1 . When it comes to keeping off extra pounds, watching what we eat may not be enough—we have to keep an eye on our food’s packaging, too. Half the world is expected to be overweight by 2035. In addition to overeating and lack of exercise, the scientific community is exploring another factor that may contribute—eating products packaged in plastic.
For a study published last year, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology set out to determine what chemical compounds (化合物) exist in 34 common plastic items that touch things we eat, such as yogurt cups, juice bottles, candy packages, and plastic wrap used for produce and cheese, as well as items often found in kitchen.
Of the 55,000 chemicals the researchers found in these items, only 629 were identifiable, which influence our bodies’ ability to regulate weight, troubling health effects. “We’re quite certain that there are many chemicals in plastic products that impact metabolism (新陈代谢), but we just couldn’t identify all of them,” Martin Wagner, a study co-author said. Strikingly, Wagner and his colleagues found that a third of all the common products they tested contain chemicals that cause the adipogenic (生脂的) process. Although we are exposed to them daily, most of these mystery chemicals are unknown, unstudied and unregulated.
For years, experts have been warning against plastic food containers, particularly for hot or oily foods which may make the plastics unstable and increase the risk of chemical leaching (渗出). As one of them, Wagner argues that we need to start reducing our exposure to plastic without waiting for more slow-moving research to prove that the plastics in our food, products, blood and organs are risk factors for bad health outcomes.
Really, reducing our plastic exposure should be our overall goal. When we think about cutting junk out of our diets, the criminals shouldn’t just be candy and soda—plastic needs to go, too.
1. What newly-found factor may cause overweight?| A．Eating too much. | B．Lack of exercise. |
| C．Unhealthy eating habits. | D．Food’s plastic packaging. |
| A．Most products tested contain adipogenic chemicals. |
| B．Metabolism is affected by chemicals in plastic products. |
| C．The influence of plastic products on our health is unknown. |
| D．Only 629 chemicals in plastic products regulate people ‘s weight. |
| A．Stop eating foods packaged in plastic. |
| B．Avoid using plastic products for hot or oily foods. |
| C．Reduce our exposure to plastic as much as possible. |
| D．Wait for more research to prove the risks of plastics. |
| A．Keeping off extra pounds is urgent. |
| B．It’s high time to stop using plastic packaging. |
| C．Chemicals in plastic packaging may lead to overweight. |
| D．Plastic food packaging proves to contain harmful chemicals. |
2 . A model of personalised dementia (痴呆症) support could improve life for people with dementia and their carers by allowing them to make the best choices for their own care needs.
In Britain, there is a concerning gap in dementia support, notes Dr Tomasina, Dementia Care Programme Lead at the University of Plymouth. “They have received a diagnosis but are not yet in need of a care home or input from specialists. Worryingly, these individuals and their carers, who are usually family members, are often left without suitable support to face a range of severe challenges,” she says.
Challenges can include social lonliness, despair and frailty (脆弱) due to combined physical and cognitive decline. However, a five-year research project including the Universities of Plymouth and Manchester-established in 2018 and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research—aims to remedy this disregard by evaluating a system for dementia support they have developed.
Dementia Personalised Care Team(D-PACT) proposes improving the lives of people living with dementia and their carers with personalised emotional and practical support from an appropriately trained Dementia Support Worker. “The Support Worker becomes a trusted point of contact who can spot potential problems before they get into crises,” says Professor Richard Byng, Professor in Primary Care Research at the University of Plymouth. “It’s a model that helps the individual and their carers function and stay together.”
The study, which was conducted in a range of settings, shows potential value and has been well-received by those who took part. “People have described a step change in their support,” says Professor Byng. “They say they feel listened to and treated as a person, getting reassurance and relief—particularly carers—that they are doing things right and someone is alongside them.”
1. What’s the purpose of the personalised support?| A．To cure people with severe dementia. |
| B．To bridge the gap between patients and doctors. |
| C．To help people with dementia choose the best carers. |
| D．To better the life of people with dementia and their carers. |
| A．Build up. | B．Make up for. | C．Take over. | D．Take care of. |
| A．Deal with potential problems. |
| B．Propose to D-PACT a better support. |
| C．Help people with dementia recover quickly. |
| D．Provide emotional support for patients with dementia. |
| A．It can relieve people’s stress. | B．It functions like a person. |
| C．It can help people listen better. | D．It is especially helpful to carers. |
3 . When Soares was a young boy growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, his family didn’t have the means to pay for extracurricular activities. However, they found a solution by signing him up for a free circus school that aimed to keep him off the streets and out of trouble. It was there that Soares discovered his passion for performance art, including acrobatics, capoeira, acting, and clowning. Ballet never crossed his mind as a practical career option, as ballet wasn’t a noticeable dance form in Brazil at the time.
At the age of 12, Soares began dancing but not in the traditional sense. His older brother was part of a hip-hop street dance group, and Soares started hanging out with them. He soon combined his circus school skills with hip-hop and capoeira to create a unique style that fascinated audiences in Rio.
One day, the head of a Brazilian dance company saw Soares perform and arranged for him to selection for a dance school. He was awarded a scholarship that covered his tuition fees, and he began studying modern dance. However, it wasn’t long before everyone believed that Soares should switch to ballet. He was immediately put on a fast track, attending academic school in the mornings and ballet classes in the evenings.
Soares’ parents were hesitant about their son pursuing ballet as a career. They were worried about his grades and whether ballet would provide him with a stable future. Soares shared their concerns and had never known anyone who pursued ballet professionally.
Despite these reservations, something incredible happened within two years of Soares starting ballet training. He participated in the Paris International Dance Competition and won a silver medal. This achievement was even more impressive considering that most of his competitors had been studying ballet since childhood. After Paris, Soares joined the national ballet company in Brazil and began earning money from his dancing.
Three years later, he went on to win the gold medal at the Moscow International Competition, previously won by legendary ballet dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov.
1. Why was Soares sent to a circus school?| A．To seek a chance to make a name. | B．To stop him getting into trouble. |
| C．To earn money to pay for tuition fees. | D．To develop an interest in performance art. |
| A．Modern dance became his favorite. | B．Winning a scholarship was his main aim. |
| C．He quickly displayed his talent for ballet. | D．His academic classes had to give way to ballet classes. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．An Unconventional Journey to a Ballet Star |
| B．The Financial Struggles of a Young Dancer |
| C．Modern Dance: A Gateway to Ballet Excellece |
| D．The Dilemma: Balancing School and Ballet for Success |
A week before New Year's Day, the phone rang. "Maggie ran off, and I can't find her, "my husband, Jerry, said in an anxious voice. He'd driven to the town park with our dog, Maggie. “Why'd she run away?” I asked. “A smaller dog scared her, and she took off over the footbridge. ” Maggie was eleven years old, overweight, and afraid of her own shadow. I asked Jerry to find her before she ran too far away. Our daughter overheard my end of the conversation. Jennifer often played upon the couch with Maggie. "Maggie's lost? Tell Dad I'll help him look for her. "She flew out of the door.
At first, Maggie's tracks were easy to follow because a couple of inches of snow covered the ground. But her prints stopped at the parking lot where the snow had melted. My husband and Jennifer searched for hours into the night. Before leaving the park, Jerry hung his jacket on the branch of a tree and placed Maggie's bed below it. He hoped the wind would carry his scent and Maggie would find her way back. But there was no sign of her the next day. Jennifer made dyers and handed them out to houses around the park. We posted Maggie's photo on all the "Lost Dog" sites and social media. Friends and family promised to keep an eye out for her.
The third day, I waited at home for calls and contacted M&M Pet Rescue. They offered to help. But there was no sign, and we were all worried. Jerry and Jennifer went door-to-door with Moggie’s picture, asking if anyone had seen her. Soon Maggie's story spread through the whole community.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答.
The forth day, a lot of people reached out to help look for Maggie.
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As Maggie came toward us, I cried tears of joy.
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