strong socialites live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over arrange of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, reveal that the presence of social support helps people fend off(挡开) illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely. Social support cushions stress in a number of ways. First，friends, relatives，and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Ourself-respect ties strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us within formational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Engaging in leisure-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting(转移……注意力)us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support—financial aid, material resoruces, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us resolve and cope with our problems.
湖北-2012-81.Interpersonal relationships are important because( ).
A. they are indispensable to people’s social well-being
B. they help people to cope with life in the information era
C. they let us to learn what is well-being
D. they help us to work better
【答案】A
【题型】言语理解
【考点】言语理解
【解析】文章开篇第一句话就点明了interpersonal relationship的重要性，它在很大程度上决定了我们生活的质量。选项B，文中未提及选项中的information era;选项C，文中未提及what is well-being;选项D，根据文意，interpersonal relationship 的优点不仅仅只有help us to work better。因此，本题答案为A。
湖北-2012-82.Researchshowsthatpeople’sphysicalandmentalhealth( ).
A. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles
B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others
C. depends on their mental health
D. has much to do with others
【答案】B
【题型】言语理解
【考点】言语理解
【解析】从文章第一段最后两句话得出答案。文章指出，在研究了包括从忧郁症到心脏病的大量病例后，发现社会支持的存在会帮助人们抵御疾病，而缺少社会支持的人的健康相比而言会差一点。因此，本题答案为B。
湖北-2012-83.Whichofthefollowingisclosestinmeaningtotheword“cushions”?( )
A. Does away with B. Adds the effect of
C. Lessens the effect of D. Has no change
【答案】C
【题型】言语理解
【考点】言语理解
【解析】cushion为动词，对……起缓冲作用。选项中只有C项与之最为接近。如果不认识这个单词可以通过上下文进行推测词意。首先它后面跟的是stress，即压力。跟压力搭配的只能是动词，于是我们推测cushion stress的含义或者是增加压力，或者是减轻压力。后面讲了四种方式，第三种方式会转移我们对担心与麻烦的注意力。明显cushion stress的含义就是减轻压力。B、D项可马上排除。A项为废除、去掉的意思，也不符合。因此，本题答案为C。
湖北-2012-84.Helpingasickneighbourwithsomerepairworkisanexampleof( ).
A. mental help B. social companionship
C. interpersonal relationship D. instrumental support
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