“Mind over matter” is an English saying meaning that we can control our bodies with our minds. Now scientists are finding increasing evidence that our mind can have a great effect on our physical health. Since our mind influences how we feel, it’s not true to say if someone is ill just because he feels ill.
The influence of the mind on how well we feel is the basis of what is known as the placebo effect. A placebo (which is Latin for “I shall please”) is a harmless, inactive substance. Patients are sometimes given placebo pills and begin to feel better because they believe that they have been given real drugs and expect to respond to them. The placebo effect is very strong: research on pain suggests that up to 30% of the effect of most painkillers is a placebo effect.
So if it is so powerful, why don’t doctors use it today?
According to Dr Persaud, they really do. “All these things like seeing a doctor, going to a hospital, and being scanned(扫描) have a very strong placebo effect,” he says.
1.According to the first paragraph, if you feel ill.
A. you don’t need to see a doctor
B. it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re physically ill
C. you are in good condition
D. it is obvious that you suffer from a serious disease
2.The English saying “mind over matter” means that .
A. a sound mind is less important than a good health
B. our mind has a strong effect on our body
C. our physical health has nothing to do with our mind
D. mental health mainly depends on our physical health
3.According to the passage, placebos .
A. may make patients feel worse
B. are not effective pills
C. are not real drugs
D. can relieve all kinds of pains
4.From the passage it can be seen that there will be no placebo effect if a patient .
A. is dressed in white B. has a physical exam
C. takes placebo pills D. sees a doctor
“If it rings one more time, I’ll hang up,” Amy thought hopefully, as she waited for someone to answer. Apologizing wasn’t an easy thing to do.
“Hello,” a woman’s voice said. There was no backing out now.
“May I speak to Missy, please?”
“Just a minute.”
In much less than a minute, Missy was on the phone. “Hi, who’s calling?” asked the cheerful voice.
“It’s Amy. I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry about what I said to you. I didn’t really mean it.” Amy paused, trying to think of what to say next.
“Thank you, Amy. No hard feelings.”
“Missy, you’re a very nice person. You’re a lot nicer than I am!”
Missy laughed. “You’re not so bad, Amy. By the way, I’ve got some great news. Mr.Grumbell said that you were the only candidate for class president. He talked me into being a candidate, too. Isn’t that cool?”
Amy didn’t think the news was cool. Missy was very popular; she’d get a lot of votes. Fortunately, Amy was in a gracious(亲切的) mood. “You’ll be a tough opponent（对手）, Missy,” she said. “May the best woman win.”
“Thanks, Amy,” Missy replied. “But you might even win.”
Amy had to laugh. “Hey, I’m the one who’s supposed to make comments like that!”
1. Amy called Missy on the phone to .
A. tell her that she was happy
B. tell her she needed a help
C. apologize to her
D. ask her to run for president
2.Amy was hoping that no one would answer the phone because .
A. she was too tired to talk
B. she felt uncomfortable when making apologies
C. she was afraid she had dialed the wrong number
D. she was wearing pajamas
3.Missy let Amy know that she wanted something that Amy wanted. What was it?
A. She wanted to have the most friends.
B. She wanted her own telephone.
C. She wanted mushrooms on her pizza.
D. She wanted to be class president.
Most people need hear those “three little words”—I love you. Once in a while, they hear them just in time.
I met Connie the day she was to the ward(病房), where I worked as a(n) . Her husband, Bill, stood nearby as she was transferred to the hospital bed. Although Connie was in the final stages of her fight cancer, she was alert(机敏的) and cheerful. We got her . I finished marking her name on all the hospital supplies she would , and then asked if she needed other things.
“Oh, yes,” she said, “Would you please me how to use the TV? I enjoy the soaps so much and I don’t want to get behind on what’s happening.” As we became , she told me how 44 it was to be married for 32 years to a man who often called her “a silly woman”.
“Oh, I know Bill loves me,” she said, “but he has been one to say he loves me, or send cards to me.” She . “I would give anything if he’d say ‘I love you,’ but it’s just not in his .”
Bill visited Connie every day. In the , he sat next to the bed while she was the soaps. Later, when she began more, he paced up and down the hallway outside her room. Soon, when she no longer watched television and had waking moments, I began spending more of my volunteer time with Bill.
A few days later, when I knew from the head nurse that Connie , I went into the room to say my own to Connie. There, on the table, was a large Valentine card from Bill that says, “To my wonderful ... I love you.”
1.A. admitted B. entered C. forced D. asked
2.A. partner B. volunteer C. doctor D. assistant
3.A. excitedly B. nervously C. calmly D. hurriedly
4.A. for B. with C. against D. of
5.A. settled up B. settled on C. settled for D. settled in
6.A. be used B. be useful C. be using D. make use
7.A. give B. show C. make D. take
8.A. peaceful B. familiar C. strange D. happy
9.A. frustrating B. warm C. happy D. angry
10.A. never B. ever C. always D. seldom
11.A. read B. sighed C. smiled D. cried
12.A. nature B. characteristic C. feature D. quality
13.A. first B. end C. beginning D. top
14.A. watching B. using C. making D. talking
15.A. watching B. talking C. sitting D. sleeping
16.A. little B. less C. few D. fewer
17.A. was dying B. had died C. was dead D. died
18.A. goodbye B. hello C. sorrow D. missing
19.A. bedside B. above C. behind D. front
20.A. friend B. son C. wife D. Teacher
Whenever and wherever we are, keep in mind that we should listen more to others.
It’s wrong to express ourselves without thinking. Just as we all know, _______.
A. a good beginning makes a good ending
B. a still tongue makes a wise head
C. a great hope makes a great man
D. a good husband makes a good wife
The minute he heard someone shouting for help, out_______ to see what was happening.
A. had he rushed B. did he rush
C. he rushed D. rushed he
Compared with his sister, Jerry is even more_______ to, and more easily troubled by , emotional and relationship problems.
A. skeptical B. addicted
C. available D. sensitive
