Section A: Banked Cloze
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.
Optimism and Longevity
If you think life is wonderful and expect it to stay that way, then you may have a good chance of living to a ripe old age, at least that is what the findings of a new study suggest. That study found that participants who reported the highest levels of optimism were far more likely to live to age 85 or (26) ______. This was compared to those participants who reported the lowest levels of optimism. It is (27) ______ that the findings held even after the researchers considered factors that could (28) ______ the link, including whether participants had health conditions such as heart disease or cancer, or whether they experienced depression. The results add to a growing body of evidence that certain psychological factors may predict a longer life (29) ______. For example, previous studies have found that more optimistic people have a lower risk of developing chronic diseases, and a lower risk of (30) ______ death. However, the new study appears to be the first to (31) ______ look at the relationship between optimism and longevity. The researchers (32) ______ that the link found in the new study was not as strong when they factored in the effects of certain health behaviors, including exercise levels, sleep habits and diet. This suggests that these behaviors may, at least in part, explain the link. In other words, optimism may (33) ______ good habits that bolster health. It is also important to note that the study found only a (34) ______, as researchers did not prove for certain that optimism leads to a longer life. However, if the findings are true, they suggest that optimism could serve as a psychological (35) ______ that promotes health and a longer life.
Answers & Explanations (答案与解析)
Section A: Banked Cloze
26. B (beyond)。解析：空格前为介词短语 `to age 85 or`，需要填入一个与年龄相关的词表示范围。句意：报告乐观水平最高的参与者更有可能活到85岁或“以上”。`beyond` 在此作副词/介词，表示“超出，在...以上”。因此填入 beyond。
27. H (noteworthy)。解析：空格在 `It is ______ that...` 句型中，需要填入形容词作表语。句意：“值得注意的是”，即使在研究人员考虑了潜在因素后，这些发现依然成立。`noteworthy` 意为“值得注意的，显著的”。因此填入 noteworthy。
28. A (affect)。解析：空格在情态动词 `could` 之后，需要填入动词原形。句意：研究人员考虑了可能“影响”这种联系的因素。`affect` 意为“影响”。因此填入 affect。
29. L (span)。解析：空格在 `a longer life` 之后，需要名词构成复合名词或短语。`life span` 是固定搭配，意为“寿命”。句意：某些心理因素可能预示着更长的寿命。因此填入 span。
30. J (premature)。解析：空格在 `a lower risk of` 和名词 `death` 之间，需要填入形容词修饰 death。`premature death` 是医学和健康领域的常见固定搭配，意为“早逝，过早死亡”。句意：患慢性病的风险更低，早逝的风险也更低。因此填入 premature。
31. M (specifically)。解析：空格在动词不定式符号 `to` 和动词原形 `look at` 之间，需要填入副词修饰动词。句意：然而，这项新研究似乎是第一个“专门/具体地”研究乐观与长寿之间关系的研究。`specifically` 意为“具体地，专门地”。因此填入 specifically。
32. C (conceded)。解析：空格作句子的谓语，位于主语 `The researchers` 之后，其后是 `that` 引导的宾语从句，由于描述的是过去发生的研究动作，需要动词过去式。宾语从句说：当把健康行为的因素包括进去时，新研究中发现的联系就没那么强了。这说明研究人员“承认”了研究的局限性。`conceded` 意为“承认，让步”。因此填入 conceded。
33. E (foster)。解析：空格在情态动词 `may` 之后，宾语 `good habits` 之前，需要填入及物动词原形。句意：换句话说，乐观可能会“培养/促进”增强健康的良好习惯。`foster` 意为“培养，促进”。因此填入 foster。
34. D (correlation)。解析：空格在不定冠词 `a` 之后，需要单数名词。逗号后的原因状语从句解释道：因为研究人员并没有确凿地证明乐观会“导致（leads to/因果关系）”更长的寿命。因此，研究只发现了一种“相关性”。`correlation` 意为“相关性”。因此填入 correlation。
35. O (trait)。解析：空格在形容词 `psychological` 之后，需要名词。句意：如果研究结果是真实的，它们表明乐观可以作为一种促进健康和长寿的心理“特质/特征”。`psychological trait` 意为“心理特质”。因此填入 trait。
【核心搭配与亮点句型】
a ripe old age：高龄，长寿（living to a ripe old age）
body of evidence：大量证据（add to a growing body of evidence）
life span：寿命（predict a longer life span）
premature death：早逝（a lower risk of premature death）
factor in：把...因素包括进去，考虑到（when they factored in the effects）
lead to：导致（通常指因果关系）（optimism leads to a longer life）