In a new look at the impact of long-time sitting behavior on health, a new study links time watching television to an increased risk of death. One of the most surprising findings is that it isn’t just couch potatoes who were affected. Even for people who exercised regularly, the risk of death went up the longer they were in front of the TV. The problem was the long periods of time spent sitting still.
Australian researchers who tracked 8,800 people for an average of six years found that those who said they watched TV for more than four hours a day were 46% more likely to die of any cause and 80% more likely to die of cardiovascular (心血管的) disease than people who reported spending less than two hours a day in front of TV.
Time spent in front of TVs and computers and videogames has come under fire in studies in recent years for contributing to a spread of obesity in the US and around the world. But typically the resulting public-health message urges children and adults to put down the Xbox controller and remote and get on a treadmill (跑步机) or a soccer field.
The Australian study offers a different view. “It’s not the sweaty type of exercise we’re losing,” says David Dunstan, a researcher at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, who led the study. “It’s the incidental moving around, standing up and using muscles. That doesn’t happen when we are plunked on a couch in front of a television.”
Indeed, participants in the study reported getting between 30 and 45 minutes of exercise a day, on average.The results are supported by a new field of research that shows how long periods of inactivity can affect the body’s processing of fats and other substances that contribute to heart risk. And they suggest that people can help decrease such risk simply by avoiding extended periods of sitting.”
Keeping such processes working more effectively doesn’t require constant intense exercise, but consciously adding more routine movement to your life might help, doctors say. “Just standing is better than sitting,” says Gerard Fletcher, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., who works standing up at his computer. “When you stand up, you shuffle around a little bit and use muscles not required when you are sitting or lying down.”
Simple strategies for increasing activity include combining household chores such as folding laundry with TV-watching time or getting up to change a TV channel rather than using a remote control. The report, published Tuesday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, focuses on TV watching in part because it is the main leisure-time activity in many countries, researchers said, especially in the US.
1.One misunderstanding people might have is that ________.
A. the radiation from TV may badly affect your sight
B. TV programs can broaden your horizons effectively
C. watching TV very long is a good way to kill time
D. regular exercise can minimize the side effect of watching TV
2.What is new about the discovery of the Australian study?
A. Remote control shouldn’t be used when people watch TV.
B. People who watch TV too long should take more physical exercise.
C. Sitting too long in front of TV will lead to high risk of heart attack.
D. Long-time sitting is bad for all people including those who exercise regularly.
3.According to the Australian study, how can the risk of death be reduced when people watch TV?
A. By increasing simple movement.
B. By totally avoiding watching TV.
C. By taking some medicine.
D. By increasing sweaty type of exercise.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
In a new look at the impact of long-time sitting behavior on health, a new study links time watching television to an increased risk of death. One of the most surprising findings is that it isn’t just couch potatoes who were affected. Even for people who exercised regularly, the risk of death went up the longer they were in front of the TV. The problem was the long periods of time spent sitting still.
Australian researchers who tracked 8,800 people for an average of six years found that those who said they watched TV for more than four hours a day were 46% more likely to die of any cause and 80% more likely to die of cardiovascular (心血管的) disease than people who reported spending less than two hours a day in front of TV.
Time spent in front of TVs and computers and videogames has come under fire in studies in recent years for contributing to a spread of obesity in the US and around the world. But typically the resulting public-health message urges children and adults to put down the Xbox controller and remote and get on a treadmill (跑步机) or a soccer field.
The Australian study offers a different view. “It’s not the sweaty type of exercise we’re losing,” says David Dunstan, a researcher at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, who led the study. “It’s the incidental moving around, standing up and using muscles. That doesn’t happen when we are plunked on a couch in front of a television.”
Indeed, participants in the study reported getting between 30 and 45 minutes of exercise a day, on average.The results are supported by a new field of research that shows how long periods of inactivity can affect the body’s processing of fats and other substances that contribute to heart risk. And they suggest that people can help decrease such risk simply by avoiding extended periods of sitting.”
Keeping such processes working more effectively doesn’t require constant intense exercise, but consciously adding more routine movement to your life might help, doctors say. “Just standing is better than sitting,” says Gerard Fletcher, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla., who works standing up at his computer. “When you stand up, you shuffle around a little bit and use muscles not required when you are sitting or lying down.”
Simple strategies for increasing activity include combining household chores such as folding laundry with TV-watching time or getting up to change a TV channel rather than using a remote control. The report, published Tuesday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, focuses on TV watching in part because it is the main leisure-time activity in many countries, researchers said, especially in the US.
1.One misunderstanding people might have is that ________.
A. the radiation from TV may badly affect your sight
B. TV programs can broaden your horizons effectively
C. watching TV very long is a good way to kill time
D. regular exercise can minimize the side effect of watching TV
2.What is new about the discovery of the Australian study?
A. Remote control shouldn’t be used when people watch TV.
B. People who watch TV too long should take more physical exercise.
C. Sitting too long in front of TV will lead to high risk of heart attack.
D. Long-time sitting is bad for all people including those who exercise regularly.
3.According to the Australian study, how can the risk of death be reduced when people watch TV?
A. By increasing simple movement.
B. By totally avoiding watching TV.
C. By taking some medicine.
D. By increasing sweaty type of exercise.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Now,a new study led by Mason,a behavioral biologist at the University of Guelph in Canada,shows that people who can consistently read cats' expressions belong to a special group:that of the cat whisperer, mostly young and female.
For the research,Mason and his colleagues created an online survey and invited Internet users to take part.The 6,329 participants from 85 countries watched between 2 to 20 short videos of cats' expressions, and then responded if they thought the cats were distressed or happy.These random users got an average of 11.85 out of 20 ratings correct-better than chance,but not by much.But about 13 percent of the survey takers were unusually skilled at reading cats' emotions,scoring at least 15 out of 20 correct-the so-called cat whisperers.Those who self-reported being young,female,and having professional veterinary (MEW)experience were most likely to score well.Surprisingly to Mason,cat ownership had no impact on the ability to interpret cat emotion.
"In humans,facial expressions are a major-if underappreciated- form of human communication," says Mason."And recent research shows that a variety of animals,from rats to dogs to horses,also make facial expressions that clearly communicate how they're feeling,"she says.A study published earlier this year found that cats were no exception,while also suggesting that humans could comprehend subtle(微妙的)forms of cat communication,especially facial expressions.
Mikel Delgado,a cat-behavior expert,says that this study is a"great start"to cracking cat communication,but cautions against identifying a cat's emotional state based on one piece of information."There's still a lot for us to understand about cats' body language,"says Delgado.For instance,tail and ear position are also relevant signals to how a cat is feeling.
1.What do we know about the cat whisperers?
A.They often go into profession related to animals.
B.They are good at understanding cats' feelings.
C.They like making videos of cats' expressions.
D.They are most likely to own and raise cats.
2.What does the author mean by"cats were no exception"in Paragraph 3?
A.Cats share a variety of characteristics with rats and dogs.
B.Cats can make out facial expressions like human beings.
C.Cats take an interest in communicating with other animals.
D.Cats can convey their feelings through facial expressions.
3.What can we infer from Mikel Delgado's words?
A.We should be very cautious when we deal with cats.
B.Cats have better communication skills than other animals.
C.We shouldn't tell cats' feelings only through their facial expressions.
D.Cats are used to showing how they feel through their body language.
4.What is the authors purpose in writing the text?
A.To convince people of benefits of keeping pets.
B.To introduce a study of reading cats 'expressions.
C.To compare cats 'and human's facial expressions.
D.To clarify some misconceptions about communication.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
35. Don’t sit _____the corner of the desk. That’s impolite for a student.
A.on | B.in | C.to | D.At |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of buildings on the natural environment. Information which explains and promotes green and sustainable construction design, strives to convince others of its efficacy (功效) and warns of the dangers of ignoring the issue. Seldom do these documents offer any advice to practitioners, such as those designing mechanical and electrical systems for a building, on how to use this knowledge on a practical level.
Although there are a good many advocates of “green” construction in the architectural industry, able to list enough reasons why buildings should be designed in a sustainable way, not to mention plenty of architectural firms with experience in green design, this is not enough to make green construction come into being. The driving force behind whether a building is constructed with minimal environmental impact lies with the owner of the building; that is, the person financing the project. If the owner considers green design unimportant, or of secondary importance, then more than likely, it will not be factored into the design.
The commissioning (委任) process plays a key role in ensuring the owner gets the building he wants, in terms of design, costs and risk. At the predesign stage, the owner’s objectives and expectations are discussed and documented. This gives a design team a solid foundation on which they can build their ideas. Owners who skip the commissioning process, or fail to take “green” issues into account when doing so, often come a cropper once their building is up and running. Materials and equipment are installed as planned, and, at first glance, appear to fulfil their purpose adequately. However, in time, the owner realizes that operational and maintenance costs are higher than necessary, and that the occupants are dissatisfied with the results. These factors in turn lead to higher ownership costs as well as increased environmental impact.
In some cases, an owner may be aware of the latest trends in sustainable building design. However, firms should not take it as read that the client already has an idea of how green he intends the structure to be. Indeed, this initial interaction between owner and firm is the ideal time for a designer to outline and promote the ways that green design can meet the client’s objectives, thus turning a project originally not destined for green design into a potential candidate.
Typically, when considering whether or not to adopt a green approach, an owner will ask about additional costs or return for investment. In a typical project, landscape architects, mechanical and electrical engineers do not become involved until a much later stage. However, in green design, they must be involved from the outset, since green design demands interaction between these disciplines. This increased cooperation clearly requires additional cost. However, there may be financial advantage for the client in choosing a greener design. There are examples of green designs which have demonstrated lower costs for long-term operation, ownership and even construction.
1.What is the main reason for the lack of green buildings being designed according to the passage?
A.Few firms have enough experience in designing and constructing green buildings.
B.Construction companies are unaware of the benefits of sustainable designs.
C.Firms do not get to decide whether a building is to be constructed sustainably.
D.Firms tend to convince clients that other factors are more important than sustainability.
2.The phrase “come a cropper” probably means ________.
A.experience misfortune B.change one’s mind
C.notice the benefits D.make a start
3.Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A.Most clients have a clear idea of whether they want a green building at the beginning.
B.Green buildings are most likely to cost more money than conventional buildings.
C.The commissioning process offers a good opportunity to bring up the subject of green design.
D.Firms should avoid working with clients who reject green designs in their buildings.
4.The writer’s main purpose is to ________.
A.explain the importance of communication when a building is commissioned
B.emphasize the importance of green building design in protecting the environment
C.explain to building owners why ignoring green issues is costly and dangerous
D.inform professionals how they can influence clients to choose greener designs
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
In reflecting on the events of my life that have impacted me, I returned to the night of August 1, 2006. I found myself in a hall in New York City sitting by my mother, not at all tired, although we had flown the day before, and driven five hours to the city for “An Evening with Harry, Carrie and Garp,” a charity event with readings by three authors. The excitement rushing through me kept me awake and thinking; I was standing and applauding a woman as she prepared to read.
The Harry Potter series was my gateway to my academic adolescence. I was so fascinated by the magic world that my mother began taking me to academic conferences focused on the books. Since 2005, I have attended presentations about the Latin origin of terms and spells, the ancient tales, and the idea of magic. These books opened my eyes to the whole world, and to knowledge itself. They kept my brain working over the summers. More importantly, they helped me adopt the ideas useful in school and beyond, that there is always another way to do something, or to understand an issue. With uncertainty and doubt come creative ideas and new ways to look at problems that may result in new, different, faster and easier solutions. And all this came from a little “magic” from a book that many people see as a series for children.
I also attended lectures about Ms. Rowling’s ability to beautifully write the story, with every small detail connected to something else, for example, details in books by Jonathan Swift to Chaucer to Dickens and Austin. I learned that like all great books, Rowling’s stories encouraged a connection across mind, body, and soul. Although the series has been criticized by those who believe it encourages bad behavior in children, I was able to hear discussions by those who claimed that these books teach wonderful messages if one gets its deeper meaning. It is my generation’s shared text; all college freshmen are familiar with the stories, and that gives us a set of common beliefs and ideas that help us start to learn new things.
1.What did the author do on the night of August 1, 2006?
A. He flew for a charity event.
B. He drove tiredly back home.
C. He listened to readings by some authors.
D. He enjoyed the excitement of driving.
2.The Harry Potter books led the author to ____.
A. getting jobs in summers
B. studying harder in school
C. writing books for children
D. viewing things in new ways
3. From the lectures, the author knew more about ____.
A. story writing skills
B. Rowling’s life stories
C. criticism against books
D. great authors in history
4. What can we know about the author?
A. She decides to write similar stories.
B. She intends to go to major in writing.
C. She doesn’t have her family’s support.
D. She may continue to read magic stories.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”
A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”
Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.
New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.
1.New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by ________.
A. the pink color of the sun
B. the darkened sky at daytime
C. the Last Judgment on Friday
D. the American War of Independence
2.What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?
A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.
B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.
C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.
D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.
3.According to the researchers, the origin of the event was ________.
A. an east wind
B. a severe drought
C. some burning fuel
D. low barometric pressure
4.What can we know about the debates after the dark day?
A. They focused on causes of the event.
B. They swept throughout the Western world.
C. They were organized by scientific institutions.
D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.
5.What can be the best title for the text?
A. New England’s dark day.
B. Voices of angry prediction.
C. There is no smoke without fire.
D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
The displays of bad temper are nothing new in kindergarten and first grade, but the behavior of a 6-year-old girl this fall at a school in Fort Worth, Texas, had even the most experienced staff members wanting to run for cover. Asked to put a toy away, the youngster began to scream. Told to calm down, she knocked over her desk and crawled(爬行) under the teacher’s desk, kicking it and throwing out the contents of the drawers. Then things really began to worsen. Still screaming, the child stood up and began casting books at her terrified classmates, who had to be accompanied to safety.
Just a bad day at school? More like a bad season. The desk-throwing incident followed scores of other crazy acts by some of the youngest Fort Worth students at schools across the district, and even the country. There have been an increasing number of kindergartners and first-graders with violent behavior and it has become an alarming trend.
The youngest school kids are acting out in really ridiculous ways and violence is getting younger and younger. Why? Educators and psychologist argue that they are witnessing the result of a number of social trends that have come together in a most unfortunate way. Many mention economic stress, which has parents working longer hours than ever before, kids spending more time in day care and everyone coming home too tired to engage in the kind of relationships that build social skills. In addition, many educators worry about rising academic pressure in kindergarten and first grade as the students have to take the yearly tests demanded by the No Child Left Behind Act. They believe that even more important than early reading is the learning of play skills. Other experts also point out that violent behavior in children has been closely linked to exposure to violence on TV and in movies, video games and other media. They insist schools try to teach kids what they have failed to learn at home, for example, having varieties of anti-violence and character-education programs, instructing children to interact with people who love them and teaching them how to behave.
1.The author leads in the topic of the passage with .
A. detailed examples B. scientific analysis
C. satisfactory evidence D. rich imagination
2.The second paragraph tells us that .
A. autumn is considered as a bad season for the youngest school kids
B. Fort Worth students set good example to their peers in the district
C. the problem of kids’ violent behaviors is too serious to be ignored
D. kindergartners are urged to be equipped with alarming systems
3.As for the children, which of the following results in their violent behavior?
a. economic stress
b. academic pressure
c. lack of interaction with parents
d. ill personality
e. exposure to media violence
A. a, b, d B. a, c, d
C. b, c, e D. b, d, e
4.The passage mainly discusses about .
A. causes and solutions of school violent behaviors
B. student behavior management in the digital age
C. kids’ exposure to violence on TV and in movies
D. functions of character-education programs
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Protests (抗议) at the use of animals in research have taken on a new and fearful character in Britain with the attempted murder of two British scientists by the terrorist (恐怖分子的) technique of the pre-planted car–bomb .
The research community (社团) will rightly be alarmed at these developments which have two aims :to draw public attention and to frighten people working in research with animals . The scientists insist that everything should be done to identify those responsible for the crimes and to put them on trial . The Defense Research Society has taken the practical step of offering a reward of £10,000 for information leading to those responsible , but past experience is not encouraging . People are unlikely to be attracted by such offers . The professional police will similarly be challenged by the problem of finding a needle in a haystack .
That is why the intellectual (知识分子) community in Britain and elsewhere must act more strongly in its own defense . There are several steps that can be taken , of which the chief one is to demand of all the organizations that exist with the declared aims of defending the interests of animals that they should declare clearly where they stand on violence towards people . And it will not be enough for the chairman and chairwoman of these organizations to make placatory (安抚的) statements on behalf of all their members . These people should also promise that it will be a test of continuing membership in their organizations that members and would-be members should declare that they will take no part in acts of violence against human beings .
67.The words “these developments” (Linel , Para .2 ) most probably refer to ________ .
A.the use of animals in research
B.the acts of violence against scientists
C.the techniques of planting bombs in cars
D.setting up of new animal protection organizations
68.Which of the following is true according to the passage ?
A.The police gave up their efforts to find the criminals .
B.The terrorists escaped with the help of their organization .
C.The attempted murder caused great anxiety among British scientists .
D.People supported the animal protectors in spite of their extremist acts .
69.The author’s purpose in writing this article is to demand that animal-protecting organizations ________ .
A.give up the use of violence
B.declare their aims clearly
C.continue the dialogue with the scientific community
D.help to fid those responsible for the attempted murder
70.In the author’s opinion ,________ .
A.animal-protecting organizations should be declared illegal
B.the scientists should take effective measures to protect themselves
C.since people can lie , the problem about eh rights of scientists can’t be solved
D.animal-protecting organizations should help the police to fight against the acts of violence
against scientists
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
A new research of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love (早恋) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression .The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “loss of self”. According to the study, even though boys would say “lose themselves in a romantic relationship”, this “loss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marian Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression—eating or mood changes —and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.
1.Which of the following is more likely to have depression?
A. Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness.
B. Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior.
C. Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions.
D. Careless parents whose children are deep in love.
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly.
B. The older a woman is,the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance.
C. Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents.
D. Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards puppy love?
A. Confused.
B. Disinterested.
C. Scared.
D. Disapproving.
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Parents should forbid their children’s love.
B. Puppy love may bring young people depression.
C. Romance is a two edged sword for adults.
D. Romance is good for young people.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A new research of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love (早恋) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression . The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “loss of self”. According to the study, even though boys would say “lose themselves in a romantic relationship”, this “loss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marian Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression—eating or mood changes —and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.
1. Which of the following is more likely to have depression?
A. Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness.
B. Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior.
C. Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions.
D. Careless parents whose children are deep in love.
2. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly.
B. The older a woman is,the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance.
C. Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents.
D. Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards puppy love?
A. Confused. B. Disinterested.
C. Scared. D. Disapproving.
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Parents should forbid their children’s love.
B. Puppy love may bring young people depression.
C. Romance is a two edged sword for adults.
D. Romance is good for young people.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析