Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements (代替物) for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1.What is the meaning of the underlined words in paragraph 2?A.resource-consuming | B.resource-developing |
C.resource-protecting | D.resource-controlling |
A.It is environmentally-friendly. | B.It improves our health. |
C.It is simple and free. | D.It can make you put on weight. |
A.Playing basketball in a gym. | B.Motor racing in the desert. |
C.Cycling around a lake. | D.Swimming in a sports center. |
A.To show us some major outdoor sports. |
B.To encourage us to go in for green sports. |
C.To discuss the influence of some popular sports. |
D.To introduce some environmentally-friendly sports. |
In 1985, Vanessa Foster and her husband hopped on a flight to Alaska without any plan. When they
“I hopped out and
As they walked down the
“When he heard we were
The
“I really appreciate his kindness toward a couple of
A.escaped | B.came | C.won | D.landed |
A.car | B.horse | C.pick-up | D.bike |
A.lesson | B.treat | C.ride | D.truck |
A.gave up | B.pulled over | C.checked out | D.sat down |
A.rushed | B.preferred | C.appealed | D.referred |
A.wandered | B.searched | C.played | D.drove |
A.asked | B.invited | C.became | D.needed |
A.hill | B.valley | C.bank | D.highway |
A.break | B.pick | C.clean | D.eat |
A.Currently | B.Occasionally | C.Finally | D.Frequently |
A.little | B.black | C.big | D.blue |
A.jobless | B.hungry | C.tired | D.cold |
A.drive | B.scenery | C.experience | D.book |
A.forget | B.miss | C.hate | D.forgive |
A.animals | B.thieves | C.workers | D.strangers |
To Swedes, the scent of surströmming (鲱鱼罐头) is pleasant, but to most others, it’s sickening. This contrast highlights the role of culture in shaping our perceptions (见解) of scent. However, researchers now suggest that biology might play a more significant role than previously thought.
Artin Arshamian, a neuroscientist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Asifa Majid, a psychologist at the University of Oxford, noticed from their own previous work that people from different cultures described smells differently. They also knew from past experiments by other researchers that culture was important in determining which sorts of faces people found beautiful. Thus, they expected to see a similar phenomenon with smells.
The researchers conducted a study involving nine diverse groups of people, including hunter-gatherers in Mexico, farmers in Ecuador, and residents of cities like Mexico City and Bangkok. They were presented with ten smells, ranging from isovaleric acid to vanilla extract, and asked to rate them according to pleasantness. The results showed high consistency across cultures, with isovaleric acid universally disliked and vanilla extract mostly enjoyed.
Interestingly, the chemical composition of the smells accounted for 41% of the reactions, while cultural factors only explained 6%. It is quite different in the case of visual perception of faces, where a person’s culture makes up 50% of the explanation for which faces they find beautiful. Meanwhile, the researchers identified an “eye of the beholder” effect in our perceptions of scent. This phenomenon, though less obvious than in visual perception, represents the personal preferences that are shaped by influences outside individual culture, accounting for 54% of the differences in which smells people liked.
This study suggests that our sense of smell may be more influenced by biological factors than cultural ones. It challenges the idea that culture alone determines what we find pleasant or unpleasant and opens up new ways of exploring the biological basis of our senses.
1.What is the initial purpose of the research?A.To explore how culture affects our sense of smell. |
B.To prove all people enjoy the scent of surströmming. |
C.To examine geography plays a role in scent perception. |
D.To confirm biology has an influence on scent perception. |
A.By making questionnaire surveys. | B.By recording participants’ reactions. |
C.By comparing cultural backgrounds. | D.By referring to previous study reports. |
A.the standard of beauty across different cultures |
B.the role of culture in shaping our sense of smell |
C.the impact of personal preferences on scent perception |
D.the influence of outside factors on our visual preference |
A.They were familiar with isovaleric acid beforehand. |
B.They hated isovaleric acid all due to its unpleasant smell. |
C.Their reactions to the scent of isovaleric acid varied among cultures. |
D.Their dislike for isovaleric acid was based more on biological factors. |
If you find yourself embracing the thrilling chaos of completing tasks at the last minute, congratulations — You are not alone! According to a survey, 20% of U.S. adults procrastinate (拖延) at home, at work, in relationships, and more. Another survey found that 88% of people procrastinate at least one hour a day.
Sounds alarming? As it turns out, if you’re feeling stressed, you may be more likely to procrastinate. Essentially, our brains are structured to approach tasks we find enjoyable and avoid those we are afraid of. Our limbic brain (边缘大脑), the emotional part of our brain, is screaming, “Let’s do anything but that stressful thing!” while our prefrontal cortex (前额叶皮层) is the CEO of our brain, setting the goals, making a plan, and ensuring we stay on track. CEO vs. Drama Queen Brain — who will win? Actually, there do exist chances when our limbic brain overrides that prefrontal cortex message.
Then there’s the burst of energy we often get when we’re up against a deadline, which leads to a reward pathway within our brains and sets the foundation for procrastination as a habit. When you race to the end and get to the goal finally, your previous stress is gone and you almost get in that pattern of “See, I work better under pressure!”
So, how to beat procrastination? Well, you need to retrain your brain to cope with the stress. One trick is to take periodic breaks (reward) to refocus your attention on the task. Ever heard of the Promodoro Technique? It’s about working for 25 minutes and resting for 5. During those breaks, forget about brain-burning activities — try relaxing techniques such as meditation or yoga instead. Another trick is to “eat the frog” first thing in the morning, or tackle the most difficult and stressful task of the day, as was once said by Mark Twain.
1.Why are the two surveys mentioned in the first paragraph?A.To warn the readers. | B.To introduce a concept. |
C.To present a phenomenon. | D.To make a comparison. |
A.We are born to prefer what we like and avoid what we fear. |
B.The limbic brain is under the control of the prefrontal cortex. |
C.We are more likely to burst when getting close to the deadline. |
D.Failing to complete a task can lead to habitual procrastination. |
A.Force the brain to focus. | B.Take a break regularly. |
C.Solve a tricky math problem. | D.Eat something refreshing first. |
A.Humorous. | B.Ironic. | C.Serious. | D.Unclear. |
My family and I had set out on a day trip from Shillong to Cherrapunji, a town known for being one of the wettest places on Earth. However, after we had been stuck in traffic for more than four hours, one of my sisters proposed going back to the city as a last attempt to save whatever remained of the day. A quick online search revealed other must-visit spots around Shillong. Most were familiar, but one caught our attention—Nartiang with its mysterious monoliths (独石碑). The photo showed tall stones piled together in a strange formation, appealing to us to explore further despite the lack of details provided.
That is how I found myself standing in the shadow of the huge monoliths of Nartiang, which is home to the thickest and largest collection in the region. Curious to uncover their history, I approached Maryo Symblai, a village elder I met later that day, who told me the story of the monoliths that has been orally passed down over generations. She said, “Back in the day, Nartiang didn’t have a bazaar (集市) and the nearest one was at Raliang. On one such bazaar, a giant named Mar Phalyngki was caught in heavy rain on his way back. He requested to borrow an umbrella from the Raliang chief’s youngest daughter, but she wanted to test his legendary strength instead. ‘Why don’t you go lift that huge stone in the bazaar and use it as an umbrella?’ she said dismissively. Emboldened by her challenge, he just did that, but before reaching Nartiang, he placed it in a forest when the rain had stopped.”
“There is a certain overlap of ancient story and memory in the case of the Nartiang monoliths. The locals’ account of how the place came to be is based on ancient stories or folk customs. But they also remember it because it served their ancestors as a weekly marketplace, a memorial, and a place for political gatherings. That is how oral history works. It mixes fact and fiction into collective memory”, said Dr Reeju Ray, a local writer.
Today, even though the traditional customs and more confirmed historical accounts offer some insight into the site, the mystery(奥秘)of the stone giants lasts.
1.Why did the author and his family come to visit the monoliths of Nartiang?A.It was in their original trip plan. |
B.They had to choose it as an alternative. |
C.It was the only remaining place to visit. |
D.An elder village r gave them the suggestion. |
A.Threatened. | B.Moved. | C.Stimulated. | D.Frightened. |
A.To info rm what the monoliths served as. |
B.To illustrate how the mysterious story came into being. |
C.To introduce the feature of Nartiang monoliths. |
D.To deny the overlap of ancient story and memory. |
A.A Trip to the Monoliths. | B.The Mystery of Shillong. |
C.The Formation of the Monoliths. | D.A Disappointing Travel Experience. |
YOUR IMPACT BEGINS TODAY
With your support, we’re driving new knowledge, working to reduce our human footprint on the planet, and inspiring a new generation of changemakers to value the natural world and help create a brighter future. | 100% of all donations go directly to our Explorers and programs. We’ve built a sustainable, innovative business model that allows us to invest every dollar you donate directly to our Explorers and programs. When you support the National Geographic Society, not only are you supporting your passion for the planet, but you also help protect its wonder. You ensure our mission lives on so we can continue exploring the planet, saving wildlife, protecting our ocean, empowering the world’s most innovative scientists to help solve the planet’s mysteries and challenges, and preserving our ancient heritage for future generations. Your generous contribution will immediately go to work supporting the things you care passionately about — not operating costs. | |||
SUPPORT OUR WORK Tax-free gifts National Geographic Society is a tax-free organization, and we rely on the generosity of donors like you to support our Explorers’ work in science, exploration, education, and storytelling. | ||||
Single and monthly donations Make a gift today to help explore and protect our planet. By giving monthly, your reliable support allows us to respond to the most pressing programmatic needs. | Employer Matching Gifts Many companies have a matching gift program for employees. You give an amount and your company donates the same. Double your impact by exploring your employer’s matching gift programs. | Honor/Memorial Giving Honor a friend or loved one’s passion for science, exploration, education, and storytelling by making an unusual gift in their name. |
A.To guide people to invest in a sustainable business. |
B.To attract donations to National Geographic Society. |
C.To appeal to people to preserve ancient heritage sites. |
D.To publicize the mission of National Geographic Society. |
A.Make it a gift in the name of your friend. |
B.Support the most pressing employer. |
C.Reduce the tax attached to the donation. |
D.Try your company’s matching gift programs. |
A.It needs no operating costs. | B.Its mission hasn’t been recognized. |
C.It is dedicated to protecting nature. | D.Its employees needn’t pay income tax. |
My father asked me to chat with him for a while. Actually, I was unwilling to listen to his talking endlessly as he always did. My father was a lawyer, but I never wanted to go to law school or follow his path through life.
As was expected, he cleared his throat and started to say, “Er... What... What do you really want to do in the gorgeous(灿烂的) future?”
I was silent for a moment playing with the cell phone. I kept thinking, “Should I tell him my true thoughts? What if he gets angry? What if I let him down?” later I replied, “Well, I want to be a writer.”
I guessed this may be not the answer he would expect. But surprisingly, “Interesting idea!” he answered. I was shocked, speaking in a low voice with hesitation.
“Are you serious, dad?”
“Well, you need confidence and good preparations, and you still have plenty of time. You need to find out what you really enjoy now. Look, it’s late. Let’s take the boat out tomorrow morning, just you and me. Maybe we can catch some crabs (螃蟹) for dinner, and we can talk more.”
Early next morning we packed up the equipment and set off for the coast. We didn’t talk much, but enjoyed the sound of the seabirds and the sight of the coastline.
There were no big waves and blinding sunlight at that time. “Let’s see if we are lucky,” he said, picked up a web basket with a rope tied and threw it into the sea. We waited a while, then my father stood up and said, “Give me a hand with this,” and we pulled up the crab cage onto the deck.
To our joy, the cage was filled with dozens of soft shell crabs. Squatting (蹲) down, we watched them for a moment. At first they fought against each other to climb out hard, trying to escape. Many were pulled back into the cage. Later, some gave up, but there were still some crabs trying to escape again and again.
注意:It was a typical Monday morning. My form teacher, Mrs Tan, was going through our exam questions. I pot down some notes and did my corrections.
“Riiiiiiinnnngg!” A high-pitched sound pierced through the air like a knife. Covering my ears in annoyance, realization dawned on me. It was the fire alarm! While I encouraged others to remain as cool as a cucumber, it was in vain. My classmates were all screaming and running around like crazy.
“Calm down, everyone! Please queue up in an orderly manner! We have practised this in the fire drills!” instructed Mrs Tan , sounding anxious.
The class ignored her and continued screaming at the top of their voices. One student even broke down in a fit of panic. I rushed around the class, asking all my fellow students to settle down while waiting for further instructions.
A serious voice soon announced from the speakers in every class, drawing our attention. “All students are to follow their teachers and evacuate(撤离)the building in a calm and organized manner. The fire may have been caused by a gas explosion in the canteen; do not go near there!”
Mrs Tan finally managed to calm the panicky class down. In a strict voice, she told us that we were to use the evacuation route to Gate 6. She arranged the pupils quickly in neat straight rows and led us out of the classroom.
Upon taking my first step out of the classroom, I took a deep breath instantly. The surroundings were hazy(模糊的) as thick smoke came from the canteen. Choking, I unconsciously covered my nose. To make matters worse, the ash from the smoky surroundings hurt my eyes. Coughing anxiously, I tried to see my teacher in the lead, but the air was too hazy for me to see anything clearly. Within less than a minute, I lost sight of my class and was left alone.
注意:1. 续写词数应为150个左右;A wave of anxiety washed over me.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just then, the figure of Mrs Tan waving a torchlight appeared from the smoke.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Studying a subject that you feel pointless is never a fun or easy task. If you’re studying history, asking yourself the question “why is history important” is a good start.
History enriches our experience. Reading history is an amazing experience because it enables us to reflect on the social and economic life of the people living long time ago. According to the experts, problems faced by people regardless of the past and present are the same.
History makes us more empathetic(具有共情能力的). Studying history can give us insight into why our culture does certain things, and how the past has shaped it into what we know now.
History can inspire us to learn more.
A.History grounds us in our roots. |
B.History helps us develop our interest. |
C.History is an essential part of human civilization. |
D.What’s fantastic about history is the way it broadens our horizons. |
E.Being empathetic means listening to and understanding someone else. |
F.It also provides a rather strong foundation for empathy across cultures. |
G.With the information about the ancestors, one can become more experienced in handling challenges of life. |
If a pancake could dream, it might long for legs so it could jump off your breakfast plate in pursuit of a better, unchewed life. But legs aren’t necessary for something as flat as a pancake to jump around. A group of scientists have designed a pancake-shaped robot that can jump several times per second and higher than seven times its body height. The new robot named Hop, which swiftly jumps without feet, is an important contribution to the soft robotics.
Many ground robots move by rolling or walking. But it’s more efficient for robots to jump over obstacles (障碍物) than to go around them. Although jumping can offer some robots a competitive edge, engineering that ability has been a challenge for robotics researchers. Some soft robots that store energy can perform a single impressive jump very infrequently. Some lightweight soft robots that don’t store energy can jump frequently but can’t jump high or far enough to successfully cross an obstacle.
For inspiration, the researchers looked to gall midge larvae (瘿蚊幼虫) that miraculously throw themselves across distances 30 times as long as their loglike bodies. A gall midge larva bends its body and squeezes the liquid in its body to one end, making it rigid (僵硬的). The accumulation of liquid builds up pressure, and releasing the pressure sends it soaring (飙升). The robot’s body doesn’t resemble (像) that of a gall midge larva, but it jumps like one. Its body is made of two small plastic bags printed with electrodes; the front bag is filled with liquid and the back one is filled with the same volume of air. The robot uses electricity to drive the flow of liquid, which causes the body to bend and generate force with the ground, resulting in a jump. And the air bag imitates the function of an animal’s tail, helping the robot keep a stable position.
While the robot is currently restricted to Earth, it might be right at home exploring another planet. If this is true, the researchers robot might jump over dusty rocks and large holes on the moon or Mars, going where no pancake has gone before.
1.What does the author want to show by mentioning a pancake?A.A pancake’s dream to have legs is unrealistic. |
B.A robot is capable of serving a good pancake. |
C.A pancake-shaped robot can jump without legs. |
D.Research on pancakes advances our understanding of robots. |
A.Hop’s avoiding an obstacle. | B.Hop’s moving around by rolling. |
C.Hop’s performing one remarkable jump. | D.Hop’s jumping high and far continuously. |
A.They are shaped like logs. |
B.They have tails to change positions. |
C.They bend their bodies and increase force. |
D.They are filled with liquid and have rigid bodies. |
A.Intolerant. | B.Positive. | C.Indifferent. | D.Ambiguous. |