【推荐1】“Being a sports fan is a very psychologically healthy activity,” says Daniel Warm, professor at Murray State University whose research program centers on the psychology of sport fandom(运动迷). Fandom connects us to other like-minded people, which satisfies our human need for belonging, he says.

These relationships are significant: People who identify as sports fans have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of loneliness and tend to be more satisfied with their lives compared to those who aren’t interested in sports, Wann says. Fans tend to have more access to social support, help and resources as well. Research suggests that when people have support from their communities, they have better health.

Beyond bonding, fans get to enjoy the psychological benefits of winning, even if they have nothing to do with the players or games.

Of course, teams sometimes lose. Prior to a sporting event, there’s at least a 50-50 chance that you’re going to be disappointed in your outcome.

So, why do people continue to put their faith behind teams that tend to lose? People who feel a strong psychological connection to a team are more likely to root for a team when they’re having a losing season.

“Sports random has nothing to do with the outcome of a game,” Warm says. For example, if a pizza restaurant continually got your order wrong, you’d likely switch to a more reliable parlor(店铺). But because being a fan is so central to people’s identities, people are willing to accept defeat and continue to be loyal to a team.

Being part of a fan community can also help people cope with losses. A 2019 study found that watching a football game with other fans helps to relieve the negative psychological effects of losing. For fans of the losing team, sharing the pain may have protected them from losing self-esteem.

“There are other things that random brings with it above and beyond the ability to enjoy the team’s successes,” Warm says. Watching sports can be a way to relieve stress, or spend time with family, he says.

To that end, some surveys suggest that activities like March Madness pools can reduce productivity. Any sort of fandom can be distracting, but Warm says that talking about sports at work and spending time with people who share a common interest can make people more excited to go to work.

However, if you find you’re consuming so much sports content that your work is suffering, or it’s impacting your interpersonal relationships, then it can be a sign you should tone it down, he adds.

1. What is the characteristic sports fans generally bear?

A．Higher sense of self-worth.	B．Worse health conditions.
C．Being ready to help others.	D．Various means of support.

2. Why do fans continue to support teams that tend to lose?

A．Fans are forced to be loyal to teams.

B．Fans are good at sharing pains with teams.

C．Fans are brave enough to accept losses.

D．Fans own a great sense of identity and belonging.

3. Which is the effect of talking about sports at work?

A．Leading to distraction.

B．Making people too excited to go to work.

C．Increasing people’s productivity.

D．Impacting interpersonal relationships.

4. What is this passage most likely from?

A．A poster.	B．A textbook.
C．A science fiction.	D．A magazine.

【推荐2】In 1624 an English poet John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island.” In recent years, neuroscientists have caught up with the wisdom of Donne. They recognize that our brain needs more than simply the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe, and the water we drink.     1    .

Normal brain functioning depends on the social web around us. Our neurons require other people's neurons to survive and thrive.     2     but that approach overlooks the fact that an enormous amount of brain circuitry (回路) has to do with other brains.

    3     From our families, friends, co-workers and business partners, our societies are built on layers of complex social interactions. All this social glue is generated(产生) by specific circuitry in the brain: sprawling (蔓延的) networks that monitor other people, communicate with them, feel their pain, judge their intentions and read their emotions.

Social interaction doesn't just boost our mood, it feeds our brains.     4     In a California study published by the American Journal of Public Health, researchers reported that older women who managed large social networks reduced their risk of dementia (痴呆) by 26%. And women who had daily contact with their network cut their risk of dementia by almost half.

Socialization is typically associated with healthy behaviors, like joining a walking group or a bowling league, or partaking (参与) in mentally stimulating activities, such as participating in a book club or playing bingo.     5    

So if you're looking for a reason to linger at your weekly coffee date with the girls, or you’re your grandkids to the park, here it is. Socializing isn't just about having fun—it's about keeping your brain healthy.

A．We are deeply social creatures.

B．Remember to spend some time with your loved ones.

C．We need it to keep that specific circuitry in the brain healthy and functioning.

D．There’s something else, something equally as important: it needs other people.

E．Engaging with other people can also help a brain react to different situations and topics.

F．When socializing involves activities such as these, the health benefits are increased greatly.

G．Brains have traditionally been studied in isolation (孤立地).

【推荐3】Breathing is something you do all day long, without even thinking about it. However, you might be doing it wrong. Research shows that the way you breathe affects the amount of oxygen (氧气) you take in，as well as how you think and feel.

So which is it? Do you breathe through your nose or your mouth? Some health experts recommend people breathe in through the nose and out through their mouth. Others say that people should just focus on breathing easily, paying no attention to their mouth or nose preference. But mouth breathing has also been connected with bad breath, high blood pressure and bad teeth.

Nose breathing may improve how memories are stabilized (稳定) in our brains, according to Swedish researchers. During the study, participants smelled 12 different smells and they were asked to breathe either through their nose or mouth for an hour afterwards. Then, they were presented with the original set of smells and a new set. Those who smelled with their nose remembered the smells better.

A research team recognized the differences in brain activity that happened when seven epilepsy (癫痫) patients breathed through the nose or through the mouth. The team found three areas of the brain where activity is connected with breathing. These areas showed more changes in brain activity only when volunteers breathed in through their noses.

So, should people breathing through the mouth change their breathing habits? If you’re happy with the way you breathe and you aren’t experiencing any health problems, be yourself and just keep your own way. But if you think it might be time for a change, focus on breathing through your nose until it becomes a habit. It might help you survive an emergency.

1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Your life style.	B．How you breathe.
C．How you think and feel.	D．The oxygen you take in.

2. What did Swedish researchers find?

A．Nose breathing may improve memory.

B．Mouth breathing causes health problems.

C．People breathing through the nose identify smells difficultly.

D．People breathing through the mouth have a good sense of taste.

3. What is the effect of nose breathing according to the research?

A．It helps one to stay healthy.

B．It cures bad breath and snoring.

C．It makes one’s brain more active.

D．It improves one’s sense of smell.

4. What does the author think of nose breathing?

A．It’s hard to get used to.

B．It’s suitable for everybody.

C．It’s what people have to do.

D．It’s what people can benefit from.

【推荐1】The people of La Gomera can carry on long-distance conversations by whistling. For ordinary conversation they speak Spanish. But when they need to speak over a distance and ordinary speech is impossible, they use silbo, which is the name of whistled form of speech.

La Gomera is very mountainous. In spite of the island’s small size, walking from one place to another may be a slow and difficult job. That is why the silbo is so useful to the islanders there. A message can easily be whistled over a couple of miles, while to travel the same distance on foot might take an hour.

A good whistler can be heard and understood five miles away. His whistling can be heard even farther away when there is little or no wind. 1 was informed that the record is about nine miles. Anyone who has heard a first-class whistler will agree that this figure is quite possible.

A whistle doesn’t have all the changes of tone. To achieve changes, the whistler tries to perform the same movements with his teeth, mouth, tongue and throat that he would use as if he were actually talking. Of course he cannot move his lips during the whistling, so there is some difference. However, it is close enough. Each whistler has his own style of whistling, just as you would recognize him by the way he spoke. Anything that can be said in Spanish can be whistled and understood perfectly. This is true partly because the Spanish language has such a simple sound system. The silbo would not work nearly so well with English.

1. From the passage, we know silbo is       .

A．a name of an island	B．a name of a mountain
C．a whistle language used at La Gomera	D．a whistle language used in Spain

2. The islanders there like to use silbo, because       .

A．they can’t have long-distance conversations without whistling

B．they want to save time

C．they live on a small island

D．the whistle sounds pleasant

3. A good whistler can communicate with others       .

A．1 mile away	B．2 miles away
C．4 miles away	D．5 miles away

4. The people of La Gomera can recognize a whistler by his whistling, because miles       .

A．each whistler has his own style of whistling

B．each whistler can make a tone of astonishing loudness

C．some whistlers do not use their fingers at all

D．there is nothing unusual about his whistling

【推荐2】This could be the perfect gift for the partner, who embarrasses you on the dance floor. Smart socks, which can teach to dance, may be the answer for anyone with two left feet.

The socks have been developed as a running tool to help runners improve their skills. Thanks to the socks, users can accurately record not only how far and fast they run but also how well. It means the user maximizes their performance, and reduces damage to body and prevents hurt. The hi-tech socks are made of special fibers that watch the movements of your feet. They look, feel and can be washed like normal clothes.

Sensors (传感器) record each movement and send it by an ankle transmitter (脚踝发射器) to a smart phone. Then a “virtual coach” application shows the information and can tell the user what they are doing wrong, and help to improve skill in any task with feet.

The socks should be useful to athletes and weekend joggers. “People think running is so easy and of course everybody can do it but not necessarily safely and well,” Dr. Davide Vigano said. A recent study showed that between 60 and 80 percent of runners got hurt per year. This is pretty much more than any other human activity. Researchers say the technology can also be developed to teach people how to dance, play sports such as golf, or even to help to teach women to walk better in high heels.

Mr. Vigano said, “People could all benefit from the idea. We have had interest from all sorts of sports, like skiing, football, cycling and golf. Anything where you have to use your feet can use it. It could even be put in high heels to help women walk in them safely.”

Socks are just the start, and the technology could be used in gloves, hats and boots. The socks, anklet and software package, are expected to be sold for around￡120, which will go on sale in March.

1. What does the underlined part “anyone with two left feet” refer to?

A．People who are disabled.

B．People who are interested in dancing.

C．People who are not good at dancing.

D．People who invented the socks.

2. What’s special about fibers that the socks are made of?

A．They feel much softer than normal clothes.

B．They can monitor the movement of feet.

C．They are expensive to produce.

D．They act as a smart phone for users.

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the socks?

A．They can improve the skill of running.

B．They can help women walk better in high heels.

C．They can teach people to dance well.

D．They can be worn for days without washing.

4. According to Dr. Vigano, ________.

A．everyone can make good use of the smart socks

B．users can run as fast as they like with the socks

C．60 to 80 percent of runners would like to buy the smart socks

D．no runners will get hurt, thanks to the socks

【推荐3】Body Language in the United States

Most people shake hands and make eye contact when they meet people for the first time. Among very good friends, a woman may give another woman a little hug, and a man may kiss a woman quickly on the cheek. Males don’t hug one another, which, however, is changing. Men usually shake hands with the right hand. Sometimes they use the left hand to either cover the handshake or lightly hold the other persons arm. This shows greater warmth and friendship. What’s more, most people wave hello or good-bye. This is important to know because in many other countries, the same movements mean “no”.

When people are waiting in a public place, such as the post office, they usually form lines. Some people get angry and complain if someone jumps ahead of other people. Moreover, many women like men to open doors for them. They also like men to give up their seats on public transportation. However, some women do not like this type of behavior. They feel that men and women should be treated in the same way.

In the United States, it’s important to make direct eye contact in business and social situations. If you don’t make eye contact, people will probably think that you are bored or not interested. If there is silence in these situations, people usually try to make conversation. People in the United States usually stand about one arm’s length away from each other while talking or standing together. This space is called “the comfort zone”.

In the United States, mothers sometimes show that they are angry with children by shaking an index finger (食指) at them. People may show that they like children by patting them on the head.

1. It can be inferred from Paragraph I that in the United State ________.

A．males begin to hug each other now	B．a man usually kisses a woman for greeting
C．people only use right hands to shake hands	D．people wave good-bye as people in many other countries do

2. Some women don’t like to be offered a seat by men because ________.

A．they think sitting is harmful for health	B．they prefer to stand rather than sit
C．they like to be treated equally	D．they don’t need men’s favor

3. The third paragraph is mainly about ________.

A．the comfort zone	B．impolite body language
C．body language in public places	D．body language in business and social life

4. A mother sometimes shakes an index finger at her kids to show ________.

A．love

B．anger

C．boredom

D．satisfaction

【推荐1】As the birthplace of kites in the world, Weifang, Shandong province of China, produces beautiful, vivid, colorful and high-quality kites. Now, more than 70% of kites in the world are exported from Weifang. If you want to see various shapes and sizes of kites covering the sky, you cannot miss the Weifang Kite Festival held on the third Saturday of every April.

But this year, tens of thousands of Chinese participants gathered in Weifang, from Sept 26 to 29 for the 37th International Kite Festival. Held since 1984, the International Kite Festival is an annual event to “exhibit the excellence of the kite lovers to the public,” according to the festival's website.

During the festival, kite lovers can enjoy stunt (特技表演) kite flying, also known as aerial ballet. Controlled by either a single person or a group, the kites form different shapes in the air. People always devote a lot of time and wisdom to making their own kites. From animals that crawl (爬行) on the ground or swim in the water to legends like Monkey King, everything can fly in the sky at the festival. One of this year's highlights was the giant kites decorated with images of medical staff and the Long March 5 rocket, which reflect the hot topics this year.

“Flying a kite is like flying your dream. All the cultural symbols from ancient and modern times can be found in the sky of Weifang,” noted Medium. After more than three decades of development, the festival has become a place to appreciate kites. But most importantly, it serves as a unique cultural event to promote international exchange.

1. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．A kite festival.	B．A kite birthplace.
C．The future of kites.	D．Kite performances.

2. For what purpose is the kite festival held every year?

A．To enjoy animals flying in the air.	B．To show kite-lovers' brilliance.
C．To perform specialized kite flying.	D．To enhance Weifang's global impact.

3. What can be known from Paragraph 3?

A．It takes a lot of trouble to make a kite.	B．Stunt kite flying is the only highlight.
C．Imagination can be shown in the kite.	D．Decorations matter least in the show.

4. What is the most important role the festival plays?

A．It helps organize an international event.

B．It offers tips on how to appreciate kites.

C．It helps make the place known worldwide.

D．It enhances international cultural exchange.

【推荐2】Machu Picchu was a city of the Inca Empire （帝国）.It is sometimes called the "lost city“ because the Spanish never discovered the city when they controlled the Inca in the 1500s.

One of the most amazing things about Machu Picchu is its location. It is 8 ,000 feet above sea level on top of a mountain in the Andes in southern Peru. Three sides of the city have cliffs that drop over 1 ,400 feet to the Urubamba River. At the fourth side of the city is a high mountain.

Researchers believe that the city was first built around the year of 1450. Building work likely continued on the site until the empire was controlled by the Spanish in the middle 1500s.

Machu Picchu was built as a place for the ninth Inca King, Pachacuti. Researchers aren't sure why he built it, however. There are a number of ideas as to the reason. One idea is that it was a vacation place for the king. It is in a Vacation place than the capital city of Cuzco. It is also in a beautiful location and would have been a nice hiding place for the king. Another idea is that it was built as a religious site. Machu Picchu was not a large city. Probably only around 1,000 people lived there.

Most of the buildings were built with stones that were fitted together tightly without the use of mortar （砂浆）.This style of building helped the buildings to stay complete during earthquakes. The Inca didn't use the wheel, so most of the hardwork was done by people. It would have taken hundreds of workers to move the large stones around the site.

The city   was rediscovered in July 1911 by an explorer Hiram Bingham. He was led there by a local boy named Pablito Alvarez. Later, Hiram wrote a book about the city called Last City of the Incas.

1. What can we learn about Machu Picchu?

A．It's close to the Urubamba River.

B．It's controlled by the Spanish now.

C．It's surrounded by cliffs from every side.

D．It’s on top of an 8 ,000-foot-tall mountain.

2. What does the underlined word “cliffs" in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Deep narrow valleys.	B．Long rivers.
C．High sharp rocks.	D．Huge mountains.

3. Why did Pachacuti build the city probably?

A．To stay safe during earthquakes.

B．To make it the capital city.

C．To stay cool during the summer.

D．To use it for some religious reason.

4. What is mainly talked about in the passage?

A．The process of building Machu Picchu.

B．Some basic facts about Machu Picchu.

C．The rediscovery of Machu Picchu.

D．The location of Machu Picchu.

【推荐3】Playing tennis regularly could help keep people off death, but football, rugby and running may not help people to live longer, a study suggests.

A study followed more than 80,000 people for an average of nine years to find out if certain sports protected them against early death. It found that people who played racket sports regularly were the least likely to die over the study period, reducing their individual risk by 47 percent compared with people who did no exercise. Swimmers also reduced their chance of death by 28 percent, aerobics (有氧运动) fans by 27 percent and cyclists by 15 percent. Yet running appeared to have no impact at all on dying early, and neither did playing football or rugby.

Scientists say the difference may lie in the social aspect which goes alongside sports like tennis and squash (壁球), which often involve clubs and organized activities outside of the game. It means that people often have larger social net-works and tend to keep up activities into later life, both of which are proven to be good for health.

In contrast, people who play team sports often do not move onto a new sport once their teams break up for family, or injury reasons. They become watchers rather than participants in their chosen activity.

The researchers found that playing racket sports was associated with a 56 percent lower risk from heart death. Similarly, swimmers lowered their heart disease or stroke risk by 41 percent, and people who took part in activities like aerobics, dance or gymnastics lowered their risk by 36 percent. But again running, football and rugby had no significant impact on heart deaths.

However, other experts argue that this study must not be misinterpreted as showing that running and football do not protect against heart disease. In this study both runners and footballers had a lower rate of death from heart disease.

1. Which sport has hardly any impact on protecting people against early death?

A．Cycling.	B．Swimming.
C．Rugby.	D．Tennis.

2. According to the study, which makes a big difference in keeping healthy?

A．Playing basketball with their friends occasionally.

B．Watching football games every day.

C．Taking up gymnastics and joining a club.

D．Doing running in the park every day.

3. What is considered more important to people's health?

A．Social networks.	B．Staying at home.
C．Physical examinations.	D．Setting up families.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Thousands of people participated in a 9-year research.

B．Study finds playing tennis helps people live longer.

C．It is wrong to say running has no impact on heart disease.

D．There are differences between racket sports and team games.