At least 12 other murders since 1997, have been linked to an addiction with violent video games．This year, the parents of a 14-year-old murder victim in the UK blamed the killer's obsession（着迷） with the game Manhunt, causing a government review of legislation（立法） to protect children．

But is there any scientific evidence that mere games can make children and young adults more aggressive, or possibly even murderous? There is no doubt children are being exposed to more games violence than ever: around a quarter of all games produced in the US contain some violence．Combine that with the developing sales expected across all types of video games and its clear exposure to virtual violence can only increase．And the violence is becoming more vivid as increases in computing power make the games look ever more realistic．

Psychologists think there may be many reasons why violent games are more harmful to children than violent movies．Firstly, players are actively involved in violence, and may begin to use weapons as second nature．Secondly, violent games provide repetitive aggressive experiences that are rewarded by more killing．

Many studies have shown that people who play violent games regularly are more likely to show high levels of aggression．People who played violent games were more likely to admit to aggressive behavior, including attacks or robberies．

Earlier this year, a study of 13 to 14-year-old children was reported．More than half had played games recommended only for over-18s．The more violent the games they played, the more they considered physical aggression to be acceptable．Other authors in the same edition report that children who play violent games are more likely to argue with teachers and figh．

The matter is controversial, however．Jeffrey Goldstein, a psychologist at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and a consultant to some video games publishers, agrees that there is good evidence that children who are exposed to violent media, including video games, are more aggressive．But he warns it might not be a simple case of cause and effect: aggressive kids might be most attracted to violent games．

1．What will be probably discussed in the paragraph following the passage? 

A．Further research on the harm of violent games．

B．The results of more experimental studies．

C．Ways to protect children from violent games．

D．Further research on the advantage of violent games．

2．From the first paragraph, we can know that        ． 

A．computer games have little to do with violence in real life

B．Manhunt has resulted in the death of one of its players

C．lifelike computer games are forbidden in the UK

D．legislation to protect children in the UK still needs improving

3．Violent games are more harmful to children than violent movies because        ．

A．violent movies are not so attractive to children

B．the viewers can't take part in violent movies

C．violent movies are not popular with children

D．children can win awards in violent games

4．What can be inferred from the passage？

A．There are at least 12 murders in 1997 linking with violent games．

B．Children who play computer games often quarrel with their teachers and parents．

C．The more violent games kids play, the more aggressive behaviors they are involved in．

D．The number of violence is increasing as a result of violent video games．

5．What would be the best title for the passage? 

A．Games and Murder．

B．Should Computer Games Become Lifelike?

C．How to Play Violent Games．

D．Violent Games or Non-violent Games?

Material Girl no more? Madonna says writing children’s books is more satisfying than being a movie star.

Her book, The English Roses, wen t on sale on September 15th, appearing in 100 countries and in 30 languages as the first in her series of tales for children. The pop diva (女歌唱家), whose only book until now was the 1992 photo essay titled “Sex”, said she wrote the books to teach children some of the life lessons she’s learned over the years.

“The most fun that I’ve had of all the things I’ve done successfully has been to write these books. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I’m not doing it to become more famous, and I’m not doing it to become richer. I’m doing it because I want to share something I know with children.”

Hours after its release, the 43?page book was already No. 3 on Amazon, com’s sales list. The first print is 1 million copies worldwide, with more than 750,000 in the United States. The English Roses is about a friendship shared by four girls and their mutual (共同的) envy of a beautiful classmate, with illustrations (插图) by fashion artist Jeffrey Fulvimari.

“There is one life?giving force in the world,” Madonna declared. “When we disconnect from this lifegiving force, that’s when we bring pain and suffering into our lives. Each of the stories has to do with different ways you disconnect from God. ”Madonna also said she was deeply affected by the experience of raising two children, Lourdes, 6, and Rocco, 3. The English Roses is the latest among a growing number of celebrity?written children’s books.

The next book in the series, “Mr Peabody’s Apples,”will be out in November.Each tale is set in a different time and  place and has new characters and different illustrators.

1.How many books does Madonna’s series of tales include?

A.At least 3.             B.4.             C.At least 2.               D.6.

2.According to the idea of Madonna, the underlined phrase “life-giving force”in Paragraph 5 refers to       .

A.The English Roses.      B.God            C.Mr Peabody’s Apples.   D.her life

3.When Madonna said writing children’s books was more satisfying than being a movie star,she meant that        .

A.she was more satisfied with her writing children’s books

B.she was more satisfied as a movie star       C.being a movie star was not really successful

D.she was not a Material Girl any more

4.According to the passage,Madonna wrote the book The English Roses in order to        .

A.provide children with fun                       B.teach children some life lessons

C.teach children how to become famous             D.share her success with children

Last Friday, at least 5 people were killed by lightning in Nepal.

    Lightning strikes are the second most common cause of deaths during natural disasters in the US. The first is floods. Around 400 people nationwide are struck by lightning each year, and of those, 70 people die. That is, more people are killed by lightning than by tornadoes and hurricanes.

    Because lightning kills only one or two people at a time, its danger does not receive as much attention as other disasters.

   "If you hear the thunder, you are in danger from lightning," said Rocky Lopes, a disaster educator at the American Red Cross.

   "Thunder means that lightning is close enough to hit you at any time, so you should move indoors immediately and stay there until the storm has ended. The most important thing to remember is to seek shelter, " Lopes said.

   Summer is the peak time for lightning storms, so when lightning strikes across the sky, remember these safety tips:

   ♦ Stop working, fishing, swimming or playing in open fields.

   ♦ Do not stand under a tree.

   ♦ Get off bicycle and motorcycles.

   ♦ Crouch down (蹲下) if there is no shelter.

   ♦ Avoid open spaces, wire fences, metal objects and electrical objects such as hair driers. 

51.   In the US, _________ is the most common cause of deaths during natural disasters.

   A. lightning      B. tornadoes      C. hurricanes       D. floods

52.   Of the people who are struck by lightning every year in the US, about _________ people are lucky enough to survive.

   A. 400       B. 70        C. 330        D. 5

53.   If you hear the thunder, the most important thing you should do is to __________.

   A. stand still in the open spaces        B. find shelter to hide in

   C. stand under the tree               D. stop working in the fields

54.   Which of the following is NOT true?

   A. Floods are the most common cause of deaths in the US.

   B. Less than 70 people are killed by tornadoes and hurricanes each year in the US.

   C. People don't pay as much attention to the danger of hurricanes as that of floods.

   D. If you hear the thunder, you should move indoors right away.

55.   Which of the following is the best title?

   A. The Danger of Lightning          B. Some Safety Tips against Floods

   C. How Lightning Happens          D. 5 People Killed by Lightning in Nepal

  Our bodies are wonderfully skillful at keeping balance．When the temperature jumps, we sweat to cool down．When our blood pressure falls, our hearts can do something．As it turns out, though, our natural state is always changing．Researchers are finding that everything from blood pressure to brain function changes regularly with the cycles of sun, moon and seasons．And their insights （洞察力） are getting new ways for keeping away such common killers as heart disease and cancer．Only one doctor in 20 has a good knowledge of the scientific use of time in medicine．But according to a new American Medical Association, three out of four are eager to change that．“The field is exploding,” says Michael Smolensky．“Doctors used to look at us like, What spaceship did you get off ? Now they're thirsty to know more．”

    In medical school, most doctors learn that people with chronic  conditions should take their medicine regularly．“It’s a terrible way to treat disease,” says Dr Richard Martin．For example, asthmatics （气喘患者） are most likely to suffer during the night．Yet most patients try to keep a constant level of medicine in their blood day and night, whether by breathing in on an inhaler （吸入器） four times a day or taking a pill each morning and evening．In recent studies, researchers have found that a large mid afternoon dose of a bronchodilator （支气管扩张剂） can be as safe as several small doses, and better for preventing nighttime attacks．

    If the night belongs to asthma, the dawn belongs to high blood pressure and heart disease．Heart attacks are twice as common at 9 a．m．as at 11 p．m．Part of the reason is that our blood pressure falls at night, then rises as we start to work for the day．“Doctors know that,” says Dr．Henry Black of Chicago's Medical Center, “but until now, we haven't been able to do anything about it．” Most blood - pressure drugs provide 18 to 20 hours of relief （减缓）．But because they’re taken in the morning, they're least effective when most needed．“You take your pill at 7 and it's working by 9,” says Dr．William White of the University of Connecticut Health Center “But by that time you've gone through the worst four hours of the day with no protection．” Bedtime medicine would prevent high blood pressure, but it would also push blood pressure to dangerously low levels during the night．

Researchers are finding that _________ ．

    A．heart disease and cancer are the most common killers of human beings

    B．only blood pressure and brain function are decided by cycles of sun, moon and seasons

    C．the functions of human bodies have much to do with nature

    D．any change in human bodies goes with changes in the surroundings

According to the author, it is best for asthmatics to take their medicine _________ ．

    A．at certain time

    B．each morning and evening

    C．when the disease occurs

    D．at midafternoon

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

    A．Doctors know more about illnesses than before．

    B．Doctors in the U．S．used to be thirsty to know more about the new medical field．

    C．The researchers' insights are providing new methods to prevent common killers．

    D．The correct use of time in medicine attracts more attention in medical circle in the U．S．A．

The suggested title for this passage might be _________．

    A．Medicine Is Everything   B．Treatment Is Everything

    C．Timing Is Everything     D．Prevention Is Everything