1. (2023高三上·厦门开学考) 阅读理解

Alicia Quarles has her hands full these days—both of them, at all hours of the day and night.

"Having a baby unexpectedly at 41 is one thing; having twins is a whole other beast," says the global entertainment editor.

Actually, until her pregnancy Quarles had been living at breakneck speed. It went so until last year. "I was exhausted," she says. "I'd been working three jobs, doing my charity and going nonstop. I was afraid my mental health was getting worse." In early August she took herself to the hospital, to see if she was OK. Doctors ran multiple tests and told her that she had had an anxiety attack, and she was 11 weeks pregnant.

"She was stressed and decompensated （代谢失调的）, so everything just came to more than she could handle at

the time," explains doctor Miriam Barnes, who began treating her. "Fortunately, she tried to be positive and seek help from me immediately. I told her not to have any medication at that stage and advised her to take natural therapy （ 疗法）."

A week later Quarles learned that she was having twins. But instead of that news adding to her anxiety, "a total peace came over me, and it felt like it all made sense, " she says. Quarles, who did not take any medication, returned home to her loved ones in North Carolina, where she gave birth to Hudson and Harlow on Feb. 16. "There's nothing like family," she says. "I found out through working on myself in natural therapy that there were a lot of things I hadn't dealt with. I just kept going."

These days Quarles uses social media to document her joyful motherhood journey. Quarles has put her anxiety behind but remains in therapy—and wants to encourage others who feel stressed to get help. "At first I felt guilty and embarrassed, " she admits. "I don't anymore. My message is you can fall down. But you can stand up, by yourself or with the help of others. It's not a shame, and it's a blessing."

1. （1） Which of the following best explains "breakneck" underlined in paragraph 2?

   A . Safe and slow. B . Fast and dangerous. C . Exciting and terrifying. D . Gentle and comfortable.
3. （2） Why did Quarles return to North Carolina?

   A . To give birth and make some friends. B . To have a break and treat her anxiety. C . To take natural therapy and stay alone. D . To look after her family and visit a doctor.
5. （3） What does Quarles suggest people under pressure do?

   A . Keep standing up. B . Fall down if needed. C . Face whatever comes. D . Obtain assistance when necessary.
7. （4） What is a suitable title for the text?

   A . An Anxious 41-year-old Mother B . A Mother's Astonishing Experience C . An Interesting Taste of Motherhood D . A Mother Fighting Her Mental Breakdown