Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge(剧增) of women in the workforce may mean a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse(反面) of this concern is that becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriage. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to put off marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy comes to life, the number of marriages also rises.
The increase in divorce rates follows to the increase in women working outside the home. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife’s work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible(似是而非的). Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. By raising a family’s standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family’s financial and emotional stability.
Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.
Also, a major part of women’s inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities.It is said in the passage that when the economy falls_____
A.men would choose working women as their marriage partners |
B.more women would get married to seek financial security |
C.even working women would worry about their marriages |
D.more people would prefer to remain single for the time being |
If women find fulfillment through work outside the home,_____.
A.they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners |
B.their husbands are expected to do more housework |
C.their marriage ties can be strengthened |
D.they tend to put their career before marriage |
One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that_____.
A.they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom |
B.they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands |
C.they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations |
D.they tend to suspect their husbands loyalty to their marriage |
Which of the following statements can best summarize the authors view in the passage?
A.The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country |
B.Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage |
C.In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent |
D.The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case. |
According to the Ministry of Health, 260 million Chinese people have chronic(慢性)diseases, and 85 percent of all deaths in China are caused by such diseases.Among them, cardiovascular(心血管的)disease has bothered more people than any other kind of chronic disease.
According to the WHO(World Health Organization), salt consumption(消耗), one of the key causes of high blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease, is much higher in China than in other countries.
Douglas Bettcher, the director of the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, says, “The average Chinese person consumes about 12 to 14 grams (of salt) per day, while the suggestion of the WHO is consumption of less than 5 grams per day.High salt consumption is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and high pressure in China.
Changing the way that food is prepared could reduce salt consumption in China.
Another major risk factor in China is smoking.Dr Michael O’Leary, a representative of the WHO, says, “We know already that one million deaths in China are related to smoking, This is an enormous number.It means that we are seeing nearly 3000 deaths a day in China, or two deaths every minute, related to smoking.
According to O’Leary, about 26 percent of men who die from smoking-related diseases in China die before the age of 60.People who can still contribute a great deal, in other words, are dying too young.
China has tried to ban smoking , but more efforts are needed.
More than half of chronic diseases are preventable by changing lifestyles and reducing risks.The four key risk factors are: smoking, diets high in fats, salt and sugar, environments that prevent physical activities, and alcohol consumption.These are the areas on which efforts to make changes need to concentrate.Which of the following is more in China than in other countries?
A.The amount of salt consumed |
B.The number of deaths caused by high blood pressure. |
C.The number of people with cardiovascular disease. |
D.The number of people with high blood pressure. |
According to the WHO, how much salt should a Chinese person consume?
A.About 12 to 14 grams per day. |
B.Less than 5 grams per day. |
C.About 17 to 19 grams per day. |
D.About 7 to 9 grams per day. |
Why does O’Leary mention “26 percent of men” in Paragraph 6?
A.To show China needs to try to ban smoking. |
B.To show smoking causes the deaths of elderly people. |
C.To show smoking causes the deaths of too many young people. |
D.To show the number of smoking-related deaths in China is large. |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.There are four causes of chronic diseases. |
B.The change in lifestyles can prevent some chronic diseases. |
C.No smoking or alcohol means no chronic diseases. |
D.If we do physical activities, we will have no chronic diseases. |
We all need friends and we always have.Our ancestors found that gaining the basic necessities of life was easier in a group.It’s estimated that the maximum number of people who lived in early communities of hunter-gatherers was 150.
Friends aren’t bound(受……限制)by blood or family bonds, employment contracts or legal obligations.Our circle of associates includes work colleagues and people we meet at parties, in the pub or on the train to work.Some associates are much more important than our family.We are capable of exchanging an email with these associates, and may have mutual acquaintances with a good number of them, providing common ground.We do things for one another because we want to.Whether writing an answer to a photo put on Facebook, sending a birthday card by post, or making a hospital visit, the efforts we have made for our friends are out of kindness.It is this nature of friendship which requires nothing in return that makes it beneficial and valuable.
Friendships take work, and they need to be nurtured, nourished and maintained.We feel good about helping our friends because we are friends.However, we often lose touch with our friends because of a lack of time and energy.When we are carrying a heavy load at work, involved in a serious relationship or raising children, it’s hard to spare time for friends.In these situations, we need to remind ourselves of what friends are for and why they can be so important in our lives.
In a survey of more than 2,000 married couples aged 55 or older, for both men and women, having friends was the best predictor of being satisfied in marriage — possibly because they were more satisfied with their lives as a result of having friends.
Researchers suggest social relationships are the reason why women live longer than men, Social bonds reduce the risk of disease by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol(胆固醇)and heart rate.A lack of good friends is as harmful to your health as smoking or being overweight.Indeed, people without friends are more likely to die younger.Not only do friendships prolong(延长)our lives, they make us happier too.People who are socially active don’t feel so stressed or feel they can not enjoy anything easily — they also tend to feel better about their lives and who they are.What makes friendship beneficial and valuable?
A.Its being not bound by blood or family bonds. |
B.Its being easy to maintain. |
C.The good we have done to our friends. |
D.That we make efforts for friends out of kindness. |
What should we do when we have no time for friends?
A.Quit our jobs. |
B.Give our friends calls. |
C.Remind ourselves of what friends are for. |
D.Turn to our friends for help. |
What can we infer from the survey in the fourth paragraph?
A.Having friends makes people satisfied in marriage. |
B.The older people are, the more satisfied they are in marriage. |
C.Married couples are more satisfied with their lives. |
D.Married couples are easier to have friends. |
What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Friendships prolong our lives and make us happy. |
B.Men should learn to be socially active. |
C.Women live longer than men. |
D.Women tend to be less stressed. |
Dolphins call out the specific names of loved ones when they become separated, a study finds.Other than humans, they are the only animals known to do this, according to the study.The big difference with dolphins is that these communications consist of whistles(鸣叫), not words.
Earlier research found that dolphins have a “signature whistle” that would be somewhat like human shouting, “Hey everybody! I’m an adult healthy male named George, and I mean you no harm.”
The new finding is that dolphins also say the names of certain other dolphins.“Animals produced copies of the same sound when they were separated from a close partner.This supports our belief that dolphins copy another animal’s signature whistle when they want to reunite with that animal,” Stephanie King, who led the study, says.
King and her colleagues collected acoustic(声音的)data from wild dolphins around Sarasota Bay, Florida, from 1984 to 2009.The researchers also studied four adult male dolphins housed at the Seas Aquarium, also in Florida.
Those males are adults that keepers named Calvin, Khyber, Malabar and Ranier, all of whom, as well as all of the wild ones, developed their own signature whistles that served as names in communication with other dolphins.
“A dolphin uses its signature whistle to broadcast its identity and announce its presence.The signature whistles allow animals to identify one another over long distances and allow animals to recognize one another and to join up with each other,” King explains.“Dolphin whistles can be heard up to 20km away, depending on water depth and whistle frequency(频率).”
The researchers said dolphins copy the signature whistles of loved ones, such as a mother, when the two are separated.These “names” are always used in positive situations, and are only directed toward loved ones.
While researchers are often unwilling to apply the word language to non-human communications, dolphins clearly have a very complex communication system.The underlined word “housed” in Paragraph 4 probably means “_________”.
A.raised | B.saved | C.discovered | D.hunted |
Which of the following plays a part in whether dolphin whistles can be heard over a distance?
A.The dolphin’s identity. |
B.The water temperature |
C.The whistle frequency. |
D.The dolphin’s age. |
When do dolphins copy the signature whistles of loved ones?
A.When there is a fight. |
B.When their keeper comes. |
C.When they are apart. |
D.When they are hungry. |
Where is the passage probably taken from?
A.A magazine about scientific advances. |
B.A website about various animals. |
C.A report on animal acoustics. |
D.An essay about the relationship between humans and animals. |
The Exterminating Angel
Director: Luis Bunuel
Country/Date : Mexico/1962 (black and white)
Introduction : A party is organized in a high class society house.Many people are drinking and eating.It’s getting late, but nobody is leaving.Even though the door is open, people seem to be locked in the house.They can’t leave either the day or on the following days.So a rescue began.
The Net
Director: Irwin Winkler
Country/Date: U.S.A./1995
Introduction: Angela Bennettt is a computer programmer who has devoted her life to computers and the Internet.She spends hours and hours in front of the screen.She does everything over the Internet, and she has some close friends in a chat room, though she has never talked to her neighbors.
Kung Fu Panda
Director : Mark Osborne & John Stevenson
Country/Date : U.S.A./2008
Introduction: The leading character is a panda whose name is Po.He is lazy first but he has a great dream—to be a kung fu master.To make his dream come true, he goes to a faraway temple to learn kung fu from a master.However, one of his brothers, Tai Long wants to become the kung fu master, killing many of his brothers even the master.So Po fights against Tai Long and defeats him, The film is good especially for kids.
Life is Beautiful
Director: Roberto Benigni
Country/Date : Italy/1998
Introduction: In 1939, during World WarⅡ in Italy, Guido, a hopeful man, the main character fell in love with Dora, and they got married.Five years later, their lives changed.Guido and Joshua were taken by the Nazis(纳粹)to a concentration camp and Dora also went there with her husband and son.At that place, Guido tried his best to save his son’s life in a special way.Who is the director of The Net?
A.Luis Bunuel | B.Irwin Winkler |
C.Mark Osborne | D.Roberto Benigni |
Which film is black and white?
A.The Exterminating Angel. | B.The Net. |
C.Kung Fu Panda. | D.Life is Beautiful. |
Which film is especially fit for kids?
A.The Exterminating Angel. | B.The Net. |
C.Kung Fu Panda. | D.Life is Beautiful. |
What can we learn about Life is Beautiful?
A.It’s about a rescue of people who can’t leave a house. |
B.The story is set in World WarⅡ. |
C.It was made in America in 1995. |
D.The main character is absorbed in computer. |
My 18-month-old son, Adam, called from the front door.“Look, Mama! Doggie!” I dropped what I was doing and stuck my head out the door.Brandy, our next-door neighbor’s 11-year-old dog, was over again.“Go away!” I shouted.
Brandy’s owner had died about a month earlier.The woman’s family had emptied the house and stuck a “For Sale” sign in the front yard, but the family had left old Brandy behind.For weeks, she’d been wandering around the neighborhood.
It wasn’t that I disliked dogs or anything like that.I just didn’t think about them very much.I never had a dog growing up and had never thought to get one.
Brandy went away and I stayed outside with Adam.Then the phone rang.I went inside to take the call.When I came back, Adam was gone.I searched the yard, front and back, then the basketball court and public pool.No trace of him.I was so nervous that I ran home and called the police, then my husband.
Police searched the neighborhood.Suddenly I heard another sound: a dog barking.“It’s coming from the woods,” one of my neighbors said.We followed the barking to a wooded cliff(悬崖).There we found my son, and he was just inches away from the edges of the cliff, fast asleep.Brandy was beside him, leaning(倚靠)against him to keep him away from the edge.When I picked Adam up, Brandy sank down on her side, breathing quickly.She must have been holding Adam there for hours!
I thanked the police and brought Adam and Brandy back to our house.She hesitated a moment on our doorstep, no doubt remembering the time I’d driven her away.
“Come on, girl,” I said.“This is your home now.” Brandy stepped in, and once she saw she was really welcome, she relaxed and lay down on the floor just inside the door.She’d done a great thing, and I wondered if she knew it .She’d certainly touched me in a way that no animal ever had.What a pity a dog like Brandy had been left behind!What is the correct order for the events in the story about Brandy?
a.She was left behind by her owner’s family.
b.She stepped into the woman’s house.
c.She appeared at the woman’s front door.
d.She stayed beside the woman’s son for hours.
A.d, a, b, c | B.a, c, b, d |
C.c, d, b, a | D.a, c, d, b |
What did the woman do when she first saw Brandy?
A.She gave her some food. |
B.She drove her away. |
C.She took her home. |
D.She said thank you to her. |
Why did the woman call the police?
A.Her son was lost |
B.Brandy was gone. |
C.Brandy appeared in her yard. |
D.She got a scary call. |
How were they able to know that the woman’s son was near the cliff?
A.By searching the neighborhood. |
B.By hearing a dog barking. |
C.By following a dog’s footsteps. |
D.By hearing her son’s crying. |