Question

 In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won’t necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.

　　We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929. But this doesn’t mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn’t afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.

　　Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.

　　After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book “The Unemployed Man and His Family”, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job “with tireless search for work.” He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.

　　The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain. Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.

　　Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.

　　Today’s economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it’s only when the economy is healthy again that we’ll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.

1.In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.

A. tear many troubled families apart

B. bring about a drop in the divorce rate

C. contribute to enduring family ties

D. cause a lot of conflicts in the family

2.In the Great Depression many unhappy couples chose to stick together because_______.

A. starting a new family would be hard

B. they expected things would turn better

C. they wanted to better protect their kids

D. living separately would be too costly

3.In addition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce?

A. Mounting family debts

B. A sense of insecurity

C. Falling housing prices

D. Difficulty in getting a loan

4.What will the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples?

A. It will irreparably damage their relationship

B. It will undermine their mutual understanding

C. It will help strengthen their emotional bonds

D. It will force them to pull their efforts together

5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rate

B. Few couples can stand the test of economic hardships

C. A stable family is the best protection against poverty.

D. Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.B

2.D

3.C

4.A

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：讲述在经济大萧条时期离婚率下降的真正原因。

1.B细节理解 根据第一段中提到If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our sky high divorce rate. 如果有经济大萧条的迹象的话，我们会看到（原来）极高的离婚率会下降。所以选B项。

2.D推理判断题。根据第二段中提到的Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn't afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone. 随着收入减少和不稳定的工作，不快乐的夫妻常常离不起婚。他们害怕配偶双方都无法独立生活。故选D项。

3.C细节理解题。根据第三段中提到的Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their home.此外，房产市场的暴跌会使得他们在卖掉住房之后，更难负担起各自生活的费用。所以选C项。

4.A推理判断题。根据第五段提到 For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.对于一些家庭来说，没有稳定工作的生活的艰辛最终会压倒他们团结家庭的努力。随着经济复苏，在这十年剩余时间里，离婚率会再次上升,所以选A项。

5.A主旨大意题。根据最后一段提到 的Today's economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it's only when the economy is healthy again that we'll begin to see just how many broken families have been created. 现在的经济危机可能会产生同等数量的夫妇，他们的关系已经被完全毁坏，无法弥补。因此，只有在经济再次向好，我们才回看到（在经济危机时期）有多少家庭破裂了。言外之意，经济复苏，离婚率会上升。所以选A项。

考点：考查社会类阅读。