BBC英语教学研究者们称，如果你有胆固醇过高等易引发心脏疾病的征兆，那么婚姻似乎可以大大增加你的存活率。这些科学家在一次心脏学术会议上就这个有近百万名英国成年人参与的调查结果发言时说，“这可能是因为我们的配偶会时刻敦促我们关注自身的健康状况”。 请听报道。
All the men and women enrolled in the study who were in their 50s, 60, or 70s at the start had at least one major risk factor for heart disease. Over the next 14 years, the married people fared much better than those who were single.
Married people with high cholesterol were 16% more likely to be alive at the end of the study than those who were unmarried. People with diabetes and high blood pressure also had a higher survival rate if they were married.
The picture was less clear for people cohabiting, separated, divorced or widowed. And the researchers didn’t check if the married people were in happy relationships. They suspect but can’t prove that having someone special in your life is what’s important, rather than simply getting hitched. A spouse may encourage you to stay fit and well.
词汇表
enrolled in 参与了
risk factor 引发…的因素，患…的因素
fared 过得（书面语）
high cholesterol 高胆固醇
diabetes 糖尿病
high blood pressure 高血压
survival rate 存活率，生存率
picture 情况，全貌
cohabiting 未婚同居的
separated 夫妻分居的
divorced 已离婚的
widowed 丧偶的
suspect 认为可能，猜想
special 特殊的，格外重要的
getting hitched 结婚
spouse 配偶
测验
请听报道并回答下列问题。
1. What was the time span of the research?
2. What didn't the researchers check?
3. True or false? The researchers are sure that having someone special in your life is what makes us healthier.
4. Which word in the text can be used to describe a healthy and physically strong person?
答案
1. What was the time span of the study?
The time span of the study was 14 years.
2. What didn't the researchers check?
The researchers didn’t check if the married people were in happy relationships.
3. True or false? The researchers are sure that having someone special in your life is what makes people healthier.
False. The researchers suspect so, which means that they believe it is probable, but can’t show that it is true.
4. Which word in the text can be used to describe someone healthy and physically strong?
Fit.
