Question

Every fall, like clockwork, Linda Krentz of Beaverton, Oregon, felt her brain go on strike. “I just couldn’t get going in the morning,” she says. “I’d get depressed and gain 10 pounds every winter and lose them again in the spring.” Then she read about seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression that occurs in fall and winter, and she saw the light-literally. Every morning now she turns on a specially constructed light box for half an hour and sits in front of it to trick her brain into thinking it’s still enjoying those long summer days. It seems to work.

Krentz is not alone. Scientists estimate that 10 million Americans suffer from seasonal depression and 25 million more develop milder versions. But there’s never been definitive proof that treatment with very bright lights makes a difference. After all, it’s hard to do a double-blind test when the subjects can see for themselves whether or not the light is on. That’s why nobody has ever separated the real effects of light therapy from placebo(安慰剂) effects.

Until now. In three separate studies published last month, researchers report not only that light therapy works better than a placebo but that treatment is usually more effective in the early morning than in the evening. In two of the groups, the placebo problem was resolved by telling patients they were comparing light boxes to a new anti-depressant device that emits negatively charged ions. The third used the timing of light therapy as the control.

Why does light therapy work? No one really knows. “Our research suggests it has something to do with shifting the body’s internal clock,” says psychiatrist Dr. Lewey. The body is programmed to start the day with sunrise, he explains, and this gets later as the days get shorter. But why such subtle shifts make some people depressed and not others is a mystery.

That hasn’t stopped thousands of winter depressives from trying to heal themselves. Light boxes for that purpose are available without a doctor’s prescription. That bothers psychologist Michael Terman of Columbia University. He is worried that the boxes may be tried by patients who suffer from mental illness that can’t be treated with light. Terman has developed a questionnaire to help determine whether expert care is needed.

In any event, you should choose a respectable manufacturer. Whatever product you use should emit only visible light, because ultraviolet light damages the eyes. If you are photosensitive, you may develop a rash. Otherwise, the main drawback is having to sit in front of the light for 30 to 60 minutes in the morning. That’s an inconvenience many winter depressives can live with.

1.What is the probable cause of Krentz’s problem?

A. An unexpected gain in body weight.

B. Unexplained impairment of her nervous system.

C. Weakening of her eyesight with the setting in of winter.

D. Poor adjustment of her body clock to seasonal changes.

2.By saying that Linda Krentz saw the light” (Line 4, Para. 1), the author means that she _______.

A. learned how to lose weight

B. realized what her problem was

C. came to see the importance of light

D. felt sleepy and blue

3.What is the CURRENT view concerning the treatment of seasonal depression with bright lights?

A. Its effect remains to be seen.

B. It serves as a kind of placebo.

C. It proves to be an effective therapy.

D. It hardly produces any effects.

4.What is psychologist Michael Terman’s major concern?

A. Winter depressives will be addicted to using light boxes.

B. No mental patients would bother to consult psychiatrists.

C. Inferior light boxes will emit harmful ultraviolet lights.

D. Light therapy could be beyond the tolerance of certain mental patients.

 

Answer 1

1.D

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：文章大意：文章主要阐述的是由于季节变换所带来的人的情绪上的变化特别是一些消极的变化，并由此开展的积极应对的措施方法。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段第三句“Then she read about seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression that occurs in fall and winter”,可知她的问题是由于季节变化导致身体的不适，故选D。

2. 词义猜测题。根据文章第一段划线部分后面的句子意思可知她知道了自己的问题所在，故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据第第三段中“researchers report not only that light therapy works better than a placebo but that treatment is usually more effective in the early morning than in the evening”,可知目前的治疗方案还是有效的，故选C。

4. 细节理解题。根据第五段中“He is worried that the boxes may be tried by patients who suffer from mental illness that can’t be treated with light.” 可知他担心这种治疗对于患有精神疾病的人来说是不行的， 故D正确。

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