There is an English saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can improve people’s health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated (忍耐) the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which reduces both stress and pain.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients’ condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.
Laughter | |
As a proverb goes, “Laughter is the best 1. .” | Doctors have found that laughter really can improve people’s 2. . |
Some different tests conducted by doctors. | ●Some doctors carried out some tests to study the 3. of laughter on one’s 4. While doctors checked their heart, blood pressure and so forth, people were asked to watch 5. films. As a result, it 6. heart beating and blood pressure. |
Other tested showed laughter is able to reduce the effects of 7. | ●Laughter helps to produce a kind of 8.in the brain which can 9. both stress and pain. ●Doctors hold laughter clinics in order to improve patients’ 10.. |
Carlos had been in New York for five months now, and he detested it. He would never forget the day when the plane landed. His parents had big smiles on their faces as they discussed the wonderful new life they would have in this great city. His older sister and brother looked in wonder and excitement at the buildings. Uncle Miguel and Aunt Esperanza thought of the good jobs they would get. Grandmother and Grandfather told him what a lucky boy he was to come to this wonderful city. But Carlos was lonely. The city looked big, cold, and dirty to him.
They lived in an apartment in Manhattan. There were stores and cinemas close to their home. But Carlos didn’t want these things. He loved his home in the country in Puerto Rico; he loved the green fields, the hot sun, and the lovely beaches.
He didn’t want to go to school because it made him think of his friends at home. And he didn’t want to learn a new language that could never describe the world as beautifully as his own.
He began to go down to the dock(码头), because this made him feel closer to Puerto Rico. He sat down and watched the ships. He would often find a man also sitting there looking at the sea. The man was Eric-a taxi driver who came there to escape from the noisy traffic.
Eric noticed the young boy and felt his sadness. One day he said, “Yes, it’s hard to leave your homeland. I remember when I left Norway 15 years ago. I know it’s hard to start a new life in a new country, but let’s face it. I did it and you can do it, too.”
From then on the taxi driver and the young boy began to develop a deep friendship.
1.The underlined word “detested” in Paragraph1 probably means __________.
A. forgot B. enjoyed
C. hated D. missed
2. According to the text, ___________.
A. Carlos’ parents were looking forward to the life in New York
B. Carlos’ grandparents were afraid of the traffic in New York
C. Carlos’ uncle and aunt found it hard to get jobs in New York
D. Carlos’ brother and sister got excited at the schools in New York
3. Why did Carlos feel lonely?
A. He knew nobody around his apartment.
B. He missed his life in Puerto Rico.
C. his parents left him alone at home.
D. No one went to the movies with him.
4. Eric and Carlos became friends because they ________.
A. came from the same country B. both hated noise
C. were the same age D. faced the same problems
Located 40 miles northeast of San Diego, California, Valley Center has more than 27 square miles of countryside beauty and 21,000 acres of agricultural land. Along with the activities mentioned here, the Chamber of Commerce website (www.vcchamber.com) lists a large number of outings for your family to enjoy: Palomar Mountain Observatory, Lakes Wohlford, Hodges and Henshaw, Sengme Oaks Water Park, and Pala Mission.
Bates Nut Farm
15954 Woods Valley Rd.
www. batesnutfarm.biz
760-749-3333
Most people would agree that no visit to Valley Center would be complete without a stop at Bates Nut Farm. Gilbert and Beatrice Bates founded the farm in 1921.The farm has a picnic area and a large store full of nuts, candies and treats. Kids can feed farm animals, and in the fall, find pumpkins along with many fun, seasonal activities for the family. The place, which started out as a nut farm, is now home to many family-friendly events throughout the year like car shows and music festivals.
Valley Center Wellness Spa
28714 Valley Center Rd.
www.valley centerwellnessspa.com
760-751-5303
The Valley Center Wellness Spa invites you to experience some of the special spa(温泉疗养) treatments in a private environment. Spa-goers can enjoy facials and skin treatments at this spa owned by Jana Limon.
Keys Creek Lavender Farm
12460 Keys Creek Rd.
760-742-0523
San Diego County’s lavender (薰衣草) farm has eight acres of lavender fields. Open during harvest time—May through June—it offers lavender picking. English high teas and workshops. Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Valley Center Western Days
28246 Lilac Rd.
www.westerndays.org
760-749-8041
Each May, the week-long series of events kicks off with the Western Days Parade, the Valley Center Stampede Rodeo, and an evening musical performance. You can enjoy the fun and meet some new friends here.
1.If you want to go somewhere for a picnic, you may call _______.
A. 760-742-0523 B.760-749-8041
C. 760-749-3333 D. 760-751-5303
2. What can one do in Keys Creek Lavender Farm?
A. Pick lavender B. Watch car shows
C. Feed farm animals D. Have a lavender spa
3. One can enjoy live music in ______ .
A. Bates Nut Farm ＆ Valley Center Wellness Spa
B. Valley Center Wellness Spa ＆ Keys Creek Lavender Farm
C. Keys Creek Lavender Farm＆Valley Center Western Days
D. Valley Center Western Days ＆Bates Nut Farm
4. Where can we probably find the text?
A. In a story guide B. In a music book
C. In a history textbook D. In a travel magazine
Many people love keeping the pets (dogs, cats, horses, etc) and have them as their good friends. In Canada, people usually take their pets to animal hospitals to give them injections (注射) so that they won't carry diseases before they keep them in their houses. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of stores. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food.
When you visit people's houses, they would be very glad to show you their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a bird feeder in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and have a good meal. They are free to come and go and nobody is allowed to kill any animal in Canada. They have a law against killing wild animals. If you killed an animal, you would be punished. If an animal happened to get run over by a car, people would be very sad about it.
People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be: Their family ties are not as close as ours. When children grow up, they leave their parents and start their own life. Then the old will feel lonely. But pets can solve this problem. They can be good friends and never leave them alone.
1. The passage mainly talks about ________.
A. how to keep disease from pets
B. pets in Canada
C. how to take good care of pets
D. life of the old in Canada
2. They give their pets injections before keeping them at their houses because _______.
A. the pets are sick
B. they want to stop them from getting sick
C. the pets are wild
D. they want them to sleep on the way home
3. In Canada, children leave their parents when they grow up because ________.
A. they don’t love their parents any more
B. they can only find jobs far from their parents
C. they wouldn’t depend on their parents any more
D. their parents’ houses are too small
4. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. People buy animal food only at the animal food stores.
B. Pets eat better than people.
C. Any bird can come to the bird feeders to eat.
D. Almost every family has a birdcage in his house.
I had a lot of teachers that I loved. However, the teacher that I remember most was Mrs. Green from Marianna, Florida. She was my 5th grade teacher. Since I was a new student, not only in her class, but at the school, she made my time there much more pleasant. I immediately began to like her. She was really funny and I knew that she liked me. She made learning fun. I remember one day for Christmas holidays, she taught us how to make ornaments(装饰物) from eggs. My parents still have some of the ornaments I made.
She made me leader for many group projects and that made me feel special. I think that would make any child feel special, especially when a child is in a new place with no friends. She made me want to be like that. Not to pick a “favorite” student, but to make every student feel that they are special. That year, I received the Presidential Academic Award(美国总统学术奖) . I was really proud and so were my parents.
Looking back at it, I think the reason why I did so well was that I felt important. Students do better when they feel like they are important or loved. Mrs. Green always gets to know her students and forms personal relationships with them, which I will try to do some day. I just hope that there will be a student who finds me to be their favorite teacher as I found her to be mine.
1. The author’s life in the new school was very _______.
A. hard B. happy C. common D. boring
2. What can we learn from the second paragraph?
A. The author was Mrs. Green’s favorite student.
B. The author was the pride of her parents.
C. The author was once received by the President.
D. The author always felt lonely in Mrs. Green’s class.
3. What will the author probably do in the future?
A. become a teacher B. become an artist
C. become a leader D. become the President
4. How does the author feel about Mrs. Green’s help?
A. Sorry B. Afraid
C. Hopeful D. Thankful
Have you still remember what happened when you went to school on the first day? I still remember my interesting first day of school . On that day, I hurried to my science class in the morning and found a seat in the back. I waited there for 15 minutes before the bell rang. The science teacher told us about some class rules. No one talked to me nor did I talk to anyone else. I was one of those very shy girls. After the science class, I had an English class. I thought it would be boring but it turned out to be very funny. When the classes of the morning ended I went to lunch. I sat outside the dining room with no one to talk to and no food because I was too nervous to join the lunch line. I kept looking around hoping to see someone I knew but I never saw anyone.
Lunch ended and I went to have my art class. I was the first one there and not even my teacher was there yet. So I sat at my desk and started drawing some pictures. I didn’t notice the rest of the class walking in or the girl that was standing behind me till I surprised by the voice, “So what are you drawing?” It was a girl who had really long hair. She ended up being my best friend and one of the kindest and liveliest girls I know.
In the next class meeting, the teacher asked us to talk about the past holiday. I was glad to make some new friends in the class. The first day of high school was hard for me but I got through it.
1.What do we know about the writer’s science class?
A. She was 15 minutes late for it.
B. She made some new friends.
C. She learned some class rules.
D. She sat in the front row.
2.According to the writer, the English class was _______?
A. boring B. useful
C. hard D. interesting
3. The writer had no lunch because she _________.
A. was afraid to stand in line
B. forgot the lunchtime
C. wasn’t hungry
D. didn’t like the dining room
4. In the art class, the writer _______.
A. met someone she knew before
B. talked about her past holiday
C. got to know a lively girl
D. drew some pictures about her class
