1 . On July 28, I retired from my position. After teaching for many years, I looked forward to kayaking (划独木舟) with my grandsons, seeing friends and traveling for leisure with my husband. But my body had other plans for me. A broken spine (脊椎) in my back took me down a path that upended my plans.
I have long had back pain. However, I pushed through the pain to do my work, which worsened my condition. Doctors urged an operation when increased disability meant I could not sit, stand or walk for a long time. But I wanted to see whether physical therapy (治疗) could create an easier option.
Indeed, hard work with a great physical therapist has let me improve my mobility, sitting and standing. But X-rays told a different story. My spine was unstable and bending. After careful consideration and a second opinion from another professional, I agreed to surgery yet in the near term. Needless to say, the past months have been tough and the way ahead will be even tougher. Kayaking with my grandsons in the peacefulness of the lake is all out of reach, for now.
When I met my physical therapist for the first time, I was a mess. He listened to me outline my history with tears and then calmly said, “You have to make friends with your body.” I have repeated that line to myself daily and worked to embrace my body. I have focused on gratitude. I’m grateful that I do not have a fatal disease. I’m grateful that the body I have remains alert to the world, loved by family and friends. I’m grateful that I am still myself.
I don’t know exactly how the future will play out. The surgeon assures me that I should be able to get in my kayak by summer. But I may have to make friends with a different body, one that is mine regardless of the shape.
1. Why did the author’s condition become worse?A.She disliked physical therapy. |
B.She hurt her back when kayaking. |
C.She still worked despite back pain. |
D.She was unwilling to have an operation. |
A.She forgot to kayak with her grandsons. |
B.She decided to accept an operation right away. |
C.She completely recovered after physical therapy. |
D.She asked another doctor for advice on the operation. |
A.Her wish to enjoy retirement life. |
B.Her physical therapist’s advice. |
C.Her worsening physical condition. |
D.Her love for her family and friends. |
A.Learning to accept my body |
B.Enjoying my retirement life |
C.Fighting against my back pain |
D.Being grateful for what I have |
2 . “Tooth loss and gum disease, which is inflammation (发炎) of the tissue around the teeth that can cause shrinkage (萎缩) of the gums and loosening of the teeth, are very common, so evaluating a potential link with brain diseases is incredibly important. Our study found that these conditions may play a role in the health of the brain area that controls thinking and memory, giving people another reason to take better care of their teeth,” said study author Satoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D. of Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan.
The study involved 172 people with an average age of 67 who did not have memory problems at the beginning of the study. Researchers found that the number of teeth and amount of gum disease was linked to changes in the left hippocampus of the brain. For people with mild gum disease, having fewer teeth was associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage, which was the same for people with severe gum disease having more teeth. After adjusting for age, researchers found that for people with mild gum disease, the increase in the rate of brain shrinkage due to one less tooth was equal to nearly one year of brain aging. By contrast, for people with severe gum disease, the increase in brain shrinkage due to one more tooth was equal to 1.3 years of brain aging.
“These results highlight the importance of preserving the health of the teeth and not just maintaining the teeth,” Yamaguchi said. Though the study does not prove that gum disease or tooth loss causes diseases like Alzheimer’s, it only shows an association. Yamaguchi added, “Future studies are needed with larger groups of people.” The current experiment involved only a small group of people in one region of Japan, and that too from one particular region of the world.
1. What does Satoshi Yamaguchi’s research focus on?A.The reason for gum disease. |
B.The influence of brain shrinkage. |
C.The advances in memory improvement. |
D.The link between dental health and brain. |
A.Supporting evidence for the research results. |
B.Basic theories and results of a previous research. |
C.A further explanation of the research methods. |
D.The detailed procedures of the scientific research. |
A.Treat a brain problem with replacing teeth. |
B.Frequently visit the dentists to maintain teeth. |
C.Protect gums and teeth in their original good state. |
D.Pull out one of their unique teeth as a study object. |
A.The application in related fields. |
B.The further research in wider range. |
C.The difficulties of making the previous studies. |
D.The suggestions for preventing teeth disease. |
A.Making the wearer feel tired. |
B.Gradually weakening an adult’s eyes. |
C.The loss of vision in children. |
D.Permanent change of the eye structure. |
A.Working hard. | B.Wearing sunglasses. |
C.Watching TV in poor light. | D.Reading in bed. |
A.Ways of choosing eye glasses. |
B.Suggestions of eyesight protection. |
C.Untruths of eye glasses and eyesight. |
D.Proven facts of the benefits of eye glasses. |
4 . If there was an app on your phone that claimed to improve your memory, would you be willing to try it? It’s hard to resist the idea of having a better memory. After all, our memories are delicate and can be affected by various factors such as diseases, injuries, mental health conditions, and aging.
In response to this perceived need, the brain training industry has grown rapidly, offering a wide range of accessible and affordable mental exercises through smartphone and tablet apps. Many researchers have found evidence suggesting that well-designed exercises can improve mental abilities and even lead to better scores on IQ tests. They compare the brain to muscles, suggesting that targeted repetition of memory exercises can strengthen and condition our memory processes, similar to how athletes engage in strength and conditioning by repeatedly exercising specific muscle groups.
In contrast to everyday activities like reading a detailed article or solving a complex puzzle, memory training apps are specifically designed to provide a more challenging workout for the brain. These apps typically involve tasks that require tracking a large number of objects while being distracted by a secondary task, such as mental calculations or exploring a game’s landscape. If this brain training proves effective, it could be beneficial for individuals with brain-related disabilities or those recovering from conditions like cancer.
Critics, though, argue that while the concept is appealing, the overall evidence fails to demonstrate significant improvement in core brain processes. Additionally, despite the claims made by many apps and brain training companies, scientists have yet to identify the key factors that make an intervention truly effective or determine the best approaches to address the diverse needs of individuals seeking help.
While the question is still open to debate, there is evidence suggesting that short-term working memory training can benefit high-functioning individuals, such as college students. However, it’s important to note that brain training, like diet and exercise, is unlikely to have identical effects on every individual.
1. In what way is the brain similar to muscles according to many researchers?A.In testing results. | B.In work processes. |
C.In bodily functions. | D.In training methods. |
A.Detailed. | B.Effective. | C.Demanding. | D.Complicated. |
A.Legal claims. | B.Proven effects. | C.Tailored services. | D.Appealing concepts. |
A.Can our memory be improved? |
B.Does brain training actually work? |
C.What have scientists found about memory? |
D.What does the brain training industry bring? |
A.The teacher’s office. | B.The hospital. | C.The gym. |
6 . Taking Care of Your Eyes
Many of us don’t pay much attention to eye care. It’s said that if you take care of your eyes, you can surely be healthy.
Something dirty can cause redness and make you feel uncomfortable. It is bad for your eyes, too. If this happens, the best way is to clean your eyes by using cold water.
A.That’s why our eyes should be given lots of care. |
B.All above are natural ways of eye care that can help us keep healthy eyes. |
C.Eating healthy food will do good to your eyesight. |
D.You must also try your best to protect your eyes from harmful things. |
E.Such behavior will do harm to our eyes. |
F.What can we do to protect our eyesight? |
G.Televisions, computers and reading are also the causes of poor eyesight. |
7 . Wisdom teeth won’t make you smarter.
Wisdom teeth often cause problems due to their late eruption and limited space in jaws. As a result, they may become impacted, meaning they are unable to fully emerge from the gums (牙龈). This impaction can give rise to various issues, including pain and crowding of nearby teeth.
Before the surgery, dentists will carefully evaluate your specific situation to determine the most appropriate approach. During the procedure, dentists will numb (麻醉) your gum to ensure minimal pain.
Here are some tips for proper healing. Leave cotton in place for about 30 minutes and hold a cold pack against your jaw to reduce pain immediately after surgery. For the following days, don’t consume hard spicy food like nuts and peppers.
A.How long does the surgery usually last? |
B.Stick to soft food or liquid diets instead. |
C.Mild saltwater is good for mouth wounds. |
D.What happens after wisdom teeth removal? |
E.They will then use tools to loosen the tooth and pull it out. |
F.They’re called that because they usually come in when you get older. |
G.To prevent or address these problems, many dentists decide on wisdom teeth removal. |
内容包括:学生近视的现状、改进和预防措施等。
要求:1.词数100词左右;2.开头结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
参考词汇:近视nearsightedness
Dear teachers and fellow students:
It’s my great honour to stand here and present a speech about the worrying situation of nearsightedness among Chinese students.
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That’s all! Thanks for all your attention!
1.学生近视率状况描述;
2.简单评论;
3.你的建议。注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.短文题目和首句已为你写好,不计入总词数。
Protecting our eyes to enjoy a bright world
The health of children’s vision is facing a growing threat.
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