For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its chief benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”
Many of history’s creative minds have also been associated with a large amount of caffeine consumption.
According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.
For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.
Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.
Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.
It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”
One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.Stephen Braun mainly stresses caffeine’s _______.
| A．creating ideas | B．improving work efficiency |
| C．helping people to relax | D．stimulating people |
The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.
| A．most artists like drinking coffee |
| B．drinking coffee helps artists make more money |
| C．there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas |
| D．drinking coffee makes artists become more successful |
What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?
| A．Getting a good mindset. | B．Drinking the coffee. |
| C．Being lost in thought. | D．Brewing the coffee. |
What does Braun advise us to do in the end?
| A．To drink less coffee. |
| B．Never to take more coffee than you need. |
| C．Never to limit caffeine use. |
| D．To work out a safe level of caffeine use. |
Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours,
Betty
| A．tell Betty some good news | B．ask for some advice |
| C．answer some questions | D．invite her to dinner |
| A．can only bring some flowers |
| B．can’t bring wine |
| C．should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late |
| D．should arrive twenty minutes late |
| A．relax at the dinner table | B．watch the other guests |
| C．ask the person beside him | D．keep silent at table |
① On Friday, January 14, 2005, my cousin, Kara Rose, came into the world. ② She looked perfectly healthy from the outside, but on the inside, the doctors had failed to discover a serious problem. ③ She often had trouble breathing and then turned blue. ④ The doctors found that Kara had been born without part of her heart. ⑤ They didn’t think she would live long enough to leave the hospital. ⑥ When she was four days old, she had her first operation. ⑦ My family stayed together during this hard time, hoping everything would turn out for the best.
Kara’s strength and determination to live were strong. Eventually, she could go home. We all waited patiently for new technology that could give Kara a new heart. When she was eighteen months old, her parents took her to a famous surgeon who performed a series of operations. There was no guarantee she would make it through the operation, but she succeeded.
Kara grew stronger every day, and it was not long before she was well enough to be around people. She had an amazing character and always wore a sweet smile. When she fell asleep against my body, happy and content, I realized how valuable life really is. As I took her in my arms with her warm breath against my neck, I decided to live every day of my life to the fullest.
This child, who is 15 years younger than I, has gone through more suffering and pain than I ever have. I admire her strength and determination. Kara has taught me that no matter how bad things seem, they can work out in the end. Knowing this small, beautiful child has made me a stronger person, I now believe that difficulty can be beaten.
| A．she didn’t stay long enough in the hospital |
| B．the doctors failed to discover the problem |
| C．she was born with an incomplete heart |
| D．her first operation was not successful |
| A．Kara’s determination helped her get through. |
| B．The new technology gave the family the hope to live on. |
| C．Kara eventually recovered at the age of 15. |
| D．Doctors were confident in the success of her operation. |
| A．younger people often suffer more pain |
| B．strong-will helps defeat difficulties |
| C．experienced doctors can make miracles |
| D．medical technology is developing fast |
| I was also anxiously hoping the doctors would be able to make her life longer. |
A. After Sentence ①. B. After Sentence ③.
C. After Sentence ⑤. D. After Sentence ⑦.
Consumers are being confused and misled by the hodge-podge(大杂烩) of environmental claims made by household products, according to a “green labeling” study published by Consumers International Friday.
Among the report’s more unacceptalbe findings – a German fertilizer described itself as “earthworm friendly”; a brand of flour said it was “non-polluting” and a British toilet paper claimed to be “environmentally friendlier”.
The study was written and researched by Britain’s National Consumer Council (NCC) for lobby group Consumers International. It was funded by the German and Dutch governments and the European Commission.
“While many good and useful claims are being made, it is clear that there is a long way to go in ensuring shoppers are adequately informed about the environmental impacts they buy,” said Consumers International director, Anna Fielder.
The 10-country study surveyed product packaging in Britain, Western Europe, Scandinavia and the United States. It found that products sold in Germany and the United Kingdom made the most environmental claims on average.
The report focused on claims made by specific products, such as detergent (洗涤剂), insect sprays and some garden products. It did not test claims, but compared them to labeling guidelines set by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in September, 1999. Researchers documented claims of environmental friendliness made by about 2,000 products and found many too vague or too misleading to meet ISO standards.
“Many products had specially designed labels to make them seem environmentally friendly, but in fact many of these symbols mean nothing,” said report researcher Philip Page.
“Laundry detergents made the most number of claims with 158. Household cleaners were second with 145 separate claims, while paints were third on our list with 73. The high numbers show how confusing it must be for consumers to sort the true from the misleading,” he said.
The ISO labeling standards ban vague or misleading claims on product packaging, because terms such as “environmentally friendly” and “non-polluting” cannot be verified. “What we are now pushing for is to have multinational corporations meet the standards set by the ISO,” said Page.According to the passage, the NCC found it unacceptable that _______.
| A．all the products surveyed claim to meet ISO standards |
| B．the claims made by products are often unclear and deceiving |
| C．consumers would believe many of the manufacturers’ claims |
| D．few products actually prove to be environment friendly |
As indicated in this passage, with so many good claims, the consumers _______.
| A．are becoming more cautious about the products they are going to buy |
| B．are still not willing to pay more for products with green labeling |
| C．are becoming more aware of the effects different products have on the environment |
| D．still do not know the exact impact of different products on the environment |
It can be inferred from the passage that the lobby group Consumer International wants to _______.
| A．make product labeling satisfy ISO requirements |
| B．see all household products meet environmental standards |
| C．warn consumers of the danger of so-called green products |
| D．verify the effects of non-polluting products |
Humans have sewn by hand for thousands of years. It was said that the first thread was made from animal muscle and sinew (肌腱). And the earliest needles were made from bones. Since those early days, many people have been involved in the process of developing a machine that could do the same thing more quickly and with greater efficiency.
Charles Wiesenthal, who was born in Germany, designed and received a patent on a double-pointed needle that eliminated the need to turn the needle around with each stitch (缝合) in England in 1755. Other inventors of that time tried to develop a functional sewing machine, but each design had at least one serious imperfection.
Frenchman Barthelemy Thimonnier finally engineered a machine that really worked. However, he was nearly killed by a group of angry tailors when they burned down his garment factory. They feared that they would lose their jobs to the machine.
American inventor Elias Howe, born on July 9, 1819, was awarded a patent for a method of sewing that used thread from two different sources. Howe’s machine had a needle with an eye at the point, and it used the two threads to make a special stitch called a lockstitch. However, Howe faced difficulty in finding buyers for his machines in America. In frustration, he traveled to England to try to sell his invention there. When he finally returned home, he found that dozens of manufacturers were adapting his discovery for use in their own sewing machines.
Isaac Singer, another American inventor, was also a manufacturer who made improvements to the design of sewing machines. He invented an up-and-down-motion mechanism that replaced the side-to-side machines. He also developed a foot treadle (脚踏板) to power his machine. This improvement left the sewer’s hands free. Undoubtedly, it was a huge improvement of the hand-cranked machine of the past. Soon the Singer sewing machine achieved more fame than the others for it was more practical. It could be adapted to home use and it could be bought on hire-purchase. The Singer sewing machine became the first home appliance, and the Singer company became one of the first American multinationals.
However, Singer used the same method to create a lockstitch that Howe had already patented. As a result, Howe accused him of patent infringement (侵犯). Of course, Elias Howe won the court case, and Singer was ordered to pay Howe royalties (版税). In the end, Howe became a millionaire, not by manufacturing the sewing machine, but by receiving royalty payments for his invention. Barthelemy Thimonnier’s garment factory was burned down because __________.
| A．people did not know how to put out the fire |
| B．Elias Howe thought Thimonnier had stolen his invention |
| C．the sewing machines couldn’t work finally |
| D．workers who feared the loss of their jobs to a machine set fire |
Why did the court force Isaac Singer to pay Elias Howe a lifetime of royalties?
| A．Because the judge was against Singer for his unfriendly attitude. |
| B．Because Howe had already patented the lockstitch used by Singer. |
| C．Because Singer had borrowed money from Howe and never repaid it. |
| D．Because Singer and Howe had both invented the same machine. |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
| A．A Stitch in Time Saves Nine |
| B．The Case between Howe and Singer |
| C．Patent Laws on the Sewing Machine |
| D．The Early History of the Sewing Machine |
Calling for Contributions
Keen to share your views and have your articles published in the Campus Link? We are calling for contributions to the following sections:
Lifestyle:
Do you travel widely, keep a journal of your adventures and have nice photographs that you might want to share? Or have you simply been somewhere that caught your imagination? Tell us all about your travels!
Are you an eager movie-goer? Be Leonard Maltin for the day and share your views of the latest blockbuster (大片) with our readers!
If food is your preferred choice of relaxation, try your hand at being food critic and send us your views on food/restaurants worth trying.
Class Notes:
Whether it’s about your accomplishments, memories of campus days, your recent career or a new addition to your family, we welcome you to share your news, views and photos with friends and classmates through Class Notes. Read about your classmates in this issue of Campus Link.
Research:
If this noble line of work is your bread and butter or passion, we want to hear from you! Share with Campus Link your research developments and breakthroughs. If you know of someone (your schoolmate or teacher) whose research work is a source of inspiration for our community, do not hesitate to send in your suggestions!
If you are interested in sharing any of the above, or if you know of someone worthy of feature, please get in touch with the Editor-in-Chief, at karinyeo@campuslink.sg.
Contributions will be selected based on their relevance and quality and Campus Link reserves the right to publish or reject a submission. All contributions will be edited for clarity and length. Please send your submissions in word.doc files and your photos in jpeg format.
Contributions for the next issue should reach us by 10 July 2013.In the Lifestyle section, you may not find ___________.
| A．journals of travels | B．well-taken photographs |
| C．stories of Leonard Maltin | D．opinions on restaurants |
Which of the following is TRUE about Campus Link?
| A．It offers readers bread and butter. |
| B．It welcomes research developments and breakthroughs. |
| C．It helps you to recognize your schoolmates and teachers. |
| D．It is a source of inspiration for the community. |
The poster aims to __________.
| A．declare the rights of Campus Link |
| B．introduce someone worthy of feature |
| C．share views and articles among teachers |
| D．encourage contributions for the next issue |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号