Question

【题目】 Here’s a new reason to be an optimist. 【1】 Pessimists, of course, might have suspected this all along-but now there’s actual research behind it.

Boston-area scientists found the most optimistic people live an average of 11 to 15 percent longer than their more pessimistic peers.

In previous studies, researchers have found that more optimistic people tend to have lower risk of diseases and early death, said Lewina Lee, the lead researcher and a psychiatry professor at Boston University School of Medicine. “【2】“

Optimists generally expect good things to happen in the future and feel like they can control important outcomes. They tend to stay positive whatever comes their way.

【3】 There’s good news: The mind-set is about 25 percent hereditary (遗传的). Lee said, meaning people have some control over their level of good thoughts. She said people can become more optimistic by imagining a future in which their goals have been reached.

To conduct their research. Lee and the other scientists compared results from two independently conducted studies-one that followed nearly 70,000 women for a decade and another that followed about 1,400 men for 30 years. 【4】 They ranked themselves on statements including in uncertain times, “I usually expect the best” or “I'm always optimistic about my future.”

The conclusion that optimistic people tend to live longer holds true regardless of other factors, Lee said.

The study leaves one question unanswered: 【5】 Although it's unclear, the researchers believe optimists may be better at regulating stressors and bouncing (反弹) back I from upsetting events. Optimists also generally have healthier habits, like exercising more and smoking less.

A.Not a natural optimist?

B.Our study took it one step further.

C.Why are optimists likely to live longer?

D.Why do women generally live longer than men?

E.An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

F.People self-reported their optimism on questionnaires.

G.Those who see the glass as half full, according to a new study, live longer.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】G

【2】B

【3】A

【4】F

【5】C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。美国波士顿科学家的一项研究发现，比起悲观者来，乐观者更加长寿。

【1】根据上文Here’s a new reason to be an optimist.可知，这里有一个成为乐观主义者的新理由。由此可知，本句承接上文应当说明这个理由的内容。故G选项“根据一项新的研究，那些认为杯子是半满的人活得更久”符合上下文语境，故选G。

【2】根据上文In previous studies, researchers have found that more optimistic people tend to have lower risk of diseases and early death, said Lewina Lee, the lead researcher and a psychiatry professor at Boston University School of Medicine.可知，波士顿大学医学院精神病学教授、首席研究员Lewina Lee说，在以前的研究中，研究人员发现，更乐观的人患病和早死的风险更低。由此可知，这项新的研究发现乐观者更加长寿，是比之前的研究更进了一步。故B选项“我们的研究更进一步”符合上下文语境，故选B。

【3】根据后文There’s good news: The mind-set is about 25 percent hereditary. Lee said, meaning people have some control over their level of good thoughts.可知，好消息是：这种心态大约有25%是遗传的。Lee说，意思是人们可以控制自己的好想法。由此可知后文是在对“不是天生乐观者”的观点进行解释和说明。故A选项“不是天生的乐观主义者？”符合上下文语境，故选A。

【4】根据后文They ranked themselves on statements including in uncertain times, “I usually expect the best” or “I'm always optimistic about my future.”可知，他们对自己的评价包括在不确定的时期，“我通常期望最好的”或“我总是对我的未来很乐观”。由此可知，人们在这些问卷中自我报告了自己的乐观态度。故F选项“人们在问卷中自我报告他们的乐观态度”符合上下文语境，故选F。

【5】根据上文The study leaves one question unanswered (这项研究留下了一个没有回答的问题)由此可知，本句应当是一个问句，结合后文Although it's unclear, the researchers believe optimists may be better at regulating stressors and bouncing back I from upsetting events.可知，尽管目前还不清楚，但研究人员认为，乐观主义者可能更善于调节压力，更善于从沮丧的事情中恢复过来。可推知，这个问题是“为什么乐观者更加长寿”。故C选项“为什么乐观者可能活得更久？”符合上下文语境，故选C。