Susana Vazquez-Torres is a fourth-year graduate student at the University of Washington who wants to someday invent new drugs
Lately, she
Part of the problem is
Millions of people over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with depression, and many more could be suffering. There are varied factors. Older people are much more likely to be alone, socially isolated or feel a general lack of purpose. Sometimes older people have a much more difficult time admitting mental health issues.
Early memory loss often causes depression, which can in turn make memory loss worse. A patient with early memory loss and depression really needs to be treated for the depression to slow the memory loss. A mood change also can be a sign of depression. If a previously calm person becomes increasingly bad-tempered, or a previously clean person no longer bothers to shower, that person should be judged again.
Older adults see depression as a weakness and tend to be annoyed by a diagnosis of depression. Therefore, don’t tell people of an older generation that you think they may be depressed. Tell them you’re worried about their health. Tell them they seem to be out of sorts, or seem tired, or unhappy. Say you just want to check with the doctor to see what’s going on. Once you’ve used physical symptoms to get that person to agree to a check-up, mention your fears to the doctor and allow the doctor to approach the subject of depression with the patient.
If a parent or an older loved one has been diagnosed with depression, the first thing people should do is be aware that diagnosis is not easily treated. The initial treatment may not be effective. Therefore, patients and family members should be prepared to try different ways of dealing with the depression. It’s also important to encourage patients to stick with treatment — even if they start to feel better.
1. What factors might lead to older people’s depression besides early memory loss?2. Why do patients with early memory loss and depression really need to be treated?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
People diagnosed with depression can reduce their treatment once they start to feel better.
4. What will you do if you notice that one beloved elderly uncle of yours is obviously depressed? Why?
Doctors in Bristol can send patients on a free course from this month, which uses stand-up comedy to help patients overcome their trauma (创伤). The course was pioneered by Angie Belcher, a comedian at the University of Bristol.
Comedy is a natural human trait (特质). Every night we come back home from work and tell our family what our day was like, but on the way home we’ll make up details, and try to make our stories funnier to entertain family members. Professional comedy education is to give a tool to take this to a more polished and informed level. The content of the six-week course is described as a “combination of psychology, comedy and storytelling.”
Actually, past traumas are perfect for comedy. Comedy doesn’t come from the happy moments of our life, but from our everyday struggles. People, who’ve been through big life experiences, such as the loss of a close friend or ill health, often can’t wait to share their stories, mostly because there’s always something funny about the situation. We can accept and honor the comedy of a situation, as much as the sadness of it.
While the comedy course can’t take the place of traditional clinical approaches, talking about our trauma in a funny way is quite lovely, and more importantly, it has a chain reaction on our audience, and we help other people to deal with their sadness. When we bring our stories alive for others, it makes other people feel less alone. Having our experiences mirrored back to us is hugely comforting. Comedy builds community.
1. Who was the course pioneered by?2. What is the content of the course?
3. Please underline the false part in the following statement and explain why.
Comedy comes from our everyday struggles, and from the happy moments of our life as well.
4. If you meet a trauma, would you like to take the comedy course? Why?
(In about 40 words)
4 . My wife Hannah and I usually don’t keep houseplants. Anything in pots gets either overwatered or underwatered. After my diagnosis (诊断) with a brain cancer, I loved to have something green and alive around us. And then I got a lucky bamboo plant in a pot from my friend Mitch. I told Hannah I wanted to care for the plant myself.
As a physician, I was used to providing care. Since my diagnosis, I had to rely on help from other people, leaving me feeling aimless and upset. Watering the plant taught me I could still be a caregiver.
Over the next few months, I recovered from surgery and completed the first round of treatment. Both the bamboo and I were thriving (繁荣). Then, mysteriously, it began to show signs of stress. No matter what I did, the leaves kept dropping to the floor, making me discouraged and uneasy.
“I can’t even care for simple plant!” I yelled. “I’m failing!”
Hannah reminded me that we’d seen houseplants die before. She asked me why I was getting so worked up about this particular one.
“If my lucky bamboo dies,” I cried out, “I might die too!”
Identifying with the plant had offered me comfort. Now that the plant was struggling, I felt increasingly fearful.
Suddenly, one day, I realized I had wrongly connected my care for the plant—something over which I had at least some control — with my own survival — something over which I had no control. When my cancer returned, it would not be because of any failure on my part — not because I ate sugar occasionally and certainly not because I failed to keep this plant alive.
As my anxiety lessened, I learned from online tips to care for my dying plant. I moved the bamboo to a larger pot, separating its roots to give it room to grow. When it was back in the sunny window, we both began to thrive again.
1. What made the author change his attitude toward keeping houseplants?| A．He recovered from surgery. | B．He got a lucky bamboo plant. |
| C．He was diagnosed with a cancer. | D．He learned how to water a plant. |
| A．His struggle with cancer. |
| B．His decision to care for the plant. |
| C．His inability to look after himself. |
| D．His belief in linking his survival to the plant’s. |
| A．Everything comes to those who wait. |
| B．Positive thinking is a cure of anxiety. |
| C．Trust yourself that you can do it and get it. |
| D．You carry the passport to your own success. |
5 . My mom is about to have a spinal (脊柱的) operation. The operation is
Last week Mom ran into Geoff who works for the local school. “How are you?” he asked. “Not great,” she replied, “I have been having some trouble with my back and I’m going to need an operation.” “Oh, the back is the most
People could have alternative things that would be equally true, but more familiar to patients. “The specialists in our hospitals are among the best in the world.”—That’s a good one. “You’re going to feel much better
I’m not suggesting patients should be
| A．definitely | B．unusually | C．relatively | D．typically |
| A．choose | B．label | C．employ | D．mistake |
| A．in need of | B．in favor of | C．instead of | D．regardless of |
| A．secure | B．dangerous | C．common | D．apparent |
| A．intention | B．assumption | C．emotion | D．description |
| A．because | B．as | C．when | D．yet |
| A．occasionally | B．permanently | C．initially | D．ultimately |
| A．released | B．deleted | C．separated | D．sheltered |
| A．accepted | B．made | C．avoided | D．reached |
| A．drawbacks | B．strengths | C．dimensions | D．procedures |
Research shows that individuals who sit all day, even if they go to the gym for an hour, are at
7 . Keep Sight of Dry Eye
Do your eyes feel uncomfortable or dry? If so, you might have dry eye syndrome (综合征).
In the past, dry eye syndrome was mainly a condition experienced by older adults, but it now affects many young people as well. Dry eye often results from overuse of computers or smartphones, which causes the user to blink (眨眼) less. Since blinking helps keep our eyes wet, a lack (缺少) of it can lead to dry eye.
If you suffer from dry eye syndrome, these steps can go a long way toward making your eyes feel better. However, if the problem doesn’t go away, then it’s time to see a doctor.
| A．After all, your health is worth keeping an eye on. |
| B．Blinking can help protect the surface of your eyes. |
| C．This happens when you don’t produce enough tears. |
| D．Air-conditioning and fans also contribute to dry eye. |
| E．Limit screen time and take breaks from staring at screens. |
| F．Treatments for dry eyes can include eye exercises and eye drops. |
| G．All it takes is a few lifestyle changes to prevent and treat dry eye syndrome. |
8 . Xing Yifan is a university student who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) about six months after birth.
Due to severe spinal deformity (畸形) caused by the illness, Xing, who weighs only 18 kilograms, has
“I
In Xing’s mind, disease can hurt his body but can’t
| A．anxiety | B．interest | C．difficulty | D．confidence |
| A．weight | B．disease | C．pressure | D．prospect |
| A．weak | B．flexible | C．sensitive | D．adaptable |
| A．avoided | B．ignored | C．expected | D．overcame |
| A．owe | B．leave | C．offer | D．contribute |
| A．show | B．reduce | C．lose | D．keep |
| A．job | B．practice | C．education | D．promotion |
| A．exciting | B．surprising | C．frightening | D．challenging |
| A．balance | B．destroy | C．control | D．strengthen |
| A．Bravery | B．Effort | C．Patience | D．Imagination |
The moment I was diagnosed with cancer, I decided that I would not let this“beast” win easily. I didn’t know
Strengthen Your Immune System
One aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic that has kept us guessing since the early days is why some people who get the virus don’t suffer much and others become desperately ill. What factors give some people a stronger immune system than others, regardless of age?
We know that our immune systems slowly decline as we age. The difference in rate of decline between individuals is one of science’s big mysteries. The immune system is complex, but most of us understand the basics: Our bodies detect an intruder（入侵者）– a virus or bacterium, and produce white blood cells to combat the problem.
No one knows why our bodies don’t produce as many immune cells as we get older. Researchers got some insights, especially regarding T cells, which are white blood cells that attack viruses. We possess two broad categories of T cells: “memory” cells that have encountered a certain pathogen（衣原体）and “remember” how to fight it. The other is “naïve” cells, which have yet to fight anything. As we age, it seems that the number of naïve T cells decreases.
And those are exactly the cells needed to recognize newly emerging microorganisms like the Covid-19 virus. This means that when that virus – something our immune systems haven’t seen before – shows up, most of us don’t have memory T cells to use, so the naïve cells have to take on the fight. Since older folks have fewer naïve cells to fight with, as a group they are more vulnerable.
The reasons why these key cells decline over time could be various and genetics plays a part. But it’s debatable how big a part compared with environment and lifestyle.
Chronic low-grade inflammation (炎症) that develops with advanced age can also affect the immune system. Lifestyle factors—poor sleep, ongoing stress, and weight gain – are common causes, as are systemic issues such as autoimmune diseases and decreased liver or kidney function. This inflammation causes the immune system to operate abnormally, which accelerates the aging process and can cause many other diseases.
While you can’t do anything about your genetic makeup, slowing it down can mean a higher immune reserve when you need it most. Fortunately, many factors that positively affect your immune system are within your control, including regular workouts and eating properly. Regular workouts boost immune function and lower inflammation. Exercises strengthen the body and may be the most important lifestyle intervention (干预) you can add. Eating right and avoiding obesity, whose inflammatory effect is deadly, are common sense.
Besides, research has shown that stress can speed immune senescence (衰老). Self-care in this area is critical, from anti-stress activities to asking for help in unresolved stressful situations.
The pandemic has changed people’s lives and it will lead to a new era in immunity research. If we can do a wider search rather than chase after individual diseases, we will handle all immune challenges better.
1. How does the immune system work?2. Why are the old considered more vulnerable?
3. Paraphrase the underlined sentence “But it’s debatable how big a part compared with environment and lifestyle.”
4. Explain how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed your lifestyle. (about 40 words)
