Experts have long thought that depression could be bad for your heart. A new study demonstrates just how erous it can be. Brenda Penninx, gerontologist (老年医学家) at Wake Forest University, North California, and her colleagues followed 2847 people over the age of 55 — both with and without heart disease — for four years in order to trace the effects of depression. In the end, they found that people with major depression ( 极度压抑 ) were at least three as likely to die of heart disease as were patients who weren ’ t depressed. Even subjects with mild depression experienced a fatality rate that was 50 per cent higher than normal. Brenda Penninx isn ’ t sure exactly what the connection between heart disease and depression is, but since depression can raise stress, and stress triggers an outpouring of the hormone cortisol ( 肾上腺皮质素 ), and this could cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise. Other factors could also play a part: Depressed people are less likely to do physical exercise or eat right than those who do not suffer from the malady. “ Depression deserves a lot more attention than it usually gets. ” Penninx warns, “ It ’ s a huge cardiac risk factor, so it ’ s really crucial to take care of your emotions. ” (200 ws) 76. Why did Brenda Penninx and her colleagues follow 2847 people over 55 years old? [A] Because they wanted to know their physical conditions. [B] Because the people all had heart disease. [C] Because they wanted to know how depression affect people ’ s hearts. [D] Because 50% of the people died of heart disease. 77. Which of the following statement is true? [A] Depression would cause pressure. [B] Depression would cause blood pressure to go down. [C] Depression had definite connection with heart disease. [D] Mild depression is not at all harmful. 78. What does “ malady ” mean in the passage? [A] Heart disease [B] Depression [C] Blood pressure [D] Stress 79. What did we usually do concerning depression? [A] We didn ’ t pay much attention to it. [B] We paid too much attention to it. [C] We tried to avoid it. [D] We simply ignored it. 80. What is the proper title of the passage? [A] Heart Disease [B] Depression [C] Depression and Fatality Rate [D] Depression Hurts the Heart