【推荐2】There is a famous expression in English: "Stop the world, I want to get off!” This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes a person want to stop whatever they are doing, try to relax, and become calm again. “Stress” means pressure or tension. It is one of the most common causes of health problems in modern life. Too much stress results in physical, emotional, and mental health problems.

There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, and can cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system (呼吸系统). It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach pains and problems digesting food.

Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks. They may feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often respond too strongly to little problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may shout at a child for dropping a glass of juice.

Long-term stress can lead to serious mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can be the result of lasting stress. Alcoholism (酗酒) and other addictions often develop as a result of overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia (厌食症), are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one’s mental health is put at risk.

It is obvious that stress is a serious problem. It has a great influence on the well-being of our bodies, our feelings, and our minds. So, reduce stress: stop the world and rest for a while.

1. Which of the following is NOT a common problem caused by stress?

A．Physical problems.	B．Anecdotal problems.
C．Mental problems.	D．Emotional problems.

2. Why does the writer take a gentle parent under stress as an example?

A．To show that people under stress may feel tired all the time.

B．To prove that stress affects our physical health.

C．To show how people under a lot of pressure may overreact to little things.

D．To explain why stress makes people nervous.

3. People suffering from emotional stress may feel ________.

A．excited

B．hungry

C．thirsty

D．tired

4. According to the essay, which of the following parts of the body does not have physical problems caused by stress?

A．The arms.

B．The stomach.

C．The lungs.

D．The heart.

【推荐3】It’s well-known that meditation (冥想) has many benefits, but do you know how to practice it for a beginner?

Set a proper scene

Find a space for meditation. It should be private and quiet. Make sure the temperature is comfortable. Sit on a cushion (垫子) if the floor is uncomfortable. You may play soft music if you like.

_______________.

Take a moment to loosen up. Remember that the goal of meditation is to relax. Loosen your clothing, remove your shoes and have a good stretch. Do your best to ease any muscle tension that might keep you from achieving relaxation. Make an effort to relax your facial muscles.

Focus on your breath

Sit down in the space you’ve prepared. Close your eyes and breathe. Each time you breathe in, count “one”. Each time you breathe out, count “one”. The idea is to strengthen being in the moment — the last breath doesn’t matter, and the next one doesn’t matter; only this one matters.

Feel your breath inflate (胀大) your lungs and push on your diaphragm (隔膜). Feel how sweet it is to inhale the fresh air. As you do this, your body will gradually begin to relax and all of your attention will be centered within your mind.

Return to real life

Once you feel fully centered in your mind, allow yourself to gradually drift back to real life. Move your fingers and toes and slowly wake your body up. Open your eyes and remain there for a few minutes until your senses come back, and then slowly stand up.

Even if you can’t make it fully into your mind, you still get some benefits from it. If you want to feel better, you just need to practice. Set about 10 minutes around the same time every day and repeat this exercise.

1. The text is about _________.

A．steps in practicing meditation for beginners

B．tips on how to breathe slowly

C．the benefits of practicing meditation

D．the best way to stay relaxed

2. Which of the following can best fill in the blank?

A．Forget yourself.

B．Prepare yourself for it.

C．Avoid being disturbed.

D．Pay attention to your inner self．

3. The underlined word “inhale” in the text can be replaced by “__________”.

A．look for

B．take in

C．keep away

D．think of

4. To gain greater benefits of meditation, beginners are advised to __________.

A．do some exercise in advance

B．listen to some popular music

C．practice it every day

D．spend a long time in practicing it

【推荐3】Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health. But how about for your sleep?     1     Let's learn more about the relationship between exercise and sleep.

·How does exercise influence sleep?

People who exercise regularly get better sleep than those who don't.     2     That may lead to a decrease in body temperature at night, allowing people to experience deeper sleep.

·    3    

For most people, the time when they take exercise doesn't matter. For too much exercise, late afternoon might be the best. For ongoing training, morning might be preferable. After taking exercise at night, you should gently do stretching (拉伸). This will let your body know it is time to calm down.

·Which type of exercise is best for sleep?

The best type of exercise is the one you enjoy, and you should make it a regular part of your routine.     4    

·How much exercise do you need for better sleep?

    5     However, it's wise to work out about 150 minutes every week, or about 30 minutes each day, five days a week. Try to spend fewer minutes sitting during the day.

A．What can help you sleep more soundly?

B．What time of day is best for exercise?

C．Either yoga or weight lifting can help you sleep well.

D．Exercise increases total sleep time, which leads to greater sleep satisfaction.

E．The answer is that being active during the day can improve the sleep at night.

F．Exercise increases the amount of a chemical, which can increase body temperature.

G．The amount will vary, depending on factors such as age and fitness level.