四、阅读理解（本大题共10小题，每小题2分，共20分）

 本部分有两篇短文，每篇短文后有五个问题，每个问题有四个供选择的答案。请选择一个最佳答案。错选、多选或未选均无分。

Passage 1

Within a school curriculum，the study of home economics is sometimes described as life education. Because much of an individual’s life has traditionally centered upon the home and the  family，home economics has been largely concerned with learning how to deal with the problems  and challenges of homemaking. A basic knowledge of home economics helps a person make up a  workable household budget，plan and prepare nutritious meals，choose a fabric(织物)for draperies(帐帘)，and care for a small child.

 In recent years the scope of home economics has broadened considerably. It now includes  areas of national and international interest. Today’s home economist may，for example，be engaged in developing foods for space flights，providing answers to the nutritional problems of  underdeveloped nations，or setting up national classifications for textiles.

 The study of home economics includes a wide variety of subjects，including foods and nutrition；clothing and textiles；housing，home equipment，and home management；family economics；  child development；and family relations. Home economists are often required to have academic  preparation in such related areas as chemistry，physics，sociology，psychology，and design.

56. The study of home economics is at times considered as life education for the reason that ______.

A. all people spend most of their time at home

B. home economics basically teaches people how to deal with family problems

C. much of an individual’s life is related to the home and the family

D. an individual has to spend most of his life studying home economics

57. According to the selection，a general understanding of home economics contributes to all the following except ______.

A. the preparation of nutritious meals

B. the planning of a household budget

C. the business of child-care

D. the study of physics

58. Which of the following is mentioned by the writer as a job likely to be taken by a modern home economist?

A. Developing food for restaurants.

B. Helping underdeveloped countries solve nutritional problems.

C. Making up a workable budget for less developed countries.

D. Providing soft drinks for space flights.

59. The subject of home economics includes ______.

A. child development and chemistry                  B. designing and family economics

C. clothing and textiles                                    D. sociology and physics

60. What can we learn about home economics from the 2nd paragraph?

A. The areas of study for home economics have expanded.

B. The scope of home economics has somewhat enlarged in the past few decades.

C. Home economics includes traditional subjects of national and international interest.

D. Home economics continues to revolve around the problems and challenges of homemaking.