Pessimistic，anxious and depressed people may have a higher risk of dementia (痴呆)，US researchers reported on Thursday.
A study of a group of 3,500 people showed that those who scored high for pessimism on a standardized personality test had a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia 30 to 40 years later.
Those scoring very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales had a 40 percent higher risk，the study showed.
“There appears to be a doseresponse pattern.That is，the higher the scores，the higher the risk of dementia，”Dr Yonas Geda，a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester，Minnesota who led the study，said in a statement.
Geda and his colleagues looked at the medical records of 3,500 men and women who lived near the clinic between 1962 and 1965.
They all took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory，a standard personality and life experience test，Geda’s team told a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Miami.
In 2004，the team interviewed the participants or family members.
Those who scored higher for anxiety and pessimism on the test were more likely，as a group，to have developed dementia by 2004，including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular (血管的) dementia.
This did not mean a person who is pessimistic could assume he or she has a higher risk of developing dementia.
“One has to be cautious in interpreting a study like this，”Geda said.
“One cannot make a leap from group level data to the individual.Certainly the last thing you want to do is to say，‘Well，I am a pessimist；thus，I am doomed to develop dementia 20 or 30 years later，’because this may end up becoming a selffulfilling prophecy (预言)．”
And there is NOT any specific way to prevent dementia，although many studies have shown that a healthy diet，exercise，keeping active in other ways，doing puzzles and other activities lower the risk.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．It is impossible for people to avoid dementia. |
| B．People who always have negative feelings may have a higher risk of getting dementia. |
| C．If we have a healthy diet，we would have no chance of getting dementia. |
| D．A person who is pessimistic has a higher risk of developing dementia. |
According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE?
| A．There are many ways to prevent dementia effectively. |
| B．A person who is pessimistic is sure to get dementia. |
| C．Those who lead a happy life will not get dementia when they are old. |
| D．Those who scored high for pessimism might have a higher risk of dementia. |
Which of the following does NOT help reduce the risk of getting dementia according to the passage?
| A．A healthy diet. | B．Proper exercises. |
| C．Doing puzzles. | D．Getting up early. |
Which of the following words is not close to the meaning of the word “pessimistic”？
| A．Cheerless. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Unhappy. | D．Upset. |
Driving a car is not just handling controls and judging speed and distance. It requires you to predict what other road users will do and get ready to react to something unexpected. When alcohol is consumed, it enters your bloodstream and acts as a depressant (抑制药), damaging eyesight, judgment and co-ordination(协调), slowing down reaction time and greatly increasing the risk of accidents. Even below the drink driving link, driving will be affected.
Alcohol may take a few minutes to be absorbed into the bloodstream and start action on the brain. Absorption rate is increased when drinking on an empty stomach or when consuming drinks mixed with fruit juice. To get rid of alcohol from the body is a very slow process and it is not possible to speed it up with any measures like taking a shower or having a cup of tea or coffee.
The present Road Traffic Ordinance states clearly that the limit of alcohol concentration is:
● 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood; or
● 22 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath; or
● 67 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of urine (尿液).
Drivers who cause traffic accidents, or who commit a moving traffic offence or are being suspected(怀疑) of drink driving will be tested.
Any driver found drinking beyond the limit will be charged. The driver declared guilty may be fined a maximum of HK $25,000 and be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison and punished for 10 driving-offence points; or temporarily banned from driving.
The same punishment applies to failing to provide specimens (样本) far breath, blood or urine tests without good excuse.
Drink driving is a criminal offence. Be a responsible driver, think before you drink. For the safety of yourself and other road users, never drive after consuming alcohol.The first paragraph is mainly about ________.
| A．the introduction of driving skills |
| B．the damage of drinking to your body |
| C．the effect of drinking on driving |
| D．the process of alcohol being absorbed |
The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “________”.
| A．alcohol | B．absorption |
| C．blood | D．process |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Drinking below the drink driving limit has no effect on driving. |
| B．Alcohol is taken in more quickly when drunk with fruit juice. |
| C．Having a cup of tea helps to get rid of alcohol from the body. |
| D．50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of breath is below the drink limit. |
A driver suspected of drink driving ________.
| A．should provide specimens for testing |
| B．will be forbidden to drive for 3years |
| C．will be punished for 10 driving-offence points |
| D．should pay a maximum fine of HK $25,000 |
When it comes to friends, I desire those who will share my happiness, who possess wings of their own and who will fly with me. I seek friends whose qualities illuminate（照亮）me and train me up for love. It is for these people that I reserve the glowing hours, too good not to share.
When I was in the eighth grade, I had a friend. We were shy and “too serious” about our studies when it was becoming fashionable with our classmates to learn acceptable social behaviors. We said little at school, but she would come to my house and we would sit down with pencils and paper, and one of us would say: “Let’s start with a train whistle today.” We would sit quietly together and write separate poems or stories that grew out of a train whistle. Then we would read them aloud. At the end of that school year, we, too, were changing into social creatures and the stories and poems stopped.
When I lived for a time in London, I had a friend, He was in despair(失望)and I was in despair. But our friendship was based on the idea in each of us that we would be sorry later if we did not explore this great city because we had felt bad at the time. We met every Sunday for five weeks and found many excellent things. We walked until our despairs disappeared and then we parted. We gave London to each other.
For almost four years I have had a remarkable friend whose imagination illuminates mine. We write long letters in which we often discover our strangest selves. Each of us appears, sometimes in a funny way, in the other’s dreams. She and I agree that, at certain times, we seem to be parts of the same mind. In my most interesting moments, I often think: “Yes, I must tell….”We have never met.
It is such comforting companions I wish to keep. One bright hour with their kind is worth more to me than the lifetime services of a psychologist（心理学家），who will only fill up the healing（愈合的）silence necessary to those darkest moments in which I would rather be my own best friend.In the eighth grade, what the author did before developing proper social behavior was to _____.
| A．become serious about her study |
| B．go to her friend’s house regularly |
| C．learn from her classmates at school |
| D．share poems and stories with her friend |
In Paragraph 3, “We gave London to each other” probably means ______.
| A．our exploration of London was a memorable gift to both of us |
| B．we were unwilling to tear ourselves away from London |
| C．our unpleasant feeling about London disappeared |
| D．we parted with each other in London |
According to Paragraph 4, the author and her friend _______.
| A．call each other regularly | B．have similar personalities |
| C．enjoy writing to each other | D．dream of meeting each other |
What is the best title for the passage? _______.
| A．Unforgettable Experiences |
| B．Remarkable Imagination |
| C．Lifelong Friendship |
| D．Noble Companions |
George Eberhardt turned 107 last month, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him made it that far. So he's going to hand over some of his DNA.
He's one of 100 centenarians(百岁老人) taking part in a project that examines some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing(全基因组测试), the deciphering of a person's complete collection of DNA.
Scientists think DNA from very old healthy people could offer clues to how they have lived so long. And that could one day lead to medicines to help the rest of us stay disease-free longer.
"It's very hard to get to 105 without some genetic advantages," says Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrics(老年医学) expert at Boston University. Dr.Perls is helping find centenarians for the Archon Genomics X Prize competition. The X Prize Foundation, best known for a spaceflight competition, is offering $10 million in prize money to researchers who decipher the complete DNA code from 100 people older than 100. The contest will be judged on accuracy, completeness and the speed and cost of sequencing.
Mr. Eberhardt played and taught tennis until he was 94and says he's participating in the X Prize project because he's interested in science and technology. It's not clear his genes will reveal much. Nobody else in his extended family reached 100, and he thinks only a couple reached 90, he said in a telephone interview.
So why does he think he lived so long? He attributes it to 70 years of marriage to his wife, Marie. She in turn cites his "intense interest in so many things" over a lifetime, from building radios as a child to pursuing a career in electronics research.
But scientists believe there's more to it, and they want to use genome sequencing to investigate. Dr. Richard Cawthon of the University of Utah, who is seeking longevity genes by other means, says it may turn up genetic features that protect against multiple diseases or that slow the process of aging in general.
| A．Separating. | B．Interpreting. |
| C．Gathering. | D．Comparing. |
| A．How many genes are studied |
| B．How precise the sequencing is |
| C．How fast the research is finished |
| D．The number of researchers |
| A．what the Archon Genomics X prize competition is about |
| B．the significance of studying the genes that lead to longevity |
| C．how whole-genome sequencing is applied to the study of genes |
| D．the genetic advantages the centenarians have |
| A．He doesn’t have any genetic advantages. |
| B．Most of his family have been long-lived. |
| C．His genes don’t reveal much about why he has lived so long. |
| D．He enjoyed doing electronics research. |
| A．Comparing One Hundred Centenarians |
| B．Who Will Win the Archon Genomics X Prize Competition? |
| C．A New Technology--- Whole –Genome Sequencing |
| D．Is the Secret to a Long Life in the DNA of Centenarians? |
It's difficult not to become involved in gossip at work. After all, people like gossip and interesting bits of information: you only have to look at the number of celebrity-focused publications to realize that we have a huge appetite for discussing other people's lives. At work, however, this type of interaction is harmful and costly. It wastes time, damages reputations, promotes divisiveness(分歧), creates anxiety.
Rumors often grow because people like to be "in the know." Knowledge is power, and that's why the people with the least amount of power in an organization can often be the ones to start and spread rumors. It can make them feel important if they're seen to know things that others don't.
This knowledge is at the center of why and how rumors start and spread. Insufficient（不足） knowledge or incomplete information are often to blame. Consider these examples:
◆People don't know why a colleague was fired, so they make up a reason based on some limited knowledge or insignificant fact. "I saw John override（推翻） the cash register the other day without a supervisor present. Maybe he stole some money and that's why he went."
◆People see a pattern of behavior between two individuals and they add their own explanation. "Joseph and Samantha spend a lot of time together after hours ‘catching up on paperwork.' And just yesterday, they were sitting awfully close to each other in the meeting. I bet paperwork isn't all that's getting done after work!"
These rumors are typical of the things you'll face at work, and they spread because of a lack of accurate information. So, the best way to fight rumors is with good communication. When you communicate well, your team knows what's happening, and they trust that you'll keep them informed. Good communication within your team also means that you will become aware of any rumors that are starting, and you'll be able to address them quickly and effectively.The huge number of celebrity-focused publications reveals that_______.
| A．celebrities depend on publications to achieve fame |
| B．people like discussing other people’s lives |
| C．the publishing industry is booming |
| D．celebrities are rather disturbed by rumors. |
Who is most likely to spread rumors at work?
| A．The ones who have a large circle of friends |
| B．The ones who have quick access to information. |
| C．The ones who have good knowledge. |
| D．The ones with the least amount of power. |
The passage is developed mainly___________.
| A．by using time order. | B．by making comparisons |
| C．by giving figures | D．by giving examples |
What is the relationship between Joseph and Samantha in the eyes of the people spreading rumors?
| A．They are lovers. | B．They are work partners. |
| C．They are rivals. | D．They are old friends. |
What is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?
| A．How to fight rumors. |
| B．Why rumors start. |
| C．How to communicate with colleagues. |
| D．Why knowledge matters. |
In California, young sea lions are in danger of starving to death and it is not clear why.
"I'm going on a rescue right now," said Peter Wallerstein talking on his cell phone while in his truck. "'I've already rescued two sea lions."
Wallerstein can barely keep up with the distress calls. His sea mammal rescue operation has already saved 240 California sea lion pups this year.
"Not much energy left in this guy," he said about one particular sea lion. Almost all were dying from starvation.
"We found them seven miles up the flood control channel, found them under a car, and we don't really know why," he said.
On average, about a hundred sea lions are rescued in Southern California during the winter. But 700 have been picked up over the last three months.
"They're very sick," said Keith Matassa, who runs the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. His team is nursing 115 sea lions back to health.
"A normal sea lion at this age -- 8 to 9 months old -- should be around 60, 70 pounds," said Matassa. "We're seeing them come into our center at 20 to 25 pounds, and really, they look like walking skeletons."
Sea lions depend on herring, sardines and other small fish found close to California's coast.
Sarah Wilkin is a marine biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service. Asked why it has reached this point, she said: "We're looking at whether the prey that these animals should be eating just isn't available to them for some reason, and that could be because there's less of it or because it's moved and it's not accessible."
It can take four months of care before the animals are strong enough to be released back into the Pacific.
"This is the ultimate gift watching an animal come in as a walking skeleton," said Matassa, "and watching it run off the beach...and just head out where it should be."
Scientists worry they'll find even more starving sea lions in the weeks ahead. April and May are usually peak months for sea lion rescues.
| A．Wallerstein is bored with the calls. |
| B．The situation is terrible for the sea lions. |
| C．Wallerstein’s telephone is hard to get through to. |
| D．The rescue operation is going very well. |
| A．The winter coldness. | B．A lack of prey. |
| C．A flood. | D．Car accidents. |
| A．released back into the Pacific |
| B．sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service |
| C．sent to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center |
| D．released on the Californian coast |
| A．they are very firm | B．they are very active |
| C．they are very ugly | D．they are very thin |
| A．Access to Sea lions’ Prey |
| B．Sea Lion Rescue Operation |
| C．Starvation Endangers Sea Lions |
| D．Protection for Sea Lions Is Pressing |
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