In today’s fast paced，high stress world people are working longer hours than ever, and often exhaust themselves at day’s end in front of the television to relax enough to begin again in the morning. However, television watching, for most people, does not really lower stress. Studies show that TV viewing more than an hour or so actually creates stress and, especially in women, may lead to the blues. Most individuals are unaware that doing some exercise after work makes them more energetic since it increases energy levels.
Wise use of free time does not mean getting an advanced degree, although the mental encouragement gained through education is unbeatable in keeping your mind active. Learning new things nearly always adds a spark to your daily life, especially if it is a favorite topic, such as sport, fashion, or art. Also, look through your bookstore or library to find books on your interests. Try to replace a half hour TV watching with reading.[来源:学_科_网Z_X
It is reported that in the United States recently, many individuals have as few as two good friends. Long work hours and car commute act to separate people from each other. This separation is deadly. Find ways to meet people at the end of the day and on weekends. Often this call be best done by combining activities, such as by joining a walking group to get both exercise and companionship. Taking a class will lift your spirits and allow you to meet others with similar interests. Hobbies are great for reducing stress and provide another opportunity for social interaction.
Using your free time to aid your health may include these elements and many more, such as going to concerts and spending time with family. Overall, the key is to spend less free time being passive. The best ways to use free time are to be mentally and physically active, spend some time outdoors, and interact with other people on a regular basis.
1.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Watching television may cause women to feel depressed.
B. Finding interests and hobbies in common means taking a class.
C. Going to concerts is the best way to make you mentally active.
D. Getting an advanced degree in education always lights up your life.
2.What does the underlined word “commute” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. The arrangement to work every day.
B. The journey to work every day.
C. The communication between people.
D. The separation between people.
3.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Live a Happy and Healthy Life.
B. Relax Yourself in Various Ways.
C. Spend Your Free Time Wisely.
D. Interact With Others Outdoors.
“Mind your own business．” we’re told．“Don’t talk about others behind their backs．”The problem with this advice is that，not only is it unrealistic，it’s also counterproductive(起反作用的)．
Common sense holds that gossip(流言蜚语)hurts people’s feelings and damages relationships．But recent research shows the opposite—that strong communities and relationships between people would be impossible without gossip．
Gossip is a way for people to let you know the limits of social behavior．“If you move into a community and your neighbor tells you how the former homeowner never dealt with his rubbish properly，his gossip is letting you in on something，”says Dr．Ralph Rosnow of Temple University．“Gossip says：these are the boundaries and you are crossing them．You’re not abiding by the rules and you’d better get back in line．” Seen this way，gossip is a way to communicate criticism(批评)without conflict(冲突)，giving you a chance to change your behavior without losing face．
On the other hand，what about ill-willed gossip，the kind that puts other people down? Gossip is hearing something we like about someone we don’t and，in nearly every country in the world，gossip magazines have huge numbers of readers．According to researchers，however，this kind of gossip also has a good side because it helps us put our own problems in perspective(正确地)．“If we read bad news about well-known people，or get the frightful details of our neighbors’ bad situation over a cup of coffee，our own problems begin to pale in comparison(对比)，”says Dr．Jack Levin of Northeastern University．
However，that doesn’t mean that gossip is necessarily a good thing，either．Researchers found that people who gossip a lot tend to feel like they’re under a lot of stress．This might be because while they’re busy talking about other people，they’re also busy thinking what other people are saying about them．
1.What is the purpose of the text?
A．To encourage us to spread gossip about others．
B．To prevent us from spreading gossip about others。
C．To make a comparison between good gossip and bad gossip．
D．To recognize certain positive functions of gossip．
2.According to the passage，people in general think that__________．
A．it’s a bad habit to gossip
B．nobody pays attention to gossip
C．not all the gossip you hear is worth believing
D．it’s necessary to have a nice gossip with a friend or neighbor
3.The underlined phrase “abiding by” in Paragraph 3 most probably means“________”．
A．making B．breaking C．obeying D．changing
4.It could be learned from the passage that__________.
A. people under much stress enjoy gossiping about others.
B. in a way gossip helps us deal with our own problems.
C. in fact most people tend to believe gossip.
D. the more there is gossip, the stronger relationships become between people.
Too much TV-watching can harm children’s ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree，new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children．
One of the studies looked at nearly 400 northern California third-graders．Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points 1ower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs．
A second study, looking at nearly 1000 grown-ups in New Zealand，found lower education levels among 26-year-olds who had watched lots of TV during childhood．But the results don’t prove that TV is the cause and don’t rule out (排除) that already poorly motivated (有动机的) youngsters may watch lots of TV．
Their study measured the TV habits of 26- year-olds between ages 5 and 15．Those with college degrees had watched an average of less than two hours of TV per weeknight during childhood，compared with an average of more than 2.5 hours for those who had no education beyond high schoo1s． ‘
In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest，while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest．
While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores，it adds to accumulating(增加) findings that children shouldn’t have TVs in their bedrooms．
1.According to the California study, the low-scoring group might .
A．have watched a lot of TV B．not be interested in math
C．be unable to go to college D．have had computers in their bedrooms
2.What is the researchers’ understanding of the New Zealand study results?
A．Poorly motivated 26-year-olds watch more TV
B．Habits of TV watching reduce learning interest．
C．TV watching leads to lower education levels of the 15-year-olds．
D．The connection between TV and education levels is difficult to explain．
3.What Can we 1earn from the last two paragraphs?
A． More time should be spent on computers．
B．Children should be forbidden from watching TV.
C．TV sets shouldn’t be allowed in children’s bedrooms．
D．Further studies on high-achieving students should be done．
4.What would be the best title for this text?
A．Computers or Television
B．Effects of Television on Children
C．Studies on TV and College Education
D．Television and Children’s Learning Habits
Making friends is a skill. Like most skills, it with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing to some actions. You must first go where there are people. You won’t make friends staying home .
Join a club or group, talk with those who like the same things you do is much easier. Or join someone some activity.
Many people are nervous when talking to new people. all, meeting strangers means the unknown. And it’s human nature to a bit uncomfortable(不舒服)about the unknown.
our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts(怀疑)about . We imagine other people are judging us, finding us too tall too short, too this or too that, but don’t forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to accept yourself you are, and try to put the other person at ease(不拘束).You’ll both feel more comfortable.
Try to self-confident(自信)even if you don’t feel that way when you a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall and straight, look directly other people and smile.
If you see someone, you’d like to , say something. Don’t wait for person to start a conversation(谈话).
Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will friends with that person. Friendship is based on mutual(相互的)liking and “give and take”. It time and effort to develop. And there are things that keep a new friendship from .
1.A. produces B. improves C. grows D. raises
2.A. take B. make C. do D. carry
3.A. lonely B. yourself C. alone D. with yourself
4.A. as B. that C. which D. more
5.A. with B. in C. on D. to
6.A. For B. Above C. In D. After
7.A. touching B. facing C. meeting D. seeing
8.A. see B. touch C. feel D. do
9.A. Many B. Some C. Much D. Most of
10.A. yourself B. oneself C. yourselves D. ourselves
11.A. and B. but C. or D. as
12.A. like B. as C. what D. that
13.A. make B. act as C. like D. express
14.A. come to B. go to C. enter D. step to
15.A. for B. to C. at D. about
16.A. speak to B. talk to C. say to D. call up
17.A. other B. the other C. another D. others
18.A. make B. do C. turn D. put
19.A. costs B. takes C. spends D. uses
20.A. growing B. living C. increasing D. happening
Only _________ save his life.
A. can the doctor B. the doctor can C. will the doctor D. could the doctor
—What do you think of the songs? —In fact, ________ of them sounds beautiful.
A. not all B. no one C. not everyone D. not every one
