Since we are social beings

題目

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships.One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful conditions．Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties．Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems．People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties．Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely．

Social support cushions stress in a number of ways．First, friends, relatives and co-workers may let us know that they value us．Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties．Second, other people often provide us with informational support．They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them．Third, we typically find social companionship supportive．Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting us from our worries and troubles．Finally, other people may give us instrumental support－money aid, material resources, and needed services－that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems．

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

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

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

A. takes place of

B. makes up of

C. reduces the effect of

D. gets rid of

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

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 condition.

答案A B C C A 解析

【文章大意】既然人有社會性，那么我們生活的質(zhì)量就靠人與人之間的關系。穩(wěn)固的社會人際關系對于人的身心健康大有幫助，對于減緩壓力也大有裨益。

(1)細節(jié)理解題。第一段提到，有堅固的社會關系的人活得長久，身體健康，而且能解決生活的變化和日常問題，故選A，而其他三項只是文章敘述的幾個方面，不足以概括總體原因。本題較難。

(2)細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第一段可知，有很堅固的社會關系的人活得長久，身體健康；社會支持幫助你預防疾病，故選B。本題易。

(3)詞義猜測題。該單詞出現(xiàn)在主題句中。從下文敘述的四點來看，都是緩解壓力的做法，所以猜測這個單詞是“緩解壓力”的意思，故選C。本題稍難。

(4)細節(jié)理解題。在第二段第三條中提到，我們尤其發(fā)現(xiàn)社會上的伙伴關系很有幫助。和其他人一起參加業(yè)余活動幫助我們滿足自己的社會需求，同時分散我們的擔憂和煩惱。所以在業(yè)余時間幫助病人做一些修理的活是社會伙伴關系的一個例子，故選C。本題稍難。

(5)主旨大意題。文章主要敘述社會關系對人的幫助，故選A。本題稍難。