A healthy dose of sunshine may be the secret to staying young, British scientists have disclosed.
Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.
Researchers from King's College London studied 2,160 women a
ged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres - a biological marker of ageing found in DNA．As people get older, their telomeres get shorter and they are easy to have illnesses.
But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres - a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.
The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.
Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said: "These results are exciting because they prove for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D．
"This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."
He said further studies are required to confirm the findings.
Professor Tim Spector, head of KCL's twin research unit, and a co-author of the report, added: "Although it might sound absurd(荒谬的), it's possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process."
Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 per cent of the body's supply, but lower levels can also be obtained through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals.
Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.What’s the best title of this passage?
| A．Sunshine helps to keep you young. |
| B．Vitamin D has a protective effect on many diseases. |
| C．Telomeres - a biological marker of ageing. |
| D．People have found the secret to having a long life. |
How can people get Vitamin D?
A.through water. B. through sunshine.
C.through food. D.both B and C.Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
| A．women with high levels of vitamin D shows a sign of being biologically younger and healthier. |
| B．vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases. |
| C．too much sunshine may increase our risk of skin cancer. |
| D．It has been proved that sunshine helps to keep you young. |
Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, fundingcuts, and many other administrative chores and started to dream of retirement．Sitting in trafficon a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering．I would imagine spending time withmy grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books．Itold myself that I wouldn't sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anythingrequiring a schedule．
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me,leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends．On thesecond day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper …On the third day, ...This is retirement? Itried to tell myself that it was just the transition, that those golden moments were right roundthe corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough．But something was missing．
A former colleague asked a favor．A group of students was going to Jamaica to work withchildren in the poorest neighbourhood．Would I interrupt my newfound "happiness" and returnto the students, just this once? One trip．That's all．My bags were packed and by the door．
The trip was very inspiring．I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by thesense of responsibility of the young people on the trip．When I returned home, I offered to workone day a week with a local youth organization．The experience was so positive that I was soonvolunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them intheir voluntary work．
Now，it seems, the tables have turned ．Some days I am the teacher, other days I am thestudent．These young people have reawakened my commitment to social justice issues bychallenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poorand suffer because of greed, corruption and war．Most importantly, they have given me theopportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions．In return, I help them do theircharitable projects overseas．I've gone from running one school to helping oversee theconstruction of schools in twenty-one countries!What did the writer expect to do after he retired?
| A．To stay away from busy schedules． | B．To write some great books． |
| C．To do some voluntary work． | D．To plan for his future． |
Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?
| A．He missed his students in that country． |
| B．He couldn't reflise his colleague's favor． |
| C．He was concerned about the people there． |
| D．He was not satisfied with his retired life． |
The underlined part "the tables have turned" （Paragraph 5 ） means that thewriter ．
| A．improved the situation in his school | B．felt happy to work with students again |
| C．became a learner rather than a teacher | D．changed his attitude toward his retired life |
What does the writer think of his retired life now?
| A．Disappointing． | B．Troublesome． |
| C．Promising． | D．Meaningful． |
| INVITATION TO A GOING-AWAY PARTY Sunday, June12 Dear Li Yang and Lu Ming, You are invited to a party for our foreign teacher Miss Green’s return to England for her holiday. She leaves on June 21. The best part of the party will be when we sing and dance together. Party given by: Students’ Union Date: Saturday, June 18,2006 Time: 6:00p.m. to 9:30p.m. Place: The Students’ Dining Hall Reply by: Friday, June 17 Food and drinks will be provided at the party. Zhang Yu PS: This event is NOT to be missed! We hope to see you there! |
When will they have the party?
| A．On Sunday, June12th. | B．On Friday,June 17th. |
| C．On Saturday, June18th. | D．On Tuesday,June21th. |
How long will the party last?
| A．For three hours. | B．For two hours and a half. |
| C．For four hours and a half. | D．For three hours and a half. |
According to the invitation, which sentence is TRUE ?
| A．Miss Green leaves on Tuesday. | B．They are not going to sing. |
| C．They are not going to dance. | D．They can’t eat food at the party. |
Who are Li Yang and Lu Ming?
| A．Zhang Yu’s teachers. | B．Zhang Yu’s students |
| C．Zhang Yu’s schoolmates. | D．Zhang Yu’s sisters. |
Dick was born in a poor family. His father had a small boat and went fishing in the morning and sold the fish in the market in the afternoon. Then he bought some food for his family. When winter came, they were often hungry. One morning the hungry man fell into the river and wasn’t found. Dick’s mother left her three-year-old son without saying good-bye. His aunt had to look after him.
Twenty years passed. Dick became a tall, strong man. He found work on a farm. He worked hard and wanted to get more money. He often went to see his aunt with some nice presents. The woman was very happy but one day she died in a traffic accident. The young man was very sad. After he buried her, he decided to buy a beautiful tombstone(墓碑)for her. He went to town and came in a shop, but all the tombstones were too expensive. He asked, “Do you sell an old tombstone, sir?” “Yes, we do, sir, ” answered the shopkeeper. “Is it as expensive as the new one?”
“No, it’s much cheaper,” said the man. “But another name was engraved (刻) on it.” “It doesn’t matter, ” said Dick. “My aunt couldn’t read.” If , the family members were hungry.
| A．Dick’s father could catch no fish in winter |
| B．Dick’s father had a boat in winter |
| C．Dick’s father had to look after him in winter |
| D．no food was sold in winter |
Dick wanted to get more money to .
| A．marry a wife | B．give his aunt nice presents |
| C．buy a farm | D．build a house |
Dick often went to see his aunt because .
| A．she felt lonely | B．she was often ill |
| C．she had no children | D．with her help he grew up |
Dick wanted to buy an old tombstone because .
| A．he didn’t had enough money to buy a new one |
| B．his aunt couldn’t read whose name was engraved |
| C．his aunt wasn’t going to mind it |
| D．nobody knew what his aunt’s name was |
Too many people want others to be their friends，but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendships don’t last long. To have a friend，you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules：be honest；be generous；be understanding.
Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you do not tell the truth，people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest，you may lose the friend’s trust. Good friends always count_ on one another to speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money or your clothes .Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them，you help your friend know better.
Sooner or later every one needs understanding and helping with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be the first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike .But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends，you must practice honesty，generosity and understanding.Some friendships don’t last very long because ________.
| A．there are too many people who want to make friends |
| B．some people receive friendship but don’t give friendship back |
| C．those who give others friendship receive friendship from others |
| D．they don’t know friendship is something serious |
According to the passage，honesty is________.
| A．something countable |
| B．the base of friendship |
| C．as important as money |
| D．more important than anything else |
The best title of this passage is ________.
| A．Honesty Is the Best Policy |
| B．A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed |
| C．How to Be Friends |
| D．Three Important Points in Life |
What’s the meaning of “count on” in this passage?
| A．数，点（数） | B．认为，看作 |
| C．重视 | D．期待 |
Linda Evans was my best friend—like the sister I never had. We did everything together：piano lessons，movies，swimming，horseback riding.
When I was 13，my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters，and we saw each other on special times—like my wedding(婚礼) and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes，and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back，stamped “Address(地址) Unknown” I had no idea how to find Linda.
Over the years，I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share(分享) happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman—Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans，” I thought，but I still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs.Tobin！”she said excitedly，“Linda Evans Wagman is my mother.”
Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much，even after 40 years，laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure：We won’t lose each other again!The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans ________.
| A．at the age of 13 |
| B．before she got married |
| C．after they moved to new homes |
| D．before the writer’s family moved away |
They didn’t often write to each other because they ________.
| A．got married |
| B．had little time to do so |
| C．didn’t like writing letters |
| D．could see each other on special time |
There was an empty place in the writer’s heart because she ________.
| A．was in trouble |
| B．didn’t know Linda’s address |
| C．received the card that she sent |
| D．didn’t have a friend like Linda to share her happiness or sadness |
They haven’t kept in touch ________.
| A．for about 40 years |
| B．for about 27 years |
| C．since they got married |
| D．since the writer’s family moved away |
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