We know them when we see them: The TV shows and movies we love, even though we just know they’re bad. The worthless books we simply can’t put down.
Yes, these are our guilty pleasures — what some people consider the junk food in our media diets. But if we enjoy them, why should we feel guilty? As it turns out, these so-called “guilty” pleasures can actually be good for us, so long as they’re enjoyed in moderation.
According to Robin Nabi, a professor at the University of California, a guilty pleasure is something that we enjoy, but we know we’re either not supposed to like, or that liking it says something negative about us.
Studies suggest that guilty pleasures can bring back some psychological resources. Besides, giving ourselves permission to enjoy downtime is also an important part of self-pity, which is an effective way of fighting anxiety and sadness. Perhaps the most important value of a guilty pleasure is the bond it can create between people.
If that’s true, why do guilty pleasures get such a bad reputation? Actually, it’s not the indulgences themselves, but the attitudes we take when talking about them. “We have the cultural value of media consumption being instructive, and that what we do should be about growing and achieving,” Dr. Nabi said. “We don’t focus as much on refreshment and enjoyment, and these are such important aspects of being a human being.”
Feeling guilty about activities we enjoy can diminish the benefits they offer us. But removing unnecessary embarrassment about our interests can enrich our social lives, which is why it’s time to get rid of “guilty pleasure” from our vocabulary.
While guilty pleasures benefit us in some cases, they can also push us to indulge in behaviors we feel guilty about. Therefore, it’s best to follow the age-old advice our parents taught us: Everything in moderation.
1.Which of the following might make us feel guilty pleasure?
A.Eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. B.Telling an old bedtime story.
C.Staying up late doing your homework. D.Giving up seats to the elderly.
2.Why do people think poorly of guilty pleasures?
A.They take guilty pleasures too seriously. B.They dislike the behaviour of indulgence.
C.They ignore the benefits of guilty pleasures. D.They are influenced by their cultural value.
3.What does the underlined word “diminish” in paragraph 6 mean?
A.Reduce. B.Increase. C.Maximize. D.Destroy.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Guilty pleasure? Avoid it B.Guilty pleasure? No Such Thing
C.Everything in Moderation D.New Trend in Media Consumption
Over a four-year period, Swiss researchers have developed a machine that can keep human livers (肝)alive outside of the body for one week.
Livers are among the most commonly transplanted (移植)human organs. Current technology can only keep human livers alive for up to 24 hours. It is reported that, in 2017, about 8.000 liver transplants were performed in the U.S., of which 360 used livers from living givers In addition, about 11,500 people were registered on a waiting list to receive a liver transplant. Keeping livers alive and functioning for longer periods could greatly improve the chances of survival for patients.
The researchers say the purpose of their “Liver4Life” machine is to perform what they call liver perfusion (灌注)operations outside of the human body. Perfusion is the process by which blood or other liquids are pumped through organs and tissue. The machine keeps the liver at the right temperature and moves it in a way that would be natural in the body. Using a pump to fill the liver with blood acting like a human heart, the machine also provides oxygen to the organ, controls red blood cell levels and removes waste.
The research team began their experiments with livers from pigs. After repeated testing and engineering development, they succeeded in getting the pig livers to survive for seven days with support only provided from the Liver4Life machine. They also discovered the system can work to repair damaged livers. The team is now planning its next step to transplant machine-treated organs into patients.
Pierre-Alain Clavien. leader of the research said in a statement. “This technology will greatly increase the number of livers available for transplant, improving the chances of survival for patients. The success of this unique machine opens the way for many new applications in transplantation and cancer medicine.”
1.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 2?
A.Introduce a brand new topic for discussion.
B.Provide some latest data about present liver transplants.
C.Show the urgency of tech improvement in liver transplants.
D.Remind readers concerned of the importance of a healthy liver.
2.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.The machine. B.The liver.
C.The temperature. D.The tissue.
3.What can we learn about the Liver4Life machine?
A.It is among the most commonly used machines for liver transplants.
B.It is aimed to carry out liver perfusion operations in the human body.
C.It can perform several functions to keep the liver working normally.
D.It can be used to keep the pig livers alive for more than one week.
4.Where is this text most likely from?
A.A biology textbook. B.A first aid brochure.
C.A social web page. D.A health magazine.
A few weeks ago, I picked up my 14-year-old daughter and her friend from dance class. The two girls chatted happily until I reached her friend’s house. And then 1 began the drive home and my daughter, who had been talking nonstop a minute before, went completely silent. I assumed she was lost in thought.
When I came to a stoplight, I looked in the mirror. My daughter wasn’t looking out of the window or staring into space - she was on her phone. I felt my anger rise.
“Get off your phone. That is rude. You make me feel like an Uber driver.” I shouted.
“But I’m texting friends about biology homework!’’ she said.
“That can wait.” I was mad and she was angry.
Back home, she disappeared into her room, and I thought about how I was still trying to take control of my daughter’s growing independence, which was fruitless.
The next day I was thinking about my outburst when a parenting program on TV caught my eye, in which the hosts interviewed Dr. Ken Ginsburg, the author of a famous parenting book. It completely changed my attitude.
Ginsburg said. “Why are our teens pushing us away? It’s not because they hate us - it’s because they love us so much and yet they know they have to become independent. So this is a process of figuring out how to push away the things they love the most. It is crazy to fly from a comfortable nest, so teens get ready for it by temporarily pushing their parents away.”
I need to honor her independence and create space for both of us to face this monumental developmental challenge as teammates, not adversaries((对手).
1.What made the writer mad?
A.She served as an Uber driver.
B.The two girls were chatting happily.
C.Her daughter was playing with the phone.
D.Her daughter forgot her biology homework.
2.What do we know about the daughter?
A.She is being under her mother’s control.
B.She is on the way to being independent.
C.She enjoys making friends using social media.
D.She hates making conversation with her mom.
3.Which of the following best describes the mother?
A.Open-minded. B.Hardworking.
C.Inspiring. D.weak-willed.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.I was pushed away by my teenaged daughter.
B.Life of a teenager is moving at its own slow pace.
C.Parents completely rely on parenting experts to educate children.
D.My relationship with my daughter was improved by a suggestion.
While there is a slight chance that you touch down on the surface of the moon, there are some places you can visit that are tied to the Apollo 11.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center; Huntsville, Alabama
Creating the Saturn V rocket that drove the crew of the Apollo 11 was the responsibility of a team of engineers in Huntsville. At the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, you can explore dozens of interactive exhibits, including “Space Craze “，a look at the public’s strong interest in all things related to space through the pop culture.
Meteor Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona
Armstrong and his fellow were trained for moon exploration at a variety of places, including Meteor Crater, one of the most perfectly preserved impact craters on the planet. Today the Meteor Crater Visitor Center includes the 4-D ride “Collision Experience” and breathtaking tours around the edge of the crater itself.
The Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Every Apollo mission was started from the Kennedy Space Center, which remains an active launch site. Bus tours visit mission-critical areas of Kennedy Space Center and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which houses a complete Saturn V rocket and a moon rock you can touch. Come during a scheduled launch, and you can purchase a special viewing package getting you a clear view of the launch.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center; Houston, Texas
It’s here that every aspect of the Apollo 11 mission was monitored. Now fully repaired, the control center is open to tour via the official visitor’s center. Space Center Houston. View astronaut training equipment and the largest collection of moon rocks.
1.In which place are you required to tour in a bus?
A.The U.S. Space & Rocket Center. B.Meteor Crater.
C.Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. D.The Kennedy Space Center.
2.What can we learn about Meteor Crater?
A.It houses a complete Saturn V rocket and a moon rock.
B.It is one of the training places for astronauts of Apollo 11.
C.It allows one to view the largest collection of moon rocks.
D.It provides doze ns of interactive exhibits for visitors to explore.
3.What can you do in Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center?
A.Touch a moon rock. B.Enjoy the 4-D ride.
C.See astronaut training equipment. D.View a rocket launch.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Who is Emile Ratelbrant?
A.A television host. B.A legal adviser. C.A bank clerk.
2.When was Ratelbrant actually born?
A.In 1989. B.In 1969. C.In 1949.
3.Why did Ratelbrant submit(提交) such a legal demand to court?
A.To draw people's attention.
B.To be free of discrimination（歧视）.
C.To save money for the government.
4.How does Ratelbrant feel about the possible result of his demand?
A.Hopeless. B.Confident. C.Uncertain.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.On which side of the road should people ride in the man’s country?
A.Right. B.Left. C.Either.
2.Why do people in Cambridge like riding bikes?
A.Cycling is safe.
B.Cycling is fashionable.
C.Cycling is convenient.
3.What is a cyclist of 12 required to do in Cambridge?
A.Wear a helmet. B.Flash two lights. C.Pass the traffic test.
4.What may happen to the bikes left casually?
A.They’ll be destroyed. B.They’ll be stolen. C.They’ll be locked.
