外刊阅读理解测试5-2025届高三英语上学期一轮复习专项

Entertaining TV programmes make you eat, study finds People eat more when they are glued to the television, and the more entertaining the programme, the more they eat, according to new research. It seems that distracted brains do not notice what the mouth is doing, said Dr Alan Hirsch, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. Hirsch explored the impact of smell, taste and eating behaviors while watching TV by measuring potato chip consumption. Forty-five volunteers ate as many chips as they wanted during five-minute intervals while they watched monologues by late-night talk show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno. They also were given chips to eat when the television was off. Hirsch found people ate an average of 44 per cent more chips while watching Letterman and 42 per cent more while viewing Leno, than when they did not watch TV. "If you can concentrate on how the food tastes you'll eat less because you'll feel full faster," Hirsch said in an interview at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Toronto. "So if that's the case, let's look at the opposite. What if you're distracted? If you're distracted, in theory, then you'd eat more." Through his research at the foundation, Hirsch has helped people overcome the loss of sense and taste sensation, which typically results in weight gain because the brain does not know when it should stop eating. The ventromedial nucleus in the hypothalamus, where the so-called satiety centre is located, tells the body whether it is hungry or full. If it is inhibited or tricked, the result can be changes in eating patterns, he said. "People who cook spaghetti all day don't fell like eating spaghetti at the end of the day," said Hirsch. "By being exposed to a smell all day long it's tricking the hypothalamus." Volunteers were asked to concentrate on the sensory characteristics of the food such as taste and smell. Researchers say these sensory clues, in addition to internal body changes, signal satiety. But when distracted, a person does not pay attention to either the body's sensations of feeling full, or to the sensory characteristics of the food. Many studies have linked obesity to watching television and that link is likely due to inactivity, Hirsch said. But perhaps entertaining shows are also contributing. "If you want to lose weight, turn off the television or watch something boring," he said. According to the research, what happens when people watch entertaining TV programmes? A. They eat less. B. They study more. C. They eat more. D. They feel sleepy. How did Hirsch measure potato chip consumption? A. By asking volunteers to count the chips. B. By observing volunteers for a long time. C. By having volunteers eat chips while watching TV and when it's off. D. By weighing the chips before and after volunteers ate them. What does the ventromedial nucleus in the hypothalamus do? A. Controls taste sensation. B. Tells the body whether it is hungry or full. C. Determines the entertainment level of TV shows. D. Makes people feel sleepy. What should people do if they want to lose weight? A. Watch more entertaining TV shows. B. Eat more spaghetti. C. Turn off the television or watch something boring. D. Ignore their body's sensations. What is the likely reason for the link between obesity and watching television? A. Inactivity and entertaining shows. B. Eating too much spaghetti. C. Lack of sleep. D. Not concentrating on food. Electric car costs draw level with petrol and diesel Rising fuel prices this year mean that the cost of owning and running an electric car is now lower than petrol or diesel in almost every country in Europe, according to data from automotive lease provider LeasePlan. Battery vehicles remain more expensive than traditional engine models to buy, although have lower running costs because of less maintenance and cheaper refuelling. The industry considers the point at which electric cars become as cheap as petrol models to own, run and service — the “total cost of ownership” — a key moment that could trigger a widespread switch to battery vehicles. LeasePlan, which has 1.9mn vehicles used by corporate fleets, collated running costs and lease prices for its vehicles, comparing them by segment and across 22 countries. “EVs in nearly every segment and European country are now the same price or cheaper on a TCO [total cost of ownership] basis than petrol or diesel cars,” said the report. It found the costs of a standard family car, such as a Ford Kuga or an electric Škoda Enyaq, were equal or lower in 19 out of 22 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Only in Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic was the model notably more expensive when electric. Among smaller cars, such as the Renault Megane or the Kia Nero, the UK purchase and running costs were €919 a month for electric, €941 for diesel and €954 for petrol, it found. The same cars in France were only €735 a month for electric, compared with €904 for diesel and €868 for petrol. While petrol and diesel refuelling costs remained similar across most areas, the costs of recharging an electric car varied wildly. Typically, charging at home overnight for several hours was a cheaper alternative to using public fast-chargers, which attract a premium for their higher speed. For its EV charging calculations, LeasePlan took the current charging habits of its average electric customer, with 65 per cent of charging at home, 20 per cent at a workplace, and 15 per cent at a more expensive public charging point. LeasePlan found that charging costs amounted to 15 per cent of the cost of owning and running an electric car, while the cost of refuelling a diesel was 28 per cent of the total ownership cost. “Despite energy price inflation, fuel costs remain significantly lower for electric cars than petrol and diesel cars,” the report found. Its data was taken from a four-year lease and assuming an annual mileage of 30,000km, with prices from almost 3,000 cars across 132 models. The overall cost of running any vehicle still varied significantly across the region, the report added. With Greece the cheapest country at an average of €905 a month, to Switzerland, which has an average of €1,313. What makes electric cars have lower running costs? A. Higher purchase price. B. More maintenance. C. Cheaper refuelling and less maintenance. D. Faster speed. In how many European countries did LeasePlan find the costs of a standard family car with electric equal or lower? A. 19. B. 20. C. 21. D. 22. What is a cheaper alternative for recharging an electric car? A. Using public fast-chargers. B. Charging at a workplace. C. Charging at home overnight. D. Charging during the day. What percentage of charging for LeasePlan's average electric customer is at a public charging point? A. 15%. B. 20%. C. 65%. D. 85%. Which country has the highest average cost of running a vehicle according to the report? A. Greece. B. France. C. The UK. D. Switzerland. Why nobody thinks to thank their boss Many management commentators have written about the loneliness that comes with promotion to a senior job: the sudden wariness of those who used to be your friends, and their (often well-founded) suspicion that you now have to take the organisation's side rather than theirs. As a manager, you have new responsibilities and insomnia-inducing worries. Those you lead now form a separate group, from which you are often excluded. You may do your best to be kind and to ensure your team's happiness and welfare. But you also have the power to decide how they do their jobs, or even whether they continue to have jobs. If you don't set their salaries and bonuses, you almost certainly have some input into them. As Manfred Kets de Vries, an Insead professor and psychoanalyst, has written: Hierarchy creates a power distance. Even if managers try to minimise that divide, their subordinates will always be cognisant of their boss's ability to make decisions that can radically affect their careers. Once, when I led a Financial Times department, I noticed that some of the team were working late. Not wanting to abandon them, I decided to stay in the office too. It took me a while to realise that they were waiting for me to go home — so that they could go to the pub together. It is not that your subordinates have forgotten that you are human. If you return to work after being ill, they may ask how you are. Otherwise, they assume you can manage. You are, after all, a manager. You have greater power, and a higher salary. You have also agreed to take on more responsibility. The analogy with parenting applies here too. Your team, like your children, think your job is to solve their problems. They are not there to solve yours. You are the grown-up, even if you dont always feel like one. What can you do about this hierarchical distance and your team's assumption that you do not need their help, much less their thanks? First, accept that the power imbalance exists. If you ever have to fire people, never say how upsetting it is for you. You are keeping your job; they are losing theirs. The same goes for less dramatic decisions. You can tell people what to do. They can't tell you. They may try, but their ability to enforce their desire is limited. Second, find people who can share your burden. There are issues of confidentiality, details about your team that you cannot share with outsiders. One of the most startling features of becoming a manager for the first time is how much of people's personal information you are suddenly privy to. They may not think you need support, but they often need yours — because they have been diagnosed with a serious illness, or their children are in trouble, or their parents need moving to a home that can look after them. But even within the constraints of maintaining confidence, there are others you can turn to. If you are not at the top of the organisation, you will probably have peers at the same level of seniority as you. They will be having similar difficulties. If they are more experienced, they may have advice about how to cope. Above all, dont take the distance personally. It comes with the job. You may be more appreciated than you realise. When you leave, you may well receive thanks, in farewell cards or in personal messages. The ones who thank you, for a personal kindness or for supporting them in their career, may not be the ones you expected. Sometimes the grumpiest turn out to be the most grateful. And while you are in the job, remember to dispense gratitude, even if you don't receive it. Nothing encourages better performance or greater loyalty than a thank you from the boss. What is one of the new things managers face after promotion? A. Less responsibility. B. More friends. C. Insomnia-inducing worries. D. No power distance. Why were the team members waiting for the author to go home? A. To work more efficiently. B. To go to the pub together. C. To have a meeting. D. To surprise the author. What should managers not do when firing people? A. Be honest about their feelings. B. Consider the employees' feelings. C. Act professionally. D. Follow company procedures. Who can managers turn to for support? A. Only outsiders. B. Only subordinates. C. Peers at the same level of seniority. D. No one. What is the main idea of the passage? A. Managers should demand more gratitude from their subordinates. B. Managers should accept the power imbalance and find support. C. Managers should fire people more carefully. D. Managers should not expect gratitude from their subordinates. Why Do Car Rides Make You Feel Tired? During road trips, its not uncommon for drivers to look over and see passengers that have nodded off, their heads bouncing gently against the door window. Drivers sometimes find themselves fighting off drowsiness. And it's not just long-haul truckers: Even an afternoon day trip can promote nodding off. So why do car rides tend to turn us into bleary-eyed husks in need of blaring music to remain alert? According to Sleep.org, drowsy driving is often correlated with highway hypnosis, a term used for drivers and passengers who see their need to pay attention reduced when they're on a predictable and monotonous route. For road trips, this can mean staying on a highway for extended periods without needing to check for exits or navigate the sometimes-tricky paths present on side roads. The predictability promotes somnolence, or even a trance-like state. You might sometimes find yourself having covered a stretch of road without remembering much of it. And the longer the unchallenging drive, the sleepier or more unfocused drivers may become. Road trips can also fall into a person's natural circadian rhythms for increased drowsiness—typically in the early morning hours and mid-afternoons. A road trip that started out at 8 a.m., for example, and extends into 2 p.m. could see a vehicle's occupants tired from both a routine highway circuit and the expected sleepiness they experience later in the day. There's also some limited research into the mechanics of a car affecting a person's alertness level—specifically, how the vibrations of a moving car can relax the brain and body. While a possible explanation, all we know for certain is that the lack of mental stimulus on a drive can promote fatigue. That can prove deadly, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates up to 6000 fatal crashes a year are caused by drowsy or inattentive drivers. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates over 100,000 crashes a year involve people struggling to stay awake. To stay safe, it's best to take breaks, switch drivers. Tricks like turning up the radio or rolling down the window haven't ever been demonstrated to have a real effect. If you're merely a sleepy passenger, your risks are few aside from a slightly sore neck. Enjoy the rest. What is highway hypnosis? A. A state where drivers are extremely alert. B. A term for drivers and passengers who are highly energetic on the highway. C. A state where drivers and passengers' need to pay attention is reduced on a predictable and monotonous route. D. A condition only for long-haul truckers. When are people more likely to feel drowsy during road trips? A. Late at night. B. Early in the morning and mid-afternoons. C. Late afternoons. D. At noon. What can cause up to 6000 fatal crashes a year according to the CDC? A. Speeding drivers. B. Drunk drivers. C. Drowsy or inattentive drivers. D. Aggressive drivers. What is the best way to stay safe during a long drive? A. Turning up the radio. B. Rolling down the window. C. Taking breaks and switching drivers. D. Driving at high speed. What is the risk for a sleepy passenger? A. A serious accident. B. A slightly sore neck. C. Nothing. D. Loss of memory. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ Entertaining TV programmes make you eat, study finds 答案： C。解析：文中提到“People eat more when they are glued to the television, and the more entertaining the programme, the more they eat.”。 C。解析：文中提到“Forty-five volunteers ate as many chips as they wanted during five-minute intervals while they watched monologues by late-night talk show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno. They also were given chips to eat when the television was off.”。 B。解析：文中提到“The ventromedial nucleus in the hypothalamus, where the so-called satiety centre is located, tells the body whether it is hungry or full.”。 C。解析：文中提到“If you want to lose weight, turn off the television or watch something boring.”。 A。解析：文中提到“Many studies have linked obesity to watching television and that link is likely due to inactivity, Hirsch said. But perhaps entertaining shows are also contributing.”。 Electric car costs draw level with petrol and diesel 答案： C。解析：文中提到“Battery vehicles remain more expensive than traditional engine models to buy, although have lower running costs because of less maintenance and cheaper refuelling.”。 A。解析：文中提到“It found the costs of a standard family car...were equal or lower in 19 out of 22 European countries.”。 C。解析：文中提到“Typically, charging at home overnight for several hours was a cheaper alternative to using public fast-chargers.”。 A。解析：文中提到“For its EV charging calculations, LeasePlan took the current charging habits of its average electric customer, with 65 per cent of charging at home, 20 per cent at a workplace, and 15 per cent at a more expensive public charging point.”。 D。解析：文中提到“With Greece the cheapest country at an average of €905 a month, to Switzerland, which has an average of €1,313.”。 Why nobody thinks to thank their boss 答案： C。解析：文中提到“As a manager, you have new responsibilities and insomnia-inducing worries.”。 B。解析：文中提到“It took me a while to realise that they were waiting for me to go home — so that they could go to the pub together.”。 A。解析：文中提到“If you ever have to fire people, never say how upsetting it is for you.”。 C。解析：文中提到“But even within the constraints of maintaining confidence, there are others you can turn to. If you are not at the top of the organisation, you will probably have peers at the same level of seniority as you.”。 B。解析：文章主要讲述了管理者应接受权力不平衡的存在，并找到支持，如接受权力不平衡、向同级别的人寻求支持等。 Why Do Car Rides Make You Feel Tired? 答案： C。解析：文中提到“drowsy driving is often correlated with highway hypnosis, a term used for drivers and passengers who see their need to pay attention reduced when they're on a predictable and monotonous route.”。 B。解析：文中提到“Road trips can also fall into a person's natural circadian rhythms for increased drowsiness—typically in the early morning hours and mid-afternoons.”。 C。解析：文中提到“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates up to 6000 fatal crashes a year are caused by drowsy or inattentive drivers.”。 C。解析：文中提到“To stay safe, it's best to take breaks, switch drivers.”。 B。解析：文中提到“If you're merely a sleepy passenger, your risks are few aside from a slightly sore neck.”。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$