Some people take lots of exercise. Others keep strict diets. But according to recent research, the
best way to live a long and happy life is simple. Get a dog.
"We have known for many years that the company of a pet can increase
well-being in a number of ways. " says Dr. Bonnie Beaver, an animal behavior
specialist at Texas University.
"For example, the survival rates of heart attack victims with pets are much greater than those of
people without pets."
According to Dr. Beaver, pet owners are less likely to need a doctor. They recover more quickly
when they do get ill. They have lower blood pressure,take more exercise and are more socially active.
Above all, they are happier. Seventy percent of the families Dr. Beaver surveyed said that their family
environment was happier after they got a pet. And this is what Dr. Beaver and other researchers are
trying to achieve. They want to find a scientific link between human happiness and a long life.
There is no final answer to this question yet, but it seems to be something to do withemotional ties.
People with someone or something to love live longer. "There are many forms of animal-human
relationship and some are very helpful." says Dr Beaver. It seems that the more lovely an animal is, the
more it benefits our health. As the saying goes, "If you want to be loved, get a dog."
Pet ownership benefits men and women equally. Other life experiences divide the sexes. Women
are more sensitive to bad marriages than their husbands because they work harder at their relationship,
says Dr. Janice Glaser of Ohio State University.
The message seems to be that a woman is better off with a good dog than a bad husband. Yet in
some ways, men are similar to dogs. They like getting dirty and making a mess. They forget birthdays.
They can disappear for days. How can they be better trained?
1. According to the author, the companyofa pet does good to a person in the
following ways except __________.
A. having less chance of dying of heart attacks
B. being more active in society
C. having their familyliving environment improved
D. being better off than others
2. It can be inferred from the article that _______.
A. a woman may prefer to have the company of a good dog than that of a bad husband
B. scientists are sure about the relationship between happiness and a long life
C. all life experience has a different effect onmen and women
D. women can benefit more from owning a pet than men can
3. In what kind of tone do you think the author write the passage?
A. Realistic and serious.
B. Delighted and hopeful.
C. Angry and pitiful.
D. Light and humorous.
4. Which ofthe following do you think would be the best title of the passage?
A. Relation between Humans and Pets
B. Four legs Good, Two Legs Bad
C. Love me, love my dog.
D. Pets and Family Life
If you come to visit, you"ll probably be surprised when you come in someone will give you an
electronic PIN (个人身份号码) to wear. This PIN tells the house who and where you are. The
house uses this information to give you what you need. When it"s dark outside, the PIN turns on
the lights nearest to you, and then turns them off as you walk away from them. Music moves with
you too. If the house knows your favorite music, it plays it. The music seems to be everywhere, but
in fact other people in the house hear different music or no music. If you get a telephone call, only the
nearest telephone rings.
Of course, you are also able to tell the house if you want something. There is a home control console,
a small machine that turns things on and off around you.
The PIN and the console are new ideas, but they are in fact like many things we have today. If you
want to go to a movie, you need a ticket. If I give you my car keys, you can use my car. The car works
for you because you have the keys. My house works for you because you wear the PIN or hold the
console.
I believe that ten years from now, most new homes will have the systems that I"ve put in my house.
The systems will probably be even bigger and better than the ones I"ve put in today.
I like to try new ideas. I know that some of my ideas will work better than others. But I hope that one
day I will stop thinking of these systems as new, and ask myself nstead, "How will I live without them?"
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. How to develop a new system.
B. The function of the PIN
C. A home for the future
D. Easy life in the future.
2. What"s the purpose when the writer wrote the fourth paragraph?
A. To let readers know why his ideas are new
B. To explain what the functions of the PIN and the console are
C. To explain the importance of the PIN and the console.
D. To let readers know how special his house is.
3. The writer"s new house is different from ordinary ones mainly because _______.
A. it has your favorite music following you
B. you can make a telephone call anywhere
C. the writer is able to change his new idea into practice
D. it has been controlled by computers
4. What is the writer most likely to be according to the passage?
A. An IT expert
B. A famous doctor
C. An idealist
D. An experienced teacher
forgiveness is possible and it can be surprisingly 1 to your physical and 2 health.
"People who forgive 3 less depression, anger and stress and more hopefulness," says Frederic
Luskin, Ph.D., 4 of Forgive for Good. "So it can help 5 on the .wear and tear on our organs,
reduce the wearing out of the immune system and 6 people to feel more vital."
So how do you start the forgiveness? Try 7 these steps:
Calm yourself. To defuse (缓解) your 8 and try a simple stress-management technique.
"Take a couple of breaths and think of 9 that gives you pleasure: a 10 scene in nature, someone
you love," Luskin says.
Don"t 11 an apology. "Many times the person who hurt you has no 12 of apologizing," Luskin
says. "They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don"t see things the same 13 . So if you wait for
people to apologize ,you could be waiting a(n) 14 long time. "Keep in mind that forgiveness does not
necessarily mean 15 to the person who upsets you.
Take the control away from your offender. Mentally replaying your 16 gives power to the person
who caused you pain. " 17 of focusing on your hurt feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and
kindness 18 you," Luskin says.
Try to see things from the other person"s perspective (立场;视角). If you empathize (有同感)
with that person, you may 19 that he or she was acting out ignorance, fear even love.
Recognize the benefits of forgiveness. Research has shown that people who forgive report more
energy, better 20 and better sleep patterns. Don"t forget to forgive yourself. "For some people,
forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge," Luskin says.
"But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don"t do it. "
( )1. A. beneficial ( )2. A. chemical ( )3. A. own ( )4. A. author ( )5. A. insist ( )6. A. require ( )7. A. forgiving ( )8. A. sadness ( )9. A. something ( )10. A. thoughtful ( )11. A. call for ( )12. A. invention ( )13. A. way ( )14. A. helpfully ( )15. A. giving in ( )16. A. wound ( )17. A. Because ( )18. A. around ( )19. A. forget ( )20. A. housing | B. harmful B. wealthy B. show B. owner B. save B. wish B. turning B. anger B. anything B. dull B. hunt for B. invitation B. means B. carefully B. giving away B. hurt B. In honour B. above B. realize B. salary | C. helpless C. technical C. direct C. professor C. wait C. invite C. following C. hunger C. nothing C. beautiful C. bid for C. intention C. method C. patiently C. giving up C. cut C. Instead C. beneath C. announce C. safety | D. suitable D. mental D. prove D. publisher D. depend D. allow D. counting D. energy D. everything D. still D. wait for D. attention D. approach D. awfully D. giving out D. damage D. In search D. below D. doubt D. appetite | |||||||||||||||||
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Who says Americans worship the almighty (全能的) dollar? It"s not true. Having enough free time is more important to most Americans than being rich, according to a new survey. Only 13 percent of more than 2,400 people questioned in the telephone survey ranked being wealthy as most important to them, while 67 percent ranked free time as their top priority (优先考虑的事), higher than having a successful career, getting married, and having children. "Everyone wants free time to do the things they want to do, young, middle-aged or old," said Richard Morin, of the Pew Social ~ Demographic Trends Project, which conducted the survey. "So our desire to play unites us." The survey also showed that people who were educated in university valued career success over wealth, so did middle-aged people. Not surprisingly, those who didn"t have money, ranked wealth very highly. This included minorities, first generation Americans and less educated people. The survey also revealed that a disproportionate (不成比例的) number of people under the age of 30 and retired people in the group made $ 20,000 or less a year. But the emphasis on wealth lessens with age, with younger people putting value on it but hardly any seniors. "It just diminishes (减弱) with time as the reality sets in that you would never be rich," Morin said. "But also, as for old people the reality sets in that you don"t have to be rich to lead a very comfortable and fulfilling life. " While wealth was not at the top of people"s list of priorities, 43 percent still said it was somewhat important. 1. The survey showed that the majority of American people ranked ______ as the most important. A. wealth B. a successful career C. marriage D. free time 2. Who cares least for wealth, according to the passage? A. Young people B. First generation Americans C. Old people D. Less-educated people 3. According to the survey, what did middle-aged people regard as more important? A. success in career B. education level C. wealth D. comfort 4. What is the belief of old people according to the third paragraph? A. Wealth is as important to the old as health. B. One needs to put money away for his retired life. C. One doesn"t have to be rich to live a satisfying life. D. One would never get rich until he retires. | ||||||||||||||||||||
任务型读写。 阅读下列短文, 根据所读内容在文章后的表格中填入恰当的单词.注意:表格中的每个空格只填1个单词。 Being on bad terms with your neighbors can make your life frustrating day after day. But taking the time to establish a good relationship with your neighbors has a good many benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer, and the area a nicer place to live in. "There are some suggestions to develop a good relationship with your neighbors. Whether you"re new in the neighborhood or new residents who have just moved into your block, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift and share or ask about the local area. Sometimes, you can remedy (补救) problems before they even start; for example, if you do a lot of yard work, let them know in advance and mention that if it"s getting too loud, they shouldn"t hesitate to let you know. Be aware of the shared walls, if you and your neighbors share adjacent (相邻的) living spaces. and try to put noisy household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers away from the shared walls. Keep your pet dog on a leash (皮带) if it has a habit of running rampant on your neighbors" lawns, especially if they have a pet cat or a pet dog of their own, and ensure to clean up after it. When you park your vehicle, be sure not to block anyone"s access, or make them have to pull out of a very tight spot. Don"t slam (砰地关上) your car doors late at night. Weed your garden in a regular way, because the presence of weeds in your yard is not only unsightly but can also spread to your neighbor"s yard. Really good neighbors watch out for each other. They offer to help, especially on matters that impact the larger neighborhood and look for opportunities to communicate. Great neighbors make for great neighborhoods.
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