In the UK, a group of campaigners(活动家)have declared the last Saturday in November as National Buy Nothing Day. “Our message is clear: shop less, live more!” says organizer Michael Smith. “The challenge is to try simple living for a day. Spend time with family and friends, rather than spending money on them. Anyone can take part, provided they spend a day without spending.”
On Buy Nothing Day, they take to the streets to tackle consumers(消费者). They dress as pigs to symbolize greed(贪婪). They offer to cut up credit cards and hand out shopping bags with the words “another useless thing I don’t need” written on the side. Some hold street parties to show shoppers that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Others go into shops and put notes saying “don’t buy me” inside clothes and shoes.
Some protestors(抗议者) are working against powerful forces. Many retailers(零售商) and manufacturers depend on Christmas sales for most of their profits. Around two thirds of GDP in the West is made up of consumer spending. If this drops, many people will lose their jobs. At least that will make it easier for them to buy nothing.
And there is also the risk that the campaigners will be seen as killjoys, who want to stop people enjoying themselves. “There’s a fun side to this,” says Michael Smith. “To some it’s a protest, but it’s also a street party. We’re not saying that people are bad because they go shopping, but we need get the message across for people to consume wisely. And after we’re finished, we’ll probably go for a drink.”
【小题1】Why do a group of people in the UK choose Saturday as National Buy Nothing Day?

In the UK, a group of campaigners(活动家)have declared the last Saturday in November as National Buy Nothing Day. “Our message is clear: shop less, live more!” says organizer Michael Smith. “The challenge is to try simple living for a day. Spend time with family and friends, rather than spending money on them. Anyone can take part, provided they spend a day without spending.”

On Buy Nothing Day, they take to the streets to tackle consumers(消费者). They dress as pigs to symbolize greed(贪婪). They offer to cut up credit cards and hand out shopping bags with the words “another useless thing I don’t need” written on the side. Some hold street parties to show shoppers that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Others go into shops and put notes saying “don’t buy me” inside clothes and shoes.

Some protestors(抗议者) are working against powerful forces. Many retailers(零售商) and manufacturers depend on Christmas sales for most of their profits. Around two thirds of GDP in the West is made up of consumer spending. If this drops, many people will lose their jobs. At least that will make it easier for them to buy nothing.

And there is also the risk that the campaigners will be seen as killjoys, who want to stop people enjoying themselves. “There’s a fun side to this,” says Michael Smith. “To some it’s a protest, but it’s also a street party. We’re not saying that people are bad because they go shopping, but we need get the message across for people to consume wisely. And after we’re finished, we’ll probably go for a drink.”

1.Why do a group of people in the UK choose Saturday as National Buy Nothing Day?

A．Because they have enough food at their homes.

B．Because it is the season for shopping.

C．Because they have run out of money at that time.

D．Because it’s popular to live a simple life.

2.In order to persuade people to stop shopping, the campaigners _____.

A．stop people going out

B．have different ways to make it

C．offer goods to people freely

D．play tricks on consumers

3.The underlined word “killjoys” in the last paragraph refers to people who _____.

A．ruin the happiness and fun of others

B．get money from shopkeepers

C．bring happiness to others

D．take no interest in shopping

4.The campaigners started National Buy Nothing Day for the purpose of _____.

A．persuading people to kill time in a different way

B．persuading people to save money

C．persuading people to have more parties

D．persuading people to spend money wisely

In the UK, a group of campaigners(活动家)have declared the last Saturday in November as National Buy Nothing Day. “Our message is clear: shop less, live more!” says organizer Michael Smith. “The challenge is to try simple living for a day. Spend time with family and friends, rather than spending money on them. Anyone can take part, provided they spend a day without spending.”
On Buy Nothing Day, they take to the streets to tackle consumers(消费者). They dress as pigs to symbolize greed(贪婪). They offer to cut up credit cards and hand out shopping bags with the words “another useless thing I don’t need” written on the side. Some hold street parties to show shoppers that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Others go into shops and put notes saying “don’t buy me” inside clothes and shoes.
Some protestors(抗议者) are working against powerful forces. Many retailers(零售商) and manufacturers depend on Christmas sales for most of their profits. Around two thirds of GDP in the West is made up of consumer spending. If this drops, many people will lose their jobs. At least that will make it easier for them to buy nothing.
And there is also the risk that the campaigners will be seen as killjoys, who want to stop people enjoying themselves. “There’s a fun side to this,” says Michael Smith. “To some it’s a protest, but it’s also a street party. We’re not saying that people are bad because they go shopping, but we need get the message across for people to consume wisely. And after we’re finished, we’ll probably go for a drink.”

1. 1.

   Why do a group of people in the UK choose Saturday as National Buy Nothing Day?

   1. A.
      Because they have enough food at their homes
   2. B.
      Because it is the season for shopping
   3. C.
      Because they have run out of money at that time
   4. D.
      Because it’s popular to live a simple life
2. 2.

   In order to persuade people to stop shopping, the campaigners ______.

   1. A.
      stop people going out
   2. B.
      have different ways to make it
   3. C.
      offer goods to people freely
   4. D.
      play tricks on consumers
3. 3.

   The underlined word “killjoys” in the last paragraph refers to people who ______.

   1. A.
      ruin the happiness and fun of others
   2. B.
      get money from shopkeepers
   3. C.
      bring happiness to others
   4. D.
      take no interest in shopping
4. 4.

   The campaigners started National Buy Nothing Day for the purpose of______.

   1. A.
      persuading people to kill time in a different way
   2. B.
      persuading people to save money
   3. C.
      persuading people to have more parties
   4. D.
      persuading people to spend money wisely

Eating more vegetables and exercising can delay or even prevent diabetes, according to scientists.

Diet and exercise reduced the rate of diabetes by about 43 per cent over 20 years among 577 high-risk Chinese adults, the researchers reported in the journal Lancet.

In the research, the volunteers were assigned （分配） to either a control group or one of three groups that included an improved diet, better exercise or a combination of both.

At the end of the 20 years, 80 per cent of those who changed what they ate and exercised more had diabetes, compared with 93 per cent who made no changes, said Guangwei Li of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing and Ping Zhang at the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The control team reported that insulin （胰岛素） infusions （注入） or daily injections given early to people with newly diagnosed type II diabetes （which accounts for about 90 per cent of all diabetes cases and is closely linked to fatness and physical inactivity） helped the body's insulin-producing cells and restored blood sugar control faster than standard pills.

The findings came as part of a series of studies addressing new research about diabetes, which affects 246 million adults worldwide, and accounts for six percent of all global deaths. The researchers did not say what specific foods or amount of exercise contributed to the health improvements but said the findings provide an effective strategy to deal with a disease that kills about 3 million people worldwide each year.

"The challenge is to translate research findings into practical clinical improvements for patients. Although prospects are hopeful, they are not assured," the Lancet wrote in a commentary.

The International Diabetes Federation estimates more than 380 million people will have a form of diabetes by 2025 as more developing nations adopt a Westem lifestyle. Too much blood sugar in the blood ─ a quality of diabetes ─ can damage eyes and also leads to heart disease, stroke and limb amputations.

1．What did the researchers find out?

       A．How long it would take to prevent diabetes.

       B．How long diabetes could be delayed.

       C．How lifestyle changes could affect people's health.

       D．How diabetes could be controlled by medicines.

2．According to the Lancet, what's the challenge?

       A．The proving of the findings.

       B．Further research on diabetes.

       C．The applying of these findings.

       D．The spreading of the new strategy worldwide.

3．Which of the following statements about the research may be TRUE?

       A．The volunteers are Chinese patients with diabetes.

       B．The research is run by experts from China and US cooperatively.

       C．Too many insulin infusions lead to physical inability.

       D．Type II diabetes accounts for six per cent of all global deaths.

4．What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

       A．The International Diabetes Federation is leading a series of researches into diabetes.

       B．The Asian lifestyle is healthier than the European lifestyle.

       C．Diabetes can result in too much sugar in blood.

       D．Diabetes can result in other diseases.

5．What's the main idea of the text?

       A．The causes of diabetes have been discovered.

       B．Diabetes is the most dangerous disease.

       C．Improved diet and exercise can prevent or delay diabetes.

       D．More people will have diabetes.