2 . Parkinson’s is a progressive brain disease which leads to shaky hands and slow movement, and there is no cure. Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese martial art that combines (结合) slow, gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation, may be an effective means of reducing the suffering. Recently, the researchers say that those who practised the martial art twice a week had fewer complications (并发症) and better quality of life than those who didn’t. Experts say the findings back up previous studies on the benefits of exercise for those with Parkinson’s.

The study, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, monitored the health of hundreds of Parkinson’s patients for up to five years. One group of 147 people practised regular Tai Chi while another group of 187 did not. The researchers found that the disease progressed more slowly in the Tai Chi group on measurements of symptoms (症状), movement and balance. This group also saw fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness, with memory and concentration problems also lower than in the other group. At the same time, sleep and quality of life continuously improved.

Prof. Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology and neuroepidemiology at Queen Mary University of London, called it “an important study”—the positive effects on aspects of motor (运动的) and non-motor functions are impressive — but said there were limitations in its design, and more tests were needed.

“We already recommend Tai Chi, as well as other forms of exercise, but understanding which forms of exercise are most beneficial is an important goal to improve the long-term management of patients,” he said.

1. Why was the study conducted?

A．To find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

B．To improve the sleep quality of Parkinson’s patients.

C．To remove the misunderstanding of the previous studies.

D．To research the benefits of Tai Chi for those with Parkinson’s.

2. Which of the following is not the researchers’ finding?

A．Concentration problem was lower in the Tai Chi group.

B．The disease progressed more slowly in the Tai Chi group.

C．Patients in the non-Tai Chi group continuously fell down.

D．Back pain and dizziness were relieved in the Tai Chi group.

3. What can we learn from Prof. Alastair Noyce’s words?

A．Tai Chi should be given more preference.

B．Finding the most beneficial exercise is of importance.

C．It is unnecessary to do more related studies.

D．Improve the long-term management of patients is impossible.

4. What is Prof. Alastair Noyce’s attitude towards the study?

A．Confused.

B．Doubtful.

C．Positive.

D．Worried.

3 . 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。

Jennifer, a teenage girl, fainted at school after    1    (skip) meals. She    2    (send) to hospital immediately for treatment due to dangerously low blood sugar levels.    3     (fortunate), she is now out of danger. Her doctor says she will make a full     4    (recover) in a day or two. 

Her classmates hope to see her back at school soon. They say that she    5    (struggle) with eating problems for a long time. “Jennifer thought dieting would be a simple way    6    (reach) her target weight,” a friend reported. 

    7    is often the case with teenagers, they would adopt    8    (proper) weight-loss behaviours under peer pressure despite (尽管) health experts repeated warnings    9    such extreme methods. 

Experts maintain it’s important for teenagers to have    10    healthy balanced diet since they are still growing and their bodies need a lot of nutrition to function well. Teenagers should keep regular hours and get plenty of exercise to get into shape.

4 . How to Improve Your Mental Health

Your mental health is an important aspect of your overall health. No matter what your situation is, you can take steps to improve your mental health.

Take a self-assessment(评估). Everyone has what is known as “emotional intelligence” or EQ. EQ refers to how well you understand your emotions and actions. Figuring out your EQ is important if you want to improve your mental well-being.     1     A mental health expert can also help you determine your EQ.

Set goals. After you have completed your self-assessment, you can clearly identify the areas you would like to focus on improving. Take time to set some clear and achievable goals. These can be both long term and short term goals. Write down your goals.     2    

Handle your emotions. An important part of improving your mental well-being is learning to admit your emotions.     3     However, it is important to handle your emotions. Handling your emotions is a multi-step process. It includes sensing, naming, attributing, evaluating and acting.

Learn how to identify and deal with your triggers (诱因) . Everyone has different triggers.     4     To deal with your triggers, take some time to figure out what they are and develop plans for how to deal with them.

Gather information. Avoid the bad name that mental health issues are somehow not “real” problems. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Take some time to learn about the importance of your mental health.     5     For example, you might visit a yoga studio to ask them about the mental benefits of practicing yoga.

A．Take some time to look at the big picture.

B．This is when you apply a name to the emotion.

C．Yours might be certain people, situations, or places.

D．Research different ways to improve your mental health.

E．This will help you keep them and make your dream come true.

F．Sometimes it might feel simple r to set aside an uncomfortable emotion.

G．You can find online assessment tools to help you figure out your results.

6 . Some Winter Activities

Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.     1    

Finding your favourite.     2     Nobody likes cardio (有氧运动) for a long time, but signing up for an adult sports team, or taking a yoga class on the weekend can be a fun way to break up the boredom of going to the gym. Recreational (娱乐的) sports are also a great way to meet new people.

Walking on snow.     3     Walking with snowshoes is friendly to beginners, and suitable for kids and seniors alike. You can buy a set for under $100 or rent some for the afternoon. Take a friend or walk alone to enjoy the peacefulness of the outdoors in winter.

Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.     4     If you’re feeling tired of too much indoor time, get your heart pumping at a nearby ski hill.

    5     Taking an online class, or picking up an instrument for the first time, can be incredibly rewarding. Expanding your professional skill can do wonders for your future job prospects. It may take a little planning, but consider learning something new this season.

A．Go to the gym.

B．Learning something.

C．Most ski fields rent gear too.

D．Be active and try these winter activities.

E．The following are things you can do at home.

F．You needn’t be an athlete to enjoy this seasonal activity.

G．The key to keeping healthy is finding what you enjoy doing.

7 . When you get older your parents let you stay up later. But that doesn’t make it a good idea. Tired people intend (倾向) to be unhappy ones, and their schoolwork suffers, says a recent study by the US National Sleep Foundation.

“If you don’t get enough sleep at night, you tend to sleep in school. If you’re asleep, you don’t learn anything,” says Mary Carskadon, an American sleep researcher.

Sleep is important because it gives our bodies time to recover from the stress of living. Studies show that adults who sleep less than six hours a night tend to have more heart problems. They die sooner than adults who sleep seven to eight hours a night.

How much sleep do you need? That depends on how old you are. Babies spend most of the day asleep. By the time they’re 10 years old, they need an average (平均 ) of 10 hours a night. As they get older, they tend to sleep less. And the Sleep Foundation says that teenagers need 8. 5 to nine hours. But in experiments where young teens are allowed to sleep as long as they want, they tend to choose to sleep an average of 10 hours.

However, it does seem difficult for kids to get the sleep they need, given the demands (要求) made on them by education. Some schools start as early as 7 am. Some schools have late classes or self-study sessions (时段) that end as late as 10 pm.

You have to study, but here are some tips that should help you feel less tired.

Watch less television. Go to bed just 30 minutes earlier each school night, and you’ll gain two hours and a half of sleep a week.

Cutting out caffeine (咖啡因) also helps. Soda, tea and coffee help you stay wake, but they can make it harder to fall asleep.

Before you go to bed, turn off any electrical devices (电子设备) as these can make it more difficult to get to sleep.

So, switch off the TV, computer and the lights. Oh, yes, and sweet dreams!

1. What may not happen to a child if he doesn’t get enough sleep?

A．He feels unhappy.	B．He does badly in his homework.
C．He falls asleep in the classroom.	D．He suffers a heart attack.

2. Generally speaking, how long does a 13-year-old kid need to sleep?

A．Ten hours.

B．Nine hours.

C．Eight hours.

D．Seven hours.

3. What can make you have a good sleep?

A．Drinking some tea.

B．Watching a 2-hour film.

C．Turning off the lights.

D．Playing with smartphones.

4. This text is mainly written for        

A．Parents.

B．Teachers.

C．Kids.

D．Adults.

9 . It is well known that smoking is harmful to health. It is unfortunate that despite some individuals who choose not to smoke, they remain to be victims of various diseases caused by cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of dangerous chemicals that are unhealthy for both smokers and non-smokers. Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed by smokers. More than 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home, at work, and in enclosed public spaces.

The Deadly Effects

Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in non-smoking adults. Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time increases risk for those diseases.

Children and infants are especially attacked by the poisons in secondhand smoke. Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of six breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.

Secondhand smoke is a known cause of the sudden infant death syndrome, breathing problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children.

Secondhand smoke in the home environment can slow the lung growth of exposed children. Older children whose parents smoke get bronchitis and pneumonia more often than the children of non-smokers. Wheezing (气喘) and coughing are also more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.

Protecting Yourself and Others

The only way to fully protect yourself and loved ones from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is through 100 percent smoke-free environments. Opening a window; sitting in a separate area; or using ventilation (通风), air conditioning, or a fan cannot get rid of secondhand smoke exposure. If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family is to quit smoking.

1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the possible result of smoking?

A．Heart disease.	B．Pneumonia.
C．Lung cancer.	D．High blood pressure.

2. Which of the following are more vulnerable to secondhand smoke?

A．Adults.	B．The elderly.
C．Cancer patients.	D．Children and infants.

3. As a smoker, what should you do to protect your family from the harm of secondhand smoke?

A．Use an air conditioner.	B．Try to avoid smoking.
C．Stay in a separate room.	D．Open the windows for ventilation every day.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Smoking is harmful to health	B．Anti-smoking campaign is launched
C．Secondhand smoke: the real danger	D．Create a smoke-free environment