A glass a day keeps obesity at bay. Alcohol has always been thought to cause weight gain because of its high sugar content, but new research suggests a glass a day could form part of a diet. Looking at past studies they found that, while heavy drinkers do put on weight, those who drink in moderation can actually lose weight.
A spokesman for the research team at Navarro University in Spain says, “Light to moderate alcohol intake, especially of wine, may be more likely to protect against, rather than promote, weight gain”. The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research reviewed the findings and agreed with most of the conclusions, particularly that current data do not clearly indicate if moderate drinking increases weight.
Boston University’s Dr. Harvey Finkel found that the biologic mechanisms (生物学机制) relating alcohol to changes in body weight are not properly understood. His team pointed out the strong protective effects of moderate drinking on the risk of getting conditions like diabetes(糖尿病),which relate to increasing obesity. Some studies suggest that even very obese people may be at lower risk of diabetes if they are moderate drinkers.
The group says alcohol provides calories that are quickly absorbed into the body and are not stored in fat, and that this process could explain the differences in its effects from those of other foods. They agree that future research should be directed towards assessing the roles of different types of alcoholic drinks, taking into consideration drinking patterns and including the past tendency of participants to gain weight.
For now there is little evidence that consuming small to moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis increases one’s risk of becoming obese. What’s more, a study three years ago suggested that reveratrol, a compound present in grapes and red wine, destroys fat cells.The passage is mainly for those ______.
A.who produce wine | B.who are eager to lose weight |
C.who go on a diet | D.who have a drinking habit |
The underlined phrase “in moderation” in the first paragraph means ______.
A.properly | B.carefully |
C.excitedly | D.frequently |
Why has alcohol been thought to cause weight gain?
A.Because its calories are stored in fat. |
B.Because it is rich in sugar. |
C.Because it changes drinking patterns. |
D.Because it increases the risk of diabetes. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.The specific roles of different types of alcoholic drinks are very clear. |
B.Resveratrol is proved to increase the risk of becoming fat. |
C.The research found moderate drinking has a strong protective effect. |
D.Current data clearly show that moderate drinking increases weight. |
What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?
A.How to do some easy experiments. |
B.How to prove the finding mentioned above. |
C.How to make wine in a healthy way. |
D.How to reduce the calories contained in wine. |
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
Where : Becket,Massachusetts
When: June 15---- Aug.24
Each summer,this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights(最精彩的部分)this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem’s production of Alvin Ailey’s “The Lark Ascending”, which opens the festival.
Many events are free.Ticketed performances start at $22. jacobspillow.org.
Moab Music Festival
Where:Moab,Utah
When: Aug.29--Sept.9
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music . But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical ,Jazz,Latin and other types of music to the land . This year there will be 16 concerts,including three “Grotto Concerts”, where guests take a 45-minutes boat ride down the Colorado River to performances.
Events start at $25. noabmusicfest.org.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Where: Cheyenne, Wyoming
When: July19-28
There is something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival ,from an “Indian village”and Old West museum to country concerts.But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys (牛仔)and cowgirls competing for major money in the world’s largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at $23 cfdrodeo.com
The Glimmerglass Festival
Where: Cooperstown,New York
When: July6--Aug.24
Each summer,opera lovers from around the country (and the world)travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year’s performances include Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman”and Verdi’s “King for a Day”, in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers(作曲家)。
Tickets start at $26. Glimmerglass.org. If you want to enjoy a “Grotto Concert”,which date suits you best?
A.June 15 . | B.July 19 |
C.August 24 | D.September4 |
If you go to Cheyenne to watch a competition and enjoy a concert , how much will you pay at least?
A.$18 | B.$22 | C.$36 | D.$41 |
If you are a big fan of Wagner, you’re advised to go to ____.
A.Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival | B.The Glimmerglass Festival |
C.Cheyenne Frontier Days | D.Moab Music Festival |
Which part of a website is the text probably chosen from?
A.Education | B.Art |
C.Business | D.Literature |
It’s 8;30, time for John to start work. So he turns on his radio. Then he eats breakfast. As he eats , he reads his e-mail and reviews his to do list. Then he sits on the sofa and thinks about an article he needs to write --- wait a minute! Radio ? Breakfast ? Sofa ?What kind of workplace is this ? Well,actually it is John’s house, and he is a telecommuter—he works at home,communicating with the workplace through the internet.
Like John,millions of people ---and their employers--- are finding that telecommuting is a great way to work . Telecommuters can follow their own schedules. They work in the comfort of their homes, where they can also look after young children or elderly parents,they save time and money by not traveling to work. Their employers save,too,because they need less office space and furniture. Studies show that telecommuters change jobs less often.This saves employers even more money.Telecommuting helps society,too,by reducing pollution and traffic problems.
Jobs that are suited to telecommuting include writing,design work, computer programming and accounting(会计). If a job involves working with information, a telecommuter can probably do it.From the passage we know that John does his job ______.
A.By telephone | B.Through the Internet |
C.In his office | D.Away from home |
One of the advantages of telecommuting is that you can ____.
A.work for several employers |
B.Enjoy a lot of traveling |
C.Get along well with other workers |
D.Work on your own schedule |
Telecommuters change jobs less often,so ______.
A.their employers can save money |
B.their employers will give them a higher pay |
C.they can get more work experience |
D.they will have a longer paid holiday. |
The underlined phrase “suited to”in the third paragraph probably means “______”.
A.acceptable | B.bad for |
C.difficult for | D.fit for |
A man once said how useless it was to put advertisements in the newspaper."Last week," he said,"my umbrella was stolen from a London church. As it was a present, I spent twice its worth in advertising, but didn't get it back."
"How did you write your advertisement?" asked one of the listeners, a merchant.
"Here it is," said the man, taking out of his pocket a slip cut from a newspaper. The other man took it and read,"Lost from the City Church last Sunday evening, a black silk umbrella.. The gentleman who finds it will receive ten shillings on leaving it at No. 10 Broad Street."
"Now," said the merchant,"I often advertise, and find that it pays me well. But the way in which an advertisement is expressed of extreme importance. Let us try for your umbrella again, and if it fails, I'll buy you a new one."
The merchant then took a slip of paper out of his pocket and wrote: "If the man who was seen to take an umbrella from the City Church last Sunday evening doesn't wish to get into trouble, he will return the umbrella to No.10 Broad Street. He is well known."
This appeared in the newspaper, and on the following morning, the man was astonished when he opened the front door. In the doorway lay at least twelve umbrellas of all sizes and colors, and his own was among them. Many of them had notes fastened to them saying that they had been taken by mistake, and begging the loser not to say anything about the matter.The result of the first advertisement was that _____.
A.The man got his umbrella back |
B.The man wasted some money advertising |
C.Nobody found the missing umbrella. |
D.The umbrella was found somewhere near the church. |
The merchant suggested that the man should ________.
A.buy a new umbrella |
B.go on looking for his umbrella |
C.write another and better advertisement |
D.report the police |
"If it fails, I'll buy you a new one," suggested that the merchant ________.
A.was quite sure of success |
B.wanted to buy him a new umbrella |
C.didn't know what to do |
D.was rich enough to buy one |
The story is mainly about _________.
A.a useless advertisement |
B.how to make an effective advertisement |
C.how the man lost and found his umbrella |
D.what the merchant did for the umbrella owner |
A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was raining hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village.
On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him.
The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked: “Are these yours?” “Yes, sir.” the farmer answered timidly(胆怯地)。”Have you killed the man?” “No, no, sir.” the farmer said in a hurry.” When did you see the dead man?” ”About seven last evening.” “Did you see who killed the man?” “No, Sir.” The officer brought out a knife and asked, “Have you seen it yet?” ”No, Sir.’ The officer became angry and told the policemen to beat him up and send him into prison.
That evening the officer went on trying .Pointing to the knife, he asked again,” Have you seen it yet?” ”Yes, Sir.” The officer was happy and asked,” When and where?” “I saw it here this afternoon, sir.”The farmer decided to sell the vegetables to .
A.buy some food for his family |
B.buy some medicine for his wife |
C.go to see a doctor |
D.go to the cinema |
The farmer didn’t sell out his vegetables until the evening because .
A.they were too bad |
B.they were very expensive |
C.it rained hard that morning |
D.few people liked to go out on such a bad day |
The farmer ran away quickly because .
A.the policemen were coming towards him. |
B.his wife was waiting for him at home |
C.he was afraid to see a dead man. |
D.it was so late that he couldn’t stay there any longer. |
The following are letters to the editor of a school newspaper.
Dear editor,
I’d like to express my opinion about grades. Students should be allowed to study without worrying about grades. Fortunately, most educators are becoming aware of the fact that students have different interests and abilities. I understand that grades are useful, but grades often limit creativity. Competing for better grades causes many students to turn down opportunities to pursue music, dramatics and sports. Grades force an arbitrary(武断的) standard of success on everyone. I do not demand as some extremists do, that grades be removed immediately. However, I do believe that less emphasis should be placed on grades. I hope that someday grades will become optional at Village High School.
Magdalena Smith
Drama Club
Dear editor,
I’d like to say something about grades. Let’s face the facts about grades. Grades perform three basic functions. First, grades motivate(激发) students to work at their highest level of competence(能力). Second, they act as a reward for hardworking students and as a punishment to students who do not work hard. Finally, grades are used as an effective standard by which to measure students’ achievement. Good grades help students to get jobs and to get into university. I've spoken with a number of students who have jobs, and most of them say that they were hired primarily on the basis of their grades. My grades helped me land a part-time job and will help me get into university next year. I think grades are extremely important at Village High School.
Simon Harper
Science ClubWhich of the following is not Magdalena Smith’s opinion?
A.Grades should not be used to measure a person’s success. |
B.Students may give up the chance to learn music and sports for grades. |
C.Students’ creativity may not be developed for grades. |
D.Grades should be taken away at once. |
We can learn Simon Harper _____.
A.is concerned about students' creativity |
B.believes in the benefits of good grades |
C.doesn't work too hard at his studies |
D.supports students' interests and abilities |
From the second letter, we can infer that Simon Harper is a/an_____.
A.student | B.teacher |
C.headmaster | D.advertiser |