Songs that make our hearts happy can make them stronger too, US researchers reported on Tuesday.
They found that when people listened to their favorite music, their blood vessels (血管) dilated in much the same way as when they are laughing, or taking blood medications.
"We have a pretty impressive effect," said Dr Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology (心脏病学) at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
"Blood vessel diameter improved," he said. "The vessel opened up pretty significantly. You can see the vessels opening up with other activities such as exercise." A similar effect is seen with drugs such as statins.
When blood vessels open up more, blood flows more smoothly and is less likely to form the clots (凝块) that cause heart attacks and strokes. "We are not saying to stop your statins or not to exercise but rather to add this to an overall program of heart health," said Miller, who presented his findings to a meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans.
Miller's team tested 10 healthy, non-smoking men and women, who were told to bring their favorite music. They spent half an hour listening to the recordings and half an hour listening to music they said made them feel anxious while the researchers did ultrasound tests designed to show blood vessel function.
Compared to their normal baseline measurements, blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent on average when the volunteers heard their joyful music. Listening to music they disliked — in most cases in this group heavy metal — blood vessels narrowed by six percent, Miller said.
Miller said he came up with the idea after discovering that laughter caused blood to literally flow more smoothly. "I asked myself what other things make us feel really good, besides calories from dark chocolate of course. Music came to mind. ... It makes me feel really good," he said.
Most of the volunteers chose country music but Miller said the style is not so important rather than what pleases each individual.

  1. 1.

    The underlined word dilate (in paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to “_____”.

    1. A.
      widen            
    2. B.
      move              
    3. C.
      change             
    4. D.
      increase    
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, which of the following will NOT cause blood vessels to open up?

    1. A.
      Taking exercise.                            
    2. B.
      Listening to unpleasant music.
    3. C.
      Bursting into laughter.                      
    4. D.
      Taking drugs like statins.
  3. 3.

    It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

    1. A.
      blood clots are caused by heart attacks and strokes
    2. B.
      music is better than chocolate for your health
    3. C.
      the style of music has different effects on different people
    4. D.
      a person’s overall health is more influenced by how much exercise he gets
  4. 4.

    What is the passage possibly taken out from?

    1. A.
      A scientific journal.                      
    2. B.
      A school textbook.
    3. C.
      A medical brochure.                           
    4. D.
      A local newspaper.
  5. 5.

    What’s the best title of the passage?

    1. A.
      Pleasant Music Cures             
    2. B.
      Research into Blood Vessel
    3. C.
      Music and Heart Attack                  
    4. D.
      Music and Happiness 

What is a creepy crawly?
A few years ago, I was on a bicycle trip when I got off my bike for a rest. I sat down on the grass. A few seconds later, I was covered in ants. They were swarming all over me so I got up and brushed them off. It was a strange experience but I soon forgot about it.
A couple of years later, I was living in Jordan. I had just moved into a modern flat and was unpacking plates when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I looked over at the kitchen drawer and there was a cockroach crawling out of it. I screamed. Then I grabbed a can of insecticide and sprayed it on the cockroach. He ran under the nearby bathroom door. It took me three days before I found the courage to open the bathroom door to see if he was still alive. He wasn’t.
Why did I react so violently to one lone insect when a closer encounter with hundreds of ants hardly affected me? The answer is easy: because cockroaches are creepy crawlies and ants aren’t. Creepy crawlies are those little bugs which provoke feelings such as uneasiness, anxiety or dislike – they make your skin crawl.
Did you know that some people feel such a fear of bugs that it becomes a phobia? Psychologists have offered many explanations. Some say we associate them with dirt and disease. Or that these are life forms that are so alien to us, that we find them repulsive(令人厌恶的) for their dissimilarity.
Insects, however, don’t follow our rules – they just do what they want and invade our space. Unfortunately, although insects and bugs have been a successful animal species up to now, many of them, like many other species nowadays, are under threat of extinction. Entomologists warn that this could upset entire ecosystems and lead to all kinds of disastrous consequences.
So my plea to you is: the next time you feel the urge to stamp on, splatter or spray a creepy crawly, give a thought to the planet and stop.

  1. 1.

    Why did the author mention the ants in the beginning?

    1. A.
      Because the experience with the ants presents a sharp contrast to that with the cockroach later.
    2. B.
      Because the author wants to show her preference to the ants and her dislike for the cockroach.
    3. C.
      Because both ants and cockroaches are creepy crawlies that the author dislikes.
    4. D.
      Because meeting the ants is an unusual experience that the author can hardly forget.
  2. 2.

    What does “insecticide” in the second paragraph probably mean?

    1. A.
      a kind of fruit juice.                            
    2. B.
      a kitchen knife.
    3. C.
      liquid for killing insects.                       
    4. D.
      cleanser for the bathroom.                                                                                                                                                                       
  3. 3.

    How does the author feel about the bugs like cockroaches?

    1. A.
      The author doesn’t mind the contact with those harmless small creatures.
    2. B.
      They make the author feel so awful that they should be killed.
    3. C.
      They invade our space and become a threat to humans.
    4. D.
      They still deserve a place for keeping the balance of the nature.
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is NOT the reason why the cockroach makes the author’s skin crawl?

    1. A.
      It looks so strange and different that the author can’t accept its appearance.
    2. B.
      It can make the author feel sick and cause a strong dislike.
    3. C.
      The author may relate it to something dirty or disease at the sight of it.
    4. D.
      It reminds the author of the experience of meeting hundreds of ants.
  5. 5.

    Which of the following statements about bugs is NOT true according to the passage?

    1. A.
      Some people may be frightened so much by bugs that it leads to a psychological barrier in some degree.
    2. B.
      People can enjoy a cleaner living environment if more bugs like cockroaches are killed.
    3. C.
      Many bugs are in danger of extinction so they should be placed under human’s protection.
    4. D.
      Some bugs are extremely unpleasant that people have a strong wish to destroy them.

Brian knew he had been drinking more and more, but he was convinced that he'd return to more moderate drinking when he wasn't so pressured at work, and that "a few too many drinks now and then" wasn't a major problem.
"My wife and father were on me to stop drinking, but you know how critical and protective family can be," said Brian. "So I blew them off."
It wasn't until his friend Jack spoke up that Brian started to think differently. "That really hit home, because I wouldn’t expect a friend to confront me with something that personal unless it was very important," said Brian. "Jack said he was really concerned about me. He pointed out that my personality changed after I had a few beers--that I became belligerent(寻衅的). For a normally easy-going guy, that was a dramatic change in behavior."
Jack could see that Brian's numerous drinking binges(放纵) were causing problems. Brian was frequently calling into work sick and falling behind in his work, and his marriage was seriously on the ropes. Brian was teetering(摇摇欲坠) on the edge of disaster. "I didn't want to see a good life and a good friendship ruined," said Jack, "so I approached Brian, shared my honest observations with him, and suggested that he seek help."  
After a couple days of soul searching, though still reluctant, Brian took Jack's suggestion and was assessed by an addiction professional. The expert recommended that Brian check into a treatment center, and one day later Brian did so.
Many people fear taking the path that Jack took. Speaking up to a friend who may have a problem with alcohol or other drugs can be a tricky undertaking.
Yet it's true that a concerned friend can do a lot. Most people don't recognize they have a substance abuse problem and most don't seek help for a problem until someone close to them intervenes(干预).

  1. 1.

    What happened to Brian according to the passage?

    1. A.
      He suffered from an illness called alcohol addiction.
    2. B.
      He changed so much that he was deserted by his family.
    3. C.
      He became morally corrupted drinking too much all day.
    4. D.
      He drank a little more than normal to escape the pressure.
  2. 2.

    What does “that” in the 3rd paragraph refer to?

    1. A.
      Brian’s drinking binges.                
    2. B.
      Jack’s talk with Brian.
    3. C.
      Wife and father’s intervention.          
    4. D.
      Brian’s different thoughts.
  3. 3.

    Brian could accept Jack’s suggestions mainly because ____________.

    1. A.
      he found his friend was very critical and protective
    2. B.
      Jack’s suggestions were professional and persuasive
    3. C.
      Jack and Brian’s family had different opinions
    4. D.
      he knew his friend wouldn’t easily intervene his personal affair
  4. 4.

    Brian’s alcohol abuse brought him many problems EXCEPT ____________.

    1. A.
      his refusal to listen to his family   
    2. B.
      his bad temper and aggressiveness
    3. C.
      his failure to do his work well           
    4. D.
      his marriage problems
  5. 5.

    The writer narrates Brian’s story in order to ____________.

    1. A.
      tell us the bad results of alcohol addiction     
    2. B.
      warn us not to fall into the habit of drinking
    3. C.
      show friends have real power to intervene  
    4. D.
      prove a friend in need is a friend indeed

It is always hard for a small fish to live in a big pond. Pluto's recent departure from the classical planet family clearly proves that size really matters.
Astronomers voted on August 24 to create the first scientific definition of the word planet, and Pluto obviously didn't make the cut. It turned out to be only a "dwarf planet" (矮行星). After weeks of heated debate, over 2,500 astronomers from 73 countries voted on the definition of a "planet" at a conference of the international Astronomical Union (IAU). According to the definition, a planet must have a clear neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto has widely been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930. Unfortunately, it has a special orbit which overlaps with Neptune's. It is all because, compared with Neptune, Pluto is very small. It is attracted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer.
According to IAU, a "dwarf planet" should have an orbit around the Sun. It will not have a clear neighborhood around its orbit, and must not be a satellite. The new classification means that the science textbooks will have to be updated. The solar system is now made up of the eight "classical planets," together with a number of dwarf planets. The classical planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The debate over Pluto's status started in 1992. After an advanced telescope was sent into space, astronomers started find a belt of objects, which lies beyond Neptune. The belt contains nearly 1,000 objects, including Pluto. As they continued the exploration, scientists recently discovered at least 41 dwarf planets at the edges of the solar system. There are at least two objects of a similar size to Pluto.
It seems that even if the IAU had kept Pluto's status as a planet, the classical theory of nine planets in the solar system would have had to be changed, but the other way around. More dwarf, planets of a similar size to Pluto would join the family of planets. Scientists will probably find many more dwarf planets.

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, Pluto is          .

    1. A.
      a planet which has a clear neighborhood around its orbit
    2. B.
      a satellite of Neptune which was discovered in 1930
    3. C.
      the smallest planet in the solar system
    4. D.
      a planet which has an orbit around the sun
  2. 2.

    The sentence "It is always hard for a small fish to live in a big pond" quoted in the beginning of the passage is used to           .

    1. A.
      tell us a small fish can hardly survive in the big pond
    2. B.
      tell us the size of an object really matters
    3. C.
      mean that a small planet can hardly exist in the solar system
    4. D.
      explain the disappearanee of Pluto in the solar system
  3. 3.

    From the last paragraph we can infer that if IAU kept Pluto's status as a planet, the number of planets in the solar system would be        .

    1. A.
      eight
    2. B.
      nine
    3. C.
      less than nine
    4. D.
      more than nine
  4. 4.

    Which of the following statements is NOT true aceording to the passage?

    1. A.
      According to definition of a "planet", if Pluto were bigger it would not have left the classic planet family.
    2. B.
      It's quite possible for dwarfs to lose if they compete with big men
    3. C.
      Pluto has a special orbit which overlap with Neptune's, because it is so small as to be attraeted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer
    4. D.
      A "dwarf planet", which can not be a satellite without a clear neighborhood around its orbit, should have an orbit around the Sun.

I have nothing to say about whether or not "A Day Without Immigrants" had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country. I'll leave that question to others.
Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious. Using the theme of" A Day Without" as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public awareness about other issues that affect daily life in America. Here are my top three examples:
"A Day Without Speeding." How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge.
"A Day Without Losing Your Temper." A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience. When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but erupting with anger usually doesn't do anything to solve the problem, and in many cases it makes the situation more unpleasant.
"A Day Without Having All The Answers." I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, "Here's what you're doing wrong." Right now the US is jampacked with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it on the spot. I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices.
I wonder how would average Americans react to such a collective pause? Would it be a day of angry protests, or joyful celebrations?

  1. 1.

    The first paragraph suggests           .

    1. A.
      the writer is against A Day Without Immigrants
    2. B.
      immigrants are not equally treated by the US federal government
    3. C.
      the writer cares little about the problems of the country.
    4. D.
      some people move to America without the permission of the US government
  2. 2.

    "The event" in the second paragraph is related to          .

    1. A.
      "A Day Without Immigrants"
    2. B.
      "A Day Without Having All The Answers"
    3. C.
      "A Day Without Speeding"
    4. D.
      "A Day Without Losing Your Temper"
  3. 3.

    According to the writer, losing one's temper is           .

    1. A.
      personal
    2. B.
      satisfying
    3. C.
      pointless
    4. D.
      unpleasant
  4. 4.

    The writer suggest a day without having all the answers because         .

    1. A.
      he thinks the American are too proud
    2. B.
      he doesn't think what he is doing is wrong
    3. C.
      he wants others to keep quiet
    4. D.
      the writer is so tired that he needs a break

Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills (读写能力)With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence (自信心) , according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager

  1. 1.

    What is mainly discussed in the text?

    1. A.
      Children’s reading difficulties
    2. B.
      Advantages of raising dogs
    3. C.
      Service in a public library
    4. D.
      A special reading program
  2. 2.

    Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think _______

    1. A.
      dogs are young children’s best friends
    2. B.
      children can play with dogs while reading
    3. C.
      dogs can provide encouragement for shy children
    4. D.
      children and dogs understand each other
  3. 3.

    By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library_______

    1. A.
      uses dogs to attract children
    2. B.
      accepts the idea put forward by ITA
    3. C.
      has opened a children's department
    4. D.
      has decided to train some dogs
  4. 4.

    A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _______

    1. A.
      a book used in Saturday classes
    2. B.
      a book written by the children
    3. C.
      a prize for the children
    4. D.
      a gift from parent

There is an old saying in English: "Laughter is the best medicine". Until recently, few people took the saying very seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to investigate laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found evidence that laughter really can improve people's health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films, while doctors checked their heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, the heart rate and the rate of breathing; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be capable of reducing the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group which tolerated the pain for the longest time was 'the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce endorphins (内啡肽) in the brain. These are natural chemicals which diminish both stress and pain.
There is also some evidence to suggest that laughter helps the body's immune(免疫的)system, that is, the system which fights infection. In an experiment, one group of students watched a funny video while another group served as the control group - in other words, a group with which to compare the first group. Doctors checked the blood of the students in both groups and found that the people in the group that watched the video had an increase in the activity of their white blood cells, that is, the cells which fight infection.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors and psychiatrists (精神病学家) in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they try to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.

  1. 1.

    We learn from the first paragraph that laughter____________________.

    1. A.
      is good for one's health
    2. B.
      is related to some illness
    3. C.
      has been investigated long since
    4. D.
      has no effect on the body
  2. 2.

    Doctors have found that laughter_______________________.

    1. A.
      keeps down blood pressure.
    2. B.
      has similar effects to physical exercise
    3. C.
      decreases the heart rate
    4. D.
      increases stress
  3. 3.

    Which of the following statements is NOT true of laughter, according to the passage?

    1. A.
      It reduces pain.
    2. B.
      It exercises the body.
    3. C.
      It improves the body's immune system.
    4. D.
      It can cure cancer.
  4. 4.

    The writer's attitude towards laughter is__________.

    1. A.
      critical
    2. B.
      doubtful
    3. C.
      positive
    4. D.
      negative

Soon Tommy’s parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child’s reaction to his parents’ separation and pending (即将发生的) divorce?
Tommy’s mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy’s behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn’t come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled (潦草地写) over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy’s mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife’s hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy’s troubled heart.
The words are “Dear Mom…Dear Daddy… I love you…”

  1. 1.

    The author called Tommy’s parents in order to ________.

    1. A.
      solve the couple’s problem
    2. B.
      scold them for their divorce
    3. C.
      help them realize their influence on Tommy
    4. D.
      blame Tommy for his failing grades
  2. 2.

    This passage is most probably written by _________.

    1. A.
      a teacher
    2. B.
      a journalist
    3. C.
      a lawyer
    4. D.
      a doctor
  3. 3.

    How did Tommy’s parents feel after seeing the words?

    1. A.
      Satisfied.
    2. B.
      Troubled.
    3. C.
      Depressed
    4. D.
      Moved
  4. 4.

    We can learn from the passage that _______.

    1. A.
      the author knew Tommy often wrote to his parents
    2. B.
      the author said a lot to make Tommy’s parents reunite
    3. C.
      Tommy hated his parents divorcing
    4. D.
      Tommy was greatly influenced by his parents
  5. 5.

    What would be the best title for this passage?

    1. A.
      A separate family
    2. B.
      Tommy’s essay
    3. C.
      Never divorce
    4. D.
      A good teacher

I don’t like my parents. They always tell me I should do this, and should not do that. It sometimes makes me angry,” said Liu Dan, a middle school student in Beijing. Do you have the same problem? Perhaps your parents had the same problem when they were your age long ago. Why does it seem that some parents are not so friendly in their children’s eyes?
One of the biggest things is when someone becomes a parent, he or she likes worrying things. They worry about everything about you from the time you were born. They do a lot for you, though something would make you angry, because they care about you and worry about you. They worry about your choice of friends, the food you eat, your work at school, how much sleep you get, etc. All these things are part of your life. They want you to grow up healthily and happily.
So how can you make things easier on yourself? It’s easier than you think. Just make sure your parents know what you’re doing. Get them to know your friends. Call them if you stay somewhere else later than usual. Say sorry to them when you make mistakes. Take responsibility for what you have done. Talk about your ideas with them. They may talk about theirs with you.
Most of all, try to think about why your parents do this or do that. They are still practicing being parents and need help you can give them. Someday, when you become a parent, they may be able to help you how to get on with your children.

  1. 1.

    The writer of the passage doesn’t agree that _______.

    1. A.
      parents want you to grow up healthily
    2. B.
      parents don’t want you to make some bad friends
    3. C.
      parents worry about everything about you
    4. D.
      parents want to control you
  2. 2.

    Some of the children are angry with their parents in the passage because ________.

    1. A.
      the parents think they eat too much
    2. B.
      the parents don’t like the friends that their children have made
    3. C.
      the children don’t live with their parents
    4. D.
      the children are limited by their parents
  3. 3.

    “They are still practicing being parents.” means _______.

    1. A.
      parents are not always right
    2. B.
      parents should practice more
    3. C.
      parents have many mistakes
    4. D.
      parents are always right
  4. 4.

    The main idea in this passage is that _______.

    1. A.
      some of the parents in China don’t love their children
    2. B.
      children and parents should understand more about each other
    3. C.
      parents should worry too much about their children
    4. D.
      children should bear everything their parents arranged

The agreement is good news for all parties concerned. The Chinese Foreign Trade Minister described the agreement as a "turning point" in Sino-US trade relations that "promises further progress" in the future. The agreement will not only favorably influence trade relations between China and the United States. It may favorably influence the overall relations between the two countries.

  1. 1.

    What do you get to know from article 1?

    1. A.
      It is as cold as usual in Middlesbrough, and the farmers are pleased.
    2. B.
      It is hotter than usual in Middlesbrough, and the farmers are pleased.
    3. C.
      It is hotter than usual in Middlesbrough, and the farmers are worried.
    4. D.
      It is colder than usual in Middlesbrough, and the farmers are worried.
  2. 2.

    How many people have died in the train crash in article 2 ?

    1. A.
      Only John Phillips has died.
    2. B.
      Ten people have died in the crash, including John Phillips.
    3. C.
      Four people have died in the crash, including John Phillips.
    4. D.
      John Phillips, his wife and children all died in the crash.
  3. 3.

    Who are on the danger list?

    1. A.
      Petersville and Wallsend.
    2. B.
      An electrical engineer and John Phillips.
    3. C.
      John Phillips' wife and two children.
    4. D.
      Another six people who were on the train.
  4. 4.

    What agreement did China and the United States reach in article 3?

    1. A.
      It is an agreement on a marathon race.
    2. B.
      It is an agreement on trade relations.
    3. C.
      It is an agreement on overall relations.
    4. D.
      It is an agreement on intellectual property rights protection.
  5. 5.

    What are relations going to be like between China and the United States?

    1. A.
      Relations between China and the United States are going to be sometimes worse and sometimes better.
    2. B.
      Relations between China and the United States are going to be better.
    3. C.
      Relations between China and the United States are going to be worse.
    4. D.
      Relations between China and the United States are going to remain the same.
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