Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:
Psychiatrists 精神病专家) who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset in child rearing - older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with their 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 (午睡) daohang 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 won't 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 fertilily (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."
36. Why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child rearing?
A) Older parents are often better prepared financially.
B) Older parents can take better care of their children.
C) Older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children.
D) Older parents can better balance their resources against children's demands.
37. What does the author mean by saying "For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream" (Lines 7-8, Para. 1)?
A) They are reluctant to retire when they reach their retirement age.
B) They can't obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of.
C) They can't get full pension unless they work some extra years.
D) They have to go on working beyond their retirement age.
38. The author gives the example of Henry Metcalf to show that
A) older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children
B) many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age
C) older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies
D) taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy
39. What's the biggest fear of older parents according to New York psychologist Joan Galst?
A) Approaching of death. C) Being laughed at by other people.
B) Slowing down of their pace of life. D) Being mistaken for grandparents.
40. What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen?
A) They thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment.
B) Not until they reached middle age did they think of having children.
C) Not until they had the twins did they feel they had formed a family.
D) They believed that children born of older parents would be smarter. Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences it: this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose cite ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the Corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.
4l. People's expectations about the future may have more influence on their sense of well-being than their state does.
A) current C) modern
B) initial D) primitive
42. After working all day, he was so tired that he was in no to go to the party with us.
A) taste C) sense
B) mood D) emotion
43. There is already clear to show that plants and animals are being affected by climate change.
A) witness C) identity
B) certification D) evidence
44. Many women still feel that they are being by a male culture, particularly in the professional services sector.
A) held back C) held on
B) held forth D) held out
45. The findings paint a unique picture of the shopping habits of customers, plus their motivation and
A) privileges C) possessions
B) possibilities D) preferences
46. It's good to know that quite a few popular English expressions actually from the Bible.
A) acquire C) derive
B) obtain D) result
47. Tom, did it ever to you that you would be punished for cheating on exams?
A) happen C) reflect
B) occur D) strike
48. In the US, 88 percent of smokers had started before they were 18, despite the fact that it is to sell
cigarettes to anyone under that age.
A) liable C) irrational
B) liberal D) illegal
49. According to the key witnesses, a peculiarly big nose is the criminal's most memorable facial
A) feature C) spot
B) hint D) signature
50. Brarll's constitution the military use of nuclear energy.
A) withdraws C) interrupts
B) forbids D) objects
51. Some people argue that the death does not necessarily reduce the number of murders.
A) plot C) penalty
B) practice D) pattern
52. Many personnel managers say it is getting harder and harder to honest applicants from the growing number of dishonest ones.
A) distinguish C) dissolve
B) disguise D) discount
53. A study shows that students living in non-smoking dorms are less likely to the habit of smoking.
A) make up C) draw up
B) turn up D) pickup
54. Almost all job applicants are determined to leave a good on a potential employer.
A) illusion C) impression
B) reputation D) reflection
55. A special feature of education at MIT is the opportunity for students and faculty to together
in research activities.
A) specialize C) consist
B) participate D) involve
56. Although they lost their jobs, savings and unemployment benefits allow the couple to
their comfortable home.
A) come in for C) look forward to
B) catch up with D) hold on to
57. Although many experts agree that more children are overweight, there is debate over the best ways to
the problem.
A) relate C) file
B) tackle D) attach
58. An important factor in determining how well you perform in an examination is the of your mind.
A) state C) situation
B) case D) circumstance
59. Research shows that there is no relationship between how much a person earns and whether he feels good about life.
A) successive C)significant
B) subsequent D) sincere
60. Sadly, as spending on private gardens has , spending on public parks has generally declined. A) heightened C) flown
B) lifted D) soared
61. Lung cancer, like some other cancers, often doesn't produce until it is too late and has spread beyond the chest to the brain, liver or bones.
A) trails C) symptoms
B) therapies D) symbols
62. With the increasing unemployment rate, workers who are 50 to 60 years old are usually the first to be
A) laid off C) laid out
B) laid aside D) laid up
63. The physical differences between men and women can be directly to our basic n as hunters and child-bearers.
A) pursued C) switched
B) traced D) followed
64. It is clear that the dog has a much greater of its brain devoted to smell than is the case with humans.
A) composition C) percent
B) compound D) proportion
65. American college students are increasingly with credit card debt and the consequences can be rather serious.
A) boosted C) discharged
B) burdened D) dominated
66. Numerous studies already link the first meal of the day to better classroom
A) performance C) behavior
B) function D) display
67. The most successful post-career athletes are those who can take the identity and fife skills the learned in sports and them to another area of life.
A) utilize C) apply
B) employ D) exert
68. The technological advances made it possible for the middle classes to enjoy what had once been only to the very rich.
A) manageable C) acceptable
B) measurable D) affordable
69. Being out of work, lane can no longer friends to dinners and movies as she used to.
A) urge C) appeal
B) treat D) compel
70. by the superstars on television, the young athletes trained hard and played intensely.
A) Imitated C) Insured
B) Imposed D) Inspired
