You maybe surprised to learn that one of the best steps you can take to protect your health is to step outside and spend some time in the grass, dirt and water.
Our ancestors enjoyed the healing power of nature,and now scientists are starting to catch up.According to research in recent years,just having a view of nature has been shown to improve hospital patients' recovery and reduce illness rates among office workers.Also,exposure(曝露) to wildlife,horseback riding,hiking,camping and farms can be helpful for a variety of health conditions in adults and children.
Much of this type of research is focusing on children,and in fact an entire movement has quickly developed to connect kids with the healing power of nature.
Obesity(肥胖).Rates of childhood obesity have grown sharply in recent years,and this is partly because of reduced outdoor activity time.Increasing the time students spend learning about nature,both in and outside the classroom,would help solve this problem.Such lessons are often more attractive for students and often lead them to become more active outside.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)(注意力缺失症).Exposure to ordinary natural settings in the course of common afterschool and weekend activities may be effective in reducing attention deficit symptoms in children.Participation in green activities—such as nature walks—helped ADHD patients from a wide range of backgrounds to stay focused and complete tasks.
Stress.Access to nature,even houseplants,can help children cope with stress.
Depression and seasonal emotional disorder.Major depression requires medical treatment,but physical activity,especially outdoors,can help ease symptoms.For your average case of winter blues,experts suggest spending time outside every day and,if possible,taking the family to a sunny vacation spot in midwinter.
Experts emphasize that you needn't go to wilderness preserves to enjoy nature's benefits—simply walking in a city park or growing in a rooftop garden can make a difference.
It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that .
A.ancient people were not familiar with the healing power of nature. |
B.modern people are not familiar with the healing power of nature. |
C.the healing power of nature works better on children. |
D.the healing power of nature works better on office workers. |
According to Para.4, lessons about nature .
A.should engage parents in them |
B.should take place outdoors |
C.are used widely at school![]() |
D.are liked by students |
Exposure to green areas in neighborhoods can .
A.improve children's skills at learning |
B.help reduce ADHD symptoms |
C.treat major depression |
D.cure winter blues |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.You can only enjoy nature's benefits in the wilderness. |
B.A common natural setting is beneficial to your health. |
C.A city park and a rooftop garden have different benefits. |
D.Too many people in the wilderness will reduce the benefits of nature. |
Laws that would have ensured pupils from five to 16 received a full financial education got lost in the ‘wash up’. An application is calling on the next government to bring it back.
At school the children are taught to add up and subtract(减法) but, extraordinarily, are not routinely shown how to open a bank account — let alone how to manage their finances in an increasingly complex and demanding world.
Today the parenting website Mumsnet and the consumer campaigner Martin Lewis have joined forces to launch an online application to make financial education a compulsory element of the school curriculum in England. Children from five to 16 should be taught about everything from pocket money to pensions, they say. And that was exactly the plan preserved in the Children, Schools and Families bill that was shelved by the government in the so-called “wash-up” earlier this month — the rush to legislation before parliament was dismissed. Consumer and parent groups believe financial education has always been one of the most frustrating omissions of the curriculum.
As the Personal Finance Education Group (Pfeg) points out, the good habits of young children do not last long. Over 75% of seven- to 11-year-olds are savers but by the time they get to 17, over half of them are in debt to family and friends. By this age, 26% see a credit card or overdraft(透支) as a way of extending their spending power. Pfeg predicts that these young people will “find it much harder to avoid the serious unexpected dangers that have befallen many of their parents' generation unless they receive good quality financial education while at school.”
The UK has been in the worst financial recession(衰退)for generations. It does seem odd that — unless parents step in — young people are left in the dark until they are cruelly introduced to the world of debt when they turn up at university. In a recent poll of over 8,000 people, 97% supported financial education in schools, while 3% said it was a job for parents.The passage is mainly about _____________.
A.how to manage school lessons | B. teaching young people about money |
C.how to deal with the financial crisis | D.teaching students how to study effectively |
It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that __________.
A.laws on financial education have been effectively carried out |
B.pupils should not be taught to add up and subtract |
C.students have been taught to manage their finances |
D.the author complains about the school education |
The website and the consumer campaigner joined to _________.
A.instruct the pupils to donate their pocket money |
B.promote the connection of schools and families |
C.ask the government to dismiss the parliament |
D.appeal for the curriculum of financial education |
A poll is mentioned to ___________.
A.show the seriousness of the financial recession |
B.stress the necessity of the curriculum reform |
C.make the readers aware of burden of the parents |
D.illustrate some people are strongly against the proposal |
Family Vs Technology
Modern technology certainly changes family behavior, but does it really damage family life as many people fear? Not necessarily, says Dr. Silva, a professor in Sociology(社会学) at the Open University, she also argues it is wrong to assume technology erodes(腐蚀,侵蚀) the quality of family life.
“There is the idea that technology has an influence on the family and the family suffers. My take is quite different,” she explains. “Technological change happens because people’s lives change. And it is people’s choices of how to live that creates processes of innovation(革新) as well. The family has a role like the economy or like technology itself in changing the world. The imagination is important in driving the things technologists want to find for our daily lives. People desire to see nature as it is, so color television comes about,” she says.
In another case, the increase in working mothers helped create a market for labor-saving kitchen equipment. “The time that women have to shop every day for food is no longer available so there is a need to have a refrigerator for food storage,” says Dr. Silva. “The need to cook that food more easily and quickly, means you have developments in cooking technology like the microwave oven(微波炉). The microwave oven already existed because it was developed for the navy during World War Two but it wasn’t used in ordinary families until the early 1980s.
“Technologies for housework were as important as those for work itself,” she says, “So washing machines, refrigerators and microwave ovens are terribly important. We couldn’t imagine what life would be like if we didn’t have them.” Technological changes in the kitchen have played an important role in the changes of family behavior, creating a new social focus in the home.
“With advanced technology, you can feed the family in an easier manner. People can do housework with less difficulty. But that doesn’t mean that family practices are not important — it’s just a different way of doing things.”What is Dr. Silva’s attitude towards the effect that technology has on family life?
A.Worried. | B.Optimistic(乐观的). |
C.Puzzled. | D.Uncertain. |
What causes advances in technology according to Dr. Silva?
A.People’s love for nature. |
B.Great changes in people’s way of life. |
C.People’s desire to change the world. |
D.The wonderful imagination in inventing things. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.The microwave oven was first used by working mothers. |
B.People cook less because of modern kitchen equipment. |
C.Technology has little effect on the changes of family behavior. |
D.People need less skill to do housework due to advanced technology. |
Fifty-two years ago in the USA, a little black girl named Ruby Bridges arrived at her new primary school. The school was in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As she walked toward the school’s front door, an angry crowd of people shouted at her. United States marshals walked with her. A marshal is a police officer. They were there to protect the first grader. That’s because the people didn’t want Ruby to go inside the school. But the 6-year-old walked into the school anyway. As she did, she marched into history books.
The day was Nov. 14, 1960. On that morning, little Ruby became one of the first African Americans to attend an all-white primary school in the South.
Before then, the law in many states said that black children could not attend the same schools as white children. People of different races also had to use separate public restrooms. It was called segregation. That is when people of different races are kept separate.
U.S. leaders worked to end segregation. They helped bring civil rights to all Americans. Those are the rights mean that all people should be treated equally. A few months before Ruby started school, a federal court (联邦法庭) had just ordered an end to school segregation in New Orleans.
By the time Ruby started the second grade, there were no more angry people outside her school. There were other African American students in her class. Today, children of all races go to school together.
Bridges said she was never scared to go to school during the first grade. She wasn’t really afraid and she didn’t really know what was going on at the time.Why was Ruby Bridges famous in the American history?
A.She served on the U.S. federal court. |
B.She got along well with the U.S. marshals. |
C.She helped end school segregation in New Orleans. |
D.She brought all rights to the Americans with U.S. leaders. |
Which of the following is about “segregation” (in Paragraph 4)?
A.White and black children couldn’t study in the same school. |
B.All people should have the right to be treated equally. |
C.Different races can use the same public convenience. |
D.Students of all races should be able to attend school together. |
What do you think of the U.S. leaders’ work to end segregation?
A.Disappointing. | B.Acceptable. |
C.Successful. | D.Confusing. |
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Florida
People say that it is the home of the “Harry Potter Theme Park”. The Wizarding World is the most popular part of the park. Other popular rides include the Adventures of Spider-Man, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and the Jurassic Park River Adventure.
It is open from Monday to Saturday. $15.95 for children, 3 to 13 years old; $29.95 for ages 14 and over.
PI-O Indoor Theme Park in Longueuil
The PI-O Indoor Theme Park features(以……为特色) 16 rides, a small sea train, a kid-sized bowling alley(保龄球场), a mirror maze(迷宫), theme rooms which include the Christmas room on-the-sea, and a private reception room.
“I wanted to create a safe environment for kids aged 1 to 10,” explains owner Jocelyne Pinard. She noted how many competing amusement parks have sections that can be unsafe for young kids — such as the “ball rooms” full of loose plastic balls. So this is how it is different from other amusement parks.
Open seven days a week. The admission fees are $16.99 for individuals(个人) and $64 for families.
Legoland Windsor Theme Park in London
Legoland Windsor is the best choice for young families. The park is designed for children from 3 to 12. There are over 50 rides as well as live shows, workshops, and other attractions aimed at younger children, and especially those who are already fond of building-block(积木) toys.
The park is open every single day. Adults: $35; Ages 3-15 and 60+: $26. Buy online and save $3 per person.
Wonder La Theme Park in India
Wonder La is a world-class amusement park. It’s modern, clean and green, and has all kinds of attractions. There are over 50 rides, 12 of which are water based and 9 especially for small children. If you love getting wet, don’t miss the Rain Disco — an indoor dance floor with a rain system that provides showers of warm water to the music.
Monday to Friday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Holiday and Festival seasons 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single adult / child — $13.50; Family ticket (for any four people) — $50.00; Children 3 and under — Free.If Jim is free this Sunday, he can choose to visit the following parks EXCEPT________.
A.Islands of Adventure | B.PI-O |
C.Legoland Windsor | D.Wonder La |
How is PI-O Indoor Theme Park mainly different from other parks?
A.It is much safer. | B.It features more rides. |
C.It is much cheaper. | D.It offers more activities. |
If a couple want to visit Legoland Windsor Theme Park with their 5-year-old son, how much do they need to pay when booking online?
A.$70. | B.$87. | C.$93. | D.$96. |
Which of the following about Wonder La Theme Park is NOT true?
A.It is located in India. |
B.It is free for children of 3 and under. |
C.There are nine rides especially for small children. |
D.The Rain Disco lets children enjoy cool showers while dancing. |
Where is the passage most probably taken?
A.A science magazine. | B.A text book. |
C.A travel guide. | D.A local newspaper. |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of imagination, ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about ________.
A.a strange man |
B.an unusual party |
C.how roller skating began |
D.how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
A.often gave others surprises | B.was a gifted musician |
C.invented the roller skates | D.was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.
A.impress the party guests | B.arrive at the party sooner |
C.test his invention | D.show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point that the writer tries to convey(表达) in the last paragraph?
A.The roller skates was dangerous and harmful. |
B.The party guests thought Merlin was a fool. |
C.Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
D.Merlin should never do that again. |