Salt plays an important role in our daily diet. Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict -how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States.
The result: Thirteen percent fewer heart attacks. Eight percent fewer strokes. Four percent fewer deaths. Eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease. And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers found it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year．
The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo at the University of California San Francisco was the lead author. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams,or one-half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Stanford and Columbia University. Each gram of salt contains four hundred milligrams of sodiu(鈉), which is how foods may list their salt content．
The government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day. The American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative.The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Critics call it government interference.
Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study by the Seattle Children's Research Institute shows that the calorie information on the menu can influence what parents order for their children. Ninety-nine parents of three to six year olds took part. Half had calories between the two groups for foods that the parents would have chosen for themselves. McDonald's menus clearly showing how many calories were in each food. Parents given the counts chose an average of one hundred two fewer calories when asked what they would order for their children. Yet there was no difference in calories between the two groups for foods that the parents would have chosen for themselves.
Study leader Pooja Tandon says even small calorie reductions on a regular basis can prevent weight gain over time.The study was published in the journal Pediatrics．
【小題1】Which of the following benefits does less salt diet in the passage NOT cover?

A．The decrease of strokes	B．The prevention of weight gain
C．Fewer heart attacks	D．The drop in medical care cost

【小題2】It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A．Americans ate no more than 5 grams of salt per day in the 1970s

B．the American Heart Association suggests less than 3 grams of salt a day for everyone

C．the less salt one eats, the healthier he will be

D．all the heart diseases result from eating too much salt

【小題3】The National Salt Reduction Initiative aims to_______.

A．inform people of the harm that salt does to health

B．attract the public attention to the problem

C．require fast food places to list salt information

D．put pressure on food companies and restaurants

【小題4】The underlined sentence "Yet there was no difference in calories between the two groups for foods that the parents would have chosen for themselves." implies that _______.

A．Parents pay less attention to the amount of calories in their diet.

B．Parents set a good example to their children in daily diet.

C．Parents take less salt than before while taking meals.

D．Most parents are on a diet for their health.

【小題5】Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?

A．Relationship between Salt and Health

B．Less Salt Can Mean Being More Healthy

C．A Survey on People's Regular Diet

D．Mayor Michael Bloomberg and His Health Project

Ten years ago I used to be very fit (健康的). I rode a bike to work and I got a lot of exercise at weekends. I used to play tennis a lot and go for long walks. In those days I didn’t earn very much. I had a job in an office. It wasn’t a very good job but I had a lot of time to do the things I enjoyed doing.
Then, about eight years ago, I got a much better job. The pay was better, but the hours were a lot longer. I bought a car and drove to work every day. I began to take people out to lunch. And I began to put on weight, too. I stopped playing tennis and going for long walks at weekends because I just didn’t have any time for things like that any more.
There’s a lot of stress in my job. Perhaps that’s why I started drinking more than I used to. For example, I used to have only half a glass of whisky when I got home, but then I started filling my glass to the top, and instead of having one glass, I would have several. I started smoking a lot, too. I never used to smoke at all.
Two months ago I had a heart attack. At first I just couldn’t believe it. Luckily it wasn’t very serious. The doctor advised me to stop smoking and to eat less. He also advised me to work less and get more exercise. But I just haven’t any time! My job takes everything out of me!
Sometimes I wonder if I should get another job. Perhaps I could do something like I used to do. But if I do that, I won’t earn as much. I have a family to support. I have to think of them, too. I just don’t know what I should do. What do you think?
【小題1】The author used to go to work ________

A．on foot

B．by bike

C．by car

D．by train

【小題2】Compared with ten years ago, what is worse for the author now?  d

A．His job.

B．His pay.

C．His means of transport.

D．His health.

【小題3】According to the passage, when the author got the better job, which of the following is NOT true? 

A．He got higher pay.	B．His working hours weren’t long.
C．He found it very stressful.	D．He had little free time at weekends.

【小題4】After the author had a heart attack, the doctor advised him _____.

A．not to work any longer	B．to take a long vacation abroad
C．to work less and take exercise	D．not to eat out any more

【小題5】What can we learn about the author?  

A．The author is not sure what he should do now.

B．The author has taken the doctor’s advice.

C．The author has got another new job.

D．The author feels much better now.

It takes more than just practice to become an Olympian. Gold medal performances require some serious nutrition. Have you ever wondered what these successful athletes eat to stay in peak shape?
Keri Glassman, a registered dietitian and founder of Nutritious Life Meals, appeared on "Good Morning America" today to give you a glimpse into the diets of some top athletes. Some of their meals could surprise you.
Crazy Calorie Count
Glassman said Olympians eat a lot of food---quantities that for ordinary people would constitute pigging out. One secret of swimmer Michael Phelps' astonishing performance in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was consuming as many as 12,000 calories in one day.
Athletes can eat like this and not gain any weight because their workouts are intense. According to Glassman, Phelps' workouts can burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories in a day, and those calories must be replenished (補充) in order to train the following day.
Snacking Secrets
Some athletes eat wacky (strange, unusual) foods that they swear improve their performance. Yohan Blake, the Jamaica sprinter and 100-meter world champion, has been making waves for stealing champion sprinter Usain Bolt's thunder on the track during the Olympic trials. Asked about how he gets his stamina, Blake answered that he eats 16 bananas per day, Glassman said.
Jonathan Horton, the lead gymnast on the US team, has a blood sugar problem. His solution is honey. When he starts to feel shaky at the gym, he takes swigs of honey to boost his energy, Glassman said.
Foods for Recovery
What are the best foods to help the body recover after rigorous (strict) competition?
For Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, the recovery meal is grilled chicken breasts with Alfredo sauce, whole-grain spaghetti and a salad with lemon juice and olive oil. Lochte, who recently cut out junk food, candy and soda, has undertaken a rigorous strength-training regimen(養(yǎng)生法) that involves flipping tractor tires, dragging shipyard chains and tossing beer kegs, Glassman said.
【小題1】What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Good Diet Makes a True Olympian.

B．Olympians Have Olympic-size Appetites.

C．Olympians’ Strange Eating Habits.

D．The Diets of some Top Olympic Athletes.

【小題2】What does the underlined sentence probably means?

A．Ordinary people eat few pigs compared with Olympians.

B．Olympians eat a lot more food than ordinary people.

C．Olympians tend to eat a lot of high-quality food.

D．Olympians eat a large amount of food, just like pigs.

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Ryan Lochte quit eating junk food, candy and soda for his recovery.

B．Usain Bolt beat Yohan Blake on the track in the Olympic trials.

C．Michael Pheleps astonishing performance was due to his eating lots of food.

D．Jonathan Horton has a blood sugar problem because of taking too much honey.

【小題4】Which of the following is not the best food to help the body recover?

A．Soda.	B．Olive oil.
C．Whole-grain spaghetti.	D．A salad with lemon juice.

【小題5】The passage is most likely to be found in __________ .

A．a technical report	B．a fashion magazine
C．an education column	D．a sports newspaper

Short people, studies have shown , are more likely to have a stroke , suffer from high blood pressures and heart disease and be bullied in school .
Now, researchers report that short people—at least in the past—were also more likely to die at a younger age than their taller peers.
Their study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology (流行病學) and Community Health , found that short bones have something to do with short life for more than 1,000 years. The conclusion was based on 490 sets of adult skeletal(骨架) remains from an archaeological(考古學的) site in northeastern England , YC dating from the 9th century to about 1850 .
About 55% of men and 73% of women died before the age of 45, and 39% of men and 56% of women died before age 30. The risk of death before age 30 declined as bone length increased.
“This study provides evidence from an archaeological sample that long bone length is connected with age at death—those with smaller bones tend to die younger,” according to Dr. D.J. Gunnell of the university of Bristol  in the UK and colleagues .
While it is not clear why short stature(身材) might be linked to earlier death , the researchers point out that height is an indicator of childhood nutrition, which may have long-lasting effect on health .
“Mechanism (身體結構) for height-mortality(死亡) associations in the past may differ from those today , for example , short stature may have increased the risk of death in childbirth and this may explain the higher risk of premature(未成熟的) mortality in women,” Gunnell and colleagues write .
“However, short bones, it would appear, have always been a marker of a short life,” the authors conclude.
【小題1】The title of the passage should be        .

A．Short people and their taller peers

B．Men and women

C．Short stature and short life

D．Long life and short life

【小題2】“An indicator” in Paragraph 6 means        .

A．a study

B．a marker

C．a risk

D．an age

【小題3】Which of the following statements is Not true according to the passage?

A．People with smaller bones were more likely to die younger.

B．Women were more likely to die at a young age.

C．Short-stature women bear higher risk of death in giving birth to babies.

D．Most people were more likely to die at the age of 30 in the past.

【小題4】Short stature may be caused by        .

A．less childhood nutrition	B．heart disease
C．some illnesses	D．high blood pressure

【小題5】The topic in this passage is probably connected with

A．space medicine	B．sports medicine
C．social medicine	D．industrial medicine

B
L1PITOR

ABOUT LIPITOR Lipitor is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise，it lowers “bad，’cholesterol(膽固醇)in your blood．It can also raise “good'’ cholesterol. Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors， including family history of early heart disease，high blood pressure，age and smoking.

WHO IS LIPITOR FOR? Who can take LIPITOR： ．People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise ·  Adults and children over l0 Who should NOT take LIPITOR： ．Women who are pregnant，may be pregnant，or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby. ．women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. ·  People with liver(肝臟)problems

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR Serious side effects in a small number of people： ．Muscle(肌肉)problems that can lead to kidney(腎臟)problems，including kidney failure ．Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it． Call your doctor right away if you have： ．Unexplained muscle pain or weakness，especially if you have a fever or feel very fired ．Swelling of the face，lips，tongue，and／or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing ·  Stomach pain Some common side effects of LIPITOR are： ·  Muscle pain ·  Upset stomach ·  Changes in some blood tests

 

HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR DO： ．Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor. ．Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor. ．Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food. ．If you miss a dose(一劑)，take it as soon as you remember. But if it has been more than 12 hours since your missed dose，wait．Take the next dose at your regular time. Don’t： ．Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor. ．Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor.

【小題1】Taking Lipitor is helpful for _________ .

A．breast-feeding women

B．women who are pregnant

C．adults having heart disease

D．teenagers with liver problems．

【小題2】If it has been over 12 hours since you missed a dose, you should __________,

A．change the amount of your next dose	B．eat more when taking your next dose
C．have a dose as soon as you remember	D．take the next dose at your regular time

【小題3】Which of the following is a common side effect of taking Lipitor?

A．Face swelling.	B．Upset stomach.
C．Kidney failure.	D．Muscle weakness.

【小題4】What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To teach patients ways for quick recovery.

B．To present a report on a scientific research.

C．To show the importance of a good lifestyle.

D．To give information about a kind of medicine.

If you are having trouble falling asleep, you are in good company. About 65% of Americans said they have sleeping problems a few nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping too little can lead to a higher risk of becoming fat and getting depressed(沮喪的). But before you go to a doctor for advice, it is worth examining your sleeping habits one more time. Some of your favorite evening habits may have something to do with the sleeping problems.
Setting a Bright Alarm Clock
The light of your bright alarm clock can prevent you from falling asleep. You can make your room as dark as possible. Cover the bright numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cellphone alarm may also do the trick.
Counting Sheep
When you just can’t  fall asleep, it’s useless to stay in bed to count sheep. If you’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep Foundation suggests you get up to do some reading or watch TV for a while. Such activities will make you sleepy. Before you know it, you’ll be going back to bed really tired.
Exercising Late at Night?
Daytime workouts(鍛煉) will keep you full of energy for hours. That’s why you don’t want to exercise within three hours of hitting the sack. Fierce(劇烈的)  physical activity raise your body temperature and pumps your energy level—both are bad for a good night’s sleep.
【小題1】What can we learn from the first sentence of the passage?

A．It’s not good to fail to fall asleep at night.

B．People in a good company often have sleeping problems.

C．There are many people who have sleeping problems.

D．You should find someone to talk to if you can’t fall asleep.

【小題2】The underlined part “hitting the sack” in the last paragraph means “______”.

A．going back home	B．going to bed
C．going to the gym	D．falling asleep

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．The bad results o f getting too little sleep.

B．Why the bright alarm clock keeps you awake.

C．What to do if you can’t fall asleep after 30 minutes.

D．Why watching TV and reading books make people sleepy.

【小題4】By writing the passage, the writer mainly wants to tell us _______.

A．why so many people can’t sleep well at night

B．how to enjoy a good night’s sleep

C．that sleeping problems are troubling more and more people

D．that people may solve their sleeping problems by some habits

   Do you love holidays but hate the increase weight that follows? You are not alone.
Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.
With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.
Do not miss meals. Before yon leave home for a feast(宴會),have a small, low-fat snack(小吃). This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods. Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.
Better not have high-fat foods. Dishes that look oily or creamy have much fat in them.
Choose lean meat(瘦肉 ).Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.
If you have a sweet tooth, try mints (薄荷) and fruits. They don’t have fat content as cream and chocolate.
Don’t let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off excess(過多的) calories.
【小題1】Holidays are happy days with pleasure but they may ______

A．bring weight problems	B．bring you much trouble in your life
C．make you worried about your foods	D．make you hate delicious foods

【小題2】In order to really enjoy your holidays without putting on weight, you'd better__

A．drink much water and have vegetables only	B．not eat the food in high fat
C．not accept invitations to feasts	D．turn away from delicious foods

【小題3】Many people can't help putting on weight after the holidays because they _______ .

A．can't control themselves	B．go to too many feasts
C．enjoy delicious foods	D．can't help turning away from the foods

【小題4】Excess calories can be found in your body in the form of___ .

A．energy

B．fat

C．food

D．something invisible (看不見)

D
Parties, iPods, concerts, movies, TV shows, video games, traffic. All of these things of the modern world make life entertaining and enjoyable. But our 21^st-century lifestyle is also loud and, if we don’t take notice, it can have an effect on our hearing.
Most teenagers don’t think about hearing loss. But if you experience any of the following symptoms（癥狀）, you may already be hearing damaged: you make efforts to hear normal talk, you have to turn up the TV or radio so high that others complain, you watch other people’s expressions to understand what they are saying, you ask people to repeat themselves, you misunderstand what people are saying or you hear ringing in your ears.
iPods and other MP3 players are as common as the clothes you wear, and just as fashionable. But if you turn up an iPod to more than 60 percent of its maximum volume（最大音量）, and listen to music for more than an hour, you are asking for trouble. And, it does not matter if the music you play is classical, rock or heavy metal.
Some researchers find that young people who break the so-called 60-percent/60-minute rule in listening to iPods are at the risk of suffering hearing loss.
Why is an iPod dangerous? With ear buds placed directly in the ear canal and high-volume music played over a long period of time, it’s like working in a loud factory all day, being a maintenance（修理）person under a jet airplane or using a jackhammer（手提鉆）on a building site.
Similarly, iPod music can cause a short time or permanent（永久的）hearing damage. A loud iPod can cause a ruptured（破裂的）eardrum and, over time, may cause permanent damage to the tiny hairs in the inner ear. If these tiny hairs are damaged, they cannot effectively send sounds to the auditory nerves（聽覺神經）that connect to the brain. If this happens, hearing loss becomes permanent.
【小題1】Which of the following shows that you are suffering hearing loss?

A．You are interested to listen to others’ talking.

B．You have to read others’ expressions to understand them.

C．You can only understand others over the phone.

D．You always think you hear the ringing of the phone.

【小題2】 Which of the following is TRUE when you listen to music?

A．Listen at least an hour every time.

B．Turn up the volume to the highest level.

C．keep the sound lower than 60% of its highest volume.

D．Choose classical, rock or heavy metal music.

【小題3】What is the correct order of causing permanent hearing loss?
a. The eardrum is broken.
b. The auditory nerves cannot receive sounds.
c. Tiny hairs are damaged.
d. Ear buds are placed directly in the ear canal.
e. High-volume music is played over a long time.

A．d-a-c-b-e

B．e-c-a-b-d

C．b-c-a-d-e

D．d-e-a-c-b

【小題4】This passage is mainly about      .

A．music that teenagers like	B．hearing problems caused by the loud world
C．ways that teenagers enjoy music	D．dangerous modern lifestyles of teenagers.

A
Car needs gas to run as your body needs food to work for you. Eating the right kinds of food is very important. A good eating habit can help your body grow strong if you take care of what you eat.
There are four main food groups altogether. The dairy group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all of these foods together, you will be given enough energy during the day.
It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may be easier to eat fish and chips for your supper all the time. But you will find yourself tired and you will not be able to think quickly.
Watching what you eat will help keep your body healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having good eating habits with some exercise is the key to your health.
【小題1】According to the passage, which of the following diets do you think is the best one?

A．Eggs, tomatoes and chicken.

B．Milk, bread, cabbages and beef.

C．Corn, fish, ice cream and pork.

D．Rice, beancurd(豆腐)，fish and chicken.

【小題2】Which of the following is a good eating habit?

A．Going to school without any breakfast.

B．Eating fish and chips for supper all the time.

C．Having at least food from one of the four groups each meal.

D．Having different food from all four food groups.

【小題3】 In this passage the writer mainly tells us that____.

A．every person needs food to grow well.

B．taking exercise can keep your body strong.

C．the right kind of food with exercise will keep you healthy.

D．enough energy helps people think more quickly.

【小題4】The underlined word “dairy” in the second paragraph means_____.

A．the food made out of cows such as milk and butter

B．the shop that sells milk and butter

C．a farm where cows are kept

D．a place where milk products are made

( D )
Your body works 24 hours a day. It’s always building and repairing, feeding and cleansing itself. Its goal is to be ready for your every movement, breath, and thought. The quality of your life depends on how well your body works. And how well your body works depends on how much energy it gets. Energy comes from the food you eat. Food contains nutrients that your body needs for growth and energy.
By eating a balanced diet, your body gets the six important nutrients it needs. Minerals（礦物質） are nutrients that build bones and teeth. Minerals also form red blood cells and other substances. Water aids digestion and waste removal. Carbohydrates（碳水化合物） give your body its main source of energy. Two carbohydrates are sugars from foods such as fruits and vegetables and starches found in rice, potatoes, and bread. Fats help build cell membranes（膜）. Proteins repair and grow body tissues（組織）. Finally, vitamins help your body use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
The United States Department of Agriculture（USDA） has created a nutritional food pyramid（金字塔）. It shows the daily number of servings you should eat from five food groups. The food pyramid has four levels. The base of the pyramid is the largest level. It contains the bread, cereal, rice, and pasta group from which you need six to eleven servings. The next level has two food groups: vegetables and fruits. The USDA recommends three to five servings of vegetables and two to four servings of fruit. The third level also has two groups: the milk, yogurt, and cheese group and the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts group. You need two to three servings from each of these groups. The top of the pyramid is the smallest level. It contains fats, oils, and sweets. These foods have few nutrients, so eat them sparingly（有節(jié)制地）.
【小題1】What is the main idea for this passage_________?

A．Eating a balanced diet gives your body the energy it needs.

B．The top of the pyramid is the smallest level.

C．Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, and nuts are on the third level.

D．We should have a nutrition food pyramid.

【小題2】The first paragraph suggests that __________?

A． food is something that cleanses your body.

B．food can improve the quality of your life.

C．food should be eaten at night as well as during the day.

D．food will make it easier for you to exercise.

【小題3】By eating a balanced diet, your body gets the      important nutrients it needs.

A．four

B．five

C．six

D．seven

【小題4】A balanced diet________.

A．is made up of foods from five food groups.

B．includes many foods containing fat.

C．includes six to eleven servings of fruit.

D．can be got by taking vitamins.

【小題5】To help the reader understand the six nutrients needed by the body, the author________.

A．describes the five basic food groups.

B．explains what a balanced diet is.

C．writes the details of each nutrient.

D．tells the number of daily servings needed from each food group.