Since we are social beings，the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships.One strength of the human conditions is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful (有压力的) conditions.Social support consists 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 coworkers may let us know that they value us.Our selfrespect 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 freetime activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting (转移注意力) 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.
小题1:Interpersonal relationships are important because they can________.
A．deal with life changes
B．smooth away daily problems
C．make people live more easily
D．cure types of illnesses小题2:The researches show that people’s physical and mental health________.
A．has much to do with the amount of support they get from others
B．lies in the social medical care systems which support them
C．depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles
D．is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes.小题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小题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 selfrespect小题5:What is the subject discussed in the text?
A．Effects of stressful conditions.
B．Kinds of social support.
C．Ways to deal with stress.
D．Interpersonal relationships.
小题1:C
小题2:A
小题3:C
小题4:C
小题5:D
语篇解读 本文是一篇议论文。文章主要阐述了我们是社会性的动物，所以我们的生活质量很大程度上取决于人际关系。
小题1:解析： 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“to deal with major life changes and daily problems...Studies over types of illnesses”可知，A、B、D三项的内容只是问题的一部分，都比较片面。
答案： C
小题2:解析： 细节理解题。researches和studies都是研究的意思，根据第一段的最后一句话中“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.”可知A项正确。B、C两项在文中没有提及，而D选项只提到了life changes，内容太片面。
答案： A
小题3:解析： 词义猜测题。根据第一段最后一句“...the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against...”可知，画线词所在句子的句意为：社会支持以许多方式减轻压力。take place of代替；make up of构成，组成；lessen the effect of减少影响，免受影响；get rid of摆脱，除掉，去掉。
答案： C
小题4:解析： 细节理解题。在最后一段中，作者给出了几种不同的support。第一种是“friends，relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us.”即从朋友、亲戚和同事那获得的支持；第二种是“other people often provide us with informational support.”即别人为我们提供的信息帮助和支持；第三种是“we typically find social companionship supportive.Taking part in freetime activities with others...”即社会关系或友情中得到的支持或帮助；最后一种是“other people may give us instrumental support”即别人给我们提供的实质性支持。
答案： C
小题5:解析： 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段中“Since we are social beings，the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships.”可知，D项正确。
答案： D