Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October of 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people’s home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercise every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying:
Sorry, I’m still alive!How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?
A.She is miserable and unhappy. |
B.She is cheerful and humorous. |
C.She would like to live much longer. |
D.She feels she is going to die very soon. |
Jeanne Calment owes her good health and long life to _______.
A.smoking only a little every day |
B.her giving up smoking and drinking |
C.drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day |
D.the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercise |
Which of the following could best replace the word “move” in the fourth paragraph?
A.deal | B.trick | C.march | D.sport |
Why does Jeanne Calment say “Sorry, I’m still alive” to the local lawyer every year on her birthday?
A.Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage. |
B.Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed. |
C.Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house. |
D.Because the house she sold to the lawyer isn’t worth the money he has already paid. |
Attempts to understand the relationship between social behavior and health have their origin in history. Dubos (1969) suggested that primitive(原始的)humans were closer to the animals because they, too, relied upon their instincts to stay healthy. Yet some primitive humans recognized a cause and effect relationship between doing certain things and alleviating(减轻)symptoms of a disease or improving the condition of a wound. Since there was so much that primitive humans did not understand about the functioning of the body, magic became an integral component(不可或缺的成分)of the beliefs about the causes and cures of health disorders. So it is not surprising that early humans thought that illness was caused by evil spirits. Primitive medicines made from vegetables or animals were always used in combination with some form of ritual(礼仪)to drive harmful spirits away from a diseased body.
One of the earliest attempts in the Western world to formulate principles of health care based upon rational(理性的)thought and rejection of supernatural phenomena is found in the work of the Greek physician Hippocrates. Little is known of Hippocrates who lived around 400 B.C., not even whether he actually authored the collection of books that bears his name. Nevertheless, the writings attributed to him have provided a number of principles underlying modern medical practice. One of his most famous contributions, the Hippocratic Oath, is the foundation of contemporary medical ethics(道德). Among other things, it requires a physician to swear that he or she will help the sick, keep oneself from intentional wrong-doing or harm, and keep secret all matters to keep the doctor-patient relationship.
Hippocrates also argued that medical knowledge should be derived(源自于) from an understanding of the natural sciences and the logic of cause and effect relationships. In this classic thesis(论点), On Airs, Waters, and Places, Hippocrates pointed out that human-being is influenced by the totality of environmental factors: living habits or lifestyle, climate, geography of the land, and the quality of air and food. Interesting enough, concerns about our health and the quality of air, water, and places are still very much written in the twentieth century. The topic of the first paragraph is summarized in ________.
A.Sentence 1 | B.Sentence 2 |
C.Sentence 3 | D.the last sentence |
Why did primitive humans rely on magic in their beliefs about the causes and cures of diseases?
A.Because magic was an inseparable part of their life. |
B.Because they had little knowledge about the body. |
C.Because the diseases were caused by the evil spirits. |
D.Because magic must be used in going through the rituals to drive out the evil spirits. |
Considering Hippocrates’ background, we can see from the second paragraph that ________.
A.he was the forefather of modern medicine |
B.experts are sure that the books bearing his name were not written by him |
C.he had a rational mind aided by supernatural instincts |
D.experts do not know much about him except when and where he lived |
All of the following are included in the Hippocratic Oath EXCEPT ________.
A.helping patients |
B.keeping oneself from harming patients |
C.keeping secret all matters to maintain a good relationship with the patients |
D.obeying rules for modern medicine practice |
A deal has been signed to turn by-products from a Scottish distillery(酿酒厂)into fuel for cars.
In what is declared to be a world first, the Tullibardine distillery in Perthshire has linked up with a spin-out company from Napier University in Edinburgh. They plan to use bacteria to feed on the "leftovers" from the whisky(威士忌酒)making process. This will produce butanol which can be used to fuel vehicles.
More than 90% of the stuff that comes out of a whisky distillery is not whisky. It is leftovers like draff and pot ales(酒糟)— both produced in the early stages of the process. They are high in sugar and are currently used for things like fertiliser and cattle feed. Napier University's Biofuel Research Centre (BfRC) has already shown that the right bacteria can feed on those by-products to produce butanol—a direct replacement for vehicle fuel. Now the spin-out company, Celtic Renewables, and independent whisky producer Tullibardine have signed an agreement. Together they will apply the process to thousands of tons of the distillery's leftovers.
Professor Martin Tangney, founder of Celtic Renewables, said "Our partnership with Tullibardine is an important step in the development of a business which combines two important Scottish industries — whisky and renewables. This project shows that creative use of existing technologies can utilize resources on our doorstep to benefit both the environment and the economy."
Douglas Ross, managing director of Tullibardine, which spends £250,000 disposing of its by-products every year, said "We are delighted to be partnering Celtic Renewables in this creative business, the obvious benefits of which are environmental. It takes a cost to us and turns it into something that has social as well as commercial value."
The project is being supported by a grant(拨款) from the Scottish government's Zero Waste Scotland initiative. Celtic Renewables said it eventually aimed to build a processing plant in Scotland, with the hope of building an industry that could be worth £60m a year.According to the passage, ______will be used to take the place of petrol.
A.whisky | B.whisky leftovers |
C.butanol | D.draff and pot ales |
How do people deal with whisky leftovers at present?
A.They throw them away. |
B.They use them to feed people. |
C.They use them to feed bacteria. |
D.They use them for crops or cattle. |
What does the underlined word “utilize” in the fourth paragraph probably mean?
A.make use of. | B.get rid of. |
C.use up. | D.find out. |
Which of the following categories does this passage belong to?
a. Healthb. Sciencec. Food
d. Nature e. Environment f. Business
A.b,c,e | B.b,e,f | C.a,b,f | D.a,b,c |
Sometimes people call each other "freaked-cat", but have you ever thought about this expression? When a cat is frightened, its heart starts beating faster, its muscles get tense, and there are changes in the chemicals in its bloodstream. Although the cat doesn't realize this, its body is getting ready for action. If the danger continues, the animal will do one of two things. It will defend itself, or it will run away as fast as it can.
Something like this also happens to people. When we are excited, angry, scared, or aroused by other emotions , our bodies go through many physical changes. Our hearts beat faster, and our muscles get tense. All of these changes make us more alert and ready to react. We, too, get ready to defend ourselves or run.
Human beings, however, have a problem that animals never face. If we give way to our feelings and let them take over, we can get into trouble. Have you ever said something in anger —or hit somebody—and regretted it later? Have you ever shouted at a teacher, told somebody you were lonely, or said you were in love, and then wished later you had kept your mouth shut?It isn't always clever to express your feelings freely.
Does this mean that it's smarter always to hide our feelings? No! If you keep feelings of anger, sadness, and bitterness hidden away or bottled up inside, your body stays tense. Physical illness can develop. It can actually be bad for your health. It isn't good to keep pleasant feelings inside either; all feelings need to be expressed.
Feelings that you keep all bottled up inside don't just go away. It's as if you bought some bananas and stuck them in a cupboard. You might not be able to see them. but before long you' d smell them. And if you opened the cupboard, chances are that you'd see little fruit flies flying all over them. They'd be rotten.
You can try to treat emotions as if they were bananas in the cupboard. You can hide them and you can pretend they don't exist, but they'll still be around. And at last you'll have to deal with them. just like those bananas. The best title for this article is_____.
A.Emotions Affect Our Bodies |
B.What Happens to A Frightened Cat |
C.What Happens to An Excited Person |
D.Feelings That People Have |
What does the word "freaked" mean in the first sentence?
A.excite | B.scared | C.angry | D.shocked |
According to the passage, we may conclude that we human beings_____.
A.have fewer problems than animals |
B.have the same problems as animals |
C.have more problems than animals |
D.have cleverer problems than animals |
The author wrote this article in order to_____.
A.give us some advice on how to express our feelings |
B.make us face the problem that we have to deal with feelings |
C.make us know that it isn't always wise to express our feelings freely |
D.tell us that it isn't good to keep feelings inside |
“The Boxtrolls”
From Laika Entertainment, the animation house behind “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” comes, “The Boxtrolls,” adapted from the children’s book “Here Be Monsters!” by Alan Snow. The movie, about a boy who is raised by unusual creatures, features the voices of Ben Kingsley, Simon Pegg and Elle Fanning. Opens Sept. 26. Area theatres.
“Awake and Sing!”
Olney presents the 1935 comic drama by Clifford Odets about a Brooklyn family struggling through the Great Depression. Step. 24 through Oct. 19. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney. 301-924-3400.www.olneytheatre.org. $38.50-63.50.
Fiesta DC
Celebrate the city’s Latino culture with a parade, dance, music and more. Sept. 21. Parade: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Constitution Avenue from Seventh Street NW to 14th Street NW. Festival: Noon to 7 p.m. Pennsylvania Avenue, between Ninth and 14th streets NW. 202-489-7141.www.fiestadc. org.
“On Paper: Alternate Realities”
The 26 pieces by American artists, including Raymond Pettibon and lona Rozeal Brown, take inspiration from popular culture, using art to explore dark themes. Through April 12. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore. 443-573-17000. www. artma. org.
“Untitled: The Art of James Castle”
A self-taught artist from rural Idaho, Castle used whatever was available-newspaper, coal, sticks-to create buildings, landscapes, people and more. Sept.26 through Feb.1. American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www. americanart. si. edu.
Neo-impressionism at the Phillips
“Neo-impressionism and the Dream of Realities: Painting, Poetry, Music” displays works by artists such as Georges Seurat, who presented stylized landscapes and people. Sept. 27 through Jan. 11. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. 202-387-2151. www. phillipscollection. org. $ 12; $ 10 for students and senitors; free for age 18 and younger.
“Driving Miss Daisy”
Ford’s Theatre starts its season with the Pulitzer Prize winner about the decades-long relationship between an aging woman and her black driver in Atlanta. Washington stage actors Nancy Robinette and Craig Wallace perform in this beloved classic. Sept. 26 through Oct. 26. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. www. fordstheatre. org. $20-$62.Which of the following may attract kids most?
A.“The Boxtrolls.” |
B.“Awake and Sing!” |
C.“Driving Miss Daisy.” |
D.“On Paper: Alternate Realities.” |
If you want to observe a cultural festival, you can go to ______.
A.Area theatres on Sept. 26 |
B.Ford’s Theatre on Sept. 26 |
C.Constitution Avenue before 10 p.m. on Sept. 21 |
D.Pennsylvania Avenue on the afternoon of Sept. 21 |
We can infer that the text is ________.
A.a research report |
B.a going out guide |
C.a review of different arts |
D.an introduction to famous works |
As you are probably aware, the latest job markets news isn’t good: Unemployment is still more than 9 percent, and new job growth has fallen close to zero. That’s bad for the economy, of course. And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now. But it actually shouldn’t matter to you nearly as much as you think. That’s because job growth numbers don’t matter to job hunters as much as job staff-turnover(人员流动)data. After all, existing jobs open up every day due to promotions, resignations(辞职), and retirements. (Yes, people are retiring even in this economy.)In both good times and bad, staff-turnover creates more openings than economic growth does. Even in June of 2014, when the economy was still booming along, job growth was only 132,000, while staff-turn over was 4.7 million!
And as it turns out, even today—with job growth near zero—over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.
I don’t mean to imply that overall job growth doesn’t have an impact on one’s ability to land a job. It’s true that if total employment were higher. It would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from(and compete for). And it's true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening, regardless of whether it’s a new one or not.
But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don’t is their ability to stay motivated. They’re willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills; be creative about where and how to look;learn how to present themselves to potential employers; and keep going, even after repeated rejections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn’t hunted for it within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.
So don’t let the headlines fool you into giving up.Four million people get hired every month in the U.S. You can be one of them.The author tends to believe that high unemployment rate____.
A.takes job opportunities from people |
B.prevents many people from changing careers |
C.does not mean the U.S. economy is worsening |
D.should not stop people from looking for a job |
What does the author say about overall job growth?
A.It increases people’s confidence in the economy. |
B.It doesn’t have much effect on individual job seekers. |
C.It gives a ray of hope to the unemployed. |
D.It doesn’t mean greater job security for the employed. |
What is the key to finding a job according to the author?
A.Education | B.Intelligence |
C.Experience | D.Persistence |
What do we learn about The Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment data?
A.They clearly indicate how healthy the economy is. |
B.They don’t include those who have stopped looking for a job. |
C.They provide the public with the latest information. |
D.They warn of the structural problems in the economy. |