1 . How to Use a Modern Public Library

Has it been a while since your last visit to a public library? If so, you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better. It’s been years since they were dusty little rooms with books. They have transformed themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge, meet interesting people, or find out how to start a business.

Check out a book. While libraries still lend books, you’ll find it easier to get a copy of whatever you’re looking for, thanks to a cooperative network of area libraries. Via such networks, libraries share their books with each other through the use of delivery vehicles. Once the book you’ve requested is delivered to the nearest branch, they will inform you by e-mail, so you can pick it up.

Check out other items. The library is now a multimedia zone, loaded within formation in many formats. You can borrow movies on DVDs, music on CDs, and popular magazines. Some libraries even lend toys and games. If a popular magazine you want isn’t offered and the library keeps a list of such requests, they may bring it in when enough interest is shown.

Join targeted reading groups. Libraries will often hold reading-group sessions targeted to various age groups. Perhaps you’d like to learn a language or improve your English. The library may sponsor a language group you could join. If you have difficulties reading, ask about special reading opportunities. Your library might be able to accommodate you. And you might find it relaxing to bring your small kid to a half-hour Story Time while you sit quietly in a corner with a good book.

Start a business using the help of your local library. If you want to have a business of your own, your local library can become a launch space for it. In library books and computers, you can find information on starting a business. Many libraries will help you with locally supplied information about business management shared through chambers of commerce and government agencies, and they will offer printing, faxing and database services you need.

1. Public libraries connected by a cooperative network benefit readers by       .

A．sharing their books on the Internet

B．giving access to online reading at a library branch

C．sending a needed book to a library branch nearby

D．making the checkout procedures diverse

2. According to Paragraph 3, what items may be checked out from a public library?

A．A magazine and an e-book.

B．A game and an oil painting.

C．A music CD and a kid’s toy.

D．A DVD and a video player.

3. As is described in Paragraph 4, taking a small kid to a half-hour Story Time allows       .

A．the kid to learn a new language

B．the parent to enjoy quiet reading

C．the kid to overcome reading difficulties

D．the parent to meet their program sponsor

2 . Having a shy style isn’t necessarily a problem.     1     But shyness blocks some people from being as comfortable or sociable as they’d like to be. Some people want to feel less shy so they can have more fun socializing and being themselves around others. Here are some tips for overcoming shy feelings.

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Practice social behaviors like eye contact, confident body language, introductions, small talk, asking questions, and invitations with the people you feel most comfortable around. Smile. Build your confidence this way. Then branch out to do this with new friends, too.

Think of some conversation starters.

Often, the hardest part of talking to someone new is getting started. Think of conversation openers, like introducing yourself, giving a compliment, or asking a question.     3    

Give yourself a chance.

Give yourself a chance to practice socializing with new people, and get to know them slowly. People who are shy often worry about failing or how others will judge them.     4     If self-criticism plays a role for you, ask yourself whether you’d be this critical of your best friend. Chances are you’d be much more accepting. So treat yourself like your own best friend. Encourage yourself instead of expecting to fail.

Develop your confidence.

Because shy people can be overly concerned with other people’s reactions, they don’t want to rock the boat. It can mean they are less likely to be confident. Being confident means speaking up for yourself when you should, asking for what you want or need, or telling other people when they’re stepping on your toes.

Most of all, be yourself. It’s OK to try out different conversational approaches you see others using.     5     Being the real you — and daring to let yourself be noticed — is what attracts friends.

A．But say and do what fits your style.

B．Write down what you want to say beforehand.

C．Start small with people you know.

D．Worries and feelings like these can keep you from trying.

E．It’s perfectly OK to take time to warm up to new people and situations.

F．Find group activities where you can be with people who share your interests.

G．Being ready with a conversation starter makes it easier to approach someone.

5 . About 40% adults and 19% children in the US are obese (肥胖的). Obese people are at increased risk of many serious diseases, including high blood pressure and heart disease.     1     If you are suffering from these, here’s a way of losing weight that you can try.

Dietary “self-monitoring” is a common strategy. It involves recording what they consume, and how much. The theory is that when thinking of what you put in your body, you’ll make healthier decisions.     2     There’s no doubt that dietary self-monitoring has been shown to help lose weight. However, not much is known about how long this takes or how often it should be done.

    3     Recently, researchers studied obese individuals in otherwise good health who participated in a 24-week weight control program... They recorded their daily dietary intake using an online program. The findings demonstrated that people who continued to record their food intake daily for 24 weeks lost more weight compared to those who quit noting their intake. People who lost at least 10% of their weight recorded their food intake about 3 times a day.     4     Researchers noted people might have greater success with weight loss if they recorded their dietary intake about three times a day, rather than recording all of their meals in one sitting.

A good principle to follow may be “write when you bite”. Dietary self-monitoring can be performed in different ways — using an online program, using a pencil or using smart-phone applications.     5    

A．Can it really be that easy?

B．It is important to find what works for you.

C．Thus, long-term weight loss takes time and effort.

D．The risk factors that determine obesity can be complex.

E．In comparison, those who recorded less daily lost less weight.

F．Obesity is also associated with a lower life quality and poor mental health.

G．Study shows the more often you log your eating, the more weight you might lose.

7 . You may not get enough physical activity throughout the day, especially since sitting still is required or encouraged in many jobs, at school, and in social situations. But there’s something you should know. Being physically inactive or sedentary (久坐不动的) can increase health risks.     1    

What counts as being physically inactive?

While there is no strict definition of what can be considered a sedentary lifestyle, researchers have a few different measures to assess what a sedentary lifestyle is. One measure is the time an individual spends seated or reclining (向后倚靠) during waking hours.     2     Some other researchers label people inactive or sedentary if they take fewer than 5,000 pedometer (计步器) steps per day.

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In the short term, being inactive can increase depression or anxiety. It can also affect the way the body processes fats and sugars in the diet and lead to some weight gain if you aren’t burning enough calories. Over the long term, sedentary lifestyles increase the risk of death from cardiovascular (心血管的) disease, diabetes, and cancer.

How can you prevent being inactive?

Health authorities recommend exercise at a medium level for either 30 minutes a day for five days a week or a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes per week. Walking is an easy activity to add to your day.     4     A pedometer or fitness band can show you whether you are getting enough steps. Many people aim to take 10,000 steps per day, which indicates that you have met your daily physical activity goal.     5     but the value of being more physically active is worth it for its many benefits.

A．How harmful is it?

B．What’s the drawback of sedentary lifestyle?

C．Fixing a sedentary lifestyle takes some conscious effort at first,

D．Now let’s learn about whether you might be classified as inactive or sedentary.

E．Simply walking more or doing household chores positively impacts health,

F．It can work to break up sitting time and add steps hourly throughout the day.

G．Spending four to six waking hours sitting or lying down is considered sedentary.

9 . More than a quarter have to enlarge the font size on their mobile phone so they can read it clearly.     1     Meanwhile, 28% regularly squint (眯眼看) at the screen. And all of them are signs of eye disorder.

“The research has shown our eyes are not designed to be fixed on a single object for a long time, especially smaller laptops or smart devices.     2     Even worse, staring at the screen constantly can lead to dry eye syndrome,” says Giles Edmonds, a clinical service director.

Dry eye syndrome is a condition where the eyes do not make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. Here are some simple solutions to prevent eye strain and irritation, and preserve your eye health overall.

Rest your eyes.

Follow the 20:20:20 rule, looking up from your screen every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.     3     It in turn reduces eye tiredness.

Adjust your workstation.

Change your screen settings to ensure that the brightness and contrast are balanced correctly, as well as making fonts larger. Also, be mindful of how your workstation is positioned. Adjust your screen ensuring it is 15 — 20 degrees below eye level and around 50 — 70 cm away from the eyes.     4    

Reduce glare (眩光).

    5    . Try reducing this by attaching an anti-glare screen to your monitor or laptop to avoid external light shining onto the screen. Glasses wearers can also have lenses treated with an anti-glare coating.

A．People should try to reduce the time spent on the screen.

B．One can read his favorite paper books instead of e-books.

C．Half confess they’re forced to enlarge images to see them clearly.

D．Another thing to focus on is to make sure your room is properly lit.

E．Looking into the distance helps relax the focusing muscles of your eyes.

F．Reflections on your computer screen can cause glare and lead to eye fatigue.

G．They may feel uncomfortable, painful, tired and even start to itch (发痒) or burn.