When movie star Scarlett Johansson was photographed naming in Los Angeles recently, she attracted a lot of attention; for the 27-year-old actress was wearing Vibram FiveFingers, so called because they look more like gloves than shoes, with a space for each toe.
Strange though they may look, these so-called barefoot shoes, which reproduce the effect of barefoot running but with less pain, are just one brand in a range of minimalist footwear. These super-thin sports shoes are causing a stir in the world of running and fitness. Why? Because some experts believe they could make you a better, more efficient runner and that traditional trainers could be doing you more harm than good.
"Wearing a shoe that has lots of cushioning and support affects the way your body naturally moves and studies suggest that this carries a higher risk of injury," explains Matt Wallden, an athlete performance expert. "But with barefoot shoes, the foot can actually feel the firmness and shape of the ground, which allows your body to respond effectively.’"
But before you rush out to invest in minimalist footwear, be careful. These kinds of shoes are not meant for everyone, or at least not straight away.
"Ordinary sports shoes with support are good for beginners whose bodies are not used to the impact of running," explains Patrick Davoren, former Olympic athlete. "It you are not in great condition, then running in minimalist footwear may cause injuries and will turn a lot of people off exercise and running.
If you are currently injured, and figures show that in any given year 65% of all runners are, it can be tempting to try anything that promises to get you back on the road, trail, or beach. But barefoot running is not a method of treating injury nor is it a magical way of suddenly turning you into a great athlete.
Even if you’re used to running, when you start using minimalist shoes you should build up your distance gradually. Start_off’by doing just 10% of what you’d normally run and increase the distance by no more than 10% every week. And a word of warning - you may never have soft feet againThe Vibram FiveFingers are shoes ______.
A.specifically designed for women |
B.that have lots of cushion inside |
C.safest for people who enjoy sports |
D.that are much thinner than normal sports shoes |
The underlined word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to ________.
A.experts | B.feet | C.shoes | D.runners |
According to Matt Wallden, the new shoes ________.
A.make feet more sensitive to the running surface |
B.will produce immediate improvements |
C.force your body to move less naturally |
D.increase the chances of getting hurt |
The author suggests that new users of Vibram FiveFingers should ________.
A.run in the shoes every day at top speed |
B.begin with a shorter running distance than normal |
C.occasionally run barefooted to harden their feet |
D.make sure they are already very fit before using them |
Where would you probably read this article?
A.A travel book. | B.A movie website. |
C.A sports magazine. | D.A science journal. |
If you haven’t seen or heard anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive dnriving or Road Rage recently if you drive at all.
While drunk driving remains a critical problem,the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance,according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 41,907 people died on the highway last year.of those deaths,the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behavior.
Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago?Experts have certain theories,and all are probably partially correct.One suggestion is over crowding.In the last decade,the number of the cars on the roads has increased by more than 11 percent,and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent.However,the number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent.That means more cars in the same amount of space;and the problem is even serious in urban areas.Also,people have less time and more things to do.With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day,street levels have never been higher.Stress creates anxiety,which leads to short tempers.These factors,when combined in certain situations,Can induce Road Rage.
You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively,but you might be surprised.For instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver,sounded the horn long and hard at another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing?If you recognize yourself in any of these situations,watch out!
Whether you are getting angry at other drivers,or another driver is visibly upset with you,there are things you can do to avoid any major conflict.If you are easily influenced to Road Rage,the key is to discharge your emotion in a healthy way.If You are the target of another driver’s rage,do everything possible to get away from me other drive safely,including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way. www.sdzxlm.comWhat can we learn from the first paragraph?
A.Most people are angry at media reports and want to avoid them |
B.Most drivers have bad manners |
C.Road Rage has received much media attention in the past few months |
D.People showing no interest in the media know little about recent happenings |
According to the passage,what are the causes of overcrowding?
A.Stress,anxiety and short tempers. |
B.People working together in a big city. |
C.More cars stopping in the same amount of space |
D.Quickly increasing cars and slowly increasing new road miles |
The underlined“induce”in Paragraph3 Call be replaced by“
A.relax | B.cause | C.reduce | D.destroy |
Which of the following is“aggressive driving”?
A.Phoning while driving. |
B.Driving at a low speed. |
C.Shouting loud at another driver. |
D.Sounding the horn when driving. |
What does the writer want to tell US by writing the last paragraph?
A.Flow to control our anger
B.How to deal with Road Rage.
C,How to recognize aggressive drivers.
D.How to avoid eye contact with other drivers.
Motown songwriter-producer Deke Richards,who was behind songs including The Jackson 5's first three US number one hits,has died aged 68.
Richards,who had oesophageal(食管的)cancer,died in a Washington state hospice(安养院),Universal Music said.The musician,whose real name was Dennis Lussier,Was leader of the Motown songwriting,arranging and producing team—The Corporation.Their hits include The Jackson 5'S I Want You Back and ABC.
Richards also co-wrote Love Child for Diana Ross and The Supremes,as well as Ross’s solo track I’m Still Waiting.He produced and wrote for Martha Reeves and the Vamlellas and Bobby Darin.
The Corporation,which consisted of Motown label head Berry Gordy,Alphonzo Mizell,Freddie Perren and Richards,was set up in 1969 to create hit records for the label’s new act,The Jackson 5.
They also wrote,produced and arranged the band’s singles and Maybe Tomorrow and Mama's Pearl.
According to Michael Jackson biographer,J.Randy Taraborrelli,Mama’s Pearl was originally called Guess Who’S Making Whoopie(With Your Girlfriend).
But Richards had the lyrics changed to preserve the young frontman’s innocent image.
The Hollywood Reporter said Richards' "love of music” kept him involved with a variety of projects,including last year’S production of The Jackson 5's Come and Get It:The Rare Pearls.featuring rare and unreleased(未发行的) tracks.
Richards’ final work was the mixing of eight unreleased tracks by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas for the band's 50th anniversary box set,which is to be released on 5 April.Deke Richard wrote songs for the following singers EXCEPT
A.Martha Reeves | B.Joan Lussier | C.Bobby Darin | D.Jackson 5’s |
Which of the following is true about Richards?
A.He died at the age of68 in a Washington clinic. |
B.He is a musician behind many hit songs. |
C.He wrote“I’m Still Waiting”for Martha Reeves. |
D.His final work is to be released in May. |
What Call we learn from the passage?
A.The Corporation has a history of more than 40 years. |
B.The lyrics of Mama’S Pearl turned out to be a failure. |
C.The lyrics of Mama’S Pearl Was changed by J.Randy Taraborrelli. |
D.Richards said his own love of music kept him involved with many projects. |
It is implied in the passage that______.
A.Richards hardly co-wrote songs for singers |
B.the Jackson 5's Come and Get it Was left unfinished as Richards got i11. |
C.The corporation Was set up to earn money. |
D.Richards had deep love for music. |
Which column can you most possibly find the passage on a website?
A.Health | B.Business | C.Technology | D.Entertainment |
In times of economic crisis, Americans turn to their families for support. If the Great Depression is any guide, we may see a drop in our skyhigh divorce rate. But this won’t necessarily represent an increase in happy marriages. In the long run, the Depression weakened American families, and the current crisis will probably do the same.
We tend to think of the Depression as a time when families pulled together to survive huge job losses. By 1932, when nearly one-quarter of the workforce was unemployed, the divorce rate had declined by around 25% from 1929. But this doesn’t mean people were suddenly happier with their marriages. Rather, with incomes decreasing and insecure jobs, unhappy couples often couldn’t afford to divorce. They feared neither spouse could manage alone.
Today, given the job losses of the past year, fewer unhappy couples will risk starting separate households. Furthermore, the housing market meltdown will make it more difficult for them to finance their separations by selling their homes.
After financial disasters family members also tend to do whatever they can to help each other and their communities. A 1940 book “The Unemployed Man and His Family”, described a family in which the husband initially reacted to losing his job “with tireless search for work.” He was always active, looking for odd jobs to do.
The problem is that such an impulse is hard to sustain. Across the country, many similar families were unable to maintain the initial boost in morale(士气). For some, the hardships of life without steady work eventually overwhelmed their attempts to keep their families together. The divorce rate rose again during the rest of the decade as the recovery took hold.
Millions of American families may now be in the initial stage of their responses to the current crisis, working together and supporting one another through the early months of unemployment.
Today’s economic crisis could well generate a similar number of couples whose relationships have been irreparably(无法弥补地)ruined. So it’s only when the economy is healthy again that we’ll begin to see just how many broken families have been created.In the initial stage, the current economic crisis is likely to __________.
A.tear many troubled families apart |
B.bring about a drop in the divorce rate |
C.contribute to enduring family ties |
D.cause a lot of conflicts in the family |
In the Great Depression many unhappy couples chose to stick together because_______.
A.starting a new family would be hard |
B.they expected things would turn better |
C.they wanted to better protect their kids |
D.living separately would be too costly |
In addition to job losses. What stands in the way of unhappy couples getting a divorce?
A.Mounting family debts |
B.A sense of insecurity |
C.Falling housing prices |
D.Difficulty in getting a loan |
What will the current economic crisis eventually do to some married couples?
A.It will irreparably damage their relationship |
B.It will undermine their mutual understanding |
C.It will help strengthen their emotional bonds |
D.It will force them to pull their efforts together |
What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.The economic recovery will see a higher divorce rate |
B.Few couples can stand the test of economic hardships |
C.A stable family is the best protection against poverty. |
D.Money is the foundation of many a happy marriage |
There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy and the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.
People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things: the pleasant parts of conversation, the well prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine and the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation. It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.
Although in fact it is chiefly an act of the imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact(接触) with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, especially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels. People who are unhappy _______.
A.always consider things differently from others |
B.usually misunderstand what others think or say |
C.always discover the unpleasant side of certain things |
D.usually are affected by the results of certain things |
The phrase “sour the pleasure of society” most nearly means “_______”.
A.make others unhappy | B.tend to scold others openly |
C.have a good taste with social life | D.enjoy the pleasure of life |
We can conclude from the passage that _______.
A.we should pity all such unhappy people |
B.people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness |
C.such unhappy people are dangerous to social life |
D.unhappy people can not understand happy persons |
If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should _______.
A.prevent any communication with them |
B.show no respect and politeness to them |
C.persuade them to recognize the bad effects |
D.quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes |
In this passage, the writer mainly _______.
A.describes two types of people |
B.laughs at the unhappy people |
C.tells people how to be happy in life |
D.suggests the unhappy people should get rid of the habits of unhappiness |
“I pity the empress. Poor empress.” “Do you think Zhen Huan really loves the emperor?” From campuses to offices, from shopping malls to the streets, talk about Legend of Zhen Huan is everywhere.
Unlike other long TV series, Legend of Zhen Huan, the 76-episode Qing dynasty drama series, has kept attracting new audiences along the way. It has enjoyed widespread popularity on the Chinese mainland over the past months.
The story is seemingly the same as those dramas which look into the lives of women in the imperial palace. It focuses on plots and intrigues(阴谋) within the Inner Palace during Emperor Yongzheng’s reign.
The heroine, Zhen Huan, initially a kind and innocent young lady, enters the emperor’s harem(后宫) of concubines. Discovering that the palace is a cruel and harsh place, Zhen learns how to survive on her own.
However, Legend of Zhen Huan seems to arouse more discussion than any drama series. Why? Some experts say it’s because it’s a well-made series from inside out.
Niu Hanting, deputy editor-in-chief of Art Panorama magazine, told Xinhua News Agency that the sets, props and costumes are carefully chosen. And the screenplay and dialogue are well-written. “The series takes care of every detail a good period drama should have,” Niu said. “From that aspect, it’s no coincidence that Zhen Huan could be big.” More importantly, Niu added, the TV series strikes a chord among audiences in different ways. “For example, as a woman, Zhen is hurt by the man she once loved. And as a newcomer to the palace, she finds herself caught in the fierce infighting and she has to survive,” Niu said, “Everyone may find themselves in Zhen’s position at a certain point.”
Then it’s not hard to understand why the story of Zhen Huan is even seen as a survival guide for newcomers in the workplace. Its director, Zheng Xiaolong, once admitted that in terms of society today, the “promotion” of Zhen Huan reflects a person’s career path in some way. “Whether the principles can be applied in today’s society, or not, I want to make the story as real as possible,” Zheng told Sina.com. “There are many fairytale-like series that make audiences ignore or avoid reality, and the complexity of humanity.” “But Legend of Zhen Huan, is a series that makes you think.”What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?
A.People have pity on the empress. |
B.Zhen Huan really loves the emperor. |
C.Legend of Zhen Huan is very popular. |
D.Legend of Zhen Huan is shown everywhere. |
What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 most probably refer to?
A.The imperial palace. |
B.The life of women. |
C.Emperor Yongzheng’s reign. |
D.The story of Zhen Huan. |
When Legend of Zhen Huan finds the palace is a cruel one, she ______.
A.learns to survive on her own |
B.asks others for advice |
C.feels down and disappointed |
D.becomes an innocent young lady |
We can learn from Niu Hanting that she ______.
A.thinks Zhen has had effects on newcomers |
B.makes little of Legend of Zhen Huan |
C.speaks highly of Legend of Zhen Huan |
D.wants newcomer to follow Zhen’s example |
This text is most probably taken from a(n) _________.
A.textbook | B.newspaper |
C.advertisement | D.story book |