In our digital age, people often use online communications to form and maintain relationships—especially teens and younger adults. While that can be a good thing, it also means that online “ghosting”—cutting off communications with someone without explanation—has become a more common practice. While ghosting someone may be common, it can deeply and negatively affect the well-being of the person being ghosted. But what happens to the “ghoster” in those situations? Does someone who ghosts others pay a price? A new study aimed to find out.

The researchers surveyed a group of 415 older teens and young adults in Germany about their ghosting habits, by reporting how often they’ve done things like “suddenly completely stopped replying to a partner from a casual or steady relationship on social media without that person knowing the reasons” or “broken off contact on social media with someone in my circle of friends or acquaintances (熟人) without giving a reason for doing so.”

They also reported on how much they felt overwhelmed by social media or smartphone communications, generally—which is a potential reason to ghost—as well as their levels of self-esteem and depressive symptoms, initially and about four months later. The researchers used this data to look at how ghosting someone might affect the ghoster’s well-being, as well as how different factors could be tied to their initial ghosting behavior.

After analyzing the data, the researchers found that young people who’d ghosted friends more at one point in time were more likely to be depressed four months later. This suggests that ghosting could have negative health consequences not only for “ghostees” but for “ghosters”, says lead researcher Michaela Forrai of the University of Vienna.

“Social connections are important for one’s well-being, and even limited, emotionally-intense relationships come with significant benefits—which we tend to underestimate (低估),” she says. “A lack of social connections can put individuals at risk for depressive tendencies, which is what we think happened here.”

1.What’s the purpose of the new study?

A To prove people often use online communications.

B To convince ghosting happens among young people.

C To discover the impact of “ghosting” on “ghosters”.

D To find out how the person being ghosted behaves.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段最后三句“But what happens to the “ghoster” in those situations? Does someone who ghosts others pay a price? A new study aimed to find out.”可知，这项新的研究的目的在于了解在线“玩失踪”对ghoster（对他人“玩失踪”的人）的影响。故选C。

2.What didn’t the survey participants report?

A Their frequency of ghosting someone.

B Their reasons for using social media.

C Their levels of self-esteem.

D Their depressive symptoms.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第二段的“by reporting how often they’ve done things like...”可知，受调查者报告了他们对别人“玩失踪”的频率；根据第三段的“They also reported on...as well as their levels of self-esteem and depressive symptoms”可知，他们还报告了“自己的自尊水平”以及“抑郁症状”；文章中并未提及报告他们使用社交媒体的原因。故选B。

3.What does Michaela Forrai try to convey in the last paragraph?

A Social connections are beneficial.

B It’s hard to establish new relationships.

C Lack of social connections is common.

D More people tend to suffer from depression.

解析：选A。A 段落大意题。根据最后一段中的“Social connections are important...（社交联系很重要）”“even limited, emotionally-intense relationships come with significant benefits（即使是有限的、情感强烈的关系也会带来显著的好处）”以及“A lack of social connections can put individuals at risk...（缺乏社会关系会使个人处于危险之中）”可知，Michaela Forrai意在强调社交联系有很大的好处。故选A。

4.Where is the text most probably taken from?

A A science textbook.

B Teen’s literature.

C Personal diary.

D A science report.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。本文主要介绍了一项关于在线突然“玩失踪”对于该行为实施者的健康影响的研究，介绍了研究过程和结果。由此推断本文最有可能来自一份科学报告。故选D。