This site presents a look at the American history ...

A study presented last week at the American Heart Association meeting suggests that mental relaxation produced by meditation may have physiological benefits, at least in the case of people with established coronary artery disease. Researchers followed about 200 high-risk patients for an average of five years. Among the 100 who meditated, there were 20 heart attacks, strokes and deaths'! in the comparison group, there were 32. (57) The meditators tended to remain disease-free longer and also reduced their blood pressure. "We found reduced blood pressure that was significant—that was probably one important mediator," said Dr. Robert Schneider, director of the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention in Fairfield, Iowa, who presented the findings. The study was conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, in collaboration with the institute. Dr. Schneider suggested that (58) the stress reduction produced by the meditation could cause changes in the brain that cut stress hormones and decelerate the processes associated with atherosclerosis (动脉硬化).

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On July 12, 1993, a young professor of American history named Frederick Jackson Turner stood up to speak. The scene was the American History Congress at the Chicago World's Fair. (62) His paper was titled "The significance of the Frontier in American History." Turner had a new idea. (63) And many historians who heard him recognized that he had come upon a simple theory that seemed right.

To Turner, the frontier was one of the most powerful forces shaping the American character. He pointed out that the frontier was a place for new beginnings, a place where men and women could build new lives. Thus, the frontier represented hope and opportunity to Americans. Turner also pointed out that these new lives on the frontier were shaped by tile hardships of surviving in the wilderness. Thus, life on the frontier produced determination in Americans and made them believe in the value of work. (64)According to Turner's theory, the frontier was a place where everyone had to struggle equally hard. (65) Thus, frontier life helped shape the American ideal of equality, independence, and democracy.

One of the most successful, influential, and beloved women in American history, Eleanor Roosevelt once said that she had one regret: She wished she had been prettier. Who hasn’t felt the same way? We are all too awake to our physical imperfections. To overcome them, we spend billions upon billions of dollars every year on cosmetics, diet products, fashion, and plastic surgery.

Why do we care so much about how we look? Because it matters. Because beauty is powerful. Because even when we learn to value people mostly for being kind and wise and funny, we are still moved by beauty. No matter how much we argue against it or pretend to be immune, beauty exerts its power over us. There is simply no escape.

Aristotle said, “Beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.” It’s not fair, but it’s true. We simply treat beautiful people better than we do others. Attach a photograph of a beautiful author to an essay, and people will think that it is more creative and more intelligently written than exactly the same essay accompanied by the photo of a homely author.

As children, beautiful people are more likely to become favorites with parents and teachers. Later, they’re more likely to get good jobs and promotion. Beautiful lawyers get paid more than their less attractive colleagues. Good-looking criminals are more likely to win the sympathy of judges and juries. Attractive people in need are more likely to receive help from strangers.

(1)Eleanor Roosevelt’s regret shows ().

A、she was one of the most successful, influential, and beloved women in American history

B、she was not pretty

C、she has many regrets

D、even she was pretty, she wanted to be prettier

(2)“It matters” in paragraph 2 line 1 means ().

A、It is a matter

B、It doesn’t matter

C、It is important

D、It is not important

(3)According to paragraph 2 and paragraph 3, which of the following is not true?

A、We learn to value people mostly for being kind and wise and funny.

B、We can be immune to beauty.

C、Aristotle meant beauty is the best recommendation.

D、People think a beautiful author’s essay is more creative and more intelligently written.

(4)Paragraph 4 is written to show ().

A、beauty is powerful

B、beautiful children are favorites with parents and teachers

C、beautiful lawyers get higher pay than their homely colleagues

D、attractive people receive more help from strangers

(5)The word “good -looking” in paragraph 4 line 3 may mean ().

A、beautiful or handsome

B、lovely

C、careful

D、kind-hearted

听力原文： The American humorist, Will Rogers, used to say, "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." This was an exaggeration for humorous purposes, but it is true that newspapers are an important source of information. Many people begin their day by reading the paper. In this way they learn what is going on in the world. Sometimes, however, they don't have time to read the news carefully and must be satisfied with a quick look at the front page; at other times they may be in such a hurry that they have time only to glance at the headlines. There are newspapers to satisfy every reader. In the big cities there are many types of papers, with several different editions every day. In small towns there are fewer newspapers and perhaps only one edition each day. In some areas the paper is printed weekly. Most newspapers have several sections, especially on Sundays when the edition is larger than usual. There are, in addition to the front page with the most important news, the sports section, the society page, the comics, the amusement section, a business page and the editorials. Another type of publication which helps keep the population informed is the magazine. Some magazines are published weekly; others are put out monthly. There are news magazines, literary magazines and magazines for such special interests as photography, sports, art and music. Some are primarily for men, others for women, and there is a selection of children's magazines, too. In the United States, there are publications for every taste and interest.

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A．They are what people read.

B．Many people begin their day by reading newspapers.

C．They are important information sources.

D．They are important because of the front pages.

The American economy is growing, according to the most recent statistics, at the sizzling rate of 7%, and is in the middle of the largest peacetime expansion in American history. We read in the newspapers that practically everyone who wants a job can get one. Microsoft is running advertisements in the New York Times practically begging Congress to issue more visas for foreign computer and information technology workers.

In this environment, it is shocking that one group of Americans, people with disabilities, have such a high level of unemployment: 30% are not employed the same percentage as when the Americans with Disabilities Act became law. Not only did their employment and labor earnings fall during the recession of the early 1990s, but employment and earnings continued to fall during the long economic expansion that followed. Many of these people are skilled professionals who are highly marketable in today's economy.

Part of the problem is discrimination, and part recent court rulings favoring employers in ADA lawsuits. Discrimination against people with disabilities is, unfortunately, alive and well, despite the legal prohibitions against discrimination in hiring people with disabilities. 79% of disabled people who are unemployed cite discrimination in the workplace and lack of transportation as major factors that prevent them from working. Studies have also shown that people with disabilities who find jobs earn less than their co-workers, and are less likely to be promoted.

Unfavorable court rulings have not been helpful, either. Research by law professor Ruth Colker of Ohio State University has shown that in the eight years after the ADA went into effect, employer-defendants prevailed in more than 93% of the eases decided by trial. Of the cases appealed, employers prevailed 84% of the time. Robert Burgdorf, Ir., who helped draft the ADA, has written, "legal analysis has proceeded quite a way down the wrong road". Disability activists and other legal scholars point out that Congress intended the ADA as a national mandate for the ending of discrimination against people-with disabilities. Instead, what has occurred, in the words of one writer, is that the courts "have narrowed the scope of the law, redefined 'disability,' raised the price of access to justice and generally deemed disability discrimination as not worthy of serious remedy".

But perhaps the greatest single problem is the federal government itself, where laws and regulations designed to help disabled people actually provide an economic disincentive to work. As Sen. Edward Kennedy wrote, "the high unemployment rate among people receiving federal disability benefits is not because their federal benefits programs have 'front doors that are too big', but because they have 'back doors that are too small'".

The advertisement made by Microsoft shows that _____.

A．a great number of jobs have been created in the U.S..

B．foreign workers are favored over domestic workers.

C．working visa is very hard to be issued to foreign workers.

D．many domestic workers will lose their jobs to foreigners.

(When) Edison died, it was proposed that the American people (turned off) (all power) in their homes, streets, and factories for several minutes (in honor of) this great man.

A．When

B．turned off

C．all power

D．in honor of