Being sociable looks like a good way to add years to your life. Relationships with family, friends, neighbours, even pets, will all do the trick, but the biggest longevity (长寿) boost seems to come from marriage or an equivalent relationship. The effect was first noted in 1858 by William Farr, who wrote that widows and widowers (鳏夫) were at a much higher risk of dying than their married peers. Studies since then suggest that marriage could add as much as seven years to a man’s life and two to a woman’s. The effect holds for all causes of death, whether illness, accident or self-harm.
Even if the odds are stacked against you, marriage can more than compensate. Linda Waite of the University of Chicago has found that a married older man with heart disease can expect to live nearly four years longer than an unmarried man with a healthy heart. Likewise, a married man who smokes more than a pack a day is likely to live as long as a divorced man who doesn’t smoke. There’s a flip side, however, as partners are more likely to become ill or die in the couple of years following their spouse’s death, and caring for a spouse with mental disorder can leave you with some of the same severe problems. Even so, the odds favour marriage. In a 30-year study of more than 10,000 people, Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School describes how all kinds of social networks have similar effects.
So how does it work? The effects are complex, affected by socio-economic factors, health-service provision, emotional support and other more physiological (生理的) mechanisms. For example, social contact can boost development of the brain and immune system, leading to better health and less chance of depression later in life. People in supportive relationships may handle stress better. Then there are the psychological benefits of a supportive partner.
A life partner, children and good friends are all recommended if you aim to live to 100. The ultimate social network is still being mapped out, but Christakis says: “People are interconnected, so their health is interconnected.”
注意： 此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
62. William Farr’s study and other studies show that _________.
[A] social life provides an effective cure for illness
[B] being sociable helps improve one’s quality of life
[C] women benefit more than men from marriage
[D] marriage contributes a great deal to longevity
63. Linda Waite’s studies support the idea that _________.
[A] older men should quit smoking to stay healthy
[B] marriage can help make up for ill health
[C] the married are happier than the unmarried
[D] unmarried people are likely to suffer in later life
64. It can be inferred from the context that the “flip side” (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _________.
[A] the disadvantages of being married
[B] the emotional problems arising from marriage
[C] the responsibility of taking care of one’s family
[D] the consequence of a broken marriage
65. What does the author say about social networks?
[A] They have effects similar to those of a marriage.
[B] They help develop people’s community spirit.
[C] They provide timely support for those in need.
[D] They help relieve people of their life’s burdens.
66. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
[A] It’s important that we develop a social network when young.
[B] To stay healthy, one should have a proper social network.
[C] Getting a divorce means risking a reduced life span.
[D] We should share our social networks with each other.
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Part Ⅴ Cloze (15 minutes)
Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked [A], [B], [C] and [D] on the right side of the paper. You should choose the ONE that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
注意：此部分试题请在答题卡2上作答。
Over half the world’s people now live in cities. The latest “Global Report on Human Settlements” says a significant change took place last year. The report 67 this week from U.N. Habitat, a United Nations agency.
A century ago, 68 than five percent of all people lived in cities. 69 the middle of this century it could be seventy percent, or 70 six and a half billion people.
Already three-fourths of people in 71 countries live in cities. Now most urban population 72 is in the developing world.
Urbanization can 73 to social and economic progress, but also put 74 on cities to provide housing and 75 . The new report says almost two hundred thousand people move 76 cities and towns each day. It says worsening inequalities, 77 by social divisions and differences in 78 , could result in violence and crime 79 cities plan better.
Another issue is urban sprawl (无序扩展的城区). This is where cities 80 quickly into rural areas, sometimes 81 a much faster rate than urban population growth.
Sprawl is 82 in the United States. Americans move a lot. In a recent study, Art Hall at the University of Kansas found that people are moving away from the 83 cities to smaller ones. He sees a 84 toward “de-urbanization” across the nation.
85 urban economies still provide many 86 that rural areas do not.
67. [A] came on [C] came over
[B] came off [D] came out
68. [A] more [C] less
[B] other [D] rather
69. [A] By [C] Along
[B] Through [D] To
70. [A] really [C] ever
[B] barely [D] almost
71. [A] flourishing [C] thriving
[B] developed [D] fertile
72. [A] extension [C] raise
[B] addition [D] growth
73. [A] keep [C] lead
[B] turn [D] refer
74. [A] pressure [C] restraint
[B] load [D] weight
75. [A] surroundings [C] concerns
[B] communities [D] services
76. [A] onto [C] around
[B] into [D] upon
77. [A] pulled [C] drawn
[B] driven [D] pressed
78. [A] situation [C] treasure
[B] wealth [D] category
79. [A] when [C] unless
[B] if [D] whereas
80. [A] expand [C] invade
[B] split [D] enlarge
81. [A] in [C] with
[B] beyond [D] at
82. [A] common [C] ordinary
[B] conventional [D] frequent
83. [A] essential [C] primitive
[B] prior [D] major
84. [A] trend [C] direction
[B] style [D] path
85. [A] Then [C] For
[B] But [D] While
86. [A] abilities [C] possibilities
[B] qualities [D] realities