Question

Researchers used information from the Framingham Study, which began in 1948. The Framingham Study gathers information about physical and mental( 心 理 的 ) health, personal behavior and diet. At first, the study involved about 5,000 people in the American state of Massachusetts. Now, more than 12,000 persons are taking part.

Information from the Framingham Study showed earlier that happiness can spread from person to person. So can behaviors like littering and the ability to stop smoking.

University of Chicago psychologist (心理学家) John Cacioppo led the recent study. He and other researchers tried to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.

Having a social connection with a lonely person increased the chances that another person would feel lonely. In fact, a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. A friend of that person was 25% more likely. The researchers say this shows that a person could indirectly be affected by someone’s loneliness.

The effect was strongest among friends. Neighbors were the second most affected group. The effect was weaker on husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters. The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.

The New York Times newspaper reports that, on average, people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent, or two and a half fewer lonely days.

Loneliness has been something to do with health problems like sadness and sleeping difficulties. The researchers believe that knowing the causes of loneliness could help in reducing it.

The study suggests that people can take steps to stop the spread of loneliness. They can do this by helping individuals they know who may be experiencing loneliness. The result can be helpful to the whole social group.

1.What is true about the Framingham Study?

A. It involves more than 12,000 participants.    B. It was only carried out in 1948.

C. It was led by John Cacioppo.    D. It showed that any behavior could spread.

2.From the passage, we can learn that________?

A. the habit of littering doesn’t spread

B. a lonely person won’t have friends

C. everyone may be affected by others’ loneliness

D. lonely people don’t know the cause of their loneliness

3.Which statement about the spread of loneliness is true?

A. The spreading effect was the second strongest among friends.

B. Women are more likely to be affected than men.

C. No spreading effect was found on husbands and wives.

D. Brothers are more easily affected than neighbors.

4.If you make 10 more friends in a year, the days of your feeling loneliness will be reduced by

A. 48 days    B. 20 days

C. 25 days    D. 15 days

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，通过“the Framingham Study”的研究引入孤独在人们之间传播的话题，文章还详细介绍了此项研究的具体结果，例如：女性比男性更容易受到影响，交更多的朋友可以帮助减少孤独感等等。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段最后一句“Now, more than 12,000 persons are taking part.”可知现在超过12000人参加the Framingham Study。故A项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段2、3句“He and other researchers tried to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.”可知研究人员发现孤独感是可以通过社会人群传播的，文章4、5段中详细叙述了人们受到身边其他人的影响而有孤独感的相关内容。可知几乎所有人都会受到其他人的孤独的影响，故C项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据第五段最后一句“The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.”可知研究人员发现孤独在女性中要比男性中更容易传播，说明女性比男性更容易受到影响，故B项正确。

4.数字计算题。根据倒数第三段“The New York Times newspaper reports that, on average, people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent, or two and a half fewer lonely days.”可知一年中平均每人有48天感觉孤单，多一个朋友减少百分之5孤独的日子，；题干提及多了10个朋友，也就是孤独的日子少了百分之50，原来平均48天，现在应该大约是24、25天左右。故C项正确。