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.
【小题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 |
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 |
A.Mounting family debts |
B.A sense of insecurity |
C.Falling housing prices |
D.Difficulty in getting a loan |
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 |
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 |
【小题1】B
【小题2】D
【小题3】C
【小题4】A
【小题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。
【小题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。
【小题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。
【小题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。
【小题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。
【小题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。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Tattoos and body piercings(穿孔) have moved up on the trend list in recent years.Around Western schools lots of teens are sporting new holes and “flesh ink”(纹身).As with all other subjects, the Chinese will surely have to deal with this situation with respect to their children.To get a better view of what has happened in the West, let's sit down and hear what they say.
Tiara from Indiana:
I personally think body piercing is sickening.If there were supposed to be holes in your body, you would have been born with them.I do, however, think that ear piercing is not wrong.There is a difference between ear piercing and belly button piercing.Ear piercing is not nearly as dangerous.I would be sick if someone stuck a needle in my belly button.
Lee from Illinois:
Hi! I live in Illinois.I am 23.I have 12 tattoos and three piercings.I love my tattoos and consider myself an art collector.You would be surprised at who has given me the thumbs up on my art work.People on the street stop me to look at the tattoo on my leg.Most of them don't know what it is.They just think the work itself is great.
Subotai from California:
I'm not forbidden of selfexpression, but when I see high school students getting these piercings, I really wonder.In some cases, the drive is deeper and darker than mere fashion.A friend of mine tried piercing her own tongue with a safety pin.It got infected and she had a tongue the size of a cow's.
Jackson from Ohio:
I don't think it is wrong, but when people do it all over the place like their face and everything—I think that's ridiculous.People who get the big “dragons that cover the whole body—I don't think that's necessary.” When I see naked chicks on guys, I think, “You have no respect for women.”
【小题1】Who doesn't think tattoos and piercings except ear piercing are beautiful?
A.Jackson. | B.Lee. | C.Tiara. | D.Subotai. |
A.tattoos and piercings are a new kind of elegant art |
B.all the teachers in the West are in favour of tattoos and piercings |
C.everything is changeable as time goes on |
D.it is necessary to live with different views of beauty |
A.Body Art or Causing Damage |
B.Doing Damage to the Young People's Bodies |
C.Young People's Different Curiosities |
D.The Latest Fashion |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
A father in Wuhan, nicknamed "Eagle Dad" for his controversial parenting style, has dismissed critics' claims that he pushes his 4-year-old son too hard.
Police officer Wang Shaoyan came under the spotlight this month after his child took part in an 18-kilometer race in the Hubei provincial capital.
Some parents attacked his methods of extreme physical training, while others reacted strongly to his admission that he regularly exposes the youngster to cold showers. "I just want my son to reach his full potential," Wang said, adding that 4-year-old son not only runs 3 km every day he also takes cold showers from time to time to strengthen his body's resistance and willpower.
"He has never taken any sick leave from kindergarten," he said proudly. However, some parents find his methods too extreme.
"I'm not sure a 4-year-old is prepared for such intense training," said Zhang Ruxia a woman who gave birth to two boys in October in Tianjin. "You can have good intentions to train your child at an early age but you also have to consider whether he can take it." Wang responded by saying children are too young to make decisions, and it is up to parents to lead them on the right path.
"I read many materials before and the whole process is step-by-step without pushing or imposing on my son," Wang said. The father said he was not acting rashly but following a scientific way of education. He said the doubts about his methods reflect the declining standards of modern education.
"Many people in Japan give their children cold showers too ,and no one is fussing about it," he said. The traditional way of education applied by most of his peers might not necessarily help bring the best out of a child he said.
Wang said in addition to the physical training, he has also laid out a detailed and particular program to strengthen the intelligence of the child. "I have hired some university students to expand his knowledge in natural sciences, while playing the video for English-language teaching as well," he said.
【小题1】For what reason was Wang made known to the public?
A.He employed some college students to teach his son. |
B.He made his kid take a long distance race. |
C.He exposed his 4-year-old to cold showers. |
D.He forced his youngster to run 3 km every day. |
A.Extreme physical training can explore children's full potentials. |
B.Taking cold showers regularly is beneficial for children's development. |
C.It's up to parents to lead children on the right path. |
D.The way to educate children should agree with their age. |
A.Minding about. | B.Paying attention to. |
C.Laughing at. | D.Talking about. |
A.he didn’t take it step by step in a scientific way |
B.the highly tense work-out was misunderstood |
C.modern education is not challenging enough |
D.some parents were jealous of his success |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Waste can be seen everywhere in the school. Some students ask for more food than they can eat and others often forget to turn off the lights when they leave the classroom. They say they can afford these things. But I don't agree with them.
Waste can bring a lot of problems. Although China is rich in some resources , we are short of others, for example, fresh water(淡水). It is reported that we will have no coal or oil to use in 100 years. So if we go on wasting our resources, what can we use in the future and where can we move? Think about it. I think we should say no to the students who waste things every day. Everybody should stop wasting as soon as possible.
In our everyday life, we can do many things to prevent waste from happening, for example, turn off the water taps when we finish washing, turn off the lights when we leave the classroom, try not to order more food than we need, and so on. Little by little, everything will be changed. Waste can be stopped one day, if we do our best.
【小题1】From the passage we know that some students often ________ in the school.
A.waste things | B.don't work hard |
C.eat too much | D.throw rubbish everywhere |
A.Forest. | B.Fresh water. | C.Oil. | D.Coal. |
A.We may still have enough oil. |
B.We may still have enough coal. |
C.We may have a little oil. |
D.We may have no coal or oil to use. |
A.School life | B.Stop Wasting |
C.Waste in the School | D.Rich Resources in China |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Until the 1980s, the American homeless population is mainly made up of older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient(变化无常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems — both legal and educational — for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers.
Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis. But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.
One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not treated as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.
Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions(规定) of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.
【小题1】It is implied in the first paragraph that ____.
A.the writer himself is homeless, even in his eighties |
B.many older homeless residents are going on strike in 25 cities |
C.there is a serious shortage of academic facilities |
D.homeless children are denied the opportunity of receiving free education |
A.350,000 | B.1,500,000 | C.440,000 | D.110,000 |
A.the homeless children are too young to be treated as children |
B.the homeless population is growing rapidly |
C.the homeless children usually stay outside school |
D.some homeless children are deserted by their families |
A.the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized |
B.the estimates on homeless children are hard to determine |
C.the address of grade-school children should be located |
D.all homeless people should have free education |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
“How to Train Your Dragon” by British author Cressida Cowell is one of the best pieces of children’s literature. A child can make a whole alternative universe with a vivid imagination and Toothless, the hero’s hunting dragon, thus turning a rainy day into an adventure of a lifetime. However, if you have never read the book but instead choose to see the film version, you might think you were seeing a new-age war movie meant for adults rather than children.
Let’s look at “Where the Wild Things Are” for further discussion. The story centers around a lonely eight-year-old boy named Max, who sails away to an island. Creatures living there declare Max their king.
What an amazing piece of children’s literature! A treasure for every child’s library. Yet, children were crying in the movie theatre. Owls were falling from the sky, chicken’s arms were being torn off, and a child was running around a dark abandoned world fighting evil as the only human. It was almost as if Hollywood could not imagine children enjoying a movie for its basic literature content. Hollywood might be right. But more and more its audiences are complaining that there is an increased amount of violence in children’s stories today than in the past.
While there appears to be a trend in our society to make more violence more accessible to younger children, books and literature are generally an exception. I truly believe that children’s literature has become more vivid, and more colorful. This is a great treasure for the children, and is certainly not violent. What has changed the children’s stories of today is not the writers, but the film industry. In some way, children’s literature is just being strangely twisted. I wonder how much influence the author have over this.
【小题1】The Text is mainly about ________.
A.two good books for children |
B.how a book is adapted into a film |
C.whether children should go to movies |
D.whether children’s literature is getting more violent |
A.moving | B.frightening | C.interesting | D.amazing |
A.the film industry’s treatment of children’s literature is wrong |
B.writers should provide more colorful works for children |
C.there is an increase in violence in children’s literature |
D.children should read books rather than see films. |
A.By inferring. | B.By giving explanations. |
C.By providing examples. | D.By making comparisons. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Should students do the grading?
The Supreme Court says the practice doesn’t violate(侵犯) a student’s right to privacy, but is it right for students to grade one another?
Walter Potenza, California
The Supreme Court was absolutely correct to say it’s OK for students to grade one another’s homework, quizzes, and tests: in fact, it’s a great idea.
By grading one another’s papers and seeing the problems their classmates have, students double their exposure(暴露) to the troubles that they may meet on future exams and tests. Grading one another’s papers may be one of the best ways for students to reinforce within themselves the ways to master the most difficult parts of what they are learning.
Teachers are underappreciated and underpaid for the number of hours they have to work to be able to teach really well. Grading all their students’ papers can take hours. Some of that time and energy can be saved by spending a few minutes in class, while providing an extremely valuable learning experience.
I understand that some individuals are sensitive to their classmates seeing their work or grades. Any good teacher would be considerate of students who don’t want their classmates to grade their assignments.
Winston Smith, North Carolina
A girl moves back as her classmate announces her failing test grade and hands her the paper. The quiet classroom heats up.
With the increase in student grading over the past few years, scenes like this have become a bitter reality in schools across the nation. Teachers and schools should not advocate student grading and public announcement of grades because it provides a violation of privacy for students and causes unfair judgments and treatment by their classmates.
Since 1974, a law known as the Buckley Amendment has forbidden the release of education records in order to protect the privacy of students and their families. I strongly disagree with the Court’s ruling that this law does not include student grading.
I can think of no greater violation of privacy than the exposure of one’s personal information to a group of peers(同龄人). This can be very embarrassing. Releasing this sort of personal information should be avoided, especially by institutions that seek to provide a supportive environment during essential years of human development.
【小题1】The underlined word “reinforce” has the same meaning as “_________”.
A.change | B.imagine | C.strengthen | D.create |
A.teachers should set aside some time to grade students’ papers |
B.the Supreme Court should do more research on students grading |
C.teachers should guide students on how to grade homework |
D.teachers should be careful not to hurt those sensitive students |
A.show her weak points |
B.criticize the student grader |
C.tell us she is not a good student |
D.present the negative effect of student grading |
A.Student grading is not related to families’ privacy. |
B.The Supreme Court should change its decision. |
C.The Buckley Amendment doesn’t apply to student grading. |
D.Student grading is OK, but not public announcement of grades. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
If your mother wants to tell you something, she uses words. Birds cannot talk as we do. But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger.
The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe. Jackdaws live together. Young jackdaws do not know their enemies. When an older jackdaw sees a dog, it makes a loud rattling sound. The younger birds know this sound means danger is nearby. The sound warns them to know their enemies.
If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind. The parent bird flies low over the young bird’s back. The parent’s tail feathers move quickly from side to side, trying to express, “Follow me.” At the same time, the parent calls out, “Key-aw, key-aw. ”The parent mean, “Fly home with me.” The young bird then follows the older one home. Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch(孵出).
【小题1】The jackdaw lives in .
A.Europe | B.Australia | C.America | D.Africa |
A.All animal parents can talk to their young. |
B.Dogs are the most dangerous enemies for jackdaws. |
C.Young jackdaws know the meaning of their parents’ sound when they grow older. |
D.Some birds can give information to one another. |
A.ask their young to follow them |
B.play a game with the young |
C.tell the meal time |
D.give a warning of a fire |
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