1 . Sleeping badly or working night shifts could be making you fat, weak and more likely to become diabetic. A study has revealed sleep loss changes the way people’s DNA works and makes the body more dedicated to storing fat. Muscles get smaller and fat stores begin to rise when people lose as little as one night’s sleep, the experts found. Although midnight snacks or being too tired to exercise could be blamed for tired people getting fatter, there may now be a more scientific reason.
Researchers have linked losing sleep to weight gain in the past but have found it difficult to explain—now they reveal it could be linked to the body clock. And a tired body also becomes less able to handle sugar in the blood which raises the risk of someone developing type 2 diabetes.
If you sleep badly or work night shifts, what may not happen to you according to the text?
| A．You can be fat, weak and more likely to become diabetic. |
| B．Your body may become less able to handle sugar in the blood. |
| C．You might develop a habit of eating midnight snacks or being too tired to exercise. |
| D．Your body is more absorbed in storing fat. |
2 . People often say that the Englishman’s home is his castle. They mean that the home is very important and personal to him. Most people in Britain live in houses rather than flats, and many people own their homes. This means that they can make them individual; they can paint them, and change them in any way they like. Most houses have a garden, even if it is a very small one, and the garden is usually loved. The house and the garden are the private space of the individual.
People usually like to mark their space. Are you sitting now in your home or on a train? Have you marked the space around yourself as your? If you are on the train you may put your coat or small bag on the seat beside you. If you share a flat you may have one corner or chair which is your own.
Once I was travelling on a train to London. I was in a section for four people and there was a table between us. The man on the space on my side of the table at all. I was angry. Maybe he thought that he owned the whole table. I had read a book about non-verbal communication so I took various papers out of my bag and put them on his briefcase! When I did this he stiffened and his eyes nearly popped(瞪出)out of his head. I had invaded his space! A few minutes later I took my papers off his case in order to read them. He immediately moved his case to his side of the table. Of course, it is possible that he just wanted to be helpful to me!
If you are visiting another country you may feel that you don’t have any private space. Hotel rooms look much the same in every country in the world. All day long, you share public spaces with other people. You see the local people in their private spaces and you feel lonely and “outside”. Local people can create their private spaces by talking about things you don’t know about .And you even feel that they like you to be outside them so that they will enjoy being inside even more! This is one of the difficulties of being a traveler! But if you understand it then it helps you. Haven’t you enjoyed being part of a group and “owning” a bit of space?
1. The writer was angry as he was travelling on a train to London because ________.| A．he had no place to sit |
| B．someone had invaded his “space” |
| C．too many people shared a section with him |
| D．some other people talked about things he didn’t know about |
| A．public spaces | B．private spaces |
| C．local people | D．other countries |
| A．British people dislike marking their space. |
| B．You always feel at home in another country. |
| C．Most British people prefer living in houses to flats. |
| D．You can’t mark your private space in a foreign country. |
| A．own private spaces by living in houses |
| B．have one corner of their own in public places |
| C．realize the importance of “space” in communication |
| D．create their private spaces by talking with local people |
3 . Electric Vehicle Benefits
Plug-in electric vehicles (also known as electric cars or EVs) are connected, fun, and practical. They can reduce emissions and even save your money.
Fueling with electricity offers some advantages not available in ordinary internal burning engine vehicles. Because electric motors react quickly, EVs are very responsive and have very good torque(使机器运转的扭转力). EVs are often more digitally connected than conventional vehicles, with many EV charging stations providing the option to control charging from a smartphone app.
Just like a smartphone, you can plug in your EV when you get home and have it ready for you to use the next morning. Since the electric grid (输电网) is available almost anywhere, there are a variety of options for charging: at home, at work or on the road. By charging often, you may never need to go to a gas station again!
You can find many advantages with an electric car:
◆Zero Oil price and promotes Energy Management
◆Aids in reducing the Emission of Green House Gases
◆No tailpipe pollutants emitted and leads to reduced air pollution
◆No gas required to run your Electric Car
◆Cost Effective and many governments are appreciating Electric Cars by money back offers
◆Electric Cars guarantee a smooth drive and reduce noise pollution too.
Electric Cars are modes of Green Transportation that run using Batteries, Solar Panels or other energy sources that are just one time investment. The charging of batteries of saving energy through Solar Panels might be time consuming, but such initiatives ensure a safe environment. Though electric cars are a little costly, we should participate in such a global initiative and encourage others to do the same. After all, it is we who can make our world a better place to live in.
1. Compared with conventional cars, Electrical Vehicles can _______.| A．react quickly |
| B．increase air pollution |
| C．be charged only at home |
| D．be connected less digitally |
| A．Needing no gas to run it |
| B．Reducing noise pollution |
| C．Ensuring a smooth drive |
| D．Ruining energy management |
| A．Doubtful | B．Supportive |
| C．Opposed | D．Indifferent |
4 . A Chicago woman, Karen Autenrieth, who lost her wedding band nearly 50 years ago was reunited with the ring just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The story began during the winter of 1973. “It was very cold and the snow piled up along the roads,” Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “I had to help each kid climb over the large piles to get into my grandparents' yard. My hands were cold---I didn't have gloves on---and my ring just flew into the snow.” Despite her best efforts, Karen was unable to find the ring.
In February, a Chicago man who lost his own wedding ring posted on Facebook asking if anyone had found it. In the comments section, Sarah Batka, a woman who lives in Autenrieth's grandparents' former home% said she had discovered a wedding ring eight years ago while gardening. It wasn't the man s ring» but it sparked a hunt for the rightful owner.
Two historians---Carol Flynn and Linda Lamberty from the Historical Society---set off to solve the mystery. They used every means to retrace the origin of the ring and finally drew a conclusion that a woman, Karen Autenrieth, whose grandparents had once lived in Batka’s home, was the possible owner.
“The woman was on Facebook. So I asked whether this ring was hers. ’’ Flynn wrote in the post. “She replied—it was hers!”
After connecting, Flynn mailed the ring to Autenrieth, who received the package on Valentine's Day. 44Holy Mary, I can t believe it. Karen told the Chicago Tribune. “Just think I get the ring back after almost 50 years!
1. When did Karen lose her wedding band?| A．When she played snow with kids. |
| B．When she cleaned the snow on the road. |
| C．When she aided kids to get over piles of snow. |
| D．When she helped her grandparents do gardening. |
| A．Sarah's honest report. | B．Karen’s endless efforts. |
| C．A similar case from a man. | D．Flynn and Linda's assistance. |
| A．A Special Valentine’s Day |
| B．A Woman with a Magic Story |
| C．The Return of a Long-lost Ring |
| D．The Search for the Rightful Owner |
5 . MEXICO CITY, April 1（Xinhua）——Discoveries at the legendary Sanxingdui ruins in southwest China show that the region’s ancient Shu state civilization shared similarities with the Maya, according to the director of the Chichen Itza archaeological site, Marco Antonio Santos.
The Sanxingdui ruins, located in the city of Guanghan, about 60 kilometers from Chengdu, belonged to the Shu Kingdom that existed at least 4,800 years ago and lasted more than 2,000 years. China announced on March 20 that archaeologists uncovered gold, ivory and jade objects dating back about 3,000 years in six sacrificial pits.
Santos told Xinhua that the bronze-made remains of trees buried at the ruins of the Shu Kingdom recall the Maya’s sacred ceiba tree, which symbolized the union of heaven, earth and the underworld for the civilization that flourished in Mesoamerica. “They are very important similarities.” said Santos, stressing that “the representations of trees in both cultures provide us with a symbolism that is very similar”.
“One notable feature of the recent discoveries at Sanxingdui was the interdisciplinary（跨学科的）work and technology applied by teams of Chinese archaeologists.” said Santos. “The technology allowed the unearthing of artifacts as fragile as silk remains, which other types of less careful excavation methods would not have been able to manage.” he said. “Cooperation between Chinese and Mexican archaeologists could benefit projects in the Maya world, where the rainy climate and humidity are problematic for the conservation of objects.” said Santos.
“Every time our cultural knowledge increases, regardless of whether we speak one language or another, what it shows us is that we continue to be sister cultures, and, therefore, the exchange of such knowledge is fundamental.” said Santos.
1. What does the underlined word “excavation” in Paragraph 4 mean?| A．research | B．examination | C．digging | D．discovery |
| A．The sacred ceiba tree is also found at the ruins of the Shu Kingdom. |
| B．The recent discoveries at Sanxingdui featured interdisciplinary work and technology. |
| C．Only the unearthing of silk remains needs to be managed with more careful methods. |
| D．The language barrier is an issue that affects the cooperation between China and Mexico. |
| A．China and Mexico continue to exchange cultural knowledge. |
| B．The discovery of the Sanxingdui ruins in south west China shocks the world. |
| C．Cooperation between Chinese and Mexican archaeologists benefits projects in both countries. |
| D．The discovery of the Sanxingdui ruins shows similarities between ancient Shu state and the Maya. |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A historical novel. | C．A research review. | D．A guidebook. |
6 . Was your school noisy or peaceful? It might not seem important, but a growing body of research suggests that sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity.
Whether background sounds are beneficial or not seems to depend on what kind of noise it is—and the volume. In a series of studies published last year, Ravi Mehta from the College of Business at Illinois and his colleagues tested people's creativity while exposed to a soundtrack made up of background noises—such as coffee-shop chatter and construction-site drilling—at different volumes. They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity.
This makes sense for a couple of reasons, says psychologist Dr Nick Perham, at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK, who studies the effect of sounds on learning but was not involved in the study. Firstly, he says, sounds that are most disturbing tend to be very variable. A general hum(嗡嗡声)in the background suggests a steady-state sound with not much variation. "So there's not much there to capture your attention- nothing disturbing the subjects," he says. At the same time, the background noise might cause the subjects to be in a slightly heightened state of arousal(觉醒), says Perham. "Medium arousal is best for good performance. So it might be that a general hum in the background gives an ideal level of arousal. " With that in mind, Perham suggests there may be some benefits to playing music or other sounds in an art class or other situations where creativity is key.
Many teachers all over the world already play music to students in class. Many are inspired by the belief that hearing music can improve IQ in tasks, the so-called Mozart effect. While the evidence actually suggests it's a stretch to say classical music improves brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon. The key appears to be that you enjoy what you're hearing. "If you like the music or you like the sound—even listening to a Stephen King novel -then you did better. It didn't matter about the music," he says.
1. Which of the following is true according to the studies by Ravi Mehta and Nick Perham?| A．It's better not to expose people to any background noise while at work. |
| B．Construction-site drilling should be forbidden where there is a school. |
| C．Noises will harm people's health however low their volumes are. |
| D．A certain level of noise may do good to people's creativity. |
| A．keep the classroom quiet |
| B．play music at a steady and medium volume |
| C．broadcast classical music |
| D．vary the volume of the music constantly |
| A．prove the usefulness of pleasing sounds |
| B．confirm the belief of Mozart effect |
| C．challenge the importance of soft music |
| D．cast doubt on the power of music in raising IQ |
| A．Learning Power: Noise and Music Work |
| B．Noise Meeting Music: A Blessing? |
| C．Noise or Music: Creativity in Danger |
| D．Brainpower: More Music and Less Noise |
7 . Narasimha Das is on his way to feed 169,379 hungry children. Das is in charge of a kitchen in Vrindaban. The town is about a three-hour drive from India’s capital, New Delhi. Das gets to work at 3:00 a.m. Thirty workers are already working to make tens of thousands of rounds of bread. It will be brought to 1,516 schools in and around Vrindaban.
A Growing Problem
Going to school is difficult for more than 13 million children in India. They must go to work instead, or go hungry. That’s why India began the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the largest school-lunch program in the world. A free lunch encourages children to come to school and gives them the energy they need for learning. The program began in the 1960s.
The kitchen in Vrindaban is run by the Akshaya Patra Foundation. It is one of the lunch program’s biggest partners. “Just $11.50 can feed one child for an entire year,” said Madhu Sridhar, president of the Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Lunch Is Served!
The Akshaya Patra food truck arrives at Gopalgarh Primary School. Since the program started, the number of underweight children has gone down. The children get foods they need — as long as they finish what’s on their plates.
1. What does Narasimha Das do？| A．A waiter. | B．A salesman. | C．A cook. | D．A shopkeeper. |
| A．the poor | B．school children | C．college students | D．the old |
| A．Because they have to work to make money. |
| B．Because there are not enough schools. |
| C．Because there are not enough teachers. |
| D．Because their parents refuse to send them to school. |
| A．It is to encourage children to go to school. |
| B．It has been carried out for about 50 years. |
| C．It is run by Narasimha Das. |
| D．It is the largest school-lunch program in the world. |
8 . Diving under the ice first started over 100 years ago when divers still used heavy suits to stay dry while getting their oxygen from ships on the surface. Today, divers use lightweight flexible suits and SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) gear that allow them to do much more under the water, while using modern technology to stay in communication with the surface and document what they find.
Though Antarctica may seem like a desert place, under the ice, cold water creates some of the most nutrient-rich waters in the world’s oceans. There are beautiful creatures of all shapes and sizes that a diver can get close to. The water is too cold, and most animals that have adapted to the cold conditions are smaller than their cousins in warm places.
Diving under the water requires more experience than your average tourist on holiday. Kelly recommends that only very experienced divers attempt the cold waters. Everything is more difficult in the cold.
It’s also important to watch out for seal attacks, which are highly uncommon but have become more of a concern in recent years, with one reported death in 2004. Kelly recommends at least one diver carry a stick while in the water.
In spite of the risks, the waters under the Antarctic seas offer incredibly novel and great experiences that most people could never imagine. Besides whales, seals and penguins, lucky divers will get to see a great variety of underwater wildlife, including beautiful worms, sponges, corals and kelp.
Surprisingly, while the world above the water in Antarctica is often shades of white and gray, and everything seems still, under the surface there is an amazingly colorful world.
1. When diving under the ice first started, divers ________.| A．breathed the air from ships on the sea | B．wore very light suits to keep warm |
| C．communicated with the surface by phone | D．got their oxygen from the water under the ice |
| A．Being a desert place, Antarctica lacks nutrition in its cold water. |
| B．Divers can take a close look at various beautiful creatures under the ice. |
| C．Only very experienced divers are recommended to attempt the cold waters. |
| D．Divers are advised to carry sticks to protect themselves from seal attacks. |
| A．The creatures in Antarctica | B．Travel in Antarctica |
| C．Diving under the ice in Antarctica | D．The colorful world under the ice |
9 . With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, traditional Chinese medicine has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. Traditional Chinese medicine is a complete healthcare system that is capable of providing both specialized and primary healthcare. It also gives us guidelines on how to prevent illnesses. Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine.
The word “acupuncture” literally means “pricking with a needle”. It involves the insertion and manipulation of needles into acupuncture points on the body for restoring health and wellbeing. This framework of medical practice begins with the belief that our body is a balance of two opposite yet inseparable forces—the yin and yang. Another cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine is the concept of chi. Chi is the life force of the universe. In the body, it is chi that creates and animates life. We are all born with a certain amount of chi and continually acquire it throughout our lives through food, air, water and sunlight. Chi is believed to move through our body in channels called meridians. The quantity and quality of chi in our body depends on the state of our mental and physical balance. In fact, imbalances of the yin and yang in the body block the channels through which chi travels in our body. The practice of acupuncture unblocks these chi pathways, thus ensuring the constant and free flow of energy through our body for mental and physical wellbeing.
The method may seem alien to many of us but it has been practiced in China for thousands of years. Acupuncture originated in China more than 2000 years ago—making it one of the oldest and most commonly practiced medical procedures in China. Research into acupuncture is still ongoing and practices and theories are being constantly updated. In essence, acupuncture is aimed at promoting well-being and relieving pain.
In more recent times, acupuncture has spread internationally and won growing global acceptance, and this wisdom of the Chinese tradition will continue to thrive, to bring health and happiness to friends here and afar.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To summarize the whole text. |
| C．To present new ways in medicine. | D．To provide detailed information. |
| A．All our chi is inborn. |
| B．Chi decides the balance of the yin and yang. |
| C．Meridians force chi to travel through our body. |
| D．Smooth and constant flow of chi contributes to good health. |
| A．It is fully accepted home and abroad. | B．It has a history of one thousand years. |
| C．Research into acupuncture never stops. | D．It is the oldest medical practice in the world. |
| A．Acupuncture Reaches Peak | B．Stepping into Acupuncture |
| C．Effects of Chi on Well-being | D．Traditional Chinese Medicine Returns |
10 . Energy drinks aren’t technically a “food”. That’s not to trash them — it’s just a fact, and an important one at that. The Food & Drug Administration regulates all products defined as food to ensure they’re safe for human consumption. Coffee drinks and soda, for instance, aren’t allowed to be too high in caffeine in case they cause heart problems. But energy drinks are classified as supplements, which means they’re unregulated. Hence, manufacturers are free to add as much caffeine inside a single can as they please. They can even mix caffeine with other stimulants (兴奋剂) in such a way that could cause cardiovascular or nervous system problems.
That’s why physicians have been trying to investigate what the health effects of these caffeinated drinks might be. A new study showing that a single drink can diminish blood vessel (血管) function is making headlines, but similar findings have been increasing for years now.
A lot of the concern about these drinks comes from their high concentrations of stimulants. It’s entirely possible to overdose on caffeine alone, and in combination with guarana, another stimulant, smaller amounts might have severe effects. Overdosing on caffeine doesn’t necessarily result in death, but it can cause heart palpitations (心悸), nausea, vomiting, and hypertension. The WHO study also reports that adults who consume energy drinks may be increasing their risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Despite the WHO’s recommendation that caffeine content be limited per beverage, energy drinks in the U. S. are still totally unregulated and will remain that way unless they get reclassified as a food. They may not be dangerous in small quantities, but nothing about them is healthy. Switch to coffee or tea, both of which will energize you in the morning and will be much harder to overdo it with. Or you could just go ahead and work on kicking your caffeine habit for good.
1. Why energy drinks are hard to regulate?| A．Because they contain a lot of caffeine. |
| B．Because they cause heart problems. |
| C．Because they are not categorized as food. |
| D．Because they are allowed to be high caffeine. |
| A．A new study shows that energy drinks are harmful to humans. |
| B．As for now, energy drinks are not regulated in the United States. |
| C．Physician are going to evaluate the effect of energy drinks in the following studies. |
| D．Energy drinks together with other harmful ingredients could damage one’s well-being. |
| A．Overdosing on caffeine directly contributes to death. |
| B．Energy drinks play a negative role on affecting people’s well-being. |
| C．People won’t get addicted to caffeine only by consuming energy drinks. |
| D．Adults’ consuming energy drinks may increase the possibility of the risk of diabetes. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Ambiguous. | C．Disapproving. | D．Indifferent. |
