单选题
Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. This
surprising statistics makes many people think twice before tying the knot(结).
This statistic also makes one wonder what causes a marriage to succeed. My
parents have been married for 35 years, and though they've had their ups and
downs, they have had a wonderful relationship. Why has their marriage
succeeded? My parents have always expressed their love for each
other. Throughout their courtship (求婚), they did many wonderful things for each
other: Buying flowers, writing letters and sending surprises. They've continued
these practices throughout their marriage as ways of showing love.
Another quality of my parents' marriage is that they are very flexible
about their demands and expectations of each other. When I was four, Dad was
laid off for his job. As a result, Mom entered the workforce. Although Dad was
soon rehired, Mom enjoyed her job so much that she decided to keep it. Dad was a
bit surprised, but he could see it made her happy. If problems arouse because of
the time demands of their jobs, they worked through these
problems—together. My parents remain committed to each other,
even during difficult times. Early in their marriage Dad was sent overseas as a
communication specialist. He wrote home every now and then, but he didn't see
Mom for nine months. Mom was home alone. Sometimes her single coworkers would
encourage her to go out with them and have a good time, but Mom declined. She
told me that she had made a commitment to my father, and she was living in that
commitment. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Dad was living up to the same
commitment. When they were reunited, they had nothing to be ashamed of and
nothing to be angry with each other about. I have come to believe that their
absolute commitment to each other is, more than anything else, what has caused
their marriage to work. I once heard someone say that marriage
isn't a fifty to fifty deal. It's ninety-ten on both sides. Could that be the
secret of a successful marriage? It seems to describe the one my parents
have.
单选题
According to the passage, people tend to hesitate before they ______.
A. get married
B. start courtship
C. get a divorce
D. look at the statistics
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】细节题。短文中第一段第一句和第二句提到，Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. This surprising statistics makes many people think twice before trying a knot(结). 其中trying a knot(结)与get married，think twice (三思而后行)与hesitate为同义替换。
单选题
What is the key factor that contributes to the successful marriage of
the author's parents?
A. Their loyalty towards each other.
B. Their common interests and attitude towards life.
C. Their readiness to express their love to each other.
D. Their capability to deal with their jobs and family life.
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】细节题。短文中第三段最后一句提到，I have come to believe that their absolute commitment to each other is, more than anything else, what has caused their marriage to work.我最终相信，他们之间彼此的完全守诺超越了其他因素，令他们的婚姻圆满。
单选题
When the father got the job again, the mother ______.
A. did not quit her job
B. entered the workforce, too
C. was laid off from her job
D. returned home to raise the kids
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】细节题。短文中第三段第三句提到，Although Dad was soon rehired, Mom enjoyed her job so much that she decided to keep it.可知尽管父亲马上又找到了工作，但母亲并没有辞职。
单选题
Why didn't the mother go out to enjoy herself while the father was away
from home?
A. She couldn't spare any time.
B. She was fed up with betrayal of any kind.
C. She preferred to stay on her own.
D. She lived up to her commitment to the father.
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】细节题。短文中第四段第四句提到She told me that she had made a commitment to my father, and she was living in that commitment可知母亲是为了履行对父亲的承诺才不出门找乐子的。
单选题
What is the secret of a successful marriage according to the author?
A. To make commitments.
B. To give more than to take.
C. To solve problems together.
D. To send gifts to each other occasionally.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】细节题。短文中最后一段第三句提到，marriage isn't a fifty to fifty deal. It's ninety-ten on both sides.可知经营婚姻的秘密在于付出比得到多。