第二卷（共35分）

第四部分：写作（共两节，满分35分）

任务型读写（共10小题；每空1分，满分10分）

阅读下列短文，根据所读内容在文章后的表格中填入恰当的单词。注意：表格中的每个空格只填1个单词

Can the thought of loved ones help reduce pain? This may indicate the importance of social relationships and staying socially connected. A study was recently conducted by researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles.

In the study, the researchers asked 25 women to participate who had boyfriends with whom they had been in a good relationship for more than six months. The women received painful heat stimuli(刺激)to their forearms while they went through a number of different conditions.

In one set of conditions, they viewed photographs of their boyfriend, a stranger and a chair. “When the women were just looking at pictures of their partner, they actually reported less pain to the heat stimuli than when they were looking at pictures of an object or pictures of a stranger, ” said study co-author Naomi Eisenberger, director of UCLA’s Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, “Thus, the mere reminder of one’s partner through a simple photograph was capable of reducing pain.”

In another set of conditions, each woman held the hand of her boyfriend, the hand of a male stranger and a squeeze ball. The study found that when women were holding their boyfriends’ hands, they reported less physical pain than when they were holding a stranger’s hand or a ball while receiving the same amount of heat stimulation.

“This changes our idea of how social support influences people,” Eisenberger said.

“This study proves how much of an impact our social ties can have on our experience and fits with other work emphasizing the importance of social support for physical and mental health,” Eisenberger added.

The researchers advised that the next time people are going through a stressful or painful experience, if they cannot bring a loved one with them, a photo may do.

Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores(杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.

My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper… On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition(过渡), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.

A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.

The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.

Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment(责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!

What did the writer expect to do after he retired?

A. To write some great books.                           B. To stay away from busy schedules.

C. To teach his grandchildren.                            D. To plan for his future.

Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?

A. He wasn’t satisfied with his retired life.   B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.

C. He was concerned about the people there.       D. He missed his students in that country.

The underlined part “the tables have turned” (Paragraph 5) most probably means that the writer ______.

A. improved the situation in his school        B. felt happy to work with students again

C. changed his attitude toward his retirement       D. became a learner rather than a teacher

What does the writer think of his retired life now?

A. Meaningful.               B. Troublesome.        C. Relaxing.            D. Disappointing.

I had planted different hot peppers in my garden. A Mexican fellow called Sam worked for me. He_36_ hot peppers, too. It was late summer and a beautiful sunny day. My son, Marcus, eight, and my daughter, Ellen, ten, picked several 37 hot peppers and entered our workroom, with their             38 ．They wanted to see if Sam could   39  more hot peppers than I.  After a little joking with them we agreed to the contest but they had to   40 ，too. That was not  41 terms for them so they left the room.

They  42  about an hour later with a new proposal and new hot peppers they had just picked．  43 they had reasoned that when a pepper was  44 in color it was the hottest kind. Marcus and Ellen would eat the green colored peppers   45 Sam and I would eat the red colored peppers. Giving Sam a wink（使眼色），we  46 . Showing good sportsmanship（体育精神），I had the kids  47 the peppers that Sam and I would eat.  They picked the largest two red peppers.  Then they picked a  48  green one for themselves. Knowing what was going to  49 ，I told them I would make it  50  for them.  I cut one pepper in half and removed the  51  to reduce the heat a little. The contest was one of speed rather than  52 ．Each child had pepper in hand and was  53 to start .

Looking at my  54  I said, OK, on three. One, Two, THREE. So much happened all at once. Tears, screams and spitting running around, the children  55  their mouth with fast waving hands.  A short time later, Sam and I agreed that the red tasted better than the green.

Here below are two pieces taken from a blog．

▲ Growing up as one of three girls I’ve always been keen on women’s issues．And now with three daughters to raise，I have the responsibility of ensuring that they grow up without any preconceived(预想的) ideas of their capabilities ＆ potential based on their gender．Earlier this year I read an article that indicated that women surpassed men in the workforce for the first time in history．That is a milestone! And while we still don’t have equality in leadership positions or pay (especially if you’re a mom)，we have made significant progress over the past couple of decades．All this prompted me to do some digging around to see what else I could learn．Here are some fun facts from the census bureau for you：

●29％ of women aged 25 or older had obtained a bachelors degree in 2008 vs．18％ in 1987．

●55％ of all college students were women in the Fall of 2008．

●60％ of women 20 years or older participate in the workforce today vs．34％ in 1950．

●14％ of the armed forces were women in 2008．compared to 2％ in 1950．

▲We’re all looking to stretch the value of our dollar as much as possible．Every day as you juggle the needs of your family，remember to eat right，take your vitamins and keep up with laundry and bills－you probably also look for budget friendly，family appropriate activities．A day trip to a national park is a great way to explore all the wonders of nature，without breaking the bank．Once or twice a month，my wife and I will prepare for a leisurely hike in one of our favorite parks close to home．The night before，she makes some homemade granola and I make sure our reusable water bottles are full and on ice．Next time you’re looking for an inexpensive adventure that your family isn’t soon to forget，take a hike! To find a national park near you，just visit www．nps．gov

43．According to the first blog，_____．

A．the blogger has three sisters

B．there are more women than men at work this year

C．14％ of women are working in the army

D．women has got equality in leadership position

44．What is mainly talked about in the first blog?

A．Responsibility． B．Women’s potential．   C．Workforce． D．Women’s issues．

45．The underlined words“breaking the bank”in the second blog means_____．

A．robbing the bank                  B．getting some money from the bank

C．using up the money in the bank      D．going to the bank

46．What’s the writer’s suggestion in the second blog?

A．We all have to think about the needs of our family．

B．All the wonders of nature are in the national park．

C．To go hiking once or twice a month will be an inexpensive adventure．

D．Each of us will have to make our budget friendly．

第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）

A

As a child growing up, I have very few memories of the times when we gathered as a family to sit down and eat dinner together. I grew up in a home where both of my parents worked. My mother taught in the school, and my father worked during the night at a local chemical plant. There was not much time available for us to sit down to eat dinner together due to my parents’ conflicting（冲突的）work schedules and the afterschool activities in which my sister and I participated.

It wasn’t until I got married and had two children of my own that I began to realize the important of eating dinner together. In my family there are elements that take us away from each other, day in and day out, but as a mother I feel it is my duty to bring us all back together again at the end of the day. In my house, dinner time is a time of thanks. I give thanks for us to share our day, but I am more thankful for the family I share it with. Dinner time is a time for us to share our day, and reflect on our thoughts. Above all it is a time when my family are able to connect with the ones they love.

As I look at the bread basket which sits on my kitchen table, I am reminded of how the basket’s tight weave resembles the tightly woven strands（股）of my family. I believe that through our family dinners, we will not only pass around the meat and potatoes, but we will also pass along virtues that will shape us so that we can forever embrace one another just as the basket embraces the bread.

56. What is the main idea of the passage？

A. It is pleasant to spend time with your family.

B. It is necessary to participate in family activities.

C. It is vital to balance work and family time.

D. It is important to have family dinner together.

57. According to the author, during dinner time           .

A. we should remember the one who prepares the dinner

B. we can learn all sorts of knowledge from other people

C. communication among family members will be improved

D. it is healthy for people to express their opinions

58. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The family     B. The food   C. Dinner time   D. My house

59. The author concludes the passage by           .

A. making comparisons           B. telling her own story

C. summarizing the main idea      D. presenting facts