Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal lationships. One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful conditions. Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against 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. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support They help us to define and anderstand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support--money aid material resources, and needed services--that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems 1. Interpersonal relationships are important because they can A. make people live more easily B smooth away daily problems B. deal with life changes D. cure types of illnesses 2. The researches show that people' s physical and mental health A. lies in the social medical care systems which support them B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles D. is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes 3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word"cushions"? A. takes place of B. makes up of C. lessens the effect of D. gets rid of 4. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of A. instrumental support B. informational support C. social companionship D the strengthening of self-respect 5. What is the subject discussed in the text? A. Interpersonal relationships. B Kinds of social support. C. How to deal with stress D. Effects of stressful condition Answer .5 ABCCA Mr lban's class went on a special trip to the National Museum of Art in Washington DC. There they saw a famous painting by a Spanish artist named Pablo Picasso. The painting shows a circus family in France and is called"family of Saltimbanques". Saltibanques is a French word meaning performers In the painting, a grandfather, a father and three children are standing outdoor on a bare, brown hill. The mother, wearing a straw hat with flowers, is seated alone in one corner, looking sadly off into space. The tallest boy wears circus costumes in soft tones of blue and red. The father and grandfather are dressed like clowns. The grandfather wears a red, pointed fools cap and has a white ruffle around his neck. But there are no happy faces8 8 Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful conditions. Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties . Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against 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. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support--money aid, material resources, and needed services--that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems. 1. Interpersonal relationships are important because they can ____________. A. make people live more easily B. smooth away daily problems B. deal with life changes D. cure types of illnesses 2. The researches show that people’s physical and mental health ________. A. lies in the social medical care systems which support them B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles D. is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes 3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “cushions”? A. takes place of B. makes up of C. lessens the effect of D. gets rid of 4. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of _ . A. instrumental support B. informational support C. social companionship D. the strengthening of self-respect 5. What is the subject discussed in the text? A. Interpersonal relationships. B. Kinds of social support. C. How to deal with stress. D. Effects of stressful condition. Answer: 1—5 ABCCA 9 Mr Iban’s class went on a special trip to the National Museum of Art in Washington DC. There they saw a famous painting by a Spanish artist named Pablo Picasso. The painting shows a circus family in France and is called “family of Saltimbanques”. Saltibanques is a French word meaning performers. In the painting, a grandfather, a father and three children are standing outdoor on a bare, brown hill. The mother, wearing a straw hat with flowers, is seated alone in one corner, looking sadly off into space. The tallest boy wears circus costumes in soft tones of blue and red. The father and grandfather are dressed like clowns. The grandfather wears a red, pointed fool’s cap and has a white ruffle around his neck. But there are no happy faces