1 . The Way America Eats Is Killing Us

It will shock no one to hear that Americans are remarkably unhealthy eaters. A new American Diet Report Card confirms it: we eat far too much cheese, sugar, starch and red meat. We don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. We consume almost 500 more calories per day than we did in the 1970s.

Our eating habits are poor, but it’s not because we’re a nation of lazy fools all rushing out to get our daily Big Mac fix. It is because we are far too deferential(惯于顺从的)to the interests of big companies, too invested in a corporate—serving narrative of personal responsibility with no parallel requirement of social responsibility, and too culturally attached to a food model of quantity over quality.

The message is getting through, but slowly: the way we’re eating is killing us. Something has to change.

There are some bright spots in the Report Card: we’re eating less beef and sugar. Chicken and yogurt are more popular. Fruit and vegetable consumption is depressingly low, but we’ve made small affordable healthy adjustments, like eating more chicken instead of beef and drinking less soda.

Unfortunately, all of the change has fallen on the backs of consumers. In a nation where close to a tenth of the population has diabetes and heart disease is the number-one killer, our food system is a national disgrace and a public health disaster. Yes, we could make small choices to eat better, and we have indeed adjusted our dietary habits in reaction to increased information about healthy eating and increased access to healthy food. When a corporate food culture is setting us up to eat large portions or heavily-processed, densely-caloric, low-nutritional food, “personal responsibility” isn’t going to cut it.

Just like kids can’t succeed in school without the team effort of parents, teachers, public investment in education and a variety of resources to serve a diversity of needs, Americans won’t see large-scale changes in our health until we start making wide-ranging public health efforts that go beyond demanding individual good choices. Systematic, political and economic changes are what will get us straight A’s.

1. Which of the following factors contribute to American-style eating habits?
①Culturally, people hold the concept that quantity is over quality.
②Habitually, people tend to fit in with the food companies’ interest.
③Socially, a mode in dietary structure is fixed by big companies.
④Officially, there is an absence of organized public health efforts.

A．①②

B．①②③

C．①③④

D．①②④

2. What can be inferred from the Report Card?

A．Americans have made some changes to promote health.

B．Americans are left behind by other nations in diet.

C．A 1970 report also revealed facts about Americans’ eating habits.

D．The American eating habit is killing them.

3. In the last paragraph, the purpose of mentioning straight A’s is to________.

A．introduce the general education situation in American society

B．argue that large-scale public health efforts are needed

C．criticize that Americans lack self-control ability

D．propose a practical way to increase people’s health awareness

4. In the author’s opinion, what belief did he hold about the Americans’ eating habit?

A．Americans should answer for their own health problems.

B．Their loss and disadvantage would soon be made up for.

C．Their benefits concerning health should be backed by the government.

D．Hidden efforts would more or less take effect.

2 . Directions: After reading the passage below, full 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.

Drinking Green Tea Can Help You Recover from These Health Conditions

Researchers have already discovered that green tea can improve your cholesterol levels, boost your brain function, and even provide some anti-cancer benefits. Now, it turns out that the beverage might also be a key part of recovering from heart attack and stroke.

A new study published in the journal Stroke found that stroke survivors     1    drank at least seven cups of green tea per day reduced the risk by as much as 53%. According to WebMD, researchers also saw heart attack survivors having about a 62% lower risk of death from any cause than the non-green-tea-drinking     2    .

If you’re a heart attack survivor who’s not quite ready to start knocking back seven cups of green tea per day, the study revealed that another warm beverage may also lower your mortality risk, though not as effective. Compared to those who didn’t regularly drink coffee, people     3    (drink)just one cup of coffee per day lowered heart attack risk by 22%.

And     4    the study found no relationship between green tea consumption and mortality for participants without a history of stroke or heart disease, these participants did experience a 14% lower risk of dying from any cause if they drank a cup of coffee daily. In short, drinking adequate green tea every day     5    increase longevity for both heart attack and stroke survivors, while sipping on a cup of coffee may offer minor life-extending benefits for everyone.

The study looked at data from nearly 50,000 adults in Japan     6    (age) 40-79, over the course of about 20 years. Participants typically drank their green tea     7    sugar, though many may have been provided with milk and sugar. Researchers were not able to explain with any certainty     8    green tea and coffee offered the long-lasting benefits seen in the study. More research is needed to better understand why these results occurred.

In the interim, why not start drinking more green tea? After all, the     9    (calm) beverage offers so many other health benefits — it ultimately can’t hurt to add a few cups into your daily routine.

If you’re ready to make green tea part of your daily routine, and you’re not sure which brand to buy,     10    (check) out our ranking of the best green teas available at the store.

3 . When people think of improving their diet, they often talk about eating more fruits and vegetables. Others want to eat more fish and less red meat, in addition to reducing the amount of food they eat. But they can improve their diets even more with just a simple addition. American researchers have found that a diet rich in spices can help reduce the harmful effects of eating high fat meals.

Pennsylvania State University Associate Professor Shiela West led an investigation of the health effects of a spice-rich diet. Her team knew that a high-fat meal produces high levels of triglycerides (甘油三脂), a kind of fat, in the blood. She said, “If this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased.”

As part of the study, her team prepared meals on two separate days for six men between the ages of 30 and 65. The men were overweight, but healthy. The researchers added about 30 milliliters of spices to each serving of the test meal, which included chicken curry, Italian herb bread and a cinnamon (肉桂) biscuit. The meal for the control group was the same, but it did not include any spices.

During the experiment, the researchers removed blood from the men every 30 minutes for three hours. They found that antioxidant activity in the blood of the men who ate the spicy meal was 13 percent higher than it was for the men who did not. In addition, insulin (胰岛素) activity dropped by about 20 percent in the men who ate the spicy food.

Shiela West says many scientists think that oxidative stress leads to heart disease. And what exactly is oxidative stress? Think of an apple that has been cut in half and set aside for half an hour or so. The cut side of the apple turns brown. That is a simple explanation of what happens when oxidative stress comes in contact with the inside and outside of our bodies.

Professor West says, “Antioxidants, like spices, may be important in reducing oxidative stress and thus reducing the risk of chronic disease.” She adds that the level of spices used in the study provided the same amount of antioxidants found in 150 milliliters of red wine or about 38 grams of dark chocolate.

1. What does the author advise people to do in their diets?

A．To eat a large amount of food.	B．To eat less fruits and vegetables.
C．To eat more vegetables and fish.	D．To eat food with a small amount of spice.

2. What is the function of spices according to the passage?

A．To help people lose weight.	B．To cure chronic disease.
C．To reduce the risk of heart disease.	D．To cause oxidative stress.

3. What happened to the men who ate the spicy meal according to the experiment?

A．The antioxidant activity in their blood increased.

B．The insulin activity in their body increased.

C．The level of triglyceride in their blood increased.

D．The oxidative stress in their body was strengthened.

4. What does Professor West show by citing the example of a half apple?

A．The whole thing can be divided into two parts.

B．It implies oxidative stress is harmful to our health.

C．An apple is the only food that contains antioxidants.

D．We can keep diseases away if we have an apple a day.

4 . My friend James did some first-aid training last week to learn the fundamentals of the CPR. And he asked if I’d ever done the same.

“Yes,” I said, “…and no.”

Because, yes, I’ve attended several resuscitation (复苏) sessions over the years.     1     In fact, despite being shown all the key information at various points in my career, I don’t think I can remember any of it now.

What’s the problem? Every time I’ve had this type of training, it’s been a perfectly good opportunity to learn: an important topic, taught well, in a focused environment, with plenty to see, hear and do. I’ve always taken it seriously, too, and been focused. And I’ve always come away with a wealth of information.     2    

Here’s what I should have done — and what you can do now — to make sure any training doesn’t go to waste.

•     3     You might be surprised to find that you’ve got some foundations of knowledge to build on. Pre-testing sparks your curiosity and puts you in a frame of mind to remember.

• Challenge your recall later.     4     If it’s hard to remember, but just about possible with effort, then that’s perfect. You need that little bit of struggle to start embedding (把……嵌入) information in your brain.

• Keep coming back. Put a note in your diary to test yourself again in a week, then ten days after that, then a month on…leaving longer gaps between checks.     5    

Talking to James has inspired me to book myself onto yet another CPR course. But this time I’m determined to do it right. Remember that it’s the next day when the real training begins.

A．Test yourself before you start.

B．Wait a day, then see how much you still know.

C．Stay curious about what you are eager to know.

D．All the basic information has stuck in your mind.

E．But no, I don’t exactly feel “trained” to save lives.

F．Yet virtually nothing has ever made it to my longterm memory.

G．Use the questions you wrote on the day to keep challenging yourself.

5 . Water Fasting

Fasting, a method of restricting food intake, has been practiced for thousands of years. Water fasting is a type of fast that restricts everything except water. It has become more popular in recent years as a quick way to lose weight.

Most water fasts last 24-72 hours. You should not follow a water fast for longer than this without medical supervision. Here are a few reasons why people try water fasting:

·religious or spiritual reasons ·to lose weight ·for “detoxing” ·for its health benefits ·preparing for a medical procedure

In fact, several studies have linked water fasting with some impressive health benefits, including a lower risk of certain cancers, heart disease and diabetes. However, water fasting has many risks and can be very dangerous if followed for too long.

How do you water fast? There are no scientific guidelines on how to start water fasting. However, several groups of people should not water fast without medical supervision. This includes people with diabetes, eating disorders, older adults, pregnant women, and children.

If you have never water fasted before, it’s a good idea to spend 3 — 4 days preparing your body for being without food You can do this by eating smaller portions at each meal or by fasting for part of the day.

·Water fast(24 — 72 hours)

During a water fast, most people drink two to three liters of water per day during a water fast. The water fast lasts for 24 — 72 hours. You should not water fast for longer than this without medical supervision because of health risks.

Some people may feel weak or dizzy during a water fast and may want to avoid operating heavy machinery and driving to avoid causing an accident.

·Post-fast(1 — 3 days)

After the water fast, you should resist the urge to eat a big meal. This is because eating a large meal after a fast may cause uncomfortable symptoms. Instead, break your fast with a smoothie or smaller meals. You can start introducing larger meals throughout the day as you feel more comfortable.

The post-fast phase is especially important after longer fasts. This is because you may be at risk of refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition in which the body undergoes rapid changes in fluid and electrolyte levels.

This phase normally lasts a day, but people who fast for 3 or more days may need up to 3 days before they feel comfortable eating larger meals.

1. Which of the following content is NOT true according to the passage?

A．People stick to a fasting diet for both physical and mental reasons.

B．During water fasting, one can only drink water within 24 — 72 hours.

C．Going on a water fast is soundly supported by experiment-based results.

D．Generally, one should go on a water fast under the guidance of doctors.

2. What potential risk is NOT mentioned in the process of water fasting?

A．A fatal syndrome.	B．Weakness or dizziness.
C．Lack of strength and power.	D．Inability to move.

3. Which of the following points shows the structure of the passage?

A．definition—risks—benefits—restrictions—procedures

B．introduction—reasons—procedures—risks—restrictions

C．definition—benefits—risks—restrictions—procedures

D．introduction—reasons—restrictions—procedures

6 . Blood: Water Mission

Blood: Water Mission is founded by the Grammy Award-winning band, Jars of Clay.     1     And Blood: Water Mission is one of them with a mission to help communities to fight against the HIV/AIDS and water crisis.

    2     So Blood: Water Mission has launched the 1,000 Wells Project as a nationwide movement to raise enough money to provide clean water to 1,000 communities in Africa based on the equation (公式) that $1 provides one African with clean water for an entire year.     3     It includes a variety of clean water solutions and sanitation (卫生) training, as well as funding health clinics, which help in the prevention, treatment, care and support of communities affected by AIDS.

The results of our efforts paint a new picture in these communities. There has been a remarkable improvement in the water situation and community health.     4     Women and children no longer walk several miles a day to get water. Village leaders have the resources and training to bring sanitation and healthcare into their communities. Water-related diseases have disappeared. Those with AIDS are living longer lives.

    5     In the process, we learn about how AIDS affects African communities. By connecting with the people in Africa, we are developing social responsibility. In the meanwhile, Blood: Water Mission’s movement engages Americans in social justice and thoughtful action.

It’s a beautiful story. We invite you to be a small part of a larger, beautiful story.

A．Clean water wells have been built.

B．Most children get the opportunity to go to school.

C．There is a vital link between HIV/AIDS and clean water.

D．Meanwhile, the 1,000 Wells Project has expanded along the way.

E．Blood: Water Mission has also created social effects in the United States.

F．Blood: Water Mission has developed a close friendship with these communities.

G．There are many projects providing much-needed assistance to African communities.

7 . It’s Time to Stop Hugging Your Chickens

   

If you’re an urban or suburban chicken farmer, there’s a chance you may consider your egg-producing, feathered friends family. You may have even given your chickens names, and you certainly care about them deeply. But do you hug and kiss them?

So far in 2019, there have been 1,003 cases in 49 states linked to salmonella (沙门氏菌) poisoning from contact with backyard chickens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Two people have died from the infection and 175 have been hospitalized.

The outbreak of salmonella can be traced back to chicks, ducklings and other poultry from multiple hatcheries (孵化场) in several states. People who have gotten birds that began life in these hatcheries are getting sick after close contact with the birds. However, the CDC notes, all live poultry can carry salmonella bacteria, regardless of where they were purchased and even if they look healthy and clean.

Of course, not all of those who have gotten ill have kissed their chickens. Any human contact with an infected bird can lead to illness. The CDC explains how:

People can be infected with Salmonella germs when they put their hands or equipment that has been in contact with poultry, in or around their mouth. Children younger than 5 years are more likely to get sick because their immune systems are still developing, and they are more likely to put their fingers and other objects into their mouths.

People can also get sick without actually touching a bird. Germs on your hands can spread easily to other people or surfaces. That’s why it’s important to wash hands immediately with soap and water after touching poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.

To minimize the risk of salmonella poisoning from live poultry, the CDC recommends always assuming that contamination (污染) can happen and recommends the following:

·After touching live poultry or an area where they’ve been, wash your hands with soap and water. If none is available, use hand sanitizer (消毒杀菌剂).

·Don’t let children under age 5 handle or touch live poultry without adult supervision.

·If you have clothes and shoes soiled from being around poultry, wash your hands after removing them.

·Cook eggs that you’ve collected from backyard hens thoroughly since salmonella can pass to the interior (内部的) eggs.

· Clean equipment and materials associated with the birds.

·Don’t bring live poultry inside your house.

And you might love your chickens, but the CDC specifically points out, “Don’t kiss backyard poultry, or embrace them and then touch your face or mouth.”

1. Which of the following is TRUE about “salmonella”?

A．Salmonella germs on your hands can spread only through other people’s hands.

B．Teenagers are more likely to suffer from Salmonella poisoning than adults.

C．All live poultry can carry salmonella bacteria, even if they look healthy and clean.

D．People won’t be infected with salmonella germs until working in hatcheries.

2. According to the passage, it is NOT safe to________.

A．clean equipment and materials associated with the birds

B．let 4-year-old children touch live poultry without adult supervision

C．cook eggs that you’ve collected from backyard hens thoroughly

D．wash your hands with soap and water, or hand sanitizer after touching live poultry

3. The author wrote the passage mainly to________.

A．encourage people to take more effective steps to fight against bird flu

B．call on the government to publicize the risks of hugging chickens

C．explain to us how chicken farmers are infected with Salmonella germs

D．inform us of potential risks of contacting live poultry and ways to avoid them

8 . Do you often feel tired in the morning even though you’ve been in bed for seven or eight hours the night before. Like many people, you are not sleeping as much as you think you are. ________, your sleep efficiency is not that good.

Sleep experts_______ “sleep efficiency” as the percentage of time lying down that you are actually sleeping. The science of sleep efficiency is still young. There is no________ number for efficiency that’s been proven as linked to poor health. However, according to a report about sleep________, some experts estimate a rough range of 85% or above as a reasonable place to be. Besides avoiding caffeine intake after lunch and________ physical exercise before bed, here are some tips for improving sleep efficiency.

Avoid blue light at night

Short-wavelength blue light________ by the sun and screens of computers and smartphones, stops production of the sleep-stimulating hormone melatonin(褪黑激素)and makes you feel more________. Blue light tells your brain it’s________. Experts suggest turning off your computers and smartphones one hour or at least 30 minutes before bed.

Keep a________ sleep schedule

Go to bed and wake up at the same time, or________ the same time, every day. Avoid excessive sleeping at the weekend. Consistency is key to a good night’s sleep, especially when it comes to waking up. When you have a consistent wake-up time, your brain_______ to this and moves through the sleep cycle in preparation for you to feel rested and alert at your wake-up time. Roughly an hour before you wake, hormone levels increase gradually (along with your body temperature and blood pressure),________ you to become more alert.

Take naps

Most people may feel_______ in the afternoon. If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, you’re likely going to feel________ to sleep in the afternoon. When this happens, you’re better off taking a short nap than turning to caffeine or strong tea to keep you awake. A short nap will give you the rest you need to________ the rest of the afternoon, and you’ll sleep much better in the evening.

1.

A．By contrast

B．In other words

C．In conclusion

D．On the contrary

2.

A．treat

B．serve

C．work

D．define

3.

A．specific

B．effective

C．general

D．precious

4.

A．quantity

B．absence

C．quality

D．advance

5.

A．undertaking

B．restricting

C．performing

D．referring

6.

A．given off

B．given away

C．given in

D．given over

7.

A．sleepy

B．unconscious

C．exhausted

D．alert

8.

A．early

B．late

C．daytime

D．bright

9.

A．various

B．distinct

C．habitual

D．changeable

10.

A．relatively

B．exactly

C．gradually

D．respectively

11.

A．adopts

B．adapts

C．devotes

D．dedicates

12.

A．commanding

B．requiring

C．reminding

D．causing

13.

A．relaxed

B．sleepy

C．clear

D．weak

14.

A．depressive

B．accurate

C．desperate

D．attentive

15.

A．see to

B．break through

C．take to

D．get through

9 . Annoying snoring can be prevented

An American researcher has developed a simple device to help people stop snoring. The device limits the movements of the tissue(组织)that caused the disliked sound. Snoring is a common problem. It may prevent a person from getting enough sleep. It may also prevent enough oxygen from reaching the heart and lungs during the sleep. But for most people snoring affects relations with the other person who must sleep in the same room.

Snoring happens when the sleeping person breathes with the mouth open. In the back of the mouth the tissues surrounding the entrance of the throat are soft. As the person breathes, the movement of the air around the soft tissues caused them to move or vibrate(振动). This tissue movement causes the sound we call snoring. A number of possible solutions have been suggested. Some devices keep the mouth shut. They forced the patient to breathe only through the nose. A medical operation is also possible. Other devices listen for the sound of snoring and then wake the patient. The new anti-snoring device was developed by a dentist, George Wagner at the Indiana University School of Dentistry. He developed a piece of plastic that fits up against the inside of the mouth. The device keeps the soft tissues from vibrating and making the snoring noise. It was worn only at night. Doctor Wagner said several patients report that the simple device has ended their snoring problem.

1. The underlined word “snoring” probably means “________”.

A．speaking while one sleeps	B．dreaming while one sleeps
C．noises made while one sleeps	D．sighs made while one is asleep

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Snoring may affect one’s roommates.

B．Snoring may lead to slower heartbeat.

C．Snoring may cause one’s lack of oxygen.

D．Snoring may prevent one from having enough sleep.

3. From the passage we know that the simplest and more efficient way to prevent a person from snoring is ________.

A．to keep the soft tissues from vibrating

B．to give the patient a medical operation

C．to wake him/her up as soon as he/she snores

D．to make him/her listen to the sound of snoring

4. How many possible ways to stop snoring have been mentioned in paragraph 2?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

10 . Most people would be _______ by the high quality of medicine available to most Americans. There is a lot of specialization, a great deal of _________ to the individual, a vast amount of _________ technical equipment, and intense effort not to make mistakes because of the financial risk which doctors and hospitals must face in the courts if they _________ things badly.

But the Americans are in a mess. The problem is the way in which health care is organized and financed. _________ public belief, it is not just a free competition system. The private system has been joined by a large public system, because _________ care was simply not _________ the less fortunate and the elderly.

But even with this _________ public part of the system, which this year will eat up 84.5 billion dollars-more than 10 per cent of the US Budget-large numbers of Americans are left _________. These include about half the 11 million unemployed and those who __________ to meet the strict limits on income fixed by a government.

The basic problem, __________, is that there is no central control __________ the health system. There is no __________ to what doctors and hospitals charge for their services, other than what the public is able to pay. The number of doctors has shot up and prices have climbed. When faced with toothache, a sick child, or a heart attack, all the unfortunate people concerned can do is to pay up.

Two thirds of the population are __________ by medical insurance. Doctors charge as much as they want, knowing that the insurance company will __________ the bill.

The rising cost of medicine in the USA is among the most worrying problems facing the country. In 1981 the country’s health bill climbed 15.9 per cent-about twice as fast as prices in general.

1.

A．depressed

B．impressed

C．frightened

D．pleased

2.

A．money

B．energy

C．attention

D．information

3.

A．advanced

B．absorbed

C．old

D．attractive

4.

A．treat

B．deal

C．meet

D．handle

5.

A．Contrary to

B．According to

C．Compared with

D．Based on

6.

A．public

B．medical

C．private

D．financial

7.

A．looking for

B．looking into

C．looking after

D．looking over

8.

A．profitable

B．little

C．huge

D．worthless

9.

A．over

B．out

C．off

D．away

10.

A．manage

B．bound

C．decide

D．fail

11.

A．however

B．still

C．therefore

D．besides

12.

A．for

B．over

C．of

D．in

13.

A．need

B．doubt

C．limit

D．use

14.

A．charged

B．covered

C．influenced

D．attracted

15.

A．pay

B．take

C．send

D．charge