Marriages improve after children grow up and move out，according to an academic study, which suggests an “empty nest” is not always a bad thing.
Popular wisdom has it that parents’ relationships may suffer once their young fly the coop, because they feel they have lost their purpose in life.However, a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that many couples actually feel happier when their children leave home because they are able to enjoy spending time together.
In total,123 American mothers born in the 1930s were tracked for 18 years and asked to rate their satisfaction levels shortly after marrying, when they were bringing up babies, once their children reached their teenage years and finally at age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”．
Although not all said they were happier in general, most claimed their marriages had improved since their children had left home. Researchers believe this is not just because the spouses were spending more time together, but because they were able to enjoy each other’s company more.
One of the participants in the study，which is published in the journal Psychological Science，said：“Once the kids grow up...there’s some of that stress removed...that responsibility removed，so things are a little more relaxed.”
Psychologist Sara Gorchoff，who carried out the investigation，said: “The takehome message for couples with young children is ‘hang in there’．” Her coauthor Oliver John added：“Don’t wait until your kids leave home to schedule quality time with your partner.”
However, Dr Dorothy Rowe，from the British Psychological Society，said the effects of living in an “empty nest” will depend on the parents’ relationship with their children.“If you’re just waiting for them to leave home so you can get on with your life，then of course you’ll be pleased to see them go,” she said, “But if you’ve built your life around your children you’ll be terribly lonely.For some parents，their world falls apart when their children leave.”
1.It is commonly believed that___________.
A．marriages improve after children leave home
B．an “empty nest” is always a happy thing
C．parents’ relationships may suffer once their young grow up and move out
D．parents will be pleased after their children leave home
2.When did many couples feel happier according to the study?
A．At age 61, when almost all had “empty nests”.
B．Shortly after marrying.
C．Once their children reached their teenage years.
D．When they were bringing up babies.
3.Marriages improve after children fly the coop not because___________.
A．many couples are able to spend time together
B．many couples are able to enjoy each other’s company
C．things are a little more relaxed
D．many couples needn’t work at all
4.The author of the passage tends to agree that____________.
A．parents should build their life around their kids
B．parents should schedule quality time with each other before kids leave home
C．parents’ relationship with their kids has no effect on marriages at all
D．parents should be pleased to see their kids leave home
Most people give little thought to the pens they write with, especially since the printers in modern homes and offices mean that very 1. things are hand written. All too often, people buy a pen based only on 2., and wonder why they are not satisfied 3. they begin to use it. However, buying a pen that you’ll enjoy is not 4. if you keep the following in mind.
First of all, a pen should fit comfortably in your hand and be 5. to use. The thickness of the pen is the most important characteristic 6. comfort. Having a small hand and thick fingers, you may be comfortable with a thin pen. If you have a 7. hand and thicker fingers, you may 8. a fatter pen. The length of a pen can 9. influence comfort. A pen that is too 10. can easily feel top-heavy and unstable.
Then, the writing point of the pen should 11. the ink to flow evenly（均匀地）while the pen remains in touch with the paper. 12. will make it possible for you to create a 13. line of writing. The point should also be sensitive enough to 14. ink from running when the pen is lifted. A point that does not block the 15. may leave drops of ink, 16. you pick the pen up and put it down again.
17., the pen should make a thick, dark line. Fine-line pens may 18. bad handwriting, but fine lines do not command 19. next to printed text, as, 20. , a signature on a printed letter. A broader line, on the other hand, gives an impression of confidence and authority（权威）.
21. A．many B．pleasant C．few D．important
22. A．reason B．looks C．value D．advantages
23. A．once B．if C．because D．though
24. A．convenient B．difficult C．practical D．strange
25. A．heavy B．easy C．hard D．safe
26. A．determining B．finding C．taking D．seeking
27. A．stronger B．weaker C．smaller D．larger
28. A．order B．prepare C．prefer D．demand
29. A．hardly B．also C．never D．still
30. A．light B．soft C．long D．thick
31. A．allow B．change C．reduce D．press
32. A．They B．One C．Some D．This
33. A．thin B．rough C．smooth D．black
34. A．prevent B．free C．protect D．remove
35. A．way B．sight C．stream D．flow
36. A．so B．as C．and D．yet
37. A．Meanwhile B．Generally C．Afterwards D．Finally
38. A．show up B．differ from C．make up for D．break down
39. A．attention B．support C．respect D．admission
40. A．at most B．for example C．in brief D．on purpose
—What about the concert last night?
—___ I might as well have stayed at home and watched TV.
A．It couldn’t have been any better. B．It couldn’t have been any worse.
C．It was the best one. D．There was no better one.
_____got into the room, _____ the telephone rang.
A．Hehardly;then B．Hardlyhadhe;when
C．Hehadnot;than D．Nothadhe;when
The majority of the damage ______ easy to repair.
A．is B．are C．were D．be
—How are things going?
—The disabled ________ no relatives in Guangzhou ________ by the volunteers, who will graduate from Zhongshan University next year.
A．with, are taking care of B．have, will be taken care of
C．with, are being taken care of D．have, are being taken care of
