The round-the-lock availability that cell phones have brought to people's lives may be taking a toll on family life, a new
study suggests. The study, which followed more than 1300 adults over 2 years, found that those who consistently used a mobile phone through out the study period were more likely to report negative "spillover" between work and home life---and, in turn, less satisfaction with their family life.
Spillover actually means that the line between work and home began to become unclear. Work life may invade home life. For instance, a parent 
is taking job-related calls at home. On the other hand, family issues may start to take up work time. For example, a child may call Mom at work, telling her "the microwave exploded", explained Noelle Chesley, an assistant professor of society at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the author of the study. The problem with cell phones seems that they are allowing for ever more spillover between work and home.
This may be especially true for working women, the study found. Among men, consistent use of mobile phones seemed not to allow more work issues to creep(潜入) into family time. But for women, the spillover tended to go in both directions---being "connected" means that work cuts into home time, and family issues come into work life.
Cell phones seem to be opening more lines for stressful exchange among family members. But there may be ways to control the spillover, according to Chesley. “Employers”, she said, “should look at their policies on contacting employees after working hours to make sure their expectations are ‘reasonable’. For their part, employees can decide that cell phones go off during family time.” Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase "taking a toll on" in Paragraph 1?
| A．Explaining | B．Damaging |
| C．Searching | D．Informing |
The example "the microwave exploded" in Paragraph 2 is used to .
| A．indicate family issues affect work hours |
| B．indicate how dependent the child is |
| C．show the microwave is of poor quality |
| D．show work time creeps into family life |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Cell phones offer 24-hour availability. |
| B．Women don't use cell phones in an effective way. |
C．C ell phones get life and work mixed. |
| D．Men are better at dealing with family problems. |
Sleep deprivation(缺失)is an important hidden factor in lowering the achievement of school pupils, according to researchers carrying out international education tests.
It is a particular problem in richer countries with sleep experts linking it to the use of mobile phones and computers in bedroom late at night. Sleep deprivation is such a serious problem that lessons have to be dragged down to a lower level to suit sleep-deprived learners, the study found. The international comparison, carried out by Boston College, found the United States to have the highest number of sleep-deprived students, with 73% of 9- and 10-year-olds and 80% of 13- and 14-year-olds identified by their teachers as being negatively affected.
In literacy(读写能力) tests there were 76% of 9- and 10-year-olds lacking sleep. This was much higher than the international average of 47% of primary pupils needing more sleep and 57% among the secondary age group.
Other countries with the most sleep-deprived youngsters were New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Australia, England, Ireland and France. High-performing Finland is also among the most lacking in sleep. Countries with the best records for getting enough sleep include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Japan and Malta.
The analysis was part of the huge date-gathering process for global education rankings, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study(TIMSS)and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study(PIRLS)
“I think we underestimate the impact of sleep. Our data show that across countries internationally, on average, children who have more sleep achieve higher in maths, science and reading. That is exactly what our data show,” says Chad Minnich of the TIMSS and PIRLS International Study Center.
“It’s the same link for children who are lacking basic nutrition,” says Mr Minnich, based at the Lynch School of Education, Boston College. “If you are unable to concentrate, to attend mentally, you are unable to achieve at your best level, because your mind and body are in need of something more basic. Sleep is a fundamental need for all children. If teachers report such large proportions of children suffering from lack of sleep, it’s having a significant impact. But worse than that, teachers are having to adjust their instruction based on those children who are suffering from a lack of sleep. The children who are suffering from a lack of sleep are driving down instruction.”
That means that even the children who are getting enough sleep are still suffering from this sleep-related lowering. What did the researchers of Boston College try to find?
| A．Why children don’t get enough sleep |
| B．How many hours children sleep every night |
| C．The relationship between sleep and test results |
| D．The relationship between sleep and health |
Many children suffer from sleep deprivation because _________.
| A．they sit in front of the TV for too long |
| B．they can hardly sleep soundly and deeply |
| C．their homework occupies too much of their time |
| D．modern technological devices consume a lot of their time |
Which of the following countries has the most sleep-deprived students?
| A．Japan | B．Malta |
| C．Finland | D．Portugal |
Why are children who get enough sleep also victims?
| A．Because they are disturbed by sleep-deprived students |
| B．Because teaching is driven down by sleep-deprived students |
| C．Because they have to spend time helping sleep-deprived students |
| D．Because the teachers waste time disciplining sleep-deprived students |
The Catskill Mountains are a year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. You will find a number of relaxing inns ready to meet your needs.
Caleb Street’s Inn
Located in the historic village of Catskill at the base of the mountains, Caleb Street’s Inn was built in 1785. It provides a view of the garden and Catskill Creek or guests can step outside for a walk along the Hudson River. A full breakfast is served every morning. Each of the four Pet-friendly rooms offers a private bath and a view of the river and neighboring buildings. Hiking trails(小路), golf courses and historic sites are only a short drive away.
Winter Clove Inn
Nature lovers can enjoy a pleasant location in the Northern Catskill Wilderness Preserve at Winter Clove Inn. With wood floors, each room has a private bath and air conditioning(空调). With active days of tennis, hiking or cross- country skiing ahead, guests don’t have to go far for a breakfast, lunch or dinner beside the fireplace at inn’s restaurant.
Windham House
A former pub built in 1805, Christman’s Windham House is the oldest inn continually operating in the Catskills. The 300 acres of grounds in the town of Windham include a tennis court, golf course, heated pool and a restaurant. Guests can relax on private balconies (阳台) overlooking a golf course and take their meals at Christman’s Windham House Restaurant. The inn is less than 2 miles from the hiking trails of Windham Mountain.
Washington Irving In
If you’re looking for a mountain inn with a Victorian feel, Washington Irving Inn has much to offer. Furnished with antiques, each of the 15 rooms has a private bath. Free breakfast is served. Hikers are a short walk from Kaaterskill Falls and Hunter Mountain trails. What is special about Caleb Street’s Inn?
| A．It has a golf course for guest |
| B．It provides a beautiful view of Kaaterskill Falls |
| C．It’s decorated with wood floors |
| D．It allows guests to take their dog or cat with them |
All the four inns in the passage ______
| A．have private bathrooms |
| B．has air conditioning in the rooms |
| C．are convenient for hiking |
| D．serve free breakfast in the morning |
Australia’s koalas could be dying out within 30 years, unless urgent measures is taken to stop the losing in population, according to researchers. They say development, climate change and bushfires have all related to reduce the number of wild koalas sharply. The Australian Koala Foundation said a recent survey showed the population could have dropped by more than half in the past six years. Previous estimates put the number of koalas at more than 100,000, but the latest figures suggest there could now be as few as 43,000.
The foundation collected field data from 1,800 sites and 80,000 trees to calculate the numbers. In one area in northern Queensland estimated to have 20,000 koalas a decade ago, a team of eight people could not find a single animal in four days of searching.
The foundation said besides problems caused by cutting down forests, hotter and drier conditions because of global warming had reduced the nutritional(营养的)value of their staple food, eucalyptus leaves, leading to poor nutrition for them.
Koalas, which live in the forests in Australia’s east and south, are very particular about what types of the leaves they eat.
Foundation chief Deborah Tabart said: “The koalas are missing everywhere we look. It’s really no tree, no me. If you keep cutting down trees you don’t have any koalas.”She is hoping the new figures will persuade the government’s Threatened Species Steering Committee (TSSC) to list the koala as threatened. But committee chairman Bob Beeton said a decision was not likely recently and the koala’s status as one of the country’s favorite animals would not be a factor. “There’s a number of species which are attractive and people have special feelings towards them. We don’t consider that,” Mr. Beeton was reported as saying by the AFP agency.The writer gives the example of the area in northern Queensland in Paragraph 3 to show that _____.
| A．the environment is being polluted seriously |
| B．the number of koalas is dropping quickly |
| C．the forests are being damaged heavily |
| D．koalas usually live in wild mountainous areas |
Global warming is an important cause of koalas’ reduction because _____.
| A．the leaves koalas eat are losing nutritional value |
| B．koalas cannot get enough water to drink |
| C．koalas can hardly stand the hot weather |
| D．the leaves koalas eat cannot grow in hot weather |
According to Bob Beeton, _____.
| A．they needn’t pay special attention to koalas |
| B．a decision will be made to protect koalas |
| C．koalas are his favorite animals |
| D．koalas needn’t be protected at all |
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind is situation, for example, family problem, the death of loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most serious. Unlike the second type, chronic (the opposite of “temporary”) usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. However, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person’s social contacts, for example, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease, while temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad, and sometimes dangerous condition. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage? ________.
| A． Just ignore it |
| B．Talk to friends |
| C．Go to see a doctor |
| D．Ask your teachers for guidance |
Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people? ________
| A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems. |
| B．Chronic loneliness can not be overcome. |
| C．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness. |
| D．Chronic loneliness is incurable. |
Loneliness is divided according to _____.
| A．different seasons when it appears |
| B．different people it happens to |
| C．the time it lasts |
| D．the places where it appears |
What is the best title for the passage? ________
| A． Loneliness and diseases |
| B．Three kinds of loneliness |
| C．Loneliness and social contacts |
| D．Chronic loneliness |
Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather．But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care．Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning．Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
●Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore．
●Ponds and lakes may hide sharp rocks, broken glass, or rubbish．
●Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes．
●Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm．
●Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol．Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water．
At the Beach
●Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty．Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides．Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions．
●Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over．
●Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help．
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning．Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach? ________
| A．Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty. |
| B．Go on swimming in a heavy rain. |
| C．Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave. |
| D．Go off the water before checking the water conditions. |
Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because ________.
| A．there are currents and tides at a beach |
| B．there are no lifeguards at a beach |
| C．the waters of a beach are more calm |
| D．the waters of a pool are warmer |
The passage is probably written for ________.
| A．students at school |
| B．parents with little children |
| C．kids who want to learn swimming |
| D．coaches who teach kids to swim |
In which column of a magazine can you find this passage? ________
| A．Sports | B．Science |
| C．Entertainment | D．Education |