American researchers have discovered that human brains and sleep patterns are confused by devices(装置) that give out bright lights. Electronics, such as laptops, mislead our minds into thinking that it is still daytime, preventing sleep and increasing the risk of insomnia.
Sleep experts say human's natural body clock begins to rest and relax from the day between 9 and 10 pm but the use of computers confuses it.
A person's brain biologically becomes awake when the sun is out because bright light after dark causes the brain to stop producing the hormone (荷尔蒙) called melatonin that makes us sleepy.
Researchers say blue light from devices such as iPads, which is expected to become a popular reading tool when it comes out later this month, is particularly disruptive (干扰的)during the night when the brain thinks it should be dark.
Experts say a good book is a far better way of resting the brain and ensuring a good night's sleep because the bedside lamp(灯) light doesn't affect the brain as it does not look straight into a person's eyes.
“Potentially, yes, if you're using an iPad or a laptop close to bedtime... that light can be stimulating (刺激) to the brain to make it more awake and delay your ability to sleep，” Phyllis Zee, a professor at Northwestern University and director of the school's Centre for Sleep & Circadian Biology, told CNN.
“And I think more importantly, it could also be enough to affect your circadian (昼夜节律的) rhythm. This is the clock in your brain that determines when you sleep and when you wake up. ”
Alon Avidan, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of California Los Angeles, added, “I wish people would just take a boring book — an oldfashioned book — and read by a lamp.”The underlined word “insomnia” in the first paragraph probably means “________”．
| A．being unable to eat properly |
| B．brain injury |
| C．being unable to fall sleep |
| D．lack of energy |
Melatonin is the hormone that ________.
| A．makes us sleepy |
| B．helps us relaxed |
| C．prevents us from waking up |
| D．makes us excited |
The bedside lamp light doesn't affect the brain because ________.
| A．it doesn't give out blue light |
| B．it's not as bright as your laptop |
| C．it doesn't enter your eyes directly |
| D．it is adjustable |
We can conclude from the passage that ________.
| A．one who uses his laptop often before bedtime can have his body clock disturbed |
| B．using a laptop before bedtime is more harmful than using an iPad |
| C．we'd better not do anything before going to bed |
| D．the best time to go to bed is before 9 pm |
Churchill's full name was Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill. He was born in 1874. He was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
In 1900 Churchill was elected a member of parliament .As First Lord of the Admiralty , in 1911, he was responsible for strengthening the British navy.
During World War I, he still remained a member of parliament, but he resigned from his post in the British navy, and became a soldier again, fighting in France. In 1917, however, he became Minister of Munitions . In this job, he encouraged the development and use of the tank, which was then a new weapon. After the war, Churchill held several government posts.
From 1931 to 1939, he was only a member of parliament. He had fallen into dislike because of his militant (war-loving) attitude. Even his closest friends discouraged him from seeking higher office. But when World War II started in 1939. Churchill returned to his former job as First Lord of the Admiralty.
In May 1940, he became Prime Minister. Throughout the war, Churchill showed great strength and energy. He worked for long periods with little sleep and traveled many thousands of miles. By the courage and determination expressed in his speeches, he inspired the people of Britain to keep on fighting. His speeches also gave hope to people in parts of Europe occupied by enemy forces.
In the general election at the end of the war, the Conservative Party, of which he was leader, was defeated. But he became Prime Minister again in 1951. He resigned as Prime Minister in 1955. However, he remained a member of parliament until 1964. Some time later, in 1965, he died.Before World War I, Churchill worked for his country as ____.
| A．headmaster of Harrow School | B．a leader of the Britain Navy |
| C．a leader of the Conservative Party | D．Prime Minister of Britain |
How many times was Churchill elected Prime Minister?
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
What can we learn from Para. 4?
| A．In 1938 Churchill left the parliament. |
| B．Churchill's closest friends were against his attitude toward war. |
| C．Churchill's closest friends always inspired him to seek higher office. |
| D．Churchill and his closet friends served in the army before World War II. |
We can know all the following from the text EXCEPT that ____.
| A．Churchill gave up as Prime Minister in 1955 |
| B．Churchill once became a soldier, fighting in France |
| C．Churchill's speeches encouraged the British people to keep on fighting |
| D．Churchill led his army to fight bravely and defeated the enemy in World War I |
In the year 1986 there was a terrible explosion(爆炸). The explosion was at a nuclear power plant(核电站) in Ukraine. The radiation(辐射) caused a lot of damage. It polluted the soil and other things. People were living in the area when the explosion happened. More than twenty years later those people are still suffering. The influence of the explosion will go on for a long time.
Over two million people still live in that area. Only 56 people died from the explosion but many other problems have been caused because of it. Some types of cancer are more than 200 times above the world average(平均水平). Many children have cancer now and children born with problems have doubled since the accident.
Some people in the United States are worried about the children living in the explosion area. One group has been trying to raise money. They are called the Chenobyl Children’s Project. They want to bring children from Ukraine to the U.S. each summer.
A spokesperson for the group says that radiation is the highest in the summertime so it is a good time to get the children out of the country. They want to help the children get away for a little while. The Project wants them to be safe from radiation.
It costs $1,500 to bring each child to the United States for six weeks. The group raised enough money to bring 28 children to the United States last year. The children were able to do lots of fun things. They enjoyed clean air, healthy food, and plenty of outdoor fun. One little nine-year-old girl who got to come to the United States said that she likes America.
The spokesperson says that the children that come to America during the summer miss less school when they return home because they have a long summer vacation.What can we learn about the explosion that happened in 1986?
| A．Children suffering from cancer have doubled since the accident. |
| B．More than 200 people died in the accident. |
| C．The influence of the explosion will last for more than 20 years. |
| D．Millions of people still live in the area where the explosion happened. |
Why does the group bring children to the U.S. in summer?
| A．Because the radiation is the highest in summer. |
| B．Because children have a long summer vacation. |
| C．Because the U.S. is the most beautiful in summer. |
| D．Because traveling in the U.S. in summer costs the least. |
Which of the following is TRUE about the Project?
| A．It brings 28 children to the U.S. every summer. |
| B．It lets children stay in the U.S. for six weeks. |
| C．It teaches children useful outdoor skills. |
| D．It mainly raises money in Ukraine. |
What does the underlined word in Paragraph1 mean?
A. effort B affect C. offer D. effect
Young people and older people do not always agree with each other. They sometimes have different ideas about living, working and playing. But in one special program in New York State, adults (成年人) and teenagers live together in a friendly way.
Each summer 200 teenagers and 50 adults live together for eight weeks as members of a special work group. Everyone works several hours each day. They do so not just to keep busy but to find meaning and enjoyment in work. Some teenagers work in the woods or on the farms near the village. Some learn to make things like tables and chairs and to build houses. The adults teach them these skills.
There are several free hours each day. Weekends are free, too. During the free hours some of the teenagers learn photo-taking or painting. Others sit around and talk or sing. Each teenager chooses his own way to spend his free time.
When people live together, rules are necessary. In this program, the teenagers and the adults make the rules together. If someone breaks a rule, the problem goes before the whole group. They talk about it and ask, “Why did it happen? What should we do about it?”
One of the teenagers has something to say about the experience, “You stop thinking only about yourself. You learn how to think about the group.” In one special program in New York, young and older people ______.
| A．are friendly to each other. |
| B．teach each other new ways of building houses |
| C．live together but do not work together |
| D．spend eight weeks together, working as farmers |
Living together, ________.
| A．the teenagers have to obey the rules the adults make |
| B．the members don’t have to obey the rules |
| C．the members are not allowed to break the rules they make together |
| D．the members have no free time except on weekends |
The last paragraph shows that the teenager thinks his experience in the program is _______.
| A．disappointing | B．helpful | C．tiring | D．unpleasant |
The best title for the passage is _______.
| A．Rules of Living Together | B．Different Ideas about Living |
| C．Teenagers and Adults Together | D．Life in New York State |
Britain Today
Food
British people like good food, and more than half of them go to a restaurant every month. Fast food is also very popular— 30% of all adults have a hamburger every three months, but 46% have fish and chips!
Sports
British people don’t do a lot of sports. Only 17% of people go swimming every week, about 9% go cycling and 8% play golf—and only 6% of people play football (but 32% go to watch it).
Cinema and TV
Films are very popular in Britain, and about 60% of people between 15 and 24 go to the cinema every month. At home, men watch TV for about three hours every day — two quarters more than women.
Holidays
British people love going on holiday, and have 56 million holidays every year. Most of these holidays aren't in the UK—27% are in Spain, 10% are in the USA, and 9% are in France. Maybe this is because the weather in Britain isn't very good!Which food could be more popular among British adults, a hamburger or fish and chips?
| A．A hamburger. | B．Fish and chips. | C．Both. | D．Neither. |
Those who are interested in movies are ____.
| A．men | B．women | C．old people | D．young people |
How long do British women spend watching TV every day?
| A．Three hours. | B．Three hours and a half |
| C．Two hours | D．Two hours and a half |
British people's favorite country for a holiday is ____.
| A．Spain | B．France | C．America | D．Australia |
Most people want to be happy, but few know how to find happiness. Money and success alone do not bring lasting（永恒的、永久的） happiness. Aristotle (亚里士多德), a Greek thinker, said, “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” In other words, we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.
The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future —for example, getting into college or getting a good job —that we fail to enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives.
Another secret to living a happy life is to be active, and have hobbies where you forget your problems and time. Many people experience dancing, playing a sport, or swimming. You can forget about your problems, and only think about the activity. Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others. If you want to feel happier, do good things for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to buy food for an elderly person, or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes. The best title of the passage is ________.
| A．Money Makes You Happy |
| B．The Secrets of Happiness |
| C．Ideas for Helping Other People to Be Happy |
| D．Good Friends Make You Happy |
The second paragraph tells us that ________.
| A．the more friends you have, the happier you will be |
| B．we shouldn’t think about our future |
| C．happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. |
| D．some people fail to live a happy life |
The passage gives us ________ pieces of advice on happiness.
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Reading a good book. | B．Traveling to a foreign country. |
| C．Playing a sport. | D．Spending time with close friends. |