A study has found that a lifetime of regular exercise and activity can slow down the aging process (衰老过程). Researchers say that getting older should not necessarily mean becoming more weak or sick. Their research shows that a devotion to a life of movement and exercise may help us live not only longer, but also healthier.
For their study, the researchers looked at two groups. The first group was made up of 125 non-professional cyclists between the ages of 55 to 79. This group included 84 healthy men and 41 healthy women. We will call this group the “cyclists”.
Researchers then found 130 people to make up a second group. Within this group, 75 people were aged from 57 to 80. The other 55 were between the ages of 20 and 36. The people in this group were also healthy, but they did not exercise regularly. We will call this group the “non-exercisers”. Smokers, heavy drinkers of alcohol and people with other health issues were not included in the study.
Then, researchers gave both groups a series of tests. They tested their muscle mass (肌肉质量), muscular strength, percentage of body fat and the strength of their immune (免疫的) systems. Then the researchers compared the results of the two groups.
Results showed that the cyclists did not experience body changes usually regarded as a normal aging process. For example, they did not lose muscle mass or muscular strength. Also, their body fat did not increase with age.
The researchers also found something they had not expected. The study showed that the immune systems of the cyclists did not age either.
The researchers advise us all to find an exercise that we like in our lives.
1.How did the researchers carry out the study?
A. By comparing. B. By discussing.
C. By imagining. D. By reasoning.
2.Which of the following is a result of the research?
A. The cyclists kept a thin body shape.
B. The non-exercisers gained weight easily.
C. The cyclists’ muscles remained strong with age.
D. The non-exercisers usually had health problems.
3.Which is an unexpected result for the researchers?
A. The cyclists had normal aging process.
B. The cyclists’ immune systems didn’t age.
C. The cyclists lost nearly all their fat.
D. Everyone needed an exercise in their lives.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Healthy People Need More Exercise
B. Take an Exercise, the Harder, the Better
C. Cycling Is the Best Way to Prevent Aging
D. A Lifetime of Exercise Slows Aging Process
Today, after 10 days of medical treatment, for the first time, I went out alone to meet a motherly lady who I had met during my stay in a program. She had been unwell recently and lived alone. Her sons live in foreign countries.
After I called her and told about my plan to visit her, she started becoming excited and planning food at once. Nowadays, she has a lady cook coming by to help her but she does part of the work herself with her bandaged (绷带) leg.
I reached her home alone after being guided a couple of times by her before. I carried little things (snacks, books etc.) for her. She had been waiting for some time when I arrived. We talked about different things from health to her life and mine, from past to future, from food to travel etc. During the discussion, her care for me became clear when she made warm suggestions or supported me.
During the last few months, she had struggled with health and housework. She had got over those difficulties and here she was telling me how all of us must face some problems. She had seen a few people facing worse problems in the hospital and mentioned about their cases and was grateful for her present condition which was manageable.
She wanted to gift me something—she kept thinking of a dress, watch, footwear etc. whatever was new and great in her home. I kept refusing but finally took the footwear out of politeness.
She loved the snacks I had brought and wanted to eat them with her tea, I was quite happy to see the childlike interest.
While I was spending time with my motherly friend, the following thought kept coming back to me—probably this is why I have lived through the 10 days in this city. The time I spent with her seemed so much needed. I felt the deep peace it could bring to me and that brought such a big joy!
1.How did the elderly lady feel when she heard the author’s visit?
A. Shocked. B. Pleased. C. Nervous. D. Embarrassed.
2.What can we learn about the lady from her talks with the author?
A. She was considerate and very healthy.
B. She wished the author lo live with her.
C. She showed much concern to her bandaged leg.
D. She was grateful compared with those less fortunate.
3.Why did the author accept the lady’s gift?
A. It is impolite to turn down the warm-hearted offer.
B. She happened to need such shoes to wear.
C. It would be a waste to keep shoes unused.
D. She wanted to exchange gifts with her.
4.How did the time spent with the lady benefit the author?
A. It enabled the author to live in the city so long.
B. It gave the author a lot of advice on a better life.
C. It helped the author to keep a peaceful mind.
D. It helped the author stay away from loneliness in life.
Stories of Animals Acting Just Like Humans
◆Monkeys do math
If monkeys manage the world, we might have stayed away from the recent banking hardship. In an experiment led by Keith Chen at Yale, monkeys showed an understanding of pricing and planning the money, as well as a wish to stay away from losses when required to buy food with money. Makes sense this one looks like it’s checking its stocks (股票) on a smart phone. Think that’s impressive?
◆Camel eats breakfast with people
The first time Joe ate with British farmers, he was uninvited. The four-year-old Bactrian camel stuck his head through their open kitchen window, and emptied a fruit bowl. Now the couple, who rent out reindeer, camels, goats, and other creatures for television shows, movies, and photo shoots, set a place at their table for the confident double-humped creature, where Joe eats grain food and his favorite: bananas on toast.
◆Marmots (土拨鼠) befriend a boy
A group of marmots in the Austrian Alps has made friends with eight-year-old Matteo Walch by chance, whose family vacations there in summer. Typically, they beat their tails, chatter, and whistle to warn other marmots of danger, but with Matteo, they behave much differently, allowing the boy to feed, pet, and even touch noses with them. “Watching them makes me feel a connection with nature,” says Matteo. How sweet!
1.In what way do monkeys behave like humans according to the text?
A. In character. B. In intelligence.
C. In communication. D. In the way of lifestyle.
2.Why do the British couple raise the animals?
A. To make money.
B. To have dinners with them.
C. To protect endangered animals.
D. To train them to act as humans.
3.Why did Matteo Walch go to the Austrian Alps?
A. To warn marmots of danger.
B. To develop interest in nature.
C. To make friends with marmots.
D. To go on a holiday with his family.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How old should the volunteers be?
A. From 12 to 16. B. From 12 to 60. C. Over 60.
2.What can volunteers do for the hospitals?
A. Show people the way. B. Help the doctors. C. Take care of children.
3.What is the most suitable volunteer job for a gardener?
A. Selling flowers and trees.
B. Teaching people how to look after plants.
C. Looking after homeless dogs and cats in the garden.
4.How can people get in touch with the organization?
A. By making a call.
B. By sending an e-mail.
C. By visiting its website.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What was the woman about to do before answering the phone?
A. Get up. B. Go to bed. C. Meet the man.
2.What kind of transportation will the man take to Disney World?
A. A taxi. B. A bus. C. A car.
3.Where will the man meet the woman?
A. At Disney World.
B. At Orlando Airport.
C. At the Kennedy Space Center.
4.Why does the man want to go to Panhandle?
A. To relax on the beach.
B. To meet some new friends.
C. To go shopping.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.How did Mr Lam help the man?
A. By helping him with his study.
B. By offering him a part time job.
C. By lending him some pocket money.
2.When does the man work part-time?
A. On Friday. B. On the weekdays. C. At the weekends.
3.What does the man think of the club?
A. It is expensive. B. It is fantastic. C. It is useless.
