Children who spend more time outdoors may have a lower risk of becoming nearsighted, new research suggests.
In the study, researchers looked at about 1,900 schoolchildren. The scientists found that the kids who had been instructed to spend more time outdoors over three years were 23 percent less likely to develop nearsightedness during this time than those who had not been instructed to spend more time outdoors. Moreover, among the kids who did become nearsighted during the study, the degree to which their eyesight worsened was slightly smaller among those who spent more time outdoors.
The researchers selected six schools and required the children, whose average age was 7 at the start of the study, to attend one additional 60-minute class of outdoor activities during each school day for three years. The parents of these children were also encouraged to engage their children in outdoor activities after school, especially during weekends and holidays. The other half of the children, from another six schools, continued their usual activity patterns. After three years, 30.4 percent of the kids in the intervention(干预) group had become nearsighted, compared with 38.5 percent of the kids in the other group.
It is not clear exactly why spending more time outside would benefit children’s eyesight, the researchers said. However, some research has suggested that the higher levels of light intensity found outdoors may increase the release of the chemical dopamine(多巴胺) of the eye. In turn, dopamine is known to restrain the type of growth in the eye that is associated with nearsightedness.
Based on the new results, the researchers recommend that children spend more time outdoors because of the potential benefits to their eyesight. However, it’s important to protect kids’ skin and eyes from UV light, which can be damaging.
1.What did the children in the intervention group do during each school day?
A. Continue to do their usual activities.
B. Spend one hour in doing eye exercises.
C. Attend an extra class of outdoor activities.
D. Participate in outdoor activities with parents.
2.What can we learn about the chemical dopamine?
A. It can control people’s growth. B. It can lead to poor sight.
C. It means low levels of light intensity. D. It is good to eyesight.
3.What does the underlined word “restrain” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. recover. B. increase.
C. limit. D. convey.
4.What may be discussed in the following paragraph?
A. How to prevent kids becoming nearsighted.
B. How to protect kids’ skin and eyes from UV light.
C. How to encourage kids to join in outdoor activities.
D. How to design outdoor activities for kids to cure their nearsightedness.
American Baylor spends most of his time in New York, working as a performer in the Broadway musical—The Lion King．But since 2011, he has also spent weeks in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda．There, he teaches dance to boys who live on the street．His teaching is part of an effort by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company．The project helps young people learn more about dance and learn how to behave in a classroom environment．
Baylor describes his students as genocide(种族屠杀) survivors. They have lost all of their families, some even have been in prison. “They have been through things that no one should ever have to go through,” said Baylor. Dance classes provide the children with structured learning and self-expression that they've never had before．They can also take classes in information and technology after they have learned to attend classes and follow directions．
Boys who have done best in the classes win scholarships and are sent to the Sunrise Boarding School．About 30 boys have won this kind of financial aid. All the students are male, because few girls in Rwanda live freely on the street.
The Rwanda program is the largest one set up by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company, founded and directed by Rebecca Davis. Ms．Davis has also set up dance programs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Guinea．About 2,000 children in the three countries have taken part in the project since it was begun in 2010．
As for Baylor, he knows from his own experience how dance can lead to a better life. He is from Camden, New Jersey. Camden has sometimes been called America’s poorest and most dangerous city. Mr. Baylor says that growing up in Camden, it took a long time for him to find out what he wanted to do. He now thinks dancing saved his life.
1.It can be learned from the text that the children in Rwanda __________.
A. worked hard to win scholarships B. have committed violent crimes
C. have gone through tough times D. focused mainly on dancing
2.In how many countries are the dance program launched?
A. Two. B. Three.
C. Four. D. Five.
3.Which of the following in TRUE of the dance project?
A. Most children participating in it were boys.
B. It has gained much support from the world.
C. It is aimed to improve the kids’ dancing skills.
D. The project could date back to the year 2010.
4.What can be the main idea of the text?
A. Dance offers street children path to education.
B. The largest dance project was set up in Guinea.
C. Education is important to street children.
D. Where you grow up decides what you are.
They say chocolate makes everything better, and apparently wagyu beef is no exception. For the past 10 years, the Mayura Station Farm in southern Australia has been feeding its wagyu cattle chocolate and other sweets mixed with their regular feed, and the results have been shocking.
When Scott de Bruin, managing partner at Mayura Station, returned to his father's farm in the Limestone coast of Australia, in 1998, he knew he wanted to do something special to make their beef stand out. But he didn't know exactly how he was going to do that, so he consulted a cattle nutrition specialist from Japan and spent two years experimenting with different feed before deciding on the final daily ration(配给量) for his wagyu cows – a special mix of regular feed, chocolate, gummy bears, strawberries and cream flavored gummy snakes. Each cow eats up to 2 kilograms of ground and partially broken chocolate delivered by Cadbury's every day.
Adding chocolate to the daily diet of cows at Mayura Station started out as a simple experiment, but it ended up making their luxury beef one of the most appreciated in the world. “Many of my customers come to enjoy Mayura beef two to three times a week. They love how the beef has the perfect balance of fat, rich flavor and tender texture(质地),” Michelin star chef Umberto Bombana told Forbes Magazine.
Shane Osborn, Head Chef and Co-Owner of Arcane Restaurant in Hong Kong, added that its unique sweetness, hint of nuttiness and buttery texture make Mayura beef “the ultimate steak”.
Asked if the milk chocolate has a negative effect on the cattle's health, Scott de Bruin says “No, unlike humans – who may start eating chocolates at a very young age for over several decades – these cattle (raised on chocolates for only four months) won't see the long-term negative effects of chocolates in their system.”
As you can imagine, Mayura luxury beef is not cheap. Forbes reports that a 10.5oz-steak sells for $288, but those who can afford it claim it's worth every penny.
1.What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
A. To promote the act. B. To present happiness.
C. To show the author’s shock D. To introduce the topic.
2.What did Bruin do after returning to his father’s farm in 1998?
A. He began to work hard. B. He started to do research.
C. He came to learn about cows. D. He worked for a Japanese specialist.
3.Why did many customers come to enjoy Mayura beef frequently?
A. Because his service is the first class.
B. Because the price of beef is rather low.
C. Because his beef tastes good and nutritious.
D. Because his advertisement is fairly good.
4.What does Bruin think of the influence of the milk chocolate on cattle?
A. It has no bad influence in the long term. B. It has long-term effects.
C. It has short-term effects. D. It makes him puzzled.
Selfies have been especially popular over the years. Taking selfies shows no sign of stopping. Why not try these places?
*Disneyland (California, US)
According to Disney, some 100 million selfies are taken each day in all of its theme parks across the world. Fairy tale characters may have been our earliest friends, but Disney certainly gave them identities and faces we now recognize. When in Disneyland, do not forget to take a selfie with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White or other favorite characters.
*Tower Bridge (London, UK)
Despite being a modern creation (just over 120 years old) Tower Bridge is one of the best attractions of London city. Many wait for the bridge to open, to see the passing of ships. Visitors and Londoners alike seem to think that the best selfie in London is the one taken on the banks of the Thames with the Tower Bridge in the background.
*The Pyramids (Giza, Egypt)
The Pyramids of Egypt are one of the most wanted tourist attractions in the world. When you make your way through the Sahara sands and visit the Great Pyramids of Giza, you realize that these huge structures are wonders of engineering. On your trip to Egypt, do take the time off to ride a camel and take a selfie with the pyramids towering behind you.
*The Taj Mahal (Agra, India)
Not only is it a World Heritage Site, it is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. As a symbol of India, The Taj Mahal is one of the most romantic places you are likely to visit and a selfie with the white structure is one of the best choices for travelers.
1.Which could be the best selfie place for kids?
A. Disneyland in the US. B. Tower Bridge in the UK.
C. Pyramids in Egypt. D. Taj Mahal in India.
2.What can we learn from the text?
A. Taj Mahal is a good selfie place for romantic lovers.
B. The best thing tourists can do in Egypt is riding a camel.
C. Tower Bridge is a famous landmark in London because of its long history.
D. Millions of people visit Disneyland each day just to take selfies with characters.
3.What is the purpose of the text?
A. To show how selfies become popular.
B. To introduce some selfie places to visitors.
C. To teach people some tricks about taking selfies.
D. To help people realize the importance of traveling.
That’s the way I look at most of _______________ has happened to me.
A. that B. which
C. what D. all
Some people waste too much water. They don’t believe that it can _____________ some day.
A. use up B. run out of
C. be run out D. run out
