Weighing too much can damage your health, and obesity is a growing problem for both kids and
adults around the world.
      Sleep might be one answer to the problem.A new study has found that elementary school students
who slept too little were more likely to gain pounds.In the United States today, some 9 million children
over the age of 6 are obese (too fat).
     Past studies have shown a link between sleeping less and weighing more, but scientists have had a
tough time determining"which_came_first, the_chicken_or_the_egg", says Julie C. Lumeng of the
University of   Michigan in Ann Arbor.In other words, it hasn't been clear whether kids who weigh too
much have trouble sleeping, or whether sleeping less leads to weight gain.Both scenarios (情況) seemed
equally possible.
     To get a better idea of which causes which, Lumeng and his colleagues interviewed the parents of
785 third graders from around the United States.The parents answered questions about how well their
kids slept that year.Three years later, the parents answered the same questions.By sixth grade,18
percent of kids involved in the study were obese.The scientists found no relationship between weight
and the students'race or gender.It also didn't matter how strict their parents were.Obesity struck all of
these groups equally.
     Instead, sleep seemed to be the key factor.Over the 3 years of the study, the children averaged a
healthy 9.5 hours of sleep a night.Some kids, however, slept a lot more-or less-than others.For the sixth
graders, every hour of sleep above the 9.5hour average was linked to a 20 percent lower risk of being
obese.Sleep appeared doubly important for the third graders.Every extra hour of sleep they got was
linked to a 40 percent drop in obesity by third grade.
     "I expected we'd find that this (sleep link with obesity) was just a_bunch_of_bunk, " says Lumeng,
a pediatrician.But their findings were convincing.No matter how her team looked at the link, "we
couldn't make it go away."

1. According to the research, ________.

A. 9 million people in America have a weight problem
B. not enough sleep contributes to a gain in weight
C. sixth graders need more sleep than third graders
D. lack of sleep has become the most deadly killer

2. The statement "which came first, the chicken or the egg" suggests that________.

A. scientists are sure about the causes of children's obesity
B. it's easy to decide the cause and effect of this problem
C. scientists are still confused about the cause and effect of the problem
D. you'll develop obesity if you eat chicken and eggs

3. Recent studies show that a child's weight is influenced by the________.

A. amount of sleep  
B. parents'attitude to him
C. race or gender  
D. performance in school

4. The underlined part in the last paragraph most probably means something________.
A. acceptable  
B. understandable
C. reliable  
D. unreasonable

     In Yemen, you always see one type of vehicle on the road:the water truck.They travel mountain roads
and cross deserts to bring Yemenis the goods more valuable than oil.It is one that only the rich can afford, with the supply regularly  being cut off.Others must rely on scarce rain or charity to  fight thirst.
     Experts say Yemen is going to be the first country in the world to run out of water.The capital, Sanaa, will run out of drinking water as early as 2025, says a report by the World Bank.
     Hannan, an 18yearold from Lahej, said that only the rich could prepare for cuts in supply."In a good
week we'll have a water supply all week but then the following week there will be water only for a day or
two, " she said.
     She and her husband, a factory worker, pay 3,000 riyals (99 yuan) for a week's supply of water
from a touring water  truck when the taps run dry.With an income of only 20,000 riyals (660 yuan) a
month, this means the family often spend half their money on water.
     "There are a lot of people who can't afford it and they have to rely on their neighbors to help, " she
said.
     The average person in Yemen survives on onefifth of what the World Health Organization considers
to be enough water.
     In Taiz, in the south, tap water is available only once every 45 days.In the mountainous Malhan district
in the north, women and children climb a 1,500m mountain to collect water from a spring, often in the
small hours to avoid long queues.
     Yemen is located in Southwest Asia, bordering the Arabian and Red Sea.Yemeni people have lived
on scarce water supplies for thousands of years but that problem has been made serious by conflict in the
area, the fastgrowing population and the use of water to grow a drug called qat.With one of the world's
highest rates of population growth-3.46 percent, Yemen is the poorest Arab country.
     The government is considering desalinating (淡化) seawater, but this would be expensive and it may
now be too late.The only other solution is to cut down on farming, but that means importing even more
food.

1. The passage aims to________.

A. analyze the reasons why Yemen lacks water
B. suggest some solutions to the water issue in Yemen
C. present how serious the water problem is in Yemen
D. encourage the world to help Yemenis who are suffering from water shortages

2. When Hannan said that only the rich could prepare for cuts in supply, she meant that________.

A. rich people drank more water than the poor
B. rich people could buy water from the water trucks if there was a water supply cut
C. she had a rich neighbor who often helped her during water supply cuts
D. the rich were not affected by water supply cuts

3. Which of the following may be a reason why Yemen is short of water?

A. The country has had no rain for a long time.
B. The population of Yemen is growing fast.
C. The government has failed to reduce farming.
D. People can't afford the water from government water trucks.

4. The best title for the passage is "________".

A. Never take water for granted
B. The water truck-the commonest sight in Yemen
C. The first country to run out of water in the world
D. No water for Yemen

     When we Americans shop at the grocery stores today,we don't seem to be surprised at the sight of
strawberries in the winter or perfect tomatoes from Holland.In the space of a generation,we've become
accustomed to eating food that's never grown roots in local soil.In fact,most produce (農(nóng)產(chǎn)品) grown
in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold.
     Trucking,shipping and flying food from around the country and the globe has a very bad effect on the
environment and on public health.Take grapes for example.Every year,nearly 270 million pounds of
grapes arrive in California,most of them shipped from Chile to the Port of Los Angeles.Their 5,900mile
journey in cargo ships and trucks gives off 7,000 tons of global warming pollution each year,and enough
air pollution to cause dozens of asthma (哮喘) attacks and hundreds of missed school days in California.
     The way we eat has a great influence on the health of the planet.By choosing to eat lower on the food
chain,and focusing on local and organic (有機(jī)的) produce,we can reduce global warming and air
pollution,avoid poisonous chemicals,support local farmers and enjoy fresh and tasty food.
     People are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food.How your food is grown,stored,
transported,processed and cooked can all influence how it affects climate and the environment.
Transportationrelated influences are particularly important for imported food.NRDC calculated the
transportation influences of importing fresh produce and wine widely consumed in California.They
directly compared the climate and air quality influenced by importing the food instead of growing and
consuming it in California.Their analysis shows that-all else being equal-locally grown food is a better
choice.

1. From the passage we can learn that most produce sold at the grocery stores in the US________.

A. is grown by local farmers  
B. is from foreign countries
C. comes from far away 
D. is out of season

2. What would be the effect of transportation of food?

A. It pollutes the food during the transportation.
B. It makes the cost of the food much higher.
C. It makes the food less fresh and tasteless.
D. It causes air pollution and global warming.

3. Which of the following may have a bad effect on the health of the planet?

A. Eating higher on the food chain.
B. Eating locally grown food.
C. Eating more organic produce.
D. Eating fresh and tasty food.

4. The main purpose of the passage is________.

A. to help local farmers grow and sell their produce
B. to tell people that imported food is less healthy
C. to warn people of the harmfulness of food transportation
D. to get local people to reject the imported food

     Can you imagine that you can save your own life during a heart attack (心臟病發(fā)作) by coughing (咳嗽)?
Let's see how…
     A heart attack can happen to anyone. Let's say it's 4:17 p.m. and you're driving home (alone of course)
after an unusually hard day on the job. Not only was the workload (工作負(fù)擔(dān)) extremely heavy, you also had
a disagreement with your boss, and no matter how hard you tried, he just wouldn't see your side of the situation.
You're really upset and the more you think about it, the more nervous you become.
     All of a sudden you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to spread out into your arm and
up into your jaw (下巴). You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home, unfortunately you
don't know if you'll be able to make it that far.
     What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy who taught the course didn't tell you how to
perform it on yourself.
     Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, this article seems in order. Without help the
person whose heart stops beating properly and who begins to feel faint (暈眩的) has only about 10 seconds
left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very
powerfully. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and last long, as
when producing sputum (痰) from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every
two seconds without stopping until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again. Deep
breaths get oxygen into the lungs (肺) and coughing movements squeeze (擠壓) the heart and keep the blood
circulating.
     The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm (節(jié)奏). In this way, heart attack
victims can get to a phone and, between breaths, call for help.
     Now, do you understand the whole matter? Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save
their lives!

1. According to the passage, CPR is most probably something done to _____.

A. regain someone's breath and heart beat
B. help someone treat a heart attack by himself
C. teach people how to stay in good state
D. train people how to stay calm when facing dangers

2. According to Paragraph 5, coughing during a heart attack helps _____.

A. to relax the heart
B. to get oxygen into the lungs
C. to keep the blood circulating
D. to reduce the pain in the chest

3. We can learn from the passage that _____.

A. a long day's work usually results in heart attacks
B. not only the chest aches when one suffers a heart attack
C. people should attend a CPR course to survive heart attacks
D. one should cough loudly immediately one's chest aches

4. In which section of a newspaper can you read this passage?

A. Health Care.
B. Advertisement.
C. Family.
D. Teaching.

     Starting the day on an egg could keep your blood pressure (血壓) under control, research suggests.
Scientists have shown that eggs produce proteins with a function similar to that of powerful blood
pressurelowering drugs.
     The researchers, from the University of Alberta in Canada, showed that when eggs come in contact
with stomach enzymes (酶) they produce a protein that acts in the same way as ACE inhibitors, drugs
taken by millions around the world to lower blood pressure. Fried eggs proved particularly effective, but
more work is needed to show the effects outside a lab and in the human body.
     Earlier this month, British researchers declared that, contrary to popular beliefs, it is healthy to go to
work on an egg. They concluded that the type of cholesterol (膽固醇) found in eggs has little effect on
increasing heart disease risks.
     Researcher Professor Bruce Griffin, from the University of Surrey, said, "The wrong beliefs linking
egg eating to high blood cholesterol and heart disease must be corrected. The amount of fat in our diet
has an effect on blood cholesterol that is several times greater than the relatively small amount of
cholesterol found in eggs. The UK public do not need to limit the number of eggs they eat. They can be
encouraged to include them in a healthy diet as they are one of nature's most nutritious foods."
     The British Heart Foundation dropped its threeeggaweek limit in 2005.However,almost half of
Britons believe the limit still applies.

1. From the text we know that ACE inhibitors are________.

A. a kind of medicine      
B. a kind of protein
C .a kind of illness          
D. a kind of food

2. According to what Professor Bruce said , eggs________.

A. are the most nutritious food
B. have no effect on blood cholesterol
C. can be included in a healthy diet
D. are forbidden to be eaten in the UK

3. We can infer from the text that________.

A. drugs to lower blood pressure will be replaced by eating eggs
B. stomach enzymes mixed with eggs can cure heart diseases
C. most Britons agree the threeeggaweek limit should be dropped
D. about 50% of Britons think eating an egg a day is bad for their health

4. The text is meant________.

A. to introduce scientific findings about eggs
B. to introduce a medicine made from eggs
C. to tell people how to lower their blood pressure
D. to advise people to eat as many eggs as possible

     People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you
think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you're wrong. Many Americans are learning
to climb in city gyms (體育館). Here, people are learning on climbing. The climbing wall goes straight up and
small holding places for hands and feet.
     How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and (保護(hù)帶) around your chest to hold
you. There are ropes (繩索) tied to your. The ropes hold you in place so that you don't fall. A beginner's wall
is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you
to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it's easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it's not. The most
difficult is an your fear. It's normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it's difficult not to feel fear. But when
you move away from the wall, the and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until
you reach the top.
     Climbing attracts people because it's good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body,
especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your
mind and your body can become stronger.

1. What can we infer from the passage?

A. People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays.
B. It is impossible to build up one's body by climbing.
C. People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors.
D. It is always easy to see holding places in climbing.

2. The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _____.

A. to tie ropes to your
B. to control your fear
C. to move away from the wall
D. to climb straight up

3. The word "workout" underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _____.

A. settlement
B. exercise
C. excitement
D. tiredness

4. Why does the author write this passage?

A. To tell people where to find gyms.
B. To prove the basic need for climbing.
C. To encourage people to climb mountains.
D. introduce the sport of wall climbing.

      However, the attitudes of scientists   1   this rise are completely different. On the one hand, Dr. Foster thinks that the   2   which increases the temperature    3   5 degrees would be a catastrophe. She says, "We can't predict the climate well enough to know   4   to expect, but it could be very serious." Others who agree with her think there may be a rise of several metres in the sea level, or predict severe storms, floods, droughts, famine, the   5   of diseases and the disappearance of species. On the other hand, there are those, like George Hambley, who are    6   to this view and believe that we should not worry about high levels of carbon dioxide in the air. They predict that any warming will be mild with few bad environmental   7  . In fact, Hambley states, "More carbon dioxide is actually a positive thing. It will make plants grow quicker; crops will produce more; it will encourage a greater   8   of animals - all of which will make life for human beings better."

     The energy crisis (危機(jī)) has made people aware of how the careless use of the earth's energy has brought
the whole world to the edge of disaster. The over-development of motor transport, with its increase of more
cars, more traveling, has contributed to the near-destruction of our cities and the pollution not only of local air
but also of the earth's atmosphere. 
     Our present situation is unlike natural disasters of the past. Worldwide energy use has brought us to a state
where long-range planning is vital. What we need is not a continuation of our present serious state, which
endangers the future of our country, our children, and our earth, but a movement forward in order to work
rapidly and effectively on planetary problems.
     This country has been falling back under the continuing exposures of loss of morality and the revelation (揭
露) that lawbreaking has reached into the highest place in the land. There is a strong demand for morality to
turn for the better and for some devotion that is vast enough and yet personal enough to enlist the devotion of
all. In the past it has been only in a way in defense of their own country and their own benefits that people have
been able to devote themselves wholeheartedly.
     This is the first time that we have been asked to defend ourselves and what we hold dear in cooperation
with all the other people of this planet, who share with us the same endangered air and the same endangered
oceans. There is a common need to reassess our present course, to change that course and to employ new
methods through which the world can survive. This is a priceless opportunity.
     To grasp it, we need a widespread understanding of nature if the crisis we and the world are facing is no
passing inconvenience, no byproduct of the ambitions of the oil-producing countries, no environmentalists'
only fears, no byproduct of any present system of government. What we face is the result of the invention
of the last four hundred years. What we need is a transformed life style. This new life style can flow directly
from science and technology, but its acceptance depends on a sincere devotion to finding a higher quality of
life for the world's children and future generation.

1. Which of the following has nearly destroyed our cities?

A. The loss of beliefs and ideas. 
B. More of law-breaking.
C. Natural di8asters in many areas.
D. The rapid growth of motors.

2. By comparing past problems with present ones, the author draws our attention to the _____.

A seriousness of this crisis
B. ineffectiveness of laws
C. similarity of the past to the present
D. hopelessness of the situation

3. Which of the following is used as an example to show the loss of morality? 

A. Disregard for law.
B. Lack of devotion.
C. Lack of understanding.
D. Destruction of cities.

4. The author wrote the passage in order to _____.

A. make a recommendation for a transformed life style 
B. limit ambitions of the people of the whole world
C. demand devotion to nature and future generation
D. encourage awareness of the decline of morality

     You are what you eat and fats are a main food for Asia's fast-food generation. Dr. Chwang, director of the
Department of Food Nutrition, says children are consuming more meat and soft drinks. That is a thorough
departure from the traditional diet of vegetables and rice and little meat. "They like big pieces of fried meat with
a soft drink. So although they may eat the same volume of food, their calorie intake (卡路里攝入量) has
increased. Now about 40 to 45 percent of their calories come from fat," says Chwang.
     Although on the whole Asians tend towards thinness, culture -namely Asians' hospitality (好客)-is a reason
for the fatness of today's generation, according to Chwang. "Asian people love food," she says. "Eating and
drinking are important social and family functions." In the past, however, big meals were only hosted on special
occasions as people were more careful with money. In today's climate of wealth and remarkable consumption,
10-course meals are no longer reserved for significant occasions.
     More than anyone else, children are on the receiving end of their parents' improved circumstances. "In the
past, people had four or more children-now, they have one or two, so they tend to spoil them," says Chwang.
"The easiest way is to give them 'quality food'. Parents think feeding them well is showing their love. They feel
bad when their children look thin."
     When describing the physical condition of most overweight Asian children, Chwang says:"There is a clear
relationship between fatness and indoor play. Children get fat because they don't move, and eventually, they
don't want to move because they're fat.
     Thanks to technology, a growing army of children prefer video games to old outdoor sports. "What do
children do when watching TV or sitting in front of the computer playing video games? They eat chocolate and
drink Coke," says Chwang.

1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Asian people tend to save more money.
B. Asian children depart from their diet tradition.
C. Asian children eat big meals on more occasions.
D. Culture contributes to the fatness of Asian children.

2. According to this passage, the 'quality food' fed by some parents is actually _____.

A. healthful food
B. qualified food
C. agreeable food
D. high-calorie food

3. Some parents feel bad when their children look thin, because _____.

A. their children don't love eating and drinking
B. their children don't have a good physical condition
C. they feel that they don't take good care of their children
D. they feel that they are not wealthy enough to afford 'quality food'

4. The purpose of this article is to _____.

A. compare the traditional diet with today's diet of Asian children
B. find reasons for increased food consumption of Asian people
C. explain why many Asian children are overweight nowadays
D. prove the relationship between fatness and indoor play

      If you are a male and you are reading this, congratulations: you are a survivor. According to statistics,
you are more than twice as likely to die of skin cancer than a woman, and nine times more likely to die of
AIDS. Assuming you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will
die on average five years before a woman. 
      There are many reasons for this, men take more risks than women and are more likely to drink and
smoke, but perhaps more importantly, men don't go to the doctor.
      "Men aren't seeing doctors as often as they should," says Dr. Gullotta, "This is particularly so for the
over-40s, when diseases tend to strike." Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or
two. For those over 45,it should be at least once a year.
      According to a recent survey, 95%of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year,
compared to 70% of men in the same age group.
      "A lot of men think they are invincible (不可戰(zhàn)勝的)" Gullotta says "They only come in when a friend
drops dead on the golf course and they think 'Dear me, if it could happen to him, …'"
      Then there is the ostrich (鴕鳥) approach, "Some men are scared of what might be there and would
rather not know," says Dr. Ross Cartmill. "Most men get their cars serviced more often than they service
their bodies," Cartmill says. He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be addressed by
preventive check-ups. Regular check-ups for men would inevitably (不可避免地) place stress on the public
purse. Cartmill says. "But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to treat the diseases. Besides, the
final cost is far greater."

1. Which is the most important reason why men die five years earlier on average than women according to
    the passage?

A. Men drink and smoke much more than women.
B. Men aren't as cautious as women in face of danger.
C. Men don't seek medical care as often as women.
D. Men are more likely to suffer from fatal diseases.

2. Which of the following best completes the sentence "Dear me, if it could happen to him,…" in paragraph5?

A. I should avoid playing golf.
B. I should consider myself lucky.
C. it would be a big misfortune.
D. it could happen to me, too.

3. What does Dr. Ross Cartmill mean by "the ostrich approach" in paragraph 6?

A. A new treatment for certain psychological problems.
B. Refusal to get medical treatment for fear of the pain involved.
C. Unwillingness to find out about one's disease because of fear.
D. A casual attitude towards one's health conditions.

4. What does Cartmill say about regular check-ups for men?

A. They may increase public expenses.
B. They will save money in the long run.
C. They may cause psychological stress on men.
D. They will enable men to live as long as women.