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Depression(抑郁癥) is a serious problem today. Depression causes workers to be unpro- ductive,
causing companies and countries to lose billions of dollars. One expert says that de- pression is like cancer
because it is "widespread, costly and deadly". Depression hits one per- son in five around the world.
Although people have believed depression to be a problem among the rich and educated, studies show
that depression is a problem among everyone. Over any six-month period, be- tween five to seven percent
of the world's 15opulation will be suffering from a serious depres- sion.
Suicide rates among people suffering from the disease in its extreme, or clinical form were 80 percent
higher than in the population at large, and sufferers were four times more likely to have heart attacks.
People who suffer from depression often have problems sleeping, getting up on time, and doing work
unproductively.
Depression, which researchers agree, has its origin in the genes, brings loss of confi- dence and ability
to concentrate making it impossible for employees and managers to work efficiently.
Depression is made more serious in China by Chinese inability to face it. Many people believe that
depressed people are either weak or lazy. Besides, there is no good treatment, with few specialists
available.
"Most patients in China just don't get help," a Chinese doctor says. "In my hospital, I have to see 30 or
40 patients in a morning, just have time to say ' Hello, how do you feel?'"
In Western countries, people are not afraid to admit that they have depression, but most do not tell it to
their boss, because they fear that their boss would fire them.
"In my experience, aging bosses are the most willing to admit they have it, because they feel the most
Secure about themselves." an American doctor says.
Hopefully, in the near future, people around the world will be able to admit that they have depression so
that they can get the right treatment.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. It is widely believed that everyone may suffer from depression.
B. Depression brings great problems to its sufferers in their life and work.
C. Depression is a commonly--existing problem only in rich countries.
D. The poorer and the less educated a person is the less he will suffer from depression.
2. Depression becomes more serious in China because of .
A. the pressure of unemployment
B. the lack of treatment and doctors
C. their unwillingness to tell it to their bosses
D. the doctor's careless work
3. Compared to normal people, the depressed people are likely to be .
A. very unconfident and often absent--minded
B. easy to avoid being hit by heart attacks
C. working efficiently and productively
D. either weak or lazy
4. The underlined phrase "at large" is the closest in meaning to .
A. widely
B. as a whole
C. in a large quantity
D. largely
5. What can we infer from the passage?
A. People are suffering from depression because of the shortage of specialists.
B. The aging bosses around the world dare to say they are depressed.
C. More and more patients will turn to specialists for help.
D. Western people are braver than Chinese people.
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