【推荐1】If you’ve never bought organic food, you might be wondering what’s so special about it. Is it really better for you? How does that work? This text will give you a short introduction to the subject.

Organic food is produced without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides (insect and bug killers) and many people buy it because they think it’s better for their health. Whether that’s true or not is still debated, but there are lots of other reasons for organic food. Intensive agriculture (集约型农业) gives us cheap and plentiful food, but it’s also one of the biggest sources of environmental pollution. According to a report by the World Resources Institute, half of all the chemical fertilizers ever produced have been used since 1984. Fertilizers — and the much more deadly pesticides and herbicides (weed killers) used with them — finally find their way into rivers and seas. Sometimes they break down harmlessly, but they’re just as likely to build up in creatures that eat them (including humans). Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is one way to help reduce the problem.

Many people find it puzzling that organic products are more expensive. After all, you’re doing away with expensive chemicals ... so shouldn’t they be cheaper? Organic farming is typically a more labor-intensive(劳动密集型) way of farming and that’s why it costs more. As a responsible (有责任的) consumer, it’s up to you to decide where to put your money. Are you happy to buy products that may have been grown in a harmful way? Are you willing to pay more to buy organic products that may help to protect the environment?

1. Which of the following does the author agree on?

A．Organic food is better for people’s health.

B．Organic food is better for the environment.

C．Organic food tastes better than traditional food.

D．Organic food can be produced in great amounts.

2. The underlined words “doing away with” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by “______”.

A．making use of	B．getting rid of
C．keeping away from	D．taking advantage of

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards organic food?

A．Doubtful.	B．Uncertain.
C．Worried.	D．Supportive.

【推荐3】Recent research highlights that the last meal of the day can significantly affect our health. The story is not merely about what we consume, but also about when we do so.

The debate about dinner timing finds substantial, scientific support with a Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) study, suggesting that early dinners could have much health benefits. And it defined an early dinner as a meal consumed three to four hours before bedtime in line with our body’s circadian rhythm (生理节奏).

The BWH study discovered clear differences in metabolic (新陈代谢的) profiles of early and late diners. Early diners demonstrated lower blood glucose (葡萄糖) levels, improved fat-burning capacity, better sleep quality, and higher energy levels. Meanwhile, late dinners led to increased hunger, slower calorie burning, and higher fat storage, posing risks for conditions like diabetes (糖尿病).

The exact timing of dinner isn’t a one -size-fits-all choice, as people’s routines vary widely. Maya Feller, a nutritionist based in Brooklyn, NY, emphasizes that our schedules — ranging from traditional nine-to-five to round-the-clock — are critical when considering “ideal” meal times. Therefore, finding a dinner time that fits into your schedule is essential.

Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, offers insightful tips for those whose routines may not permit an early dinner. She recommends consuming meals or snacks every three to five hours. This regular eating pattern can help stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing the feeling of hunger. Furthermore, it’s advantageous to leave a gap of two to three hours between your last meal and bedtime. This gap ensures your body has sufficient time for most of the digestion process letting — you get adequate rest and repair during sleep.

So it’s time to reconsider not just the contents of your plate, but also the clock. After all leading a healthy lifestyle isn’t merely about counting calories but also understanding when and how to fuel our bodies.

1. What did the Brigham and women’s Hospital (BWH) study mainly focus on?

A．The recommended daily diet.	B．our body’s circadian rhythm.
C．The drawbacks of early dinners.	D．The importance of dinner timing.

2. What may be the result of having an early dinner?

A．Enjoying a sound night’s sleep.	B．Having a strong sense of hunger.
C．Storing up more fat in your body.	D．Having a higher risk of diabetes.

3. What advice does Wendy Bazilian give to the late diners?

A．They’re supposed to grab some food every 6 hours.

B．They should allow for digestion process before bedtime.

C．They’d better have access to adequate sleep.

D．They are advised to keep their blood sugar level stable.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To show the benefits of good dietary habits.

B．To share the fact that we are what we eat.

C．To tell people the healthiest time to eat dinner.

D．To show the importance of eating less in the evening.

【推荐1】阅读下面短文，回答文后的 6 个问题，并把答案写在答题卡上。

Sitting around doing nothing used to seem like one of the safest activities possible. Then a few years ago, scientists discovered that sitting all day causes harmful metabolic changes that together increase your chances of meeting an early end. Even regular exercise doesn’t reduce the ill effects of sitting in a chair all day. Suddenly, sitting around became public health enemy number one.

Could 20 seconds an hour of activity lengthen your life?

A study which was conducted by scientists at the University of Texas at Austin and published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, closely observed eight young, healthy volunteers as they sat around. On the first day of the experiment, they simply lunged for six hours. On the second day, they got up from their lazing each hour and engaged in five rounds of 4 seconds of intense exercise on a specialized exercise bike.

Twenty seconds total exercise an hour sounds like nothing, but the data showed it made a big difference to the subjects’ bodies. The next day they burned more fat and showed lower levels of triglycerides in their blood.

This study is small, but hopeful. “The results suggest that breaking up sitting with frequent, intense and momentary exercise ‘can undo’ some of the bad effects of being sedentary,” explains Gretchen Reynolds in the New York Times.

And while the study used a special type of bike developed by sports scientists, the researchers feel similar results are available with everyday home-exercise equipment. However, you may have to exercise a few more seconds to reach the same level of intensity, depending on what type of exercise you choose. If you want to get these results, your goal should be to get your heart pumping to its maximum as quickly as possible.

1. Why is sitting around called public health enemy number one?
2. What’s the aim of the study by the University of Texas?
3. What’s the result of the study?
4. What’s the conclusion of the study?
5. How can you get satisfying results while exercising at home?
6. Please write a summary with the help of the questions above.

【推荐2】The artificial lighting which lines the world’s coastlines could be having a significant effect on species that rely on the moon and stars to find food, new research suggests.

Creatures such as the sand hopper orientate（确定方位）their nightly migrations based on the moon’s position and brightness of the natural night sky. However, a study by Bangor University and the University of Plymouth shows the presence of artificial light coming from cities several kilometres away (also known as artificial sky glow) disrupts the lunar compass they use when covering long distances.

In some cases, this can lead to animals travelling towards the sea and away from food, while in others it reduces the chance of them risking out for food at all. Writing in Current Biology, researchers say this could throw a clear threat not just to the health of sand hopper populations (沙蚤种群)but also the wider ecosystem, since they play an important role in breaking down and recycling algae (海藻)washed up on coastlines.

Dr. Thomas Davies, Lecturer in Marine Conservation at the University of Plymouth (UK), said, “Artificial sky glow is the most geographically widespread form of light pollution. Surveys have shown it can currently be detected above 23% of the world’s coasts nightly, and with coastal human populations set to at least double by 2060, its effects are only going to increase. Our results show it is already having obvious effects on biological processes that are guided by celestial（天上的）light signals.”

Through the study, researchers find increasing proofs that light pollution from coastal cities can influence marine species inhabiting nearby beaches, rocky shores and even the seafloor. These results highlight how massive city lighting could be in shaping the ecology of coastlines kilometres distant from their nearest urban centres. They also highlight the potential for artificial sky glow to affect other species that undergo migrations using the moon as a compass.

“While our understanding of the effect of street lights on nature has improved greatly, artificial sky glow has been largely overlooked. More work is urgently needed to fully understand the degree to which it is shaping the natural environment.” Dr. Thomas.

1. Which of the following could best replace “disrupts” in paragraph 2?

A．disturbs	B．makes
C．unites	D．replaces

2. What does Dr. Thomas Davies express in paragraph 4?

A．Light pollution is more serious in coastal cities.

B．Artificial light has been widely used in the world.

C．Artificial light is of great use to animals’ migrations.

D．Light pollution caused by artificial sky glow is on the rise.

3. What have researchers found about light pollution?

A．It is the main pollution in cities.

B．It shapes the ecology of the ocean.

C．It has a great effect on surroundings.

D．It affects the migrations of sea creatures.

4. What does Dr. Thomas Davies think of the study of artificial sky glow?

A．It is useless.	B．It is quite necessary.
C．It is doubtful.	D．It is challenging.

【推荐3】It is likely that most people have the shared feeling: how come Christmas appears to come around quicker and quicker each year? Questionnaires by psychologists have shown almost everyone feels time is passing faster now compared to when they were half or a quarter as old. Most strikingly, lots of experiments have shown that, when older people are asked to guess how long the time is, or to “reproduce” the length of periods of time, they guess a shorter amount than younger people.

In 1877, Paul Janet suggested the proportional theory, where a child of 10 feels a year as 1/10 of his whole life while a man of 50 as 1/50, so the subjective sense of the 50-year-old man is that these are insignificant periods of time.

There are also biological theories. The speeding up of time is linked to how our metabolism(新陈代谢) gradually slows down as we grow older. Children’s hearts beat faster than adults’. They breathe more quickly. With their blood flowing more quickly, their body clocks “cover” more time within the space of 24 hours than ours do as adults. On the other hand, older people are like clocks that run slower than normal, so that they lag behind, and cover less than 24 hours.

In the 1930s, the psychologist Hudson Hoagland found body temperature causes different perceptions of time. Once, when he looked after his ill wife, he noticed she complained he’d been away for a long time even if only away for a few moments. Therefore, Hoagland tested her perception of time at different temperatures, finding the higher her temperature, the more time seemed to slow down for her, and that raising a person’s body temperature can slow down his sense of time passing by up to 20%.

Time doesn’t necessarily have to speed up as we get older though. It depends on how we live our lives, and how we relate to our experiences.

1. What does the author want to tell by the questionnaires and experiments in paragraph 1 ?

A．The old feel time flies faster than the young.

B．Time now is shorter than before.

C．Aging makes people think slowly.

D．The old value time more than before.

2. Which is NOT the factor for children’s slow perception of time according to biological theories?

A．Children’s hearts beat faster than adults’.

B．Children breathe more quickly.

C．Children run more quickly.

D．Children’s body clocks “cover” more time within the space of 24 hours.

3. Who may feel time go more slowly by the theory of Hudson Hoagland?

A．A child with slower metabolism.	B．A kid feeling ill.
C．A grown-up feeling freezing.	D．An adult with a high fever.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．How Time Flies!

B．What causes different perceptions of time.

C．Live a Fun Life!

D．Time is speeding up.

【推荐1】C       What historical site impresses you most? I’ve always been fascinated by the pyramids in Egypt．A few years ago I braved a long queue and climbed through a narrow passage to reach the main chamber deep inside one of them．Like millions of other tourists, I marveled (赞叹) at stone-walled rooms full of the magic of this ancient civilization．
But popularity might be the destruction of such archaeological treasures．Take Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings for example．It lay untouched for more than 3,000 years until the British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered it in 1922．Now more than 1,000 people a day walk through it．
But as more and more people visit, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb change．As a result, the beautifully decorated plaster is coming away from the rock．
In order to preserve its heritage, a replica (复制品) of the monument is being opened about 1 kilometer away from the actual burial site．Specialists have recorded every detail of Tutankhamun’s tomb and used the data to recreate it．
Adam Lowe from the organization behind the project says the copy is identical to the original．He believes visitors will want to become part of the force that protects it rather than a force that is leading to its destruction．So they won’t mind seeing a replica．
But for historian Tom Holland, a copy is still a copy．He believes that although preservation is important, there is something unique about places like Tutankhamun’s tomb．He says it was built by people who believed in the world of the spirits, the dead and the supernatural．You don’t have to believe in a god or gods to feel a place is consecrated (使圣化) and has a particular quality that can’t be reproduced．
What about you? Would you visit a replica of a monument rather than the original to help preserve it?
1. What may account for the destruction of some archaeological treasures like Tutankhamun’s tomb?

A．Climate change．

B．Copies．

C．Popularity．

D．Thieves．

2. What measures have been taken to preserve the heritage of Tutankhamun’s tomb?

A．Decorating the monument again．

B．Building a replica of the monument．

C．Limiting the number of visitors．

D．Moving the tomb away from the actual site．

3. The underlined word “identical” is closest in meaning to ________．

A．superior

B．Sensitive

C．Exposed

D．similar

4. Historian Tom Holland may hold the opinion that ________．

A．some unique ancient places can’t simply be replaced by replicas

B．visitors are advised to see replicas because preservation is first

C．ancient civilizations are consecrated and can’t be redecorated

D．visitors to ancient civilizations must believe in a god or gods

【推荐2】The new wave of plant-based “meat” is going mainstream and straight into one of America’s most iconic chain fast-food burgers, the White Castle Slider. White Castle announced Thursday it is introducing a vegetarian fake-meat version of its famous mini-burgers. The burgers is one of several scientifically engineered products made to make plant ingredients (成分) taste just like beef. Called the Impossible Slider, it will be first sold at 140 White Castle eateries in the New York, New Jersey and greater Chicago areas with the potential for a nationwide promotion.

The White Castle Impossible Slider---made with smoked cheddar cheese, pickles, onions and a bun---features a 2-ounce patty and costs $1.99. That compares to the chains traditional 0.9-ounce mini-cheeseburger at about 94 cents. “Plant-based proteins are growing. We felt it was a good opportunity to test it with our customers,” CEO Lisa Ingram said. “We think it will appeal to a broad range of customers---those that are meat caters who want to try something different and non-meat eaters who want this.” She also said the new sliders might bring in new customers, too.

The Impossible Slider represents what few in the traditional beef industry thought possible---that cowless meat would be a hit in a country known for its meat-and-potatoes diet and love of burgers. Plant-based meat alternatives are growing at rate of about 11% a year, according to the research firm Acosta. The market isn’t just vegetarians: Some 71% of people who buy plant-based meat also eat the real thing.

“Interest in meat alternatives seems to be driven by consumers at large, not just those looking for vegetarian lifestyles, but looking for diversification( HF1c)of tastes and health benefits,” said Billy Roberts, senior food and drink analyst at the global market research firm Mintel. “Our business is a growth business. There’ll be increased demands for products like the Impossible Burger,” Impossible Foods Chief Operating Officer David Lee said. “People are increasingly asking about what impact food has on the environment and our health.”

1. What is the selling point of the Impossible Slider?

A．Its low price.	B．Its good taste.
C．Its high technology.	D．Its plant-based ingredients.

2. According to the passage, who may be attracted by the Impossible Slider?
① People living a vegetarian life       
② people looking for various tastes
③ people valuing health             
④ people dislike fast-food

A．①

B．①②

C．①②③

D．①②③④

3. What can be inferred from David Lee’s words?

A．Curiosity drives more people to buy the Impossible Slider.

B．People’s concern over the environment and health may help the new business.

C．People’s doubt about food impact may stop the Impossible Slider’s popularity.

D．Eco-friendly people play an important part in promoting the Impossible Slider.