Keeping a busy social life among lots of friends may keep people thinner than spending hours doing some exercises, according to scientists. They say that socialising and meeting with friends help increase levels of brown fat in the body which burns calories(卡路里)to produce heat.
Living in an exciting social environment was found to reduce fat in mice's belly by half over four weeks, even if they ate more. US researchers say that social excitement aids weight loss by turning white fat into brown. White fat stores calories and makes us fatter, while brown burns energy to produce heat. Turning white fat into brown is extremely difficult,normally
requiring long- term stay in cold conditions or exciting part of the body's nervous system.
However, scientists from Ohio State University now think that having a busy social life is an even more effective way of changing white fat into brown. The team came up with their theory by studying the effects of various living environments on mice. Those, who lived alongside a greater number of mice, had more space and toys to excite themselves and then lost far more weight over the course of the study than their “couch potato" fellows.
Study author, Dr Matthew During, whose team's findings appear in the journal Cell Metabolism, said, "I'm still amazed at the degree of fat loss that occurs." Explaining how new technology had threatened face-to-face socialising, he added, "It's not just a sedentary(久坐 的)lifestyle and high calorie foods, but an increasing lack of social activities." Co-author Dr Lei Cao said,"Loneliness is a potential factor for cancer and death; it's equal to cigarette smoking to a certain extent. Social activities are very vital.,,
小題1:What information can we get from the first two paragraphs?
A.Brown fat stores calories and makes us fatter.
B.It doesn't take long to turn white fat into brown.
C.Social excitement helps gain more weight.
D.Brown fat can burn energy to produce heat.
小題2:Which of the following statement does the text support?
A.Levels of brown fat can be increased by socialising.
B.The mice lacking social life lose more weight.
C.The research findings haven't been published so far.
D.Dr Matthew During wasn't convinced of the result.
小題3:We can conclude from the text that _______.
A.the fat in mice's belly was reduced because of the relaxing environment
B.a(chǎn) sedentary lifestyle and high calories foods influence people's social life
C.surfing the Internet may influence people's face-to-face communication
D.cancer and death are mainly caused for lack of social life
小題4:What’s the main idea of the text?
A.Brown fat is beneficial to people's health.
B.Socialising is unnecessarily important in people's daily life.
C.White fat can be changed into brown fat.
D.Socialising contributes to people's losing weight.

小題1:D
小題2:A
小題3:C
小題4:D

小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題。結(jié)合第二段brown burns energy to produce heat.(棕色脂肪可以燃燒卡路里,產(chǎn)生熱量)可選出答案。
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)題。結(jié)合第一段socialising and meeting with friends help increase levels of brown fat(社交活動(dòng)和與朋友聚會(huì)幫助提高棕色脂肪)可選出答案。
小題3:推斷題。結(jié)合Explaining how new technology had threatened face-to-face socialising, he added, "It's not just a sedentary(久坐 的)lifestyle and high calorie foods, but an increasing lack of social activities(解釋新科技如何威脅到面對(duì)面的社交活動(dòng)時(shí),迪蘭博士補(bǔ)充說(shuō):“這不僅會(huì)導(dǎo)致人們更喜歡坐著不動(dòng),吃更多高卡路里食品,而且還會(huì)使人們?cè)絹?lái)越疏于社交!保┛蛇x出答案。
小題4:概括大意題。文章主要講述了“社交的興奮感有助于減肥。”。
練習(xí)冊(cè)系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神經(jīng)元)in our brains.
Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate (模仿)it,whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions y they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to ( for example :"The hand took hold of the ball" ) , the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much researeh suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders.
Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with ever more information concerning how humans behave and interact(互動(dòng)).Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent (相等物)for ncurosciencc of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does--well,perhaps you'll understand why.
小題1:Mirror neurons can explain         .
A.why we cry when we are hurt
B.why we cough when we suffer from a cold
C.why we smile when we see someone else smile
D.why we yawn when we see someone else stay up late
小題2:The underlined word "triggered" in the third paragraph probably means “  
A.set offB.cut offC.built upD.broken up
小題3:We can learn from the passage that mirror neurons  .
A.relate to human behavior and interaction
B.control human physical actions and feelings
C.result in bad behavior and social disorders
D.determine our knowledge and language abilities
小題4:What is the passage mainly about?
A.Ways to find mirror neurons.
B.Problems of mirror neurons.
C.Existence of mirror neurons.
D.Functions of mirror neurons.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:完形填空


Growing up in the U.S.A., I always wanted to experience another culture. The   1  came when I was 15. After several months of   2 , I was ready to spend the second term of my first year of high school as an exchange student in Australia.
Landing in Perth was one of the most exciting moments of my life. I   3  then that there was no turning back. The family I would live with was waiting for me, and it would be only five days   4  the new school year started.
The Catholic school I   5  was different from my public school back in the States. The uniform code was very strict. We were only   6  to wear one bracelet, which had to be a watch and one necklace, which had to have a Holy Cross. I was quite intimidated(害怕的) at first,   7  never having been to a new school—even in the United States. Everything went   8  , though. The teachers were welcoming and the students were friendly.
The most unforgettable time of my term abroad was with forty-one other international exchange students traveling around Australia during our term break. Our   9  were as extensive as our nationalities: we traveled to Sydney, Canberra, Mildura, Coober Pedy, Uluru, Kings Canyon, Alice Springs, Mount Isa, Airlie Beach, and the Cold Coast.
The few weeks we enjoyed together were crowded with   10  . We took a day-cruise on Darling Harbor and visited the Sydney Opera House. We slept in an “underground town”. We walked around the famous Ayers Rock and went sailing on the Pacific Ocean.
At the end of our   11  in Australia, we had three weeks of traveling time to share our stories and help each other deal with leaving. It was   12  that our last day together was filled with tears. We packed our camp, exchanged e-mail addresses, and gathered together for a final good-bye.
小題1:
A.dreamB.vacationC.privilegeD.opportunity
小題2:
A.examiningB.preparingC.stayingD.resting
小題3:
A.realizedB.wonderedC.wishedD.concluded
小題4:
A.whenB.sinceC.untilD.before
小題5:
A.visitedB.involvedC.a(chǎn)ttendedD.studied
小題6:
A.persuadedB.a(chǎn)llowedC.determinedD.forced
小題7:
A.a(chǎn)lwaysB.intentionallyC.speciallyD.especially
小題8:
A.toughlyB.a(chǎn)nnoyinglyC.smoothlyD.strangely
小題9:
A.destinationsB.worksitesC.habitatsD.shelters
小題10:
A.challengesB.a(chǎn)musementsC.a(chǎn)ssignmentsD.a(chǎn)ctivities
小題11:
A.holidayB.stayC.workD.tour
小題12:
A.naturalB.essentialC.embarrassingD.unexpected

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Word Power
Author(s): Kaplan $13,95
You'll never be at a loss for words again.Energize your vocabulary with must-know everyday words that are the essentials of a good vocabulary, engaging lessons to help you use words in text, hot words often found on tests, tips to help you figure out new words, roots, and more.
Grades: 8 & up Ages: 13 & up
Word Smart Junior
Author(s): Russell Stauffer $ 17.95
Now this is the way to add new words to your vocabulary! Word Smart Junior will make you laugh so much.You'll be amazed that you've just learned more than 120 fascinating and very useful words! Parents, teachers, and friends will marvel at your eloquence (口才)!
Grades: 3-5 Ages: 8-10
Grammar Smart Junior
Author(s): Marcia Reynolds $ 16.85
Do you quake when your teacher says, "Now it's time for grammar"? Do your verbs agree with your subjects?
Fear no more! A big Hollywood producer and a famous movie star will help you learn all those nasty (討厭的) elements of grammar.You'll be amazed at how quickly you learn, and how much fun it can be.You'll finally know your grammar backwards and forwards and you'll never have to worry about it again.
Grades: 7-9 Ages: 12-14
Grammar Smart: An Audio Guide to Perfect Usage
Author(s): Julian Fleisher $ 12.68
The words you use say a lot about you ...but the way you put them together says even more.Your grammar makes an immediate and lasting impression on your teachers, and even your friends.So don't make the mistake of thinking that grammar is too complicated.We've created Grammar Smart to help you write and speak with clarity and confidence.
Grades: 6-8 Ages: 11-13
小題1:If a ten-year-old boy wants himself to be admired because of his speech ability, he may buy ____.
A.Word Power
B.Word Smart Junior
C.Grammar Smart Junior
D.Grammar Smart: An Audio Guide to Perfect Usage
小題2:By saying "You'll finally know your grammar backwards and forwards", the writer means "_____".
A.You will be clearly familiar with grammar
B.You will know the history of grammar
C.You will know the make-up of grammar
D.You will learn about the future of grammar
小題3:The four books are all about ____.
A.fiction and mysteriesB.parenting and teaching
C.literature and artsD.language study

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few obvious benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.
Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup (基因構(gòu)成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.
Nearly every successful civilization(文明) has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.
Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潛在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions(物質(zhì)財(cái)產(chǎn)). Knowledge or techniques have been gained through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副產(chǎn)品) of technological developments in the space industry!
While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.
While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive(適應(yīng)的) ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.
小題1:Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?
A.To express his doubts.
B.To compare different ideas.
C.To introduce points for discussion.
D.To describe the conditions on Earth.
小題2:What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?
A.Humans are nature-born to do so.
B.Humans have the tendency to fight.
C.Humans may find new sources of food.
D.Humans don't like to stay in the same place.
小題3:The underlined word "spin-offs" in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.
A.survival chancesB.potential resources
C.unexpected benefitsD.physical possessions
小題4:What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?
A.Our genetic makeup.B.Resources on the earth.
C.The adaptive ability of humans. D.By-products in space exploration.
小題5:What does the writer want to tell us in the passage?
A.Space exploration has created many wonders.
B.Space exploration provided the best value for money.
C.Space exploration can benefit science and technology.
D.The Exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


PALO ALTO, California----"Switching off the television may help prevent children from getting fatter---- even if they do not change their diet or increase the amount they exercise," US researchers said last week.
  A study of 192 third and fourth graders, generally aged eight and nine, found that children who cut the number of hours spent watching television gained nearly two pounds(0.9kg) less over a one-year period than those who did not change their television diet.
  "The findings are important because they show that weight loss can only be the result of a reduction in television viewing and not any other activity," said Thomas Robinson, a pediatrician(兒科專家) at Stanford University.
  "American children spend an average of more than four hours per day watching television and videos or playing video games, and rates of childhood being very fat have doubled over the past 20 years," Robinson said.
  In the study, presented this week to the Pediatric Academic Societies‘ annual meeting in San Francisco, the researchers persuaded about 100 of the students to reduce their television viewing by one-quarter to one-third.
  Children watching fewer hours of television showed a significantly smaller increase in waist size and had less body fat than other students who continued their normal television viewing, even though neither group ate a special diet or took part in any extra exercise.
  "One explanation for the weight loss could be the children unstuck to the television may simply have been moving around more and burning off calories," Robinson said.
  "Another reason might be due to eating fewer meals in front of the television. Some studies have suggested that eating in front of the TV encourages people to eat more," Robinson said.
小題1:The author tries to tell us in the first two paragraphs that ________.
A.children will get fatter if they eat too much
B.children will get thinner if they eat less
C.children will get fatter if they spend less time watching TV
D.children will get fatter if they spend more time watching TV
小題2:According to the passage, the time American children usually spend on watching TV_____.
A.is more than four hours a day
B.is less than four hours a day
C.doubled in the last twenty years
D.is more than on any other activities
小題3:The time children spend on TV viewing every day is suggested to be about
A.six hoursB.eight hoursC.three hoursD.one hour
小題4:Why can watching TV increase kids’ weight according to the passage?
  A. They usually eat more while watching TV.
  B. They burn off fewer calories.
C. They change their diet while watching TV.
D. Both A and B.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Homework can put you in a bad mood (心情), and that might actually be a good thing. Researchers from the University of Plymouth in England doubted whether mood might affect the way kids learn. To find out the answer, they did two experiments with children.
The first experiment tested 30 kids. Some shapes (圖片) were hidden inside a different, larger picture. The kids had to find the small shapes while sitting in a room with either cheerful or sad music playing in the background. To test their mood, the scientists asked the kids to point to one of five faces, from happy to sad. Children who listened to cheerful music tended to point to the smiley faces while the others pointed to the unhappy ones. The researchers found that sad kids took at least a second less to find the small shapes. They also found an average of three or four more shapes.
In the second experiment, 61 children watched one of two scenes from a film. One scene was happy, and the other was sad. Just like in the first experiment, kids who saw the sad scene acted better compared to the others.
The researchers guessed that feeling down makes people more likely to focus on a problem or difficult situation. Not all scientists agree with them, however. Other studies argued that maybe, that cheerful music in the first experiment distracted (使分心) kids from finding shapes.
While scientists work on finding out the answers, it still might be wise to choose when to do your tasks according to your mood. After eating a delicious ice cream, for example, write an essay.
小題1:Researchers did experiments on kids in order to find out ______.
A.how they really feel when they are learning
B.whether mood affects their learning ability
C.what methods are easy for kids to learn
D.the relationship between sadness and happiness
小題2:The researchers found in the first experiment that ______.
A.kids who listened to happy music turned out to be energetic
B.kids who listened to sad music liked to choose smiley faces
C.kids worked harder in the background of happy music
D.sad music helped kids find out small shapes quickly
小題3:What can we learn from the text?
A.The researchers will continue to do experiments.
B.The researchers have found a clear answer.
C.The experiments are popular among kids.
D.Kids change their feelings more easily.
小題4:We can infer that the text is ______.   
A.a(chǎn) science surveyB.a(chǎn) research report
C.a(chǎn) school projectD.a(chǎn)n introduction to an experiment

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

People have been growing chrysanthemums(菊花)for more than 2,000 years. Mums make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers.
One basic kind of mum is the garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions.
There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals(花瓣)like a tube or needle.
Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow one meter high.
The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet.
Newly-planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall.
Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near night lights or street lights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon.
In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather.
Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But be sure to leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a greater chance of disease.
To get more blooms, gardeners pinch(掐)back the branches when new growth has reached fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom.
小題1: What has a great effect on the life cycle of the mum?
A.The conditions of the soil.B.The amount of daylight.
C.The amount of rainfall.D.Cold weather.
小題2:Why do gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth reaches certain length?
A.To make mums grow thick.B.To get more blooms.
C.To prevent mums from falling ill.D.To let air flow between the plants.
小題3: Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Growing mums has a very long history and all the people in the world like making tea with mums.
B.Mums can grow one meter high and the closer they are planted, the higher they grow.
C.Though planting mums close together can make them look more beautiful, enough space should be left.
D.The petals of mums are long and straight and the more water mums get, the more quickly they grow.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Competition between international universities is heating up, as China grows as one of the largest exporters of students aiming to study abroad. “Lots of universities are becoming more and more aggressive to attract Chinese students. Every day I receive contacts from universities in the US expressing the desire to come to China to recruit students,” said Frank Joseph, a commercial officer from embassy of the United States.
One key reason why more Chinese students are able to study abroad is the economy: With China’s boom within the past decade, more families have the financial wherewithal (資金) to send their children to international universities. There will be a total of 200,000 family-funded Chinese students studying overseas in 2011, up 20 percent from last year, said Wu Zaofeng, deputy secretary general of China Education Association for International Exchange.
International institutions, Joseph said, are also facing increasingly tough financial situation with a shortage of domestic students and a drop in government subsidies (補(bǔ)貼). Students, especially in the US are paying high tuition fees and living expenses. Chinese students with money to spend, according to experts, can fill up the gap. Students on average spend 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan every year studying in US, according to statistics from the US Institute of International Education. During 2009-2010, there were approximately 81,000 Chinese students studying in the US, up 19.8 percent from 2008.
Representatives from approximately 60 universities from the United States are planning to arrive in Beijing this weekend to attract more Chinese students at this year’s fair. Besides the US, many other countries are also vying (競(jìng)爭(zhēng)) to enroll Chinese students.
Post-study work visa put out by British government allows all international students completing a UK degree qualification to apply for a visa to stay on and look for work in UK for up to 2 years. Being the third most popular destination for international students next to the US and the UK, France has set up two types of scholarships and has handed out an increase of 26 percent in scholarship funds to Chinese students in recent years.
小題1:The reason for heating up competition between international universities is __________.
A.that China has become one of the largest exporters of the students aiming to study abroad
B.China’s boom, the students’ desire and foreign universities’ commercial motive
C.that the students in China are becoming richer and richer
D.that the students in foreign countries do not want to go to universities
小題2: Why are more Chinese students able to study abroad?
A.Because their families have enough money to send them to international universities.
B.Because they can’t go to the best universities at home.
C.Because they want to win the scholarship of foreign universities
D.Because the Chinese students enjoy following others and they want to be independent.
小題3:Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.In 2011 there will be 200,000 Chinese students studying in the US.
B.Chinese students are able to study abroad for their relatives overseas.
C.In 2011 there will be 200,000 state-funded Chinese students studying overseas.
D.There are fewer family-funded Chinese students studying abroad in 2010 than in 2011.
小題4: From the passage we can learn that __________.
A.the number of foreign students is becoming smaller and smaller
B.the international universities are short of money
C.there were approximately 81,000 foreign students studying in the US during 2009-2010
D.the Chinese students spend more money than the American students

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊(cè)答案