Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they ignore a powerful thing that could help them fight illness: their friends.

Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk (危险) for obesity (肥胖) among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could improve brain health as we age.

“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’t well realized,” said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina. “Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological (心理的) health than family relationships.”

While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart attack. Only smoking was as important a risk factor (因素) as having little social support.

Exactly why friendship has such a big effect isn’t entirely clear. While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help. Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect. “People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen, a doctor. “The message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”

51．The three studies in paragraph2 show that              .

A. old people need friends the most.

B. friends can help us lose weight.

C. social ties (关系) are connected to health

D. more friends make us healthier.

52．What do Rebecca’s words in paragraph3 mean?

A. Friendship is more important to women than to men.

B. What people need most is a friend’s care.

C. Friendship is more important than family relationship

D. The value of friendship hasn’t been fully understood.

53．The author mentioned smoking in the text to discuss              .

A. the cause of heart attack.                             

B. the risk of having no friends.

C. smoking is bad for men.                              

D. friends’ influence on habits.

54．What would be the best title of the text?

A. Friends are the best medicine.                       

B. Friends are as important as a family.

C. Having good friends leads to a longer life.      

D. Friendship makes people happy.

阅读理解

　　Today, less than three Americans in ten smoke. That means that about 50 million adults are still hooked on cigarettes.

　　The social pressures to stop smoking are growing. Many workplaces ban or limit smoking. Other public places such as shopping halls and supermarkets are smoke-free.

　　About 80 percent of smokers say they would like to kick the habit. But they know it is not an easy task.

　　Research shows that it takes 4 to 10 tries before a person takes his last puff. Two researchers, John Farquhar and Gene Spiller, interviewed 30 people who had given up smoking for keeps. They found that each person discovered his or her own reason for giving up tobacco.

　　One woman said she quit after she took a hard look at one of her smoking friends. She reported that her friend “was beginning to look like an ashtray”. The friend had gray skin, yellow teeth, and limp hair.

　　One man quit after his wife agreed that they should buy a fancy new car. The catch was that she didn't want him to smoke in it. The car arrived and they took a three-week, smoke-free trip in it. Most those who gave up smoking thought about it for a long time. Many found it easier to do when they were on vacation.

　　Ninety percent of those who quit did so on their own. They simply stopped cold turkey.

　　Smoking causes about 1, 000 deaths every day in the United States. It causes an even greater number of serious illnesses in smokers as well as in non-smokers. If you live or work with a smoker, your own health may suffer. The Environmental Protection Agency now lists tobacco as a serious health hazard.

1．As used in the passage, “take one's last puff” means ________.

[　　]

A．to stop smoking

B．to kick a habit

C．to be hooked on cigarettes

D．to have one's last try

2．How did most smokers give up tobacco?

[　　]

A．They did unwillingly.

B．They were forced to do so.

C．Simply by smoking no more.

D．By encouraging each other.

3．What's the attitude of the Environmental Protection Agency toward tobacco?

[　　]

4．The best title for this selection is ________.

[　　]

A．Health Hazard

B．No Smoking

C．Adults Smoke No More

D．People Choose to Quit Smoking

Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they ignore a powerful thing that could help them fight illness: their friends．

Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health．A 10-year Australian study found that old People with a large circle of friends．A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk （危险） for obesity （肥胖） among people whose friends gained weight．And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could improve brain health as we age．

“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’t well realized,” said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina．“Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological （心理的） health than family relationships．”

While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men too．In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart attack．Only smoking was as important a risk factor （因素） as having little social support．

Exactly why friendship has such a big effect isn’t entirely clear．While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help．Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect．“People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to,” said Karen, a doctor．“The message of these studies is that friends make your life better．”

1．The three studies in paragraph2 show that              ．

       A．old people need friends the most．

       B．friends can help us lose weight．

       C．social ties （关系） are connected to health

       D．more friends make us healthier．

2．What do Rebecca’s words in paragraph3 mean?

       A．Friendship is more important to women than to men．

       B．What people need most is a friend’s care．

       C．Friendship is more important than family relationship

       D．The value of friendship hasn’t been fully understood．

3．The author mentioned smoking in the text to discuss              ．

       A．the cause of heart attack．                   B．the risk of having no friends．

       C．smoking is bad for men．                    D．friends’ influence on habits．

4．What would be the best title of the text?

       A．Friends are the best medicine．

       B．Friends are as important as a family．

       C．Having good friends leads to a longer life．

       D．Friendship makes people happy．