1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.
But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.
According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.
To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.
“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.
Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.
It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.
1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?| A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. |
| B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. |
| C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. |
| D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. |
| A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. |
| B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. |
| C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. |
| D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. |
| A．Effect. | B．Goal. | C．Opinion. | D．Question |
| A．They can help ease depression symptoms. |
| B．They are the best way to treat depression. |
| C．They only work for those with serious depression. |
| D．They can help people completely recover from depression. |
In the field of sports there are some famous living legends, such as Lang Ping, and Michael Jordan.
As a player, Lang Ping brought not only honour but also glory to
Known as “Air Jordan”, Michael Jordan changed basketball with his graceful moves and jumps. Jordan’s skills were impressive but the mental strength
3 . A robot designed to carry things moves quickly across a field to gather equipment at a sports event. Such equipment, like javelins and discuses (铁饼), has been thrown by competitors. Another robot moves a human-sized screen on wheels. It is designed to permit virtual attendance at the event. And then there are the robots designed to look like the smiling, friendly creatures or mascots that act as the Olympic Games’representatives.
All these robots are part of preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corporation presented the machines to reporters earlier this week. Toyota is a major supporter of the 2020 Olympic Games.
The mascot robots have moving arms and legs, and their eyes change to the image of stars and hearts. They cannot speak at all or walk very well. But Tomohisa Moridaira, lead engineer, suggested several possibilities, such as getting the robot to hold the Olympic torch using magnets.
The field support robot" is a small bus-shaped machine based on a Toyota ride-sharing vehicle that is still in development. The field support robot can travel as fast as 20 kilometers per hour. It holds three cameras and one special sensor that lets it surroundings. Around the top of its body are special lights that brighten when the vehicle is active. Its artificial intelligence helps it avoid barriers. It is also able to vary its path in order to protect areas of grass.
However, it cannot find the objects, which can weigh up to eight kilograms, or pick them up on its own. A person has to travel with the device, pick up the objects and put them in it. Then, with a press of a button, the vehicle transports the equipment to where it needs to go.
Takeshi Kuwabara took charge of the robots’ development. He said it was designed to team robots and humans. "Our aim was to leverage the strengths of both humans and robots," he said.
The carmaker plans to use the games to present its new vehicle technologies. These include buses fueled by a special kind of battery, and self-driving taxis. Toyota is competing with other carmakers and technology companies to develop low cost , robot-controlled cars and electric vehicles.
1. Why does the author mention robots in the first paragraph?| A．To attract our interest in robot technology. |
| B．To show us new robot technology in the 21st century. |
| C．To encourage creation of new robots. |
| D．To introduce the robots in the Olympic Games. |
| A．It can work individually in the field. |
| B．It can sense barriers and change its way. |
| C．It is a Toyota ride-sharing vehicle. |
| D．It can find and pick up anything. |
| A．To show its new vehicle technologies. |
| B．To help save the natural resources. |
| C．To cut down the cost of the service. |
| D．To free people from heavy work. |
| A．Robot Shows in the 2020 Olympics. |
| B．Toyota's - Support for the 2020 Olympics. |
| C．Robot Assistants in the 2020 Olympics. |
| D．Robot Competition in the 2020 Olympics. |
4 . The true Olympic spirit has been displayed by Canadian cross-country ski coach Justin Wadsworth, who helped Russian athlete Anton Gafarov with his broken ski during the Men’s Sprint Free Semifinals.
Gafarov’s start wasn’t smooth. He fell three times, crashing early in the race and breaking his ski. It was clear that Gafarov was out of the race for the men’s finals and wouldn’t be able to compete for medals. Still, he wanted to finish in front of the home crowd, but his left ski was too badly damaged in the crash and its base had come off. The Russian skier faced finishing the race by walking to the line, not skiing.
However, the Russian’s fall was seen by Canadian coach Justin Wadsworth, who immediately ran on to the course and helped Gafarov. “I went over and gave him one of Alex Harvey’s, a member of the Canadian team who didn’t qualify for the finals. It was about giving Gafarov some dignity (尊严) so he didn’t have to walk to the finish area,” Wadsworth said. “We help because we know everyone works so hard in our sport,” says Wadsworth, who was an Olympic skier for the S before becoming a coach. “Everyone wants fair results. It was a matter of allowing Gafarov to finish the race.”
Gafarov was thoughtful about his performance. “My fall cost me a broken ski and a pole,” said Anton Gafarov, adding that he decided to continue fighting for the finals despite all the difficulties.
Gafarov believed the race should be finished in any way possible. “It was a matter of principle to hold on to the end,” he added. He is not devastated (毁灭) by his failure and is eager to take part in the next Winter Olympics despite back problems due to injuries.
1. What happened to Gafarov during the Men’s Sprint Free Semifinals?| A．He lost his ski in the unlucky crash. |
| B．He gave up the race after falling three times. |
| C．He got the gold medal for the men’s finals. |
| D．He had his ski broken in the early race. |
| A．He felt happy for Gafarov’s bad luck in the race. |
| B．He knew what price Gafarov paid for the competition. |
| C．He was angry with his player’s not qualifying for the finals. |
| D．He once worked hard to become an Olympic skier for Canada. |
| A．Every dog has its day. | B．Rome isn’t built overnight. |
| C．Never give up in face of difficulty. | D．There is no end to learning. |
| A．The Olympic Spirit | B．The Unlucky Day |
| C．The History of Olympic Games | D．The Winning Gold Medal |
注意： 1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mike,
Thanks for your e-mail. I am a bit like you.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wish you good health!
Yours,
Li Hua
6 . A student with the nickname of "Silo" from University of Wisconsin is eating his way through school competitively. For the time being, Eric Dahl ranks third in the world of competitive eating, which is determined by All Pro Eating rankings, though he once held the top spot. So far Dahl has earned more than 18,000 dollars in prize money or merchandise to help pay for his education.
"I'm eating for my education," Eric Dahl said in a proud tone. "I think it will help me get through and achieve my success in my education."
Dahl was drawn to competitive eating in 2011, at the former Big Red's Steakhouse in Madison. Dahl didn't want to pay for his meal so he signed up for a challenge: eat a three-pound cheese-steak sandwich in less than 10 minutes and skip the bill. He finished his eating within 5 minutes and 50 seconds.
Dahl's first pay came from Dickey's Barbecue Pit in suburban Minneapolis, where he earned $250 for eating nine pulled pork sandwiches within six minutes. The former high school athlete found the competition and its over-the-top atmosphere reminding him of professional wrestling.
"I really get pumped when the crowd starts cheering," he said, "I am friends with other competitive eaters, but once I'm on stage I don't have any friends but we have become opponents."
Dahl said he walks a few miles a day, lifts weights twice a week and plays soccer and hockey to maintain his 220-pound weight. He eats no more than 3,100 calories a day, mostly vegetables to avoid increasing his waistline, and stretches his stomach by eating 10 pounds of cabbage or broccoli in a single sitting followed by a lot of water.
His next bout is scheduled for this Saturday. Dahl will try to win $1,000 at a national pizza-eating contest on Library Mall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Good luck to him and let's wait for his good news.
1. Why did Dahl first participate in competitive eating?| A．There were some delicious sandwiches. | B．He didn't want to pay for his meal. |
| C．He could eat some sandwiches quickly. | D．He had no money to pay for his meal. |
| A．drinking plenty of wine | B．doing some sports |
| C．eating large amounts of vegetables | D．stretching his stomach scientifically |
| A．The highest award will be no more than $ 1,000. |
| B．The competitive eating is concerned with vegetables. |
| C．Dahl will continue his competitive eating this Saturday. |
| D．The author believes Dahl will win the eating competition. |
| A．Dahl makes a fortune by competitive eating. |
| B．Dahl ranks third in the world of competitive eating. |
| C．Dahl makes good preparation for pizza-eating contest. |
| D．Dahl earns for his education through competitive eating. |
