New research shows that overweight or even mildly obese people have a lower risk of early death than people considered to be normal weight.

Researchers examined the results of 97 studies. Most of the studies were less than 10 years old. They included almost three million adults from around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Taiwan, Brazil, India and Mexico.

The researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics found that people who are considered overweight or slightly obese were five to six percent less likely to die from all causes than people of normal weight. People with higher obesity ratings, however, had almost a 30 percent greater risk of death compared to normal-weight individuals.

Katherine Flegal was the lead author of the study. She says she was not surprised that overweight people would not have a higher risk of death.

“Because we’d actually already read a lot of this literature and realized it was likely that mortality rates (死亡率) for overweight would be at least not higher than normal weight. I guess I was a little bit surprised that it was definitely lower. And I was also surprised that the lower rates of obesity also didn’t seem to differ from normal weight.”

But she says the difference in death rates appears to be small between normal-weight people and those who are overweight or mildly obese.

The study has raised new questions about “body mass index,”（体重指数） or BMI. This is a measurement of body fat as a ratio（比率） of height to weight. In recent years, many public health experts have promoted body mass index as a way to predict the risk of health problems. Bu t a person's BMI can be misleading in some cases.

Steven Heymsfield ,the executive director of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, says people can be physically fit and in good health, but might weigh more because they are more muscular.

Still, Dr. Heymsfield says people should not think gaining extra weight is OK just because of the new findings. He says being at a healthy weight lowers the risk for heart disease and diabetes（糖尿病）.

1.According to the new findings, the researchers found that __________ .

A.People with high obesity have a lower risk of early death than people with low obesity

B.People with overweight have a greater risk of early death than people of normal weight.

C.People with mild obesity are less likely to die than people of normal weight.

D.People with obesity live much longer than people of normal weight.

2.What does the underlined word “literature” in paragraph 6 mean ?

A.works like novels and poems

B.books and articles on a particular subject

C.printed material

D.magazines and newspapers

3.Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

A. BMI is commonly used to measure body fat as a ratio of height to weight.

B. Not all people with a little higher BMI are fat .

C. Many public health experts encourage more people to use BMI as a way to predict the risk of health problem

D. Because of the ne w findings, people should think about gaining extra weight.

D
Some people may be born happy, while others are genetically negative, scientists have suggested in a study published late February in a British journal.
Earlier research had already established that the gene known as 5-HTTLPR plays a key role in determining how the neurotransmitter (神经传递素) serotonin works within the brain. Serotonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙), passes chemical messages between nerve cells. It has been closely linked to mood. Several anti-depressant (抗抑郁) drugs regulate serotonin levels.
Scientists had also identified three variants (变体) of the gene. Two so-called “short” variants were linked to a higher risk of depression and suicide (自杀) attempts. Unlike the two “short” variants, the “long” variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a clear dislike of negative images, such as fierce animals, and a clear liking for positive ones, such as flowers.
Researchers from the University of Essex in Britain showed participants a series of images, which were divided into three kinds: negative ones aimed at inspiring fear or stress such as a snake or person about to commit suicide, pleasant ones and neutral (中性的) ones.
The participants who had the long variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene “showed a clear dislike of negative material alongside a careful attention for positive material,” the researchers found. They paid close attention to the pretty pictures, and ignored the frightening ones. On the other hand, the short variant groups had the opposite reaction.
In January, the Australian government organized “happiness workshops”, teaching government staff how to be happy. The department that held the “happiness workshops” said unhappy staff weren’t productive staff.
Australian political opposition parties have argued that the “happiness workshops” are probably a waste of money and couldn’t increase productivity as intended. However, whether the workshop will have a happy or disappointing result, we will have to wait and see.
71. Various kinds of images were shown to the participants to        .
A. draw their attention
B. cater to their different tastes
C. find out about their reactions
D. teach them to improve their artistic appreciation
72. The “short” variants of 5-HTTLPR differ from the “long” variants of 5-HTTLPR in that_____.
A. the former is connected with positive mood while the latter negative
B. the former is connected with negative mood while the latter positive
C. the former has a greater effect on one’s mood than the latter
D. the latter has a greater effect on one’s mood than the former
73. Which of the following statements is true about “happiness workshops”?
A. Most people believe that they are a waste of money.
B. They will be beneficial in the long run.
C. The purpose of “happiness workshops” is to teach all Australians to be happy.
D. They are organized in the belief that happy staff can work more efficiently.
74. It can be learned from the article that        .
A. drugs can be used to control people’s serotonin levels
B. happiness is more important than sadness
C. nothing can affect our mood
D. people with the short variant of 5-HTTLPR prefer a flower to a snake
75. The article is mainly about        .
A. the reason for the foundation of “happiness workshops”
B. the link between people’s mood and their gene
C. the study on people’s likes and dislikes
D. the differences in people’s attitude towards life

D

Some people may be born happy, while others are genetically negative, scientists have suggested in a study published late February in a British journal.

Earlier research had already established that the gene known as 5-HTTLPR plays a key role in determining how the neurotransmitter (神经传递素) serotonin works within the brain. Serotonin, a hormone (荷尔蒙), passes chemical messages between nerve cells. It has been closely linked to mood. Several anti-depressant (抗抑郁) drugs regulate serotonin levels.

   Scientists had also identified three variants (变体) of the gene. Two so-called “short” variants were linked to a higher risk of depression and suicide (自杀) attempts. Unlike the two “short” variants, the “long” variant of 5-HTTLPR showed a clear dislike of negative images, such as fierce animals, and a clear liking for positive ones, such as flowers.

   Researchers from the University of Essex in Britain showed participants a series of images, which were divided into three kinds: negative ones aimed at inspiring fear or stress such as a snake or person about to commit suicide, pleasant ones and neutral (中性的) ones.

   The participants who had the long variant of the 5-HTTLPR gene “showed a clear dislike of negative material alongside a careful attention for positive material,” the researchers found. They paid close attention to the pretty pictures, and ignored the frightening ones. On the other hand, the short variant groups had the opposite reaction.

   In January, the Australian government organized “happiness workshops”, teaching government staff how to be happy. The department that held the “happiness workshops” said unhappy staff weren’t productive staff.

   Australian political opposition parties have argued that the “happiness workshops” are probably a waste of money and couldn’t increase productivity as intended. However, whether the workshop will have a happy or disappointing result, we will have to wait and see.

71. Various kinds of images were shown to the participants to        .

  A. draw their attention

  B. cater to their different tastes

  C. find out about their reactions

  D. teach them to improve their artistic appreciation

72. The “short” variants of 5-HTTLPR differ from the “long” variants of 5-HTTLPR in that_____.

  A. the former is connected with positive mood while the latter negative

  B. the former is connected with negative mood while the latter positive

  C. the former has a greater effect on one’s mood than the latter

  D. the latter has a greater effect on one’s mood than the former

73. Which of the following statements is true about “happiness workshops”?

  A. Most people believe that they are a waste of money.

  B. They will be beneficial in the long run.

  C. The purpose of “happiness workshops” is to teach all Australians to be happy.

  D. They are organized in the belief that happy staff can work more efficiently.

74. It can be learned from the article that        .

  A. drugs can be used to control people’s serotonin levels

  B. happiness is more important than sadness

  C. nothing can affect our mood

  D. people with the short variant of 5-HTTLPR prefer a flower to a snake

75. The article is mainly about        .

  A. the reason for the foundation of “happiness workshops”

  B. the link between people’s mood and their gene

  C. the study on people’s likes and dislikes

  D. the differences in people’s attitude towards life

In much society, there is often greater acceptance of light skin than dark skin; Light skin may be seen as a mark of beauty, intelligence and success. These beliefs can lead to social pressures even within the same group, if some members are darker than others.

The result is that skin lightening has become very common across Africa, Asia and other areas of the world and more people with dark skin are using skin-lighting products, even if it means they may face health risks. They believe that having whiter skin will improve the quality of their lives. Many people think they will have a better family. Or they want to look like what their society generally considers beautiful.

Some beauty care（美容） products and soaps contain chemicals that make skin lighter. However, some of the chemicals are extremely dangerous. The chemicals in the products block and break down the natural barrier(障碍) to protect against sunlight. Then the skin can become thick and discolored. Usually the person will use more of the product in an effort to correct the problem, which just makes things even worse. Doctor Ly says some chemicals are so dangerous that they may lead to blackened fingernails, infections(感染) and serious skin damage.

And these are not the only problems. Experts say some people who change their skin color suffer emotional damage. They feel regretful and sad. They feel that instead of risking their health, they should have learned to live and accept their skin color as it was.

What’s the result of the wrong understanding of darker skin?

   A. Many people with dark skin try to make their skin whiter.

   B. Many people with whiter skin live a better life than others.

   C. People with darker skin try to marry people with light skin.

   D. People with darker skin try to protect themselves against social pressures.

The third paragraph is about          .

   A. some medical effects that skin-lightening products have brought about

   B. the mental damage that skin-lightening products have caused

   C. the physical damage that skin-lightening products have caused

   D. the causes why skin-lightening products can make skin whiter

Why are chemicals in beauty care products dangerous?

   A. They can damage the skin’s color producing progress.

   B. They can control people’s emotions and feelings.

   C. They can make the fingernails and skin black.

   D. They make more people decide to change their skin colors.

ACAB What would be the best title for the passage?

   A. Different Colors of Skin              B. The Dark Side of Skin Lightening

C. What Is Beauty?                      D. Light Skin or Dark Skin?

LEEDS， England ─ A Leeds University psychology professor is teaching a course to help dozens of Britons forgive their enemies.

“The hatred we hold within us is a cancer，” Professor Ken Hart said， adding that holding in anger can lead to problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

More than 70 people have become members in Hart’s first 20-week workshop in  London ─a course he says is the first of its kind in the world.

These are people who are sick and tired of living with a memory. They realize their bitterness is a poison they think they can pour out， but they end up drinking it themselves， said Canadian-born Hart.

The students meet in groups of eight to ten for a two-hour workshop with an adviser every fortnight.

The course， ending in July， is expected to get rid of the cancer of hatred in these people. “People have lots of negative attitudes towards forgiveness，” he said， “People confuse forgiveness with  forgetting. Forgiveness means changing from a negative attitude to a positive one.”

Hart and his team have created instructions to provide the training needed.

“The main idea is to give you guidelines on how to look at various kinds of angers and how they affect you， and how to change your attitudes towards the person you are angry with，” said Norman Claringbull， a senior expert on the forgiveness project.

Hart said he believes forgiveness is a skill that can be taught， as these people “want to get free of the past”.

1. From this passage we know that 　　　　.

A. high blood pressure and heart disease are caused by hatred

B. high blood pressure can only be cured by psychology professors

C. without hatred， people will have less trouble connected with blood pressure and heart disease

D .people who suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease must have many enemies

2. People going to Hart’s first 20-week workshop 　　　　.

A. enjoy the professor’s speech

B .learn how to quarrel with others 

C .are aware that their hatred is a poison that could finally end up harming themselves

D .meet in groups of eight to ten for a two-hour workshop every night and learn how to relax 

3.. According to Professor Ken Hart， 　　　　.

A. most people are living with hatred

B. people should attend his courses to forget the past

C. forgiveness means forgetting the bitterness

D. people with a bitter memory can learn to have a positive attitude towards the past

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

A. Hatred means living a positive life.

B. People will be taught how to look at various kinds of angers in the workshop.

C. Hart and his team enjoys high popularity among Londoners these days.

D. People who are sick of living with a bitter memory have to pay a lot to Hart’s course.

5.. Which could be the best title for the passage？

A. Britons learn to forgive  B. Hart and his team

C .Forgive and forget  D. Hatred， a poison to you