The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) earnestly attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead. Its quality-of-life index (21) the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys how happy people say they are—to (22) determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than (23) else, but it is not all that (24) ; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too. (25) , the index takes 11 statistically significant indicators into (26) They are a mixed bunch: some are (27) factors, Such as geography; others change only very slowly (28) time; and some factors depend on policies and the state of the world (29) . Despite the global economic crisis, times have in certain respects (30) been so good. Output growth rates have been (31) across the world, but income levels are at or near (32) highs. Life expectancy continues to (33) steadily and political freedoms have spread across the (34) . In other ways, however, the crisis has (35) a deep imprint on unemployment and personal (36) . After crunching its numbers, the EIU has Switzerland comfortably in the top spot, with Australia second. Small economies (37) the top ten, half of which are European. The Nordic countries shine, (38) the crisis-ridden south of Europe (Greece, Portugal and Spain) lags behind. The (39) European economies (Germany, France and Britain) do not do particularly well. America (40) back in 16th place. Despite their economic dynamism, none of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) scores impressively. Among the 80 countries covered, Nigeria comes last: it is the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013.
A. relegates
B. adds
C. abdicates
D. links
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The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) earnestly attempts to measure which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead. Its quality-of-life index (21) the results of subjective life-satisfaction surveys how happy people say they are—to (22) determinants of the quality of life across countries. Being rich helps more than (23) else, but it is not all that (24) ; things like crime, trust in public institutions and the health of family life matter too. (25) , the index takes 11 statistically significant indicators into (26) They are a mixed bunch: some are (27) factors, Such as geography; others change only very slowly (28) time; and some factors depend on policies and the state of the world (29) . Despite the global economic crisis, times have in certain respects (30) been so good. Output growth rates have been (31) across the world, but income levels are at or near (32) highs. Life expectancy continues to (33) steadily and political freedoms have spread across the (34) . In other ways, however, the crisis has (35) a deep imprint on unemployment and personal (36) . After crunching its numbers, the EIU has Switzerland comfortably in the top spot, with Australia second. Small economies (37) the top ten, half of which are European. The Nordic countries shine, (38) the crisis-ridden south of Europe (Greece, Portugal and Spain) lags behind. The (39) European economies (Germany, France and Britain) do not do particularly well. America (40) back in 16th place. Despite their economic dynamism, none of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) scores impressively. Among the 80 countries covered, Nigeria comes last: it is the worst place for a baby to enter the world in 2013.
A. In turn
B. In retrospect
C. In all
D. In progress
The plan to allow the reading public to rent e-books, much as they rent movies, has proved so much more contentious than its pioneer, the former Waterstones managing director Tim Coates, had hoped. That publishers are very cautious of the idea of his new Bilbary e-rental venture, which launched this week, is perhaps not entirely surprising: although the e-rentals automatically delete themselves when the borrowing time expires, they fear the scheme might harm sales. Less controversial, however, is Mr Coates’ generous pledge to donate a good chunk of Bilbary’s profits to campaigns to keep open libraries threatened by government budget cuts. Hundreds of the nation’s 4,000 public libraries are at risk; and campaigners’ attempts to persuade courts and councils to keep them open are largely failing. Closing libraries is inevitable, the argument goes, in an era when two out of three British homes have a computer. But that is far from the whole story. While 200 million books are sold every year, more than 310 million are borrowed. The one-in-three homes without a computer are those of the nation’s poorer children, many of whom live without even a table at which they can do their homework. It is with only the mildest exaggeration that Alan Bennett, the playwright and campaigner, describes the closure of libraries as an act of "child abuse". To some, the word "library" conjures only negative associations, an irrelevant anachronism in an increasingly digital world. But a good library is far more than just a place to store books. It is a gateway to knowledge, a place well able to adapt to the computer age and in doing so support the curiosity, study and research of new generations. There are, of course, some libraries that are unfit for purpose. But those that use digital technologies as an aide, rather than treat them as a threat, more than hold true to their core purpose. And those that have made the leap are seeing visitor numbers rise, not fall. Britain’s libraries do not need closing but they may need changing. We can only hope that Mr. Coates’ support can help many of them to do so. The author’s attitude toward closing libraries can be described as ______.
A. positive
B. negative
C. indifferent
D. neutral
Writing Task 2Directions: In this part, you are required to write an essay of no less than 200 words on Will Thrifty Lifestyle Do Harm to National Economy . The essay should be based on the outline below: 1. Some people hold the view that diligence and frugality are two virtues long cherished by our nation; 2. Other people believe that more saving and less spending will do harm to our economy; 3. Your opinion.
When the press release arrived in our inboxes, we knew what would happen next. A Nobel laureate had stated that antioxidant supplements "may have caused more cancers than they have prevented. " Even the most fad-friendly sections of the UK media were bound to cover the story. In reality, Professor James Watson was only restating what we at Cancer Research UK have been pointing out for years. Large studies have repeatedly shown that, with the possible exception of vitamin D, antioxidant supplements have negligible positive effect on healthy people, at least in terms of important things such as preventing people getting cancer or dying prematurely. And some supplements—notably vitamins A, E and beta- carotene—even seem to slightly raise the risk of disease and early death. It’s a topic we at Cancer Research UK come back to again and again on our science blog and on our social media pages. But huge swatches of the public remain convinced that "antioxidant" is a byword for "healthy. " What’s so interesting about the antioxidant myth is its wider cultural and social dimension. Why is this perception so hard to shift And is there anything we can do about it One possible reason for our firm attitudes is the widespread use of the word "antioxidants" in adverts proclaiming the health benefits of various foods and drinks. This isn’t for want of regulation, and the Advertising Standards Authority have repeatedly upheld complaints about adverts that make unsupported claims about antioxidants’benefits. But the much weaker claim that a product merely "contains high levels of antioxidants" leaves health claims implicit, and keeps regulators at bay. A brand of "super- broccoli"—launched with much a public spectacle in late 2011—was bred to contain high levels of a chemical that ultimately, according to the product’s website, "boosts our body’s Antioxidant Enzyme levels. " So good it’s capitalized. So the relentless drip-drip of health product advertising—particularly against a background of continual reports of Britain’s ill-health—makes our trenchant hold on the antioxidants myth all the more understandable. We need this stuff, we’re told. But there’s probably a deeper reason for our collective refusal to swallow the bitter pill of scientific evidence. The actual, proven things that can reduce our risks of cancer, heart disease, diabetes—and all the other chronic nasties that come with an ageing population— are somewhat more uninteresting. Don’t smoke. Stay in shape. Eat a balanced diet. Limit alcohol intake. Keep active. This is hard work. And as the resolution-filled new year kicks in, the exciting prospect of a healthier life is replaced by the realization that being healthy is a long-term project. Popping a pill instead of going to the gym is a tempting prospect for many of us. Confirmatory bias is a powerful thing. But the UK population is ageing, and likely to place a greater burden on the NHS in future. We owe it to ourselves, and those will be paying for our care, to make sure we’re as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Putting our faith in a word, and a pill— however comforting it may sound—to do this for us is a mirage and a fallacy. Antioxidants do not prolong our lives nor prevent cancer, despite what we want to believe. What does the author say that leads to people’s strong belief in antioxidants
A. The lack of regulation.
B. The widespread insemination of medical knowledge.
C. The "super-broccoli" story.
D. The overwhelming health product commercials.