Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit; most people don’t even notice that they’re doing it when they sit down. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.

A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. The reason is that the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart and that crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. This causes your body to increase your blood pressure to push the blood back to the heart. You won’t feel any immediate effects, but repeated, drawn-out increases in blood pressure can cause long term health problems. So, panning to sit for a long period of time? Don’t keep your legs crossed.

Crossing your legs at the knee can also cause pressure on the major nerve in your leg that passes just below your knee and along the outside of your leg, explains Richard Graves, a medical expert. This pressure can cause numbness and temporary paralysis of some of the muscles in your foot and leg, preventing you from being able to raise your ankle. While the feeling of discomfort may only last a minute or two, repeatedly crossing your legs until they feel numb can cause permanent nerve damage.

So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.

1.What can we learn about crossing one’s legs?

A.It is a very bad social habit. B.It is usually practiced by design.

C.It can make others feel uncomfortable. D.It has a negative effect on people’s heath.

2.We may conclude from the study that sitting with your legs crossed can ________.

A.improve the function of legs B.help your blood resist gravity

C.effect your blood pressure D.cause health problems instantly

3.According to Richard Graves, repeatedly crossing your legs may ________.

A.paralyze all of your muscles B.preventing you from standing up

C.damage your nerve in the leg in the end D.reduce the pressure on the major nerve

4.What is the main purpose of the text?

A.To blame a bad habit. B.To provide suggestions.

C.To introduce research methods. D.To show effects of an experiment.

    While Charlotte Uhlenbroek loves the adventure, she is also glad to be back in “civilization”, at least for the moment.

She’s just finished filming a TV series called Jungle——a 19-week job that involved her exploring the dense jungles of the Congo, the Amazon and Borneo. She says that it was fascinating, but daunting as well. So what was her most challenging experience? “Definitely climbing an 80-metre-high tree in Borneo, when I’m scared of heights! I had to keep going up and up, when a voice inside me was saying, ‘Down! Down!’ I kept thinking the ropes were going to break and send me down below.”

And “down below” was where the bugs were——clinging, stinging, sucking beasts. Apart from the usual mosquitoes, in the Amazon rainforest she was troubled by sand-fly bites. “I’ve had some horrible bites but these really are the itchiest (痒的) bites I’ve ever had. At one stage, I counted 70 bites on one arm,” she says. “Just as annoying were the sweat bees in the Congo. They try to drink the sweat on your face and even the tears from your eyes. The most disgusting thing, though, was try to pull the leches (水蛭) off your skin. The more I pulled, the more they stretched and the tighter their jaws clung to my leg. I kept shouting, ‘Get them off!’ and the film crew kept saying, “Just one minute... this makes a really good shot!”

Back in London, what has she been enjoying since her return to “civilization”? “I’ve been having lots of nice, long showers,” she says. “In the Congo, the possibility of using up our water supplies was always a worrying thought. And I find that when I’ve been in hot, uncomfortable conditions for a while, the things I look forward to more than anything else are being with my family and enjoying my favourite meal.”

1.Why does Charlotte explore the jungles?

A.She enjoys taking adventures.

B.She wants to challenge herself.

C.She takes part in shooting a TV series.

D.She is interested in the jungle bugs.

2.What can we learn about Charlotte’s experience in the jungles?

A.She climbed tall tee with the help of ropes.

B.She once had 70 bites by the sweat bees in the Congo.

C.The mosquito bites were the worst bites she’d ever had.

D.The film crew helped her to get the leches from her leg.

3.What does Charlotte miss most when she was in the jungles?

A.Nice and long showers. B.Her family members.

C.Her comfortable bed. D.Her favourite snacks.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A.The TV Series ---- Jungle B.Explore the Amazon Jungle

C.Return to the Age of Civilization D.What a Jungle Journey!

A Journey to China

10 days from just A$1,590

Fully inclusive from Australia

Price covers: international airfares, departure taxes, fuel charges, local transportation, accommodation, all meals, entrance fees, guides, daily tours and visas for Australian citizens.

◆Days 1-3: Australia—Beijing

Fly to Beijing for three nights stay and try Peking Duck. During the stay, stroll through Tian’anmen Square to the Forbidden City, the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China, and visit the Summer Palace. Next day take a walk on the Great Wall, tour the unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive Chinese Acrobatic show.

◆Days 4-8: Beijing—Yangtze River Tour—Chengdu

Fly to Yichang and change (approx: one hour) to board your Yangtze River ship for the next four nights. Enjoy a tour of the Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝) before sailing on the grand Yangtze River, passing through the impressive Three Gorges. Take a side trip to the Lesser Three Gorges or travel up the Shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way. Get off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay.

◆Day 9-l0: Chengdu—Shanghai

Fly to the great city of Shanghai and in the evening sample traditional Shanghai food. Visit the beautiful Yu Garden, Old Town, cross the Great Nanpu Bridge and tour the Pudong area. Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920’s style Shikumen buildings and end your stay in Shanghai with an amazing Huangpu river evening tour.

◆Day11: Shanghai—Australia

Fly back to Australia, arriving home later the same day filled with happy memories.

Por more information:www.traveltochina.org

1.The underlined word “sample” in the text probably means “________”.

A.book B.sell C.taste D.make

2.According to the ad, the tourists from Australia will ________.

A.take a side trip to the Three Gorges Dam B.visit the Great Nampu Bridge in Chengdu

C.have to pay extra for accommodation and meals D.arrive in Australia on the eleventh day of the trip

3.The advertisement is mainly intended to ________.

A.encourage the Australians to travel in China

B.offer service of booking air tickets to tourists

C.attract the Australians to traditional Chinese food

D.provide Australians with a better understanding of China

假定你是李华，你校将举行“校园书市(a campus book fair)”活动，为给全校同学提供平台义卖图书、参考书、笔记等。请你写信给你的英国笔友Eric，介绍此次活动的有关情况，内容包括：

1.活动目的；

2.活动内容；

3.活动意义。

注意:

1.词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Eric,

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

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.

It was at a friend’s costume party which I met Roy. Then I invited Roy over in my place. We listen to my CDs together and soon became best friends. Three years ago, Roy’s parents invited I to spend two wonderful week in London with them during the summer holiday. Roy and I loved walk along the beautiful beaches there. Last year I was serious ill and had to stay in hospital for a week. Roy came see me every day. Then his father has changed his job and they moved to another city. Since then we haven’t seen each other many. But we’ve kept writing to each other.

单词拼写

1.She was a______ (积极地)looking For a job.

2.The film The Dark Materials is a_____ (改编)from one of the His Dark Materials trilogy.

3.I a_____ (钦佩)your courage when I first met you and I still think you’re marvelous.

4.China is faced with the challenges of an a_____ (年老的)population.

5.The mother waited for her son with a_____ (焦急).

6.I have an a_____ (道歉)to make to you - I’m afraid I opened your letter by mistake.

7.The discovery was a happy a_____ (事故,偶然的事情)for the meeting.

8.I can’t a_____ (承担得起)the time and money for a long journey.

9.Exercise is extremely b_____ (有益的)to health.

10.His wife’s death was a great b______ (打击)to him.

    Many years ago, I worked in a marathon. I was required to stand by the road to give out water to the runners. I felt so excited to ____ all the different kinds of runners who passed by and quickly took a cup of water. Some walked past, some jogged past and a few________ past.

The next year, I signed up for the________ and gave it a try. With________running practice, I just wanted to finish.

On the day of the race, it was terribly hot. Only after 2 miles, I felt sweat________off me and my legs swelling (肿胀).I began to________, “Why am I doing this? What was I thinking? I must be________And at one moment, I said to myself: "I am never doing this gain." For the following miles, I jogged. I walked. I jogged and walked. At times, I wonder if I could________.

Near the end, a 70-year-old man rushed past me, very ________ , and I felt a little ________ that I was more than 50 years younger than him and I couldn’t keep up with him. But then I ________ something: he was running his race and I was running mine. He had ________abilities, training and goals for himself. I had mine. How often in life do we________ourselves with others and feel _________in ourselves when we really shouldn’t?

We are all unique human beings with unique ________. It’s really no good focusing on others’ race. I decided that I would not ________ running, and that one day I would be one of those ________ people who were still running races. As I crossed the finishing line, I was ________ of myself.

In life we all have those moments when we compare ourselves with others. It’s only ________. Don’t allow those moments to weaken you. Turn them into ________ and let them inspire you.

1.A.see B.inspect C.stare D.notice

2.A.struggle B.dragged C.rushed D.moved

3.A.service B.race C.experiment D.task

4.A.some B.little C.much D.any

5.A.jumping B.taking C.pouring D.setting

6.A.doubt B.remember C.imagine D.suppose

7.A.friendly B.crazy C.generous D.tired

8.A.win B.stop C.make D.finish

9.A.slowly B.gently C.heavily D.fast

10.A.pleased B.frightened C.delighted D.embarrassed

11.A.remembered B.forgot C.realized D.abandoned

12.A.valuable B.wonderful C.different D.proper

13.A.compare B.devoted C.recommend D.show

14.A.disappointed B.surprised C.astonished D.satisfied

15.A.significance B.pace C.principle D.experience

16.A.insist on B.look up to C.put up with D.give up

17.A.elderly B.professional C.international D.educated

18.A.aware B.ashamed C.proud D.afraid

19.A.terrible B.frequent C.important D.natural

20.A.condition B.motivation C.situation D.protection

    Communication is the sharing of information or ideas. No matter our age or background, it is important to know communication is a valuable skill. It’s also a skill that everyone can learn. Skillful communication can even turn a potential fight into a productive talk.1.

Place yourself on even ground. Make sure not to stand over the other person as you are talking.2.If your listener is sitting, you should sit with them.

Listen to the other party. Let listeners share how they feel and wait until they are finished talking before speaking yourself.

Speak in a calm voice.3. You can try taking deep breaths to calm down.

4.Sometimes a conflict takes time to work itself out. Rather than trying to rush a decision, consider stopping the discussion with a plan to revisit it at a later point.

Use “I” messages. When raising concerns, try to start your sentences with “I...” instead of “You,” stating clearly how you feel about the situation rather than blaming others.5.For instance, instead of saying “You’re messy and it drives me crazy,” you might say, “I’m really uncomfortable surrounded by clutter like this. Is there something we can do to deal with it to keep it from being a problem?”

Good communication is a great tool. Practicing will help you get better at it. Having strong communication skills will improve your relationships. You’ll see a difference at home, at school and anywhere else you go.

A.Speak clearly but simply.

B.Don’t force an agreement.

C.Don’t yell or attack the other person or their behavior or actions.

D.This posture can make people uncomfortable and may even upgrade a conflict.

E.“I messages” improve the chances that listeners will consider your point of view.

F.Whether you mean to or not, disrespecting others will hurt the communication process.

G.There are some steps to take to communicate better when you are in conflict with someone.

    Those who work on the “996” model (where employees work from 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) must envy their counterparts (对应的人)in an American company, because they have a shorter work week. Basecamp, a Chicago-based web application company gives all his employees a short work week: just four days—a total of 32 hours, between May and September every year. Also, they usually work five days a week for the rest of the year.

“That’s plenty of time to get great work done. This is all we expect and all we want from people,” says Jason Fried, a co-founder. “Working 60-plus, or 70-plus hours is unnecessary. In fact, if you have to work 60-plus or 70-plus hours a week, there’s a management problem.”

The company’s summer workload must fit reduced hours, Mr. Fried insists, otherwise the benefits of a shorter week - to recover from work, enjoy time with family and develop outside interests - would be undone.

His new research finds that it is not just long hours that are harmful to employees’ physical and mental health. It is also the intensity (强度)of work. Moreover, it suggests that intensity work harms career prospects (前景).That is because unbearable hours and intensity are in the opposite direction, reducing the quality of the work.

The research concludes that the level of intensity we apply to the work we do is generally “a stronger predictor of unfavorable outcomes than overtime work”. The research compared people of similar jobs and education levels, and found they were more likely to suffer poorer happiness and worse career prospects, including satisfaction, security and promotion, when they worked at an intense level for long periods.

1.What do we know about Basecamp’s four — day work week?

A.It lasts nearly half a year. B.The work pressure is too high.

C.There are some management problems. D.Employees work more than 8 hours a day.

2.What does Mr. Fried intend to say in paragraph 2?

A.Given plenty of time, people can do more.

B.To get work done well needs plenty of time.

C.People can do a job very well in a short work week.

D.A long work week is appropriate for reduced workload.

3.What does the research mentioned in the text want to tell us?

A.Getting much more rest. B.Improving work quality.

C.Refusing a five-day work week. D.Avoiding working too intensely.

4.What can be the best title for this passage?

A.More Work, More Profits B.Shorter Week, Better Reward

C.Less Work, Less Benefits D.Longer Hours, Higher Intensity

    If you’re concerned about climate change, should you feel guilty about hanging out online? Maybe not.

Data, or information, is often processed and stored on a computer. A computer that provides data to other computers is called a server. Servers also store data such as videos, pictures and emails. A building that holds many servers is known as a data center. Without data centers and servers, we could not access websites on our own computers and phones every day.

Some people worry that data centers use a lot of energy, which could be bad for the environment. But recent studies found that data centers do not use as much energy as they thought.

Eric Masanet, a professor at Northwestern University, is the study’s main author. Masanet and his team looked at the energy used by data centers around the world, and found that data centers have improved. They saw a 20 percent energy improvement each year.

These improvements are due to better servers. They use less energy than servers once did. Other technologies have also improved.

Masanet said to make sure computers use energy effectively, some things need to happen. Businesses and governments should get involved. Countries need to be open about how much electricity their data centers use. Large data companies also need to source their electricity from renewable energy, such as sunlight and wind. For example, Google and Apple both purchased or generated enough renewable electricity to match 100 percent of their data center energy use in 2018.

“People should care about the energy data centers need,” said Masanet. “But we don’t have to feel bad about staying connected.”

1.Why do people need data centers?

A.To help people reduce time on computers.

B.To store information and let them use websites.

C.To provide energy needed to run people’s phones.

D.To save data on the Internet instead of on servers

2.What caused data centers to have a 20 percent improvement in energy use?

A.Less fuel is being burned in the atmosphere. B.Fewer people are online at the same time.

C.Servers and technologies have improved. D.More information is stored in phones.

3.What does the underlined word “source” in paragraph 6 mean?

A.Measure. B.Store. C.Choose. D.Obtain.

4.According to Eric Masanet, how to make sure computers use energy effectively?

A.Businesses and governments should be involved. B.The boundaries of countries should be opened.

C.People need to spend less time online. D.People need to rely on big data companies.