Being sociable looks like a good way to add years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbours, even pets, will all do the trick, but the biggest longevity (长寿) boost seems to come from marriage or an equivalent relationship. The effect was first noted in 1858 by William Farr, who wrote that widows (寡妇)and widowers  were at a much higher risk of dying than their married peers. Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to a man’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect holds for all causes of death, whether illness, accident or self-harm.

　　Even if the odds are stacked against you, marriage can more than compensate. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago has found that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearly four years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Likewise, a married man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as a divorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as partners are more likely to become ill or die in the couple of years following their spouse’s death, and caring for a spouse with mental disorder can leave you with some of the same severe problems. Even so, the odds favour marriage. In a 30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.

　　So how does it work? The effects are complex, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision, emotional support and other more physiological (生理的) mechanisms. For example, social contact can boost development of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and less chance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships may handle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportive partner.

　　A life partner, children and good friends are all recommended if you aim to live to 100. The ultimate social network is still being mapped out, but Christakis says: “People are interconnected, so their health is interconnected.”

1.William Farr’s study and other studies show that _________.

　　A .social life provides an effective cure for illness

　　B. being sociable helps improve one’s quality of life

　　C. women benefit more than men from marriage

　　D. marriage contributes a great deal to longevity

2.Linda Waite’s studies support the idea that _________.

　　A. older men should quit smoking to stay healthy

　　B. marriage can help make up for ill health

　　C. the married are happier than the unmarried

　　D. unmarried people are likely to suffer in later life

3.It can be inferred from the context that the “flip side” (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _________.

　　A. the disadvantages of being married

　　B. the emotional problems arising from marriage

　　C. the responsibility of taking care of one’s family

　　D. the consequence of a broken marriage

4. What does the author say about social networks?

　　A. They have effects similar to those of a marriage.

　　B. They help develop people’s community spirit.

　　C. They provide timely support for those in need.

　　D. They help relieve people of their life’s burdens.

5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

　　A. It’s important that we develop a social network when young.

　　B. To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network.

　　C. Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span.

　　D. We should share our social networks with each other.

Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years，particularly among young people.The wireless industry’s trade association，CTIA，estimates (估计) more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.

The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act，a 2009 federal law that requires improvement to the nation’s emergency alert system.The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.

“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before，and during，disasters and other emergencies，” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.

Participation in the alert system by carriers－telecommunications companies－is voluntary，but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.

The program would be optional for cell phone users.They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.

There would be three different types of messages，according to the rules.

The first would be a national alert from the president，likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster.The second would involve “approaching threats”，which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings.The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架) emergencies，or so?called Amber Alerts.

The service could be in place by 2010.

1．What is the purpose of the approved plan?

A．To warn people of emergencies via messages.

B．To popularize the use of cell phones.

C．To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D．To promote the wireless industry.

2．The improvement to the present system is in the charge of________.

A．CTIA　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．the Warning Alert and Response Network

C．FCC　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．federal regulators

3．The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by________.

A．the US federal government　　　　　　 B．mobile phone users

C．the carriers themselves　　　　 　　　 D．the law of the United States

4．Which of the following is TRUE of cell phone users?

A．They must accept the alert service.

B．They may enjoy the alert service for free.

C．They must send the alerts to others.

D．They may choose the types of messages.

5．An alert message will NOT be sent if________.

A．a child loses his way　　　　　　　　 B．a university shooting happens

C．a natural disaster happens　　　　　　 D．a terrorist attack occurs

________to the man’s timely coming，the________boy was saved.

A．Thanking；drown　　　B．Thanks；drowned

C．Thanked；drowns　　　D．Thanks；drowning

A young man was one day taking a walk with a professor. As they went along, they saw 　36 in the path a pair of old shoes. They guessed the shoes belonged to a poor man who had 　37 finished his day’s work in a field close by.

　　The student 　38 the professor, saying, “Let’s play the man a(n) 　39 : we will hide his shoes, and we stay behind those bushes to see his 　40 when he cannot find them.”

　　“My young friend,” answered the professor, “we should never 　41 ourselves in that way. You are 　42 , and may give yourself a greater pleasure by helping the poor man. Perhaps we put a 　43 into each shoe, and watch his reaction.”

　　The student did so, and they both 　44　 themselves behind the bushes. The poor man soon finished his work, and came 　45 the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes. While 　46 his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something 　47 , he bent down to feel what it was, and found the coin.

He was 　48 , and looked at the coin again and again. He then looked around 　49 on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and began to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was 　50 on finding the other coin.

　　His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his 　51 , looked up to heaven and preyed, He spoke of his wife, sick and 　52 , and his children without bread. The timely giving, from some unknown hand, would 　53 from dying.

　　The student was moved and his eyes filled with tears. “Now,” said the professor, “are you not much better pleased than if you had played your 　54 trick?”

The youth replied, “Thank you! Sir! I feel now the 　55 of those words, which I never understood before: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36．A．hanging　 　 　B．lying　　　　　　　　　 C．sitting　　　　 　 　 D．hiding

37．A．nearly　　　 B．seemingly　　 C．closely　　　　　 　 D．equally

38．A．looked back　　 B．referred to　　 C．turned to　　　 D．puzzled over

39．A．fun　　　　　　　　 B．amusement　 C．entertainment 　 D．trick

40．A．opinion　　　　　 B．reaction　　　 C．emotion　　　 　 D．reply

41．A．treat　　　　 B．dedicate　　　 C．amuse 　　　 　 D．occupy

42．A．healthy　　　　　 B．cool　　　　　　　　　 C．mean　　　　　　　　 　 D．rich

43．A．coin　　　　 B．penny　 　　　　 C．dollar　　　　　　　　　 　 D．pound

44．A．performed B．placed　　　　 　　 C．played　　　　 　 D．proved

45．A．around　　　　　　 B．across　　　　 　　 C．into　　　　　　 　 　　　 D．toward

46．A．taking on B．looking on　 　　 　C．putting on　　 　　　 D．hanging on

47．A．hard　　　 B．tight　　　　　 C．soft　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．loose

48．A．surprised 　B．excited 　　　 　　　 　C．joyful　　 　　　 　 D．satisfied

49．A．that　　　　　　　　 B．it　　　　　　　　 　 C．themselves　　 　 D．himself

50．A．decreased B．accelerated　 C．doubled　　　 　 D．improved

51．A．hands　　　　　　 B．knees　　　　　　　　 C．feet　　　　　　 　 　 D．legs

52．A．beautiful　 B．merciless　　　　　　 C．hopeful　　　 　 D．helpless

53．A．support　　 B．learn　　　　　 C．treat　　　　　 D．save

54．A．intended　 B．required　　　 C．wanted　　　　 　 D．interested

55．A．faith　　　　 B．fact　　　　　　　　　　 C．truth　　　　　　　　　 　 D．reliability