At 88, I remain a competitive runner. The finish line of my life is drawing close, and I hope to reach it having given the best of myself along the way. I’ve been training my body to meet the demands of this final stretch. But, I wonder, should I have asked more of my mind?
If I didn’t exercise, I would release the hungry beasts that seek their elderly prey on couches, but not in the gym. The more I sweated, the more likely it was my doctor would continue to say, “Keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll see you next year.” My mind, on the other hand, seems less willing to give in to discipline. I have tried internet “brain games”, solving algebraic problems flashing past and changing the route of virtual trains to avoid crashes. But these never approach my determination to remain physically fit as I move deeper into old age.
Despite having many friends in their 70s, 80s and 90s, I’ve been far too slow to realize that how we respond to aging is a choice made in the mind, not in the gym. Some of my healthiest friends carry themselves as victims abused by time. Other friends, many whose aching knees and hips are the least of their physical problems, find comfort in their ability to accept old age as just another stage of life to deal with. I would use the word “heroic” to describe the way they cope with aging.
One such friend recently called from a hospital to tell me a sudden brain disease had made him legally blind. He interrupted me as I began telling him how terribly sorry I was: “Bob, it could have been worse. I could have become deaf instead of blind.”
Despite all the time I spend lifting weights and exercising, I realized I lack the strength to have said those words. It suddenly struck me I’ve paid a price for being a “gym rat.” If there is one characteristic common to friends who are aging with a graceful acceptance of life’s attacks, it is contentment. Aging had to be more than what I saw in a mirror.
But rather than undertaking a fundamental change in the way I face aging, I felt the place to begin would be to start small. A recent lunch provided a perfect example.
I’ve always found it extremely difficult to concentrate when I’m in a noisy setting. At this lunch with a friend in an outdoor restaurant, a landscaper began blowing leaves from underneath the bushes surrounding our table. Typically, after such a noisy interruption, I would have snapped, “Let’s wait until he’s finished!” then fallen silent. When the roar (吼叫) eventually faded, my roar would have drained (消耗) the conversation of any warmth. It troubled me that even a passing distraction (分心) could so easily take me from enjoying lunch with a good friend to a place that gave me no pleasure at all. I wanted this meal to be different.
My years in gyms had taught me to shake off pains and other distractions, never permitting them to stop my workout or run. I decided to treat the noise this way. I continued talking with my friend, challenging myself to hear the noise, but to hold it at a distance. The discipline so familiar to me in the gym — this time applied to my mind — proved equally effective in the restaurant. It was as though I had taken my brain to a mental fitness center.
Learning to ignore a leaf blower’s roar hardly equips me to find contentment during my passage into ever-deeper old age. But I left the lunch feeling I had at least taken a small first step in changing behavior that stood in the way of that contentment.
Could I employ that same discipline to accept with dignity the inevitable decline awaiting me like the finish line? Hoping that contentment will guide me as I make my way along the path yet to be traveled.
1.The author’s question in Paragraph 1 implies that _____________.
A. he has never believed the necessity of mind training
B. he has realized he should mentally prepare for aging
C. he feels regret for not sharpening his thinking skills
D. he feels unsatisfied with the result of the brain games
2.The author uses his friends as examples to __________.
A. stress aging is an unavoidable stage of life to face
B. indicate that people see life from many different angles
C. prove it’s significant to be surrounded with positive friends
D. show it’s important to take health seriously in a sensible way
3.What can we learn from the author’s friend mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A. He fears that his illness will become worse.
B. He takes physical illnesses as they come.
C. He needs to find a way through those hardships.
D. He sees life as a series of disappointments.
4.After that recent lunch, the author realized that _________.
A. distractions were not uncommon in everyday life
B. the restaurant was not an ideal place for eating
C. his roar had spoiled the friendly conversation
D. he had made small changes to adapt to aging
5.What’s the author’s attitude towards exercising in the end?
A. Doubtful. B. Indifferent.
C. Positive. D. Ambiguous.
6.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
A. Old age curse and blessing B. The secret to aging well
C. Benefits of regular exercise D. Never too old to learn
The bacteria which inhabit (栖居于) human beings, particularly the guts (肠道) of those beings, have been found in recent years to be important for fighting off diseases. That something similar happens in other animal species is doubtless true as well. But work by Seon-Woo Lee at Dong-A University and Jihyun Kim at Yonsei University, both in South Korea, suggests that it is not only animals that benefit from such bacterial protection. Their study, just published in Nature Biotechnology, shows that plants do, too.
Crop plants of the nightshade family, such as potatoes and tomatoes, are not immune to a soil bacterium called Ralstonia solanacearum. This enters their roots and spreads through their water-transport systems, causing them to wilt (枯萎). Infection is usually deadly; the disease costs potato farmers alone $1bn a year. A variety of tomato called Hawaii 7996, however, does not suffer from such bacterial wilt. Dr Lee and Dr Kim wondered if the explanation for this exceptionalism lay with other bacteria in the soil.
To test that idea, they grew crops of Hawaii 7996 and a second tomato variety called Moneymaker. Once the plants were established, the researchers analyzed bacteria in the soil around the plants’ roots and found systematic differences that depended on which tomato variety was growing. This observation made their explanation reasonable and likely to be true.
They then transplanted some of their Moneymaker plants into soil that had previously supported Hawaii 7996s, and some of the Hawaiian plants into soil that had been home to Moneymakers. As controls, they similarly uprooted (拔起) individuals of both varieties and replanted them in soil once occupied by the same variety. That done, they exposed all of their plants to R. solanacearum and monitored them over the course of 14 days.
They found the disease progressed almost 30% more slowly in Moneymaker plants grown in “Hawaiian” soil than it did in those Moneymakers that had been replanted into their own soil. In contrast, it progressed rapidly in the normally resistant Hawaiian variety when this was transferred into Moneymaker soil.
Further study revealed that credit for this disease resistance went to a single type of soil bacterium, called TRM1. Dr Lee and Dr Kim therefore cultivated (培育) this bug in their laboratory and used it to treat soil into which Moneymaker plants were then planted. When these were infected with R. solanacearum they proved more resistant than others that had been planted into untreated soil as controls.
These findings suggest to Dr Lee and Dr Kim that the roots of Hawaii 7996 are releasing compounds (化合物) which encourage the growth of TRM1. What those compounds are has yet to be determined. The two researchers’ work, however, seems to suggest something constructive.
1.The author mentions the bacteria inhabiting human beings to introduce ___________.
A. the benefits of bacteria to humans B. the effects of bacteria on plants
C. the efforts to fight off diseases D. the reasons for plant diseases
2.What are the two researchers’ findings based on?
A. Comprehensive analyses of how plants are infected.
B. Careful observation of the transplanting process.
C. Controlled experiments on the uprooted individuals of both varieties.
D. Comparison of the progress of the disease in different conditions.
3.According to the study, why are some plants immune to infection?
A. They have better water-transport systems.
B. They are protected by some other bacteria.
C. They are genetically different from others.
D. They have resistance to bacteria when transferred.
4.The two researchers’ work indicates that _____________.
A. new ways will be found to deal with bacterial wilt
B. causes of some plant diseases have been discovered
C. a new chapter of agricultural science and technology has started
D. the composition of the compounds released has been identified
There is a small but growing movement in America of households that want to reduce waste to zero. Zero Wasters, as they are called, help each other by sharing advice on blogs and social media. A number of people also have written recent books on the subject.
Bea Johnson is author of Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life. She said, “It may be too extreme for some people, but even if you can cut your trash down by even 20 percent, you’ll gain 80 percent of the benefits, like saving time and money for experiences instead of shopping for unnecessary stuff. It’s about a simpler life based on being, not having.”
Johnson said that reducing shopping means her family has more money for fun vacations. She said her family buys recycled things also. All their clothing, for example, comes from used clothing stores. She says that has reduced her household spending by 40 percent.
“We can get most brands on eBay and request that they be sent to us without any non-recyclable packaging,” she said.
Zero Wasters like to talk about five “R’s”: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. The first “R” stands for refuse. They refuse containers and plastic straws at restaurants. To this end, they either ask to use their own containers or request that things like food be wrapped in paper. Zero Wasters also seek to reduce the number of things they buy. They reuse household goods and recycle materials. They also try to compost, or rot, food material that can be used to enrich soil.
Amy Korst is another most popular writer in the zero waste movement. She wrote the book Zero Waste Lifestyle: Live Well by Throwing Away Less. She noted that once food is buried under plastics and other things in, for example, a landfill, it no longer composts as it normally would. She said that is why it is so important to cut down on using things made out of plastic and separate things that can be broken down from other trash. She recommended residents to contact the local sanitation department in understanding how to recycle. Officials there will be able to advise about what can be recycled and how to do it.
1.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 most probably implies that ____________.
A. Zero Wasters’ goal of producing no trash is hard to reach
B. it’s a primitive life depending on nature rather than people
C. Zero Wasters emphasize a rich spiritual life based on basic needs
D. the new lifestyle sought by Zero Wasters will make people richer
2.What does Paragraph 5 talk about?
A. Reasons why Zero Wasters try to reduce trash.
B. Contributions Zero Wasters have already made.
C. Problems that Zero Wasters face in their daily life.
D. Actions that Zero Wasters take to achieve their goal.
3.What does Amy Korst think of the zero waste movement?
A. She opposes spending more money for fun experiences.
B. She believes a landfill is an ideal place for food wastes.
C. She advocates using less plastics and garbage classification.
D. She holds that many people are ignorant about recycling.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT LYRICA
LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions.
Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of serious allergic reactions:
swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck
have any trouble breathing
LYRICA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms, especially if they are new, worse or worry you, including:
feeling restless
panic attacks
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
new or worse depression
an extreme increase in activity and talking
other unusual changes in behavior or mood
LYRICA may cause swelling of your hands, legs and feet.
This swelling can be a serious problem with people with heart problems.
LYRICA may cause dizziness or sleepiness.
Do not drive a car, work with machines, or do other dangerous things until you know how LYRICA affects you.
ABOUT LYRICA
LYRICA is a prescription medicine used in adults 18 years and older to treat:
pain from damaged nerves that happens with diabetes or that follows healing of shingles or spinal cord injury
Fibromyalgia (pain all over your body)
Who should NOT take LYRICA:
Anyone who is allergic to anything in LYRICA
Anyone who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant
BEFORE STARTING LYRICA
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
have or had kidney problems
have heart problems, including heart failure
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT LYRICA
LYRICA may cause serious, even life threatening, allergic reactions.
Stop taking LYRICA and call your doctor right away if you have any signs of serious allergic reactions:
swelling of your face, mouth, lips, gums, tongue, throat or neck
have any trouble breathing
LYRICA may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.
Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms, especially if they are new, worse or worry you, including:
feeling restless
panic attacks
acting aggressive, being angry, or violent
new or worse depression
an extreme increase in activity and talking
other unusual changes in behavior or mood
LYRICA may cause swelling of your hands, legs and feet.
This swelling can be a serious problem with people with heart problems.
LYRICA may cause dizziness or sleepiness.
Do not drive a car, work with machines, or do other dangerous things until you know how LYRICA affects you.
ABOUT LYRICA
LYRICA is a prescription medicine used in adults 18 years and older to treat:
pain from damaged nerves that happens with diabetes or that follows healing of shingles or spinal cord injury
Fibromyalgia (pain all over your body)
Who should NOT take LYRICA:
Anyone who is allergic to anything in LYRICA
Anyone who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant
BEFORE STARTING LYRICA
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
have or had kidney problems
have heart problems, including heart failure
1.According to the instructions, which of the following people can take the medicine?
A. Jenny, 26, expecting her first baby
B. Henry, 15, living with diabetes
C. Finny, 37, having heart problems
D. Sunny, 41, suffering from pain severely
2.What symptoms may LYRICA cause?
a. breathing trouble
b. emotional changes
c. kidney problems
d. heart failure
e. sleep loss
f. feeling dizzy
A. a, c, d B. a, b, f
C. c, e, f D. b, d, e
I grew up in a small town in Alabama. I had to eat last at school ______ I was a welfare kid. I began to work at 8. But I didn’t ______. I felt safer working than being at home.
At 12, I came across Macy of Charm School. She said, “My, you are ______ for your age. Come to my school and I will train you.” ______ Mama didn’t approve. When Miss Macy told her I could come to her school ______, Mama let me go. Miss Macy would teach me how to ______ like a lady. She encouraged me to enter every beauty competition that came to Alabama.
One day, I got an opportunity to go to a modeling ______ in New York City! The trip was _______, but I had a year, so I started working three jobs. With the help of the town — money, a miniskirt, boots, a new ______ — we got to New York.
But when the competition started, I thought I didn’t ______ there, with my strange hair and boots. And I didn’t see one girl walk the way Miss Macy had taught me. I pretended to be ______, but I was really scared. Finally I didn’t ______ anything.
To my surprise, the next day Miss Macy told the governor of Alabama on the phone I had been signed with the world’s most famous model agency and that we were putting Alabama on the ______.
“Miss Macy, that isn’t ______.” I said. But Miss Macy just ______ my disagreement, because she had a better ______ of how poor my life was in Alabama.
Afterwards we found Wilhelmina, the top model agent, in her office. Miss Macy just told her I was becoming a model with her agency. I didn’t know whether Wilhelmina would burst out laughing or, ______ Miss Macy. Unexpectedly, Wilhelmina simply asked, “So tell me, what’s so ______ about you?”
I didn’t know the right thing to say, but one word popped into my head. “______, madam.” “Well, I’d like to see what you can do with that determination,” she said and handed me a ______, “But first, we have to do something about your hair.”
1.A. though B. unless C. because D. once
2.A. compromise B. mind C. struggle D. adapt
3.A. tall B. mature C. smart D. thin
4.A. Therefore B. Unfortunately C. Instead D. Thankfully
5.A. alone B. fairly C. anyway D. free
6.A. speak B. sit C. walk D. eat
7.A. organization B. training C. competition D. ceremony
8.A. meaningful B. expensive C. stressful D. impressive
9.A. suitcase B. necklace C. overcoat D. hairstyle
10.A. belong B. shine C. relate D. qualify
11.A. patient B. confident C. interested D. serious
12.A. deserve B. remember C. learn D. win
13.A. rise B. wall C. run D. map
14.A. clear B. modest C. true D. accurate
15.A. accepted B. ignored C. interrupted D. justified
16.A. understanding B. sense C. record D. command
17.A. encourage B. question C. applaud D. comfort
18.A. enthusiastic B. tough C. crazy D. special
19.A. Determination B. Ambition C. Motivation D. Affection
20.A. contract B. gift C. certificate D. tissue
— You know what? Our boss invited me to the awards ceremony next Sunday.
— Really? You are a __________.
A. blue-eyed boy B. black sheep
C. white elephant D. yellow dog
