Is It Worth Buying Organic Food? Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is increasingly popular nowadays. Consumers have been willing to pay up to twice more for goods with organic labels (商标). However, if you think paying a little more for organic food gets you a more nutritious and safer product, you might want to save your money. A study led by researchers at Stanford University says that organic products aren't necessarily more nutritious, and they're no less likely to suffer from disease-causing bacteria, either.
The latest results, published in the Annuals of Internal Medicine, suggest that buyers may be wasting their money. "We did not find strong evidence that organic food is more nutritious or healthier," says Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler from Stanford. "So consumers shouldn't assume that one type of food has a lower risk or is safer."
For their new study, Smith-Spangler and her colleagues conducted a review of two categories of research, including 17 studies that compared health outcomes between consumers of organic against traditional food products, and 223 studies that analyzed the nutritional content of the foods, including key vitamins, minerals and fats.
While the researchers found little difference in nutritional content, they did find that organic fruit and vegetables were 20% less likely to have chemicals remaining on the surfaces. Neither organic nor traditional foods showed levels of chemicals high enough to go beyond food safety standards. And both organic and traditional meats, such as chicken and pork, were equally likely to be harmed by bacteria at very low rates. The researchers did find that organic milk and chicken contained higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat also found in fish that can reduce the risk of heart disease. However, these nutritional differences were too small, and the researchers were unwilling to make much of them until further studies confirm the trends.
Organic food is produced with fewer chemicals and more natural-growing practices, but that doesn't always translate into a more nutritious or healthier product. The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that "whether you buy organic or not, finding the freshest foods available may have the biggest effect on taste." Fresh food is at least as good as anything marketed as organic.
1.The new research questions whether organic food __________.
A.should replace traditional food B.has been overpriced by farmers
C.is grown with less harmful chemicals D.is really more nutritious and healthier
2.Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found that __________.
A.organic food could reduce the risk of heart disease
B.traditional food was grown with more natural methods
C.both organic and traditional food they examined were safe
D.there was not a presence of any forms of bacteria in organic food
3.Which of the following is relatively healthier according to the passage?
A.Organic chicken and pork. B.Organic milk and chicken.
C.Traditional chicken and pork. D.Traditional fruit and vegetables.
4.What is the author’s attitude toward organic food?
A.Sceptical B.Neutral
C.Unconcerned D.Approving
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Earth's next superpower
The following countries have been sitting on hidden talents. And now they're about to fly.
NIGERIA (尼日利亚)
Nigeria says it pumps out as much oil as the other two oil-producing countries,Kuwait and Iraq. All this oil is cycling cash into the Nigerian economy and creating extremely rich businessmen. Analysts say that if Nigeria can improve its schools and technology，it could balloon into the world's 13th largest economy by 2050，right between Turkey and Italy. If that reason is not enough for optimism，Nigeria's president also has the sunniest name of any world leader: Goodluck Jonathan.
VIETNAM
As agriculture has given way to industry，unemployment in Vietnam has dropped. What's Vietnam's trick? It's ready to work. Other countries' laborers aren't as cheap as they used to be，which makes Vietnam a relative bargain for companies that need new factories abroad. However，the country has almost no railroads，its highways are in poor condition，and its largest city has just one airport，which was built before the Vietnam War. So what's the use of producing export-ready goods if there's no convenient way to ship them? The good thing is that，however，officials are widening highways，building a new airport and so on.
CHILE (智利)
Pipes，computers，motors，and your microwave all have one thing in common: They're made with copper (铜). Copper makes the world go round. And luckily for Chile， it's got about a third of the planet's copper supply. It just needs a way to dig it up and the government is pouring money into the country's mines.
1.Which country will Nigeria be expected to follow in respect of economy by 2050?
A.Kuwait. B.Iraq.
C.Turkey. D.Italy.
2.What's the problem Vietnam is facing?
A.It doesn't have money to build new factories.
B.Its people don't have enough food to eat.
C.It is suffering from the Vietnam War.
D.Its transport system is very poor.
3.What will Chile depend on to get developed?
A.High tech.
B.Natural resources.
C.Investments from other countries.
D.The government's good administration.
4.Which of the following is the best title of the text?
A.Countries with a lot of money B.Developed countries
C.Countries in great need of money D.Countries about to take off
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For example, in American culture the smile is in general an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other uses. A woman’s smile at a police officer does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show love or politeness. It can also hide true feelings. It often causes confusion across cultures. For example, many people in Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even improper. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places (although this is less common in big cities). Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians don’t smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover painful feelings. Vietnamese people may tell a sad story but end the story with a smile.
Our faces show emotions, but we should not attempt to “read” people from another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as members of another culture, but it does not mean that they do not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural differences in the amount of facial expressiveness permitted. For example, in public and in formal situations many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. When with friends, Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly.
It is difficult to conclude about Americans and facial expressiveness because of personal and cultural differences in the United States. People from certain cultural backgrounds in the United States seem to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our own cultural habits, we may make the mistake of “reading” the other person incorrectly.
1.The author mentions the smile of the Vietnamese to prove that smile can ________.
A.show friendliness to strangers
B.be used to hide true feelings
C.be used in the wrong places
D.show personal habits
2.What should we do before attempting to “read” people?
A.Learn about their relations with others.
B.Understand their cultural backgrounds.
C.Find out about their past experience.
D.Figure out what they will do next.
3.What would be the best title for the test?
A.Cultural Differences
B.Smiles and Relationships
C.Facial Expressiveness
D.Habits and Emotions
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I’ve spent over a year in India, and in those 365 plus days, I’ve learned a lot about getting around Indian cities.My biggest lessons have been learned through being cheated, particularly by taxi and rickshaw (人力车) drivers, but that doesn’t mean those are bad ways to travel, as long as you know what you’re doing.Below are the best ways to get around the city of Delhi, India, and tips for how to keep from being the victim of scams (欺骗).
Taking taxis is a great way to get around the city of Delhi and chances are, if you arrive in Delhi by plane, as soon as you make it through customs, you’ll be swarmed by Indian taxi drivers.At the Delhi airport, be sure to arrange for a taxi to your hotel at one of the two Delhi Traffic Police Taxi Booths.One is inside the airport, and one is outside.The key is to make sure to go to a booth run by the police, rather than by independent taxi drivers.
Rickshaws are one of my favorite ways to get around Indian cities, in part because it’s how the locals often travel.Autorickshaws are more common, but bicycle rickshaws are still used in Old Delhi.If you do have a chance to take a bicycle rickshaw, you should do it at least once for a unique experience that should only set you back about 15 rupees.Autorickshaw rates around Delhi range between 30 and 80 rupees, depending on distance.
If you really want to travel around Delhi like the locals, take a public bus.Indian buses become very crowded and most do not have air conditioning.They are, however, very cheap.A bus trip won’t set you back any more than 15 rupees, as long as you stay within the city limits.Since Indian buses get so crowded, try to board the bus at the start of the route so you can get a seat.
The train is a great way to get around within the city of Delhi.Fares are reasonable, between six and 22 rupees.All departure announcements are in both Hindi and English, and tokens can be purchased for between 6 and 22 rupees.
1.To avoid being cheated, you ought to if you want to take a taxi at the Delhi airport.
A.pay more to the drivers to keep safe B.show your ticket to the driver
C.go to a policerun booth D.go out of the airport
2.The author suggests taking a rickshaw in order to .
A.save some money B.enjoy the comfortable trip
C.gain a unique experience D.help the local rickshaw drivers
3.What can we infer from the passage?
A.You won’t have to pay much if you travel around by bus in India.
B.It will be difficult for you to get a seat if you get on the bus halfway.
C.A rickshaw driver only charges whatever amount you give him.
D.You’ll have to speak English if you travel around in India.
4.Which may be the topic that follows?
A.Hotel recommendations in Delhi. B.Weather conditions in Delhi.
C.Food and drink in Delhi. D.Car rentals in Delhi.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to test best
It’s back to school, which means it’s back to tests. Which might also mean it’s back to being majorly stressed out .1.Here are some simple ways to prepare thoroughly for tests.
Schedule study time.
Trying to do all studying the night before a test makes it impossible to master all the material.2.Instead, prepare for a test by scheduling study time each day for several days before.
Use your time wisely.
3.Also, make sure you have all the supplies you need to study so you don’t lose focus.
While studying, be sure to make regular short breaks. Get a snack, take a bathroom break or play a quick computer game when it feels as if your brain is about to explode.
4.
Studying with a parent or friends can help you understand the material better and to learn from one another. Have every person or pair take a part of the material, and come up with questions to quiz the group.
Keep the group small. Have everyone take turns as the group leader, who will assign the material, and make sure that conversation stays on what is being studied.
Don’t forget last-minute prep.
Have your sharpened pencils and other things in your bag ready the night before the test. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep and then eating a healthy breakfast the next morning.5..
Also, studying all the way up until test time can only create more anxiety. Stop studying an hour beforehand.
A.Form a study group.
B.Stay cool before the test.
C.It doesn’t have to be this way.
D.This will help you store important information.
E.This way, both your mind and body are fully prepared.
F.Before studying , clear your desk so you can concentrate.
G.It will also make you tired and stressed on the day of the test.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Another person's enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved. That person was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father_________me to her with these words: “I would like you to meet the fellow who is_________for being the worst boy in this county and will probably start throwing rocks at you no_________ than tomorrow morning.”
My stepmother walked over to me, _________my head slightly upward, and looked me right in the eye. Then she looked at my father and replied, “You are_________This is not the worst boy at all, _________the smartest one who hasn't yet found an outlet(释放的途径) for his enthusiasm.”
That statement began a(n)_________between us. No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors had built me up in my_________as a bad boy. My stepmother changed all that.
She changed many things. She_________my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with honors. She moved our family into the county seat, where my father's career could be more__________and my brother and I could be better__________.
When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand__________and told me that she believed that I could become a writer. I knew her enthusiasm, I__________ it, and I saw how it had already improved our lives. I accepted her__________ and began to write for local newspapers. I was doing the same kind of__________that great day I went to interview Andrew Camegie and received the task which became my life's work later. I wasn't the__________beneficiary(受益者). My father became the__________ man in town. My brother and stepbrothers became a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.
What power__________has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one's purpose and is__________ strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible(不可抗拒的) force which poverty and temporary defeat can never________.
You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.
1.A.rushed B.sent C.carried D.introduced
2.A.distinguished B.favored C.mistaken D.rewarded
3.A.sooner B.later C.longer D.earlier
4.A.dragged B.shook C.raised D.bent
5.A.perfect B.right C.wrong D.impolite
6.A.but B.so C.and D.or
7.A.agreement B.friendship C.gap D.relationship
8.A.opinion B.image C.expectation D.mind
9.A.begged B.persuaded C.ordered D.invited
10.A.successful B.meaningful C.helpful D.useful
11.A.treated B.entertained C.educated D.respected
12.A.camera B.radio C.bicycle D.typewriter
13.A.considered B.suspected C.ignored D.appreciated
14.A.belief B.request C.criticism D.description
15.A.teaching B.writing C.studying D.reading
16.A.next B.same C.only D.real
17.A.cleverest B.wealthiest C.strongest D.healthiest
18.A.enthusiasm B.sympathy C.fortune D.confidence
19.A.deliberately B.happily C.traditionally D.constantly
20.A.win B.match C.reach D.doubt
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单句填空
1.We all have an____________(expect) that he can pass the driving test next week.
2.You’ll find these meals quick and ____________(convenience) to prepare.
3.What parents say and do at home will have a great impact ________ their children.
4.The new clothes in that shop are so beautiful that Anna cannot resist _____ (take) a close look at them.
5.Despite the fact _____they lacked food, the explorers continued towards the goal.
6.The moment she came back from work, she set out ______ (clean) the kitchen thoroughly.
7.He worked so hard that he got his pay ________ (raise).
8.You cannot accept an opinion _________ (offer) to you unless it is based on facts.
9.This is ____ my father taught me — to always face difficulties and hope for the best.
10.One of the major problems is that a ______ (major) of the graduates who major in English find it difficult to find a good job.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单句改错
1.The other day I am showing the boys the weekly chemistry when the mixture bubbled everywhere.
2.Sometimes I wonder how relevant chemistry is with these students.
3.It was such privilege to have spent a day with Tombe’s family.
4.You have to get used to a whole new way of life, that can take up all the concentration in the beginning.
5.Two centuries later, the Spanish had settled in most parts of South America and along the northwest coast of where we now call the United States.
6.Humans differ with other animals in their ability to speak.
7.He found the problem difficultly to solve.
8.The position of the classroom with its view made me felt like I was dreaming.
9.The question that the sports meeting will be held on time will be discussed tomorrow.
10.The criteria is so strict that it is difficult to get new ideas accepted unless they are truly novel.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
现在有些学生用父母给的零花钱买名牌。请你根据以下提示信息，用英语写一篇短文，并就零花钱这一主题提出自己的一些看法。
| 学生零花钱的来源 | 父母、兼职、礼物 |
| 学生零花钱的用途 | 买高科技产品、时髦服装和鞋等 |
| 你的看法 | …………………. |
注意：1． 可以适当增添细节，以使行文连贯。
2．词数120左右。开头已经写好，不计入总词数
3. 高科技：high-tech ( adj.)
Teenagers are spending too much of their parents’ hard-earned money buying branded products. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析