Part Two Reading Comprehension

Directions: In this part there are three passages and one table, each followed by five questions or unfinished statements. For each of them, there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

Questions 11-15 are based on the following passage:

Passage One

Many people start relationships because of loneliness. Loneliness and being alone are not synonymous. Loneliness is a state of painful isolation, of feeling cut off from friends and family. Being alone, a state of solitude (独处), can be quite desirable most of the time, since it allows us to work, study, live, or reflect on the world around us. Solitude is usually a matter of choice; loneliness is not.

Lonely people tend to spend a lot of time by themselves, eat dinner alone, spend weekends alone, and participate in few if only any social activities. They are unlikely to date. Some lonely people report having many friends, but a closer look suggests that these “friendships” are shallow. Lonely people are unlikely to share confidences. Loneliness tends to peak during adolescence (青春期). This is when most young people begin to replace family ties with peer relationships. Loneliness is quite often connected with feeling of depression and with a feeling of being “sick at heart”.

Loneliness is even reported among some married people. In one of the recent studies, lonely wives tended to feel less liking and love for their partners and expressed less satisfaction with their married life. Lonely husbands reported less liking for their wives and less intimacy in their relationship.

11. The topic of the first paragraph is .

A. isolation and pain

B. solitude and loneliness

C. how to begin relationships

D. intentional choice of staying alone

12. The word “synonymous” (Para.1) is closest in meaning to .

A. similar B. relevant C. different D. unknown

13. Which of the following is discussed in Paragraph 2?

A. How loneliness usually gets started.

B. Why lonely people often feel depressed.

C. What lonely people want in general.

D. How lonely people usually behave.

14. According to Paragraph 2, adolescence is a period in life when .

A. teenagers begin to form a closer tie with peers

B. young people become less disciplined

C. young people break their family ties

D. most teenagers feel lonely and depressed

15. According to a recent study, loneliness .

A. is often found among adults

B. bring unpleasant effects to marriage

C. is a matter of personal choice

D. bring a closer family relationship