A Charlotte N.C. man was charged with first-degree murder of a 79-year-old woman whom police said he scared to death. Can the guy be held responsible for the woman’s death? Prosecutors (公诉人) said that he can under the state’s murder rule, which allows someone to be charged with murder if he or she causes another person’s death while committing or fleeing from a severe crime—even if he or she doesn’t kill someone on purpose.

But, medically speaking, can someone actually be frightened to death? We asked Martin Samuels, chairman of the neurology department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Absolutely, no question about it.

The body has a natural protective method called the fight-or-flight response, which was originally described by Walter Cannon，chairman of Harvard University’s physiology department from 1906 to 1942. If, in the wild, an animal is faced with a life-threatening situation, the automatic nervous system responds by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and slowing digestion, among other things. All of this increases the chances of succeeding in a fight or running away from an aggressive beast. This process certainly would be of help to early humans. However, in the modern world there is obvious decline of the fight-or-flight response.

The autonomic nervous system uses the chemical messenger to send signals to various parts of the body to activate the fight-or-flight response. This chemical is poisonous in large amounts; it damages the organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is believed that almost all sudden deaths are caused by damage to the heart. There is almost no other organ that would fail so fast as to cause sudden death.

By the way, any strong positive or negative emotions such as happiness or sadness can cause the same result. There are people who have died in excitement or in religious passion. There was a case of a golfer who hit a hole in one, turned to his partner and said, “I can die now”, and then he dropped dead.

1.What is Martin Samuels’ attitude to the possibility of being frightened to death?

A. Approval.            B. Disapproval.                            C. Doubtful.     D. Indifferent.

2.What can we learn about the fight-or-flight response according to the passage?

A. The fight-or-flight response was raised and proved by Martin Samuels.

B. It is a natural protective method that can’t be found in all creatures but humans.

C. The ancient humans had a better fight-or-flight response than modern ones.

D. The fight-or-flight response is beneficial to both our actions and organs.

3.What activity can we infer is less likely to damage the organs?

A. Winning an unexpected fortune.

B. Missing a dead family member.

C. Watching a horror movie.

D. Listening to a sweet song.

4.The purpose of the passage is ______.

A. to explain why people will die of a heart attack

B. to offer some advice on protecting us from heart failure

C. to compare different kinds of feelings to cause a death

D. to show strong emotions can cause a sudden death

A Charlotte N.C. man was charged with first-degree murder of a 79-year-old woman whom police said he scared to death. Can the guy be held responsible for the woman’s death? Prosecutors (公诉人) said that he can under the state’s murder rule, which allows someone to be charged with murder if he or she causes another person’s death while committing or fleeing from a severe crime—even if he or she doesn’t kill someone on purpose.
But, medically speaking, can someone actually be frightened to death? We asked Martin Samuels, chairman of the neurology department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Absolutely, no question about it.
The body has a natural protective method called the fight-or-flight response, which was originally described by Walter Cannon，chairman of Harvard University’s physiology department from 1906 to 1942. If, in the wild, an animal is faced with a life-threatening situation, the automatic nervous system responds by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and slowing digestion, among other things. All of this increases the chances of succeeding in a fight or running away from an aggressive beast. This process certainly would be of help to early humans. However, in the modern world there is obvious decline of the fight-or-flight response.
The autonomic nervous system uses the chemical messenger to send signals to various parts of the body to activate the fight-or-flight response. This chemical is poisonous in large amounts; it damages the organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is believed that almost all sudden deaths are caused by damage to the heart. There is almost no other organ that would fail so fast as to cause sudden death.
By the way, any strong positive or negative emotions such as happiness or sadness can cause the same result. There are people who have died in excitement or in religious passion. There was a case of a golfer who hit a hole in one, turned to his partner and said, “I can die now”, and then he dropped dead

1. 1.

   What is Martin Samuels’ attitude to the possibility of being frightened to death?

   1. A.
      Approval
   2. B.
      Disapproval
   3. C.
      Doubtful
   4. D.
      Indifferent
2. 2.

   What can we learn about the fight-or-flight response according to the passage?

   1. A.
      The fight-or-flight response was raised and proved by Martin Samuels
   2. B.
      It is a natural protective method that can’t be found in all creatures but humans
   3. C.
      The ancient humans had a better fight-or-flight response than modern ones
   4. D.
      The fight-or-flight response is beneficial to both our actions and organs
3. 3.

   What activity can we infer is less likely to damage the organs?

   1. A.
      Winning an unexpected fortune
   2. B.
      Missing a dead family member
   3. C.
      Watching a horror movie
   4. D.
      Listening to a sweet song
4. 4.

   The purpose of the passage is ______

   1. A.
      to explain why people will die of a heart attack
   2. B.
      to offer some advice on protecting us from heart failure
   3. C.
      to compare different kinds of feelings to cause a death
   4. D.
      to show strong emotions can cause a sudden death

Welcome to catch the excitement of your child on film while fishing and enter his or her picture in the yearly contest! The contest is sponsored by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries（VDGIF）in celebration of National Fishing Week!

The winning pictures are those that best catch the theme “kids enjoy fishing”. Winners will receive different fishing-related prizes. Winning pictures will also be posted on the VDGIF website and may be used in all kinds of VDGIF publications. There is no need to be a professional photographer. Any photo will do.

Contest Rules

·Children in the photos must fall into one of the following age groups when the picture is taken: 1—5，6—10.

·Photos must not be more than 1 year old.

·Photos must be taken in Virginia.

·Children in a boat must be wearing a life jacket.

·Only one photo submission per child.

·Submit photo on photograph quality paper, no CD’s accepted.

·Photos must not be bigger than “4×6” size.

·Please stick a piece of paper to the back of the photo including: name, age, address, phone number and location where the photograph was taken.

·Photos must be postmarked on or before June 19, 2011.

·Judging will take place in July and winners will be posted on the VDGIF website.

·Prizes will be sent directly to the winning children.

·This contest isn’t open to immediate family of VDGIF employees and sponsors. Immediate family members refer to children, relatives or others living in the same household with a VDGIF employee or sponsor.

To Enter:

Send your photo, with the child’s name, age, phone number and address to: 2011 Kids’n Fishing Photo Contest…

The purpose of the contest is to           .

    A．encourage people to take more pictures

    B．celebrate a national fishing-related activity

    C．help people realize the importance of fishing

    D．encourage people to go fishing with kids

Which of the following photos can enter the contest?

    A．A photo which was taken in California in 2009.

    B．A large photo whose postmark is July 11, 2011.

    C．A photo which was taken in Virginia on September 23,2010.

    D．A photo on which there is a 12-year-old girl.

What can be known about the prize of the contest?

    A．Winners will get a great deal of money.

    B．Winners will be allowed to travel in Virginia for free.

    C．Winners’ works will be seen on any website.

    D．Winner’s works may appear on the covers of VDGIF publications.

Welcome to catch the excitement of your child on film while fishing and enter his or her picture in the yearly contest! The contest is sponsored by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries（VDGIF）in celebration of National Fishing Week!
The winning pictures are those that best catch the theme “kids enjoy fishing”. Winners will receive different fishing-related prizes. Winning pictures will also be posted on the VDGIF website and may be used in all kinds of VDGIF publications. There is no need to be a professional photographer. Any photo will do.
Contest Rules
·Children in the photos must fall into one of the following age groups when the picture is taken: 1—5，6—10.
·Photos must not be more than 1 year old.
·Photos must be taken in Virginia.
·Children in a boat must be wearing a life jacket.
·Only one photo submission per child.
·Submit photo on photograph quality paper, no CD’s accepted.
·Photos must not be bigger than “4×6” size.
·Please stick a piece of paper to the back of the photo including: name, age, address, phone number and location where the photograph was taken.
·Photos must be postmarked on or before June 19, 2011.
·Judging will take place in July and winners will be posted on the VDGIF website.
·Prizes will be sent directly to the winning children.
·This contest isn’t open to immediate family of VDGIF employees and sponsors. Immediate family members refer to children, relatives or others living in the same household with a VDGIF employee or sponsor.
To Enter:
Send your photo, with the child’s name, age, phone number and address to: 2011 Kids’n Fishing Photo Contest…
【小题1】The purpose of the contest is to          .

Welcome to catch the excitement of your child on film while fishing and enter his or her picture in the yearly contest! The contest is sponsored by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries（VDGIF）in celebration of National Fishing Week!

The winning pictures are those that best catch the theme “kids enjoy fishing”. Winners will receive different fishing-related prizes. Winning pictures will also be posted on the VDGIF website and may be used in all kinds of VDGIF publications. There is no need to be a professional photographer. Any photo will do.

Contest Rules

·Children in the photos must fall into one of the following age groups when the picture is taken: 1—5，6—10.

·Photos must not be more than 1 year old.

·Photos must be taken in Virginia.

·Children in a boat must be wearing a life jacket.

·Only one photo submission per child.

·Submit photo on photograph quality paper, no CD’s accepted.

·Photos must not be bigger than “4×6” size.

·Please stick a piece of paper to the back of the photo including: name, age, address, phone number and location where the photograph was taken.

·Photos must be postmarked on or before June 19, 2011.

·Judging will take place in July and winners will be posted on the VDGIF website.

·Prizes will be sent directly to the winning children.

·This contest isn’t open to immediate family of VDGIF employees and sponsors. Immediate family members refer to children, relatives or others living in the same household with a VDGIF employee or sponsor.

To Enter:

Send your photo, with the child’s name, age, phone number and address to: 2011 Kids’n Fishing Photo Contest…

1.The purpose of the contest is to           .

    A．encourage people to take more pictures

    B．celebrate a national fishing-related activity

    C．help people realize the importance of fishing

    D．encourage people to go fishing with kids

2.Which of the following photos can enter the contest?

    A．A photo which was taken in California in 2009.

    B．A large photo whose postmark is July 11, 2011.

    C．A photo which was taken in Virginia on September 23,2010.

    D．A photo on which there is a 12-year-old girl.

3.What can be known about the prize of the contest?

    A．Winners will get a great deal of money.

    B．Winners will be allowed to travel in Virginia for free.

    C．Winners’ works will be seen on any website.

    D．Winner’s works may appear on the covers of VDGIF publications.