For a few years, I have been wearing a ring on my right hand. It’s not always the ______ ring, but it’s always a ring that has ______ on it so that when I look at it, I’m ______ or reminded of something important. I have made a ______ of buying rings like this whenever I see one in a store. Sometimes I give them away as ______ to someone like Jennie. I first met Jennie in the ______ waiting room and we had talked several times. One night I sat down beside her and ______ how her son was doing because I knew that he was in very ______ condition. She told me that she didn’t know what to do any more because it seemed none of the ______ from the doctors was good. They weren’t at all sure her son was going to ______ the accident that had him so badly. With ______ in her eyes she said, “They’re ______my hope.” I knew then that it was ______ just a coincidence(巧合)that I was wearing the ring that I had on that day. As she ______ to talk, I ______ slipped the ring off my finger and placed it in Jennie’s hand. I told her to wear it to remember that God loved her and He would be with her ______ all of this. ______ Jennie looked down at the ring, she got excited and then held it tightly, ______ the word written on the ring was “HOPE”. The last day I was at the hospital, I saw Jennie in the distance as I got on the lift. She ______ and held up the hand with the ring on it as she called out to me saying, “Look, I ______ have Hope!”
1.A. special B. expensive C. same D. valuable
2.A. words B. pictures C. names D. symbols
3.A. admired B. encouraged C. trusted D. puzzled
4.A. plan B. point C. list D. habit
5.A. gifts B. prizes C. awards D. thanks
6.A. railway B. school C. hospital D. airport
7.A. asked B. explained C. thought D. found
8.A. favorable B. normal C. serious D. excellent
9.A. advice B. news C. predict D. comfort
10.A. defeat B. experience C. anger D. survive
11.A. apologies B. tears C. instructions D. doubt
12.A. keeping up B. bringing down C. cutting off D. taking away
13.A. other than B. rather than C. more than D. less than
14.A. continued B. refused C. attempted D. started
15.A. cautiously B. quietly C. nervously D. shyly
16.A. over B. beyond C. through D. within
17.A. Until B. While C. Since D. When
18.A. for B. so C. yet D. and
19.A. shouted B. waved C. cheered D. hesitated
20.A. ever B. only C. still D. Just
How to Eat slowly to Avoid Overeating
Eating slowly can help you to better understand your real hunger signals and can help you to recognize reasons for faster eating, such as emotions or simply liking the taste of a food. However, eating slowly is not a decision that you make suddenly.1.
1.Adjust you mind. Do not even attempt to acquire the habit of eating slowly before you're mentally ready. Relax and use your imagination to create mental images that your brain will remember. As part of this mental process, imagine yourself lean and fit.
2.2. Eating slowly isn't just about slowing down the chewing; it also about slowing down your food choices. As you show out the processed food, replace it with healthy, unprocessed or much less processed choices.
3. Always relax before you start eating. Take a few deep breaths through the nose and not through the mouth. As you do so, hold your breath briefly and exhale(呼气) slowly by the mouth.3.In this way, you start to remove any risk of comfort eating.
4. Drink a glass of water or eat a small bowl of soup before your main dish. This will help you sense of fullness. Be aware that not everyone advocates drinking during a meal though ,as some people believe that this can remove the nutrients from your meal. 4.
5. Spend at least 20 minutes on your meal . 5. Eat your last portion really slowly , if you are still hungry after 20 minutes ,it means you are eating too fast !
A．Put the fork down after putting food in your mouth.
B．Get rid of the stress before you start eating.
C．Rather, it's a habit that you'll need to acquire with practice.
D．However, specialists believe water actually aids in digestion.
E. Remove as many processed foods from your plate or food storage as possible.
F. Have a wall clock in plain view from the table to adjust your eating speed.
G. It is wise to speak to your doctor about this, if it's still the case for you.
Researchers used information from the Framingham Study, which began in 1948. The Framingham Study gathers information about physical and mental( 心 理 的 ) health, personal behavior and diet. At first, the study involved about 5,000 people in the American state of Massachusetts. Now, more than 12,000 persons are taking part.
Information from the Framingham Study showed earlier that happiness can spread from person to person. So can behaviors like littering and the ability to stop smoking.
University of Chicago psychologist (心理学家) John Cacioppo led the recent study. He and other researchers tried to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.
Having a social connection with a lonely person increased the chances that another person would feel lonely. In fact, a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. A friend of that person was 25% more likely. The researchers say this shows that a person could indirectly be affected by someone’s loneliness.
The effect was strongest among friends. Neighbors were the second most affected group. The effect was weaker on husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters. The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.
The New York Times newspaper reports that, on average, people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent, or two and a half fewer lonely days.
Loneliness has been something to do with health problems like sadness and sleeping difficulties. The researchers believe that knowing the causes of loneliness could help in reducing it.
The study suggests that people can take steps to stop the spread of loneliness. They can do this by helping individuals they know who may be experiencing loneliness. The result can be helpful to the whole social group.
1.What is true about the Framingham Study?
A. It involves more than 12,000 participants. B. It was only carried out in 1948.
C. It was led by John Cacioppo. D. It showed that any behavior could spread.
2.From the passage, we can learn that________?
A. the habit of littering doesn’t spread
B. a lonely person won’t have friends
C. everyone may be affected by others’ loneliness
D. lonely people don’t know the cause of their loneliness
3.Which statement about the spread of loneliness is true?
A. The spreading effect was the second strongest among friends.
B. Women are more likely to be affected than men.
C. No spreading effect was found on husbands and wives.
D. Brothers are more easily affected than neighbors.
4.If you make 10 more friends in a year, the days of your feeling loneliness will be reduced by
A. 48 days B. 20 days
C. 25 days D. 15 days
It was a comfortable sunny Sunday. I was going to meet an old university friend I hadn't seen for years, and was really excited.
My train was running a little late, but that was no big problem - I could text him to say I would be delayed. He would understand. But… where was my mobile phone? I had that familiar sinking feeling. Yes, I'd left it at home.
No mobile phone. I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling anxious, on edge and worried when I don't have my phone with me. In fact, I know I'm not alone: two-thirds of us experience ‘nomophobia’ (无手机恐惧症), the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.
That's according to a study from 2012 which surveyed 1,000 people in the UK about their relationship with mobile phones.
It says we check our mobile phones 34 times a day, and that 18-24 year-olds, especially girls, are the most likely to suffer fear of being without their mobiles: 77% of them say they are unable to be apart from their phones for more than a few minutes.
Do you have nomophobia ?
• You never turn your phone off
• You frequently(频繁地) check for texts, missed calls and emails
• You always take your phone to the bathroom with you
• You never let the battery run out
It's funny to think that around 20 years ago the only people with mobile phones would be businessmen carrying their large, plastic ‘bricks’. Of course, these days, mobile phones are everywhere. A UN study from this year said there would be more mobile phones than people across the world by the end of 2020.
And when there are more phones than people in the world, maybe it's time to ask who really is in charge(主管)? Are you in control of your phone, or does your phone control you?
So, what happened with my university friend? When I arrived a few minutes late he just laughed and said: "You haven't changed at all – still always late!" And we had a great afternoon catching up, full of jokes and stories, with no desire(欲望) to check my phone.
Not having it with me felt strangely free. Maybe I'll leave it at home on purpose next time.
1.What does the passage talk about?
A. The history of mobile phones.
B. The story of meeting an old university friend.
C. The attraction of playing mobile phone.
D. The terrible feeling of being without their mobiles.
2.The underlined phrase “on edge” the third paragraph probably means __________.
A. energetic B. nervous
C. brilliant D. amazed
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the using mobiles?
A. Worried B. Positive
C. Neutral D. Negative
4.According to the passage, who is most likely to be addicted(上瘾的) to mobiles?
A. a successful manager B. a 21-year-old girl
C. a 21-year-old boy D. a lonely middle-aged person
There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen newspapers and magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my 21st Century Teens.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey, by train.
1.The author expected the train trip to be_______.
A. adventurous B. pleasant
C. exciting D. boring
2.What did the author remember most fondly of her train trip?
A. The friendly country people. B. The mountains along the way.
C. The crowds of people in the streets. D. The simple lunch served on the train.
3.Where was the writer going?
A. Johore Baru. B. The Causeway.
C. Butterworth. D. Singapore.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A. Comfort in traveling by train. B. Pleasure of living in the country.
C. Reading gives people happiness. D. Smiles brighten people up.
The National Day holiday is a great opportunity to do something a little different. Many people use the National Day for a getaway, a short trip to leave the stress of their everyday lives behind and explore, learn, or relax.
Hotel Romance
Many hotels and resorts feature something special to start the getaway, such as champagne, flowers, or a fruit basket in the room on arrival. Getaway packages usually include a room with something special, a heart shaped bed, for example. Additional benefits could be room service meals or other private dining, plus tickets or discounts for local attractions.
Visit a Spa
Spa getaways can take place at a location that focuses only on spa services or at a hotel that offers a spa as one of its features. Some spas emphasize treatments fit for their geographic area or a local attraction. A spa in a grape growing region might provide grape juice masks, or a hotel near a hot spring could offer mineral baths. Most spas offer a range of massage, health and beauty treatments, so a spa getaway can be relaxing with other benefits.
Learn a Skill
The National Day holiday may not be enough time to become an expert at something new, but it provides a way for people to begin their explorations. Some organizations offer intensive courses that last five or six days. People with special interests can get away from their routines while learning such things as how to make beer, speak a new language, or take better photos.
Help Others
Some organizations cooperate with businesses to have accommodations and activities for short-term volunteers. Most volunteer vacations involve ecology friendly or charity activities. A volunteer getaway is a way to relieve stress and help others at the same time.
Stay in a National Park
For those who want to relax in a rural environment, a national park fits the bill. Most national parks provide camping areas for tents and trailers. Several have cabins within the parks available to rent. A getaway to a national park provides privacy, stress relief, and the time to get to know some important natural resources.
1.It can be learned from the text that .
A. spas are offered in the tourist attractions all over the country
B. intensive courses of some organizations help people get away from home
C. helping others at weekend makes people feel free and relaxed
D. people may get close to nature in a national park
2.Which of the following can be rented in a national park?
A. Cabins. B. Trailers.
C. Camping area. D. Privacy.
3.The best title of the passage can be .
A. Away from Our Busy Work B. Good Ways to Relieve Stress
C. Enjoy Life and Help Others D. National Day Holiday Getaway Ideas
