“Mom, I don’ t like you,” my two-year-ol...

Cold weather is good for you

With winter approaching, people begin to complain about cold weather. 1. There’ s plenty to love about cold weather. And there’ s plenty of evidence that cooler temperatures can be part of a healthy life.

First, cooler temperatures can help you lose weight. It can also help you sleep better. You might feel uncomfortable at first if you cool your bedroom down. But if you, for example, switch your bedroom temperature from 72 down to 62 degrees gradually over a few weeks, your body will adjust. 2.

I have long kept my winter house temperature at 62 degrees. How did I find that number? Well, I experimented on myself about eight years ago. 3. I started at 66 and turned it down one degree every few days until 60. I found when the temperature was colder than 62, I couldn’t focus. But 62 was perfect. Another benefit for me was that it also kept me clear-headed while working at home.

Interestingly, science also says 62 degrees is the magic number for brainwork. 4. It said 62 degrees was the temperature at which the schoolboy subjects of the study functioned perfect. And while we’ re speaking of work and school, other research shows that people study better when the weather outside is “bad”.

5. But according to a Harvard Health Letter from 2010, proper cold temperatures could be good for skin because it trains blood vessels in the skin to be responsive. So, rosy cheeks ! There’ s no reason to be afraid of winter weather. Hug it and you, too, can enjoy the season.

A. I recently read a 1972 study.

B. And you’ll save money on energy costs as well.

C. Many people like to use cold water to wash their face.

D. At that time, I worked at home and liked warm temperature.

E. Most of us think cold weather leads to dry skin and wrinkling.

F. The reason was that I hated spending money on heating bills.

G. But if you’ re active and healthy, it doesn’t have to be a negative thing.

    Wolves strike fear into the hearts of many species, humans included. Our fear of them has brought them to the edge of dying out, as we have cruelly killed them as competitors and trouble-makers. But researchers are discovering that the very fear they put into prey（被捕食者）species is exactly what helps make ecosystems（生态）healthy.

Yellowstone National Park is a typical example of just how wolves can help repair an ecosystem. An October 2018 study analyzed 40 years of research on large animals inside the park.

“Yellowstone has benefited from the reintroduction of wolves in ways that we did not anticipate, especially the complexity of biological interactions（互动） in the park,” explained Mark Boyce, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.  “We were really surprised at that and we’ d never have seen these responses if the park hadn’t adopted ecological-process management—allowing natural ecological processes to take place with least human intervention.”

After the wolves were re-introduced at Yellowstone, willow and cottonwood trees increased in number. The population of bears and bison also rose and what was once a ruling deer-wolf interaction is now more diverse.

To learn more about just how wolves are beneficial, a short documentary from Quest explains how the presence of wolves influences the behavior of deer, which eventually makes entire ecosystems more biologically diverse and healthy. In this documentary, biologist Aaron Wirsing explored why wolves and other top predators （捕食者） were needed for diverse ecosystems to develop. Using a simple video camera, Wirsing is gaining a unique view point on predator-prey relationships and changing the way we think about wolves.

The research is one more piece of evidence for why protecting these top predators is important not just for wolves as a species, but for hundreds of species at every level of an ecosystem. The fear they bring along may be the very angle that helps save them from dying out.

1.What does the underlined word “anticipate” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A. Expect. B. Understand.

C. Notice. D. Accept.

2.For what purpose was a documentary made?

A. To introduce how wolves behave in the wild.

B. To show how wolves benefit from ecosystems.

C. To record how Aaron Wirsing observed wolves.

D. To study what good wolves can do to ecosystems.

3.What is the significance of the research?

A. It proves wolves feed on hundreds of species.

B. It helps prove the importance of protecting wolves.

C. It shows the complex relationships between species.

D. It provides evidence that wolves are endangered animals.

4.What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The fear of wolves is beneficial to ecosystems.

B. The fear of wolves put them in danger of disappearing.

C. Yellowstone National Park owes its healthy ecosystems to wolves.

D. The introduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park is a success.

    Some of the world’ s biggest companies—Apple, Amazon, Facebook—didn’ t exist 30 years ago. So what firms are we working for in 2050? That’ s a question put forward by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his new book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century”.

He argues that because technology is changing so fast, it’ s one of the first times in human history when we don’t know what jobs will look like in the coming three decades.  “So the best bet is to focus on emotional intelligence（EQ） ,” he said. “Information is the last thing the kids need. They have too much of it.”

In this book, he focuses on the various challenges facing us today. As he writes in the book’ s introduction: “What are today’s greatest challenges? What should we pay attention to? What should we teach our kids?” One area where these questions crop up is artificial intelligence （AI）. Harari believes that AI will completely affect the job market for the next generation of workers.

His first two books—“Sapiens” and “Homo Deus”—became international bestsellers, selling more than 12 million copies worldwide. They were praised by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama and Bill Gates. Harari’ s books, about the past and future of humanity, attract a great number of fans. Fellow Israeli, actress Natalie Portman, is a fan. So is American R&B star Janelle Monae.

As for Bill Gates, he might be Harari’ s biggest fan.  So when the New York Times asked him to review Harari’ s latest books, he jumped at the opportunity. “All the three books wrestle with some version of the same question: What will give our lives meaning in the decades and centuries ahead?” Gates wrote in his review. “So far, human history has been driven by a desire to live longer, healthier, happier lives. If science is eventually able to give that dream to most people, and large numbers of people no longer need to work, what reason will we have to get up in the morning?”

1.What is the best way to help students face the uncertain future according to Harari?

A. Teaching them advanced technology.

B. Providing them with more information.

C. Improving their emotional intelligence.

D. Reminding them of fierce competitions.

2.What does Harari stress in his new book?

A. The bright future of the future workers.

B. Different challenges in face of people.

C. Lessons humans should learn from history.

D. The disadvantages of artificial intelligence.

3.What can we learn about Harari?

A. He is Bill Gates’ good friend. B. He has a deep understanding of AI.

C. He is highly thought of by everyone. D. His books are well received in the world.

4.What is talked about in all of Harari’ s three books?

A. The desire to enjoy life. B. The limitless opportunities in the future.

C. The driving force of human history. D. The source of life meaning in the future.

    I waited half an hour, set the board, and sat in the studio, reviewing my questions until the telephone lines flashed.

“Hello ?”

“This is Connie Chung. I’m so sorry I’m late.”

Connie Chung was one of the only four women anchors （主播） to make it into the club of major evening network television news. For almost an hour we talked about the industry. When I asked if she ever had an instructor throughout her trials, she turned around and offered to instruct me. When I asked why she decided to do it, she simply replied, “Because you’re good.”

That afternoon I rushed home and told my mother what had happened. Without looking up, she just said “Good for you.” Hearing this, I felt a sense of loss.  Her consistent response always made me feel under-appreciated.

Until then I had been searching for something that I would never get—that sense of love and acceptance in a house full of negativity （消极）.

I knew I needed to get rid of all the negativity in my life first, so I packed my bags and walked out of the house, thinking a risk would allow me to open myself to the world again and receive all the positive energy that I needed.

Then radio became my way of connecting with others. My ability to book high-level guests and celebrities（名人）was gradually recognized and eventually all the words of encouragement from past guests and colleagues helped me to re-build my confidence levels. “I can do this,” I kept telling myself, and pushed even harder to find my next aim.

People had faith in me, so I developed faith in myself. Their positive attitudes towards themselves and towards me helped me develop my own positive attitude, leading to productive interactions with celebrities and adding to my list of instructors.

I may not have started life surrounded by positivity but I surely feel that I am surrounded by it now. It’ s amazing how positivity builds on itself.

1.What was the author probably doing at the beginning of the text?

A. He was preparing for a show. B. He was looking for an instructor.

C. He was waiting to be interviewed. D. He was broadcasting news in the studio.

2.How did the author’s mother react when told about Connie’s decision?

A. She felt excited. B. She didn’t believe it.

C. She was very grateful. D. She didn’t take it seriously.

3.Why did the author leave home?

A. To broaden his view. B. To escape punishment.

C. To keep away from negativity. D. To set up a home of his own.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A. The Strength of Positivity B. My Goal in Career

C. My Ability in Management D. The Friendship Between Anchors

    On Sept. 19 the Westchase Elementary PTA （ Parent-Teacher Association） will hold its Wizard Walk. The Wizard Walk is a locally organized, healthy alternative to traditional product sales that will raise money to support all PTA programs and events for the year. Remaining money will be applied to an on-going capital campaign to build a new playground.

The Wizard Walk will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 28, from 8 a. m. to noon at the Westchase Recreation Center Field.  Volunteers will be needed throughout the event.  Look for more Wizard Walk information and volunteer sign-up links in your student’s folder, or contact（联系）Laura Kohler at president＠ westchasepta. org.

The PTA is also holding a year-long Spirit Stick fundraiser（资金筹集活动）. Spirit Sticks are small and students can display them on a key ring on their backpacks, which represent a variety of interests and accomplishments. There will be many ways to earn a Spirit Stick （good grades, great behavior, exceptional attendance, etc. ） and opportunities to purchase the limited edition sticks for just  $1 every Friday in the courtyard. For more information, contact Nikki Pivnichny at fundraising@ westchasepta. org.

In addition to new fundraising programs, the PTA is partnering with our Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Kiersten Rivenburg, on a new campaign called Kindness Counts. Look for new recognitions and rewards as we continue to promote kindness from our children, staff and parents throughout the year. For more information, contact Laura Smith at kindnesscounts@ westchasepta. org.

Now in its eighth year, the After-School Enrichment Program （ASE） is bringing back some favorite programs and offering some new ones. Students will have the opportunity to explore and develop a variety of new interests. Class schedules will be available soon. Registration starts on Sept. 7. Fall session begins Sept. 21 -22. For more information, contact Jennifer Newman at ase@ westchasepta. org.

1.What is the purpose of the Wizard Walk?

A. To donate to an on-going training program.

B. To exchange traditional products.

C. To support the building of a new school building.

D. To collect money for certain programs and events.

2.What can we learn about Spirit Sticks?

A. They can be used as key rings.

B. They are made by students themselves.

C. The limited edition sticks can be bought.

D. Only students with good grades can get them.

3.If students want to develop a new hobby, they can get in touch with ________.

A. Laura Kohler B. Nikki Pivnichny

C. Laura Smith D. Jennifer Newman