1 . With mounting evidence that nanoplastic particles (纳米塑料微粒) are in our bodies, there is growing concern over their potential health impacts. Now a new study finds a relation between nanoplastics in the brain and a higher risk for Parkinson’s disease.
Nanoplastics appear when the plastic packaging breaks down into small pieces. These particles can enter the blood and cross the blood-brain barrier, with European researchers reporting earlier this year that in animal experiments, it can take two hours or less for certain nanoplastics to reach the brain after being eaten.
In humans, it’s long been thought that environmental factors play a role in Parkinson’s disease but specific causes are still unclear. The new study from the Duke University School of Medicine details how nanoplastics cause chemical changes in the brain that can, in turn, make Parkinson’s and related types of diseases more likely.
That’s because the nanoplastics attract a protein (蛋白质) called alpha-synuclein, known to play a role in Parkinson’s and related disorders. In lab and animal studies, the plastic’s interaction with it leads to increases in the affected neurons in the brain. This interaction appears related to favorable conditions in which Parkinson’s can develop.
The study authors note that Parkinson’s disease existed long before nanoplastics appeared in the environment, but they think that this “nanoplastics pollution in the human brain” may prove a new poison.
Further, the Duke team led by Dr. Andrew West notes that Parkinson’s disease is among the fastest growing nervous diseases in the world, even as the amazing amount of plastic pollution builds across the planet. This is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
“The technology to monitor nanoplastics is still at the earliest possible stages and not ready yet to answer all the questions we have,” West said. “But hopefully efforts in this area will increase rapidly, as we see what these particles can do in our experiments.”
1. Where is the text most probably taken from?| A．A product advertisement. |
| B．A science journal. |
| C．An art magazine. |
| D．A travel brochure. |
| A．The conditions leading to Parkinson’s. |
| B．The cause of alpha-synuclein’s appearance. |
| C．The principle of nanoplastics’ impact on Parkinson’s. |
| D．The difference between Parkinson’s and related disorders. |
| A．Plastic pollution will by no means be avoided. |
| B．Nanoplastics are impossible to deal with at present. |
| C．Fewer people will suffer from Parkinson’s in the future. |
| D．More efforts in the study of nanoplastics will be put in. |
| A．Nanoplastics can enter the brain through blood |
| B．Nanoplastics may promote Parkinson’s disease |
| C．Alpha-synuclein plays a role in Parkinson’s disease |
| D．Nanoplastics will do serious harm to human health |
2 . Best Running Apps of 2024
Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned marathoner, finding the best running app to help you set goals, record metrics(指标), and track your progress is key to sticking with a training programme. Here are the best running apps to help you hit your running.
Runkeeper
Runkeeper allows you to set goals and watch your progress to stay motivated. If you’re into biking or fitness walking, you can track those activities as well. For runners training for races, Runkeeper has tailored training programmes, complete with helpful reminders to keep you on track.
MapMyRun
MapMyRun is a running app that has stood the test of time. It first served as a way to measure running routes, but the latest version offers runners many more cool and helpful features. You can use it to track your runs, find running routes locally or in new cities, and get feedback on your statistics so you can improve your performance.
Strava
If you love the social and competitive aspects of running, Strava is the app for you. You can compare your times with other members of the Strava community or with your own group of friends to boost your motivation. It also has a safety feature called Beacon which allows you to share your real-time location with up to three people while you’re running.
C25K 5K Trainer
C25K features the popular walk/run method of training for 5K distances designed for entry-level runners wanting to ease into running or train for races. With pre-designed training plans, C25K guides you through three workouts a week and keeps track of your progress and routes.
1. What is unique about Runkeeper?| A．It tracks running activities. | B．It offers personalized programmes. |
| C．It boosts runners’ motivation to run. | D．It gives runners feedback on running. |
| A．Measuring running routes. | B．Charting fitness and health progress. |
| C．Recording runners’ real-time location. | D．Helping runners stay focused on track. |
| A．Runkeeper. | B．MapMyRun. |
| C．Strava. | D．C25K 5K Trainer. |
1. What does “toxicity” refer to?
| A．Harmful chemicals. | B．Anything too much. | C．Negative thoughts. |
| A．Nutrients. | B．Change. | C．Self-love. |
| A．It leads to physical pain. | B．It results in a bad smell. | C．It causes emotional stress. |
| A．At a cafe. | B．In a classroom. | C．In a studio. |
1. What is the matter with Mr. Smith?
| A．He is unqualified for his job. |
| B．His leg is broken. |
| C．He got a sore throat. |
| A．Chinese. | B．English. | C．Physics. |
| A．He has to help his students prepare for the exam. |
| B．He has trouble sleeping. |
| C．He wants to visit a friend. |
In Shanxi Province, there is a tradition of taking afternoon naps, which means people take a short rest in the middle of the day. You can see people of all ages, men or women
Taking an afternoon nap is a tradition that
Actually, the tradition of afternoon naps
So, if you ever visit Shanxi, don’t be
6 . We know that spending lots of time sitting down isn’t good for us, but just how much exercise is needed to match the negative health effects of sitting down all day? Research suggests about 30—40 minutes per day of building up a sweat should do it.
Up to 40 minutes of“moderate(温和的)to vigorous(有力的)intensity physical activity” every day is about the right amount to balance out 10 hours of sitting still, the research says—although any amount of exercise or even just standing up helps to some extent.
That’s based on a study published in 2020 analyzing nine previous studies, involving a total of 44, 370 people in four different countries who were wearing some form of fitness tracker. The analysis found the risk of death among those with a more sedentary(久坐的)lifestyle went up as time spent engaging in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity went down. In other words, putting in some reasonably intensive activities—cycling, brisk walking, gardening—can lower your risk of an earlier death.
While analyses like this one always require some detailed dot-joining across separate studies with different volunteers, timescales and conditions, the benefit of this particular piece of research is that it relied on relatively objective data from wearables—not data self-reported by the participants.
The research based on fitness trackers is broadly in line with the 2020 WHO guidelines, which recommend 150—300 mins of moderate intensity or 75—150 mins of vigorous intensity physical activity every week to balance out sedentary behaviour.
Walking up the stairs instead of taking the lift, playing with children and pets, taking part in yoga or dancing, doing household chores, walking, and cycling are all put forward as ways in which people can be more active—and if you can’t manage the 30—40 minutes right away, the researchers say, start off small.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By telling stories. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By raising questions. |
| A．The longer you sit still, the earlier you will die. |
| B．The more you exercise, the healthier you will be. |
| C．Productivity can be improved through physical activities. |
| D．Proper intensive activities help reduce the risk of earlier death. |
| A．It’s based on previous studies. |
| B．Its data is relatively objective. |
| C．It’s carried out in different countries. |
| D．Its data is from the participants’reports. |
| A．To analyze the risk of sitting still. |
| B．To recommend a healthy lifestyle. |
| C．To inspire people to do more exercise. |
| D．To show benefits of physical activities. |
7 . PRACTITIONERS
| Jacqueline Felice de Almania (c.1322) highlights the suspicion that women practicing medicine faced. Born to a Jewish family in Florence, she moved to Paris where she worked as a physician and performed surgery. In 1322 she was tried for practicing unlawfully. In spite of the court hearing testimonials (证明) of her ability as a doctor, she was banned from medicine. | James Barry (c.1789 — 1865) was born Margaret Bulkley in Ireland but, dressed as a man, she was accepted by Edinburgh University to study medicine. She qualified as a surgeon in 1813, then joined the British Army, serving overseas. Barry retired in 1859, having practiced her entire medical profession living and working as a man. |
| Tan Yunxian (1461 — 1554) was a Chinese physician who learned her skills from her grandparents. Chinese women at the time could not serve apprenticeships (学徒期) with doctors. However, Tan passed the official exam. Tan treated women from all walks of life. In 1511, Tan wrote a book, Sayings of a Female Doctor, describing her life as a physician. | Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831 — 1895) worked as a nurse for eight years before studying in medical college in Boston in 1860. Four years later, she was the first African American woman to receive a medical degree. She moved to Virginia in 1865, where she provided medical care to freed slaves. |
| A．Doing teaching jobs. | B．Being hired as physicians. |
| C．Performing surgery. | D．Being banned from medicine. |
| A．She wrote a book. | B．She went through trials. |
| C．She worked as a dentist. | D．She had formal education. |
| A．Jacqueline Felice de Almania. | B．Tan Yunxian. |
| C．James Barry. | D．Rebecca Lee Crumpler. |
8 . Regular physical activity had nearly doubled cardiovascular (心血管的) benefits in individuals with depression or anxiety, compared with individuals without these diagnoses, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session.
The research findings add to mounting evidence that exercise improves cardiovascular health by helping to activate parts of the brain that counteract stress. Overall, the study found that people who achieved the recommended amount of physical activity per week were 17% less likely to suffer a major harmful cardiovascular event than those who exercised less. These benefits were significantly greater in those with anxiety or depression, who had a 22% risk reduction vs. a 10% risk reduction in those without either condition.
“The effect of physical activity on the brain’s stress response may be particularly relevant to those with stress-related mental conditions,” said Hadil Zureigat, MD, postdoctoral clinical research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and the study’s lead author. “This is not to suggest that exercise is only effective in those with depression or anxiety, but we found that these patients seem to get a greater cardiovascular benefit from physical activity.”
Rates of both depression and anxiety have risen during the outbreak of flu, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. The study findings underline the important role of exercise in maintaining heart health and reducing stress, according to the researchers.
“Any amount of exercise is helpful, particularly for those with depression or anxiety,” Zureigat said. “Not only will physical activity help them feel better, but they will also significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. It can be hard to make the transition, but once achieved, physical activity allows those with these common chronic (慢性的) stress-related mental conditions to hit two birds with one stone.”
1. Who can get the most cardiovascular benefit from regular exercise?| A．Someone with little brain capacity. | B．Someone with abnormal heart rates. |
| C．Someone diagnosed with depression. | D．Someone with fear-related mental conditions. |
| A．Double. | B．Resist. | C．Awaken. | D．Transport. |
| A．Physical exercise is vital to mental health. |
| B．Physical exercise can cure those people of flu. |
| C．Exercise merely works for those with depression. |
| D．Exercise accelerates the recovery of all mental patients. |
| A．Physical Activity Can Prevent Chronic Disease |
| B．Heart Disease Remains the Leading Cause of Death |
| C．Rates of Depression Have Risen During the Outbreak of Flu |
| D．Workout Is Very Good for Stress-related Patients’ Cardiovascular Health |
9 . These are the 4 best foods for your brain
1.Blueberries
Add a few handfuls of berries to a salad or your breakfast for big brain boost. Recent research found that as little as 2.5 cups of the flavonoid-rich berries per day months tamped down inflammation and significantly improved the speed that the brain could process information. It’s essential to eat blueberries daily to get the benefits. Blueberries improve brain tissue by depressing inflammation and not allowing oxidative stress to impair brain functioning, “It has to be a regular input of flavonoids,” says Mary Ann Lila, director of the Plants for Humant North Carolina State University. You have to eat a serving a day; you can’t just load up on weekends.
2.Salmons
Wild-caught salmon and other fatty fish are high in omega -3 fatty acids, which a 2022 study linked to greater brain volumes, improved abstract reasoning and logical thinking; omega-3s also slow cognitive decline and decrease the risk of developing dementia.
Three pieces of sushi contain around three ounces of salmon-a sufficient amount to get those essential fatty acids and boost brain health, according to Nyree Dardarian, professor at Drexel University.
3.Eggs
Whether you prefer them scrambled, poached, or fried, eggs are chock-full of nutrients like choline and lutein that support brain function. Eating one egg per week is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline.
4.Coffee
A morning caffeine jolt can actually provide a brain boost,too. “Coffee isn’t building brain cells but it does seem to help people with neurological diseases, “Lila explains. “Coffee is helping you to be more alert and helping you concentrate.”
Studies show that the popular beverage could help slow cognitive decline and improve planning and decision-making abilities. But drinking too much coffee could have the opposite effect. Drinking more than six cups of coffee per day was linked to a 53% increase in the risk of dementia.
1. Which food can be helpful to the brain only when taken every day?| A．Blueberry. | B．Salmon. | C．Eggs. | D．Coffee. |
| A．Blueberry. | B．Salmon. | C．Eggs. | D．Coffee. |
| A．Sports. | B．Health. | C．Fashion. | D．News. |
10 . Children under five must spend less time sitting watching screens or staying in prams, get better quality sleep and have more time for active play if they are to grow up healthy, according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The new guidelines on physical activity, sedentary (久坐的) behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age were developed by a WHO panel of experts. They assessed the effects of inadequate (不足的) sleep on young children, and time spent sitting watching screens or restrained (被限制) in chairs and prams. They also reviewed evidence around the benefits of increased activity levels.
Failure to meet current physical activity recommendations is responsible for more than 5 million deaths globally each year across all age groups. Currently, over 23% of adults and 80% of adolescents are not sufficiently physically active. If healthy physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep habits are established early in life, this helps shape habits through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.
“What we really need to do is bring back play for children,” says Dr Juana Willumsen, who focuses on childhood obesity and physical activity. “This is about making the shift from sedentary time to playtime, while protecting sleep.”
The pattern of overall 24-hour activity is key: replacing sedentary screen time with more active play, while making sure young children get enough good-quality sleep. Quality time spent in interactive non-screen-based activities with a caregiver, such as reading, storytelling, singing and puzzles, is very important for child development.
The important interactions between physical activity, sedentary hehaviour and adequate sleep time, and their impact on physical and mental health and well-being, were fully recognized, which called for clear guidance on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in young children.
Applying the recommendations in these guidelines during the first five years of life will contribute to children’s motor and cognitive development and lifelong health.
1. What’s the purpose of the WHO issuing new guidelines?| A．To help parents take better care of children. |
| B．To make sure children grow up healthy. |
| C．To reduce children’s time spent on TV. |
| D．To keep children physically active. |
| A．Children need more time to play and sleep. |
| B．Sitting too much leads to children’s poor health. |
| C．It is important for children to have healthy food. |
| D．Parents should play with their children more often. |
| A．Reading on their own. |
| B．Watching educational TV programs. |
| C．Searching for puzzles online. |
| D．Joining the singing club. |
| A．The World Health Organization has issued new guidelines |
| B．To grow up healthy children need to sit less and play more |
| C．Some good habits that will lead to children’s lifelong health |
| D．5 million die globally each year because of unhealthy lifestyle |
