Do you want to live a happier, less stressful (有压力的) life?
Try laughing for no reason at all. That’s how thousands of people start their day at Laughter Clubs around the world – and many doctors now think that having a good laugh might be one of the best ways to stay healthy.
The first Laughter Club was started in Mumbai, India, in 1995 by Dr Madan Kataria. “Young children laugh about 300 times a day. Adults laugh between 7 and 15 times a day,” says Dr Kataria. “Everyone’s naturally good at laughing – it’s the universal language. We want people to feel happy with their lives.” There are now more than 500 Laughter Clubs in India and over 1,300 worldwide.
Many doctors are also interested in the effects (效果) of laughter on our health. According to a 5 – year study in the body. Laughter improves our health against illness by about 40%.
So, what happens at a Laughter Club? I went along to my nearest club in South London to find out. I was quite nervous at the beginning of the class, to be honest – I wasn’t interested in laughing with a group of strangers, and I was worried about looking stupid. Our laughter teacher told us to clap our hands and say “ho ho ho, ha ha ha,” while looking at each other. However, our bodies can’t tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter, so they still produce the same healthy effects.
Surprisingly, it works! After ten minutes everybody in the room was laughing for real – and some people just couldn’t stop! At the end of the class I was surprised by how relaxed and comfortable I felt. So if you’re under stress, then start laughing. You might be very pleased with the results!

1. 1.

   In which country was the first Laughter Club started?

   1. A.
      Britain.
   2. B.
      America.
   3. C.
      Australia.
   4. D.
      India.
2. 2.

   How did the writer feel at the beginning of the class?

   1. A.
      Surprised.
   2. B.
      Pleased.
   3. C.
      Nervous.
   4. D.
      Stressful.
3. 3.

   When did the people in the club begin to laugh for real?

   1. A.
      After a few minutes.
   2. B.
      After a few hours.
   3. C.
      After a few seconds.
   4. D.
      After a few days.
4. 4.

   Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Fake laughter and real laughter are both good for health.
   2. B.
      40% of the people in Laughter Clubs are good friends.
   3. C.
      Adults laugh more often than children in a day.
   4. D.
      Laughing is the best way to prevent illness.

Do you wake up every day feeling too tired, or even upset? If so, then a new alarm clock could be just for you．

   The clock, called SteepSmart, measures your sleep cycle, and waits ____（36） you to be in your lightest phase of sleep ____（37） rousing you．Its makers say that should ______（38） you wake up feeling refreshed every morning．As you sleep you pass____（39） a sequence of sleep states---light sleep, deep sleep and REM（rapid eye movement） sleep---that ____（40） approximately every 90 minutes．The point in that cycle at which you wake can ____（41） how you feel later, and may ____（42） have a greater impact than how much or little you have slept．Being roused during a light phase ____（43） you are more likely to wake up energetic．

     SleepSmart ____（44） the distinct pattern of brain waves _____（45） during each phase of sleep, via a headband equipped _____（46） electrodes and a microprocessor．This measures the electrical activity of the wearer’s brain, in much the ____（47） way as some machines used for medical and research ____（48）, and communicates wirelessly with a clock unit near the bed．You ____（49） the clock with the latest time at _____（50） you want to be wakened, and it _____（51） duly wakes you during the last light sleep phase before that．

     The _____（52） was invented by a group of students at Brown University in Rhode Island ____（53） a friend complained of waking up tired and performing poorly on a test．“_____（54） sleep-deprived people ourselves, we started thinking of _____（55） to do about it．” Says Eric Shashoua, a recent college graduate and now chief executive officer of Axon Sleep Research Laboratories, a company created by students to develop their idea．

Do you wake up every day feeling too tired, or even upset? If so, then a new alarm clock could be just for you．
The clock, called SteepSmart, measures your sleep cycle, and waits ____（36） you to be in your lightest phase of sleep ____（37） rousing you．Its makers say that should ______（38） you wake up feeling refreshed every morning．As you sleep you pass____（39） a sequence of sleep states---light sleep, deep sleep and REM（rapid eye movement） sleep---that ____（40） approximately every 90 minutes．The point in that cycle at which you wake can ____（41） how you feel later, and may ____（42） have a greater impact than how much or little you have slept．Being roused during a light phase ____（43） you are more likely to wake up energetic．
SleepSmart ____（44） the distinct pattern of brain waves _____（45） during each phase of sleep, via a headband equipped _____（46） electrodes and a microprocessor．This measures the electrical activity of the wearer’s brain, in much the ____（47） way as some machines used for medical and research ____（48）, and communicates wirelessly with a clock unit near the bed．You ____（49） the clock with the latest time at _____（50） you want to be wakened, and it _____（51） duly wakes you during the last light sleep phase before that．
The _____（52） was invented by a group of students at Brown University in Rhode Island ____（53） a friend complained of waking up tired and performing poorly on a test．“_____（54） sleep-deprived people ourselves, we started thinking of _____（55） to do about it．” Says Eric Shashoua, a recent college graduate and now chief executive officer of Axon Sleep Research Laboratories, a company created by students to develop their idea．

Do you enjoy watching beautiful sunsets and seeing wildlife in some of the best parts of Wisconsin? Do you like being around people who share the same respect and love for natural resources? If you say“yes”, then a fisheries biologist is a great career choice for you.
As you can probably guess, education is very important. A Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries or biology is strongly recommended(推荐). Many biologists have a Master’s degree. But it’s not only good education that prepares you for a career as a fisheries biologist—field experience is also important. Volunteer work, internships(实习) and short-term fish technician positions are good ways to gain valuable training that can give you an edge in the competitive job market.
In addition to good education and field experience, a fisheries biologist needs other skills. You’ll spend a lot of time working with the public, so it’s important to feel comfortable talking to a variety of people. Good communication, listening, and presentation(陈述) skills are a must.
A common misconception among many people is that fisheries biologists get to fish all the time. Most biologists wish that were true. But as a fisheries biologist, you are especially busy during the fishing season, which leaves little time for you to actually go fishing. It’s sad, but true.
Each day brings something different in the life of a fisheries biologist. In the spring and fall, you spend a lot of time on the water shocking fish in order to sample the population, studying fish, and talking with people. The winter is spent analyzing(分析) fish data and communication with the public.
So if you find fish interesting and fun to learn about, and like working both outside and inside, consider a career as a fisheries biologist. You’ll never be bored!
【小题1】We can infer this passage was written to       .

Do you want to have a close friend? Do you know how to make a good friend? Now, let me tell you. Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kind of things they do.
The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy at first to smile, but remember most people will stay away from a scared or angry looking face.
One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?
Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who’s their favorite singer, where do they live, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation, too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. There’s nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrug (耸肩) for an answer.
Kids who show an interest in other kids and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.
【小题1】What does the underlined word scared( in para.2) mean?