A Charlotte, N.C., man was charged with first-degree murder of a 79-year-old woman whom police said he scared to death. In an attempt to evade policemen after a bank robbery, the Associated Press reports that 20-year-old Larry Whitfield broke into the home of Mary Parnell. Police say he didn’t touch Parnell but that she died after suffering a heart attack that was caused by terror. Can the guy be held responsible for the woman’s death? Prosecutors(公诉人) said that he can under the state’s murder rule, which allows someone to be charged with murder if he or she causes another person’s death while committing or fleeing from a severe crime like robbery—even if he or she doesn’t kill someone on purpose.
But, medically speaking, can someone actually be frightened to death? We asked Martin Samuels, chairman of the neurology department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Absolutely, no question about it.
The body has a natural protective method called the fight-or-flight response(战或逃反应), which was originally described by Walter Cannon，the chairman of Harvard University’s physiology department from 1906 to 1942. If, in the wild, an animal is faced with a life-threatening situation, the autonomic nervous system responds by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and slowing digestion, among other things. All of this increases the chances of succeeding in a fight or running away from an aggressive beast. This process certainly would be of help to primitive humans. However, in the modern world there is obvious decline of the fight-or-flight response.
The autonomic nervous system uses the chemical messenger to send signals to various parts of the body to activate the fight-or-flight response. This chemical is toxic in large amounts; it damages the organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is believed that almost all sudden deaths are caused by damage to the heart. There is almost no other organ that would fail so fast as to cause sudden death. Kidney failure, liver failure, those things don’t kill you suddenly.
By the way, any strong positive or negative emotions such as happiness or sadness can cause the same result. There are people who have died in intercourse or in religious passion. There was a case of a golfer who hit a hole in one, turned to his partner and said, “I can die now”, and then he dropped dead. For about seven days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon there was an increase of sudden cardiac death among New Yorkers.
1. Why the Charlotte, N.C., man was charged?
A. Because he threatened the policemen to kill an old woman.
B. Because he caused an old woman’s terror and she died.
C. Because he beat an old woman and caused her heart attack
D. Because he murdered an old woman while robbing a bank.
2. What is Martin Samuels’ attitude to the possibility of being frightened to death?
A. Approval. B. Disapproval. C. Doubtful. D. Indifferent.
3. Which of the following about the fight-or-flight response is true?
A. The fight-or-flight response was raised and proved by Martin A. Samuels.
B. It is a natural protective method that can’t be found in all creatures but humans.
C. The ancient humans had a superior fight-or-flight response than modern ones.
D. The fight-or-flight response is beneficial to both our actions and organs.
4. What activity can we infer is less likely to damage the organs?
A. Winning a big lottery. B. Missing a dead family.
C. Watching a horror movie. D. Listening to a sweet song.
5. The purpose of the passage is_________.
A. to explain why people will die of a heart attack
B. to offer some advice on protecting us from heart failure
C. to compare different kinds of feelings to cause a death
D. to show strong emotions can cause a sudden death
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项标号涂黑。
A
|
HIGHFIELD COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SCHOOL REPORT Form Teacher: G. Baker Pupil’s Name: Simon Watkins Term: Summer 2010 Form: Ⅳ B
FORM TEACHER’S REMARKS HEADMASTER Basically satisfactory work and progress I shall be keeping an eye on his though he will now have realized, I hope, that progress in his weaker subjects in certain subject areas he needs to make speedy though his success in the sciences is improvement. most pleasing. |
1.According to the comments of the Physical Education teacher, Simon .
A.is too talkative in the class
B.likes to work with his classmates
C.doesn’t exercise his body at the right time
D.becomes weak because he doesn’t exercise at all
2.Which of Simon’s subjects will attract the headmaster’s attention in future?
A. Biology and Maths. B.History and French.
C. English and Chemistry. D. Physics and Physical Education.
3. Which of the following statements best describes Simon?
A. He has made great progress in language classes.
B. His potential has been fully reflected in science classes.
C. His grade in maths makes him a born scientist.
D. He needs to improve his attitude on certain subjects.
4. Based on the school report, which of the following statements is true?
A. Simon didn’t bother his teacher to revise French.
B. Basically, Simon did a good job in science.
C. Simon is a determined learner in English.
D. Simon is able to pay attention to history for long.
完形填空 （满分20分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后下列各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
When Carol was diagnosed, her cancer had 21 to her bones. We calmly talked about what to expect. I reviewed choices for 22 and printed out new research. But 23 , I cried and struggled. Only half the patients are alive two years after diagnosis.
Carol began treatment afterwards. She felt almost 24 and went right back to work. Carol hates the idea of being 25 as a “sick” person. She likes her life 26 . Last winter, Carol suddenly found 27 difficult to swallow. She slept a lot and was slow to wake in the morning. There was continuous pressure in her chest and 28 I saw her looking thoughtful. One day, she told me, “I think I 29 never leave the hospital,” she continued, “I just want to enjoy the little things--- 30 is out of the window.” We had never spoken of that before. 31 we began an African safari, a trip she had dreamed of for years.
Morning and afternoon, we went diving and rolled into the clear water 32 down like peas in honey. In the evenings, we spent time on the pier, watching the sun set. One of the young couples on the island wondered if we were sisters. We laughed. “Friends for 34 years,” I said. I could see by their 33 that they didn’t really understand that kind of time. We have been friends 34 than they have been alive.
35 dives, we talked about where to go next. I made lists 36 she slept. Our plans were now more theoretical, and the big trip to the South Pacific one day seemed a long way off. Cancer has become part of our 37 . We are well aware that our bodies are temporary gifts. Not knowing what comes next means 38 is possible. Perhaps I will be hit by a truck, or my heart will stop. Life is 39 .
We took our last dive of the trip. When we reached the deep blue water, we spread our arm out like wings and pretended to 40 .
1.. A. spread B. delivered C. developed D. sent
2. A. directions B. medicine C. instructions D. treatment
3. A. in danger B. in tears C. in private D. in trouble
4. A. same B. common C. usual D. normal
5.A. looked B. considered C. thought D. felt
6.A. as it is B. to good purpose C. of general interest D. in a way
7. A. this B. one C. it D. that
8. A. now and then B. more or less C. here and there D. sooner or later
9. A. should B. might C. must D. need
10.A. what B. which C. that D. when
11. A. Still B. Yet C. Then D. Even
12. A. sinking B. swimming C. dropping D. disappearing
13. A. words B. voices C. faces D. actions
14. A. longer B. older C. closer D. elder
15. A. Among B. With C. Between D. Beyond
16. A. because B. though C. since D. while
17. A. leadership B. scholarship C. friendship D. membership
18. A. everything B. nothing C. anything D. something
19. A. dangerous B. colorful C. difficult D. different
20. A. enjoy B. dance C. sing D. fly
---Hello, Sally. How’s everything going?
--- __________ .
A. The same to you B. I can’t agree more
C. That’s right D. Surviving
---Were you satisfied with the exam result?
---Not a ______. I should have done much ______.
A. little; better B. bit; worse C. little; worse D. bit; better
Do you like _______when someone speaks to you without looking at you?
A. that B. him C. it D. those
