12．When John was growing up，other kids felt sorry for him．His parents always had him weeding the garden，carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers．But when John reached adulthood，he was better off than his childhood playmates．He had more job satisfaction，a better marriage and was healthier．Most of all，he was happier．Far happier．
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456teenage boys from Boston．The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not．"Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence （能力） and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society，"said George Vaillant，the psychologist （心理学家） who made the discovery．"And because they felt good about themselves，others felt good about them．"
Vaillant's study followed these males in great detail．Interviews were repeated at ages 25，31and 47．Under Vaillant，the researchers compared the men's mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores with their boyhood-activity scores．Points were awarded for part-time jobs，housework，effort in school，and ability to deal with problems．
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp．Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people，five times as likely to be well paid and 16times less likely to have been unemployed．The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out．Working----at any age----is important．Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility，independence，confidence and competence---the underpinnings （基础） of emotional health．They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals．The most competent adults are those who know how to do this．Yet work isn't everything．As Tolstoy once said，"One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love，to work for the person one loves and to love one's work．"
46．What do we know about John？A
A．He enjoyed his career and marriage．
B．He had few childhood playmates．
C．He received little love from his family．
D．He was envied by others in his childhood．
47．Vaillant's words in Paragraph 2 serve asD．
A．a description of personal values and social values
B．an analysis of how work was related to competence
C．an example for parents'expectations of their children
D．an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
48．Vaillant's team obtained their findings byC．
A．recording the boys'effort in school
B．evaluating the men's mental health
C．comparing different sets of scores
D．measuring the men's problem solving ability
49．What does the underlined word"sharp"probably mean in Paragraph 4？C
A．Quick to react
B．Having a thin edge
C．Clear and definite
D．sudden and rapid
50．What can be inferred from the last paragraph？B
A．competent adults know more about love than work．
B．Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life．
C．Love brings more joy to people than work does．
D．Independence is the key to one's success．
分析 一项实验表明--从小帮忙做家务和其他事情的孩子，长大后也不会太差，甚至非常出色．本文先从一个叫John的男孩的事例开始说起．John从小就要帮忙做事情，其他小朋友都很同情他．然而，等他长大后，他却大有作为--有满意的工作，幸福的婚姻，健康的体魄而且生活得更加快乐．Vaillant的实验时长40年，在这40年里，对456名来自波士顿的青少年进行了长期的跟踪．最后发现--从小开始帮忙做事的孩子建立起了较强的责任感，独立，自信以及其他能力，这些孩子能够容易与更广泛的人群建立良好的人际关系，能够获得丰厚的收入以及解决问题的能力--知道如何与人协作以达到共同的目标．因而，从本文可知，无论什么年龄，有事做都非常重要，从小就需要培养孩子的做事能力．有能力的人知道怎样与人合作，以及知道工作并不是一切，高情商是获得精彩人生的必需．
解答 46．A 细节理解题．由原文第一段可知，John长大后有了美满的婚姻和生活．B项没有提及；C项没有提及父母让John做各种事情的目的，但从全文可以知道，是为了锻炼他的能力；D项错误，由第一段原句可知other kids felt sorry for him，是为他难过．
47．D 分析理解题．原文第二段找到Villiant的话，Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society（在家里或社群里获得能力的孩子会感受到自己的社会价值），以及最后一句And because they felt good about themselves，others felt good about them（因为他们对自己的感觉良好/对自己的肯定度高，所以别人也对他们的感觉良好），因而是解释孩子们感觉良好的原因，故选D．
48．C 细节理解题．由第三段Points were awarded for part-time jobs，housework，effort in school，and ability to deal with problems．可知，分数奖励自兼职，家务劳动，在学校的表现以及解决问题的能力．因而，答案为C．
49．C 推理判断题．由sharp这个句子后面紧接着的句子提到的数据和内容可知，从小做事情和长大后成为什么样的人之间的联系非常明显．故sharp意为clear and definitely．故选C．
50．B 深层理解题．最后一段The most competent adults are those who know how to do this．Yet work isn't everything．（有能力的人知道怎样与人合作，以及知道工作并不是一切），可知，表达的同样的意思是--高情商是获得精彩生活的必需．故选B．
点评 考生需要了解作者的写作结构及写作目的--先从一个男孩的事例说起，再到Villiant的实验，用实验来说明，最后提出观点--懂得与人合作，是获得精彩人生的必需．
