A newly-published study has shown that loneliness can spread from one person to another，like a disease. Researchers used information from the Framingham Heart Study，which began in 1948. The Framingham Heart Study gathers information about physical and mental health，personal behavior and diet. At first，the study involved（使参加）about 5,000 people in the American state of Massachusetts. Now more than 12,000 individuals（个人）are taking part.

Information from the Framingham Heart Study showed earlier that happiness can spread from person to person. So can behavior like littering and the ability to stop smoking.

Psychologist John Cacioppo，at the University of Chicago，led the recent study. He and other researchers tried to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.

Having a social connection with a lonely person increased the chances that another individual would feel lonely. In fact，a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. A friend of that person was 25%more likely. The researchers said this shows that a person could indirectly be affected by someone’s loneliness.

The effect was the strongest among friends. Neighbors were the second most affected group. The effect was weaker on husbands and wives，and brothers and sisters. The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.

The New York Times newspaper reported that，on average，people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional（额外的）friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent，or two and a half fewer lonely days.

Loneliness has been linked to health problems like depression（抑郁症）and sleeping difficulties. The researchers believe that knowing the causes of loneliness could help reduce it.

The study suggested that people can take steps to stop the spread of loneliness. They can do this by helping individuals they know who may be experiencing loneliness. The result can be helpful to the whole social group.

At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came________ into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt________. She told Dad that they must make a ________.

My mother had ________of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and ________. And she ________ that I would some day become a great leader ________ men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she ________Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and ________a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for ________ education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother's hope, Dad and I________what we have today. Dad runs a big international ________and I am a successful lawyer ________great fame in my country, ________not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn't be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand. ________ he got a lesson of life —sometimes we really need drive from outside.

I lived in my hometown ten years before. It was a beautiful village with green tree and clean water. I miss the days spend in my hometown so much. When in my hometown，I always wake up early in the morning. Some people took a walk around but others were doing their farm work. I am used to go to the hill with a little dog following him. There I'd like to play the dog while my grandpa was taking care of his fruit trees. What happy I was！

I will keep the beautifully memory forever.

Last month, my good friend Mark got expensive watch as his birthday present. He showed it to everyone in the class proud. I really envied of him, so I also asked my mum to buy me an expensive birthday present. However, to her disappointment, I only got a second-hand bike on that special day. One day while I am riding my “dear”bike back home from school, I passed the shop that my mum worked. I saw a familiar figure kneeling in front of the shop, cleaned the outside steps. It was my mum! She worked so harder to raise me! Tear in my eyes, I got off the bike but worked together with her.