Next time you hear a funny joke you’d better not laugh too hard. According to a paper published by the British Medical Journal, laughter isn’t always the best medicine. Sometimes it can even be harmful. Professor Robin Ferner from the University of Birmingham, one of the authors of the study, found that bad things could happen to people who laughed too much. He says: “We found people with heartbeat problems which had stopped their heart, we found people who had fainted(昏倒), and we found people who’d dislocated their jaws or burst their lungs.”

It seems that laughing can be no laughing matter. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Professor Ferner says there are benefits to laughing when you want to lose weight, for example. Yes, that’s right: laugh and be slimmer! Professor Ferner explains that: “You use energy when you laugh, you move your diaphragm(橫膈膜), you expand your lungs, and both those things can be helpful.”

According to the research, laughing for a quarter of an hour can burn up to 40 calories, and if you laughed all day you’d use up about 2,000 calories, which is what most people consume in a day. But don’t do that or you might end up with a painful jaw. Ouch! Or you might find people looking at you in a funny way.

But I don’t want to finish this article leaving you feeling desperate. Laughter comes naturally for most of us. Babies begin to laugh at around 3-6 months. So give in to your sense of humour and keep smiling. Life is short anyway.

1.Laughing too much may cause the following harmful results EXCEPT_________.

A. heart stopB. diaphragm movement

C. lung burstD. jaw dislocation

2.The underlined phrase “doom and gloom” in Paragraph 2 probably means_______.

A. hopelessB. funny

C. painfulD. nervous

3.How many calories can you use if you laugh for half a day?

A. About 40.B. About 1,000.

C. About 2,000.D. About 2,040.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards laughing in the last paragraph?

A. Uninterested. B. Disapproving.

C. Worried. D. Favorable.

I teach geography at UNLV three times per week. Last Monday, at the beginning of class, I cheerfully asked my students how their weekend had been. One young man said that his weekend had not been so good. He had his wisdom teeth removed. The young man then asked me why I always seemed to be so cheerful. “I choose to be cheerful.” I said. Then I told them a story.

In addition to teaching here at UNLV, I also teach out at the community college in Henderson, 17 miles down the freeway from where I live. One day I drove those 17 miles to Henderson. I exited the freeway and turned onto College Drive. I only had to drive another quarter mile down the road to the college. But just then my car died and wouldn’t start again. So I left my car there and marched down the road to the college.

As soon as I got there I called AAA (美國汽車協(xié)會)and arranged for a tow truck (拖車) to meet me at my car after class. The secretary in the office asked me what had happened. “This is my lucky day.” I replied, smiling.

“Your car breaks down and today is your lucky day?” She was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“My car could have broken down anywhere along the freeway but it didn’t.” I replied, “Instead, it broke down in the perfect place: off the freeway, within walking distance from here. I’m still able to teach my class, and I’ve been able to arrange for the tow truck to meet me after class.” The secretary’s eyes opened wide, and then she smiled. I smiled back and headed for class. So ended my story.

I scanned the sixty faces in my class at UNLV. Despite the early hour, no one seemed to be asleep. Somehow, my story had touched them. Or maybe it wasn’t the story at all. In fact, it had all started with a student’s observation that I was cheerful. An Indian wise man once said, “Who you are speaks louder to me than anything you can say.” I suppose it must be so.

1.Why did the author tell his students the story?

A. To share his lucky experience.

B. To make his class more lively.

C. To draw all students’ attention.

D. To encourage his students to be positive.

2.What happened to the author on his way to the community college?

A. He parked his car in a perfect place.

B. He called AAA for a tow truck to meet him.

C. He covered the last quarter mile on foot.

D. He drove off the freeway at a wrong exit.

3.By saying “it wasn’t the story at all”, the author means that_______.

A. His story is not convincing

B. He shouldn’t have told the story

C. His attitude to life has inspired the students

D. His story is not as interesting as expected

4.What can be concluded from the passage?

A. Easier said than done.

B. You are what you choose.

C. Behind bad luck comes good luck.

D. A good beginning makes a good ending.

Here are tips for a successful speech from a professional speechwriter:

No speech should last more than 20 minutes. 1. The Sermon on the Mount, a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, for example, lasted hardly more than three minutes.

Focus on one topic. We’re human and tend to have lots of thoughts, opinions and ideas. You have to make proper selection. 2. Include and expand only those that explain and support your viewpoint(觀點).

3. It’s important to remember that your words must be hearable and understandable the first time out.

Humour is vital. 4. Ronald Reagan always wanted to joke at the start of a speech because he needed the quick victory of laughter. It helped him relax. It also helped the audience relax.

Don’t forget to say thanks. You should always, at the beginning of the speech, thank the person who invited you and introduced you. 5. While you’re doing it, the audience gets a chance to daydream and settle down. They’re going to daydream at some point anyway, and it may as well be before you get to the heart of your remarks.

A. Choose your words carefully.

B. And saying thanks at the beginning has a practical purpose.

C. First you have to work out what you’re going to say.

D. Every speech needs it, and you need it, too, probably at the beginning.

E. Stick to one subject－the future of the soccer club, for example.

F. This process takes time, so start once you begin thinking about the speech.

G. The more important the message is, the less time it requires to say it.

I often recall those good old days. At that time life was relatively simpler, and people were much more and gentler. Recently, to my surprise, I got the opportunity to experience that same warmth that I thought had from the fast-moving world.

I was out shopping the other day with my husband, two daughters and one . It was a burning hot day, and we were all visibly tired and hungry. We entered a restaurant, looking for some and comfort. To our disappointment, all the tables were and no one seemed in a hurry to . We waited, tired and . After quite some time, one table was vacated(空出), but that could only two of us. My daughter made me sit along with her father, while she and my other daughter alongside. My granddaughter sat on my as we looked all around us, waiting for another table to be soon.

At the next table, two young girls were sitting at a table for four and enjoying their meal. We decided to move to their table, they were finished with their lunch. Since the girls had just got their , I knew it would be a wait. As we were deciding on what to eat, one of the girls got up and their table to us. She said they would move to our table so that my family could sit together.

We were very appreciative of their kind . We thanked them and moved to their table. The girls quickly their plates and glasses and went to sit at our table.

That day, I to myself there still were some kind, civil and helpful youngsters in this non-caring world, and my faith in humanity(人道) was .

1.A. friendlyB. generous C. carefulD. sensitive

2.A. prevent B. removedC. lost D. disappeared

3.A. nieceB. granddaughterC. nephewD. son

4.A. tea B. foodC. fruitD. vegetable

5.A. fixedB. coveredC. occupiedD. set

6.A. startB. waitC. give upD. get up

7.A. impatientB. nervousC. awkwardD. embarrassed

8.A. serveB. seatC. layD. hold

9.A. satB. followedC. stoodD. watched

10.A. shoulderB. feetC. lapD. table

11.A. blank B. free C. availableD. clean

12.A. unlessB. onceC. beforeD. until

13.A. orderB. billC. noteD. menu

14.A. longB. shortC. boringD. exciting

15.A. leftB. pushedC. sharedD. offered

16.A. treatB. expression C. movement D. gesture

17.A. personallyB. properlyC. publiclyD. sincerely

18.A. picked upB. raised up C. put upD. given up

19.A. turnedB. cameC. thoughtD. pointed

20.A. lostB. rebuiltC. foundD. shaken

Many students may feel 1. (stress) because of their parents. Most parents have good intentions, 2. some of them aren’t very helpful with the problems their sons and daughters have in 3. (adjust)to college, and a few of them seem to go out of their way to add to their children’s 4. (difficulty).

For one thing, parents are often not aware of the kinds of problems their children face. They don’t realize that the 5. (compete) is stronger, that the required standards of work are 6. (high), and that their children may not be prepared for 7. change. They may be upset by their children’s poor grades. At their kindest, they may8. (gentle) ask why John or Mary isn’t doing better, whether he or she is trying as hard as he or she should, and so on. At their worst, they may threaten 9. (take) their children out of college or cut off living expenses.

Sometimes parents think it right and natural that they determine 10. their children do with their lives. They forget that everyone is different and that each person must develop in his or her own way.

假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中

共有10處語言錯誤，每句中最多有兩處。每處錯誤僅涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或

修改。

增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（/\），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。

刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。

修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。

注意：1. 每處錯誤及其修改均僅限一詞；

2. 只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。

Nowadays, the computer technology develops very fast that the Internet has become more and more popular. Some students regarded it as a great helper. Because there has a lot of information on line, so you can surf the Internet for any information you need in a short time without working hard in the library. This is also very convenient to talk with others by using the Internet. Moreover, other students think that there is some information on line which is not good for students. In addition, spend too much time playing games will not only have a bad effect on their studies but also do harm for health. Therefore, we should make properly use of the Internet. It is of great important to separate good plants from wild weeds.

假定你是李華，向在你校學習的美國交換生Adam借了一本英文小說，但不慎丟失，一時又買不到。請給他寫電子郵件，說明情況。要點包括：

1. 表示歉意；

2. 說明物品丟失的經(jīng)過；

3. 提出可能的解決方案。

注意：

1. 詞數(shù)100左右；

2. 可適當增加細節(jié)使行文連貫；

3. 開頭和結(jié)尾已經(jīng)給出，不計入總詞數(shù)。

Dear Adam,

Yours,

Li Hua

A

Guide to Stockholm University Library

Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.

Zones

The library is divided into different zones. The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading, and places where you can sit and work with your own computer. The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs. The ground floor is the zone where you can talk. Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.

Computers

You can use your own computer to connect to the wi-fi specially prepared for notebook computers, you can also use library computers, which contain the most commonly used applications, such as Microsoft Office. They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.

Group-study places

If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others, you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor. Some study rooms are for 2-3 people and others can hold up to 6-8 people. All rooms are marked on the library maps.

There are 40 group-study rooms that must be booked via the website. To book, you need an active University account and a valid University card. You can use a room three hours per day, nine hours at most per week.

Storage of Study Material

The library has lockers for students to store course literature. When you have obtained at least 40 credits(學分), you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental period.

Rules to be Followed

Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library. Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.

Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library, but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.

1.The library’s upper floor is mainly for students to .

A. read in a quiet place

B. have group discussions

C. take comfortable seats

D. get their computers fixed

2.Library computers on the ground floor __________.

A. help students with their field experiments

B. are for those who want to access the wi-fi

C. contain software necessary for schoolwork

D. are mostly used for filling out application forms

3.What condition should be met to book a group-study room?

A. Group must consist of 8 people.

B. One should have an active University account.

C. Three-hour use per day is the minimum.

D. Applicants must mark the room on the map.

4.A student can rent a locker in the library if he ____________.

A. has earned the required credits

B. attends certain course

C. has nowhere to put his books

D. can afford the rental fee

5.What should NOT be brought into the library?

A. Mobile phones. B. Orange juice.

C. Candy. D. Sandwiches.

When you make a mistake, big or small, cherish it like it’s the most precious thing in the world. Because in some ways, it is.

Most of us feel bad when we make mistakes, beat ourselves up about it, feel like failures, get mad at ourselves.

And that’s only natural: most of us have been taught from a young age that mistakes are bad, that we should try to avoid mistakes. We’ve been scolded when we make mistakes—at home, school and work. Maybe not always, but probably enough times to make feeling bad about mistakes an unconscious reaction.

Yet without mistakes, we could not learn or grow. If you think about it that way, mistakes should be cherished and celebrated for being one of the most amazing things in the world: they make learning possible; they make growth and improvement possible.

By trial and error—trying things, making mistakes, and learning from those mistakes—we have figured out how to make electric light, to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, to fly.

Mistakes make walking possible for the smallest toddler, make speech possible, make works of genius possible.

Think about how we learn: we don’t just consume information about something and instantly know it or know how to do it. You don’t just read about painting, or writing, or computer programming, or baking, or playing the piano, and know how to do them right away. Instead, you get information about something, from reading or from another person or from observing, then you make mistakes and repeat, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, until you’ve pretty much learned how to do something. That’s how we learn as babies and toddlers, and how we learn as adults. Mistakes are how we learn to do something new—because if you succeed at something, it’s probably something you already knew how to do. You haven’t really grown much from that success—at most it’s the last step on your journey, not the whole journey. Most of the journey was made up of mistakes, if it’s a good journey.

So if you value learning, if you value growing and improving, then you should value mistakes. They are amazing things that make a world of brilliance possible.

1.Why do most of us feel bad about making mistakes?

A. Because mistakes make us suffer a lot.

B. Because it’s a natural part in our life.

C. Because we’ve been taught so from a young age.

D. Because mistakes have ruined many people’s careers.

2.According to the passage, what is the right attitude to mistakes?

A. We should try to avoid making mistakes.

B. We should owe great inventions mainly to mistakes.

C. We should treat mistakes as good chances to learn.

D. We should make feeling bad about mistakes an unconscious reaction.

3.The underlined word “toddler” in Paragraph 6 probably means .

A. a small child learning to walk

B. a kindergarten child learning to draw

C. a primary pupil learning to read

D. a school teenager learning to write

4.We can learn from the passage that .

A. most of us can really grow from success

B. growing and improving are based on mistakes

C. we learn to make mistakes by trial and error

D. we read about something and know how to do it right away

Are you learning a foreign 1anguage? Do you find it challenging to learn a foreign language? However，there are a few tips you can use in order to earn a top grade--as well as actually use the skills you've learned．

One of the most important and basic lessons in dealing with a foreign language is to learn and understand each concept and lesson before moving on to the next one．If you don’t understand one concept but move on to the next chapter anyway，you're less likely to understand the new material．

Learning a new language is not only an academic tool，but can help you in your everyday life as well．Being good at another language can help you communicate with other people，aid you when traveling to foreign countries，and even make your resume look better．

And it is important to learn correct pronunciation as soon as possible for poor pronunciation can be hard to break．Native speakers of the language as well as others fluent in the language you are 1earning will appreciate your efforts to learn correct pronunciation．

Gather outside materials such as books，study guides，books on tape，and travel books to aid you in learning the language．Your textbooks can't possibly teach you everything you need to know，so seeking out—side sources is generally a good rule of thumb to keep in mind．

A significant motivator in learning a foreign language is traveling to the country where the language is spoken．That way，you can see firsthand how the language is used，learn the culture，and meet native speakers of the language．Native speakers appreciate sincere attempts of others who take the time to learn their language．

Seek out native speakers of your new language in your school or neighborhood．They can help you with many skills，including pronunciation，and they can provide immediate feedback on your progress．

1.This passage is written to __________.

A．explain why learning a foreign language is challenging

B．tell us the importance of learning foreign 1anguages

C．tell us some ways of earning a top grade

D．give us some tips on learning foreign languages

2.What's the best subtitle of Paragraph 3?

A．Think beyond academic tool.

B．Learn each concept.

C．Plan a trip to use your skills．

D．Consider a language as an academic tool.

3.We can learn from the passage that __________.

A．textbooks are not good for us when 1earning a foreign language

B．1earning pronunciation well from the very beginning is very important

C．poor pronunciation can be easy to break with the help of native speakers

D．seeking too many outside sources will be more harmful than beneficial