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Patients and doctors alike have long believed in the healing (治疗) power of humor．It is claimed that humor not only affects patients’ moods，but can actually help them recover faster.
Several studies seem to support this．Patients in better spirits are known to have higher immune cell counts．Some have even claimed to have healed themselves of serious illnesses by reading comics and watching comedies.
Despite all this，many researchers are not convinceD． They point out the fact that many sufferings have been known to disappear naturally，with or without a daily dose of laughter．They also say that while optimism in general does seem to be related to better health，it is hard to tell which comes first.
Humor in times of stress，however，clearly makes us feel better．On one level，it takes our minds off our troubles and relaxes us．On another，it releases powerful endorphins，a chemical produced by your body that reduces pain．
There are cases where the appreciation of a good joke is indeed directly related to a person’s health．It can show，for example，whether a person has suffered damage to one particular area of the brain: the right frontal lobe (额叶)．
Scientists confirmed this by having people read jokes and asking them to choose the funniest endings from a list．Subjects with normal brains usually chose endings that were based on a relatively complex synthesis (综合) of ideas．Subjects with specifically located brain damage，however，responded only to slapstick (闹剧) endings，which did not depend on a particular context．When pressed，the brain-damaged subjects saw the logic in the correct endings．They simply did not find them funny.
Of course，humor is largely an individual matter．Next time your friend does not get one of your jokes，there is no need to accuse him of being a lamebrain．However，you might suggest that he lighten up—for the health of it．
We can infer from the passage that ________.

A．all researchers have agreed on the healing power of humor

B．people seldom accuse their friends of not understanding jokes

C．the author holds a positive attitude to the healing power of humor

D．reading comics will surely become a popular way of treating diseases

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．Many researchers are not convinced of the healing power of humor.

B．Patients in bad moods are known to have higher immune cell counts．

C．Optimism in general does seem to be related to better health.

D．People should try their best to cheer up for their good health.

Scientists had some people read jokes and asked them to choose the funniest endings from a list to confirm that ________.

A．the brain-damaged people are different from those with normal brains

B．a person with a normal brain usually responds to slapstick endings

C．a person suffering certain brain damage doesn’t appreciate a good joke

D．humor takes our minds off our troubles by releasing powerful endorphins

Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．Which comes first，humor or health?

B．Humor can cure different illnesses

C．People need humor in times of stress

D．Humor contributes to good health

What Is Natural Medicine
Natural Medicine is to use the natural environment，the nature of the material itself to cure diseases and restore the health．It involves bettering one’s breathing way，sunbathing，improving one’s diets and so on，which play an important part in our healthcare．
Start a Rewarding Career Today
The Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural Medicine provides you with Nationally Recognized natural medicine courses that can be studied in the comfort of your own home，or at our Brisbane campus in the heart of Stones Corner．AIAS College of Natural Medicine has been providing accredited (官方认可的) natural health courses for more than 20 years，and offers accredited certificate，diploma and advanced diploma level natural medicine，beauty and massage (按摩) courses.
Why Study at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences
With over 36 years of specialized training and 120 courses，our Natural Medicine College is Australia’s longest running and most sought after training provider for Natural Medicine Education．Our state of the art facilities，highly experienced instructors and friendly support staff make us the first choice for Distance Education and On-campus study．
Studying at Home
All of our courses are available to study at home．We provide all the material and support you will need to successfully complete your course.
Benefits of Studying at Home
●Work at your own pace.
●No need to travel or relocate closer to a campus.
●No interruption to your existing commitments.
●You are still in full contact with the college via Telephone，Email and Post，so you won’t be out of touch with the latest training techniques.
You can learn how to ______ at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural Medicine.

A．apply science to our life

B．operate on various patients

C．adjust one’s diet or breath

D．look after mentally-ill people

One of the reasons for your choice of going to the college is that _______.

A．it is the oldest college of this type in Australia

B．it offers more courses than any other college

C．you may find the best art facilities there

D．you will get accredited certificate or diploma

If you take the courses at home，you are more likely to _______．

A．focus on your own interests

B．adjust your study schedules

C．get any help from instructors

D．keep up with new techniques

It was graduation day at Etihad Training Academy，where the national airline of the United Arab Emirates holds a seven-week training course for new flight attendants．

Despite her obvious pride，Ms．Fathi，a 22-year-old from Egypt，was amazed to find herself here．“I never in my life thought I’d work abroad，” said Ms．Fathi，who was a university student in Cairo when she began noticing newspaper advertisements employing young Egyptians to work at airlines based in the Persian Gulf.
Twenty years ago，unmarried Arab women like Ms．Fathi，working outside their home countries，were rare．But just as young men from poor Arab nations poured into the oil-rich Persian Gulf states for jobs，more young women are doing so．
Flight attendants have become the public face of the new mobility for some young Arab women，just as they were the face of new freedoms for women in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s．They have become a subject of social anxiety and fascination in much the same way．
For many families，allowing a daughter to work may call her virtue into question．Yet this culture is changing，said Musa Shteiwi，a sociologist at Jordan University in Amman．“We’re noticing more and more single women going to the gulf these days，” he saiD． “It’s still not exactly common，but over the last four or five years it’s become quite an observable phenomenon.”
Many of the young Arab women working in the Persian Gulf take delight in their status as pioneers，role models for their friends and younger female relatives．Young women brought up in a culture that highly values community，have learned to see themselves as individuals．The experience of living independently and working hard for high salaries has forever changed their beliefs about themselves，though it can also lead to a painful sense of separation from their home countries and their families.
—From New York Times (December 22，2014)
It can be inferred from the passage that young Arab women _________．

A．go to work abroad after American women’s example

B．didn’t start to work abroad until the late 20^thcentury

C．are commonly used to living and working separately

D．expect to take the same family responsibilities as men

According to the passage，the Arab women flight attendants can be described as _________.

A．proud，homesick or independent

B．honest，outstanding or optimistic

C．mature，enthusiastic or energetic

D．painful，desperate or conservative

How do the public respond to young Arab women’s new mobility?

A．The public think highly of it.

B．The public care very little about it.

C．The public show both interest and anxiety.

D．The public are strongly against it.

The author intends to tell the readers that __________.

A．Arab women can hardly find any work

B．flight attendants are badly needed in the gulf

C．flight attendants lead quite a different life

D．young Arab women’s values are changing

In 1945, a 12-year-old boy saw something in a shop window that set his heart racing. But the price-five dollars-was far beyond Reuben Earle's means. Five dollars would buy almost a week's groceries for his family.
Reuben couldn't ask his father for the money. Everything his father made through fishing went to her mother, Dora, who struggled to feed and clothe their five children.
Nevertheless, he opened the shop's weathered door and went inside. Standing proud and straight in his flour-sack shirt and washed-out trousers, he told the shopkeeper what he wanted, adding ,“But I don't have the money right now. Can you please hold it for me for some time?”
“I'll try,”the shopkeeper smiled.“Folks around here don't usually have that kind of money to spend on things. It should keep for a while.”
Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. He would raise the money and not tell anybody. On hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, Reuben suddenly had an idea. People built their own homes in Bay Roberts, using nails purchased in sacks from a local factory. Sometimes the used sacks were disposed of at the construction site, and Reuben knew he could sell them back to the factory for five cents a piece.
That day he found two sacks, which he sold to the man in charge of packing nails.
The boy's hand tightly clutched the five-cent pieces as he ran the two kilometers home.
Near his house stood an ancient barn. Reuben found a rusty soda tin and dropped his coins inside. Then he climbed into it and hid the tin beneath a pile of hay.
It was dinnertime when Reuben got home. His father was ready to serve dinner as Reuben took his place at the table. He looked at his mother and smiled. Slim and beautiful, she was the center of the home, the glue that held it together. Her chores were never-ending, but she was happy as her family and their well-being were her highest priority.
Every day after chores and school, Reuben scouted the town, collecting the nail sacks. Summer vacation came, and no student was more delighted than Reuben. Now he would have more time for his mission. All summer long, despite chores at home weeding and watering the garden, cutting wood and fetching water — Reuben kept to his secret task.
Then all too soon fall arrived, and the winds blew cold and gusty from the bay. Reuben wandered the streets, diligently searching for his treasures. Often he was cold, tired and hungry, but the thought of the object in the shop window sustained him. Sometimes his mother would ask:"Reuben, where were you? We were waiting for you to have dinner."
“Playing, Mum. Sorry.”
Dora would look at his face and shake her head. Boys.
Finally the time had come! He ran into the barn, climbed to the hayloft and uncovered the tin can. He poured the coins out and began to count.
Then he counted again. He needed 20 cents more. Could there be any sacks left anywhere in town? He had to find out and sell them before the day ended. Reuben ran down Water Street. The shadows were lengthening when Reuben arrived at the factory. The sack buyer was about to lock up.
“Mister! Please don't close up yet.”
The man turned and saw Reuben, dirty and sweat stained.
“Come back tomorrow, boy.”
“Please, Mister. I have to sell the sacks now — please.”The man heard a tremor in Reuben's voice and could tell he was close to tears.
“Why do you need this money so badly?”
“It's a secret.”
The man took the sacks, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben's hand. Reuben murmured a thank you and ran home.
Then, clutching the tin can, he headed for the shop.
“I have the money,”he solemnly told the owner.
The man went to the window and retrieved Reuben's treasure.
He wiped the dust off and gently wrapped it in brown paper. Then he placed the parcel in Reuben's hands.
Racing home, Reuben burst through the front door. His mother was busy in the kitchen.
“Here, Mum! Here!”Reuben exclaimed as he ran to her side. He placed a small box in her work-roughened hand.
She unwrapped it carefully, to save the paper. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora lifted the lid, tears beginning to blur her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch was the word "Mother". It was Mother's Day, 1946.
Dora had never received such a gift; she had no finery except her wedding ring. Speechless, she smiled radiantly and gathered her son into her arms.
Why did Reuben enter the shop?

A．Because he wanted to bargain with the shop keeper.

B．Because he wanted to ask the shop keeper for a favor.

C．Because he wondered if he could get what he wanted for free.

D．Because he wanted to have a better look at the thing that appealed to him.

Reuben must have felt ______ after talking with the shop keeper.

A．relieved and nervous	B．disappointed and sad
C．stressed but hopeful	D．happy but determined

What is the possible meaning of the underlined word in the tenth paragraph?

A．visited	B．searched
C．wandered	D．escaped

How did Reuben manage to raise the 20 cents short for his purchase?

A．By begging some passers-by for a favor.

B．By demanding a discount from the shop keeper .

C．By asking for some extra pocket money from his mother.

D．By sweating himself in collecting and selling more sacks.

What message is conveyed through the story?

A．Happiness comes from giving.

B．Money can't buy everything.

C．Where there is a will, there is a way.

D．A mother understands what a child does not say.

What would be the best title for the passage?

A．A Boy with a Mission

B．A Valuable Gift

C．A Special Mother's Day

D．An Unforgettable Experience

Note: 1gigawtt =" 1000" megawatts
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is cleaning up its manufacturing operations in China to reduce the air pollution caused by the factories that have assembled （装配） hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads during the past eight years.
The world's most valuable company is working with its Chinese suppliers to eventually produce 2.2 gigawatts of solar power and other renewable energy.
The commitment announced Wednesday represents Apple's latest attempt to prevent the popularity of its devices and digital services from increasing the carbon emissions that are widely believed to change the Earth's climate.
Apple Inc. estimates （估计） 20 million tons of greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided as more of its suppliers rely on renewable energy between now and 2020. That's like having four million fewer cars on the road for a year.
Panels capable of generating （生产） about 200 megawatts of solar power will be financed by Apple in the northern, southern and eastern regions of China, where many of its suppliers are located. The company is teaming up with its Chinese suppliers to build the capacity for the remaining 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, which will be a mix of solar, wind and hydroelectric power.
Foxconn, which runs the factory where the most iPhones are assembled, is pledging to contribute 400 megawatts of solar power as part of the 2-gigawatt commitment. The solar panels to be built by 2018 in China's Henan Province are supposed to produce as much renewable energy as Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory consumes while making iPhones.
Apple has made protecting the environment a higher priority since Tim Cook replaced the late Steve Jobs as the company's CEO four years ago.
"Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now," Cook said in a statement. "The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose."
Apple just completed projects in China that generate 40 megawatts of solar energy to cover the power required by its 24 stores and 19 offices in the country. All of Apple's data centers, offices and stores in the U.S. already have been running on renewable energy.
"When you look at all the air pollution in China, all the manufacturing that is done there has a lot to do with it, so this is a significant step in the right direction," said Gary Cook, a senior analyst for Greenpeace, a group devoted to protecting the environment.
Apple also has a financial motivation to help make China a better place to live. The greater China region is Apple's second biggest market behind the U.S. Tim Cook has made it clear that he wants the company to make even more progress as rising incomes enable more of China's population to buy smart phones and other gadgets.
Apple can easily afford to go green. The company had $203 billion in cash at the end of June. This story has been reflected to correct that Apple and its suppliers haven't set a timetable for producing the 2.2 gigawatts of renewable energy in China.
The commitment announced Wednesday shows that ______.

A．Apple wanted to change its public image eagerly

B．Apple wanted to contribute to protecting the environment

C．Apple wanted to cut down its expenses by using renewable energy

D．Apple wanted to stop the popularity of its product from polluting the environment

It is estimated that with Apple's new commitment, ______.

A．There will be four million fewer cars on the road for a year

B．20 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided

C．Much of its greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided between now and 2020

D．China will become Apple's second biggest market behind the US

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Apple has enough cash in store for switching to renewable energy supply.

B．The 2 gigawatts of renewable energy will be a mix of solar, wind and electric power.

C．Apple's data centers, offices and stores already have been running on renewable energy.

D．Apple will eventually produce 2.2 gigawatts of solar power and other renewable energy.

What is Gary Cook's attitude towards Apple's commitment?

A．Optimistic	B．Supportive
C．Doubtful	D．Indifferent

Where is this passage probably taken from?

A．A science report.	B．A textbook.
C．An advertisement.	D．A newspaper.

A．	Jules Skye.	B．	Gee Whizz.
C．	Charlotte Stone.	D．	James Pickering.

A．	The Cyclops Theatre	B．	Kaleidoscope
C．	Victoria Stage	D．	Pizza World

A．	It requires membership status.	B．	It lasts three hours each time.
C．	It is run by a comedy club.	D．	It is held every Wednesday.

A．	5.00pm-7.30pm.	B．	7.30pm－1.00am.
C．	8.00pm-11.00pm.	D．	8.30pm-10.30pm.