【推荐3】If you're out for a run, what difference does it make if you're able to tough it out for another 50 seconds? If you're less than a minute from the top of the hill, that extra time can make the difference between having reached your goal and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

How do you get those extra seconds of energy? A research team at the Texes Tech University developed a study to measure what effect listening to music would have on exercise tolerance. The researchers based the study on a stress testing. As part of the testing, they noted any changes in heart rate and blood pressure as participants underwent physically stressful exercise.

The tests were done on treadmills (跑步机), which increased in both speed and incline (坡度) through three stages. In the final stage, the treadmills moved at 10 miles per hour at a 14-percent grade. Most of these tests were designed to last up to 40 minutes. The average gym-goers lasted 30 minutes. For this study, they divided 127 participants into two groups. One listened to upbeat(快节奏) music, while the other group had earbuds in but did not listen to music.

The group that listened to music was able to outlast the non-music group by an average of 50.6 seconds. Again, being able to go an extra minute may seem like a no-brainer ,but “after 30 minutes, you feel like you are running up a mountain, so even being able to go 50 seconds longer means a lot," said the study's lead author, Waseem Shami, MD.

The study has confirmed something runners and gym-goers have suspected for years: Listening to music during workout can be beneficial to your endurance. "Our findings reinforce the idea that upbeat music can help you exercise longer and stick with a daily exercise routine," said Shami. When doctors are recommending exercise, they might suggest listening to music, too."

1. Why did Shami’s team conduct the research?

A．To test the effect of music on health.	B．To know the cause of failure in sports.
C．To improve runners' exercise tolerance.	D．To record the body change of participants

2. What did the researchers than about the Participants in the stress testing?

A．They ran much faster than average runners.	B．They created a new record of indoor sports.
C．They could run a little longer with music on.	D．They all enjoyed extreme physical challenge

3. What do the underlined words “a no-brainer” mean in paragraph 4?

A．A dull activity.	B．A foolish action.
C．A demanding task.	D．An easy practice

4. What did Shami suggest us doing in the last paragraph ?

A．Developing a daily exercise routine.	B．Listening to music while working out
C．Participating in physical stress testing.	D．Taking exercise as doctors recommend.

【推荐1】Why is it that many people who have suffered a major shock, such as divorce or death of a family member, seem to be weaker against a variety of major and minor illnesses? One common idea among psychologists has been that people could deal with suffering more effectively if they were able to understand and accept it.

Recently, a team of medical researchers studied the links between describing psychologically painful events and long-term health. In one experiment healthy college students were asked to write about either personally disturbing experiences or ordinary topics over a period of four days. In the months afterwards, students who had chosen to show their inner thoughts and feelings in their writing visited the health center for illness much less often than those who had written about everyday topics.

In an experiment that followed, another group of healthy students were given the four-day writing exercises. Some chose to write about highly personal and upsetting experiences. When questioned immediately afterwards, they said that they did not feel any better. However, their blood samples (样本) taken before and after the experiment showed evidence of an improved resistance to illness. The white cells that fight off bacteria and viruses had increased their reaction and sensitivity to these “invaders”. This trend continued over the following six weeks.

The researchers suggested that failure to face up to painful experience can be a form of stress itself, and can increase the possibility of illness. The answer is not to suffer in silence. It may not always be possible to talk about personal problems, but writing them down will help the body to fight disease in the long run.

1. What were the students who wrote about painful events likely to do in the first experiment?

A．They started to suffer psychological problems.

B．They enjoyed sharing their inner thoughts and feelings.

C．They were less likely to seek treatment for sickness.

D．They couldn’t deal with suffering effectively.

2. What can be inferred from people who wrote about personal problems in the second experiment?

A．They had more bacteria and viruses in their blood.

B．They had decreased feelings of loneliness.

C．They showed an improved white cell reaction.

D．They did better in their writing tasks.

3. What does the underlined word “invaders” refer to?

A．The white cells.

B．Bacteria and viruses.

C．Resistance to illness.

D．The reaction and sensitivity of the cells.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Suffering and Health

B．Inner Thoughts and Feelings

C．Illness and Health

D．Mental Illness and Social Acceptance

【推荐2】When you have a chance to travel in Macao, there are 4 things that you can’t miss.

Macao Tower AJ Hackett

The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with lots of activities, such as viewing, eating and entertainment. The best part of the activities is the bungee jump. Raise your arms and off you go!   If you are not daring enough to jump, you can try the skywalk on the 57th floor—it’s still impressive. Take this chance and have a try!

A traditional Portuguese dinner

Macao was in the control of Portugal before 1999. As a result, Portuguese culture can be easily seen in many corners of Macao. Many Portuguese lived here and opened Portuguese restaurants in the special area, but the flavor is more adaptable to Chinese people.

Visiting a museum

Macao, as a small city with only an area of 30.5 square kilometers, has 23 eye-catching museums. Due to its unique history, both Eastern and Western historical sites can be found. Many of them are protected for cultural heritage, tourist spots or museums, such as the Grand Prix Museum, Maritime Museum and Wine Museum.

Going into a casino (娱乐场)

Well known as the “Las Vegas of the Orient”, Macao has 33 casinos. You can find different themed casinos around every corner of Macao, especially on Taipa Island, where new casinos are continuously opening. Among all, The Venetian is the most popular. With a huge shopping mall and gorgeous Vegas-style design, it is a must-go spot for both tourists and locals, not only for gambling but also to shop and enjoy leisure time.

1. What can you do at the Macao Tower?

A．Jump on the 57th floor.	B．Try the bungee jump.
C．Enjoy the world’s highest tower.	D．Take exercise on the skywalk.

2. What can help you know most about Macao’s past?

A．Taking locals as guides.	B．Tasting a traditional dinner.
C．Visiting historical museums.	D．Shopping around every comer.

3. Which of the following can best describe casinos in Macao?

A．Low-reward.	B．High-risk.
C．Heavily-guarded.	D．Well-developed.

【推荐3】Most people like buying things by touching them on a store shelf. Many people begin to feel some goods as theirs when they touch them. They have “mine, mine, mine” feeling as little as 30 seconds after touching an object(物体).
In a study, some people were shown a cheap coffee cup, and were allowed to hold it for 10 seconds or 30 seconds. They were then allowed to buy it in either a closed or an open place. The people knew the real price of the cup before they began to buy.
If people hold the cup for a longer time, he will pay more for it. In fact, people hold the cup for 30 seconds pay more than the others. “The amazing part of this study is that people can become almost attached to something like a cup.” said James Wolf,”By touching the cup and holding it in their hands, they begin to feel the cup is theirs. Once they begin to feel it as theirs, they are willing to keep it.”
Many businessmen use this way to sell their things. For example, car sellers send the buyers out on test drives and pet shop owners encourage people to play with the dogs in the window. When you are testing out new cars, you are going to buy it at once. But you can do better if you get ready for it.
1. Many people want to buy something which they can______ by themselves.

A．see

B．touch

C．hear

D．look

2. The _______ people hold the cup, the more they will pay for it.

A．longer	B．shorter
C．more	D．less

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Many businessmen use this”touch” way to sell their things.

B．By touching the cup and holding it in their hands, many people begin to feel the cup is theirs.

C．If people hold the cup for a longer time, he will pay less for it.

D．Car sellers send the buyers out on test drives and pet shop owners encourage people to play with the dogs in the window in order to sell them.

4. The main idea of this passage is_______.

A．more and more people don’t care about the goods they want to buy

B．many people are willing to pay for the goods which they would like to hold

C．how do the businessmen sell their cars

D．people often buy something they don’t like

【推荐1】Believe it or not, dental floss(牙线) has been around for thousands of years. Researchers have discovered dental floss in the ancient teeth of prehistoric(史前的) humans. After all, people have been getting food stuck in their teeth since they began to eat!

In the early 1800s, a dentist advised people to use the dental floss. In 1819, New Orleans (新奥尔良) dentist Levi Spear Parmly wrote a book called A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth. In the book, he advised people to floss waxed(含蜡的) silk thread(线).

Although historians believe Parmly was the inventor of modern dental floss, the first patent(专利) for dental floss was presented to Asahel M. Shurtleff   in 1874. Shurtleff's company didn’t begin to provide unwaxed silk floss for home use until 1882.

However, dental floss didn't become popular right away. Professional dentistry was still a developing field, and silk thread was expensive. Flossing didn’t become more common until World War II ended. Dr. Charles C. Bass used nylon (尼龙) floss to replace silk floss. Then Today, dental floss is still made of nylon, as well as other types of plastic fibers(纤维).

Some dentists say that we’d better floss at least once each day if we want to keep our teeth clean and healthy. Sadly; studies have shown that only 10 percent to 40 percent of Americans floss every day.

1. Parmly gave advice to people that they could use ________ to clean teeth.

A．waxed silk thread	B．unwaxed silk thread
C．nylon floss	D．plastic “floss picks”

2. Who got the first patent for dental floss?

A．Levi Spear Parmly.	B．Asahel M. Shurtleff.
C．Dr. Charles C．Bass.	D．Not mentioned.

3. The underlined word “replace” probably means “________” in English.

A．take the place of	B．change the place of
C．help to produce	D．give up

4. After reading the passage, we can know ________.

A．A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth is an article

B．there hadn’t been unwaxed silk floss since people use dental floss

C．you need to wrap(包，缠绕) it around your finger when you use “floss picks”

D．some dentists advise us to floss at least once each day

5. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Development of Dental Floss	B．Famous Dentists in America
C．A Famous Book about Dentistry	D．Different Materials of Dental Floss

【推荐2】A cheap printed sensor could transmit wildfire warnings. Wildfires have recently destroyed regions across the world, and their gravity is increasing. Hoping to reduce harm, researchers led by Yapei Wang，a Chinese chemist of Renmin University, say they have developed an inexpensive sensor to detect such fires earlier with less effort.

Current detection methods rely heavily on human watchfulness, which can delay an effective response. Most wildfires are reported by the general public, and other alerts come from routine foot patrols and watchtower observers. Passing planes and satellites also occasionally spot something，but “the fire first appears on the ground,” Wang says. “When you see the fire from the sky, it is too late.”

The team says its new sensor can be placed near tree trunks' bases and send a wireless signal to a nearby receiver if there is a dramatic temperature increase. That heat also powers the sensor itself, without replacing batteries. The team printed the substances onto ordinary paper to create a sensor for just $ 0.40.

But improving coordination among the different agencies involved in firefighting is even more crucial to address, says Graham Kent, an earthquake expert at the University of Nevada, Reno, who was not part of the study. Kent is director of ALERTWildfire, a network that uses cameras and crowd sourcing to watch for fires in California, Nevada and Oregon. “The whole way that you respond to a fire until it's put out is like a ballet,” he says. “You'd have to choreograph (设计) it just so, with resources precisely allocated at the right time and place from detection to confirmation to assignment to extinguishment (熄灭). Fire detection is just step one.”

Wang says his team's next steps are to extend the device's signal range beyond the current 100 meters, which can limit practical use, and to develop a protective shield for it. The Transmitter’s effectiveness, he notes, will also need to be tested in the field ahead.

1. What does the underlined word “gravity” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Pull.	B．Extinction.
C．Popularity.	D．Seriousness.

2. What do we know about the sensor?

A．Its price remains high.	B．Its batteries are replaceable.
C．It can reduce firefighters' pain.	D．It can detect fires earlier and easier.

3. What does Kent mean in paragraph 4?

A．Firefighting is easy but crucial.

B．Technology is the key to extinguishing a fire.

C．Putting out a fire is a cooperative and orderly activity.

D．The resources of fire detection are precisely allocated.

4. What's the plan for the new sensor according to Wang?

A．Limiting its use.	B．Reducing its signal range.
C．Improving and testing it.	D．Getting it on the market ahead of time.

【推荐3】Grandma celebrated her fifty-third birthday just weeks before grandpa died of cancer in 1965. Although his passing was very difficult for her, I think their shared struggle to make his life longer taught grandma that good health was not to be taken for granted, and she made up her mind to live the rest of her own life as fully and as long as she could. One day, when she announced to attend lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Portland, Oregon, where she lived, we rolled our eyes in embarrassment and helplessly wished she would just stay home and bake cookies as normal grandmothers did. Many years filled with countless dance lessons passed before we learned to appreciate the wonder of having a dancing grandma.

I suppose grandma's primary motivation for wanting to learn to dance was social. She had been a shy girl, always very tall and heavy, and had married into grandpa's quiet lifestyle before developing any elegance or confidence in her personal appearance. Dancing, on the other hand, filled her life with flash lights, wonderful parties, beautiful dresses, handsome young dance instructors, and the challenge of learning. Although the weekly dance lessons did not change her ample, two-hundred-pound figure, grandma surprised everyone with energetic performances on the dance floor, which soon gave her as much elegance and confidence as any Miss American competitor.

Having taken weekly dance lessons for years, my grandma learned various dances easily and was soon participating in dancing matches all over the Northwest. When I was fourteen, grandma proudly invited me to watch her compete in one of these matches to be held in the grand ballroom of the Red Lion Inn. My attitude was still unenthusiastic at that point, but to make her happy, my mother and I attended the match. As if to prove me wrong, grandma made a wonderful showing in every event she entered. I thought she was truly the queen of the ball during the dance, and my thoughts were shared by the judges a short time later when she was awarded a gold cup for her outstanding performance.

1. What did grandma learn from grandpa's death?

A．Good health was not there for everyone.	B．She should take dance lessons.
C．She had to struggle to live a better life.	D．She should wear beautiful dresses.

2. How did the author's family feel when Grandma decided to take dance lessons?

A．Hopeless.

B．Helpless.

C．Embarrassed.

D．Proud.

3. The author felt ______ when he was invited to watch grandma's match.

A．happy

B．proud

C．excited

D．uninterested

4. The text is mainly about ________.

A．my grandma's confidence	B．my dancing grandma
C．my grandma's dancing	D．my grandma's gold cup

【推荐1】Latin and the works of Sophocles (索福克勒斯,诗人) are no longer the preserve of private schools thanks to a project that links professors with underprivileged teenagers.

The new project between King’s College London (KCL) and Newham Sixth Form College in east London offering lessons in Classics to bright senior-three students is now in its second year.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds with high academic potential can attend the classes, which are designed to inspire and engage them in challenging topics that are often the preserve of private schools.

Lecturers cover subjects including ancient literature, religion, theology, Persian history and philosophy. Some teenagers from neighbouring state schools also attend. The students act out Greek plays such as Antigone by Sophocles and are encouraged to consider Classics as a degree.

Edith Hall, a Classics lecturer at KCL, said: “We wanted to enable the students from Newham to understand the richness and relevance of the classical world. They have a unique opportunity to engage with world-class lecturers,”

Juned Malek,19,who is in his first year at KCL, was introduced to literature, theology, history and philosophy by the classical outreach program when he was at Newham. He now helps to run it. He said the program was “essential in making the myths that surround studying Classics disappear, namely that it is an elitist (精英) subject or that it has limited career opportunities”.

The analytical skills that the degree develops are in high demand by employers, particularly investment banks and law firms.

He said all schools should teach Classics to give a “basic introduction of historical principles passed down through millennia”, adding: “A limited classical education leaves you stuck in the constant present, lacking the ability to use the past as a frame of reference when making decisions.”

1. Why do the professors start the project?

A．To control the study time.

B．To help the underprivileged students.

C．To help the talented students from KCL.

D．To inspire and engage all students in challenging topics.

2. According to the text, who may attend the classes?

A．A naughty student with no talent in study.

B．A bright student with a talent for music.

C．A clever student with disadvantaged background.

D．A talented student with private school learning background.

3. According to the text, which is one of the benefits of studying Classics?

A．Being admitted to the private school.

B．Having limited career choices.

C．Observing the life of the elitists.

D．Having reference when making decisions.

4. Which section in a magazine is this text most likely from?

A．Education.	B．Technology.
C．Business.	D．Science.

【推荐2】Some of the best thing in life don’t happen until you grow old enough to recognize them. I can say that about tea. .

I didn’t start to drink tea until I was 35. The first time felt a genuine urge to drink tea was in 2003, when I stayed briefly in the United Kingdom. After a time of consuming local food, I started to really like strong black tea.

I took packs of green tea with me as gifts but was disappointed to find my British friends preferred much stronger black tea from Sri Lanka. Later I learned that although people know China for its tea, it ranks only third among the world’s black tea exporters, after Sri Lanka and Kenya.

After I came back to China and started to cover food stories, I met friends in the tea-drinking circle and learned more. Although the majority of the rest of the world drinks black tea, which the Chinese call “red tea”, China processes and drinks mostly green tea.

I feel lucky to be Chinese because of the great variety of tea available in the county. It is estimated that there are more than 2000 tea in China it you divide them geographically,] including more than 600 locally famous tea. A more simple way to categorize it is by color ； and extent of fermentation(发酵). That comes down to six main categories --- green, white, yellow, dark greenish(oolong), red and black tea.

Tasting tea can be compared to our life. It can be plain and predictable but sometimes it is j full of pleasant surprises. Occasionally it can even seem too good to be true. The best thing is, you know there’s always more to explore.

1. Which country ranks first among the worlds black tea exporters?

A．China.	B．Sri Lanka.
C．Kenya.	D．United Kingdom.

2. The writer of the passage works as a ______.

A．journalist	B．manager
C．scientist	D．tea grower

3. All of the following statements about tea in China are true EXCEPT ______.

A．varieties of tea is planted and produced each year in China

B．tea in China can be divided into more than 2000 categories geographically

C．tea in China can be categorized by color and extent of fermentation

D．all tea in China can be divided into six categories with no exception

4. What column does this passage belong to in a newspaper?

A．World.	B．Business.
C．Lifestyle.	D．Travel.

【推荐3】Surviving treasures from the National Museum of Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN

CROSSROADS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

3 MARCH — 3 JULY 2013

At the heart of the silk road, Afghanistan linked the great trading routes of ancient Iran, Central Asia, Indian and China, and the more distant cultures of Greece and Rome.

Nearly lost during the years of civil war and later Taliban (塔利班) rule, precious objects that reveal this diverse past were bravely hidden in 1989 by officials from the National Museum of Afghanistan to save them from destruction.

The surviving treasures date from 2000 BC to the 1^st century AD and included rich gold ornaments (装饰品) found at a burial site and limestone (石灰石) sculptures of a Greek city.

This is a unique opportunity to discover the story of Afghanistan’s ancient culture, its immense fragility, and the remarkable dedication (奉献) shown to its survival and protection.

DETAILED INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS The exhibition is open late on Fridays until 20: 30. ￡10, members free

EXHIBITION AND EVENTS BOOKING www. britishmuseum.org 020 7323 8181

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT ﹡On weekdays, take advantage of a classic afternoon tea package in the Court Restaurant for just ￡26 (including exhibition ticket). ﹡The exhibition catalogue (￡25 paperback) and other related titles are available in the museum shops or online at www. britishmuseum.org/shop. ﹡The exhibition Multimedia Guide (￡1) is available at the exhibition entrance. ﹡If you are visiting with a group, ask for the group ticket price. Details on group lecture packages are available at www. britishmuseum.org/groupvisits.

SPECIAL EVENTS ﹡Nowruz Monday 18 March, 17: 30. Nowruz, or New Year, is celebrated in many countries from Afghanistan and Iran to Uzbekistan. 17: 30~18: 00 Entrance to exhibition. 19: 00Talks and discussion on Nowruz. ￡15 (including exhibition entry). ﹡Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab. Tuesday 14 May, 16: 30~17: 30. Afghan rubab virtuoso Soudi Homayun Sakhi and tabla player Yusuf Mahmoud give a performance of a full raga and folk pieces. ￡5, members ￡3. ﹡Easter holiday activities Thursday 18 ~ Monday 22 April, 11: 00~16: 00. Explore the rich culture of Afghanistan. Listen to stories of Alexander the Great, try making a kite and be inspired by the treasures from the Hill of Gold. Suitable for all ages. Free, just drop in.

1. If you arrive at the museum on April 20th, what can you enjoy?

A．Near Year celebration.	B．Performance: The art of the Afghan rubab.
C．Easter holiday activities.	D．The exhibition without any special events.

2. When seeing “The art of the Afgahan rubab”, a tourist can pay less by_____.

A．booking tickets online	B．attending talks and discussion on Nowruz
C．calling at 020 7323 8181	D．becoming a member of the British Museum

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Of all the special events Performance costs least.

B．Museum officials saved these objects from destruction.

C．The Multimedia Guide is offered to visitors without any charge.

D．You can learn details about group visit either on website or by phone.

4. Where can you most probably find this passage?

A．In a high school text book.	B．In a history magazine.
C．In a state-owned newspaper.	D．In a traveler’s booklet.