Question

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships．One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances．Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties．Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily difficulties．People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties．Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people protect themselves from illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely．
Social support cushions stress in a number of ways．First, friends, relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us．Our self respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties．Second, other people often provide us with informational support．They help us to explain and understand our problems and find solutions to them．Third, we typically find social companionship supportive．Engaging in leisure time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distract（转移…注意力）us from our worries and troubles．Finally, other people may give us important support—financial aid, material resources, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us solve and deal with our problems．

1. 1.
   Research shows that people’s physical and mental health has much to do with      
   1. A.
      the social medical system
   2. B.
      the amount of support they get from others
   3. C.
      their strength for dealing with interpersonal ties
   4. D.
      their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles
2. 2.
   The underlined word “cushions” probably means “    ”
   1. A.
      adds up to
   2. B.
      decreases the effect of
   3. C.
      gets rid of
   4. D.
      lays the foundation for
3. 3.
   Social companionship is beneficial in that it
   1. A.
      helps strengthen our ties with relatives
   2. B.
      enables us to get rid of our faults and mistakes
   3. C.
      makes our leisure time activities more enjoyable
   4. D.
      draws our attention away from our worries and troubles

Answer 1

BBD
本文叙述了人们是需要有社会关系网，有社会关系的人他们身体和精神方面很容易保持健康，有利于防止疾病的发生，因为有了社会关系可以通过亲戚朋友之间的帮助来排除自己的烦恼和忧愁。
1.细节理解题。根据Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people protect themselves from illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely．研究表明人们对于人们的身体与精神健康与人的社会交往有很大关系，故选B。
2.词义猜测题。根据First, friends, relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us．Our self respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties．可以推知人们有社会关系可以减少压力，故选B。
3.细节理解题。根据Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily difficulties．有社会关系有助于人们处理生活变化和日常困难，故选D。
考点：日常生活类短文阅读。
点评：做词义猜题须联系主旨、整合上下文信息是解答这类题的关键。近几年阅读理解的生词率略有上升，加大了猜测力度。命题者着重考查考生利用同义或反义关系、构词法、语法和语篇文脉等理解生词的能力。