英语四级阅读理解练习与答案

　　These pseudo-apologies are used by people who believe saying sorry shows weakness, Parents who wish to teach their children to apologize should see it as a sign of strength, and therefore not resort to these pseudo-apologies.

　　But even when presented with examples of genuine contrition, children still need　help to become a ware of the complexities of saying sorry. A three-year-old might need help in understanding that other children feel pain just as he does, and that hitting a playmate over the head with a heavy toy requires an apology. A six-year-old might need reminding that spoiling other children’s expectations can require an apology. A 12-year-old might need to be shown that raiding the biscuit tin without asking permission is acceptable, but that borrowing a parent’s clothes without permission is not.

　　1 If a mother adds “but” to an apology, ________.

　　A) she doesn’t feel that she should have apologized

　　B) she does not realize that the child has been hurt

　　C) the child may find the apology easier to accept

　　D) the child may feel that he owes her an apology

　　2 According to the author, saying “I’m sorry you’re upset” most probably means “________”.

　　A) You have good reason to get upset

　　B) I’m aware you’re upset, but I’m not to blame

　　C) I apologize for hurting your feelings

　　D) I’m at fault for making you upset

　　3. It is not advisable to use the general, all-covering apology because ________.

　　A) it gets one into the habit of making empty promises

　　B) it may make the other person feel guilty

　　C) it is vague and ineffective

　　D) it is hurtful and insulting

　　4 We learn from the last paragraph that in teaching children to say sorry ________.

　　A) the complexities involved should be ignored

　　B) their ages should be taken into account

　　C) parents need to set them a good example

　　D) parents should be patient and tolerant

　　5 It can be inferred from the passage that apologizing properly is ________.

　　A) a social issue calling for immediate attention

　　B) not necessary among family members

　　C) a sign of social progress

　　D) not as simple as it seems

　　1 D 2 B 3. C 4.B 5.D

　　“Humans should not try to avoid stress any more than they would shun food, love or exercise.” Said Dr. Hans Selye, the first physician to document the effects of stress on the body. While here’s on question that continuous stress is harmful, several studies suggest that challenging situations in which you’re able to rise to the occasion can be good for you.

　　In a 2001 study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but coped with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health than those who felt they stress that you can manage also boost immune (免疫的) function. In a study at the Academic Center for Dentistry in Amsterdam, researchers put volunteers through two stressful experiences. In the first, a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test, subjects through a gory (血淋淋的) video on surgical procedures. Those who did well on the memory test had an increase in levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that’s the body’s first line of defense against germs. The video-watchers experienced a downturn in the antibody.

　　Stress prompts the body to produce certain stress hormones. In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect, including improved memory function. “They can help nerve cells handle information and put it into storage,” says Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University in New York. But in the long run these hormones can have a harmful effect on the body and brain.

　　“Sustained stress is not good for you,” says Richard Morimoto, a researcher at Northwestern University in Illinois studying the effects of stress on longevity, “It’s the occasional burst of stress or brief exposure to stress that could be protective.”

　　1. The passage is mainly about ________.

　　A) the benefits of manageable stress

　　B) how to cope with stress effectively

　　C) how to avoid stressful

　　D) the effect of stress harmonies on memory

　　2. The word “shun” (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means ________.

　　A) cut down on

　　B) stay away from

　　C) run out of

　　D) put up with

　　3. We can conclude from the study of the 158 nurses in 2001 that ________.

　　A) people under stress tend to have a poor memory

　　B) people who can’t get their job done experience more stress

　　C) doing challenging work may be good for one’s health

　　D) stress will weaken the body’s defense against germs

　　4. In the experiment described in Paragraph 3, the video-watchers experienced a downturn in the antibody because ________.

　　A) the video was not enjoyable at all

　　B) the outcome was beyond their control

　　C) they knew little about surgical procedures

　　D) they felt no pressure while watching the video

　　5. Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University believes that ________.

　　A) a person’s memory is determined by the level of hormones in his body

　　B) stress hormones have lasting positive effects on the brain

　　C) short bursts of stress hormones enhance memory function

　　D) a person’s memory improves with continued experience of stress

　　1. A 2. B 3. C 4.B 5. C