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 and widowers（鳏夫）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(the conditions are not favourable),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 spouses; 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 mechanisms(机制).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 best 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”(Line5,Para2)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 burden |
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. |
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Dear Customers，
I love slipping into a comfortable chair for a long read —as I relax into the chair，I also relax
into the author’s words，stories，and ideas．The physical book is so elegant that it disappears into
the background，and what remains is the author’s world．
Today，we at Amaｚon are excited to announce Mindle，a wireless，portable reading device with instant access to more than 90，000 books，magazines，and newspapers．
We’ve been working on Mindle for more than three years．Our top design objective was for
Mindle to disappear in your hands —to get out of the way —so you can enjoy your reading．We
also wanted to go beyond the physical book．Mindle is wireless，so whether you’re lying in bed or riding a train，you can think of a book，and have it in less than 60 seconds．No computer is needed—you do your reading directly from the device．
We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones．But unlike mobile
phones，there are no monthly wireless bills，no service or data plans，and no yearly contracts．There
is no software to install．We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology．
Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper．Sharp and natural with no strong
light，reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen．Mindle weighs only 10.3
ounces —less than a paperback —but can carry two hundred books．
Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks！
60．This passage most probably is a（n）_________．
A．advertisement B．news story C．lab report D．letter of thanks
61．From the passage we learn that Mindle is a device（设备）which．
A．has neither wires nor weight B．is operated by a computer
C．disappears while you read D．can find a book within one minute
62．With the device，the reader is able to．
A．enjoy reading when driving a car B．improve reading skills
C．gain access to free software D．get rid of heavy books made of paper
63．Different from mobile phones，Mindle_________．
A．has a much more friendly screen B．can work in the absence of electricity
C．doesn’t involve regular fees D．is wireless and can be used anywhere
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第三部分：阅读理解（共20 小题；满分40 分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D 中，选出最佳选项。
President Barack Obama had a big pat on the back for his young daughters on Tuesday，saying
they have taken swimmingly to life in the White House．
After more than a year at the US presidential mansion，Malia Obama，11，and Sasha Obama，
8，have made their dad proud with their ability to balance their private life with life in the public
eye，he told NBC television．
“The happiest thing about the past year and a half has been the girls’ adjustment．They have just been terrific．They’re doing well in school，”Obama said．
“They’re not as constrained．They can wander around．Their Secret Service protection is a lot
more low key，”he explained．“So they’ve got soccer，they’ve got basketball，they go sleep over at their friend’s houses．”
“Sometimes I’ve got 12 little girls screaming on the third floor of the White House．And they
made a great adjustment．”
The president also admitted he was concerned about how his daughters would cope with his
public life as they get a bit older．
“Now I get a little worried about them when they’re teenagers because I think that’s the time
when you’re already embarrassed about your parents，and then imagine if your dad’s in the
newspaper every day and people are calling him an idiot．I feel a little worried about that．”
““But on the other hand，Malia and Sasha have just turned out to be unbelievably well adjusted
kids，”Obama said．
“The thing that’s most important to me is that they are so respectful of everybody and haven’t put on any airs．I attribute that directly to Michelle because she wouldn’t put up with any of that stuff．”
56．Accoding to this interview，_________makes him feel happy？
A．that he has a happy family
B．that his daughters can be accustomed to their new life
C．that he has two good daughters
D．that he succeed in his career as president of the USA
57．What can we infer from the passage ？
A．It is not difficult for little girls to deal with the life in the White House well．
B．Malia and Sasha don’t have many friends because they live in the White House well．
C．Obama is too busy to teach their daughter good manners．
D．There are some bad reports of Obama on the newspaper sometimes．
58．What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean？
A．（they）don’t feel very high B．（they）don’t show off
C．（they）feel very happy D．（they）feel very angry
59．According to the passage，who is Michelle？
A．The children’s maid． B．The children’s teacher．
C．The children’s mother． D．The children’s friend．
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New York Helmsley Hotel
New York City, NY
KAYAK members are specially offered the New York Helmsmen Hotel, a world – class hotel located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, within walking distance of Times Square, Grand Central Station and the United Nations, as well as the Theatre District and Rockefeller Center.
Gaylord Palms
Orlando, FL
Gaylord Palms Hotel and Convention Center offers excitement to KAYAK members with world – class restaurants, dynamic on – site recreation, and breathtakingly beautiful gardens under glass. The Gaylord offers great room and food service close to the world’s most trilling places – Disney, Sea World, and Universal.
Affinia Chicago
Chicago, IL
Steps from the Magnificent Mile, the Affinia Chicago is best known for its perfect location at the Windy City’s center of shopping, entertainment, culture and business. Known for its fast pace, famous museums, amazing buildings, and action – packed sporting events, Chicago offers something for every KAYAK member.
The Liaison Capitol Hill, An Af finia Hotel
Washington DC
KAYAK members seeking the typical DC experience are offered the Liaison Capitol Hill. Having a great location on Capitol Hill, The Liaison Capitol Hill is the closest hotel to the U. S. Captiol. The Smithsonian, Union Station and dozens of the country’s most visited museums and monuments are within walking distance.
68．What do these hotels have in common?
A．They are all near shopping center.
B．They are all favorably located.
C．They all have world – class restaurants.
D．They all attract people with their low prices.
69．Which might be the best place for parents with kids to spend their holiday?
A．Orlando, FL B．Chicago, IL
C．Washington DC D．New York City, NY
70．If you are interested in museums, which may be your best hotels to stay in?
A．New York Helmsely Hotel and Affinia Chicago.
B．The Liaison Capitol Hill and Gaylord Palms.
C．The Liaison Capitol Hill and Affinia Chicago
D．Gaylord Palms and New York Helmsley Hotel.
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Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived at the White House after serving as First Lady of Arkansas for twelve year. On many occasions, Hillary Clinton has spoken about the need to find the right balance in our lives. For her, the elements of that balance are family, work, and public service.
Hillary Diane Rodham was born in Chicago, Illinois, on October 26, 1947. An excellent student. Hillary also enjoyed sports and was always interested in politics. Graduating from Wellesley College with high honors, she entered Yale Law School, where she developed her special concern for protecting the best interests of children and their families. It was there that she met Bill Clinton, a fellow student.
In 1973, Hillary became a lawyer for the Children’s Defense Fund. In 1975 Hillary left Washington and followed her heart to Arkansas, marrying Bill Clinton. The couple taught together in the University of Arkansas. Their daughter. Chelsea, was born in 1980.
As First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary continued to work tirelessly for the benefit of children and families. She introduced a program training parents to work with their preschool children. Because of her efforts, Hillary was named Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.
Hillary Rodham Clinton brings her own special talents, experience, style and interests to the role of First Lady of the US. She played a leading part in national Health Care Reform.
Hilary Clinton was elected to the US Senate (参议院) in 2000, becoming the first Lady elected to public office and the first female senator to represent New York. In 2006, Senator Clinton won re-election to the Senate, and in 2007 she began her historic campaign for President. In 2008, she campaigned for the election of Barrack Obama and Joe Biden, and in November, she was chosen by President elect Obama as Secretary of State.
64．What do we know from the first paragraph?
A．Hillary Rodham Clinton never finds it hard to balance herself in life.
B．Family, work and public service are all important to Hillary Clinton.
C．The experience as First Lady of Arkansas led her to the White House.
D．Before entering the White House, Hillary had worked for the First Lady.
65．Why did Hillary leave the Children’s Defense Fund?
A．Because she wanted to marry Bill Clinton who was in Arkansas.
B．Because she married Bill Clinton and had to move to Arkansas.
C．Because she found she fell in love with Arkansas.
D．Because she was offered a better job in the University of Arkansas.
66．Where did Bill Clinton get his high education?
A．At Wellesley College.
B．At the Children’s Defense Fund.
C．At the University of Arkansas.
D．At Yale Law School.
67．Which is the right order of the following events?
a. Hillary was elected to the United States Senate.
b. Hillary was chosen as Secretary of State.
c. Hillary served as the First Lady.
d. Hillary supported Obama in his presidential election.
e. Hillary began her campaign for President.
A．c, a, e, d, b B．c, e, d, b, a C．a, e, c, b, d D．b, e, c, d, a
.
Americans are thinking about national education standards recently developed by teachers and other education experts. The National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the effort.
The United States, unlike other nations, has never had the same school standards across the country. What is the reason? Education is not discussed in the Constitution. That document limits the responsibilities of the federal government. Other responsibilities, like education, fall to the individual states.
Local control of education probably was a good idea two hundred years ago. People stayed in the same place and schools knew what students needed to learn. But today, people move to different cities. And some people work at jobs that did not exist even twenty years ago.
Many American educators say that getting a good education should not depend on where you live. They say that some states have lowered their standards in order to increase student scores on tests required by the No Child Left Behind Act.
Kara Schlosser is communications director for the Council of Chief State School Officers. She says the new standards clearly state what a student should be able to do to be successful in college and work.
Forty-eight states have already shown approval for the standards. Two states reject the idea. Critics(批评家) say that working toward the same standards in every state will not guarantee(保证) excellence for all. Some educators in Massachusetts say adopting the proposal will hurt their students because the state standards are even higher. Others say the change will be too costly, requiring new textbooks and different kinds of training for teachers. Still others fear federal interference or control.
Supporters say the standards are goals and do not tell states or teachers how to teach. They also say the federal government is not forcing acceptance. However, approving the standards will help states qualify(合格) for some federal grant money.
60．What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Local Control of Education Standards out of Date
B．American National Education Standards under Consideration
C．Education Standards in Each State – Good or Bad
D．Acceptance of the New Standards in the United States
61．Why is local control of education no longer a good idea today?
A．Because local standards are limited.
B．Because it is required by the federal government.
C．Because people today moves among states more often than before.
D．Because America has never has the same school standards thought the country.
62．Some people are against the national education standards because__________.
A．the standards are higher than those of each state
B．the are nor yet prepared for the new standards
C．the standards may prevent some students gaining excellence
D．they don’t want the federal government to train their teachers
63．If a state agrees to accept the motional standards, it will probably get__________.
A．more students B．advice on how to improve teaching
C．better textbooks D．money from the federal government