Question

【题目】For many people,being on the job might just sound like a picnic compared to a day at home filled with housework,meals and childcare.Even for those with a happy family life,home can sometimes feel more taxing than work.

In a new study,researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol（皮质醇）released in response to stress,in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home.This was true for both men and women,and parents and people without children.

Both men and women showed less stress at work.But women were more likely to report feeling happier there. Men were more likely to feel happier at home.Experts say there are other reasons why work is less stressful than home for many."Paid work is more valued in society,"says Sarah Damaske,the lead researcher on the study. "Household work is boring and not particularly rewarding."

We get better at our job with time and the increased competence means less stress and more rewards.Yet none of us,no matter how long we've been doing it,ever truly feels like an expert at parenting or even at marriage.

The support and friendship of co-workers also offer stress relief.At home,meanwhile,stress spreads and accumulates（积累）quickly."That's the reason why most housewives wish they were the bread earners,"Dr.Damaske says.

Much of the advice to families and couples include the warning to "leave work stress at the office" and even to change our mind-set （思维定式）from work to home,for example,a walk around the block.The recent findings,though,suggest our home life,not our attitude,might be due for some change.

【1】Which of the following can replace the underlined word "taxing"?

A. stressful. B. cheerful.

C. worthwhile. D. rewarding.

【2】What did the research in the second paragraph prove?

A. Men felt better at home.

B. Women felt they had less time.

C. Women were easier to feel happier.

D. Most people felt more stress at home.

【3】According lo the recent findings,what should we change to solve the problem mentioned?

A. Our attitude. B. Our mind-set.

C. Our home life. D. Our working style.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】C

【解析】本文是一篇说明文。主要说明了，与在家进行家务劳动相比，人们普遍感觉在工作当中的压力要更小一些。

【1】词义猜测题。A. stressful.有压力的；B. cheerful.欢乐的；C. worthwhile.值得的；D. rewarding.有回报的。For many people, being on the job might just sound like a picnic compared to a day at home filled with housework,meals and childcare 由此句可知对大部分人来说：相比于一天在家充满着家务活，做饭和照顾孩子，在办公室就像是去野餐。再结合下句"Even for those with a happy family life,home can sometimes feel more taxing than work."中的even可推知，此处表达的意思是：甚至那些过着幸福的家庭生活的人，有时也感觉在家比工作更有压力。故选A。

【2】总结概括题。根据第二段中的"In a new study,researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol（皮质醇）released in response to stress,in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home."可知，与在家相比较，在工作当中由于压力而释放出的皮质醇更低，因此说明了工作的压力比在家的压力小。故选D。

【3】细节理解题。根据最后一句"The recent findings,though,suggest our home life,not our attitude,might be due for some change."可知，需要改变的是我们的家庭生活，而非我们的态度。故选C。