1 . The average American gets about 4,000 steps a day — but how much is enough? According to a recent study of more than 72,000 people, getting in 9,000 to 10,000 daily steps cuts the risk of death by more than a third and reduced cardiovascular (心血管) disease risk by at least 20 percent, but even smaller increases showed benefits.
Ashley Goodwin, one of the study’s authors, says the study really builds on the evidence we already know about how walking can help lower cardiovascular risk and death. He found it especially amazing that the benefit differed so little between those who sat for long periods each day and those who sat less. “That’s really great because it drives home the message that simply walking a little bit more than you usually do is going to bring some health benefits, no matter where you’re starting from.”
Past research had shown that higher step counts are linked to better heart health and a longer life, and a separate body of research has shown the increased risks of cardiovascular disease and death associated with more sedentary (久坐) time. But this study brought those bodies of research together to learn if extra daily steps could offset (抵消) the risks of sedentary behavior even in those who spend much of the day seated.
The results show that both highly sedentary and less sedentary people had statistically similar risk reductions from higher step counts. But the findings also reveal that the more steps people had per day, the more their risk of heart disease or death fell, up until about 9,000 to 9,700 daily steps for highly sedentary people.
In fact, highly sedentary people in the study began experiencing a heart benefit starting as low as 4,300 steps per day, when their risk of heart disease fell by 10 percent. Doubling that step counts to 9,700 steps a day doubled the benefit. Similarly, highly sedentary people began seeing a 20 percent reduced risk of death starting at 4,100 steps per day. Again, that benefit nearly doubled to 39 percent when their daily step counts increased to 9,000.
1. What is newly found in the study?A.Higher step counts are linked to a longer life. |
B.Walking 10,000 steps a day is not suitable for everyone. |
C.A small increase in people’s usual step counts is beneficial. |
D.The average American gets around 4,000 steps each day. |
A.The more steps people get, the healthier they are. |
B.Walking can treat cardiovascular diseases to some degree. |
C.People can benefit from walking without walking too fast. |
D.Walking has similar effect on sedentary people and active people. |
A.To research how step counts differ from people to people. |
B.To examine how walking can help lower cardiovascular risk. |
C.To know whether extra daily steps offset the risks of being sedentary. |
D.To check whether sedentary life can lead to increased risks of death. |
A.To list the recommended step counts. |
B.To show the link between step counts and health. |
C.To warn people of the harm of sedentary lifestyle. |
D.To compare the steps of active people and inactive people. |
Wearing Hanfu and sitting in front of a Chinese zither (筝), Peng Jingxuan, a young Chinese student, moves her fingers gently along the strings on a street in Paris, France.
Peng has shared more than 200
Chinese zither (筝), or guzheng, is an ancient musical instrument with 21-26 strings and a length of 1.63 meters. Peng
Considering her audience’s
3 . Chloe Smith is a girl aged 6 from Atlanta, Georgia. One day, while taking a walk with her father near their home, she
The medal belongs to former canoeist (划艇运动员) Joe Jacobi, who won gold while
Chloe’s dad had seen Jacobi’s story on the news, and
Chloe was
A.sought | B.buried | C.noticed | D.dropped |
A.waste | B.object | C.material | D.antique |
A.embarrassed | B.satisfied | C.frightened | D.shocked |
A.competing | B.applying | C.coaching | D.preparing |
A.broken | B.stolen | C.replaced | D.deserted |
A.purchase | B.register | C.preserve | D.recover |
A.secured | B.prized | C.advertised | D.priced |
A.project | B.decision | C.habit | D.idea |
A.quickly | B.gradually | C.really | D.carefully |
A.identifying | B.obtaining | C.evaluating | D.investigating |
A.sorry | B.eager | C.upset | D.hesitant |
A.In addition | B.In fact | C.In return | D.In advance |
A.purpose | B.report | C.attempt | D.story |
A.heart-warming | B.breath-taking | C.eye-catching | D.life-changing |
A.important | B.simple | C.interesting | D.right |
4 . NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour recommendation about what to view and read this weekend.
Riddle of FireRiddle of Fire is set in Wyoming. Three kids just want to play video games, but their mom gives them a request that only when they bake a pie for her ten can they play their video games. So this launches a little charming adventure. Full in love with this movie, I hope other people will heck it out. — Monica
Palm Royale, streaming on Apple TV+Palm Royale stars a bunch of women and is set in the late 1960s-Kristen Wiig plays a woman who wants to fit in with the rich society at an exclusive Palm Beach club. There is a sub-plot about women’s environmental consciousness. It is silly fun, with excellent costumes. — Danielle
Collecting the Simpsons, by Warren EvansThis book takes you through the T-shirts, the video games, the comics, the cookie jars, all the Simpsons stuff that was produced around the mid-90s. It goes into the Bart phenomenon where Bart Simpson was tied fighting in the Gulf War and playing local music. It’s a fun and interesting tip into that time. — Jordan
Get the Picture, by Bianca BoskerUnlike her previous book Cork Dork exploring the wine world, Bianca’s new book sets out to better understand the art world. Instead of talking about things in the art world that sound strange, she goes in with an open heart and tries to listen to what people are saying. I learned a lot about art, and I appreciated her approach. — Linda
1. Why does Monica recommend Ridle of Fire?A.It keeps us conscious of the environment. | B.It reminds us of life in the mid-1990s. |
C.It’s filled with fascinating adventures. | D.It helps us listen to the language of art. |
A.To fit in with the rich society in a club. | B.To get the children to bake a pie for her. |
C.To play local music while fighting at war. | D.To listen to what artists say in the artwork. |
A.What to do to get admitted into the rich society. |
B.Who to turn for help making a pie for his mum. |
C.How to appreciate the true beauty in an artwork. |
D.Whether to go to the war or enjoy local music. |
5 . The client crises in my social-work job always multiplied during the holidays. As I drove through the darkness that rainy December night, I shelved my worry and focused on our December events.
The parking lot was full. Everyone in our small Arkansas town must have turned out for the Christmas program. Our second grader son Jon should have joined his class inside the gym by now, but I was running late. Jim and Michael, our fifth graders, were warm and dry inside.
While Jon played with a toy in the back seat, I drove once more through the parking lot. Then I saw, through the downpour, the narrow area of grass between two cars perfect for our small car. I pulled into the spot, nosing forward to line up beside my neighbor.
With a loud noise, the front of our new car ran over some hard stones and hung over a foot above a pool. Shaking, I held the wheel and couldn’t decide whether to drive forward or backward. Either would do damage to my car.
Suddenly, someone tapped on the driver-side window. A man stood there in the cold rain. Without greeting he gave me instructions. “When I walk to the front of your car and lift, put it in reverse (倒挡) and back up.”
He moved unhurriedly around to the front of the car into my headlights. With apparent strain, he lifted and held the car’s front end. I remember staring a moment, and then I put the car in reverse and looked over my shoulder until the front tires rested on the ground again. Before I could thank him, he was gone. I never saw him again.
Much later, I realized our car-lifting angel marked a turning point in our family’s direction. In the decades since that evening, life has thrown plenty of difficulties in our way. But I recall that night and know confidently that there’s someone ready to help.
1. What was the author’s task that December night?A.Attending a Christmas event. |
B.Sending Jon to his gym lessons. |
C.Taking the car to the garage. |
D.Solving one of the client crises. |
A.He raised the front of the car in the rain. |
B.He backed out the author’s Car skillfully. |
C.He picked up the author’s children from the gym. |
D.He saved the author from the pool of water. |
A.Unidentifiable. |
B.Predictable. |
C.Life-threatening. |
D.Far-reaching. |
A.I Learned a Lesson That Night. |
B.The Heavy Lifter Saved Me. |
C.I Was Coached to Back My Car. |
D.The Act Eased Client Crisis. |
6 . Are your keys not in the spot you thought you left them? Can’t recall the title of a book? I’ve had those moments. Such instances of “brain freeze” remind us that we should do everything in our power to keep our brains sharp.
A new study finds Tai Chi study can help slow cognitive (认知的) decline and protect against dementia (痴呆). The study included about 300 older adults, in their mid-70s on average, who had all reported that their memory was not as good as it used to be.
As part of the study, all the participants took a 10-mirrute test called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A normal score is 26-30. A person who scores between 18 and 25 is considered to have mild impairment (损害), which means they don’t have dementia but they’re not as sharp as they used to be and may need to work harder to maintain everyday activities. Once their score drops under 18, people experience quite a bit of impairment from memory loss and cognitive decline.
The average score of participant s at the start of the study was 25. The study found that people who practiced a simplified form of Tai Chi twice a week for about six months improved their score by 1.5 points, meaning that they’re going to get three extra years before they hit that decline into dementia.
Researchers also tested a more stricter type of Tai Chi, called Cognitively Enhanced Tai Chi, where they provided extra challenges. For example, participants were asked to spell a word, backward and forward, as they moved through a series of Tai Chi moves. The people who practice this type of cognitively enhanced Tai Chi improved their scores by about 3 points, meaning they are given six extra years of cognitive function.
The theory on why Tai Chi is effective is that it combines the memorization of the movements, known as forms, almost like composing dancing moves.
1. Why are two questions raised in the first paragraph?A.To present the author’s doubts. | B.To expect answers from readers. |
C.To analyze the causes of forgetfulness. | D.To introduce the main topic of the text. |
A.Cognitive assessment methods. | B.The process of running the test. |
C.Cognitive measurement criteria. | D.The test results of the participants. |
A.Most of them suffer from, dementia. | B.They remain as quick-minded as before. |
C.Many of them have slight cognitive decline. | D.They can protect themselves against dementia. |
A.It helps resolve challenges. | B.It involves mind-body movements. |
C.It puts off cognitive decline by three years. | D.It improves the participants academic level. |
7 . Things To Remember On Your First Solo Travel Adventure
If you’ve ever thought about just taking a trip yourself instead of waiting for someone to join you, you’re not alone.
Don’t be afraid to talk to random people. Though there is someone who poses a threat, it’s important to remember that not everyone is out to get you.
It’s okay to have bad days.
It’s okay to start small.
A.You are the boss of your own adventure. |
B.You need to make an unusual travel choice. |
C.It’s no secret that solo travel is on the rise. |
D.Sometimes things can go incredibly wrong. |
E.People like you simply don’t know how to start. |
F.Most of the time people are just curious and try to be friendly. |
G.Remember, your first solo trip doesn’t have to be to a whole other continent. |
8 . In the old-fashioned town of Willowbrook, two friends named Emma and Liam shared an intimate bond. They were inseparable and spent every moment together, laughing, exploring, and creating unforgettable memories.
One cold winter morning, as the first snowflakes gently fell from the sky, Emma woke up with a stuffy nose and a sore throat. She tried to brave it and get ready for school, but her body felt weak and achy. Unwillingly, she called Liam to let him know she couldn’t make it to school that day.
Liam was concerned when he heard the tiredness in Emma’s voice. “Don’t worry, Em. I’ll take care of everything at school for you,” he assured her. Feeling grateful for Liam’s understanding, Emma forced a smile and replied, “Thank you, Liam. You’re the best friend anyone could ask for.”
After school, Liam hurried to Emma’s house, carrying a meal he had prepared for her. He knocked on the door, and Emma’s mother welcomed him with a warm smile. “Oh, Liam, you’re such a thoughtful friend,” she said.
“I brought some soup and tea for Emma. I hope it will make her feel better,” Liam replied, some concern in his eyes. Entering Emma’s room, Liam found her curled up under a blanket, looking pale but relieved to see him. “Hey, I brought some comfort food to cheer you up,” he said, setting the food on her bedside table.
Emma’s eyes lit up, and she smiled weakly. “You didn’t have to, but thank you. This means the world to me,” she whispered. Sitting by her side, Liam kept her company, chatting softly and making her laugh despite her illness. The warmth of their friendship enveloped the room, bringing a feeling of comfort to Emma’s tired soul.
As Emma regained her strength, she realized just how lucky she was to have a friend like Liam. His unwavering presence and kindness had made her recovery easier and brighter. Their friendship grew stronger with each passing day, and from that moment on, they knew they would be there for each other through thick and thin.
1. What does the underlined word “intimate” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Satisfactory. | B.Informal. | C.Close. | D.Temporary. |
A.It was too cold to go outside. | B.Liam failed to pick her up. |
C.She was in a bad condition. | D.School was closed for the heavy snow. |
A.Considerate and caring. | B.Brave but lazy. |
C.Selfless and active. | D.Independent but stubborn. |
A.Emma’s illness. | B.A precious friendship. |
C.Liam’s company. | D.How to help a friend. |
1. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
A.His feeling after receiving an award. |
B.His experience about traveling around. |
C.His preference for different music types. |
A.Ireland. | B.Scotland. | C.England. |
A.A single song. | B.A three-song collection. | C.A twelve-song collection. |
A.A young musician. | B.One of the speaker’s fans. | C.The host of the ceremony. |
1. What did Peter learn from his grandfather?
A.How to appreciate art works. |
B.How to deal with artists. |
C.How to run a museum. |
A.He studied at a college. | B.He served in the army. | C.He worked in a gallery. |
A.Rembrandt’s. | B.Botticelli’s. | C.Rubens’. |