There' s a word of wellness I've loved for years. It's HALT: the idea that if you want to be calm and content, never let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Researchers are increasingly looking more closely at the“L”in“HALT”，with one report presented to the American Psychological Association finding that long-term loneliness might be a greater public health risk than obesity.
Loneliness is a problem with many faces. Some people are alone most of the time—data collected by the United Kingdom found that 200,000 people over the age of 75 had not had a conversation with a friend or a relative in more than a month. But some people feel lonely even in a crowded room, disconnected from meaningful relationships even though their days are filled with people.
To me, walking a positive path means walking alongside others—people who lift our spirits, share our values, challenge us to grow and learn and bring us joy. But social satisfaction doesn't come automatically or even easily to too many people. And in our age of individualized electronic devices, social media and text-based communication, it can be harder than ever to feel truly connected to others.
I was so heartened to read that recently the British Parliament (议会) has created a “Minister for Loneliness” position to promote research, education and principles so as to cure what some researchers call “the loneliness disease”. More and more doctors in America are also screening adult patients for loneliness at annual physical examinations, which is another promising sign.
With proper social support and community participation, loneliness can be prevented from happening. If you are feeling lonely, make a list of your daily routines and ask yourself how you could add more social interactions to each day. Try reaching out for volunteer opportunities, clubs and organizations to join and old friendships to renew. If you are struggling, ask a consultant to help you identify your social obstacles and overcome them.
1.What is paragraph 2 mainly talking about?
A.Aging population in Britain. B.Strange behavior of people.
C.Different types of loneliness. D.Social communication in Britain.
2.What does the author think makes people feel lonely?
A.Pressure from challenging work. B.Living far away from each other.
C.Fewer visits to relatives. D.Popularity of digital devices.
3.How does the author feel about “the loneliness disease”？
A.It is avoidable. B.It is hard to cure.
C.It needs official support most. D.It relies on doctors' work.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Building a Close Relationship B.Fighting Against Loneliness
C.The Risk of Being Lonely D.Measures of Avoiding Loneliness
It was an autumn day, and 1 was standing in the kitchen, hanging my head over the counter and trying to figure out how many calories were in a bowl of homemade yogurt and fruit. And I felt annoyed.
I was 16, and my best friend and I had gone to our first Weight Watchers meeting. It was the trend in the mid-1980s，and even though I was an athlete, like many teen girls, I didn't necessarily like what I saw in the mirror. But after a week or so of recording every meal and snack and calculating the calories, I had had enough. I went back to my routine of chowing whatever I wanted, running and skiing, and let that be that. And it's still pretty much what I do; as long as the workouts are regular and the food is whole and balanced, my body's set point hasn't varied for years.
The weight loss trend of three decades ago−full of scales and counting calories−has fallen away. Now fasting is popular. The ways to keep fit vary: on the 5:2 diet a person eats for five days and fasts for two days each week, while the 18:6 refers 10 fasting for 18 hours and then eating within a six-hour window each day.
In this issue, Associate Editor Mark Barna tries to understand the science behind the fasting plans. Researchers have found that animals like monkeys age more slowly after years of eating less, and in the lab in humans, they saw improvements in a number of signs that indicate risk of some hard to cure diseases. The hope for healthy weight loss isn’t over yet, but at least now the calculators don’t have to be out at every meal.
1.What made the author annoyed?
A.Her body was not as strong as an athlete’s.
B.There were too many calories in the yogurt and fruit.
C.The Weight Watches meeting was not necessary for her.
D.She had to work out the calories in every meal and snack.
2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “chowing”?
A.Eating. B.Doing C.Cooking. D.Choosing.
3.How do people keep fit now?
A.They limit the calories they take in.
B.They lose weight only.
C.They fast daily or weekly.
D.They eat enough every day.
4.What do we know about the researchers’ finding in this passage?
A.People grow more slowly if they eat less.
B.People are healthier if they eat less.
C.People have stopped losing weight now.
D.People calculate their food for every meal.
It’s fun to dream about vacationing in Europe, but international flights are not always particularly affordable. If you’re looking to experience a taste of European culture, however, there are many places in the US with a European heritage(传统).
St. Augustine Florida
Founded by Spanish settlers in 1565, St. Augustine is full of Spanish-inspired architecture, historical sites and other attractions. The Colonial Quarter is a popular tourist area, and there are many places to grab traditional Spanish food.
Holland, Michigan
Holland was settled in 1847 by Dutch Calvinist separatists, under the leadership of Dr Albertus van Raalte. Terrible economic conditions in the Netherlands forced them to emigrate(移居国外), while their desires for religious freedom led them to unite and settle together as a group. Much of the original architecture was destroyed in an 1871 fire, but the city still has many windmills, eateries, art and even an annual tulip festival and holiday market.
New Glarus, Wisconsin
More than 160 years after it was founded, New Glarus has maintained much of its Swiss heritage and old world traditions. New Glarus’ Swiss immigrant roots are proudly on display with its Alpine architecture, Swiss Historical Village Museum and Yodel Club. The Wisconsin village also puts on cultural events like the Heidi Folk Festival and Swiss Volksfest.
Solvang, California
Located near Santa Barbara, Solang is a charming California city with Danish roots. A group of immigrates from Denmark founded Solvang just over 100 years ago to create a Danish home away from home. As such, the city is full of Danish architecture, restaurants, shops and even a copy of Copenhagen’s famous Little Mermaid statue.
1.Which US city might have the longest European origin ?
A.St. Augustine B.Holland C.New Glarus D.Solvang
2.Why did Dutch Calvinist separates decide to emigrate?
A.To reveal the dark side of their native place.
B.To pursue religious freedom and economic opportunities.
C.To found a Dutch community with united power.
D.To seek for a US state with better social welfare.
3.Which of the following originates from Denmark?
A.Yodel Club. B.The Heidi Folk Festival.
C.The Colonial Quarter. D.The Little Mermaid statue.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How old was Dave when his father passed away?
A.15. B.10. C.5.
2.What did Dave do in the evenings?
A.He earned some money. B.He did housework for the family.
C.He drove his brother to some places.
3.Who introduced Andrew at the graduation ceremony?
A.His soccer coach. B.The school headmaster. C.The head of the school district.
4.What happened during Andrew’s speech?
A.His mother started crying. B.Andrew thanked his father.
C.Dave realized his hard work had paid off.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the art exhibition taking place?
A.At an art gallery. B.At a shopping mall. C.At an exhibition center.
2.What does the man think of the place of the exhibition now?
A.It is strange. B.It is ordinary. C.It is cool.
3.What is being shown in the painting section of the exhibition?
A.Mainly classical paintings. B.Largely contemporary paintings.
C.An equal number of classical paintings and contemporary paintings.
4.Which section is the most popular?
A.The video section. B.The sculpture section. C.The photography section.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where does the conversation take place?
A.On top of a mountain. B.In a parking lot. C.At a ticket booth.
2.How far is the lake from the top?
A.About 20 minutes’ walk. B.About 40 minutes’ walk. C.About 3 hours’ walk.
3.What color will the lake be when the speakers arrive?
A.Orange. B.Blue. C.Green.
