Question

【題目】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（皮質(zhì)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（積累）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 （思維定式）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.

【1】Which of the following can replace the underlined word "taxing"?

A. stressful. B. cheerful.

C. worthwhile. D. rewarding.

【2】What did the research in the second paragraph prove?

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.

【3】According lo the recent findings,what should we change to solve the problem mentioned?

A. Our attitude. B. Our mind-set.

C. Our home life. D. Our working style.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】C

【解析】本文是一篇說(shuō)明文。主要說(shuō)明了，與在家進(jìn)行家務(wù)勞動(dòng)相比，人們普遍感覺(jué)在工作當(dāng)中的壓力要更小一些。

【1】詞義猜測(cè)題。A. stressful.有壓力的；B. cheerful.歡樂(lè)的；C. worthwhile.值得的；D. rewarding.有回報(bào)的。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 由此句可知對(duì)大部分人來(lái)說(shuō)：相比于一天在家充滿著家務(wù)活，做飯和照顧孩子，在辦公室就像是去野餐。再結(jié)合下句"Even for those with a happy family life,home can sometimes feel more taxing than work."中的even可推知，此處表達(dá)的意思是：甚至那些過(guò)著幸福的家庭生活的人，有時(shí)也感覺(jué)在家比工作更有壓力。故選A。

【2】總結(jié)概括題。根據(jù)第二段中的"In a new study,researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol（皮質(zhì)醇）released in response to stress,in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home."可知，與在家相比較，在工作當(dāng)中由于壓力而釋放出的皮質(zhì)醇更低，因此說(shuō)明了工作的壓力比在家的壓力小。故選D。

【3】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)最后一句"The recent findings,though,suggest our home life,not our attitude,might be due for some change."可知，需要改變的是我們的家庭生活，而非我們的態(tài)度。故選C。