There is a saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Although eating properly is important, being kind to others is also good for your health. Recent studies show that people who do kind acts are more relaxed, happier, and healthier than other people.
In one study at Arizona State University, researchers found that many volunteers experienced a sudden feeling of joy, followed by a long period of calmness, after doing a kind act. This feeling, called “a helper’s high”, may actually help reduce stress as the body produces natural painkillers.
Stress can cause serious health problems. It can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, and it can also lead to overeating and sleeping problems. However, the study found that volunteers had fewer stress-related health problems when they did helpful things for other people.
The study also found that people who did nice things for others felt better about themselves as well. They had higher self-respect, and were happier. Many believe this is because volunteers spend more of their time with other people. People who are more outgoing are often healthier.
Another study at the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center confirmed the health benefits of volunteering. A ten-year study of 2,700 men in Michigan showed that people who volunteered lived longer than those who didn’t. Although you shouldn’t need a reason to be helpful, it is nice to know that kindness may help you live longer.
1. According to Paragraph 1, what do recent studies show?2. According to the passage, what serious health problems can stress cause?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
>When volunteers did helpful things for other people, they had fewer stress-related health problems, felt better about others and respected others more.
4. Besides the benefits mentioned in this passage, what do you think are some other benefits of volunteering? Why? (In about 40 words)
3 . Kids Do More Sports After Tutoring Ban
China Central Television reported that 33,000 arts and sports stores were launched in just over a month after the government published its “Double Reduction” document in late July.
The government tutoring restriction is supposed to help improve the health of young people. Some China’s school children are short-sighted and nearly one in five between the ages of 6-17 is overweight or obese, National Health Commission data show.
Schools are taking action to provide a variety of PE classes and clubs for children. Some schools are providing ice and snow sports optional courses for students.
Parents hold positive attitudes towards the new policy. China’s Tiger moms used to find classes after school to give our children an advantage in the intensely competitive education.
| A．But now they aren’t enrolling their children just to give them something to do. |
| B．The Double Reduction policy also gives students time for exercise after school. |
| C．Some children are addicted to the video games and have no time to do homework. |
| D．Parents are busy enrolling their children to all kinds of classes after school to improve their scores. |
| E．So the government plans to get almost 20 million more people to participate in regular exercises within five years. |
| F．Some schools are organizing a variety of sports games like rope-skipping game, basketball, badminton, volleyball game and so on. |
| G．It banned academic tutoring during weekends and holidays and ordered schools to reduce both the amount and time needed for assignments. |
4 . Does Chinese philosophy influence your parenting? It is the question I am most often asked. Chinese philosophy contains many lessons that are useful, accessible and timely when applied to the challenges of parenting. Confucianism and Daoism suggest ways to guide your children toward meaning and fulfilment rather than wealth and fame.
Parenting is tough, especially because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Different kids need different things. How do we stay focused on what matters most? How do we navigate difficult times with our kids and support them when they struggle? All of us want our children to be successful, partly because we love them and want them to be happy. But it is easy to mistake “success” with certain kinds of academic or athletic achievements.
Of course, one can define success in this way. But ancient Chinese philosophers believed that real success is not measured by fame, money or power. A successful life is one in which a person flourishes: they are happy, fulfilled, and they find meaning in what they do and who they are. This type of fulfilment comes from loving and being loved by others within the context of meaningful, lasting relationships; giving generously of what you have to others; caring for and having a genuine love of nature; and shouldering your responsibility.
Most of us know that having an Ivy League degree and a high-paying job is not going to make our children happy and fulfilled in life. Yet we worry about how they will find things they love to do and that they are good at. Philosophers from the two most influential ancient Chinese traditions — Confucianism and Daoism — talk more about human flourishing, virtue, happiness and fulfilment than about “success”.
Chinese philosophers argued that we genuinely flourish — are happiest and most fulfilled — when we develop these virtues. This can never be measured in terms such as earning power, entering famous schools or getting jobs. Instead, it is measured in how we treat people — how one loves and is loved by one’s family and friends — and in what one does to make the world a kinder, gentler, more humane and beautiful place. They encourage us to help our children learn more about the world around them.
The Confucians and Daoists were a little like yin and yang: Confucians have a lot of active, hands-on ways to help children grow, such as participating in traditions, while the Daoists recommend simpler activities, such as exploring the beauty of nature. Their diverse views on living a good life are precisely what makes Chinese philosophy such a great resource for parents.
Parenting is messy. It is not simple or straightforward but complex and difficult. There are no magic solutions that make things easy or smooth. Most of us will need to piece together different approaches in order to find something that works well and feels right in different situations, for different children, and at different times in a child’s life.
1. According to the author, parenting is challenging because________.| A．Parents don’t know what success refers to |
| B．Children don’t believe in Chinese philosophy |
| C．There are many theories of parenting to choose |
| D．One can’t find a standard approach to suit every child |
| A．People who flourish can feel successful because they live a meaningful life. |
| B．Only when people make contribution to society can they feel successful. |
| C．A successful life can be measured by reputation and wealth. |
| D．Success just means one should be friendly to nature. |
| A．Confucians think graduating from famous university can make children intelligent and fulfilled. |
| B．Daoists are more influential than Confucians because of their simpler activities. |
| C．Confucians and Daoists together can provide parents abundant resources. |
| D．It is enough for parents to just learn Chinese Philosophy well. |
| A．Critical . | B．Objective. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Suspicious. |
Shenzhou-13 entered the Tianzhou 2, according to the China Manned Space Agency in October,
World Animal Day is an international day with the purpose of awakening people's love for animals. China
1. When you have an interview, it is important to leave a good first impression on the interviewers.
2. If you cause inconvenience for your neighbours, you should apologize to him and say sorry. This is community spirit.
3. In O' Henry's The Last Leaf, Sue is a reliable friend of Johnsy and she tired her best to take care of Johnsy when she was badly ill.
4. The most important organ—brain contains over one hundred billion cells, and different areas in the brain are responsible for different functions.
5. China is aiming for reforms in green transformation (绿色转型) to achieve carbon neutrality(碳中和)by 2060. To achieve the goals, we should continue garbage sorting and green living.
6. 70 years ago, hunger was a disturbing problem in many parts of the countryside in China. Therefore, Yuan Longping was determined to find ways to grow more rice to help Chinese people get rid of hunger.
