In recent years, stressed-out urbanites have been seeking refuge in green spaces for the proven positive impacts on physical and mental health, but the benefits of “blue space” — the sea and coastline, but also rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, even fountains — are less well publicized, yet the science has been consistent for at least a decade: being by water is good for body and mind.
“Many of the processes are exactly the same as with green space — with some added benefits, ” says Dr Mathew White, a senior lecturer at the University of Exeter.White says there are three established pathways by which the presence of water is positively related to health and happiness. First, there are the beneficial environmental factors, such as less polluted air and more sunlight. Second, people who live by water tend to be more physically active. Third — and this is where blue space seems to have an edge over other natural environments — water has a psychologically restorative effect. When you are sailing, surfing or swimming, says White, “you’re really in tune with natural forces there.” By being forced to concentrate on the qualities of the environment, we access a cognitive state honed over millennia. Water is, quite literally, immersive.
Catherine Kelly is a wellness practitioner who teaches classes in “mindfulness by the sea”. She says the sea has a meditative quality.
“To go to the sea is synonymous with letting go, ” says Kelly. “It could be lying on a beach or somebody handing you a cocktail. For somebody else, it could be a wild, empty coast. But there is this really human sense of: ‘Oh, look, there’s the sea’ — and the shoulders drop.”
1.Why do people go to the “blue space” for a relaxation ?
A.To seek positive effect on body and mind.
B.To have a good swim in the blue sea.
C.To consider the beneficial environmental factors.
D.To tend to be more careful and active.
2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A.The characteristics of the beneficial and friendly environmental factors.
B.The classification of being by water is good for body and mind.
C.The importance of the beneficial and friendly environmental factors.
D.The causes of being by water are good for body and mind.
3.What does the underlined word “immersive” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Being interested. B.Being forced.
C.Being involved. D.Being moved.
4.What does Catherine Kelly find about “going to the sea” according to the text?
A.Trick of the lesson B.Secret of the happiness.
C.Sense of human beings D.Broadness of the sea
One special grandmother is lending 100 years of wisdom to strangers on New York City’s upper West side. Her office attracts many New Yorkers, who wait for a chat with the woman.
Inside the office, you will find a laptop with 100-year-old grandmother Eileen Wilkinson waiting to chat. She may live across the country in Washington State, but thanks to her grandson, Mike Matthews, who is a social professor at New York University, she is now sharing words of wisdom for a chat.
“You can be anything you want, ” Eileen said. “Don’t complain about anything. You can do something about it.”
Over the past three months, hundreds of people have stopped by, chatting with Eileen as if they were old friends. “She completely gets a kick out of meeting New Yorkers because they are so open about their lives, ” said Matthews.
A music student asked for advice on a performance. Others were curious about life in 1917.
One boy said he was already planning his next visit. “She is so wise and energetic,” he said. “And she really doesn't look 100 years old. She looks as if she was in her early late 80s.”
Eileen spent most of her life as a homemaker and mother. She said truly listening gave her advice-giving ability and she was honest.
Eileen hosts online chats and has two accounts of the social media. “It works both ways because I get great joy talking to them, ” she said. Eileen isn't slowing down any time soon, bringing new meaning to the saying, “The road to your grandma’s house is never long.” She said the secret to her long life was living a good life.
1.How does Eileen help strangers?
A.By chatting with them.
B.By working for them.
C.By lending money to them.
D.By giving speeches to them.
2.What do strangers think of Eileen?
A.She is a responsible mother.
B.She is good at performing.
C.She is full of energy and wisdom.
D.She is a woman of caring for education.
3.What will Eileen do in the future?
A.Set up online chats.
B.Make her life simple.
C.Bring new meaning to the saying.
D.Continue to share her wisdom.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Ways of Living a Good Life.
B.A Special 100-year-old Woman.
C.Helping the Strangers Is Interesting.
D.The Secret to a 100-year-old Woman’s Long Life.
Whether you're looking for antiques, food, collectors' items or just random junk, our rich heritage has produced some of the finest markets in the world. Here are 3 of them.
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Traders have long sold their goods in the shadow of the city’s spectacular castle, which dates back to 1130—－and it’s a tradition that shows no sign of abating. Edinburgh Farmers’ Market takes place on Castle Terrace every Saturday and attracts a huge crowd with its locally sourced goods. The market is now in its 15th year and champions the very best in Scottish produce, from knitwear to organic water buffalo and lobster.
Ford Airfield Market
Looking for an old-style prosthetic leg, a ventriloquist’s dummy, or even a suit of armour? The chances are you will find what you are after—and plenty of other random stuff—at one of the hundreds of stalls here. A market and two huge car-boot sales are held throughout the week all year round, come rain or shine.The market has been running for 25 years and is a well-known treasure trove for antiques experts looking for a bargain.
St George’s Market
Follow your nose along May Street in Belfast and the smells of delicious home-made food from across the globe will land you in St George’s Market. With three different weekly markets accompanied by fresh food and live music, St George’s was once voted the best in the UK. When Belfast became an important port in the 17th century, the range of goods grew and trading thrived.
1.What is special about Edinburgh Farmers’ Market?
A.It lasts a long time.
B.It provides local products.
C.It offers all kinds of food.
D.It attracts antiques experts.
2.When was the trading at St George’s Market booming?
A.It the year of 1130.
B.Fifteen years ago.
C.In the 17th century
D.Twenty-five years ago.
3.Where is this text most likely from ?
A.A diary. B.A novel.
C.A website. D.A magazine.
假设你是李华，为迎接即将来访的美国某中学生代表团，你校决定举办英语讲故事比赛。请你为校 英语报写一则通知，内容包括：
1. 比赛时间和目的；
2. 比赛内容中国传统文化故事；
3. 报名截止日期。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Notice
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Student Union
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共 有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧ ），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
There are times in our lives that we may feel as if we need to walk away from everything. We are tired of trying so hard to work towards our fixing goal in life. Life seems to have become too complex to bear it. It is for these times in our lives that we need to remind ourselves that this will pass. We have joy, love or laughter in our lives which we had simply lost sight of.
There is nothing wrong with taking a step back. Give ourselves the time to rest and relax may be all we need to return to our normal activity. We'll then work energetic with new sense of commitment to our best life.
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。
After college I wanted to make a difference in the world, so I became a volunteer teacher and 1.(send) to Namibia• Honestly t my first choice wasn’t Africa? but I am extremely grateful that I had the chance. So with a group of 2.(equal) eager young graduates? I went on my journey.
Schools were quite bare, and the students 3. ( have) tiring days, walking miles to get to school often barefoot. With their mountains 4. work at home, few 5. (possession) and little opportunity, these children were joyful ， which I admired.
This 6. (be) my first time living abroad in a different culture, simply getting used to the living conditions was 7. big adjustment. I had no electricity, running water, phone or the Internet, imagine no air-conditioning at a place 8. the temperature often goes beyond 38 degrees Celsius! Some days it was just too hot to move.
However? I could end each day with a 9.(glory) African sunset. And at night, I had a light-pollution-free view of the entire Milky Way. Before Namibia, I never thought I would survive in such an environment. My experience awakened me to not only the limitations 10. ( place) on ourselves, but also our amazing ability to adapt. Stepping out of your comfort zone in another culture will certainly make your life worthwhile.
