Science can't explain the power of pets, but many studies have shown that the company of pets can help lower blood pressure (血压) and raise chances of recovering from a heart attack, reduce loneliness and spread all-round good cheer.
Any owner will tell you how much joy a pet brings. For some, an animal provides more comfort than a husband or wife. A 2002 study by Karen Allen of the State University of New York measured stress (紧张) levels and blood pressure in people— half of them pet owners —while they performed 5 minutes of mental arithmetic (算术) or held a hand in ice water. Subjects(研究对象) completed the tasks alone, with a husband or wife, a close friend or with a pet. People with pets did it best. Those tested with their animal friends had smaller change in blood pressure and returned most quickly to baseline heart rates. With pets in the room, people also made fewer math mistakes than when doing in front of other companions. It seems people feel more relaxed (放松) around pets, says Allen, who thinks it may be because pets don't judge.
A study reported last fall suggests that having a pet dog not only raises your spirits but may also have a effect on your eating habits. Researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital spent a year studying 36 fat people and their equally fat dogs on diet-and-exercise programs; a separate group of 56 people without pets were put on a diet program. On average, people lost about 11 pounds, or 5% of their body weight. Their dogs did even better, losing an average of 12 pounds, more that 15% of their body weight. Dogs owners didn’t lose any more weight than those without dogs but, as some researchers say, they got more exercise indeed.What does the text mainly discuss?
| A．What pets bring to their owners. |
| B．How pets help people calm down. |
| C．People's opinions of keeping pets. |
| D．Pet's value in medical research. |
We learn from the text that a person with heart disease has a better chance of getting well if_________.
| A．he has a pet companion |
| B．he has less stress of work |
| C．he often does mental arithmetic |
| D．he is taken care of by his family |
According to Allen, why did the people do better with pets around when facing difficult tasks?
| A．They have lower blood pressure. |
| B．They become more patient. |
| C．They are less nervous. |
| D．They are in higher spirits. |
The research mentioned(提到) in the last paragraph reports that________.
| A．people with dogs did more exercise |
| B．dogs lost the same weight as people did |
| C．dogs liked exercise much more than people did |
| D．people without dogs found the program unhelpful |
In the 1960s Professor Bolin predicted (预测) that the “greenhouse effect”, caused by an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, would lead to important changes in the Earth’s climate. At the time his prediction were regarded as science fiction. But it is now gradually agreed that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will double from 0.03% to 0.06% in the next 50 years and that temperatures worldwide will rise by 2°C.
Although a temperature rise of 2° may not seem significant, the local effects may be much greater: in polar regions a rise of 10° by 2025 is expected and in Northern Europe a rise of 4°. Indeed the first effects were expected to be felt before the end of the 20th century.
But how does the “greenhouse effect” operate and why should such a tiny proportion (比例) of CO2 have such a harmful effect? When living creatures breathe out or when things are burned, CO2 enters the atmosphere. Until recently all of this was absorbed by plants, which converted (转化) it back into oxygen.
However, the balance of nature has been disturbed. In power stations, in factories and in our cars, we are burning more and more fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and this produces huge quantities of CO2—18 billion tons of it enter the atmosphere every year. Added to this, the destruction of forests means that less CO2 can be converted into oxygen by plants. So, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing every year.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Only a small portion of the atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide. |
| B．Professor Bolin’s predictions were taken seriously in the first place. |
| C．No changes in climate will become noticeable for 50 years or more. |
| D．The rise in temperature will probably be 2 degrees in every part of the world. |
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing every year because.
| A．Carbon dioxide is produced when we breathe. |
| B．Carbon dioxide is produced when we burn things. |
| C．More forests are destroyed and more fossil fuels are burned. |
| D．The global temperature keeps rising. |
The underlined word “operate” in the third paragraph most probably means “”.
| A．play | B．move |
| C．manage | D．function |
My father tried to teach me the importance of hard work and devotion to a career. However, there are also the things he taught me unintentionally.
My father, a self-employed sales trainer, was that sick, that tired. Still, he insisted on traveling to give a lecture. He probably earned a lot of money that day, and he paid the price. He returned to the hospital soon after and was dead within three months, at age 58.
It’s been 10 years since I saw my father come home that night, and since then, I’ve thought a lot about work. My dad once told me that he was unable to just gaze at a sunset; he had to be doing something as he looked at it—writing, reading or playing chess. You could say he was a success: he was a published author, an accomplished musician, fluent in German and American Sign Language. That’s an impressive list, but here’s the thing: I want to gaze at the sunsets. This raises the question: if I leave work at five o’clock to watch the sunset, what are the results? Do I risk not reaching the top of my profession? Maybe, because honestly, knocking off (收工) after eight hours probably won’t earn me a promotion.
But, leaving work at five o’clock means I eat dinner with my family. I get to hop on my bike and pedal through the streets of my hometown as the shadows lengthen and the traffic thins. And I get to see a lot of sunsets. That’s got to be worth something. The author’s father can be best described as .
| A．confident and positive |
| B．hard-working and ambitious |
| C．gentle and kind |
| D．sensitive and bad-tempered |
Her father’s death made the author.
| A．realize that life is very short |
| B．understand the importance of living happily |
| C．realize that one should balance work and life. |
| D．doubt the value of success in career |
What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To honor her dear father |
| B．To express her idea about life |
| C．To express her love for work |
| D．To show her love for her family |
Mr.Lang worked in a factory.As a driver, he was busy but he was paid much.His wife was an able woman and did all the housework.When he came back, she took good care of him and he never did anything at home.So he had enough time when he had a holiday.A few friends of his liked gambling(赌博) and he learned it soon.So he was interested in it and hardly forgot anything except gambling.He lost all his money and later he began to sell the television, watches and so on.His wife told him not to do it but he didn't listen to her.She had to tell the police.He and his friends were punished for it.And he was hardly sent away.After he came out of lockup(拘留所), he hated her very much and the woman had to leave him.
It was New Year's Day.Mr.Lang didn't go to work.He felt lonely and wanted to gamble again.He called his friends and they came soon.But they were afraid the police would come.He told his fiveyearold son to go to find out if there were the policemen outside.They waited for a long time and didn't think the police would come and began to gamble.Suddenly opened the door and in came a few policemen.
“I saw there weren't any policemen outside, daddy，” said the boy, “so I went to the crossing and asked some to come.”Mr. Lang was paid much because__________.
| A．he was a driver |
| B．he had a lot of work to do |
| C．he worked in a factory |
| D．he had worked there for a long time |
Mrs. Lang did all housework because__________.
| A．she couldn't find any work |
| B．her husband spent all time in gambling |
| C．she thought her husband was tired |
| D．she wouldn't stop her husband gambling |
__________， so he was put into lockup.
| A．Mr.Lang was late for work |
| B．Mr.Lang often gambled |
| C．Mr.Lang didn't help his wife at home |
| D．Mr.Lang wasn't polite to the police |
The woman had to leave Mr.Lang because__________.
| A．he was hardly sent away by the factory |
| B．he wouldn't stop gambling |
| C．he had been put into lockup |
| D．he didn't love her any longer |
Which of the following is right?
| A．The boy thought his father needed some policemen. |
| B．The boy hoped his father to be put into lockup again. |
| C．The boy hoped his father to stop gambling soon. |
| D．The boy hoped his mother to come back. |
An amazing 7-night / 8-day belly dancing (肚皮舞) course is set in Istanbul, Turkey, beginning on the first or the fifteenth of every month. Professional Turkish dancers will give the dance classes. Only $707.00 per person.
| Day 1 |
After arriving in the afternoon, you will be met at the Istanbul airport and taken to our beautiful hotel. After that, you will meet our teachers in the evening along with your guides and the rest of the group. At night we will celebrate your arrival with a welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant. |
| Day 2 |
After breakfast you will have your first belly dancing class (2 hours). In the evening you can relax and prepare for your next day’s classes. |
| Day 3 |
After breakfast you will enjoy your second belly dancing class (2 hours) and the first rhythm (韵律) class (1 hour). In the afternoon you will experience a new style of rhythm and you will be taught the famous Turkish rhythm during another rhythm class (1 hour). |
| Day 4 |
In the morning you will have a belly dancing class (2 hours) and a rhythm class (1 hour). |
| Day 5 |
You will enjoy breakfast as usual at the hotel. After lunch you will enjoy 2 hours of belly dancing and Turkish folk dancing both performed by local dancers. |
| Day 6 |
After breakfast you will have another two classes — a belly dancing class (2 hours) and a rhythm class (1 hour). |
| Day 7 |
This is a big day and after your free time during the day, you are welcome to take part in the performance for the tourists in the evening. And experts will also give you some advice. |
| Day 8 |
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport for your flight back home. |
For more information, please call 0330-333-6737.Which of the following is TRUE about the classes?
| A．There are belly dancing classes of 6 hours and rhythm classes of 3 hours. |
| B．There are belly dancing classes of 7 hours and rhythm classes of 4 hours. |
| C．There are belly dancing classes of 8 hours and rhythm classes of 4 hours. |
| D．There are belly dancing classes of 10 hours and rhythm classes of 6 hours. |
What will the students do on the last evening?
| A．Have a chance to go on stage. |
| B．Enjoy the performance given by expert dancers. |
| C．Have the dancing class and the rhythm class for the last time. |
| D．Enjoy a wonderful good-bye dinner in an old traditional restaurant. |
The students have the same classes on .
| A．the 1st and the 3rd day | B．the 2nd and the 5th day |
| C．the 4th and the 6th day | D．the 5th and the 7th day |
The students may have a lot of free time without classes in the daytime on .
| A．Day 2 | B．Day 3 |
| C．Day 6 | D．Day 7 |
Which of the following can be used as the title of the passage?
| A．An advertisement for belly dancing classes |
| B．Where you can give belly dancing performance |
| C．Difference between belly dancing and other kinds of dancing |
| D．How to learn belly dancing with the help of some famous teachers |
A hug is a wonderful thing and it is a great gift to share with people. For some people, a hug is considered to be a great way to say “I care”. A hug communicates support, affection (喜爱), unity and belonging. A hug shows a strong feeling of sympathy. A hug brings happiness. A hug also touches the soul.
Hugs are healthy. Hugs can ease pain, reduce stress, cure depression (消沉), and refresh the heart, yet they have no side effects... No wonder, it is a true miracle medicine.
A hug can say “I love you”. A hug can say “I hate to see you go”. A hug can say “It’s good to have you back”. A hug can say “It’s great to see you”. A hug can say “I feel your pain”. A hug can also say “Let me share your burden”.
No matter whether you’re the giver or the receiver, hugs touch the inner being. From friends, to families, to loved ones, to those in need, a hug warms the heart.
A hug is truly amazing. It brings generosity (慷慨) to the giver and happiness to the receiver. It brings blessings to those who give and joy to those who receive.
Hugs are one of the reasons why God gave us arms. So, stretch out your arms to someone today. Reach out to those you love. It will warm the heart of the giver and give light to the soul of the receiver.
Reach out to your neighbor. It will show that you care. Reach out to one in need. It will show that you are responsible. Reach out to the world. It will show God that you care for His creation.What is the best title of the passage?
| A．The tips on giving others hugs |
| B．How should we hug |
| C．The advantages of hugs |
| D．The facts of hugs |
Hugs can benefit people in the following ways EXCEPT.
| A．creating great wealth | B．cheering people up |
| C．making receivers happy | D．improving the health |
According to the third paragraph, we can learn hugs can.
| A．make people come back |
| B．send some messages |
| C．stop people going somewhere |
| D．break people’s hearts |
To show you care, you should reach out to.
| A．those who need joy | B．those you miss |
| C．God | D．your neighbor |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Sometimes hugs have side effects. |
| B．People often feel joyful when they receive hugs. |
| C．If people are sad, we’d better not hug them. |
| D．We must hug each of our neighbors every day. |