Vegetarian UK

Vegetarians and vegans

    Vegetarians (people who don't eat meat) and vegans (people who don't eat or use any animal products) are becoming increasingly common in UK culture. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} A recent survey showed that three million people were vegetarian. Visit a British supermarket and you will see a wide range of vegetarian ingredients and prepared meals on the shelves, including vegetarian sausages and vegan cheese.

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    So why are Brits cutting out meat? Many are unhappy about the poor treatment of animals and the effects of meat and fish production on the environment. Worries about food safety (for example BES or “mad cow disease”) also play a part. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} According to the Vegetarian Society, a meat-free diet could help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, as well as obesity and high blood pressure.

    Organic farming

    Another rising trend is in how UK food is produced. Many people are rejecting GM (genetically modified) food and intensive farming practices. They want their food to be organically produced. Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers and organic meat is produced without the use of drugs and antibiotics. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  

    Organic food

    According to the Soil Association, three out of every four UK households now buy some type of organic food. Some get organic meat, fruit and vegetables from farmers' markets, where products are sold directly to the consumer. Others have a box of organic fruit and vegetables sent to their homes every week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Although it\s often more expensive, fans of organic food say it tastes much better!

A. A healthy diet

B. A balanced diet

C. Many people buy organic products in their local supermarket.

D. More and more people are deciding not to eat meat or use animal products.

E. A healthy soil reduces disease and helps crops grow strong and healthy.

F. Others choose to change their eating habits to improve their general health.

G. Organically farmed animals also have more living space and more nutritious food.

Dear Seth,

    You're only three years old, and at this point in your life you can't read, much less understand what I'm going to try to tell you in this letter. But someday, when you're ready, I hope you will find some wisdom and value in what I share with you.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    There will be people in your life who won't be very nice .They'll tease you or try to hurt you because you're different.

    There's not much you can do except learn to deal with them, and learn to choose friends who are kind to you and who make you feel good about yourself. When you find friends like this, treasure them, spend time with them and love them.

    Be open to life anyway

    Yes, you'll find cruelty and suffering in your journey through life, but don't let that close you to new things.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Be open to new things, new experiences, new people.

    Life isn't a competition

    You will meet many people who will try to do better than you, in school, in college, at work. To them, life is a competition.

    But here's the secret: life isn't a competition.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Learn to enjoy the journey and make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning, of continual improvement, of love.

    Love should be your rule

    If there's a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: love.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors, your co-workers, strangers, your brothers and sisters in humanity.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}You are starting out on an unknown, tiring, scary, but eventually great journey, and always remember I will be there for you when I can.

Love,

Your Dad

A. It's a journey.

B. Life is full of love.

C. Life can be cruel.

D. It might sound corny(老掉牙的), but there's no better rule in life.

E. Finally, know that I love you and always will.

F. Last, think that you are a wonderful human being.

G. Don't step backwards from life; don't hide yourself.

Claustrophobia

    Claustrophobia, or fear of enclosed spaces, in one of the most common fears. Claustrophobia can be deep fear or even panic as a result of being in a small space.

    Claustrophobia can develop after a troubling childhood experience, or from another unpleasant experience later on in life related to small spaces. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. This response then becomes programmed in the brain, making an association between being in a tight space and feeling anxious or out-of-control. As a result, the person often develops claustrophobia.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Claustrophobia symptoms can include: sweating, accelerated heartbeat, upset stomach, shaking, breathing problem, etc. The claustrophobia sufferer will look for an exit when inside a room, avoid driving on the highway or major roads where there is heavy traffic when inside a car, or stand near a door when at a party. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Claustrophobia can have harmful social and psychological effects, since the patient will often avoid situations in which she thinks she will have an anxiety attack, leading to hiding and sadness.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Exposure treatment, a form of mind-behavioral treatment, usually results in a total reduction in anxiety symptoms if conducted properly. Flooding is a type of exposure treatment in which the person is exposed to a situation until the anxiety attack passes. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Medications to help treat claustrophobia include things which help to ease the heart beating to fast often associated with anxiety attacks.

A. According to some doctors, claustrophobia is worse than the fear of heights

B. The past experience can trace back to the moment of birth

C. The good news is that claustrophobia is very treatable

D. When a person with claustrophobia finds herself in a restricted space, her body responds in certain ways

E. In extreme cases, the very sight of a closed door can lead to feelings of anxiety in a person

F. Treatment for claustrophobia can also include medication or a combination of several treatments

G. When a person experiences such an event, it can often cause a frightening panic attack

    I've always wanted to start my own business. I've always wanted to start working for myself. Yet I didn't make that decision. I finally got started instead of thinking about it or putting it off. And I made it. Maybe you've not started on something important to yourself. Maybe you can relate to what I'm saying, and you feel you've been slacking (松懈的) off for too long. You had better get started now.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ⒈It's better than thinking about it.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But thinking can also be dangerous when you do too much of it. You can think as much as you like, but thinking isn't going to change the situation. In fact, thinking isn't going to change anything.③ {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You won't go anywhere, as if you're a human statue. So you had better get started now.

    ⒉It's better than never taking action.

    Do you want to be the man or the woman who never does anything? Do you want to be the man or the woman who never gets started? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} You won't regret it.

    ⒊{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    How long are you going to dream about getting started? How long are you going to dream about how wonderful it'll be when you do take action? And how long are you going to dream about how much of a difference it'll make to your life? There's only so much dreaming you can do before you have to turn that dream into action. A dream without action is a fantasy, destined(注定) to never come true.

A. It's better than dreaming about doing it.

B. Here's why getting started is the best way to get started.

C. Thinking will just keep you in the same position you're already in.

D. Take action and get out of your own head.

E. You can adjust your actions along the way.

F. Thinking about something before you do it is a great quality to have.

G. It's better to make a mistake than do nothing at all

    With the development of technology and economy, social media is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in today's world. A study conducted by the US Pew Research Centre showed that 92 percent of teenagers go online daily. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Changing relationships.

    High school student Elly Cooper from Illinois said social media often reduces face-to-face communication. "It makes face-to-face relationships harder because people's attention is given to their phones instead of their friends," Cooper said.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Beth Kaplan from Illinois meets her long-distance friend through social media. He currently lives in Scotland, but they're still able to frequently communicate with each other. "I can feel close to someone that I'm talking to via FaceTime," Kaplan said.

    Wanting to be "liked".

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The 19-year-old Essena O'Neill announced on the social networking service Instagram that she was quitting social media because it made her unable to stop thinking about appearing perfect online. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Teenagers who get harmful comments can't help but feel hurt.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    However, Armin Korsos, a student from Illinois, takes advantage of the comments(评论) he receives over social media to improve his videos on the social networking site YouTube. "Social media can help people show themselves and their talents to the world in a way that has never been possible before," Korsos said.

A. Opening new doors.

B. Teenagers' attitude toward social media.

C. Unpleasant comments can also do great damage to a teenager's self-respect.

D. The wide spread of social media has changed nearly all parts of teenagers' lives.

E. Yet, the social media is beneficial to show people's talents.

F. The rise of social media has changed the way teenagers see themselves.

G. Yet, some people believe social media has made it easier to start relationships with anyone from anywhere.

Scientists and spiritual teachers alike agree that the simple act of smiling can transform you and the world around you.It can make us appear more attractive to others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So before you read on,slap a nice,genuine smile on that face of yours.

How Smiling Affects Your Brain

The act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness.For starters,smiling activates the release of neuropeptides(神经肽) that work toward fighting off stress.The feel-good neurotransmitters(神经介质) are all released when a smile flashes across your face as well. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

How Smiling Affects Your Body

You're actually better-looking when you smile.A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive,smiling face activates the region in your brain that processes sensory rewards. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It also explains the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratory.They found that both men and women were more attracted to images of people who made eye contact and smiled than those who did not.

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Did you know that your smile is actually contagious(传染性的)?In a Swedish study,subjects were shown pictures of several emotions:joy,anger and surprise.When the picture of someone's smiling was presented,the researchers asked the subjects to frown.Instead,they found that the facial expressions went directly to what subjects saw. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If they don't,they're making a conscious effort not to.

A.How Smiling Affects Those Around You

B.Each time you smile,you throw a little feel-good party in your brain.

C.So if you're smiling at someone,it's likely that they can't help but smile back.

D.And it can even lengthen our lives.

E.How Smiling Affects Your Facial Expressions

F.They not only relax your body,but also lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

G.This suggests that when you view a person smiling,you actually feel rewarded.