4．For many people，being on the job might just sound like a picnic compared to a day at home filled with housework，meals and childcare．Even for those with a happy family life，home can sometimes feel more taxing than work．
In a new study，researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol（皮质醇）released in response to stress，in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home．This was true for both men and women，and parents and people without children．
Both men and women showed less stress at work．But women were more likely to report feeling happier there．Men were more likely to feel happier at home．Experts say there are other reasons why work is less stressful than home for many．"Paid work is more valued in society，"says Sarah Damaske，the lead researcher on the study．"Household work is boring and not particularly rewarding．"
We get better at our job with time and the increased competence means less stress and more rewards．Yet none of us，no matter how long we've been doing it，ever truly feels like an expert at parenting or even at marriage．
The support and friendship of co-workers also offer stress relief．At home，meanwhile，stress spreads and accumulates（积累）quickly．"That's the reason why most housewives wish they were the bread earners，"Dr．Damaske says．
Much of the advice to families and couples include the warning to"leave work stress at the office"and even to change our mind-set （思维定式）from work to home，for example，a walk around the block．The recent findings，though，suggest our home life，not our attitude，might be due for some change．
13．Which of the following can replace the underlined word"taxing"？A
A．stressful．
B．cheerful．
C．worthwhile．
D．rewarding．
14．What did the research in the second paragraph prove？D
A．Men felt better at home．
B．Women felt they had less time．
C．Women were easier to feel happier．
D．Most people felt more stress at home．
15．According lo the recent findings，what should we change to solve the problem mentioned？C
A．Our attitude．
B．Our mind-set．
C．Our home life．
D．Our working style．
分析 本文是一篇科教类阅读，属于议论文，对于很多人来说，在工作中可能听起来像是野餐，而在家里的一天，充满了家务，餐饮和儿童保育．即使是那些有幸福的家庭生活的人，家庭有时候会比工作感到更多的征税．本文以此展开，主要谈论了人们在家庭生活中感到更有压力．
解答 13．A．词义猜测题．根据Even for those with a happy family life，home can sometimes feel more taxing than work．可知，句意为即使对于那些有幸福的家庭生活，家庭有时也会比工作感到更多的压力．故taxing可以用stressful代替．故选A．
14．D．推理判断题．根据In a new study，researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol（皮质醇）released in response to stress，in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home．This was true for both men and women，and parents and people without children．可知，研究发现大部分在家里更感到压力．故选D．
15．C．细节理解题．根据Much of the advice to families and couples include the warning to"leave work stress at the office"and even to change our mind-set （思维定式）from work to home，for example，a walk around the block．The recent findings，though，suggest our home life，not our attitude，might be due for some change．可知，我们应该通过改变我们的家庭生活来解决提到的问题．故选C．
点评 本文是一篇科教类阅读，题目涉及多道主旨大意题，细节理解题，推理判断题．做题时学生应仔细阅读原文，把握文章主要内容，联系文章上下文内容并结合所给选项含义，从中选出正确答案，一定要做到有理有据，切忌胡乱猜测．
