36. What does the underlined word “offend” in the last paragraph mean?
A. To attrct
B. To upset
C. To air
D. To shut
37. What can we learn about Dad form the text?
A. He is an experienced cook.
B. He is a troublesome father.
C. He has a positive attitude to life.
D. He suffers a lot from his disability.
C
Across Britain,burnt toast will be served to mothers in bed this morning as older sons and daughters to deliver their supermarket bunches of flowers,But,according to a new study,we should be placing a higher value on motherhood all year.
Mothers have long known that their home worked was just heavy as paid work.Now,the new study has shown that if they were paid for their parental labours,they would earn as much as$172,000 a year.
The study looked at the range of jobs mothers do,as well as the hours they are working,to determine the figure.This would make their yearly income $3000 more than the Prime Minister earns.
By analysing the numbers,it found the average mother works 119 hours a week,40 of which would usually be paid at a standard rate 79 hours as overtime.After questioning 1,000 mothers with children under 18,it found that ,on mmost days,mums started their routine work at 7am and finished at around 11pm.
To calculate just how much mothers would earn from that labour,it suggested some of the roles that mums could take on,including housekeeper,part-time lawyer,personal trainer and entertainer.being a prt-time laeyer,at $48.98 an hour,would prove to be the most profitable of the “mum jibs”,with psychologist(心理学家)a close second.
It also asked mothers about the challenges they face,with 80 percent making emotional(情感的) emand as the hardest thing about motherhood.
Over a thord of mums felt they needed more training angd around half said they missed going out with friends.
The study shoes mothers marter all year long and not just on,Mother’s Day.The emotional,physical and mental energy mothers devote to their chilren can be necer-ending,but children are alos sources of great joy and happiness.Investing(投入)in time for parenting and raising relationships is money well spent.
38.How much would a mother earn a year if working as the Prime Minister?
A.￡30,000. B.￡142,000.
C.￡172,000. D.￡202,000.
39.The biggest challenge for most mothers is from .
A.emotional demand B.low pay for work
C.heavy workload D.lack of training
40.What is stressed in the last paragraph?
A.Mothers’importance shows in family all year long.
B.The sacrifices mothers make are huge but worhwhile.
C.Mothers’devotion to children can hardly be calculated.
D.Investing time in parenting would bring a financial return.
41.What can we conclude from the study?
A.Mothers’working hours should be largely reduced.
B.Mothers should balance their time for work and rest.
C.Mothers’labour is of a higher value than it is realised.
D.Mothers should be freed from housework for social life.
D
Their cheery song brightens many a winter's day. But robins are in danger of wearing themselves out by singing too much. Robins are singing all night一as well as during the day,British-based researchers say.
David Dominoni, of Glasgow University, said that light from street lamps, takeaway signs and homes is affecting the birds' biological clock, leading to them being wide awake when they should be asleep.
Dr Dominoni, who is putting cameras inside nesting boxes to track sleeping patterns, said lack of sleep could put the birds'health at risk.His study shows that when robins are exposed to light at night in the lab, it leads to some genes being active at the wrong time of day. And the more birds are exposed to light, the more active they are at night.
He told people at a conference, "There have been a couple of studies suggesting they are increasing their song output at night and during the day they are still singing. Singing is a costly behaviour and it takes energy.So by increasing their song output, there mtgrit be some costs of energy."
And it is not just robins that are being kept awake by artificial light. Blackoiids and seagulls are also being more nocturnal. Dr Dominoni said, "In Glasgow where I live, gulls are a serious problem.I have people coming to me saying `You are the bird expert. Can you help us kill these gulls?'.During the breeding(繁殖)season,between April and June,they are very active at night and very noisy and people can't sleep."
Although Dr Dominoni has only studied light pollution,other research concluded that robins living in noisy cities have started to sing at night to make themselves heard over loud noise.
However, some birds thrive(兴旺)in noisy environments. A study from California Polytechnic University found more hummingbirds in areas with heavy industrial machinery. It is thought that they are capitalising on their predators(天敌)fleeing to quieter areas.
42. According to Dr Dominoni's study,what causerrobins to sing so much?
A. The breeding season. B. The light in modem
C. The dangerous environment. D. The noise from heavy machinery.
43. What is the researchers' concern over the increase of birds' song output?
A. The environment might be polluted.
B. The birds' health might be damaged.
C. The industry cost might be increased.
D.The people's hearing might be affected.
44. What does the underlined word "nocturnal" in Paragraph 5 mean?
A. Active at night. B. Inactive at night.
C. Active during the day. D.Inactive during the day.
45. Why do some birds thrive in noisy environments?
A. Because there are fewer dangers.
B. Because there is more food to eat.
C. Because there is less light pollution
D. Because there are more places to take shelter.