1 . Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has increased over the past 20 years. UPFs (超加工食品) contain few or no whole foods, are industrially produced, are ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat, and include additives (添加剂). The ultra-processing of food reduces its nutritional value. It has been known that higher UPF consumption is associated with overweight and heart disease. Now, research has been extended to examine its impact on mental health.
In a new study, over 72,000 participants who were at least 55 years old and didn’t have dementia (痴呆) at the start of the study were followed for an average of 10 years, during which they filled out questionnaires regarding their diet. By the end of the study, 518 people were diagnosed (诊断) with dementia. After adjusting for other factors that could affect risk of dementia such as age, gender, and heart disease, researchers found every 10 percent increase in daily intake of UPFs was associated with a 25 percent higher risk of dementia. They also found replacing 10percent of UPFs with unprocessed or minimally processed foods was associated with a 19 percent lower risk of dementia.
In another study, researchers found individuals who consumed the most UPFs had significant increases in the symptoms (症状) of mild depression, “mentally unhealthy days”, and “anxious days”. Eric Hecht, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Etiological Research, said, “More than 70 percent of packaged foods in the US are classified as UPFs and represent about 60percent of all calories consumed by Americans. Considering the degree of exposure to and effects of UPF consumption, this study has great significance in clinical practice and public health. It might help improve future development of dietary guidelines.”
Facing such alarming data, maybe it’s time for Americans to reconsider their food choices. Researchers recommend taxes on UPFs and carrying out policies to reduce the consumption. They also support programs and policies to increase the availability and affordability of whole foods, especially among disadvantaged populations.
1. What do we know about UPFs?A.They have no nutritional value. | B.They are ready-made and instant foods. |
C.They are cheap and mass-produced. | D.They serve as additions to our daily diets. |
A.Positive. | B.Negative. | C.Ambiguous. | D.Doubtful. |
A.Collecting higher taxes on UPFs. | B.Decreasing UPFs’ consumption in diet. |
C.Focusing on the nutrient content of foods. | D.Increasing public awareness of whole foods. |
A.Public Health Response to UPFs | B.Physical Disorders Linked to UPFs |
C.Rising Consumption of UPFs in the US | D.Negative Effects of UPFs on Mental Health |
1. 活动目的;
2. 活动安排;
3. 注意事项。
注意:
1. 词数应为80左右;
2. 可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Notice
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . British cinema boasts a rich diversity of films that weave appealing narratives with stunning landscapes and fascinating characters. These films celebrate the diverse beauty and cultural heritage of Britain.
Local HeroLocal Hero digs into the conflict between a giant US oil company and a remote Scottish village when the former plans to build a refinery (精炼厂). However, the exceptionally beautiful landscapes and the firm attitude of the villagers sway the company’s decision. The story has been a lasting appeal to audiences, even after over four decades.
KesBritish director Ken Loach’s first triumph, Kes, describes the touching narrative of a young Yorkshire boy taking the journey of capturing and training an eagle. The film offers a rare description of Yorkshire, filled with a tender lens that celebrates its essence.
The DigThe delightful counties surrounding London are vividly depicted in The Dig, set against the peaceful countryside of Suffolk before World War II. Ralph Fiennes, a famous actor, plays the role of a self-taught archaeologist unearthing the mysteries of an Anglo-Saxon graveyard, adding to its fun.
CalvaryIrish director Michael McDonagh’s films set in Ireland are undoubtedly attractive, often integrating Ireland’s picturesque scenery into the story. Among these, Calvary, stands out. It records the difficult and tiring journey of a moral priest, dealing with the evil forces within his area.
1. What is the setting of the film Local Hero?A.A Yorkshire village. |
B.A remote Scottish village. |
C.The countryside of Suffolk. |
D.The Anglo-Saxon graveyard. |
A.Local Hero. | B.Kes. |
C.Calvary. | D.The Dig. |
A.The moral dilemma of an Irish priest. |
B.The national and cultural heritage of Britain. |
C.The beauty and diversity of British landscapes and characters. |
D.The adventures of Yorkshire boys capturing and training eagles. |
4 . In a remote mountainous region in Pakistan, a cable car carrying six children and two adults became stuck in mid-air. However, this terrifying incident resulted in a remarkable display of bravery and intelligence as ordinary bystanders stepped up to save lives.
The incident began like any other day when the small group started their typical daily journey to school and the local shops aboard the shaky three cables broke, causing it to be suspended in the air.
Immediately, multiple rescue efforts were set into motion. The rescue mission lasted for over 10 hours. Military helicopters and local experts attempted to rescue the stuck car. However, the complex terrain (地形) and the cable car’s unsafe position made progress slow. By nightfall, the helicopter team had only rescued one child from the car.
The local administration called upon two local brothers, Sahib and Nasir, for their expert skill in operating temporary cable cars in the region. With limited resources available, the Khan brothers thought up a clever idea to reach the stuck cable car. They constructed a small temporary car using a zip line, allowing them to move over the risky terrain and approach the hanging cable car.
Nasir remained on the ground, assisting with the pulley (滑轮) system. Sahib bravely boarded the temporary car and started a dangerous journey to ward the stuck children. Once he reached the hanging car, Sahib carefully tied a rope around the children in the car. Making several trips, he secured the children and carried them across one at a time. He successfully transported two children to safety in this fashion.
With Sahib’s courageous efforts paving the way, local rescuers took over, using the same method to bring the remaining three children and the two adults back to safety. This heroic rescue mission is a powerful reminder that when people work together with a common goal in mind, they can brainstorm, even in the face of challenges that seemingly can’t be tackled successfully.
1. What happened when a cable car was on its daily routine journey?A.It stopped halfway due to a power failure. |
B.A group of visitors were trapped in it. |
C.Broken cables left it hanging in the sky. |
D.It crashed into the deep valley below. |
A.Injured individuals. | B.Difficult land features. |
C.Poor communication. | D.Severe weather conditions. |
A.The dangerous situation in the stuck car. |
B.The risk of saving the trapped children. |
C.The working principle of the rescue car. |
D.The rescue efforts by the two brothers. |
A.Bravery never goes out of fashion. |
B.A wise man makes his own decisions. |
C.Many hands make light work. |
D.Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
1.写信目的:
2.个人优势:
3.能做的事情。
注意: 1.词数 100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . Ariel Procaccia has thought a lot about how to cut a cake over the last 15 years. As the father of three children, he knows how hard it is to divide a birthday cake to everyone’s satisfaction. But it’s also because Procaccia’s work focuses on exploring the mathematical rules for dividing stuff up fairly. One way to do that is to think abstractly about dessert.
For decades, researchers have been asking the seemingly simple question of how to cut a cake fairly. The answer reaches far beyond birthday parties. A mathematical problem at its heart, cake cutting connects strict reasoning to real-world issues of fairness, and so attracts not only mathematicians, but also social scientists, economists and more. “It’s a very elegant model in which you can distill what fairness really is, and reason about it,” Procaccia says.
The simplest approach is called the “divider-chooser” method, where one person cuts the cake into two equal pieces in his view, and the other person picks first. Each receives a piece that they feel is as valuable as the other’s. But when personal preferences are taken into account, even the easiest rule becomes complicated. Suppose Alice and Bob are to divide a cake, and Alice knows Bob prefers chocolate, she may knowingly divide the cake unequally so the smaller piece contains more chocolate. Then Bob will choose according to his preference, and Alice will get the larger piece. Both of them are satisfied with what they get, but the meaning of fairness changes in this situation.
The cake is a symbol for any divisible good. When cake-cutting principles are employed to settle disagreements, they are potentially helping the world find solutions. Procaccia has used fair division algorithms (算法) to model food distribution. Social scientist Haris Aziz is exploring situations ranging from how to divide up daily tasks to how to best schedule doctors’ shifts in hospitals.
Even after decades of investigation, cake cutting isn’t like a simple jigsaw puzzle (拼图) with a well-defined solution. Instead, over time, it has evolved into a kind of mathematical sandbox, a constructive playground that brings together abstract proofs and easy applications. The more researchers explore it, the more there is to explore.
1. What does the underlined word “distill” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Get the essence of. | B.Find the opposite of. |
C.Keep the focus on. | D.Reduce the impact on. |
A.Its standard is stable. | B.It prevents unequal division. |
C.Its concept is complex. | D.It dominates personal preferences. |
A.The application of its rules. | B.The details of its process. |
C.The problems it produces. | D.The harmony it symbolizes. |
A.Who benefits most from fairness? |
B.How has fairness changed over time? |
C.What method works best in cake-cutting? |
D.Why are researchers so interested in cake-cutting? |
7 . For decades, scientists thought of the brain as the most valuable and consequently most closely guarded part of the body. Locked safely behind the blood-brain barrier, it was broadly free of the harm of viruses and the battles started by the immune system (免疫系统). Then, about 20 years ago, some researchers began to wonder: is the brain really so separated from the body? The answer, according to a growing body of evidence, is no.
The list of brain conditions that have been associated with changes elsewhere in the body is long and growing. Changes in the makeup of the microorganisms in the digestive system have been linked to disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. There is also a theory that infection during pregnancy could lead to brain diseases in babies.
The effect is two-way. There is a lengthening list of symptoms not typically viewed as disorders of the nervous system, but the brain plays a large part in them. For example, the development of a fever is influenced by a population of nerve cells that control body temperature and appetite. Evidence is mounting that cancers use nerves to grow and spread.
The interconnection between the brain and body has promising implications for our ability to both understand and treat illnesses. If some brain disorders start outside the brain, then perhaps treatments for them could also reach in from outside. Treatments that take effect through the digestive system, the heart or other organs, would be much easier and less risky than those that must cross the blood-brain barrier.
It also works in the opposite direction. Study shows mice have healthier hearts after receiving stimulation to a brain area involved in positive emotion and motivation. Activation of the brain reward centre — called the ventral tegmental area (VTA) — seems to cause immune changes that contribute to it. Working out how this happens could help to destroy cancers, enhance responses to vaccines and even re-evaluate physical diseases that, for centuries, have not been considered as being psychologically driven.
1. What do the researchers focus on about the brain?A.Its protecting system. | B.Its exposure to diseases. |
C.Its controlling function. | D.Its connection to the body. |
A.By explaining a theory. | B.By providing examples. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By presenting cause and effect. |
A.Cheaper. | B.More specific. |
C.Safer. | D.More direct. |
A.Brain health depends on immune changes. |
B.Brain stimulation leads to negative emotions. |
C.The brain can help enhance psychological health. |
D.The brain may be key to treating physical diseases. |
8 . “The mountains are calling and I must go” — the famous quote is from John Muir(1838-1914), who is described as “the wilderness poet” and “the citizen of the universe.” He once jokingly referred to himself as a “poet-geologist-botanist and ornithologist (鸟类学家)-naturalist etc. etc.!” He is known as the Father of American National Parks.
Famed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns recently said, “As we got to know him… he was among the highest individuals in America; I’m talking about the level of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and Thomas Jefferson— people who have had a transformational effect on who we are.”
So where is the quote from? Well, John Muir was a productive writer. Whether he was writing poetry or simply letters to his family, John Muir was always putting pen to paper. The quote is from within one of his many letters written to his sister:
September 3rd, 1873 Yosemite Valley Dear sister Sarah,I have just returned from the longest and hardest trip I have ever made in the mountains, having been gone over five weeks. I am weary, but resting fast; sleepy, but sleeping deep and fast; hungry, but eating much. For two weeks I explored the glaciers of the summits east of here, sleeping among the snowy mountains without blankets and with little to eat on account of its being so inaccessible. After my icy experiences, it seems strange to be down here in so warm and flowery a climate. I will soon be off again, determined to use all the season in carrying through my work—will go next to Kings River a hundred miles south, then to Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains, and in winter work in Oakland with my pen. Though slow, someday I will have the results of my mountain studies in a form in which you all will be able to read and judge them. The mountains are calling and I must go, and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly (永不停息地). I will write again when I return from Kings River Canyon. Farewell, with love everlasting. Yours, John |
1. What can we learn from John Muir’s self-description in paragraph 1?
A.He longed to expand his own career. |
B.He enjoyed his involvement in nature. |
C.He wanted to find his real advantage. |
D.He valued his identity as a poet most. |
A.Muir’s political influence. | B.A documentary film on Muir. |
C.Muir’s historic significance. | D.The social circle around Muir. |
A.Relieved but regretful. | B.Exhausted but content. |
C.Excited but lonely. | D.Defeated but hopeful. |
A.To go on with his mountain studies. |
B.To seek freedom from social connection. |
C.To attend an appointment in Oakland. |
D.To experience the hardship of wilderness. |
9 . Smith brought his three-month-old son out for breakfast one day. He was playing with his son and tending to him while eating, and just doing his
But then he noticed a
As it
“Today your meal is on my wife and me,” it read. “
For Smith, it was a happy moment of reassurance (认可) and feeling
He wrote that he’ll share this
“I make sure I’m
A.unusual | B.rare | C.big | D.regular |
A.stranger | B.woman | C.couple | D.waiter |
A.embarrassed | B.confused | C.worried | D.scared |
A.shouting | B.aiming | C.smiling | D.getting |
A.turns out | B.turns on | C.strikes out | D.goes on |
A.relationship | B.appreciation | C.friendship | D.instruction |
A.bill | B.note | C.excuse | D.notice |
A.credit | B.cash | C.change | D.fortune |
A.Enjoy | B.Share | C.Protect | D.Cheer |
A.lost | B.exposed | C.wronged | D.seen |
A.significant | B.occasional | C.grateful | D.influential |
A.idea | B.breakfast | C.joy | D.story |
A.feeling | B.comfort | C.power | D.consequence |
A.carrying it through | B.paying it forward | C.making it up | D.putting it down |
A.approach | B.address | C.bless | D.watch |
Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham are fans of the Tracy Anderson Method, which involves dance-based classes using body resistance and very light hand weights. Her online programme includes a new weekly workout, as well as access to existing classes, her digital magazine and meal planning guides. It’s at £69 per month, but you get a discount for annual membership.tracyanderson.com
RoarThe singer Ellie Goulding and the fashion designer Henry Holland are said to be fans of Roar’s daily live classes, which include the Overdrive—a high energy weights-based workout focusing on upper-body strengthening and cardiovascular fitness. Their founder, the three times Olympian speed skater Sarah Lindsay, has also trained the broadcaster Piers Morgan and the DJ Nick Grimshaw. There’s a 14-day free trial, then membership starts at โ12.50per month with live daily workouts and unlimited access to the library. roar-fitness.com
CentrThe Thor actor Chris Hemsworth and his personal trainer Luke Zocchi launched the Centr app in 2019. It features 20 and 40-minute session s of HIIT, Pilates, yoga, boxing and guided meditation, plus recipe ideas, a meal planner and stress and well being support. It’s offering a free seven-day trial, and starts from £7.83permonth. centr.com
Get It DoneThe former professional footballer and celebrity trainer Bradley Simmonds launched his platform, Get It Done, in 2020. The app includes daily live streamed and on-demand classes featuring yoga, core fitness and strength. From £22 per month. Getitdone. fitness
1. What do Tracy Anderson and Centr have in common?A.Dance-based classes. | B.Special magazines. |
C.Meal planning guides. | D.A free trial period. |
A.Tracy Anderson. | B.Roar. | C.Centr. | D.Get It Done. |
A.Professional athletes. | B.Fitness enthusiasts. |
C.Famous celebrities. | D.Personal trainers. |