1 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. wonder   B. regular   C. doubt D. physically E. breathing F. wealth G. functioning   H. flexibility I. flow J. generally K. mood

Sometimes it’s the simplest daily practice that can have the biggest impact on your health, and yoga is proof of that. Although most forms of yoga aren’t considered to be as intense as other workout regimens, practising yoga on a daily basis has been scientifically demonstrated to help you mentally and     1    . Through breath work, meditation and holding poses that increase strength and     2    the body and mind gain benefits from yoga that positively impact your long-term health. It’s no     3    people have been practising yoga for over 5000 years, and that the number of Australians practising yoga doubled between 2008 and 2017 to over two million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Yoga teacher, Jenni Tarmar, shares, “we have a     4    of research demonstrating that a regular mindfulness practice - the act of paying attention to the sensation in the body, thoughts and emotions without judgment - can reduce stress and help us to feel calmer, more productive, and     5    more even-keeled in our daily lives.”

After evaluating yoga history and research, one 2014 review published in Frontiers in Human Neouroscience concluded that     6    yoga practice can help facilitate self-regulation. Another study of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 found that practising yoga positively benefited emotional regulation and self-esteem. “Movement releases beneficial neurotransmitters (神经转发器) in the brain, which helps us feel good as well as assist in     7    regulation,” says yoga instructor, Evan Lawrence. “One of the things that I like about yoga specifically is that there is, at the same time, a focus on physical movement and     8    .”

According to associate professor of psychiatry, Dr Gail Saltz, “practising yoga improves overall blood     9    to the body, including the brain, which is helpful for cognition and memory.”

One 2019 review published in Brain Plasticity concluded that behavioural interventions like yoga can help “mitigate age-related and neurodegenerative decline” due to the positive effects a daily practice has on different parts of the     10    brain, like the hippocampus (which plays a major role in learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (cognitive control functions).

2 . Directions:Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

The Blue Light From Digital Device

More devices like the iPhone, iPad and Kindle produce a blue light that causes our sleep to be restless and disturbed, according to a new study.

The study was led by Dr Paul Gringras, a sleep disorder specialist at a children's hospital in London. Together with her colleagues, Gringras found that manufacturers have started making bigger, brighter, bluer screens in an effort to increase the efficiency of our screens during daytime.But, as an unwanted byproduct, this light is affecting our sleep and productivity.

The study said that this type of light is likely to cause the most disturbance to sleep, as it most effectively overpowers melatonin (褪黑素). a hormone①that reminds us to sleep every night. Besides, using our devices before bedtime could even affect our performance during the day, because exposure to this blue light changes our body's natural rhythms.

“The development of light-producing devices means that for many people, a 'book at bedtime'is now often an‘e-book’,” Gringras pointed out.“Reading a traditional paper book by the light of your bedside lamp doesn't affect your sleep, because bulbs produce a yellow-red light. In comparison, the same book read in electronic arrangement will provide a very different light signal with biological effects.”

The researchers called on all device manufacturers to adjust screen lighting for the sake of the users’sleep quality and overall health.“All hardware devices should have an automatic “bedtime mode”that shifts blue and green light production to yellow and red as well as reduces backlight/light intensity,” Gringras said.

“And, we hope that as technology improves, more and more people will realize that‘brighter’will not always be equal to‘better’,”the researchers concluded.

① hormone: a chemical in your body that stimulates certain organs of your body

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3 . Until we start to lose our balance, we barely notice that it’s there at all. “It starts for a lot of people with simple stuff,” says Dr Anna Lowe, an expert on healthy ageing and physical activity. “    1     It’s easy to either miss the signs or just put it down to ageing — but it really is something you can affect.”

The key, it is increasingly becoming clear, is to address the decline before it gets serious: and that can happen earlier than you might think.

What is balance? Technically, it’s the complex interaction of several different systems in your body — from muscles, nerves, eyesight and the inner ear to the sensory system that lets you recognise where your body is touching the ground, along with movement receptors within your joints that tell you where your body is in space.     2    

A lack of balance is, globally, associated with serious health problems. Earlier this year, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published the results of a decade-long study involving more than 1,700 middle-aged participants, which concluded that an inability to balance was associated with an almost twofold increase in risk of death.

“    3    ” agrees Lowe, an associate professor researching strength and balance in midlife. “Older women are far less active than older men, and general activity, just moving around and doing stuff, affects balance a lot. Single-legged movements, such as walking lunges, are a great test of dynamic (动态的) balance, but even bilateral movements, like squats (深蹲), can provide a challenge.”

    4     Resistance exercise, whether that means lifting weights or hiking with a backpack, comes with a host of other proven health benefits, from improved bone density to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s. As Locker puts it: everyone’s told to save money for their retirement, and nobody’s taught to save their balance. But both are difficult to get back once they’re gone.

A．Early interventions are key, so you’ve got to stay active.

B．Perhaps surprisingly, those who deal with it have struggled to settle on a single definition.

C．It’s not something we’re born with, but also it’s not something we learn, but an ability that we gain early and lose over time.

D．For some people. just try to build in an element of balance and muscle strengthening.

E．Maybe you used to be able to quickly stand on one leg to put a shoe on, and you’ve stopped doing that at some point.

F．Whatever activity you choose, the lesson is to work on your balance before you need to, not when it becomes an issue.

4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

New Drug Slows Alzheimer, But Not a Cure

What a good piece of news! Last week, United States health officials finally     1     (approve) a new Alzheimer drug after enormous clinical trials. The drug, called Leqembi, is the first to slow the decline in memory by several months.

The Alzheimer’s Association describes Alzheimer     2     a brain disease that causes a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s disease is forgetting recently     3     (learn) information or dates and events. People with the disease have difficulty doing     4     they did before. Some may struggle with joining or following a discussion.

The newly approved Leqembi is a long-needed new treatment for the disease. But Dr. Joy Snider,     5     is a brain doctor at Washington University in St. Louis, warns that the drug isn’t a cure. It doesn’t stop people     6     (get) worse, but it does measurably slow the progression of the disease. She added. “That might mean someone     7     have an extra six months to a year of being able to drive.”

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug through a speedier-than-usual process, which permits drugs     8     (launch) based on early results. The drug is only for early-stage patients and requires an injection by healthcare workers every two weeks. It is not yet clear     9     the drug can help people with the disease. There are also concerns about its safety. “Still, it’s a landmark.” said Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. “It’s not enough, but it’s     10     (encourage) that there’s something we can do,” he added.

5 . I’m Lovin’It

Food would undoubtedly be our best friend, if it wasn’t for our love-and-hate relationship with calories. And the _______ fact that so many tasty things actually contain so many of them often catches us off guard. Calories quietly hide in our favorite foods, ready to slide into our bodies uninvited, often without _______, where they will stay for an extended vacation, until we can find the motivation to do some physical exercise (which, let’s face it, is never) in the hope of losing some weight.

Calories _______ practically everything that you can put in your mouth, which makes them impossible to avoid. So, rather than totally _______ delicious treats, it’s time to embrace them. So, starting with everyone’s favourite fast food restaurant, we’ve ranked some of the food on the McDonald’s menu_______ calories, so that you can indulge (纵情享受) with full disclosure.

But a word of _______: There is an extremely high chance that once reading this, you will desire everything on the McDonald’s menu-regardless of the calories.

Hash Brown - 150 calories
	The hash browns look so _______ and harmless in their individual paper sleeves. But, hiding behind that crispy (脆的) appearance is a warm, soft center rich with calories and nearly 6% of your daily fat allowance.
Small French Fries-250 calories
	The _______ of McDonald’s lies in its delicious french fries. The skinny potato chips have the ability to revive us from near death, but they come with a price: 250 calories for a small portion! A large portion will _______510 calories!
McChicken Hamburger-370 calories
	The McChicken Hamburger comes with lettuce, which provides a false sense of ________, as our brain is programmed to see green salads as healthy, which they are, just not when combined with all fat mayo (蛋黄酱) and fried chicken.
Chicken McNuggets–388 calories
	It is never easy to choose the portion size of Chicken McNuggets, six isn’t enough, nine is a little too many, and 24 is virtually impossible. ________, learning the calorie difference between the portion sizes may help you make a decision. Six will cost you 270 calories, nine will claim 388 calories and 24 nuggets contain an enormous 1,140 calories.
Sausage McMuffin with Egg-430 calories
	Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not ________ yourself with the McDonald’s breakfast menu? Well, because a Sausage and Egg McMuffin will secretly drain 430 calories from your daily allowance before you have even ________ woken up. But, nothing beats McDonald’s to start a new day!
Big Mac-560 calories
	The Big Mac is the comfort food we all ________ in times of need. Although, it would appear that it doesn’t quite support us as well as we thought, because hiding inside the tasty treat are 560 calories!

Despite the knowledge that a quick trip to McDonald’s will burn through virtually your whole daily allowance of food ________, we have no shame in admitting that it is our favourite place on Earth. We are certainly “Lovin’ It”!

1.

A．easy-to-accept

B．heart-warming

C．less-known

D．make-believe

2.

A．notice

B．purpose

C．support

D．strategy

3.

A．rely on

B．differ from

C．filter out

D．exist in

4.

A．refuse

B．prepare

C．share

D．deserve

5.

A．for fear of

B．in order of

C．in contrast to

D．without limitation on

6.

A．complaint

B．appreciation

C．encouragement

D．warning

7.

A．tasteless

B．strange

C．innocent

D．oily

8.

A．failure

B．magic

C．history

D．distribution

9.

A．burn

B．monitor

C．claim

D．restrict

10.

A．security

B．fullness

C．happiness

D．boredom

11.

A．Otherwise

B．Moreover

C．However

D．Similarly

12.

A．behave

B．spoil

C．burden

D．amuse

13.

A．unhappily

B．properly

C．suddenly

D．late

14.

A．attend to

B．glance at

C．associate with

D．turn to

15.

A．intake

B．shortage

C．bill

D．preparation

6 . Studies have shown that when people’s mental health improves, they’re more likely to _________ in their relationships and careers — and adopt healthier habits. People become more productive, find meaning in everyday experiences and are more equipped to cope with changes and obstacles when they feel mentally well. Here are four New Year’s resolutions experts expect people to make _________ mental health.

Rethink your social media use

Reflect on whether you’d like to continue with the same online habits in 2024, says Nedra Glover Tawwab, a therapist. “Do you want to set some _________ for yourself? Are there people you need to _________?” “For example, you might limit yourself to 15 minutes on social media per day, delete the most _________ apps from your phone during the workweek, or challenge yourself not to check social media when you’re feeling gloomy.

Reconnect with a long-lost friend

“Make new friends, but keep the old” is an adage (格言) for a reason. Loneliness affects physical and mental health while _________ social bonds are a slave. Resolve to reach out to “one person you lost touch with who used to be _________ to you,” Winch says. He recommends opening with a text like this: “I was thinking about you. It’s been so long. How are you?” _________ the message with a smiley face, he adds. “That’s important because when you say, ‘It’s been so long’, it can sound accusing.” A smiley face, Winch says, can ensure the _______ meaning — “I miss you” — comes across.

Plan four activities each week

The “core four” help guard against life’s stressors. First, do something __________, like attending a football game or belting out a Taylor Swift album. Having fun “__________ the stress by helping you accumulate more positive events than negative ones,” says Calvin Fitch, a clinical health psychologist. Then check off a “mastery activity”, like cleaning or running errands. Also important are being __________— a sense of belonging facilitates better health — and doing physical activities that get your heart rate going.

Do something to relieve climate anxiety

If you’re __________ about the state of the planet — and more of us are — worrying won’t help. Instead, take a cue from Winch’s family: each year, they decide to do one thing to __________ their climate anxiety, like eliminating plastic bags, composting food scraps, or walking 15 minutes to nearby destinations instead of driving. “It’s overwhelming — I feel like I can’t get my arms around it,” he says. “But doing one small thing is a way of feeling like you’re __________ your goal.”

1.

A．compete

B．quit

C．recall

D．thrive

2.

A．in memory of

B．in the name of

C．with the aid of

D．with the exception of

3.

A．boundaries

B．standards

C．records

D．examples

4.

A．uncover

B．unlock

C．unfollow

D．unlike

5.

A．time-consuming

B．time-saving

C．time-honored

D．time-starved

6.

A．deep

B．new

C．private

D．safe

7.

A．dear

B．indifferent

C．rare

D．strange

8.

A．Decorate

B．End

C．Lengthen

D．Start

9.

A．moral

B．literature

C．real

D．empathetic

10.

A．comfortable

B．efficient

C．pleasurable

D．unusual

11.

A．decreases

B．enhances

C．extends

D．supplies

12.

A．energetic

B．healthy

C．responsible

D．social

13.

A．ambitious

B．cautious

C．confident

D．distressed

14.

A．conceal

B．ease

C．measure

D．track

15.

A．emphasizing

B．defeating

C．underestimating

D．approaching

7 .

A．He’s angry.	B．He feels sick.
C．He gets on well with others.	D．He prefers to study alone.

8 .

A．The final begins next week.

B．The man should check with his doctor again.

C．She wants the man to attend the final with her.

D．She hopes the man will be able to play in the final.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．To show us the negative effects of depression.

B．To help us understand the cause of depression.

C．To tell us the importance of handling depression.

D．To share with us the ways to conquer depression.

2.

A．Doing violent sports regularly.	B．Telling what we think to someone we trust.
C．Setting high standards for ourselves.	D．Focusing on both our successes and problems.

3.

A．It’s common and easy to get rid of.	B．It’s terrible but difficult to understand
C．It’s harmful but possible to overcome.	D．It’s normal and unnecessary to focus on.

10 . Super Size Me

Fast food, otherwise known as junk food, is a huge passion for a large number of people across the Western world. But what would happen if you ate lots of junk food every day? Would it seriously damage your health? These were the questions which led Morgan Spurlock, an independent film-maker, to do an experiment, which he came into a documentary film entitled Super Size Me.

The main basis of his experiment was that Spurlock promised to eat three McDonald’s meals a day, every day, for a month. He could only eat food from McDonald’s and every time an employee asked if he would like to ‘super size’ the meal, he had to agree. ‘Super sizing’ refers to the fact that with this type of meal you get a considerably larger portion of everything for only a very small price increase.

Before he started, three doctors certified that Spurlock weighed about 84kg and was in good health. Although both Spurlock and his doctors knew he would put on a bit of weight, and that this diet was unhealthy, none of them were quite prepared for just how unhealthy it turned out to be. The changes in his body were horrifying. In the first week, he put on 4.5 kilos and by the end of the thirty days he had gained nearly 14 kilos, bringing his total weight to 98 kg.

Weight gain was only one of the negative effects, however. When all three doctors saw the severe damage to his liver, they all recommended stopping the experiment after 20 days. Spurlock continued to follow the diet, however, because he wanted to show people what this kind of diet can do to you. Watching the film, you begin to realize that it could be a fast-forward picture of your life: in 30 days you go to see what could happen to you over 20 or 30 years of overconsumption.

Junk food is exactly what it says it is -- junk. Spurlock says, ‘I’d love people to walk out of the movie and say, “Next time I’m not going to ‘super size’. Maybe I’m not going to have any junk food at all. I’m going to sit down and eat dinner with my kids, with the TV off, so that we can eat healthy food, talk about what we’re eating and have a relationship with each other.”’ Food for thought indeed.

1. In the one-month experiment, Spurlock ______.

A．ate three McDonald’s meals every day	B．could choose to “super size” his meal
C．got extra-large meals at a lower price	D．pretended to eat for better visual effect

2. How do we know that “The changes in his body were horrifying”?

A．He gained one sixth of his body weight in one week.

B．Doctors suggested him stopping the experiment halfway.

C．He fast-forwarded the video past the medical examination.

D．He turned out to be 20 or 30 years older than people of his age.

3. Spurlock made a documentary film, aiming to tell people that______.

A．human nature often drives us to desire more

B．how we eat is far more important than what we eat

C．overconsumption for a short time does little harm to the body

D．if we eat too much junk food, we ourselves will be supersized