1 . Most people have been taught that losing weight is a matter of simple math. Cut calories — specifically 3,500 calories, and you’ll lose a pound. But as it turns out, experts are learning that this decades-old strategy is actually pretty misguided. “This idea of ‘a calorie in and a calorie out’ when it comes to weight loss is not only outdated, it’s just wrong,” says Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity specialist at Harvard Medical School. The truth is that even careful calorie calculations don’t always yield (产生) uniform results.
How your body burns calories depend on a number of factors. Three factors affect how your body processes (加工、消耗) calories.
Your gut microbiome (肠道微生物). Trillions of organisms live in your gut, and the important types may influence how many calories your body absorbs from food. This may occur because some types of organisms are able to break down and use more calories from certain foods than other types of organisms. Researchers have found that people who are naturally thin have different types of organisms living inside them than those who are overweight.
Your metabolism (新陈代谢). Each body has a “set point” that governs weight, says Dr. Stanford. This set point reflects several factors, including your genes, your environment, and your behaviors. A region at the base of your brain stands guard to keep your body weight from dipping below that set point — which is not really a bonus if you’re trying to lose weight.
The type of food you eat. Your food choices may also influence your calorie intake, and not just because of their specific calorie content. One 2019 study published in Cell Metabolism found that eating processed foods seems to spur people to eat more calories compared with eating unprocessed foods.
If counting calories isn’t a dependable way to manage your weight, what can you do to shed extra pounds? Dr. Stanford recommends the following.
●Focus on diet quality. When planning your meals, focus on choosing unprocessed foods, including lean meats, whole grains, and lots of fruits and vegetables in their natural form.
●Exercise regularly. Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Moderate exercise is done at a level where you can talk, but not sing.
●Consult a professional. “A lot of people believe it’s a moral failing if they are unable to lose weight,” says Dr. Stanford. But it’s not. As with other medical conditions, many people will need help from a doctor. Successful weight loss may require more than just diet and exercise. “Only 2% of people who meet the criteria for the use of anti-obesity medications actually get them. This means that 98% of people who could be treated aren’t,” she says, “Don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it.”
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?| A．Calorie calculations always lead to good results. |
| B．Losing weight lies in losing calorie. |
| C．The old theory about losing weight is wrong. |
| D．If you cut 7,000 calories, you will lose 2 pounds. |
| A．focus on the quality of your diet |
| B．choose the types of food you consume |
| C．adjust your brain to the “set point” |
| D．reduce the organisms living in your gut |
| A．weigh | B．produce | C．lose | D．cost |
| A．a healthy lifestyle is key to weight loss |
| B．losing weight can be double-edged |
| C．healthy eating keeps you losing weight |
| D．cutting calories is essential for weight loss |
2 . While many people aren’t getting enough calcium (钙), new research cautions that some people may have the opposite problem: they could be getting too much. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on calcium supplements in hopes of delaying osteoporosis, a kind of bone disease that disables many elderly women and some men. Yet recent studies link calcium supplements to a higher risk of heart attacks. Last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation against taking calcium and vitamin D，saying there wasn’t enough evidence of benefit to justify the risk.
For generations of Americans who grew up encouraged to drink milk to maintain strong bones, the reports raised troubling questions: Is calcium not so important after all? Are the supplements unsafe? And how much is too much? “It’s gotten very confusing but it doesn’t need to be,” says Ethel Siris, director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center in New York. How much calcium people need varies by age and gender. “Adults generally need 1,000 mg daily, rising to 1,200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70, according to guidelines issued in 2010. Children need 1,300 mg daily during the peak growing years of 9 to 18.”
People also need sufficient levels of vitamin D to absorb the calcium. The IOM recommends 600 international units a day for most adults, and 800 daily after age 70，although many physicians recommend more. It is difficult to take in that much vitamin D from food sources, so experts say many people should take vitamin D in supplement form.
Getting adequate calcium from food is easier. For example, 8 ounces of milk or 6 ounces of yogurt has 300 mg of calcium, and one cup of spinach has 270 mg.
But studies linking calcium supplements to heart attack have made experts more cautious of excess calcium than before. A study of 24,000 Germans published in the journal Heart last month, found that those who got their calcium exclusively from supplements were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack as those who took no supplements.
Exactly how calcium supplements might contribute to heart attacks baffles experts. “Nobody has associated the calcium in your bloodstream with calcification(钙化)in your arteries(动脉),” says Nieca Goldberg, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center. Still, she says she now urges patients get their recommended calcium from food rather than from supplements to avoid possible problems.
Osteoporosis experts also urge patients not to take more than the recommended amount of calcium. “People should definitely stop taking two big calcium supplements a day,” says Dr. Dawson-Hughes. Even if the risks remain unclear, taking more than the body can absorb doesn’t benefit bones,” so it’s not worth any risk.” She adds.
1. According to the new studies, what might be the result of taking much calcium?| A．Delaying aging. | B．Building muscles. |
| C．Causing heart problems. | D．Curing bone diseases. |
| A．Taking calcium supplements is unsafe. |
| B．Adults need more calcium than children. |
| C．It is much safer to take calcium from food. |
| D．Age and gender determine the amount of calcium taken. |
| A．Interest. | B．Puzzle. |
| C．Amaze. | D．Frighten. |
| A．It is helpful to take two calcium supplements a day. |
| B．It is important to maintain strong bones for women. |
| C．It is unnecessary to take too much calcium supplement. |
| D．It is best to take calcium and vitamin D from supplement. |
Most of us say we don't have time for exercise. However, many experts say that exercise plays an important role in making our body healthy.
Strengthen Your Immune System
One aspect of the Covid-19 pandemic that has kept us guessing since the early days is why some people who get the virus don’t suffer much and others become desperately ill. What factors give some people a stronger immune system than others, regardless of age?
We know that our immune systems slowly decline as we age. The difference in rate of decline between individuals is one of science’s big mysteries. The immune system is complex, but most of us understand the basics: Our bodies detect an intruder（入侵者）– a virus or bacterium, and produce white blood cells to combat the problem.
No one knows why our bodies don’t produce as many immune cells as we get older. Researchers got some insights, especially regarding T cells, which are white blood cells that attack viruses. We possess two broad categories of T cells: “memory” cells that have encountered a certain pathogen（衣原体）and “remember” how to fight it. The other is “naïve” cells, which have yet to fight anything. As we age, it seems that the number of naïve T cells decreases.
And those are exactly the cells needed to recognize newly emerging microorganisms like the Covid-19 virus. This means that when that virus – something our immune systems haven’t seen before – shows up, most of us don’t have memory T cells to use, so the naïve cells have to take on the fight. Since older folks have fewer naïve cells to fight with, as a group they are more vulnerable.
The reasons why these key cells decline over time could be various and genetics plays a part. But it’s debatable how big a part compared with environment and lifestyle.
Chronic low-grade inflammation (炎症) that develops with advanced age can also affect the immune system. Lifestyle factors—poor sleep, ongoing stress, and weight gain – are common causes, as are systemic issues such as autoimmune diseases and decreased liver or kidney function. This inflammation causes the immune system to operate abnormally, which accelerates the aging process and can cause many other diseases.
While you can’t do anything about your genetic makeup, slowing it down can mean a higher immune reserve when you need it most. Fortunately, many factors that positively affect your immune system are within your control, including regular workouts and eating properly. Regular workouts boost immune function and lower inflammation. Exercises strengthen the body and may be the most important lifestyle intervention (干预) you can add. Eating right and avoiding obesity, whose inflammatory effect is deadly, are common sense.
Besides, research has shown that stress can speed immune senescence (衰老). Self-care in this area is critical, from anti-stress activities to asking for help in unresolved stressful situations.
The pandemic has changed people’s lives and it will lead to a new era in immunity research. If we can do a wider search rather than chase after individual diseases, we will handle all immune challenges better.
1. How does the immune system work?2. Why are the old considered more vulnerable?
3. Paraphrase the underlined sentence “But it’s debatable how big a part compared with environment and lifestyle.”
4. Explain how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed your lifestyle. (about 40 words)
The World Health Organization defines self- care as the ability of individuals, families and communities to be and stay
The WHO also defines self- care as eating well, being active, and living in
6 . While many people aren't getting enough calcium, new research cautions that some people may have the opposite problem: They could be getting too much. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on calcium supplements in hopes of delaying osteoporosis the brittle bone disease that cripples many elderly women and some men. Yet recent studies link calcium supplements to a higher risk of heart attacks. Last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation against taking calcium and vitamin D, saying there wasn't enough evidence of benefit to justify the risk.
For generations of Americans who grew up encouraged to drink milk to maintain strong bones, the reports raised troubling questions: Is calcium not so important after all?! Are the supplements unsafe? And how much is too much? “It's gotten very confusing but it doesn't need to be,” says Ethel Siris, director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center in New York. How much calcium people need varies by age and gender.“Adults generally need 1,000 mg daily, rising to 1,200 mg for women over 50 and men over 70, according to guidelines issued in 2010. Children need 1,300 mg daily during the peak growing years of 9 to 18.”
People also need sufficient levels of vitamin D to absorb the calcium. The IOM recommends 600 interactional units a day for most adults, and 800 daily after age 70, although many physicians recommend more. It is difficult to take in that much vitamin D from food sources, so experts say many people should take vitamin D in supplement form.
Getting adequate calcium from food is easier. For example, 8 ounces of milk or 6 ounces of yogurt has 300 mg of calcium, and one cup of spinach has 270 mg.
But studies linking calcium supplements to heart attack have made experts more cautious of excess calcium than before. A study of 24,000 Germans published in the journal Heart last month, found that those who got their calcium exclusively from supplements were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack as those who took no supplements.
Exactly how calcium supplements might contribute to heart attacks baffles cardiologists. “Nobody has associated the calcium in your bloodstream with calcification in your arteries," says Nieca Goldberg, medical director of the Joan H. Tisch Center. Still, she says she now urges patients get their recommended calcium from food than from supplements to avoid possible problems.
Osteoporosis experts also urge patients not to take more than the recommended amount of calcium. “People should definitely stop taking two big calcium supplements a day,” says Dr. Dawson-Hughes. Even if the risks remain unclear, taking more than the body can absorb doesn't benefit bones, “so it's not worth any risk.” She adds.
1. According to the new studies, taking much calcium might ________.| A．delay aging | B．build muscles |
| C．cause heart problems | D．cure bone diseases |
| A．Taking calcium supplements is unsafe. |
| B．Adults need more calcium than children. |
| C．Age and gender determine how much calcium is needed. |
| D．It is safer to take calcium from food than from supplements. |
| A．Interest | B．Amaze |
| C．Frighten | D．Puzzle |
| A．Taking two calcium supplements a day is good for health. |
| B．It might be wiser to take recommended calcium from food. |
| C．It is easy for people to obtain enough Vitamin D from food. |
| D．The benefits of taking calcium supplements outweigh its risks. |
7 . Take the Money and Run
A Latin phrase beloved by every old-fashioned British schoolmaster was mens sana in corpore sano—a healthy mind in a healthy body. Greater physical activity is associated with better mental, as well as physical health. And it might also be linked to greater worker productivity, and thus faster economic growth. That is the conclusion of a new report from a European think tank—RAND.
The RAND study looks at different measures: absenteeism(when workers take time off for illness)and presenteeism(when they turn up for work but are less productive because of sickness). The latter measure was self-reported by employees, who were asked whether their work was negatively affected by health issues. The survey suggests that between 3 and 4.5 working days each year are lost as a consequence of workers being physically inactive. This is between 1.3% and 2% of annual working time. Most of this was down to presenteeism.
Another potential gain from improved fitness is reduced health-care costs. In America, where health care is often provided through employment-based systems, firms could benefit. RAND estimates that total American health savings could be $ 6 billion a year by 2025. But the study's authors conclude that if people met certain exercise targets, global GDP could be around 0.17-0.24% higher by 2050. Nothing to laugh at in a world of slowing growth.
How to encourage workers to become more active? Rewards are useful but only if they have conditions: giving all employees free gym membership does not seem to work. Another RAND Europe study examined an experiment in which workers were each given an Apple watch, payable in installment (分期付款)at a discounted price—but only to those who agreed to have their physical activity monitored. Monthly repayments depended on how much exercise they took.
If they met the targets they ended up paying 10% of the watch's list price; those who took no exercise paid the full price. This approach takes advantage of a fact that people are eager to avoid paying more. On average, those participating in the scheme undertook 30% more exercise than before.
The problem is that many people are too optimistic about their health, ignoring the risks they face. This means that participation in workplace exercise plans tends to be low, around 7% in the sample studied by RAND. Firms are not the only ones that can encourage a healthier lifestyle; friends and families are likely to be more important. But businesses can play a bigger role.
If RAND is right, this may bring them financial benefits. Company taskmasters may yet grow fond of an adapted saying: mens sana in corporate sano.
1. What is the conclusion of the RAND report in Paragraph1?| A．Income affects the popularity of gym among workers. |
| B．Physical health definitely results in mental health. |
| C．Team sports open up opportunities of career building. |
| D．Greater physical activity may be beneficial to economy. |
| A．To highlight the urgency to reduce health-care cost. |
| B．To predict the trend of global GDP by the year 2050. |
| C．To clarify the benefit of improved fitness to economy. |
| D．To warn against the slowing down of world finance. |
| A．Rewarding exercise takers with reduced repayment. |
| B．Monitoring employees physical activities every month. |
| C．Educating employees on the benefits of regular exercise. |
| D．Offering employees fancy sports equipment free of charge |
I: introduction; P: point; SP: subpoint; C: conclusion
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
8 . The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday? ●Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day. ●Step:Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day. 2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday? ●Finding:Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day-- half of the number doctors recommend. ●Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day -- often inviting germs (病菌) to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds. 3. How often do you think about fighting germs? ●Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should. ●Step:Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge (海绵)that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds. |
1. Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth. |
| B．We should keep from touching our faces. |
| C．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle. |
| D．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet. |
| A．Most of them have good habits. |
| B．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day. |
| C．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week. |
| D．All of them are fighting germs better than expected. |
| A．twice a day. | B．three times a day. | C．four times a day. | D．eight times a day. |
| A．a guide book. |
| B．a book review. |
| C．a popular magazine. |
| D．an official document. |
1. 健康生活的益处；
2. 如何保持健康生活。
注意：
1. 词数不少于90；
2. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
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Dear Jim,
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Yours,
Li Hua
More than 1 billion people aged from 12 to 35 are at the risk of losing their hearing from
