The Four Best Places to Go in Europe for Spring Break Cheaper flights, lower room rates, fewer tourists, and tons of seasonal activities make this the suitable time to take a real-life Euro-trip. Budapest, Hungary For a spa-centric (水疗中心) holiday, consider Budapest. This incredible beauty destination boasts 118 thermal springs — more than any other capital — and a variety of choices of places to “take the waters”, from traditional Turkish baths and Neo-Baroque pools to Art Nouveau spas and modern facilities. Bonus: Hungarians claim these mineral-rich waters are of beneficial cure for skin. Florence, Italy The “Cradle of the Renaissance(文艺复兴的摇篮)”, is steeped in classical art and architecture. The Uffizi Gallery displays such masterpieces as “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli. Florence is the center of Tuscan cuisine. Its narrow streets and piazzas are decked with alfresco cafés, trattorias, and gelato shops. Santorini, Greece Most people think of Santorini as a summer hot spot, but spring bookings are up 94 percent, according to American Express Travel. While it might not be beach weather, there are plenty of benefits to visiting this peaceful and beautiful island during off-peak season. And fewer crowds mean you won’t have to compete with tons of tourists for a front-row seat to the breathtaking sunsets. Stockholm, Sweden After the long and harsh winter, spring refreshes Sweden’s capital.(Keep in mind it can still be quite chilly through early May, so pack layers.)Visitors pack into the stylish shops, and art galleries. Plus, warmer weather is ideal for exploring the various events and festivals that take place this time of year. And, of course, no trip would be complete without checking out the Nacka Fountain, among the most awe- inspiring water sculptures in the world. 1.What probably attracts the tourists most in Budapest? A.The incredible beautiful scenery. B.The various thermal springs. C.The modern facilities. D.The Hungarian bonus . 2.Where can you enjoy both the great classical art and food? A.Budapest, Hungary. B.Santorini, Greece. C.Florence, Italy. D.Stockholm, Sweden. 3.What is a must for tourists to Stockholm? A.Wearing light clothes. B.Packing into the stylish shops. C.Exploring various events and festivals. D.Admiring the Nacka Fountain.
假设你是李津,你的英国朋友Tom对你们学校最近开展的“书香校园”活动很感兴趣,写信向你咨询相关情况。请你用英语给他写一封回信,介绍此次活动的开展情况,内容包括: (1)开展此次活动的目的; (2)此次活动的具体内容(例如:二手书市,读书分享会,……); (3)此次活动反响如何; (4)你对此次活动的看法。 注意: (1)词数100左右; (2)可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。 参考词汇:Scholarly Campus 书香校园;second-hand book fair二手书市 Dear Tom, __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yours, Li Jin
阅读下面短文,按照要求用英语回答问题。 Mothers and fathers all over the world teach their children manners. Other children may have manners that are not like yours. There are all kinds of manners. Many years ago, children who had good manners were seen and not heard. They kept quite quiet if grown-ups were talking. Today, well-mannered children have more freedom. Sometimes good manners in one place are bad manners in other places. Suppose you are a visitor in the land of Mongolia. Some friends ask you to eat with them. What kind of manners do they want you to have? They want you to give a loud “burp” after you finish eating. Burping would show that you liked your food. In some countries, if you give a loud burp, you are told to say “Excuse me, please.” In many places, people like to eat together But in some parts of Polynesia, it is bad manners to be seen eating at all. People show good manners by turning their backs on others while they eat. What are manners like in an East African town? The people try not to see you. They are being polite. You may see a friend. He may not see you at all. If you are polite, you will sit down beside him. You will wait until he finishes what he is doing. Then he will talk to you. Suppose you visit a friend in Arabia. You should walk behind the other tents until you come to his tent. If you pass in front of the other tents, you’ll be asked into each one. The people will ask you to eat with them. And it is bad manners if you say no. Manners are different all over the world. But it is good to know that all manners begin in the same way. People needed ways to show that they wanted to be friends. 1.What is the best title of the passage? (no more than 10 words) 2.How do you understand the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2? (no more than 10 words) 3.In Mongolia, what action is thought to be a good manner according to the passage? (no more than 6 words) 4.What are well-mannered people expected to act in some parts of Polynesia during eating? (no more than 10 words) 5.Traditionally, what is a good manner during eating in China? (no more than 20 words)
Addiction is a term that we hear all the time but it’s a surprisingly tricky concept to pin down. Orally, we might say things like: “Oh, I downloaded this new game on my phone and I’m totally addicted to it.” But from a clinical perspective, we think of addiction as occurring when someone has found that their life whether it’s’ their relationships with friends or family, their ability to perform their jobs, or something else has been knocked off-kilter (冲昏头脑) by desire to perform behavior. Prof Robert West, editor-in-chief of the journal Addiction, defines addiction “a psychological condition that involves repeated powerful motivation to engage in a behavior that’s learnt through experience, and that has either actual or potential harmful consequences”. Under this definition, it is possible to be addicted to anything—not just substances—if it turns from a want for it to a need for it, and it puts a person at risk of harm. In 2008, Bowden-Jones set up the National Problem Gambling Clinic. To date, this is the only NHS-funded treatment center for people with problem gambling (赌博). Despite seeing some of the most severe cases of gambling addiction in the country in her clinic, she is keen to point out that the scale of the problem might not be as extreme as some would think. Despite lots of people gambling and the pervasive (遍布的) nature of gambling advertising, problem gamblers make up less than one per cent of the population. Yet she wonders whether there is something about how modern technology has become increasingly risky. “The more you have availability, the more you uncover vulnerability,” she says. And there’s concern among researchers from several different countries that online games and apps are taking inspiration from gambling to keep people playing, and paying. These include what are known as “loot boxes”. These are prizes, paid for with real money, where the contents are not known until they’re purchased. Recent research has suggested purchase of these prizes is linked to higher levels of problematic gambling behavior. However, Bowden-Jones points out that technological advances have also improved support for some people with problematic gambling. Software now exists to block gambling-related websites across people’s devices. Banking apps can allow a person to disable any ability to spend money on gambling, cautiously, by just toggling (切换) a switch. She believes that this is a big step forward -historically people were encouraged to hand their finances to their partners. This can put pressure on relationships and there is strong evidence to show it can increase domestic violence. It’s hard to tell addiction is on the increase, partly because as yet there aren’t standardized measures by which to assess things like problematic gaming, and large-scale surveys have not been done. But just because we might see people glued to their phones while they’re on buses or trains or while walking down the street, it doesn’t mean we’ve become nation who are addicted to the Internet. Nonetheless, in 2018 the World Health Organization announced that it was classifying gaming disorder as a mental health condition, decision they based on a review of the evidence and after discussion with experts. However, some researchers worry that this classification will lead to overdiagnosis of gaming The NHS does not offer treatment for gaming disorder, and a pilot treatment clinic has been delayed. It’s clear that we know very little about how many people have gaming disorder, and it’s likely that the vast majority of people who play games do so with no harm to their health whatsoever. Having said that, for those who are worried, it is possible to spot the warning signs of pleasurable activity becoming compulsion (强迫力), either in yourself or in those around you. Robert West has some final words of advice for those individuals who are trying to reduce their need for a behavior. “Self-control is much easier when you set fixed boundaries than when you leave the rules more flexible,” he explains. Be strict with yourself and don’t allow your boundaries to slide, then even if you do slip up, you can get back on track. 1.What is addiction according to the first two paragraphs? A.It is a repeated desire to perform a behavior. B.It is a physical and mental condition. C.It is a habit of downloading new games. D.It is the direct result of carelessness. 2.What does Bowden-Jones think of gambling addiction? A.It is affected by gambling advertising. B.Its scale is small and fewer people develop it. C.It can be treated in a NHS-funded center. D.Its severity is beyond imagination of some people. 3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean? A.Online apps take inspiration from gambling. B.More prizes lead to more gambling behavior. C.More money brings more prizes in loot boxes. D.Too much use of technology brings more risk. 4.What do technological advances in Paragraph 5 indicate? A.Banking apps are popular among banks. B.They can increase domestic violence. C.They can bring about positive results. D.Software can block gambling-related websites. 5.Why do researchers worry about the classification of gaming disorder? A.Playing games do no harm to lot of people. B.We’ve become a nation addicted to the internet. C.It isn’t scientific and may lead to wrong diagnosis. D.A pleasant activity may become a strong force. 6.What does the passage mainly talk about? A.Is addiction on the rise? B.How addiction is defined? C.Is Robert West’s advice reasonable? D.What is Bowden Jones’s research?
“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.” “Two full inches in the first three days!” These are the kinds of statements used in magazine,newspaper, radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device. The promoters of products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to add to beauty or desirability. Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoters. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health. To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug, FDA(Food and Drug Administration)can require proof under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action, including seizure(查封)of the product. One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, which had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life. Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings(法律诉讼),and new devices appear continually. Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items. 1.It can be inferred that the ads mentioned in the text are . . A.objective B.costly C.unreliable D.illegal 2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? A.The court is in charge of removing dangerous products. B.New products are more likely to be questionable. C.The production of a device must be approved by FDA. D.The promoters usually just care about profits. 3.FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product A.if it is a drug B.if it is a device C.if its consumers make complaints D.if its distributors challenge FDA’s authority 4.The Relaxacisor is mentioned as . A.a product which was designed to produce electricity B.a product whose distributor was involved in a legal case C.a successful advertisement of a beauty product D.an example of a quality beauty product 5.The author intends to A.make consumers aware of the promoters’ false promises B.show the weakness of the law on product safety C.give advice on how to keep young and beautiful D.introduce the organization of FDA
Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21-year-old twin sons: a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband lost his job, and the plan fell apart. "I have two kids in college, and I want to say come home. ' but at the same time I want to provide them with a good education," says Jacobs. The Jacobs family, did work out a solution: They asked and received more aid from the schools, and each son increased his' borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan (贷款) program. They will each graduate with $ 20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school. With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear from more families like the Jacobses. More students are applying for aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around. At the same time, tuition (学费) continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family income rose just 147% . Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade. "If we go on this way for another 25 years, we won't have an affordable system of higher education," says Patrick M. Calan, president of the center. "The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt." Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted. 1.According to Paragraph 1. why did the plan of the Jacobs family fail? A. The twins wasted too much money. B. The father was out of work. C. Their saving ran out. D. The family fell apart. 2.How did the Jacobses manage to solve their problem? A. They asked their kids to come home. B. They borrowed $20, 000 from the schools. C. They encouraged their twin sons to do part-time jobs. D. They got help from the schools and the federal government. 3.Financial aid administrators believe that________. A. more families will face the same problem as the Jacobses B. the government will receive more letters of complaint C. college tuition fees will double soon D. America's unemployment will fall 4.What can we learn about the middle class families from they text? A. They blamed the government for the tuition increase. B. Their income increased steady in the last decade. C. They will try their best to send kids to college. D. Their debts will be paid off within 25 years. 5.According to the last paragraph the government will________. A. provide most students with scholarships B. dismiss some financial aid administrators C. stop the companies from making student loans D. go on providing financial support for college students
Here are Important Travel Notices from United Airlines, March 20, 2019, 7:12 AM. Information is updated as it is received. 1. Travel and the Zika virus If you have a ticket for travel to a country affected by the Zika virus (as listed on the CDC website) and have concerns, please contact the United Customer Contact Center with any questions or changes to your reservation. Customers advised to avoid the affected regions based on CDC guidance may change their destination or travel date without a fee or may choose to receive a refund if their tickets were booked before February 28, 2019. The new travel date must be within the validity of the ticket. Additional charges may apply if there is a difference in fare for the new travel route. 2. Longer lines at security checkpoints Procedural changes at TSA checkpoints throughout the United States may result in longer lines at security checkpoints. Please plan accordingly and allow for extra time at the airport. The TSA advises arriving at the airport two hours before your flight for US travel and three hours before for international travel. To save time at security, we encourage you to visit www.tsa.gov.com and apply for tsa pre-check. 3. Notice for flights departing the European Union, Norway and Switzerland EU Regulation 261/2004 requires air lines to provide the following notice: if you are not allowed to board or if your flight is canceled or delayed for at least two hours, ask at the check-in counter or boarding gate for the form, stating your rights, particularly about compensation and assistance. 4. How to protect yourself Travelers to regions affected by Zika can take precautions to prevent contracting the disease by protecting themselves against mosquitos. The CDC recommends visitors to areas with Zika wear long-sleeved clothing, apply mosquito repellant, and use a mosquito net at night. 1.Travelers don’t have to pay additional fees when they want to ________. A.rearrange their travel date at any time B.cancel their flights booked before February C.apply for a refund for tickets booked in March D.choose a longer and more expensive route to a new destination 2.What do we know from Notice 2? A.Pre-check can be done online to save time for travelers. B.Security checkpoints are not available during this period. C.It usually takes longer time to go through the security check in the US. D.Security check of International flights is stricter than that of the US ones. 3.Compensation can be asked for when ________. A.passengers refuse to board the plane B.passengers miss their flight due to traffic jam C.passengers’ flight is delayed at least two hours D.passengers forget to state their right in the form 4.Which is the effective method to protect yourself against Zika? A.Wearing long-sleeved shirts only during the flight. B.Protecting the mosquitos with the disease C.Avoiding the smell of mosquito repellant. D.Setting a mosquito net before going to sleep.
The weather was cold. I drove down long narrow road with Boris, my old high school friend. He was very outgoing and treated everybody _________, no conditions added. After graduation, I went into the Navy, and gradually lost _________ with him. Ten years later saw a man that _________ Boris. But he was blind in one eye. I said hello and introduced myself. I could _________ he could not see me _________ he turned the opposite way. Then I said that again. He answered _________, “I don’t know you and you don’t need to _________ who I am. Don’t _________me and leave me alone.” I did not _________ what I was hearing because he used to be very kind and __________ person. It’s apparent that he didn’t __________ anyone. He must have had a hard time since he left school or someone might have __________ him. So I immediately __________ I would not be one of those people. Then he told me he became blind while helping someone. But nobody showed any __________ toward him and even laughed at him a lot. I told him that I would always be his friend. __________ he put down everything in the heart and chose to forgive others since he didn’t live better with hatred. This is going to be a reunion and a new __________. I believe that love and kindness conquer all. Ever since I was little, my parents told me even though people are __________ sometimes, the best way to deal with that is kindness. I believe if we had not shown our __________ toward these people, that would __________ both sides in the end. __________ if we stuck to our hatred and lived in the shadow of it, we would never enjoy a happy life. 1.A.nicely B.equally C.seriously D.patiently 2.A.favor B.contract C.touch D.friendship 3.A.appeared B.resembled C.impressed D.reflected 4.A.guess B.tell C.receive D.admit 5.A.because B.so C.but D.before 6.A.coldly B.slowly C.eventually D.reluctantly 7.A.compare B.care C.notice D.expect 8.A.judge B.tease C.ignore D.bother 9.A.understand B.believe C.mind D.know 10.A.warm B.fair C.encouraging D.outstanding 11.A.trust B.choose C.know D.help 12.A.abandoned B.hurt C.cheated D.doubted 13.A.warned B.acknowledged C.guaranteed D.suggested 14.A.responsibility B.attention C.kindness D.caution 15.A.Really B.Recently C.Immediately D.Finally 16.A.shape B.settlement C.signal D.beginning 17.A.absurd B.greedy C.mean D.narrow-minded 18.A.sadness B.hatred C.disappointment D.cruelty 19.A.benefit B.enjoy C.forgive D.move 20.A.Besides B.Otherwise C.However D.Therefore
Detectives are investigating the company, three of ________ senior executives have already been under arrest. A.its B.which C.those D.whose
It was difficult to ________ what was said over the loudspeaker in the big square. A.make out B.come out C.turn out D.bring out
—Sir, could I turn in my homework assignment a bit late? —________, since you haven’t been well these days. A.You can’t be serious B.Oh, all right C.I’m afraid not D.Good idea
Tommy, ________ your doctor’s advice or your cold will get worse. A.follow B.following C.followed D.follows
Students show great interest in ________ Professor William presents to them in his class. A.whichever B.wherever C.whatever D.however
________ deserts for many years, I am still amazed at their beauty. A.To study B.Having studied C.Studying D.Studied
It is estimated that living expenses for international students in the university ________ around $9,000 a year, which ________ a heavy burden for some of them. A.is; is B.are; are C.is; are D.are; is
—Could you share with me your ________ for happiness? —Having a positive outlook on life. A.record B.recipe C.range D.receipt
You can’t imagine what difficulty we had ________home in the snowstorm. A.walked B.walk C.to walk D.walking
—Mike is planning to buy a car. —I know. By next month, he ________ enough for a second-hand one. A.saves B.saved C.will have saved D.has saved
— Would you like to join us in the match? —Sorry. I am not ________ as any of you. A.so a good player B.so good a player C.a player so good D.a so good player
With the development of economy, our income has increased ________ 10% recently. A.by B.in C.on D.at
The traffic on the main streets has a longer green signal than ________ on the side ones. A.one B.this C.it D.that
—Reading is the best way to kill time on the train. —________ I never go traveling without a book. A.You are joking. B.I don’t think so. C.That’s true. D.Don’t mention it.
Staying at home, no socializing and wearing a face mask if going anywhere have proved to be the most ________ ways to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. A.effective B.expensive C.miserable D.suspicious
假设你是红星中学高三(1)班的学生李华。你班同学张强即将去国外读书,下面四幅图描述了同学们为他送行的过程,请根据图片的先后顺序用英语写一篇日记。 注意:1. 日记的开头已为你写好。 2. 词数不少于60。 Monday, March 10 Fine _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假设你是红星中学高三学生李华,你写信建议你的美国朋友George 参加中国日报 (China Daily)专门为外国人举办的2018“最美中国”(Amazing China)手机摄影大赛。信的内容包括: 1. 作品内容要求; 2. 提交时间和方式; 3. 表示愿意提供帮助。 注意: 1. 词数不少于50; 2. 开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数。 Dear George, ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Yours, Li Hua
There is an English saying, ''1.'' Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. 2. Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise.3. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial. Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. 4. 5.They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter. A.Laughter can surely last one's life. B.As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. C.The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which diminishes both stress and pain. D.It increases blood pressure, makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. E.They have proved that laughter can really cure any disease if people keep a good state of mind. F.Laughter is the best medicine. G.They have found that laughter really can improve people's health.
When most people think of the word, “brand”, they think of the Nike Swoosh, Ford “blue oval,” McDonalds Golden Arches, or the “State Farm is There” jingle. They know what theywill get with a wellbranded product or service as promised. Think of Volvo, for instance, and your first thoughts are probably something like “well built, comfortable, Swedish” and, most of all, “safety”. So a brand is a lot more than a logo, icon, or slogan. Catchy as it may sound, it isn’t the “brand” in the true sense—and it certainly isn’t what makes the brand valuable.A company’s brand is a promise. It’s a description of the company’s character. To some extent, it’s a mission; it’s how the company creates and delivers value. Also, it’s the feeling the company conveys to its stakeholders. Successful brands meet various challenges and consistently deliver on their promises, which is how they create brand value.To illustrate it, here are some brand promises from three highly successful, world-wide brands:The NFL: “To be the premier sports and entertainment brand that brings people together, connecting them socially and emotionally like no other.”Coca-Cola: “To inspire moments of optimism and uplift.”VirginAtlantic: “To be genuine, fun, contemporary, and different in everything we do at a reasonable price.” Interesting. In none of the above cases does the brand promise describe what these companies do or provide. The NFL’s brand promise says nothing about football. Coca-Cola doesn’t talk about providing the best soft drinks in the world. And Virgin Atlantic’s promise goes a lot farther than seating passengers in its aircrafts. Of course, a promise is nowhere near enough. The promise along with look, personality, time, money, and hard work combined can eventually help to build and maintain great brands and acquire a special patina(光泽) of what I call “me” appeal, showing my personal appetite. Apple has that patina. All of this can lead to sub-brands, like iPhone and iPad which acquire the glory of the parent brand. Sometimes a brand is memorable because of little things. TD Bank has a special place in their branches for you to deposit all those coins you collect in jars. It is called the Penny Arcade that turns depositing your coins into a fun game in which you can even win prizes. Years ago, Dime Savings Bank in New York had a small dime(十分硬币) carrier. It was given to kids and then they’d fill up its 50 slots (投币口) with a dime in each one and bring it to exchange for a $5 bill. 1.What can we know from the first 2 paragraphs? A. People tend to believe in top brands because they deliverwhat is promised. B. Well branded Swedish products are of good quality but more costly than others. C. Well branded products are faced with great challenges of quality currently. D. A company shouldn’t care about logos because they can’t make the brand valuable. 2.In the author’s opinion, a brand promise is ___________. A. thecontract between a company and the people who interact with it B. the only way to build and maintain a great brand’s value C. a description of what a company actually does for its consumers D. an important factor contributing to the success of a brand 3.According to the passage, what isprobably “Virgin Atlantic”? A. A financial company. B. A high-tech software product. C. An airline company. D. An entertainment product. 4.What can be inferred from the passage? A. Buying a certain brand says nothing about the person who buys it. B. Little things can mean a lot and make a brand memorable. C. Sub-brands are relatively easy to build and generate huge profits. D. Dime Savings Bank’s dime carriers are difficult for kids to operate.
Why do some people live to be older than others? You know the standard explanations: keeping a moderate diet, engaging in regular exercise, etc. But what effect does your personality have on your longevity(长寿)? Do some kinds of personalities lead to longer lives? A new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society looked at this question by examining the personality characteristics of 246 children of people who had lived to be at least 100. The study shows that those living the longest are more outgoing, more active and less neurotic (神经质的) than other people. Long-living women are also more likely to be sympathetic and cooperative than women with a normal life span. These findings are in agreement with what you would expect from the evolutionary theory: those who like to make friends and help others can gather enough resources to make it through tough times. Interestingly, however, other characteristics that you might consider advantageous had no impact on whether study participants were likely to live longer. Those who were more self-disciplined, for instance, were no more likely to live to be very old. Also, being open to new ideas had no relationship to long life, which might explain all those bad-tempered old people who are fixed in their ways. Whether you can successfully change your personality as an adult is the subject of a longstanding psychological debate. But the new paper suggests that if you want long life, you should strive to be as outgoing as possible. Unfortunately, another recent study shows that your mother’s personality may also help determine your longevity. That study looked at nearly 28,000 Norwegian mothers and found that those moms who were more anxious, depressed and angry were more likely to feed their kids unhealthy diets. Patterns of childhood eating can be hard to break when we’re adults, which may mean that kids of depressed moms end up dying younger. Personality isn’t destiny, and everyone knows that individuals can learn to change. But both studies show that long life isn’t just a matter of your physical health but of your mental health. 1.The aim of the study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is____. A. to investigate the role of exercise in living a long life B. to find out if one’s lifestyle has any effect on their health C. to see whether people’s personality affects their life span D. to examine all the factors contributing to longevity 2.What does the author imply about outgoing and sympathetic people? A. They are more likely to get over hardship. B. They are better at negotiating an agreement. C. They generally appear more resourceful. D. They have a good understanding of evolution. 3.What finding of the study might prove somewhat out of our expectation? A. Personality characteristics that prove advantageous actually vary with times. B. Easy-going people can also live a relatively long life. C. Readiness to accept new ideas helps one enjoy longevity. D. Such personality characteristics as self-discipline have no effect on longevity. 4.What can we learn from the findings of the two new studies? A. Anxiety and depression more often than not cut short one’s life span. B. Health is in large part related to one’s lifestyle. C. Personality plays a decisive role in how healthy one is. D. Longevity results from a combination of mental and physical health.
72 Hours in Beijing Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa-free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing! Mutianyu Great Wall Your trip to Beijing isn’t really complete without seeing one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”, the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one-hour bus ride Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city. Also the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. 798 Art Zone This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s. The art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past. Summer Palace Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. Sichuan Provincial Restaurant While in Beijing, apart from trying the city’s best-known Peking duck the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of the places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China’s eight great cuisines, Sichuan, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken. 1.Which of the following is true about the Mutianyu Great Wall? A.You can paint graffiti anywhere. B.You need a half day to get there. C.It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. D.It is the most well-preserved part of the Great Wall. 2.When was the Summer Palace added to the UNESCO World Heritage List? A.In1950. B.In 1987. C.In 1998. D.In 2014. 3.Which place is the author’s first choice when visiting Beijing? A.Mutianyu Great Wall. B.Summer Palace. C.798 Art Zone. D.Sichuan Provincial Restaurant.
When Lina was awoken by the sound of thunder, she was alone on the island. The air was cool and bullfrogs croaked. It was that brief moment when the summer sun had set but the stars hadn't yet appeared. Lina rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Hello?” she called. “Celia? Marie” There was no response. The moon was rising now, shedding light on the island. They had always called it “Forgotten Island” because no one but they seemed to remember its existence. It wasn’t on any of the maps they could find, and even the forest rangers didn’t know about it. Lina loved that the island, hidden in a heavily-wooded side stream of the river, was a secret between the three friends — her, Celia, and Marie. But now Lina was here alone, and it was night. Worse still, it was her own fault. “Come on, Lina, let Marie row the boat.” Celia had said. Marie was two years older than Lina, but she was a hopeless rower. That’s why Lina refused and rowed the boat to the island. The argument that followed the refusal took the usual form. Celia took Marie’s side, as she always did. Lina had exploded and yelled at them to just leave. So they got back in the boat and left. A bolt of lightning crossed the darkened sky, accompanied by a deafening thunder clap. The storm was here. As the first cold raindrop slid down her neck, Lina’s mind returned to her current problem. She was stuck here by herself. She just hoped she didn’t become as forgotten as the island. The thought of it sent a chill (寒意) down her back. Suddenly, Lina spotted something in the water. It was a boat, and inside it were Marie, Celia, and Marie's dad, who was steering through the fast flowing waters. As the boat approached, they saw Lina waving and the worried expressions on their faces turned to relief. In her excitement Lina jumped into the river. Only once she was in the icy water did she remember how fast the water was moving. Luckily a strong arm reached into the water and pulled her out. She smiled weakly at Marie’s dad and, without a word, hugged Celia and Marie. They didn’t seem to mind becoming wet. 1.What can be inferred about the island? A.It is very near the ocean. B.It is a popular place for boating. C.It is surrounded by thick forest. D.It has never been reached by others. 2.Why did Lina get angry? A.Marie would not help row the boat. B.Lina was left alone on the island. C.Marie didn't know how to row the boat. D.Celia supported Marie in the disagreement. 3.What caused Lina to feel a chill? A.Her shame about the unnecessary argument. B.The first raindrops of the approaching storm. C.The idea that no one would come to save her. D.The drop in temperature as the sun went down. 4.Who pulled Lina out of the water? A.Marie’s father. B.Lina herself. C.Marie. D.CeliA.
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