Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, and nearly a quarter of people said they had “zero”close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants (密友), most often immediate family members, the researchers said.

　 “This is a big social change, and it shows something that’s not good for our society，” said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith. She said that it showed there was a surprising drop in the number of close friends people had since 1985. At that time, Americans most commonly said they had three close friends whom they had known for a long time, saw often, and with whom they shared a number of interests. They were almost likely to name four or five friends and the relationships often sprang from their neighborhoods or communities (社区).

　 Ties to a close network of friends create a social safety net that is good for society, and for the individual. People were not asked why they had fewer intimate (亲密的) ties, but Smith said that part of the causes could be that Americans are working more, marrying later, having fewer children, and commuting (往返上班) longer distances. “It’s one thing to know someone and exchange e-mails with him. It’s another thing to say, ‘Will you give me a ride out of town with all of my possessions and pets?’ and ‘Can I stay with you for a couple or three months?’” Smith said. “Worrying about social isolation is not a matter of nostalgia (怀旧之情) for a warm and comfortable past. Real things are strongly connected with that，” added Harvard University Professor Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, a book on the decline of American communities. He suggested flexible work schedules would allow Americans to tend both personal and professional lives.

1. What’s the passage mainly talking about?

　　 A. American social isolation.

　　 B. Americans have “zero” close friends.

　　 C. Ties to a close network of friends are good for society.

　　 D. Flexible work schedules change Americans’ lifestyle.

2. From the second paragraph we can learn that people tend to ____.

　　 A. be closer than before

　　 B. be less close than before

　　 C. have more friends than before

　　 D. have more family members than before

3. Which of the following is the possible cause of American social isolation?

　　 A. They work more.

　　 B. They don’t marry.

　　 C. They have more children.

　　 D. They spend too much time on relaxation.

4. According to Professor Robert, ____.

　 A. there could be four possible causes for American social isolation

　　 B. worrying about social isolation is not a matter of nostalgia

　　 C. flexible work schedules don’t affect (影响) Americans’ way of life

　　 D. American social isolation is only a small social problem

Americans are more socially isolated than they were 20 years ago, and nearly a quarter of people said they had “zero”close friends with whom to discuss personal matters. More than 50 percent named two or fewer confidants (密友), most often immediate family members, the researchers said.

　 “This is a big social change, and it shows something that’s not good for our society，” said Duke University Professor Lynn Smith. She said that it showed there was a surprising drop in the number of close friends people had since 1985. At that time, Americans most commonly said they had three close friends whom they had known for a long time, saw often, and with whom they shared a number of interests. They were almost likely to name four or five friends and the relationships often sprang from their neighborhoods or communities (社区).

　 Ties to a close network of friends create a social safety net that is good for society, and for the individual. People were not asked why they had fewer intimate (亲密的) ties, but Smith said that part of the causes could be that Americans are working more, marrying later, having fewer children, and commuting (往返上班) longer distances. “It’s one thing to know someone and exchange e-mails with him. It’s another thing to say, ‘Will you give me a ride out of town with all of my possessions and pets?’ and ‘Can I stay with you for a couple or three months?’” Smith said. “Worrying about social isolation is not a matter of nostalgia (怀旧之情) for a warm and comfortable past. Real things are strongly connected with that，” added Harvard University Professor Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone, a book on the decline of American communities. He suggested flexible work schedules would allow Americans to tend both personal and professional lives.

1. What’s the passage mainly talking about?

　　 A. American social isolation.

　　 B. Americans have “zero” close friends.

　　 C. Ties to a close network of friends are good for society.

　　 D. Flexible work schedules change Americans’ lifestyle.

2. From the second paragraph we can learn that people tend to ____.

　　 A. be closer than before

　　 B. be less close than before

　　 C. have more friends than before

　　 D. have more family members than before

3. Which of the following is the possible cause of American social isolation?

　　 A. They work more.

　　 B. They don’t marry.

　　 C. They have more children.

　　 D. They spend too much time on relaxation.

4. According to Professor Robert, ____.

　　 A. there could be four possible causes for American social isolation

　　 B. worrying about social isolation is not a matter of nostalgia

　　 C. flexible work schedules don’t affect (影响) Americans’ way of life

　　 D. American social isolation is only a small social　　　　 problem

书面表达（满分25分）
　　请根据下列提示的要点，以What will life be like without animals为题，介绍保护珍稀（rare）动物的意义及必要性。
　　1．动物是人类亲密的朋友，尤其是珍稀动物的存在使整个世界变得丰富多彩；
　　2．最近听到甚至动物园里的珍稀动物都遭到人为伤害，深表震惊。事件的发生源于有些人对保护动物认识不够及对动物漠不关心；
　　3．牢记保护珍稀动物是我们每个人的职责，我们应学习宣传（publicize）其意义，并采取积极有效措施。
　　要求：1．内容必须包括所有要点，可适当发挥；
　　　　　2．词数100左右。