Just five minutes of exercise a day outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study.
Researchers from the University of Essex, UK have found that as little as five minutes of a “green activity” such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming could help to improve mood and increase self-esteem (自信).
Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being, but the new study, led by Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, was the first to determine how much time needed to be spent on green exercise for the benefits to show.
Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1,252 people of different ages, genders (性别) and mental health status (情况) taken from 10 studies in Britain.
They analyzed their different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail (路径).
They found that the mental health changes were seen after just five minutes. With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were more apparent.
Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health changes were particularly strong in the young and the mentally ill.
Green and blue
A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water – such as a lake or river.
“This is because historically we are drawn to water to survive and it is in our genetic (遗传的) make-up to be at one with nature,” the researchers wrote in their report.
Pretty said those who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.
“Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health.”
He also said exercise programs outdoors could benefit youth offenders.
1.How is the study this article refers to different from other studies?
A. It involved more people.
B. It took longer to finish the research.
C. It determined the exact amount of time needed.
D. It was led by just two researchers.
2. What can we conclude from the findings of the study?
A. Just five minutes of “green exercise” daily can help improve mental health.
B. Gardeners and farmers do not need “green exercise”.
C. Walking in a park with a lake will weaken the effect.
D. “Green exercise” is not suitable for the mentally ill.
3.. According to Pretty, _______ would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.
A. stressed, inactive people B. office workers
C. youth offenders D. women and children
4. What is the main problem discussed in this article?
A. Physical well-being. B. Outdoor exercise.
C. Mental illness. D. Harmony with nature.
Everyone knows that you can study the English language for years and still not understand a native speaker of English.
Well, here’s a secret for you: a lot of British people can’t understand each other either! Apart from the different regional accents across the country, language can also differ (不同) among age groups. The words and pronunciations used by young Britons can be very different to those used by adults. This is called “yoof” culture.
The word “yoof” is a slang (俚语) spelling of “youth”. Some people consider “yoof” to be a negative (消极的) term, since its pronunciation is easier than “youth”. Other people see the term as positive, because it describes how young people are creating their own language, concepts (观念) and identity.
When parents find it difficult to understand their children, the children can say more things without the censorship (审查) of their parents. In this way, young people are starting to find freedom, independence and self-expression.
They are creating a “yoof culture”. It is impossible to come up with a complete list of words used by yoof. By the time the list was completed, it would be out of date. New words come and go like fashions.
By A.J. Dalton
1.The point of the article is _____.
A. to list words used by yoof
B. to introduce UK yoof culture
C. to give advice on how to communicate with native English speakers
D. to explain why it is hard for British people to understand each other
2. According to the article, children are creating a “yoof culture” _______.
A. to stay cool among their peers
B. to draw more attention from their parents
C. to avoid interference of their parents in their lives
D. to keep up with the fast pace of modern society
3. According to the article, which of the following is TRUE?
A. The variety of regional accents in the UK is an obstacle to communication.
B. Some people consider the term “yoof” positive because it is easier to pronounce than “youth”.
C.A few vocabularies used by yoof are going to be collected in dictionaries.
D. Yoof culture is getting popular all around the English speaking countries.
4. By saying “Sorted!”, yoof probably means ______.
A. “I’m very tired.” B. “I understand.”
C. “You got it wrong!” D. “I don’t care!”
Many of us assume that with such a last name, Peter Buffett, 52, must enjoy a life of endless privilege. But the son of billionaire investor (投资人) Warren Buffett definitely doesn’t think so.
“People who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth can fall victim (受害者) to what my father has called a silver dagger (匕首) in your back,” Buffett told Reuters in an interview. “It leads to a sense of entitlement (特权) and a lack of personal achievement.”
Entitlement, he believes, is the worst thing ever. “Anybody who acts like they deserve (应得) something ‘just because’ is a disaster,” he said.
In his new book, Life Is What You Make It: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment, Buffett says that the only real inheritance (遗产) handed down from his parents was a philosophy (价值观): Forge your own path in life. It is a belief that has allowed him to follow his own passions, establish his own identity, and reap (收获) his own successes.
Did his father ever want him to go into finance? “It was encouraged for a moment when I was open to the idea,” he told Reuters. But as he grew older, it became clear the financial world “was not speaking to my heart.”
His father accepted his choice to become a musician. He began his musical career by writing music for TV commercials (广告). He then released his own albums.
“I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life,” he told Reuters. “This isn’t about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing.”
Along with the book, Buffett has begun a “Concert & Conversation” tour in which he plays the piano, talks about his life and warns against consumerist (消费主义) culture and damaging the environment.
“Economic prosperity (繁荣) may come and go; that’s just how it is,” he writes in the book. “But values are the steady currency (硬通货) that earn us the all-important rewards.”
1. What does “It” in the second paragraph refer to?
A. A life of a top investor. B. A silver spoon in the mouth.
C. Being born to a wealthy family. D. The victim of a silver dagger in the back.
2. What does the article tell us?
A. Peter Buffett is a born musician.
B. Peter Buffett enjoys a hugely privileged life.
C. A wealthy family can benefit a child but also spoil him or her.
D. Peter Buffett was forced by his parents to take over their business.
3. The article claims that Peter Buffett owes his achievements largely to ______.
A. his passion for music B. the good education he received
C. his great determination D. the values he learned from his parents
4. Which of the following statements would Peter Buffett probably agree to?
A. Wealth is there to enjoy to the fullest.
B. A person’s value lies within.
C. Many people are fooled by economic prosperity.
D. Young people should choose their own philosophy, whatever their parents believe in.
After spending three days in a wheelchair, I was ready to quit. Not only did I have to battle cracked (裂缝的) and uneven (不平的) pavements, I had to deal with the bad attitude of pedestrians (行人) and a cold rain. But I didn’t give up because of people like Tiffany Payne.
Payne, who has been using a wheelchair for 18 years, laughed at me:
“Imagine trying to get around town in the winter,” she said.
I could see her point: You’re battling to get to a doctor’s appointment (预约), but no one has shoveled (铲) after a big snowfall. Your choices: Move out and risk getting stuck, or reschedule the appointment.
Those of us fortunate enough to get around on our own two legs don’t give a second thought to the person in a wheelchair next to us at a crosswalk. That would require us to look down.
So I decided to try using a wheelchair to get a sample of what their lives are like. It wasn’t long before I saw that people who use wheelchairs are forced to deal with a lot of trouble.
During my experiment, I was ignored by store staff while shopping and bumped into by inattentive (疏忽的) walkers without so much as an apology.
Some people even gave me angry looks as if I were the one at fault.
Once in a store, a woman bumped into me trying to get to the new iPad. She didn’t say, “Excuse me.”
When salespeople did offer assistance, they talked to people who were with me, instead of me. I wanted to yell: “Hey, I’m down here!”
Some salespeople talked to me as though I were a child or acted like they didn’t want to be bothered with me.
People who use wheelchairs want to be treated like everyone else. They also comprehend (理解), so you don’t have to speak to them in a childlike, sing-song voice. It’s not very appealing (吸引人的), especially when the person is an adult. And most importantly, remember they have feelings that can be hurt just like yours.
Spending three days in a wheelchair made me look differently at those who have to use one. I hope you do the same.
By James E. Causey
1.The author writes the story to _______.
A. help those in wheelchairs gain self-confidence
B. share his experience of acting as a wheelchair user
C. ask people to show sympathy for those in wheelchairs
D. call on people to respect and help those in wheelchairs
2. During his three days in a wheelchair, the author met all of the following
difficulties EXCEPT ______.
A. bad road conditions B. poor attitudes of ordinary people
C. terrible medical service D. bad weather
3. What can we conclude from the article?
A. A wheelchair user may feel offended when you do not address him or her directly.
B. Assistants in big stores are usually kind to people in wheelchairs.
C. People in wheelchairs should fight for fair treatment.
D. People in wheelchairs are usually hard to get along with.
4. Which of the following statements would the author agree to?
A. Look down on a person in a wheelchair.
B. Speak to a person in a wheelchair in a sing-song voice.
C. Treat a person in a wheelchair as you would any other person.
D. Offer assistance to a person in a wheelchair without asking for permission.
完形填空(共20小题，每题1.5分，共30分)
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从下列各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Sometimes people call each other “scared-cat”, but have you ever thought about this expression? When a cat is frightened, its heart starts beating faster, its muscles (肌肉) get tense, and there are changes in the chemicals in its blood-stream.
Although the cat doesn’t 36 this, its body is getting ready for action. If the danger continues, this animal will do one of the two things. It will 37 itself, or it will run away as fast as it can.
38 , when people are excited, angry, scared, or aroused by other emotions, our bodies also go through many 39 changes. Our hearts beat faster, and our muscles get tense. All of these changes make us more alert and ready to react. We, too, get ready to defend ourselves 40 run.
Human beings, 41 , have a problem that animals never face. If we give way to our feelings and let them 42 , we can get into trouble. Have you ever said something in anger, or hit somebody and regretted it later? Have you ever shouted at a teacher, told someone you were lonely, or said you were in love, and then 43 later you had kept your mouth shut? It isn’t always 44 to express your feelings freely.
Does this mean that it’s smarter always to 45 our feelings? No! If you 46 feelings of anger, sadness, and bitterness hidden away or bottled up inside, your body stays47 . Physical illnesses can develop. It can actually be48 for your health.
Feelings that you keep all bottled up inside, don’t just 49 . It’s like you bought some bananas and stuck them in a cupboard. You might not be able to see them, but 50 you’d smell them. And if you opened the cupboard, you’d 51 little fruit flies hovering (盘旋) all over them. They’d be rotten.
You can try to treat emotions 52 they were bananas in the cupboard. You can 53 they don’t exist, but they’ll still be 54 . And at last you’ll have to 55 them, just like those bananas.
1. A. mind B. admit C. realize D. remember
2. A. save B. help C. defend D. hide
3. A. Truly B. Frequently C. Similarly D. Differently
4. A. chemical B. physical C. health D. ill
5.A. and B. or C. but D. yet
6. A. therefore B. but C. besides D. however
7.A. take off B. take on C. take over D. take up
8. A. wished B. hoped C. blamed D. shared
9. A. useful B. right C. easy D. wise
10. A. handle B. hurt C. hide D. prevent
11. A. keep B. find C. control D. let
12. A. relaxed B. tense C. same D. different
13. A. good B. harmful C. helpful D. useful
14. A. go away B. go on C. go up D. go out
15. A. long before B. as usual C. before long D. right away
16. A. meet B. observe C. catch D. see
17. A. as if B. just as C. just after D. even though
18. A. pretend B. expect C. decide D. assume
19. A. in B. around C. over D. beyond
20. A. eat up B. deal with C. throw away D. send out
A sudden blizzard occurred in Beijing last night, ______great inconvenience in transport.
A. caused B. causing C. affecting D. brought
