Living in a green area can make you live longer, according to the research published today. The
research also shows that the difference in life expectancy (平均寿命) between rich and poor becomes
smaller among those who live in an environment with parks and trees.
     Richard Mitchell, from Glasgow University, and his colleagues, found that the gap between the
number of deaths of people on high incomes and the number of deaths of those on low incomes in
green areas was half that compared with figures relating to builtup areas.
     Green spaces, classified by the researchers as "open, undeveloped land with natural vegetation",
encouraged people to walk and be more active. Exercise in these settings could have greater benefits
than exercise elsewhere, the researchers said.
     The benefits potentially go beyond exercise. Studies have shown that being around green spaces
can reduce blood pressure and stress levels, and possibly help patients recover faster.
     A number of researchers have looked at the effects of greenery on our wellbeing. But few studies
had looked at whether living in green areas reduced health inequalities, the Glasgow team said.
     Using information from a landuse database of 2001, the researchers divided the preretirement
population of England into four groups according to income level, and five groups according to access
to green space. They then looked at death rate for 2001-2005.
     They found that the inequality in death rate from all causes relating to lack of money was less in
those populations in the greenest areas compared with the figures for people living in more builtup
places. They found an even stronger relationship when it came to deaths from certain diseases such
as heart conditions and stroke (中风). There was no difference, however, in deaths from lung cancer.
     The researchers said that changing the physical environment was an easier way to fight against poor
health than using media campaigns or giving out information on health. "The result of the study is clear,
environments that promote good health might be very important in the fight to reduce health inequalities."

1. The underlined word "that" in Paragraph 2 refers to ________.

A. the gap                          
B. the number of deaths
C. the income                      
D. the living area

2. What was the special point of the Glasgow team's research? 

A. They offered a scientific definition of "green spaces". 
B. They encouraged people to exercise in green areas.
C. They studied the effects of greenery on people's diseases.
D. They focused on the influence of greenery on health inequalities.

3. What advice would the researchers probably give according to the last paragraph? 

A. More health information should be given to the public.
B. People should take more exercise every day.
C. More trees and grasses should be planted in cities.
D. People should fight against health inequality.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?  

A. People should live in green areas.
B. Green spaces promote good health.
C. Income influences health less than environment.
D. Exercise in green areas benefits people a lot.

     Early people had very little effect on the environment. They lived in eaves in very small' clan' groups.
They collected or killed only enough for the clan's survival. Early clans were nomadic, which means that
they did not stay in one place. Instead, they moved around, following the animals that were their main
food source and seeking areas where seasonal plants grew wild. Moving around seasonally helped to
protect the environment. The land had time to recover and animals had time to breed (繁殖) before the clan
returned for the next season.
     As time went by, these small family clans joined with others to form larger groups for protection. Joining
with other clans gave them more hunters and more women to help cut up the meat and share it between
families. Eventually, people tamed (驯养) wild animals such as dogs and horses. People settled around rivers
and fertile plains to share responsibilities and duties. Then, people began to plant crops instead of moving to
areas where the plants grew. This development changed the environment.
     Traditional forms of work also changed. Some people were hatter at performing a particular task than
other clan members, so they began to specialize in things they were good at doing. This also meant that they
began to exchange their goods for things that others produced.
     People began to communicate with distant tribes. Land was cleared for roads. Foreign plants and animals
were transported to places where they had not existed before. Specialization also gave people more free time.
So art, dance and music became important ways of expressing feelings and thoughts. This was how many
great civilizations started.
     Compared to the past, modern civilization has experienced many changes to become the highly developed
society that exists today. Populations have increased rapidly. Forests have been cleared for farms. Inventions
and technology have made work easier.
     However, pollution and other serious problems have also resulted from human progress. As concerned
citizens, it is up to us to learn from past mistakes and to help maintain and improve our environment.

1. Early tribes didn't have much effect on animal population because _____.

A. they kept animals for themselves
B. they ate only vegetables
C. they killed only enough for food
D. they loved animals

2. The main purpose for small clans to join together was _____.

A. to hunt animals
B. to seek safety
C. to share caves
D. to protect environment

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

A. Early people moved to new places looking for new sources of food.
B. Modem civilization began when people started to live together in big groups.
C. Modem advancements are always good for the environment.
D. People began to exchange goods because they didn't have enough money.

4. It can be concluded from the passage that _____.

A. human progress has brought civilization to the society
B. civilization has improved traditional forms of work
C. our environment has been affected by human progress
D. early people understood environmental protection

     Nuclear energy is a controversial topic. There has been widespread public debate over it. It seems that the
nuclear energy is either a gigantic disaster waiting to happen or the all-powerful way of the future.
     It is often believed that unclear energy is something we cannot do without. We live in a consumer society
with a huge demand for commercial products of all kinds. Besides, an increase in industrial production is
considered to be one solution to the problem of mass unemployment. Such an increase assumes an abundant
and cheap energy supply. Many people believe nuclear energy provides an endless and economical source of
power and that it is therefore fundamental for an industrially developing society. Among other advantages is
that unclear power, except for accidents, is clean. A further advantage is that a nuclear power station can be
run and maintained by relatively few technical and administrative staff. The nuclear reactor represents a great
step in our scientific evolution and, whatever the anti-nuclear group says, it is wrong to expect a return to
more primitive sources of fuel.
     However, opponents (people who oppose something)of nuclear energy point out that nuclear power stations
bring a direct danger not only to the environment but also to civil liberties. Environmentalists argue in the long
run nuclear energy wastes valuable resources and disturbs the ecology to an extent which could bring about
the destruction of the human race. Furthermore, it is questionable whether unclear power is a cheap source
of energy when everything is considered. There have, for example, been very costly accidents in America, in
Britain and, of course, in Russia. The possibility of increases in the cost of uranium (铀) in addition to the cost
of greater safety provisions could price nuclear power out of the market.
     In spite of the case against nuclear energy above, nuclear energy programmes are expanding, which
assumes a continual growth in industrial production and consumer demands. However, it is doubtful whether
this growth will or can continue. Having weighed up the arguments in both sides, it seems that there are good
economic and ecological reasons for sources of energy other than nuclear power.

1. What's the writer's attitude toward nuclear energy?

A. Objective.
B. Negative.
C. Tolerant.
D. Appreciative.

2. According to the opponents, which of the following is true of nuclear energy?

A. Primitive.
B. Endless.
C. Cheap.
D. Unsafe.

3. Some people believe that nuclear energy is the most important because _____.

A. nuclear power stations can be run and maintained by relatively few staff
B. it can meet the growing demand of an industrially developing society
C. it represents a huge step forward in our scientific evolution
D. it provides a perfect way out to increase employment

4. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?

A.  B.
C.                     D. 

     America is a country on the move. In unheard-of numbers, people of all ages are exercising their way to
better health. According to the latest figures, 59 percent of American adults exercise regularly-up 12 percent
from just two years ago and more than double the figure of 25 years ago. Even non-exercisers believe they
would be more attractive and confident if they were more active.
     It is hard not to get the message. The virtues of physical fitness are shown on magazine covers, postage
stamps, and television ads of everything from beauty soaps to travel books. Exercise as a part of daily life did
not catch on until the late 1960s when research by military doctors began to show the health benefits of' doing
regular physical exercises. Growing publicity (宣传) for races held in American cities helped fuel a strong
interest in the ancient sport of running. Although running has leveled off in recent years as Americans have
discovered equally rewarding-and sometimes safer- forms of exercise, such as walking and swimming, running
remains the most popular form of exercise.
     As the popularity of exercise continues to mount, so does scientific evidence of its health benefits. The key
to fitness is exercising the major muscle groups vigorously (强有力地) enough to approximately double the
heart rate and keep it doubled for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. Doing such physical exercises three times or more
a week will produce considerable improvements in physical health in about three months.

1. It can be learnt from the passage that the health benefits of exercise ____.

A. are to be further studied
B. are self-evident
C. are yet to be proved
D. are supported by scientific evidence

2. A growing interest in sports developed after ____.

A. an increasing number of races were held in American cities
B. research showed their health benefits
C. scientific evidence of health benefits was shown on TV ads
D. people got the message from magazine covers and postage stamps

3. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Exercise-The Road to Health
B. Scientific Evidence of Health Benefits
C. Different Forms of Exercise
D. Running-A Popular Form of Sport

4. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the phrase "leveled off" in the paragraph 2?

A. Reached its lowest level in popularity.
B. Stopped being popular.
C. Stopped increasing in popularity.
D. Become very popular.