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The Bigger Sleep
School starting times in America vary from an average of 7:48 am in go-getting Mississippi to 8:31 am in late-rising Connecticut. According to a survey by the National Centre for Education Statistics in 2017-18, only in two states — Alaska and Connecticut — do schools start after 8:30 am, the earliest recommended time by a number of medical organisations.
On October 13th Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, signed legislation setting a limit on starting times of half past eight for high-schoolers, in the hope that they will benefit from the extra time in bed.
There is plenty of reason to think they will. Adolescents require more sleep in the morning which will keep them energetic the whole day. A research review by scientists at the Centres for Disease Control finds that later school starting times correspond with improved attendance, less falling asleep in class, and better grades. The Rand Corporation estimates that moving to a half-past-eight start across the country would boost the economy by more than $80bn within a decade.
In response to the evidence, school districts across the country have begun to move starting times back, but California is the first state to take the leap. Parents and unions are often bitterly opposed. The California Teachers Association resisted the change, citing the financial burden on schools as they adjust to the new hours, as well as the burden on parents who work as laborers or in the service industry, and cannot start work later. Last year Mr Newsom’s predecessor, Jerry Brown, vetoed similar legislation, saying the decision should be left to school districts.
Supporters argue that it is appropriate for the state to set a minimum health-and-welfare standard, as it does in other areas. It will be up to school districts to decide whether to end the day later, or cut its length. Anthony Portantino, the democratic state senator who introduced the legislation, believes evidence of the change’s benefits will soon win over opponents in rural areas. “There really is no significant reason not to do this,” he says, “other than an overwhelming resistance to change from adults.”
The Bigger Sleep | |
Background to the legislation | • American schools have 1. starting times. • Only schools in Alaska and Connecticut 2. the recommended starting times. |
Content of the legislation | High-schoolers should start school no 3. than 8:30 am, which allows them extra time in bed. |
Benefits of the legislation | • Adolescents feel 4. with more sleep in the morning. • Later school starting times are linked to decreased 5., less falling asleep in class and better grades. • It is 6.that later school starting times can boost the economy. |
Opinions of the 7. | • Schools may bear the burden of 8. when they adjust to the new hours. • Parents working as laborers or in the service industry may 9.to get to work on time. |
Opinions of the supporters | • Setting a minimum health-and-welfare standard seems to be an appropriate practice. • Although an overwhelming resistance does 10. in adults, it is reasonable to make the change. |
At first, Michael Surrell didn’t see the black smoke or flames shooting from the windows of his neighbors’ home. He and his wife had just parked around the corner from their own house in Allentown, Pennsylvania, when they got a call from one of his daughters, “The house next door is on fire!” He went to investigate. That’s when he saw two women and a girl hysterical (歇斯底里的) on their porch.
“The baby’s in there!” one of the women cried. Though the fire department had been called, Surrell, then 64, instinctively ran inside. “The baby” was 8-year-old Tiara Roberts, the woman’s granddaughter and a playmate of Surrell’s three youngest kids, then 8, 10, and 12. The other two on the porch were Tiara’s aunt and cousin.
Entering the burning house was like “running into a bucket of black paint,” Surrell says. The thick smoke caused him to stumble blindly around, burned his eyes, and made it impossible to breathe. The conditions would have been hazardous for anyone, but for Surrell, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (慢性阻塞性肺疾病), they were life-threatening. He was the last person who should have run into a burning building—he has lung disease. But that didn’t stop him.
After a few minutes in the smoke filled house, he retreated outside to catch his breath. “Where is Tiara?” he asked desperately.“The second floor.” her aunt shouted back.
Surrell knew he couldn’t hold his breath for long. So he uttered a little prayer, “Well, Lord, this is it. You gotta help me, because I’m not coming out without that little girl.” Taking a deep breath, he went in a second time.
The darkness was overwhelming. Yet because the house had a similar layout to his, he found the stairs and made it to the second floor. He turned to the right and was met by intense heat. He was already out of breath.
“Baby girl, where are you?” His throat and lungs burned as if he’d inhaled fire instead of the smoke and soot in the air. Every blink stung his eyes. All he could hear was the crackling and popping of burning wood. ①.Still unable to see, Surrell fell to his knees on the hot wood floor. He crawled toward the sound, feeling around for any sign of the girl. An ominous thought crossed his mind: I’m probably gonna die up here.
Finally he touched something. A shoe, then an ankle. He pulled Tiara toward him. ② Her body was limp and she wasn’t breathing. He scooped her into his arms and stood. He felt the heat of the flames on his cheeks. Turning, he fought through the smoke and ran blindly into the blackness. The next thing he knew, he was at the front door, then outside. Surrell put Tiara down on the porch.
③ . A voice told him, “You have to breathe for her.” He started CPR—the first time he’d ever done so. The women stood behind him, praying silently. Soon a soot-filled cough came from Tiara’s throat. Surrell gave five more breaths. She coughed again. Her eyes flickered. He gave one final breath. She opened her eyes and took a breath on her own.
④ .Their eyes met. Surrell hugged her tight and said, “Uncle’s got you.” Soon after, his throat closed off.
Surrell woke up in the hospital a couple of days later, having suffered severe burns to his windpipe and the upper portion of his lungs. He spent over a week in the hospital. Tiara was released from the hospital after a few days. The fire exacerbated Surrell’s pulmonary condition, and he feels the effects even two years later. As a result, he takes extra medication that helps open his airways. “It’s a small price to pay,” he says. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Wouldn’t give it a second thought.”
1.Michael Surrell ran to save “the baby” mainly because ________.
A.he was on the scene casually
B.he was driven by instinct
C.his daughter was in danger
D.his own house was at risk
2.Why should Surrell be the last person to run into a burning building?
A.The fire department had been called.
B.He was 64 years old at that time.
C.The condition was life-threatening.
D.He had chronic pulmonary disease.
3.In the course of rescue, Surrell ________.
A.had to move out for breath because of smoke
B.was prevented by the overwhelming smoke
C.made it to the second floor without any trouble
D.could clearly hear the sound made by the baby
4.Which blank could the sentence “Then a weak but distinct voice emerged” be best put in?
A.① B.②
C.③ D.④
5.From the last paragraph, we can learn that ________.
A.Surrell came back to life a week later
B.Tiara had to stay in hospital for weeks
C.Surrell’s disease became more serious
D.Tiara needed further extra medication
6.What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A.Breathe for Her B.Struggle to survive
C.A small price to pay D.A man with lung disease
Eating red meat is linked to cancer and heart disease, but are the risks big enough to justify giving up juicy burgers and delicious steaks? Probably not, according to researchers who reviewed data from 12 clinical trials involving about 54,000 people. In a series of controversial papers, the researchers argue that the increased health risks tied to red meat are small and uncertain, and that cutting back likely wouldn't be worth it for people who enjoy meat.
Those conclusions go against established medical advice. They were swiftly attacked by a group of famous U.S. scientists who took the unusual step of trying to stop the papers from being published until their criticisms were addressed.
The new work does not say red or processed meats like hot dogs and bacon are healthy, or that people should eat more of them. The team’s reviews of past studies generally support the ties to cancer, heart disease and other bad health outcomes. But the authors say the evidence is weak, and that there’s not much certainty meat is really the cause, since other diet and lifestyle factors could be at play.
If the latest example of how divisive nutrition research has become, with its uncertainties leaving the door open for conflicting advice. Critics say findings often aren't backed by strong evidence. Defenders counter that nutrition studies can rarely be conclusive because of the difficulty of measuring the effects of any single food, but that methods have improved.
Based on their analyses, the researchers said people do not have to cut back for health reasons. But they noted that their own advice is weak, and acknowledged that they didn't consider factors such as animal welfare and the environment. Indeed, the case that meat production is bad for animal welfare and the environment is stronger than the case that it's bad for human health, according to an editorial that accompanies the report.
Not all of the report authors agreed with its conclusions. Three of the 14 researchers said they support reducing red and processed meats. A coauthor of one of the reviews is also among those who called for a publication delay.
Those who pushed to postpone publication also questioned why certain studies were included in the reviews while others were left out.
As for his own diet, Dr. Gordon Guyatt, a member of the international research team that conducted the reviews, said he no longer thinks red or processed meats have significant health risks. But he said he still avoids them out of habit, and for animal welfare and environmental reasons.
1.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A.To introduce a new relationship between health and eating red meat.
B.To urge more people to keep away from eating red meat regularly.
C.To present a new controversial view on impacts of eating red meat.
D.To criticize nutrition studies for lacking of conclusive evidence.
2.What is the author’s attitude towards the new research?
A.Doubtful. B.Positive.
C.Disapproving. D.Objective.
3.Guyatt’s avoiding red meats has the weakest connection with ________.
A.health risks B.diet habits
C.animal welfare D.environmental protection
4.What can we learn from the recent research?
A.Red meats don’t have significant health risks.
B.Reducing meat consumption will be worth it.
C.The report authors have reached a consensus.
D.Consuming red meat will do good to health.
A study published in the journal Science reveals that since 1970, bird populations in the United States and Canada have declined by 29 percent, or almost 3 billion birds. The results show tremendous losses across diverse groups of birds and habitats — from iconic songsters such as meadowlarks to long-distance migrants such as swallows.
“These data are consistent with what we’re seeing elsewhere,” said co-author Peter Marra, former head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. It’s urgent to address ongoing threats, both because the domino effects (多米诺效应) can lead to the decay of ecosystems that humans depend on for our own health and livelihoods and because people all over the world cherish birds in their own right. Can you imagine a world without birdsong?”
Evidence for the declines emerged from detection of migratory birds in the air from 143 NEXRAD weather radar stations across the continent in a period spanning over 10 years, as well as from nearly 50 years of data collected through multiple monitoring efforts on the ground. Citizen-science participants also contributed a lot, for the analysis included citizen-science data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey coordinated by the Canadian Wildlife Service—the main sources of long-term, large-scale population data for North American birds.
The study noted that the largest factor driving these declines is likely the widespread loss and degradation of habitat, especially due to agricultural intensification and urbanization. Other studies have documented death from predation (捕食) by domestic cats; collisions with glass, buildings, and other structures; and pervasive (普遍的) use of pesticides associated with widespread declines in insects, an essential food source for birds. Climate change is expected to compound these challenges by altering habitats and threatening plant communities that birds need to survive.
“It’s a wake-up call that we’ve lost more than a quarter of our birds in the U.S. and Canada,” said co-author Adam Smith from Environment and Climate Change Canada. But the crisis reaches far beyond our individual borders. Many of the birds that breed in Canadian backyards migrate through or spend the winter in the U.S. and places farther south — from Mexico and the Caribbean to Central and South America. What our birds need now is an historic, hemispheric effort that unites people and organizations with one common goal: bringing our birds back.”
1.The underlined word “decay” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________
A.improvement B.worsening
C.changed D.threat
2.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A.New findings of the research.
B.Applications of the research.
C.Data sources of the research.
D.Methods of the research.
3.What Adam Smith said mainly implies that ________.
A.bird populations in America and Canada dropped by a quarter
B.the bird population crisis is not just within individual borders
C.there is little individuals can do to help increase bird populations
D.the solution to solving the crisis needs international cooperation
Traveling Tips
No Smoking
Federal and State Government Regulations do not allow you to smoke on board express coaches within Australia.
Luggace Allowance
As a fare paying customer you are entitled to take 2 pieces of personal luggage. Each must not exceed 75 cm in length, or weigh more than 20kg.
Excess luggage will be carried at the company’s excess luggage rate and depending on space availability may be required to be carried on another coach.
Luggage Tips
1) Keep your valuables with you. Money, jewellery, valuable documents, credit cards, keys, medications should be retained by you and not on the coach at meal or transport stops.
2) Use sturdy, lockable luggage. Do not use plastic bags as these may split during the transit.
3) Make sure you identify your luggage with a name tag.
4) Backpacks—stow all items and do not leave mugs, shoes, towels hanging off your backpack as these can get caught in other luggage and cause damage.
Departure Times
The time shown on your ticket is the coach departure time. If you are boarding halfway and not at a travel centre or terminal you should be at the pick up point 15 minutes ahead of this time, so you can be comfortably on board by the time the coach is due to leave. If you are boarding at a travel centre or terminal, please arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the published departure time and remember to allow extra time at peak travel times.
Dress Requirements
As a courtesy, and so as not to offend fellow travelers, a reasonable standard of clothing and footwear is required.
1.As a traveler, you can ________.
A.take the luggage 75 cm in length and 20kg in weight only
B.leave valuable belongings on coach when going for meals
C.identify your luggage by attaching a name tag to it
D.leave the mugs and shoes hanging off the backpack
2.Among the following traveling tips, which one is true?
A.Smoking is strictly forbidden all over the places within Australia.
B.Plastic bags should be avoided in case of split during the transit.
C.15 minutes ahead of the departure time should be guaranteed.
D.Standards of dress requirements have been specifically listed.
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, was seated in his room when a petition(请愿书) was brought to him. The King had just returned from hunting, and the glare of the sun, or some other _______, had so dazzled (使……目眩) his eyes that he found it difficult to _______ a single word of the writing.
So he called the servant boy. The poor boy _______ a poor reader, huddling (挤在一起) several words together _______ they were syllables of one long word, which he must get through with as speedily as possible. “Stop! Send me that little girl sitting there by the fountain.” The girl _______ pointed out by the King was the daughter of a royal _______, who had come to help her father weed the flower beds. She was somewhat _______ but took courage when the King told her that he only wanted her to _______ for him, as his eyes were weak.
Ernestine, the little girl, was _______ of reading, and often many of the neighbors would __________ at her father’s house to hear her. Those who could not read themselves would come with their letters from friends or children, so she formed the __________ of reading various sorts of handwriting promptly and well.
The King gave her the petition, and she rapidly __________ the opening lines to get some __________ of what it was about. It was from a poor widow, whose only son had been__________ into the army, although his health was delicate. His father had been killed in battle.
Ernestine read the petition with so much __________, and in tones so pure and distinct, that when she had finished, the King, into whose eyes __________ had started, cried excitedly, “Oh! now I understand what it is all about; but I might never have known its __________ had I trusted to that young gentleman. As for you, my young lady,” continued the King, “I know you will ask no better __________ than the pleasure of carrying to this poor widow my order for her son’s immediate discharge.”
How happy Ernestine was! Because of her good reading, the poor widow __________ her son. Ernestine also __________ did the servant boy good for, sorry for his bad reading, he began studying in earnest and finally became a lawyer.
1.A.result B.cause C.performance D.routine
2.A.make out B.set out C.polish up D.call up
3.A.turned B.grew C.became D.proved
4.A.so that B.in that C.as if D.even if
5.A.otherwise B.thus C.initially D.typically
6.A.cook B.guard C.painter D.gardener
7.A.alarmed B.puzzled C.excited D.inspired
8.A.act B.read C.calculate D.observe
9.A.cautious B.ashamed C.fond D.afraid
10.A.gather B.celebrate C.interact D.chat
11.A.plan B.league C.habit D.basis
12.A.went over B.broke down C.sorted out D.glanced through
13.A.truth B.idea C.description D.guidance
14.A.attracted B.drafted C.stationed D.transported
15.A.feeling B.emphasis C.dignity D.tension
16.A.hatred B.trust C.hopes D.tears
17.A.format B.address C.meaning D.audience
18.A.assistance B.bonus C.reward D.freedom
19.A.contacted B.regained C.defended D.relieved
20.A.indirectly B.deliberately C.temporarily D.appropriately
