As pictures of the recent Northern California wildfires confirm, living on the edge of a forest comes with considerable dangers. But new research from Germany suggested closeness to a wooded area may not have all unfavorable effects.
In a study of older urban residents, it was found that living close to forest land is linked with strong, healthy functioning of a key part of the brain. This indicates that, compared with those who live in a mostly man-made environment, people who live on the boarder between city and forest may be better able to deal with stress.
“The findings suggest forests in and around cities are valuable resources that should be promoted,” writes a research team led by Simon Kuehn of the Max Plank Institute for Human Development in Berlin.
The researcher analyzed data on 341 participants in the Berlin Aging Study II, all of whom were between the ages of 61 and 82. They specifically looked at three different signals of brain structural function, each of which provided distinct information on several key brain regions. They also noted the amount of forest land within a one-kilometer distance of each participant’s home address.
“Our results reveal a significant positive association between the coverage of forest and amygdale (扁桃腺) function,” the researchers report. The amygdale is the set of neurons (神经元) that plays a key role in processing emotions, including fear and anxiety.
Perhaps surprisingly, Kuehn and her colleges found the amygdale function wasn’t germane to living close to urban green spaces such as parks, or bodies of water. Only closeness to forest land had this apparent positive effect.
More research will be needed to confirm that forest has a stronger, measurable impact on brain health than exposure to other forms of nature. But the evidence keeps mounting that, in stressful times, there is much to gain by surrounding yourself with plants and …
1.What’s the finding of the new research?
A.Brain activities relate to stress control.
B.Man-made environment may lead to stress.
C.Old urban citizens have healthier brain functions.
D.Living near a forest may help relieve pressure.
2.What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.The result of the new study.
B.The standard of choosing participants.
C.The preparations for the study.
D.The process of the new study.
3.What does the underlined part “germane to” in paragraph 6 mean?
A.beneficial to B.damaged by
C.relevant to D.limited to
4.What may be the author’s attitude towards living close to the forest?
A.Cautious. B.Favorable.
C.Ambiguous. D.Disapproving.
Starting Cycling
We have two services designed to give people the confidence and knowledge to cycle successfully.
Lessons
All our instructors have been trained to National Standards level of “Bike-ability”. This means you will be trained to a standard consistent across the whole country.
There are three levels of skills to progress through. Children would start levels 1&2, progressing from the playground or park to cycle on less busy local roads. Teenager and adult beginners can also learn levels 1&2 in an off-road and quiet environment.
Confident teenagers and adults can broaden their skills by learning level 3, using multi-lane roads and larger roundabouts. We provide both complete packages of lessons for the beginner or individual lessons tailors to the client. Whatever the need we can address and practice until perfect!
Cost is ＆30 per hour.
Guided Ride
We know that riding on the roads in London can be scary, and if you have to navigate(确定行车路线)as well it can become a real hard task! The Guided Ride service takes all the stress out of it for you by providing the following:
Route planned in advance to suit your skill level. Route map provided to you.
Cycle and equipment checked. We will teach you a simple method to check basic roadworthiness(车辆性能)of your bike that you can perform on a weekly basis.
Route discussed and focus given to any areas requiring special attention.
Cycle along with the instructor close behind. Here the traffic can be controlled by the instructor and rider observed.
We currently cover London Zones1&2. Please contact us if your requirements are outside of these areas.
Cost ＆30 per hour.
1.Where can level1&2 lessons for adult beginners be carried out?
A.Off road. B.Near large roundabouts.
C.On busy local roads. D.On multi-lane roads.
2.What services does the Guided Ride provide?
A.They check your cycle and equipment every week.
B.They help you to be familiar with all London roads.
C.They let users experience the busiest road in London.
D.They ensure users ride safely in London zones 1&2.
3.Who is the text probably intended for？
A.Bike riding lovers. B.Children and teenagers.
C.Travelers in London. D.Parents loving cycling.
Raised in a fatherless home, my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn’t soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home, Dad never met me, even in severe weather. If I grumbled, he’d say in his loudest father-voice, “That’s what your legs are for!” The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was canceled one spring evening.
It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop, I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home.
A row of hedge（树篱）edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey, I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening, the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge, moving toward the house. Upon closer observation, I realized it was the top of my father’s head. Then I knew, each time I’d come home, he had stood behind the hedge, watching, until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care, after all.
On later visits, that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home, I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair. “So! My son, it’s you!” he’d say, his face lengthening into pretended surprise.
I replied, “Yes, Dad, it’s me. I’m home.”
1.What does the underlined word “grumbled” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A.Accepted happily. B.Spoke unhappily.
C.Agreed willingly. D.Explained clearly.
2.What made the author feel upset was ______.
A.the feeling of being less than valued
B.the fear of seeing something moving
C.the tiredness after long hours in labs
D.the loneliness of riding the bus home
3.The author’s father watched behind the hedge because ______.
A.he didn’t want to meet his son at the doorway
B.he wanted to help his son build up courage
C.he was concerned about his son’s safety
D.he didn’t think his son was old enough to walk alone
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.My College Life. B.My Father’s Secret.
C.Terrible Journey Home. D.Riding Bus Alone.
假定你是李华，你的好友Jack是来自英国的一位交换生，即将在你市某中学学习半年时间。他想了解并学习中国画，最近来信希望你给他推荐一位美术老师。请根据下面的要点提示，给对方写一封回信。内容包括：
1.简介中国画；
2.帮助联系指导老师。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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。
Nusrat lives with her ten-year-old son, Ben. However，the rent kept increasing but the income gains don't change. He has struggled to find the means to buy for Ben a home that he deserves. For years, she has dreamed of giving
Ben the room he needs to run and plays just like other kids. Lucky, now thanks to the local government, they will have new house later this year.
Not only will their new house be twice as large as their current living place, and it will also come at half the month cost of their current apartment. Nusrat is exciting to finally start saving for her son's education, healthy and well-being.
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。
Ava Kopecky enjoyed her visit to the Disneyland Hotel last Sunday. And she 1. (present) with the Girl Scout Medal of Honor at a ceremony there for saving the life of a kid she did not know. Ava and her friends 2. (play) near the water at Woodbridge North Lake when she heard a boy crying for help. Ava was not 3. strong swimmer, but her quick thinking led her to find and extend a large stick to pull the boy and save him from 4. (drown). She then took him to the 5. (safe) and helped him reunite with his mother. Vikki Shepp, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County, presented the award 6. Ava，''Girl Scouts is prepared to do 7. (meaning) things. We are very proud of Ava's actions, which 8. (exact) reflected the Girl Scout Promise to help people at all times. '' For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of America has celebrated girls 9. actions saved the lives of others. Today, the Meritorious Service Awards are awarded to the children aged from 5 to 17 who attempt 10. (help) save a life under dangerous circumstances，regardless of risk to their own lives.
