Should parents ever hit their children?
Research suggests many of us are likely to respond “no”, and public support for spanking(打屁股) has been falling over the years.But surveys also show that 75 percent to nearly 90 percent of parents admit to spanking their child at least once.
I was raised in a zero-tolerance home for disrespect, and my parents often turned to physical punishment.And, no, I don' t feel I was damaged by it.
Nothing is more annoying than watching ill-mannered behavior from children.
But there is data to suggest that a return to old-school spanking isn't the answer.
Two years ago, Newsweek reported that it had found data suggesting that teens whose parents used physical punishment were more likely to become aggressive.
Murray Straus, professor at the University of New Hampshire in America, has studied the topic of children and spanking for decades.He said that children who were physically punished have lower IQs than their peers.It may be that children with lower IQs were more likely to get spanked, but the punishment may have been counterproductive (反作用的) to their mental development, as well.
Some researchers make the argument that occasional open-handed smacks (用巴掌打) on the bottom are not only harmless but can have some benefit.
Last year, Marjorie Gunnoe, a psychologist at Calvin College, studied teens who have never spanked.There are a greater number of children growing up without ever having been physically punished.Gunnoe’s research suggests they don' t turn out any better than those who were sometimes spanked.
There are some parents who simply cannot control their tempers (脾气).But I still believe that the best parents are the ones who are able to offer fair and firm discipline without ever turning to physical punishment.According to the first three paragraphs, the author was probably hit by her parents when .
| A.they were dissatisfied with her grade |
| B.she showed no respect for the elder |
| C.they cannot control their temper |
| D.their discipline turns out to be not strict enough |
According to Murray Straus, children who are physically punished ____ __.
| A.are less aggressive toward others when they get older |
| B.have slower physical development |
| C.benefit from occasional spanking |
| D.may develop lower IQs than their peer |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
| A.40 percent of children grow up without ever being spanked |
| B.Children who suffer less physical punishment are better students |
| C.Occasional open-handed spanking on the bottom are mentally harmful |
| D.Researchers disagree over whether smacking is mentally harmful to children |
We can stay young forever. That is the message Dr. Shen Ziyin wants to give the world. And the Chinese doctor claims that he has found an answer to the problems of aging.
His solution is a herbal medicine to slow the process of aging.
Dr. Shen Ziyin has been trained in Western medicine. At the same time he studied traditional Chinese medicine. And, he has been working for the past forty years to put together the best of both and find a cure for aging. He has taken a hint from the ancient Chinese medicine system called “shen”.
According to Shen, it is the kidney(肾脏)which adjusts the functioning of the body as well as its aging process. It is responsible for the level of activity that the human bodies go through. Studies conducted by Dr. Shen show that herbal medicine based on the shen system slow the aging process, says a report in The Telegraph newspaper.
We notice that when people grow old, they have reduced strength, loss of hair, backache, weakness in general, and wrinkles, among others. This happens because when people grow old, their bodies produce T-cells. These T-cells contain a particular substance called Fas. Fas makes the cells in the body destruct themselves.
So the only way to slow down aging is to slow the production of T-cells in the body. This can happen if people eat low calorie food. Then the body is not active enough to produce extra T-cells. But, is going hungry all the time a good price to pay for staying young?
This is where Dr. Shen’s herbal medicine comes in. But how effective it will be, only time can tell. How did Dr. Shen find the solution to the problem of aging?
| A.By studying Western medicine. |
| B.By learning traditional Chinese medicine. |
| C.By combining both Western and Chinese medicine. |
| D.By doing research on both Western and Chinese people. |
The reason why people become old is that _________.
| A.their bodies produce T-cells |
| B.their bodies are unable to fight diseases |
| C.they have reduced strength, loss of hair |
| D.they become weaker and weaker |
We can probably learn from the passage that _________.
| A.producing more low calorie food allows people to keep young |
| B.the more Chinese herbal medicine people drink, the better for health |
| C.people should try to quicken the production of T-cells in the body |
| D.it remains unknown how effective Dr. Shen’s herbal medicine is |
The World Health Organization says obesity rates are rising in Pacific island countries. So, too, are health problems linked to being overweight.
The WHO says a major reason for the rising obesity rates is an increase in imported foods. It says many Pacific islanders have replaced their traditional diets of vegetables and fruits with imported processed foods.
Dr.Temu Waqanivalu is with the World Health Organization’s South Pacific office in Suva, Fiji.He says many of the imported products lack nutritional value.
Temu Waqanivalu said: “In some of the places, you’d be amazed to see how a bottle of Coke is cheaper than a bottle of water. I think that represents the kind of offenvironment we’ve created that doesn’t really encourage or make lifestyle choices an easy choice for the population.”
And a lack of physical activity among many Pacific islanders only adds to the obesity problem.
The WHO says more than 50 percent of the population is overweight in at least ten Pacific island countries. The rate is as high as 80 percent among women in the territory(领地)of American Samoa. Fiji had the lowest obesity rate at 30 percent.
In all, almost ten million people live in Pacific island countries. The WHO estimates that about 40 percent of them have health disorders related to diet and nutrition.
Diabetes(糖尿病)rates are among the highest in the world. Forty-seven percent of the people in American Samoa have diabetes. So do 44 percent of the people in Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand.
By comparison, the diabetes rate is 13 percent in the United States, a country that has its own problems with rising obesity.
Officials also note an increase in nutritional problems like anemia and not enough vitamin A in the diets of Pacific islanders. Dr. Waqanivalu says treating conditions related to obesity and diet puts pressure on limited health resources and budgets.The main reason why obesity rates are rising in many Pacific islanders is ________.
| A.the change of society |
| B.the change of eating habits |
| C.the change of life style |
| D.lack of exercise |
Imported products lack nutritional value but people love to buy them because they are ________.
| A.cheap | B.popular | C.tasty | D.convenient to get |
How many people living in Pacific island countries have health disorders?
| A.1 million. | B.4 million. | C.6 million. | D.10 million. |
The percentage of diabetes rates in American Samoa is ________.
| A.optimistic | B.steady | C.worrying | D.low |
Teddy Bears have been a very popular children’s toy for many years. Most adults can remember their first stuffed(填充玩具)bear, and over the decades these toys have become nearly a symbol of their childhood. However, children are not the only ones with whom these toys have become popular, as many adults make it a habit to collect these toys as well.
The Teddy Bear first became popular during the early 20th century and was associated with then President Theodore Roosevelt. The story can date back to a hunting trip that President Roosevelt had taken where he was invited to be the one to shoot a black bear that had been tied to a tree. Being a crazy outdoors lover and hunter, Roosevelt refused to kill the animal because he believed that shooting the helpless bear was unsportsmanlike and wrong. This story quickly spread through newspapers across the country, and in the end inspired the introduction of a stuffed toy called “Teddy’s bear”.
These toys became popular soon after first introduced, and within ten years, they were being produced by dozens of companies around the world. Within a generation, these stuffed bears were “the” toy to have, and have always been within children’s toy boxes ever since.
They are most often mass-produced in factories in order to keep up with the high demand. However, there are still companies that take great pride in their handmade designs; and while handmade teddy bears are often preferred, they are also generally more expensive than their mass-produced ones.
Today, these bears and other similar toys generate well over a billion dollars a year in profits for the companies that make them. Walk through just about any toy store in America and you will find dozens of different teddy bears lining the shelves. According to the passage, we can know President Roosevelt ______.
| A.didn’t like hunting |
| B.enjoy being special |
| C.was not brave enough |
| D.was fair and respectable |
Compared with mass-produced teddy bears, the handmade ones ______.
| A.don’t sell well |
| B.are of high quality |
| C.are more expensive |
| D.are preferred by adults |
From the last paragraph, the writer intends to show ______.
| A.teddy bears are very popular |
| B.toys are loved by many companies |
| C.producing toys can earn more money |
| D.teddy bears are also enjoyed by adults |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A.History of the Teddy Bear. |
| B.A popular toy — Teddy Bear. |
| C.Who made the first toy bear? |
| D.Profits Teddy Bear have made. |
In-line skating(滚轴溜冰)is a fun sport that everyone can enjoy. Follow these safety tips to keep skating safe and fun.
Step 1: Gear up!
Even before you put on your skates, put on all your safety gear(护具).
Step 2: Buckle up!
Strap(绑紧)on your skates. Make sure they fit well and are snugly(紧贴)around your ankles. This helps your ankles stay strong and straight.
Step 3: Fall down!
You probably do not usually try to fall. But it is good to practice falling on skates. Fall forward onto your knee pads. Put out your hands and let your wrist guards hit the ground. See? Are you surprised that it doesn’t hurt?
Practice falling until it is easy to fall forward and get up again. If you are not afraid to fall, you will try new things. Knowing how to fall will help you be a better skater and find your balance. When you can stay balanced, you won’t fall as much.
Step 4: Stop!
Make sure you can stop on your skates. The quickest and safest is probably the brake stop. The brake is usually on the back of the right skate.
The brake stop:
Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Let your right skate roll a little forward. Bend your knees as if you are sitting down. Then press your right heel down hard. This will make your brake pad drag on the ground until you stop.
The T stop:
Roll forward with your skates pointing the same way. Then turn your right foot out so the toes are pointing to your right. Drag your right skate. Let the wheels drag on the ground until you come to a stop.
Another way to stop is to run or jump onto the grass.
Step 5: Roll around!
Find a flat, smooth place to practice. Do not skate in streets. Parks and playgrounds are good places to practice. Look for “No skating” signs to make sure you can skate there.According to the article, which of these steps are most important for a new skater?
| A.Learn to fall and stop safely. |
| B.Find a class and skate fast. |
| C.Relax and have fun. |
| D.Buy expensive gear and skates. |
In the step right after “Buckle up!” you should practice how to _____________.
| A.skate fast | B.brake | C.fall safely | D.put on gear |
To begin a brake stop, you should let your right skate roll forward, bend your knees, and _________.
| A.turn your foot |
| B.press your right heel down |
| C.put your wrists out in front |
| D.tighten your skates |
How is the passage organized?
| A.It tells stories about skating. |
| B.It gives descriptions of skates. |
| C.It uses a question-and-answer form. |
| D.It gives step-by-step instructions. |
Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural (乡下的) areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers (摩天大楼) and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.
But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.The underlined phrase “a residential area” means an area ________.
| A.where people can buy things |
| B.which is near a city center |
| C.where people can do business |
| D.which is suitable for living in |
Why do people move to live in cities or towns?
| A.Because they can live more comfortably there. |
| B.Because they mainly want to find work there. |
| C.Because they are sure of having a better life there. |
| D.Because they like noisy life better than peaceful life. |
What can we know about the business district?
| A.Big companies usually have their main offices in the business district. |
| B.People usually work and live in the skyscrapers in the cities. |
| C.A business district usually lies not far away from the city center downtown. |
| D.It’s reasonable for a business district without a park for children to play in. |
We can infer that this movement from rural to urban areas ________.
| A.has been going on for more than 2,000 years |
| B.will surely continue in the future |
| C.may not continue in the future |
| D.has now stopped already |