Passage 1 A few years ago, when I was caring for my seriously ill father, I lost my voice. At first, I just sounded hoarse when I was having difficult conversations about Dad's condition. But before long, I couldn't even say “Yes please” to a cup of tea without sounding like an unusually breathless Minnie Mouse. After consulting an ear, nose and throat specialist, I was told that I had lost my voice due to stress. We're all familiar with the muscle tightening that comes with the body's natural response to stress. The muscles in and around the voice box are no exception, and a long period of stress can lead to lasting damage to the vocal cords(声带). Perhaps the most obvious thing you can do to protect your voice is to give it a rest. That doesn't mean you have to keep silent. Just try to avoid places, such as noisy bars and restaurants, where you have to speak up or shout to be heard, and move closer to people so you can talk in your normal voice. While some of the advice seems like common sense, there are a few surprises. It's important to resist the urge to cough or clear your throat before attempting to speak, for example. Coughing pushes the vocal cords together with force, which can increase the risk of losing your voice. Instead, experts suggest taking a few big yawns, making sure to breathe deeply from the bottom of your lungs. Yawning helps create more space in your throat and relaxes the muscles. Whispering may seem the obvious way to communicate when your voice is failing, but for most of us, it causes more problems. It's far better, the researchers advise to aim to speak softly in your normal voice. Interestingly, a University of Missouri study found that introverts(内向者) are more likely to suffer from speech related stress reactions, which affect their vocal control. Simply taking a deep breath before you speak can go a long way towards calming the nerves, says study lead author Professor Maria Dietrich. In my case seeking more support with Dad's care helped me sound more like myself and less like Minnie within weeks. 1．What does the underlined word “hoarse” mean in the first paragraph A．Unable to speak. B．Unable to express oneself. C．(Sounding) sweet and smooth. D．(Sounding) rough and unpleasant. 2．What is the purpose of the first paragraph A．To introduce the topic. B．To make the article interesting. C．To share the author's personal experience. D．To offer evidence for the author's argument. 3．According to the text, what is a good way to protect your vocal cords A．Whispering in a noisy environment. B．Avoiding big yawns before speaking. C．Shortening the distance from others. D．Coughing softly to make your voice clear. 4．Why is it more likely for introverts to have vocal cord problems A．They have difficulty in vocal control. B．They always whisper, which may cause more problems. C．They are probably under more pressure when speaking. D．They always forget to take a deep breath before talking. Passage 2 Wild animal ... ...
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