【推荐2】Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?

The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils (灾祸).

People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions (反应) toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomach aches.

Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites(食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.

Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.

The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.

1. Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their              .

A．cultural values	B．commercial purposes
C．personal experiences	D．physical reactions to the color

2. Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?

A．To relax people physically.

B．To increase people’s appetites.

C．To encourage people to make a purchase.

D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

3. What color might help lose weight according to the text?

A．Red

B．Green

C．Blue.

D．Purple.

4. Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?

A．Colors and Human Beings.	B．The Cultural Meaning of Color.
C．Colors and Personal Experiences.	D．The Meaning and Function of Color.

【推荐3】From red apples and yellow lemons to blueberries and green melons, fruit comes in many different colors.     1    

According to scientists, fruit colors actually come from their different pigments (色素) , such as red or yellow carotenoid (类胡萝卜素) and blue or purple anthocyanin (花青素). These pigments appear in different amounts, depending on the fruit’s environment. This causes the fruit to turn a certain color.

    2     They found that red fruit tends to grow in cooler places. Instead of just growing in one place, you can find them growing in many places around the world. Blue and purple fruit mostly grows in warm places.     3     The scientists also found that the closer the fruit is to the equator, the darker its color will be.

    4     Animals eat fruit and drop the seeds in other places later. This helps the fruit spread and grow in different places. However, animals see colors in a different way. Therefore, in order to attract animals, some fruit develop colors that are easy for animals to see. For example, birds can see red more easily than humans can.     5     The lemurs (狐猴) of Madagascar are red-green color blind. Many yellow fruit can be found in their habitats, as they can easily see this color.

A．How does temperature influence fruit colors?

B．These fruits tend to grow a lot in just one specific area.

C．Why do different kinds of fruit have so many colors?

D．However, a darker color doesn’t mean a better kind of fruit.

E．So there tends to be more red fruit in areas where birds live.

F．Animals have also had an influence on the evolution of fruit colors.

G．Scientists studied more than 280 different fruit colors to find out how environment affects fruit colors.

【推荐1】Have you ever had the pleasure of popping the small air-filled bubbles that make up a sheet of bubble wrap (气泡膜包装)? If so, you know there’s something highly satisfying about it. Have you ever wondered why people like bubble wrap so much?

It turns out that there is some science behind the human connection to bubble wrap. Some experts believe it’s similar to the need to fidget (坐立不安). Do you click a pen or bounce your leg while you’re listening? Maybe you like to draw aimlessly in the corners of your notes or squeeze a stress ball. These small actions are all types of fidgeting.

While some people think fidgeting is distracting, it’s actually been shown to increase attention span. It also helps with the memory of information. Similarly, a study revealed that people report feeling more alert after popping bubble wrap.

The results also showed that people who popped bubble wrap were calmer afterward than those who did not. So, like fidgeting, popping bubble wrap may increase people’s ability to pay attention and remember what they learn.

Experts also say the enjoyment of bubble wrap may be tied to human evolution. In other words, your brain is wired to enjoy it! Early humans had to be on their toes all the time. They needed to be ready to run from a predator (捕食者) at a moment’s notice.

Today, people spend a lot of time sitting, especially at school and at work. As a result, the body may build a lot of muscle tension from lack of movement.

Popping bubble wrap helps relax that muscle tension. It reduces stress and anxiety. In fact, studies have shown that, sometimes, the human brain receives feel-good chemicals like dopamine after popping bubble wrap. So that may be why it feels so satisfying!

1. According to Paragraph 2, while feeling nervous or bored people probably _________.

A．Sit still

B．Keep silent

C．Bounce the leg

D．Chat with others

2. What does the underlined phrase “on their toes” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．mindful

B．concentrated

C．considerate

D．aggressive

3. Which of the following is not the benefit of popping bubble wrap?

A．It reduces pressure and anxiety.	B．It makes people calm and alert.
C．It increases concentration ability.	D．It strengthens people’s muscles.

4. Where does the passage probably come from?

A．A medical report.

B．A science magazine.

C．A chemistry paper.

D．A fashion magazine.

【推荐3】Art is all around us. It can be found everywhere, including fancy galleries, people’s living rooms, and on the sides of buildings. So, why is art important?

It promotes expression and creativity. As humans, we’re naturally drawn to art as a form of expression and communication.     1     It’s a way for them to express themselves before they’re able to speak. In fact, participation in the arts may even assist kids with language, motor skills, and visual learning development.

    2    . When someone applies for a job, there are certain skills they need to have like data analysis or bookkeeping. However, many employers also understand the very important need for the skills which are hard to measure and often difficult to define. Some examples include a person’s ability to adapt to change, think creatively, or collaborate with team members.

It provides historical context.     3    . This is why people dedicate their lives to studying cave art, Shakespearean plays, and so much more. When we take the time to dive into art created in the past, we can learn about other generations and eras. We can study art to find out what those before us were facing and how they overcame it.     4    .

In therapy (疗法) settings, art also provides an opportunity for digging deeper and expressing emotions that are difficult to discuss.     5    . In one important study, children between 6 and 12 were asked to draw a house as a distraction after thinking about something upsetting. This group was able to improve their mood when compared with children who were instructed to draw the negative event or simply copy another drawing.

A．These are its major benefits.

B．Children love to draw, sing, and dance.

C．It helps all of us develop necessary soft skills.

D．How does it have an impact on our life?

E．Similarly, future generations will learn about our current events by the art we leave behind.

F．Art and human history go hand-in-hand.

G．It can help people lift their spirits.