We all know eating ultra-processed foods that make our lives easier -- such as sauces, and frozen pizza -- isn’t good for our health. Studies have found they can raise our risk of obesity, heart problems, diabetes and cancer. They may even shorten our lives. Now, a new study has revealed eating more ultra-processed foods may contribute to overall cognitive decline, including the brain executive functioning -- the ability to process information and make decisions.
“While in need of further study, the new results are quite compelling and emphasize the critical role for proper nutrition in preserving and promoting brain health and reducing risk for brain diseases,” said Tanzi, professor at Harvard Medical School. He was not involved in the study but he said in his book, “They are very high in sugar, salt and fat, promoting systemic inflammation, perhaps the most major threat to healthy aging. Meanwhile, since they are convenient and quick, they also replace fiber foods important for maintaining the health and balance of bacteria in your gut,” he added, “which is particularly important for brain health and reducing risk of age-related brain diseases like Alzheimer.”
The study, presented at the 2022 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, followed over 10,000 Brazilians for 10 years. “In Brazil, ultra- processed foods make up 25% to 30% of total calorie intake. We have McDonald’s and Burger King. It is not very different from many other Western countries,” said coauthor Dr. Suemoto. Ultra-processed foods are defined as industrial formulations of food substances containing little or no whole foods and typically include flavorings, colorings and other chemical additives, according to the study.
“People consuming over 20% of daily calories from processed foods had a 28% faster decline in global cognition and a 25% faster decline in executive functioning compared to people who not,” said study coauthor Natalia. Those in the study who ate the most ultra-processed foods were more likely to be younger, women, white, had higher education and incomes, and were more likely to have never smoked, the study found.
“People need to know they should cook more,” Suemoto said, “And it’s worth it because you’re going to protect your heart and guard your brain she added”.
1. What is the new finding about eating ultra-processed foods?| A．It makes people gain weight easily. | B．It speeds up people’s aging. |
| C．It may reduce people’s cognitive ability. | D．It is responsible for heart problem. |
| A．Ultra-processed foods only affect your executive function. |
| B．Whoever never cooks is sure to develop Alzheimer. |
| C．Tanzi is the first to find the problem with Ultra-processed foods. |
| D．Brazilians' calorie intake is not different from most Westerners. |
| A．A young professor. | B．An old beggar. |
| C．A heavy smoker. | D．A low-income man. |
| A．People are advised to cook more for the benefit of their health. |
| B．Taking in ultra-processed foods may cause various health problems. |
| C．Convenient ultra-processed foods attract people from all walks of life. |
| D．Ultra-processed foods high in fiber can reduce the risk of brain diseases. |
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【推荐1】Many of us in China enjoy adding chilies（辣椒）to our food, but did you know that this spicy vegetable could also be dangerous?A 34-year-old US man recently ended up in hospital after eating a Carolina Reaper. the spiciest chili in the world. After taking just a single bite of one, the man suffered from serious headaches in the following few days, reported BBC News.
In fact, reports of stomachache and headache caused by eating spicy food are not something unusual. But if chilies are harmful, why is it that human beings are the only animals to eat this vegetable? According to the website Huanqiu, about 600 million Chinese people-almost half of the national population-are chili eaters. So what makes people love chilies so much?The human body reacts to the burning feeling that comes from eating chilies by releasing natural chemicals that “produce a sense of happiness”, noted BBC News.
And the benefits go even further than just personal enjoyment. A survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences found that the death rate of those who eat spicy food once or twice a week is 10 percent lower than those who eat it less than, once a week. The number decreased to 14 percent for those who eat spicy food six to seven times a week. And another study done by the University of Vermont came to a similar conclusion. “The data encourages people to eat more spicy food to improve health and reduce death risk at an early age,” Liu Qi, a nutritionist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, told BBC News.
Chilies have anti-cancer quality and the ability to increase our metabolism（新陈代谢）. So, don’t worry if you love spicy food. It seems that chilies are actually good for us-except for the Carolina Reaper, perhaps.
1. The example of a 34-year-old American is mentioned in paragraph I to prove ________.| A．chilies can be beneficial | B．chilies are popular in America |
| C．chilies can be dangerous | D．serious headaches can be dangerous. |
| A．decreasing death rate | B．releasing natural chemicals |
| C．curing serious headaches | D．providing enough nutrition |
| A．Stomachache and headaches caused by chilies is something unusual. |
| B．Human are the only animals to eat chilies. |
| C．The more chilies you eat, the healthier you ate. |
| D．Chilies have anti-cancer quality but it can’t increase our metabolism. |
| A．warn people of the dangers of chilies. | B．tell people the benefits of chilies. |
| C．encourage people to eat more chilies | D．ask people not to eat Carolina Reaper. |
【推荐2】There may be a reason why astronauts are crazy about the view from space but never mention the food. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station must drink meals out of a plastic squeeze-bag because of zero gravity. Food in space can only be reheated instead of being cooked fresh. Besides, meals for each crew member must be stored in advance and eaten in order. All of this may sound a little difficult to accept.
Therefore, it was one small step for interstellar (星际的) cuisine when U. S. astronaut Megan McArthur recently posted photos of herself holding a pancakes stuffed with beef, tomatoes and a fresh hatch chilli (红番椒) grown aboard the International Space Station itself.
“Best space pancakes yet,” she shared online.
Pesquet, a French astronaut, posted on Instagram, “It is such a joy to grow (and eat) your own food, and necessary for further exploration of our Solar System.” It seems there is a suitcase-sized space garden aboard the ISS (International Space Station) that holds about six “pillows” stuffed with clay and fertilizer, and a LED light. Astronauts have grown several kinds of vegetables including Chinese cabbage and red Russian kale (羽衣甘蓝) in this micro-plot, to test which plants might grow best during a long space voyage.
We called Melva Aguirre, who owns the Pepper Pot in Hatch, N. M., home of hatch chilli. She says the harvest of their famous local crop in outer space is the talk of the town. “Now the whole universe knows how great our chilli are,” she said. When I asked if she could recommend a hatch chilli recipe, Aguirre told me, “Just stuff it.” “Stuff it?” I asked, and she laughed and said, “I mean, in your mouth.” A recipe even I can follow.
1. From the first paragraph, we can know that ________ .| A．Astronauts are crazy about the food they eat in the space station |
| B．The food in the space station can be cooked in various ways |
| C．Astronauts aboard the space station can’t have meals as they wish |
| D．Astronauts don’t care about what they eat in the space station |
| A．Subscribed. | B．Filled. | C．Poured. | D．Revealed. |
| A．kill the spare minutes | B．entertain themselves during the voyage |
| C．explore the universe | D．test for the plants growing best |
| A．Challenges Astronauts Face in Space. |
| B．The Best Food Ever for Space Voyages. |
| C．Fine Dining on the International Space Station. |
| D．The Constant Steps of Human’s Space Exploration. |
【推荐3】A small dairy（乳制品）farm that floats on waterways is being tested in the Netherlands as a way to bring animal products closer to the cities and save space.
Dutch businesswoman Minke Van Wingerden looks proudly at her 32 cows at an automated milking station on an unusual farm: a platform located on one of the waterways in Rotterdam port. She is one of the developers of the “Floating Farm,” testing whether dairy farming like this is feasible in the heart of one of the world’s most urban, industrial areas.
“This idea started in 2012. My partner Peter was involved in a project in New York and then Hurricane Sandy hit New York very badly, so it was flooded and after two days there was no fresh food on the shelves anymore,” she said, “So then we realized, ‘Why not produce fresh food on the water close to the city?’, and that’s where the idea came up.”
The cows can rest on the upper level of the structure. Milk and waste processing facilities are located on the lower deck, as well as the visitors’ entrance and store. The top level of the structure is used to collect rainwater. Power for the farm comes from a solar panel floating nearby.
“The amount of arable（可耕的）land is decreasing and the world population is growing. So how can we produce enough healthy food in the future?” Ms. Van Wingerden said. “Why not use water to produce fresh healthy food near to the consumers?”
The whole farm is equipped with the latest dairy tech such as an automated feeding system, waste-moving robots, self-serve cleaning stations, and the smartphone app. It sells some bottles of raw milk on-site to visitors, while the rest is turned into milk. It is sold to customers nearby via an online grocery, Picnic, known for its small, electric delivery trucks.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “feasible” in paragraph 2?| A．Disgusting. | B．Practical. |
| C．Enjoyable. | D．Flexible. |
| A．It was once flooded by a hurricane. |
| B．It is powered by the waterways nearby. |
| C．It was originally invented in New York. |
| D．It has three floors for different functions. |
| A．picnic deals mainly with dairy products |
| B．electric equipment is being tested on the farm |
| C．modern tech has been applied to farm management |
| D．visitors prefer bottles of raw milk to farm-made milk |
| A．New Food Farm Solves Problems of the Public |
| B．“Floating Farm” Creates Local Dairy for Cities |
| C．Latest Invention Contributes to Food Shortages |
| D．Less Arable Land Threatens World Population |
【推荐1】Two separate research groups in the UK and Denmark have come up with the same idea for a study that could help save endangered species, and have gotten the same results. It involves sucking environmental DNA from the air that animals leave behind.
“We use a really small pump that pulls the air through, and we hope the DNA gets caught on the filter (过滤器),” said Elizabeth Clare, the lead researcher. “It’s a bit like making coffee. You make coffee by sucking water through a filter and leaving the coffee grounds behind. That’s basically what we’re doing; we’re just sucking the air through and hoping that the DNA gets left behind.”
Clare says the concept has been used for years in different ways. Scientists sample pathogens (病原体) from the air, which has been used to help track COVID-19. Environmental DNA can also be collected from water to help ease invasive species.
A big goal for both research teams with the new study is to be able to locate endangered species and help save them. It is important to note that this type of DNA sampling can only be picked up if a species is in the area, so if there were two of the same animal, scientists would not be able to tell which one the DNA came from.
Both research groups also reported certain DNA samples not showing up when they knew an animal had been in the area. They also can’t tell yet how long an animal’s DNA will stick around after it’s been in one area. Clare says she’d like to plan more researches to get these answers.
But one thing is for sure after conducting the study. Clare says she has a whole new perspective on taking a deep breath. “As you know, I’m walking through a jungle or the park or taking my dog for a walk or my kids out to play, and I take a deep breath; I think I just inhaled information about all the things that have been here before, and as a scientist, that’s exciting to think that the information that I’m trying to gather is literally hanging in front of me,” she said.
1. Why does the author mention coffee-making?| A．To show the function of a filter. |
| B．To illustrate how the idea works. |
| C．To compare two different methods. |
| D．To prove how simply DNA-sucking works. |
| A．Detecting danger in the air. |
| B．Protecting endangered animals. |
| C．Sucking DNA out of the air. |
| D．Collecting environmental samples. |
| A．It distinguishes different DNAs. |
| B．It collects certain DNA within range. |
| C．It locates endangered species exactly. |
| D．It predicts the duration of animals’ stay. |
| A．She breathes the air of hope for future studies. |
| B．She agrees with the benefits of deep breathing. |
| C．She adopts brand-new methods of purifying the air. |
| D．She finds inner peace by doing simple things in life. |
【推荐2】I’ve always disliked the term homework. Surely home is where we rest, refresh, recreate — in the truest sense, it’s where we don’t work. What sort of message have we sent our young people all these years by requiring them to work not only at school but at home? No wonder they don’t prefer homework.
At my school, we have kept the older name for homework: prep (or to use the full name and highlight its true purpose: preparation). Prep is designed to help children prepare for the next lesson. A number of short tasks can be part of prep these days: a YouTube clip, a short film made by a teacher, a map or picture to look at. Something visual often suits the child who, by the end of a busy school day, is mentally tired.
Prep can still consist of consolidation exercises but based on past experience, a practical method should be that these are not as many as to be demanding and should be adjusted to suit the child’s needs. Some written work maybe requested but I would hope that it would be a short piece or even a sample paragraph. “Write an essay...” comes with strings attached and usually takes rather longer than the prep time needed.
Ensure that a child’s workspace at home is tidy, quiet and uninterrupted by devices that are not being used for study. On tablets or PCs in use for homework, turn off the notifications or remove any apps you feel are a distraction. Keep an eye on, but not a physical presence in, the workspace until you know your child is truly self-sufficient in terms of focus and pace of work.
Finally, I advise parents to coach children in the Nike approach: “Just do it.” In truth this is generally more favoured by boys than girls, who love wasting time arranging the many coloured pens and crisp stationery. Help your daughter release her inner boy, grab a pen, get the work done, cross out errors with one straight line so that the teacher can see the thought process, finish, pack the bag for tomorrow, and go out to play!
1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．To explain what home is. |
| B．To explain what homework is. |
| C．To explain why children don’t like homework. |
| D．To explain why the author doesn’t like the term homework. |
| A．Making a map. | B．Clipping a picture. |
| C．Watching a short video. | D．Shooting a short film. |
| A．Writing a long essay can be part of preparation. |
| B．Keep an eye on and stay with children until their work is done. |
| C．Preparation can be homework but consolidation exercises cannot. |
| D．Turn off the notifications when children do homework on tablets or PCs. |
| A．A principal. | B．A photographer. |
| C．A parent. | D．An official. |
【推荐3】When the leaves begin to change their colors and the birds head south, we know the season is starting to change. On September 7 comes White Dew (白露), the 15th solar term (节气) of the year. It indicates the beginning of the cool autumn. As the temperature falls, white dew is often seen on the grass and trees at night.
For writers and poets, autumn is a difficult season to describe. It’s the end of the summer, and therefore a little sad. The days seem to get shorter, and when you wake in the morning, there’s mist (薄雾) and it’s cooler. Winter is just around the corner.
American writer Ernest Hemingway wrote in his book A Moveable Feast (《流动的盛宴》), “You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. ”
But on the other hand, autumn has its good side. There are so many changes at this time of year, such as the colorful leaves and cooler nights. French writer Albert Camus even thought autumn was a second spring, “when every leaf is a flower.” This view is also found in the most famous autumn poem in English literature, To Autumn by John Keats. In that poem, Keats says that autumn has its own songs, just like spring.
Another theme of this season is wisdom. The arrival of autumn is thought to be similar to a person becoming mature (成熟的).
The great Irish poet W.B. Yeats used this idea in his poem The Wild Swans at Coole (《库尔的野天鹅》), writing about the changing seasons in Coole Park in the west of Ireland. Seeing and counting 59 swans, he remembers first making the count as a young man. Seeing the swans do the same thing for all those years, he’s reminded that even though we get older, our hearts always stay the same age.
1. What can be concluded about White Dew?| A．It is often ignored by writers and poets. |
| B．It is the time of year with the most rainfall. |
| C．It indicates the end of the autumn. |
| D．It is when the temperature begins to drop. |
| A．To point out that autumn is very cold. |
| B．To show that winter will soon come. |
| C．To present the sad part of autumn. |
| D．To express sadness about the end of life. |
| A．We can always stay young at heart. |
| B．Autumn is an important season for man. |
| C．Autumn is related to one’s growing old. |
| D．Nature is full of lessons to be learned. |
| A．The solar term White Dew. |
| B．Famous writers’ description of autumn. |
| C．Autumn weather and activities. |
| D．Why autumn is a sad season. |
