statistic would be what we would expect even if volunteering does not boost longevity.would用法?

题目

statistic would be what we would expect even if volunteering does not boost longevity.would用法?
When people engage in activities that help others ,their brain releases endorphins,
the brain’s natural opiates,which induce in people a feeling of well-being.It has
been suggested that regular release of endorphins increases people’s longevity.
And a statistic on adults who regularly engage in volunteer work helping others
shows that they live longer,on average,than adults who do not volunteer.How-
ever,that statistic would be what we would expect even if volunteering does not
boost longevity,because.
在这里would是引导什么mood的句子?为什么这样用?
that statistic would be what we would expect even if volunteering does not
boost longevity,这句话如何翻译

答案

在这个句子里,would 的用法仅作为表语气的情态动词：用婉转的语气表达自己的看法.后面的 we would 也是一样的用法.这种用法在讨论型的文章中经常出现,不能被认为是中学课本里语法说的“过去将来时”.
那项研究（数据）所言正是我们所期待的,哪怕做义工不能使人长寿.