Friends fill our hearts in countless ways: they make us laugh, give us advice, and share quality time with us — activities that can contribute to healthier aging. And according to research, our friendships can promote cardiovascular wellness, too.

Stress is a well-established contributing factor to heart disease: it can disrupt our sleep and raise our blood pressure, leading to inflammation (炎症). Think about the weight that’s lifted when you talk through a problem with a friend — that itself is a stress management strategy, according to experts. Dr. Roy Ziegelstein says, “Individuals with meaningful friendships manage stressful situations better and have lower blood pressure and inflammation as part of those responses.”

The landmark Framingham Heart Study, which followed thousands of people across three generations to learn more about cardiovascular risk factors, found that social networks were highly influential in participants’ decisions to quit smoking — a major cause of heart disease. “Social support, especially from people with good health habits, helps people adopt and maintain good habits like eating right and exercising, and also helps avoid bad habits,” Dr. Ziegelstein says. In addition to promoting preventative care, good friends might urge us to seek medical advice when unwell. “Meaningful relationships make it less likely for a person to ignore potentially concerning symptoms of heart disease and seek needed medical attention that can be lifesaving,” Dr. Ziegelstein adds.

Anxiety and depression are known risk factors for the development of heart diseases. The effect of loneliness on heart disease risk is “similar to smoking or obesity”, according to Alan Rozanski, MD, a heart disease expert at Mount Sinai. To combat these negative emotions, he encourages meaningful social connection with loved ones beyond just quick digital check-ins, which he notes can lack depth. If you’re feeling down, call a friend and make a plan — your heart will thank you.

1.1. According to Dr. Roy Ziegelstein, meaningful friendships _________.

A cure heart diseases

B ease stress response

C prevent social conflicts

D improve sleep quality

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据文章第二段中 Dr. Roy Ziegelstein 的原话“Individuals with meaningful friendships manage stressful situations better and have lower blood pressure and inflammation as part of those responses.”可知，有意义的友谊能帮助人们更好地应对压力，并在这一过程中降低血压和炎症，即缓解压力反应。A项“治愈心脏病”表述过于绝对，文章并未提及治愈；C项“预防社会冲突”无依据；D项“改善睡眠质量”虽与压力有关，但非该段直接强调的核心观点。故选B。

2.2. What can be inferred from the Framingham Heart Study?

A Social ties shape healthy habits.

B Social networks cause heart risks.

C Family bonds reduce pressure greatly.

D Smoking results from loneliness.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据第三段对 Framingham Heart Study 的描述，研究发现社会网络对参与者戒烟的决定有显著影响，且 Dr. Ziegelstein 进一步指出社会支持有助于人们养成并维持健康习惯（如合理饮食和锻炼），同时避免坏习惯。由此可合理推断，社会关系有助于塑造健康习惯。B项“社会网络导致心脏风险”与原文意思相反；C项“家庭纽带显著减轻压力”文中未提；D项“吸烟源于孤独”文中无此因果关系的表述。故选A。

3.3. What may Alan Rozanski agree with?

A Loneliness endangers heart health.

B Digital talks are deeply meaningful.

C Anxiety hardly affects the heart.

D Exercise matters more than friends.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。根据最后一段中 Alan Rozanski 的观点，孤独对心脏病风险的影响“similar to smoking or obesity”（与吸烟或肥胖类似），可见他认同孤独会危害心脏健康。B项“数字交谈有深刻意义”与文中他提到的“quick digital check-ins … can lack depth”相悖；C项“焦虑几乎不影响心脏”与文中“anxiety and depression are known risk factors”矛盾；D项“锻炼比朋友更重要”文中未进行比较。故选A。

4.4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A The Secret to a Longer Life.

B The Importance of Social Networks.

C Friendship: A Boost for the Heart.

D Stress Management in Modern Times.

解析：选C。C主旨大意题。文章开篇点明友谊可促进心血管健康，随后从缓解压力、促进健康习惯、预防孤独导致的负面情绪等多个角度论证友谊对心脏的益处，全文始终围绕“友谊对心脏的积极作用”展开。C项“友谊：心脏的助推器”准确概括了这一主旨。A项“长寿的秘诀”范围过大，文章未探讨长寿问题；B项“社会网络的重要性”过于宽泛，未突出“心脏健康”这一核心；D项“现代社会的压力管理”仅覆盖文章部分内容，未能涵盖友谊与心脏健康的整体关系。故选C。