A walk through the galleries of Quebec's Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) places individuals face-to-face with some 43,000 artworks ranging from Chinese ceramics (陶瓷制品) to Inuit sculpture.
While the visiting is an incredible cultural experience, a group of local physicians will soon be able to prescribe(开处方) museum visits as treatment for some illnesses.
"We know that art contributes to neural(神经的) activity," said MMFA director Nathalie Bondil. "What we see is that being in contact with art can really help your well-being."
Hélène Boyer, vice president of a Montreal-based medical association, explains that museum visits have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter (神经传导物质) known as the "happy chemical" which helps to lift mood.
According to Boyer, the small increase in hormones（荷尔蒙）associated with enjoying an afternoon of art is similar to that offered by exercise, making museum prescriptions ideal for the elderly experiencing pain that prevents them from regularly joining in physical activity.
The museum visits are designed to improve traditional methods. As Bondil notes, spending time in a peaceful environment can provide a welcome distraction. "What is most important is this experience can help them escape from their own pain," she says. "When you enter the museum, you escape from the speed of our daily life."
"I am convinced that in the 21st century, culture will be what physical activity was for health in the 20th century," said Bondil. "Some people would do well to recall that just in the 19th century, sports were believed to do harm to the body. Just as doctors now prescribe exercise, they will be able to prescribe a visit to the MMFA."
1.What does Hélène Boyer think of museum visits?
A.They can cheer people up.
B.They can reduce physical activity.
C.They can slow down our life pace.
D.They can increase levels of art appreciation.
2.How do museum visits affect people?
A.Stop them concentrating on pain.
B.Stop them focusing on traditional methods.
C.Encourage them not to be absent-minded.
D.Encourage them to slow their steps while walking.
3.What does the last paragraph suggest?
A.Physical activities were popular in the 19th century.
B.Sports are considered to be harmful to the body.
C.Ideas of treating illnesses are changing over time.
D.Doctors prescribe museum visits regularly now.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Museum visits are ideal for the elderly.
B.Happy chemical helps to lift mood.
C.Peaceful environment helps escape pain.
D.Cultural activities will promote health.
Paris is the city of dreams. If you plan to head to Paris for a study period, then perhaps a little reality check is in order. But my experience was a romantic one.
I paved my path to Paris through an exchange program. On arrival in Paris, I was constantly reminded of the official processes I had to complete-forms to be filled in, meetings to attend, the list seemed endless.
Then the real work began. Once classes were underway, I found myself volunteering to do oral presentations and assignments first, rather than last. This method proved to be very helpful.
Once I had finished class for the week, I had an ever-increasing list of museums to visit, neighborhoods to explore, and cafes to sit in. Read books about Paris. Talk to locals and other foreigners living there. But the one thing that reading a book or talking to someone cannot do is to provide you with the experience of wandering Paris on foot. The people watching, the sounds of the city, the colors as the seasons change, they all add to the ecstasy that I experience in Paris as an exchange student.
After spending five months wandering through the charming neighborhoods, fell in love with the atmosphere that came out from every open door, and with every spoken word. There is something comforting about walking to the market each Sunday to en joy the beautiful display of fruits, vegetables and dairy products. There is warmth in saying “bonjour” (你好) to the passers-by.
On my last day in Paris, I confidently said, “Bon jour Monsieur,” as I passed the little store down the street, I guess the best part about going on exchange in Paris is falling in love with the city in your own way. And I know mine is unique and special to me, my own little pieces of Paris.
1.What does the underlined word “ecstasy” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Courage. B.Imagination. C.Happiness. D.Reputation.
2.What does the passage mainly tell us?
A.An exchange student’s life. B.Charming neighborhoods.
C.Ah exchange program. D.A traveling experience.
3.Beyond reading books, which experience would the author treasure most?
A.Enjoying coffee in his spare time. B.Greeting people in French in the street.
C.Buying vegetables in the market. D.Hanging around in Paris.
4.According to the passage, what left the author the deepest impression?
A.The friendly people he met in Paris.
B.The special culture he experienced in the city.
C.The academic achievement he made in his study.
D.The presentations and assignments he did in class.
Wanda Butts dropped the phone and screamed when she heard the news that her son was dead.
Josh had drowned (溺亡) while sailing on a lake with friends. The 16-year-old didn’t know how to swim, and he wasn’t wearing a life jacket.
Josh was not alone in the black community. According to USA Swimming, 70% of African-American children cannot swim. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention African-American children between the ages of 5 and 14 are three times more likely to drown than white children in the same age range.
In 2007, Butts started the Josh Project, non- profit that provides low-cost swimming lessons for children in Toledo, Ohio. The swimming lessons take place at a local high school over four Saturdays for a total cost of $10.
To date, the Josh Project has helped more than 1,000 children learn how to swim.
“The public pools near our home were closed, and other places were not affordable,” said Lisa Haynes, whose 14-year-old son, Joshua, is one of 60-plus students in the Josh Project this summer.
“I am less worried if Joshua is near water because he has the basics of how to swim,” Haynes said. “And we’re thankful for that.”
Butts is doing much more however, than just providing swimming lessons.
“She ups the awareness,” said Shaun Anderson, swimming coach who was so inspired by her story that he created a Josh Project swimming program at Norfolk State University. “Once these communities learn how to swim, they will pass it down, which results in future generations( that know how to swim.”
Butts said she has two wishes for the future: One is to change the drowning numbers of African-American children, and the other is to have a swimming center where the children can swim daily instead of just once a week.
1.What led to Josh’s drowning?
A.He was poor in boating skills. B.He gave his life jacket to a friend.
C.He was never taught swimming skills. D.He was careless when swimming in the lake.
2.Why did the author list the numbers in Paragraph 3?
A.To show children under 14 are more likely to drown.
B.To argue children should learn swimming at a very young age.
C.To show many African-American children lack swimming skills.
D.To introduce the difference between African-American and white children.
3.What can we lean about the Josh Project?
A.It has its own swimming pools. B.It provides lessons only in summer.
C.It serves children aged from 5 to 14. D.Its swimming lessons take place once a week.
4.What did Lisa Haynes think of the swimming lessons the Josh Project provides?
A.Expensive. B.Helpful. C.Interesting. D.Difficult.
Sagrada Familia
Opening hours: 09:00—18:00(October—March); 09:00—20:00(April—September)
Admission: $11, or $10 with the Barcelona Card.
The temple has been under construction since 1882 and they’ve still got another 30 to 80 years to go before it is finished. The project’s vast scale and its special design have made it one of Barcelona’s top tourist attractions for many years.
La Pedrera
Opening hours: November—February: 09:00—18:30; March—October: 09:00—20:00
Admission: $9.Save 20% with the Barcelona Card.
This building used to be called Casa Mila but nowadays it’s more commonly known as La Pedrera.It is a unique modernist building in Barcelona and was made of bricks.It was built between 1906 and 1912 and in 1984 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site with other Gaudi buildings in Barcelona.
Barcelona FC Museum
Opening hours: April 6th—October 4th:(Monday to Saturday) 10:00—20:00; the rest of the year: 10:00—18:30
Admission: $8.50 for entry to the museum and $17 for a guided tour.
When you buy your ticket you have two options.You can buy a ticket for the museum to see the football stadium or you can buy a dual (双的) ticket for $15 where you get to see the museum and the scenes at the club.
Miro Museum
Opening hours: Check the website for details as they vary depending on the time of the year.
Admission: $8.Save 20% with the Barcelona Card.
This museum has a wide range of Miro’s works dating back as far as 1914.This artwork collection not only includes his paintings but also a good selection of sculptures.
1.How much should you pay if you visit La Pedrera with the Barcelona Card?
A.$6.4. B.$7.2.
C.$8. D.$10.
2.Where can you visit a football stadium?
A.Miro Museum. B.Sagrada Familia.
C.La Pedrera. D.Barcelona FC Museum.
3.Who will show special interest in Miro Museum?
A.Athletes. B.Artists.
C.Architects. D.Singers.
假定你是李华，春节将至，你想邀请美国留学生Elsa到你家一起过春节。请给她写一封邮件，要点如下：
1. 提出邀请，时间：除夕1月24日；2. 春节介绍；3. 春节的习俗。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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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. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
It is more than two months after our English club was set up by several classmates and me. So far we organized a lot of activities on English learning, such as watching English films, reading classic novels and hold a Christmas party. Every member took a active part in the activities. Many members said the activities benefited us a lot. Not only did they improved their English, but also they brought them a lot of funs. Personally, I think it is real a good idea to set up the club. It is hoped what our club will grow stronger. And we hope more classmates will join in the club.
