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.

                                                                      Little－known facts about germs

    Germs are everywhere and in so many forms.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are some steps you can take to help prevent the spread of germs in your personal space.

    Computer keyboards can have more germs than a public toilet.Keys and spaces on a keyboard are main breeding grounds for bacterial and viral growth.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Clean your keyboard regularly with specialized wipes for electronics，and remove dust with an air duster.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While it seems to make sense that covering your toothbrush would protect，the opposite is the case.With a cover on your brush，a more humid environment is created and more likely to encourage growth of germs.Wash your toothbrush when done，and allow it to air dry.Make sure you store it away from the toilet.

    Hand sanitizer(洗手液) does not always replace soap and water washing.Hand sanitizer is great when you're not near a sink，and need to clean your hands.But given the choice of a spritz of sanitizer or good old soap and water，choose the soap and water route.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  Lather up and scrub hard for at least 20 seconds，and wash between your fingers and the back of your hands.Don't skimp with the hand sanitizer either—cover the same hand areas as for soap and water.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you freeze foods that you suspect might be spoiled，freezing them will not kill the germs already in the food.Freezing prevents further bacterial growth，but when you thaw it out，the bacteria continue to increase and pollute your food.

A．Freezing food does not kill germs.

B．Try not to eat outside especially in summer.

C．Exposure to germs can lead to many illnesses.

D．Toothbrush covers do not protect your brushes from bacteria.

E．There are a lot of effective ways to get rid of germs in your house.

F．Soap and water are only a better germ fighter when done properly.

G．Some reports show five times more germs on a keyboard than on a public toilet.

    In a few months you'll go to college. Are you ready for some of the newness that is about to come your way? Take a look at this “mental preparation” checklist and make sure you have given these topics some thought.

    ⒈Remind yourself that it's new for everyone.

    Going to college is a big change, and it's important not to get overwhelmed (压垮). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} That's OK. Accept that you're in a new stage of life and it won't feel familiar for a bit.

    ⒉Commit to time management.

    Organizing your time properly will make your life in college much easier.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Create a detailed daily schedule that blocks out time for classes, homework, studying, and anything else. Stay organized and spend a few minutes each evening planning ahead for the next day.

    ⒊Be open to new things.

    College will open your eyes in more ways than one. It's a time to find yourself, discover new passions, challenge old ways of thinking, and meet new people from all backgrounds and places.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Embrace (欣然接受) the idea of exploration!

    ⒋Don't be afraid to ask for help.

    With anything new, it's best to go in with a positive attitude. But life has its ups and downs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Take a moment to find out the college services that can help you: disability services, tutoring services, and any other services that will give you support when you need it.

    Congratulations on this exciting time of your life.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You'll be glad you have done.

A. So, try something different.

B. Knowing where to turn for help is important.

C. Things might feel a bit uncomfortable for a while.

D. Plan to pay them a visit early in your first semester.

E. Get yourself a time planning app or a good old day planner.

F. Remember that you're in college to build a foundation for your future job.

G. As you get prepared for the first day of classes, get mentally ready for this new life stage too.

    Whether you're a child, teenager, young adult or are middle-aged, respect for your parents is an important value. Your parents are the people who raised you, devoting time, energy and money to your development. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} No matter your age is, there are 5 ways to show respect.

    Respect their belongings.

    One important way to show respect is to show regard for the things important to your parents. For younger children, this may mean not touching jewelry or other valuable things. For grown children, respect may mean returning a borrowed tool in good condition and on time. Lack of respect for a parent's belongings is a violation of personal boundaries. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}— And never borrow things without asking first.

    Punctuality.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Therefore, always be on time. For teenagers, showing up on time means coming home by curfew （宵禁）.Adult children should show up on time for family dinners or events, or to pick a parent up for a medical appointment. Call if you're going to be late because parents worry about children, no matter their age is.

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    Remembering birthdays, anniversaries and other special days is a sign that you honor your parents. Make plans to take them to lunch or dinner or bake a cake or cookies. Most parents don't expect expensive gifts, but a handmade gift is always appreciated .A phone call from a grown child who lives too far for a visit is a welcome sign of respect.

    Be kind.

    Kind words and affection are simple ways to show respect. Tell your parents you love them. Listen and allow your parents to speak without interruption. Show a sincere interest in what your parents have to say. Be patient with your parents and don't rush them. Never talk back or be rude or disrespectful. Acknowledge your parents' achievements. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Celebrate with them.

B. Be a good listener.

C. Don't take advantage of your parents' kindness and generosity.

D. Treat your parents the way you would like to be treated.

E. Being respectful helps build positive relationships with others.

F. And they love you unconditionally throughout your life.

G. Lateness indicates a lack of respect.

Top Healthy Homework Habits

    Your homework habits might be affecting your grades. Are you feeling tired, painful, or bored when it comes to homework time? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You can change the way you feel by taking better care of your mind and your body.

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    Studies show that teens natural sleep patterns are different from those of adults. This often causes sleep loss among teens, since they tend to have trouble going to sleep at night, and have trouble waking in the mornings. You can avoid some of the problems that come with sleep deprivation by changing some of your nighttime habits.

    ◆Improve your eating habit

    Do you feel tired or dizzy a lot of the time? If you sometimes avoid working on a project because you just don't have the energy, you can increase your energy level by changing your diet. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    ◆Improve your memory

    A great way to improve your homework habits is to improve your memory with brain exercise. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} But there is one mnemonic (记忆的) method that has been around since ancient times. Ancient accounts show that early Greek and Roman orators used the "loci" (轨迹) method of remembering long speeches and lists. You may be able to use this method to enhance your memory at test time.

    ◆Fight the urge to procrastinate (拖延)

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't fall for it! Procrastination is like a little white lie we tell ourselves. We often think we'll feel better about studying later if we do something fun now, like playing with a pet, watching a TV show, or even cleaning our room. It's not true.

How long does a year last?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Your parents might say that a whole year can pass―in the blink of an eye. Why does time seem to pass faster as we get older?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} This physical change causes the rate at which we take in and process new information to decline. Babies, for example, move their eyes much more often than adults because they're processing images at a faster rate. They take in a lot of information and do many things in a single day.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}However, as people's brains degrade over time, fewer images are processed in the same amount of time. Therefore, older people receive less information during a day than younger people. This causes things to seem as though they're happening more quickly.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}People may measure time by the number of memorable events that can be recalled within a certain period. Have you ever noticed that when you recall your firsts, they seem to be in slow motion? That's because when something is a first, there are many exciting things to remember. Recalling these memories makes you feel like they took forever.

For many adults, life is routine. When they look back, they might feel like there are not many novel things to remember.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Children might say that a year lasts forever.

B. Different people have different feelings toward time.

C. Therefore, time seems to be moving faster to them.

D. As we grow older, we become less interested in new things.

E. This makes them feel like a single day lasts for a long time.

F. According to scientists, our brains degrade and change over time.

G. In addition, people may also feel time differently due to psychological reasons.