1 . A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria has shown that common levels of traffic pollution can damage human brain function in only a matter of hours.

“For many decades, scientists thought the brain may be protected from the harmful effects of air pollution,” said senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten. “This study, which is the first of its kind in the world, provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition.”

For the study, the researchers briefly exposed 25 healthy adults to diesel exhaust (柴油废气) and filtered air at different times in a laboratory setting. Brain activity was measured before and after each exposure using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The researchers analyzed changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN), a set of inter-connected brain regions that play an important role in memory and internal thought. The fMRI revealed that participants had decreased functional connectivity in widespread regions of the DMN after exposure to diesel exhaust, compared to filtered air.

“We know that altered functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks,” said Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s first author. “While more research is needed to fully understand the functional impacts of these changes, it’s possible that they may impair (损害) people’s thinking or ability to work.”

Notably, the changes in the brain were temporary and participants’ connectivity returned to normal after the exposure. Dr. Carlsten assumed that the effects could be long lasting where exposure is continuous. He said that people should be mindful of the air they’re breathing and take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants like car exhaust.

1. How does traffic pollution affect people according to the study?

A．Exhausting their body.	B．Decreasing their income.
C．Endangering their safety.	D．Harming their brain function.

2. What may the DMN be responsible for?

A．Growth.

B．Sport.

C．Memory.

D．Behaviour.

3. What can people do to reduce the impact according to Dr. Carlsten?

A．Avoid being exposed to the polluted air constantly.

B．Be mindful of the air quality in a new city.

C．Measure the brain activity in laboratories.

D．Stay inside a house as often as possible.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A Role Of Brain Will Be Ruined

B．Traffic Pollution May Impair Brain Function

C．A Famous UK University Did A Vital Study

D．A Source Of Pollution Has Drawn People’s Attention

2 . UK safety advisers have dismissed concerns that highly processed food, also known as ultra-processed food (UPF), is automatically unhealthy because of the way it is made or its artificial ingredients. The current way that the UK and most other countries assess the nutrition al value of foods—which is generally by how much fat, salt, sugar and calories they contain—remains the best approach to achieving a health y diet, said a team of scientists. They also warned that people who cut out all ultra-processed foods could make their diets more unhealthy, for instance, if they avoid foods such as yogurts, low-fat spreads, wholemeal bread and food made of grains.

Concerns about processed foods have been growing, but it is unclear if there is something uniquely bad about them or if they just tend to be higher in things like fat and sugar. The issue has come into focus this year since Chris van Tulleken, a doctor and TV presenter, published a book called Ultra-Processed People: Why do we all eat stuff that isn’ t food... and why can’t we stop? Chris van Tulleken has called for more countries to adopt dietary guidelines pioneered in Brazil, where people are advised to prioritise eating whole foods and homemade meals, and avoid eating factory-made foods.

On 27 September, researchers from nutrition organisations rejected the proposed system. “We absolutely need foods to be processed so that we can feed the world,” said May at the University of Leeds, UK, who is a member of the British Nutrition Foundation. May also said UPF includes products that are both healthy and unhealthy. “It’s important we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water here. There are many components that have a very important role to play in nutrition and in safety,” he said.

Benefits of food processing include the use of preservatives that make food last longest and artificial sweeteners that help people reduce their sugar intake, said May. Other examples of processed foods that can be beneficial include baby food, infant formula milk and breads with added vitamins and minerals, said the panel.

1. What can be known from paragraph 1?

A．Low-fat spreads are ultra-processed food.

B．Wholemeal bread is unhealthy to us.

C．Ultra-processed food doesn’t contain sugar.

D．The nutritional value of food needs to be precisely recorded.

2. What does Chris van Tulleken suggest people do?

A．They should avoid ultra-processed food.	B．They should not have homemade food.
C．They should consume more Brazilian food.	D．They should read more books on healthy food.

3. What does May imply by saying the underlined sentence in paragraph 3?

A．Kids should raise their awareness of food safety.

B．Children are the biggest victims of ultra-processed food.

C．Ultra-processed food does cause more damage to children.

D．Ultra-processed food has both advantages and disadvantages.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．How Ultra-processed Food Benefits People

B．Ultra-processed Food Isn’t Always Unhealthy

C．A Popular Book Brings Focus on Ultra-processed Food

D．What Health Risks Ultra-processed Food Brings to People

3 . What are the health benefits of root vegetables?

Root vegetables are good for your digestion. The recommended daily fibre intake in the UK is 30g. Here’s where root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, onions, turnips, parsnips and swede come in — they’re rich in fibre.     1    

Orange-coloured vegetables boost your immunity. These foods, known as carotenoids (类胡萝卜素), are a great source of vitamins A and C.     2     Otherwise, you will catch a cold easily.

Carrots can protect against the sun.     3     But did you know they also offer your skin some protection against sunburn? According to a meta-analysis of seven studies, beta-carotene supplementation over ten weeks appeared to have a protective effect. But don’t use them as a substitute for a high SPF sunscreen!

    4     In a study spanning eight European countries, people who ate the most root vegetables had a 13 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who consumed the least.

These vegetables are good for heart health. High cholesterol (胆固醇) can lead to heart problems. Studies have shown garlic can reduce cholesterol.     5     Root vegetables’ high fibre content also helps lower blood pressure as well as cholesterol.

A．It’s a truth that carrots are good for eyes.

B．They could reduce your pressure in daily life.

C．The flavors of the root vegetables are various.

D．Root vegetables could reduce your risk of diabetes.

E．These support your immune system and help prevent cell damage.

F．Fibre helps us maintain a healthy weight and might even protect against bowel cancer.

G．Another shows eating 200g of raw carrot each day for three weeks reduces it by 11 percent.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

During the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, athletes from around the world have been exploring acupuncture (针灸). a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This practice     1     (be) an important part of Chinese healthcare system for centuries.

TCM, which includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, massage, Tai Chi, and Qigong remains     2     essential component of China’s medical system and has gained increasing     3     (recognize) on a global scale. Not only is it popular among the Chinese population, but it is also gaining interest in Western societies,     4     has led to increased investments in professional TCM services.

While China places significant emphasis     5     the integration of TCM with modern biomedicine, it is also becoming more popular worldwide. Although some medical professionals are     6     (doubt) about the far-reaching effects of TCM, the practice     7     (accept) as a fundamental aspect of global healthcare.

TCM has been recognized for the potential benefits, particularly when     8     (use) alongside with modern medicine, which has resulted in its increasing integration into modern healthcare systems. Despite its ancient Chinese origins, TCM’s principles and practices have a global influence currently, with experts     9     (offer) their special skills across the world.

As research into TCM continues to advance and more individuals embrace it for their healthcare needs, the field is     10     (definite) to grow.

5 . Shyness is something that many people battle with every day. They are afraid to look people in the eyes and have a hard time speaking to new people. This makes it very hard to get ahead at work and in making new friends and business connections.     1     There are ways to get around this fear and get out there and start talking to people.

●Remember that most people are not looking at you. When you are shy you may believe that people are constantly watching and judging you.     2     Most people are always busy looking at themselves and worrying about what people think of them. When you are talking to someone new they are not picking apart your every word; they are worried about what you think of them.

●     3     Instead of always complaining yourself about things you think you are not doing better, turn your focus to the things that you do well. Your self-talk is very important to how you feel. Stop negative self-talk. Instead remind yourself every morning of all the great things you have to offer. Whenever you start feeling shy again run over your list of things that makes you happy.

●If you do not have an exercise routine, you should start one now.     4     You do not spend hours a day in the gym. You should spend about 30 minutes a day walking or doing something physical you enjoy. If you are physically capable you could also add 20 minutes of light weight training two or three days a week.     5     Being able to stand with your back straight and your head held high will definitely help overcome shy feelings.

A．Focus on your strengths.

B．This just is not the case at all.

C．Stop complaining about others.

D．They are brave to face any challenge in life.

E．Many people are shy because they fear rejection.

F．This will help you feel stronger and will improve your posture.

G．Check with your doctor if you have not worked out for a while and then get to it.

6 . The international outbreak of monkeypox(猴痘), which began in May 2022, has caused the WHO to declare a global health emergency.

Monkeypox got its name in 1958, when it was found for the first time in several laboratory monkeys. It’s a zoonotic viral disease, which means it can be transmitted(传染)from animals to humans. It can also pass from human to human. Human monkeypox was first identified in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(DRC)in a 9-month-old boy. In 2003, the first monkeypox outbreak outside Africa was reported in the USA and was linked to contact with infected(感染的)pet dogs.

Monkeypox is mostly found in the rainforests of central and western Africa, where animals that can carry the virus are native. In these countries, it’s increasingly appearing in urban areas. Sometimes it can also be found elsewhere, in people who could have been infected after visiting these countries.

People infected with monkeypox usually have a fever, severe headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes(皮疹)or lesions. In severe cases, they can have skin infections, pneumonia, and eye infections that can lead to vision loss. The rash usually begins on the first or third day of the onset of fever. The lesions may be flat or slightly raised, filled with clear or yellowish fluid, then crust over(结痂), dry up, and fall off. The number of lesions varies, from a few to several thousand. The rash tends to appear on the face, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. They can also be found in the mouth and eyes.

In most cases, the symptoms of monkeypox go away on their own within a few weeks but, in between three and six percent of cases reported in countries where it’s constantly present, it can lead to medical complications and even death. Newborn babies, children, and people with other health problems may be at risk of more severe symptoms and death from the disease.

1. What does the text say about monkeypox?

A．It is a new disease found outside Africa.

B．It started to break out worldwide in May 2022.

C．It has been a global health emergency for decades.

D．It is mostly found in the rainforests of northern Africa.

2. How did the disease get the name monkeypox?

A．From its discoverer.	B．From its birthplace.
C．From its spread patterns.	D．From its first discovered hosts.

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A．Treatments for monkeypox.	B．Symptoms of monkeypox.
C．Preventative measures against monkeypox.	D．Potential victims of monkeypox.

4. Which of the following is a characteristic of monkeypox?

A．It isn’t deadly at all.	B．It doesn’t spread among people.
C．Most sufferers can recover automatically.	D．It mainly targets at the elderly people.

7 . As a doctor at Duke University Hospital, I met Beth five years ago. Her husband had just driven her to the hospital to have a brain tumor (肿瘤) _______ . Beth’s surgery went _______ , but after several dozen days, preparing to go home, she started to complain of a _______ . It turned out brain swelling (肿胀), which was _______ to treat and required her to spend several more days in the _______ . Fortunately, she recovered well. The day she left, she was _______ .

A few weeks later, she _______ to the hospital with a cake she had baked for everyone who had _______ her while she was in hospital. But the next night, her brain swelling suddenly got worse. This time, she could no longer respond _______.    We took her in for emergency surgery.

Given how ________ the brain swelling was, I decided she needed to stay in hospital for close ________ during her treatment. As she was making progress, her husband was always at her ________ . One day, when getting her to ________ was a challenge, he remembered how much she liked chili (辣椒), so that the meal quickly became a(n) ________ .

However, it was not long before the unexpected happened. A flood ________ away the road he had to take to get to the hospital. That made it ________ for him to go to the hospital for a visit. So he called me. I promised him that I would ________ Beth every day and call him to let him know her ________ . To my delight, the ________ gave him great satisfaction. He expressed his ________ to me. But I thought it was something I needed to do and I was happy to give him some help.

1.

A．removed

B．prevented

C．explained

D．recorded

2.

A．poorly

B．frequently

C．smoothly

D．directly

3.

A．thought

B．reputation

C．headache

D．disaster

4.

A．original

B．difficult

C．negative

D．interesting

5.

A．shelter

B．company

C．office

D．hospital

6.

A．successful

B．faithful

C．doubtful

D．cheerful

7.

A．objected

B．returned

C．appealed

D．contributed

8.

A．cared for

B．called on

C．brought up

D．come across

9.

A．legally

B．slowly

C．normally

D．sincerely

10.

A．serious

B．boring

C．common

D．crazy

11.

A．consultation

B．examination

C．discussion

D．protection

12.

A．side

B．home

C．fault

D．heart

13.

A．smile

B．sleep

C．walk

D．eat

14.

A．show

B．game

C．struggle

D．enjoyment

15.

A．took

B．passed

C．washed

D．gave

16.

A．precious

B．reliable

C．impossible

D．strange

17.

A．ask

B．inform

C．teach

D．visit

18.

A．consequence

B．condition

C．character

D．competence

19.

A．problem

B．conversation

C．surroundings

D．improvement

20.

A．appreciation

B．attitudes

C．expectations

D．influence

8 . An inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in later life is linked to nearly double the risk of death from any cause within the next decade, according to a new study. The simple balance test may be useful to be included in routine physical exams for people in middle and old age, the research, which was published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggested.

While aging leads to a decline in physical fitness, muscle strength and flexibility, balance tends to be reasonably well-preserved until a person’s 50s, when it starts to decline relatively rapidly, the research noted. Previous research has linked the inability to stand on one leg to a greater risk of falls and to cognitive decline.

The study involved 1,702 people aged 51 to 75 living in Brazil, who were asked to balance unsupported on one leg during an initial check. Researchers told the participants to place the front of the free foot behind the standing leg, keep their arms by their sides and eyes. Fixed straight ahead. Up to three attempts on either foot were permitted.

The study participants had an average age of 61 and two-thirds of them were men. Around 1 in 5 failed to balance on one leg for 10 seconds at the initial checkup. Researchers monitored the participants after the initial checkup for a period of seven years, during which 7% of the people died. The proportion (比例)of deaths among those who failed the test (17.5%) was significantly higher than deaths among those who were able to balance for 10 seconds(4.5%).

The research was observational and didn’t reveal cause and effect. The study didn’t look at any possible biological mechanisms that might explain the link between poor balance and longevity.

The study noted that, overall, those who failed the test were in poorer health, with greater proportion of suffering from obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure. Diabetes was also more common among those who failed to complete the test.

1. What did the participants take during the research?

A．Vision examinations.	B．Medical examinations.
C．Flexibility tests.	D．Balance tests.

2. How did the researchers get the findings?

A．By calculating the participant numbers.

B．By comparing the participants’ lifetime.

C．By identifying the participants’ diseases.

D．By monitoring the participants’ pressure.

3. What was the research’s shortcoming?

A．It had few participants.

B．It didn’t last very long.

C．It lacked in-depth study.

D．It was the first research on balance.

4. What may be the best title for the text?

A．Balance determines a person’s lifetime

B．The balance test should be promoted to people

C．The ability to stand on one leg can reflect health levels

D．Being able to stand for 10 seconds means being healthy

9 . Maybe you plan to ring in 2023 with a new resolve to lose weight, exercise more, not sweat the small stuff. And maybe these resolutions sound familiar — maybe just like the ones you made a year ago! So how can you ensure that your determination to get healthier in 2023 sticks?    1    

Dream big. Want to compete in a marathon or triathlon? Lose 50 pounds or just enough to fit into clothes you once loved? With perseverance (毅力), encouragement, and support, you can do it.     2    Many will cheer you on. Some will be happy to help in practical ways, such as by training with you or taking on tasks you normally handle in order to free up your time.

    3    Any time you fail to make a change, consider it a step toward your goal. Why? Because each sincere attempt represents a lesson learned. When you hit a snag (碰钉子), take a moment to think about what did and didn’t work. Maybe you took on too big a challenge?     4    

Give thanks for what you do. Set your sights on finishing that marathon,not on running it. If you compete to complete, you’ll be a winner even if you wind up walking as much as you run. With exercise — and so many other goals we set — you’ll benefit even when doing less than you’d like to do.     5    If your goal for Tuesday is a 30-minute workout at the gym, but you only squeeze (挤出) in 10 minutes, feel grateful for that. It’s enough. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

A．Learn from the failures.

B．Avoid repeating past failures.

C．Any activity is always better than none.

D．An ambitious aim often inspires others to help you.

E．Try the following tips to help you create long-lasting change.

F．Having a solid system can help you stay motivated and accountable.

G．If so, change into a less ambitious challenge, or break the big one into tinier steps.

10 . More and more research is showing that the key to lifelong good health is what experts call “lifestyle medicine”—making simple changes in diet, exercise, and stress management. To help you turn that knowledge into results, we’ve put together this manageable list of health and wellness tips to keep healthy.

Give yourself a break

“I spend countless hours doing cardio(健心运动)and never seem to lose that last ten pounds!” is a common complaint I hear from clients. Give yourself permission to shorten your workouts.     1    . Your body can plateau(处于停滞状态)If not given adequate rest to restore itself, ultimately leading to a decline in performance. Breaking down your routine into various training modes can help prevent overtraining.     2    .

Think small

    3    . If you have a can of soda at lunchtime every day, have a glass of water two days a week instead. Starting with small, painless changes helps establish the mentality that healthy changes are not necessarily painful changes. It’s easy to build from here by adding more healthy substitutions.

    4    

You can do all the right things—but if you have personal relationships with people who have unhealthy habits, it is often a hard battle.     5    . Get your family or friends involved with you when you walk or plan healthier meals. Making healthy changes with a loved one can bring you closer together and motivate you.

A．Keep good company.

B．Get rid of unhealthy habits.

C．Doing so gives your workouts a new purpose.

D．Believe it or not, overtraining could be the problem.

E．You can also help balance your program by simply incorporating more variety.

F．The healthiest people are those who have relationships with other healthy people.

G．Try to focus first on one small unhealthy habit and turn it into a healthy, positive habit.