Do you want to live a happier, less stressful(有压力的) life? Try laughing for no reason at all. That’s how millions of people start their day at Laughter(笑声) Clubs around the world and many doctors now think that having a good laugh might be one of the best ways to stay healthy.
The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria.“Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day,” says Dr. Kataria. “Everyone is naturally good at laughing — it’s the common language. We want people to feel happy with their lives.” There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 in the world.
Many doctors are also interested in the effects(效果) of laughter on our health. According to a 5-year study at the UCLA School of Medicine in California, with laughing there is less stress in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%.
So what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to my nearest club in South London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class, to be honest, I wasn’t interested in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking silly. Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say “ho ho ho, ha ha ha” while looking at each other. However, our bodies can’t tell the difference between real laughter and unreal laughter, so they still produce the same healthy effects.
Surprisingly, it works! After ten minutes everybody in the room was laughing for real and some people just couldn’t stop! At the end of the class I was surprised by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you’re under stress, then start laughing. You might be very pleased with the results.
1.The first Laughter Club was started in __________.
A. India B. America C. Britain D. China
2.How many Laughter Clubs are there in the world today?
A. Over 300. B. Over 500. C. Over 800. D. Over 1,300.
3.How did the writer feel at the beginning of the class?
A. Surprised. B. Pleased. C. Nervous. D. Tired.
4.When did the people in the club begin to laugh for real?
A. After ten minutes. B. After ten hours.
C. After ten seconds. D. After ten days.
5.The article mainly tells us __________.
A. young children laugh much more often than adults in a day
B. laughing is one of the best ways to stay healthy
C. many doctors are also interested in the effects of laughter on our health
D. real laughter and unreal laughter are both good for health
Betty and I are best friends. Our birthdays are on the same day, so every year we have a birthday party together. But this year, we had a costume party instead.
While we were writing the invitations, my mum came in and asked, “Why not invite John?” John had been in our class for only a few months, but he was already getting better grades in math than anyone else in class. I wrinkled(皱起) my nose, “Mum, he wears the same pants to school every day. How could he even afford a costume?” Mum said nothing. The next day, mum gave me an envelope with a shopping certificate(凭证) in it. “I thought it would be nice for you to give this to John.” Mum said. But how? We didn’t want to make John embarrassed. We discussed it for a long time. Finally, Betty and I had a good idea.
On the day of our party, kids arrived, dressed differently. John arrived, in an old sheet(床单), but still in the same brown pants as usual. We danced, ate snacks and played games in groups. Before eating the birthday cake, Betty said in a loud voice, “Now it’s time for the great prize game. It’s the following riddle…” It was a math game. None of us was surprised when John came up with the right answer first and walked off with the envelope.
Everything went on well as we planned. John wore a new pair of pants and a new shirt the next week. He felt happy. So did we.
When we help others, we need to find a proper way, or we may hurt them in another way.
1.The two girls and John were in the same _________.
A. group B. family C. team D. class
2. John’s family may be very _________ according to the passage.
A. far B. poor C. rich D. small
3.How did John get the prize during the party?
A. By helping others
B. By asking for help.
C. By getting good grades in study
D. By winning the math game.
4.John _________ with the shopping certificate after the party.
A. watched a basketball match
B. saw a movie
C. bought something to wear
D. made a phone call
5.Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage?
A. John wasn’t good at math.
B. The two girls helped John in a proper way.
C. The two girls felt angry when John won the great prize.
D. John wore a new pair of pants and a new shirt to the party.
LOST
A white cat with two big blue eyes.
If you find it, please call Sam at 385-0926.
Many thanks. Titanic 3D
Saturday and Sunday
Showtime Cinema
$20 ( half for children under 12 )
Call David at 332-5147.
BOOK SALE
A Christmas Carol
—by Charles Diukans
A story of Christmas
The true meaning of Christmas
was $59.60
now $29.60 HOUSE FOR RENT
2 sunny bedrooms with a kitchen.
$500 a month
Call Mary at 591-3127 for more
information.
1.Who lost a white cat with two big blue eyes?
A. Sam. B. David. C. Mary. D. Charles.
2.You need to pay _________ if you buy the book A Christmas Carol now .
A. $59.60 B. $49.60 C. $39.60 D. $29.60
3.On what day can we see Titanic 3D in the Showtime Cinema?
A. Every day. B. Friday and Saturday.
C. Saturday and Sunday. D. Thursday and Sunday.
4.If you want to rent a house, you can call ___________.
A. 385-0926 B. 591-3127 C. 332-5147 D. 592-5147
5.Those ads above are most probably from a ___________.
A. map B. dictionary C. newspaper D. guidebook
Mr. Black was over fifty years old. He sometimes made some mistakes in his work, and he lost his work. So he had 41 time every day to do something. Then he often met his old friends under a big tree. They had drinks there and 42 anything they liked.
One day, some old men were sitting together again and talking about young people in this world. They all agreed that the old people were 43 than young people. Then one of the old 44 said that young men were stronger than old men.
45 of them agreed that this was true, 46 Mr. Black didn’t. He said, “No. I am as strong now as when I was a young man.” His friends were surprised 47 what he said.
“Well,” said Mr. Black, “Near my house there is a big stone. When I was a young man, I used 48 to move it, but I couldn’t because I was not 49 . I am an old man now, and when I try to move it, I still 50 . So, I am as strong as when I was young.”
1.A. many B. a lot C. lots of D. lot
2.A. talked for B. talked to C. talked with D. talked about
3.A. clever B. cleverer C. cleverest D. a clever
4.A. man B. woman C. men D. women
5.A. All B. None C. Both D. Neither
6.A. so B. or C. and D. but
7.A. at B. to C. of D. on
8.A. trying B. try C. to try D. to trying
9.A. strong enough B. enough strong C. weak enough D. enough weak
10.A. can B. can’t C. could D. couldn’t
—Excuse me. Can you tell me ?
—At about 8 o’clock, sir.
A. what time the plane will reach Beijing
B. what time will the plane arrive in Beijing
C. what time the plane will arrive Beijing
D. what time will the plane get to Beijing
—Dad, why must I stop computer games?
—For your health, my boy.
A. play B. to play C. to playing D. playing
