1 . Optimism (乐观) doesn’t mean paying no attention to things that cause stress. But when bad things happen, optimistic people are less likely to be unhappy about themselves and more likely to see the bad things as something that lasts a short time.
A new research has found a direct connection between optimism and healthier diet and exercise behaviors, as well as better heart health, a stronger immune system (免疫系统), better lung function, and lower death risk. “Optimistic people, regardless of sex, often have goals and the confidence to reach them,” Lee said. “Those goals could include healthy habits that contribute to a longer life.”
Studies find only about 25% of our optimism is controlled by our genes (基因), and the rest is up to us. It turns out we can actually train our brain to be more positive. Researchers studied the brains of monks (僧侣) and found surprising results: Tens of thousands of hours of meditation(冥思) had changed the function (机能) of their brains, which support positive qualities. And that may be key in producing the effect on the body.
There are simple mental exercises to develop an optimistic attitude. One of the most effective ways to increase optimism is called the “Best Possible Self” method. That is to imagine ourselves in a future in which we have achieved all our life goals. And keeping a diary in which we list the positive experiences we had can also help shape our attitude. Taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes us thankful can improve our view on life, too.
1. What is the meaning of Lee’s words?| A．Goals can lead to confidence. |
| B．Better lung function lowers death risk. |
| C．Optimism is connected with length of life. |
| D．Sex should be taken into consideration when studying optimism. |
| A．To lengthen their life. |
| B．To improve their brains’ function. |
| C．To prove optimism can be learned. |
| D．To show genes’ connection with optimism. |
| A．How to be a positive person. | B．How to make people thankful. |
| C．What to write about in a diary. | D．What to do to achieve the goals. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A diary. |
2 . Four wild young pandas were found at different times walking around with their mothers in a nature reserve in northwestern China in recent months, a report said on Sunday. Infrared (红外线的) cameras in Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve in Gansu Province caught four young pandas following their mothers and learning survival skills, such as feeding themselves, in the first quarter of 2019.
It was the latest finding of new young pandas in the area, which has the largest population of wild pandas among China’s 67 nature reserves. The fourth national survey on pandas, released in 2015, said there were 110 wild pandas living in the Baishuijiang area. A total of 1,864 lived in China.
The Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve has used infrared cameras since 2012 to monitor pandas, but this is the first time that four pairs of pandas have been found. “In the past, we found one pair every quarter at most,” said He Liwen, director of the Baishuijiang reserve. The young pandas’ body sizes suggested that two of them were a year and a half old, while the other two were almost 2 years old.
“The four pairs were caught in different places far away from each other. It’s very easy to see the differences,” he said. “So we can be sure of the number. “Baishuijiang staff members also found rare wildlife, including golden monkeys, Asian golden cats and gazelles.
The reserve director attributed (把……归因于……) the good news to the government’s hard work and local people’s efforts to protect the natural habitat over many years. “It’s a process of continuous, growing progress,” he said.
1. What can we know about Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve?| A．It is home to one third of rare animals in China. |
| B．It provided the fourth national survey on pandas. |
| C．It is the largest protection area located in North China. |
| D．It is the nature reserve with the most wild pandas in China. |
| A．Watch. |
| B．Select. |
| C．Control. |
| D．Change. |
| A．The decrease in hunting. |
| B．The effort of reserve workers. |
| C．The development of technology. |
| D．The protection of natural habitats. |
| A．In a research paper. |
| B．In a newspaper. |
| C．In a travel guide. |
| D．In a advertisement. |
3 . Have you ever felt the desire to move and experience another beautiful part of the country? This could be the perfect career change for you.
The National Trust in England is looking for someone to work as a ranger on the Fame Islmds, one of Britain’s oldest nature reserves located just off the Northumberland coast.
For $22,668 a year, the successful applicant will be required to look after the local wildlife, including the 200 seal pups which are born on the islands each year and 37,000 pairs of puffins.
The ranger will get the chance to work in some of the nation’s most attractive places and spaces — impressive sunrises a one-minute ride and one of England’s largest seal colonies on his doorstep. But like every job, it doesn’t come without a downside. Apart from avoiding the dive-bombing Arctic terns, there is no running water on the island and there will be severe storms to fight with during the spring.
Along with a love of nature and the outdoors, the National Trust is looking for “an excellent team player” who has experience in conservation work. This job isn’t the normal 9 to 5, so being good at PowerPoint isn’t a must. With 50,000 annual visitors every year, you really need to be able to get on with people and show them how they can participate to help nature.
Could you see yourself in this role? Applications for the job close on June 7.Want to apply? Click here.
1. “Downside” in the 4th paragraph can be replaced by____________.| A．pay drop | B．disadvantage |
| C．bright future | D．bad environment |
| A．live a regular life | B．come to terms with being lonely |
| C．be expert at working with PowerPoint | D．have experience in conservation work |
| A．a newspaper | B．a textbook |
| C．the Internet | D．a news report |
4 . The cultures of the East and the West are really different from each other a lot. This is because the culture systems are two separate ones on the whole.
The origin (起源) of the Eastern culture is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are developed by rivers — the Yellow River in China and the Hindu River in India. They helped the two cultures develop for centuries and form their own styles.
When the two mother rivers gave birth to the Eastern culture, another famous culture was up on the Mesopotamian Plain — the Mesopotamian Civilization. This civilization later on developed into the cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. And these two are well-known as the base of the European culture. Like the Chinese culture, the European culture also crossed waters. When the British settled down in America, their culture went with them over the Atlantic Ocean. So the American culture doesn’t have much difference from the European culture.
At the same time, some other differences add to the cultural differences. Take the language system for example. In the East, most languages belong to the pictographic (象形) language while the western languages are mostly based on the Latin system. Other causes like human race differences count as well. But what’s more, due to the far distance and the steep areas between the East and the west, the two cultures seldom communicate until recent centuries. So they grew up totally in their own ways with almost no interference from the other.
The differences are everywhere. They are obvious and make people’s ways of thinking and their views of the world different. But different cultures make the world of 21st century more colorful. The cultural difference should not be the obstacle (障碍) to the civilization of human being. It ought to be the driving force of our going farther.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．The origin of cultures. | B．Culture differences. |
| C．Language systems. | D．Colorful world. |
| A．Both of the two cultures have a very long history. |
| B．They have the same mother rivers as the Chinese culture. |
| C．The early settlers from Britain brought their culture to America. |
| D．Both the British and the American live along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. |
| A．difference | B．influence |
| C．confidence | D．environment |
| A．A diary. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A novel. | D．A guidebook. |
5 . Now, let’s talk about earthquakes on our planet. Some countries have large numbers of earthquakes. Japan is one of them. Others do not have many. For example, there are few earthquakes in Britain. There is often a great noise during an earthquake. The ground vibrates (震动). Houses fall down. Trains run off the lines. Sometimes, there is a heavy loss of human lives.
Earthquakes often happen near volcanoes, but this is not always true. The centers of some earthquakes are under the sea. The bottom of the sea suddenly moves. The powerful forces inside the earth break the rocks. The coast is shaken and great waves appear. These waves, also known as seismic waves(地震波), or tsunamis(海啸) can travel long distances and rush over the land when they reach it. They are strong enough to break down houses and other buildings. Very often fires follow the most serious earthquakes. In 1906, the numbers of fires were burning in the city. The water pipes were also shaken and broken, so it was not possible to put the fire out. There was no water. The Tokyo Earthquake of 1923 happened just before noon. People were cooking meals on their fires at that time. When the ground shook, the fires shook, too. Hot materials were thrown on the different parts of the houses, some of which were made of wood. Soon 134 fires were burning in the city.
What kind of building stands up best in an earthquake? A building with concrete walls is perhaps the best. A steel frame will make it even stronger. The frame holds the different parts together and the walls so not easily fall. There is less chance of fire because concrete and steel do not burn. Over the years, scientists studied the results of the earthquake in different parts of the world, and they are convinced that this kind of building is the safest.
1. What can we know about earthquake from the first paragraph?| A．Britain has large numbers of earthquake. |
| B．There is often a great noise during an earthquake. |
| C．There is a heavy loss of human lives in every earthquake. |
| D．Trains will not run off the lines during the earthquake. |
| A．the breakout of the volcano | B．the seismic waves |
| C．the tsunami | D．the powerful forces inside the earth |
| A．A building with concrete walls and a steel frame stands up best in an earthquake. |
| B．There is no chance of fire in a building with concrete walls. |
| C．Scientist studied the causes of the earthquake to get the conclusion. |
| D．A steel frame has no help in making the house stronger. |
| A．book review | B．popular science report |
| C．newspaper ad | D．fairy tale |
