Section A
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Researchers, writing in the journal Heart, pooled data from 23 studies and found that social isolation or feelings of loneliness were tied to an increased risk of coronary heart disease (冠心病) and strokes.
The studies included data from 181,006 men and women ages 18 and over. There were 4,628 coronary events and 3,002 strokes in follow-up periods 26 from three to 21 years. Three of the papers 27 loneliness, 18 looked at social isolation and two included both. Social isolation and loneliness were determined with questionnaires; the researchers depended on medical records and death 28 for determining coronary events and strokes.
The scientists found that loneliness and social isolation increased the 29 risk of having a heart attack or a death from heart disease by 29 percent, and the risk of stroke by 32 percent. There were no 30 between men and women.
"People have tended to focus from a policy point of view on 31 lonely people to make them more 32 ," said the lead author, Nicole K. Valtorta, a research fellow at the University of York in England. "Our study 33 that if this is a risk factor, then we should be trying to prevent the risk factor in the first place."
The authors 34 that this was a review of observational studies and did not 35 cause and effect.
A) acknowledge B) certificates C) connected D) demonstrates E) differences F) establish G) formats H) measured I) narrow J) permanent K) produces L) ranging M) relative N) submitting O) targeting
