4．According to Christine Riley，how can we make Internet users happier？(no more than 15

words)

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3．Why do people’s mental health drop if they use the Internet，according to the

researchers？(no more than 10 words)

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2．What will happen to people’s mental health if people spend a few hours on the Internet a

week？(no more than 3 words)

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The Internet is a huge network of computers located all over the world that communicate with each other.

The Internet is an international collection of computer networks that all understand a standard system of addresses and commands，connected together.It was started in 1969，when the U．S.Department of Defense established a nationwide network to connect many universities.The original idea was to increase computing ability that could be shared by users in different locations and to find out what it would take for computer networks to survive a nuclear war or other disasters by providing multiple paths between users.People quickly discovered that they could exchange messages and hold electronic conferences with people far away.If somebody had something interesting on his computer，it was very easy to obtain a copy of it.Over the years，more networks joined.The first international connections，to Norway and England，were added in 1973.Today thousands of networks and millions of computers are connected to the Internet.It is growing so quickly that nobody can say exactly how many users are on the Net.

However，Internet use appears to cause a decline in people’s mental health，according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.

Even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Internet experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently，the two­year study showed.And it wasn’t that people who were already feeling bad spent more time on the Internet，but that using the Net actually appeared to cause the bad feelings.

Researchers are puzzled over the results，which were completely contrary to their expectations.They expected that the Net would prove socially healthier than television，since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others.

The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well­being，researchers hypothesized.Faceless，bodiless “virtual” communication may be less mentally satisfying than actual conversation，and the relationships formed through it may be shallower.Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.

“But it’s important to remember this is not about the technology itself；it’s about how it is used”， says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel，one of the study’s sponsors.“It really points to the need for considering social factors in terms of how you design applications and services for technology.”

1．When was the Internet started？(no more than 4 words)

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Many people are superstitious about numbers.They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers.

The number 13 is often considered unlucky.In some parts of the world，buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13.In Japan，“4”is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word “four” is pronounced the same as the word “death”．

Japanese never give gifts of four knives，four napkins，or four of anything.

What are the lucky numbers？Seven is a lucky number in many places，and “8” is considered a lucky number in Japan and China.In China，businesses often open on August 8，and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8.

Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people，called numerologists，make a living by giving advice about numbers.

In 1937，when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company，they asked a numerologist if “Toyoda” would be a good name for the company.The numerologist said it would not be.He explained that “Toyota” would be a better name for the company.The family took his advice.As a result，millions of people drive “Toyotas” and not “Toyodas”．

There are superstitions about eating，sleeping，sneezing and itching.There are supersitions about animals and holidays.

There are even superstitions about superstitions.Those superstitions tell people how to reverse bad luck.

When the Japanese bump heads，they immediately bump heads again.According to a Japanese superstition，the first bump means their parents will die，but the second bump “erases” the first bump.

To reverse bad luck in general，people turn around three times，turn their pockets inside out，or put their hats on backwards.

In the United States，baseball players sometimes wear their caps backwards when their team is losing.It looks silly，but the baseball players do not mind if it helps them win the game.

Superstitions in the World

5．解析：推理判断题。A项错在这个社区很贫困，文章只是说这里有经济困难的人，并

不是说这里是一个贫困社区；B项错在parents上；C项说Sandy Van Weelden得到了

Hatches夫妇的一份遗产，文章只是提到他对他们的评价，并未说他得到遗产之事；

从文章倒数第二段第二句话以及最后一段可以看出，Hatches夫妇的愿望就是他们的

遗产能够为社区以及子孙后代造福，邻里之间能够互相帮助，故答案为D。

答案：D

4．解析：推理判断题。从文章第五段Sandy Van Weelden的话中可知，the Hatches从来

不问你需要什么，而是能够发现你需要的东西，然后就来帮助你，这说明他们非常善

解人意，故答案为A。B表示乐观的；C表示孩子气的，天真烂漫的；D表示好奇的，

明显不符合文意。

答案：A

3．解析：推理判断题。第四段提到他们有节约的习惯，买东西之前喜欢一个商店一个商

店地比较价格，显然是为了省钱，故答案为B。A，他们决定开个商店；C，他们买

不起贵的东西；D，他们想给当地的孩子买礼物，都明显与文意不符。

答案：B

2．解析：事实细节题。第四段第一句话说Hatch夫妇是在大萧条时期出生的，而不是他

们在大萧条时期有了孩子，排除A；第三段提到他们的老房子位于他们家的农场里，

B错误；第二段提到他们帮助有困难的邻居们，但并未提及帮他们找工作，D错误。

C项说他们把自己的财产捐赠给邻居，符合文意，故答案为C。

答案：C