Question

7．A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists who expected their future to be worse．
The paper，published this March in Psychology and Aging，examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40，000 Germans between ages 18 and 96．The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003．
Survey respondents were asked to estimate their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10，among other questions．
The researchers found that young adults （age 18 to 39）routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction，while middle-aged adults （age 40 to 64）more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future．Adults of 65 and older，however，were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction．Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would，the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio of disability and death for the study period．
"We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade，"wrote Frieder R．Lang，a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg．
Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future．
"Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking im proved precautions （预防措施），"the authors wrote．
Surprisingly，compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes，respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline．Also，the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability．
The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions．Illness，medi cal treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes．
However，the researchers said a pattern was clear．"We found that from early to late adulthood，individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic，to accurate，to pessimistic，"the authors concluded．
12．According to the study，who made the most accurate prediction of their future life satisfaction？B
 A．Optimistic adults．
B．Middle-aged adults．
 C．Adults in poor health．
D．Adults of lower income．
13．Pessimism may be positive in some way because it causes peopleC．
A．to fully enjoy their present life
B．to estimate their contribution accurately
C．to take measures against potential risks
D．to value health more highly than wealth
14．How do people of higher income see their future？A
A．They will earn less money．
B．They will become pessimistic．
C．They will suffer mental illness．
D．They will have less time to enjoy life．
15．What is the clear conclusion of the study？D
A．Pessimism guarantees chances of survival．
B．Good financial condition leads to good health．
C．Medical treatment determines health outcomes．
D．Expectations of future life satisfaction decline with age．

Answer 1

分析 本文是一篇议论文．对未来持乐观态度的人比持悲观态度的人更容易残疾或死亡．作者通过详细的调查，从各个方面分析原因，解释乐观态度对人们身体的危害．

解答 12．B，细节理解题，由第四段"The researchers found that young adults （age 18 to 39）routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction，while middle-aged adults （age 40 to 64）more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future．Adults of 65 and older，however，were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction．"可知，中年人对他们未来的期望的预言最准确，故答案为B．
13．C，推理判断题，由第六段"Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future．"中"对自己行动更小心"就是"采取措施避免潜在危险"．
14．A，细节理解题，根据句子respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline．Also，the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability．享有良好的健康和收入的人对他们的生活的预期大大的下降，故答案为A．
15．D，主旨大意题，根据文章的意思以及最后一段We found that from early to late adulthood，individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic，to accurate，to pessimistic，我们发现，从早期到成年后期，个人适应其预期的未来生活满意度从乐观，准确的说，到悲观．可知，随着年龄的增长，对生活的期望也就下降．

点评 解答任务型阅读理解题，首先对原文材料迅速浏览，掌握全文的主旨大意．因为阅读理解题一般没有标题，所以，速读全文，抓住中心主旨很有必要，在速读的过程中，应尽可能多地捕获信息材料．其次，细读题材，各个击破．掌握全文的大意之后，细细阅读每篇材料后的问题，弄清每题要求后，带着问题，再回到原文中去寻找、捕获有关信息．最后，要善于抓住每段的主题句，阅读时，要有较强的针对性．对于捕获到的信息，要做认真分析，仔细推敲，理解透彻，只有这样，针对题目要求，才能做到稳、准．