Babies are born yogis. Once we were all able to pull our toes up by our ears and laugh about it. Then we aged, got injured, and began carrying stress in our shoulders and back. In short, we lost our balance.
Yoga（瑜伽）is an ancient practice that helps create a sense of union in body, mind, and spirit. It brings us balance. I was seriously out of balance when I started practicing yoga in 1999. I had plantar fascitis(足底筋膜炎) in both feet, and my doctor had warned me against all the things I loved to do: walking, hiking, and playing tennis. I was desperate for exercise. Yoga became my salvation(拯救) and even enhanced my other fitness activities. I practice yoga at least twice a week, but I consider yoga to be part of my daily life because after a while you no longer just practice yoga—you love it.
Yoga becomes part of your physical life. Your body grows stronger, more toned, and more flexible as you move from one pose to the other. I spent a week in Mexico at a yoga retreat(静修), and it was the first vacation on which I lost weight. “Rather than building muscle, yoga builds muscle tone,” says Shakta Kaur Khalsa, author of the K.I.S.S. Guide to Yoga. “Because yoga helps maintain a balanced metabolism (新陈代谢), it also helps to regulate weight. Additionally, yoga stretches muscles lengthwise, causing fat to be removed around the cells.” I do yoga poses throughout the day. After hours at my computer, I stretch my stiff shoulders and arms. When I need a boost of energy, I do energizing poses. When I am feeling exhausted at the end of the day, I do restorative poses.
Yoga becomes part of your mental life. Yoga teaches you to focus on breathing while you hold the poses. This attention to breath is calming; it dissolves stress and anxiety. I use yogic breathing on the tennis courts, in the dentist’s chair, and in traffic jams. You should always leave a yoga practice feeling energized, not tired. If you feel tired after yoga, it means you spent the time “fighting” yourself, trying to force yourself into poses. In yoga, you “surrender” to the pose by letting go of the tension.
Yoga becomes part of your spiritual life. Yoga is practiced by people from all religions; it is not restricted to any religious group. Yoga teaches “right” living in how we deal with ourselves and others. As I work on a difficult pose, I learn patience, forgiveness, and the value of gentleness. Yoga advocates proper eating, but you don’t have to be a vegetarian to practice yoga.What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．What’s Yoga? | B．How I Do Yoga Poses |
| C．The Benefits of Yoga | D．The Varieties of Yoga |
According to the third paragraph, yoga can help people __________.
| A．grow taller | B．lose weight |
| C．become flexible in thinking | D．make more friends |
People feel tired after yoga because __________.
| A．they consume energy in practicing yoga |
| B．they respond well to yoga poses |
| C．they spend too much time on yoga |
| D．they force themselves into yoga poses |
If this passage continues, what will the writer most probably write about in the next paragraph?
| A．Yoga as a means to keep fit. | B．Different yoga poses. |
| C．Popularity of yoga all over the world. | D．Encouraging people to do yoga. |
In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad, for it sets one person against another and it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit （追求） of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.
However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society.
Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.” What is not usually admitted by them is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth.
Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve （缓解） can we discover a new meaning in competition.The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 refers to those who ______.
| A．are against competition most strongly. | B．are fond of competition very much. |
| C．are satisfied with competition. | D．are interested in competition |
According to the passage, why do some people support competition?
A．Because they think friendly relationship needs it. k+s-5#u |
| B．Because they think social progress and prosperity need it. |
| C．Because they think it can make us become cleverer. |
| D．Because they think it can deal with many personal problems. |
We can learn from the passage that __________.
| A．all the people have the same opinion about competition |
| B．Failure can make most people feel down |
| C．Both the true competitors and those with a desire to fail believe one’s worth lies in his performance compared with others |
| D．Competition can make every competitor successful |
The passage manly talks about different opinions about ________.
| A．competition | B．success | C．failure | D．friendship |
Do junk food ads make kids fat? Should they be banned? Based on the evidence, more and more experts say yes. The latest support comes from a group of New Zealand experts who say they've made a link between kids watching television and bad health.
Researchers from the University of Otago in Dunedin studied 1000 children from age 3 to 26．They found that those who watched television more than two hours a day had higher levels of obesity（肥胖）, blood cholesterol（胆固醇）and smoking — as well as lower levels of physical fitness — when they reached adulthood than kids who watched less than two hours a day. k+s-5#u
Why? Partly because while they are watching TV kids aren't getting out, exercising and playing with other kids, and burning off the calories. But more insidiously（不知不觉地）, while watching TV, they're being shown a lot of ads for drinks and foods of uncertain nutritional value, most of which are full of sugar and fat.
Across the globe, about 155 million kids are obese, according to the International Obesity Task Force. The dangerous thing is not just the well-being of these kids as they grow up, but hundreds of billions of dollars of health costs spent on adults with heart disease, diabetes（糖尿病）, and the disabilities these disease will cause.
In Australia, two thirds of children are overweight and one third are obese. Twenty years ago, only about ten per cent were obese. And Australia has the greatest amount of junk food ads per hour of television than any other country in the world, including the US and the UK. About 30 per cent of all ads in kids' viewing time are for food or drinks. Most of them are for junk food: burgers, chips, soft drinks and sweets —high in fat, salt or sugar.
Here in Australia, experts are also calling for a ban on TV advertising of junk food to kids. The Coalition on Food Advertising to Children （CFAC） wants to make changes to laws, hoping it can ban all food advertising on TV during the time of the day when children under 12 years old are watching. This includes early and afternoon time, and evening TV between 5 pm and 9 pm.From the passage, we can infer that the underlined word “obsess” probably means ______.
| A．very strong | B．very weak |
| C．very confident | D．very fat |
According to the passage, how many hours can kids watch TV a day if they want to be healthier in the future?
| A．more than 120 minutes a day | B．less than 120 minutes a day |
| C．180 minutes or so a day | D．240 minutes or so a day k+s-5#u |
______ has the greatest amount of junk food ads per hour of TV?
| A．Australia | B．Chinese | C．Canada | D．Germany |
In the author’s opinion, the junk food ads on TV are bad for kids’ health because _______.
| A．They are very expensive and harmful | B．They waste a lot of kids’ spare time |
| C．They persuade kids to eat junk food | D．They are more inviting and interesting |
●CAFE DISPLAY
●OUR JOURNEYS
●12 April-29 May 2008
Young people explore how they have adapted to life in Oxford.
“When I first came here,” says one young African woman, “I just wanted to cry all the time. And now I have learned to laugh again.” Working with photographer Rory Carnegie and writer Nikki van der Gaag, young men and women explore their journey from the time they first arrived in a strange place to where they find themselves today. Organised by The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival （10－17 April 2008）. Supported by the Maggie Black Trust and Oxford City Council.
●ACTIVlTlES FOR CHlLDREN AND FAMILIES
●MODERN ART TROLLEY FREE
Art activities for children every weekend during the exhibition in the Entrance Space from 2 p. m. to 4 p. m. Just drop in. Children must be led by an adult.
●WORKSHOP FOR 8 TO 12 YEAR OLDS
Thursday 7 April, 10：30 A．m. to 1：30 p. m. k+s-5#u
Looking at themes from the exhibition and exploring pictures based ideas through group discussion and using digital cameras. Led by Judie Waldmann.
●BOOK LAUNCH FREE
The Drawing Book by Sarah Simblet is a practical approach to drawing the world around you. Sarah Simblet, who teaches at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, will be present to give a short talk about the development of her book. Special price of￡18 on copies purchased in the evening.
Booking recommended on 01865 813802
●TEACHERS’EVENING FREE
Thursday 21 April, 5 p.m. to 7：30 p. m.
Lecture by Susan Bright, independent writer and lecturer, at 5：30 p. m. followed by an opportunity to view the exhibition. FREE Education Notes will be provided for teachers attending the evening.
●WORKSHOP FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS
Saturday 7 May, 10：30 A．m. to 1：30 p. m.
Workshop for primary teachers who would like to develop their practical art skill as well as gain an understanding of modern art practice. Led by Judie Waldmann, artist and former primary school teacher.
●TALKS AND WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS
Exhibition talks and artist-led workshops to create work in response to the exhibition are available for pre-booked school groups. Suitable for primary and secondary schools, to check availability and discuss details call Sarah Mossop on 1865 813816.If you are a teacher and interested in art, you probably would like to go to ________.
| A．TEACHERS’EVENING | B．MODERN ART TROLLEY |
| C．WORKSHOP FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS | |
| D．BOOK LAUNCH |
From the passage, we know that _______.
| A．Susan Bright will give a short talk at the launch of the Drawing Book. |
B．Sarah Mossop will teach young people how to take photos. k+s-5#u |
| C．The workshop led by Judie is intended for the university students. |
| D．The children who go to the Modern Art Trolley must be led by an adult. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．if you attend “BOOK LAUNCH”, you can get the book at a low price. |
| B．school groups can attend talks and workshops for them at any time. |
| C．All the young people have difficulty in adapting to life in Oxford. |
| D．TEACHERS’ EVENING is only accessible to teachers. |
Which of the following is most probably the best title of the passage？
| A．FREE JOURNEYS | B．SPRING EVENTS |
| C．WEEKEND ACTIVITIES | D．ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS |
A senior United Nations Children's fund （UNICEF） official on May 29 praised China for its remarkable achievements in children's welfare（福利）.
A.H.M. Farook, UNICEF's operations area officer for China and Mongolia said, “China can be very satisfied to tell the whole world what can be done with limited resources to help its children to grow healthily and happily.”
China's child population makes up one fifth of the world's total.
“The reason behind the remarkable achievement is China's long tradition of caring for children both at home and in society," he said.
“What's more is that Chinese people have always given special attention to children who are in special need."
The UN official made the remarks when addressing a group of 50 children and staff from the Beijing Children's Welfare Home at the Shangri la Hotel, Beijing.
The hotel invited the orphans to share snacks（小吃）, sing, dance and play games at a park inside the hotel for a “Share the Sunshine" party, as a prelude（前奏） to celebrations to mark the Children’s Day.
The Beijing children's Welfare Home, set up soon after New China was founded in 1949, has at present more than 400 children.
A leading official of the welfare institution said that the children live a happy life and that the agency spends 400－500 yuan a month for an average orphan. An average Chinese worker earned 440 yuan a month during the first quarter this year. k+s-5#u
Gu Xiaojin, deputy secretary general of the China Youth Development Foundation （CYDF）, said people from all walks of like have contributed to the welfare of the Chinese children.
She said that CYDF set up the Project Hope in 1989, which walls on people across the country to donate money to help poor children to continue their schooling.
By the end of last year, she said, CYDF had collected nearly 700 million yuan in donations, which has helped the establishment（建立） of 2,074 Hope primary schools and enabled more than 1.25 million dropouts to return to school classrooms.According to the passage, how can children grow healthily and happily?
| A．They are offered best education and satisfying life. |
| B．They must have their own parents who are rich. |
| C．Both the society and their parents care for them. |
| D．They are allowed to take part in many activities like computer games as often as possible. |
From the passage, we know the Beijing Children's Welfare Home spends at least _____ yuan on the orphans every year.
| A．1,920,000 | B．700,000 | C．874,000 | D．900,000 |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．China's population makes up one fifth of the world's total. |
| B．The CYDE has used the money to help reduce dropouts. |
| C．The Beijing children's Welfare Home was founded in 1989. |
| D．An average Chinese worker earned 440 yuan during the first quarter this year. |
China can get the remarkable achievements in children’s welfare because _______.
| A．There are many children’s welfare homes. k+s-5#u |
| B．The Hope Project has been very successful. |
| C．The Chinese governments have been working harder than before. |
| D．China has a long tradition of caring for children both at home and in society. |
A long road leads through the woods to Don Robinson’s unfinished house. Wearing dirty sneakers and a shirt with holes, Don Robinson is an 81-year-old Missouri businessman. Although he’s rich, he didn’t use his money to buy himself a grand home. Instead, he used it to buy wild land.
Robinson has decided to donate 843 acres of his own personal wilderness to the Department of Natural Resources after his death, which can then be used to create a new state park. His generous donation is the same size as New York City’s Central Park. It is said that it’s the largest land donation to happen in the last 25 years.
How did he come up with this idea? For Robinson, the idea of donation came from his respect for the land and the environment. He doesn’t have children to pass it onto. He hoped that someone would make full use of it, or the land would probably turn into wasteland. A green park filled with trees can at least help deal with global warming, in addition to producing fresh air.
Robinson has lived here in a small wooden house since 1964．One room holds his bed, a few chairs and a desk. He said he didn’t care how much his donation was worth. Tom Pounders who used to work for Robinson said, "He doesn’t think material objects are important.” He also recalled that Robinson once repaired a broken tennis shoe with a spare tire.
Robinson has just one request for the new park that will be established after his death. He’d like it to be named the Don Robinson State Park. "There’s a lot of Robinsons, but only one me. It would be nice if people remembered to use my full name when walking through the park," he said.In paragraph 2, the underlined word “wilderness” refers to _______.
| A．wild animals | B．wild land | C．wild plants | D．wild wounds |
Don Robinson has decided to donate _____ to the Department of Natural Resources after his death.
| A．a green park | B．a big wooden house |
| C．843 acres of land | D．all his money |
According to the passage, which of the following statements about is TRUE?
| A．Don Robinson paid much attention to how much his donation was worth. |
| B．New York City’s Central Park was built with Don Robinson’s help. |
| C．Don Robinson had many children and lived with them. |
| D．The idea of donation came from Robinson’s respect for the land and the environment. |
Which of the following words can be used to describe Don Robinson?
| A．rich, generous and simple | B．rich, mean and lonely k+s-5#u |
| C．simple, lonely and cruel | D．rich, simple and mean |