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Ever since Canadian psychiatrist Michael R. Phillips, who works in China, released his report saying China’s suicide rate from 1995 to 1999 reached 0.023 percent, the country has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Jing Jun, a professor of sociology in Tsinghua University, challenges that view and presents the true picture through his nationwide research.
Jing and his students took one year to set up the first national database on suicide rate to grasp the overall trend of suicides in China. They collected data from the Health Statistics Annuals of the World Health Organization (sample size 10 million), and the country’s Health Statistics Annuals (which cover 100 million people). The database covers 23 years, from 1987 to 2009. Jing calculates the suicide rate in China based on these data. Though the suicide rate was comparatively high in the early years, his study shows it has dropped in recent years, as opposed to the ascending trend in the rest of the world.
According to Jing’s calculation, China’s suicide rate had dropped to about 0.01 percent in 2004. In 2009, the figure dropped further to 0.007 percent, which is rather low compared with the global rate of 0.016 percent. Even if the “missing” suicides were added, China’s suicide rate in 2009 would still be below 0.008 percent.
Jing has found that one of the main reasons why the suicide rate has dropped was the steady and big decline in the number of suicides committed by rural women. In the early years, researchers generally agreed that the suicide rate among Chinese women was higher than among men, which is pretty rare in the rest the world. But the suicide rate among Chinese women, especially in rural areas, has declined remarkably in recent years. In fact, it is almost equal to that of Chinese men.
As a sociologist, Jing regards suicide as a social issue, and believes improvement of social policies will reduce the suicide rate even further. More people’s lives can be saved if the authorities adjust to social environment for the better, he concludes.
1.From Jing’s search, we can see ________.
A. China has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world
B. in the rest of the world suicide rate has been rising quickly in the last few years
C. different from Michael
R. Philip’s idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining
D. the suicide rate among Chinese women is lower than that of men
2.The data in Para. 2 is mainly to prove that ________.
A. the result from Jing’s research is believable
B. Jing’s research is more complicated than Michael R. Phillip’s
C. Jing has made great efforts to make the research
D. China’s suicide rate was comparatively low all the time
3.Why has the suicide rate in China dropped steadily according to Jing Jun?
A. Because the life level of Chinese people has improved a lot.
B. Because China’s government has adopted measures to reduce the suicide rate.
C. Because the number of Chinese women who commit suicide has declined.
D. Because the world environment affects the suicide rate in China.
4.In Jing’s opinion, what should be done to reduce the suicide?
A. Pay more attention to rural women.
B. Continue to improve social environment.
C. Set up more mental health centers.
D. Make policies to prevent suicides.
5.We can infer that the text is __
_____.
A. a news report
B. a research report
C. a description of suicides
D. an introduction to a professor
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Ever since Canadian psychiatrist Michael R. Phillips, who works in China, released his report saying China’s suicide rate from 1995 to 1999 reached 0.023 percent, the country has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Jing Jun, a professor of sociology in Tsinghua University, challenges that view and presents the true picture through his nationwide research.
Jing and his students took one year to set up the first national database on suicide rate to grasp the overall trend of suicides in China. They collected data from the Health Statistics Annuals of the World Health Organization (sample size 10 million), and the country’s Health Statistics Annuals (which cover 100 million people). The database covers 23 years, from 1987 to 2009. Jing calculates the suicide rate in China based on these data. Though the suicide rate was comparatively high in the early years, his study shows it has dropped in recent years, as opposed to the ascending trend in the rest of the world.
According to Jing’s calculation, China’s suicide rate had dropped to about 0.01 percent in 2004. In 2009, the figure dropped further to 0.007 percent, which is rather low compared with the global rate of 0.016 percent. Even if the “missing” suicides were added, China’s suicide rate in 2009 would still be below 0.008 percent.
Jing has found that one of the main reasons why the suicide rate has dropped was the steady and big decline in the number of suicides committed by rural women. In the early years, researchers generally agreed that the suicide rate among Chinese women was higher than among men, which is pretty rare in the rest the world. But the suicide rate among Chinese women, especially in rural areas, has declined remarkably in recent years. In fact, it is almost equal to that of Chinese men.
As a sociologist, Jing regards suicide as a social issue, and believes improvement of social policies will reduce the suicide rate even further. More people’s lives can be saved if the authorities adjust to social environment for the better, he concludes.
1.From Jing’s search, we can see ________.
A. China has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world
B. in the rest of the world suicide rate has been rising quickly in the last few years
C. different from Michael R. Philip’s idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining
D. the suicide rate among Chinese women is lower than that of men
2.The data in Para. 2 is mainly to prove that ________.
A. the result from Jing’s research is believable
B. Jing’s research is more complicated than Michael R. Phillip’s
C. Jing has made great efforts to make the research
D. China’s suicide rate was comparatively low all the time
3.Why has the suicide rate in China dropped steadily according to Jing Jun?
A. Because the life level of Chinese people has improved a lot.
B. Because China’s government has adopted measures to reduce the suicide rate.
C. Because the number of Chinese women who commit suicide has declined.
D. Because the world environment affects the suicide rate in China.
4.In Jing’s opinion, what should be done to reduce the suicide?
A. Pay more attention to rural women.
B. Continue to improve social environment.
C. Set up more mental health centers.
D. Make policies to prevent suicides.
5.We can infer that the text is _______.
A. a news report
B. a research report
C. a description of suicides
D. an introduction to a professor
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Ever since Canadian psychiatrist Michael R. Phillips, who works in China, released his report saying China’s suicide rate from 1995 to 1999 reached 0.023 percent, the country has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world. But Jing Jun, a professor of sociology in Tsinghua University, challenges that view and presents the true picture through his nationwide research.
Jing and his students took one year to set up the first national database on suicide rate to grasp the overall trend of suicides in China. They collected data from the Health Statistics Annuals of the World Health Organization (sample size 10 million), and the country’s Health Statistics Annuals (which cover 100 million people). The database covers 23 years, from 1987 to 2009. Jing calculates the suicide rate in China based on these data. Though the suicide rate was comparatively high in the early years, his study shows it has dropped in recent years, as opposed to the ascending trend in the rest of the world.
According to Jing’s calculation, China’s suicide rate had dropped to about 0.01 percent in 2004. In 2009, the figure dropped further to 0.007 percent, which is rather low compared with the global rate of 0.016 percent. Even if the “missing” suicides were added, China’s suicide rate in 2009 would still be below 0.008 percent.
Jing has found that one of the main reasons why the suicide rate has dropped was the steady and big decline in the number of suicides committed by rural women. In the early years, researchers generally agreed that the suicide rate among Chinese women was higher than among men, which is pretty rare in the rest the world. But the suicide rate among Chinese women, especially in rural areas, has declined remarkably in recent years. In fact, it is almost equal to that of Chinese men.
As a sociologist, Jing regards suicide as a social issue, and believes improvement of social policies will reduce the suicide rate even further. More people’s lives can be saved if the authorities adjust to social environment for the better, he concludes.
1.From Jing’s search, we can see ________.
A. China has been ranked among those with the highest suicide rates in the world
B. in the rest of the world suicide rate has been rising quickly in the last few years
C. different from Michael R. Philip’s idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining
D. the suicide rate among Chinese women is lower than that of men
2.The data in Para. 2 is mainly to prove that ________.
A. the result from Jing’s research is believable
B. Jing’s research is more complicated than Michael R. Phillip’s
C. Jing has made great efforts to make the research
D. China’s suicide rate was comparatively low all the time
3.Why has the suicide rate in China dropped steadily according to Jing Jun?
A. Because the life level of Chinese people has improved a lot.
B. Because China’s government has adopted measures to reduce the suicide rate.
C. Because the number of Chinese women who commit suicide has declined.
D. Because the world environment affects the suicide rate in China.
4.In Jing’s opinion, what should be done to reduce the suicide?
A. Pay more attention to rural women.
B. Continue to improve social environment.
C. Set up more mental health centers.
D. Make policies to prevent suicides.
5.We can infer that the text is _______.
A. a news report
B. a research report
C. a description of suicides
D. an introduction to a professor
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Psychiatrists（精神病专家），who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset（资产） in child raising----older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with children．But raising kids takes money and energy, many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, declining energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child．Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents’ biggest and often unspoken fear．Having late-life children, says an economics professor, often means parents, particularly fathers, “end up retiring much later．” For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream．
Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids．But he’s also worried that his energy will give out first．Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he’s learned that, young at heart doesn’t mean young．Lately he’s been taking afternoon naps to keep up his energy．” My body is aging,” says Metcalf, “You can’t get away from that．”
Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock．Therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at．“They worry they’ll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they’ll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school．” Says Joann Galst, a New York psychologist ．But at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one．“that they will not be alive long enough to support and protect their child, ” she says ．
Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time．After marrying late and undergoing years of fertility（受孕） treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband, Randy, had twins．“We both wanted children,” says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth．The twins have given the couple what they desired for years, “a sense of family．”
Kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives．“The dads are older, more mature,” says Dr．Silber, “and more ready to focus on parenting．”
1.Why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child raising?
A．Older parents can better balance their resources against children’s demands．
B．Older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children．
C．Older parents are often better prepared financially．
D．Older parents can take better care of their children．
2.What does the author mean by saying “For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream”
A．They have to go on working beyond their retirement age．
B．They can’t get full pension unless they work some extra years．
C．They can’t obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of．
D．They are unwilling to retire when they reach their retirement age
3.The author gives the examples of Henry Metcalf to show that______．
A．many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age
B．taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy
C．older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies
D．older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children
4.What’s the biggest fear of older parents according to New York psychologist Joann Galst?
A．Being laughed at by other people B．Slowing down of their pace of life
C．Being mistaken for grandparents D．Approaching of death
5.What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen?
A．They thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment
B．Not until they had the twins did they feel had formed a family
C．They believe that children born of older parents would be smarter．
D．Not until they reached middle age did they think of having children．
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Psychiatrists(精神病专家)，who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset(资产) in child raising----older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with children. But raising kids takes money and energy, many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, declining energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child. Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents’ biggest and often unspoken fear. Having late-life children, says an economics professor, often means parents, particularly fathers, “end up retiring much later.” For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream.
Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. But he’s also worried that his energy will give out first. Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he’s learned that, young at heart doesn’t mean young. Lately he’s been taking afternoon naps to keep up his energy.” My body is aging,” says Metcalf, “You can’t get away from that.”
Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. Therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. “They worry they’ll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they’ll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school.” Says Joann Galst, a New York psychologist .But at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one. “that they will not be alive long enough to support and protect their child, ” she says .
Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. After marrying late and undergoing years of fertility(受孕) treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband, Randy, had twins. “We both wanted children,” says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. The twins have given the couple what they desired for years, “a sense of family.”
Kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. “The dads are older, more mature,” says Dr. Silber, “and more ready to focus on parenting.”
1.Why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child raising?
A Older parents can better balance their resources against children’s demands.
B Older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children.
C Older parents are often better prepared financially.
D Older parents can take better care of their children.
2.What does the author mean by saying “For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream”
A They have to go on working beyond their retirement age.
B They can’t get full pension unless they work some extra years.
C They can’t obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of.
D They are unwilling to retire when they reach their retirement age
3.The author gives the examples of Henry Metcalf to show that______.
A many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age
B taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy
C older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies
D older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children
4.What’s the biggest fear of older parents according to New York psychologist Joann Galst?
A Being laughed at by other people B Slowing down of their pace of life
C Being mistaken for grandparents D Approaching of death
5.What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen?
A They thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment
B Not until they had the twins did they feel had formed a family
C They believe that children born of older parents would be smarter.
D Not until they reached middle age did they think of having children.
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Ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? A group of time-challenged Canadian women are wishing for a 25-hour clock．
Jessie Behan，president of the 25th Hour Coalition(联盟)which is a group of Canadian women who have changed to a longer day，said the struggle for women to maintain work-1ife balance motivated her to research the body’s natural clock．“Many of my girlfriends are having kids，getting married，and I see the sufferings of dealing all that when you’re a working woman，”she said．“Women like myself are sick of living their lives by a 24-hour clock．”
A 2007 study by Charles Czeisler found a switch to longer days could be beneficial，especially for frequent travelers，shift workers，astronauts and those who experience trouble sleeping or waking．
In a similar study，Czeisler showed the body’s natural clock averages 24 hours and 11 minutes in both young and older people．The current 360-degree clock has 720 minutes，giving each minute 0．5 degree．With the new 25-hour day，30 minutes is added to each 12-hour period making each minute 0.48 degree．
While still a relatively small movement—the 25th Hour Coalition has 160 Facebook members，Behan is hoping for large changes．“The goal is to get as many women on board；there’s no harm in just trying it out and seeing．If it gets big，maybe the government will decide to standardize it．”
A recent online survey by Reader's Digest，which included 150 people in each of the 13 countries，suggests it's not just Canadians looking for longer days．Readers were asked“what would you do with an extra hour”if given a choice between sleep，work，exercise and family time．In Spain，half of respondents(被访者)said they’d like an extra hour in the day to devote to family time．The same was found for respondents in Brazil，the US and Britain，who chose family time over sleep，which came in at a close second．Only in India did work top the list with 50 percent of respondents claiming they could use an extra hour at the office．
1.Some Canadian working women are campaigning for the 25-hour day in order to_______．
A．have more chances at work
B．keep a balance between life and work
C．experience something new
D．have a better sleep
2.Jessie Behan want more women to join the 25th Hour Coalition because she________．
A．intends to make more Facebook friends
B．hopes to get benefits from more people
C．considers it is harmless to form such an organization
D．thinks it can help those women to realize their dreams
3.What is implied in the last paragraph?
A．Respondents from most nations want more family time．
B．Respondents from developed countries experience more stress．
C．Most Canadian respondents claim that they need more family time．
D．Indians are the most hardworking of the 13 nations．
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Ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day?A group of time-challenged Canadian women are wishing for a 25-hour clock．
Jessie Behan，president of the 25th Hour Coalition(联盟)which is a group of Canadian women who have changed to a longer day，said the struggle for women to maintain work-1ife balance motivated her to research the body’s natural clock．“Many of my girlfriends are having kids，getting married，and I see the sufferings of dealing all that when you’re a working woman，”she said．“Women like myself are sick of living their lives by a 24-hour clock．”
A 2007 study by Charles Czeisler found a switch to longer days could be beneficial，especially for frequent travelers，shift workers，astronauts and those who experience trouble sleeping or waking．
In a similar study，Czeisler showed the body’s natural clock averages 24 hours and 11 minutes in both young and older people．The current 360-degree clock has 720 minutes，giving each minute 0．5 degree．With the new 25-hour day，30 minutes is added to each 12-hour period making each minute 0.48 degree．
While still a relatively small movement—the 25th Hour Coalition has 160 Facebook members，Behan is hoping for large changes．“The goal is to get as many women on board；there’s no harm in just trying it out and seeing．If it gets big，maybe the government will decide to standardize it．”
A recent online survey by Reader's Digest，which included 150 people in each of the 13 countries，suggests it's not just Canadians looking for longer days．Readers were asked“what would you do with an extra hour”if given a choice between sleep，work，exercise and family time．In Spain，half of respondents(被访者)said they’d like an extra hour in the day to devote to family time．The same was found for respondents in Brazil，the US and Britain，who chose family time over sleep，which came in at a close second．Only in India did work top the list with 50 percent of respondents claiming they could use an extra hour at the office．
1.Some Canadian working women are campaigning for the 25-hour day in order to_______．
A．have more chances at work
B．keep a balance between life and work
C．experience something new
D．have a better sleep
2.Jessie Behan want more women to join the 25 th Hour Coalition because she________．
A．intends to make more Facebook friends
B．hopes to get benefits from more people
C．considers it is harmless to form such an organization
D．thinks it can help those women to realize their dreams
3.What is implied in the last paragraph?
A．Respondents from most nations want more family time．
B．Respondents from developed countries experience more stress．
C．Most Canadian respondents claim that they need more family time．
D．Indians are the most hardworking of the 13 nations．
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Yousuf Karsh，the Canadian portrait artist who photographed many of the most influential figures of the 20th century，died in a Boston hospital on July l3 th，2002．He was 93．
Working from a studio in Ottawa，Karsh produced famous portraits of such subjects as Winston Churchill，John F．Kennedy，Ernest Hemingway and Albert Einstein．Actually he has become almost as famous as his legendary subjects．In the latest edition of Who’s Who，which listed the most notable people of the last century，Karsh was the only Canadian of the 100 famous people listed——51 0f whom Karsh had photographed．
As a master portraitist，often working in black and white．Karsh was famous for talking to his subjects as he was getting the shot’s composition just right，asking them questions and putting them at ease．In preparation，he read as much as he could about the sitters，but avoided having the idea beforehand of how he would photograph them．He sought, as he wrote in Karsh Portfolio in 1967，to capture the “essential element which has made them great，” explaining，“All I know is that within every mall a secret is hidden，and as a photographer, it is my task to reveal it if I can．”
Karsh was born in America in 1908，and his uncle，George Nakash，brought him to John Garo，all outstanding photographer，to teach him in 1928．Four years later，Karsh set up his own studio in Ottawa．
In December of 1941，his memorable portrait of Winston Churchill brought Karsh into international fame．Canada’s Prime Minister Mackenzie King arranged for him to photograph Churchill following Churchill’s speech in the House of Commons．Not told，Churchill lit up a cigar, “Why was I not told of this?’’ Karsh asked him to remove the cigar and，when he didn’t，stepped forward and gently removed it with the comment，“Forgive me，Sir．”Churchill glowered (怒目而视) as the shot was taken，then permitted Karsh to take still another,；jokingly commenting，“You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed．” The Churchill portrait has since appeared in publications all over the world．
Karsh traveled to London in 1943 with his portable studio —— an 8-by-10 view camera and many studio lamps to photograph such notables as George Bernard Shaw and the royal family．All these portraits fully illustrate Karsh’s ability．
1.What did Karsh seek to do most in working?
A．Capture the essence and greatness of the character．
B．Present the true and vivid expression of the subject．
C．Make the photograph more colorful and expressive．
D．Reveal the idea he has got in preparing for the shot．
2.The underlined word “sitters”in Para 3 probably means __________ ．
A．characters seated B．subjects questioned
C．models photographed D．photographs taken
3.The last three paragraphs are mainly developed by __________ ．
A．following time order B．providing examples
C．making comparisons D．giving causes and effects
4.From the passage，we can learn that __________ ．
A．Churchill was asked to stand still when Karsh took a photograph of him
B．Churchill’s portrait hanging in the House of Commons gave Karsh great fame
C．Karsh was listed as one of the 100 notables by Who’s Who in the last century
D．Karsh could skilfully adjust the subjects’ mood when photographing them
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The true Olympic spirit has been displayed by Canadian cross-country ski coach Justin Wadsworth, who helped Russian athlete Anton Gafarov with his broken ski during the Men’s Sprint Free Semifinals.
Gafarov’s start wasn't smooth. He fell three times, crashing early in the race and breaking his ski. It was clear that Gafarov was out of the race for the men's finals and wouldn't be able to compete for medals. Still, he wanted to finish in front of the home crowd. but his left ski was too badly damaged in the crash and its base had come off. The Russian skier faced finishing the race by walking to the line, not skiing.
However, the Russian's fall was seen by Canadian coach Justin Wadsworth, who immediately ran on to the course and helped Gafarov. “I went over and gave him one of Alex Harvey's, a member of the Canadian team who didn’t qualify for the finals. It was about giving Gafarov some dignity so he didn't have to walk to the finish area,” Wadsworth said. “We help because we know everyone works so hard in our sport,” says Wadsworth, who was an Olympic skier for the S before becoming a coach. “Everyone wants fair results. It was a matter of allowing Gafarov to finish the race.”
Gafarov was thoughtful about his performance. “My fall cost me a broken ski and a pole,” said Anton Gafarov, adding that he decided to continue fighting for the finals despite all the difficulties.
Gafarov believed the race should be finished in any way possible. “It was a matter of principle to hold on to the end,” he added. He is not devastated (毁灭) by his failure and is eager to take part in the next Winter Olympics despite back problems due to injuries.
1.What happened to Gafarov during the Men's Sprint Free Semifinals?
A.He dropped his ski in the unlucky crash.
B.He gave up the race after falling three times.
C.He lost the gold medal for the men's finals.
D.He had his ski broken in the early race.
2.What do we know about Wadsworth
A.He felt pity for Gafarov's bad luck in the race.
B.He knew what price Gafarov paid for the competition.
C.He was angry with his player' s not qualifying for the finals.
D.He once worked hard to become an Olympic skier for Canada.
3.According to the text, which statement may Gafarov agree to?
A.Every dog has its day. B.Rome isn't built overnight.
C.There is no end to learning. D.Never give up in face of difficulty.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.The Olympic Spirit. B.The Touching Moment.
C.The Meaning of Sports. D.The Winning Gold Medal.
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Michael R. Bloomberg’s exit and immediate move to back Mr. Biden had the _________ to anger supporters of Mr. Sanders and sparked outrage among progressives.
A.access B.potential C.advantage D.presentation
R. Philip’s idea, the trend of suicides in China is declining
_____.