Nature in Art

Many artists paint and use nature in their works, but the results are very different. Here are four of them.

1.When did Stanislaw paint the Hinczow Lakes?

A.In 1885. B.In 1907. C.In 1937. D.In 1939.

2.Where is Ando Hiroshige from?

A.Poland. B.Australia. C.Japan. D.England.

3.Who is famous for art with animals?

A.Stanislaw Witkiewicz. B.Ginger Riley Munduwalawala.

C.Ando Hisroshige. D.Damie Hirst.

Many scientists believe our love of sugar may actually be an addiction (上癮). When we eat or drink sugary foods, the sugar enters our blood and influences parts of our brain that make us feel good. Then the good feeling goes away, leaving us wanting more. All tasty foods do this, but sugar has a particularly strong effect. In this way, it is in fact addictive, and doctors suggest we all cut down on it.

“It seems like every time I study an illness, I find my way back to sugar,” says scientist Richard Johnson. One-third of adults worldwide have high blood pressure ( 血 壓 ), and up to 347 million have diabetes (糖尿病). Why? “Sugar, we believe, is one of the reasons, if not the main reason,” says Johnson.

Our bodies are designed to survive on very little sugar. Early humans often had very little food, so our bodies learned to keep sugar as fat. In this way, we had energy stored for when there was no food. But today, most people have more than enough. So the very thing that once saved us may now be killing us.

So what is the solution? It’s obvious that we need to eat less sugar. The trouble is, in today’s world, it’s extremely difficult to avoid. From breakfast cereals to after-dinner desserts, our foods are increasingly filled with it. Some manufacturers ( 制造 商) even use sugar to replace taste in foods that are advertised as low in fat. This may make the food appear as healthier, but large amounts of sugar are often added.

But there are those who are fighting back against sugar. Many schools are offering more fruit instead of deserts. Other schools are building facilities for students to do exercise. The battle has not yet been lost.

1.Why is sugar addictive?

A.It makes us feel good and want more of it. B.It has a strong effect on our blood.

C.Tasty foods are full of sugar. D.There is sugar in medicine.

2.According to the passage, why is it so hard to avoid sugar?

A.We like candy too much. B.It gives us needed energy.

C.It is in so many foods and drinks. D.We get used to eating it at school.

3.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Ways to avoid sugar. B.Our addiction to sugar.

C.Illnesses caused by sugar. D.Good sugar and bad sugar.

The Teenage Brain

Parents, teachers, and others who deal closely with teenagers know how difficult the adolescent(青少年的) years can be. This was thought to be due to the “foolishness of youth.” Now, brain-imaging technology allows scientists to study the physical development of the brain in more details than ever before. Their discoveries have led a new theory of why teens act this way.

Recently, scientists have discovered that though our brains are almost at their full size by the age of six, they are far from fully developed. Only during adolescence do our brains truly “grow up.” During this time, they go through great changes, like a computer system being upgraded. This “upgrade” was once thought to be finished by about age 12. Now scientists have found that our brains continue to change until age 25. Such changes make us better at balancing impulses (沖動(dòng)) with following rules. But a still-developing brain does this clumsily (笨拙地). The result, scientists believe, is the unpredictable behavior seen in teenagers.

The studies show that teens are more likely to take risks. Luckily, the news isn’t all bad. As brain scientist B. J. Casey points out, the teen brain inspires such behavior in order to help teens prepare for adult life.

One way the brain does this is by changing the way teens measure risk and reward (回報(bào)).

Researchers have found that when teens think about rewards, their brains release more of the chemicals that create pleasure. Researchers believe this makes the rewards seem more important than the risks, and makes teens feel the excitement of new experience.

Research into the structure of the teen brain have also found that it makes social connection seem especially rewarding. As such, teens have a strong need to meet new people. Because it is still developing, a teen brain can change to deal with new situations. So it connects social rewards with even more pleasure. In this way, the brain encourages teens to have a wide circle of friends, which is believed to make them more successful in life.

Unluckily, this need for greater rewards can sometimes lead teens to make bad decisions. However, it also means that teens are more likely, and less afraid, to try new things or to be independent. And in the long run, the impulses of the teen brain are what help teens leave their parents’ care and live their own life successfully.

1.According to Paragraph 2, what have the scientists discovered now?

A.A changing brain helps follow the rules.

B.Our brains finish upgrading by age of twelve.

C.Our brains are fully developed by the age of six.

D.A developing brain can cause unpredictable behaviors.

2.The writer probably agrees that .

A.teenagers should learn from their bad decisions

B.many teenagers are able to change their behaviors

C.the way the teen brain works makes them less afraid

D.the impulses of a teenage brain should be controlled

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A.The teen brain makes risks less exciting.

B.The impulse of teen brain can benefit teenagers.

C.Teenagers with more friends are more successful.

D.Teenagers make wrong decisions because of their brain.

閱讀短文,根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容回答問題。

World Kindness Day is a celebration which takes place on 13 November each year. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. It is celebrated in many countries, including Canada, Japan, Australia and some other countries. World Kindness Day is celebrated to highlight acts of kindness passing on the positive(正面的)power.

Why be kind? Few people would disagree with the idea that a kind action is good for the soul(靈魂). It is a win-win situation because it leads to a sense of well-being both for thereceiver of this kind action, as well as for the person who does the action. As a simple example,let's imagine you have a workmate who always does a very good job. How about taking a moment to mention this to them, just in conversation or perhaps by email? The effects of this will probably be quite clear: your workmate will be happy to receive some praise and, in addition, you will probably feel good about yourself for having spread a little joy.

Many organisations try to encourage people to be kind, wherever and whenever they can. Perhaps the strongest supporters of this idea are the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Foundation. The RAK website suggests some ways to show kindness. Generally, these fall into three categories. The first is interpersonal kindness. Some examples are giving old clothes to charity(慈善機(jī)構(gòu)) or writing a good comment about a restaurant that you like. The second is environmental kindness, which could mean simply recycling or organising a group event to clean a local park or beach. The third category is less obvious: personal kindness, which means treating yourself kindly. Some examples are taking a walk in nature or setting yourself an objective to complain less. The logic is that by being kind to yourself, you will surely be kinder to the world around you.

Most experts on kindness agree that it has a sort of ripple effect. This means that one kind action is more likely to lead to more and more. So don't wait for kindness to find you today, go and start a new ripple!

1.When is World Kindness Day?

2.Why is World Kindness Day celebrated?

3.Why should people be kind?

4.According to RAK, what does"personal kindness” mean?

5.What does the passage mainly tell us?

文段表達(dá)

假如你是李華，今天下午你應(yīng)邀參加演講比賽，因此無法參加外教的口語(yǔ)課。請(qǐng)用英語(yǔ)向外教Mr Green寫一張請(qǐng)假條，說明你缺課的原因，以及你將如何補(bǔ)上這節(jié)課。

提示詞語(yǔ): speech competition, borrow, notebook, homework

提示問題:● Why will you miss the class?

● What will you do to make up for it?

Dear Mr Green,

I'm writing to you to ask for a leave this afternoon. ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your understanding.

Yours,

Li Hua

I predict there will be less ______ in the future.

A.people B.trees C.countries D.pollution

Turn on the blender________ about two minutes.

A. for B. in C. to D. at

Toby often talks _____ but does _____. So everybody says he is a good boy.

A.little; many B.less; more C.more; less D.many; little

—Who’s _____, Tom or Tim?

—Tom is.

A.quieter B.healthy C.worst D.best

There _____ a football game between China and Japan next Sunday.

A.has B.is going to be C.will have D.are going to have