1 . Doctors sometimes prescribe light therapy to treat a form of depression in people who get too little morning sun. But too much light at other times may actually cause such mood disorders. Long-lasting exposure to light at night brings depression, a new study finds, at least in animals. The new data confirm observations from studies of people who work night shifts, says Richard Stevens of the University of Connecticut Health Center. Mood disorders join a growing list of problems, including cancer, obesity and diabetes - that can occur when light throws life out of balance by disturbing the biological clock and its timing of daily rhythms.
In the new study, Tracy Bedrosian and Randy Nelson of Ohio State University exposed mice to normal light and dark cycles for four weeks. For the next four weeks, half of the mice remained on this schedule, and the rest received continuous dim light throughout their night. Compared with mice exposed to normal nighttime darkness, those getting dim light at night lost their strong preference for sweet drinks, “A sign they no longer get pleasure out of activities they once enjoyed.” Bedrosian says.
In a second test, mice were clocked on how long they actively tried to escape a pool of water. Those exposed to night lights stopped struggling and just floated in the water, a sign of "behavioral despair”, 10 times as long as the mice that had experienced normal nighttime darkness. All symptoms of depression disappeared within two weeks of the mice returning to a normal light- dark cycle, the researchers report. The scientists also could quash the behavioral symptoms by injecting the brains of animals with a drug that prohibits the activity of certain molecules linked with human depression. This finding further suggests that light at night may cause something related to depression.
Human studies linking nighttime light and mood disorders are important but can't easily detect molecular underpinings (分子基础)as animal studies can,says George Brainard of Thomas Jefferson University. The new work, he says, suggests that the change of the biological clock by light at night can be “an extremely powerful force in regulating biology and behavior."
1. After being exposed to continuous nighttime light, the mice________A.changed their preferences | B.escaped from the water more eagerly |
C.remained active as before | D.showed less interest in their favorites |
A.study | B.predict | C.ease | D.cause |
A.light at night may have practical effects on people |
B.the biological clock is beneficial to humans |
C.human mood disorders cannot be healed easily |
D.human studies are more important than animal studies |
A.Nighttime light may foster depression. |
B.A drug has been found to cure mood disorders. |
C.The study on animals can be applied to humans. |
D.Human biological clock can be controlled by light. |
2 . Solothurn is a picturesque town in the northwest of Switzerland known primarily for its closest relation with the number eleven. It seems like everything in this place was designed around this magical number, from the fact that there are precisely eleven churches, as well as eleven historical fountains, eleven museums and eleven towers, to the unusual clock in the town square that features an elevenhour dial and the number twelve missing.
Although nearly everyone in Solothurn knows about the town's obsession with the number eleven, the origin of that is covered in mystery. The first mention of eleven in Solothurn's history dates back to 1252, when eleven members were first elected for the town's council. Another great example of Solothurn's obsession with the number eleven is the magnificent Cathedral of St. Ursus. Designed by Italian architect Gaetano Matteo Pisoni, it was built in eleven years. It features three sets of steps, each numbering eleven rows, eleven doors, eleven bells and eleven altars, one of which is made out of eleven different types of marble. Interestingly, the altars can be viewed at the same time from only one place in the cathedral, the eleventh black stone in the long central part.
The people of Solothurn also show an intense interest in the number eleven in their daily life. There are special celebrations held on eleventh birthdays, and there are local products and businesses that include the special number. There is “ÖufiBier” (Beer eleven), “eleveni Schokolade” (elevenChocolate), and even “öufiyoga” (eleven o'clock yoga). The mysterious relationship between Solothurn and the number has become one of the town's primary tourist attractions, and there is even a themed tour about the number eleven.
1. What is mainly discussed about Solothurn in Paragraph 1?A.Its unique designs. | B.Its cultural origin. |
C.Its natural attractions. | D.Its connection with nature. |
A.The number eleven. | B.The city of Solothurn. |
C.Solothurn's love for eleven. | D.The history of Switzerland. |
A.Its steps contain 33 rows in all. | B.Its doors are made out of marble. |
C.It has eleven bells on each step. | D.It has eleven altars in the center. |
A.They attach great importance to tourism. | B.They bring number eleven to daily life. |
C.They lead a busy but comfortable life. | D.They are expert at designing products. |
3 . 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. |
4 . 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. |
5 . 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. |
Older couples in a bad marriage -- particularly female spouses -- have a higher risk for heart
disease than those in a good marriage, finds the first nationally representative study of its kind.The findings suggest the need for marriage counseling(咨询) and programs aimed at promoting marital quality and well-being for couples into their 70s and 80s, said lead investigator Hui Liu, a Michigan State University sociologist.
"Marriage counseling is focused largely on younger couples," said Liu. "But these results show that marital quality is just as important at older ages, even when the couple has been married 40 or 50 years. "
The study, funded by the National Institute of Aging, an arm of the National Institutes of Health,is published online in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
Liu analyzed five years of data from about 1,200 married men and women who participated the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Respondents were aged 57-85 at the beginning of the study.
The project included survey questions about marital quality, lab tests and self-reported measures of cardiovascular health such as heart attacks, strokes, hypertension and high levels of C-reactive protein in the blood.
Liu set out to learn how marital quality is related to risk of heart disease over time, and whether this relationship varies by gender and/or age. Among her findings: Negative martial quality(eg.spouse criticizes, spouse is demanding) has a bigger effect on heart health than positive marital quality.In other words, a bad marriage is more harmful to your heart health than a good marriage.The effect of marital quality on cardiovascular risk becomes much stronger at older ages.Meanwhile,marital quality has a bigger effect on women's heart health than it does on men's, possibly because women tend to internalize(使藏在心底) negative feelings and thus are more likely to feel depressed and develop cardiovascular problems. Heart disease leads to a decline in marital quality for women, but not for men. It's common that wives are more likely to provide support and care to sick husbands, while husbands are less likely to take care of sick wives."In this way, a wife's poor health may affect how she assesses her marital quality, but a husband's poor health doesn't hurt his
view of marriage,"Liu said.
1. The study suggests that .
A.elderly couples are less likely to be affected by marital quality |
B.the effect of marital quality on male and female is the same |
C.bad martial quality affects heart health more greatly |
D.marital quality has a positive effect on health |
A.marital quality has nothing to do with cardiovascular health |
B.gender or age may affect one's marriage quality |
C.marriage counseling is unnecessary for young couples |
D.husbands will not take care of their sick wives |
A.Because women are weak physically. |
B.Because women have to take care of their sick husband. |
C.Because women tend to keep their negative feelings to themselves. |
D.Because women expect too much oftheir marriage. |
A.Marie, 40 years old,just got divorced. |
B.Bill, 66 years old, lives with his wife and grandchildren. |
C.Justin, 28 years old, got married recently. |
D.Sophia, 59 years old, often quarrels with her husband. |
在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
On Nov. 18, 1995, violinist Itzhak Perlman performed a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Stricken with polio (小儿麻痹症) as a child,Perlman
But something went wrong. After only seconds of playing, one of the strings on his violin
When he finished, a(n)
Such was Itzhak Perlman. a great violinist. Playing a concert on three strings is not unlike his philosophy of life -- he
A.hopefully | B.painfully | C.immediately | D.eventually |
A.exposed | B.exported | C.expanded | D.extended |
A.conductor | B.audience | C.assistant | D.performer |
A.burst | B.erupted | C.broke | D.collapsed |
A.continued | B.paused | C.proceeded | D.organized |
A.confused | B.amused | C.concerned | D.surprised |
A.signaled | B.marked | C.consulted | D.indicated |
A.cut off | B.put off | C.taken off | D.left off |
A.with | B.for | C.to | D.of |
A.original | B.similar | C.vague | D.missing |
A.might | B.should | C.could | D.would |
A.awesome | B.deliberate | C.subtle | D.evident |
A.pursued | B.cheered | C.responded | D.observed |
A.before | B.until | C.while | D.as |
A.reputation | B.impression | C.appreciation | D.attention |
A.delight | B.emerge | C.relax | D.quiet |
A.thoughtful | B.tough | C.blank | D.weak |
A.status | B.explanation | C.responsibility | D.intelligence |
A.got accustomed to | B.gave way to | C.looked forward to | D.held on to |
A.convinced | B.reminded | C.disappointed | D.informed |
It was nice seeing you at Christmas. You looked so happy!
After losing two grandparents within the past year, I have taken some time to reflect on what is most important. I want to let you know what a positive influence you have been on me. I am the person I am because of you.
I remember being on your farm a lot when I was younger. I remember the projects you plannedfor us. We painted rocks to represent our family members. We made doll clothes out of colorfulsocks. We made many “playhouse” in the woods.
We learned that if you left a bucket of soybeans in the rain, you would soon have a bucket of growing beans. We
Learned that if we helped pick the strawberries in the morning, we’d have them on our ice cream in the afternoon. We learned that some plants have funny names, like the elephant ear plant. We learned that you some plants have funny names, like the elephant ear plant. We learned that you could make do with what you had. We learned that making things out of paper and cardboard was more fun then what came inside the packaging. We learned it was OK to get dirty, but Grandma would wash us up before Mom came.
You once made models of everyone’s houses, which made me want to be an architect. Another time, you made quilts for all of the grandkids. I still use mine every night. The edge has worn out.
But you taught me how to fix it.
I love and respect you. You are always patient, with a quiet determination.
Grandma, thank you for everything you have taught me. I hope that I am able to pass on all these memories and skills to my children and grandchildren.
Love always,
Kelly
1. After losing two grandparents, the author began to_______.A.realize her grandma’s influence on her |
B.become a person like her grandma |
C.write to her grandma regularly |
D.like her grandma very much |
A.make strawberry ice cream |
B.name different funny plants |
C.mend the worn-out edge of her quilt |
D.use cupboards to make models of houses |
A.was willing to help others |
B.was skilled in making things |
C.wanted Kelly to be an architect |
D.disliked the kid’s bad behaviors |
A.send her grandma best wishes for Christmas |
B.show love and respect for her grandma |
C.recall her happy life on the farm |
D.ask her grandma for help |
9 . Migrants to the UK are to be quizzed about their English skills before being able to claim income-related benefits, the government has announced.
In a move to “protect the integrity(完整性)of the benefits system”, people will also be asked what efforts they have made to find work before coming to Britain. Work and Pensions Secretary Duncan Smith said people should not be able to “take advantage” of British benefits. Job centres in England, Scotland and Wales will use the “more mighty” test. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the test would ensure “only migrants who have a legal right to be in Britain and plan to contribute to this country can make a claim for benefits”.
“For the first time, migrants will be quizzed about what efforts they have made to find work before coming to the UK and whether their English language skills will be a barrier to them finding employment,” the DWP said in a statement.
Income-related benefits include council tax benefit, housing benefit, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and pension credit.
Mr. Duncan Smith said British people were “rightly concerned” that migrants should contribute to the economy and should not be “drawn here by the attractiveness of our benefits system”.
“It is vitally important that we have strict rules in place to protect the integrity of our benefits system,” he said. He said the new test would help create a fair system which provided for “genuine” workers and jobseekers but “does not allow people to come to our country and take advantage”.
To claim the benefits, migrants will have to pass a “habitual residence test” including more than 100 extra questions compared to now. This will be overseen by an “intelligent IT system” which will ensure questions are “tailored to each individual claimant”.
Migrants will be allowed to claim benefits if they can prove they are legally allowed to be in Britain and are “habitually resident” of the country. As part of this they might be questioned about what measures they have taken to “establish” themselves in Britain and what ties they still have abroad.
“They will also have to provide more evidence that they are doing everything they can to find a job,” the DWP said.
1. What does the British government use the test for?A.promoting the English skills of migrants. |
B.making efforts to help migrants find work. |
C.protecting the rights of migrants. |
D.ensuring the British benefit claimed legally by migrants . |
A.All British residents must be quizzed about their English skills. |
B.The test will ask migrants whether they are willing to work in Britain. |
C.The test is an act to protect British benefits system. |
D.The test will help the government dismiss jobseekers. |
A.a person who applies | B.a person who is badly off |
C.a person who migrates | D.a person who is quizzed |
A.All migrants can claim benefits from the UK. |
B.Income-related benefits can be a great help to migrants. |
C.All migrants come to the UK only to claim benefits. |
D.Migrants are to pass a test to get the benefits from the UK. |
10 . “I wouldn’t buy that woman a Mother’s Day card, even if my life depended upon it,” said the woman standing by the card shelf at Wal-Mart. I looked up and saw a(n)
Having been
She looked up, saw me looking at her and
“Sorry Ma’am. I never had a mother, and I was
“Do you think your mother would like that card? Mine would, I think,” I said.
“Do you know what it is like to be
“My mother didn’t
“Don’t you
“Oh, I can’t. She’s my mother. Being a mother is a position to be
I looked down at the floor and said, “I know your mother might have done a lot of things that
The woman stood there for a moment.
After she left, I
A.idea | B.appearance | C.expression | D.impression |
A.deserted | B.lost | C.reserved | D.rescued |
A.dark | B.pain | C.misfortune | D.blank |
A.requested | B.considered | C.screamed | D.refused |
A.relieved | B.annoyed | C.disappointed | D.shocked |
A.cart | B.card | C.book | D.magazine |
A.simply | B.largely | C.originally | D.basically |
A.shouted | B.glared | C.laughed | D.pointed |
A.set aside | B.leave behind | C.care about | D.know about |
A.miss | B.love | C.accuse | D.hate |
A.depended | B.obeyed | C.respected | D.observed |
A.shaking | B.dropping | C.raising | D.nodding |
A.hurt | B.blamed | C.disturbed | D.punished |
A.conscience | B.efforts | C.experiences | D.nature |
A.fragile | B.lonely | C.hateful | D.anxious |
A.anything | B.everything | C.nothing | D.something |
A.whether | B.how | C.where | D.why |
A.Cheerfully | B.Eagerly | C.Hesitantly | D.Seriously |
A.picked out | B.packed up | C.brought out | D.took up |
A.mended | B.exposed | C.addressed | D.signed |