Question

A few months ago, Dr. Ken Duckworth, a psychiatrist（心理医生） in Massachusetts, was swimming in his community's pool, chatting with other swimmers. When he mentioned his career, one man wanted Duckworth’s opinion on his struggles with depression; another asked for advice on a family member's mental illness.

“I was sort of amazed. They were talking openly about their mental disabilities with a stranger in a swimming locker room, ” said Duckworth, “That wouldn't have happened 15 years ago. ”

New research shows that these swimmers aren't the only ones opening up. According to a new study, more American adults than ever are reporting being disabled by the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other emotional problems.

The report, published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health, found that people who said they couldn’t perform everyday tasks or engage in social and leisure activities because of a mental illness increased from 2 percent in 1999 to 2.7 percent in 2009. That increase amounts to nearly 2 million more people disabled by mental distress (痛苦) in the past decade, the report said.

Although people did not say they felt more mental distressed compared to past years, they reported that their mental health problems had a greater impact on their daily lives.

Dr. Ramin Mojtabai, the study's author, said it's unclear whether the findings tell a sad story of greater mental distress in recent times or point to a victory for public education about the importance of acknowledging and evaluating mental illness.

“It is possible that people are realizing the effects of mental illness more acutely now than before," he said. "People could be becoming more aware. ”

Mojtabai said it's also possible that a number of factors could be taking a toll on the population's mental well-being. High unemployment, economic hardships and a growing sense of isolation could be putting greater stress on Americans.

But Duckworth said there could be a more positive explanation -- like his fellow swimmers, people may be getting more comfortable with talking about their mental distress.

“I wonder if this tells us that American culture is becoming more open and is giving people the ability to speak about it,” he said. “If people have this problem and are willing to acknowledge it, then we're getting closer to dealing with it.”

1.Why was Dr. Ken Duckworth surprised when other swimmers talked about the depression with him?

A．He hadn’t expected those swimmers had so many questions.

B．He didn’t know there would be so many people suffering mental disabilities.

C．People wouldn’t talk about their mental disabilities with a stranger in the past.

D．It amazed him that people were becoming more and more open-hearted.

2.Which of the statements may Dr. Ramin Mojtabai agree?

A．More and more people are suffering mental distress nowadays.

B．People may be more willing to acknowledge their mental illness.

C．People are becoming more and more aware of the effects of mental illness.

D．The public education about the importance of acknowledging mental illness is successful.

3.What does the underline phrase “taking a toll on” in para.8 mean?

A．making a contribution to

B．taking part in

C．playing a part in

D．doing harm to

4.What’s the best title of the text?

A．How mental illness come about?

B．Swimmers with mental illness puzzled psychiatrist.

C．Study shows more mental illness.

D．You should have an accurate attitude towards mental illness.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：这篇文章讲的是更多的人得了精神方面的疾病，而且越来越多的人意识到精神疾病带来的影响，并敢于说出来。

1.细节题：从第二段的句子：“I was sort of amazed. They were talking openly about their mental disabilities with a stranger in a swimming locker room, ” said Duckworth, “That wouldn't have happened 15 years ago. ” 可知Duckworth惊讶是因为以前人们不会郭凯说自己的精神方面的疾病。选C

2.细节题：从倒数第四段的句子：“It is possible that people are realizing the effects of mental illness more acutely now than before," he said. "People could be becoming more aware. ”可知人们越来越意识到精神疾病的影响。选C

3.猜词题;从下文的解释中High unemployment, economic hardships and a growing sense of isolation 都是对精神上有害的东西。“taking a toll on”="doing" harm to，选D

4.细节题：从第三段的句子：According to a new study, more American adults than ever are reporting being disabled by the symptoms of depression, anxiety or other emotional problems.可知这篇文章讲的是更多的人得了精神方面的疾病。选C

考点：考查新闻报道类短文

点评：这篇文章讲的是更多的人得了精神方面的疾病，而且越来越多的人意识到精神疾病带来的影响，并敢于说出来。本文主要还是考查了细节题和猜词题，注重综合语言能力的运用，需要根据段落大意，结合语境，做出准确的判断。要求考生在仔细阅读文本的基础上，仔细审题和每个选项，做适当的延伸，做出合理的判断推理。