Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships. One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances. 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 cope with major life changes and daily hassles (困难). People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to hear disease, reveal that the presence of social support helps people fend off 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 co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite 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. Engaging in leisure-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support—financial aid, material resources, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us resolve and cope with our problems.
1. Interpersonal relationships are important because .
A. they are indispensable to people’s social well-being
B. they awaken people’s desire to exchange resources
C. they help people to cope with life in the information era
D. they can cure a range of illnesses such as heart disease, etc
2. Research shows that people’s physical and mental health .
A. relies on the social welfare systems which support them
B. has much to do with the amount of support they get from others
C. depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles
D. is closely related to their strength for coping with major changes in their lives
3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the Word "cushions" (Line 1, Para. 2)?
A. Adds up to. C. Lessens the effect of.
B. Does away with. D. Lays the foundation for.
4. Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work is an example of .
A. instrumental support C. social companionship
B. information support D. the strengthening of self-respect
5. Social companionship is beneficial in that .
A. it helps strengthen our ties with relatives
B. it enables us to eliminate our faults and mistakes
C. it makes our leisure-time activities more enjoyable
D. it draws our attention away from our worries and troubles
参考答案：A B C A D
既然我们是社会生物，我们的生活质量就在很大程度上取决于人际关系。人类社会的一个长处就是在紧张情况下我们往往会互相支持。社会支持就是以人际关系为基础交换人力、物力。我们当中有很强支持系统的人似乎能更好地应付重大的人生变化和日常困难。有强大社会联系的人比没有这样联系的人寿命更长、身体更健康。对从抑郁症到心脏病等多种不同疾病进行的研究揭示：社会支持能帮助人们抵抗疾病，没有社会支持则更可能使健康恶化。
社会支持以不同的方式减缓压力。首先，朋友、亲戚、同事会让我们知道他们重视我们。尽管我们有缺点、有困难，而当感到被他人接纳时，我们的自尊心便增强了。第二，其他人经常给我们提供信息支持。他们帮助我们明确和弄懂我们的问题，并找出解决办法。第三，我们通常发现社会伙伴是有帮助的。和其他人一起参加空闲活动帮助满足我们的社会需要，与此同时我们的注意力也从忧虑和烦恼上转移开。最后，其他人可能给我们有用的支持 -- 资金援助、物力和所需要的服务 -- 这能帮助我们解决和应付问题从而减轻压力。
