Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.

Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same “fight-or-flight” reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict(“fight”), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation(“flight”). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called “tend and befriend.” That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young(“tend”), and by looking for social contact and support from others—especially other females (“befriend”).

Scientists have long known that in the fight-or-flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones(激素) released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that “animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more social, and less anxious.” While men also secrete(分泌) oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.

In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.

The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.

The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory(调节的) system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men.

1.Which of the following is true about oxytocin according to the passage?

A. Men have the same level of oxytocin as women do.

B. Oxytocin used to be studied in both men and women.

C. Both animals and people have high levels of oxytocin.

D. Oxytocin has more of an effect on women than on men.

2.What can be learned from the passage?

A. Male hormones help build up the body’s resistances to stress.

B. In a family a mother cares more about children than a father does.

C. Biological differences lead to different behavioral responses to stress.

D. The UCLA study was designed to confirm previous research findings.

3.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. How men and women suffer from stress

B. How men and women get over stress

C. How researchers overcome stress problems

D. How researchers handle stress-related disorder

Terry was a middle-aged businessman. He was _____ in his business and often complained that he had been fooled by others. One day he told his wife he was _____ disappointed with the city that he had to _____.

So his family moved to another city. It was Saturday ____. When Terry and his wife were busily putting their things in their new home, the lights suddenly _____ and they were forced to stop work. Terry was sorry to have_____ to bring along some candles. Just then he heard light ____on his door.

“Who is it?” he wondered. Terry knew ______ else in the new city, and this was the moment he especially hated to be _____ He opened the door unwillingly. At the door was a little ____, shyly asking, “Sir, do you have _____? I’m your neighbor.” “No,” answered Terry angrily. He shut the door ____.

After a while the door was knocked again. He opened it and ____ the same little girl outside. But this time she was ____ two candles giving off red light. She said, “My grandma told me the____ neighbor downstairs might need candles. She sent me here to _____you these.”

At that moment Terry suddenly realized what ____ his failure in life. It was his ignorance and ____ to other people. The person who had fooled him in life was actually nobody else ____ himself, for his eyes had been covered by his ____ mind.

1.A. experienced B. unsuccessful C. interested D. lucky

2.A. very B. so C. such D. rather

3.A. leave B. travel C. stay D. choose

4.A. morning B. afternoon C. noon D. evening

5.A. went down B. went out C. went by D. went on

6.A. wanted B. decided C. forgotten D. remembered

7.A. knocks B. calls C. strikes D. sounds

8.A. everybody B. anybody C. somebody D. nobody

9.A. troubled B. followed C. liked D. learned

10.A. boy B. girl C. postman D. shopper

11.A. candies B. toys C. lights D. candles

12.A. easily B. worriedly C. happily D. heavily

13.A. found B. met C. touched D. knew

14.A. bringing B. seeing C. holding D. drawing

15.A. poor B. kind C. new D. young

16.A. buy B. give C. borrow D. sell

17.A. made B. caused C. developed D. stopped

18.A. laziness B. sadness C. unkindness D. unhappiness

19.A. besides B. except C. but D. than

20.A. open B. right C. warm D. cold

After a year of examining many studies concerning whether homework is effective, NYC P. S. Elementary School decided that math worksheets and essay assignments were actually a waste of time. In February, Principal Jane Hsu sent a letter to parents stating that the Pre-K(学前班) through fifth grade students wouldn’t be given any traditional homework to encourage kids to free time for reading, playing outside, or doing activities they enjoy.

“The negative effects of homework have been well established.” Hsu wrote in a note to parents. “They include, children’s frustration and exhaustion, lack of time for other activities and family time and, sadly for many, loss of interest in learning.”

Some parents, however, disagree with the policy change, believing that a lack of focus will cause children to fall behind. Homework has been part of education from the beginning, and has increased in amount in recent years.

Hsu’s advice that children should read and spend time with their families has upset some parents to the point of considering pulling their children out of the school. This group feels that homework gives children a goal to work toward. Others feel so strongly about the importance of homework that they have begun giving their own homework to their children.

An Australian Childhood Foundation survey finds that 71% of Australian parents feel they don’t spend enough quality time with their children mainly because of the time spent running the household or the time spent helping with homework. Education experts in Australia are saying that parents should stop helping. Doing so will give kids more independence, give parents more free time, and help reduce the number of arguments caused by homework in the family.

While some research suggests that homework has little academic benefit for elementary students, other researches show homework can help kids develop independence, and confidence. It can also contribute to a sense of belonging or control over their lives. When parents try to help their children with homework, the assistance can take away that feeling and can also make working parents more tired.

1.Cancelling traditional homework is aimed at ________.

A. allowing students to learn on their own

B. wising students to spend more time with parents

C. inspiring students to seek self-development

D. motivating students to help with homework

2.What can be concluded from the 1st and 2nd paragraph?

A. Jane Hsu is the first principal to cancel homework.

B. Jane Hsu has done much research on different aspects of homework.

C. Jane Hsu pays little attention to students’ academic records.

D. Jane Hsu knows students prefer activities to their subjects.

3.Why are some parents strongly against Principal Jane Hsu?

A. They are afraid their kids will fall behind.

B. They dislike their kids doing too many activities.

C. They have no time to give their children homework.

D. They don’t think the school is responsible for their kids.

4.What is the author’s attitude to parents’ helping kids with homework?

A. Supportive. B. Worried. C. Unconcerned. D. Negative.

The way you stand can identify whether you will suffer from aches and pains in the back or neck in later life, the British Chiropractic Association has said. Whether you are a “spoon”, “bridge”, “leaning tower” or “flat-back” will determine your risk of having problems later.

A quarter of women suffer pain lasting between one and three days starting at the relatively young age of 34, the survey found. While previous indicators have focused on body shapes, with larger-breasted women and “apple” shapes being seen as a warning sign, this new research shows posture (姿势) could be key in preventing back pain.

“Leaning tower” —women whose heads lean forward — are most likely to report pain, with almost six in ten with this posture already suffering. Being a “bridge” with an arched back was the second worse posture, followed by a “spoon” position with rounded shoulders but a flat back. And a change in posture can be far less demanding than a crash diet or an exercise programme.

“Flat back” ladies, who keep their backs flat are the most likely to avoid pain with a fifth reporting they have never suffered back or neck aches in their lives. Tim Hutchful, a member of the British Chiropractic Association said, “Rather than worrying about being an ‘apple’ or an ‘hourglass’ , we want people to think about what they look like from the side. The perfect posture should give you a side-on appearance with your ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles in line. ” People who want to improve their back and neck pain symptoms through a better posture should try imagining they have a plumb line (铅垂线) hanging straight from their ears to ankles —with everything in the middle sitting on the same line. One way to do this is to try standing in a relaxed way and then gently pressing together the abdominal muscles (腹肌).

1.Which posture holds the greatest risk of back pain?

A. “Spoon”. B. “Bridge”. C. “Leaning tower”. D. “Flat back”.

2.What should people care about if they want to avoid back pain?

A. Their exercise. B. Their body shape.

C. Their daily diet. D. Their side-on appearance.

3.What does Tim Hutchful recommend?

A. Having an “hourglass” shape. B. Keeping a “flat back” posture.

C. Building abdominal muscles. D. Hanging a plumb line from one’s ear.

4.From the text we can infer that ________.

A. previously people blame body shape for back pain

B. we should lean slightly forward to avoid back pain

C. a “bridge” holds less risk of back pain than a “spoon”

D. your side-on appearance determines your body shape

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