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.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

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.

3. What can be inferred from West’s words in the last paragraph?

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.

4. What is a suitable title for the text?

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.

2. What was MapMyRun initially designed for?

A．Measuring running routes.	B．Charting fitness and health progress.
C．Recording runners’ real-time location.	D．Helping runners stay focused on track.

3. Which Running App is perfect for beginners?

A．Runkeeper.	B．MapMyRun.
C．Strava.	D．C25K 5K Trainer.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does “toxicity” refer to?

A．Harmful chemicals.

B．Anything too much.

C．Negative thoughts.

2. What is the third suggestion for self-healing?

A．Nutrients.

B．Change.

C．Self-love.

3. What is the impact of being stuck?

A．It leads to physical pain.

B．It results in a bad smell.

C．It causes emotional stress.

4. Where does the conversation probably take place?

A．At a cafe.

B．In a classroom.

C．In a studio.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
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.

2. What does Mr. Smith teach?

A．Chinese.

B．English.

C．Physics.

3. Why doesn’t Mr. Smith want to take a rest?

A．He has to help his students prepare for the exam.

B．He has trouble sleeping.

C．He wants to visit a friend.

5 . 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。

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     1    (take)their naps. To them, it’s a peaceful and quiet time     2    the busy streets become empty and still.

Taking an afternoon nap is a tradition that     3    (be)around for a long time in Shanxi. It has been passed down from generation     4     generation. Parents teach their children the     5    (important)of rest and encourage them to do it. Through naps, they hope the young ones can learn to take care of     6    (they)and enjoy a quick break from a busy day.

Actually, the tradition of afternoon naps     7    (believe)to have many benefits. It helps people feel     8    (great)refreshed for the rest of the day. It also gives their bodies and minds a chance to relax and recover from all the activities in the morning.

So, if you ever visit Shanxi, don’t be     9    (surprise)if you see people taking naps in the early afternoon. And when you feel tired during the day, try finding somewhere comfortable and taking a good afternoon nap. Who knows, a little shut-eye might make     10    difference in making you feel great and your day even better!

6 . Eat more root vegetables

Roasted root vegetables offer a low-effort, high-reward dinner solution with endless possibilities. Here’s why they’ll be your autumn cooking hero.

    1    

Variety isn’t just the seasoning (调味品) of life - it’s also beneficial to you, especially when colorful root vegetables are involved. For example, orange-colored vegetables like carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are good sources of vitamins A and C, which both contribute to immune function,     2    .

You’ll consume more healthy fats

Fats, like cooking oil, not only make the vegetables crisp and tasty, they also help your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins found in these vegetables, like vitamins A, E and K.     3    . When roasting at higher temps, choose fats that have a higher smoke point like refined avocado or safflower oils, to avoid burning your meal and giving the food an unpleasant scorched, bitter taste. Olive oil and sun flower oil is fine up to about 425 °F.

Your digestion will improve

    4    . While it’s true that some nutrients may disappear when heated, cooking vegetables helps break down their fibrous cell walls. As a consequence, your body has to do less work to digest and absorb them. Plus, cooked carrots, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, cabbages, peppers and tomatoes all supply more of certain antioxidants (抗氧化物质) , such as carotenoids and ferulic acid, to the body than they do when raw.

    5    , root vegetables will soon be the most colorful, nutritious dish on your table this autumn.

A．You’ll eat the rainbow

B．You’ll eat tasty vegetables

C．For a mix of nutrients, add a little color to your meal

D．With the right cooking technique and some well-placed seasonings

E．Even though raw vegetables are convenient as well as nutritious to us

F．However, picking out a probable kind of oil or fat to use can be difficult

G．Regardless of what raw-food diet trends say, cooking vegetables is good for you

7 . How to Take Better Care of Yourself

Taking better care of yourself takes a while and doesn’t happen overnight. In the end, it pays off in terms of personal well-being, good health, and a confidence that your place in this world is a good and important one!

Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is a key part. You need at the minimum seven to eight or nine hours of sleep.     1     Take naps (午睡) now and then. You deserve it.

    2     This not only helps you to stay in shape, but clears your mind for thinking straight, gives you decent breaks from work and study and builds your stamina (耐力). Work out, but do not go overboard.

Accept that self-care is perfectly okay. It is not self-absorption.     3     Besides, it is making sure you are taking care of physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Self-care is enabling for your life and to help other lives. It is not selfish.

Set aside time just for you.     4     You can get involved in a hobby or catching up with friends. Denying yourself this time can lead to feelings of frustration, burnout and a sense of a lack of purpose in life. Don’t be a stress mess. Always allow a small part of your day to be devoted to what you like to do.     5    

A．Get plenty of exercise.

B．Put yourself to sleep early every night.

C．This keeps you clear, and more relaxed.

D．Check yourself when you feel it’s too much.

E．This is time when you do what you enjoy completely.

F．It is ensuring that you give yourself the chance to be your best self.

G．Everybody is different and what matters ultimately is that you look good.

8 . 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.

2. What did the research find?

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.

3. Why is the research reliable?

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.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

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.

9 . You may have noticed some changes in your grandparents. As they get old, they start   ______things. And the older they get, the _______things they will forget. For example, they may not be able to_______ where they left their glasses, or they may forget the names of their close friends. If you don’t want to ______ memories very early, put down your sandwiches. A new study published in a science magazine shows that cutting calories can ______ people’s (especially the old people’s) memory.

Calorie restriction(热量限制) let lab animals live longer. And these ______ animals seemed to be ______. But it wasn’t clear _______it was the same with people.

In the latest______ , scientists asked 50 elderly women to ______ the number of calories they consumed(吃，喝) by a third. After three months, the _______found that the women were not only _____ , but they were better than they had been at_______ words—they remembered more words than ever, which suggested that keeping calories under ______ could help keep the brain ___________ .

In a word, the less you eat, the more you will remember.

1.

A．missing

B．understanding

C．forgetting

D．loving

2.

A．less

B．more

C．farther

D．deeper

3.

A．remember

B．leave

C．find

D．believe

4.

A．get

B．close

C．practice

D．lose

5.

A．reduce

B．improve

C．test

D．damage

6.

A．little

B．happy

C．dangerous

D．hungry

7.

A．healthier

B．weaker

C．higher

D．better

8.

A．what

B．why

C．whether

D．how

9.

A．magazine

B．match

C．study

D．exercise

10.

A．put

B．cut

C．increase

D．take

11.

A．researchers

B．farmers

C．teachers

D．postmen

12.

A．fatter

B．higher

C．shorter

D．thinner

13.

A．writing

B．memorizing

C．recognizing

D．drawing

14.

A．control

B．limit

C．reduction

D．repair

15.

A．weak

B．tired

C．fit

D．hard

10 . 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.

1. What did Jacqueline and James have in common?

A．Doing teaching jobs.	B．Being hired as physicians.
C．Performing surgery.	D．Being banned from medicine.

2. How was Tan Yunxian different from the other practitioners?

A．She wrote a book.	B．She went through trials.
C．She worked as a dentist.	D．She had formal education.

3. Who was the first African American with a medical degree?

A．Jacqueline Felice de Almania.	B．Tan Yunxian.
C．James Barry.	D．Rebecca Lee Crumpler.