Babies born in summer are more likely to become short-sighted in late life, a study has shown.
As many as a quarter of all cases of short-sightedness are caused by too great an exposure to sunlight in the first weeks of life, say eye experts.
They are advising all parents to put sunglasses on their babies during the first weeks.
Scientists had already established that over-exposure to sunlight caused short-sightedness in animals.
Researchers who compared the months in
which babies were born with whether they needed glasses later on say the
principle also applies to humans.
A study of almost 300,000 young
adults─the largest of its kind─showed that those born in June and July had a 25
per cent greater chance of becoming severely short-sighted than those born in
December or January. Research leader Professor Michael Belkin, of Tel Aviv
University, said it was because prolonged illumination(光照) causes the eyeball to
lengthen, causing short-sightedness.
Hence the more light a newborn is exposed to, the more the eyeball lengthens and the worse the short-sightedness will be.
The mechanism which lengthens the eyeball is associated with levels of melatonin(褪黑激素), a pigment (色素) which protects the skin against harmful rays of the sun.
In young babies not enough melatonin is released as protection, meaning they are more vulnerable to sunburn and changes to eyeball shape.
Sight expert Professor Daniel O’Leary, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said “At the moment we don’t know the precise cause of why light exposure affects sight, but the evidence seems to prove that it is one of the reasons for people becoming short-sighted.”
1. Babies born in summer are more likely to be short-sighted ____________.
A. because the summer sun is too strong for babies
B. because babies born in summer have lengthened eyeballs
C. if they are exposed to much sunlight in the first weeks after they are born
D. if parents don’t know a proper way to protect their babies’ eyes
2. Melatonin is a kind of material to ___________.
A. prevent the eyes from becoming near-sighted
B. protect the skin from harmful sun rays
C. make our body strong
D. protect babies’ eyes from summer sun
3. From what Professor Daniel O’Leary says we can conclude that ___________.
A. there is no evidence that short-sightedness is related to exposure to sunlight
B. whether light exposure affects sight still needs to be further proved
C. he believes that light exposure can cause short-sightedness
D. he tries to give the cause of why light exposure affects sight
4. The underlined word “vulnerable” in the passage probably means __________.
A. easy to be harmed B. resistant
C. protective D. changeable
第三部分 阅读（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 阅读理解（共15小题，每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列四篇短文，从每题所给的四个选现（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Weighed down（压得喘不过气来） by study? Pushed to the limit by the fast pace of life? Frightened by the possible war? Well, you’re not alone. Men and women in France are seeking relief using the world’s best medicine─laughter.
In the past year, more than 25 laughter clubs have been set up across the country. People of all ages release their stress with an hour of group laughs. “People telephoned me and said they have forgotten what it is to laugh. They want to find a place where they can escape all their problems for a while. So they come,” said 40-year-old Jocelyn Le Moan. She usually takes a class of around 60 people through a series of laughter techniques.
Her pupils range from teenagers to 70 years old, but most are middle-aged white collars seeking 60 minutes of relaxation at the end of a busy day.
Le Moan takes them through the “Lion Laugh” and the “Laugh Contest”, where participants “speak” to each other in different ways. And instead of talking, they break into fits of laughter. At the end there are 15 minutes of “meditation”（沉思）,when they lie on their backs and let the laughs burst out of their mouths.
“I love it. It’s an experience that has changed my life. Through it I rediscovered the child’s laugh inside me,” said Romain Jourffroy, 24.
Like Jourffroy, many laughter club members find themselves changed into children again, and why not? The average preschooler laughs up to 400 times a day. The average adult only a sad seven to fifteen.
The physical benefits of laughter are already well-recognized. Doctors say the act of laughing releases good chemicals into the blood-stream, while the quick breathing that accompanies it helps massage（按摩）the digestive organs and strengthens the heart.
“A full hour is like having your insides go jogging! One finishes out of breath, but feels revitalized (产生新活力). And on top of that, you’ve had a laugh,” said doctor Alexisd Estaing.
And many participants in Paris also emphasize the psychological benefits. They believe that laughter is a way of making oneself feel more confident.
“Maybe it is because we are surrounded by so many troubles that we feel the need to keep laughing,” said Anne Maurigiano, a 29-year-old filmmaker.
1. From the passage, we can conclude the following but __________.
A. Jocelyn Le Moan is a teacher of the club.
B. the members are mostly middle-aged white collars.
C. people always need some way to relax in life.
D. laugh freely and everything goes well.
2. The writer suggested that you should __________.
A. have a good laugh after a busy day
B. talk to each other about what troubles you
C. learn series of laughter techniques
D. take the world’s best medicine
3. Which of the following is NOT included among the benefits of laughing ?
A. It can make people rediscover their children’s laugh.
B. It can release good chemical into blood-stream.
C. It can make you feel self-confident.
D. It can cure the illness of people.
4. What does the phrase “on the top of that ” mean?
A. besides B. on the top of tiredness
C. above all D. on the top of your energy
第二部分 完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分， 满分30分）
Our airplane was just beside the airport building. It did not look too strong to me, but I decided not to think about such things. We saw the baggage going out ___31___ it on trolleys and being ___32___ from under the aircraft. Next, three men and three girls, all in uniform, went over to the plane and ___33___ it. Over the loudspeakers we were ___34___ the plane was ready to leave and were asked to walk ___35___ to it. Everybody moved quickly in order to ___36___ the seats they wanted. I was ___37___ to get a seat near the tail, but the plane looked ___38___ inside than it had from outside. I fastened my seat belt ___39___ we took off and tried to ___40___ my nervousness. www.7caiedu.cn
After an hour’s flying I ___41___ black clouds ahead through my window. An electric sign flashed ___42___: “Fasten your seat belts, please,” one of the hostesses made a ___43___ request over the loudspeakers. She told us we were about to fly into a storm but ___44___ cheerfully there was nothing to worry ___45___. Suddenly, the plane ___46___ all over, dropped about twenty feet and seemed to hang on one ___47___. Then it rose twenty feet and there was a great flash of lightning. The three girls did their best to ___48___ pills for airsickness and ___49___ the passengers. Soon the sky became light again. The pilot had ___50___ to get above the storm.
31. A. at B. over C. to D. above
32. A. held B. contained C. carried D. loaded
33. A. arrived B. entered C. climbed D. flew
34. A. asked B. noticed C. announced D. told
35. A. out B. inside C. in D. by
36. A. fetch B. hold C. keep D. get
37. A. impossible B. possible C. unable D. unsuitable
38. A. prettier B. stronger C. smaller D. heavier
39. A. before B. after C. until D. when
40. A. smooth B. forget C. correct D. drive
41. A. noticed B. looked C. watched D. realized
42. A. on B. up C. out D. in
43. A. general B. similar C. common D. sharp
44. A. smiled B. spoke C. added D. acted
45. A. at B. about C. on D. with
46. A. moved B. struck C. shook D. shocked
47. A. edge B. line C. side D. wing
48. A. give out B. give off C. give up D. give back
49. A. save B. cool C. persuade D. comfort
50. A. succeeded B. flown C. attempted D. managed
---What do you think of last Friday’s charity pop concert, Tim?
---It was a great success as a whole. Actually we ____ with half of the money collected.
A. will be satisfied B. were satisfied
C. would be satisfied D. would have been satisfied
In no city of China ____ little about the economic development.
A. the government cares B. does the government care
C. doesn’t the government care D. the government doesn’t care
--- Is there anything else to discuss?
--- No, that’s all, I guess. ____
A. What for? B. Hurry up, will you C. Let’s call it a day, shall we?D. How time flies!
