四级真题解析：阅读 divorce

In the classic marriage vow(誓约)，couples promise to stay together in sickness and in health. But a new study finds that the risk of divorce among older couples rises when the wife ---- not the husband ---- becomes seriously ill.
 
　　“Married women diagnosed with a serious health condition may find themselves struggling with the impact of their disease while also experiencing the stress of divorce,” said researched Amelia Karraker.
 
　　Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham analyzed 20 years of date on 2,717 marriages from a study conducted by Indiana University since 1992. At the time of the first interview, at least one of the partners was over the age of 50.
 
　　The researchers examined how the onset(发生)of four serious physical illnesses affected marriages. They found that, overall, 31% of marriages ended in divorce over the period studied. The incidence of new chronic(慢性的) illness onset increased over time as well, with more husbands than wives developing serious health problems.
 
　　“We found that women are doubly vulnerable to marital break-up in the face of illness,” Karraker said. “ They’re more likely to be widowed, and if they’re the ones who become ill, they’re more likely get divorced.”
 
　　While the study didn't assess why divorce is more likely when wives but not husbands become seriously ill, Karraker offers a few possible reason. “Gender norms and social expectations about caregiving may make it more difficult for men to provide care to sick spouses,” Karraker said. “And because of the imbalance in marriage markets, especially in older ages, divorced men have more choices among prospective partners than divorced women.”
 
　　Given the increasing concern about health care costs for the aging population, Karraker believes policymakers should be aware of the relationship between disease and risk of divorce.
 
　　“Offering support services to spouses caring for their other halves may reduce martial stress and prevent divorce at older ages,” she said. “But it’s also important to recognize that the pressure to divorce may be health-related and that sick ex-wives may need additional care and services to prevent worsening health and increased health costs.”
 
　　46. what can we learn about marriage vows from the passage?

　　A. they may not guarantee a lasting marriage.

　　B. they are as binding as they used to be.

　　C. they are not taken seriously any more.

　　D. they may help couples tide over hard times.

　　47. What did Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham find about elderly husbands?
 
　　A) They are generally not good at taking care of themselves.

　　B) They can become increasingly vulnerable to serious illness.

　　C) They can develop different kinds of illness just like their wives.

　　D) They are more likely to contract serious illness than their wives.

　　48. What does Karraker say about women who fall ill?

　　A) They are more likely to be widowed.

　　B) They are more likely to get divorced.

　　C) They are less likely to receive good care.

　　D) They are less likely to bother their spouses.

　　49. Why is it more difficult for men to take care of their sick spouses according to Karraker?
 
　　A) They are more accustomed to receiving care.

　　B) They find it more important to make money for the family.

　　C) They think it more urgent to fulfill their social obligations.

　　D) They expect society to do more of the job.

　　50. Why does Karraker think is also important?

　　A) Reducing marital stress on wives.

　　B) Stabilizing old couples’ realtions.

　　C) Providing extra care for divorced women.

　　D) Making men pay for their wives’ health costs.

　　【答案】A D B A C

　　【解析】

　　46. 从marriage vows定位到第一段。该段指出“在经典的婚姻誓言(誓约)，夫妇承诺在一起在疾病和健康。但一项新的研究发现，当妻子(而不是丈夫)患重病时，老年夫妇离婚的风险会上升。”关注转折词but后面的内容，the risk of divorce among older couples rises when the wife ---- not the husband ---- becomes seriously ill“当妻子(而不是丈夫)患重病时，老年夫妇离婚的风险会上升”。故选项A正确。
 
　　47. 根据关键词Karraker和Kenzie Latham 定位到第三段开始的内容。题干问的是发现了什么，第三段是实验过程，第四段是实验结果。答案出自于第四段第二句“They found that, overall, 31% of marriages ended in divorce over the period studied. The incidence of new chronic(慢性的) illness onset increased over time as well, with more husbands than wives developing serious health problems.(他们发现，总的来说，在研究期间，31%的婚姻以离婚告终。新的慢性疾病的发病率也随着时间的推移而增加，丈夫比妻子发展出严重的健康问题。)” 故选项D为正确答案。
 
　　48. 根据关键词“Karraker”“women who fall ill”定位到第五段。该段指出“if they’re the ones who become ill, they’re more likely get divorced.(如果她们是生病的人，她们更有可能离婚。)” 故选项B为正确答案
 
　　49. 根据关键词“why” “ more difficult” “Karraker”定位到第六段。该段指出“Gender norms and social expectations about caregiving may make it more difficult for men to provide care to sick spouses(性别规范和对社会期望可能使男性更难照顾其患病的配偶。),” 说明男性更习惯于接受照顾，而不是去照顾他们的伴侣。故选项A正确
 
　　50. 根据关键词”Karraker” “important”，定位到第八段“But it’s also important to recognize that the pressure to divorce may be health-related and that sick ex-wives may need additional care and services to prevent worsening health and increased health costs.(但也必须认识到离婚的压力可能与健康有关，生病的前妻可能需要额外的护理和照顾，以防止健康状况恶化和健康成本增加。)”故选项C正确。