1 . Is there any such thing as a salt tooth? We are familiar with a sweet tooth, along with the negative effects of sugar. We are broadly aware of the disadvantages of too much salt, including high blood pressure, which puts pressure on the blood vessels (血管), the heart and the kidneys. It can also lead to water retention (水肿). But we don’t tend to police how much salt we eat — at least, not as rigorously as with sugar — or question whether we are just paying attention to our bodies, which require some salt for muscles to work properly, or we are being controlled by a strong urge.
A salt tooth is quite unlike a sweet tooth. It doesn’t create an appetite for itself at the hormone level. But salt does make our taste buds (味蕾) get used to it, so that the more you eat, the more you need to get the same salty hit. This is why chefs can get heavy-handed with it.
As Sam Bloom, a nutritional therapist, explains, “What is generally more concerning is the fat that is used together with salt, like salty crisps, fries and fast food. Ready meals are often the worst for hidden salts. Anything that adds flavor that isn’t a spice or herb will probably have salt added to it and can make you want to eat more because it tastes good. The salt and fat combination in these foods is what causes problems with cholesterol (胆固醇). The salt that people add to a meal is much less concerning.”
Nutritionists’ suggestion is convincing: When the desire for salt hits, avoid going straight for salty snack foods such as crisps and instead ensure you are well hydrated. Seek out whole foods, such as olives and leafy greens. These foods will help you alleviate the desire for salt, which may often be due to a desire for nutrient-rich food.
1. What does the underlined word “rigorously” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Generally. | B．Strictly. | C．Largely. | D．Pleasantly. |
| A．Salt attracts chefs. |
| B．Salt gets people adapted. |
| C．Salt can change hormone level. |
| D．Salt generates a special appetite. |
| A．Objective. | B．Approving. | C．Negative. | D．Ambiguous. |
| A．Ways of seeking out whole food. |
| B．Reasons for getting the desire for salt. |
| C．Attitudes towards seeking for nutrient food. |
| D．Approaches to relieving the eagerness for salt. |
1. What was wrong with Tom?
| A．He was hit by a taxi. |
| B．He hurt his head. |
| C．He fell ill with heart trouble. |
| A．She called the doctor. |
| B．She checked Tom carefully. |
| C．She took Tom to the hospital. |
These days, many Chinese young people have turned to trees to help with their stress. Although it sounds strange, there’s science behind the act of tree-hugging.
A study in 2021
Another hormone
Although the activity is
There are other ways to turn to nature to help with your stress, such as forest bathing
1. Why is the man going to Vietnam?
| A．To travel. | B．To work. | C．To study. |
| A．They have killed plenty of tourists. |
| B．They are often eaten by other animals. |
| C．They like to make their webs everywhere. |
5 . With low or no-carbohydrate diets rising in popularity in recent times, the potato is now regularly overlooked in favour of other vegetables. In fact, research literature has previously indicated potatoes may have a detrimental effect on health, such as increasing the possibility of developing Type2 diabetes(糖尿病).
However, new research done by Edith Cowan University (ECU) has shown while potatoes may not have all the same benefits as some other vegetables, such as lowering risk of Type 2 diabetes, health issues associated with potatoes may actually be due to how people are preparing them and what they’re eating them with.
A recent analysis of this study led by Dr Nicola Bondonno from ECU’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute found people who consumed the most vegetables were 21 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who consumed the least amount of vegetables. PhD candidate Pratik Pokharel carried out work on the analysis and said while potatoes didn’t have the same impact on Type 2 diabetes, they also didn’t have any negative effect.
“In Denmark, people consume potatoes prepared in many different ways. In our study, we could distinguish between the different preparation methods. When we separated boiled potatoes from mashed potatoes(土豆泥), fries or crisps, boiled potatoes were no longer associated with a higher risk of diabetes: They had a zero effect,” said Pokharel.
“In our study, people who ate the most potatoes also consumed more butter, red meat and soft drinks-foods known to increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes,” said Pokharel. “We should separate potatoes from other vegetables in regard to messaging about disease prevention but replacing refined grains such as white rice and pasta(意大利面食)with potatoes can improve your diet quality because of fibre and other nutrients found in potatoes.”
1. What does the underlined word “detrimental” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Magical. | B．Protective. | C．Fantastic. | D．Negative. |
| A．The effects they have caused. | B．The ways they are consumed. |
| C．The places where they are planted. | D．The results previous studies have shown. |
| A．Fries. | B．Crisps. | C．Boiled potatoes. | D．Mashed potatoes. |
| A．Critical. | B．Opposed. | C．Indifferent. | D．Objective. |
6 . We all may know someone we consider to be a picky eater, who tends to dislike some common food regularly and causes social embarrassment when ordering at restaurants. But for some people picky eating can actually become a serious disorder, and clinical definitions of picky eating behaviors often include people who only consume around 20 different kinds of foods for a long period of time.
“Having restricted diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies (缺陷) as well as health problems like heart disease, poor bone health and dental issues,” explained Lorenzo Stafford, one of the authors on the latest study. “There is also a social cost because normally enjoyable moments between family members can easily turn into stressful, anxious, and conflict-causing situations when picky eaters feel ashamed or pressured to eat certain food.”
A new research homed in on the effect of plate color on food desirability for picky eaters. The experiment was based on a foundational study from 2018 which looked at the way different colored food bowls affected a person’s sense of taste.
Using a design similar to the 2018 research, the new experiments had participants rate the sweetness, saltiness and overall desirability of a snack food eaten from different colored bowls. In this instance the snack was salt and vinegar potato crisps consumed from either a red, blue or white bowl. Around 50 participants were recruited (招募) and classified as either picky or non-picky eaters based on a standard questionnaire.
The results revealed picky eaters considered the snack to be saltier when it was eaten from a red or blue bowl compared to the white bowl. And overall, picky eaters found the snack generally less desirable when eaten from a red bowl.
It is worth mentioning that a recent survey estimated nearly one in five American adults could be clinically classified as picky eaters. So exploring ways to help these people better engage with more types of food could result in valuable health outcomes.
1. Which of the following may be a picky eater?| A．Tom who ate only some bread this morning. | B．Lisa who only has vegetables for losing weight. |
| C．Peter who often orders little at restaurants. | D．Alex who likes only a small range of dishes. |
| A．Health problems caused by picky eating. |
| B．Moments that are ruined by picky eaters. |
| C．Potential consequences of picky eating. |
| D．Quotes of Lorenzo to support the research findings. |
| A．Bowls of different colors directly affect appetite of eaters. |
| B．Blue color bowls can make the food in them saltier for eaters. |
| C．Food in red bowls seems less attractive to picky eaters. |
| D．The color of the bowl can change the taste of the dishes. |
| A．To show ways of enhancing people’s appetite effectively. |
| B．To stress the importance of reducing picky eaters’ anxiety and stress. |
| C．To encourage us to raise picky eaters’ awareness of healthy eating. |
| D．To call on researchers to help picky eaters try a wider variety of foods. |
7 . Obesity (肥胖) has become a serious problem now. According to a recent survey, teenage obesity has increased at an alarming rate across America. Teenage obesity is mainly due to the increased consumption (消耗) of junk food which contains large amounts of fat. This has exposed the teens to a 14% greater risk of having a heart attack as well as seriously high blood pressure.
Various causes of teen obesity have been claimed, the most important of which is being insufficient (不足) physical exercise on the teen’s part. It is argued that teens nowadays who lack (缺少) sufficient physical exercise topped with their unhealthy eating habits are more likely to be obese. Nowadays, a main part of the teenagers spend their spare time on the computer, television or perhaps simply playing games. This greatly limits any kind of physical activity of the teenager. According to a recent survey, around 43% of teenagers spend more than 2 hours watching television every single day.
Long time inactivity in addition to the ill eating habits has increased the incidence (发生率) of obesity in teenagers even more, However, this does not mean that teens do not do enough exercise, but the amount which they do, is certainly not sufficient as compared to their intake of fatty foods. Besides this, parents need to change the whole lifestyle of the family in order to develop a healthier lifestyle of their children.
The teenagers must also be encouraged to take part in other physical activities which require more effort; such as playing basketball, tennis, badminton, volleyball and swimming. Meanwhile, the teenagers also need to be educated on the ill effects of junk food and must be asked to avoid them as much as possible. Their diet must also be made healthier and more balanced, which will help them in losing more weight quickly. For better guidance on reducing the teen’s weight quickly, parents can always turn to a doctor.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Junk food is the main food for the American. |
| B．American teenagers suffer from high blood pressure. |
| C．The number of fatty American teenagers is increasing. |
| D．Most American teenagers probably have heart disease. |
| A．Bad eating habits. | B．Playing computer games. |
| C．Lack of physical exercise. | D．Watching TV programmes. |
| A．The exercise they choose is too simple. |
| B．The method they do exercise is improper. |
| C．The energy they consume is less than that they take in. |
| D．The time they spend doing sports is more than that spent on food. |
| A．Rules made for teens. | B．Reasons for teen obesity. |
| C．Suggestions offered to parents. | D．Ways to deal with teen obesity. |
8 . Spending time outdoors has long been linked (联系) to better health. Gardening goes beyond just beautifying outdoor spaces—it can have a deep effect on our physical and mental (身心上的) health.
Gardening involves physical activity that works all the main muscle (肌肉) groups, which is helpful for overall health. “Activities such as digging, planting, weeding and harvesting require movement and can help to improve strength,” said Clayton, CEO of an online lawn care company. “Performing these activities regularly can help burn calories, and keep a healthy weight.”
Beyond burning calories and building muscle, lots of studies have shown that gardening can improve the immune system (免疫系统). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people get at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, and gardening is listed as a suitable activity. Doing garden work for that time each week can reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. Additionally, spending time outdoors makes us get close to natural sunlight, which is important for vitamin D synth.
Gardening provides a chance for social connection, too. It can be a shared activity among family members, friends or neighbors, building relationships and a sense of belonging.
Gardening also offers cognitive (认知的) benefits. It excites the senses, improves focus and encourages problem-solving and creativity. It provides a chance to learn about plants, ecosystems and the environment, developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for nature.
1. What is Clayton’s attitude towards gardening?| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear | D．Uncaring. |
| A．It improves focus. | B．It is a waste of time. |
| C．It can keep a body in shape. | D．It helps to reduce the risk of diseases. |
| A．It contributes to creativity. | B．It encourages problem-solving. |
| C．It builds relationships between people. | D．It improves people’s awareness of safety. |
| A．How to Start a Garden | B．Choose a Garden or Not |
| C．What Plants Grow Best in a Garden | D．Start Gardening and Get the Health Benefits |
1. What brings a lower risk of heart problems?
| A．Cleaning teeth. | B．Washing one’s face. | C．Taking a shower. |
| A．4,800. | B．8,000. | C．12,800. |
10 . Ways to keep your eyesight in tip-top shape
If you have perfect vision, you probably don’t worry too much about eye health.
Eat for your eyes
We all know carrots can support eye health, but there are also a bunch of other fruits and vegetables that are beneficial. Mainly, you want produce that contains vitamins A, C, and E, which can help prevent some diseases like cataracts. Look for dark-colored vegetables such as peppers and sweet potatoes.
Give your eyes a break
Hours and hours of staring at the screen have become the everyday reality for many of us, and you’ve probably already noticed how straining it can be on your eyes. To help reduce this strain, experts recommend following the 20-20-20 rules.
Wear eye protection
It’s always a good idea to wear something in situations that might put your eyes at risk, whether you’re playing sports or doing construction work.
Don’t forget your sunglasses
Other than looking cool, sunglasses protect your eyes from ultraviolet rays(紫外线).
| A．It is extremely important to spot them early on, |
| B．Such radiations can damage your eyesight over time. |
| C．Other good sources of these nutrients include nuts and seeds. |
| D．That’s because you often look in the long distance for a break. |
| E．About 2,000 people suffer a work-related eye injury every day, |
| F．However, the reality is that vision problems can happen to anyone. |
| G．That means looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. |
