1 . Are you looking for some informative magazines? The following ones can surely meet your needs.
Mental Foss is a magazine full of bite-sized（small bits） trivia（琐事）and mostly short articles with really interesting facts that you'll want to share with others. The writing is fun and friendly, so it’s easy to understand the answers to the more difficult questions, like: What does outer space smell like? Why isn't cat food mouse-flavored? While the print edition of the magazine stopped publishing in 2016, you can still read Mental Floss online.
Reader's Digest is not actually about books reading. Instead, it is about people. Inside you'll find anecdotes—short, personal articles about things that have happened to people. There are stories in simple writing about everything from funny celebrity moments and inspiring personal store to funny jokes and articles.
Cricket and Cicada are easy-to-read literary magazines aimed at teenagers. Each issue is full of wonderful short stories and poems, and beautiful illustrations. Even though these are technically children's magazines, they are perfect for learning English because they have high quality writing.
Time is one of the most well-known magazines in the world. Inside you'll find news, beautiful photographs and everything you need to get a" deeper understanding of the world in which we live. "Since Time is very high quality and provides deep insight on many serious topics, it can also be difficult for English learners to read. If you have trouble understanding Time, try Time For Kids, which has similarly great content but is written in a simpler way.
1. What can readers obtain from Mental Floss?| A．They can be inspired by the comments on the magazine. |
| B．They can understand some tough facts in a funny way. |
| C．They can enjoy a variety of eye-catching pictures. |
| D．They can have a deep understanding about the current events. |
| A．The language is easy and friendly to readers. |
| B．The articles are mostly adapted from books. |
| C．The stories are all based on private experiences. |
| D．The topics are serious and difficult to comprehend. |
| A．It's of great help for English beginners. |
| B．It has two editions for readers to choose from. |
| C．People can have an access to it online. |
| D．It is perfect for teenagers who love anecdotes. |
2 . Are you relatively skinny but growing a “beer belly”?
Then don’t be surprised at your next checkup if the nurse measures your waistline to determine your healthy weight. That’s because research is showing that a protruding (鼓出的) belly may be a sign of VAT — a dangerous form of fat around organs deep inside your body. “Studies confirm that visceral (内脏的) fat is a clear health risk,” said Dr. Tiffany Wiley, a senior expert at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Unlike the fat just under your skin, visceral fat raises your risk for heart disease. Experts think that’s because visceral fat raises blood pressure and inflames (使发炎) tissues and organs.
However, you can’t assume you’re safe from visceral fat if your overall weight is healthy, experts stress. That’s because you can have dangerous visceral fat even if you’re not considered overweight — and not have any visceral fat even if you are overweight.
How do you know if your stomach is protruding into dangerous size? Do a check. Non-pregnant women with a waist size greater than 88 cm and men with a waist larger than 102 cm, are at higher risk according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re Asian, it drops to 80 cm for women and 90 cm for men. But it is only a rough measure. “The only sure way to know is to check your visceral fat levels on a CT scan or MRI,” say experts.
According to the AHA committee, the most salutary physical activity to “shrink” belly is aerobic exercise. Aerobic means “with oxygen”, so aerobic exercise increases your breathing rate and promotes the circulation of oxygen through the blood. This type of exercise makes the heart work more effectively and improves its ability to move oxygen-carrying blood with every beat. Speed walking, jogging, stair climbing, cycling and swimming are all examples of aerobic exercise.
“However, more studies are needed to determine the best physical activity, food and other lifestyle changes to reduce heart disease risk,” Dr. Tiffany Wiley added.
1. What would a “beer belly” cause?| A．Enlarged organs inside the body. | B．Higher risk of heart disease. |
| C．Raised mental pressure. | D．Inflamed stomach. |
| A．A white man with a waist size of 120 cm. |
| B．A white woman with a waist size of 90 cm. |
| C．An Asian man with a waist size of 102 cm. |
| D．An Asian woman with a waist size of 75 cm. |
| A．Beneficial. | B．Difficult. | C．Enthusiastic. | D．Useless. |
| A．Doing aerobic exercise can remove visceral fat completely. |
| B．Heart ability improves when one does speed walking. |
| C．Further studies are needed to reduce heart disease risk. |
| D．Food and life style determine one’s body shape. |
3 . The SNAG stands for stereotyped nature-inspired aerial grasper and it’s a 3D-printed bird robot with claws. It can fly, stay on various surfaces catch and carry objects, just like the mighty falcon（隼）that was used as the source of inspiration in its development.
Each leg of the SNAG has two motors, one for helping it move back and forth, and the other one for grasping. Twenty printing attempts were necessary for the robot to finally reach its current structure, but it was worth it. Now, according to researchers, the flying machine has an impressively strong and high-speed clutch（离合器），being able to land and wrap its claws around a branch in about 20 milliseconds. SNAG has ankles lock, and there’s an accelerometer （加速计）on its right foot that reports that it’s landed while triggering（触发）a balancing process to stabilize it.
Scientists have already conducted several tests with the robot in rural areas and on different surfaces. In all the situations, the SNAG was able to catch objects thrown by hand, such as bean bags, a tennis ball, and more.
As for the applications of the bird-like robot, the SNAG can get attached to drones（无人机）and be used for search and rescue missions, wildfire monitoring, to offer just a few examples. Another great application is environmental research, with the SNAG also featuring a temperature and humidity（湿度）sensor. By using a robot that can act like a bird, you can unlock new ways of studying the environment, as explained by William Roderick, mechanical engineer and one of the researchers involved in the project. Now scientists are moving on to improving the robot’s situational awareness and flight control.
This isn’t the first time that nature has inspired groundbreaking technologies. We also wrote a piece recently about the F-SAM micro drone, which was inspired by the flight of samara（翼果）seeds, also known as “twisters” which have a special way of spinning down to the ground.
1. What gave the researchers inspiration for the SNAG’s development?| A．The plane. | B．The falcon. |
| C．The micro drone. | D．The samara seeds. |
| A．To balance the SNAG in flight. |
| B．To change the SNAG’s flying speed. |
| C．To keep the SNAG’s feet in balance. |
| D．To make the SNAG steady on a surface. |
| A．The SNAG has huge potential for practical use. |
| B．The SNAG has a long way to go before being used. |
| C．The SNAG will be helpful in putting out forest fires. |
| D．The SNAG is sensitive to temperature and humidity. |
| A．It doesn’t know its situation well. |
| B．It can’t fly fast enough in the air. |
| C．It is easily broken by the branches. |
| D．It can’t catch objects with smooth surfaces. |
4 . My body hit the water with a pounding and I suddenly felt afraid that terrible things could happen. Water gushed（涌出）through my mouth and left its salty taste. My feet touched the ground as I attempted to float back up to the surface. I could see the speed boats in the distance and I started to panic.
I saw something gray from a distance coming closer and closer. As it approached me, I realized that it was not a good one-it was a SHARK! Its fin（鳍）was moving closer and I attempted to swim as fast and as far away from it as possible. My heart beat faster and faster as my body got all stiff（僵硬的）. I looked behind me and saw the huge sharp teeth pointing directly at me. As I turned away, I heard jaws shut with a mighty bite! The shark turned away and left me alone.
I looked at my feet and saw bright red blood flow into the water. I cleaned it with some water and a thought went into my mind-sharks love blood, and that was not good for me. I knew more fins were surrounding me from every direction. I was stuck in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by about ten sharks and they were all heading for me.
They all stared at me with their white sharp teeth sticking out, ready to attack. Slower and slower they got ready to bite. Just then I heard an engine heading my way and I saw a speed boat pushing some heavy waves away. As it came closer, I saw a tall man driving it. The engine roared in my ears and it began to scare the sharks away.
As they swam away, I began to make my way back to the shore. The boat sped towards me and I slowly climbed on it. With relief we headed back towards the shore.
1. What did the author do when the first shark came close to him/her?| A．He/She hit the shark. | B．He/She tried to swim away fast. |
| C．He/She dived deep into the water. | D．He/She stayed in the water quietly. |
| A．The engine drove them away. | B．A man scared them away. |
| C．They couldn't find the author. | D．They found a new target. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Nervous. | C．Anxious. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．An Exciting Trip | B．A Helpful Speed Boat |
| C．An Unforgettable Experience | D．A Brave Tall Man |
5 . The benefits of regular exercise are well documented but there’s a new bonus to add to the ever-growing list. New researchers found that middle-aged women who were physically fit could be nearly 90 percent less likely to develop dementia in later life, and as they did, it came on a decade later than less sporty women.
Lead researcher Dr. Helena Horder, of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said : "These findings are exciting because it’s possible that improving people's cardiovascular （心血管的）fitness in middle age could delay or even prevent them from developing dementia. "
For the study, 191 women with an average age of 50 took a bicycle exercise test until they were exhausted to measure their peak （最大值的） cardiovascular capacity. The average peak workload was measured at 103 watts.
A total of 40 women met the criteria for a high fitness level, or 120 watts or higher. A total of 92 women were in the medium fitness category; and 59 women were in the low fitness category, defined as a peak workload of 80 watts or less, or having their exercise tests stopped because of high blood pressure, chest pain or other cardiovascular problems.
These women were then tested for dementia six times over the following four decades. During that time, 44 of the women developed dementia. Five percent of the highly fit women developed dementia, compared to 25 percent of the women with medium fitness and 32 percent of the women with low fitness.
"However, this study does not show cause and effect between cardiovascular fitness and dementia, it only shows an association. More research is needed to see if improved fitness could have a positive effect on the risk of dementia and also to look at when during a lifetime a high fitness level is most important. " She also admitted that a relatively small number of women were studied, all of whom were form Sweden, so the results might not be applicable to other groups.
1. What is on the ever-growing list mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．Positive effects of doing exercises. |
| B．Exercises suitable for the middle-aged. |
| C．Experimental studies on diseases. |
| D．Advantages of sporty woman over man |
| A．To predict their maximum heart rate. |
| B．To assess their cardiovascular capacity |
| C．To change their habits of working out |
| D．To detect their potential health problems |
| A．It aimed to find a cure for dementia. |
| B．Data collection was a lengthy process. |
| C．Some participants withdrew from it. |
| D．The results were far from satisfactory. |
| A．More Women Are Exercising to Prevent Dementia |
| B．Middle-Aged Women Need to Do More Exercise |
| C．Fit Women Are Less Likely to Develop Dementia |
| D．Biking Improves Women's Cardiovascular Fitness |
6 . During the lockdown, many people have bought themselves a new puppy as a companion.
Substitute outdoor activities with indoor ones
Puppies can feel stress and get bored when surrounded by four walls. This can make them inactive and bad-tempered. To prevent this, you need to give them some activities, like a twist on fetch indoors.
Spend more quality time with your furry pet
You can now spend a lot of quality time with your pet, due to this new normal of working at home. This is your opportunity to connect to your pet. Your new puppy is your sunlight and brings a smile to your face during a foggy day.
| A．Use treats as rewards |
| B．Cook healthy food for your companion |
| C．You also need to take your puppy out for a walk |
| D．So you'd better treasure this time that you have together |
| E．Fortunately, there are many recipes that you can follow at home |
| F．To take care of your puppy during these tough times can be confusing |
| G．You can throw a stuffed toy and ask your furry companion to fetch it for you |
7 . Life Outside London: Five Reasons to Visit the North of England!
Most people when visiting England will go to London. In fact most people don't even know much about England outside of London. It makes sense. It's the capital. There are lots to se there. However, as a northern girl, from a place just between Manchester and Liverpool, and a university student in Sheffield. I'd say the north is well worth a visit, and definitely as good if not better than London! Here are five reasons:
Friendliness
Northerners will chat to you on the bus, say hello in the streets and won't think you're crazy if you smile at them when you walk past. Friendly northerners might also call you "duck" or "love" don't worry, they call everyone that.
Gravy
Now although Southerners have gravy (a delicious meaty sauce that goes well with everything), they don't do it properly. You haven't lived until you've tried chip-shop chips swimming in gravy.
Beautiful Countryside
We have the Peak District, and the Lake District. They're both absolutely beautiful and definitely worth a visit. We also have some pretty amazing beaches too.
Excellent Party Cities
We have Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield You can't go wrong if you want to go on a night out here.
Low Cost
The same night won't cost you anywhere near as much up north! In London you can pay over for a pint, which is outrageous! For some reason, everything up North is cheaper, from food to drink to getting around, you can't go wrong when you're spending less money.
There are lots of lovely things to see in the North, so if you can brave the weather being a bit colder and wetter, it's definitely worth a trip.
1. Who might call you "duck" when you are visiting the north of England?| A．A warm passer-by. | B．A rude salesman. |
| C．A friendly southerner. | D．A cold teenager. |
| A．Get free beer. | B．Enjoy an all-night party. |
| C．Try chips in gravy. | D．Enjoy warm and dry weather. |
| A．In a recipe book. | B．In a science fiction. |
| C．In a business report. | D．In a travel magazine. |
8 . Leanne Carrasco ordered 95 pizzas (比萨饼). The high school senior and her friends filled up goody bags. But this was not your typical graduation party.
Carrasco had volunteered before, with her family, at the Star of Hope Family Development Center. But this time was different.
On Sunday, it was party time. The pizza was a hit, and so were the bags.
In all Carrasco and her friends served about 200 people. For the shelter residents, it was a magical day.
Carrasco did a good job but she won’t let it go to her head anytime soon. The graduating senior plans to study nursing at Briar Cliff University in Iowa in the fall.
| A．Carrasco didn’t want that. |
| B．She was able to think of other people. |
| C．They lined up to give thanks to Carrasco. |
| D．She said she would continue giving back. |
| E．Carrasco decided to spend money on a party. |
| F．She invited a group of her friends and got to work. |
| G．But Carrasco and her friends gave the residents something more than just food and soap. |
9 . An Olympic Village is a place that houses Olympic competitors. It is a place where they prepare for what might be the most important moment in their life. But we want to know more about this mysterious place: What really happens in the village?
We asked swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a three time Olympian and 12 -time medalist. She says, “People think it’s a lot more attractive and interesting than it is. It isn’t. It’s like a huge college campus, including a bank, a salon, a post office, and a huge cafeteria- except that everyone is anxious, getting ready for their biggest event under unbelievably high pressure (压力).”
But some other Olympians look differently at their campus. “It’s like the first day of college,” water polo player Tony Azevedo says. “You’re super excited. Everyone s meeting people and trying to socialize with others,”
Coughlin says the best spot to be in the village is the cafeteria. Not only does it provide a place to talk with the rest of the athletes from your country but it’s a great chance for people watching. One of her favorite games was to tell what sport someone in front of her took based on their body type.
Living in the same village means athletes run into one another all the time. Coughlin shares this story: While in London in 2012, at one point applause (欢呼) broke out at the arrival of someone. Coughlin thought it was one of the British royals (王室成员), but it ended up being Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (the world’s greatest runner alive). Runner Allyson Felix— a winner of six gold Olympic medals— has also had her run-ins. In 2008, she came across the world-famous U. S. men’s basketball team, including Anthony, Bryant, Wade and other top players.
It’s “a pretty wild scene, the biggest melting pot— a place where large numbers of people, ideas, and cultures are mixed together— you’ve been in,” said swimmer Eric Shanteau. Felix agrees, saying, “You get to meet people from other countries that you wouldn’t even come into contact with. To me that’s the coolest thing.
1. What does Coughlin say about the Olympic villagers?| A．They spend most of their time relaxing. |
| B．They enjoy the village very much. |
| C．They like to make friends. |
| D．They are very nervous. |
| A．She often tried guessing a person’ s sport. |
| B．She often tasted food from other countries. |
| C．She often listened to other athletes’ stories. |
| D．She often spent time with basketball players. |
| A．Why Olympians are so popular. |
| B．Why the Olympic Village is mysterious. |
| C．How they met superstars in the village. |
| D．How they communicated with other players. |
| A．Spending time with some old foreign friends. |
| B．Mixing with people from around the world. |
| C．The positive influence of the Olympic spirit. |
| D．The competitive atmosphere in the village. |
10 . I first visited the UK on a vacation as a curious 15-year-old in 2013. The rich culture of London, the beautiful highlands of Scotland and the sunny beaches of Wales deeply attracted me. I decided then that I wanted to carry on my university education in the UK.
Fast forward to 2016 and I arrived at the University of Bristol. The first couple of weeks were great. But after my first month, I started missing my parents, my little sister, the food and the warm, sunny weather.
There was also another problem. Having always studied an Indian curriculum (课程), which is objective, learning based and strict, I found it difficult to adjust to several aspects of the British education system. The freedom of choosing which lectures (课) to go to, the highly subjective and thought-encouraging discussions at tutorials (辅导课) and a large amount of reading I was expected to do caught me off-guard.
It was not until my first end of term exams were over in January 2017 that I could show down and think carefully about the things that I was doing wrong and the things that I got right. The week after my exams ended, I realised how little time I had spent outside the university libraries and my living place.
So I tried new cafes in Clifton, and going for walks near the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. I also started watching British TV shows. And I evolved socially too. I finally found the societies I wanted to join. I also realised the importance of staying in touch with my tutors and not being afraid of needing and asking for help. I made some amazing fiends in Bristol. Had it not been for the people around me, my first year would not have been as good as it was.
Overall, my second term ended on a much more relaxed and happier note than the first. I wrote my final exams in May and, before I knew it, I had finished my first year of university.
1. What was the author’s first visit to the UK like?| A．Impressive. | B．Eventful. | C．Romantic. | D．Risky. |
| A．She didn’t have much freedom when choosing lectures. |
| B．She was unprepared for the new way of studying. |
| C．She couldn’t keep up with her classmates. |
| D．She found it difficult to read in English. |
| A．Staying in touch with her family. |
| B．Spending time at the library. |
| C．Building strong relationships. |
| D．Learning English through TV shows. |
| A．The UK is a wise choice for studying abroad |
| B．My first experience of culture shock |
| C．Education is the key to success |
| D．My first year as an international student |
