There is an English saying: “Laughter is best medicine.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can improve people’s health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercises. It increases blood pressure, the heart beating and breathing. It also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated(忍受) the pain for the longest time was the groups which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals in the brain which diminish both stress and pain.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients’ condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial(有益的) effects similar to those who are caused by laughter.
1.The main idea of the passage is ________.
A.laughter and physical exercises have similar effects.
B.smile can produce the same effects as laughter
C.pain can be reduced by laughter
D.laughter is best medicine
2.The underlined word “diminish” is similar to ________.
A.test B.stop C.reduce D.increase
3.Doctors hold laughter clinics ________.
A.to give better condition to their patients
B.in order to improve patients’ health
C.to make patients smile all the time
D.to prove smile and laughter have the same effect
My challenge for you is this： to read a book for 15minutes every single day for a month.
Let me explain a bit, by telling you where the challenge came from. I have many things in common with my dad, like music taste and sense of humor, but sadly reading isn't one of them. I can happily spend a whole day with a book, but my dad can't read a book for longer than about 5 minutes. He reads emails, websites and papers for work, but not books. He's busy, so I think sitting down to read for just 15minutes a day is a good way to relax and to introduce him to reading.
My dad is not the only person who avoids books. I know lots of people would rather relax on their computers or in front of the TV. Everyone is different and has their own interests, but I think there are lots of benefits to reading, which screen﹣based activities don't have.
Firstly, it's better for your eyes. Looking at screens can be very stressful for your eye muscles, and clearly you should avoid looking at screens for an hour before bed, to get a good night's sleep．
One thing I personally love reading, is being transported to another world﹣I often forget the time or things around me! Reading is a great way to switch off before you go to bed, because you think more about the world of the book, rather than the real world, so you can truly relax. I know you can be transported to a different world in a film or a TV show, but I think books do it better．
I also enjoy hearing what people are doing and finding out what they think. Reading gives me the chance to get to know hundreds of new people! It also teaches you to see things from other people's point of view, and understand other people's decisions or opinions. With a book, you can hear everything a character is thinking or feeling﹣you really can be inside someone else's head!
So give it a go! Take 15 minutes when you are waking up, going to bed, eating lunch, or having a coffee. If you read a lot, why not try 15 minutes of an English book, or pass the challenge on to someone else? Good luck, and happy reading!
1.The author mentions his father in the text to show ．
A.his father is busy
B.reading is important
C.his father likes reading
D.many people have no habit of reading
2.The author writes the text mainly basing on ．
A.his personal experience
B.some scientific experiments
C.his father's personal advice
D.knowledge from books
3.The underlined word "it" in Paragraph 5 refers to ．
A.helping readers sleep well
B.making readers feel relaxed
C.transporting readers to a different world
D.reminding readers of the real world
4.What is the author's attitude to reading？
A.Negative．
B.Uncertain．
C.Supportive．
D.Doubtful．
There are a number of reasons that can be given as to why children should be taught swimming at a young age. If your child knows the basic swimming skills, you can be at peace when your child is near the water. If you are in the process of teaching your child how to swim, then here are some points that you should keep in mind.
♦ Help your child pick a bathing suit. If you child wants to wear bathing suit and get wet then it is certain that your child will be able to handle the water.
♦ If the pool has steps, then it is great. Start from these to help your child gain some confidence. You should make sure that there is one place in the pool where your child can be left safely.
♦ The best way to teach your children to swim is to make them join swimming classes. In this way, you will be at peace because there is a professional trainer around your children who can teach them all the tricks of swimming. You can join in the parent-child lessons to make your child feel comfortable. If your child is a bit older, then get permission and sit by the pool to watch him/her learn. When you get your child admitted to swimming classes, make sure that the lessons go according to the swimming goals that you have set for your child.
Swimming is a fun activity and you can make it easy for your children to understand and coordinate(协调)the movements of their arms and legs will take some time. But, with regular practice and training this can be overcome. So, start with the basics and be around your children when they are learning how to swim. Once they know how to swim, then you can be at peace when they play around the water.
1.The pool with steps can make your children ________.
A.excited and clam B.confident and relaxed
C.nervous and uneasy D.strange and unusual
2.According to the text the best way for children to learn swimming is to ________.
A.train themselves with their skilled parents
B.learn from morning till night without break
C.join swimming classes with professional trainers
D.get a chance to sit by the pool to watch trainers swim
3.Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A.Teaching Your Children to Swim. B.Gaining Experience of Swimming.
C.Learning to Swim with Your Child. D.Swimming Can Make People Healthy.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How many rooms does Peter need?
A.2. B.3. C.4.
2.Which meal is free of charge?
A.Breakfast. B.Lunch. C.Supper.
3.When will Peter check out(结账离开)?
A.On August 10th.
B.On August 11th.
C.On August 13th.
4.Who is probably the speaker?
A.A tour guide.
B.A hotel clerk(服务台接待员).
C.Peter’s secretary(秘书).
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the man?
A.He is good at saving money.
B.He thinks saving is unnecessary.
C.He finds saving a little bit difficult.
2.What percentage of allowance(零花钱)does the woman try to save?
A.10%. B.30%. C.50%.
3.What does the woman say about saving?
A.It’s a culture.
B.It’s very difficult.
C.It brings surprises.
4.What does the man hope the woman to do?
A.Talk to her mother.
B.Give him some advice.
C.Get used to saving.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why does the woman talk to the man?
A.To get a discount.
B.To ask for his opinion.
C.To learn more information.
2.What color does the woman dislike?
A.Red. B.Yellow. C.Blue.
3.What’s the woman’s final decision?
A.Take the purple dress.
B.Wait for the sales.
C.Go to other stores.
