1 . A severe drought(干旱) that has caused water levels in Southeast Asia's Mekong River to drop to their lowest in more than 100 years could have devastating(毁灭性的) consequences for fish, as well as the tens of millions of people living and working along the river, experts warn.

This year, the dry conditions in the Mekong region persisted(持续) due to warm Pacific Ocean currents(洋流)known as the EI Nino effect. But climate change is also a driving factor, experts say, causing the rainy season to shorten considerably. The situation was made worse by hydropower (水利发电)dam operators upstream, in China and Laos , with holding water for their own purposes.

Many rice farmers in the region have been unable to plant their main crop, raising fears 'of a heavily diminished harvest this fall. Less water flow could also have a devastating impact on fish reproduction in the Mekong River basin. Perhaps even more alarming, experts expect that droughts and disruptions(中断)to the water flow of the Mekong will become more common, and they warn that it could eventually lead to the ruin of the entire ecosystem.

Originating in the Tibetan highlands, the Mekong River flows through six Asian counties before emptying into the South China Sea. The river basin is home to the largest inland fishery in the world and more than 60 million people depend on it for their livelihoods.

Few rivers in the world rise and fall with the seasons as much as the Mekong, which can drop Few rivers in the world rise and fall with the seasons as much as the Mekong, which can drop up to40 feet in some places at the end of the dry season. When the rainy season arrives, they normally produce a flood pulse that brings with it sediment(沉淀) important to agriculture as well as huge amounts of tiny fish, including many critically endangered species such as the Mekong giant catfish, that are swept into the Tonle Sap Lake and other floodplains where they can mature.

1. What is true about the Mekong River?

A．The Mekong River basin is home to the largest fishery in the world.

B．The average depth of the Mekong River in the dry season is 40 feet.

C．The water of the Mekong River has fallen to the lowest level in history.

D．The Mekong River originates in China and flows into the South China Sea.

2. What is the paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The benefits of the Mekong River this year,

B．The climate change of the Mekong River this year.

C．The natural disasters of the Mekong River this year.

D．The reasons for the drought of Mekong River this year.

3. What does the underlined word “diminished” mean in paragraph 3?

A．Plentiful.

B．Decreasing.

C．Large.

D．Disappointing.

4. What's the attitude of experts to water flow of Mekong River in future?

A．Optimistic.

B．Neutral.

C．Worried.

D．Puzzled.

2 . It happens from time to time that after a whole morning of studying, you are tired in the afternoon. It’s then that you might want to eat something sweet, perhaps a Coke or a chocolate bar,   to lift your mood. After all it’s popularly believed that a “sugar rush” gives us energy.

But a study published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews in April suggests that sugar can make us feel worse rather than boost our moods.

The German and UK researchers collected data from 31 studies involving nearly 1,300 adults. They studied the effect of sugar on various aspects of mood, including anger, alertness, depression and tiredness.

They found that people who have too much sugar become more tired and less alert within an hour and that these feelings become more intense over time.

According to the researchers, when people take in sugar their blood sugar levels rise rapidly, leading to a burst of energy and a short “feel good” period. However, as they begin to digest the sugar, their blood sugar levels decrease quickly leading to a bad feeling.

To remain on a “high” people are likely to eat more and more sugar until they become addicted to it. As with caffeine, this prevents the body from relaxing, leaving people feeling tired and less alert.

But the study findings needn’t make us think we must give up sweet food altogether. According to the World Health Organization, it is healthy to have the sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and milk so long as these make up less than 5 percent of daily total energy intake.

So the next time you feel tired and can’t concentrate, perhaps you should think twice before you bite into a chocolate bar. Maybe a spot of exercise at midday would be a better idea!

Tips for beating afternoon fatigue.

* Head outside and sit in the daylight for 10 minutes.

* Get into the routine of a mid-afternoon cup of tea.

* Plan group activities for midday.

* Add variety to your routine.

1. What does the underlined word “boost” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．harm

B．improve

C．control

D．change

2. How did the people feel after they had sugar in the study?

A．They felt more tired.	B．They felt relaxed.
C．They were more alert.	D．They felt energetic.

3. What do we learn from Paragraphs 5-6?

A．Our mood is connected to our blood sugar levels.

B．Taking in more sugar benefits mental health.

C．Getting caffeine is another way to relax.

D．Sugar and caffeine are all the same.

4. What would the author suggest people do when they are tired?

A．Give up sweet food.	B．Have a bar of chocolate.
C．Do an hour of exercise.	D．Eat foods with natural sugars.

3 . Do you live in a city? You’ve probably noticed how noisy and crowded life in a city can be. What if you could live next to a calm lake instead?

As it turns out, living near bodies of water – lakes, rivers, ponds, even oceans – can help us feel both happier and healthier. Those who live less than a kilometer from the coast are around 22 percent less likely to have mental health problems than those who live 50 kilometers or more away, according to a study by researchers from the University of Exeter, UK. People who visit the coast at least twice a week tend to experience better general and mental health as well.

So how does “blue space” make us feel better? For one thing, aquatic environments tend to have less pollution and more sunlight, both of which are linked to better mental and physical health. People who get more sun tend to be happier than those who do not.

There’s also the air above the sea. After spending time near the ocean, you might find that you feel more relaxed than usual. This is because sea air is filled with negative ions（负离子）. These ions balance our levels of serotonin（血清素）, a chemical that affects our moods. With balanced serotonin levels, we feel more calm and relaxed, according to Daily Mail.

Finally, people who live near water tend to be more physically active, according to the Guardian. Water sports like swimming and rowing can help us stay in shape, which in turn keeps us healthy.

1. What did the researchers from the University of Exeter find?

A．Living near water can improve our mental health.

B．An increasing number of people don’t like living in cities.

C．Living near water has more advantages than living in cities.

D．People with mental health problems mainly come from cities.

2. The underlined word “aquatic” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “_____”.

A．natural

B．outdoor

C．oceanic

D．clean

3. What do we know about negative ions?

A．They are chemicals in our bodies.

B．They can only be found in sea air.

C．They can help people reduce stress.

D．They increase serotonin in our bodies.

4. In which column can you find this passage?

A．Health.

B．Travel.

C．Environment.

D．Entertainment.

4 . How to Be a Winner
Sir Steven Redgrave
Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals
“In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes (糖尿病). Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it—the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn’t difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn’t finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way.”
Karen Pickering
Swimming World Champion
“I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success—you can’t follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. “Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you’ll be a step closer to achieving them.”
Kirsten Best
Poet ＆ Writer
“When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can’t achieve something. Then, there are other distractions, such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as ‘calm’, ‘peace’ or ‘focus’, either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological tool.”
1. What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?

A．Difficulties influenced his career.

B．Specialists offered him medical advice.

C．Training helped him defeat his disease.

D．He overcame the shadow of illness to win.

2. What does Karen Pickering put on top of her diary?

A．Her training schedule.

B．Her daily happenings.

C．Her achievements.

D．Her sports career.

3. What does the underlined word “distractions” probably refer to?

A．Ways that help one to focus.

B．Words that help one to feel less tense.

C．Activities that turn one’s attention away.

D．Habits that make it hard for one to relax.

4. According to the passage, what do the three people have in common?

A．Courage.	B．Devotion.
C．Hard work.	D．Self-confidence.