Was the London Olympics a success? Many people hold different opinions. However one thing is certain, London could win a gold medal for hosting the “greenest” Games ever, BBC News reported.
Previous Olympic hosts have been criticized for the environmental damage they have caused through construction, waste. and transport. But things had to be different in London because seven years ago it bid for the Olympics through the concept of “a One Planet Olympics”.
What is most impressive is that London used the construction of the Olympic Park as an opportunity to clean up polluted areas — 2 million tons of contaminated (被污染的) soil were removed and 200 old factory buildings, were torn down, according to sustainablebusiness.com. But that’s not all —. 99 percent of the debris (廢瓦礫) were reused to build the Olympic Park. For example, part of the Olympic Stadium’s roof is made from 2,500 tons of steel tubes recycled from old gas pipelines.
As well as using recycled materials, all venues were built with green building techniques. The Olympic Stadium is the lightest one ever built, which minimized the amount of steel and concrete needed. Also, the handball field has lighting pipes on the roof that reduce electricity use by 40 percent, according to sustainablebusiness.com.
The effort that London made to deal with waste also deserves praise. Water used for drinking and watering plants was from collected rainwater or recycled wastewater. In this way. about 30-40 percent less water was used in total. Waste food packages were either recycled or processed and turned into renewable energy.
As one of the best connected places in Europe, London tried to solve traffic jams by encouraging the use of public transport. For example, it had trains deliver half of the building materials, instead of cars, which greatly reduced carbon emissions.
The clean anti-doping (反興奮劑) result also added to the greenness of the Games. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) said that the devices used this time were the most accurate and advanced. Only one athlete tested positive for a banned drug on the day of competing, which is why the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, has praised anti-doping efforts at the London Games.
小題1:To make the Olympic Park green, London _______.

A．recycled 2 million tons of contaminated soil

B．removed 99 percent of the debris from the city

C．built the Olympic Stadium mostly with recycled materials

D．a(chǎn)pplied green building techniques to the construction work

小題2:The underlined word “minimized” in the fourth paragraph probably means

A．increased as much as possible

B．reduced as much as possible

C．made good use of

D．took little notice

小題3:What can we conclude from the article?

A．The London Olympics cost less than the other Olympics ever held.

B．London has possessed the most advanced techniques to deal with waste.

C．Public transport is made good use of in London during the Olympic games.

D．The anti-doping result in the London Olympics turned out to be dissatisfactory.

小題4:Which of the following best shows the structure of the text?

小題5:What is the best title of the passage?

A．How to deal with the anti-doping

B．How to use recycled materials

C．London’s green games

D．London’s public transport

Keeping a busy social life among lots of friends may keep people thinner than spending hours doing some exercises, according to scientists. They say that socializing and meeting with friends help increase levels of brown fat in the body which burns calories to produce heat.
Living in an exciting social environment was found to reduce fat in mice's belly by half over four weeks, even if they ate more. US researchers say that social excitement aids weight loss by turning white fat into brown. White fat stores calories and makes us fatter, while brown burns energy to produce heat. Turning white fat into brown is extremely difficult, normally requiring long- term stay in cold conditions or exciting part of the body's nervous system.
However, scientists from Ohio State University now think that having a busy social life is an even more effective way of changing white fat into brown. The team came up with their theory by studying the effects of various living environments on mice. Those, who lived alongside a greater number of mice, had more space and toys to excite themselves and then lost far more weight over the course of the study than their “couch potato" fellows.
Study author, Dr Matthew During, whose team's findings appear in the journal Cell Metabolism, said, "I'm still amazed at the degree of fat loss that occurs." Explaining how new technology had threatened face-to-face socializing, he added, "It's not just a sedentary(久坐的) lifestyle and high calorie foods, but an increasing lack of social activities." Co-author Dr Lei Cao said，"Loneliness is a potential factor for cancer and death; it's equal to cigarette smoking to a certain extent. Social activities are very vital.
小題1:What information can we get from the first two paragraphs?

A．Brown fat stores calories and makes us fatter

B．It doesn't take long to turn white fat into brown.

C．Social excitement helps gain more weight

D．Brown fat can burn energy to produce heat.

小題2:Which of the following statement does the text support?

A．Levels of brown fat can be increased by socializing.

B．The mice lacking social life lose more weight.

C．The research findings haven't been published so far.

D．Dr Matthew During wasn't convinced of the result.

小題3:We can conclude from the text that _______.

A．the fat in mice's belly was reduced because of the relaxing environment

B．a(chǎn) sedentary lifestyle and high calories foods influence people's social life

C．surfing the Internet may influence people's face-to-face communication

D．cancer and death are mainly caused for lack of social life

小題4:What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Brown fat is beneficial to people's health.

B．Socializing is unnecessarily important in people's daily life.

C．White fat can be changed into brown fat.

D．Socializing contributes to people's losing weight.

In the past, the affairs happening inside one country had little influence on other countries, even the neighboring ones. Therefore, incidents of food safety only affected and spread within one country, one city, one island or one village. However, with globalization, goods and products can almost flow freely between countries, regions, and continents. So the food safety problem is therefore no longer a national or regional issue, but rather a global one．
In 1997, Avian Influenza caused widespread panic in Hong Kong．It is said that the Avian Influenza originated from Shenzhen. Some Hong Kong people blamed the chicken farm staff on the mainland for the outbreak. The staff was accused of not thoroughly checking the health condition of the chicks under their care. It resulted in Hong Kong people's anger towards chicken farm staff in Shenzhen, whose supposed negligence(疏忽)contributed to the later spread of Avian Influenza in Hong Kong．
Worse still, in Germany, people have been warned not to eat cucumbers until tests can identify the source of a deadly E. coli outbreak. The scare has spread across Europe, with 16 people so far having been killed．In many people's minds, European countries have the strictest standards and checking procedures on their food safety. But the E. coli cucumber incident brought home the reality that it was not an effective defense against such an outbreak．
These diverse food safety issues from various parts of the world are enough evidence that food safety problem is not endemic in China. In fact, food safety is not even directly related to the development level of a place, thanks, no doubt, to the connectivity of our age. If we do not maintain our vigilance(警惕), people's confidence in food safety can be destroyed instantly—even in a developed country
小題1:Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Nowadays, food safety incidents spread inside one country

B．In 1997, Avian Influenza caused great fear in Hong Kong

C．16 Germans died of deadly E. coli after eating cucumbers

D．Food safety is only related to the developing countries

小題2:The underlined word "endemic" in the last paragraph most probably means "______"

A．serious

B．common

C．urgent

D．unique

小題3:We can infer from the passage that ______

A．food safety problems spread from one country to another

B．the staff of a Shenzhen chicken farm caught Avian Influenza

C．the strictest standards protected European people from getting E. coli

D．China is a country where food safety problem is related to people's age

小題4:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Food Safety Problem Is a Global Issue

B．Cucumbers Are Popular in European Countries

C．Avian Influenza Originated from Shenzhen

D．Food Safety Issues Are Various from Country to Country

As hand-held devices such as smartphones are becoming more common, users are reporting some new physical problems. Florida chiropractor Dean Fishman began noticing an increased number of patients talking about neck and shoulder pain. He discovered these symptoms were due to the overuse of hand-held devices, particularly the action of bending the neck, and then coined the term “Text Neck.” As if the painful symptoms weren’t bad enough, Fishman warns that an untreated case of Text Neck could lead to permanent spinal(脊椎) damage.
Other doctors have warned about “iPad Hand,” a condition that occurs when people use tablets like the iPad for hours at a time. Most people use their left hand to support the tablet and their right hand to tap or scroll. Doing this for long periods without changing positions can result in severe joint pain.
In order to avoid or reduce the possibility of getting Text Neck or iPad Hand, use the following basic ergonomic(人體工學的) principles:
Avoid awkward positioning. Don’t strain your neck, and stay aware of how you are positioned in relation to the device. Make sure that both your neck and shoulders are relaxed and that you aren’t leaning over for a long period of time.
Take frequent breaks when using any kind of mobile device. Many doctors recommend that users change their position every 15 minutes.
When using a tablet, use a case that can support the device on a table or your lap at a comfortable viewing angle.
Along with a case, use a separate keyboard with your tablet. This will be more comfortable since you’ll be resting both hands on the keyboard. And since you won’t be holding the tablet, you’ll be less likely to experience hand or arm pain.
小題1:What kind of product for hand-held devices does the writer discuss?

A．One for recording.	B．One for charging.
C．One for telephoning.	D．One for typing.

小題2:Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “coined” (Para1)?

A．cashed

B．created

C．changed

D．completed

小題3:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．If you are holding an iPad for long periods, it could cause spinal damage.

B．Text Neck symptoms include long-term damage in the back.

C．You are advised to lean over in relation to the device.

D．You should rest your hands on the keyboard at times.

小題4:In which magazine would you most likely find this article?

A．Personal Finance	B．Science Fiction Monthly
C．Mind and Body	D．Smartphone World

The Green Microgym in Portland，Oregon has all the usual stuff you'd expect-sweaty people，loud music，smooth exercise equipment-but it has some extras as well. Everywhere you look，there are power wires. And these aren't the typical kind that let you surf the Web while you ride a spin cycle-although. you can do that too．The gym uses special exercise equipment that captures（捕獲）the energy you create while riding, converts（轉(zhuǎn)換）it into electricity and channels it into the power outlets（插座）．
The idea of using exercise equipment to produce electricity is not new. A gym in Hong Kong has been doing this since 2007. But clean (and healthy）energy is just now starting to catch on in U. S. gyms·"We have seen a significant increase in interest in the past six months，which is a good sign that fitness centers are ready to spend money on green technologies，” says Mike Curnyn，co-founder of the Green Revolution，a Connecticut-based firm that wires bikes into a central battery that can store energy.
The Green Microgym，first opened in 2008，has more than 200 members and is doing so well that owner Adam Boesel opened another one five miles from the original．Although membership costs about the same as ordinary gyms，customers can earn gift certificates from local businesses for watts produced while exercising．An average workout creates 37. 5 watt hours，which is enough to power a phone for a week．
Boesel uses spin bikes made by Resource Fitness，a Seattle company he co-owns，that captures energy produced from the flywheel. Wires send the converted AC current（交流電流）into any standard wall outlet-for this reason，the product line's name is Plug Out-and the energy created is used before the building draws power from the grid（電網(wǎng)）．Unlike the Green Revolution equipment，Plug Out machines cannot store extra energy. A third company，the Florida-based ReRev，is adding converters to a specific brand of spin bikes. But since the converters add＄1，000 to the price of the equipment，the ReRev and Green Revolution machines are at a disadvantage．
Resource Fitness，by contrast，sells its equipment for the same＄1，200 price as non- electricity-producing machines，removing the question of how long it will be until the energy savings pay for the cost of the unit．The company can afford to do this because its designs don’t call for the extra wiring needed for battery packs and large converters．It is also trying to price competitively with standard equipment so more gyms-and gym goers-will make the switch．
小題1:Members of the Green Microgym earn gift certificates for_______．

A．using the man-powered exercise equipment

B．saving electricity for local businesses

C．producing green electricity to power their phones

D．paying higher membership fees

小題2:The spin bikes made by Resource Fitness are different from those by Green Revolution in that_______.

A．they are easier to ride

B．they are more expensive

C．they don't have wires connected

D．they can not store extra electricity

小題3:What might prevent the green exercise equipment from getting more popular？

A．People's unwillingness to go green．

B．The high cost of making it.

C．Safety problems concerning electricity.

D．Lack of certificates．

小題4:The underlined words“make the switch”in the last paragraph most probably mean_____.

A．change to a different gym

B．use green exercise equipment

C．switch on the spin bikes

D．a(chǎn)dd a battery to the machine

The secret of staying slim could be as simple as keeping your mind on your meals. Research suggests that   1 ourselves from distractions and concentrating completely on the food that is in front of us, helps us stay in   2 . Such ‘mindful eating’ ensures that the   3 is in tune with (協(xié)調(diào)) the body, enabling it to ‘hear’ the chemical   4 that tell it that we are full。
Digestion   5  a complex series of signals between the gut (腸道)and the nervous system and it takes about 20 minutes for the brain to tell that the body has eaten enough. This means that if someone eats too   6 , the signals will come slowly, leading to   7 .
Scientists say that distractions make it  8 for us to remember what we have eaten. This absent-mindedness stops us from feeling   9  – and sends us reaching for some snacks later on. It is thought that our memory of what we have eaten plays a key role in   10  appetite. This means that distractions stop us from remembering the detail of what we have eaten – leaving us feeling   11 .
Advocates of mindful eating   12 chewing food slowly and taking note of its color, smell and flavor. Before   13  dieters should ask themselves if they are really hungry---and if not, distract themselves by going for a walk or reading. Done  14 , mindful eating may not only leave you   15 , but also make you enjoy mealtimes.

小題1:	A．feeling B．protecting C．freeing D．saving

小題2:	A．shape B．health C．touch D．business

小題3:	A．a(chǎn)ppetite B．speed C．emotion D．mind

小題4:	A．orders B．sounds C．desires D．messages

小題5:	A．discovers B．involves C．sends D．holds

小題6:	A．quickly B．slowly C．gradually D．suddenly

小題7:	A．imbalance B．damage C．overeating D．failure

小題8:	A．clearer B．easier C．sharper D．harder

小題9:	A．full B．great C．comfortable D．delicious

小題10:

A．building B．losing C．controlling D．improving

小題11:

A．upset B．eager C．hungry D．desperate

小題12:

A．mind B．a(chǎn)dvise C．a(chǎn)void D．consider

小題13:

A．snacking B．running C．writing D．cooking

小題14:

A．quietly B．strongly C．properly D．poorly

小題15:

A．slim B．fat C．strong D．calm

She’s not afraid of anything. Snakes? No problem. Walking alone in the dark? Easy. We’re not talking about a superhero here -- SM is a 44-year-old mother.  And she’s fearless because she happens to be missing part of her brain: the amygdala(扁桃腺).
Shaped like a pair of almonds sitting in the middle of your brain, the amygdala helps control fear and anxiety. A rare condition called Urbach-Wiethe disease left SM without her amygdala, and seems to have completely erased her sense of fear.
To try to understand how the amygdala works, a team of researchers made their efforts to scare SM. They showed her horror movies and took her to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium Haunted House in Kentucky. She pushed out one of the monsters(巨物) and laughed. SM said she didn’t like snakes, but at a pet store full of poisonous creatures, she kept asking to touch them. When asked to rate her feelings, SM reported feeling surprised or disgusted, but never fearful.
“She tends to approach everything she should be avoiding,” says Justin Feinstein of the  University of Iowa. This means the amygdala could control deeper urges to approach or avoid danger. Other scientists have a different opinion, though.  “I don’t believe you can make a general statement about what the amygdala does by a single case study,” Elizabeth Phelps said. In 2002, Phelps published a study on a similar patient with amygdala damage who still showed fear.
It may sound like fun to be totally fearless, but we get scared for a good reason. “The nature of fear is survival and the amygdala helps us stay alive by avoiding situations, people, or objects that put our life in danger,” Feinstein said. SM was once followed in a park after dark by a man with a knife, and she simply walked away. “It is quite remarkable that she is still alive,” said Feinstein.
小題1:SM dares to walk alone in the dark mainly because ____________.

A．she is a superhero

B．she has experienced such conditions a lot

C．she is a mental patient

D．she has no sense of fear

小題2:Researchers tried their best to frighten SM in order to find ___________.

A．The function of a particular organ

B．SM’s reaction of fear and anxiety

C．The process of removing amygdale

D．A special way to get along with monsters

小題3:What do we know from the research on SM?

A．It was easy for her to avoid danger.

B．SM never felt fearful but disgusted.

C．SM was frightened by nothing except monsters.

D．SM got along well with the snakes.

小題4:What is Elizabeth Phelps’ attitude toward the function of the amygdala based on the research on SM?

A．Indifferent

B．Supportive

C．Disapproving

D．Interested

小題5:What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．People can remove their amygdala to be fearless.

B．SM will be admired because of her bravery.

C．No one can survive if their amygdala is removed.

D．The sense of fear is crucial to humans.

As we get older, the fear of not having a good memory grows for many people. A lot of people  48  that the loss of memory can be the sign of Alzheimer’s(老年癡呆癥).
It is true that as we grow older we are more    49   to develop Alzheimer’s. But with a proper lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and exercise, one can stay mentally     50   into their old age.
There are many causes of memory loss that have nothing to do with Alzheimer’s. As researchers come    51   to understanding Alzheimer’s, the outlook(前景) is    52   for people with this illness. New treatments are becoming available. With improved diagnosis(診斷), medications and treatment, one day we may be able to    53   or even reverse (反轉(zhuǎn)) memory loss as we age.
Memory loss is    54   a topic of concern for people. Having Alzheimer’s can lead to increased dependency on others. Not being able to manage basic daily    55  on your own or even not being able to recognize family members would be a serious hit to anyone. This is why many elderly people often have questions and concerns.

小題1:	A．worry B．guess C．insist D．suggest

小題2:	A．eager B．nervous C．likely D．ready

小題3:	A．healthy B．honest C．brave D．kind

小題4:	A．faster B．slower C．farther D．closer

小題5:	A．reducing B．ending C．improving D．waiting

小題6:	A．make B．take C．prevent D．protect

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)lso B．still C．ever D．even

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)ctivities B．news C．meals D．drinks

What time of day can you think most quickly? Are you a morning person? Or does it take you a few hours to get your brain going? A lot of recent research suggests that we should pay attention to our body clock. It can tell us what time of day we can perform best at.
Many people work best later in the morning. This is because the body’s temperature takes time to rise through the day. Taking a warm shower when you wake up can help your body’s temperature rise quickly.
But everyone’s body clock is different and some are special. Morning people will get up early and
work better early in the day. Evening people will work later but work better towards the end of the day. Research shows that we’re better at some activities at certain times of the day. Physical performance is at its best between 3 pm and 6 pm, so it’s better to exercise later in the day. 
Between noon and 4 pm, people begin to pay less attention. This is because we think less quickly
after a big meal. Research also shows we become sleepy around 2 pm. This is why people in Spain take a short sleep in early afternoon.  Finally, it is best to eat when we’re active. This allows our body
to burn calories better and stops our blood sugar levels from getting too high.
小題1:__________ can tell us what time of day we can perform best at.

A．Morning people	B．A warm shower
C．Our body temperature.	D．Our body clock

小題2:A morning people will ________.

A．get later but work better

B．work better early in the day.

C．only work in the morning

D．go to bed late every night.

小題3:What is the best time for physical performance? 

A．Between 3 pm and 6 pm	B．Between 7 pm and 10 pm.
C．Between noon and 4 pm	D．Between 5 pm and 8 pm.

小題4:Why is it best to eat when we’re active? 

A．Because eating makes the brain unable to think quickly.

B．Because it makes our blood sugar levels higher.

C．Because our body can burn more calories.

D．Because we are allowed to eat then.

小題5:What is the best title for this article? 

A．How can we work better

B．The best time to exercise

C．How can we keep healthy

D．The perfect time to do something

The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush.
Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day----half of the number doctors recommend.
Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
Step：Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海綿)that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.
小題1:What is found out American seniors?

A．Most of then have good habits.

B．Nearly 30% of then bathe three days a week.

C．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day

D．All of then are fighting germs better than expected..

小題2:Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands     .

A．eight times a day	B．three times a day
C．four times a day	D．twice a day

小題3:Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．We should keep from touching our faces.

B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.

C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.

D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

小題4:The text probably comes from       .

A．a(chǎn) guide book	B．a(chǎn) popular magazine
C．a(chǎn) book review	D．a(chǎn)n official document