Keeping a busy social life among lots of friends may keep people thinner than spending hours doing some exercises, according to scientists. They say that socializing and meeting with friends help increase levels of brown fat in the body which burns calories to produce heat.
Living in an exciting social environment was found to reduce fat in mice's belly by half over four weeks, even if they ate more. US researchers say that social excitement aids weight loss by turning white fat into brown. White fat stores calories and makes us fatter, while brown burns energy to produce heat. Turning white fat into brown is extremely difficult, normally requiring long-term stay in cold conditions or exciting part of the body's nervous system.
However, scientists from Ohio State University now think that having a busy social life is an even more effective way of changing white fat into brown. The team came up with their theory by studying the effects of various living environments on mice. Those, who lived alongside a greater number of mice, had more space and toys to excite themselves and then lost far more weight over the course of the study than their “couch potato" fellows.
Study author, Dr Matthew During, whose team’s findings appear in the journal Cell Metabolism, said, “I'm still amazed at the degree of fat loss that occurs.” explaining how new technology had threatened face-to-face socializing, he added, “It's not just a sedentary(久坐的) lifestyle and high calorie foods, but an increasing lack of social activities.” Co-author Dr Lei Cao said，“Loneliness is a potential factor for cancer and death; it's equal to cigarette smoking to a certain extent. Social activities are very vital.”What information can we get from the first two paragraphs?
| A．Brown fat stores calories and makes us fatter. |
| B．It doesn’t take long to turn white fat into brown. |
| C．Social excitement helps gain more weight. |
| D．Brown fat can burn energy to produce heat. |
Which of the following statement does the text support?
| A．Levels of brown fat can be increased by socializing. |
| B．The mice lacking social life lose more weight. |
| C．The research findings haven’t been published so far. |
| D．Dr Matthew During wasn’t convinced of the result. |
We can conclude from the text that_______.
| A．the fat in mice’s belly was reduced because of the relaxing environment |
| B．a sedentary lifestyle and high calories foods influence people’s social life |
| C．surfing the Internet may influence people’s face-to-face communication |
| D．cancer and death are mainly caused for lack of social life |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Brown fat is beneficial to people’s health. |
| B．Socializing is unnecessarily important in people’s daily life. |
| C．White fat can be changed into brown fat. |
| D．Socializing contributes to people’s losing weight. |
The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel. The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sports car. Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras. The bride wore a silk wedding dress. She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time.
Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station's competition. The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other. Miss Germaine, 23, is a model. Mr. Cordell, 27, is a TV salesman. They were among the two hundred people who entered for a peculiar（古怪的） "experiment" organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham, England. Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio. They took a lie detector (测谎仪）test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities. The competition judges included an astrologer (占卜家) who declared that they were suited .
The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening, but not everyone shared their joy. Miss Germaine's mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr. Cordell's parents are reported to be less than delighted.
Organizations, including the marriage guidance service Relate, have criticized the marriage. As one expert put it, "we have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously without this. Marriage should always be about love. "
The couples are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists. Their other prizes include a year's free use of a wonderful apartment in the centre of Birmingham, and a car. But will it last?
72. How did the couple's parents react to the wedding?
A. The bride's mother shared their joy.
B. The bride's father felt comfortable about the wedding.
C. The bridegroom's parents were quite delighted.
D. The bridegroom's parents were not that joyful.
73. Some experts believe that_______.
A. marriage without the couple's meeting each other first ends up in divorce.
B. young people nowadays are too careless about marriage
C. taking a lie detector test can not solve all the marriage problems
D. most young people take marriage seriously except this couple.
74. One of the prizes for the couple is.
A. to spend their honeymoon wherever they like.
B. to use an apartment free for some time.
C. to have a wedding dress free.D. to own an American sports car.
75. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. Two Strangers and a Wedding. B. A Wedding Based on love.
C. A Short-lived Marriage. D. A Well-Matched Couple.
Should we try to contact and make friends with other beings in the universe? Certainly not，says British physicist Stephen Hawking．
“If aliens（creatures from other planets）ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans,’’ said the 68-year-old disabled scientist in a new Discovery documentary (纪实性电视节目) on April 25．
The program pictures an imagined universe where other life forms in huge spaceships hunt for resources after using up all those on their home planets．
“Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads(游牧民)，looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach，”warned Hawking．
On the probability of other life forms existing, he says, “To my mathematical brain, the numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly reasonable.”
Hawking’s concerns have frightened some people and been met with disagreement from other researchers．Paul Davies, author of the book Renewing Our Search for Alien Intelligence，thinks Hawking’s reasoning is wrong.
He argues that since Earth is about 4.5 billion years old，if intel1igent life is likely , communities of other beings may have been there for a very long time．
“If resources are the factor, then at least one group of aliens would surely have visited Earth as a destination mil1ions of years ago．
Even if other life forms do come to Earth in the near future, Davies believes comparisons with are wide of the mark(离谱的).
68. What is the article mainly about?
A. Other life forms coming to our planet．
B. Scientific evidence of other life forms．
C. Earth as the only place where human beings can survive．
D. Hawking’s belief that other life forms may exist in the universe．
69. Which of the following ideas is opposed to Hawking’s view?
A. Other life forms exist in the universe．
B. 0ther life forms may be more intelligent than human beings．
C. We should try to contact other 1ife forms from other planets．
D. Other life forms may exist in more than one part of the universe．
70. Paul Davies didn’t agree with Stephen Hawking ,believing that ________．
A. the universe is running out of resources
B. humans are the best creatures in the universe.
C. it is a good idea to avoid meeting with other life forms
D. Davies doesn’t think it proper to compare aliens with Columbus
71. Hawking referred to Christopher Columbus as an example to ____．
A. inspire interest in the universe
B. draw attention to other planets in the universe
C. warn people to watch out for other life forms
D. urge further exploration of the universe~
A low-carbon lifestyle means cutting carbon dioxide emissions and living a life characterized by low-energy use, low consumption and low spending. This way of living is being accepted by a growing number of average people in China.
Before low-carbon became a popular word here, some environmentally conscious people known as "Lohas" had already devoted themselves to living green, low-carbon lifestyles. Lohas is for "lifestyles of health and sustainability." It was first introduced in 1998 by American sociologist Paul Ray and later became a popular lifestyle in western countries. After this concept was introduced into China a few years ago, Lohas was translated into a proper Chinese word "lehuo," meaning happy living.
Zhang Tao from a joint venture in Beijing is a Lohas supporter and follower. He and some others set up a Lohas club two years ago. They often get together to share their experiences about living green lifestyles or to volunteer for environmental protection activities.
Zhang says Lohas is both a lifestyle and an attitude towards life rather than just a fashion or slogan.
"A Lohas lifestyle means a natural and healthy life with low costs. We don't drive cars, and we try our best to save water and electricity. Some people misunderstand us as being too stingy. But in fact, most of us are well-paid. We don't do it to save money, but for the sake of the environment. Living a rich life doesn't mean you can waste resources. We hope what we do can help save energy and reduce the pressures on earth. I know our personal strength is too small, but the changes will be great if everyone can make a little contribution."
64. A low-carbon lifestyle has the following features except_______.
A. low energy B. low wages C. low consumption D. low spending
65. A Lohas is most likely to_______.
A. drive a car to work every day B. save money to live a better life
C. turn off the tap when not using D. leave the light on day and night
66. What does the word “stingy” mean in the last paragraph?
A. generous B. mean C. richD. willing
67. In Zhangtao’s opinion, _________.
A. Lohas is just a fashion or form B. one shouldn’t get well paid
C. one should live a happy life D. environment protection depends on everyone
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about
security (安全). Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles (车座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shops. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will security mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it. This will prove the bicycle belongs to you.
60. Which part of the text gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?
A. Locks. B. Marking. C. Registration. D. Basic Security.
61. The underlined phrase “act as a deterrent to a thief” means ______.
A. help you recognize your bike B. help the police find your bicycle
C. stop someone stealing your bicycle D. stop you worrying about your bike
62. The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle _______.
A. in the bike shop and your computer
B. in the police station and a security company
C. in a security company and your university
D. by yourself and in a security company
63. The main purpose of this article is _________.
A. to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen
B. to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe
C. to give you advice on where to buy a good lock
D. to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
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。
Spiders are actually useful. They do not harm plants, as some people think. Instead, they protect plants by controlling insects. If you see spiders in a garden, it doesn’t mean the garden is unhealthy. It means the spiders are helping the garden stay healthy.
If you spend some time watching spiders, you may be surprised by what you see. There are many wonderful webs. They may perform skillfully on their thin silk threads. However, some spiders spin (织) no webs at all. They follow insects on the ground with all the skill and cruelty of a tiger hunting big game.
Scientists have named about 30,000 species of spiders, but they think this is only one-fourth of all the different kinds of spiders in the world. In most species, people can easily tell the female spider from the male because the female is much bigger. For example, the female black widow (黑寡妇) weighs about one hundred times as much as the male.
Female spiders lay eggs. After hatching (孵), most spiders live less than a full year, but some don’t. Tarantulas (狼蛛) do not become adults until they are 10 or 11 years old. Female tarantulas often live an extra 10 years! The baby spiders that hatch from the eggs are called spiderlings.
56. The underlined in Paragraph 2 part “a tiger hunting big game” refers to “______.”
A. laying eggs B. hatching baby spiders
C. spinning webs D. catching insects
57. How many kinds of spiders are there in the world according to the passage?
A. About 30, 000. B. About 60, 000. C. About 90, 000. D. About 120, 000.
58. What can we know from the passage?
A. If there are spiders in your garden, it means it is unhealthy.
B. All spiders can spin webs.
C. Normally, a male spider is smaller than a female one.
D. All spiders can live 10 or 11 years after hatching.
59. What will be probably talked about after the last paragraph?
A. The way spiders spin webs. B. Something about spiderlings.
C. How the spiders protect plants. D. The way spiders stay healthy.