It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true ? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.

Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day. They never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.

The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason ? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94.

The main idea of this passage is that _______.

A. large numbers of people do not need sleep

B. a person was found who actually didn't need any sleep

C. everyone needs some sleep to stay alive

D. people can live longer by trying not to sleep

The doctors came to visit Herpin, expecting to _______.

A. cure him of his sleeplessness　　

B. find that his sleeplessness was not really true

C. find a way to free people from the need of sleeping

D. find out why some old people didn't need any asleep

After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Al Herpin _______.

A. was too old to need any sleep                 B. often slept in a chair

C. needed no sleep at all                      D. needed some kind of sleep

One reason that might explain Herpin's sleeplessness was _______.

A. that he hadn't got a bed　

B. that he had gradually got tired of the sleeping habit

C. his mother's injury before he was born　　　　

D. his magnificent physical condition

Finally she got too tired and fell asleep at the desk, her right hand still ______ a pen.

A．held

B．to held

C．holding

D．was holding

 

Hundreds of years ago, a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots, a brave people, love their country. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland. But there were too many of the Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.

　　One night, the leader of the Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men,” he said, “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle①. We must win, or we will die.”

　　They were all very tired. So they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.

　　The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they went up the hill. Closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle (蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a minute they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard, but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved Scotland②.

　　The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people liked it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.

　1. Hundreds of years ago, the Romans ____ .

A．came from the north through England to make war on Scotland

B．came to the north Scotland from England to make war on Scotland

C．came from the north of England to fight the Scots

D．came to the north from the south of Britain to fight the Scots

　2.At the shout of a Roman soldier, all the Scots who were asleep at the hill ____ .

A．began to fight the Romans hard

B．stood up without putting on their shoes and began to fight

C．woke and rose immediately, ready to fight

D．put their feet into their shoes at once and were ready to fight

　3.The result of the war is that ____ .

A．the Romans killed all the Scots

B．the Scots were defeated

C．the Scots were driven out of Scotland

D．the Scots defeated the Romans

　4. The Scots made thistle their national flower because thistle ____ .

A．is lovely, though not beautiful

B．gave them happiness

C．is a kind of useful plant

D．helped the Scots in wiping out the Romans

 

  Do you always understand the directions on a bottle of medicine? Do you know what is meant by "Take only as directed"? Read the following directions and see if you understand them.

　　"To reduce pain, take two tablets(药片)with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required. For night-time and early morning relief take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.

For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount. For children under six years old, ask for your doctor's advice.

　　Reduce the amount if you suffer from restlessness or sleeplessness after taking the medicine.

1. How many tablets at most can a person over 12 have in 24 hours?

　 A. Eight　　　　  B. Six　　　　　C. Four　　　 D. Three

2. How many tablets should a nine-year-old child normally take in 24 hours?

　 A. Half a tablet.                                 B. One tablet.

　 C. Two tablets .                              D. Four tablets.

3. What is the advice for one who cannot sleep well after taking the medicine?

　 A. Stop taking the medicine at bedtime.

　 B. Take less than the normal amount.

　 C. Take more than the normal amount.

　 D. Continue to take the normal amount.

4.It can be inferred from the directions that this medicine      .

　 A. helps you to fall asleep quickly

　 B. should not be taken by children under six　　

　 C. cannot be taken if one feels sleepy

　 D. may be dangerous to small children

 

 

If you are having trouble falling asleep, you are in good company. About 65% of Americans said they have sleeping problems a few nights each week, according to a recent study by the National Sleep Foundation. Sleeping too little can lead to a higher risk of becoming fat and getting depressed(沮丧的). But before you go to a doctor for advice, you’d better examine your sleeping habits one more time. Some of your favorite evening habits may have something to do with the sleeping problems.　　
1. Setting a Bright Alarm Clock.
The light of your bright alarm clock can prevent you from falling asleep. You can make your room as dark as possible. Cover the bright numbers with a book or consider buying a small travel clock. Your cellphone alarm may also do the trick.
2. Counting Sheep
When you just can’t fall asleep, it’s useless to stay in bed to count sheep. If you’ve been trying to fall asleep for more than 30 minutes, the National Sleep Foundation suggests you get up to do some reading or watch TV for a while. Such activities will make you sleepy. Before you know it, you’ll be going back to bed really tired.
　　3. Exercising Late at Night
Daytime workouts(锻炼) will keep you full of energy for hours. That’s why you don’t want to exercise within three hours of hitting the sack. Fierce(剧烈的)physical activity raise your body temperature and pumps your energy level—both are bad for a good night’s sleep.
【小题1】 What can we learn from the first sentence of the passage?

A．It’s not good to fail to fall asleep at night.

B．People in a good company often have sleeping problems.

C．There are many people who have sleeping problems.

D．You should find someone to talk to if you can’t fall asleep.

【小题2】The underlined part “hitting the sack” in the last paragraph means “______”.

A．going back home	B．going to bed
C．going to the gym	D．falling asleep

【小题3】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．The bad results of getting too little sleep.

B．Why the bright alarm clock keeps you awake.

C．What to do if you can’t fall asleep after 30 minutes.

D．Why watching TV and reading books make people sleepy.

【小题4】By writing the passage, the writer mainly wants to tell us _______.

A．why so many people can’t sleep well at night

B．how to enjoy a good night’s sleep

C．that sleeping problems are troubling more and more people

D．that people may solve their sleeping problems by some habits