Question

Findings from a new study were presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic (身心的) Society. Researchers in the United States studied 100,000 women during an eight-year period, beginning in 1994. All of the women were fifty or older. The study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.

The women were asked questions measuring their beliefs or ideas about the future. The researchers attempted to identify each woman’s personality eight years after gathering the information.

The study found that hopeful individuals were 14% less likely than other woman to have died from any cause. The hopeful women were also 30 less likely to have died from heart disease after the eight years, Hilary Tinkle from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania was the lead author of the report. She said the study confirmed earlier research that linked optimistic feelings to longer life.

The researchers also gathered information about people’s education, financial earnings, physical activity and use of alcohol or cigarettes. Independent of those things, the findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.

Some women who answered the questions were found to be hostile (敌意的), or highly untrusting of others. These women were 16% more likely to die than the others. They also were 23% more likely to die of cancer.

The study also found women who were not optimistic were more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes. They were also more likely mot to exercise.

Tindle says the study did not confirm whether optimism leads to healthier choices, or if it actually affects a person’s physical health. She also says the study does not prove that negative emotions or distrust lead to bad health effects and shorter life. Yet there does appear to be a link that calls for more research.

1.In which part of a newspaper can you read the above passage?

A. Nation.   B. Opinion.

C. Business.  D. Science.

2.Researchers carry out the study to      .

A. decide who is more likely to enjoy a happier life.

B. gather information for the National Institutes of Health.

C. find out the link between personality and health.

D. compare each woman’s personality changes.

3.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Negative emotions cause a shorter life indeed.

B. The more optimistic you are, the longer life you may enjoy.

C. It’s uncertain whether optimism affects one’s health.

D. There may be some link between personality.

4.Who is more likely to die of cancer according to the passage?

A. A woman who doesn’t exercise.

B. woman who always doubts what others say.

C. A woman with high blood pressure.

D. A woman with poor physical health.

5.What’s Hilary Tindle’s opinion of the study?

A. Necessary.   B. Useless.

C. Unfair.      D. meaningless.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.B

5.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要讲述了近期的一项新的美国人的身心社会研究。这项研究从1994年开始，对于55岁以上的10万美国妇女进行身心调查。这项调查询问了解妇女关于未来的信念和理想的问题，尝试了解每个妇女8年间的个性变化。研究发现，乐观的情绪，使得女性更少死于心脏病等疾病，乐观的心态与更长的生命有联系。研究最后指出，虽然没有证实乐观导致健康的选择，乐观能够影响一个人的身体健康，以及消极的情绪和不信任导致糟糕的健康，但是这似乎引发需要更多研究的联系。

1. study was part of the Women’s Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.意思是：这项研究是世界健康组织的女性健康自发组织的部分研究。可知这篇文章可以在科学新闻上面看到。故选D。

2. researchers attempted to identify each woman’s personality eight years after gathering the information.意思是：研究尝试在收集信息之后，在八年间识别每个女性的个性。可知研究人员发表研究主要是要寻找个性与健康之间的关系。故选C。

3. findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.意思是：在这八年间，发现依然显示乐观会减少死亡的几率。由此可推断你越乐观，则越可能享受长寿。故选B。

4. women who answered the questions were found to be hostile (敌意的), or highly untrusting of others. These women were 16% more likely to die than the others. They also were 23% more likely to die of cancer.意思是：一些回答问题的女性，被发现是有敌意的，高度不相信别人，这些女性比其他人死亡的几率高16%。这些人癌症死亡的几率也高于23%。可知那些总是怀疑别人说话的人最容易死于癌症。故选B。

5. there does appear to be a link that calls for more research.意思是：这确实显示乐观情绪与人们健康状况之间的联系，因此需要更进一步的研究。可知，Hilary Tindle对于研究的意见是必要的。故选A。

考点：考查说明文阅读。