In recent years,stressed-out people living in cities have been seeking protection in green spaces for the proven positive impacts on physical and mental health,but the benefits of"blue space"-the sea and coastline,but also rivers,lakes,canals,waterfalls,even fountains-are less well advertised, yet the science has been consistent for at least a decade:being by water is good for body and mind.
＂Many of the processes are exactly the same as with green space-with some added benefits," says Dr Mathew White,a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.
White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health and happiness.First,there are the beneficial environmental factors,such as less polluted air and more sunlight.Second,people who live by water tend to be more physically active. Third-and this is where blue space seems to have an advantage over other natural environments-water has a psychological recovery effect.When you are sailing,surfing or swimming,says White,＂you're really in step with natural forces there."
Catherine Kelly is a wellness practitioner who teaches classes in"mindfulness by the sea”.She says the sea has a quality that can make people thoughtful.
＂To go to the sea means letting go,"says Kelly."It could be lying on a beach or somebody handing you a cocktail.For somebody else,it could be a wild,empty coast.But there is this really human sense of:'Oh, look,there's the sea-and the shoulders drop."
1. Why are blue spaces less popular than green spaces?| A．Because green spaces are good to people's health. |
| B．Because little research has been done on blue spaces. |
| C．Because green spaces have more benefits than blue spaces. |
| D．Because the benefits of green spaces are better advertised. |
| A．Where there's water,there's fresh air. |
| B．People living near water are healthier. |
| C．Water can help people restore mental health. |
| D．The sea can make people lost in deep thought. |
| A．The sea will bring you loneliness. |
| B．The sea will hurt your shoulder. |
| C．The sea will put you at ease. |
| D．The sea will make you feel down. |
| A．People in cities prefer green spaces. |
| B．Blue spaces help both physically and mentally. |
| C．Green spaces have been out of date. |
| D．Ways to keep us healthy. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Have you ever spent half an hour searching the Internet which, as you find out afterwards, lasted three hours, or opened a book shortly after breakfast and a little while later noticed that the room was getting darker?
Most people can remember experiencing such a state. Your mind wasn't wandering; you were totally focused and concentrated on that activity, to such an extent that you were not even aware of yourself. Psychologists call these fully absorbing experiences flow states, which were discovered and named by a world-famous psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. His celebrated book Flow: The Psychology of Happiness became an instant best-seller, making its way to the top self-help classics.
The state of flow happens under very specific conditions-when we encounter a challenge that is testing for our skills, and yet our skills and capacities are such that it is just about possible to meet this challenge. So both the challenge and the skills are at high levels, stretching us almost to the limit. If challenges exceed skills, one can become anxious. If skills exceed challenges, we usually become bored. Neither of these two cases result in flow.
What is also interesting in flow is the almost total absence of emotions during the actual process. One seems to be almost beyond experiencing emotions, most likely because the awareness of self is not present. Mihaly himself is also very much aware of the potential negative impact of the flow. One philosopher once describes his own experience of flow: “When I get totally involved in the conversation, I am not aware of myself, the world around or the passage of time. Sometimes, I may become addictive to that existence, unwilling to cope with other daily routines of life, like forgetting dinner, and saying goodbye to my children.”
1. What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?| A．To offer a general background of the topic. | B．To make an overall outline for the passage. |
| C．To introduce the topic of the passage. | D．To clarify the definition of the topic. |
| A．Adopting a dog. | B．Watching TV. |
| C．Playing the chess. | D．Arguing with others. |
| A．The state of flow is little conditional. | B．Genius at normal schools often gets bored. |
| C．Challenges at high levels push us to the limit. | D．Skills play the most important part in flow. |
| A．To show the drawbacks of the flow. | B．To stress the value of self-awareness. |
| C．To underline the absence of emotions. | D．To indicate the difficulty of enjoying the flow. |
【推荐2】Do you ever pull your phone out of your pocket, thinking it is vibrating (振动), only to find that it isn’t?
This phenomenon, which scientists call “phantom ( 幻 觉 的 ) phone vibration”, is very common. Around 80% of people surveyed say they have imagined their phones vibrating when they were actually still.
So, what leads to this universal behavior? According to the BBC, the explanation lies in your brain's ability to discover signals from the outside world.
When your phone is in your pocket, there are two possible states: It is either vibrating or not. Meanwhile, you also have two possible states of mind: the judgment that the phone is vibrating, or that it isn't. Ideally, you match the four states correctly. However, sometimes your braindecides that the consequences of missing a call are more serious than a "false alarm". Therefore, you become more sensitive to vibrations so that you don't miss anything.
This is just like the fire alarm in your home—it can be annoying when it goes off in response to just a tiny bit of smoke. But that's a small price to pay compared to a fire really breaking out because the alarm fails to alert( 警 醒 ) you. Now, you might still ask: why can't our brains just make every judgment correctly without being too sensitive to false signals? The answer is that your brain bears a heavy burden every day. "You get a large amount of sensory information that's coining from your eyes, ears and skin, and you can't deal with all that information all the time, " Michael Rothberg, a researcher at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, US, told Live Science.
For example, the rustling（沙沙声）of clothing or the growling (咕咕声) of your stomach may both lead your brain to believe that they come from the vibration of your phone——it is like trying to hear your name being called in a noisy room.
So, perhaps you should just check your phone whenever you think it's vibrating. It isn't too much trouble to do that, is it?
1. According to this passage, phantom phone vibration .| A．is common among people with mental problems |
| B．happens when we become more sensitive to vibrations so that we don't miss anything |
| C．can measure people's ability to collect information |
| D．helps our brains to make decisions quickly and accurately |
| A．To help us understand the cause of phantom phone vibration better. |
| B．To tell us the phone vibration usually happens when a fire breaks out. |
| C．To show us the fire alarm is as sensitive as the phone vibration. |
| D．To convince us it's important to check our phones like checking a fire alarm. |
| A．A lack of much attention. | B．A noisy background. |
| C．A large amount of sensory information. | D．A heavy burden every day. |
| A．We should always fully believe our own sense of hearing. |
| B．We should just check our phones when we think they're vibrating. |
| C．We should ignore the vibration bothering when our phones are actually still. |
| D．We should think of the vibration carefully before we make correct judgments. |
【推荐3】The message is drummed into us from childhood: forgive people who’ve wronged you, because it’s the right thing to do. Forgiveness is a virtue, we’re told, the only way for us to truly move on and heal. But forgiving someone is not always what’s best for us. In fact, if someone has hurt you deeply and the relationship isn’t healthy, trying to “fix” things can do more harm than good.
Most of us would probably agree that forgiving a wrongdoer means letting go of negative feelings like anger towards them. Actually it pressures us to minimize our feelings and revise our boundaries — to say “it’s OK” when for us, it isn’t. And when someone doesn’t make us feel seen or safe, forgiving them can actually weaken our self-respect. A 2010 research paper published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology called this “the doormat effect”. It found that people who forgave partners that didn’t make them feel valued had less respect for themselves, along with a weakened sense of self.
If you keep on forgiving someone who’s done wrong, it can encourage that person to keep hurting you. That’s what 2011 research by psychology professor James K McNulty argues. He looked at how 72 newlywed couples expressed forgiveness towards acts of aggression (攻击性), and whether this caused any changes in the wrongdoer’s behaviour. He found that when a partner was more likely to forgive those acts, the aggressor was more likely to keep committing them. This is because facing the consequences of their actions is what motivates people to change their ways, and being offered a clean sheet can allow them to avoid making changes. Forgiving frequent and major offenses (冒犯), like verbal or physical abuse, can do more harm than good.
What if, instead of looking to forgiveness like a magic medicine, we put our energies towards accepting a situation for what it is? This way, we can focus on recognizing what happened and coming to terms with it, however that looks for us and without any sense of obligation towards our offender. It’ll still be a process, sure, but it’s one centred around you and your needs.
1. What will happen if we forgive a wrongdoer according to “the doormat effect”?| A．We’ll be free from negative thoughts. |
| B．The relationship will be strengthened. |
| C．The wrongdoer will change his behavior. |
| D．We’ll have less self-respect and self-awareness. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing examples. |
| C．By citing research results. | D．By giving definitions. |
| A．Forgiving a wrongdoer’s behavior stops him from hurting others. |
| B．Facing the consequences of aggression does more harm than good. |
| C．Ignoring major offenses encourages a wrongdoer’s acts of aggression. |
| D．Forgiving frequent aggression prevents a wrongdoer from making changes. |
| A．Forgive and forget. | B．Learn to take the situation as it is. |
| C．Center on yourself. | D．Keep on good terms with offenders. |
【推荐1】In recent years, many Americans of both sexes and various ages have become interested in improving their bodies. They have become devoted to physical fitness. The need to exercise has almost become natural with many people who have a strong desire to be more physically fit.
By nature, Americans are enthusiastic and energetic about their hobbies and pastimes. They apply their energy to running. As a result, there are running clubs to join and many books and magazines to read about running.
The desire to be physically fit is explained by a “passion” for good health. The high rate of heart attacks in the 1960s caused an increase on the part of the public in improving the human body. Middle-aged men especially suffered from heart attacks. Thus, they are one group strongly interested in more physical exercise. In fact, many doctors encourage their patients to become more physically active, especially those who have sedentary jobs. It is interesting to note that the rate of heart attacks began to decrease in the 1970s and it is still decreasing. Physical fitness enjoys a favored role in the United States at present. It is a new “love” that Americans have valued very much. Will it last long? Only time will tell--- or until another “new passion” comes along.
1. We can learn from the passage that ________ .| A．people’s interest in physical exercise has something to do with their health condition |
| B．by nature, Americans are stronger and more energetic than others |
| C．the love for physical exercise won’t last long in American |
| D．men have a stronger desire than women to take exercise |
| A．there are many running clubs to join |
| B．they are eager for their hobbies and pastimes |
| C．they have a strong desire to be more physically fit |
| D．there are many books and magazines about running |
| A．challenging intelligence | B．energy-taking |
| C．needing much sitting | D．sleeping-producing |
【推荐2】With the cost of college rising in the U.S.， some students are washing their hands of the American education system, grabbing their passports, and seeking cheaper degrees abroad. The number of students doing so has increased 2 percent annually in recent years, according to the Department of Education.
In 2009， Jessica Fuller, then 25， was employed at a small private university in Philadelphia as a clerk in an office. Bored with her job and becoming increasingly interested in healthcare industry, Fuller knew she would need a master's degree in public health for her dream career.
At first, Fuller wanted a school in New York and Pennsylvania, but with many programs costing over 30， 000 per year for tuition alone, she decided on an option she could better afford-the Netherlands. A similar degree in health economics cost less than 17， 000 for a one-year program.
To finance her education at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Fuller took out$30,000 bank loan through her mother's credit, which covered tuition fees, as well as air travel and living expenses for her year abroad.
The cost may be lower, but is the quality of education overseas just as good as an American university？ Jessica Fuller says in her case, yes she found a consulting job with Marsh Inc. as an International Knowledge Manager shortly after she graduated from Erasmus University, and said that the university——and its location——were definitely a factor.
"Many Erasmus professors were world-famous experts in their fields, "said Fuller. "Considering the variety of the students, the class discussions were very robust. Having an ' international 'advantage made a huge difference.
1. Why did Jessica Fuller want to study for a master's degree？| A．She could afford tuition at Erasmus University. |
| B．Her job required more professional skills. |
| C．She was bored with healthcare industry. |
| D．Her interest was public health. |
| A．using her own credit card |
| B．having a part-time job |
| C．getting a scholarship from the university |
| D．obtaining a loan from a bank |
| A．awkward and fruitless | B．strong and vigorous |
| C．peaceful and pleasant | D．brief and informal |
| A．choose to study overseas | B．look for jobs abroad |
| C．seek education of higher quality | D．take a one-year program |
【推荐3】Many Chinese students may want to study abroad after high school.But at the same time,more and more foreign students are coming to China.
According to a report from www.the Students.com.397,63 International students came to China in 2015.China is now the third most popular country for international students,behind the United States and the United Kingdom.
In the summer of 2016, 55 students and teachers from Germany came to China and joined a joined a summer camp,they were interested in traditional Chinese culture.
They visited several schools in Beijing.They learned to make dumplings, play Chinese kung fu and do paper cutting. If they like Chinese handwriting,they can learn calligraphy. By communicating with Chinese people,they could have a close relationship with their new friends,they could know more about China.
In 2018, especially young people in Germany,have become more interested in learning Chinese.There are more cultural exchanges between Germany and China.German students have had chances to learn more about Chinese culture, history and its life today.Almost 400 German school have Chinese classes.Over 8,000 German students study in China.
1. According to a report, ________is the third most popular country for international students in 2015.| A．Germany | B．the United Kingdom | C．China | D．the United States |
| A．playing ping-pong | B．making dumplings |
| C．paying Chinese kung fu | D．doing paper cutting |
| A．40. | B．55. | C．Almost 400. | D．Over 8000. |
| A．55 students and teachers from Germany came to China and joined a summer camp in 2015. |
| B．German students have become interested in learning modern Chinese culture. |
| C．There are fewer cultural exchanges between China and Germany. |
| D．More and more foreign students come to study in China now. |
【推荐1】The National Hurricane Centre, lying in Miami, Florida, gives watches and warnings before hurricanes come near the coastline. They use computers with satellite images (卫星影像) to find out where and when a hurricane will hit the coast. Sometimes, if a hurricane is strong enough, officials may require people to leave their homes, and travel to a safer place.
Can you imagine flying a plane through a hurricane? If you’re a hurricane hunter, it’s your job! Hurricane hunters fly airplanes to help the National Hurricane Centre make predictions (预测) about hurricanes, and give them the information needed to give warnings. Pilots find out how fast the winds are blowing, how big the hurricane is, and which direction it’s moving in. This helps people to be better prepared for hurricanes as they come near the coastline.
Categories (类别) of Hurricanes
There are five categories of hurricanes. The categories help to make people know how much damage a hurricane may cause because the greater the wind speed, the more dangerous the storm.
Category 1 - Winds 74-95 mph
Winds break branches, pull trees out of the ground and overturn mobile homes.
Category 2 - Winds 96-110 mph
Winds are strong enough to destroy weak doors and windows, and create 8-foot ocean waves.
Category 3 - Winds 111-130 mph
Strong winds cause major flooding near the coast which can destroy homes and businesses.
Category 4-Winds 131-155 mph
Winds are strong enough to destroy some buildings and cause heavy damage to building roofs .
Category 5 - Winds greater than 155 mph
Buildings along the coastlines are washed away. Buildings can be completely destroyed.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Hurricane predictions. | B．The job of National Hurricane Centre. |
| C．Hurricane safety guides. | D．The advice of National Hurricane Centre. |
| A．They help people out in a hurricane. | B．They predict the paths of hurricanes. |
| C．They collect information about hurricanes. | D．They warn of possible hurricane dangers. |
| A．They can bring about great flooding. | B．They can blow roofs off buildings. |
| C．They can break weak doors. | D．They can destroy the buildings completely. |
【推荐2】Family Travel: On the Road Again
The classic road trip is more popular than ever. Here are few places to visit.
Colo Roads
The Colorado Tourism Office has made it easy for road-trippers to explore the state’s 24 Scenic &Historic Byways. A new microsite includes an interactive map that lets travelers explore options by region, interest or season. Travelers seeking inspiration can also get trip suggestions within more than 150 Colo-Road Trip plans. The plans offer suggestions for historic attractions, active adventures and cultural opportunities.
The Beartooth Highway
Visitors who travel his amazing road experience the beautiful scenery (风景) of Montana, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park, home to the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains. The 68-mile highway introduces road explorers to one of the most different ecosystems reachable by car. Extremely beautiful, the road shows wide plateaus (高原) painted with blue icy lakes, forested valleys, waterfalls and wildlife.
California Dreaming
For impressive coastal scenery and seaside breezes, drive the car for a trip up or down our western shore. Begin in Santa Monica, California, and wind your way past the Hearst Castle. Other road trip options include a tour which features the best surf spots, or uncover the strange attractions you’ll find in the California desert.
The Lighthouse Trail
Travel the 375 miles between Kittery and Calais, Maine, visit lighthouses along the way, and learn about the dangers that sea-going ships and seamen experienced along the Northeastern coast. Hear stories of the difficult and lonely life led by those who kept the lights burning brightly. If possible, visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum, where hands-on exhibits for children provide a good break.
1. How can travellers get trip suggestions about Colo Roads?| A．By drawing an interactive map. |
| B．By searching on a new microsite. |
| C．By attending Colorado cultural events. |
| D．By calling the Maine Tourism Office. |
| A．Colo Roads. | B．The Beartooth Highway. |
| C．Califoria Dreaming. | D．The Lighthouse Trail. |
| A．It ends at a lighthouse museum. |
| B．It is a lighthouse-themed journey. |
| C．It involves many strange attractions. |
| D．It offers experienced seamen as tour guides. |
【推荐3】We have most friends at the age of 26 after having spent the first quarter of our lives building up our friendship circle, new research has claimed.
The research into friendship shows that our social circle peaks at 26 years and 7 months, at which we typically have five close friends. Women are most popular at 25 years and 10 months, with men hitting the highest friendship point a little later at 27 years and 3 months.
The research, by Forever Friends, shows that about a third of adults meet their closest friends while at school, with about a fifth saying they meet them at work.
Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter now also play a major role in building new friendship. The research points out that 25 to 34-year-olds make 22 friends via Facebook, compared to 18 to 24-year-olds who make 12, and 35 to 44-year-olds who make just four.
Forever Friends' relationship coach Sam Owen says, “It is no coincidence that over a third of us meet our best friends at school. It is a key time in our lives when friendship is growing through sharing notes, giving gifts, seeing each other regularly and laughing a lot. As adults we can often forget how powerful these small things are and how the little things can make a difference."
Later in life we find ourselves losing friends. Over half of us lose friendship through moving, while 36% say that over time they grow apart from close pals. Having children also causes 19% to drift away from childhood friends.
With growing pressure being put on friendship these days, it's important to make time for our friendship.
1. How many friends can a 20-year-old college student make via Facebook?| A．22. | B．18. |
| C．12. | D．4. |
| A．how important making friends is |
| B．school time is an important period to develop friendship |
| C．how much has been done to keep friendship |
| D．that friendship is not easy to keep |
| A．make sense of | B．make up with |
| C．feel sorry for | D．lose touch with |
| A．a newspaper | B．an advertisement |
| C．a textbook | D．Facebook or Twitter |
【推荐1】How often do you exercise? A new study finds that most kids aged 12 to 15 aren't getting enough physical activity. The results are based on about 800 kids. As part of the study, the young teens tracked and reported on their own activity levels, and took physical exams.
The US fitness guidelines recommend an hour or more of physical activity every day. According to the study, only 1in 4 kids in the US get enough physical activity.
“It's certainly very worrying to see that our kids are engaging in such a limited amount of physical activity each day,” said Dr. Stephen Pont. He is an expert on children's health.
Few kids in the survey met the guidelines for physical activity that raises the heart rate and makes them breathe harder. Overall, about 25% said they got an hour of that kind of violent exercise every day. Kids also reported on which activities they did most often outside of the school gym class--basketball for boys and running for girls.
The study found that obese（肥胖的） teens were less active than normal-weight girls and boys. Overweight girls were slightly less active than normal-weight girls, but levels were similar among overweight and normal-weight boys. The study also said that the overall obesity rate for children aged 2 to 19 is 17%, or about 12.5 million kids.
“There's always room for improvement,” said health expert Tala Fakhouri, who was the lead author of the study. She also said the results provide useful information to help with fitness campaigns such as Lets Move, which was launched by Michelle Obama in 2010. To inspire kids to eat right and get in shape, Michelle visited schools and held exercise events. She also called on schools to offer regular gym classes.
The study also suggests kids who get physical education at school may get better grades.
1. What is the result of the new study?| A．It is important to take physical exams |
| B．Most US kids don’t get enough exercise |
| C．Kids should get physical activity every day |
| D．800 kids don’t get enough physical activity. |
| A．To help kids to keep fit. |
| B．To hold exercise events. |
| C．To offer regular gym classes. |
| D．To provide useful information. |
| A．do better in their studies |
| B．try their best to get in shape |
| C．be more willing to help others |
| D．be less active than fat children |
| A．visited | B．stopped |
| C．started | D．improved |
【推荐2】Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much similar. Only young men went to colleges. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students left school, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were all owed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with (涉及) special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all.
1. The oldest university in the US is________．| A．Yale | B．Harvard | C．Princeton | D．Columbia． |
| A．those colleges and universities were the same． |
| B．people young or old, might study in the colleges． |
| C．students studied only some languages and science． |
| D．when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers． |
| A．everything that was known | B．law and something about medicine． |
| C．many new subjects | D．the subjects that interested students． |
| A．how to start a university | B．the world-famous colleges in America． |
| C．how colleges have changed | D．what kind of lesson each college teaches． |
【推荐3】Why do people buy art? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for thinking of getting a piece of art. An artwork can cost a large amount of money, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny.
People buy art for many reasons. Many people buy an artwork simply because they like it, even if it is by an unknown artist. Art, as long as you enjoy it, is never a waste of money. Art is for enjoyment. Art is meant to be shown. Don't ever feel pressured into buying something you won't enjoy looking at day after day, no matter what other people may say. Don't buy something that doesn't attract you just because it is trendy, or because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the artwork will make a good investment. If you don't like the artwork at all, don't buy it!
Art improves your environment. Have you ever noticed that all beautiful homes have art as an integral(必需的) part of the decoration? Art lends life and color to otherwise plain and ordinary walls. A well thought-out art collection will help create a unique atmosphere in your home and make it more attractive.
Art makes a statement. The kind of art you surround yourself with says much about your personality, tastes and values. Art truly is a mirror of the soul.
Art enriches your life. Love—even the love of a work of art—contributes to healthier living and a longer lifespan(寿命). Art should enrich your life. Otherwise, why do you spend precious time and resources on it?
Just remember to select something which will appeal to your tastes, and keep to a sensible budget. Good art needn't cost an arm and a leg.
Happy art collecting!
1. What's the purpose of the passage?| A．To advise us to buy an expensive artwork. |
| B．To remind us to be sensible when buying an artwork. |
| C．To teach us how to choose works of art. |
| D．To explain the benefit of art to people. |
| A．Whether it brings pleasure to you. |
| B．Whether it is fashionable at present. |
| C．Whether you can profit from it in the end. |
| D．Whether it is created by a famous artist. |
| A．Ordinary | B．Attractive. |
| C．Necessary. | D．Unique. |
| A．art can show what you look like | B．art is an expression of yourself |
| C．a mirror has a feature similar to art | D．a mirror can be a piece of true art |
| A．Art loving is priceless. | B．Art is a kind of thing that costs much. |
| C．Art loving is not so expensive a habit | D．Art helps you to make much money |
