If you studied pictures that ancient people left on rock walls and you tried to determine their meaning, you would not detect interest in romance among the artists. , you would see plenty of animals with people running after them. Life for ancient people’s earned to center on hunting and gathering wild foods for meals.
In modern times, when food is available in grocery stores, finding love is more in people’s lives. The is all around us. It is easy to prepare a list of modern stories having to do with love. An endless number of books and movies qualify as love stories in popular culture.
Researchers are studying whether love, a highly valued emotional state, can be . They ask, what is love? Toothpaste companies want us to think attraction is all about clean teeth, but clean teeth go only so far. Scientists wonder how much the brain gets involved. You have probably heard that opposites attract but that attract, too. One thing is certain: The truth about love is not yet set in stone.
First Impression
To help determine the of attraction, researchers paired 164 college classmates and had them talk for 3, 6 or 10 minutes so they could get a sense of each other’s individuality. Then students were asked to what kind of relationship they were likely to build with their partners. After nine weeks, they reported what happened.
As it turned out, their judgments often held true. Students seemed to at an early stage who would best fit into their lives.
The Knows
Scientists have also turned to nonhumans to increase understanding of attraction. Many animals give off pheromones — natural chemicals that can be detected by, and then can produce a response in, other animals of the same species. Pheromones can signal that an animal is either ready to fight or is feeling to partnerships. In contrast, humans do not seem to be as as other animals at detecting such chemicals. Smell, however, does seem to play a part in human attraction. Although we may not be aware of chemicals like pheromones consciously, we give and receive loads of information through smell in every interaction with other people.
Face Value
Being fond of someone seems to have a number of factors, including seeing something we find attractive. Researchers had people judge faces for . The participants had 0.013 seconds to view each face, yet somehow they generally considered the images the same as people who had more time to study the same faces. The way we attractiveness seem to be somewhat automatic.
When shown an attractive face and then words with good or bad associations, people responded to words faster after viewing an attractive face. Seeing something attractive seems to cause happy thinking.
A．Instead B．Therefore C．Moreover D．Otherwise
A．romantic B．stressful C．central D．artificial
A．priority B．proof C．possibility D．principle
A．tested B．impressed C．changed D．created
A．appearances B．virtues C．similarities D．passions
A．illustrations B．implications C．ingredients D．intentions
A．predict B．investigate C．diagnose D．recall
A．critical B．initial C．random D．mature
A．memorize B．distinguish C．negotiate D．question
A．Nose B．Eye C．Heart D．Hand
A．open B．alert C．resistant D．superior
A．disappointed B．amazed C．confused D．gifted
A．emotion B．attractiveness C．individuality D．signals
A．enhance B．possess C．maintain D．assess
A．familiar B．plain C．positive D．irritating
The new science of spending comes to a surprising conclusion .How we use our money may as much or more than how much we’ve got it.
Money spent on experiences , rather than material goods, more happiness.
Imagine that you wake up tomorrow morning to $1 million under your bed .What would you do that cash?
The money will probably make you think about one thing all else---- yourself. A large amount of research reveals that money our selfish sides. We will much on what that money can do for us alone. Perhaps you are imagining buying a faster car, or even a new house.
But studies show that goods often fail to deliver happiness. Fortunately ,our ongoing research many ways to get more happiness from every dollar you spend .Changing how you spend money can increase your happiness.
But making these needs to challenge some of our ideas of spending. It’s hard not to buying a house as a wise investment. But research shows it brings very little happiness. A study in the United States found that homeowners , on average ,were no happier than .
So, working hard to save money for a house might not be such a good idea it means spending less time with your families and friends.
And dozens of studies show that people get more happiness from buying than material things. Experimental purchases—such as trips ,concerts and special meals –are more connected to our sense of self.
And experiences come with one more . They tend to bring us to other people , but more often, material things are enjoyed .So social contacts are important to mental and physical health.
A．present B．matter C．appear D．equal
A．leads to B．breaks out C．holds on D．brings along
A．keep B．own C．discover D．count
A．to B．with C．about D．for
A．above B．below C．before D．after
A．shows B．explains C．proves D．designs
A．depend B．concentrate C．take D．look
A．mental B．material C．beautiful D．clever
A．outgoing B．lasting C．willing D．exciting
A．invites B．offers C．prefers D．follows
A．changes B．plans C．decisions D．mistakes
A．know B．view C．dream D．judge
A．buyers B．sellers C．builders D．renters
A．if B．how C．unless D．though
A．houses B．cars C．experiences D．health
A．clearly B．hardly C．generally D．deeply
A．advantage B．conclusion C．purpose D．identity
A．familiar B．close C．proper D．native
A．completely B．worldwide C．secretly D．alone
A．gain B．damage C．improve D．build
The story goes that some time ago, a man had a very lovely little daughter. One day the man ____ his 3-year-old daughter for ____ a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became ____ when the child tried to decorate a ____ to put under the Christmas tree. ____, the little girl brought the gift to her ____ the next morning and said, “ This is for you , Daddy.”
The man was ____ by his earlier ____, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was ____. He yelled at her, stating, “Don’t you know when you give someone a present, there is ____ to be something inside?” The little girl looked ____ at him with tears in her eyes and cried, “ Oh, Daddy, it is not empty ____. I blew kisses into the box. They are all for you, Daddy.”
The father was crushed. He ____ his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her ____. Only a short time later, an ____ took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many ____ and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an ____ kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each one of us, as human beings, has been given a gold container ____ unconditional love and kisses… from our children, family members, friends and God. There is simply no other ___, anyone could hold, more ____ than this.
A．asked B．praised C．begged D．punished
A．wasting B．stealing C．selling D．holding
A．glad B．angry C．sad D．upset
A．room B．hall C．box D．ball
A．Nevertheless B．But C．Therefore D．And
A．father B．mother C．teacher D．sister
A．puzzled B．surprised C．scared D．embarrassed
A．overwork B．overreaction C．event D．overpass
A．empty B．heavy C．full D．wet
A．happened B．seemed C．supposed D．used
A．down B．back C．up D．forward
A．at all B．after all C．above all D．in all
A．put B．turned C．handed D．gave
A．kindness B．forgiveness C．sadness D．carelessness
A．event B．incident C．accident D．action
A．days B．months C．nights D．years
A．imaginary B．kind C．gentle D．warm
A．filled with B．pleased with C．crowded with D．equipped with
A．world B．feeling C．possession D．love
A．expensive B．precious C．comfortable D．interesting
There is an English saying: “Laughter is the best medicine.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the _ _ it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can _ _ people’s health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films __ __ doctors checked their heart, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to exercise. It decreases blood pressure, the heart beat and breathing; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated the pain for the time was the groups which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals in the brain which diminish( 减少 ) both stress and pain.
As a of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients’ condition by __ them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects to those caused by laughter.
A．harm B．strength C．effect D．good
A．help B．improve C．increase D．damage
A．if B．but C．while D．since
A．mental B．physical C．practical D．medical
A．guarantees B．applies C．maintains D．exercises
A．overlooked B．produced C．preserved D．ensured
A．remaining B．rest C．longest D．adequate
A．fact B．matter C．result D．sign
A．encouraging B．allowing C．assisting D．reminding
A．respectful B．subtle C．adaptable D．similar
When I was 8, a gentleman came to my orphanage（孤儿院）and taught us how to do woodworking projects.
I remember my first project—a small table. I was so of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(an) . It was absolutely beautiful and it had taken me six weeks to it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a . She was the head mistress of our orphanage, who was always with us.
As the tables were not dry from the clear coating, the man told us to wait a few days before taking them to our dormitories. But I was just so and happy that I couldn’t wait. I dashed out like a , carrying my table, smiling from ear to ear.
When I reached the dormitory I placed the little table beside my bed. I was it when Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand it, she noticed that it was still wet.
“Were you to bring this home?” she asked.
“No, ma’am,” I with my head down.
She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I immediately opened the door to get it back. There was stuck all over. I brushed and cried, but it would not come off.
I hid the table in my closet and never it. A year later while cleaning up, I gave the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent（宿管员）, thinking that she would it away.
Thirty years later at a reunion, I that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. We talked cheerfully for long. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her to get something important. I followed her into a dark corner. She picked something up. she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.
Mother Henderson kept the little table that I had given up for lost so long ago.
Today, I look at that table with bittersweet memories but full of to Mother Henderson, who kept it for a young orphan who tried very hard to .
A．tired B．ashamed C．proud D．aware
A．award B．wonder C．record D．product
A．design B．invent C．paint D．complete
A．gift B．reward C．prize D．souvenir
A．satisfied B．strict C．patient D．angry
A．upset B．amazed C．confident D．excited
A．thief B．hero C．sword D．flash
A．drying B．observing C．admiring D．hiding
A．into B．across C．above D．after
A．supposed B．embarrassed C．encouraged D．determined
A．agreed B．sighed C．whispered D．argued
A．dirt B．glue C．paint D．wood
A．removed B．touched C．shook D．split
A．put B．give C．take D．throw
A．learned B．expected C．remembered D．recommended
A．bathroom B．balcony C．basement D．bedroom
A．curiously B．unwillingly C．doubtfully D．worriedly
A．Before B．Since C．As D．Until
A．admiration B．gratitude C．sympathy D．regret
A．adapt B．study C．perform D．please
Tears slid down Ken's cheeks. Their newbom baby was removed from life supprt, taken back to her and her , Charlie. who held their baby. Austin was bom at 12:17 p.m. three months than he should have been. The length of a school ruler. he weighed one pound. nine ounces. Doctors tried that technology and medicine could offer at the baby, but Austin did not respond well. Austin's lung tissue (组织) had probably developing four weeks before. even still . his mother, because of an accident Zero chance of . It was time to let him go, and let him leave in his mother's arms － at peace and in no pain.
In the next few hours, Charlie's parents, and Ken's mother came to meet and say Austin. Charlie and Keri their eyes on the baby as he snuggled(依偎) into Keri's chest. The end, they believed. was coming . Nurse Melissa walked in every so often to check Austin's . If it was time for him t0 . his heart rate would begin to slow. After four hours, , Austin was still breathing. His heart thumped(跳动) at a healthy 120 beats per . He moved his head and wrapped his fingers and toes around the fingers of his . Four hours became five, then six. Austin and his parents remained still . Word about this baby had spread out. Everyone was talking about him. As the minutes and hours ticked away, Austin was going strong The tests showed a(n) level of carbon dioxide in his blood. which meant he was enough oxygen into his body. The clock passed midnight. Austin had the next day. Miracle. a life miracle!
A．Melissa B．Charlie C．Austin D．Keri
A．husband B．nurse C．doctor D．wife
A．sooner B．faster C．later D．earlier
A．something B．anything C．everything D．nothing
A．young B．tiny C．big D．sick
A．started B．stopped C．delayed D．continued
A．inside B．outside C．beside D．with
A．arrival B．approval C．death D．survival
A．hello to B．sorry to C．goodbye to D．yes to
A．put B．focused C．took D．had
A．steadily B．fast C．slowly D．soon
A．heartbeat B．mouth C．blood D．temperature
A．wash B．live C．die D．eat
A．however B．therefore C．meanwhile D．otherwise
A．second B．minute C．hour D．day
A．friends B．sisters C．relatives D．parents
A．crying B．waiting C．sitting D．sleeping
A．unsatisfied B．unacceptable C．normal D．excellent
A．losing B．getting C．making D．pouring
A．lived into B．waked up C．waited for D．suffered from