Every hour spent in watching TV, DVDs and videos as an adult reduces life expectancy by almost 22 minutes, a study suggests. And viewing TV for an average of six hours a day can cut short your life by five years.
The research claims that a sedentary(久坐的) lifestyle is as bad for health as smoking and obesity, because of the dangers caused by inactivity and the greater opportunities it offers for unhealthy eating.
The academics conducting the study set out to calculate the overall risk to life expectancy from watching television. Their research involved more than 11,000 people over the age of 25.
Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, they concluded. "TV viewing time may be associated with a loss of life, which is similar to other major chronic disease risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity."
The researchers, from the University of Queensland, used information from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, together with population and death rate data.
But they said: "Although we used Australian data, the effects in other industrialized and developing countries are likely to be similar, considering the large amounts of time spent watching TV and similarities in disease patterns." In the United Kingdom, the average amount of time spent watching TV is four hours a day, compared with five hours in the United States.
Earlier this year, a separate study suggested the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease, or dying early, rises by as much as 20 percent after just two hours a day in front of the box.
England's Chief Medical Officer, Sally Davies, said: "Physical activity offers huge benefits and these studies back what we already know - that a sedentary lifestyle carries additional risks. We hope these studies will help more people realize that there are many ways to get exercise."We can learn from the passage that_______
| A．whether you watch TV or not has nothing to do with how long you will live |
| B．if an adult watches TV for six hours every day, he will die five years earlier |
| C．physical inactivity and obesity won't shorten your life |
| D．a sedentary lifestyle offers huge benefits. |
The word "it" in the second paragraph refers to
| A．a sedentary lifestyle | B．eating | C．smoking | D．obesity |
What do we know from the last three paragraphs?
| A．People in the United Kingdom watch TV longer than those in the United States. |
| B．That a sedentary lifestyle carries additional risks isn't supported by other studies. |
| C．Watching TV for two hours a day will increase the risk of illnesses or dying early by 20%. |
| D．It is through these studies that we know a sedentary lifestyle carries additional risks. |
The passage is intended to _______.
| A．inform the readers of a research on watching TV |
| B．warn the readers of the harm of watching TV and hope they do sports |
| C．tell the readers watching TV is also a good way to relax |
| D．tell the readers large amounts of people often watch TV |
Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.
| A．they have to watch out for possible attacks |
| B．their brain hemispheres take turns to rest |
| C．the two halves of their brain are differently structured |
| D．they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions |
What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?
| A．An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security. |
| B．Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security. |
| C．The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread. |
| D．A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror. |
While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
| A．alert themselves to the approaching enemy |
| B．emerge from water now and then to breathe |
| C．be sensitive to the ever-changing environment |
| D．avoid being swept away by rapid currents |
By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.
| A．half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather |
| B．the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved |
| C．most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers |
| D．half-brain sleep may exist among other species |
The new iPhone 3G should please everyone. Its look and feel are only slightly improved, but a faster network loads Web pages more quickly, true GPS functionality allows it to easily find places nearby, and the new $199 price (down from $400) makes it an affordable luxury.
Before deciding whether to buy, however, make sure you can actually take advantage of the iPhone 3G's high-speed data network. 3G stands for third-generation, which in non-geek speak translates to Web pages and mail messages that, ideally, load about three times faster than on the original iPhone. Even better, 3G coverage enables you to make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time. That's great, if you live or work in a place where the 3G network of AT&T（美国电话电报公司）(the sole wireless carrier of the iPhone) is active. That's not so great in cities like New York where AT&T's cellular coverage is awful. As one of my colleagues in New York City, who bought the original iPhone, commented, "It's just a toy. You can't make phone calls on it, so I carry my Verizon phone with me all the time."
The real fun begins when you tap on the icon called "App Store" and start browsing the hundreds of add-on applications that have been developed just for the iPhone. You'll find tons of games (I like JirboBreak, a free game inspired by the Atari classic Breakout) and mobile versions of popular websites like Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times. Most apps will cost you, but the vast majority are $9.99 or less. The apps work on the old iPhones too, but you'll enjoy them a lot more on the iPhone 3G because many of the programs, including Yelp (local business reviews), Whrrl (mobile social networking) and UrbanSpoon (restaurant reviews), use your exact location — provided by the iPhone 3G's GPS chip — to make recommendations. The apps also load much faster over the 3G network.The new iPhone 3G has following features except that _______
| A．It looks and feels better | B．It has a faster network |
| C．It is easy to locate a place | D．It is too expensive for people to buy |
Why do one of my colleagues carry Verizon phone with him all the time? ______.
| A．Because iPhone 3G is just a toy. |
| B．ecause he prefers Verizon phone better. |
| C．Because AT&T's cellular coverage is terrible there |
| D．Because Verizon phone enables him make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage. ____.
| A．App Store will offer you great fun. | B．many apps have been developed for the iPhone. |
| C．Most apps are very expensive. | |
| D．Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times are popular websites. |
From the passage we know that the attitude of the author toward iPhone 3G is _____.
| A．doubtful | B．appreciative | C．optimistic | D．pessimistic |
Safety and Security Procedures
Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
YOUR VEHICLE
Lock your vehicle and do not leave money or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.
TRAVELING
Be good at noticing things around you when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas. Don’t display large amounts of cash.
GUEST ROOM SECURITY
For additional security use the deadbolt (插锁) provided on your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precautious measure, please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided in your door to assist with identification. If there is any doubt about the person’s identity, please contact the Front Desk.
SAFETY BOXES
Do not leave money or valuables in your room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not responsible for items left in room valued over $200.
KEYS
Safeguard your key. Please do not leave it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.
REPORTING
Please report any suspicious activity, or safety concerns to management.
FIRE
Please familiarize yourself with the nearest fire exits. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.The suggestions are most probably from ______.
| A．a hotel manager | B．a police officer | C．an experienced traveler | D．a tour guide |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．It is advised to travel to places where there are few people. |
| B．The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose. |
| C．Don’t report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong. |
| D．You’d better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety. |
If you feel doubtful about a stranger who knocks at the door, you should _____.
| A．let the person in after you have got his/her name |
| B．open the door to check the person’s ID card |
| C．call the Front Desk to make sure |
| D．contact the local police for assistance |
What does the underlined part “In the unlikely event of a fire” mean?
| A．In case a fire happens, though it is not very possible |
| B．If a fire happens when some big events are taking place. |
| C．In case a fire happens in a public building. |
| D．If a fire breaks out and it is getting out of control. |
With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and an all-star cast（明星云集的演员阵容）, Red Cliff is the most expensive and ambitious Asian-financed film ever. Last week I saw the release of the second part, and boy oh boy does it shows.
But watching the film as a foreigner I felt I was missing out on something. Not knowing my Cao Cao’s from my Zhou Yu’s, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win. Certainly after the opening scene, in which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese variation of football, I knew who had my support. After all, any man who enjoys his football is someone after my own heart. But after Cao Cao resorted to some evil strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn’t so sure he was the man I should be rooting for.
And there is a lot more to Red Cliff 2 than just extravagant battle scenes. The film does not take itself too seriously. Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many of which had the audience in laughter. There is even enough to keep fans of more romantic entertainment happy too. This includes a charming relationship between a southern spy（侦探）and an innocent northern soldier. The characters’ interaction provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle.
Clocking in at（结束于）around two hours, the film certainly does justice to the history story. When I walked out the cinema, I felt as drained（精疲力竭） as Cao Cao’s soldiers must have 1,800 years ago.By expressing “boy oh boy” in the first paragraph, the author seems to show that _______.
| A．the film characters are like boys who are childish. |
| B．the film provides amazing and surprising scenes for audience. |
| C．the film is suitable for younger boys to watch. |
| D．the film scene is so bloody that boys shouldn’t watch it. |
When did the author change his attitude toward Cao Cao?
| A．When he read the history story about Cao Cao. |
| B．When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju, |
| C．When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies. |
| D．When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy. |
The following factors of the film are all mentioned in the passage except_______.
| A．high budget | B．leading roles | C．actors and actress | D．conversations |
From the passage we can infer that_______.
| A．the author is a football fan in a foreign country. |
| B．Cuju is the name of an ancient Chinese variation of football. |
| C．the film Red Cliff 2 lasts about two hours. |
| D．the author was very tired after about two hours’ battle. |
The $11 billion self-help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like "I never do anything right" into positive ones like "I can succeed." But was positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking?
Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are.
The study’s authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your dim friend that he has the potential of an Einstein, you’re just underlining his faults. In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written.
In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students’ self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, "I am lovable."
Those with low self-esteem didn’t feel better after the forced self-affirmation. In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren’t urged to think positive thoughts.
The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy (心理治疗) that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation (静思) techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortcomings into a larger, more realistic perspective. Call it the power of negative thinking.What do we learn from the first paragraph about the self-help industry?
| A．It is a highly profitable industry. |
| B．It is based on the concept of positive thinking. |
| C．It was established by Norman Vincent Peale. |
| D．It has yielded positive results. |
What is the finding of the Canadian researchers?
| A．Encouraging positive thinking many do more harm than good. |
| B．There can be no simple therapy for psychological problems. |
| C．Unhappy people cannot think positively. |
| D．The power of positive thinking is limited. |
What does the author mean by "… you’re just underlining his faults" (Line 4, Para. 3)?
| A．You are not taking his mistakes seriously enough. |
| B．You are pointing out the errors he has committed. |
| C．You are emphasizing the fact that he is not intelligent. |
| D．You are trying to make him feel better about his faults. |
What do we learn from the experiment of Wood, Lee and Perunovic?
A. It is important for people to continually boost their self-esteem.
B. Self-affirmation can bring a positive change to one’s mood.
C. Forcing a person to think positive thoughts may lower their self-esteem.
D. People with low self-esteem seldom write down their true feelings.
Section C.
Directions: Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading that you do not need. （请注意题号，将答案填涂在答题卡相应的位置）