Shinrin- yoku means"forest bathing".Forest bathing doesn't mean you take a bath in the forest;rather,you simply go for a walk in the woods or a city park,where you slacken by using all your senses to experience nature.
Yoshifumi Miyazaki,from Chiba University,is among a growing number of scientists who have begun studying the science behind the effects of nature on human health.In his book Shinrin-yoku:The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing,Miyazaki explains the techniques of forest bathing.
Miyazaki has an interesting theory about why shinrin-yoku is so effective.He points out that for more than 99,99%of the time,humans have lived in a natural environment.In fact,in 1800,only 3%of the world's population lived in cities,and by 2016,this figure reached 54%. This is only going to get worse;officials predict that by 2050,66%will live in cities.
This suggests we live in our modern society with bodies that are still used to the natural environment,he writes in the book,because"genes cannot change over just a few hundred years".The science behind the research studies he presents in the book makes a convincing case that forest bathing is an effective method for reducing stress in today's world.
Now city planners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of nature and are creating new kinds of "parks”out of empty spaces.There' re also more city gardens where people can grow vegetables.For kids,kitchen gardens in schools are becoming popular.As Miyazaki stresses,you don't have to find a formal park or garden to practice shinrin-yoku. Instead,you can enjoy the effects of nature wherever there' re plants.
Better yet,he says,we can bring nature closer to where we spend most of our time.Miyazaki's research has shown that just increasing the amount of plants in a room can affect the relaxation benefits of the room.What's more,even when people simply look at flowers,their bodies relax and stress levels decrease.
1.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 mean?
A.Behave. B.Entertain.
C.Anticipate. D.Relax.
2.How does the author mainly develop the third paragraph?
A.By giving examples.
B.By listing figures.
C.By making remarks.
D.By presenting research findings.
3.Why does forest bathing work effectively according to Miyazaki?
A.Human genes can change easily. B.Nature is part of the modern society.
C.Human body can integrate into nature. D.People can always get excited in nature.
4.Which of the following will Miyazaki agree on forest bathing?
A.It is easy to operate.
B.It is meant for gardeners.
C.It is unaffordable in the city.
D.It is inconvenient to practice.
A dog spent the last four years of his life waiting a crossroad in the Thai city of Khon Kaen as if waiting for someone. People originally thought the dog had been abandoned, but then realized that he looked healthy, so people asked around about him. It turned out that the dog had indeed been spending most of his time around that crossroad, but a woman had been coming round regularly to bring him food and water.
One day, while photographing the dog everyone called Leo, a reporter met the woman who had been taking care of him. She had come to drop off some food. After learning the story about the dog and the woman, the reporter decided to share the story on social media. The post soon went viral and the photos of Leo got shared hundreds of times. And the photos reached the eyes of Leo’s former old owner.
Nang Noi Sittisarn, a 64-year-old woman from Thailand’s Roi Et Province, almost had a heart attack when her daughter showed her a photo of the beloved dog named BonBon she had lost during a car trip. When she learned that he had been waiting for her in the same spot for the last four years，her heart melted(融化).
Auntie Noi told her daughter to drive her to where the dog was waiting. When she got there and called his name. BonBon，the poor dog started wiggling(扭动)his tail and came to her，but when she tried to take him home with her, he was unwilling to follow. She didn’ t want to force the dog to come with her so she agreed to leave him with his new master. However, she and her daughter will come to visit him regularly.
1.Why did the dog look healthy after separation from his former owner?
A.He walked around the crossroad constantly.
B.He was kept at a woman’s home all the time.
C.A local reporter brought him food and water.
D.A woman looked after him on a regular basis.
2.What does the underlined phrase “went viral” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Changed surprisingly. B.Spread quickly.
C.Appeared gradually. D.Fell directly.
3.How did Nang Noi Sittisam feel about the dog's waiting for her?
A.Shocked. B.Regretful. C.Touched. D.Proud.
4.What can we mainly learn from the story about the dog?
A.Unbelievable success is worth waiting for.
B.We should adjust ourselves to environments.
C.We need to learn to be faithful and thankful.
D.No one knows the result until the last minute
FITNESS CENTRE
The fitness centre offers a variety of activities for members of all ages throughout the week.
Activities for Monday 12 July, 2017:
Learn to swim. Classes for preschool children aged five and under start at 10:00 am. Classes last 30 minutes and parents must attend with their children. Don’t forget to book in advance, as places are limited, and to pack some warm clothes for after the lesson.
Woman’s aerobics (有氧运动). Sessions are for one hour and begin at 10:45 am, led by Melissa. Come along and join us every Monday for an exhilarating hour of exercise and fun. Leave your kids at the nursery and take time out for yourself. Wear a track-suit or something similar.
Lunchtime yoga. Take a break at lunchtime (1:00—2:00 pm) for an hour of meditation and yoga. Enjoy the peace and quiet of our meditation room, and relaxing sessions designed for active people with busy lives. Use your own mat for floor work or hire one from us for a small sum.
Family Shootaround. 10:00—5:30 pm. Family Shootaround is open for members and guests to bring the family out for basketball. Half court games are only during this time. There are no full court games during Family Shootaround hours. All participants must sign in at the front desk and wear a wristband during the play.
1.When will Melissa be working?
A.From 10:00 am to 10:30 am. B.From 10:45 am to 11:45 am.
C.From 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. D.From 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
2.Which activity may need extra fees?
A.Lunchtime yoga. B.Learn to swim.
C.Women’s aerobics. D.Family Shootaround.
3.What is the common requirement of the activities?
A.The need to sign in. B.The need to bring something.
C.The need to book in advance. D.The need to become a member.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the purpose of the staff meeting?
A.To find ways to help Mrs. Smith.
B.To announce Mrs. Smith’s current situation.
C.To figure out what’s wrong with Mrs. Smith.
2.Where did Mrs. Smith feel the pain?
A.In her arm. B.In her lung. C.In her shoulder.
3.How long has Mrs. Smith worked at the company?
A.Less than two weeks. B.About three months. C.Over five years.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where did the woman first meet the man?
A.In high school. B.In a chemistry competition. C.In college.
2.What did the man do after high school?
A.He went straight to university.
B.He traveled around the world.
C.He worked at a small school.
3.What is the school in Connecticut known for?
A.Its famous teachers.
B.Its foreign language department.
C.Its low cost.
4.What does the woman mean in the end?
A.It is enjoyable to study Chinese.
B.It is her lifetime goal to speak Chinese well.
C.It takes a long time to master a foreign language.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the woman say about playing basketball?
A.She finds it pretty easy.
B.She is good at it.
C.She knows the general rules.
2.Where did the woman buy the basketball?
A.In a store. B.On the street. C.At school.
3.What will the speakers do first?
A.Buy some special shoes.
B.Go home to change.
C.Find a basketball court.
