"Humans should not try to avoid stress any more just as they would not _ food, love or exercise," said Dr. Hans Selye, the first physician to record the effects of stress on the body. While here's one question that continuous stress is harmful, several studies suggest that challenging unexpected and difficult situations can be good for you. In a 2001 study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but dealt with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health. In a study at theprefix = st1 /AcademicCenter, researchers put volunteers through a stressful experience: a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test. Those who did well on the memory test had an increase in levels of immunoglobulin A, which is the body's first line of defense against germs . Stress makes the body produce certain stress hormones. In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect including improved memory function. "They can help nerve cells deal with information and put it into storage," says Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University inNew York. But in the long run these hormones can have a harmful effect on the body and brain. "Continued stress is not good for you," says Dr. Bruce," it's the short burst of stress that could be protective." Dr. Bruce believes that_. A) a person's memory is determined by the level of hormones in his body B) a person's memory improves with continued experience of stress C) stress hormones have lasting positive effects on the brain D) short bursts of stress hormones increase memory function
D
(Question)
Songs that make our hearts soar can make them stronger too, US researchers reported on Tuesday. They found that when people listened to their favorite music, their blood vessels dilated in much the same way as when they are laughing, or taking blood medications. "We have a pretty impressive effect," said Dr Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. "Blood vessel diameter improved," he said. "The vessel opened up pretty significantly. You can see the vessels opening up with other activities such as exercise." A similar effect is seen with drugs such as statins and ACE inhibitors. When blood vessels open up more, blood flows more smoothly and is less likely to form the clots that cause heart attacks and strokes. Elastic vessels also resist the hardening activity of atherosclerosis . "We are not saying to stop your statins or not to exercise but rather to add this to an overall program of heart health," said Miller, who presented his findings to a meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans. Miller's team tested 10 healthy, non-smoking men and women, who were told to bring their favorite music. They spent half an hour listening to the recordings and half an hour listening to music they said made them feel anxious while the researchers did ultrasound tests designed to show blood vessel function. Compared to their normal baseline measurements, blood vessel diameter increased 26 percent on average when the volunteers heard their joyful music. Listening to music they disliked - in most cases in this group heavy metal - blood vessels narrowed by six percent, Miller said. Miller said he came up with the idea after discovering the laughter caused blood to literally flow more smoothly." I asked myself what other things make us feel real good, besides calories from dark chocolate of course. Music came to mind. ... It makes me feel real good," he said. Most of the volunteers chose country music but Miller said the style is not so important... What can be the best title for the text? A) Favorite Music Benefits Heart. B) Favorite Music and Medical Science. C) Country Music and Heavy Music. D) Music Choice Affects Life and Work.
(Answer)
A
Ques: I have a rule of travel: never carry a map. I prefer to ask for directions. Foreign visitors are often puzzled in Japan because most streets there don't have names. In Japan, people tell landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, " Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and pass a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop." In the countryside of the American Midwest, usually there are not many landmarks. There are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distance. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, " Go north two miles, turn west, and then go another mile." People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance by means of time, not miles. "How far away is the post office?" you ask. "Oh," they answer, "it's about five minutes from here." You say, " Yes, but how many miles away is it?" They don' t know. People in Greece sometimes do not even try to give directions because visitors seldom understand the Greek language. Instead of giving you the direction, a Greek often says, " Follow me." Then he will lead you through the streets of the city to the post office. Sometimes a person doesn't know the answer to your question. What happens then? A New Yorker might say, " Sorry, I have no idea." But in Yuchatan, Mexico, no one answers " I don't know." People in Yucatan think that " I don't know" is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A visitor can get very lost in Yucatan. However, one thing will help you everywhere---- in Japan, in the United States, in Greece, in Mexico, or in any other places. You might not understand a person's words, but maybe you can understand his body language. He or she will usually turn and then point in the correct direction. Go in that direction and you may find the post office. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? A) Street names in Japan can clearly tell you the way. B) A person's body language can help you find out directions. C) People in Yucatan usually lead you to the place where you want to go. D) If you want to avoid getting lost in Greece, you should learn Greek first.
Ans: B
She is a cute, quiet girl. As a daughter, she has no secrets from her mother, who is very pleased with her. But recently she has become somewhat mysterious, not so open as before. She has a diary that she keeps under lock and key. Her mother cannot help worrying about her: what if she falls in love, which is too early for a girl of her age. After all, she is reaching the "dangerous stage". These thoughts have caused trouble in the mother's mind. One weekend the girl came to tell her mother that she was going to the cinema with her schoolmate and would return late. This was the first time her mother agreed, and she couldn't help worrying because her daughter had never been away at night before. The mother waited till nine and her uneasiness got the upper hand over her. She decided to go out to meet her daughter. Just at that moment the noise of a car pulling up drew her to the window and - there was her daughter, waving goodbye to a boy. Her heart missed a beat. When the girl came in, the mother was watching TV, pretending nothing had happened."Mum, I'm back." "Yeah." "Sorry to be late. Still sitting up?" "Yes, Oh, that... Who's that boy?" The daughter was stunned for a moment. "Ah. It's my monitor. He gave a lift on his way home. Mum, I'm going to bed." "All right. Go to sleep early." Next morning when the mother went to the daughter's room to do some tidying, she found her diary left at her pillow. After a few minutes' hesitation she eventually opened it to the entry of the night before. It reads: Mum, it's love that made you ask, but it would show your understanding of me if you hadn't. Holding the diary, the mother fell in thought. From the diary, we can see the daughter _ . A) thanked her mother for asking her B) thought her mother cared about her very much C) thought it was her mother's duty to ask D) thought her mother's understanding is better than simple love
D