Some weight-loss camps, which are rare in China just a few years ago, have sprouted in Beijing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, and other cities. Today about 15 percent of adults, or 200 million Chinese, are reportedly overweight. Of these, 90 million—about 7 percent—are obese（极肥胖的）.
Experts say the obesity epidemic is spreading to children, though more slowly than in adults. The trend, they say, will have a huge impact on the health of China’s citizens and economy. “We’re seeing a very large proportion of children and adolescents who are quite heavy and aren’t moving much,” said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor. Popkin carries out an ongoing health-and-nutrition survey of 16,000 households in China. He says more kids today are overeating and putting on weight “quite quickly”. In just ten years China’s childhood obesity rate has doubled, with the greatest gains coming in urban areas. “In big cities it’s a big problem.”
Some experts blame the extra fat on a range of factors, many of them tied to China’s rapidly changing economy and culture. The diets of Chinese adults and children are far higher in calorie-laden meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, fats, and sugars than ever before. In addition, kids—especially city dwellers—are more sedentary today and spend more time indoors in front of homework, television, computer games, and the Internet.
Shuwen Ng, a health economist, says that kids in China now have pocket money, and they spend a portion of it on junk food. Ng adds that advertising and peer groups influence kids’ food choices. Certain foods, such as new candies or fast food, have attractive features.
China’s childhood obesity rate still lags that of the United States, where some 15 percent of kids are said to be obese. But the long-term effects are equally serious.According to the passage we know ________.
| A．weight-loss camps was very popular in China six years ago |
| B．about 290 million Chinese are overweight in China in all |
| C．in China childhood obesity rate in rural areas is lower than that in major cities |
| D．America’s childhood obesity rate is lower than China’s |
Which of the following is NOT the reason of China’s childhood obesity?
| A．Advertising on some new candies | B．High quality diets |
| C．Playing computer games for long time | D．Having pocket money |
The underlined word “sedentary” in the third paragraph probably means ________.
| A．attentive | B．earnest | C．absent | D．inactive |
According to the passage we can infer ________.
| A．obesity explosion in China will affect the United States |
| B．there are great difference in kids’ food choices now |
| C．junk food contributes to childhood obesity |
| D．city children eat more than rural children |
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Chinese Childhood Obesity Explosion |
| B．Weight-loss Camps in China |
| C．Obesity Explosion’s Impacts On Chinese Economy |
| D．Obesity Explosion In China And America |
Parents do need to teach their kids financial responsibility and that money is earned. Still, many child-development experts agree that tying a child’s allowance to chores can be a slippery slope. Here’s why.
Susie Walton, master instructor at Peace in Your Home advises to keep chores and allowances totally separate. “Allowance is one thing. When it comes to chores, life skills, responsibilities－that’s a whole different thing.” says Walton.
Walton says, “When kids aren’t doing a chore, you don't say, ‘well, there goes your allowance.’ You’re going to sit them down and ask what’s going on. ‘We are a team. We are a family. We’ve got to have them done.’”
Besides, by paying children for chores with an allowance, you’ll also be sending the message that work isn't worth doing unless they’re getting paid for it.
There are times when it would make sense to pay kids for chores. Most financial and child-development experts agree that it’s a fine idea to pay children money for extra jobs that are outside their normal set of chores, such as washing windows, washing the car or helping to clean out the garage－especially if the child is saving for a big item. This may even develop an entrepreneurial (企业家的) spirit to think outside of the box to earn money.
For parents who are concerned that their children won’t learn the value of a dollar if the allowance isn’t tied to household chores, note that there are still plenty of money management skills to be learned from a straight allowance. Depending on the age, kids can be made responsible for paying for their own toys or snacks. Some parents even require that kids set aside a percentage of their allowance toward savings.
“I really like having my own money,” says Kevin, 9. “It’s up to me if I want to buy the cheap toy now, or save and get the better toy.” And that’s a good lesson to learn at 9 years old.
No matter which allowance route you take in parenthood, kids will feel empowered by being able to handle their own money.Which of the following would Susie Walton most probably agree with?
| A．A child’s allowance shouldn’t be tied to chores. |
| B．Kids shouldn’t be forced to do chores. |
| C．Doing chores teaches kids the value of work. |
| D．Kids should be paid for doing chores. |
According to Susie Walton, if kids don’t do chores, parents should ________.
| A．teach them the entrepreneurial spirit |
| B．talk to them about family responsibilities. |
| C．give them a smaller allowance than usual |
| D．punish them by not giving them their allowances |
In Paragraph 6, “a straight allowance” probably means “________”.
| A．money given by charity organizations |
| B．money earned by doing part-time jobs. |
| C．money earned by doing everyday household chores |
| D．money given by parents and not dependent on chores |
What is the author’s attitude towards Kevin’s action?
| A．Worried. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Approving. | D．Unfavorable. |
The text is mainly about _____________.
| A．the importance of kids doing chores |
| B．whether parents should pay kids for chores |
| C．the advantages of kids handling their own money |
| D．whether parents should give kids regular allowances |
The murmur of the audience had just faded into expectant silence. This was one of the most important days in little five-year-old Patricia McKee’s life: the Kernot School Concert. She stood behind the curtain with her schoolmates. Yet she was not afraid because everyone had been practicing for weeks and knew their parts by heart.
Being in a remote country town, Patricia knew that everyone would turn out for the big occasion－everyone! Yet, it was this awareness that added a sense of sadness to her excitement. There were two people who couldn’t be in that audience that night－her mum and dad.
Patricia’s mother and father ran the local general store, which was open for business 24 hours. So it was simply accepted that Mum and Dad could never attend community activities. It had been this way with her sister, so why should it be any different for her?
Still, Patricia couldn’t help wishing that her mum and dad could be there to see her on such a special day, so she decided to bring up the subject with her mother. Sadly, she had to face the facts. At such a young age, Patricia couldn’t really understand the deep pain in her mother’s response: “I’ll try to be there, sweetheart, but you know how hard it is for us to get away from the store.”
Yet as the curtain slowly opened on the stage of the Kernot Hall, little Patricia McKee got the surprise of her life. There, sitting four rows the front was her mother with a big smile on her face!
This powerful image remains one of Patricia’s most treasured memories. “Words cannot express the pure joy we both experienced at that moment. I was really walking on air,” said Patricia, now a parent herself. Her parents have passed away, but what a wonderful legacy（遗产）they’ve left us: when someone really needs you, be there for them.Why did Patricia have a feeling of sadness？
| A．She had no chance to watch the concert. |
| B．She performed unsuccessfully at the concert. |
| C．Her parents had gone to a remote country town. |
| D．Her parents were unlikely to attend the concert. |
What do we know about Patricia’s parents？
| A．They loved Patricia more than her sister. |
| B．They had little interest in social activities. |
| C．They had to mind the store day and night. |
| D．They paid no attention to Patricia’s school life. |
According to Paragraph 4, while giving the response, Patricia’s mother probably felt_________.
| A．calm | B．sorry | C．angry | D．nervous |
What does the underlined phrase “walking on air” in the last paragraph probably mean?
| A．Surprised. | B．Troubled. |
| C．Very happy. | D．Very comfortable. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．A smiling face in the crowd. |
| B．An extremely busy mother. |
| C．A big occasion in school. |
| D．A secret wish. |
Miss sending letters? Try Lettrs! This new service brings back the art of letter writing by marrying it to the Internet.
Lettrs, a new site, is attempting to bring back the old-fashioned idea of letter writing by providing a space that feels a little bit like a writing desk.
Of course, there’ll be purists who say that to truly enjoy letter writing you must do it on fancy letter paper and envelope in the mail is part of the fun. And if you’re into that sort of thing, go for it. But I can’t be the only one who is now so much faster at typing that writing by hand is painfully slow. Nor can I be the only one who likes to write on a whim (一时兴起) when I’m going to be on a crowded train or airplane, both of which are situations where writing on the computer is far easier.
The site tries, pretty seriously, to approximate(接近) what it’s like to have your very own writing desk and paper to choose from (which comes in various prints and colors) as well as corresponding（通信）types of prints and cursive writing (草写体) that come out on your screen as you write. There’s also a “desk drawer” for letters you’ve already sent, a “fridge” to post letters publicly, a “kitchen counter” for letters you have just received, and “shoebox” to store your letters in.
And if you need inspiration there are even old-style letters that are great examples of the kind of correspondence people used to send. Lettrs is such a great idea, because you get the best parts of communicating online (typing rather than writing, the speed, no lost mail, and it’s free! ) with the nice parts of a letter－the sense of sitting down to write, quietly, to one person in a meaningful way.
Who would you write to?How does Lettrs work according to the text?
| A．By providing real paper for letter writers. |
| B．By making room for people to write letters. |
| C．By supplying writing desks to letter writers. |
| D．By combining letter writing with the Internet. |
It can be inferred from the text that the author_________.
| A．is one of the purists |
| B．prefers writing to typing |
| C．always hopes to get paper letters |
| D．likes using Lettrs to write letters |
A Lettrs user can find a newly received letter in or on a“_________”.
| A．desk drawer | B．fridge |
| C．kitchen counter | D．shoebox |
What is the main purpose of the author writing the text?
| A．To advise readers to use Lettrs. |
| B．To tell readers how to write letters. |
| C．To persuade readers to write letters. |
| D．To show the advantage of the Internet. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．An old art of letter writing. |
| B．A new service of letter writing. |
| C．The advantages of letter writing. |
| D．The development of letter writing. |
Countless people long to make a difference this holiday season, yet they don’t realize that opportunities to make a difference are everywhere. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Organize a blank drive
It is cold outside, but imagine how thousands of homeless people may feel without a home of their own, or even a blanket to keep them from the cold. Organize a blank drive for your local homeless, and ask around for donations!
Practice random acts of kindness
I’ll never forget the time when I went to pay for my Dr. Pepper, but the server resisted, saying my bill was paid by an anonymous (匿名的) guest. It’s this random act of kindness that restores my faith in humanity. Bless someone by paying for their drink at Starbucks, or praising them! If you live somewhere where it snows, shovel your neighbor’s snow out of their driveway for them! Whether it is as simple as praise or as complex as paying the bill, you’ll never know how far your impact will reach.
Say thank you
Just a simple thank-you can make somebody’s day, especially if they feel like their work is never noticed. Cultivate（培养）a smile on their face by being sincere and grateful for all that they do.
Use your talents to help the community
The best way to show your appreciation for people is by using the talents and skills you have to bless others. For me, I love to coordinate（协调）events and write , and so my way of reaching out to the community is through writing articles and creating awareness about problems we face today. If you can bake, make some delicious cookies for people to enjoy! If you can knit, put your talents to use by making clothes for children in foster care. Any talent can be used to help the community in meaningful ways.
Wish you a happy, healthy and helpful holiday season.If you join a blank drive, you can _________.
| A．collect donations for the homeless people |
| B．bring a blanket to go on a trip |
| C．buy a home for homeless people |
| D．keep yourself from the cold |
How did the author restore his faith in humanity?
| A．He helps others | B．He often blessed others |
| C．He got help from others | D．He got praised by others |
The underlined phrase “make somebody’s day” is to_________.
| A．make someone feel grateful all day |
| B．do something unnoticed by people |
| C．make someone feel good all day |
| D．help someone to solve problems |
What is the author’s talent?
| A．Sewing | B．Writing |
| C．Baking | D．Knitting |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Make a Difference in Your Holiday Season |
| B．Make the Best of Talent |
| C．Enjoy Your Holiday Season |
| D．Help Others in Need |
A typical lion tamer（驯兽师）in people’s mind is an entertainer holding a whip( 鞭) at a chair. The whip gets all of the attention, but it’s mostly for show. In reality, it’s the chair that does the important work. When a lion tamer holds a chair in front of the lion’s face, the lion tries to focus on all four legs of the chair at the same time. With its focus divided, the lion becomes confused and is unsure about what to do next. When faced with so many options, the lion chooses to freeze and wait instead of attacking the man holding the chair.
How often do you find yourself in the same position as the lion? How often do you have something you want to achieve (e.g. lose weight, start a business, travel more)—only to end up confused by all of the options in front of you and never make progress?
This upsets me to no end because while all the experts are busy debating about which option is best, the people who want to improve their lives are left confused by all of the conflicting information. The end result is that we feel like we can’t focus or that we’re focused on the wrong things, and so we take less action, make less progress, and stay the same when we could be improving.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Anytime you find the world waving a chair in your face, remember this: All you need to do is focus on one thing. You just need to get started. Starting before you feel ready is one of the habits of successful people. If you have somewhere you want to go, something you want to accomplish, someone you want to become…take immediate action. If you’re clear about where you want to go, the rest of the world will either help you get there or get out of the way.Why does the lion tamer use a chair?
| A．To entertain the audience. |
| B．To show off his skills. |
| C．To get ready for a fight. |
| D．To trick the lion. |
In what sense are people similar to a lion facing a chair?
| A．They feel puzzled over choices. |
| B．They hold on to the wrong things. |
| C．They find it hard to make changes. |
| D．They have to do something for show |
What is the author’s attitude towards the expert mentioned in Paragraph3?
| A．Tolerant. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Respectful. | D．Supportive. |
When the world is “waving a chair in your face”, you’re advised to _____
| A．wait for a better chance |
| B．break your old habits |
| C．make a quick decision |
| D．ask for clear guidance |