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 . This May is a busy month in Beijing. There is a lot to do.
Here are the fun activities.
 | The Secret Lives-National Museum Pulled from the old shelves of the Museum’s collection rooms, these objects（物品）from Han Dynasty all have their secrets. They have some pretty amazing stories to tell. Place: 2nd floor, the National Museum Dates: daily Price: ¥30（free for under 12） Time: Tuesday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Weekends 9 am-9 pm Tel: 6788-6888 |
 | Scottish Dancing Take your friends and get ready to dance till you get tired. Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn. Anyone can learn how to dance…it’s all matter of learning how to move your body. Place: Jack Stein’s Date: every Saturday Price: ¥60 Time: 7 pm-10 pm Tel: 6533-1877 |
 | Live Music-Late Night Jazz Enjoy real American jazz from Tuck Andress, the famous guitar player. This is his third visit to Beijing. Get your tickets quickly. Place: The Music Club Date: May 6-13 Price: ¥120 Time: 10 pm till late! Tel: 6466-8736 |
1. We can see the objects from Han Dynasty on the ________ floor in the National Museum.
| A．first | B．second | C．third | D．fourth |
| A．¥60 | B．¥90 | C．¥120 | D．¥240 |
| A．6466-8736 | B．6788-6888 | C．6533-1877 | D．6466-1877 |
| A．listen to stories | B．learn Scottish dancing |
| C．enjoy real American jazz | D．enjoy collections from Han Dynasty |
3 . 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 |
5 .
| ①The Hunger Games ②Sci-fi adventure, 2012 ③In the future the USA is a new country called Panem. Every year the Capitol of Panem chooses 12 boys and 12 girls to go on a TV show called The Hunger Games. In this TV show the teenagers have to fight until there is only one person left. Katniss goes on the show and she has to run fast and fight to save her life. ④I love the actors in this film. Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson are fantastic as Katniss, Gale and Peeta. My favourite character is Katniss because she is very good at running and fighting. Also, I think that the film is good because it is exactly the same as the book. ⑤I give The Hunger Games ☆☆☆☆☆, go and watch it soon! Marta （13 years old, Mexico） ☆☆☆☆Fantastic! ☆☆ Bad ☆☆☆ Really good! ☆ Terrible! ☆☆☆ OK |
| Top Tips for writing 1. Start with the film’s title. 2. The type of film. When it was made. 3. Explain the film’s story but don’t explain the ending! 4. ? 5. Should people go and watch the film? |
1. The Hunger Games is a ________.
| A．book | B．course | C．game | D．movie |
| A．win a running race | B．enter a film competition |
| C．fight until they are the last person left | D．fight the new country called Panem |
| A．Katniss | B．Gale | C．Peeta | D．Jose |
| A．Introduce the actors. | B．Your opinion of the film. |
| C．Where is the story set? | D．Information about the writer. |
6 . Imagine getting the chance to go camping for five days. It would be an adventure in the wild. You could row on a lake every day and leave your smartphone at home. Would you want to try this?
In June, four teenage girls from Minnesota, US, went camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (边界水域泛舟区). They had a great time—even without their smartphones.
Julia Ruelle, 16, put the group together. Earlier this year, she won an essay contest sponsored (赞助) by a company. The award was a five-day canoe and camping adventure with up to three friends. No parents or guides would be there. This award was supposed to encourage kids to be less dependent on technology.
Ruelle had been to the area before, but she had always gone with her parents. Sharing the experience with friends would be very different. She invited three friends: Anna Wander, Madeline Wilson, and Julianna Torelli.
They came up with a daily plan. “We would wake up early every day. We were done paddling (划桨) by noon. We ate lunch at the campsite. Then it was time for hammocks (吊床), reading, writing, making friendship bracelets (手链), talking and napping,” Ruelle said.
“I’m a lot less worried about things,” Wander said when asked how she felt without her cellphone. Her favorite thing to do was lie in her hammock and look at the lake. Torelli enjoyed cooking. She made blueberry pancakes and sandwiches.
No one felt hungry or homesick. “Mental (心理的) health can be improved so much. It really helps to get away and reconnect with yourself,” Ruelle said.
1. How long was the trip?| A．Five days. | B．Three days. | C．Six days. | D．Two days. |
| A．had to live on a boat for several days | B．needed to finish many tasks |
| C．had to live without their smartphones | D．needed to find a guide on their own |
| A．not using her smartphone at school | B．asking her parents for help |
| C．working in a company | D．winning an essay contest |
| A．Worried. | B．Happy. | C．Hungry. | D．Homesick. |
| A．The girls didn’t make any camping plans. |
| B．It is easy to get lost without our phones. |
| C．Wilson enjoyed making pancakes and sandwiches. |
| D．Using smartphones less can improve our mental health. |
1. What museum is mentioned in this passage?
| A．The Science Museum | B．The Louvre Museum |
| C．The Palace Museum | D．The British Museum |
| A．Book tickets | B．Find out more | C．Make a donation | D．View Museum map |
| A．It is necessary to visit the museum with a guide. |
| B．You should book the ticket online during the opening times. |
| C．If you become a member, you’ll get the ticket at a cheaper price. |
| D．You may not be allowed to pay a visit if you’re not in a good condition. |
| A．The rules while visiting a museum. |
| B．The general introduction of a museum. |
| C．How to make a safe visit to a museum after a hard time. |
| D．What to see or do for visitors in a museum in a foreign country. |
8 . Betty is not a traditional American nice girl. She is unfashionable, has thick red glasses, untidy hair and large metal braces（牙套）on her teeth. But this hasn’t stopped her from becoming one of American’s favourite TV characters. So how did she manage to do it?
The answer is that charm can be more attractive than beauty. Betty is the main character in a TV show Ugly Betty. The show is about her life as an office worker at a fashion magazine in New York.
Betty has many exciting experiences and romantic stories. Betty is often looked down on and laughed at by the people around. But she manages to do better than others with her hard work, charm and wisdom. The show tells us about how a girl goes from an ugly young duck into a beautiful swan.
Though you may know the ending of the show from the beginning and the story is familiar to many of us, it has still been a big success in the USA. It has attracted a large number of viewers and won two Golden Globes awards, one of the highest honors for a television program in the USA. “I think you can see a bit of Betty in all of us, and I mean men as well, because it’s about the underdog（弱者）,” says Ashley Jensen, who plays one of the characters on the show.
The program is so popular because of the performance of the 23-year-old American actress Ferrera who plays the role of Betty. She brings the character alive on the screen.
1. Betty is popular because of _______.| A．her clothes | B．her charm | C．her personality | D．her appearance |
| A．the beginning | B．the ending | C．the story | D．the show |
| A．A large number of viewers. | B．Betty’s life as an office worker. |
| C．The wonderful performance. | D．Two Golden Globes awards. |
| A．Betty is a girl of wisdom. |
| B．Betty acts as a beautiful swan on the show. |
| C．Betty is an American favourite TV character. |
| D．Betty is often looked down on by the people around her. |
| A．Beauty from Within | B．A Romantic Story |
| C．An Ugly Girl | D．An Exciting Experience |
Fleabag（睡袋） and the Ring's
End Beth Webb
More stories of Fleabag, the talking cat-star of this wonderful set of 3 books.
Ages 8-13, 208 pages, paper-back
07459 44116, ￡3.99
The little White House
Elizabeth Goudge
A fairy tale and winner of the Carnegie Medal.
Ages 8-12, 240 pages, paper-back 07459 45783, ￡4.99
My Very First Christmas
Book Lois Rock and Alec Ayliffe
A big, bright book, which presents the story simply, and happily for very young children.
Ages 0-3, 12 pages, 200mm × 200mm, board 07459 40560, ￡4.99
First Festival: Christmas
Lois Rock
An all-in-one book to help grown-ups and children prepare(准备) for their Christmas together. Presents, activities and customs.
Ages 5-8, 48 pages, 290mm × 250mm, hardback 07459 39074, ￡8.99
Star of Wonder
Pat Alexander
A wonderful collection of Christmas stories and poems. Full of lively pages to read and enjoy.
Ages 7-12, 224 pages, paperback 07459 39323, ￡4.99
1. If you want to make a Christmas plan together with your children, which book do you prefer?| A．Star of Wonder | B．The Not-So-Wise Man |
| C．First Festival: Christmas | D．My Very First Christmas Book |
| A．07459 40560. | B．07459 39323. | C．07459 45783. | D．07459 44116. |
| A．Pat Alexander. | B．Beth Webb. | C．Lois Rock. | D．Elizabeth Goudge. |
| A．introduce the books to children | B．tell parents about the new books |
| C．help children to choose proper books | D．advise parents to buy the books for their kids |
| The Louvre Museum Location: France Collection: classical paintings and sculptures (雕塑） Opening Hour: 9: 00-18: 00 (except for Tuesday） 9: 00-21: 45 (only for Wednesday and Friday) Ticket: 11 Euros |
| The British Museum Location: Britain Collection: cultural relics (遗迹) and treasures of the world Opening Hour: 10: 00-17: 30 (daily days) 10: 00-20: 30 (only for Wednesday and Friday） Ticket: free |
| The Hermitage Museum Location: Russia Collection: paintings and sculptures(雕塑） Opening Hour: 10: 30-17: 00 (except for Monday) 10:30-21:00 (only for Wednesday and Friday) Ticket:70RUB (卢布) |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art Location: America Collection: works of clothes and European art Opening Hour: 10: 00-17: 30 Ticket: 25 dollars |
1. You can visit the Louvre Museum at ________.
| A．0:00 pm on Tuesday | B．9:00 pm on Monday |
| C．11: 00 am on Thursday | D．8:00 am on Friday |
| A．the Louvre Museum | B．the British Museum |
| C．the Hermitage Museum | D．the Metropolitan Museum of Art |
| A．The Louvre Museum is the cheapest one to visit. |
| B．You can visit the British Museum at any time. |
| C．You can see paintings in two different museums. |
| D．The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in London. |
| A．newspaper. | B．A travel magazine. | C．A science website. | D．A story book. |
