Question

    In the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful. Negative events like “serious illness of a family member” were high on the list, but so were some positive life-changing events, like marriage. When you take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you deal with stress — it only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know that the way you handle these events dramatically affects your chances of staying healthy.

By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports. Somehow, the research got boiled down to a memorable message. Women’s magazines ran headlines like “Stress causes illness!” If you want to stay physically and mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events.

But such simplistic advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events are dangerous, many — like the death of a loved one — are impossible to avoid. Moreover, any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription (处方) for staying away from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful, a person who wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job or move.

The concept that all stress makes you sick also ignores a lot of what we know about people. It assumes we’re all vulnerable (脆弱的) and passive in face of tough conditions. But what about human initiative (主动性) and creativity? Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental strength than they had before. We also know that a long time without change or challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and mental strain.

1.The result of Holmes-Rahe’s medical research tells us ________.

A. how to handle major events causes stress

B. what should be carried out to avoid stress

C. how to deal with sudden changes in life

D. what kind of event would cause stress

2.The studies on stress in the early 1970s led to ________.

A. great fear over the mental disorder

B. popular avoidance of stressful jobs

C. widespread worry about its harmful effects

D. a careful research into stress-related illnesses

3.Which of the following expressions is the closest in meaning to the underlined phrase in paragraph 2?

A. was summarized as B. was quarrelled about

C. was made clear D. was brought to an end

4.Why is “such simplistic advice” (Line 1, Paragraph 3) impossible to follow?

A. People have to get married someday.

B. You could be missing chances as well.

C. No prescription is effective in reducing stress.

D. No one can stay on the same vocation for long.

5.According to the passage, people who have experienced ups and downs may become _____.

A. more flexible to deal with difficulties

B. nervous in face of various difficulties

C. physically and mentally exhausted

D. insensitive toward what happens to them

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.B

5.A

【解析】

本文先陈述了这样一个观点:变化会导致压力，压力会导致疾病,而压力是不可避免的，但要正确地认识压力，它会让我们在面对压力的时候更有经验，所以作者是要帮助我们正确地认识压力。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段第二句话“They found out that any major change can be stressful.”可知，Holmes-Rahe的医学研究结果告诉我们什么样的事件会导致压力。故答案为D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段第二句话“And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports.”可知，20世纪70年代早期对压力的研究导致了对其有害影响的普遍担忧。故答案为C。

3.词义猜测题。根据第二段中By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports.“到20世纪70年代初，有数百项和霍尔姆斯和拉赫类似的研究。数百万在压力下工作和生活的美国人担心这些报告。”可知，“不知何故，这项研究归结为一条令人难忘的信息。”由此推出划线词的意思是“被概括为”。故选A。

4.推理判断题。根据第三段中Even if stressful events are dangerous, many — like the death of a loved one — are impossible to avoid. Moreover, any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription (处方) for staying away from opportunities as well as trouble.可知，之所以“如此简单的建议”是不可能遵循的，是因为“你也可能会错过机会。”故选B。

5.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental strength than they had before. We also know that a long time without change or challenge can lead to boredom, and physical and mental strain.可知，根据这篇文章，经历过起起落落的人可能会变得更加灵活地处理困难。故选A。