A nerve-zapping(电击神经)headset caused people to get rid of fat in a small preliminary study. Six people who had received the stimulation(刺激)lost on average about 8 percent of the fat on their trunks in four months, scientists reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience,

The headset stimulated the vestibular nerve(前庭神经), which runs just behind the ears. That nerve sends signals to the hypothalamus, a brain structure thought to control the body’s fat storage. By stimulating the nerve with an electrical current, the technique shifts the body away from storing fat toward burning it.

Six overweight and obese people received the treatment, consisting of up to four one-hour-long sessions of stimulation a week. Because it activated the vestibular system, the stimulation created the sensation of gently rocking on a boat or floating in a pool, said the study’s co-author Jason McKeown of the University of California, San Diego.

After four months, body scans measured the trunk fat for the six people receiving the treatment and three people who received unreal stimulation. All six in the treatment group lost some trunk fat, despite not having changed their activity or diet. In contrast, those in the unreal group gained some fat. Researchers suspect that changes in the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within human cells are behind the difference. “The results were a lot better than we thought they’d be,” McKeown said.

Earlier studies found that vestibular nerve stimulation causes mice to drop fat and pack on muscle, resulting in what McKeown called Schwarzenegger mice. Though small, the current study suggests that the approach has promise in people. McKeown and his colleagues have started a company based on the technology and plan to test it further.

1.What is an electrical current used for?

A. Causing the body to bum its fat.

B. Controlling the body’s storage of fat.

C. Seeing if the headset will be affected.

D. Speeding the process of one’s digesting.

2.What’s the probable reason for the different results in participants?

A. The length of stimulation they received.

B. The type of stimulation they received.

C. The difference in their vestibular system.

D. The way chemicals process in their body.

3.Which is true about McKeown’s current findings?

A. They have a kind of practical value.

B. They go against those of earlier tests on mice.

C. They were widely recognized at the meeting.

D. They have been tested by MeKeown’s company.

4.What can be the best title of the text?

A. The science of zapping fat

B. A new trial of weight loss

C. Zapping certain nerves leads to fat loss

D. Exercise for weight loss and get fit

A scientist believes he has discovered a direct link between people's favourite sleeping position and their personality. Professor Chris Idzikowski has described six different positions and what each one says about a person’s character. The professor, who did the research for a hotel group, said, “We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our position says about us when we are asleep.” At the moment, Professor Idzikowski is trying to sleep in a yoga position that involves crossing your legs around your neck. He says there is no perfect position for sleeping.

1. THE STARFISH

“Starfish” sleep flat on their back with their arms raised. They are good listeners who make friends easily but do not like to be the centre of the attention.

2. THE YEARNER

“Yearners” sleep on their side with their arms raised. They are doubtful and have a very sensible approach to life.

3. THE FOETUS

The most popular position, particularly among women. They sleep curled(蜷缩)up on their side, holding on to the pillow. They appear to be tough but are actually sensitive and shy.

4. THE FREEFALLER

Only 6.5% of people prefer to sleep on their front, making this the least popular sleeping position. “Freefallers” seem very confident, although this hides a nervous personality.

5. THE LOG

The “log” position is similar to the “yearner” but with arms by the sides. “Logs” are easy-going and sociable, but can be seen as too gullible, easily to be tricked.

6. THE SOLDIER

“Soldiers”, who sleep on their back with their arms by their sides, are quiet and reserved. They set high standards for themselves and do not like noisy social situations.

1.What can we infer from Paragraph 1?

A. The yoga sleeping position is the best one.

B. People don't know their body language when awake.

C. People's sleeping position determines their personality.

D. Professor Idzikowski shows great interest in sleeping positions.

2.Which of the following sayings about the sleeping position is correct?

A. “Foetus” seem to be strong but sensitive.

B. “Yearners” sleep on their back with their arms raised.

C. “Starfish” like to be the focus of the attention.

D. “Soldiers” sleep on their side with their arms by their sides.

3.What does the underlined word gullible mean in Paragraph 6?

A. Easily annoyed. B. Easily approached.

C. Easily cheated. D. Easily satisfied.

Singapore's public transport system is one of the best in the world, so you should have no problem finding your way around like a local. There are three main forms of public transport that you would find in any other major city-trains, buses and taxis.

TRAINS

Trains run from 6:00 am to midnight. Single trip tickets start at 80 cents. If you buy an EZ-Link card for $15, you can ride the trains and buses as you like.

If you need more information, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.

BUSES

There are several bus services in Singapore and fares start at 80 cents. Be sure always ask the driver the cost of your ticket as he cannot give change.

If you need help, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.

TAXIS

There are three main taxi companies-City Cab (6552 2222), Comfort (6552 1111) and Tibs (6552 8888). Booking can also be easy by calling the numbers listed above.

RENTAL CARS

Driving in Singapore is a pleasure and if you like to travel at your own pace, renting a car is a good choice. Renting takes away the hassle of getting to places around Singapore. Just sit back and enjoy the city. It also means you'll get to see a lot more that a trains or a bus won't let you see.

For car rental, call Avis on +65 6737 1668.

1.By an EZ-Link card, you can take ______.

A. both buses and trains B. only trains

C. both buses and taxis D. only rental cars

2.What does the word "hassle" mean in Chinese?

A. 麻烦 B. 乐趣

C. 景点 D. 费用

3.What do you know about traveling in Singapore from the passage?

A. A local has no trouble finding his way around.

B. It's much cheaper to go around by bus than by train.

C. You can see a lot more in Singapore only by renting a car.

D. It's very convenient for visitors to travel in Singapore.

No one can deny that buttons are an important device. Whenever we see a button, we are eager to press it because we know something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example on a doorbell and on the “on/off” button on the TV. But some buttons are actually fake, like the “close” button on a lift.

Many people are in the habit of pressing the “close” button because they don’t have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts’ “close” buttons are a complete scam (骗局), at least in the US - the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.

It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.

But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren’t completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.

“Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being,” Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor, said, “ having a lack of control is associated with depression.”

Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don’t do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workspace.

But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little “white lies”, they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.

“That habit is here to stay,” John Kounios, a psychology professor, said. “Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons, I always press them. After all, I’ve got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?”

1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the article?

A. To explore people’s different habits when it comes to pushing buttons.

B. To describe some different kinds of fake buttons.

C. To explain the advantages and disadvantages of fake buttons.

D. To analyze the functions of fake buttons.

2.In America, the “close” buttons on lifts _______.

A. are fake for the convenience of disabled people

B. work only when people press them hard for a while

C. were specially designed to give people a sense of control

D. cannot speed up the process of closing the door in any case

3.The underlined part “for this same purpose” in Paragraph 6 refers to _______.

A. making people more patient

B. giving people perceived control

C. helping people to build up confidence

D. making people with depression feel better

4.According to John Kounios, people who press fake buttons ______.

A. should give up this habit

B. consider what they do to be meaningless

C. probably do so to kill time

D. don’t know that what they press is fake

It was a rainy morning and the children, mainly boys with various learning difficulties, refused to settle for the start of the lesson. As an inexperienced teacher, I tried every means to get them to be ______, but in vain. my panic was rising and I could feel my heart beating wildly. This was the ______ of my job as a music teacher, I thought -- teaching was not for me. Then I had an idea. Hoping that no one would notice that I was ______ inside, I threw my voice as far as it would reach: "Put your heads on the desks and close your ______! We are going on a journey."

____, the children fell silent. "Now what should I do?" I thought to myself. Reaching over to my collection of CDs, I blindly took one out, put it in the machine and played it.

Obediently (顺从地), my class lay their heads on their desk, closed their eyes and _____. When the music started, the room as filled with the most beautiful tones and musical colors I could have ever imagined. All the children were ______. When the music finished, I asked them all to raise their _______ slowly so that we could share our musical journey.

At this point, when all the children were willing to share their experiences, I began to learn how to ______. The music allow me to learn that teaching is about sharing and respect, tears and smiles, the knowing and the ______ and most of all, an understanding of each other. This was the power that music in the classroom could have.

1.A. glad B. safe C. kind D. quiet

2.A. end B. aim C. rule D. plan

3.A. guessing B. shaking C. responding D. laughing

4.A. eyes B. mouths C. books D. doors

5.A. Punctually B. Importantly C. Amazingly D. Obviously

6.A. slept B. nodded C. waited D. continued

7.A. talking B. singing C. dancing D. listening

8.A. legs B. heads C. arms D. shoulders

9.A. teach B. imagine C. play D. understand

10.A. unprepared B. unspoken C. unknown D. unforgotten

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