"Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?" How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn't been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the "one-eyed monster" into our homes, we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilised pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, entertain our friends and be entertained by them, go outside for our amusements. We even used to read books and listen to music occasionally. Now all our free time is regulated by the "goggle box". We rush home for our meals to be in time for this or that programme. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do—anything, providing it doesn't interfere with the programme. The monster demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.
Whole generations are growing up addicted to the television. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and sleep is lost. The television is a universal thing that makes people calm. It is now standard practice for mother to keep the children quiet by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn't matter what the children will watch—so long as they are quiet.
Television encourages passive enjoyment. We become content with second-hand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy, we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness. Television may be a splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains. In quiet, natural surrounding, we quickly discover how little we miss the King television.
.
. Through the passage, the writer aims to tell us ________.
A.how television is damaging our health |
B.how to keep away from watching television |
C.that television is doing harm to our life |
D.all of us find it difficult to live without television |
.
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.Second-hand experiences provided by television are harmful. |
B.We can enjoy our life without television. |
C.Television is a necessary way of communication. |
D.Television is becoming irreplaceable in our daily life. |
.
. What's the main reason for parents to put the children before a television set?
A.To save more time for housework. |
B.To help them sleep earlier. |
C.To keep them quiet. |
D.To help them learn more knowledge from television. |
.
By saying "we never found it difficult to occupy our spare time," the writer means ________.
A.television occupies too much of our spare time |
B.it's easy for us to find some spare time to enjoy the television |
C.we have less spare time after we have television |
D.it's difficult to spend our spare time without a television |
Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable, whether you are a book-lover or merely you are there to buy a book as a present. You may even have entered the shop just to find shelter from a sudden shower. Whatever the reason, you can soon become totally unaware of your surroundings. You soon become engrossed in some book or other, and usually it is only much later that you realise you have spent far too much time there and must dash off to keep some forgotten appointment—without buying a book, of course.
This opportunity to escape the realities of everyday life is, I think, the main attraction of a bookshop. There are not many places where it is possible to do this. You can wander round such places to your heart's content. If it is a good shop, no assistant will disturb you with usual greetings, "Can I help you, sir?" Of course you may want to find out where a particular section is. Then, and only then, are his services necessary. However, when he has led you there, the assistant should retire carefully and look as if he is not interested in selling a single book.
You have to be careful not to be attracted by the variety of books in a bookshop. It is very easy to enter the shop looking for a book on ancient coins and to come out carrying a copy of the latest best-selling novel. This sort of thing can be very dangerous. Apart from running up a huge account, you can waste a great deal of time wandering from section to section.
.
. Which may not be included in the writer's experiences while he is in a bookshop?
A.Getting relaxed without buying a book. |
B.Quarrelling with the shop assistant. |
C.Buying other books instead of those he wanted. |
D.Forgetting some important appointment. |
.
. What does the writer mean by saying "time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable"?
A.You may free yourself from the real life. |
B.Reading is free of charge there. |
C.There is nobody disturbing you there. |
D.You can enter without any certain reason. |
.
What does the underlined wordengrossed most probably mean in the first paragraph?
A.Lost. | B.Forbidden. | C.Puzzled. | D.Impressed. |
.
. The writer wrote the passage in order to ________.
A.suggest a good way of running a bookshop |
B.encourage people to do some reading in bookshops |
C.share his experience in bookshops |
D.give some advice on buying books in a bookshop |
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
Recite and repeat in conversation(谈话,交往).
When you hear a person’s name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial(矫揉造作的,不自然的).
Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone,ask that person to spell the name and pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort(努力) you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t know.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say, “I’ m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
Use associations(联络,联系).
Link(联系) each person you meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note:“Vicki Cheng — tall, black hair.” To reinforce (加强) your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on(集中精力) remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering everyone. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early.
Consider going early to conferences(会议), parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up(到场) on time. That’s fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others — an automatic (无意识的)review for you.
..How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
A.They will be moved. | B.They will be annoyed. |
C.They will be delighted. | D.They will be discouraged. |
.If you can’t remember someone’s name, you may ________.
A.tell him the truth | B.tell him a white lie |
C.ask him for pity | D.ask others to help you |
..When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember________.
A.all their names | B.a couple of names first |
C.just their last names | D.as many names as possible |
..What does the text mainly tell us?
A.Tips on an important social skill. | B.Importance of attending parties. |
C.How to make use of associations. | D.How to recite and repeat names. |
Reading is very important to help you learn English. To learn as much as you can from reading, you need to read different kinds of English. This book provides not only different kinds of English but also a good way to check your reading ability.
There are four parts in the book:
Part 1 is Messages: In this part somebody wants to wad(填塞) information in writing to somebody else. There is a test on timetables and a test on text messages.
Part 2 is People: In this part all the tests are about people. For example, there is an informal letter between friends. There is formal (正式的) English in biography (传记). There is a job application as a model to help with your writing, as well as testing your reading.
Part 3 is Places: In this part, too many different kinds of English are shown, some informal and some formal. There is informal English of a holiday postcard. There is also formal English in a letter of complaint.
Part 4 is Things: You will find some descriptive writing in this part. There are descriptions of clothes and of a computer.
You can do these tests in any order you like, or you can do all the tests with a formal or informal text. I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoy using it.
. We can find the introduction to a product in _____.
A.Part 1 | B.Part 2 |
C.Part 3 | D.Part 4 |
. Which of the following is most probably written in informal English?
A.A letter of complaint. |
B.A computer handbook. |
C.A letter to a friend. |
D.A story of a president. |
The passage is most probably written for_____.
A.test designers | B.students |
C.test-takers | D.teachers |
. What is the best title of the book?
A.Test Your Reading |
B.Help with Your Writing |
C.Learn Different Kinds of English |
D.Practise English in Different Ways |
Whether you’re headed to another country for business or pleasure, it is likely that you need to keep in touch with family or business partners in the United States. But if you plan to do that using your cellphone, you could have an unwelcome surprise—U.S. cellphones don’t work abroad. U.S. companies use different forms of technology, not like most of the international community, including Europe.
However, there is an easy, cost-effective solution to staying in touch while you’re traveling. You can rent a phone that is guaranteed(保证)to work in the countries you’re visiting. Roadpost offers a 30-day cellphone rental plan that includes free incoming calls, free voicemail and call waiting services.
The service is convenient and simple. You can place your order online and your phone will be shipped to arrive on the date you want. If an unexpected business trip comes up, Roadpost can provide next-day delivery for most cities. In addition to the phone, Roadpost provides a spare battery, travel charger and a leather carrying case.
When your phone is shipped from Roadpost, you receive an e-mail confirmation(确认)that contains your international cellphone number so you can leave it with family members and business partners; Roadpost even provides business cards preprinted with your international phone number.
Those who don’t want to be without e-mail while traveling can rent an international BlackBerry. It can be hard to stay in touch by e-mail when traveling. With an international BlackBerry, you can e-mail as much as you like, without worrying about an expensive bill. If you’re traveling to very remote areas, you may want to consider renting a satellite phone, because it receives its signals from satellites, this phone works anywhere on the planet, including oceans and mountains. When you return, simply ship the phone or BlackBerry back to Roadpost using the return kit the company provides.
The first paragraph mainly tells us that_________.
A.Americans need to change their cellphones |
B.European form of technology is different from America’s |
C.U.S. cellphones don’t work abroad |
D.Americans who go abroad will meet an unwelcome surprise |
According to the text,it can be inferred that__________.
A.an international BlackBerry is only used to send e-mail |
B.Roadpost can offer cellphones using in different areas |
C.you should select a bag used to send your cellphone |
D.Roadpost sells the best cellphones |
Which of the free services can you get from Roadpost?
A.Voicemail. | B.Sending e-mail. |
C.Shipping the phone back. | D.Call waiting services. |
Which of the following will help you a lot in mountainous areas?
A.BlackBerry. | B.The return kit. | C.E-mail. | D.Satellite phones. |
The first MP4 player was born years ago. Soon many music fans were wondering how fantastic it is! If you have been into technology enough, perhaps you may have a knowledge of the MP4. If not, you do need to know something before buying one, even if you are familiar with MP3. MP3 is the CD-like disc with greater capacity. How about MP4? This small digital product will really enrich the joy from listening to music. You can even feel the “touch” of music to your soul!
Now, some similar digital products advertised as “MP4 player” are simply MP3 players, which do not play video and MPEG format and also lack other particular functions. These products confuse some buyers, as they may think the “MP4” players simply mean they can do more than MP3.
What is MP4?
It is a multimedia container. It is not only used to store digital audio and digital video streams, especially those of MPEG, but can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and pictures. As a most modern container format, it allows streaming over the Internet.
With the help of a piece of MP4 video equipment, you can change various programs such as MPEG to MP4, ASX to MP4, AVI to MP4 and so on, which can be done very quickly and easily without any effect on the sound quality. By installing DVD-MP4 software, you can transfer particular music from a DVD to an MP4 video file. It really excites your listening music experience.
Then, there is MP4 advanced and you can set your own collection of all the programs—TV shows, games, and music. You can even see movies which are still running in cinema. What else digital product could you possibly ask for?
. It is suggested here that you should ______ before buying an MP4 player.
A.first be a music fan | B.have a knowledge of MP4 |
C.get familiar with MP3 | D.buy a CD-like disc |
. From the passage, we can see that MP4 is ______ MP3.
A.much bigger than | B.just as advanced as |
C.not so particular as | D.more functional than |
.Which function of MP4 is NOT directly mentioned in this passage?
A.Storing digital audio and video streams.
B.Recording some movies in cinema.
C.Playing TV shows, games and movies.
D.Transferring particular music from a DVD.
.From the last sentence, it’s clear that the writer tries to tell us it is ______.
A.reasonable to buy other digital products |
B.impossible to buy something else |
C.a very wise choice to buy an MP4 |
D.an exciting experience to buy an MP3 |
Shopping is not as simple as you may think! There are all sorts of tricks each time we reach out for that particular brand(品牌)of product on the shelf.
Colouring, for example, varies according to what the producers are trying to sell. Health foods are packaged(包装)in greens, yellows or browns because we think of these as healthy colours. Ice cream packets(包装) are often blue and expensive goods, like chocolates, are gold or silver.
When some kind of pain-killer (止痛药) was brought out recently, researchers found that the colours turned the customers off because they made the product look weak and ineffective. Eventually, it came on the market in a dark blue and white package — blue because we think of it as safe, and white as calm.
The size of a product can attract a shopper. But quite often a bottle doesn’t contain as much as it appears to.
It is believed that the better-known companies spend, on average, 70 percent of the total cost of the product itself on packaging!
The most successful producers know that it’s not enough to have a good product. The founder of Pears Soap, who for 25 year has used pretty little girls to promote(促销)their goods, came to the conclusion: “Any fool can make soap, but it takes a genius(天才) to sell it.”
. Which of the following may trick a shopper into buying a product according to the text?
A.The cost of its package | B.The price of the product |
C.The colour of its package | D.The brand name of the product |
. The underlined part “the colours turned the customers off” (in Para.3) means that the colours ________ .
A.attracted the customers strongly | B.had weak effects on the customers |
C.tricked the customers into shopping | D.caused the customers to lose interest |
. Which of the following is the key to the success in product sales?
A.The way to promote goods. | B.The team to produce a good product |
C.The discovery of a genius. | D.The brand name used by successful producers. |
. Which of the following would be the best title for this text?
A.Choice of Good Products. | B.Disadvantages of Products. |
C.Effect of Packaging on Shopping. | D.Brand Name and Shopping Tricks. |
阅读理解(每小题2分,满分10分)
Instead of hitting the beach, fourteen high school students traded swimming suits for lab coats last summer and turned their attention to scientific experiments.
The High School Research Program offers high school students guidance with researchers in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.Jennifer Funkhouser, academic adviser for the Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, directs this four-week summer program designed to increase understanding of research and its career potential (潜能).
Several considerations go into selecting students, including grades, school involvement and interest in science and agriculture.And many students come from poorer school districts, Funkhouser says.“This is their chance to learn techniques and do experiments they never would have a chance to do in high school.”
Warner Ervin of Houston is interested in animal science and learned how to tell male from female mosquitoes (蚊子).His adviser, Craig Coates, studies the genes(基因) of mosquitoes that allow them to fight against malaria and yellow fever.Coates thought this experience would be fun and helpful to the high school students.
The agricultural research at A&M differs from stereotypes(模式化,老一套).It’s “molecular (分子) science on the cutting edge,” Funkhouser says.The program broadened students’ knowledge.Victor Garcia of Rio Grande City hopes to become a biology teacher and says he learned a lot about chemistry from the program.
At the end of the program, the students presented papers on their research.They’re also paid $ 600 for their work—another way this program differs from others, which often charge a fee.
Fourteen students got paid to learn that science is fun, that agriculture is a lot more than milking and plowing and that research can open many doors.
.The research program is mainly designed for ______.
A.high school advisers from Houston |
B.college students majoring in agriculture |
C.high school students from different places |
D.researchers at the College of Agriculture and Life Science |
.It can be inferred from the text that the students in poorer areas ____.
A.had little chance to go to college |
B.could often take part in the program |
C.found the program useful to their future |
D.showed much interest in their high school experiments |
.When the program was over, the students ______.
A.entered that college |
B.wrote research reports |
C.paid for their research |
D.found way to make money |
.The underlined expression “on the cutting edge” in paragraph 5 means “on the most _____ position.”
A.important | B.favourable | C.astonishing | D.advanced |
.What would be the best title for the text?
A.A Program for Agricultural Science Students |
B.A Program for Animal Science Students |
C.A Program for Medical Science Lovers |
D.A Program for Future Science Lovers |
You have heard of Webster Toys. Websters have made good safe and interesting toys for more than a hundred years. Now we sell them, and children play with them, in countries from New Zealand to Norway(挪威), and from Japan to Brazil(巴西). We are looking for someone to sell our toys in the Far East. He(She) will be between the ages of thirty and forty. He will already have some years of selling in world markets behind him. He will speak good English and at least one other language of the Far East.
The person we are looking for will live in Singapore, and work in our office there but he will travel for up to six months in other countries in one year. He will know the Far East well. He should know how to sell in established(建立) markets and where to find new ones. He will know to make more money than ever, for himself and for Webster Toys.
Websters want someone who can stand on his own feet. If you think you are the person we are looking for, write to Mr.J.Sloman at our office. Webster Toys Company Church Mill Watford.
. What are Webster Toys?
A.An old kind of toys. |
B.Factories where good, safe and interesting toys are made. |
C.People who are famous for making toys for children. |
D.A company that has been making and selling toys. |
. We can most probably read the text _______.
A.in a book | B.in a dictionary | C.in a novel | D.in a newspaper |
. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.If you are thirty years old, you can apply for the position. |
B.If you live in Singaore, you can get the position. |
C.If you speak good English , you can get the position. |
D.The company is looking for some salesmen or saleswomen. |
Butter is bad for you—so is margarine(人造黄油).Coffee raises blood pressure, but may protect against cancer.Alcohol is okay, but only if it's wine.The confusing studies on what is safe to eat and drink are enough to make it impossible for anyone to understand what "good food" is.
Take the margarine-butter debate for example.Studies that linked fat—found mostly in animal products such as meat and butter—with cancer and heart disease sent millions rushing to buy margarine.But then another study found that people who ate a lot of margarine also had high levels of heart disease.For those who have a firm faith in science, this seems to be the end of the world.
But many doctors point out that their advice has never been conflicting.For years, and in various countries, they have recommended eating less fat.
People in western countries such as Britain and the United States get about 40 percent of their calories from fat.Doctors say this should be around 30 or even 25 percent,
"We must try to reduce total fat," said Dr.Robert Richardson of the University of Edinburgh, who has been studying the effects of fat on human health for years.
"We need to go to more such food as bread, in particular brown bread, and more fruit and vegetables."
Fresh produce may not be so safe, either.Last month the British Government advised consumers to peel their pears before eating, while many Americans briefly avoided apples because of fears over an insect killing chemical.
But Dr.Arnold, a British scientist, said any risk of such poisoning would be outweighed by the costs of not eating plant foods.
"On balance, if you were to put both risks against each other, the advice has to be eating as much fruit and vegetable daily as possible," she said.
In general, doctors conclude, variety truly is the best policy."The general advice is pretty much the same advice that doctors have been talking about for a long time—a varied diet, a mixture of foods and not too much of any one," Arnold said.
In which section of the magazine are you most likely to find this passage?
A.Arts and Culture | B.Entertainment |
C.Nature | D.Health |
The British Government advised consumers to peel their pears before eating because ________.
A.it found that there were insects on the pears |
B.it wanted consumers to avoid insect, killing chemicals |
C.the skin of pears was found to be bad for people's health |
D.it was a bad habit not to peel them |
The underlined word "outweigh" (Para. 8) means " __________."
A.to be heavier than usual or allowed | B.to be more dangerous than |
C.to be greater in value or importance than | D.to be considered less important than |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.Many doctors say that their advice has never been conflicting. |
B.Science provides answers to all our questions. |
C.We should peel our pears before eating. |
D.We should eat plant foods despite the risk of poisoning. |
For better or worse, multiple marriages aren't just for actress Elizabeth Taylor (famous for her eight marriages) anymore.
More Americans than ever are tying the knot for the third time or more.
Lynn Y. Naugle, a 53-yeap-old family therapist in New Orleans, says that people's personal needs and desires simply change as their life evolves.
"What functions well in the first part of our lives may not function well in the second or third part of our lives," she explains.The first marriage lasted 21 years, her second marriage five years.Two years ago, she wed for a third time, and she describes this union as an "extremely easy marriage".
Today, at an estimated one of seven weddings, the bride, the groom or both are making that trip down the aisle for at least the third time.That's twice as many as a generation ago, according to the US National Centre for Health Statistics.
In part, the sudden change in multiple marriages is a side effect of the 1970s divorce increase that has supplied an ever expanding pool of divorced singles.Even the simple fact that people are living longer has opened the door to marrying more often.No fault divorce laws (meaning no one is blamed for the failure of the marriage), and cultural changes have also meant there's less pressure than in past generations to stay in a joyless or abusive marriage.
While a single divorce didn't block either Ronald Reagan or Bob Dole from seeking the most highly demanding job in America—the US presidency—modern society still raises an; eyebrow at more than one
marriage mistake.
Indeed, there are signs that attitudes are changing."It's coming out of the closet or becoming more accepted," says Glenda Riley, who wrote a book on the history of divorce in the US."There's still embarrassment on the personal level, while there is growing acceptance on the public level for three or more marriages in a lifetime."
There is no guarantee, of course, that the third time is the best.To the contrary, second and third marriages run an equal or greater risk of divorce than first marriages, which today are given 4 out of 10 odds of failing, and they tend to end more quickly.Divorce statistics show that failed second marriages typically end two years sooner than first marriages, lasting six years on average rather than eight.That leaves some doubly divorced people open for a third try at a relatively young age.
What does the underlined phrase "tying the knot" (Para.2) mean?
A.Getting married. | B.Getting engaged. |
C.Having babies. | D.Attending funerals, |
What is NOT the reason for the increase in multiple marriages according to the passage?
A.People are healthier and enjoy a longer life than ever before. |
B.Many people have become single after a divorce boom in the past years. |
C.There is no divorce law restricting people to getting divorced. |
D.People have less pressure to leave a joyless marriage. |
What can we learn from the seventh paragraph?
A.Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole failed in seeking the job (the US presidency) because they were divorced. |
B.Ronald Reagan and Bob Dole succeeded in seeking the job (the US presidency) because they were not divorced. |
C.Modern society accepts multiple marriages completely. |
D.There is still prejudice against multiple marriages in modern society. |
Which of the statement is WRONG?
A.Acceptance to multiple marriages is different on personal level and public level. |
B.Because second marriages end sooner than first ones, people get married for the third time at a relatively young age. |
C.People learn from experience so that a second or third marriage is more stable |
D.The first marriage lasts eight year on average. |
Trees should only be pruned (修剪) when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , the number of such reasons is small. Pruning involves the cutting away of overgrown and unwanted branches, and the inexperienced gardener can be encouraged by the thought that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way.
First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have desired shape or size. The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches, which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape. Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier. You may cut out diseased or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the center and so preventing the free movement of air.
One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease , but it is a wound that will heal (愈合). Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die, so that there is a period when the tree is at risk. It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce that risk of death as far as possible. It is important to make the area, which has been pruned, smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness. You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the materials available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose. Pruning is usually done in winter , for then you can see the shape of the tree clearly without interference (妨碍) from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed. If this does happen, it is, of course, impossible to paint them properly .
.Why should pruning be done?
A.To make the tree grow taller. | B.To improve the shape of the tree. |
C.to get rid of the small ranches . | D.To make the small branches thicker. |
.Trees become unhealthy if the gardener__________.
A.giving a tree a special shape and a definite height |
B.removing small side branches and making a tree look less thick |
C.allowing too many branches to grow in the middle |
D.having a tree surrounded by many other trees |
.Why is a special material painted on the tree?
A.To help a wound to dry. | B.to cover a rough surface. |
C.To make a wound smooth. | D.To prevent disease entering a wound. |
.A good gardener prunes a tree _________ .
A.several times throughout the year | B.as quickly as possible |
C.occasionally when necessary | D.regularly every winter |
.What was the author’s purpose when writing this passage?
A.To discuss different methods of pruning. |
B.To introduce some common knowledge of pruning. |
C.To explain how trees develop disease. |
D.To give practical instruction for pruning a tree. |
That “Monday morning feeling” could be a crushing pain in the chest which leaves you sweating and gasping for breath. Recent research from Germany and Italy shows that heart attacks are more common on Monday mornings and doctors blame the stress of returning to work after the weekend break.
The risk of having a heart attack on any given day should be one in seven, but a six-year study helped by researchers at the Free University of Berlin of more than 2,600 Germans showed that the average person had a 20 percent higher chance of having a heart attack on a Monday than on any other day.
Working Germans are particularly not protected against attack, with a 33 percent higher risk at the beginning of the working week. Non-workers, by comparison, appear to be no more at risk on a Monday than any other day.
A study of 11,000 Italians proved 8 am on a Monday morning as the most stressful time for the heart, and both studies showed that Sunday is the least stressful day, with fewer heart attacks in both countries.
The findings could lead to a better understanding of what is the immediate cause of heart attacks, according to Dr Stefan Willich of the Free University. “We know a lot about long-term risk factors such as smoking and cholesterol(胆固醇)but we don’t know what actually causes heart attacks, so we can’t give clear advice on how to prevent them,” he said.
Monday mornings have a double helping of stress for the working body as it makes a rapid change from sleep to activity, and from the relaxing weekend to the pressures of work.
“When people get up, their blood pressure and heart rate go up and there are hormonal(内分泌)changes in their bodies,” Willich explained. “All these things can have an unfavourable effect in the blood system and increase the risk of a clot(血凝块)in the arteries(动脉)which will cause a heart attack.”
“When people return to work after a weekend off, the pace of their life changes. They have a higher workload, more stress, more anger and more physical activity,” said Willich.
.Monday morning feeling, as this passage shows, .
A.is not so serious as people thought |
B.is harmful to working people in Germany and Italy |
C.is the first killer in Germany and Italy. |
D.is created by researchers in Germany and Italy |
.To protect people from suffering from heart attack, doctors have paid much attention to .
A.people’s working time | B.people’s living place |
C.people’s diet and lifestyle | D.people’s nationalities |
.It can be learned from this passage that heart attack has nothing to do with .
A.blood pressure | B.heart rate | C.hormonal changes | D.blood group |
.If the researchers give us some advice to avoid Monday morning feeling, what might it be?
A.Stop working on Monday | B.Create a pleasant working environment |
C.Get up late on Monday morning | D.Go to work with a doctor |
.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.The risk of having heart attacks on Monday mornings is the same as on any other day of the week to non-workers |
B.33% of the Germans have heart diseases, therefore heart attacks are more common in Germany than in any other country. |
C.20%of the Italians appear to have higher possibility of having heart attacks. |
D.Non-smokers are more likely to have heart attacks on Sundays. |
What's your dream vacation? Watching wildlife in Kenya? Boating down the Amazon? Sunbathing in Malaysia? New chances are opening up all the time to explore the world. So we visit travel agents, compare packages and prices , and pay our money.
We know what our vacation costs us. But do we know what it might cost someone else? It's true that many poorer countries now depend on tourism for foreign income. Unfortunately, though, tourism often harms the local people more than it helps them.
It might cost their homes and lands. In Myanmar, 5,200 people were forced to leave their homes among the pagodas(佛塔)in Bagan so that tourists could visit the pagodas.
Tourism might also cost the local people their livelihood and dignity. Local workers often find only menial(卑微的)jobs in the tourist industry. And most of the profits do not help the local economy. Instead, profits return to the tour operators in wealthier countries, When the Maasai people in Tanzania were driven from their lands, some moved to city slums. Others now make a little money selling souvenirs or posing for photos.
Problems like these were observed more than 20 years ago. But now some non-government organizations, tour operators and local governments are working together to begin correcting them. Tourists, too, are putting on the pressure.
The result is responsible tourism, or “ethical tourism.” Ethical tourism has people at its heart. New international agreements and codes of conduct can help protect the people's lands, homes, economies and cultures. The beginnings are small, though, and the problems are complex.
But take heart. The good news is that everyone, including us, can play a part to help the local people in the places we visit. Tour operators and companies can help by making sure that local people work in good conditions and earn reasonable wages.
They can make it a point to use only locally owned hotel, restaurants and guide services. They can share profits fairly to help the local economy. And they can involve the local people in planning and managing tourism.
What can tourists do? First, we can ask tour companies to provide information about the conditions of local citizens. We can then make our choices and tell them why. And while we're abroad, we can:
Buy local foods and products, not imported ones.
Pay a fair price for goods and services and not bargain for the cheapest price.
Avoid flaunting wealth.
Ask before taking photographs of people.
They are not just part of the landscape!
Let's enjoy our vacation and make sure others do, too.
What is probably the best title for the article?
A.Tourism Causes Bad Effects. | B.Tourism Calls for Good Behavior. |
C.Vacations Bring a Lot of Fun. | D.Vacations Cost More Than You Think |
Which of the following is not mentioned?
A.Local people were well paid to leave their lands. |
B.Tourists may stay in hotels opened by local people. |
C.Local people are mainly provided with low-paying work. |
D.Tourists could bargain with local people for a reasonable price. |
The underlined phrase "take heart" means" ".
A.pay attention | B.take care | C.cheer up | D.calm down |
According to the passage, the writer thinks .
A.tourism is not a promising industry |
B.dream vacations should be spent abroad |
C.the problems caused by tourism are easy to settle |
D.tourists should respect local customs and culture |
There is a boy called Bill in my gym class who has unbearably yellow teeth that almost make everyone feel unpleasant.Recently another boy told Bill that he should "go Ajax" his teeth.Bill was crushed.If the other boy had been thinking, he would have realized that there is a better way to handle such a situation.He could have dealt with it with tact.He could have showed this hurtful truth in a more careful, sensitive way—that's "tact".
If a person isn't sensitive to another's feelings, there is no way he or she can be tactful.Yesterday, my 5-year-old brother proudly announced that he had cleaned the screen on our television set.Unfortunately, he used furniture polish, which produced an oily film on the television screen.My mother smiled arid thanked him for his efforts—and then showed how to clean the screen properly.Her sensitivity enables my brother to keep his self-respect.Yet, sensitivity alone does not make tact.
"Tactfulness" also requires "truthfulness".Doctors, for example must be truthful.If a patient has just been disabled in an accident, a tactful doctor will tell the truth—but express it with sensitivity.The doctor may try to give the patient hope by telling them curing techniques under study or about advanced equipment now available.Doctors must use tact with patients' relatives as well.Instead of bluntly saying, "Your husband is disabled," a doctor might say, "I'm sorry, but your husband has lost feeling in his legs and..."
Tact should not be confused with trickery.Trickery occurs when a nurse is about to give a patient an injection(注射) and says, "This won't hurt a bit." Instead of trickery, the nurse might guarantee the patient that the discomfort of the injection is a small thing compared to the benefits of it.It would also be thoughtful for the nurse to tell the patients about some of these benefits.
Tact is a wonderful skill to have, and tactful people are usually admired and respected.Without tact our society would become an intolerable place to live in.
The underlined word "crushed" in the first paragraph probably means____.
A.surprised | B.cheated | C.regretful | D.painful |
According to the author, his mother's praise for the brother is ____.
A.sensitive and tactful | B.sensitive but not tactful enough |
C.truthful but not tactful enough | D.sensitive but trickish |
Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
(The numbers stand for the paragraphs)