Which part of the world has the most nearsighted students? Just look around you– it’s East Asia. Nine in ten school leavers in major East Asian cities are nearsighted, according to the BBC. Experts say books and video games are not to blame (责备). East Asian students, they say, aren’t getting enough sunlight.
People become nearsighted because their eyeballs grow out of shape and light entering their eyes cannot focus correctly. The body can produce a chemical called dopamine (多巴胺) to stop eyeballs from changing shape. And guess what scientists have just discovered? Sunlight can help our bodies produce more dopamine, reported AFP.
According to the study, primary school students in Singapore spend only 30 minutes outdoors every day; in Australia, by contrast (相反), kids spend about three hours a day outside. As a result, fewer children in Australia are nearsighted – only 10 percent, compared with 90 percent in Singapore.
“Children in East Asia just go to school, go home and stay inside. They study and they watch television,” Ian Morgan of the Australian National University told AFP.
But being a bookworm or a couch potato does not directly harm the eyes, added Morgan. “As long as they get outside, it doesn’t seem to matter how much study they do,” he explained. “There are some kids who study hard and get outside and play hard and they are generally fine. The ones who are at major risk are the ones who study hard and don’t get outside. As a result of massive (巨大的) educational pressures and the construction (构成) of a child’s day, the amount of time they spend outside in bright light is minimized.”
Experts suggest children should stay outside for two to three hours every day. This can include time spent in the playground and walking to and from school.
1.What is the main reason for the large number of nearsighted students in East Asia?
A. Too much reading or gaming.
B. Being short of sunlight.
C. Genetic (基因) reasons.
D. Being short of exercise.
2.How long do experts suggest children stay outside every week?
A. Two to three hours.
B. Fourteen to twenty-one hours.
C. Two to three days.
D. Over twenty-one hours.
3.In the writer’s opinion, why can’t East Asian students get enough bright light?
A. Because they don’t like sports.
B. Because their parents don’t allow them to.
C. Because they have great pressures from study.
D. Because they spend more time playing video games.
4.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Dopamine is a chemical that causes eyeballs to grow out of shape.
B. Dopamine can stop light entering the eyes from focusing correctly.
C. Spending time in the sun can make the loss of dopamine in the body.
D. The more dopamine a person has in their body, the better eyesight he or she has.
My parents quarreled (吵架) a lot, and I was really worried about it. I didn’t know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend’s house. Though I knew I wouldn’t tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to getting out of the house. I was packing up my things when suddenly the power (电) went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.
I was really disappointed(失望的) because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I’d stay with him until the power was restored(恢复). He was quite happy and said.
“Great chance.”
“What is?” I asked.
“To talk, you and I,” he said. “To hold a one-to-one little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we’re going to do with ourselves and the situation we are in now.”
“But we can’t do anything about it, Grandpa,” I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same “boat” as I was.
And that is how the most amazing friendship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting there in the dark, we talked about our feelings and fears of life from how fast things change to how they sometimes don’t change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new friend, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be.
Suddenly, the lights all came back on. “Well,” he said, “I guess that means you’ll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!”
1.Why was Grandpa happy to see the writer?
A. Because he felt quite lonely.
B. Because he could discuss the problem with him.
C. Because he was afraid of darkness.
D. Because he had not seen him for a long time.
2.In which order(顺序) did the story happen?
a. The lights came back on.
b. The writer went to his grandpa’s room and stayed with him.
c. The power in the neighbourhood suddenly went out.
d. The writer worried about the parents’ disagreement and wanted to leave his home.
e. The writer had a talk with his grandpa and started the most amazing friendship between them.
A. d-b-e-c-a B. a-b-e-c-d
C. c-d-b-e-a D. d-c-b-e-a
3.What can be inferred(推断) from the story?
A. The lights would go out again.
B. The writer wanted to leave very much.
C. They would have more chats.
D. It would no longer be dark.
Elvis Aron Presley, often called “the king of rock music”, died on August 16th, 1977, at the age of forty-two. He left a great influence on popular music, and millions of fans. During his lifetime, Elvis sold more than four hundred million records. After Presley died, many of his records rose quickly. When Presley died, many mourners journeyed to Memphis, Tennessee, Presley’s home, to pay their last respects(敬意). While most of these fans knew a lot about the songs of Elvis, few of them knew the story of how Elvis had made his first recording. Elvis did not really want to become a recording star. His first record was for his mother. He paid four dollars to a small Memphis recording shop, and recorded two songs. The songs were “My Happiness” and “That’s Where Your Heartaches Begin”. Sam Philips, who owned the shop where Elvis made the record, liked Presley’s songs. He said he would call him some day. About a year later, Philips did call and asked him to cut a record. This first record had “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on one side, and “That's All Right, Mama” on the other.
1.The passage is mainly about___________.
A . Elvis Presley’ mother
B. the beginning of heartaches
C. how Elvis Presley began his career
D. the way to make a record
2.The underlined word “mourners” are __________.
A. people who get up early
B. usually record-producers
C. sad people
D. the opposite of night people
3.The passage shows that _________.
A. Elvis loved his mother
B. many people loved Elvis
C. Sam Philips kept his word
D. all of the above
In our life, we may meet persons with different personalities. What is your personality type? Read about the following and find out!
A Dreamer thinks there is a “right” way to do things. This person wants to live in the “perfect world”. Many are good listeners and like to help others. Many Dreamers work as teachers, and often lead others. Famous Dreamers: Mohandas Gandhi, Angelina Jolie.
A Partner wants to be in a group. For this person, rules are important. They consider tradition to be of great value. Partners are often serious, careful people. Many do well as teachers, managers and police officers. Famous Partners: Queen Elizabeth II, Mother Teresa.
For Thinkers, understanding things is very important. They like to deal with problems and make new things. Thinkers can also be active. They like to win. They have very strong opinions (想法). Many Thinkers work as scientists, inventors and engineers. Famous Thinkers: Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking.
Artists want to be free. They don’t want to follow the rules all the time. They also like trying new things. Like Thinkers, many Artists have strong opinions. They are creative and do well as musicians and actors. Famous Artists: Cristiano Ronaldo, Madonna.
1.How many personality types are mentioned in the passage?
A. Three. B. Four. C. Five. D. Six.
2.If you are active and like to win, maybe you are similar to ____________.
A. Gandhi B. Mother Teresa
C. Bill Gates D. Madonna
3.Which could be the best title for the passage?
A. Famous People B. Personality Types
C. Perfect World D. Job Hunting
完形填空 先通读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从下面四个答案中选择可以填入相应空白处的最佳答案。
“I’ve been writing a book, John. Do you think anyone would be interested in ________ _ it?” said the old lady.
John took over the papers from her shaking hand and let her sit in a chair. He remembered her rich _________ in the early days of the Old West. He looked through the papers. “It’s good, Grandma,” he said gently. Then realizing that she _________ hear him, he shouted into her ears. “I think it’s very good. I’ll send it to a publisher (出版商).”
Ten days later, he reported that the publisher had read a few ________ _ . He agreed to publish it, and he had paid $100 for the copyright (版权). ________ money would be given as an advance (预付款). Every month, John brought her $100 with a letter from the publisher telling about the progress of the book.
One morning, three months after her 100th birthday, Grandma didn’t get up. The doctor told her that she couldn’t _________ more than a few days. She was ready to go, but she first wanted her book to be in print. John promised that she could get it very soon.
Grandma held on until the day the book came into her hands. She proudly touched her book with her fingers, tears in her eyes. Two hours later, she died peacefully, ________ holding her book.
Her granddaughter took the book and ________ _ it. “Why, it’s just blank (空白) pages!” She cried in surprise. John’s face turned ________. Then the girl understood. There never was a book. It was John ________, who couldn’t take away his grandmother’s only hope, had written the letters and sold his car to pay the advance.
1.A. borrowing B. publishing C. reading D. lending
2.A. advice B. experiences C. thoughts D. family
3.A. couldn’t B. needn’t C. mustn’t D. wouldn’t
4.A. words B. letters C. pages D. books
5.A. Some B. Much C. Enough D. More
6.A. die B. stop C. last D. remain
7.A. still B. yet C. always D. then
8.A. closed B. opened C. turned on D. turned off
9.A. white B. red C. grey D. yellow
10.A. herself B. himself C. him D. her
---Would you mind me________ here?---____________. Let me take my bag away.
A. to sit; Better not B. sitting; Better not
C. to sit; Not at all D. sitting; Not at all
