How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments -mostly for entertainment purposes - is fair and respectful? Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats.
Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes. Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range.
The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs. The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusually and self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding (圈养繁殖) of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?
Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.
1.How would the author describe the animals’ life in zoos?
A.Dangerous. B.Unhappy.
C.Natural. D.Easy.
2.In the state of zoochosis, animals _________.
A.remain in cages B.behave strangely
C.attack other animals D.enjoy moving around
3.What does the author try to argue in the passage?
A.Zoos are not worth the public support.
B.Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals.
C.Zoos should treat animals as human beings.
D.Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment.
4.The author tries to persuade readers to accept his argument mainly by _________.
A.pointing out the faults in what zoos do
B.using evidence he has collected at zoos
C.questioning the way animals are protected
D.discussing the advantages of natural habitats
Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time — about eight hours after you wake up — your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps (小憩) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates, where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional, people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease. Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap — even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.
1.Why do you sometimes feel sleepy in the early afternoon?
A.Because you eat too much for lunch.
B.Because it’s hot in summer.
C.Because your body temperature goes down at that time.
D.Because you didn’t have a good sleep last night.
2.What can we learn about “naps” according to the last paragraph?
A.All the people in warmer climates take naps in the middle of the day.
B.Doctors need to take naps while employers don’t.
C.If you take naps every day, you’ll never suffer from heart disease.
D.Taking naps regularly is good to people’s health.
3.If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?
A.About 12:30 pm. B.About 1:30 pm.
C.About 2:30 pm D.About 3:30 pm
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.All for a Nap B.Just for a Rest
C.A Special Sleep Pattern D.Taking Naps in Warmer Climate
Keeping a busy social life among lots of friends may keep people thinner than spending hours doing some exercises, according to scientists. They say that socializing and meeting with friends help increase levels of brown fat in the body which burns calories to produce heat.
Living in an exciting social environment was found to reduce fat in mice's belly by half over four weeks, even if they ate more. US researchers say that social excitement aids weight loss by turning white fat into brown. White fat stores calories and makes us fatter, while brown burns energy to produce heat. Turning white fat into brown is extremely difficult, normally requiring long- term stay in cold conditions or exciting part of the body's nervous system.
However, scientists from Ohio State University now think that having a busy social life is an even more effective way of changing white fat into brown. The team came up with their theory by studying the effects of various living environments on mice. Those, who lived alongside a greater number of mice, had more space and toys to excite themselves and then lost far more weight over the course of the study than their “couch potato" fellows.
Study author, Dr Matthew During, whose team's findings appear in the journal Cell Metabolism, said, "I'm still amazed at the degree of fat loss that occurs." Explaining how new technology had threatened face-to-face socializing, he added, "It's not just a sedentary (久坐的) lifestyle and high calorie foods, but an increasing lack of social activities." Co-author Dr Lei Cao said，"Loneliness is a potential factor for cancer and death; it's equal to cigarette smoking to a certain extent. Social activities are very vital.
1.What information can we get from the first two paragraphs?
A.Brown fat stores calories and makes us fatter
B.It doesn't take long to turn white fat into brown.
C.Social excitement helps gain more weight
D.Brown fat can burn energy to produce heat.
2.Which of the following statement does the text support?
A.Levels of brown fat can be increased by socializing.
B.The mice lacking social life lose more weight.
C.The research findings haven't been published so far.
D.Dr Matthew During wasn't convinced of the result.
3.We can conclude from the text that _______.
A.the fat in mice's belly was reduced because of the relaxing environment
B.a sedentary lifestyle and high calories foods influence people's social life
C.surfing the Internet may influence people's face-to-face communication
D.cancer and death are mainly caused for lack of social life
During the rosy years of elementary school(小学), I enjoyed sharing my dolls and jokes, which allowed me to keep my high social status. I was the queen of the playground. Then came my tweens and teens, and mean girls and cool kids. They rose in the ranks not by being friendly but by smoking cigarettes, breaking rules and playing jokes on others, among whom I soon found myself.
Popularity is a well-explored subject in social psychology. Mitch Prinstein, a professor of clinical psychology sorts the popular into two categories: the likable and the status seekers. The likables’ plays-well-with-others qualities strengthen schoolyard friendships, jump-start interpersonal skills and, when tapped early, are employed ever after in life and work. Then there’s the kind of popularity that appears in adolescence: status born of power and even dishonorable behavior.
Enviable as the cool kids may have seemed, Dr. Prinstein’s studies show unpleasant consequences. Those who were highest in status in high school, as well as those least liked in elementary school, are “most likely to engage(从事) in dangerous and risky behavior.”
In one study, Dr. Prinstein examined the two types of popularity in 235 adolescents, scoring the least liked, the most liked and the highest in status based on student surveys(调查研究). “We found that the least well-liked teens had become more aggressive over time toward their classmates. But so had those who were high in status. It clearly showed that while likability can lead to healthy adjustment, high status has just the opposite effect on us.”
Dr. Prinstein has also found that the qualities that made the neighbors want you on a play date—sharing, kindness, openness—carry over to later years and make you better able to relate and connect with others.
In analyzing his and other research, Dr. Prinstein came to another conclusion: Not only is likability related to positive life outcomes, but it is also responsible for those outcomes, too. “Being liked creates opportunities for learning and for new kinds of life experiences that help somebody gain an advantage, ” he said.
1.What sort of girl was the author in her early years of elementary school?
A.Unkind. B.Lonely. C.Generous. D.Cool.
2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A.The classification of the popular.
B.The characteristics of adolescents.
C.The importance of interpersonal skills.
D.The causes of dishonorable behavior.
3.What did Dr. Prinstein’s study find about the most liked kids?
A.They appeared to be aggressive.
B.They tended to be more adaptable.
C.They enjoyed the highest status.
D.They performed well academically.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Be Nice—You Won’t Finish Last
B.The Higher the Status, the Beer
C.Be the Best—You Can Make It
D.More Self-Control, Less Aggressiveness
假如你是李华。你的英国朋友Jack在网上看到一篇关于中国环境持续改善的报道，对此感到非常好奇，发来邮件询问你所在地的情况。请你根据以下内容写一封回信：
1.环境的变化；
2.所采取的措施；
3.个人感受。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Jack,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意1.每处错误及修改均仅限一词。
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I really wanted to cook when I was four. My dad, however, thinks I was too young to learn cooking. For many years, he only allowed me observe him cook. All I did was watch him in the kitchen. Sometimes, he would not let me give a hand. I really enjoyed stay in the kitchen. Besides, there were also not good kitchen moment. There was a time when the fire became really bigger and I was scared by them greatly. It took about a year of me to overcome my fear of fire. One day, my dad permitted me to start cooking on my own final. You couldn't imagine how happy I was.
