5. A。主旨题。通读全文可知答案。

(12)

LONDON - Life for Cathy Hagner and her three children is set to permanent(永久的) fast-forward.

Their full school day and her job as a lawyer's assistant are busy enough. But Hanger also has to take the two boys to soccer or hockey or basketball while dropping off her daughter at piano lessons or Girl Scout Club.

Often, the exhausted family doesn't get home until 7 pm. There is just time for a quick supper before homework. In today's world, middle-class American and British parents treat their children as if they are competitors racing for some finishing line.

Parents take their children from activity to activity in order to make their future bright. It seems that raising a genius has become a more important goal than raising a happy and well-balanced child.

“Doctors across the country are reporting a growing number of children suffering from stomachaches and headaches due to exhaustion and stress,” says child expert William Doherty of the University of Minnesota.

Teachers are dealing with exhausted kids in the classroom. It's a very serious problem. Many children attend after-school clubs by necessity. But competitive pressures also create an explosion of activities. They include sports, language, music and math classes for children as young as four.

“There is a new parenting trend(趋势) under way which says that you have to tap all your child’s potential(潜能) at a young age; otherwise you will let him down,” says Terry Apter, a Cambridge-based child and adolescent psychiatrist(青少年精神病专家).

“It isn't entirely new: there have always been pushy parents. But what was previously(以前) seen as strange behaviour is now well accepted.”

4. C。细节题。从文章第 2 段内容，采用排除法，可以得知答案为 C。

3. C。语义猜测题。文章第2段告诉我们人与人之间互相支持和帮助可以从几个方面缓解人的压力。注意文章最后一句中的 reduce 与选项C中的 lessen 大致同义。

2. B。判断题。从第 1 段的最后一句话可以做出正确判断。

1. A。主旨题。虽然选项B、C、D的内容在文章中都谈到了，但选项A更全面。另一方面，根据文章第1段的第1句也可推知答案为A。

5. What is the subject discussed in the text?

A. Interpersonal relationships.　　　　　　　　　 B. Kinds of social support.

C. Ways to deal with stress.　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Effects of stressful conditions.

[答案解释]

现代社会中的人们各方面的压力很大，所以融洽的人际关系显得很重要。它可以缓解部分压力，增加信息，帮助解决一些日常困难。

4. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of _______.

A. instrumental support　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. informational support

C. social companionship　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. the strengthening of self-respect

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “cushions” ?

A. takes place of　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. makes up of

C. lessens the effect of　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. gets rid of

2. The researches show that people's physical and mental health _______.

A. lies in the social medical care systems which support them

B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others

C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles

D. is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes

1. Interpersonal relationships are important because they can _______.

A. make people live more easily

B. smooth away daily problems

C. deal with life changes

D. cure types of illnesses