The secret to eating less and being happy about it may have been cracked years ago—by McDonald’s. According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, small non-food rewards—like the toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals—stimulate the same reward centers in the brain as food does.
The researchers, led by Martin Reimann, carried out a series of experiments to see if people would choose a smaller meal if it was paired with a non-food item.
They found that the majority of both kids and adults opted for a half-sized portion when combined with a prize. Both options were priced the same.
Even more interesting is that the promise of a future reward was enough to make adults choose the smaller portion. One of the prizes used was a lottery ticket(彩票), with a S10, $50 or $100 payout, and this was as effective as a tangible gift in persuading people to eat less.
“The fact that participants were willing to substitute part of a food item for the mere prospect of a relatively small monetary award is interesting,” says Reimann.
He theorizes that it is the emotional component of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prize were more effective than options with hard odds included.
“One explanation for this finding is that possible awards may be more emotionally provoking than certainty awards,” says Reimann. “The uncertainty of winning provides added attraction and desirability through emotional ‘thrills.’ The possibility of receiving an award also produces a state of hope—a state that is in itself psychologically rewarding.” In other words, there’s a reason why people like to gamble.
How might this knowledge be used to help people eat more healthily?
One possibility is a healthy option that offers the chance to win a spa(温泉疗养)weekend. Or maybe the reward of a half-sized portion could be a half-sized dessert to be claimed only on a future date. That would get you back in the restaurant—and make you eat a little less.
1.What do we learn about McDonald’s inclusion of toys in its Happy Meals?
A.It may shed light on people's desire to crack a secret.
B.It has proved to be key to McDonald’s business success.
C.It appeals to kid’s curiosity to find out what is hidden inside.
D.It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce their food intake.
2.What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Reimann?
A.Reducing food intake is not that difficult if people go to McDonald’s more.
B.Most kids and adults don’t actually feel hungry when they eat half of their meal.
C.Eating a smaller portion of food does good to the health of kids and adults alike.
D.Most kids and adults would choose a smaller meal that came with a non-food item.
3.What is most interesting in Martin Reimann’s finding?
A.Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.
B.Adults chose the smaller portion on the mere promise of a future award.
C.Both kids and adults felt satisfied with only half of their meal portions.
D.Neither children nor adults could resist the temptation of a free toy.
4.How does Martin Reimann interpret his finding?
A.The emotional component of the prizes is at work.
B.People now care more about quality than quantity.
C.People prefer certain awards to possible awards.
D.The desire for a future reward is overwhelming.
5.What can we infer from Martin Reimann’s finding?
A.People should eat much less if they wish to stay healthy and happy.
B.More fast food restaurants are likely to follow McDonald’s example.
C.We can lead people to eat less while helping the restaurant business.
D.More studies are needed to find out the impact of emotion on behavior.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
The secret to eating less and being happy about it may have been cracked years ago—by McDonald’s. According to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab, small non-food rewards—like the toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals—stimulate the same reward centers in the brain as food does.
The researchers, led by Martin Reimann, carried out a series of experiments to see if people would choose a smaller meal if it was paired with a non-food item.
They found that the majority of both kids and adults opted for a half-sized portion when combined with a prize. Both options were priced the same.
Even more interesting is that the promise of a future reward was enough to make adults choose the smaller portion. One of the prizes used was a lottery ticket(彩票), with a S10, $50 or $100 payout, and this was as effective as a tangible gift in persuading people to eat less.
“The fact that participants were willing to substitute part of a food item for the mere prospect of a relatively small monetary award is interesting,” says Reimann.
He theorizes that it is the emotional component of these intangible prizes that make them effective. In fact, vaguely-stated possibilities of winning a prize were more effective than options with hard odds included.
“One explanation for this finding is that possible awards may be more emotionally provoking than certainty awards,” says Reimann. “The uncertainty of winning provides added attraction and desirability through emotional ‘thrills.’ The possibility of receiving an award also produces a state of hope—a state that is in itself psychologically rewarding.” In other words, there’s a reason why people like to gamble.
How might this knowledge be used to help people eat more healthily?
One possibility is a healthy option that offers the chance to win a spa(温泉疗养)weekend. Or maybe the reward of a half-sized portion could be a half-sized dessert to be claimed only on a future date. That would get you back in the restaurant—and make you eat a little less.
1.What do we learn about McDonald’s inclusion of toys in its Happy Meals?
A.It may shed light on people's desire to crack a secret.
B.It has proved to be key to McDonald’s business success.
C.It appeals to kid’s curiosity to find out what is hidden inside.
D.It may be a pleasant way for kids to reduce their food intake.
2.What is the finding of the researchers led by Martin Reimann?
A.Reducing food intake is not that difficult if people go to McDonald’s more.
B.Most kids and adults don’t actually feel hungry when they eat half of their meal.
C.Eating a smaller portion of food does good to the health of kids and adults alike.
D.Most kids and adults would choose a smaller meal that came with a non-food item.
3.What is most interesting in Martin Reimann’s finding?
A.Kids preferred an award in the form of money to one in the form of a toy.
B.Adults chose the smaller portion on the mere promise of a future award.
C.Both kids and adults felt satisfied with only half of their meal portions.
D.Neither children nor adults could resist the temptation of a free toy.
4.How does Martin Reimann interpret his finding?
A.The emotional component of the prizes is at work.
B.People now care more about quality than quantity.
C.People prefer certain awards to possible awards.
D.The desire for a future reward is overwhelming.
5.What can we infer from Martin Reimann’s finding?
A.People should eat much less if they wish to stay healthy and happy.
B.More fast food restaurants are likely to follow McDonald’s example.
C.We can lead people to eat less while helping the restaurant business.
D.More studies are needed to find out the impact of emotion on behavior.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下面的短文,然后按照要求写一篇150个词左右的英语短文。
Happiness cannot last forever and it may be due to everything from the weather to the size of your bank account.
We’re not suggesting that you can reach a permanent state called “happiness” and remain there. But there are many ways to get out of the path of anxiety, anger and sadness into a state of happiness once or even several throughout the day.
Practice mindfulness. Be in the moment. Instead of worrying about your family, focus on the here and now----the food, the company, and the conversation.
Laugh out loud. Researchers at the University of California Irvine, tested 16 men who all agreed they thought a certain videotape was funny. Half were told three days in advance they would watch it. They started experiencing biological changes right away. When they actually watched the video, their levels of stress hormones (激素) dropped significantly.
Make a list. There’s nothing like writing down your tasks to help you organize your thoughts and calm your anxiety. Checking off each item provides a great sense of fulfillment.
【写作内容】
1) 以约30词概括上面内容的要点;
然后以约120词就“快乐的方式”这个话题发表你的看法,包括以下要点:
①列举不同的人对快乐的看法;
②你不快乐的时候怎么办?
【写作要求】
可以使用实例或其他论述方法支持你的观点,也可以参照阅读材料的内容,但不得直接应用原文中的句子;
【标题自定】
高二英语书面表达简单题查看答案及解析
A shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The boy walked a long way, and finally came upon a beautiful castle where the wise man lived.
Rather than finding a holy man, though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were chatting in the corners and a small orchestra was playing soft music. The wise man talked with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn.
The wise man listened carefully to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.
“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill”.
The boy began to walk up and down stairs in the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned.
“Well,” asked the wise man, “Did you see the Persian tapestries (波斯织锦) hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener 10 years to create?”
The boy was embarrassed, and replied that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil.
“Then go back and observe the wonderful things of my world,” said the wise man.
Then the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens and the mountains all around him. When he returned, he described in detail everything he had seen.
“But where are the drops of oil I gave to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.
“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,” said the wise man. “The secret of happiness is to see all the wonders of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”
1.When the shopkeeper’s son arrived at the castle, he ______.
A. received warm welcome from the wise man
B. didn’t expect to see so many people around
C. was shown around the palace by the local people
D. had already missed his chance to talk to the wise man
2.The wise man gave the boy two tasks in order to ______.
A. let the boy enjoy his palace and garden
B. show him how to observe the wonderful things in the world
C. make him learn from his mistakes
D. teach him the secret of happiness
3.We can infer from the article that “the drops of oil on the spoon” probably refer to ______.
A. the beauty of nature
B. the fortune a person owns
C. the responsibilities of a person
D. the great opportunities in life
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
A. The wise man was satisfied with the way the boy performed the second task
B. It took the wise man about 10 years to finish his garden.
C. The wise man wasn’t paying much attention to the boy at first.
D. The boy took no notice of the surroundings during his first task.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Parents and teachers in Shaanxi are happy about the news_____ more students will be admitted to universities, ______ makes students happy as well.
A.that; which | B.what; which | C.that; that | D.which; which |
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
Elderly women who eat foods higher in potassium(钾)are less likely to have strokes and die than women who eat less potassium-rich foods, according to new research in the American Heart Association. “Previous studies have shown that potassium consumption may lower blood pressure. But whether potassium intake could prevent stroke or death wasn’t clear,” said Smoller, professor of the department of population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
Researchers studied 90,137 women, aged from 50 to 79 for an average 11 years. They looked at how much potassium the women consumed, as well as if they had strokes, including ischemic strokes (缺血性中风), or died during the study period. Women in the study were stroke-free at the start and their average dietary potassium intake was 2,611 mg/day. Results of this study are based on potassium from food, not supplements.
The researchers found: Women who ate the most potassium were 12 percent less likely to suffer stroke in general and 16 percent less likely to suffer an ischemic stroke than women who ate the least. Women who ate the most potassium were 10 percent less likely to die than those who ate the least. Among women who did not have high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a 27 percent lower ischemic stroke risk and 21 percent reduced risk for all stroke types, compared to women who ate the least potassium in their daily diets. Among women with high blood pressure, those who ate the most potassium had a lower risk of death, but potassium intake did not lower their stroke risk.
“Our findings suggest that women need to eat more potassium-rich foods. You won’t find high potassium in junk food. Some foods rich in potassium include white and sweet potatoes, bananas and white beans.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that women eat at least 4,700 mg of potassium daily. “Only 2.8 percent of women in our study met or went beyond this level. The World Health Organization’s daily potassium recommendation for women is lower, at 3,510 mg or more. Still, only 16.6 percent of women we studied met or went beyond that,” said Smoller.
While increasing potassium intake is probably a good idea for most elderly women, there are some people who have too much potassium in their blood, which can be dangerous to the heart. “People should check with their doctor about how much potassium they should eat,” she said.
The study was observational and included only elderly women. Researchers also did not take sodium (钠) intake into consideration, so the potential importance of a balance between sodium and potassium is not among the findings. Researchers said more studies are needed to determine whether potassium has the same effects on men and younger people.
1.The benefits of potassium intake to elderly women do not include ______.
A. preventing strokes B. lowering blood pressure
C. cutting down death risks D. reducing heart attacks
2.Which of the following figure meets the daily potassium intake recommendation of the World Health Organization?
A. 2,500 mg. B. 3,000 mg.
C. 3,500 mg. D. 4,000 mg.
3.What conclusion can be drawn from the research findings?
A. Increasing potassium is definitely a good idea for all elderly women.
B. Potassium intake is more beneficial to those without high blood pressure.
C. Elderly women with high blood pressure benefit more from potassium.
D. There was not any association between potassium intake and ischemic strokes.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
How hard we have all prayed(祈祷) to grow up quickly, and looked forward to the happy days of being a grown-up and enjoying the many interests that a youth should have.
At last, you have grown up. At least you are no longer a child. They call you “young lady”. You then enjoy the pleasure of being a young lady. You are proud of being a grown-up teenager. People welcome you-this young lady-heartily. You are glad that your prayer has been answered.
But there is always something that troubles you a lot. You say; “Papa and Mama, give me some money please. My pocket money is all gone already.”
“No”, they say, “your age is a dangerous age. If you have too much money to spend, it won’t do you any good.” Then you have to stay at home because you dare not go out with an empty pocket.
Another time you tell your grandma, “Grandma, see, I am a grown-up now.”
“Good, now, you can sit here and knit (编织) this for me while I go and have a rest.” To show that you are no more a child, you have to sit there the whole afternoon doing the work, which only a grown-up can do. After an hour, you find it hard to do, and give the knitting basket back to your grandma. Your grandma criticizes your work. You hear what she says, “Such a big girl can’t do such easy work.” You wish then you were a child again.
But the fact is, you are growing up, and you can’t help it. That’s the way it goes!
1.The passage is told about _______ problems.
A. a growing-up boy’s B. an old woman’s
C. a teenage girl’s D. a grown-up’s
2.How does she know her prayer has been answered?
A. She is no longer a kid.
B. People begin to call her teenager.
C. She can join women in all kinds of activities.
D. People treat her as a young lady.
3.From what her parents say, we know _________.
A. they still regard her as a child
B. they don’t want her to spend money
C. it’s dangerous for a girl to spend money
D. they love her more than before
4.Having heard her grandma’s criticism(批评), _________.
A. she has to lie in bed, doing nothing
B. she wishes she were not growing up
C. she knows she has already worked the whole afternoon
D. she finds it isn’t her turn to do knitting
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Ways to have a happy school life
Your schooldays should be some of the best and happiest days of your life. How can you gain the most from them, and ensure you do not waste this wonderful opportunity to learn?
Be positive about school. Don't say things are difficult or boring. 1. Join in lots of activities. Go round the school with a big smile.
Expect to work. School is not a holiday camp. If you are not working, you are wasting your time at school, Teachers cannot make everything enjoyable.
Keep fit. If you do not eat a good breakfast, you will be thinking about food in class. If you go to bed late and do not have enough sleep, you will be sleepy in class, 2.
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. 3. If you get behind the class, it is very difficult to get back in front. You cannot finish a race if you rest all the time.
4. Everyone will fail in some tests, lose some matches and have bad days. Don't make small problems seem very big and important.
Set study targets. 5. Try to make progress bit by bit. Think of small targets: "I will speak in class four times this week." or "I will get two more marks this week."
Follow my advice, and have a happy school life!
A. If your last grade was a D, work for a C.
B. We are expected to get a perfect score.
C. Play some sports to keep your body strong.
D. Don't be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly.
E. Be interested in school-life and your school subjects.
F. Do not say you will do things tomorrow.
G. No pains, no gains.
高二英语信息匹配中等难度题查看答案及解析
单词拼写(共8小题;每小题1分,满分8分)
1.Sang Lan knew that the secret to happiness is to have a_____________(感激) for the good things in life.
2.My most v_________(清晰的) and happiest memories are those of school days.
3.My American friends are not ____________(熟悉) with that particular festival.
4.The UN assists thousands of v________(难民) of wars and disasters every year.
5.After graduation, many students are willing to r__________(偏远的) places in the west of China to work.
6.This text tells us about the e____________(演变) of video and sound devices.
7.Nowadays, most old people have medical i_____________(保险) in China, so they can see a doctor easily.
8.A ___________(典型的) mobile phone call is nearly always given greater importance than a face-to-face conversation.
高二英语单词拼写中等难度题查看答案及解析
A good film does not necessarily have a happy ending, but it mustn’t leave the viewers____.
A.to be unsatisfying. B.being unsatisfied.
C.unsatisfied. D.being unsatisfying.
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____you have to do the job, you should try your best to do it well even though it may be very difficult for you.
A.Since B.While C.Unless D.Though
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析