She was too young to sail alone. |
| C．She was not well prepared |
| D．It would cause trouble to the government. |
It can be inferred that Laura’s sailing plan was first ______.
| A．not allowed by her father and mother |
| B．supported by her father and mother |
| C．not allowed by Dutch child protection groups |
| D．supported by Dutch child protection groups |
When Laura is at sea ,she might _____.
| A．learn some lessons by herself |
| B．learn some lessons with the help of her father |
| C．stop her school lessons for some time |
| D．not learn any lessons of her schooling |
According to the passage , Laura made good preparations in the following EXCEPT _____.
A, struggling against sharks
B. learning knowledge in first aid
C. improving the yacht
D. improving herself with survival skills