We’ve all seen them: perfectly toned famous people on late-night television telling us that we too can develop rock-hard abdominal muscles(腹肌). It’s easy! Just pay $149.99 for the Torso Track or $149.75 for the Ad-Doer and watch those unwanted inches leave your waist. Americans spend tens of million of dollars on various products to firm up their fat around the waist.
And did they work? Not necessarily. Independent studies have concluded that most of these products-no matter who approved them or how expensive they are-shape your midsection no better than old-fashioned stomach crunches(仰卧起坐). Some can even cause injury-like the $518.99 Body Shaper-Q8SP, which left electrical burns on some researchers at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Others, like the popular Ab-Doer, trpically burn less energy than a gentle walk, according to a study to be published in September by the American Council on Exercise.
The fact is that many Americans don’t have the biological makeup to develop an obvious abdominal muscles. They are either unable to get the necessary muscle mass or they can’t lose enough fat to make a difference. Even if the underlying muscles are well developed, and it takes to hide it is one-sixteenth of tan inch of fat. That’s enough to dismiss most healthy women as well as plenty of guys who do crunches every day.
So what works best? In its new study, the exercise experts researched on the results of the popular Ab-Doer. A lengthy TV advertisement promises that just 10 minutes a day performing such movements as “Body Boogies” and “Good Mornings” will “help form those muscles the fun and easy way without diets.” Steven Loy, professor at California State University, Northridge, tested the promise by measuring the electrical activity produced by the abdominal muscles during three Ab-Doer movements. He and his colleagues then compared the results with those produced during traditional exercises. They determined that the muscles were no more active, and in some cases less so, when exercisers were using the Ab-Doer.
Taking a broader approach, researchers at San Diego State University compared 13 abdominal exercises for their ability to develop the central abdominal muscles. They concluded, in a report published in May, that the most effective exercises kept turning the body and worked the muscles the entire time. Among the winners: the bicycle movements-so called because it looks as if you are riding a bike while lying flat on the floor-and exercises performed on the “Captain’s Chair”, a product typically found in gyms that helps hold the body in the air while you raise your legs up toward your chest. Researchers suggested that a varied routine of the different exercises could deliver the best results.Which of the following is the most effective in building abdominal muscles?
A.Torso Track. | B.Ab-Doer. |
C.Captain’s Chair. | D.Body Shaper-Q8SP. |
According to the author, it’s difficult for many Americans to get visible firm abdominal muscles mainly because .
A.they do not put in enough efforts |
B.injuries interrupt their exercise frequently |
C.they change their exercise routine regularly |
D.how big their muscles will be is determined by birth |
The author convinces the readers by .
A.describing successful eases | B.offering professional connects |
C.presenting findings of researches | D.comparing advertisements of products |
What’s the main purpose of this passage?
A.To research and develop in order to create the perfect stomach and exercise machine. |
B.To promote proven exercise techniques and to advise against false advertisements. |
C.To indicate that diet and exercises are necessary factors for a fit midsection. |
D.To sponsor rich healthy lifestyle based on advanced product research. |
The Washington post – NASA’s newest space habitat looks sort of like a kids’ moon bonce, a big, bright, inflatable globe that could be lots of fun to play in. Soon astronauts on the International Space Station could get the chance to try . The expandable habitat made by Bigelow Aerospace recently passed NASA’s strict certification requirements and is scheduled to be flown to the station in September.
Called the BEAM ( Bigelow Expandable Activity Module), the habitat would be attached to the space station, where it would stay for two years. While there, it would be tested to see how it handles the rigors of space – the radiation, the station’s movement and even how it stands up to the debris (碎片) flying around in orbit.
The private Las Vegas company, founded by millionaire real estate mogul(地产大亨) Robert Bigelow, won a $17.8 million contract from NASA to provide the module to the space station.
“Today is the first step, but it’s a big step,” said Bigelow’s George Zamka. Replace the space station or make it larger. It also hopes to build the habitats on the moon. Its B330 module would be even bigger, with 330 cubic meters of internal (内部的 ) space. The modules could be connected. Creating research facilities, the company says, or even space hotels.
In an interview ,NASA’s William Gerstenmaier, said he was eager to see how the module performs , and said he was especially pleased “ to see how the private sector can step up and help us meet our requirements.” The module will be flown to the space station by SpaceX, the first commercial company to resupply the space station.What would be the best title for this passage?
A.NASA’s space habitats flown to the station. |
B.NASA’s space habitat it the station. |
C.NASA’s new expandable space habitat. |
D.NASA’s newest inflatable globe. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.NASA’s newest space habitat is a kids’ moon bounce. |
B.Astronauts of Bigelow Aerospace could get the chance to try the space habitat. |
C.NASA was founded by Robert Bigelow. |
D.The B330 module to be built on the moon would be with an inside space of 330 cubic meters. |
The underlined word “rigors” in Paragraph 2 refers to “_________”.
A.difficulties | B.environments |
C.movements | D.changes |
The passage is most probably taken from ________.
A.a newspaper | B.a booklet |
C.a magazine | D.a science fiction |
The food we eat seems to have a great effect on our health. Although science has made big steps in making food more fit to eat, it has, at the same time, made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps eighty percent of human illness is related to food and forty percent of cancer is related to food as well. That food is related to illness is not a new discovery. In 1945, some researchers realized that things commonly used to keep colors in meats and other food additives (添加剂) caused cancer.
Yet, these additives remain in our food, and it is difficult to know which things on the wrappings(包装)of foods are helpful or harmful. The additives which we eat are not all so direct. Farmers often give penicillin (青霉素) to their animals, and because of this, penicillin has been found in the milk of cows. Sometimes similar things are supplied to animals not for their health, but just to make a profit.
The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to get a higher price on the market. Although some countries have tried to control such things, the practice continues.According to this passage, we can know _____.
A.perhaps most kinds of cancer are related to what people eat |
B.perhaps most of human illness is caused by what we eat |
C.cancer was discovered in 1945 |
D.science has made food unfit to eat |
Things that are used to keep colors in meats are _____.
A.harmful | B.useless | C.helpless | D.dangerous |
People use additives _____.
A.to make food more unfit to eat |
B.to cause cancer |
C.to change the color of the food |
D.to take off the diseases of the food |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Some wrappings of food are harmful. |
B.Farmers try to make more money on the market by fattening their animals. |
C."The practice continues" means "things are still going on like that". |
D.We needn't take care of what we eat. |
Du Kun,a Chinese boy is called“the youngest writer in the world.”He has written three books till now.Du Kun was born in Jiangsu in 1994.When he was 7 months old.his parents started working in over 30 different cities,such as xi’an and Shenzhen.This kind of life gave him things to think and write about.When he was 9 months old,he could speak and at the age of one,he could say five to six hundred words.At three,he could look up words in the dictionary.At four,his father taught him how to learn by himself.His parents like reading very much.So does he.At the age of 5,he began writing fairy tales.At the age of 6.he wrote a novel about his life in different cities with his parents.His fairy tales are all from his life.One day,he found many mice in the house.They not only ate their food but also hurt his mother’s hand.So he thought,“If we give mice the stomach of cows,they will eat grass and they will be helpful to people.”This was his first fairy tales Change Stomach for Mice.Now he studies well in a middle school.
He has written his third book.The novel called Eyes of Children.He says,“I am not different from other children,I just wrote several books.”Thanks to his________,Du Kun could write his books.
A.mother | B.father |
C.school life | D.life in different cities |
Du Kun began to use a dictionary,________.
A.when he wrote fairy tales |
B.before his father taught him how to learn something |
C.after he went to school |
D.after his mother taught him how to learn something |
The underlined sentence shows us that Du Kun________.
A.is different from other children |
B.doesn’t tell the truth |
C.is the same as other children |
D.likes his books |
Which is the best title?
A.Three Books by a Child |
B.How to Write a Fairy Tales |
C.How Clever the Boy is |
D.Du Kun the Youngest Writer |
Timetable |
|
Sunday 8:30---11:30 Personal Inventions Mr. Johnson You can see many inventions by the students; you may also bring your own inventions. |
Monday 19:00---21:00 Space and Man Dr. Thomas West If you want to know more about the universe (宇宙). |
Wednesday 19:30---21:00 Modern Medicine Mrs. Lucy Green Would you like to know medical science? |
Friday 18:30---21:00 Computer Science Mr. Harry Morison from Harvard University, USA. Learn to use Windows XP. |
You may have a chance to introduce your inventions on ______.
A.Sunday | B.Monday | C.Wednesday | D.Friday |
The person who teaches Computer Science is from______.
A.Canada | B.Japan | C.Australia | D.America |
You may learn something about a disease called TB from ______.
A.Dr. West | B.Mr. Morison |
C.Mrs. Green | D.Mr. Thomas |
With all the wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us get through each and every day of our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling down in the dumps ( 处于沮丧中), as the saying goes, makes me feel good and warms my heart.
How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker, neighbor, close friend, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is common courtesy (礼貌) to speak to others that are around you.
I know of a few people that don’t have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke?
Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to bypass the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. So, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.According to the author, humor is useful in the aspect that ____________.
A.it makes people more confident |
B.it can pick up people' s spirits |
C.it can help rid the cruelty in the world |
D.it can help people get on well with others |
The phrase “busting a gut" in the third paragraph can be replaced by __________.
A.explaining carefully | B.speaking loud |
C.keeping silent | D.laughing hard |
In writing the passage, the author mainly intends to __________.
A.talk about his own understanding of humor |
B.encourage people to be humorous in daily life |
C.introduce a practical way to get through daily life |
D.convince people of the power of being optimistic about life |
What is the author' s attitude towards the present world?
A.Positive. | B.Critical. |
C.Satisfied. | D.Indifferent. |