Depression(抑郁症)is a serious problem today．Depression causes workers to be unproductive，causing companies and countries to lose billion of dollars．One expert says that depression is like cancer because it is “widespread, costly and deadly”．Depression hits one person in five around the world．

   Although people have believed depression to be a problem among the rich and educated，studies show that depression is a problem among everyone．Over any six-month period, between five to seven percent of the world’s population will be suffering from a serious depression．

   Suicide(自杀)rates among people suffering from the disease in its extreme, or clinical form were 80 percent higher than in the population at large, and sufferers were four times more likely to have heart attacks．People who suffer from depression often have problems sleeping，getting up on time，and doing work productively.

   Depression, which researchers agree has its origin in the genes(基因)，brings loss of confidence and ability to concentrate, making it possible for employees and managers to work efficiently．

   Depression is made more serious in China by Chinese’s inability to face it．Many people believe that depressed people are either weak or lazy．Besides，there is no good treatment，with few specialists available．

   “Most patients in China just don’t get help,” a Chinese doctor says．“In my hospital，I have

to see 30 or 40 patients in a morning，and just have time to say ‘Hello，how do you feel ?…’”

   In Western countries，people are not afraid to admit that they have depression，but most do not tell it to their boss，because they fear that their boss would fire them．

   “In my experience，aging bosses are the most willing to admit they have it, because they feel

the most secure about themselves, ” an American doctor says．

   Hopefully，in the near future，people around the world will be able to admit that they have depression so that they can get the right treatment.

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

    A. It is widely believed that everyone may suffer from depression．

    B. Depression brings great problems to its sufferers in their life and work．

    C. Depression is a commonly-existing problem only in rich countries．

    D. The poorer and the less educated a person is，the less he will suffer from depression．

2.Compared to normal people，depressed people are likely to be________．   

    A. very unconfident and often absent-minded  B. easy to avoid being hit by heart attacks

    C. working efficiently and productively       D. either weak or lazy

3.Depression becomes more serious in China because of_________．

    A. the understanding of the problem            B. the lack of treatment and doctors

    C. their unwillingness to tell it to their boss       D. the doctors’ careless work

4.What can we infer from the passage?

    A. People are suffering from depression because of the shortage of specialists．

    B. The aging bosses around the world dare to say they are depressed．

C. More and mote patients will turn to specialists for help

D. Western people are braver than Chinese people

 

 

It is not clear who first fried potatoes in hot oil. However, it is widely agreed that French fries(炸薯条) were prepared as early as the 1700s in Europe. Most people believe that it was the Belgians (比利时人), instead of the French, who invented “French”fries. They think that French fries got this name from the cooking word “to french” --- to cut green beans into long thin strips (条).

When Thomas Jefferson traveled to France, he enjoyed the deep-fried potatoes very much and brought them home with him. Ever since he served French fries to his guests at a Whitehouse dinner in 1802, the dish has become very popular in America.

In the summer of 1853, an American Indian called George Crum worked as a cook at Moon Lake Lodge, a hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York. He was good at making French fries. One evening, a dinner guest found Crum’s French fries too thick and sent them back to the kitchen. Crum then cut and fried some thinner French fries, but these, too, were met with disapproval. This time, the cook got angry. So he decided to play a trick on the guest. He finally made fries that were too thin to eat with a fork. To his surprise, the guest loved the browned, paper-thin chips. The browned chips, then called Saratoga Chips, became one of the most popular dishes of the hotel. Soon they were being sold, first in local restaurants, then throughout New England.

1.The French fries were believed to be introduced to America in _________________________.

A．the early 1700s	B．the early1800s
C．the early 1900s	D．the summer of 1853

2.By saying “these, too, were met with disapproval” in Paragraph 3, the author means that __________________.

A．the guest still didn’t like the dish

B．the French fries were thin enough

C．the cook prepared the chips carefully

D．the cook had met the guest’s need

3.How were Saratoga Chips invented?

A．They were introduced by Thomas Jefferson.

B．A guest told a cook how to make the chips.

C．A cook made them only to play a trick on a guest.

D．A cook invented them in order to attract more guests.

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．America’s Favorite Food	B．Who Invented Saratoga Chips?
C．George Crum --- a Clever Cook	D．The History of French Fries

 

Even if we have an extremely healthy diet and lifestyle, the human body is programmed to wear out at a maximum of about 120 years, and usually less. We all have a biological clock inside us which determines the moment when our organs cease to function properly. This is because our cells have stopped renewing themselves and our body can no longer repair itself. This is also the moment when we are more likely to begin to suffer from the diseases of old age such as arthritis and Alzheimer’s. However, rapid advances in DNA research are beginning to throw light on the secrets of the ageing process. By the end of this century we could literally have the power of life over death.
Although it has long been accepted that humans have a fixed lifespan, it is also a fact that certain other organisms, such as reptiles and amphibians, appear to live indefinitely. The only reason we do not see 500-year-old alligators is because in the wild their lives are always in danger, from man, from pollution and from other animals. When they are kept in zoos they do not seem to age at all after they are fully grown. The same is true of some species of fish, which grow indefinitely and show no signs of ageing. The existence of animals with no fixed lifespan seems to indicate that an age gene really does exist. It is this gene which scientists are searching for, which may delay or repair damage to the body caused by ageing.
Another new area of research involves the oxidation（氧化） theory, which says that ageing is caused by the same process that makes iron rust. In controlled experiments, the lifespans of certain animals were shown to be lengthened with anti-oxidants; for example, the lifespan of mice can be increased by 30%. Antioxidants are already being used in face creams and other cosmetics, and they are likely to play an important part in keeping people physically young.
Perhaps the most immediate advance we are likely to see in the battle to halt（停止）the ageing process will be organ replacement. By the year 2020 it is likely that we will be replacing injured bones or even organs like livers and kidneys with ones “grown” in laboratories. By 2050 perhaps every organ in the body, except the brain, will have become commercially available. Recent experiments also show that it may one day be possible to “grow” new organs inside our body to replace worn-out ones, something which lizards and alligators already do.
Suddenly immortality（不死，不朽） seems within reach. We can begin to imagine a future where we are born, we grow to maturity, but we never grow old and die. But do we really want to live forever?
【小题1】 When all humans reach a certain age,         .

A．they suffer the effects of their diet and lifestyle

B．the organs stop to perform appropriately

C．their cells continue to renew themselves

D．they develop arthritis and Alzheimer’s

【小题2】 The purpose of showing the case of alligators is to prove         .

A．alligators are in danger in the wild because of the threat from man, pollution and other animals

B．it is widely accepted that humans have a fixed lifespan

C．there exists an age gene which may control ageing

D．the age gene damages the body

【小题3】The underlined phrase “live indefinitely” in Paragraph 2 probably mean         .

A．live for a period of time without a fixed end

B．live without a clear aim

C．live in an uncertain way

D．live without being fully grown

【小题4】It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 that         .

A．by 2050 we might have most of our worn-out organs replaced with new ones commercially

B．never can the ageing process be avoided

C．livers and kidneys are sure to be grown in laboratories by the year 2020

D．lizards and alligators grow new organs inside their body to replace worn-out ones

【小题5】 What is the main topic of this passage?

A．DNA researches show how our cells renew themselves.

B．Anti-oxidants are likely to play an important part in keeping people young.

C．How our biological clock works?

D．Eternal（永恒的） youth: new developments in anti-ageing research.

【小题6】By saying “But do we really want to live forever”, the author may probably mean         .

A．a future where we are born, we grow to maturity, but we never grow old and die is on its way

B．he is uncertain whether we can live forever

C．it remains to be seen whether immortality is a blessing or a curse

D．immortality is no longer a dream

New security camera can “see” through clothes

New technology that can “ see ” through clothing and detect what ’ s underneath can now be used to scan crowds, making it a potentially effective tool to prevent terrorist attacks in public places.

The Thru Vision T5000 camera picks up Terahertz rays ，or T-rays, which are naturally sent out by all objects and can pass through clothes or even walls. The camera can then detect metallic and nonmetallic objects hidden under clothing on still or moving subjects without showing any body detail.

While similar technology is seen at airports around the world, the T5000 is designed to be used in large, open areas. With a range of 25 meters, the T5000 can screen people in public places, thus avoiding bottle-necks at border crossing or security checkpoints. It also means people can be screened without knowing it.

The technology develops from British astronomers ’ work in studying dying stars. Astronomers use T-ray cameras to see through dust and clouds in space. The company sees uses for its camera at other sites where political or business activities take place.

For privacy concerns，Thru Vision Chief Executive Clive Beattie said the image produced by the camera did not show detailed parts of the body. ” It's almost a shining light bulb(灯泡）.“ Beattie said. "You don' t see the detail that people might be concerned about. “ In London' s busy Piccadilly Circus—which is already filled with closed -circuit surveillance (监视）cameras— reaction to the new technology was mixed. Some said the camera was going too far and violating privacy，but others said they are willing to put safety before privacy concerns. “ There ’ s surveillance everywhere anyway, “ said one commuter. “I don' t think it’ s much of a difference. I don' t care that they can see through me because they can see me anyway.“

Some experts said the privacy violation of the camera was not worth the benefit. “ What we should consider is how much we want to lose our privacy in order to obtain a sort of national security，” said David Murakami Wood，director of the Surveillance Studies network，which deals with surveillance and privacy problems. “ In most cases this isn' t real security—it ’ s a sense of safety that has very little real effect. ”

What can we learn about T5000?

A.  It can detect metallic and nonmetallic objects underneath.

B.  It can see through clothing or walls by sending out T-rays.

C.  It was first used to observe stars by astronomers.

D.  It is widely used at airports around the world.

What is the most probable purpose of the new invention?

A. To improve people ’ s life standard.    B. For scientific research.

C. For commercial benefits. D. For safety reasons.

Which is most probably the opinion of people on using the new camera?

A.  Some agree to its use as it is new technology to protect privacy.

B.  Some agree to its use because safety is the most important.

C.  Some don' t agree to its use because it makes no difference.

D.  Some people don' t care because they know little about it.

What' s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A.  Safety is more important than privacy.

B.  T5000 is more beneficial than harmful.

C.  T5000 does not really provide security.

D.  It's not worth giving up privacy for safety.

Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.

In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins（毒素）better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.

Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.

It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.

The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption（消耗）of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”

The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.

The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.

What’s the key message delivered in the passage?

       A．Drinking too much water might bring harm.

       B．Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.

C．Drinking too much water may cause headaches.

       D．Average, healthy people should drink more water.

We can learn from the passage that 8 glasses of water every day_______ .

       A．proves good for the body           B．has scientific proof of harm

       C．is sure to reduce headaches     D．is generally considered necessary

Who may agree that drinking lots of water helps to lose weight?

       A．The two experts.             B．The Indian doctor.

       C．The general public.      D．The website.

According to the passage, we know that_______.

       A．the website medheadlnes.com is developed by an Indian doctor

       B．the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor

       C．the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania

       D．drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases