Younger adults who get either little sleep or a lot of it may see a greater expansion in their waistlines（腰围）over time, a study published suggests. Researchers found that among black and Hispanic adults younger than 40, those who typically slept for five hours or less each night had a greater accumulation of belly fat over the next five years, versus（相比于） those who averaged six or seven hours. Those who slept eight hours or more in bed each night also showed a bigger fat gain - but it was less obvious than that seen in "short sleepers."

The study, reported in the Journal Sleep, does not prove that too little or too much sleep directly leads to excess fat gain. But the findings support and extend those of other studies linking sleep duration - particularly a lack of sleep - to weight gain and even to higher risks of diabetes(糖尿病) and heart disease. Among participants younger than 40, the study found, those who said they slept for five hours or less each night gained more belly fat than those who averaged six or seven hours of sleep. On average, short sleepers showed a 32 percent gain in visceral（内脏的）fat, versus a 13 percent gain among those who slept six or seven hours per night, and a 22 percent increase among men and women who got at least eight hours of sleep each night. A similar pattern was seen with superficial abdominal（腹部）fat.

   The findings, according to lead researcher Dr. Kristen G. Hairston, support the belief that sleep habits affect weight and health in general. "Sleep is an important part of your overall health - not just in whether you're tired during the day," she said.

There may be indirect effects; people who get too little sleep may be too tired during the day to exercise, while those who spend a lot of time in bed may spend less time being active, relative to people who sleep fewer hours. Research also suggests that sleep loss alters people's levels of appetite-regulating hormones（荷尔蒙）- which could, in theory, cause them to overeat. Depression, which often affects people's sleep and has been linked to weight gain, could also be a factor, Hairston noted.

Who may have the higher risk of being fat over the next five years?

A. Jack, a Hispanic man, aged 35, sleeps for 3 hours every night.

B. Candy, a black woman, aged 41, sleeps for about 5 hours every night.

C. Bob, an American, aged 50, sleeps for more than 12 hours every day.

D. John, a student in Africa, sleeps for more than 6 hours every week.

What does the study, reported in the Journal Sleep find?

A. Too little or too much sleep directly gives rise to the fat gain.

B. People are subject to heart disease due to the lack of sleep.

C. It is admitted that sleep plays an important part in our health.

D. Researchers find a longer sleep time is better for our health.

What does the lead researcher Dr. Kristen G. Hairston agree with?

A. People should do some exercise in their daily life.

B. There is a close link between sleep habits and health.

C. More nutrition is greatly needed when we lack sleep.

D. More and more people tend to sleep less than before.

What can we infer from the passage?

A. Younger adults getting little or much sleep may become fat.

B. We are supposed to do exercise as much as possible to keep fit.

C. We should keep a good sleep habit to improve our health.

D. We have to spare no efforts to drive depression away.

What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Sleep Habits Linked to Fat Gain in Younger Adults.

B. Doing Exercise Is the Best Way to Keep Fit.

C. Our Waistlines Can Be Driven Away Right Now.

D. Diabetes No Longer bother all of Young People.

Younger adults who get either little sleep or a lot of it may see a greater expansion in their waistlines（腰围）over time, a study published suggests. Researchers found that among black and Hispanic adults younger than 40, those who typically slept for five hours or less each night had a greater accumulation of belly fat over the next five years, versus（相比于） those who averaged six or seven hours. Those who slept eight hours or more in bed each night also showed a bigger fat gain - but it was less obvious than that seen in "short sleepers."
The study, reported in the Journal Sleep, does not prove that too little or too much sleep directly leads to excess fat gain. But the findings support and extend those of other studies linking sleep duration - particularly a lack of sleep - to weight gain and even to higher risks of diabetes(糖尿病) and heart disease. Among participants younger than 40, the study found, those who said they slept for five hours or less each night gained more belly fat than those who averaged six or seven hours of sleep. On average, short sleepers showed a 32 percent gain in visceral（内脏的）fat, versus a 13 percent gain among those who slept six or seven hours per night, and a 22 percent increase among men and women who got at least eight hours of sleep each night. A similar pattern was seen with superficial abdominal（腹部）fat.
The findings, according to lead researcher Dr. Kristen G. Hairston, support the belief that sleep habits affect weight and health in general. "Sleep is an important part of your overall health - not just in whether you're tired during the day," she said.
There may be indirect effects; people who get too little sleep may be too tired during the day to exercise, while those who spend a lot of time in bed may spend less time being active, relative to people who sleep fewer hours. Research also suggests that sleep loss alters people's levels of appetite-regulating hormones（荷尔蒙）- which could, in theory, cause them to overeat. Depression, which often affects people's sleep and has been linked to weight gain, could also be a factor, Hairston noted.
【小题1】Who may have the higher risk of being fat over the next five years?

A．Younger adults getting little or much sleep may become fat.

B．We are supposed to do exercise as much as possible to keep fit.

C．We should keep a good sleep habit to improve our health.

D．We have to spare no efforts to drive depression away.

A 70-year study of personality suggests that pessimism is a risk factor for early death, especially among men.
　　The study results also indicate that pessimism can be linked to increased risk for sudden death from accidents or violence, according to the report published in the March issue of Psychological Science.
　　Christopher Peterson of the University of Michigan and his colleagues analyzed data from the Terman Life-Cycle Study, which began by studying California public-school children with high IQs in 1921 and followed them through their life. Most of the 1,528 children were teenagers when the study began. Those still living are now in their 80s. In 1936 and 1940, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to obtain information about difficult life events and their effect on overall outlook. One such question was, “What do you regard as your most serious fault of personality or character?”
　　Pessimists were defined as fatalistic(宿命论的)people who tend to blame themselves when things go wrong and who believe that one bad event can ruin the rest of their life. They also tend to expect bad things to happen to them and feel that they have little or no ability to change their situation.
　　Males were more likely than females to be classified as pessimistic. Compared with individuals with a more cheerful and optimistic outlook, pessimists were more likely to die from accidents and violence (including suicide).
　　A pessimistic personality may lead to poor problem-solving ability, social difficulties and risky decision-making. Taken together, these variables put the pessimist at higher risk of untimely(不适时的) death, say the researchers. Such a person is less likely to avoid or escape potentially dangerous situations, the researchers concluded. “A pessimistic way of thinking in which people worry too much about bad events, predicts untimely death decades later,” according to Peterson.
【小题1】According to the passage, you may be a pessimistic person, if one failure makes you feel________.

A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders．Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience(服从), while children complained(抱怨)that their parents did not understand them at all．What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time．Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric(结构)of our society．
One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life．In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation(职业)．In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents．
In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do．Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them．Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other．
Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations．In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight．The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities．
No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature(特点)of American life for some time to come．Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes．
【小题1】The main idea of the first paragraph is that _______．

A 70-year study of personality suggests that pessimism is a risk factor for early death, especially among men.

　　The study results also indicate that pessimism can be linked to increased risk for sudden death from accidents or violence, according to the report published in the March issue of Psychological Science.

　　Christopher Peterson of the University of Michigan and his colleagues analyzed data from the Terman Life-Cycle Study, which began by studying California public-school children with high IQs in 1921 and followed them through their life. Most of the 1,528 children were teenagers when the study began. Those still living are now in their 80s. In 1936 and 1940, participants were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to obtain information about difficult life events and their effect on overall outlook. One such question was, “What do you regard as your most serious fault of personality or character?”

　　Pessimists were defined as fatalistic(宿命论的)people who tend to blame themselves when things go wrong and who believe that one bad event can ruin the rest of their life. They also tend to expect bad things to happen to them and feel that they have little or no ability to change their situation.

　　Males were more likely than females to be classified as pessimistic. Compared with individuals with a more cheerful and optimistic outlook, pessimists were more likely to die from accidents and violence (including suicide).

　　A pessimistic personality may lead to poor problem-solving ability, social difficulties and risky decision-making. Taken together, these variables put the pessimist at higher risk of untimely(不适时的) death, say the researchers. Such a person is less likely to avoid or escape potentially dangerous situations, the researchers concluded. “A pessimistic way of thinking in which people worry too much about bad events, predicts untimely death decades later,” according to Peterson.

1.According to the passage, you may be a pessimistic person, if one failure makes you feel________.

A．other people have been unfair to you.

B．other people will help you.

C．you cannot change a bad situation.

D．you can do better next time.

2.According to the passage, pessimists may feel all of the following EXCEPT________

A．helpless when faced with difficulties.

B．cheerful when faced with troubles.

C．hopeless when one bad event occurs.

D．guilty when things go wrong.

3.Which of the following statements is true, according to the passage?

A．Pessimists believe that everything in life depends on fate.

B．There are more pessimists among women than among men.

C．Most pessimists will end up committing suicide.

D．All pessimists will eventually die from accidents.

4.The Terman Life-Cycle Study is a research program that studies________.

A．people over 70 years old.

B．people since their childhood.

C．pessimistic people over 80 years old.

D．only younger people.

5.The analysis made by Christopher Peterson and his colleagues shows that pessimistic people________

A．will die from violence if they learn to be optimistic.

B．will more likely die from violence than optimistic people.

C．will die from violence because their IQs are low.

D．will die untimely if they are not able to learn to be cheerful and optimistic.