Marriages improve after children grow up and move out，according to an academic study, which suggests an “empty nest” is not always a bad thing.
Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.However, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.
In total,123 American mothers born in the 1930s were tracked for 18 years and asked to rate their satisfaction levels shortly after marrying, when they were bringing up babies, once their children reached their teenage years and finally at age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”．
Although not all said they were happier in general, most claimed their marriages had improved since their children had left home. Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s company more.
One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”
Psychologist Sara Gorchoff，who carried out the investigation，said: “The takehome message for couples with young children is ‘hang in there’．” Her coauthor Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”
However, Dr Dorothy Rowe，from the British Psychological Society，said the effects of living in an “empty nest” will depend on the parents’ relationship with their children.“If you’re just waiting for them to leave home so you can get on with your life，then of course you’ll be pleased to see them go,” she said, “But if you’ve built your life around your children you’ll be terribly lonely.For some parents，their world falls apart when their children leave.”
1.It is commonly believed that___________.
A．marriages improve after children leave home
B．an “empty nest” is always a happy thing
C．parents’ relationships may suffer once their young grow up and move out
D．parents will be pleased after their children leave home
2.When did many couples feel happier according to the study?
A．At age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”.
B．Shortly after marrying.
C．Once their children reached their teenage years.
D．When they were bringing up babies.
3.Marriages improve after children fly the coop not because___________.
A．many couples are able to spend time together
B．many couples are able to enjoy each other’s company
C．things are a little more relaxed
D．many couples needn’t work at all
4.The author of the passage tends to agree that____________.
A．parents should build their life around their kids
B．parents should schedule quality time with each other before kids leave home
C．parents’ relationship with their kids has no effect on marriages at all
D．parents should be pleased to see their kids leave home
1.C
2.A
3.D
4.B
【解析】
試題分析：本文講述了一些孩子離家以后的空巢老人可能更為開心，文章分析了原因，也提出了不同的觀點。
1.C 細節題。根據第二段1,2行Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.原來很多人認為孩子離開家以后，父母會感覺很孤單寂寞。故C正確。
2.A 推理題。根據第二段2,3行Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.可知當孩子離開家的時候，也就是變成空巢家庭的時候，他們會感覺很開心。故A正確。
3.D 細節題。根據4,5段Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s company more.和One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”可知ABC三項都是文章中提及的原因，只有D項不是。
4.B 細節題。根據文章倒數第二段最后2行Her coauthor Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”可知B項內容正確。
考點：考查調查報告類短文閱讀
點評：本文講述了一些孩子離家以后的空巢老人可能更為開心，文章分析了原因，也提出了不同的觀點。
文章基本上是考查細節題，對此類題型考生可以首先從問題中找到關鍵詞，然后以此為線索，運用略讀及查閱的技巧在文中迅速尋找這一細節，找到后再把這一部分內容仔細閱讀一遍，仔細比較所給選項與文中細節的細微區別，在準確理解細節的前提下，最后確定最佳答案。
科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
(10·全國Ⅰ)
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s came to the hospital. I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for appointment （約會）at 9:30.
The nurse had him take a 36 in the waiting area, 37 him it would be at least 40 minutes 38 someone would be able to see him .I saw him 39 his watch and decided, since I was 40 buy-my patient didn’t 41 at the appointed hour ,I would examine his wound, While taking care of his wound ,I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment.
The gentleman said no and told me that he 42 to go to the nursing home on eat breakfast with his 43 .He told me that she had been 44 for a while and that she had a special disease, I asked if she would be 45 if he was a bit late. He replied that she 46 knew who he was ,that she had not been able to 47 him for five years now. I was 48 and asked him,” And you 49 go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
He smiled and said .”She doesn’t know me, but I know who she is” I had to hold back 50 as he left.
Now I 51 that in marriages, true love is 52 of all that, The happiest people don’t 53 have the best of everything; they just 54 the best of everything they have .55 isn’t about how to live through the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
36.A.breath B. test C. seat D. break
37.A.persuading B. promising C. understanding D. telling
38. A. if B. before C. since D. after
39. A. taking off B. fixing C. looking at D. winding
40. A. very B. also C. seldom D. not
41. A. turn up B. show off C. come on D. go away
42. A. needed B. forgot C . agreed D. happened
43. A. daughter B. wife C. mother D. sister
44. A late B. well C. around D. there
45. A. lonely B. worried C. doubtful D. hungry
46. A. so far B. neither C. no longer D. already
47. A. recognize B. answer C. believe D. expect
48.A. moved B. disappointed C. surprised D .satisfied
49.A. only B. then C. thus D. still
50.A. curiosity B. tears C. words D. judgment
51. A. realize B. suggest C. hope D. prove
52. A. agreement B. expression C. acceptance D. exhibition
53. A. necessarily B. completely C. naturally D. frequently
54. A. learn B. make C. favor D. try
55. A. Adventure B. Beauty C. Trust D .Life
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I looked at my beautiful Christmas tree and sighed. It was time. The New Year was a week old and my tree still stood in the corner of our room with its collection of memories proudly displayed in a shower of colorful lights. I’d procrastinated（拖延，耽擱）long enough.
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My tree is like a good marriage or a great friendship. Like the tree, they take a long time to assemble and decorate with memories, but can be torn down quickly.
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1.In the author’s eyes, the Christmas tree .
A．is a collection of childhood memories
B．is a symbol of long-lasting relations
C．takes too much time to decorate
D．is full of out-of-date ornaments
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B．both remind him of bittersweet memories
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D．both get less attractive over the years
3.What is the main theme of the article?
A．We’d better put away Christmas decorations and recycle them each year.
B．Friendships and marriages should be valued and managed carefully.
C．Memories with friends and family should be cherished and relived.
D．We should decorate Christmas trees with personal stuff and recycle.
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He smiled and said. “She doesn’t know me but I know who she is.” I had to hold back 20 as he left.
Now I 21 that in marriages，true love is 22 of all that is. The happiest people don’t 23 have the best of everything; they just 24 the best of everything they have. 25 isn’t about how to live through the storm, but how to dance in the rain.
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7. A．lonely B．worried C．doubtful D．hungry
8. A．recognize B．answer C．believe D．expect
9. A．moved B．disappointed C．surprised D．satisfied
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11. A．realize B．suggest C．hope D．prove
12. A．agreement B．expression C．acceptance D．exhibition
13. A．necessarily B．completely C．naturally D．frequently
14. A．learn B．make C．favor D．try
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1. In traditionally female jobs, attractiveness ______________.
A. makes women look more honest and capable
B. strengthens the qualifies required
C. is of no importance to women
D. often enables women to succeed quickly
2. Bowman's experiment shows that when it comes to politics, attractiveness ____________.
A. turns out to be a disadvantage to men
B. is more of a disadvantage than an advantage to women
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D. has as little effect on men as on women
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第二節完形填空(共20小題；每小題l．5分，滿分30分)
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項(A、B、C和D)中，選出可以填入
空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
It was a busy morning，about 8:30,when an elderly gentleman in his 80s came to the hospital。I heard him saying to the nurse that he was in a hurry for an appointment(約會)at 9:30
The nurse had him take a 36 in the waiting area, 37 him it would be at least 40
minutes 38 someone would be able to see him。 I saw him 39 his watch and decided，since I was 40 busy—my patient didn’t 41 at the appointed hour, I would examine his wound .While taking care of his wound．I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment
The gentleman said no and told me that he 42 to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his 43 .。He told me that she had been 44 for a while and that she had a special disease。I asked if she would be 45 if he was a bit late. He replied that she 46 knew who he was，that she had not been able to 47 him for five years now. I was 48 ,and asked him，“And you 49 go every morning，even though she doesn’t know who you are?”
He smiled and said．“She doesn’t know me but I know who she is” I had to hold back 50 as he left.
Now I 51 that in marriages，true love is 52 of all that is。The happiest people don’t 53 have the best of everything；they just 54 the best of everything they have。 55 isn’t about how to live through the storm，but how to dance in the rain.
36 A breath B.test C seat D break
37 A persuading B promising C understanding D telling
38 A if B before C since D after
39 A taking off B．fixing C looking at D winding
40．A very B also C seldom D not
41 A turn up B show off C come on D go away
42 A needed B forgot C agreed D happened
43 A daughter B wife C mother D sister
44 A. late B well C around D.there
45 A lonely B worried C doubtful D hungry
46 A so far B neither C no longer D already
47 A recognize B answer C believe D expect
48 A moved B disappointed C surprised D satisfied
49 A only B.then C.thus D still
50A curiosity B tears C words D judgment
51 A realize B suggest C hope D prove
52 A agreement B expression C acceptance D exhibition
53 A necessarily B completely C．naturally D frequently
54 A. learn B make C.favor D.try
55 A Adventure B Beauty C Trust D Life
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