Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp
Everyone is forgetful, but as we age(变老), we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit—and that can be a very annoying thing. 1. Read on for some techniques worth trying.
1. 2.
People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study. 3. Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brain looking forward.
2. Go for a walk
Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain. 4.
3. Learn something new
Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time. 5. Or go dancing with your friends.
A. Focus on the future.
B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.
C. It should be something like learning gardening.
D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.
E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.
F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.
G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.
Pulling heavy suitcases all day in the summer is hard work, especially when you're a thin 14-year-old.That was me in 1940-the youngest and smallest baggage boy at New York City's Pennsyl-vania Railway Station.
After just a few days on the job, I began noticing that the other fellows were overcharging passengers. I'd like to join them, thinking, "Everyone else is doing it."
When I got home that night, I told my dad what I wanted to do." You give an honest day's work," he said, looking at me straight in the eye." They're paying you. If they want to do that, you let them do that."
I followed my dad's advice for the rest of that summer and have lived by his words ever since.
Of all the jobs I've had, it was my experience at Pennsylvania Railway Station that has stuck with me. Now I teach my players to have respect for other people and their possessions. Being a member of a team is a totally shared experience. If one person steals, it destroys trust and hurts everyone. I can put up with many things, but not with people who steal. If one of my players were caught stealing, he'd be gone.
Whether you're on a sports team, in an office or a member of a family, if you can't trust one another, there's going to be trouble.
1.What can be inferred about the baggage boys?
A. They could earn much, but they had to work hard.
B. Many of them earned money in a dishonest way.
C. They were all from poor families.
D. They were all thin, young boys.
2.What does the father's advice imply?
A. It is wrong to give more pay to the passengers.
B. Don't believe them if they are paying you more.
C. Don't follow others to overcharge the passengers.
D. It is difficult to work hard and live as an honest boy.
3.The writer can't put up with stealing because he thinks that ______.
A. it is a totally shared experience
B. it is considered as the most dangerous
C. it does great harm to human relationship
D. it may lead to the loss of his sports team
4.It can be concluded from the text that ______.
A. his father's advice helped him to decide which job to take up
B. working in the sports team was his most important experience
C. he learnt much from his shared experience with his team members
D. his experience as a baggage boy had a great influence on his later life
The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single-engined aeroplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter(高度表) failed and she didn’t know how high she was flying. At night, and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged into the sea.
Just before dawn, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope.
In the end, Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart was famous.
What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she had set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes.
In the years that followed, Amelia Earhart made several flights across the United States, and on each occasion she set a new record for flying time. Amelia Earhart made these flights to show that women had a place in aviation (航空) and that air travel was useful.
1.Which of the following statements is NOT the difficulty which Amelia Earhart met in her flight from north America to England?
A. She lost her direction.
B. The altimeter went out of order.
C. Her engine went wrong.
D. She was caught in a storm.
2.When Amelia Earhart saw flames coming from the engine, what did she do?
A. She did nothing but pray for herself.
B. She changed her direction and landed in Ireland.
C. She continued flying.
D. She lost hope of reaching land.
3.Which of the following statements was NOT mentioned?
A. She was the first woman who succeeded in flying across the Atlantic Ocean alone.
B. She made plans to fly around the world.
C. She was warmly welcomed in England, Europe and the United States.
D. She showed great courage in overcoming the difficulties during the flight.
4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Amelia Earhart—First Across the Atlantic
B. Amelia Earhart—Pioneer in Women’s Aviation
C. A New Record for Flying Time
D. A Dangerous Flight from North America to England
Welcome to one of the largest collections of footwear（鞋类）in the world that will make you green with envy（嫉妒）. Here at the Footwear Museum you can see exhibits（展品）from all over the world. You can find out about shoes worn by everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to pop stars.
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Room 1 The celebrity（名人）footwear section is probably the most popular in the entire museum. Started in the 1950s there is a wide variety of shoes and boots belonging to everyone from queens and presidents to pop stars and actors! Most visitors find the celebrities' choice of footwear extremely interesting. |
Room 2 Most of our visitors are amazed and shocked by the collection of “special purpose” shoes on exhibition here at the Museum of Footwear. For example, there are Chinese shoes made of silk that were worn by women to tie their feet firmly to prevent them from growing too much! |
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Room 3 The museum also exhibits shoe shaped objects. The variety is unbelievable. For example , there is a metal lamp that looks like a pair of shoes, and Greek wine bottles that are like legs! |
The footwear Library People come from all over the world to study in our excellent footwear library. Designers and researchers come here to look up information on anything and everything related to the subject of footwear.
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1. Where would you find a famous singer's shoes?
A. Room 2. B. Room 1.
C. Room 3. D. The Footwear Library
2.All exhibits in each room .
A. share the same theme
B. have the same shape
C. are made of the same material
D. belong to the same social class
3.The purpose of the text is to get more people to ____________.
A. do research B. design shoes
C. follow celebrities D. visit the museum
China is a land of bicycles. At least it was back in 1992 when I traveled the country. Back then everyone seemed to be riding a bicycle. Millions of them, all black. Cars were rare. Yet since my arrival in Beijing last year, I’ve found the opposite is true. There are millions of cars. However, people still use their bicycles to get around. For many, it’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel today. Bicycles also come in different colors---silver, green, red, blue, yellow, whatever you want.
It’s fun watching people biking. They rush quickly through crossroads, move skillfully through traffic, and ride even on sidewalks(人行道). Bicycles allow people the freedom to move about that cars just can’t provide.
Eager to be part of this aspect of Chinese culture, I decided to buy a bicycle. Great weather accompanied my great buy. I immediately jumped up on my bicycle seat and started home.
My first ride home was orderly (守秩序的). To be safe, I stayed with a “pack” of bikers while cars on the streets came running swiftly out of nowhere at times. I didn’t want to get hit. So I took the ride carefully.
Crossing the streets was the biggest problem. It was a lot like crossing a major highway back in the United States. The streets here were wide, so crossing took time, skill and a little bit of luck.
I finally made it home. The feeling on the bicycle was amazing. The air hitting my face and going through my hair was wonderful. I was sitting on top of the world as I passed by places and people. Biking made me feel alive.
1.According to the author, why are bicycles still popular in China today?
A. Because they are convenient and inexpensive.
B. Because they are traditional and safe.
C. Because they are colorful and available.
D. Because they are fast and environment friendly.
2.The author decided to buy a bicycle because he intended __________.
A. to ride it for fun B. to use it for transport
C. to experience local skills D. to improve his riding skills
3.How did the author feel about his street crossing?
A. It was boring. B. It was difficult.
C. It was lively. D. It was wonderful.
4.Which of the following best describes the author’s biking experience?
A. The author enjoyed showing off his biking skills.
B. The author took great pleasure in biking.
C. The author was praised by the other bikers.
D. The author was annoyed by the air while riding.
I made up my mind to drive to South Carolina to meet my friends in my used car. Though I had only been there once 36 and did not know the 37 very well. I was on the 38 after I had made some enquiries.
At Ashvelle, there was a crossroad where I could go on along the main road or I could take a short cut(小道，近路). The short cut was to 39 several hills and was dangerous, I hesitated (犹豫)for a little while and then chose the main road, for I wanted to be 40 .
Something strange happened 41 I drove a long way and found it was not the correct road that I wanted to 42 , but the hilly road I decided to avoid. I realized that it was at the 43 that I had made the 44 mistake. “What shall I do?” I asked myself. If I went back to take that road again, it would be very late by the time I got to Columbia. Thinking it 45 , I decided to go on. “If 46 people can go along this road, why can’t I?” I 47 myself.
The short cut, to my surprise, was not that 48 . In fact, it was only a very peaceful country road, 49 up and down two low 50 .There was 51 traffic. On both sides of the road, you could see trees, wild flowers, and 52 with cows and horses. My fear was 53 with the wind. Listening to the beautiful country music over my car stereo (立体声), I drove on and 54 the scenery which was so quiet and so natural. Even my used car forgot to give me 55 . It was just in this light heartedness that I arrived at my destination. My friends, after they heard what had happened to me, all said it sounded like an adventure.
1.A. ago B. before C. already D. still
2.A. town B. country C. way D. friends
3.A. highway B. car C. train D. phone
4.A. have B. go C. ride D. cross
5.A. safe B. dangerous C. fast D. slow
6.A. after B. before C. if D. since
7.A. come B. leave C. take D. drive
8.A. station B. corner C. crossroad D. beginning
9.A. road B. direction C. disappointed D. interesting
10.A. about B. over C. of D. up
11.A. another B. other C. the other D. others
12.A. asked B. forced C. encouraged D. told
13.A. far B. safe C. dirty D. dangerous
14.A. going B. coming C. driving D. walking
15.A. lands B. cars C. farms D. hills
16.A. heavy B. little C. few D. much
17.A. farms B. trucks C. houses D. villages
18.A. gone B. together C. covered D. coming
19.A. looked B. liked C. enjoyed D. found
20.A. happiness B. scenery C. joys D. problems
