Researchers from the University of Texas said those who drank two or more diet sodas a day had waist size increases that were six times greater than those who didn't drink diet sodas. ＂What we saw was that the more diet sodas a person drank, the more weight they were likely to gain,＂said Sharon Fowler.

　　　The study was based on data from 474 participants in a large, ongoing research project, where the participants were followed for nearly 10 years.

　　　While the findings are surprising, they also offer some explanations. Nutrition expert, Melanie Rogers, who works with overweight patients in New York, has found that when patients are switched from regular to diet sodas, they don't lose weight at all. ＂We weren't seeing weight loss necessarily, and that was confusing to us＂, said Rogers.

　　　So why would diet soda cause weight gain? No one knows for sure yet, but it could be that people think they can eat more if they drink diet sodas, and so over-compensate for the missing calories.

　　　A related study found some sweeteners (甜味剂) raised blood sugar levels in some mice. ＂Data from this and other potential studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners may be risky, said Helen P. Hazuda, professor at the University of Texas's school of medicine. ＂They may be free of calories, but not of consequences.＂

　　　12．People drink diet sodas to ____________.

　　　A．enjoy its taste B．stay in fashion

　　　C．achieve weight loss D．gain more energy

　　　13．The new study suggests that drinking diet sodas ____________.

　　　A．causes people to become heavier B．helps people to be healthier

　　　C．makes people much thinner D．offers people more calories

　　　14．We can learn from the passage that ____________.

　　　A．regular sodas make people lose more weight B．diet soda drinkers tend to eat more food

　　　C．diet sodas do help reduce calories D．most blood diseases come from diet sodas

　　　15．The underlined word ＂They＂ in the last paragraph probably refers to ＂____________＂.

　　　A．sweeteners B．diet sodas and artificial sweeteners

　　　C．sodas D．diet soda drinkers and sweetener takers

二、七选五

　　　 Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in the USA, falling on the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November.

　　　16．

　　　Many people have a day off work or choose to take a day from their annual leave on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation. Shopping for Christmas presents is popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods, such as toys.

　　　Public life

　　　17．Many people take a day off on the day after Thanksgiving Day. Many organizations also close for the Thanksgiving weekend.

　　　Public transportation systems may run on their normal schedule or may have changes. Some stores extend their opening hours on Black Friday.18．

　　　Background

　　　Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA.19．One theory is that the wheels of vehicles in heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving Day left many black marking on the road surface, leading to the term "Black Friday".

　　　The other theory is that the term "Black Friday" comes from an old way of recording business accounts.20．Many businesses, particularly small businesses, started making profits before Christmas. Many hoped to start showing a profit, marked in black ink, on the day after Thanksgiving Day.

　　　More recently, Black Friday has been exported to nations outside of North America such as the United Kingdom by major online retailers like Amazon or Apple. In 2011, IBM reported online Black Friday sales were up by 24.3%, according to a study that includes 500 retailers.

　　　A．People's activities.

　　　B．History of Black Friday.

　　　C．Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink.

　　　D．A busy shopping day is a holiday in some states.

　　　E. There can also be jams on roads to popular shopping destinations.

　　　F. There are two popular theories as to why it is called Black Friday.

　　　G. Black Friday is not a federal (联邦政府的) holiday but a public one in some states.

三、完形填空

　　　 Mr. Glen is a millionaire. Years ago, after returning from abroad to his motherland, he 21 his company. Speaking of success, Glen often tells us a story about his extra expensive "school" fee. He always 22 his success to it.

At that time, Glen, who already got a Ph.D．degree, 23 to return home, starting a company. Before leaving, he bought a Rolex watch with the 24 made through years. At the airport hehad to