Cell Phones Increase Traffic, Pedestrian Fatalities 

Cell phones are a danger on the road in more ways than one. Two new studies show that talking on the phone while traveling, whether you"re driving or on foot, is increasing both pedestrian deaths and those of drivers and passengers, and recommend crackdowns on cell¹ use by both pedestrians and drivers.

The new studies, lead-authored by Rutgers University, Newark, Economics Professor Peter D. Loeb², relate the impact of cell phones on accident fatalities to the number of cell phones in use, showing that the current increase in deaths resulting from cell phone use follows a period when cell phones actually helped to reduce pedestrian and traffic fatalities. However, this reduction in fatalities disappeared once the numbers of phones in use reached a “critical mass”³ of 100 million, the study found.

These studies looked at cell phone use and motor vehicle accidents from 1975 through 2002, and factored in⁴ a number of variables, including vehicle speed, alcohol consumption, seat belt use, and miles driven. The studies found the cell phone-fatality correlation to be true even when including factors such as speed, alcohol consumption, and seat belt use.

Loeb and his co-author determined that, at the current time, cell phone use has a “significant adverse effect on pedestrian safety” and that “cell phones and their usage above a critical threshold⁵ adds to motor vehicle fatalities.” In the late 1980s and part of the 1990s, before the numbers of phones exploded, cell phone use actually had a “life-saving effect” in pedestrian and traffic accidents, Loeb notes. “Cell-phone users’ were able to quickly call for medical assistance when involved in an accident. This quick medical response actually reduced the number of traffic deaths for a time,” Loeb hypothesizes.

However, this was not the case when cells were first used in the mid-1980s, when they caused a “life-taking effect” among pedestrians, drivers and passengers in vehicles. In those early days, when there were fewer than a million phones, fatalities increased, says Loeb, because drivers and pedestrians probably were still adjusting to the novelty of using them, and there weren"t enough cell phones in use to make a difference in summoning help following an accident, he explains.

The “life-saving effect” occurred as the volume of phones grew into the early 1990s, and increasing numbers of cells were used to call 911 following accidents, leading to a drop in fatalities, explains Loeb. But this life-saving effect was canceled out⁶ once the numbers of phones reached a “critical mass” of about 100 million and the “life-taking effect” - increased accidents and fatalities outweighed the benefits of quick access to 911 services, according to Loeb.

Loeb and his co-authors used econometric models to analyze data from a number of government and private studies. He and his co-authors recommend that governments consider more aggressive policies to reduce cell phone use by both drivers and pedestrians, to reduce the number of fatalities.

词汇：

crackdown n.制裁，严惩   econometric adj.计量经济的

outweigh v.超过   hypothesize v.假设，假定

fatality n.死亡者  

注释：  

1. cell：cell phone 的缩写。   

2. The new studies, lead-authored by Rutgers University, Newark, Economics Professor Peter D. Loeb第一作者为罗格斯大学纽瓦克分校的经济学教授 Peter D. Loeb 的新研究成果…… lead-author：第一作者； lead-authored 为动词的过去分词形式，具有被动意义。罗格斯大学纽瓦克分校是美国新泽西州昀负盛名的文理学院。

3. critical mass：临界数量。

4. factored in：包括，把……计算在内。

5. a critical threshold：指的是前文所说的 critical mass。见注释 3。

According to the second paragraph, when did cell phones actually help to reduce pedestrian and traffic fatalities?

A:Right after cell phones were invented. B:Before the number of cell phone users reached a critical mass C:When cell phone users totaled to a certain number. D:When the number of cell phones decreased to a certain number.

 Chicken Soup for the Soul：Comfort Food Fights Loneliness

Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, may be bad for your arteries．    1    according to a study in Psychological Science, they’re good for your heart and    2    ．The study focuses on “comfort food¹” and how it makes people feel．

"For me   3  ,food has always played a big role in my family,” says Jordan Troisi, a graduate student² at the University of Buffalo³, and lead author⁴ on the study．The study came out of the research program of his co—author Shira Gabriel．It has    4    non-human things that may affect human emotions．Some people reduce loneliness by bonding with their    5    TV show, building virtual relationships with a pop song singer or looking at pictures of loved ones．Troisi and Gabriel wondered if comfort food could have the same effect    6    making people

think of their nearest and dearest⁵.

In one experiment, in order to make   7   feel lonely, the researchers had them write for six minutes about a fight with someone close to them．Others were given an emotionally neutral writing assignment. Then, some people in each   8    wrote about the experience of eating a comfort food and others wrote about eating a new food．  9    ,the researchers had participants    10    questions about their levels of loneliness⁶．

Writing about a fight with a close person made people feel lonely．But people who were generally   11    in their relationships would feel less lonely by writing about a comfort food．"We have found that comfort foods are consistently associated with those close to us．"says Troisi．"Thinking about or consuming these foods later then serves as a reminder of those close others．"In   12   essays on comfort food, many people wrote about the    13    of eating food with family and friends.

In another experiment,    14    chicken soup in the lab made people think more about relationships, but only if⁷ they considered chicken soup to be a comfort food．This was a question they had been asked long before the experiment, along with many other questions, so they wouldn’t remember it.

Throughout everyone’s daily lives⁸ they experience stress, often associated with our  15   with others," Troisi says．"Comfort food Can be an easy remedy for loneliness． 

词汇：

mashed /mæʃt/ adj．被捣成糊浆的

macaroni/ macaroni/ n．通心粉

cheese / tʃi:z / n．奶酪

artery/ artery / n．动脉

assignment / ə"sainmənt / n．指定作业

reminder / reminder/ n．起提醒作用的东西

remedy /remedy/ n．治疗方法，药物

virtual/"və:tʃuəl/ adj．虚拟的

注释：

1.comfort food：爽心食品

2. graduate student：研究生

3. The University of Buffalo：布法罗大学，建校于1846 年，位于水牛城（ Buffalo City) ，属于纽约州立大学，因此称为纽约州立大学水牛城分校。

4. lead author：首席作者

5. their nearest and dearest：他们最接近和最亲爱的人

6. levels of loneliness：孤独程度

7. only if: 只有（在……情况下）

8. Throughout everyone"s daily lives：在每一个人的日常生活中。through 有“贯穿”的意思。

空13

A:accident B:harm C:experience D:model

Multivitamins  Urged for All Pregnant Women

    A recent study in Tanzaniafound that when pregnant women took vitamins every day, fewer babies were bom too small. Babies that weigh less than two and one-half kilograms at birth have a greater risk of dying. Those that survive are more likely to experience problems with their development. And experts say that as adults they have a higher risk of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organization¹ estimates that every year twenty million babies are bom with low birth weight. Nine out of ten of them are bom in developing countries.

    The new study took place inDar es Salaam. 4,200 pregnant women received multivitamins. The pills contained all of the vitamins in the B group along with² vitamins C and E. They also contained several times more iron and folate than the levels advised for women in developed nations. Pregnant women especially in poor countries may find it difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods in their diet.

    The scientists compared the findings with results from a group of 4,000 women who did not receive the vitamins. A report by the scientists, from theUnited StatesandTanzania, appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine,³ Wafaie Fawzi of the Harvard University School of Public Health⁴ led the study. None of the women in the study had HTV, the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists reported earlier that daily multivitamins were a low-cost way to reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with ⁵HIV. The earlier work inTanzaniaalso found improvement in the mothers in their number of blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes increase the body’s immunity against infection.

    The new study in pregnant women who were not infected with the AIDS virus found that multivitamins reduced the risk of low birth weight. Just under eight percent of the babies bom to women who took the multivitamins weighed less than 2,500 grams. The rate was almost nine and one-half percent in the group of women who received a placebo, an inactive pill, instead of the vitamins. But the vitamins did not do much to reduce the rates of babies being bom too early or dying while still a fetus. Still, the researchers say multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries.

词汇

multivitamin/,mʌlti"vitəmin/ n.多种维生素制剂

urge /"ɜːdʒ/ v.他极力主张;强烈要求;敦促

pregnant /"pregnənt/ adj.怀孕的,妊娠的

Tanzania /,tænzə"niə; ,tɑ:nzɑ:"ni:ɑ:/ n.坦桑尼亚（非洲国家）

diabetes/,daɪə"biːtiːz/ n.糖尿病,多尿症

Dar es Salaam /"dɑ:r,essə"lɑ:m/ n.达累斯萨拉姆（坦桑尼亚首都)

folate /"fəʊleɪt/ n.叶酸盐

mineral/ ˈmɪnərəl/n.矿物; 矿石; 矿物质; 汽水; adj.矿物的，似矿物的;

fetal["fi:tl] adj.胎儿的，胎的;

lymphocyte[ˈlɪmfəsaɪt] n.淋巴细胞;

immunity[ɪ"mju:nətɪ] n.免疫力,免疫性

infection[ɪn"fekʃn] n.传染，感染; 传染病

placebo[plə"si:bəʊ] n.安慰剂;

inactive[ɪnˈæktɪv] adj.无作用的

pill[pɪl] n.药丸; 丸剂

fetus["fi:təs] n.胎，胎儿;

注释：

1.World Health Organization (WHO):世界卫生组织

2.along with：与……一起

3.New England Journal of Medicine:《新英格兰医学杂志》。New England是美国东北六州(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island 和Connecticut)的总称。

4.Harvard University School of Public Health:哈佛大学公共卫生学院

Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of multivitamins mentioned in the passage?

A:To reduce the rate of babies bom too early B:To reduce the risk of low birth weight C:To reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with HTV D:To increase the number of lymphocytes in mothers’ blood

Multivitamins  Urged for All Pregnant Women

    A recent study in Tanzaniafound that when pregnant women took vitamins every day, fewer babies were bom too small. Babies that weigh less than two and one-half kilograms at birth have a greater risk of dying. Those that survive are more likely to experience problems with their development. And experts say that as adults they have a higher risk of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organization¹ estimates that every year twenty million babies are bom with low birth weight. Nine out of ten of them are bom in developing countries.

    The new study took place inDar es Salaam. 4,200 pregnant women received multivitamins. The pills contained all of the vitamins in the B group along with² vitamins C and E. They also contained several times more iron and folate than the levels advised for women in developed nations. Pregnant women especially in poor countries may find it difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods in their diet.

    The scientists compared the findings with results from a group of 4,000 women who did not receive the vitamins. A report by the scientists, from theUnited StatesandTanzania, appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine,³ Wafaie Fawzi of the Harvard University School of Public Health⁴ led the study. None of the women in the study had HTV, the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists reported earlier that daily multivitamins were a low-cost way to reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with ⁵HIV. The earlier work inTanzaniaalso found improvement in the mothers in their number of blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes increase the body’s immunity against infection.

    The new study in pregnant women who were not infected with the AIDS virus found that multivitamins reduced the risk of low birth weight. Just under eight percent of the babies bom to women who took the multivitamins weighed less than 2,500 grams. The rate was almost nine and one-half percent in the group of women who received a placebo, an inactive pill, instead of the vitamins. But the vitamins did not do much to reduce the rates of babies being bom too early or dying while still a fetus. Still, the researchers say multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries.

词汇

multivitamin/,mʌlti"vitəmin/ n.多种维生素制剂

urge /"ɜːdʒ/ v.他极力主张;强烈要求;敦促

pregnant /"pregnənt/ adj.怀孕的,妊娠的

Tanzania /,tænzə"niə; ,tɑ:nzɑ:"ni:ɑ:/ n.坦桑尼亚（非洲国家）

diabetes/,daɪə"biːtiːz/ n.糖尿病,多尿症

Dar es Salaam /"dɑ:r,essə"lɑ:m/ n.达累斯萨拉姆（坦桑尼亚首都)

folate /"fəʊleɪt/ n.叶酸盐

mineral/ ˈmɪnərəl/n.矿物; 矿石; 矿物质; 汽水; adj.矿物的，似矿物的;

fetal["fi:tl] adj.胎儿的，胎的;

lymphocyte[ˈlɪmfəsaɪt] n.淋巴细胞;

immunity[ɪ"mju:nətɪ] n.免疫力,免疫性

infection[ɪn"fekʃn] n.传染，感染; 传染病

placebo[plə"si:bəʊ] n.安慰剂;

inactive[ɪnˈæktɪv] adj.无作用的

pill[pɪl] n.药丸; 丸剂

fetus["fi:təs] n.胎，胎儿;

注释：

1.World Health Organization (WHO):世界卫生组织

2.along with：与……一起

3.New England Journal of Medicine:《新英格兰医学杂志》。New England是美国东北六州(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island 和Connecticut)的总称。

4.Harvard University School of Public Health:哈佛大学公共卫生学院

What a role do lymphocytes play in the human body?

A:To reduce the rate of dying while still a fetus B:To raise the body’s immunity against infection C:To help prevent the development of heart disease D:To help prevent the development of diabetes

Multivitamins  Urged for All Pregnant Women

    A recent study in Tanzaniafound that when pregnant women took vitamins every day, fewer babies were bom too small. Babies that weigh less than two and one-half kilograms at birth have a greater risk of dying. Those that survive are more likely to experience problems with their development. And experts say that as adults they have a higher risk of diseases including heart disease and diabetes. The World Health Organization¹ estimates that every year twenty million babies are bom with low birth weight. Nine out of ten of them are bom in developing countries.

    The new study took place inDar es Salaam. 4,200 pregnant women received multivitamins. The pills contained all of the vitamins in the B group along with² vitamins C and E. They also contained several times more iron and folate than the levels advised for women in developed nations. Pregnant women especially in poor countries may find it difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods in their diet.

    The scientists compared the findings with results from a group of 4,000 women who did not receive the vitamins. A report by the scientists, from theUnited StatesandTanzania, appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine,³ Wafaie Fawzi of the Harvard University School of Public Health⁴ led the study. None of the women in the study had HTV, the virus that causes AIDS. The scientists reported earlier that daily multivitamins were a low-cost way to reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with ⁵HIV. The earlier work inTanzaniaalso found improvement in the mothers in their number of blood cells known as lymphocytes. Lymphocytes increase the body’s immunity against infection.

    The new study in pregnant women who were not infected with the AIDS virus found that multivitamins reduced the risk of low birth weight. Just under eight percent of the babies bom to women who took the multivitamins weighed less than 2,500 grams. The rate was almost nine and one-half percent in the group of women who received a placebo, an inactive pill, instead of the vitamins. But the vitamins did not do much to reduce the rates of babies being bom too early or dying while still a fetus. Still, the researchers say multivitamins should be considered for all pregnant women in developing countries.

词汇

multivitamin/,mʌlti"vitəmin/ n.多种维生素制剂

urge /"ɜːdʒ/ v.他极力主张;强烈要求;敦促

pregnant /"pregnənt/ adj.怀孕的,妊娠的

Tanzania /,tænzə"niə; ,tɑ:nzɑ:"ni:ɑ:/ n.坦桑尼亚（非洲国家）

diabetes/,daɪə"biːtiːz/ n.糖尿病,多尿症

Dar es Salaam /"dɑ:r,essə"lɑ:m/ n.达累斯萨拉姆（坦桑尼亚首都)

folate /"fəʊleɪt/ n.叶酸盐

mineral/ ˈmɪnərəl/n.矿物; 矿石; 矿物质; 汽水; adj.矿物的，似矿物的;

fetal["fi:tl] adj.胎儿的，胎的;

lymphocyte[ˈlɪmfəsaɪt] n.淋巴细胞;

immunity[ɪ"mju:nətɪ] n.免疫力,免疫性

infection[ɪn"fekʃn] n.传染，感染; 传染病

placebo[plə"si:bəʊ] n.安慰剂;

inactive[ɪnˈæktɪv] adj.无作用的

pill[pɪl] n.药丸; 丸剂

fetus["fi:təs] n.胎，胎儿;

注释：

1.World Health Organization (WHO):世界卫生组织

2.along with：与……一起

3.New England Journal of Medicine:《新英格兰医学杂志》。New England是美国东北六州(Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island 和Connecticut)的总称。

4.Harvard University School of Public Health:哈佛大学公共卫生学院

Which of the following is NOT one of the effects of multivitamins mentioned in the passage?

A:To reduce the rate of babies bom too early B:To reduce the risk of low birth weight C:To reduce fetal deaths in pregnant women infected with HTV D:To increase the number of lymphocytes in mothers’ blood

Virtual Driver

     Driving involves sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzing with a brain, and coordination between hands, feet and brain. A man has sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzes through his brain, and maintains coordination between his hands and brains. He can control a fast-moving car with different parts of his body. _____(1)_____ Apparently there isn"t anyone in the driver"s cab, but there is in fact a virtual driver¹. This virtual driver has eyes, brains, hands and feet too. The minicameras on each side of the car are its eyes and are responsible for observing the road conditions ahead of it as well as the traffic to its left and right. If you open the boot, you can see the most important part of the automatic driving system: a built-in computer. _____(2)_____ The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at², analyzing their position on the road, choosing the right path, and giving orders to the wheel and the control system.

    In comparison with the human brain, the virtual driver"s best advantage is that it reacts quickly. _____(3)_____ However, it takes the world"s best racecar driver at least one second to react, and this doesn"t include the time he needs to take action.

With its rapid reaction and accurate control, the virtual driver can reduce the accident rate on expressways considerably. In this case, is it possible for us to let it have the wheel³ at any time and in any place? _____(4)_____ With its limited ability to recognize things, the car can now only travel on expressways.

    The intelligent car determines its direction by the clear lines that mark the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes. _____(5)_____ This being the case⁴, people still have high hopes about driverless cars, and think highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like⁵.

词汇：

virtual /"və: tʃuəl/ adj．虚拟的

built-in adj．嵌入的

coordination / kəu,ɔ:di"neiʃən /n．协调，配合

racecar n．赛车

cab /kæb/ n．驾驶室

expressway /ik"spreswei/ n．高速公路

minicamera  n．小型照相机

driverless  adj．无驾驶员的

boot /bu:t/ n．（车身后部的）行李箱

注释：

1.    virtual driver：虚拟驾驶员

2.    The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at…车的大脑负责计算汽车周围物体移动的速度。The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at=The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds at which objects surrounding the car are moving。

3.    have the wheel：驾驶汽车

4.    This being the case：虽然情况是这样。This being the case是独立主格结构。

5.    …highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like．未来的汽车就应该是高度智能化的汽车。

练习：

A    Experts say that we cannot do that just yet.

B    In the near future, intelligent cars will be put into commercial operation.

C    This is the brain of the car.

D    But how does an intelligent car control itself?

E    It completes the processing of the images sent by the cameras within 100 milliseconds.

空4

A:A B:B C:C D:D E:E F:F

Virtual Driver

     Driving involves sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzing with a brain, and coordination between hands, feet and brain. A man has sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzes through his brain, and maintains coordination between his hands and brains. He can control a fast-moving car with different parts of his body. _____(1)_____ Apparently there isn"t anyone in the driver"s cab, but there is in fact a virtual driver¹. This virtual driver has eyes, brains, hands and feet too. The minicameras on each side of the car are its eyes and are responsible for observing the road conditions ahead of it as well as the traffic to its left and right. If you open the boot, you can see the most important part of the automatic driving system: a built-in computer. _____(2)_____ The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at², analyzing their position on the road, choosing the right path, and giving orders to the wheel and the control system.

    In comparison with the human brain, the virtual driver"s best advantage is that it reacts quickly. _____(3)_____ However, it takes the world"s best racecar driver at least one second to react, and this doesn"t include the time he needs to take action.

With its rapid reaction and accurate control, the virtual driver can reduce the accident rate on expressways considerably. In this case, is it possible for us to let it have the wheel³ at any time and in any place? _____(4)_____ With its limited ability to recognize things, the car can now only travel on expressways.

    The intelligent car determines its direction by the clear lines that mark the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes. _____(5)_____ This being the case⁴, people still have high hopes about driverless cars, and think highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like⁵.

词汇：

virtual /"və: tʃuəl/ adj．虚拟的

built-in adj．嵌入的

coordination / kəu,ɔ:di"neiʃən /n．协调，配合

racecar n．赛车

cab /kæb/ n．驾驶室

expressway /ik"spreswei/ n．高速公路

minicamera  n．小型照相机

driverless  adj．无驾驶员的

boot /bu:t/ n．（车身后部的）行李箱

注释：

1.    virtual driver：虚拟驾驶员

2.    The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at…车的大脑负责计算汽车周围物体移动的速度。The brain of the car is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at=The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds at which objects surrounding the car are moving。

3.    have the wheel：驾驶汽车

4.    This being the case：虽然情况是这样。This being the case是独立主格结构。

5.    …highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like．未来的汽车就应该是高度智能化的汽车。

练习：

A    Experts say that we cannot do that just yet.

B    In the near future, intelligent cars will be put into commercial operation.

C    This is the brain of the car.

D    But how does an intelligent car control itself?

E    It completes the processing of the images sent by the cameras within 100 milliseconds.

空4

A:A B:B C:C D:D E:E F:F