Whenever we watch a horror movie and something scary happens, we might close our eyes and scream. However, chances are that we will continue to watch and enjoy the movie anyway. So why can fear be so much fun?

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh in the US, watching horror movies can raise our mood, unite people and increase our confidence.

In the study, 262 adults were asked to enter a haunted house. Inside,they were met with a series of intense(紧张的) things over a course of 35 minutes,and were asked to record their feelings both before and after the experience. At the same time, the researchers also monitored their brain waves. According to the researchers, the participants(参加者) were more likely to be happier and less anxious and tired after they left the house. That's because in this intense condition, their brains produce more dopamine.

What’s more, taking advantages of this sensation may bring people together . Experiencing the haunted house is just like running a 5 kilometers race or tackling a difficult climbing wall. This means that people in scary situations may be more likely to be uncertain and depend on others for support. “ We build a special closeness with those we are with when we are in an excited state,” said Margee Keer ,one of the study's authors, told The Atlantic. “ We're social and emotional beings---- we need each other in times of stress. So the fact that our bodies have evolved to make sure we feel close to those we’re with when afraid makes sense.”

In addition, being scared in a safe place could be a good way to increase our confidence. “Being scared in a safe place is a source of enjoyment and makes us feel good physically and can even serve as a confidence boost by reminding us that we can make it through a scary situation. We are strong.” Keer told The Independent.

1.The passage mainly tells us ____________.

A. fear can help us increase our confidence.

B. why fear can be so much fun.

C. fear is important in our daily life.

D. what happens in some horror movies?

2.It's clear that_____________ .

A. People in scary situations surely unite together.

B. Experiencing in the haunted house may help to raise mood.

C. Being scared can make us feel good physically.

D. Scary things are helpful.

3.In Margee Keer’s opinion_________.

A. Everyone should watch horror movies.

B. We feel close to those who’re with us when we feel anxious.

C. Going through a scary situation can help us to increase our confidence.

D. We don't need each other in times of stress.

4.The underlined word dopamine means_________ .

A. Knowledge

B. Power

C. Something that can make you tired.

D. a chemical which produces happy feelings.

5.Compare experiencing a haunted house to a 5 kilometers race to show that___.

A. the fear may bring people together.

B. the fear can increase our confidence.

C. the experience can raise our mood

D. experiencing in a haunted house is difficult.

Keep in the air: The Chaoyang Theater is one of the Beijing theaters to present acrobatics(杂技) all year round. Top acrobatic artists invited from all the country perform for Chinese and foreign tourists. The program includes trick cycling, leaping, through hoops and Chinese magic tricks. Some of the artists have won prizes in international competitions.

Time: 7:15 p.m., daily.

Place: 36, Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District.

Tel: 65072421, 65071818

Use your head: Green Hat is a new drama given by a group of young Chinese actors. It’s a rewrite of American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne’s famous novel The Scarlet Letter. It describes the girl hero’s greatest courage in finding the true love against the public disagreement.

Time: 7:15p.m. until March 5, except Mondays.

Place: China Children’s Theater.

Tel: 66037255, 66037265

Mix and match: The story of Puppets tells of a fairy, Zixia, who looks for true love in the human world. After watching a puppet play Peony Pavilion, she thinks there must be true love in the real world, so she uses magic to turn the puppet characters into humans, wanting to fall in love with the puppet hero. But things don’t go as she planned…Li Liuyi, the director of the play has made several successful tries present traditional operas in one play. This time he mixes Peking Opera, Kunqu Opera, Pingju Opera along with a band(乐队), using the structure of modern dramas.

Time: 7:30 p.m. until March 10, except Mondays.

Place: Small Playhouse of Beijing People’s Art Theater.

Tel: 65250123

Peking Opera: The Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances at the Chang’an Grand Theater. Each performance includes two classical excerpts(选段). One is Wenxi(a play focusing on singing and dancing); the other is Wuxi(a play full actions or dancing). The first night will be the Crossroad and Presenting a Pearl of the Rainbow Bridge. And the second night will see the performance of The Goddess of Heaven Scatters Flowers and Havoc in Heaven.

Time: 7:30 p.m., February 27, 28.

Place: Chang’an Grand Theater.

Tel: 86531043

1.We can learn from the passage that _________.

A. the story of puppets is a play held in China Children’s Theater

B. the artists who have won prizes will perform magic tricks

C. on March 5 there will be two plays for us to choose

D. the artists in the Peking Opera Troupe are from all over the country

2.If a tourist wants to see a performance on March 15, he can call _________ to book a ticket.

A. 86531043 B. 65250123 C. 66037255 D. 65071818

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

A. The director of the story of Puppets mixes different operas in it.

B. Green Hat is from a famous novel acted by some American artists.

C. Top acrobatic artists will present their performances around our country.

D. The Peking Opera Troupe will give two performances with the same excerpts.

The Earth has warmed by about half a degree (0.5度) over the last 100 years. It could be getting warmer on its own, but many scientists think people are making the Earth warmer by making a greenhouse effect (温室效应). The greenhouse effect is very important, Without it, the Earth would not be warm enough for us to live on. But just a little warmer than it is now could cause problems for humans, plants and animals.

Many of the things we do every day can change the Earth’s temperature. We send greenhouse gases (气体) into the air when we watch TV, turn on lights, dry hair, play video games, wash or dry our clothes or drive cars. The rubbish (waste) from factories and homes also produces (生产) greenhouse gases.

Even a small change in temperature can affect (影响) our weather. This can cause changes in the sea, the air, flooding (洪水) and our fresh water.

The change in the temperature can also cause changes in the living places for animals and plants.

Global warming (全球变暖) is a big problem, and we can do every little bit to help. We can also save many things. Remember: If you do a little, you can bring a better world.

1.Which of the following does not send greenhouse gases into the air?

A. Turning on a light. B. Walking to school.

C. Driving a car. D. Watching TV.

2.In this passage, the scientists are mainly trying to make the readers realize (意识到)________.

A. the earth could be getting warmer by itself

B. the earth is getting warmer in 100 years

C. the greenhouse effect is important

D. humans are making the earth warmer

3.Without the greenhouse effect, we would ________.

A. not be able to live B. be safer

C. have a cleaner earth D. have a better world

4.Global warming is a big problem, but ________.

A. we can’t do anything to help B. we don’t need to do anything

C. we can do something to help D. we can do something to stop it

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