It is generally believed that we are getting cleaned when we step under a shower. We are, but we’re also giving a home to lots of tiny little creatures we didn’t even know about. A showerhead carries thousands of bacteria called Mycobacterium．These can cause problems like coughs and tiredness, and a general feeling of poorliness (身体不舒服). When you turn on the water, the bacteria go from the showerhead onto and into your body.
This is a finding of Norman R. Pace and his team at the University of Colorado, in the US. The scientists investigated bacteria in all kinds of human environment, including showers．Pace's team looked at 45 showerheads in nine American cities. They discovered that 30 percent of them had large amounts of flying Mycobacterium.
But Pace said that they pose few threats to the health．Only those with a weak immune system might need to worry．He told the New York Times that the bacteria are not as unpleasant as might be thought．He said that having a shower is no more dangerous than anything else we do in the morning．
But for those who feel sick about the idea of all those microorganisms (微生物), he had some advice. Let the water run for 30 seconds before getting into the shower. Why? The number of bacteria is smaller than that when the water is just turned on. If that seems like a waste of water, he added that you could also change your showerhead every few months.
However, Pace had good news too. He has also been testing the air in US subways. Apart from iron particles (粒子), which are ground off the track by the wheels of trains, subway air is fresh. The reason is that a train’s movement pumps fresh outdoor air into the tunnels.
Pace explained that he wanted to understand the natural microbial environments of public places. This kind of knowledge might help discover the microbes to be used in a bioterrorist (生物恐怖分子) attack.
1.From the finding of Norman R. Pace, after taking a shower, we might cough or feel tired because .
A. it’s easy to get a cold when taking a bath
B. the showerhead carries many bacteria causing illness
C. we don’t get cleaned while showering
D. we don’t get a weak immune system
2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Hot water could kill most of bacteria in showerheads.
B. Of 45 showerheads surveyed in nine cities, 30 carried large amounts of Mycobacterium.
C. Changing showerheads is the only way to avoid microorganisms.
D. Shower water contains much less bacteria after being left to run for 30 seconds.
3.We can learn from the third paragraph that .
A. having a shower in the morning is more dangerous than at other time
B. the bacteria always threat people’s health
C. there is no reason to fear microorganisms for people with strong immune system
D. it is better to do some exercise in the morning than have a shower
4.The underlined word “pose” in the third paragraph probably means “______”．
A. cause B. avoid C. describe D. promise
5.What contributes to fresh air in US subways?
A. The train’s movement. B. Iron particles．
C. Train wheels. D. Air conditioners on the trains．
Why is reading so important? Joseph Addison once said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is 1. the body.” I am sure you 2. have heard this quote. Reading is a great hobby, 3. makes you discover yourself. Reading good stories can help you solve some problems in your own life. Besides, reading 4. sets a good example to younger generations.
Sadly, people nowadays seem to have totally lost interest in this activity. Children are busy with computer games, 5. adults use their cell phones or computers to search for information. 6. seems that people have forgotten 7. importance of reading. Anybody can use the Internet to look for information, but the sources are 8. as reliable as a book.
To open a book is always beneficial! Don’t spend all your spare time on the computer screen or cell phones.
I’d been travelling for long hours on a lonely country road when I had a flat tyre. So I had to and get the tools to fix the problem. It certainly wasn’t doing this with a white shirt and suit on.
Nightfall was approaching. Suddenly a car pulled up beside me. A man got out and offered to me. Seeing tattoos (纹身) on his arm, I became as thoughts of robberies flashed through my mind. But I could say anything, he had already begun to take the tools to change the . While watching him, I happened to look back at his car and noticed someone sitting in the passenger seat. This me.
Then, without warning, it began to rain. He suggested that I wait in his car because my car was unsafe. As the rain increased, I unwillingly agreed. When I settled into the back seat, a woman’s voice came from the front seat. I replied with much when seeing an old woman there. It must be his mother, I thought. To my surprise, the old woman was a neighbor of the man who was helping me. “Jeff insisted on stopping when he saw you the tyre.” “I am grateful for his help,” I said. “Me too!” she said with a smile. He helped drive her to see her husband twice a week in a nursing home. She also said that he at the church and taught disadvantaged students for free.
Finally, Jeff helped me change the tyre. I tried to offer him money and of course he refused it. As we shook hands to say goodbye I apologized for my stupid at the first sight of him, and this incident warned us that we shouldn’t judge people by the way they .
1.A. stop B. move C. see D. look
2.A. difficult B. easy C. bad D. polite
3.A. lift B. carry C. drive D. help
4.A. discouraged B. disappointed C. frightened D. astonished
5.A. as B. before C. until D. when
6.A. tyre B. suit C. shirt D. tools
7.A. puzzled B. embarrassed C. calmed D. concerned
8.A. fear B. relief C. satisfaction D. delight
9.A. taking on B. fighting for C. picking out D. struggling with
10.A. volunteered B. studied C. grew D. performed
11.A. ignorance B. words C. reaction D. comment
12.A. drove B. walked C. behaved D. looked
Never to him that he could be admitted to the famous university.
A. occurred it B. it did occur C. did it occur D. it occurred
I first met Lily five years ago. She ___ as a nurse in a hospital at the time.
A. was working B. has worked C. had been working D. had worked
A recent survey shows that the number of children who from the countryside with their parents ________nearly 320,000 in Beijing.
A. comes; are B. come; is C. come; are D. comes; is
