More than 2 million US teenagers have suffered a serious bout of depression in the past year, according to a federal government survey released on Tuesday. On average, 8.5 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 described having had a major depressive _ in the previous year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported. But there were "striking differences" by sex, with 12.7 percent of girls and 4.6 percent of boys affected. Depression is the leading cause of suicide, which in turn is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds in the United States. "The data Combined 2004 to 2006 data showed that rates of past year major depressive experience among youths aged 12 to 17 generally increased with increasing age," the researchers wrote. Researchers at SAMHSA and RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, prepared the report using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. More than 67,700 youths aged 12 to 17 answered questions about mood and depression. They were also asked to rate how depression affected them using the Sheehan Disability Scale , which measures impact on family, friends, chores at home, work and school. Researchers defined a major depressive episode as two weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms such as problems with sleep, energy, concentration or self-image. Nearly half of the teenagers who had major depression said it severely damaged their ability to function in at least one of the areas on the disability scale. "Fortunately, depression responds very well to early intervention and treatment," SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline said in a statement. The main symptoms of a serious depressive episode include _ . A) no family or friends or jobs or interests at all. B) low spirits, lack of sleep, energy and self-image, and poor concentration. C) poor health, sex discrimination, less energy and loss of interests D) suicide, sadness, lack of confidence and depression.
B
(Question)
Need for closure is a psychological term that describes a person's desire for a firm answer to a question. Our need for closure is our natural preference for definite answers over confusion and uncertainty. Every person has their own baseline level of need for closure. It likely evolved via natural selection. What I find really fascinating is how our need for closure is affected by the situation we're in. Our need for closure rises when we have to act rather than just observe, and it matters much more when we're rushed, or bored, or tired. Any stress can make our discomfort with uncertainty increase, and a high need for closure negatively influences some of our most important decisions: who we decide to trust, whether we admit we're wrong and even how creative we are. In hiring, for instance, a high need for closure leads people to put far too much weight on their first impression. It's called the Urgency Effect. In one experiment, psychologists tried to lower people's need for closure by telling them, right before participants are about to make various judgments of a job candidate, that they'll be responsible in some way for them, or that their judgments have serious consequences. In making any big decision, it's not enough just to know that we should take our time. We all know that important decisions shouldn't be rushed. The problem is that we don't keep that advice in mind when it matters. So, one of the best solutions is to formalize the reminders. Before making important decisions, write down not just advantages and disadvantages but what the consequences could be. Also, think about how much pressure you're under. If your need for closure is particularly high that day, it's even more important to think twice. In the experiment the psychologists reduced participants' need for closure by telling them to _ . A) value their first impression B) be responsible for their boss C) be cautious about their judgments D) pay little attention to the consequences
(Answer)
C
Ques: The vast jungles of the Amazon rainforest are home to tribes mostly isolated from the outside world, whose way of life, largely unchanged for hundreds of years, is now increasingly threatened by modern civilization. Now, scientists discover they can monitor these "uncontacted tribes" using satellites, which would allow inexpensive and safe tracking of these tribes in order to protect them from outside threats. In order to help preserve these uncontacted Indians, researchers need accurate estimates of their populations. One way to collect this data involves flying over their villages, but such over-flights are both expensive and could fill these native peoples with fear. Another strategy involves meeting individuals on the ground, but among other risks, scientists could accidentally spread disease to members of the tribes. Instead, scientists investigated whether satellite images could monitor uncontacted tribes. The result was inspiring. They confirmed their locations and measured the sizes of their village, houses and gardens. "We can find isolated villages with remote sensing and study them over time." Walker told Live Science. "We can ask: Are they growing? Do they move?" Surprisingly, based on the sizes of the houses and villages, the scientists find the population densities of these isolated villages are about 10 times greater, on average, than other villages of native Brazilian peoples. This may be due to the fact that they have to live closer together because they are not as good at clearing the forest, since they lack modern devices like chainsaws and tractors, the researchers said. The tribes may also be afraid of spreading out due to fear of being attacked by outsiders, Walker said. The researchers now plan to focus on 29 more isolated villages to "look at their ecology-- that is, distance from rivers and roads--and use this to model where else we can find more isolated villages," Walker said. According to the passage, which of the following about the Indian tribes is NOT true? A) They lack modern tools to cut forests. B) Their life styles remain unchanged. C) They live closer together for defense. D) They are contacting the outside world.
Ans: D
When I stepped out the plane from Miami into Charlotte, North Carolina, airport for a connecting flight home, I immediately knew something was wrong. Lots of desperate people crowded the terminal. I quickly learned that flights headed to the Northeast were called off because of a storm. The earliest they could get us out of Charlotte was Tuesday. It was Friday. A gate agent stood on the counter and shouted, "Don't ask us for help! We cannot help you!" I joined a crowd that ran from terminal to terminal in search of a flight out. Eventually, I found six strangers willing to rent a van with me. We drove through the night to Washington, where I took a train the rest of the way to Providence. The real problem, of course, is that incidents like this happen every day, to everyone who flies, more and more often. It really gets to me, though, because for eight years I was on the other side, as a flight attendant for Trans-World Airlines (TWA). I know the days are gone when attendants could be written up if we did not put the lines napkins with the TWA logo in the lower right-hand corner of the first-class diners' trays. As are the days when there were three dinner options on flights from Boston to Los Angeles in economy class. When, once, stuck on a tarmac in Newark for four hours, a planeload of passengers got McDonald's hamburgers and fries by thoughtfulness of the airline. I have experienced the decline of service along with the rest of the flying public. But I believe everything will change little by little, because I remember the days when to fly was to soar . The airlines, and their employees, took pride in how their passengers were treated. And I think the days are sure to come back one day in the near future. Many people crowded the terminal because _ . A) they were ready to board on the planes B) something was wrong with the terminal C) the flights to the Northeast were canceled D) the gate agent wouldn't help the passengers
C