A healthy amount of sunshine may be the secret to staying young. British scientists have discovered.

Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to (对…的反应) sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.

Researchers from King's College London studied 2,160 women aged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres-a biological marker of ageing found in DNA. As people get older, their telomeres get shorter and they become more susceptible (易受伤害的) to certain illnesses.

But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres-a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.

The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.

Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said, "These results are exciting because they show for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D." This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."

Professor Tim Spector, a co-author of the report, added, " Although it might sound absurd(荒唐的), it's possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process.

Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 percent of the body's supply, but lower levels can also be got through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals(粥).

Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.

1.A certain amount of sunshine helps people stay young because _________.

A. people feel happy and energetic in the sun

B. vitamin D may help to slow the ageing process

C. sunshine protects people against heart disease

D. vitamin D makes one's skin look young and healthy

2.From Brent Richards, we know that ________.

A. sunlight causes skin cancer to people with high level of vitamin D

B. the study generally has a healthy effect on the general ageing process

C. the higher levels of vitamin D people have, the more slowly people may age

D. vitamin D can only be got from fish, eggs and breakfast cereals

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Sunlight does more good than harm to our health.

B. Telomeres are important as they are signs of ageing of the DNA.

C. Sunlight can be dangerous as it causes skin cancer.

D. Vitamin D can also be gained from food.

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A. Secret of Staying Young

B. Sunlight and Vitamin D

C. Vitamin D Helps Slow Ageing

D. Sunlight and Health

A kind father lost about 57 kg in just six months after being shamed dieting when he became too fat to play with his young daughter. Chris Willis, 47, tipped the scales at 172 kg following a lifetime of fatty foods. But overweight Chris turned to dieting when he realized he was too fat to play with his ten-year-old daughter, Sophie, who had a passion for running.

The determined dad cut out all the fatty foods he had enjoyed, and began exercising. He now weights 105 kg after losing 10 kg every month since July. Chris, who lives in Shepreth. Cambridgeshire with his wife Jackie. 51, a coach driver, said: “The hardest thing was seeing my little girl in the garden and not being able to join in because I was so unhealthy. But now I am making up for lost time---we do so much together and it is just great.”

Chris used to consume an incredible 5,000 calories a day, before he switched to healthy lifestyle. On average he would eat five slices of bread for breakfast as a mid morning meal before a full English breakfast. He would then eat a sandwich, a large pack of crisps and a pasty for lunch before chewing a whole packet of biscuits in the afternoon. For dinner Chris would demolish a curry(咖啡) and, ice cream, and also drink four pints of beer very quickly, before feeding on fatty snacks all evening.

Amazingly Chris claims he still eats the same amount---but has simply cut out the unhealthy fatty foods. Chris said: “'My family and friends have been so supportive and my wife and daughter are so pleased for me. In fact it’s them I did it for more than anyone else. The whole journey has been amazing and I am still shocked myself that I have managed to lose so much weight.” Chris is now aiming for a new target weight of 96 kg.

1.Why did Chris Willis lose weight?(no more than 10 words)

2.What does the underlined word ”demolish” mean?(1 word)

3.What measures did Chris take to lose weight? (no more than 10 words)

4.What’s Chris’ next plan for keeping healthy? (no more than 10 words)

5.How are you inspired by Chris Willis? (no more than 20 words)

1.It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken.In Apple's case,developers can also obtain the location information for each photo.
Senator(参议员) Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday.
"We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information,"Mr.Schumer said."They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed."
On Sunday,Mr.Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light.Claudia Bourne Farrell,an F.T.C.spokeswoman,said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further.
"It worries people to think that one's personal photos,address book,and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission,"Mr.Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C."If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion,then surely technology exists to close it,and that's exactly what must happen."
Mr.Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem,then he would be forced to take the issue further.
He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues."I'm optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation,"he said."If it's not changed,then we'll turn to the F.T.C.,and if that doesn't work then we'll consider legislative approach."
The F.T.C.has warned companies to try to be more vigilant(警醒的) in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy.

8.The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and GoogleA.
A.to urge them not to invade consumers'privacy.
B.to discuss whether it is illegal to have access to private information.
C.to stop them from developing the technology of taking photos.
D.to keep them from obtaining the location information for each photo.
9.Which of the following statements is TrueB?
A.Privacy invasion from Apple has existed for a long time.
B.Mr.Schumer takes the privacy concerns caused by Apple and Google seriously.
C.Privacy invasion from Google has existed for a long time.
D.Apple and Google have decided to make a change.
10.Mr.Schumer's letter to the F.T.C.mainly shows that the technology to open the door to privacy invasionC.
A.causes privacy invasion to happen frequently.
B.can be used if permitted.
C.causes people to worry about the safety of their personal information.
D.causes personal information to be posted online without permission.
11.Where can we read about the passageA?
A.In a newspaper.
B.In a magazine.
C.In a science report.
D.In a textbook.
2.Surtsey was born in 1963.Scientists saw the birth of this island.It began at 7:30am.on 14th November.A fishing boat was near Iceland.The boat moved under the captain's (船长的) feet.He noticed a strange smell.He saw some black smoke.A volcano (火山) was breaking out.Red hot rocks,fire and smoke were rushing up from the bottom of the sea.The island grew quickly.It was 10metres high the next day and 60metres high on 18th November.Scientists flew there to watch.It was exciting.Smoke and fire were still rushing up.Pieces of red hot rock were flying into the air and falling into the sea.The sea was boiling and there was a strange light in the sky.Surtsey grew and grew.Then it stopped in June 1967.It was 175metres high and 2kilometres 1ong.And life was already coming to Surtsey.Plants grew.Birds came.Some scientists built a house.They wanted to learn about this young island.
A new island is like a new world.
48.When did scientists fly there to watch the birth of the island?C
A.Before the volcano broke out
B.On 14th November 1963.
C.About four days after the volcano broke out
D.In June 1967.
49.Put the following sentences in correct order.D
a.Some scientists built a house on Surtsey to learn about this island.
b.The captain saw fire,smoke and rocks rushing up.
c.The sea was boiling.
d.A fishing boat was near Iceland.
e.A new island appeared in the sea.
A.a-b-c-d-e      B.d-a-c-b-e       C.d-c-b-a-e      D.d-b-c-e-a
50.The best title of the text isB.
A.New Discovery
B.The Birth of An Island.
C.A Captain and An Island
D.How Does A Volcano Break Out.

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