阅读简答（建议用时：20分钟） Directions:Readthefollowingpassage.Answerthequestionsaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassage.1Brazilhasbecomeoneofthedevelopingworld’sgreatsuccessesatreducingpopulationgrowth—butmorebyaccidentthandesign.WhilecountriessuchasIndiahavemadejointeffortstoreducebirthrates,Brazilhashadabetterresultwithoutreallytrying,saysGeorgeMartineatHarvard.Brazil’spopulationgrowthratehasdroppedfrom2.99%ayearbetween1951and1960to1.93%ayearbetween1981and1990,andBrazilianwomennowhaveonly2.7childrenonaverage.Martinesaysthisfiguremayhavefallenstillfurthersince1990,anachievementthatmakesittheenvyofmanyotherThirdWorldCountries.Martineputsitdowntoamongotherthings,soapoperasandinstallment(分期付款)plansintroducedinthe1970s.Bothplayedanimportant,althoughindirect,roleinloweringthebirthrate.Brazilisoneoftheworld’sbiggestproducersofsoapoperas.Globo,Brazil’smostpopulartelevisionnetwork,showsthreehoursofsoapssixnightsaweek,whilethreeothersshowatleastonehouranight.Mostsoapsarebasedonwealthycharacterslivingthehighlifeinbigcities.“Althoughtheyhaveneverreallytriedtoworkinamessagetowardstheproblemsofreproduction(生育),theydescribemiddleandupperclassvalues:notmanychildren,differentattitudestowardssex,womenworking,”saysMartine.“TheysentthisimagetoallpartsofBrazilandmadepeopleconsciousofotherpatternsofbehaviorandothervalues,whichwereputintoaveryattractivepackage.”Meanwhile,theinstallmentplanstriedtoencouragethepoortobecomeconsumers.“Thisledtoanenormouschangeinconsumptionpatternsandconsumptionwasincompatible(不相容的)withunlimitedreproduction,”saysMartine.1.HowhasBrazilcutbackitspopulationgrowth?(Nomorethan6words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________-4-\n2.WhatarethetwomainfactorsinhelpingBrazilloweritsbirthrate?(Nomorethan8words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3.WhatchangeshavesoapoperasbroughttoBrazilianssincethe1990s?(Nomorethan14words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?(Nomorethan12words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2Ifyouhavepets,youmusthaverealizedbynowthattheybecomeanindispensablepartofyourlivesandyoutreasureeverymomentspentwiththem.Butifyoudon’townone,thenthisarticlewillgiveyouenoughreasonstodothesame.1.HelpyouincharacterbuildingApetneedstobetakencareof.Itneedstobebathed,groomed,fedandthereareothersuchresponsibilitiesthatyouneedtolookafter.Allthiswillhelpyouincharacterbuilding,asyouwillnotonlylearntodotheselovelythingsforyourpets,butinthelongrunalsolearntotakeupresponsibilitiesonyourown.Childrencanbetaughtdiscipline,responsibilitiesandorganizationalskillsbyhandlingpets.2.HelpinmakingfriendsOwningapetmakesyoudoactivitiessuchastakingittothevet,goingforawalk,etc..Thus,yougettomeetotherpetownersandendupaskingqueriestoeachotheraboutyourpets.Inthisway,youmakeacquaintanceswhothengraduallybecomeyourfriends.3.ImproveyourhealthForoldpeople,havingapetisareliefassometimestheypourtheirheartsouttothesesilentsouls.Petscanhelptorelievetheboredom,lonelinessandstressthatiscommonamongagedpeopleandbewonderfulcompanions.Petsreducethechancesofoldpeoplegoingintodepression.Theyevenhelptoimprovetheirhealthiftheyaregoingthroughanyemotionaltrauma.4.ImproveyourmoodWhetheryouaresulkingorunhappy,yourpetwillalwaysmakeyouhappy.Ifyourbirdsweetly-4-\nchirpsatyouoryourcatrubsitspawsagainstyourhandsasyouenterhome,won’titinstantlycheeryouup?5.PetsforthedisabledandagedForoldanddisabledpeople,petsaregreatcompanionsaswellasmodestorelaxtheirtension.Fortheaged,petscanprovidethemcompanyandplaywiththem.Forthedisabled,petscultivateasenseofself-esteeminthem.Soifyouwerestillunsureaboutkeepingapet,thisarticleshouldsurelyhavehelpedyoutothinkotherwise.1.Whycanpetshelpustoimproveourhealth?(Nomorethan10words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2.Whatcanchildrenlearnbyhandlingpets?(Nomorethan10words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3.Howdopetsbenefitthedisabled?(Nomorethan10words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4.What’sthemainideaofthepassage?(Nomorethan5words)________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________答案解析1答案:1.Bychance./Byaccident.2.Soapoperasandinstallmentplans.3.Theyhavechangedpeople’svaluesandbehavior./Theyhavegraduallychangedpeople’swayoflife.4.Brazilhassuccessfullyreduceditspopulationgrowth.2-4-\n答案:1.Becausepetscanrelievetheboredom,lonelinessandstress.2.Discipline,responsibilitiesandorganizationalskills.3.Petscultivateasenseofself-esteeminthem.4.Reasonsforhaving/keepingpets.-4-
