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.
【小题1】As for the Framingham Heart Study we can learn that __________.
| A．it was only conducted in 1948 | B．it involves more than 12, 000 people |
| C．it was founded by John Cacioppo | D．it showed that any behavior could spread |
【小题2】From the passage, we can learn that __________.
| A．the behavior of littering doesn’t spread |
| B．a lonely person won’t have friends |
| C．everyone may be affected by others’ loneliness |
| D．lonely people don’t know the causes of their loneliness |
【小题3】Which statement about the spread of loneliness is TRUE?
| A．The spreading effect is the second strongest among friends. |
| B．No spreading effect is found on husbands and wives. |
| C．Women are more likely to be affected than men. |
| D．Brothers are more easily to be affected than neighbors. |
【小题4】What is the main idea of the passage？
| A．Action should be taken to help lonely people. | B．People feel lonely for many reasons. |
| C．Ways to fight against loneliness. | D．Lonely people can affect others. |
