Do you like spicy food?

What’s your opinion on spicy food? Some people cannot handle even the smallest amount of chili-red pepper-in their dinner while others can’t get enough of it.

Scientists have long been puzzled by why some people love chili while others loathe it. Plenty of research has been done on the subject, dating as far back as the 1970s. Previous results showed that a love of chili is related to childhood experiences, and cultural influences affect our taste buds too. But the latest study has found that a person’s love of spicy food may be linked to his or her personality more than anything else, CBC News reported.

‘We have always assumed that liking drives intake-we eat what we like and we like what we eat. But no one has actually directly bothered to connect these personality traits with intake of chili peppers,’ said Professor John Hayes from Pennsylvania State University, who led the study.

But before you look at the study, you should first know that “spicy” is not a taste, unlike sour, sweet, bitter and salty. It is, in fact, a burning sensation that you feel on the surface of your tongue. This got scientists thinking that maybe a love of spicy food is brought about by people’s longing for thrill, something they usually get from watching action movies or riding a roller coaster.

In the study, 97 participants, both male and female, were asked to fill out questionnaires about certain traits of their personality, for example, whether they like new experiences or tend to avoid risks. They were then given a glass of water with capsaicin, the plant chemical that makes a chili burn, mixed into it.

By comparing the answers to the questionnaire and what participants said they felt about the spicy water, researchers found that those who tended to enjoy action movies or take risks were about six times more likely to enjoy the spicy water.

Interestingly, we used to believe that the reason some people can withstand spicy food is that their tongues have become less sensitive to it. However, this latest study has found otherwise. “It’s not that it doesn’t burn as badly, it’s that you actually learn to like the burn,” Hayes explained.

1.What’s the meaning of the underlined word “loathe” in the second paragraph?

A. dislike B. fear

C. put up with D. adapt to

2.What did Professor John Hayes and his team discover from their study?

A. what we eat actually helps to develop our personalities

B. Males are more likely to enjoy spicy food than females

C. Those trying to avoid risks tend to be less interested in spicy food

D. People are wrong to treat spicy as a kind of taste rather than a feeling

3.Why do some people like spicy food according to the recent study?

A. Because their taste buds have become less sensitive

B. Because they love the burning sensation

C. Because they want to challenge themselves

D. Because the more they try spicy food, the less it burns

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. What he or she likes to eat mainly decides on his or her personality

B. That a person enjoys spicy food depends largely on the personality

C. His or her childhood experiences decide on his or her personality

D. His or her cultural background decides on his or her personality

Our spiritual intelligence quotient(精神智商), or SQ, helps us understand ourselves, and live fuller, happier lives.

Though we’re all born with SQ, most of us don’t even realize that we have it. Fortunately, you don't have to sign up for classes to learn how to improve your SQ. Here are some simple steps that can lead you to this new level of understanding.

Sit Quietly. The process of developing spiritual intelligence begins with solitude(独处) and silence. To tune in to your spirit, you have to turn down the volume(强度) in your busy, noisy, complicated life and force yourself to do nothing at all. Start small by creating islands for silence in your day. In the car, instead of listening to the music, use the time to think. At work, shut the door to your office between meetings, take a few breaths and let them out very, very slowly. Enjoy the stillness in your home after the kids are finally in bed.

Step Outside. For many people, nature sets their spirit free. Go outside to watch a beautiful sunset. If you are walking with the dog, take the time to admire flowers in bloom; follow the flight of a bird and watch clouds float overhead.

Ask Questions of Yourself. Ask open-ended questions, such as ‘What am I Feeling? What are my choices? Where am I heading?’

But don’t expect an answer to arrive through some supernatural forms of e-mail. ‘Rarely do I get an immediate answer to my question,’ says Reverend Joan Carter, a Presbyterian minister in Sausalito, California. ‘But later that day I suddenly find myself thinking about a problem in a perspective(角度) I never considered before.’

Trust Your Spirit. While most of us rely on gut(本能的) feeling to realize danger, spiritual intelligence pushes us, not away from, but towards some action that will lead to a greater good.

1.The passage is mainly about .

A. what your SQ is and in what way it can benefit our life

B. what your SQ is and in what way it can be improved

C. the relationship between your SQ and your life

D. the advantages and disadvantages of SQ

2.The underlined phrase "to tune in to your spirit" in the third paragraph probably means to” ”.

A. to get your spirit relaxed B. to keep up your spirit

C. to keep seated quietly D. to change your spirit

3.From the passage, we can know that the most important thing to improve your SQ is .

A. a peaceful mind B. deep thought

C. spare time and hobbies D. good spirits

4.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Not everyone has SQ

B. You have to go to classes to learn how to improve your SQ

C. SQ leads us to take wrong actions

D. SQ can benefit our life

As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. 1. Don't panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!

With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. 2. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.

Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. 3. But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.

It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. 4. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.

This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate way. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.

You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. 5. So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!

A. Choose your friends wisely

B. They will help shape the future

C. They may seem to happen quickly

D. You will probably want to be independent

E. You may appreciate what you have in your own life

F. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices

G. Your family has been with you since you came into this world

About one year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me. I never heard

any noise from the children. but I often heard the parents ______ shouting at the kids, not in a nice tone, but in a(n) ______ one.

We often ______ in the hallway. I always greeted them, ______ the only answer I ever got was a ”hello” from the eight-year-old girl. I usually ______ to see my doctor and one day when I returned they were just ______ their apartment and the little girl was ______ the outside door open for the others. I ______ in the car doing ______ things because I wasn’t eager to be snubbed (冷落) again. Finally, I got out of my car and walked towards the door. The parents were telling her to ______ to get into the car, but the little girl was still holding the door, ______ me! I hurried although I was still in pain from my injury.

I forgot to tell her how ______ I was for her kindness. I wrote a note saying how much her act of kindness had ______ an old man's heart.

The next day there was a(n) ______ on my door and it was the little girl and her father. She was quite ______ of her behavior and thanked me. Then I noticed her mother standing there, too. Her parents ______ me. Too.

Now when we met in the hallway we always greeted each other, in a friendly ______.

Last night there was a heavy snow. I looked out at my car and ______ how I was going to keep my doctor’s ______ because I could only walk for a short time. This morning when I opened the front door, all the snow was removed.

Isn’t it ______ that the small kind act of an 8-year-old girl can change so many things for the better? It is said that good things come from small acts.

1.A. quietly B. strangely C. quickly D. angrily

2.A. frightening B. exciting C. sincere D. kind

3.A. quarreled B. met C. chatted D. argued

4.A. when B. so C. but D. or

5.A. went out B. set out C. took out D. gave out

6.A. decorating B. cleaning C. returning D. leaving

7.A. breaking B. operating C. holding D. unlocking

8.A. kept B. remained C. insisted D. left

9.A. favorite B. important C. unnecessary D. curious

10.A. hurry B. drive C. stay D. greet

11.A. hunting for B. asking for C. waiting for D. calling for

12.A. beneficial B. influential C. anxious D. grateful

13.A. strengthened B. broken C. touched D. saved

14.A. note B. knock C. invitation D. picture

15.A. proud B. aware C. afraid D. sure

16.A. understood B. recognized C. praised D. thanked

17.A. appearance B. manner C. statement D. announcement

18.A. found B. doubted C. remembered D. wondered

19.A. advice B. appointment C. suggestion D. attention

20.A. amazing B. confusing C. disappointing D. challenging

Clara Barton became known as "The Angel(天使)of the Battlefield" during the American Civil War.Born in Oxford,Massachusetts in 1821,Clara Barton's interest in helping soldiers on the battlefield began when she was told army stories from her father.Another event that influenced her decision to help soldiers was an accident her brother had.His injuries were cared for by Barton for 2 year.At the time,she was only 11 years old.Barton began teaching school at the age of 15.She taught for 18 years before.she moved to Washington,D.C in 1854.

The Civil War broke out 6 years later.Right away,Barton started war service by helping the soldiers with their needs.At the battle of Bullrun,Clara Barton received permission from the government to take care of the sick and hurt.Barton did this with great kindness.She recognized each soldier as a person.When the war ended in 1865,she used 4 years of her life to help the government in searching for soldiers who were missing during the war.

In 1869,while she was on vacation in Europe,she got to know the International Red Cross,an

organization set up by the Geneva Convention in 1864.Clara Barton realized that the Red Cross would be a best help to die United States.After she returned to the United States,she worked very hard to create an American Red Cross. She talked to government leaders and let American people know about the Red Cross.In 1881,the National Society of the Red Cross was finally established in Washington,D.C. Clara Barton managed its activities for 23 years.

1.Which of the following is true of young Barton Clara?

A. She had an accident when she was 11.

B. She helped her father when he was a soldier.

C. She helped her brother who got hut in an accident.

D. She made a decision to live with her brother for 2 years.

2.The underlined part "did this" in Paragraph 2 refers to " ".

A. considered each soldier as a person.

B. helped search for the missing soldiers.

C. nursed the sick and hurt.

D. received permission.

3.What does the author talk about the American Red Cross?

A. It was brought to Europe by Barton.

B. Barton tried to have it set up in America.

C. The Americans were not interested in it..

D. It was first established in the Unites States.

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

A. The Angle of the Battlefield.

B. The America Red Cross.

C. The American Civil War.

D. The International Red Cross.

Look at any advertisement for a fashion(时尚)store,and you may notice that most of the models are teens.In Western culture,especially,fashion is an extremely important component of teenage life.But "Why?" you may ask.

For teenagers,fashion is first and foremost a social statement.It is a means of expression to their peers(同龄人)and the rest of the world.

Fashion also provides teenagers a sense of identity by signalling which "grouping" they belong to.It many signal a more independent or inclusive personality.

Teens can be extremely conscious about overall image.They will often make use of fashion as a means to attract a certain type of person.

Rebellion(叛离)may also be acted out via fashion.Since rebellion is often a huge aspect of a teenager's life, teens often use shocking fashion to rebel against their parents,their classmates, and/or society.

Many teens pick up on fashion trends in an effort to avoid losing face.Poor fashion choices in the eyes of others can often be an open door to ridicule.

Often,fashion for teenagers is the result of the desire to be like a celebrity(名人).Celebrities are perhaps the greatest influences on teenagers in the modern world,and the can have a huge effect on a teen's ideas about fashion and its importance.

1.What is the best tide for the text?

A. Why is fashion so important to teens? B. Why do teens learn from celebrities?

C. What fashion do teens want? D. Who leads the fashion?

2.For teens,fashion .

A. has a deep effect on celebrities B. is about expressing themselves

C. can prevent them from rebelling D. will remove their peer pressure

3.Which of the following can describe the main point of Paragraph 3?

A. Fashion and independence. B. Fashion and peers.

C. Fashion and teenagers. D. Fashion and identity.

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