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You may know your mother, but how well do you really know Mothers’ Day? Cards, flowers, sales, TV specials, and a day off for someone who really deserves it — those are what probably come to mind for many people when they think of Mothers’ Day. But there’s more to the story.
The earliest Mothers’ Day celebrations were held during spring in ancient Greece. The celebrations honored Rhea, the mother of the gods. During the 1600’s, England celebrated a day called Mothering Sunday. On this day even servants(仆人) were given the day off to spend with their families. A mothering cake was even served with the family meal.
In the US, Mothers’ Day began in 1872 when Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the famous song The Battle Hymn of the Republic, suggested it as a day devoted to peace. But it didn’t really become popular until 1907 when Anna Jarvis started a campaign to honor mothers. She believed that mothers could help people get over the pain they experienced during the Civil War. The US isn’t alone in devoting a day to mothers. Many other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Japan, and Belgium also honor their mothers in May. Other countries honor their mothers at different times of the year.
Learning more about Mothers’ Day and celebrating Mothers’ Day are important, but probably not as important as understanding what your own mother, or grandmother, or aunt has really done for you. And that will certainly be appreciated more than one day in year.
1. Where was the earliest Mothers’ Day celebrated?
A. In ancient Greece. B. In the US.
C. In England. D. In Italy.
2. According to Paragraph 3, we know that ____________.
A. Julia Ward Howe composed a song about Mothers’ Day
B. American people started to celebrate Mothers’ Day in 1907
C. Anna Jarvis attached great importance to mothers
D. Mothers’ Day celebrations are held at different times in the US
3.We can learn from the passage that ______________.
A. Rhea is the mother of a king in ancient Greece
B. not all the countries celebrate Mothers’ Day in May
C. only mothers were given a day off on Mothering Sunday
D. it was in 1872 that Mothers’ Day really came into being
4.The last paragraph tells us that ____________.
A. all the people should celebrate Mothers’ Day
B. only mothers are honored on Mothers’ Day
C. understanding mothers’ work is more important than just celebrating Mothers’ Day
D. people should celebrate Mothers’ Day every day
5.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The reason why people celebrate Mothers’ Day.
B. The ways people honor mothers.
C. The history of Mothers’ Day.
D. The great contribution of mothers.
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Recently American researchers suggested people on Wednesday to take more vitamin D to lower risk of cancer, saying studies showed a clear link. “Our suggestion is for people to increase their intake , through diet or a vitamin supplement,” Dr. Cedric Garland said in a telephone interview.
Garland's research team reviewed 63 studies, including several large long-term ones, on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. “There's nothing that has this ability to prevent cancer,” he said, urging governments and public health officials to do more to fortify (增强) foods with vitamin D. Garland is part of a University of California at San Diego Moores Cancer Center team that published its findings this week online in the American Journal of Public Health. Vitamin D is found in milk, as well as in some fortified orange juice, yogurt and cheeses, usually at around 100 international units（IU）a serving. “People might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their intake to 1000 IUs per day” Garland said， adding that it was well within the safety guidelines established by the National Academy of Sciences.
The authors said that taking more vitamin D could be particularly important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunshine.
“African Americans, who don't produce as much of the vitamin because of their skin colour, could also benefit significantly from a higher intake,” the authors said.
1.The underlined word in the first paragraph probably means _____.
A. income B. digest C. drown D. uptake
2.Who can Garland probably be?
A. A public health official B. A scientist
C. A health researcher D. A doctor
3.According to the passage, people are advised to take more Vitamin D, because__.
A. t is not taken enough every day
B. it is nutritious
C. it can’t harm people’s health
D. it can lower cancer risk
4. Which of the following food can lower people’s chance of getting cancer?
A. Milk
B. Fortified orange juice
C. Fortified yogurt
D. All of the above
5.People from which area should take more Vitamin D according to the passage?
A. American people B. African people
C. Asian people D. European people
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In the southern part of America, when somebody has a birthday, often family or friends, or both, will arrange a party. The party could be elaborate(精心准备的)and include a meal or may be simple with a birthday cake and drinks. One does not plan, nor give, one’s own birthday as is the custom in some cultures. At a party there is usually a decorated cake, often with the words “Happy Birthday” and with the name of the person written on the top of the cake. Sometimes there is also one candle for each year of the person celebrating the birthday before the cake is cut. While blowing out the candles, the person makes a wish for something pleasant.
Usually those invited to a birthday party will bring a gift for the person honored. Gifts given by friends do not have to be expensive, but the family of the birthday person will spend whatever they can afford on a gift.
Christmas parties also are very popular in the South. Often this is the only time during the year that some people see acquaintances(熟人). These parties can be elaborate or simple, ranging from a buffet(自助餐)to a reception called “open house (家庭招待会)”. If you are invited to one of these, you don’t need to take a Christmas gift, as it is not customary to take the hostess a gift every time you are invited to a party or a meal. However, if you wish to take a gift, it should only be something useful and inexpensive and should be given to the hostess at the door as you enter the party. Usually gifts of Christmas food treats are the most appreciated.
1.On one’s birthday, before blowing out the candles, he or she will______.
A. wear beautiful clothes B. make a wish
C. invite friends D. eat birthday cake
2.This passage mainly tells us about __________.
A. two kinds of parties in the southern United States
B. how to arrange a birthday party
C. how to arrange a Christmas party
D. who will arrange a party
3.In southern America, birthday parties are often arranged by _________.
A. friends B. oneself
C. family D. Both A and C
4.Which of the following is true?
A. For a birthday party, the cake is often cut before candles are blown out.
B. For a birthday party, neither friends nor the family will buy expensive presents.
C. If you take a gift to a Christmas party, you’d better take something useful and inexpensive.
D. It’s customary to take the hostess a gift when you are invited to a party.
5.What kind of gift is the best if someone is invited to a Christmas party?
A. Expensive things B. Candles
C. Food D. Money
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Remember, from the moment they are born, our children have the ability to know when they are hungry – and they cry to let us know too! Of course, they also cry to let us know they are wet, hurt, or bored, but we soon learn to tell the difference and try to meet each need somehow. When we begin to feed them solid foods, they let us know when they have had enough by turning away from the spoon – or refusing the food back at us!
Why is it that once children are old enough to sit at the table their parents are often heard bargaining with them or threatening them to finish all their dinner? When we make our children eat up the plate that we filled, we don’t pay attention to their born ability to know how much, and what, their bodies need. Instead, we should allow them to use their own hunger feelings to determine how much they need, while we provide a balance of nutritious and “fun” foods. When we teach them about moderation and set a great example by living an active, healthy lifestyle, they will be less likely to develop weight problems later in life. Think of your slim friend who eats whatever she wants –but will refuse ice cream if she has had enough to eat!
“Eat all your dinner if you want dessert” translates to “you must overeat so I will reward you by letting you overeat some more!” By using sweets as a reward for good behavior, kids begin to believe sweets are really special and they may want them even more. Instead, by making dessert just another (small) part of an enjoyable meal, kids learn to “save room for dessert” instead of becoming a member of the “clean plate club.”
1. Children are born to know _______.
A. how to stay away from poison
B. how much they should take when hungry
C. meat is worse than vegetables
D. sugar is better than fat
2.The best way for parents to have their baby eat properly is to _____.
A. persuade them to eat as much as possible
B. act more funny when they are having a meal
C. set a great example by living an active and healthy lifestyle
D. cheat them into more delicious food
3.If you are one who eat enough but still stay slim, you may ______.
A. refuse to take more ice-cream after a good meal
B. Eat far less food than anyone else
C. go out for a run and take some more after going home
D. drink more water even though you are hungry
4.“Eat all your dinner if you want dessert” just mean _______.
A. your children’s healthy eating
B. a wrong signal of too much food
C. another better meal for a baby
D. a slimmer girl when growing up
5.The next passage may tell us _____.
A. how to have your baby eat more for its future height
B. how to guide your children to finish all the plates
C. why you should award your children more sweets
D. how to have your son be a real “good eater”
