Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit; most people don’t even notice that they’re doing it when they sit down. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.
A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. The reason this happens is because the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart, crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. This causes your body to increase your blood pressure to push the blood back to the heart.
Crossing your legs can also lead to neck and back pain. When you sit with your legs crossed, your hips are in a twisted position, which can cause one of your pelvic (骨盆的) bones to rotate. Since your pelvic bone supports your neck and spine, this can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.
You also might notice that when you sit with your legs crossed for long periods of time, your feet and legs get tingly or have the feeling of being asleep. This is because when one leg sits on top of the other, it causes pressure on the veins (血管) and nerves in your legs and feet. It can cause numbness and/or temporary paralysis in the legs, ankles, or feet.
So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.
1.Crossing legs may lead to the following health problems except ________.
A. It can increase your blood pressure
B. It can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck
C. It will make your neck and spine twisted
D. It can cause paralysis for the time being
2.Why can crossing your legs increase your blood pressure?
A. Because the blood in your legs has to work against being pumped back to your heart.
B. Because it will prevent the blood circulating.
C. Because crossing legs results in less resistance for the blood to circulate.
D. Because higher blood pressure contributes to pushing the blood back to the heart.
3.What is the purpose of writing this article?
A. To persuade us not to cross our legs any longer.
B. To make us aware of the health problems caused by crossing legs.
C. To tell us the benefits of sitting with our feet on the floor.
D. To show that crossing legs is an extremely common habit.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Microsoft has developed a new smartphone app that interprets eye signals and translates them into letters, allowing people with motor neurone disease to communicate with others from a phone.
The GazeSpeak app combines a smartphone’s camera with artificial intelligence to recognize eye movements in real time and convert them into letters, words and sentences.
For people suffering from ALS（渐冻症）, also known as motor neurone disease, eye movement can be the only way they are able to communicate.
“Current eye-tracking input systems for people with ALS or other motor impairments are expensive, not robust under sunlight, and require frequent re-calibration and considerable, relatively immobile setups,” said Xiaoyi Zhang, a researcher at Microsoft who developed the technology. “To mitigate the drawbacks…we created GazeSpeak, an eye-gesture communication system that runs on a smartphone, and is designed to be low-cost, robust, portable and easy to learn.”
The app is used by the listener by pointing their smartphone at the speaker. A chart that can be stuck to the back of the smartphone is then used by the speaker to determine which eye movements to make in order to communicate. The sticker shows four grids of letters, which each correspond to a different eye movement. By looking up, down, left or right, the speaker selects which grids the letters they want belong to. The artificial intelligence algorithm is then able to predict the word or sentence they are trying to say.
Zhang’s research, Smartphone-Based Gaze Gesture Communication for People with Motor Disabilities, is set to be presented at the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in May.
1.The underlined word “mitigate” in paragraph probably means __________________.
A. adjust B. correct
C. strengthen D. lessen
2.We can learn from the passage that _________________________.
A. the present eye-tracking input systems can hardly meet the demand of ALS suffers
B. ALS suffers can only be understood through the newly-developed app
C. speakers can make different eye movements to choose preferable word or sentence
D. the GazeSpeak app is going to be released at the Conference on Human Factors in May
3.Which is the best title for the text?
A. Microsoft finds hope for patients with ALS
B. Motor neurone disease might be cured by a smartphone app
C. A smartphone app helps ALS suffers speak with their eyes
D. ALS suffers finally find a way to communicate
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Our neighbor said the storm lasted four minutes. The town houses are destroyed or damaged. Amazingly, none of us were severely injured.
On the day the tornado hit, there was no indication that severe weather was on its way. The first alert my husband, Jimmy, 67, and I, 65, got came around 9 p.m., from some rolling text on the TV Jimmy was watching. He ran upstairs to find me in our third-floor bedroom, and we changed the channel to our local Pensacola, Florida, station.
No sooner had we found coverage of the tornado than it was on top of us. The bones of the house shook, and the power went out. We had three flights of steps to get to the relatively safe closet down on the first floor.
As we reached the last flight of steps, our front door blew out. Suddenly, a three-foot-long tree branch whipped through the doorframe. It flew over our heads, missing us by inches. Had we been one step up, it would have stuck through us.
Finally, Jimmy pushed me down to the closet floor, but he couldn’t get inside himself because of the wind. I grasped Jimmy’s arm as the tornado sucked the door open and tried to bring Jimmy with it. My knees and scalp(头皮) were full of glass, but in that moment, I felt no pain. If I had let go, Jimmy would have flown right out the back of the house and into the bay.
All of a sudden, Jimmy lifted off his feet like people in tornadoes do in the movies. I thought he was gone. And then everything stopped. He landed on his feet. In those first quiet moments, I couldn’t believe it was over.
1.How was the old couple aware of the tornado?
A. They learned it from their neighbors who passed their house.
B. They learned it from some common indications before a tornado.
C. They found the news report forecasting the tornado on TV.
D. They found the tornado on top of them when they were upstairs.
2.We can infer from paragraph4 that ____________
A. The old couple was very grateful to the branch.
B. The old couple missed the branch very much.
C. The old couple was hit by the branch on the head.
D. The old couple was fortunate to have a narrow escape.
3.Why did the old woman feel no pain in paragraph5?
A. Because she was worried about her husband.
B. Because she was brave enough to bear the pain.
C. Because she didn’t actually feel any pain.
D. Because she had a good husband to comfort her.
4.The passage is most probably taken from _______.
A. a brochure B. a novel
C. newspaper D. a magazine
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to Enjoy Life As a Teen
The "best years of your life"? Maybe not, but you can learn to make the most of your high school days.
1.1.Whether it's having a good supply of food, family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world. Remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it. Be happy, and life will reward you.
2. Choose your friends wisely. Unlike what many articles state, you don't have to be popular and have a number of friends to be happy. 2. Try to have friends that like you who you are, not just because you are wearing a certain brand of shoes or something like that.
3. Go for it! If you have a special girl/guy you want to ask out, dance with, etc. just ask! 3.About 90% of the girls or guys you talk to will like you back, only about 10% probably will reject or badmouth you.
4. Keep your grades up. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your efforts pay off in the form of A's and B's (but mainly A's). This also sets you up to get into a college you want to go to, which in turn prepares you for a career you will enjoy, improving your quality of life in the future. 4.
5. Work at a job you can enjoy. Working is a great way to gain experience and to meet other people. When you do get out of college, interviewing companies will look at your previous work experience. 5.If you can't find work, especially in this hard economic time, volunteer or make your own job.
A. This will look great on your resume.
B. While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people.
C.In fact, many of the "friends" you have when you are popular are not true friends.
D.You'll get cheap car insurance as well if you have at least a B or A average.
E.Learn to appreciate small things.
F.Don't go to sleep that night wishing you would have asked them.
G Pursue interests you enjoy.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I was walking around in a Big Bazar store doing a______, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy . The Cashier said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough _____to buy this doll.” Then the little boy ______me and asked, “Uncle, are you sure I don’t have enough money?”
I counted his cash and______, “you don’t , my dear.” The little boy was still______the doll in his hand. Finally, I walked _____him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. “I wanted to______my sister for her Birthday. I have to give the doll to my mommy _____she can give it to my sister when she goes there.” His eyes were so _____while saying this.
“My Sister has _____. Daddy says Mommy is going to see God too, so I______ that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.” Then he______ again at the doll, very quietly. I quickly reached for my______and said. “Suppose we _____again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?” He nodded. I______some of my money to his, with out him seeing and we started to______it. There was enough for the doll and even some______money.
He looked at me and said, “I asked last night for ______to make sure I had enough money. He______me! I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t______to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.”
1.A. hiding B. washing C. cooking D. shopping
2.A. money B. currency C. treasure D. wealth
3.A. turned off B. turned down C. turned to D. turned over
4.A. asked B. went C. reviewed D. replied
5.A. owning B. supporting C. holding D. saving
6.A. toward B. away C. in D. out
7.A. buy B. make C. gift D. donate
8.A. such that B. so that C. so many D. so far
9.A. sad B. happy C. thrilled D. satisfied
10.A. missed B. enjoyed C. slept D. gone
11.A. thought B. suggested C. insisted D. predicted
12.A. heard B. looked C. recalled D. found
13.A. bag B. home C. wallet D. car
14.A. witness B. check C. know D. forgive
15.A. saved B. borrowed C. kept D. added
16.A. count B. cook C. share D. work
17.A. fresh B. fake C. spare D. broken
18.A. dad B. myself C. mum D. God
19.A. smiled B. heard C. noticed D. discussed
20.A. like B. dare C. bear D. have
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
I’m Alexandra Grace, Educator at New Zealand Embassy Beijing. Today I will give you a brief introduction of New Zealand’s higher education. Small 1. it may be, New Zealand offers quality higher education opportunities, with two 2.(three) of its higher education institutes within the top 10 of QS World University Rankings 2014. 3.makes New Zealand’s universities stand out is their abilities 4.(provide) high-end education.
Though Chinese students form the largest international student group in New Zealand, the country only ranks the 7th on Chinese students’ most 5.(desire) overseas destination list. The size of the country prevents it 6.(become)a hot study destination. But it draws students with its 7.(safety) and multi-cultural environment.
While it attracts mainly wealthy students, higher education in New Zealand is also affordable for many common Chinese families. Chinese students can get 8.British-based education with the school fee being some of the lowest in the world. 9. average, the school fee was about 25, 000 dollars per year, and the living costs were about 20, 000 dollars a year. Besides, students can do some part-time jobs. The money 10.(earn) in those jobs is enough for them to travel around the country and enjoy its breath-taking scenery.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是高三学生李华。你校英语报就“人大代表李光宇建议英语课由必修改为选修”一事，向学生征集对此事的想法。请按下列提示，用英语向校报投稿。内容包括：
1.反对人大代表建议；
2.说明英语的重要性；
3.呼吁学生学好英语。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使得行文连贯。
3. 参考词汇：人大代表NPC member; 必修课compulsory course
Dear editor,
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Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇60词左右的内容概要。
Years ago, doctors did not attach much importance to pain. They often said that pain was a normal part of life. In particular, when older patients complained of pain, they were told it was a natural par of aging and they would have to learn to live with it.
With time going by, it has changed greatly. Today, we take pain seriously. Indeed, pain is now considered the fifth vital sign, as important as blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate and pulse in determining a person’s well-being. We are well aware that chronic (慢性的) pain can disrupt a person’s life to a great extent, causing problems that range from missed work to depression.
That’s why a growing number of hospitals now depend upon physicians who specialize in pain medicine. Not only do we evaluate the cause of the pain, which can help us treat the pain better, but we also help provide comprehensive therapy (综合治疗) for depression and other psychological and social issues that is related to chronic pain. Such comprehensive therapy often involves the combined work of social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as specialists in pain medicine.
This modern respect for pain management has led to a wealth of innovative treatments. Modern treatments of pain are more effective and with fewer side effects than ever before, which benefit the victims a lot. Decades ago, there were only a limited number of drugs available, and many of them caused significant side effects in older people, including dizziness and fatigue. This created a double-edged sword: the medications helped relieve the pain but caused other problems that could be worse than the pain itself.
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析