Question

    When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.

These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. ＂Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society,＂ said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. ＂And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.＂

Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25,31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.

The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.

Working — at any age — is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings(基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn’t everything. As Tolstoy once said, ＂One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.＂

1.What do we know about John?

A.He enjoyed his career and marriage.

B.He had few childhood playmates.

C.He received little love from his family.

D.He was envied by others in his childhood.

2.Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as　　　　.

A.a description of personal values and social values

B.an analysis of how work was related to competence

C.an example for parents’ expectations of their children

D.an explanation why some boys grew into happy men

3.Vaillant’s team obtained their findings by　　　　.

A.recording the boys’ effort in school

B.evaluating the men’s mental health

C.comparing different sets of scores

D.measuring the men’s problem solving ability

4.What does the underlined word ＂sharp＂ probably mean in Paragraph 4?

A.Quick to react. B.Having a thin edge.

C.Clear and definite. D.Sudden and rapid.

5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A.Competent adults know more about love than work.

B.Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.

C.Love brings more joy to people than work does.

D.Independence is the key to one’s success.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.C

5.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章通过John的例子结合一个研究发现说明童年时期帮助做一些家务的孩子长大后会更快乐，更成功。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的句子He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier.，可知，他的工作满意度更高，婚姻更美满，身体也更健康。所以John对他的事业和婚姻很满意。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段的句子Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society可知，在家庭或社区工作的男孩获得足以过温饱生活的收入，并开始觉得自己是有价值的社会成员。由此判断出第二段Vaillant的话是解释为什么一些男孩成长为快乐的人。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段的句子The researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores，可知，Vaillant的团队获得他们的发现是通过对比不同的得分。故选C。

4.词义猜测题。根据第四段的Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid.可知，那些在男孩时期参加过最多活动的人，与各种各样的人保持亲密关系的可能性是其他人的两倍，获得高薪的可能性是其他人的五倍。所以这些人在孩子的时候做的事情和他们成人后是怎样的人之间的关联是确定），所以通过上下文的语境可以判断出，这里sharp的意思是明确的，一定的。故选C。

5.推理判断题。根据最后一段的句子One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how too love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work，可知，如果一个人懂得如何工作，懂得如何去爱，懂得为所爱的人工作，懂得爱自己的工作，那么他就能在这个世界上活得很精彩。由此判断出情感健康对精彩的成年人的生活至关重要。故选B。