Researchers questioned nearly 9,800 people over the age of 50 about their lives and found women were happier than men and enjoy life more in old age.
Dr Elizabeth Breeze, one of the researchers, said that women could become happier as they get older as they no longer have to worry about looking after their families.
She said:“There is a difference between the way men and women view their quality of life and they are influenced by slightly different things. Women are affected negatively by caring for someone else or if they are not in employment but if they see their children and family more they are positively affected.”
“A strange thing happens to male actors, especially movie stars, in my experience,” said Helen Mirren, a 62-year-old Hollywood actress.“A young male actor feels that all the girls want him-he’s a star. As actors get older they bad-tempered for they have lost that sense of being in control of their destiny(命运).”
Wealth also helps you live longer with the poorest people more than twice as likely to die earlier than the richest, researchers at University College London discovered. In some age groups. the difference was even greater. The poorest women between 60 and 74 are six times more likely to have died than the richest women of the same age.
According to the study, you have more chances of living longer if you are married, educated to certain degree or a professional. single people are twice as likely to die early as those who are married or living with a partner.
1.What may be the best title of the passage ?
A.Why Women Are Happier Than Men in Old Age .
B.How to Live Longer.
C.Women Happier Than Men in Old Age.
D.The Difference between Women and Men in Old Age
2.What can we know from the passage?
A.Men should not worry about looking after their family any more in old age
B.Male actors, especially movie stars are easy to get bad—tempered when they get older and older.
C.The poorest women about the age of 50 can’t live longer than the richest women at the same age.
D.Education has nothing to do with happy life in people’s old age.
3.What may be talked about if there is another paragraph as the ending ?
A.Things that the old should do to be happier.
B.The disadvantage of being actors.
C.We should earn money as much as we can.
D.How to become a professional.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Researchers questioned nearly 9,800 people over the age of 50 about their lives and found women were happier than men and enjoy life more in old age.
Dr Elizabeth Breeze, one of the researchers, said that women could become happier as they get older as they no longer have to worry about looking after their families.
She said:“There is a difference between the way men and women view their quality of life and they are influenced by slightly different things. Women are affected negatively by caring for someone else or if they are not in employment but if they see their children and family more they are positively affected.”
“A strange thing happens to male actors, especially movie stars, in my experience,” said Helen Mirren, a 62-year-old Hollywood actress.“A young male actor feels that all the girls want him-he’s a star. As actors get older they bad-tempered for they have lost that sense of being in control of their destiny(命运).”
Wealth also helps you live longer with the poorest people more than twice as likely to die earlier than the richest, researchers at University College London discovered. In some age groups. the difference was even greater. The poorest women between 60 and 74 are six times more likely to have died than the richest women of the same age.
According to the study, you have more chances of living longer if you are married, educated to certain degree or a professional. single people are twice as likely to die early as those who are married or living with a partner.
1.What may be the best title of the passage ?
A.Why Women Are Happier Than Men in Old Age .
B.How to Live Longer.
C.Women Happier Than Men in Old Age.
D.The Difference between Women and Men in Old Age
2.What can we know from the passage?
A.Men should not worry about looking after their family any more in old age
B.Male actors, especially movie stars are easy to get bad—tempered when they get older and older.
C.The poorest women about the age of 50 can’t live longer than the richest women at the same age.
D.Education has nothing to do with happy life in people’s old age.
3.What may be talked about if there is another paragraph as the ending ?
A.Things that the old should do to be happier.
B.The disadvantage of being actors.
C.We should earn money as much as we can.
D.How to become a professional.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty. In fact, they say by the age of eighty-five, people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.
The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States. The Gallup(民意调查) Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008. At that time, the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty-five.
The researchers asked questions about emotions like happiness, sadness and worry. They also asked about mental or emotional stress.
Arthur Stone at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five. The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties. Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies. The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.
Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older. One theory is that, as people grow older, they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
Professor Stone says the emotional patterns could be linked to changes in how people see the world, or maybe even changes in brain chemistry.
The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children, being unemployed or being single. But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.
The study also showed that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men.
1. What can be the best title of the text?
A. Happiness Varies with Ages
B. Experience More, Worry Less
C. The Older, the Wiser
D. Being Young, Being Happy
2.We can learn from the research that _________.
A. only when people get older will they feel happier
B. stress levels among the youngest are the highest
C. older people tend to be grateful
D. older people usually have no worries
3.According to the research, when people get older, _________.
A. they miss the old days
B. they are physically weak
C. they have better self-control
D. they are more emotional
4.What would the author probably talk about next?
A. What influences happiness.
B. How to live better.
C. How to keep happier.
D. Why women are less happier.
5.The author is intended to _________.
A. advise how to reduce stress
B. introduce a scientific finding
C. describe how to do research
D. talk about human emotions
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty. In fact, they say by the age of eighty-five, people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.
Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five. The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties. Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies. The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.
The findings appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older. One theory is that, as people grow older, they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
The researchers considered possible influences like having young children, being unemployed or being single. But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.
The study also showed that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men.
1.What is the best title of the passage?
A. The older a person is, the more stressed he feels.
B. The more lighthearted a person is, the happier he is.
C. The older a person is, the more clever he grows.
D. The older a person is, the happier he grows.
2.According to the researchers, what is probably the reason why people grow happier when they get older?
A. When people get older, they can’t remember bad experiences.
B. When people get older, they have no young children to care about.
C. When people get older, they learn to adjust their feelings.
D. When people get older, they don’t care about their feelings.
3.What do you think the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is?
A. A Gallup organization. B. A popular science magazine.
C. A university in New York. D. A research institution
4.What would the writer probably deal with in next paragraph?
A. Advice to the young people on how to keep happy.
B. Advice to the old people on how to live longer.
C. Why women at all ages are more sad, stressed and worried.
D. Why people will grow happier with their ages.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
An ageing society is one in which the population of people over the age of 60 is increasing. This is a social problem. Can we solve it with the help of robots?
Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck,an expert in human animal relationship ,and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and left satisfaction. ”No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated(刺激),”Edwards points out.” The problem is how we promote (促进)that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.
”I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy year old lady, ”When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
”At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says.” But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”
”Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels. Or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”
1.Which of the following can be the best title?
A.Dogs and the Old
B.Medical Examination and the Old
C.Robots Serving the Old
D.Dogs Needn’t Feeding
2.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to____ .
A.understand human animal relationship
B.make lonely old people’s life better
C.find the causes of old people’s loneliness
D.promote the animal assisted research
3.What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
A.It is easier to keep at home.
B.It can help the disabled people.
C.It responds to all the human orders.
D.It can watch TV with its owner.
4.The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may .
A. cure certain diseases
B. keep old people active
C. change people’s beliefs
D. look more like real dogs
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference.Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes.However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness.But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier.But the link between money and happiness is complex.In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same.Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways—scientists or actors, for example—may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires—not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health—rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap (差距).Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone.“The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.” says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age.Old age may not be so bad.“Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied? ” asks Protessor Laura Carstensen.
In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire.She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often.
Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic abour their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve.But Carstensen thinks that with time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.
“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says.“A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
1.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness ________.
A.is determined partly by genes B.increases gradually with age
C.has little to do with wealth D.is measured by desires
2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs ________.
A.make them feel much better B.provide chances to make friends
C.improve their social position D.satisfy their professional interests
3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more ________.
A.optimistic B.successful
C.practical D.emotional
4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if ________.
A.the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B.they have a stronger desire for friendship
C.their income is below their expectation
D.the hope for good health is greater
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself , each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways---scientists or actors, for example—may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires—not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health—rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap. Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.” Says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. “Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen.
In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often.
Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve. But Carstensen thinks that with time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t. “People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.
1.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness ________.
A.is determined partly by genes B.increases gradually with age
C.has little to do with wealth D.is measured by desires
2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs_____.
A.make them feel much better B.provide chances to make friends
C.improve their social position D.satisfy their professional interests
3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more______.
A.optimistic B.successful C.practical D.emotional
4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if _______.
A.the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B.they have a stronger desire for friendship
C.their income is below their expectation
D.the hope for good health is greater
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Over the last 70 years.researchers have been studying happy and Unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference.Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes.However of all the factors,wealth and age are the top two.
Money can buy a degree of happiness.But once you can afford to feed,clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
Researchers find that,on average,wealthier people are happier.But the link between money and happiness is complex.In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries,yet happiness levels have remained almost the same.Once your basic needs are met,money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends,neighbors and colleagues.
“Dollars buy Status(社会地位),and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts,which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways-scientists or actors,for example-may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.
In a research,Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires-not just for money,but for friends,family, job,health-rose furthest beyond what they already had,tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap(差距).Indeed,the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone.“The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income,”says Michalos.
Another factor that has to do with happiness is age.Old age may not be so bad.“Given all the problems of aging,how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen.
Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it,or they're more realistic about their goals,only setting ones that they know they can achieve.But Carstensen thinks that with time running out,older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don't.
“People realize not only what they have,but also that what they have cannot-last forever,” she says.“A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85,for example,may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”
1.According to the passage,the feeling of happiness _________.
A.has little to do with wealth B.increases gradually with age
C.is measured by desires D.is determined partly by genes
2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs _________.
A.make them feel much better B.provide chances to make friends
C.improve their social position D.satisfy their professional interests
3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more _________.
A.optimistic B.practical C.successful D.emotional
4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if __________.
A.the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B.they have a stronger desire for friendship
C.their income is below their expectation
D.the hope for good health is greater
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The days of having to carry a phone charger everywhere could soon be over. Michigan researchers have revealed a major breakthrough in harvesting energy from human motion.
They say it could lead to smartphones powered for a week by the motion of a swipe (重击).
Michig an State Univ ersity’s low -cost devic e, known as a nanogenerator, has already been tested. Scientists success fully operated an LCD touch screen, a bank of 20 LED lights and a flexib le keyboard, all with a simple touching or pressing motion and without the aid of a battery. The groundbreaking findings, published in the journal Nano Energy, suggest “We’re on the path tow ard wearable devices powered by human motion,” said Nelson Sepulv eda, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and lead researcher of the project.
“What I foresee, relatively soon, is the capability of not having to charge your cell phone for an entire week, for example, because that energy will be produced by your movement,” said Sepulveda, whose researchis funded by the National Science Foundation.
Electrical energy is created when the device is compressed by human motion. The completed device is as thin as a sheet of paper. The device used to power the LED lights was palm-sized, w hile the device used to power the touch screen was as small as a finger. Advantag es such as being lightweight, flexib le and low -cost could make it a promis ing and alternative method in the field of Mechanical-energy harvesting.
The device also becomes more powerful when folded. Sepulveda said, “You can start with a large device, but when you fold it once, and again, and again, it’s much smaller and has more energy. Now it may be small enough to put in a specially made heel of your shoe so it creates power each time your heel strikes the ground.”
Sepulveda and his team are also develop ing technology that w ould transmit the power generated by the heel strike to, say, a w irelessheadset.
1.The underlined word “device” in the second paragraph probably refers to .
A. a piece of equipment B. a special kind of smartphone
C. a touch screen D. a flexible keyboard
2.What can we learn about Nelson Sepulveda in the passage?
A. He works as a journalist writing for Nano Energy.
B. He plays a major role in the project of the nanogenerator.
C. He invented a type of battery-free smartphone.
D. He collects funds for the National Science Foundation.
3.From the passage we know that the nanogenerator .
A. becomes more powerful when kept flat
B. has already come into market in the USA
C. is lightweight and flexible though expensive
D. makes it possible to produce power by walking
4.The purpose of the passage is to .
A. persuade people to buy the device
B. bring in a new way to save energy
C. introduce a breakthrough in science
D. honor Nelson Sepulveda for his contributions
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
With more than 100,000 people aged 100 or over, Spain is the country with the greatest life expectancy after Japan. How do you live to 100? Here 4 of the country’s centenarians (百岁老人) give their advice on staying youthful.
Francisco Nunez, 112 He is from Bienvenida, Badajoz, southern Spain. Nunez lives with his daughter. He says he doesn’t like the pensioners’ (领养老金的人) daycare center because it’s full of old people, whose negative attitude towards life affects him deeply sometimes. Despite his old age. he has always maintained (保持) a youthful outlook, and that is what has kept him going on. | Pedro Rodriguez, 106 He lives in Cangas de Onis, Asturias, northern Spain. Rodriguez plays the piano every day in the living room of the flat where he lives with his wife who is nearly 20 years younger than him. Their daughters visit them often. His hobby is something that he feels has kept him young. “The nuns (修女) taught me how to play the piano as a child,” he says. |
Maximino San Miguel, 102 He lives in Leon, northern Spain. San Miguel discovered his passion (酷爱) for amateur dramatics at the age of 80 and has participated in many local productions. He didn’t go to school as a child because he was sent to work as a shepherd (牧羊人). He prefers reading books about drawing and travelling. Now this hobby, he said, has kept him full of energy. | Pilar Fernandez, 101 She lives with her daughter Pili, granddaughters Flori and Ana in Ambas, Asturias, northern Spain. Fernandez suffered hunger and hardship during the war years alongside her nine brothers and sisters. To avoid history repeating itself, she limited herself to just one child. “From pure fear, I didn’t have anymore,” says Fernandez. One of the best things for her health, she says, is tending livestock (家畜) and a vegetable garden. |
1.Why does Francisco Nunez dislike living with other old people?
A. They may depend on his help.
B. He is sensitive to his old age.
C. They may affect his attitude to life.
D. He has more kids to look after at home.
2.What does Maximino San Miguel want to do most in his life now?
A. Working as a shepherd. B. Reading books.
C. Taking up painting. D. Going travelling.
3.What benefits her health according to Pilar Fernandez?
A. Doing gardening. B. Learning history.
C. Living with kids. D. Having more children.
4.What can we infer about the four old people from the text?
A. They are fond of exercising regularly.
B. They led a hard life when they were young.
C. They have the same hobbies in their free time.
D. They have their own method of staying youthful.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
An international team of researchers from the University of Oxford have found that the way people use the Internet is closely tied to the seasonal movements in the natural world. Their online species searches follow the patterns of seasonal animal migrations (迁徙).
Migratory birds ( 候 鸟 ) flood back to where they reproduce every spring. That migratory behavior is accompanied by some human behavior. “In English-language Wikipedia ( 维基百科), the online searches for migratory species tend to increase in spring when those birds arrive in the United States,” said the lead author John Mittermeier.
And not just birds. Mittermeier and his team surveyed nearly 2.5 billion Wikipedia search records, for 32,000 species, across 245 languages. They also saw variable search rates for insects, horsetails and flowering plants. Seasonal trends seemed to be widespread in Wikipedia behavior for many species of plants and animals.
This finding suggests new ways to monitor changes in the world’s biological diversity. It also shows new ways to see how much people care about nature, and which species and areas might be the most effective targets for conservation.
Mittermeier is encouraged by the search results. He commented, “I think there’s a concern among conservationists (生态环境保护者) that people are losing touch with the natural world and that they’re not interacting with native species anymore. And so in that sense, it was really exciting and quite unexpected for me to see people’s Wikipedia interest closely related to changes in nature.” Richard Grenyer, Associate Professor from the University of Oxford, says search data is useful to conservation biologists, “By using these big data approaches, we can direct our attention towards the difficult questions in modern conservation: which species and areas are changing, and where are the people who care the most and can do the most to help.”
1.What have researchers found about species searches?
A.They strengthen ties among people. B.They affect the animal movements.
C.They reflect animal migration seasons. D.They differ in language backgrounds.
2.What is the purpose of writing Paragraph 3?
A.To further support the research findings.
B.To show the variety of species searches.
C.To summarize the research process.
D.To present researchers’ heavy work load.
3.How does Mittermeier feel about the search results?
A.Sad about people’s not getting close to nature.
B.Worried about Wikipedia behavior.
C.Amazed at people’s care about nature.
D.Satisfied with Wikipedia’s service.
4.From which is the text probably taken?
A.A scientific magazine. B.A biology textbook.
C.A biography. D.A travel brochure .
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析