【精品】初三英语时文阅读(二)

初三英语时文阅读（二）（材料一）你第一次见一对夫妻时，最先闪入脑海的是什么？相信大多数人都会琢磨一下这两个人有没有夫妻相。

Do elderly couples really look alike?You’ve probably seen it before---two elderly people walking hand in hand down the streetand looking very much like each other. They look so much alike that they could be brother andsister.Do you believe that people who live together for many years would look alike? It’s strange, but scientists say it’s true.How scientists proved it?In a study, scientists found young couples only showed similarity by chance. However, eldercouples were very likely to look like each other. The similarity could be very subtle and could befound in wrinkles, furrows, etc. Besides, some couples look far more alike than other couples.The reason behind itThe scientists thought of several possible reasons:As couples usually share the same diet, will they probably look1. Diet.“We are what we eat.”alike? For example, if both partners eat a high fat diet, their faces will tend to look fat. However,the scientists ruled this out using another small study.2. Environment. Will elderly couples show similarity because they live together in the samearea for a long time? The environmental factors such as sunshine and wind affect the skin insimilar ways. The scientists ruled this possibility out as well.3. Empathy. This is the theory the scientists believe in. Couples grow to look similar becausethey are empathizing with each other. They copy each other’s facial expressions. For example, if one partner often smiles in a certain way, the other is likely to copy it. In this way, their facesshare similar wrinkles and furrows.A look into the futureSome people still don’t b elieve in the“empathy”theory. And, some think growing to lookmore like your partner is a horrific idea. Others, though, think there’s something very sweet and romantic about it.（材料二）请相信，音乐是有魔力的！Magic MusicWhat can music do? As a personal expression? To increase patriotism? Or as a way to passon traditions?Sweet music for milkingScientists believe farmers could get more milk from their cows by playing classical music inthe cowshed.In 2001, a group of UK psychologists played music of different tempos to some cows.Pastoral Symphony* was a big hit in the milking shed. But when noisy music wasBeethoven’splayed, there was no increase in milk yield. According to research, calming music can improvemilk yield, probably because it reduces stress.Music can help plants grow faster as well. In 2007, South Korean scientists proved thatplaying music, especially classical pieces, to plants really helps plants grow more quickly.Muzak*, more than musicToday, you hear muzak almost everywhere. Muzak is functional music rather than entertainment; it affects those who hear it.Music is art, but Muzak is science. And when you use the science of Muzak: In an office,workers tend to work more efficiently, and feel happier. In a factory, people feel better and, withless fatigue and tension, their jobs seem less monotonous. In a store, people seem to shop in amore relaxed and leisurely manner. That’s why we say Muzak is much more than music.Music as symbolAt the mention of the 1988 Seoul Olympics (汉城奥运会), what comes into your mind first?The theme song Hand in Hand (汉城奥运会主题曲《手拉手》), of course! It is one of the mostfavorite songs in Olympic history. As a successful Olympic song, Hand in Hand is easy but not simple. The song conveys the common dream of people around the world—peace and the spiritof the Olympics. Anyone, who saw the moment when 18,000 spectators sang Hand in Hand together with the singers on the stage, would feel the power of music.（材料三）谁是这几周最火的人物？非苏珊·波伊尔莫属。

Susan Boyle: A Dream Come True真人秀节目“英国达人”) l asted just Her appearance on the reality show Britain’s Got Talent (a few minutes, but that was enough to bring 47-year-old Scottish church volunteer Susan Boyle to instant fame.Stunning performanceOn the show, viewers saw the plain and plump (胖胖的) Boyle step onto the stage and saythat her dream is to be a professional singer like Elaine Page*.The judges snickered. There was laughter from the audience, and viewers, both live (在现场)and at home, were ready to see another hopeless loser. But when Boyle opened her mouth and《悲惨世界》), the judges were sang I Dreamed A Dream (《我曾有梦》) from Les Misérables (shocked, the crowd went wild, and—Boyle became a star.A global phenomenonThe rise of Susan Boyle has been a global phenomenon.scinated viewers.From Japan to Denmark to the U.S., the clip of Boyle’s performance has faHer clip was the most watched video on global network YouTube the week before last (上上周), attracting over 12 million hits (点击). Boyle’s face has appeared on the front pages of newspaperssofa*, and it has beenin Britain and other countries. She has been offere d a seat on Oprah’spredicted that she will have a worldwide number one album.An underdogBoyle has shattered the prejudices surrounding age, appearance, and talent in the entertainment industry (娱乐业). She has proved that you d on’t have to be young and attractiveto be talented, and recognized as such.“This i s completely unprecedented,”says Andrew Llinares, executive producer (监制) oflike Britain’s Got Talent.“We have had big responses in the past, but we have never seen anything this before. People love an underdog and she is the ultimate underdog.”　（材料四）地球需要“休息”：不仅仅是每年一小时的演示，更是我们365天的努力。