Can laughing every day help keep the heart attack (心脏病) away? Maybe so. Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect people against the heart attack, according to a recent study from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
“The old saying that ‘Laughter is the best medicine.’ seems to be true when it comes to protecting your heart,” said Michael Miller at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
In the study, researchers compared the humor responses (反应) of 300 people. Half of them had suffered a heart attack. The other 150 did not have heart disease. Researchers provided people from the first group with a series of multiple-choice (多选的) questions to find out how much or how little they laughed in certain situations. And the second group were given true or false questions to help researchers know more about anger.
Miller said the most important study finding was that “people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations” They generally laughed less, even in positive (乐观的) situations, and they showed more anger. “We know that exercising, no smoking and eating foods low in fat will help cut down on the risk of heart disease. Perhaps hearty laughter should be added to the list.” Miller said.
It may be possible to put laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift. According to Miller, every one of us is supposed to read something humorous or watch a funny video, and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously.
1. At the very beginning of this article, the topic is introduced by ________.| A．an example | B．a question | C．a problem | D．an experiment(实验) |
| A．Why they suffered a heart attack. |
| B．Whether they had heart disease or not. |
| C．What helped protect them against heart disease. |
| D．How much or how little they laughed in certain situations. |
| A．the first group of people generally laughed more | B．the second group of people showed more anger |
| C．exercising can keep people away from getting sick | D．laughing can help cut down on the risk of heart disease |
| A．It is time to take ourselves less seriously. | B．Laughter is as important as walking up the stairs. |
| C．Every one of us should do something to keep fit. | D．Laughter is the best medicine to keep heart healthy. |
2 . One of a Kind
A Very Large Tortoise（龟）
Giant tortoises are the biggest tortoises in the world. A long time ago, many giant tortoises lived on Pinta Island. Most tortoises need their shells to protect them. The giant tortoises on Pinta Island didn’t need their shells for this. They didn’t have predators（天敌）.
One Rare Animal
Lonesome George was a giant tortoise. He was a very rare animal. He was the last tortoise of his kind in the world. Giant tortoises were not always rare. When dinosaurs（恐龙）lived, there were millions of giant tortoises. Many of them lived on Pinta Island.
Giant Tortoises Disappear
Many years ago, pirates（海盗）came to Pinta Island. Giant tortoises were good to eat. They took many away on their ships. Tortoises can live a long time with little food or water. So they were good food for pirates on long trips. Soon, there was only one left. This was Lonesome George.
An Amazing Discovery
It was very exciting to find Lonesome George. He was the only one of his kind in the world. Scientists thought he could have been seventy or eighty years old. This is not really old for a giant tortoise. Some can live to be two hundred years old.
A New Home for Lonesome George
Lonesome George couldn’t be left on Pinta Island. He was taken to a place where scientists could take care of him. There was a lot of space for him in his new home. Many people came to see Lonesome George. He really looked like an animal that lived with the dinosaurs.
Gone Forever
There are many other giant tortoises. However, none of them are the same kind as Lonesome George was. When Lonesome George died, his kind became extinct. They are gone forever, like the dinosaurs.
1. Where did giant tortoises live a long time ago?2. How did giant tortoises disappear?
3. How old can giant tortoises live to be?
4. Why did the scientists take Lonesome George away from Pinta Island?
5. What does the underlined word “extinct” probably mean in Chinese?
6. What can you learn from this passage?
3 . When I was young, I watched my mother using our dial (拨号) telephone one day. She was talking to someone who wasn’t actually in the room. After she hung up the phone and left the room, I walked over to the phone. I dialed some numbers like my mother and then I received a voice saying, “You have dialed a wrong number. Please …” I was surprised and quickly hung up.
That, of course, was a long time ago. It was my earliest memory about the telephone. A few years later, we changed the old dial telephone to a push button (按键) phone. Next came mobile phones that you could carry around the house with you. After that came cellphones, and smartphones.
Nowadays there are hundreds of apps on my smartphone. I can send an email in seconds with my phone. It seems that we are more connected in this world than ever before.
But it brings another problem. As much as we are connected to each other by phone, we rarely (很少) really connect with each other. Few people write letters to each other these days. Few take the time to talk face to face. Instead of talking on the phone, we send messages. Instead of looking into our loved ones’ eyes, we stare at our phones.
Don’t let that happen. Don’t let technology take your time and your life away from you.
Take a walk on the beach with your friend. Sit and watch a movie with your loved one. When technology can help you do these things, then use it; but when it can’t, turn it off.
1. The writer was surprised when _________.| A．she saw her mother using the phone |
| B．her mother hung up the dial telephone |
| C．she dialed the numbers like her mother |
| D．she heard someone speaking in the phone |
a. push button phone b. smartphone c. dial telephone d. mobile phone e. cellphone
| A．acdbe | B．cadeb | C．cdaeb | D．adcbe |
| A．People often write letters to each other. |
| B．People often meet and talk face to face. |
| C．People often look at and use their phones. |
| D．People often stare into loved ones’ eyes. |
| A．It’s time to turn off our telephone. |
| B．It’s easy to communicate online today. |
| C．Telephone changes our life in many ways. |
| D．We should connect with our heart, not technology. |
4 . Self-disciplined (自律的) people are not all outstanding (杰出的) people. But nearly all outstanding people are self-disciplined people. Some of them read every day. Some of them never run late. The real difference between an elite person and an ordinary (普通的) person is that an elite person can manage his or her time well. That’s where their success comes from. What people call self-discipline is in fact self-management.
One example is staying fit. Never underestimate (低估) someone who is in good shape. Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows that it’s not easy. It’s even harder to avoid putting weight back on. If someone is in good shape, it shows that he knows the principles (原则) of staying fit and is able to stick to a plan that uses these principles.
If someone is in good shape, it means that this person is good at managing themselves and their time. Whether it is natural or acquired, it is a great skill. It also shows that this person is able to keep persevering (坚定不移的) and can balance long-term goals with short-term goals.
So if someone is in good shape, he or she is more than just healthy.
How do you learn self-management? First of all, set a goal and write down your reasons for wanting to achieve it. Create a list of all the things you need to do to achieve this goal and start to work on them one at a time. With self-discipline, small things in life will no longer trouble you. Only through self-discipline can you truly own your future.
1. “An elite person” means ________.| A．a manager | B．an ordinary person |
| C．an outstanding person | D．a person from outer space |
| A．it is quite difficult to lose weight |
| B．keeping in good shape requires self-management |
| C．one can be fit if he knows the principles of staying fit |
| D．a person who is in good shape is much healthier than others |
| A．后天的 | B．加工的 | C．所需的 | D．个体的 |
| A．Ordinary people are still special. |
| B．Setting a goal is the key to self-discipline. |
| C．Self-discipline can be developed through practice. |
| D．Try to complete small tasks first if you want to achieve your big goals. |
| A．How to be outstanding | B．Keep fit to be in good shape |
| C．Steps to achieve your goals | D．Be more strict with yourself |
What does taking the train mean to you? Perhaps it’s just a way of getting to your destination （目的地）. In fact, the train itself can be part of the fun.
On March 28, China’s first panda- themed tourist train left Chengdu in Sichuan for Zunyi in Guizhou. It soon became the talk of China with its special design and comfortable service.
Its inside and outside are decorated（装饰）with giant panda pictures. Attendants（乘务员）carry panda toys and passengers can try panda-shaped food, as well as Sichuan snacks. Some people call it a “mobile star hotel” because it has a bar, karaoke room, dance hall, and mahjong （麻将）room. Passengers can take showers and use its 5G network as well.
This luxury（高档的）service is one aspect that has attracted（吸引）travelers. But train travel attracts people for other reasons.
In the fast-paced times we live in, train travel is a good way to slow down. It gives you time and space to read, sleep, chat with friends, or simply do nothing but watch the changing scenery（变换的风景）outside.
Sheng Yawei, 26, once took the longest railway in the world-the Trans-Siberian Railway. Running from Moscow to Vladivostok, it takes six days. “It was like a time travel experience Since the route covers eight time zones（时区）, I saw my watch go back suddenly,” Sheng said. “The rivers, forests, mountains, and deserted countryside along the way made me feel peaceful.”
Train travel is also filled with surprises. You might meet new people. Sheng met a Russian college student and they became friends. “I also met a cute boy who gave me melon seeds（瓜子）.Though we didn’t understand each other’s language, it made me feel nice.”
1. The panda-themed train is from Chengdu to ________.| A．Nanjing | B．Zunyi | C．Wuhan | D．Hefei |
| A．special food | B．panda decoration | C．transport task | D．luxury service |
| A．It is a good way to slow down. |
| B．people feel like it’s a “mobile star hotel”. |
| C．The price is lower than other kinds of transport. |
| D．Passengers will find surprises during the journey. |
| A．try a train trip | B．take a visit to Sichuan |
| C．see the world on wheels | D．experience more ways of travelling |
6 . What was living in the ISS like?
Living in space is common to astronauts. But what if it is a task of nearly a year?
US astronaut Scott Kelly was in the International Space Station (ISS) for 340 days. It is the longest time a US astronaut has spent in space at a time. Kelly's stay is part of the Twins (双胞胎) Study. When Scott Kelly spent nearly a year in the ISS, his twin brother Mark Kelly lived on Earth. They gave scientists more ways to study human space flight.
Usually living in the ISS for such a long time is boring. Was it the same for Kelly? Let's take a look.
Good morning, everyone!
It's time to enjoy a sunrise. But for Kelly, it was one of the 16 sunrises he saw each day in the ISS. Isn't that cool?
Work comes first.
During his stay, Kelly and his partners did about 400 science experiments. One of them was about planting vegetables. And they did it! Growing vegetables will be helpful for longer space journeys.
Moving with microgravity(微重力).
As we all know, space is a place with microgravity, which influences human bodies. So Kelly did exercise more than 700 hours in the ISS. That is about two hours of exercise a day. Microgravity also makes some easy things difficult. Kelly often slept in a sleeping bag, or his arms would float (飘浮) in front of him all the time.
Boring? Why not do something for fun?
Kelly loved taking photos from space and sharing them with the world online. Even President Obama is his fan. Under one of his photos, Obama wrote, "Hey, loving the photos. Do you ever look out of the window and just freak out (吓坏了)?" "I don't freak out about anything, Mr. President, except getting a question from you," Kelly replied.
1. How long did Kelly stay in the ISS?2. Why did scientists start the Twins Study?
3. What did Kelly have to do because of microgravity?
4. Did President Obama enjoy Kelly's photos?
5. What was Kelly's life in the ISS like? Why? (Give one example.)
Don’t know how to take care of your plants? You might need this little spider-like robot. It will chase the sunlight, run to shade, dance when it’s doing well and stomp (跺脚) when it needs to be watered.
It’s called the HEXA Plant, a six-legged machine created by Vincross, a robotics company in Beijing, China.
The robot planter will move toward the sunlight when it needs it,then will rotate (转动) when it enjoys the sun in order to absorb (吸收) its rays on all sides. When it needs to cool off, it will look for shade. It also plays with humans and dances when it is happy, moving its legs up and down. But it gets “angry” when it’s thirsty by stomping its legs.
With six legs,the HEXA Plant can move anywhere — in any direction and around any objects in its path. So sure, it can do a lot more for your plants than just stand there and look cute!
The inventor of the cute robot, Sun Tiangi, was inspired by a dead sunflower. He had no idea why it died — whether it was because of the lack of sunshine or water. That’s when he had the idea for the walking planter.
He says plants are passive. No matter whether they are being cut, bitten, burned or pulled from the earth, or when they lack sunshine, water, or are too hot or cold, they will hold still and take whatever is happening to them. They have the fewest degrees of freedom among all the creatures in nature. He wants to allow plants to experience movement.
1. What is the HEXA Plant?| A．It is a spider which has six legs. | B．It is a new plant developed by people. |
| C．It is a robot that understands plants well. | D．It is a machine that does heavy work for people. |
| A．Water flowers. | B．Make shade for plants. |
| C．Sing and dance with people. | D．Follow and enjoy the sunlight. |
| A．伤心 | B．启示 | C．焦躁 | D．告诫 |
| A．Plants Are also Smart. | B．You Are My Sunshine! |
| C．Are Plants Allowed to Move? | D．How Happy the HEXA Plant is! |
8 . Chinatown is the name given to an area in the middle of London. It is just between Leicester Square and Shaftsbury Avenue. Gerrard Street is at the center and is the most important street in the area. There is a large Chinese community（社区）with a lot of Chinese restaurants, Chinese supermarkets and shops in this street.
In the 1950s, it was a poor area and everything was very cheap. At the same time, the world rice market changed and thousands of farm workers in Hong Kong lost their jobs. They began arriving in London to look for work. They found jobs in the restaurants in this area. Many British people liked Chinese food, and the restaurants were popular.
These restaurant workers often worked 17 hours a day and had no time to learn English. As more Chinese arrived, more shops and businesses grew up. Wives came and joined their husbands and children came and joined their fathers. The community grew, and Chinatown was born.
In the 1970s and 1980s, British-born Chinese started to have a better education and this brought economic（经济的）success to the area. Many families moved out of Chinatown, and there was more space for businesses. Gerrard Street became a street only for visitors and was soon a popular place for tourists.
Now everyone knows about London’s Chinatown. During the Chinese New Year, the streets are seen with flags and thousands of Chinese go into the streets. For most of the year, though, Londoners and tourists go there mainly for the food in the Chinese restaurants. The best restaurants are the ones where the Chinese eat.
1. Is this Chinatown in the middle of London?2. Was the area rich or poor in the 1950s?
3. Why did the restaurant workers have no time to learn English?
4. When did British-born Chinese start to have a better education?
5. What restaurants are considered the best ones?
6. What are the main points about Chinatown in this passage?
9 . Whether you will be a doctor or a police officer in the future, there are teachers in your life right now. They teach you and help you know who you are. Of course, you want to thank them.
Teachers’ Day is the perfect chance for students around the world to thank their teachers.
The festival falls on different days in different countries.
In China, Teachers’ Day is on Sept 10. But in the US, teachers have a whole week to celebrate. Teacher Appreciation ( 感 谢 ) Week is in the first full week of May every year. Kids used to bring apples for their teachers because apples are healthy. Now, they bring gifts with pictures of apples, such as mugs (马克杯), and teddy bears. Some students also make DIY gifts for their teachers. During the week, school clubs often offer teachers free breakfast or a cup of coffee.
South Korea’s Teachers’ Day is on May 15. Many students offer traditional gifts to their teachers. Cards are a kind of traditional gift. Thousands of students prepare personalized（个性化的）cards and give them to their favorite teachers.
Although different countries have different Teachers’ Days, there’s one day for the whole world to honor teachers. On Oct 5 of every year, over 100 countries, such as Canada and the Philippines, express their thanks by celebrating World Teachers’ Day. UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) started the day in 1994. It wants to show people the importance of the teacher.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about Teacher Appreciation Week in the US?| A．It is always in the third week of May every year. |
| B．Kids used to send gifts with pictures of apples to teachers. |
| C．Some students make gifts for their teachers. |
| D．School clubs offer teachers three meals a day during the week. |
| A．cards | B．apples |
| C．mugs | D．teddy bears |
| A．September 10 | B．May 15 | C．June 1 | D．October 5 |
| A．Because there are many teachers at UNESCO. |
| B．Because every person in the world goes to school. |
| C．Because teachers are important for children. |
| D．Because teachers treat us better than anyone else. |
| A．to help people understand the importance of teaching |
| B．to introduce Teachers’ Day around the world |
| C．to ask us to send gifts to teachers on Teachers’ Day |
| D．to let people know about different holidays |
Who owns English?
1 English is spoken by about 400 million people, mostly in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In Ghana, India and Singapore, English is used as a working language, for example, between bosses and secretaries, and between doctors and patients, although there are other languages for everyday use. In China and many other countries, English is the most important foreign language that children learn at school, because when they grow up, it will be quite possible for them to meet people from other countries. They will need a common language to communicate with each other. English is now used by nearly a quarter of the world’s population, and anywhere you go in the world, there is a good chance that you will meet someone who speaks English.
2 The reason why English is spoken everywhere is that in the nineteenth century, English became the language of world trade. And in the twentieth century, the US spread English through newspaper, television and films. It is now the common language for international travel, science, industry, and recently, information technology and the Internet.
3 It is also important to know that English has borrowed many words from other languages, for example, "restaurant" from French, "zero" from Arabic, "piano" from Italian, and "tofu" from Chinese.
4 Will the importance of English last? As China continues to grow, many people think that Chinese will become as common as English by the middle of the twenty-first century. More and more schools in Europe are teaching Chinese as a foreign language, together with some European languages. However, most people still think that English will be used most around the world, at least for the next twenty or thirty years.
5 So who owns English? The answer is everyone who speaks it-the British, the Indians and the Chinese all help make it a rich language. Even though we speak different types of English, we are all part of an international club. We all own English.
1. How many people in the world use English?2. According to the writer, why do you need to learn English at school?
3. What does Paragraph 2 mainly tell us?
4. Are there any words from other languages in English?
5. What is considered to be the world language before the middle of the 21st century?
6. What do you think the writer’s purpose of writing this passage is?
