It’s 3 o’clock and you’ve been hard at work. As you sit at your desk, a strong desire for chocolate overcomes you. You try to busy yourself to make it go away. But it doesn’t. Here is another situation. Perhaps you are not feeling well. The only thing you want to eat is a big bowl of chicken soup, like your mom used to make when you were sick as a child. Food cravings are a strong desire for a specific type of food. And they are normal.
Scientists at the website How Stuff Works compare hunger and cravings this way. Hunger is a fairly simple connection between the stomach and the brain. They even call it simply “stomach hunger.” When our stomachs burn up all of the food we have eaten, a hormone (荷尔蒙) sends a message to one part of the brain for more food, which regulates our most basic body functions such as thirst, hunger and sleep. The brain then produces a chemical to start the appetite and you eat. Hunger is a function of survival.
A craving is more complex. It activates (使活跃) brain areas related to emotion, memory and reward. These are the same areas of the brain activated during drug-craving studies. So, some scientists call food cravings “mind hunger.” People often crave foods that are high in fat and sugar. Foods that are high in fat or high in sugar produce chemicals in the brain. These chemicals give us feelings of pleasure.
In a 2007 study, researchers at Cambridge University found that “dieting or restricted eating generally increases the possibility of food craving.” So, the more you deny yourself a food that you want, the more you may crave it. However, fasting is a bit different. They found that eating no food at all for a short period of time lessened food cravings.
So, the next time you crave something very specific, know that your brain may be more to blame than your stomach.
1.What is the function of the first paragraph?
A. To remind readers of their own special food.
B. To deepen the understanding of hunger.
C. To report the discovery of craving study.
D. To lead to the topic of the whole passage.
2.What do we learn about food craving?
A. It shows food is linked to feelings.
B. It ensures a person survives hunger.
C. It means the stomach functions well.
D. It proves the brain decides your appetite.
3.What’s the likely result of dieting?
A. The decrease of chemicals. B. The increase of food desire.
C. The refusal of fat and sugar. D. The disappearance of appetite.
4.What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The functions of brain areas. B. What hunger is all about.
C. The findings of food craving. D. What dieting may bring us.
Quietly sitting there reading, I found myself suddenly listening to the train guard’s announcements. Train travelers will surely agree that when the guard makes an announcement, whether it’s the recorded message or the guard’s message, few people listen to it, because it’s often quite dull or hard to understand. This one was different. I noticed that other passengers appeared to be listening, too. Not only that, everyone was smiling!
Why was so much attention being paid to this message? As best I can recall, the guard said something along these lines, “Good Morning Ladies, Gentlemen and Children, this is the 7:35 a.m. from Penrith to Central and you’ll be pleased to know that we are right on time. And what a lovely morning it is in Sydney today. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and all’s right with the world. I trust you have a great day wherever you’re going. Thanks for catching my train this morning and I hope to see you again soon.”
Quite a few people (obviously previous strangers) started talking to one another about the guard’s excellent message and how good it had made everyone feel. I started thinking about this, and then I found the young guard and said “Were you the guard on the 7:35 a.m. from Penrith?” The guard seemed a bit stunned at first, replying, “Yes, yyyyes.” “Well, I really appreciate your announcement. Thank you for your extremely good message, which gave me and the other passengers such a good start to the day. Please keep doing it.” I said.
There are two messages for me in what happened that day. Firstly, when people are happy in their work it shows in what they do and say. Secondly, the story attaches much importance to the benefits that accumulate from thanking people for something they’ve done, particularly when it’s not expected. Can you imagine the conversation that guard would have when he got home?
1.Why do few train travelers listen to the announcements?
A. The messages are unattractive.
B. The guard’s voice is not clear.
C. They usually feel sleepy.
D. They are absorbed in books.
2.What does the underlined word “stunned” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. Patient. B. Cautious.
C. Surprised. D. Excited.
3.What might the guard talk about with his family when he got home?
A. The beautiful weather.
B. The recorded message.
C. The train from Penrith.
D. The unexpected appreciation.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. An Intelligent Guard. B. A Boring Train Story.
C. A Different Train Announcement. D. A Lovely Morning in Sydney.
Amsterdam is a special city. There are many places you should not miss during your visit. Here is our list of the best.
Amsterdam canal ring
The city old centre is formed from canal rings, which give you the feeling of space, freedom and peace. Walk through these canal streets or better — take a trip by renting a boat yourself. Another way to explore the Venice of the North is to take a ride on a bicycle. Any way you decide for—enjoy this city.
The National Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum is an attractive place to visit, especially with children. With many attractions in it, this colourful and enjoyable museum will help you understand the history of the Netherlands—a small nation which was one of the world’s greatest sea powers.
Amsterdam Brown Cafe
When you enter Amsterdam old cafes called Brown, at first it will seem too much from the past and too crowded, but the atmosphere is unique. Relax and watch— most of people around will be locals. Feel like one of them — the real Amsterdammers.
Civic Guards Gallery
This gallery is filled with old paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. The exhibited canvas may be not always the masterpieces of art, but these group portraits of Amsterdam citizens and their wives are an exquisite (精致的) document of the Dutch civilization and culture centuries ago.
To avoid waiting lines we advise you to buy your tickets in advance online through our Amsterdam attractions and museums tickets webpage.
1.How many ways are there for tourists to visit the city old centre?
A. 2. B. 3.
C. 4. D. 5.
2.Where would you go to learn more about local life?
A. Amsterdam canal ring.
B. The National Maritime Museum.
C. Amsterdam Brown Cafe.
D. Civic Guards Gallery.
3.Where does the passage probably come from?
A. A fiction. B. A travel guide.
C. A textbook. D. A science magazine.
假如你是李华，你所在城市的一家剧院将在本周末举办一场京剧演出，外教Charlie对此很感兴趣并向你询问有关事宜。请你用英语给他写封邮件，内容包括：
1. 简要介绍中国京剧；
2. 邀请他前往观看。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 不得涉及真实信息。
参考词汇：京剧：Beijing Opera；脸谱：facial make-up：选段：selection
Dear Charlie,
I’m more than pleased to know that
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Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Square dancing has been more and more popular with the elderly as their living conditions improve, Most people thought it can help people take regularly exercise and strengthen their fitness. Besides, it provides people more chances to take activity outdoors. However, some people argue that the music is very noisy, that disturbs the surrounding citizens’ normal life. Also, be exposed to such loud noise may do a harm to their health in the long run.
In my opinion, square dancing is a good form of exercise, so dancers should take our neighbors’ needs into consideration. If they choose a right time and turn down the music, it will cause fewer trouble for others.
According to legend, a young man, while wandering the desert, came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The ____ was so sweet, he filled his leather container so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his ____.
After a four-day journey he ____ the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and ____ his student lavishly(浪费地) for the sweet water. The young man returned to his with a ____ heart.
Later, the teacher let another student ____ the water. He spat it out, saying it was ____. It apparently had become stale(不新鲜的) because of the old ____ container. The student ____ his teacher: “Master, the water was ___ . Why did you __l to like it?” The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water, I tasted the ____. The water was simply the container for an get of loving-kindness and ____ could be sweeter.” I think we understand this lesson best when we receive ____ gifts of love from young children. Whether it’s an ugly plate or a bracelet, the natural and proper ____ is appreciation and expressed ____ because we love the idea within the gift.
Gratitude doesn’t always come ____. Unfortunately, most children and many adults ____ only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied(被体现) in it. We should remind ourselves and ____ our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. ____, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.
1.A. desert B. voice C. spring D. water
2.A. master B. teacher C. relative D. friend
3.A. took B. presented C. show D. delivered
4.A. thanked B. nodded C. laughed D. joked
5.A. light B. heavy C. happy D. broken
6.A. throw B. pour C. taste D. bring
7.A. tasty B. bitter C. hot D. awful
8.A. leather B. rubber C. metal D. firm
9.A. asked B. added C. challenged D. doubted
10.A. fragrant B. delicious C. smelly D. bitter
11.A. have B. pretend C. happen D. intend
12.A. gift B. meaning C. feeling D. drink
13.A. none B. everything C. seldom D. nothing
14.A. innocent B. precious C. guilty D. priceless
15.A. demand B. response C. comment D. problem
16.A. thankfulness B. smile C. laughter D. praise
17.A. firstly B. friendly C. immediately D. naturally
18.A. ignore B. value C. stress D. forget
19.A. tell B. bring C. teach D. send
20.A. As a result B. In a word C. After all D. In the meantime
