A new study by Penn State College of Medicine research team found that honey is a better and safer treatment for children than cough medicines.
Ian Paul, the study’s lead researcher, was motivated to test honey because treating coughs in children has recently become a sticky subject. Coughing is the body’s way of cleaning irritated (受刺激的) airways to help you breathe. But too much coughing can irritate your lungs and throat even more. It can also make it tough to get the sleep your body needs to heal. Hoping to ease the suffering of their children, parents often give them cough medicines.
But there have never been any good studies showing that they work. Cough and cold medicines may also cause serious side effects. Hundreds of kids die in the hospital each year after receiving too much cough medicine by mistake. Last October, the US Food and Drug Administration suggested that parents should
not give cough medicines to children under 6.
In order to search for a different solution, Paul designed a study that involved 105 kids who were sick with coughs and other cold conditions. At bedtime, the kids took buckwheat(荞麦) honey, honey-flavored (蜜蜂味的) DM (one of the most common ingredients成分in cough medicine), or no treatment. Parents and kids in the no-treatment group knew they weren’t getting anything, but the other two groups weren’t told which treatment they were getting.
The surveys showed that kids who swallowed about 2 teaspoons of buckwheat
honey before bedtime coughed less and slept better than kids in other groups.
“When parents want something for their kids to take,” Paul says, “honey seems
like the best option.”
But what gives honey its healing power? Substances called antioxidants(抗氧化剂) may be part of the answer. All honey contains antioxidants that protect our cells from damage. Studies show that antioxidant levels in the body rise after someone swallows honey.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
| A.Sweet solution to kids’ coughing |
| B.No cough medicines to children |
| C.Best treatment for your cold |
| D.Cough medicines don’t work |
We can learn from Paragraph 2 that coughing ______.
| A.can cure lung and throat diseases |
| B.is more harmful to children |
| C.sometimes does good to people |
| D.helps improve children’s die |
During Paul’s experiment, the kids who received treatment __________.
| A.seemed much worse than before |
| B.had no idea what they swallowed |
| C.knew they weren’t getting anything |
| D.coughed less and slept better |
According to the passage, Paul’s experiment proved that ____.
| A.honey may have real healing power |
| B.cough medicines may cause side effect |
| C.cough medicines don’t really work |
| D.buckwheat honey contain more antioxidants |
Who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams (1860 - 1935)
Addams helped the poor and worked for peace. She created shelters, education opportunities and services for people in need. In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964)
Rachel Carson was born in the rural river town of Springdale, Pennsylvania in America. The popular 1962 book “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson made people realize the dangers and the harmful effects (影响) of pollution on humans and on the world’s lakes and oceans.
Angela Merkel (1954 - )
In 2005, Germans chose Angela Merkel as their first woman head of the country. She had been a scientist in the past. As Germany’s leader, she has had an effect on the whole world.
Sandra Day O’Connor (1930 - )
When Sandra Day O’Connor finished her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work because she was a woman. However, she became the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court (最高法院) in 1981 after years of hard work.
Margaret Thatcher (1925 - )
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first woman Prime Minister (首相). She served until 1990, which made her the first British leader to serve three terms in a row. Because of her high standards and strong will, people called her Britain’s Iron Lady.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Polish-born scientist Marie Curie discovered that some types of metal give off energy called radiation (辐射能). Her research led to new medical treatments and arms. She received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911.Who once won the Nobel Prize?
| A.Jane Addams and Marie Curie. |
| B.Jane Addams and Margaret Thatcher. |
| C.Marie Curie and Angela Merkel. |
| D.Marie Curie and Rachel Carson. |
We can infer from the text that Rachel Carson worked to _____.
| A.help the poor |
| B.spread geographic knowledge |
| C.protect the environment |
| D.protect the rights of women |
What do Angela Merkel and Margaret Thatcher have in common?
| A.Both of them were scientists before coming to power. |
| B.Both of them are the first woman head of their country. |
| C.Both of them are famous for being strict. |
| D.Both of them have worked for three terms. |
Who once failed to find a job?
| A.Jane Addams. | B.Sandra Day O’Connor. |
| C.Rachel Carson. | D.Margaret Thatcher. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A.Great women | B.Famous scientists |
| C.Strong leaders | D.Ways to succeed |
When Steve Jobs was born on Febuary24, 1955, in San Francisco , California, his unmarried mother decided to put him for adoption(收养) because she wanted a girl. So in the middle of the night, his mother called a lawyer named Paul Jobs and said, “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” But his mother told his future parents to promise that they would send Jobs to college. After Steve Jobs graduated from high school, he went to college but decided to drop out because it was so expensive that he had to sleep on the floor in his friends’ rooms.
At 20, he and a friend(Steve Wozniak) started a company in a garage on April 1, 1976. Jobs named their company ----Apple in memory of a happy summer he had spent as an orchard (果园) in Oregon.
After 10 years of hard time and failures, starting from two kids working in a garage, Apple computer eventually grew into a big company with over 4000 employees.
At 30, Jobs, however, was fired from the company he co-founded. But after he had to leave the company, Apple was under heavy pressure from rival (对手) Microsoft and in 1996 posted billions of dollars in losses. Apple needed Steve Jobs and he was appointed as Apple’ CEO in1997. Under his leadership, Apple returned to profitability(赢利) and introduced new products such as the iPhone and the iPad.
Steve Jobs once said, “Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m sure that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.”Steve Jobs didn’t finish his college education because he _____
| A.wanted to start a company. |
| B.had financial problems. |
| C.took no interest in his major. |
| D.hated to share rooms with his friends. |
From the passage, we can know that Steve Job___________
| A.joined Microsoft in 1987 |
| B.give Apple a second life |
| C.set up another company |
| D.invented the iPhone |
What can we learn from what Steve Jobs said?
| A.Interest is key to success. |
| B.Hope helps us succeed. |
| C.Attitude is everything. |
| D.Courage goes with confidence. |
Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with stress better. Some studies show that people with close friends have a greater ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
Make friendship a priority(优先). Find the time to be with friends even if it means letting the lawn go unmowed(未割草) or the dishes unwashed for a while. When you can’ t get together, use the phone to keep in touch.
Open up to close friends. Keeping a deep friendship requires a level of heartfelt intimacy(亲密). Don’t be afraid to express your inner fears and disappointments. Listen to your friends when they have problems, but offer advice only when it’s wanted. Help raise friends’ self-esteem when they are sad by a job loss, or other such events.
Have different friends for different activities, such as going to the movies, singing in a choir(合唱), and joining in a bowling league.
Don’t wait for a friend to ask a favor. When a friend has the flu, offer to go to the store or drive his or her children to their after-school activities.
Never take a friendship for granted. Like a good marriage, friendship needs care and patience. Become a joiner. Find a group that matches your interests.
Talk to strangers. Conversations started in museums, laundry rooms, or bookstores can lead to firm friendship.
Enroll in an adult-education course. A classroom is an ideal place to meet others with similar interests.What should we do to have friends according to the author?
| A.Make friendship a priority. |
| B.Open up to close friends. |
| C.Never take a friendship for granted |
| D.All the above. |
Which of the statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A.You should have different friends for the same activities. |
| B.You should wait for a friend to ask a favor. |
| C.You should avoid talking with stranger in museums, laundry rooms of bookstores. |
| D.You should never take a friendship for granted. |
The underlined word “enroll” in the last paragraph means _____.
| A.give | B.join | C.get | D.catch |
On the way to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man with a dirty face jumped up from a chair, opened the door for us and greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside, my daughters said in a low voice, “Mom, he smells.” After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look beyond the dirt. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me, I wanted to set a good example to my children, but sometimes being a good example was difficult. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so Iwent back to the car for them.
Just then, the “doorman” was opening the door for me, I said a loud “thank you” to him as I exited.
When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought food. I went back and told my family his situation. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked puzzled, but when I said the order was for the “doorman”, they smiled. When it was time to continue our trip, I noticed the “doorman” enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then lifted his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes-tears of gratitude (感恩). What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the “doorman” a hug.
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can’t choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had simply helped open a door for me, and also said thanks for that opportunity to teach my children by example.What attitude did the children show to the doorman at first?
| A.dislike | B.surprise |
| C.puzzle | D.interest |
The author returned to the car for car-sick pills because ________.
| A.seeing the doorman made her sick |
| B.she wanted the doorman to open the door for her |
| C.the kids needed them for the windiest trip ahead |
| D.the kids were concerned about the restaurant’s meal |
For what purpose did the author say a loud “thank you” to the doorman?
| A.She wanted to give the children a lesson of gratitude. |
| B.She showed her real love for him. |
| C.She wanted to give the doorman a hand. |
| D.She just showed her polite manner. |
It can be learned from the passage that the doorman _________.
| A.refused to accept the offer |
| B.took the offer for nothing |
| C.gave the author a thankful hug |
| D.was moved to tears for the kind help |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A.We should learn to show gratitude. |
| B.Life is difficult for those in trouble. |
| C.Don’t judge a man by what he wears. |
| D.We should be polite to others. |
Our children grew up on peanut butter and jelly (果冻) sandwiches. Even my husband and I sometimes ate one secretly at late night with a glass of milk. It was too delicious and tasty. My mother-in-law was the jelly maker in this family. The jelly was made of either grape or blackberry. The only job I did to the jelly making was to save baby food jars (罐子), which my mother-in-law would fill with the tasty gel (凝胶体), pack them up and send back to our home. For the past 22 years of my married life, whenever I wanted to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for ourselves, all I had to do was reach for one of those little jars of jelly. It was always there.
This past December, my mother-in-law passed away. Among the things in the house to be divided by her children were the remaining canned goods in the pantry (食品储藏室). When my husband brought his jars home, we carefully put them away in our pantry.
The other day I reached in there to get jelly for a quick sandwich, and there it was. Sitting all alone on the far side of the shelf was a small jar of grape jelly. As I picked up the jar, I suddenly realized something that I had failed to see earlier-this was the last jar we would ever have from my mother-in-law. Although she had been dead for nearly a year, so much of her had remained with us. Our children had never known a day without their grandmother’s jelly. It seems like such a small thing, and most days it was something that was ignored. But today it seemed a great treasure.
No longer was it just a jar of jelly. It was the end of a family tradition. I believed that as long as it was there, a part of my mother-in-law would always live on.Why did the couple eat the jelly secretly at late night?
| A.Because it was very delicious and nice. |
| B.Because it was only made for children. |
| C.Because it was made by mother-in-law. |
| D.Because it was good to health. |
What can we know about the author in making jelly?
| A.She could make baby food by herself. |
| B.She could only collect baby food jars. |
| C.She helped her mother fill the jars with the tasty gel. |
| D.She sent the jelly jars home with her husband. |
What did the mother-in-law leave to the author?
| A.The skills to make jelly. |
| B.Some baby food in the house. |
| C.Some canned jars filled with jelly. |
| D.A lot of money. |
What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A.a quick sandwich | B.the shelf |
| C.grape | D.jelly |
What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A.To miss her mother-in-law. |
| B.To introduce the skills of making jelly. |
| C.To remember the family tradition. |
| D.To warn people to be nice to the old. |