?It was just after 5 pm.I was holding a cup of tea at Sainsbury's,the second largest chain of supermarkets in the U.K.We were around a dozen customers in the supermarket's cafe,and most of us were on our own.Despite placing the special sign "Reserved for customers in the mood for a chat" in an obvious position,I got no takers.
?Government announcers tell us that Britons of all ages are suffering loneliness.About 200,000 senior citizens have not spoken to a friend or relative for over a month.Family doctors suspect that some of their patients are making appointments because they are lonely.The receptionists also agree that the front desk is a magnet for the isolated to come and experience a bit of human contact.And the young,even with their busy lives on social media,are also affected.New research from Sainsbury's Living Well Index reveals that almost two thirds of the people aged between 18 and 24 have admitted to sometimes feeling lonely.
?To ease the problem of loneliness,Sainsbury's has launched "Talking Tables," which are reserved spaces where people can have a chat.They appear in a variety of formats.A sign-posted table located in cafés in-store is one of jye.aim.The concept has been developed in close association with Chatty Café.Alexandra Hoskyn was inspired to start a network of Chatty Cafés in the U.K.jye.ai 2017 after finding herself socially isolated as a new mother at home with young children.
?"We know from our Living Well Index that community connections are a key driver of helping people live well,"says Judith Batchelar,director of Sainsbury's brand. "We hope that by bringing people together at our 'Talking Tables,' we can develop the potential of our store space to help people be better connected to the communities they live and work in."
?A European friend suggested that all this unsolicited(自發(fā)的)friendliness may not seem very British.However,a staff member at the Sainsbury's sounded more positive: "It's early days,and you cannot change people's habits overnight."
(1)Who might come to "Talking Table"? AA
A.Anyone eager to chat.
B.Only the lonely old people.
C.Teenagers active in social media.
D.People having communication problems.
(2)What can we infer from the text? DD
A. "Talking Table" is a pioneer in the UK.
B. "Talking Table" was inspired by some new mothers.
C.Friendliness can change British habits directly.
D. "Talking Table" can produce a sense of belonging.
(3)What is the important element for people's well-being according to Judith Batchelar? BB
A.Personal ambition.
B.Communication in the community.
C.Relations with family.
D.Physical and mental health.
(4)What is the passage mainly about? BB
A.The largest supermarket chain in the UK Sainsbury's.
B.The supermarket's cafes helping ease loneliness.
C.The latest study on loneliness of senior citizens.
D.The approaches to getting rid of loneliness.
【答案】A;D;B;B
【解答】
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發(fā)布:2024/4/20 14:35:0組卷:0引用:1難度:0.5
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