【推荐2】The sales advertisements tempt (诱惑): Blue-light-blocking glasses are supposed to protect eyes from the effects of short-wave length light emitting from our smartphones, computer screens and LED lights. Given how much time we spend on our devices, this sounds like a smart investment, right? After all, eye strain (疲劳) is a real issue and can lead to poor sleep and even eye diseases. The glasses can cost $15 all the way up to several hundred dollars. But do they work?

Elizabeth Esparaz, an ophthalmologist (眼科专家) based in Cleveland, Ohio, says the science that manufacturers share as they promote these glasses can be confusing. For starters, blue light is not just about tech devices, and it’s not always bad. “The sun emits a much higher intensity of blue light than human-made devices, which helps our mood, alertness and sleep-wake cycle,” says Dr. Esparaz.

The problem is blue light at night: It contains the release of melatonin. “Melatonin helps regulate our circadian rhythms (生理节奏) and makes us sleepy,” says Dr. Esparaz.

So, in theory, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses should help people who watch movies in bed or read from a tablet at night avoid sleeplessness. A review study from the University of Oklahoma that looked al 24 previous studies found that people affected by sleep disorders, jet lag and shift work fell asleep faster after using these glasses.

As for eye strain, a 2021 Australian study showed that those wearing the glasses did not experience less eye strain than those using clear glasses. And a 2018 review study, also by Australian researchers found insufficient evidence that they prevent certain eye diseases.

“These glasses aren’t going to be harmful,” says Dr. Esparaz, But, she adds, a lack of standardization in the industry means there’s no way to know if one pair is better than another. A more reliable solution: Turn on the blue-light-filtering function on your devices and limit screen time before bed. To help with eye strain, Dr. Esparaz suggests taking breaks and using lubricating eye drops.

1. What is Dr. Esparaz’s attitude toward business publicity?

A．Unclear.

B．Tolerant.

C．Approving.

D．Doubtful.

2. What can we learn about blue light from the first two paragraphs?

A．It can be beneficial.	B．It may improve sleep.
C．It actually causes health issues.	D．It merely comes from digital devices.

3. Australian studies found that wearing blue-light-blocking glasses ________.

A．helps prevent eye disease	B．are not harmful to eyesight
C．contributes to no less eye strain	D．benefits those with sleep disorders

4. What might be the best title of this passage?

A．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Your Best Choice	B．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Good or Bad
C．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: A Good Business	D．Blue-light-blocking Glasses: Smart and Cool

【推荐1】Most of us don’t think twice about refilling our plastic water bottles. After all, there’s absolutely nothing harmful about a simple bottle of water, right?

Wrong!     1     Why? Plastic water bottles have Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used to manufacture plastics. This harmful chemical can go into the water and quickly grow dangerous bacteria in the bottle’s cracks, and the health consequences are pretty serious.

We spoke to Kent Atherton, CEO of PuriBloc technology, about the risks of reusing plastics. “Even BPA free products are not safe because manufacturers are now using other estrogenic (雌激素类的) chemicals.     2    ,” said Atherton.

These estrogenic chemicals can have a negative effect on human being’s hormonal balances.     3    . In a study of 259 plastic water bottles at the State University of New York, scientists found that 93% of the surveyed bottles had some form of microplastic contamination (污染). Additionally, single-use plastic bottles are mostly made of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which is safe to use, but not reuse.

    4    . “The thing about water bottles is that they come into contact with our mouth and hands—which are home to a lot of bacteria,” says Professor Stephanie Liberatore in the academic journal The Science Teacher. “Their openings are small, which makes them difficult to clean. This, combined with their wet environment, can make water bottles a bacterial breeding ground.”

To drink water without harm, smart drinkers should avoid re-using disposable (一次性的) bottles.     5     Not only will doing so benefit your health, but you can help the environment, too.

A．There’s also the factor of bacteria to consider.

B．They may also cause the same danger to human health.

C．Instead, they should recycle them after drinking up once.

D．Plastic water bottle could actually do harm to your body.

E．Many people believe buying plastic water bottles is healthy.

F．These plastics can make chemicals go into your water if heated.

G．However, the potential dangers of plastic water bottles don’t stop there.

【推荐3】There is an English saying that “Laughter is the best medicine.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter can really improve people’s health.

Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their hearts, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper; it also works on several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.

Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effects of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated（忍耐）the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which diminishes both stress and pain.

As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients’ condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is WRONG?

A．Laughter is good for health

B．Laughter can make you become old quickly

C．Laughter helps to reduce pain.

D．Laughter, just like physical exercise, is good for our body.

2. The underlined word “diminishes” in the third paragraph means_____.

A．delays	B．prevents
C．increases	D．reduces

3. Why do some doctors hold laughter clinics?

A．Because they want to earn more money.

B．Because they think they will help the patients recover from illnesses.

C．Because they want to improve their patients’ condition.

D．Because they want their patients to practice how to laugh

4. According to the author, we should__________.

A．laugh as much as possible	B．watch more funny films
C．smile all the time	D．spend more time in laughter clinics