-
The Sleep Environment
Does that drip, drip, drip of the faucet keep you up at night? Do you need to keep your fan running
because
or
too
cold?
What
about
the
barking
dog
or
cat
that
jumps
onto
your
bed
—
have
they
ever
disrupted your sleep? Most of us recognize that the sleep environment can greatly affect how (and
if) we sleep, but are you doing everything you can to make your bedroom a sleep haven? Learn
about
the
do's
and
don'ts
of
the
sleep
environment
and
then
get
tips
for
making
your
bedroom
more sleep-friendly.
Noise
Noises at levels as low as 40 decibels or as high as 70 decibels generally keep us awake. That
means that a dripping faucet can steal your sleep, as well as the next door neighbor's blaring stereo.
But
the
absence
or
presence
of
a
familiar
noise
can
have
as
great
an
impact
on
your
sleep
as
out-of-the-ordinary
noises
–
studies
show
that
sirens
and
traffic
noise
from
a
city
street
can
actually become soothing to longtime city sleepers just as the absence of the tick, tick, tick of your
favorite clock while you try to sleep at a hotel can become a sleep stealer.
What to do: Try to block out unwanted sounds with earplugs or use
an air conditioner. Take your favorite clock with you when you travel in order to recreate familiar
sounds that help you sleep (as long as they won't keep your neighbors awake!)
Temperature
In most cases, temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit and below 54 degrees will disrupt sleep,
but even sleep researchers fail to agree on the ideal temperature for sleep. The point at which sleep
is interrupted due to temperature or climate conditions varies from person to person and can be
affected
by
bed
clothes
and
bedding
materials
selected
by
the
sleeper.
In
general,
most
sleep
scientists
believe
that
a
slightly
cool
room
contributes
to
good
sleep.
That's
because
it
mimics
what
occurs
inside
the
body
when
the
body's
internal
temperature
drops
during
the
night
to
its
lowest level. (For good sleepers, this occurs about four hours after they begin sleeping.)
What
to
do:
In
general,
sleep
scientists
recommend
keeping
your
room
slightly
cool
—
but
achieving
the
ideal
temperature
isn't
always
simple.
What
do
you
do
if
you
and
your
partner
disagree about room temperature? Turning the thermostat down at night in cold weather saves on
fuel bills and sets the stage for sleep. Blankets, comforters or electric blankets can lock in heat
without
feeling
too
heavy
or
confining.
Or
the
heat-seeking
partner
might
dress
in
warmer
bedclothes
while
the
warmer
partner
might
opt
not
to
wear
sleep
clothes
or
bed
covering.
In
summer, a room that's too hot can also be disruptive. In fact, research suggests that a hot sleeping
environment leads to more wake time and lighter sleep at night, while awakenings multiply. An air
conditioner
or
fan
can
help,
and
a
humidifier
can
provide
relief
if
you're
suffering
from
a
sore
throat or dryness in your nose.
Light
Much of our sleep patterns
—
feeling sleepy at night and awake during the day
—
are regulated by
light and darkness. Light
–
strong light, like bright outdoor light
–
is the most powerful regulator
of our biological clock. The biological clock influences when we feel sleepy and
when we feel
alert.
As
a
result,
finding
the
balance
of
light
and
darkness
exposure
is
important.
Bright
light
helps to keep you awake during the day, but during sleep, bright lights can be disturbing.
What
to
do:
Make
sure
to
expose
yourself
to
enough
bright
light
during
the
day.
Find
time
for
sunlight, or purchase a lightbox or light visor to supplement your exposure to light. At bedtime,
think dark: a dark bedroom contributes to better sleep. Try light-blocking curtains, drapes or an
eye
mask.
If
you
find
yourself
waking
earlier
than
you'd
like,
try
increasing
your
exposure
to
bright light in the evening. It may delay sleep onset but as little as one to two hours of evening
bright light exposure may help you sleep longer in the morning. Also, make sure to avoid light if
you
wake
up
in
the
middle
of
the
night
to
go
to
the
bathroom.
Minimize
light
by
using
a
low
illumination night light.
Sleeping Surface
For the most part, we know people sleep better when horizontal and not cramped by space. Not
much research has been done to understand the sleeping surface, but it is clear that it plays a role
in getting a good night's sleep. For example, tossing and turning on a lumpy 20-year-old mattress
that doesn't provide support for your back or neck can impede you from getting the sleep you need
and make you very sleepy the next day. Mattress experts say that too often consumers believe that
ultra-firm mattresses are good for them, but research on patients with back pain found this was not
true and a more supple, comforting mattress may lead to better sleep.
Also, know your pillow: research shows that pillows house thousands of fungal spores which can
trigger allergies and compromise a weakened immune system. The research shows that synthetic
pillows
held
a
greater
amount
of
bacteria
than
feather pillows.
So,
not
only
can
a
pillow
affect
your posture and quality of sleep, but it can also affect your allergies or asthma and make it very
difficult to get a good night's rest.
What to do: Give yourself enough space to sleep. If you share a bed with a partner, make sure it is
large enough to give both of you room to move around. Replace an old mattress with a new one,
and choose a pillow and mattress that fits you best (soft, firm, thick, thin?) and will be comfortable
throughout
the
whole
night.
Consumer
Reports
recently
found
that
consumers
who
spent
15
minutes
or
more
testing
each
mattress
at
the
store
were
more
likely
to
be
happy
with
their
purchase. Also,
consider encasing
your
pillow
in
a
plastic
cover
under
your
pillowcase
to
keep
dust-mites from interfering with your sleep and allergy or asthma symptoms.
Read the passage quickly and answer the questions. For Questions 1-7, mark
Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;
N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;
NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.
For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
1.
Contrary to common
belief, the sleep environment does not really influence people’s sleep
quality.
Y
N
NG
2.
Familiar noise like the tick sound of your favorite clock is a common factor that prevents
you from sleep.
Y
N
NG
3.
Sleep researchers have not agreed on an ideal temperature for sleep.
Y
N
NG
4.
Studies have found that a slightly cool room is favorable for sleep.
Y
N
NG
5.
Light is the most powerful regulator of our sleep patterns.
Y
N
NG
6.
Bed partners with sleep disorders can negatively impact your sleep.
Y
N
NG
7.
A lot of research has been done to understand how sleeping surface impacts sleep.
Y
N
NG
8.
One way to sleep longer in the morning is to
__
in the evening.
9.
Research has found that pillows containing fungal pores may weaken your __.
10.
If you spend some time testing mattress before buying it, you would be likely to __.
Boys with Eating Disorders
No one knows what Tony does at lunchtime. His friends all gather at the dining hall where they
share stories and eat. They talk about their lives and the things they have seen in movies or read in
books. But Tony doesn't care about these things, and he doesn't join them. In fact, there is only one
thing on Tony's mind
—
building the perfect body. And while his friends are chatting away, Tony is
in
the
gym
by
himself,
lifting
weights.
Now,
he
is
able
to
lift
more
than
ever.
He
has
also
measured his arms and legs and weighed himself. He knows he is in the best shape of his life. But
it's not enough.
Introduction
—
a real problem
People say that women and girls are the ones who have body size issues, the ones who develop
eating disorders, and the ones affected most by the media pressure. It is true that women and girls
are affected more, but the same issues also affect men and boys. Experts believe the number of
boys affected is increasing and that many cases may not be reported, since males are reluctant to
acknowledge any illness mostly associated with females.
Where it comes from
There is more and more media pressure for men and boys to take on the look of the well-muscled
athletes
and
actors.
Males
are
becoming
uncomfortable
about
their
physical
appearance
and
self-image. Sports, health, and fitness magazines focus on the importance of having muscles and
the methods to obtain those perfect sports bodies. Boys tend to do a great deal of weight training
and, if they do not see immediate results, they often turn to using steroids (
类固醇
) and vitamins
that advertise unbelievable muscle gain.
The average boy cannot come near meeting the impossible ―standard‖ of the media's male body
perfection. They are not going to be Arnold Schwarzenegger or some other action star, or have the
well-muscled body of athletes. The most popular magazines carry images of women and men on
the covers that represent about 3 percent of the population. Obviously, that leaves 97 percent who
cannot measure up to that level of a desired body image.
Magazines, especially those aimed at men and boys, spread the ―body building‖ message around.
Advertisements promote weight lifting, body building or muscle toning. The V-shaped body with
great muscles is emphasized as the ideal.
The need to make weight for a sport like boxing can cause eating disorders. The demand for pills
(
药片
) that give energy and decrease a person's desire to eat is high among those needing to make
weight. Weight training, sports, and conversation with friends can lead boys to abnormal eating
habits, which can lead to eating disorders.
Even the toys they play with create pressure. The toy action figures have more muscles today than
they did in the past. Their bodies are setting unrealistic ideals for boys in much the same way dolls
have been blamed for giving an unrealistic body ideal for girls.
One of the side effects of this body consciousness for both boys and girls is the tendency to turn to
smoking to keep their weight down. Overweight boys in the age range of 9 to 14 were 65% more
likely to think about or try smoking than their peers. The same study found that boys who worked
out every day in order to lose weight were twice as likely to experiment with tobacco. Males with
poor body image are also more likely to take drugs and get angry easily.
The effects of a poor body image
It's not uncommon for people who think poorly of their bodies to have problems in other areas of
their lives, including careers and relationships. One's feelings of self- worth, behavior, and social
confidence can all be related to either a good or a bad body image. How you see yourself affects
every part of your life.
More
and
more
health-care
professionals
are
starting
to
realize
the
degree
that
boys
can
be
influenced by body image. One recent study showed that of boys between the ages of 7 and 9, fifty
percent wanted to reshape their body. This percentage (
百分比
) increases as they reach their teens
and want to take part in sports and impress girls. It is something that can follow you throughout
life if you do not learn to understand that there is more to you than your muscles and body shape.
Advice for people with a poor body image
If you are a boy or a young man who is worried too much about how your body looks, you should
remember that your body is just one part of who you are. And it is not even a very important part.
You are not just what your body means. Your worth as a person, or your identity as a man, is not
determined by your weight or body shape. Develop your potential. Think about your unique gifts.
Meaningful relationships, well- established goals, and kindheartedness to others lead to a balanced
life and better feelings of one's self. An over-muscled body just doesn't do these.
And if you are still having trouble with doubts or concerns about your body, rather than work out
more or eat less, see a doctor about your problems. By talking to a psychologist, you may reduce
your
anxieties,
and
finally
make
them
a
thing
of
the
past
so
that
you
can
turn
to
much
more
important things in life. Psychologists have had a great deal of success stories in treating young
men with the same problem, and, most likely, they will be able to help you as well.
Read
the
passage
quickly
and
answer
the
questions.
For
Questions 1-7,
choose
the
best
answer
from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with
the information given in the passage.
1.
Tony is most concerned with _____________.
A.
having an eating disorder
B.
eating his lunch
C.
building a perfect body
D.
gaining weight
2.
_____________ are more affected by the body size issues.
A.
Women and girls
B.
Men and boys
C.
Women and boys
D.
Men and girls
3.
Some sports magazines teach the young men _____________.
A.
to become a real athlete
B.
to become a healthy actor
C.
to use vitamins to keep healthy
D.
to obtain perfect sports bodies
4.
The ideal body shown in magazines _____________.
A.
cannot be good for sports
B.
demands pills
C.
cannot measure up
D.
is shaped like a V
5.
Boys and girls would possibly turn to _____________ for help to keep their weight down.
A.
playing
B.
smoking
C.
taking pills
D.
weight training
6.
_____________ can be related to self-worth, behavior, and social confidence.
A.
A good or bad body
B.
Body image
C.
Every part of your life
D.
Taking drugs
7.
Half of all boys between 7 and 9 want _____________.
A.
to impress girls
B.
to play sports
C.
to reshape their bodies
D.
to have a good body image
8.
Males who worry too much should keep in mind that the body is just a part of ___.
9.
You won't have a balanced life and better feelings just because you have___ .
10.
It is likely that psychologists can help you because they have had much success treating ___.
Magic
Magic
(
魔术
)
is
a
form
of
entertainment
that
is
based
on
pretending
to
do
things
which
are
impossible.
The magician (
魔术师
) is a specially trained actor. He tries to make the audience believe that he
has the power to do things which are against the law of nature.
Magic shows are entertaining as long as the audience does not discover how the tricks are done.
The magician always tries to keep his tricks a secret.
The tricks employed in magic performance
The magician usually depends on his skill with his hands, on his knowledge of psychology, and,
sometimes, on mechanical (
机械的
) devices. Since magic tricks are meant to fool people, the use
of psychology is important. The magician must keep people from noticing all the movements of
his
hands
and
from
thinking
about
the
secret
parts
of
his
equipment.
He
must
also
lead
the
audience to draw false conclusions. The magician's success depends on the fact that many things
seen by the eye do not register on the mind.
Two basic magic tricks are making objects seem to appear and making objects seem to disappear.
A combination of these two tricks makes for some interesting effects. For example
，
the magician
puts a small ball under one of several cups. The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another
or to change color. What actually happens is that the magician, employing quick hand movements
or
a
mechanical
device,
hides
one
ball.
While
doing
this
he
talks
to
the
audience
and
waves
a
brightly colored cloth with one hand. The audience is too busy watching the cloth and listening to
the magician's words to notice that his other hand is hiding the ball.
Another
favorite
trick
is
to
cut
or
burn
something,
and then
make
it
appear
whole again.
What
actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it
while the audience watches something else. Then he
displaying another object that has not been cut or burned.
There are a number of tricks in which a magician will appear to read someone's mind. In some of
these,
a
trained
helper
will
cover
the
magician's
eyes
with
a
cloth.
Then
the
helper
has
the
audience hand him various objects. The helper can tell the magician what the objects are without
mentioning their names, by using key words or code words as he talks to the magician. This trick
may take the magician and his helper many months to learn.
A magician's powers are really quite limited, but he makes people believe that he can do almost
anything by changing or combing several tricks.
Tricks in which the magician apparently cuts people in half or makes them disappear are called
illusions (
幻觉
). The word illusion derives from the fact that
mirrors are often used to perform
these tricks. A famous illusion trick is to saw (
锯
) a woman in half. The woman is put into a long
box with her head sticking out of one end and her feet sticking out of the other end. The magician
takes an ordinary wood saw and cuts the box into two halves. The audience is shocked, thinking
that perhaps he has killed the woman. A few moments later, however, the magician waves his hand
over the box and the woman comes out. The woman that the audience saw being cut in two was
only an image in a mirror
—
an illusion.
History of magic
Magic
is
as
popular
today
as
it
was
in
ancient
times.
Records
show
that
over
2,000
years
ago
magic performances were being given in ancient
Egypt, India, Rome, China and Greece. These
early magicians only performed for small groups of people on a street corner or for a king and his
friends. The magicians in those days used only small objects that they could carry with them or
borrow, such as cups, small stones, knives, and strings.
About 1400
，
more specially designed tricks were invented which used larger equipment, such as
boxes and barrels with false bottoms. Under these false bottoms the magician could hide a bird,
rabbit, plant, or whatever he wanted to make appear suddenly. ?p> Some magicians made enough
money
to
buy
a
donkey,
a
horse,
or
even
a
horse
and
wagon
so
that
they
could
carry
bigger
equipment. Magicians also began to use halls or empty stores so that they could give their shows
indoors. ?p>
The
most
successful
magicians
would
move
only
three
or
four
times
a
year.
They
kept a lot of equipment on their stages, but used only a small part of it in each show. In this way
they could convince the same people back over and over again. Some of their equipment was of
no use at all. It was only used for show and to impress the audience.
Modern magic did not really start until the 1800s. Its father is considered to be Jean Houdin, a
Frenchman, who developed rules for doing magic. Houdin was also a highly skilled mechanic and
watchmaker. Today modern magicians can perform magic tricks that would have been impossible
years ago because they now have better mechanical equipment and greater knowledge of audience
psychology.
Read the passage quickly and answer the questions. For Questions 1-7, mark
Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;
N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;
NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.
For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
1.
Magicians take advantage of their hands and psychology, but not mechanical devices.
Y
N
NG
2.
When making something disappear, magicians usually tell people to pay attention to how the
trick is done.
Y
N
NG
3.
A magician's assistant helps him with tricks in which he seems to read a person's mind.
Y
N
NG
4.
The magician makes people believe he has cut a woman in half, but it was only an image in
a mirror.
Y
N
NG
5.
The
history
of
magic
can
be
traced
back
to
more
than
2000
years
ago
in
ancient
Greece,
China, Rome, Egypt and India.
Y
N
NG
6.
Around 1400, more specially designed tricks which used larger equipment were invented to
please the kings and other rich people.
Y
N
NG
7.
The passage is mainly about the origin and development of magic.
Y
N
NG
8.
Magicians started to give shows inside _.
9.
The man who set rules for magic was also a skilled____- .
10.
Thanks
to
___and
greater
knowledge
of
audience
psychology,
modern
magicians
can
perform more complicated magic than ever before.
The Olympic Torch
Every
four
years,
the
entire
world
turns
toward
a
certain
city,
to
follow
the
facts,
records,
and
histories of overcoming. This year, all eyes will turn toward Athens, the place of the first Olympic
Games.
In
a
world
of
about
six
billion
inhabitants
(
居民
),
only
a
selected
group
of
about
ten
thousand
athletes gets to the Olympic Games. However, there is a ritual of the Games that allows thousands
of
common
people
to
participate
in
the
Olympic
experience,
which
is
unique
in
the
world:
the
tracking of the Olympic torch. The flame lit in Olympia is a powerful symbol, the force of which
can be felt all over the world.
The Olympic torch
—
past and present
This tradition is not as old as the Games. The tracking of the torch was never part of the Games in
Ancient Greece, yet it was part of Greek culture. The old way to carry the Olympic torch through
runs
was
in honor
of
several
gods. They
were
carried
from
one
temple
to
the
other
or
to
some
particular city. The first to get to the place had the honor to light the flame of the gods with his
own torch.
The torch is currently completely integrated with the Olympic Movement and is an instrument that
should
reflect
not
only
the
soul
of
the
country
organizing
the
Games,
but
also
the
technology
available at that moment. For the Athens Olympic Games of 1004, the designer Andreas Varotsos
selected the olive (
橄榄
) leaf. He wanted to include all aspects of his country, both in the historical
and
cultural
levels,
at
the
same
time
making
use
of
an
international
language
that
reflected
the
spirit of Greece and showed values of peace, love and harmony in all places.
The tracking of the torch
—
the first half in the 20th Century
The
fire
was
not
employed
as
an
Olympic
symbol
until
1928
when
a
flame
was
lit
during
the
Amsterdam Olympics. That caught the imagination of the public. Four years later, in Los Angeles,
Carl Diem, from the German Olympic Committee, decided to develop the idea. The flame was lit
once
again.
But
those
were
not
real
Olympic
flames.
When
the
Games
were
held
in
Berlin,
in
1936, Diem introduced the first tracking of the Olympic torch.
Torch tracking in the 1960s and 1970s
For the Games of 1968, in Mexico, the torch was carried to Spain, from where it would cross the
Atlantic and follow the route of Christopher Columbus up to Central America.
In Mexico City,
Enriqueta Basilio was the first woman to light the Olympic flame.
In 1972, 36
years after the
Berlin Olympics,
the torch was once again carried to Germany, and
1976 saw the change of the torch to show the growth of technology during the 20th century. In
Athens,
a
machine
collected
the
ionized
particles
(
离子粒
)
of
the
flame
and
transformed
it
to
electronic
impulses
(
脉冲
).
They
were
then
passed
by
a
satellite
across
the
Atlantic
to
Ottawa,
Canada, where they sent to relight the flame. In seconds, the flame had crossed the world. From
Ottawa, it was taken to Montreal, and then followed the conventional manner.
In the 1980s
In 1980, for the Moscow Olympics, the Olympic flame was taken to the Soviet Union for the first
time. However, the tracking of the torch in Los Angeles was the most complicated and also the
most
troublesome.
The
influence
of
the
money
in
the
sports
was
growing.
In
1984,
this
led
to
many
quarrels
in
the
Olympic
Movement.
The
Americans
developed
a
program
in
which
each
kilometer
was
sold
and
the
money
was
given
to
sport
organizations
for
the
youth.
This
model
allowed private sponsors to buy several kilometers,
yet it was not well accepted in Greece, and
there were many protests against the sale of the Olympic flame.
The memories of the Berlin Olympics, in 1936, were remembered in the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
The
winner
of
one
race
in
1936
was
the
Korean
Kitei
Son,
yet
the
medal
was
given
to
Japan,
which occupied Korea at that time. In 1988, he had the honor to enter the Olympic stadium with
the torch, under his real Korean name, Sohn Kee-chung.
Developments in the 1990s
In Barcelona, in 1992, the method through which the flame was lit was in all of the newspapers.
Antonio Rebollo was appointed to shoot an arrow (
箭
) to light the flame. If he made a mistake,
this would be the largest mistake of all time. But he did it right. In 1996, the torch was carried to
all cities that had held the Games before. More than 10,000 runners took the torch from Olympia
to Atlanta. Runners carrying the torch were community heroes chosen for this special honor. Any
person could indicate the name of someone regarded as a local hero to carry the flame for a while.
In the new century
During the trip to the Games of 1000, in Sydney, the tracking begun in Uluru, an important place
for the Indian population. The first Australian aborigine (
土著人
) to win an Olympic gold, Nova
Peris-Kneebone, carried the torch through the first part of the tracking. Another aborigine, Cathy
Freeman, that later would win a gold medal in women's 400 meters, lit the flame.
This year, the trip of the Olympic torch went through 127 countries of all five continents for the
first time, including all host cities of the previous Games and also the cities that are candidates (
候
选人
) for the Olympic Games of 1012. Beijing received the flame for the first time in history.
More
than
a
ritual,
the
tracking
of
the
torch
has
become
an
unexpected
opportunity
to
involve
thousands
of
people
with
the
Olympic
experience.
As
a
flaming
symbol,
the
torch
has
allowed
thousands of common citizens to participate.
Read
the
passage
quickly
and
answer
the
questions.
For
Questions 1-7,
choose
the
best
answer
from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with
the information given in the passage.
1.
________ are allowed to take part in the Olympic torch tracking
A.
Ten thousand common people
B.
Ten thousand sportsmen
C.
Thousands of common people
D.
Six billion inhabitants
2.
The
Olympic
torch
is
a
tool
that
should
not
only
reflect
the
technology
available
at
the
moment, but also ________.
A.
the Olympic Movement
B.
the soul of the host country
C.
the Games in Ancient Greece
D.
the honor of the gods
3.
The first real Olympic flame was _________.
A.
in Los Angeles Olympics in 1932
B.
in Amsterdam Olympics in 1928
C.
in Berlin Olympics in 1936
D.
in Athens Olympics in 2004
4.
In the 1968 Mexico Olympics, Enriqueta Basilio was _________.
A.
the first woman to carry the torch
B.
the first woman to take part in the games
C.
the first woman to cross the Atlantic with the torch
D.
the first woman to light the flame
5.
How
did
the
use
of
the
Olympic
torch
in
1976
express
the
20th
century's
technological
growth?
A.
By passing the flame by satellite.
B.
By carrying the torch back to Germany.
C.
By using an electronic torch.
D.
By taking the torch to Montreal.
6.
The most complicated and troublesome torch tracking was in _________.
A.
Greece
B.
Moscow
C.
Los Angeles
D.
Berlin
7.
The Korean athlete Sohn Kee-chung _________.
A.
won a race in 1936 Seoul Olympics, but the honor was given to Japan
B.
won a race in 1936 Berlin Olympics, but the honor was given to Japan
C.
won a race in 1988 Seoul Olympics, but the honor was given to Japan
D.
won a race in 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the honor was given to Korea
8.
One chosen to carry the flame for a while is regarded as __-.
9.
In 2000, the Olympic flame was lit by an aborigine who would later win
————
.
10.
The tracking of the torch has become more
+
————
-than a ritual.
Why Aren't Teens Getting Enough Sleep?
Most teens need about 8? to more than 9 hours of sleep each night. The right amount of sleep is
essential for anyone who wants to do well on a test or play sports without tripping over their feet.
Unfortunately, though, many teens don't get enough sleep.
Until recently, teens were often given a bad rap for staying up late, oversleeping for school, and
falling asleep in class. But recent studies show that adolescent sleep patterns actually differ from
those of adults or kids.
These
studies
show
that
during
the
teen
years,
the
body's
(defcircadian40)
circadiancircadian rhythm (sort of like an internal biological clock) is temporarily reset, telling a
person to fall asleep later and wake up later. This change in the circadian rhythm seems to be due
to
the
fact
that
the
brain
hormone
(defmelatonin38)
melatoninmelatonin
is
produced later at night for teens than it is for kids and adults. This can make it harder for teens to
fall asleep early.
These changes in the body's circadian rhythm coincide with a time when we're busier than ever.
For most teens, the pressure to do well in school is more intense than when they were kids, and it's
harder to get by without studying hard. And teens also have other time demands
—
everything from
sports and other extracurricular activities to fitting in a part-time job to save money for college.
Early start times in some schools may also play a role in this sleep deficit. Teens who fall asleep
after midnight may still have to get up early for school, meaning that they may only squeeze in 6
or 7 hours of sleep a night. A couple hours of missed sleep a night may not seem like a big deal,
but can create a noticeable sleep deficit over time.
Why Is Sleep Important?
This sleep deficit impacts everything from a person's ability to pay attention in class to his or her
mood. Research shows that more than 20% of high school students fall asleep in class, and experts
have been able to tie lost sleep to poorer grades. Lack of sleep also damages teens' ability to do
their best in athletics.
Slowed
responses
and
concentration
from
lack
of
sleep
don't
just
affect
school
or
sports
performance, though. The fact that sleep deprivation slows reaction times can be life threatening
for people who drive. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration estimates that 1,500
people are killed every year in crashes caused by drivers between the ages of 15 and 24 who are
simply tired. (More than half of the people who cause crashes because they fall asleep at the wheel
are under the age of 26.)
Lack
of
sleep
has
also
been
linked
to
emotional
troubles,
such
as
feelings
of
sadness
and
depression. Sleep helps keep us physically healthy, too, by slowing our body's systems enough to
re-energize us after everyday activities.
How Do I Know if I'm Getting Enough?
Even if you think you're getting enough sleep, you may not be. Here are some of the signs that you
may need more sleep:
difficulty waking up in the morning
inability to concentrate
falling asleep during classes
feelings of moodiness and even depression
How Can I Get More Sleep?
Recently,
some
researchers,
parents,
and
teachers
have
suggested
that
middle-
and
high-school
classes begin later in the morning to accommodate teens' need for more sleep. Some schools have
already implemented later start times. You and your friends, parents, and teachers can lobby for
later start times at your school, but in the meantime you'll have to make your own adjustments.
Here are some things that may help you to sleep better:
Set a regular bedtime. Going to bed at the same time each night signals to your body that it's time
to sleep. Waking up at the same time every day can also help establish sleep patterns. So try to
stick to your sleep schedule even on weekends. Don't go to sleep more than an hour later or wake
up more than 2 to 3 hours later than you do during the week.
Exercise regularly. Try not to exercise right before bed, though, as it can rev you up and make it
harder to fall asleep. Many sleep experts believe that exercising 5 or 6 hours before bedtime (in
late afternoon) may actually help a person sleep.
Avoid
stimulants.
Don't
drink
beverages
with
caffeine,
such
as
soda
and
coffee,
after
4
PM.
Nicotine is also a stimulant, so quitting smoking may help you sleep better. And drinking alcohol
in the evening can also cause a person to be restless and wake up during the night.
Relax
your
mind.
Avoid
violent,
scary,
or
action
movies
or
television
shows
right
before
bed
—
anything that might set your mind and heart racing. Reading books with involved or active
plots may also keep you from falling or staying asleep.
Unwind by keeping the lights low. Light signals the brain that it's time to wake up. Staying away
from
bright
lights
(including
computer
screens!),
as
well
as
meditating
or
listening
to
soothing
music, can help your body relax.
Don't
nap
too
much.
Naps of
more
than
30
minutes
during
the
day
may
keep
you
from
falling
asleep later.
Avoid all-nighters. Don't wait until the night before a big test to study. Cutting back on sleep the
night before a test may mean you perform worse than you would if you'd studied less but got more
sleep.
Create the right sleeping environment. Studies show that people sleep best in a dark room that is
slightly on the cool side. Close your blinds or curtains (and make sure they're heavy enough to
block out light) and turn down the thermostat in your room (pile on extra blankets or wear PJs if
you're cold). Lots of noise can be a sleep turnoff, too.
Wake up with bright light. Bright light in the morning signals to your body that it's time to get
going.
If you're drowsy, it's hard to look and feel your best. Schedule
to help you stay creative and healthy.
Read the passage quickly and answer the questions. For Questions 1-7, mark
Y (for YES) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage;
N (for NO) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage;
NG (for NOT GIVEN) if the information is not given in the passage.
For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with the information given in the passage.
1.
Recent studies show teens’ sleep patterns are the same as those of adults.
Y
N
NG
2.
Lack of sleep impacts a person in school and sports and may lead to emotional troubles.
Y
N
NG
3.
One of the signs of sleep deficit is falling asleep during class.
Y
N
NG
4.
Many schools have already implemented later start times so that students get more sleep.
Y
N
NG
5.
Getting up late in the morning on weekends is good to teens.
Y
N
NG
6.
According to sleep experts, to exercise in the late afternoon is good to sleep.
Y
N
NG
7.
As is usually believed, drinking alcohol before going to bed helps a person get a sound sleep.
Y
N
NG
8.
Listening to soothing music can
————
and is helpful to sleep.
9.
If you want to perform well on a test, you should study less and
——
- the night before the
test.
10.
For people to sleep best, a dark room that is
-----
——
is a favorite.
Children's Eating
Raising children can be a challenging job. It can also be rewarding. When it comes to eating, the
more caregivers know about children's natural eating patterns, the easier and more rewarding the
job of feeding children can be.
Like many other behaviors, children's eating patterns are largely learned. Starting from infancy (
婴
儿期
), a child learns what can be eaten and what cannot, what is appropriate within the culture and
the family regarding food manners, what types of food are liked and disliked, and what cues are
important
in
controlling
the
amount
of
food
eaten.
Children's
eating
patterns
move
through
predictable
stages
of
development
that
present
challenges
and
opportunities
for
learning
and
mastering
proper
eating
patterns.
Early
feeding
interactions
influence
the
set
of
skills
and
behaviors children possess as their eating moves from completely depending on their caregivers to
relying more on themselves.
Inborn (
天生的
) Abilities, Preferences, and Transitions (
转变
)
Because a newborn spends about 50% of his waking time eating, the feeding interaction is perhaps
an
infant's
most
important
experience.
Feeding
not
only
supplies
energy
for
growth,
it
also
establishes his bond with his mother, provides a sense of security and pleasure for the infant, and
presents repeated opportunities for learning and social exchange.
A child's transition to solid food is a dynamic (
不断增长的
) period of growth and learning. Eating
patterns change more during this period than during any other time of life. This transition requires
rapid learning about flavors, food, manners, and social exchange.
An often unrecognized milestone (
里程碑
) in young children's eating behavior is dealing with a
fear
of
new
children
are
inclined
to
be
afraid
of
new
food
when
they
are
between
18-24 months of age. Children previously judged as
and refuse formerly accepted, familiar items. Children's acceptance of new food does not happen
right
away.
It
requires
repeated
experience
with
new
food
to
overcome
fears
and
enhance
acceptance.
The Family Eating Environment
Parents
and
caregivers
greatly
influence
the
eating
environment
in
which
children's
preferences
and eating patterns develop. Caregivers determine which foods are available to the child and what
composes a child's diet. They also provide a model of eating behavior and guide a child's eating
through
feeding
practices.
By
selecting
the
food
that
comes
into
the
home,
parents
have
direct
control over the food children repeatedly eat.
At
any
point
in
development,
large
differences
may
exist
among
parents
in
the
extent
to
which
they allow a child to control eating, including the timing of meals, as well as what and how much
is eaten. Feeding practices that are too controlling are not effective, but rather may work against
promoting healthy eating patterns. The use of pressure and restriction in child feeding seems to
have
an
opposite
effect
on
children's
preferences.
Another
unintended
consequence
of
using
pressure in child feeding is that it may cause eating to be influenced by factors other than a child's
own hunger and fullness.
The Contemporary Eating Environment
While the family is the most important environment in which children's eating develops, cultural
and
physical
environments
also
play
a
role.
Environmental
factors
affect
a
parent's
ability
to
promote healthy eating patterns. Such factors include increased time demands in family life, loss
of the family
meal, increased television
viewing during meals, increased dining-out
(
外出就餐
)
occasions, and increased use of childcare. Parents also struggle with the broader health and eating
concerns of our society. This climate includes poor diet quality and an ever-increasing number of
overweight
parents
and
children.
At
the
same
time,
society
places
an
enormous
emphasis
on
dieting and thinness.
Promoting Healthy Eating Behaviors
A worthy goal for parents and caregivers is to create feeding environments that promote healthy
eating
behaviors
and
support
healthy
weight
and
growth.
There
are
several
important
feeding
issues for most children.
Young
children
eat
small
amounts
of
food
frequently;
three
meals
and
three
snacks
(
点心
)
is
a
normal eating pattern until well into the school years.
The
appearance
of
irregular
eating
patterns
is
not
necessarily
evidence
of
poor
eating
habits.
Parents should consider the amount of food eaten across the day and beyond, rather than focus on
Young children require fewer energy and smaller portion sizes. Because increasing portion sizes
may increase energy intakes, be careful about routinely (
习惯性地
) offering adult-size servings of
drinks and snacks. Keeping these issues and the following ten tips in mind will help parents and
caregivers develop healthy eating behaviors in the children they care for.
Ten Tips for Putting Information into Action
1.
Children
benefit
from
eating
routines
(
常规
)
and
structure
in
the
same
way
that
they
benefit
from bedtime routines! Be sure to offer three meals and two to three snacks across the course of
the day. In between, avoid feeding the child by adopting a
2.
What does
hunger have
to
do
with
it?
Everything.
Direct
children
towards
internal
cues
like
hunger
and
fullness.
Speak
plainly
to
children
about
hunger
and
fullness
during
mealtime
and
snacks.
3.
Avoid
focusing
on
the
amounts
consumed.
Instead,
offer
healthy
choices
and
learn
about
appropriate portion sizes for children.
4. Offer healthy snacks and routinely remind children that fruits and vegetables are available for
snacking.
5.
Don't
give
up!
Children
need
repeated
experiences
with
new
food
before
they
learn
to
like
them.
6. Be conscious of low nutrient, high-energy drinks and food consumption.
7. Be active! Turn off the television (limit of 2 hours per day) and encourage free play by GOING
OUTSIDE!
8. Make family meals a priority whenever possible. Try for at least three family dinners a week.
Limit
eating
out
to
twice
a
week
and
try
to
choose
restaurants
with
surroundings
that
permit
conversation.
9.
Develop
children's
conversational
styles
and
their
sense
of
importance
by
eliminating
distractions like television and music during family meals.
10. Promote healthy eating
—
not dieting
—
in word and in deed. Adopt a moderate approach that
includes all food in age-appropriate amounts.
Read
the
passage
quickly
and
answer
the
questions.
For
Questions 1-7,
choose
the
best
answer
from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). For Questions 8-10, complete the sentences with
the information given in the passage.
1.
What can make feeding children more rewarding for caregivers?
A.
Knowing more about children's natural eating patterns.
B.
Challenging children as they are being raised.
C.
Starting to feed them from the time they are in infancy.
D.
Teaching them about what is appropriate.
2.
What is influenced by early feeding interactions?
A.
Opportunities for learning.
B.
Stages of development.
C.
Skills and behavior later.
D.
Caregivers relying on themselves.
3.
Children's eating patterns change most during __________.
A.
the time between 18-24 months
B.
his bonding period with his mother
C.
the time before he is an infant
D.
his transition to solid food
4.
How do parents influence children's preferences and intake patterns?
A.
By telling the child to overcome fear.
B.
By choosing the food that comes home.
C.
By feeding the child directly.
D.
By planning a child's diet.
5.
_______________ is not effective in promoting healthy eating patterns.
A.
Providing a model
B.
Allowing the child to control food
C.
Controlling food too much
D.
Selecting the food that comes home
6.
The most important environment in developing a child's eating is ______________.
A.
physical
B.
hunger and fullness
C.
the culture
D.
the family
7.
One of the eating concerns of our society is ______________.
A.
the increasing number of thin people
B.
the growing number of fat people
C.
the amount of care given to children
D.
the many children who eat little food
8.
The occurrence of irregular eating patterns doesn’t always mean——
.
9.
Both bedtime routines and
————
are beneficial to children.
10.
——
- should be given priority whenever possible.
E-commerce
Widespread buying and selling of goods on the Internet did not begin until 1994. Since then, an
increasing number of companies have used the Internet as an important part of their marketing and
trading. The Net enables them to reach customers all over the world. It also enables customers to
shop
from
home
and
find
the
best
prices.
Doing
business
via
the
Internet
is
called
electronic
commerce, or e-commerce.
In
the
late
1990s,
investors
rushed
to
put
money
into
new
companies
that
sold
products
and
services
on
the
Internet,
in
the
hope
of
making
big
profits.
These
Internet-based
businesses
became known as
Some of the people who owned these dot-com businesses became millionaires overnight because
so much money was invested in their companies. Unfortunately, many of these businesses failed
because they could not attract enough customers. These failures discouraged many investors, and
made it more difficult for new dot-com companies to raise money.
Changing shopping habits
Traditional
shops
risk
losing
customers
as
more
people
shop
online.
Already,
25
per
cent
of
regular Internet users say they spend less time shopping in real shops. E-shopping has not grown
as fast as it might though, because news of Internet crime makes many people reluctant to give
their credit card details to companies on the Net. However, surveys indicate that shoppers' fears
are declining.
Worldwide online sales of holidays alone reached almost ?
14 billion in 2000, an increase of 85 per
cent over the previous year. The UK and Europe lag behind the United States in online shopping.
In an online survey in 2000, only 3 per cent of British shoppers who took part said they shopped
online regularly, while a similar US survey found that 48 per cent of respondents shopped online.
E-tailing concerns
Not all e-commerce growth is welcomed in all quarters. The Net is international, but most laws are
only
national.
In
the
United
States,
even
individual
states
can
have
different
laws.
The
laws
covering what may be sold vary from country to country and this causes problems when it comes
to e-tailing (electronic retailing).
In
France, it
is illegal to sell or display anything
that
might encourage racism. When a website
offered Nazi-related items for sale in 2000, a French judge ruled that the Internet Service Provider
(ISP),
Yahoo,
had
to
make
it
impossible
to
access
the
site
in
France.
Yahoo
ensured
that
these
items
did
not
appear
on
its
French
service,
but
French
Internet
users
could
still
see
them
by
accessing Yahoo's US service. This case shows how difficult it is for ISPs to comply with all the
laws in all the countries in the world.
Another worry for the authorities is the sale of medicines over the Net. Doctors worry that drugs
bought
via
the
Internet
could
pose
a
serious
risk
to
patients
trying
to
treat
themselves.
The US
Food and Drug Administration has warned a dozen or more website operators that they could be
committing a crime if they sell drugs to American citizens over the Internet.
Online publishing
One of the first industries to move to e-commerce was bookselling. Now, the texts of numerous
books are available on the Internet. Some are books by unpublished authors seeking to bring their
work to wider notice. Others are reproductions of books now out of copyright, such as those by
William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.
E-books
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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