Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States.
The result: thirteen percent fewer heart attacks. Eight percent fewer strokes. Four percent fewer deaths. Eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease. And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings.
Researchers found it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year.
The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten, at the University of California, was the lead author. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams, or one-half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Stanford and Columbia University.
Each gram of salt contains four hundred milligrams of sodium, which is how foods may list their salt content.
The government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day. The American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants.
Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study by the Seattle Children's Research Institute shows how that idea can influence what parents order for their children.
Ninety-nine parents of three to six year olds took part. Half had McDonald's menus clearly showing how many calories were in each food. The other half got menus without the calorie information.
1. How many heart attacks will occur in the US every year？
A. nearly 800,000. B. 24,000.
C. 100,000. D. 92,000.
2. We can learn from the passage that .
A. Americans ate no more than 5 grams of salt per day in the 1970s
B. the American Heart Association suggest less than 3 grams of salt every day
C. a reduction in salt in the diet helps lower blood pressure
D. all the heart diseases result from eating more salt
3.The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to .
A. advise Americans to eat less salt
B. put pressure on food companies and restaurants
C. require fast food places to list calorie information
D. attract the public attention to the problem
4.All the following are related to the salt in diet except .
A. strokes B. heart attacks
C. blood pressures D. stomach diseases
5.The best title of the passage of the passage is .
A. Less salt can mean more life
B. Prevent heart attacks and deaths
C. The National Salt Reduction Initiative
D. Americans should eat less salt
Pupils work harder in lessons if they are taught by a man, a study has claimed. Male teachers are more likely to improve pupils' self-esteem and are judged by pupils to be more fair, according to a study published by the Department for Education.
But there is a significant shortage of male teachers, especially in primary schools, with reports last month indicating that almost one in three primaries has an all-female teaching staff. The latest figures heightened fears that schools are becoming dominated (主宰) by women and children are being denied access to male role models in the classroom.
Researchers at the London School of Economics and Westminster University conducted an experiment in which each of 1,200 pupils in 29 schools was given £2. They could use the money to "buy" up to 10 questions at a cost of 20p each, which they then had to answer. If they were right they were given an extra 20p, but if they were wrong they lost 20p. Boys and girls who had a male teacher chose on average almost half a question more than those taught by women, indicating that they had a more positive outlook on the rewards of effort, the the study said.
Researchers wrote: "One of the most significant results featured in this experiment is the positive effect of male teachers on effort. The experiment suggests that higher ability pupils either believed that the teacher would reward them more favorably or had a preference for working hard to please the teacher."
According to the Good Teacher Training Guide, 86 per cent of new teachers entering primary schools are female, along with 62 per cent of those entering secondary schools.
Professor Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University, said: "This is an interesting and somewhat surprising finding, but it does underline the importance of having a good mix of male and female teachers in classes."
1.Which of the following is true of the passage?
A. Male teachers are more fair than female teachers.
B. Now most primary schools are in need of teachers.
C. Most people are afraid that their children can't get access to male teachers.
D. The author thinks that male teachers are better than female teachers.
2.What is the author's attitude to the finding that pupils work harder in lessons if they are taught by a man?
A. He is for the finding.
B. He is against the finding.
C. He doesn't show his opinion about it.
D. He thinks it’s interesting and somewhat surprising.
3.What does the author mainly tell us in the 3rd paragraph?
A. Researchers at the London School of Economics and Westminster University conducted an experiment.
B. Students could use the money to "buy" up to 10 questions and then had to answer them.
C. Boys and girls who had a male teacher chose on average almost half a question more than those taught by women.
D. The experiment shows that students taught by male teachers had a more positive outlook on the rewards of effort.
4.It can be inferred that .
A. one third of primaries has an all female staff
B. if a student is taught by a man teacher, he will think that if he works harder he will make greater progress
C. 86 per cent of new teachers entering primary schools are female
D. this finding is interesting and surprising
5.Where can we find the passage?
A. It is from a PE section on the Internet.
B. It is from an educational magazine.
C. It comes from the social section of a newspaper.
D. It comes from an English teaching book.
When my oldest son was in high school, he planned to attend a Christian contemporary concert with the youth group from our church. To my 36 , Aaron invited me to go along. I 37 accepted; however, by the time the date of the concert arrived, my youngest son had been ill, and I was 38 about him. My husband 39 me to attend the concert, promising he would take care of our youngest. I hesitated.
Finally, it 40 me. Aaron was sixteen years old. How many 41 would I have to do something fun with him 42 he went away to college? And how many youth actually 43 their mothers to attend a concert with them that was clearly for teens? The 44 was made. I would not miss this opportunity.
At the concert, I sat with Aaron in the third row, stuffing (填塞) cotton in my ears to block out the 45 , ear-splitting music of the first performer. I stood when the kids stood, clapped when they clapped, and never let anyone know how 46 I was to feel the floor vibrate (震动) beneath my feet. Aaron and his friends were 47 at my enthusiasm.
By the time we left the concert, my ears were ringing, but it quickly passed. 48 did my son's teenage years. 49 he was in college and away from home. I missed him more than I could say. On days when I was especially 50 for his ready smile and his teasing manner, I would think back to the concert we attended and be thankful once again that I didn't 51 an opportunity to spend time with my son.
Aaron is now grown and has a family of his own, but we are still very 52 . Some days he calls just to 53 and tell me about his day. I drop everything and 54 the moment, knowing these times too shall 55 .
1.A. amazement B. agreement C. argument D. disappointment
2.A. hardly B. suddenly C. readily D. rapidly
3.A. crazy B. merciful C. patient D. concerned
4.A. prevented B. encouraged C. stopped D. refused
5.A. determined B. hit C. controlled D. annoyed
6. A. opportunities B. years C. festivals D. moments
7.A. after B. since C. when D. before
8.A. invited B. advised C. allowed D. promised
9.A. invitation B. design C. demand D. decision
10. A. silly B. pleasant C. loud D. sweet
11. A. excited B. nervous C. curious D. surprised
12. A. puzzled B. annoyed C. amused D. disappointed
13.A. Such B. Neither C. So D. Either
14.A. In no time B. In time C. At a time D. At the time
15.A. tired B. worried C. upset D. lonely
16. A. have B. miss C. obtain D. grasp
17. A. close B. open C. young D. positive
18.A. talk B. speak C. chat D. communicate
19. A. wait B. spend C. listen D. enjoy
20.A. pass B. gain C. lose D. keep
We were sad to learn that several students were by a car yesterday.
A. hit out B. knocked over
C. run across D. picked up
children believe they can succeed, they will never become totally independent．
A. If B. Though C. Unless D. When
The climate conference was attended by 11,000 people, it the largest UN gathering ever held.
A. making B. to make C. made D. to be making
