1 . Is It Worth Buying Organic Food?
Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice as much for goods with organic labels (标签). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious (有营养的) and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren’t necessarily more nutritious, and they’re no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. “We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier,” says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. “So consumers shouldn’t assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer.”
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn’t always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that “Whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste.” Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.
1. The new research questions whether organic food ________.| A．should replace traditional food |
| B．has been overpriced by farmers |
| C．is grown with less harmful chemicals |
| D．is really more nutritious and healthier |
| A．organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease |
| B．traditional food was grown with more natural methods |
| C．both organic and traditional food they examined were safe |
| D．there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food |
| A．Organic chicken and pork. |
| B．Organic milk and chicken. |
| C．Traditional chicken and pork. |
| D．Traditional fruit and vegetables. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Approving. |
2 . “Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.
The package consisted of a long, narrow box
Oscar was 16 when he first saw the
Oscar
Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien’s house on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I
“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said,
“Why, yes! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a
“No, ma’am,” he said. “My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.”
“Well, that’s
Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how
As if
| A．strictly | B．carefully | C．roughly | D．casually |
| A．Opening | B．Seizing | C．Observing | D．Searching |
| A．After | B．When | C．Since | D．Although |
| A．average | B．unusual | C．plain | D．typical |
| A．designer | B．seller | C．user | D．owner |
| A．convinced | B．forced | C．encouraged | D．advised |
| A．until | B．before | C．which | D．where |
| A．invite | B．help | C．bother | D．know |
| A．putting up | B．turning out | C．picking up | D．holding out |
| A．wide | B．confident | C．proud | D．shy |
| A．patience | B．kindness | C．courage | D．determination |
| A．obviously | B．naturally | C．exactly | D．probably |
| A．old | B．rare | C．precious | D．nice |
| A．in contrast | B．in return | C．in exchange | D．in answer |
| A．attractive | B．significant | C．unselfish | D．sympathetic |
3 . You probably know who Marie Curie was, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams(1860-1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community (社区) by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson(1907-1964)
If it weren’t for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O’Connor(1930-present)
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator(参议员) and, in 1981, the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott.It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. “The only tired I was,was tired of giving in,”said Parks.
1. What is Jane Addams famous for in history?| A．Her social work. | B．Her teaching skills. |
| C．Her efforts to win a prize. | D．Her community background. |
| A．Her lack of proper training in law. | B．The discrimination against women. |
| C．Her little work experience in court. | D．The poor financial conditions. |
| A．Jane Addams. | B．Rachel Carson. |
| C．Sandra Day O’Connor. | D．Rosa Parks. |
4 . Alice is a student who came to my class last year. Though she has already turned 60, Alice looks so fit and
For my 2-hour class every Saturday morning, Alice has to take a 3-hour round-trip on the road. But she is never
Alice came to me with very
I feel fortunate to have a student like Alice. She has
| A．strong | B．cheerful | C．generous | D．proud |
| A．anxious | B．ready | C．meant | D．late |
| A．recognize | B．treat | C．mistake | D．describe |
| A．carefully | B．obviously | C．eagerly | D．regularly |
| A．responsibility | B．achievement | C．humor | D．belonging |
| A．special | B．basic | C．effective | D．official |
| A．in place | B．in motion | C．in use | D．in order |
| A．check | B．copy | C．mention | D．prepare |
| A．revised | B．saved | C．collected | D．arranged |
| A．promises | B．agrees | C．volunteers | D．hesitates |
| A．lively | B．former | C．suitable | D．senior |
| A．encouraged | B．annoyed | C．confused | D．impressed |
| A．taught | B．challenged | C．guaranteed | D．permitted |
| A．appointment | B．determination | C．interaction | D．cooperation |
| A．play safe with | B．try out for | C．let go of | D．get closer to |
5 . Nearly all of us have a bad habit, whether we know it or not. Some people say they want to get rid of it but don’t know the proper ways. Here’s some advice on how to get rid of bad habits.
Make a list. Write down why you want to stop a certain behavior, how it’s hurting you and how to get rid of it. This will help a lot. Look at that list regularly.
Join in other activities. It’s wise of you to do something else when you want to stop your bad habits. If you get angry easily, for example, you can practice having a deep breath or going for a walk.
Give yourself a present. Before you take action against a bad habit, decide what you’ll do to celebrate it if you reach your goal.
Keep off bad habits. If you are fat and want to lose weight, keep junk food out of your house. If you are a heavy smoker with coffee, turn to tea and keep away from friends who like smoking.
Be patient. Bad habits develop over years, so you probably won’t be able to get rid of them quickly. In fact, people often give up several times before being successful, so you should be patient.
Find support. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from friends, family or other people who have the same bad habits as you. When you talk to others, they might be able to provide advice or encouragement that you usually wouldn’t get from yourself.
1. If you want to lose weight, you should ______.| A．drink more coffee. | B．refuse the junk food. |
| C．find support from friends. | D．find a heavy smoker. |
| A．it’s not easy to get rid of bad habits in a short time. |
| B．You can write down the reasons for getting rid of bad habits. |
| C．When talking to others, you can get what you can’t get from yourself. |
| D．When you want to stop your bad habits, don’t do anything. |
| A．how to get rid of bad habits. | B．why we have some bad habits. |
| C．what to do to have a bad habit. | D．where to find some support |
6 . Interactions between people and elephants have a long history. Elephants have been trained and used by human beings for thousands of years, for everything from transportation to construction to logging to war.
In more recent times, Asian elephants have been used in entertainment and as a living ''machine'' to help move logs through the jungle as part of the logging industry. The latter changed in Thailand in 1989, when the Thai government banned the use of elephants in the logging industry. Owners of elephants had very little choice but to turn to tourism to earn enough to care for themselves and their elephants by offering elephant riding to tourists.
Mahouts (象夫) are the elephant handlers who you will see riding or managing the elephants at any camp you visit. The traditional mahout life isn't easy. They are bonded to their elephant and they rarely have time off or time for family.
These years, younger mahouts in Thailand have been more likely to leave the mahout life to find jobs in the city, resulting in elephants having to get used to multiple mahouts. This can lead to additional stress on the elephant, or result in abuse by a mahout trying to manage an elephant that hasn’t built any level of trust with him.
Opponents of elephant riding may suggest that elephant rides be illegal. My worry is that an immediate ban could lead to another massive change in how elephants are treated, similar to ending elephant logging in 1989. How will mahouts that are currently making a living and supporting their elephants through rides be able to continue to do so? The average lifespan of an elephant is 60 years. Any solution needs to take into account the long-term effects on the elephants currently employed giving rides.
1. What happened in 1989 in Thailand?| A．Elephants lost their jobs. | B．Elephants joined in tourism. |
| C．Entertainment was forbidden. | D．The government banned logging. |
| A．The great stress to make money. |
| B．The former masters’ leaving them. |
| C．The heavy load on the elephants. |
| D．The owners' mistrust of the elephants. |
| A．Will You Go to Thailand? |
| B．Why are Elephants Trained? |
| C．How do Mahouts Train Elephants? |
| D．Should You Ride Elephants in Thailand? |
| A．To present a problem. | B．To criticize mahouts. |
| C．To introduce Thailand. | D．To record his experience. |
7 . There are a number of events going on this weekend and in the days ahead at the Cooperage,located at 1030 Main Street in Honesdale. Enjoy! Remember more events can be found on the Calendar of Events or under our Community Link.
The Cooperage Maker Fair
The Cooperage Maker Fair will be held from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, June 12th on the grounds of the City Museum. The Maker Fair is a place where people show what they are making — a showcase of invention and creativity, and share what they are learning. Anyone interested in presenting their projects, hobbies and experiments should apply to take part at www. cooperagemakerfair.com.
Such Sweet Thunder
At 7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17th, there will be a film screening of comedy Twelfth Night as part of the Such Sweet Thunder: Shakespeare’s Plays on Film Series. Dr. Robert Dugan will introduce the play with a brief background and orientation (培训). Admission is free, but due to limited seating, booking is required at www.suchsweetthunder.com.
Sounds Like Teen Spirit
On Thursday, June 25th, there will be an event called Sounds Like Teen Spirit from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Sounds Like Teen Spirit is designed to provide an opportunity to showcase the talent of our community’s youth. School-aged students are encouraged to share their performing art on stage at the Cooperage!
Great Brazilian Music Tour
On Saturday, June 27th, a fantastic opportunity is ready for you to listen to some great Brazilian music by the musical group Minas. It is from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and doors open at 2:00 pm. We encourage children and their families to come to learn all about the rhythm, excitement and sound of Brazilian music. The 2-hour performance is sure to be fun for the whole family. The admission charge is $5 for each person, and all the money will go to the local food bank. You can also give away old clothes and money at the entrance.
1. When is the event kids can put on their own performances at?| A．June 12th. | B．June 17th. |
| C．June 25th. | D．June 27th. |
| A．Such Sweet Thunder. | B．Sounds Like Teen Spirit. |
| C．The Cooperage Maker Fair. | D．Great Brazilian Music Tour. |
| A．Show your gift for invention. | B．Learn to make music. |
| C．Perform with Minas on stage. | D．Make a donation. |
8 . I sent a message to my sister at 12: 30 p.m. during my lunch to ask her about my father's progress. He was having his second knee surgery and my expectations were the same as the previous successful surgery. My brother picked me up from school and we headed for the hospital.
When we arrived at the hospital, my first question was “How is he doing?” My father was connected to a breathing machine and his face was very swollen. I tried my best not to cry because 1 was supposed to interpret for him what was happening as the nurses did not speak Spanish. I had never seen my father this way. He looked so fragile and different from the strong man I knew. I asked him how he was doing and he said he was fine. I returned to the lobby and I was in a state where I realized that my hero, best friend, and love of my life was in a dangerous state and at this point anything could happen.
I recalled on when I was a child. “I'm going to the store” were always his words, and that was without a doubt my cue to follow him. We would walk to the car, and sometimes if I was lucky, I got away with sitting in the front seat. We would arrive at the store and he always said “Get whatever you want and something for Ana”; Ana is my sister. My dad and I were best friends, he never showed preference with his children, but I just always happened to follow him. It was okay for me to cry when I wanted something because I was his youngest girl, he couldn't say no to me.
All along my father had dedicated his life to giving us the best. Growing up does not necessarily mean that one must distance from our parents because it is childish; it is a time to take action and embrace the feelings because it is the right thing to do. Life presents us signals to acknowledge and value what is the most important in life.
1. How was the author's father when she arrived at the hospital?| A．He was dangerously weak. | B．He was worried about his life. |
| C．He remained healthy and strong. | D．He was unconscious and couldn't speak. |
| A．Sympathetic. | B．Worried. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．She never took no for an answer. |
| B．She was her father's favorite child. |
| C．She followed her father a lot as a young girl. |
| D．She got away from her family at an early age. |
| A．Value your loved ones and keep them close. |
| B．Grow up and share your parents' responsibility. |
| C．Care for your parents' health before it's too late. |
| D．Distance from your family and be independent. |
9 . Parents can cut the chances of their children getting fat simply by keeping them longer at table. Just three extra minutes at a family mealtime could help prevent child fatness. The reasons might lie in communication and the importance of a scheduled mealtime.
Dr Barbara Fiese said, “Children, whose families have a 20-minute meal over four times a week, weigh lighter than kids who leave the table after15 to 17 minutes. Over time, those extra minutes per meal add up and become really powerful.”
Researchers studied 200 family mealtimes, testing the influences of mealtime habits of families with children in primary school. They found that families, who said that shared mealtimes were an important part of family life and had special meaning for them, were less likely to have fat children. Similarly, families who talked more together and communicated more positively during the meal, were more likely to have healthy-weight children.
Teaching families how to make full use of family mealtimes was a wise idea. “This is something we can do and teach. It’s also important to recognize the increasing differences of families and their complex living schedules that may challenge(挑战) their abilities to plan ahead and set some time to communicate with each other,” said Dr Fiese.
Families in poorer US neighborhoods faced more problems, including poor chances of getting healthy food. But even so, regular high quality family mealtimes made a difference to the children’s weight. Dr Fiese said, “Three to four extra minutes per meal will make a healthy weight more possible.”
1. How long is reasonable for a family mealtime according to the text?| A．About 10 minutes. | B．About 12 minutes |
| C．About 15 minutes | D．About 20 minutes. |
| A．Children can better enjoy their meals. |
| B．Children can have a good rest while eating. |
| C．Children can communicate more during the time. |
| D．Children can have more time to choose what they like. |
| A．The result of a study. | B．Different eating habits. |
| C．Causes of child fatness. | D．The importance of normal eating |
| A．Mealtime talk helps to lose weight |
| B．Healthy food makes normal weigh |
| C．Poorer families have thinner children |
| D．Longer family mealtimes help prevent child fatness |
10 . To me, life without music would not be exciting. I realize that this is not true for everybody. Many people get along quite well without going to the concert, and listening to the record. But music plays an important part in everyone's life, whether he realizes it or not. Try to imagine, for example, what films or TV plays would be like without music. Would the feelings, the moving plot, and the greatest interests, be so exciting or dramatic? I'm not sure about it.
Now, we have been speaking of music in its more common meaning----the kind of music we hear in the concert hall. But if we look at some parts of music more closely, we discover them in our everyday life too----in the rhythm of the sea, the melody of a bird in the woods and so on. So music surely has meaning for everyone, in some way or other. And, of course, it has special meaning for those who have spent all their lives working on playing or writing music.
It is well said, “Through music a child enters into a world of beauty, expresses himself from his heart, feels the joy of doing things alone, learns to take care of others, develops his mind and makes his body strong.”
1. What does the writer say more about in the text?| A．Life full of music. | B．The importance of music. |
| C．Life without music. | D．The development of music. |
| A．go to the concert instead of enjoying music |
| B．get along quite well without music |
| C．don't realize the importance of music |
| D．think music would be less exciting than films |
| A．flying | B．living |
| C．looking | D．singing |
| A．is very necessary for our everyday life |
| B．is very important, especially for children |
| C．can make our life exciting and dramatic |
| D．can enter another beautiful world |
