1 . Are you an early bird or a night owl? Our activity patterns and sleep cycles could influence our risk of heart disease. New research published in Experimental Physiology found wake/sleep cycles cause metabolic (新陈代谢) differences and change our body’s preference for energy sources.
Researchers from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA classified participants into two groups(early and late) based on their natural tendency to seek activity and sleep at different times. The participants were monitored for a week to assess their activity patterns across the day. They ate a calorie and nutrition-controlled diet and had to fast overnight to minimize dietary impact on the results. To study fuel preference, they were tested while at rest before completing two 15-minute period of exercise: one moderate and one high intensity session on a running machine. Aerobic fitness levels were tested through an incline challenge where the incline was raised 2.5% every two minutes until the participant reached a point of exhaustion.
The researchers found that those who stay up later have a reduced ability to use fat for energy, meaning fats may build up in the body and increase the risk of heart disease. People who are ‘early birds’ rely more on fat as an energy source and are more active during the day with, higher levels of aerobic fitness than ‘night owls’. On the other hand, ‘night owls’ use less fat for energy at rest and during exercise.
Researchers also found that early birds use more fat for energy at both rest and during exercise than night owls. Professor Steven Malin from Rutgers University said, “We found that early birds are more physically active and have higher fitness levels than night owls. Farther research is needed to examine the link between exercise and metabolic adaptation to identify whether exercising earlier in the day has greater health benefits.”
1. What does the underlined word “fast” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Move quickly. | B.Go without food. |
C.Exercise regularly. | D.Fall sound asleep. |
A.By making a survey. | B.By making contrasts. |
C.By providing examples. | D.By introducing a concept. |
A.Having lower fitness level. | B.Using less fat during exercise. |
C.Consuming more fat at rest. | D.Being more active during the night. |
A.Tolerant. | B.Pessimistic. | C.Indifferent. | D.Uncertain. |
2 . I’d been exploring the 40-hectare woods around our cottage my whole life and I knew the way well. So it was a
One dull cold February afternoon, I had a sudden
As the shadows started to
I instinctively (本能地) pulled out my phone to get my location, but it
That winter’s day taught me a valuable lesson about habitual reliance on technology. If my phone had
A.challenge | B.shock | C.reward | D.reminder |
A.discovery | B.response | C.worry | D.urge |
A.escaped | B.drove | C.headed | D.looked |
A.reputation | B.dream | C.day | D.way |
A.lengthen | B.swing | C.emerge | D.fade |
A.fuel | B.witness | C.overlook | D.outpace |
A.original | B.rough | C.offbeat | D.roundabout |
A.appreciating | B.trusting | C.envisioning | D.assessing |
A.curiosity | B.comparison | C.doubt | D.anticipation |
A.died | B.slipped | C.flashed | D.rang |
A.Reportedly | B.Admittedly | C.Seemingly | D.Surprisingly |
A.exposed | B.composed | C.defended | D.behaved |
A.got off | B.laid down | C.came across | D.made out |
A.worked | B.remained | C.changed | D.overheated |
A.theory | B.standard | C.practice | D.routine |
1. Why does the woman refuse the man’s request?
A.He lost the receipt. |
B.He bought his laptop at a sale. |
C.The laptop’s return period is over. |
A.A month. | B.Half a year. | C.A year. |
A.Through an agent. | B.By telephone. | C.Over the Internet. |
1. What is the talk mainly about?
A.A campaign for healthy life. |
B.A fundraising event for charities. |
C.A volunteer program in the neighborhood. |
A.On Wednesday. | B.On Friday. | C.On Sunday. |
A.Giving up sugar for five days. |
B.Speaking 20 words a day for a month. |
C.Disconnecting from social media for a week. |
A.Donate as much as possible. |
B.Find sponsors for their challenges. |
C.Complete challenges with others together. |
1. Where are the speakers?
A.In a studio. | B.In a clinic. | C.In a fitness center. |
A.Make players understand her. |
B.Train players intensely. |
C.Study the opposing players. |
A.Knowledge of the sport rules. |
B.Experience in playing the sport. |
C.Honesty about their own abilities. |
A.She has to face some misunderstanding. |
B.She has to choose techniques creatively. |
C.She has to work in different environments. |
1. What did the man want to be at first?
A.A businessman. | B.A designer. | C.A pilot. |
A.While he was at university. |
B.While he was doing a school project. |
C.After his friend gave him some money. |
A.He spends a lot on sports cars. |
B.He buys designer clothes. |
C.He invests in business. |
A.The man’s business. |
B.The man’s university life. |
C.The man’s relationship with his friends. |
7 . After promotions or engagements, many people’s impulse is to share good news with their nearest and dearest, or post on social media for all to see. Yet a study suggests that we are better off keeping our cards closer to our chests, for “positive secrets” can leave us feeling “energized and invigorated”.
Researchers at Columbia University conducted five experiments with 2,500 people and found that more than three quarters of participants instinctively wanted to tell someone else straight away when they had some good news. The study stated, “Prior research on secrecy has focused on the effects of negative secrets, secrets that involve information that people consider unpleasant, objectionable, or embarrassing. Although negative secrets have been found to be tiring, we propose that positive secrets can be energizing”.
We define feelings of energy as feeling alive, alert, active and invigorated. Delaying the moment when you share your good news with others allows you to spend more time savouring the information, reflecting on its meaning or considering possible joyful reactions to sharing the secret.
Participants in the study were shown 40 types of common good news. They were asked which they had personally experienced, which they had shared with others and which they had kept secret, at least for a while, and how these experiences made them feel. They were also asked to imagine they had a piece of good news and to picture two scenarios(场景), one in which they choose not to tell their partner until the end of the day, and one in which they try to call their partner but cannot get through, so have to wait until later. The first scenario, involving a deliberate choice to keep the secret for a few hours, led to positive feelings, while the second did not.
However, the researchers admitted that some “positive” secrets would not make you happy. This could be those kept secret to avoid embarrassment, such as when a piece of good news may make others feel worse about their own situation.
1. What does the underlined sentence imply?A.Keeping good news a secret. | B.Giving your heart to your partner. |
C.Sharing good news with others. | D.Preventing your card from being seen. |
A.What is the proper time to share good news. |
B.What secrets are suitable for us to share. |
C.How we should define feelings of energy. |
D.Why delaying sharing good news is recommended. |
A.By making comparisons. | B.By analyzing previous studies. |
C.By demonstrating statistics. | D.By referring to literary review. |
A.You post your college acceptance letter on Tik Tok. |
B.You talk about success before your partner who failed. |
C.You tell your parents that you have won a scholarship. |
D.You fail to put through to tell your wife your promotion. |
8 . Learning can be frustrating. Maybe you feel bored, or even get discouraged if you don’t understand a new topic. If you’re still in school, there are lots of things you can do to make learning more enjoyable.
※ Find your learning style.
If you are able to find your best learning style, you can make this experience more enjoyable. If you are a verbal learner, you enjoy speaking out loud. Try practicing your Latin vocabulary by quizzing a friend. If you think you are a visual learner, try to use that to your advantage. Take learning history for example.
※ Ask for help.
※ Read a book.
Reading is one of the best ways to learn new information.
※ Use technology.
Modern technology can provide you with a whole new range of learning opportunities. Take some time to explore your computer and phone, and you will likely find some new possibilities to further your learning. Download apps that will allow you to play virtual trivia (冷知识). You can challenge your friends to see who can learn the most. Follow news outlets on social media.
A.Everyone likes feeling successful. |
B.Look for a history class that focuses on that era. |
C.Make a list of books you’ve always wanted to read. |
D.There are books available on every imaginable subject. |
E.Lifelong learning is also important and even better, it can be fun. |
F.You can stay informed about what is happening in the world around you. |
G.Relying heavily on the maps and timelines helps you store and enjoy the information. |
1. What is the new product used to do?
A.Do some housework. |
B.Settle family problems. |
C.Manage money matters. |
A.Cleaning and washing. |
B.Shopping and figuring. |
C.Repairing and guarding. |
A.It is safe enough. |
B.It is worth buying. |
C.It is too expensive. |
A.Reporter and manager. |
B.Customer and salesman. |
C.Housewife and shopkeeper. |
10 . Passive-aggressive (消极抗拒) behaviour can feel “normal”—especially if it’s how we’ve grown up seeing others around us deal with relationship issues. Whether done verbally (言语上) or nonverbally, passive aggression is meant to avoid hurting someone else’s feelings, escape conflict, or show disagreement without being outspoken in it.
It’s a more common way of dealing with things than you might think. But why are we passive-aggressive? What are the signs we can look out for to recognize being passive-aggressive? And how does it affect us?
There are many reasons why someone might display passive-aggressive behaviour, including insecurity or fear of losing control, as well as using it as a way to handle feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression. It can also be a way to try to deal with rejection or conflict, because of feelings of under-appreciation, or due to worry that any natural feelings of anger aren’t the right response, and so it becomes an attempt to sugarcoat things.
We almost all exhibit signs of passive aggression from time to time, but when it becomes a habit within our relationships, it can become upsetting for the other person involved, causing a divide. And for the person exhibiting this behaviour, their inability to say what is wrong clearly can often worsen the issue as it isn’t being dealt with directly. Ultimately, passive aggression prevents change and growth, leading to more negative behaviour, the breakdown of trust, and further relationship problems.
Admitting that you have a problem and need to change is not just good for your relationship, but also a huge help in your life. If you’re struggling and aren’t sure where to begin, ask yourself “Could I unintentionally (or intentionally) be hurting my relationship? Is it worth saving my relationship, or do I want to risk things getting worse? Would I be happy if my partner acted the way I’ve been acting?”
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but, with time and effort, you can find new, healthier ways of communicating how you are feeling, and start to strengthen the bonds within your relationship.
1. What is the possible passive-aggressive response to displeasure?A.Turning to rude languages. | B.Displaying violent behavior. |
C.Hiding his true inner feelings. | D.Coming into conflict with others. |
A.They are sometimes overconfident in themselves. |
B.They believe conflicts should be resolved directly. |
C.Their passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t last long. |
D.Their behaviour likely leads to more negative results. |
A.The behavior. | B.The divide. | C.The inability. | D.The habit. |
A.Start with a self-reflection. | B.Apologize to the other side. |
C.Copy how the partner acts. | D.Let time cure everything. |