1、1)The nicotine gum and patches are often used by millions of smokers to help kick their habit.But they have no lasting benefit and may backfire in some cases,according to the most rigorous long-term study to date of so-called nicotine replacement therapy.The study, published Monday in the journal To
2、bacco Control, included nearly 800 people trying to quit smoking over a period of several years,and is likely to intensify a long-running debate about the value of nicotine alternatives.The market for nicotine replacement products has taken off in recent years,rising to more than $800 million annual
3、ly from $129 million in 1991.The products were approved for over-the-counter sale in 1997,and many state Medicaid programs coverat at least one of them.In medical studies,the products have proved effective,making it easier for people to quit,at least in the short term.Those earlier, more encouraging
4、 findings were the basis for federal guidelines that recommended the products for quitting smoking.But in surveys, smokers who have used the over-the-counter products have reported little benefit.Doctors said that the study findings were not unexpected,given the occasional way smokers used the produ
5、cts.“Patient compliance is a very big issue,” said Dr. Richard Hurt, director of the Nicotine Dependence Center at the Mayo Clinic,who was not involved in the study.The researchers argue that while nicotine replacement appears to help people quit,it is still not enough in the long run.Motivation mat
6、ters a lot; so does a persons social environment,the amount of support from friends and family,and the rules enforced at the workplace.2)Disappointment, as uncomfortable and even painful as it can be for us,is essential and important on our journey of growth.Making peace with disappointing others al
7、lows us to release our erroneous demands for perfection.Letting go of our fear of being disappointed gives us the ability to take more risks and ask for what we truly want.When were able to embrace disappointment,we create a sense of liberation and space that frees us up to be who we truly are and l
8、et go of our attachment with othersopinions.This is not always easy,but is so powerful and can be transformational.Here are a few things you can consider and do to expand your capacity to embrace disappointment:First,take inventory.Take an honest look at some of the most important relationships and
9、activities in your life.How many of your actions,thoughts, conversations have to do with your avoidance of disappointing others or being disappointed?Second, practice saying “no.”This is a great practice,especially for those “people pleasers”who find saying “yes”to stuff they dont really want to do.
10、While there is great value in being someone who is willing to say “yes” in life,there is also power in owning our “no” as well.Third, expand and express your desires.Make a list of some of the most important and vulnerable desires you currently havethe things you really want,but maybe have been afra
11、id to admit.When you allow yourself to express your authentic desires,you give yourself the freedom to ask,dream and create.3)Sleep is crucial for good health.It helps memory and mood,keeps you fit,strengthens your immune system,fights inflammation and keeps your heart and blood vessels in tip-top s
12、hape.While youre snoozing,the body repairs damaged tissue,produces crucial hormones and strengthens memoriesa process called consolidation,which helps you perform a new skill better after sleeping than you would if you spent an equivalent amount of time awake.Its a way for the body to integrate ever
13、ything that happened over the past waking day and to kind of prepare for the next day.Short sleepers,typically defined as people who get less than six hours of sleep at night,as well as people who dont spend enough time in the deepest stages of sleep,are at higher risk of heart attacks and strokes t
14、han those who get at least seven hours.Its not clear why sleep may affect the heart,or if there is some unidentified factor that affects your cardiovascular system and ability to sleep.But one nighttime problem is a known heart hazardsleep apnea (睡眠呼吸暂停).People who have this problem tend to snore an
15、d have upper airway collapse during sleep.This causes them to snort and gasp for breath,without really waking up enough to be aware of it.If youre not feeling rested during the day and your bed partner says you snore,you should ask your doctor about sleep apnea.Theres enough evidence out there sugge
16、sting that it is bad and people need to take it seriously.4)Great employees are dependable,diligent, great leaders and great followers.they possess a wide range of easily-definedbut hard to findqualities:They ignore job descriptions.The smaller the company,the more important it is that employees can
17、 think on their feet,adapt quickly to shifting priorities,and do whatever it takes,regardless of role or position,to get things done.Theyre odd.The best employees are often a little different:They seem slightly odd,but in a really good way.Unusual personalities shake things up,make work more fun,and
18、 transform a plain group into a team with flavor.They know when to dial it back.When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful,the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit perfectly into the team.They publicly praise.Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of
19、 others,especially in group settings where their impact is even greater.And they privately complain.We all want employees to bring issues forward,but some problems are better handled in private.Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting.Remarkable e
20、mployees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue,knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.They speak when others wont.Remarkable employees have an inborn feeling for the concerns of those around them,and step up to ask questions when others
21、hesitate.5) Less than 60% of students now entering four-year American colleges are likely to graduate.The completion rate is lower than for almost any other wealthy country,and worst for poor and minority students.A new book about Americas public universities explores the complex causes of the high
22、dropout rate.The book is called Crossing the Finish Line.President Obama wants the United States to again have the worlds highest percentage of college graduates by 2020.On Tuesday the president gave a nationally broadcast speech to students about the importance of staying in school.He spoke on the
23、first day of classes at a high school in Virginia.He talked about personal responsibility,and used himself as an example of someone who overcame difficulties.But he told students that problems in their own lives should not stop them from learning.But many conservatives criticized plans for the speec
24、h.Some called it “socialized education”or federal interference in local schools.Others feared it would be too political,so some schools decided not to show the speech.On Sunday, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said 30% of students do not graduate from high school.According to him,more than a million
25、 students every year who entered ninth grade do not complete twelfth grade.The education secretary called the objections to the presidents speech “silly.”It suggested that students write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.But after conservatives objected,the activity
26、was changed to writing about personal goals.Now the passage will be read for the third time. 6) Today American parents are finding themselves in a dilemma about how to deal with teenage drinking a serious social problem. A recent survey has revealed that 92 of high school seniors have tried alcohol
27、at least once and two thirds take a drink once a month. Alcohol has resulted in a lot of teenage car crashes as well as suicides and murders. Parents are wondering why they cant help their children from drinking. Now many are beginning to conclude that it is not the kids but the parents who should b
28、e held responsible for their permissive Some parents find that severe attitudes and methods are impractical and ineffective. They try to teach their children to drink responsibly and moderately. Many parents believe that supervised drinking is safe solution. However,an increasing number of parents f
29、ear that this will endanger their childrens safety. Therefore,hardliners are striving/making an effort to form a united front to lay down common rules to be strictly enforced. And the most popular method in some communities is what they call “safe homes” where unsupervised parties with alcohol are f
30、orbidden. The hardliners think that in this way their children will learn self-control. But experts and educators fear that such attitudes might( invite outright rebellion/result incomplete resistance) from the children. Both sides agree that teenage drinking can be dealt with if no excessive drinki
31、ng attitudes are established early and supported by school authorities.7) In many countries , authority is seldom questioned , either because it is highly respected , or because it is feared . Sometimes ,too,because rank has been important in certain societies for a long time, people have been train
32、ed never to question those in authority .In other countries, including America, children are trained to question and search for answers.When a child asks a question, he will often be told to go to the library and find the answer for himself. By the time students reach the age of 14 or 15, they may b
33、e developing exciting new ideas in all fields of science and the arts.To encourage such creativity , there are many national prizes offered to students , every year for their scientific discoveries and artistic accomplishments.This interest in questioning and searching may be considered by some peop
34、le as bad for young peoples manners,that young people lack respect for authority . This impression may be created when visitors notice young Americans asking questions and arguing with older people . However,this is because many Americans have a different attitude toward authority,than may exist in
35、other areas of the world .In a work or business situation, ideas are freely and openly discussed and argued.It is important to remember tat it is the persons ideas that are being questioned, not the individual himself.The two are quite separate. The purpose of the searching , questioning ,and arguin
36、g is to find the facts in a particular situation, and therefore a solution,so that the work of the business can progress in the most effective manner possible.课本 One of the best-known collections of parallels is between the careers of Abraham Lincoln and John F.ennedy. Both were shot on a Friday, in
37、 the presence of their wives; both were succeeded by a Southerner named Johnson; both their killers were themselves killed before they could be brought to justice.Lincoln had a secretary called Kennedy; Kennedy a secretary called Lincoln. Lincoln was killed in the Ford Theater; Kennedy met his death
38、 while riding in a Lincoln convertible made by the Ford Motor Company - and so on.Similar coincidences often occur between twins. A news story from Finland reported of two 70-year-old twin brothers dying two hours apart in separate accidents, with both being hit by trucks while crossing the same roa
39、d on bicycles. According to the police, the second victim could not have known about his brothers death, as officers had only managed to identify the first victim minutes before the second accident.Connections are also found between identical twins who have been separated at birth. Dorothy Lowe and
40、Bridget Harrison were separated in 1945, and did not meet until 1979, when they were flown over from Britain for an investigation by a psychologist at the University of Minnesota. They found that when they met they were both wearing seven rings on their hands, two bracelets on one wrist, a watch and
41、 a bracelet on the other. They married on the same day, had worn identical wedding dresses and carried the same flowers. Dorothy had named her son Richard Andrew and her daughter Catherine Louise; Bridget had named her son Andrew Richard and her daughter Catherine Louise;Bridget had named her son Andrew Richard and her daughter Karen Louise .In fact, she had wanted to call her Catherine. Both had a cat called Tiger. They also had a string of similar mannerisms when they were nervous.How can we explain the above similarities?
