Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile (敏捷的) and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals (抗氧化物) that may help stop the cell damage that can lead to disease. Researchers have been studying green tea’s effect on everything from cholesterol (胆固醇) to the risk of certain cancers, with mixed results so far.
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability”, or problems with daily activities or basic needs, such as dressing or bathing.
Specifically, almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled, compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day.
The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. Green-tea lovers generally had healthier diets, including more fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as more education, lower smoking rates, fewer heart attacks and strokes, and greater mental sharpness. They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on. But even with those factors accounted for, green tea itself was tied to a lower disability risk, the researchers said.
People who drank at least five cups a day were one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day. Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.
Although it’s not clear how green tea might offer a buffer (缓冲) against disability, Tomata’s team did note that one recent study found green tea extracts (提取物) seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women.
While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts, they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K, which means it could affect drugs that prevent blood clotting (凝固).What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Antioxidant chemicals can lead to disease. |
| B．Those who often drank green tea can’t develop “functional disability”. |
| C．“Functional disability” is related to problems with daily activities or basic needs. |
| D．People who drank at least five cups a day are not likely to become functionally disabled. |
What does the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．How the study was proved. | B．Why green tea-lovers can keep agile. |
| C．What healthier diets include. | D．How to lower disability risk. |
What have the Researchers discovered?
| A．Those who drank green tea can't develop “functional disability”. |
| B．Green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. |
| C．How green tea might offer a buffer against disability. |
| D．Green tea extracts (提取物) seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women. |
A paperclip，made of steel wire bent into a looped (环形的)shape，is an instrument used to hold sheets of paper together．This common device is a wonder of simplicity and function．But where did this simple，cheap，and practical invention come from?
In the late 19th century，the most common way to hold papers together was by using a pin．Although the pin was an inexpensive tool and was easily removable，it would 1eave holes in the paper. Later，as steel wire became more common，inventors began to notice its elastic(有弹性的)feature. With this feature，it could be stretched and twisted into various clip—like objects．In the years just before 1900，quite a few paperclip designs appeared．The name most frequently associated with the paperclip invention is Johan Vaaler，a Norwegian inventor. However, Vaaler’s clips were not the same as the paperclips currently in use．Specifically，they did not have the inside loop we see today．The familiar looped design was invented by Gem Manufacturing Ltd．in England．This clip is therefore sometimes known as the Gem clip．
Because of Vaaler，the paperclip played an important historical role in Norway．During World War II，Norway was occupied by the Nazis．Norwegians were prohibited from wearing any symbol of their national unity(团结)，such as buttons with the initials of their king．Thus，in protest，they started wearing paperclips to show their unity．The reason for doing this was simple：Paperclips were a Norwegian invention whose original function was to bind together．After the war，a giant paperclip statue was put up in Oslo to honour Vaaler—even though his design was never actually produced．According to the first paragraph，the paperclip is________．
| A．made of paper |
| B．shaped like a pin |
| C．inexpensive and useful |
| D．for holding clothes together |
One way the paperclip is better than the pin is that_________
| A．it is cheaper |
| B．it is simpler |
| C．it can be removed more easily |
| D．it doesn’t damage the paper |
Which of the following best shows what the Gem clip looks like?
The last paragraph is mainly about_________．
| A．how Vaaler’s clip became a national symbol |
| B．how widely used Vaaler’s clip is |
| C．how the Nazis ruled the Norwegian people |
| D．why Norwegians had the initials of their king on their buttons |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D）中 ，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Peng Liyuan，wife of President Xi Jinping, has drawn extensive attention from people both at home and abroad for her charisma and grace. Accompanying her husband on his first overseas trip after becoming president, Peng Liyuan exhibited graceful demeanor, a pleasant personality and well-chosen dress, prompting people to coin the term “Liyuan style”.
Peng Liyuan, as one of China’s best-known singers, was popular among Chinese people long before her husband became the president. Loved by her fans, she has been in touch with the people for years.
“Liyuan style” is not only representative of a fashion idol, but also overpass cultural and diplomatic barriers. The beautiful handbags Peng has carried, and the plain but elegant and delicate dresses she has worn have become popular. Her choice of clothing, made-in-China instead of luxurious foreign brands, shows her belief in domestic dress designs.
But “Liyuan style” is not only about clothing and a woman’s paraphernalia. It is also about diplomacy and promoting China’s soft power. In Moscow, Peng visited a boarding school for orphans and children estranged（疏远）from their parents, encouraging them to strive for a better life, which brought out the maternal side of her character. In Tanzania, she donated sewing machines and school bags to women and children. And as a World Health Organization ambassador in the fight against AIDS, Peng is devoted to many public causes, including those relating to charity and healthcare.
Some observers have already started saying that Peng’s activities have become part of public diplomacy in China.
Also, “Liyuan style” has boosted the confidence of the Chinese people. Modern but not flashy, elegant but not arrogant, Peng has all the virtues of a Chinese woman and carries them to the international stage.
Since the 18th Party Congress and the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC, the country’s new leadership has vowed to adopt a down-to-earth work style to connect with the people. Peng’s plain but elegant style shows that thriftiness and an earthy style need not be drab and boring.
So it can be said that Peng’s first appearance on the international stage has kicked off well.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “paraphernalia”?
| A．Her self-charm |
| B．Things she carried with |
| C．Her diplomatic measures |
| D．Her support to her husband |
This passage is mainly about__________.
| A．President Xi’s wife Peng |
| B．Peng Liyuan’s charming character |
| C．the achievements of Peng on charity and healthcare. |
| D．a cultural phenomenon named as “Liyuan style” |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．“Liyuan style” is only a fashion idol. |
| B．Peng Liyuan, as the wife of President Xi, admires lots of luxurious brands. |
| C．Peng Liyuan is willing to fight against AIDS and become an ambassador of WHO. |
| D．Peng firstly appears in the pubic as the “First Lady” in Moscow. |
Our brains work in complex and strange ways. There are some people who can calculate the day of the week for any given date in 40,000 years, but who cannot add two plus two. Others can perform complex classical piano pieces after hearing them once, but they cannot read or write.
Dr. J. Langdon Down first described this condition in 1887. He called these people idiot savants. An idiot savant is a person who has significant mental injury, such as in autism (自闭症) or retardation. At the same time, the person also exhibits some extraordinary skills, which are unusual for most people. The skills of the savant may vary from being exceptionally gifted in music or in mathematics, or having a photographic memory.
One of the first descriptions of a human who could calculate quickly was written in 1789 by Dr. Benjamin Rush, an American doctor. His patient, Thomas Fuller, was brought to Virginia as a slave in 1724. It took Thomas only 90 seconds to work out that a man who has lived 70 years, 17 days, and 12 hours has lived 2,210,500,800 seconds. Despite this ability, he died in 1790 without ever learning to read or write.
Another idiot savant slave became famous as a pianist in the 1860s. Blind Tom had a vocabulary of only 100 words, but he played 5,000 musical pieces beautifully.
In the excellent movie Rain Man, made in 1988 and available on video cassette, Dustin Hoffman plays an idiot savant who amazes his brother played by Tom Cruise, with his ability to perform complex calculations very rapidly.
Today we more clearly recognize that the idiot savant is special because of brain impairment. Yet not all brain injury leads to savant skills. Some studies have shown that people who have purposeful interruption of the left side of the brain can develop idiot savant skills. However few people wish to participate in such experiments. There are many excellent reasons for not undergoing unnecessary experimentation on one’s brain. The term idiot savant is outdated and inappropriate. Virtually all savants have a high degree of intelligence and are thus not idiots.What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Idiot savants have areas of outstanding abilities. |
| B．Human Beings have complicated thinking process. |
| C．The brains of the idiot savants are partly impaired. |
| D．The reasons why people have wonderful skills vary. |
Which of the following can be done by Rain Man?
| A．He can play wonderful pieces of classical music. |
| B．He can guess out exactly the length of a man’s life. |
| C．He can memorize the contents of the pictures fast. |
| D．He can count matches dropped on the floor quickly. |
What can you infer from the passage?
| A．Idiot savants have real talents for art and math. |
| B．Dr. Down is the first person who found idiot savants. |
| C．Few people wish to risk becoming savants by brain operations. |
| D．Intentional left brain impairments will surely lead to idiot savants. |
Residence Inn Milford
Within 15 minutes from historic Yale University and New Haven, the Residence Inn Milford offers great facilities and first-class service for business or leisure travel. Our all-suites hotel near New Haven is 1 hour from Bradley International Airport and 10 minutes from a Metro North train station that can get you to NYC in under an hour and a half. At our Milford, CT hotel, enjoy spacious studio, suites that are 50 percent larger than traditional hotel rooms.
Our suites offer hot breakfast buffet and a nightly social hour (Monday – Wednesday), on-site exercise room and outdoor swimming pool.
Price: $ 119 per night Pet Policy: Pets allowed Check in time: 3 pm
Marriott Detroit Southfield
Newly renovated (翻新), the Marriott Detroit Southfield Hotel is one of Detroit’s most desirable hotel destinations. With excellent public areas, enhanced meeting spaces and carefully redesigned guest rooms, the Marriott Detroit Southfield Hotel meets the needs of business, leisure and group guests travelling to the Detroit area. This suburban Detroit hotel has a prime location that allows for easy access to the Detroit Zoo, Henry Ford Museum, Comerica Park, Ford Field and many of the other local activities in the area. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Price :$ 75 per nightCheck in time : 4 pm
Comfort Suites Kodak
100 percent smoke free and pet free hotel conveniently located at the main gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains off Interstate 40 at exit 407, close to all the fun and excitement in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Knoxville, including Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Smokies Park, Sevierville Events Center, Tanger Outlet Mall, University of Tennessee and more. Guests enjoy waking up in our well-appointed guest suites featuring contemporary furnishings and LCD flat screen televisions, starting their day with our free breakfast, and relaxing in our indoor pool and exercise room.
Price: $55 per night Check in time: 3 pm
The Swinton Hotel
Located in the very heart of the centre of London, the Swinton Hotel is one of the leading Kings Cross hotels offering free breakfast. It allows easy access to all tourist attractions, shopping areas and transport connections; you have come to the right place if you are looking for brilliant Kings Cross Hotels. Whatever reason you are looking for cheap hotels in London and whether you are visiting on business, as a tourist or to enjoy the vast varieties of entertainment and nightlife, we will be more than happy to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment. The Swinton Hotel is situated in an ideal location for those travelling to or from London by rail.
Price :$45 per night Check in time: 3 pmWhat do we know about Marriott Detroit Southfield?
| A．It’s designed specially for businessmen. |
| B．It has well-developed traffic to other cities. |
| C．It is quite easy to get to local attractions. |
| D．It is the cheapest of the four hotels. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the four advertisements?
| A．Smoking is allowed in Comfort Suites Kodak. |
| B．The Swinton Hotel is located in south of London. |
| C．Marriott Detroit Southfield is built inside a park. |
| D．You may bring pets into Residence Inn Milford. |
What do the four hotels have in common?
| A．They are all near the airports. |
| B．They all offer guests breakfast. |
| C．People can enjoy free outdoor pools. |
| D．People should check in before 3 pm. |
If you want to go climbing, you may choose ____.
| A．Comfort Suites Kodak |
| B．Marriott Detroit Southfield |
| C．Residence Inn Milford |
| D．The Swinton Hotel |
You get anxious if there’s no wi-fi in the hotel or mobile phone signal up the mountain. You feel upset if your phone is getting low on power and you secretly worry things will go wrong at work if you’re not there. All these can be called “always on” stress caused by smart phone addiction.
For some people, smart phones have liberated them from the nine-to-five work. Flexible working has given them more autonomy in their working lives and enabled them to spend more time with their friends and families. For many others though, smart phones have become cruel mastersin their pockets, never allowing them to turn them off and relax.
Pittsburgh-based developer Kevin Holesh was worried about how much he was ignoring his family and friends in favor of his iPhone. So he developed an app — Moment — to monitor his usage. The app enables users to see how much time they’re spending on the device and set up warnings if the usage limits are broken. “Moment’s goal is to promote balance in your life,” his website explains. “Some time on your phone, some time off it enjoying your loving family and friends around you.”
Dr. Christine Grant, an occupational psychologist at Coventry University, said, “The effects of this ‘always on’ culture are that your mind is never resting, and you’re not giving your body time to recover, so you’re always stressed. And the more tired and stressed we get, the more mistakes we make. Physical and mental health can suffer.”
And as the number of connected smart phones is increasing, so is the amount of data. This is leading to a sort of decisionparalysis (瘫痪) and is creating more stress in the workplace because people have to receive a broader range of data and communications which are often difficult to manage. “It actually makes it more difficult to make decisions and many do less because they’re controlled by it all and feel they can never escape the office,” said Dr. Christine Grant.What’s the first paragraph mainly about?
| A．The popularity of smart phones. |
| B．The progress of modern technology. |
| C．The signs of “always on” stress. |
| D．The cause of smart phone addiction. |
Kevin Holesh developed Moment to __________.
| A．research how people use their mobile phones |
| B．help people control their use of mobile phones |
| C．make people better use mobile phones |
| D．increase the fun of using mobile phones |
What’s Dr. Christine Grant’s attitude towards “always on” culture?
| A．Confused. | B．Positive. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Critical. |
According to the last paragraph, a greater amount of data means __________.
| A．we will become less productive |
| B．we can make a decision more quickly |
| C．we will be equipped with more knowledge |
| D．we can work more effectively |