Part B
56. Directions:
Read the text below. Write an essay in about 120 words, in which you should summarize the key points of the text and make comments on them. Try to use your own words.
In the 1960s, medical researchers Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe developed a checklist of stressful events. They appreciated the tricky point that any major change can be stressful. Negative（负面的） events like "serious illness of a family member" were high on the list, but so were some positive（积极的） life-changing events, like marriage. When you take the Holmes-Rahe test you must remember that the score does not reflect how you deal with stress-it only shows how much you have to deal with. And we now know that the way you handle these events dramatically（明显的） affects your chances（机会） of staying healthy. By the early 1970s, hundreds of similar studies had followed Holmes and Rahe. And millions of Americans who work and live under stress worried over the reports. Somehow, the research got boiled down to (归结为) a memorable message. Women's magazines ran（刊登） headlines（标题） like "Stress causes illness!" If you want to slay physically and mentally healthy, the articles said, avoid stressful events.
But such simplistic（过于简单的） advice is impossible to follow. Even if stressful events are dangerous, many like the death of a loved one--are impossible to avoid. Moreover, any warning to avoid all stressful events is a prescription for staying away from opportunities as well as trouble. Since any change can be stressful, a person who wanted to be completely free of stress would never marry, have a child, take a new job or move.
The notion that all stress makes you sick also ignores a lot of what we know about people. It assumes（假设） we' re all vulnerable（脆弱的） and passive（被动的） in the face of adversity（逆境）. But what about human initiative（主动性） and creativity（创造性）? Many come through periods of stress with more physical and mental vigor（精力） than they had before. We also know that a long time without change or challenge can lead to（导致） boredom（厌倦）, and physical and metal strain（焦虑）.
单词注释
- appreciate /əˈpriːʃieɪt/ v. 理解，意识到
- tricky /ˈtrɪki/ adj. 棘手的，难处理的
- adversity /ədˈvɜːsəti/ n. 逆境，困境
- vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ adj. 脆弱的，易受伤害的
- vigor /ˈvɪɡə(r)/ n. 精力，活力
- “Chances” 更强调事情发生的可能性
- There is a chance of rain today.（今天有可能下雨。）
- “Opportunity” 则着重指有条件/环境就可以发生的事情
- This is a great opportunity for you to show your skills.
关键句型
- They appreciated the tricky point that...：他们意识到了……这个棘手的问题。（that引导同位语从句，解释说明point的内容）
- When you take... you must remember that...：当你进行……你必须记住……（when引导时间状语从句，that引导宾语从句）
- The notion that... also ignores a lot of what we know about people.：……这个观念也忽略了很多我们对人类的认知。（that引导同位语从句，解释说明notion的内容，what引导宾语从句作ignores的宾语）
常用短语/词组
- develop a checklist：制定一个清单
- boil down to：归结为
- be high on the list：在清单上名列前茅
- be free of：摆脱，免于
- come through：经历（困难等）后仍活着，安然度过
- as well as 除…… 之外（还）
Summary: In the 1960s, Holmes and Rahe made a list of stressful events, finding both negative and positive changes could cause stress. Their test score shows stress quantity, not coping methods. Later, research was simplified in media as "stress causes illness" with advice to avoid stress. However, this is unrealistic as many stressful events are inevitable, and avoiding all stress means missing opportunities. Also, the idea that all stress is bad ignores human initiative and long - term lack of stress can bring boredom and strain.
Comments: The initial research was comprehensive（综合的）, but the media's simplification（简化） is misleading（误导）. Stress is an inescapable（不可避免） part of life. Instead of avoiding it, we should learn to manage it. Human resilience（恢复力） allows us to grow through stress. We need to embrace（拥抱） challenges and change, as they are sources of vitality（活力） and development, while also learning effective coping strategies to maintain health.
做此类题的方法
- 快速阅读全文：抓住核心主题，了解文章大致内容，如本文围绕压力展开。
- 分析段落结构：明确每段要点，像本文先介绍研究，再讲大众认知，最后反驳片面观点。
- 总结关键信息：提取人物、事件、观点等重要内容，如研究者、研究成果、不同时期对压力的看法等。
- 组织总结语言：用简洁清晰的语言概括要点，避免照抄原文，可适当转换表达。
- 思考评论角度：从合理性、局限性、实际意义等方面入手，如对“压力致病”观点的反思。
- 撰写评论内容：结合自身知识和经验，给出有逻辑、有见解的评论，使文章更完整深刻 。
