第2章阅读判断◆社会生活类Passage1The Fat Problem that Men FaceIt is a pleasure to see men of a certain age worrying about their weight. Listening to them is not such a pleasure.Because the men are new at the game, they don’t hesitate to discuss the fat problem incessantly.However women of the same age do not discuss the fat problem,especially not in mixed company.They prefer to face the problem with quiet dignity.Discussing the problem might only draw attention to some stray body part that may be successfully tucked away under an article of clothing.The age at which a man begins to explore the fat problem can vary.The actual problem can manifest itself in the early30’s,but broad-range discussion usually starts later.There are early nonverbal symptoms.I’ve watched the rugged journalist who shares my apartment sneak by with a Diet Coke.His shirts are no longer neatly tucked in to display a trim waist.Recently he has begun to verbalize his anxiety.He tells me,with a sheepish grin,that he is taking his suits to Chinatown to have them “tailored”.Still-older men have lost their dignity and rattle on unabashedly.Often wives and children play important roles in their fat-inspection rituals.Take my oldest brother,a former college football player.His daughter says that several times a dayhe will stand at attention and call out,“Fat,medium or thin?”She knows the correct answer:medium.Thin would be an obvious stretch,and fat may not get her that new video.According to his wife,he stands in front of the mirror in the morning(before the day’s meals take their toll),puts his hands behind his head and lurches into a side bend,then clutches the roll that has developed and says,“Am I getting fatter?”His wife is expected to answer,“You look like you may have lost a few pounds.”And then there are the ex-husbands a pitiful group.They are extremely vocal. When I go to the movies with one,he confides that he is suffering from great hunger because he is dieting.He hasn’t eaten since the pancakes and sausages he wolfed down that morning.He pauses in his monologue while he buys his popcorn. After the movie,we sprint to a restaurant,where he again pauses to devour a basket of bread.Before he orders his chaste salad and soup,he grows plaintive.DoI think he’s fat?1.Men of a certain age are always ready to talk about their fat problem.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned2.Women of a certain age do not discuss the fat problem,especially in the presence of men.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned3.Men usually begin to worry about their weight when they are nearly40.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned4.The journalist used to drink Diet Coke and tuck his shirts in order to keep trim.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned5.Men older than the journalist never hesitate to talk about their fat problem yet would be displeased if their family members tell them the truth.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned6.My oldest brother’s daughter would not tell her father he is fat because she loves him so much that she cannot bear to upset him.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned7.The ex-husbands are pitiful because they have got no wives to sympathize with their fat problem.A.RightB.WrongC.Not mentioned【答案与解析】1.A根据文章第一段第一句“It is a pleasure to see men of a certain age worryingabout their weight.”可知，看到某一特定年龄段的那些男人们为他们的体重而担心是一件有趣的事情，换言之，就是某一特定年龄段的男人们之间总是会谈论他们的发福问题。

2.A根据文章第一段第三句“However women of the same age do not discuss the fatproblem,especially not in mixed company.”可知，某一特定年龄段的女人们却不谈论发福的问题，特别是有男士在场的时候。

3.B根据文章第二段第一句话“The age at which a man begins to explore the fatproblem can vary.”可知，男人们开始为发福的问题而担心的年龄各不相同。

4.B根据文章第二段中间部分“I’ve watched the rugged journalist...sneak by with aDiet Coke.His shirts are no longer neatly tucked in to display a trim waist.”可知，那位记者过去并不喝无糖的健怡可乐，之前，他常把衬衫扎在裤子中是为了显示自己的纤细腰部，而非为了保持体型。

5.A根据文章第三段第一、二句“Still-older men have lost their dignity and rattle onunabashedly.Often wives and children play important roles in their fat-inspection rituals.”可知，比那位记者还要年长一些的男士们在发胖这个问题上已经丧失了自尊，总是不断地谈论自己的体重。

接着作者以自己的大哥为例说明，尽管如此，他们还是不希望听自己的家庭成员说自己胖。

6.B根据文章第三段中间部分“...and fat may not get her that new video.”可知，作者大哥的女儿不愿告诉父亲他很胖这一事实，原因是她想取悦父亲，得到一盘新的录像带。

7.C根据文章最后一段第一句“And then there are the ex-husbands a pitiful group.”可知，离了婚的男士们在发福这个问题上最令人同情，但并未提及这是因为身边没有夫人来同情他们。

Passage2How to Design Kitchen WellOver the years economic,social and technological factors have influenced the design of kitchens.Since it is often used simultaneously by both family members as well as guests,the kitchen requires not only a glamorous look but a practical one. Also,the design elements must meet the needs of the modern family.Environmental concerns have had an enormous impact on kitchen design.This concern includes recycling of household materials,as well as energy efficient appliances and the purity of both water and air.Research shows that up to85 percent of the population is concerned about what might be in their drinking water. They are also often dissatisfied with the taste and odor of what comes out of their tap.This is why it’s important to consider adding a water filter system.The character of today’s kitchen is very different from the way it was thirty years ago.There’s more sophistication in food preparation,and more technological help with cooking and clean up.When choosing cabinets,first consider the e the architectural style ofyour house as a guide.Because cabinets are a big investment,it is best to choose quality.Popular styles in kitchen cabinets are framed panel doors with raised or recessed panels of wood,cabinet fronts with glass panes,or simple slab doors in a rich painted or laminated finish.Cabinet pulls,handles and knobs are offered in a myriad of designs and finishes.Treat hardware as jewelry and don’t be afraid to mix and match styles.Because many of today’s kitchens consist of two or more cooks sharing in the meal preparation,there is a need for more counter space,cooktops and sinks. Although lifestyles are changing,the primary function of the kitchen as an area for preparing food has remained unchanged.The sink remains one of the most used areas in the kitchen as well as an important decorative statement.Appliance technology is moving at a very fast pace.Choosing what type of appliances as well as how many will depend on several factors such as how often and how much you cook and the size of your kitchen.Don’t limit yourself to one of each kind of appliance.You can have a refrigerator in one place and a freezer in a separate area or two sets of cooktops, one on the counter next to the wall oven and one on an island.You can even have two dishwashers if size and budget require and permit—think of it as saving time in the long run.1.A well-designed kitchen should be modern,beautiful and practical at the same time.A.Right。