1 . A new research has found that comedy doesn’t just make us feel good — it actually has the power to improve health. A recent study was conducted to test whether or not “laughter therapy (疗法)”could help people who have heart disease.
The study involved 26 adults, with an average age of 64. They all had coronary artery (冠状动脉) disease, which happens when the supply of blood to the heart is held up by plaque (斑块) that grows in the coronary arteries, the big tubes that send blood to the heart. Over three months, 13 of the adults were asked to watch two-hour-long comedy shows every week. The other 13 were asked to watch two documentary films on serious topics like politics and the Amazon rainforest. Then, the participants were examined by doctors.
The first group that watched comedy showed a big improvement in the amount of oxygen which we breathe in to survive and that the heart could pump around the body. Their arteries also got better at expanding, which meant that more blood could flow through them. There was less plaque in the arteries afterward too, cutting the person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The study was led by Marco Saffi, a professor at a hospital, who said laughter helps the heart because it releases chemicals in the body called endorphins. They reduce inflammation, which can lead to heart disease, and help the heart relax.
Having a good laugh also reduces levels of stress hormones (荷尔蒙). Stress hormones are the body’s natural alarm system, which kicks in if a person is in a tense situation. They’re great for helping people cope with danger, but they can put a strain on the heart if they stay in a person’s system for too long.
Saffi thinks the results show “laughter therapy” could be used to treat patients at the risk of heart problems. He said, “It does not have to be TV programs — people with heart disease could be invited to comedy evenings or encouraged to enjoy fun evenings with friends and family.”
How does Saffi feel about “laughter therapy”?| A．It’s costly. | B．It’s unique. | C．It’s promising. | D．It’s unworthy. |
2 . Popular Libraries in the World
The idea of a public library — where anyone in the community is trusted to borrow books, often for long stretches of time, for free — is fairly magical. Some of the libraries in the world are pretty popular now.
The British Library, London, the UK
The British Library is comparable to the Library of Congress in terms of the size of their holdings, many of which are unique. According to its annual report, the British Library welcomes millions of visitors every year, but the figure in 2016-2017 represents a small but disappointing reduction in the overall visitor numbers.
The State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
According to its annual report, the State Library of Victoria’s visitors broke the 2 million in 2016-2017 visit record for the first time in its history, making it the busiest library in Australia. It also recorded many online visits, accessed collection items and uses of digitized collection items.
The New York Public Library, New York, the USA
The New York Public Library reports that it has hosted millions of visitors and circulated large numbers of items over their locations. According to a press, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building — the main branch of the library — yearly receives the greatest number of visitors.
The National Library of China, Beijing, China
Established as the Imperial Library of Peking in 1909, the National Library of China is now the largest library in Asia, with holdings of over 30 million items. The library’s annual report puts its total visitors across multiple locations at several million every year.
In which column of a magazine can you find the text?| A．Finance. | B．Culture. |
| C．Architecture. | D．Technology. |
3 . Ideally a history would bring together texts and objects, and some chapters of this book are able to do just that, but in many cases we simply can’t. The clearest example of this between literate and non-literate history is perhaps the first conflict at Botany Bay between Captain Cook’s voyage and the Australian Aboriginals. From the English side, we have scientific reports and the captain’s record of that terrible day. From the Australian side, we have only a wooden shield (盾) dropped by a man in flight after his first experience of gunshot. If we want to reconstruct what was actually going on that day, the shield must be questioned and interpreted as deeply and strictly as the written reports.
What does the author indicate by mentioning Captain Cook in paragraph?| A．His report was significant |
| B．He represented the local people. |
| C．He ruled over Botany Bay. |
| D．His record was one-sided. |
4 . One time my friends and I drove three hours to Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, to climb the purple quartz (石英) rock around the lake. After we found a crazy-looking road that hung over a bunch of rocks, we decided to photograph the scene at sunset. The position enabled us to look over the lake with the sunset in the background. We managed to leave this spot to climb higher because of the spare time until sunset. However, we did not mark the route (路线) so we ended up almost missing the sunset entirely. Once we found the place, it was stressful getting lights and cameras set up in the limited time. Still, looking back on the photos, they are some of my best shots though they could have been so much better if I would have been prepared and managed my time wisely.
How does the author find his photos taken at Devil’s Lake?| A．Amusing. | B．Satisfying. |
| C．Encouraging. | D．Comforting. |
5 . Over the last seven years, most states have banned texting by drivers, and public service campaigns have tried a wide range of methods to persuade people to put down their phones when they are behind the wheel.
Yet the problem, by just about any measure, appears to be getting worse. Americans are still texting while driving, as well as using social networks and taking photos. Road accidents, which had fallen for years, are now rising sharply.
Which of the following best describes the ban on drivers’ texting in the US?| A．Ineffective. | B．Unnecessary. |
| C．Inconsistent. | D．Unfair. |
6 . I’m a walker, logging an average of 9000 steps a day several times a week around my neighborhood. On recent trips to Copenhagen and Stockholm, I noticed tall, fit Scandinavians (斯堪法尼亚人) walking along on city streets with poles, as if they were cross-country skiing without any snow.
It was a surprise to learn that the addition of the poles makes it a more vigorous, full-body exercise than simply walking — and, as a 76-year-old looking to stay healthy while enjoying the outdoors, I decided to give it a try.
There’s plenty of help online for the new Nordic (北欧的) walker: stand tall, swing your arms out as if to shake hands, and plant your poles with vigour. Then there’s the little matter of the strap (带子) on the pole. This allows the walker to grip the pole when thrusting forward and then relax that hand as the other hand pushes forward — a skill of coordination that builds stronger muscles.
For a warm-up, I started slow: Nordic walking down the hall that extends from my front door to the deck. Keeping balance wasn’t my only problem. The novel use of my arms and upper body was surprisingly demanding. After half an hour, my heart was pounding and I was sweating, but I still wasn’t much good.
Still, I carried on because there’s no arguing with the exercise’s benefits. Nordic walkers’ upper-body exercise increases their heart rate significantly more than walking without poles. And according to cardiologist Dr Aaron Baggish, with poles “you’re engaging 80 to 90 per cent of your muscles.” It also helps people with Parkinson’s, says Burrill. “We put poles in their hands and it’s amazing because they start walking with real rhythm.”
After a few clumsy days of being convinced I would never succeed, suddenly everything clicked. Not only was I able to coordinate the movements, I was aware that my heart, arms and core were getting a workout. Nordic walking is a form of exercise I expect to enjoy for years to come.
What is the author’s intention in writing this passage?| A．To persuade readers to try Nordic walking for fun. |
| B．To share the experience of trying a new fitness activity. |
| C．To emphasize the great difficulties of Nordic walking. |
| D．To compare Nordic walking with simple walking. |
7 . The project was dreamed up by a local charity (慈善组织) to reduce loneliness and improve elderly people’s wellbeing. It is also being used to help patients suffering dementia, a serious illness of the mind. Staff in care homes have reported a reduction in the use of medicine where hens are in use.
What is the purpose of the project?| A．To ensure harmony in care homes. | B．To provide part-time jobs for the aged. |
| C．To raise money for medical research. | D．To promote the elderly people’s welfare. |
8 . The goal of this book is to make the case for digital minimalism, including a detailed exploration of what it asks and why it works, and then to teach you how to adopt this philosophy if you decide it’s right for you.
To do so, I divided the book into two parts. In part one, I describe the philosophical foundations of digital minimalism, starting with an examination of the forces that are making so many people’s digital lives increasingly intolerable, before moving on to a detailed discussion of the digital minimalism philosophy.
What is the book aimed at?| A．Teaching critical thinking skills. | B．Advocating a simple digital lifestyle. |
| C．Solving philosophical problems. | D．Promoting the use of a digital device. |
9 . A BAKING DEGREE/DIPLOMA ONLINE
Offered by Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
General introduction
Our programs combine flexible online classes (24/7 access to hundreds of technique videos) with a hands-on baking externship (校外实习) experience that lets you apply what you learn from our experienced instructors in a real-world setting. Also, you can attend an in-person graduation at Escoffier in Boulder.
How culinary school online works
Our proven approach blends online content with one-on-one interaction from experienced chef instructors to help ensure your learning, in addition to a hands-on industry externship at the end of your program.
Who our students are
Escoffier Online students come from many walks of life. Some are new to the business. Some are professionals who want to level up. All are ready to learn.
The process
LEARN
Complete readings, watch lectures and demonstrations, carry out research and take knowledge-check quizzes.
DISCUSS
Talk through what you’ve learned with classmates and instructors on private class message boards. You can also join live lessons broadcast online each week.
EXPERIENCE
Roll up your sleeves and get to work in your kitchen. Execute your practical assignments, documenting the process along the way through a production sheet and photos when instructed to.
Where is the passage probably taken from?| A．A brochure. | B．A report. | C．A paper. | D．A journal. |
10 . Obviously, we can’t all live as long as Dr. Denmark. But recent research has shown that volunteering provides a longevity boost similar to the effects of adding multiple servings of fruits and vegetables to your daily diet. Specifically, older adults who volunteer are at 24 percent less risk of early death. The positive impact of giving and volunteering on older people goes beyond that. According to the research, adults over 55 who give their time for others have an easier time with everyday tasks. Besides, volunteers experience 250 percent less cognitive decline leading to dementia (痴呆).
How many benefits of volunteering are mentioned in paragraph?
| A．1 | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
