英语小文章

These days there are pills for just about everything. If you can't sleep, take a pill. If you're unhappy, take a pill. What about if you're overweight and you don't have time to exercise? A new fitness pill may soon be available. Scientists are developing a pill that provides the same benefits as exercise. According to a BBC report, the fitness pill will "build muscle, increase stamina, and even burn fat."

Test mice became strong runners after taking the fitness pill.Would you take a pill if it meant you no longer needed the treadmill? Researchers found that mice who took these pills could run long-distances without previous training. The test mice also ran almost twice as far. There is evidence that humans on these pills will also be able to build muscles without exercising. Furthermore, the research suggests that those who exercise and take the fitness pill will be even stronger.

The fitness pill may benefit bed rest patients.Some researchers think the fitness pill will be useful in certain situations. People who cannot get out of bed due to ill health may benefit from the drug. Those with diabetes may also benefit. Many diseases cause muscle wasting, which prevents patients from recovering. Other researchers feel that the average adult might benefit from such a drug. Most adults do not get the 40 minutes of daily exercise that doctors recommend. The fitness pill requires no need for spare time.

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Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of Lakesnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into suchm sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the whitehaired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

"Hark at the wind," said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

"I'm listening," said the latter, grimly surveying the board as he stretched out his hand. "Check."

"I should hardly think that he'd come tonight," said his father, with his hand poised over the board.

"Mate," replied the son.

"That's the worst of living so far out," bawled Mr. White, with sudden and unlooked-for violence; "of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses on the road are let, they think it doesn't matter."

"Never mind, dear," said his wife soothingly; "perhaps you'll win the next one."

Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son. The words died away on his lips, and he hid a guilty grin in his thin grey beard.

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Eating soy products as a child can lower the risk of breast cancer in later life by half, a nutritionist speaking at a forum to promote the foodstuff has claimed.

Mark Messina, from Loma Linda University in California, says research shows women in Shanghai who consumed at least 11 grams of soy products each day from the age of five to 11 are half as likely to get breast cancer than those consuming less than 2.2 grams a day.

Messina was in Hong Kong to attend a Vitasoy forum promoting quality of life through their products.

He claimed other researchers have also indicated the health benefits of soy in lowering women's risks of having a stroke and cardiovascular disease by 65 to 75 percent.

Messina said the breast cancer incident rate in countries where soy is commonly consumed, including China and Japan, is 19.1 and 19.7 percent - a quarter of those in Europe and the United States.

He said the difference could be independent from the genetic makeup of the races because Asians with a more Westernized diet are more likely to develop such diseases than those on a traditional diet.

Many in the West are beginning to consume soy products as alternatives to dairy products, meat and fish.

Soy contains good fatty acid which helps lower cholesterol.

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 She looked at the man walking along the sidewalk next to the nice houses. He didn't live in any of those houses. She had seen this man several times before. He looked like a criminal. She knew not to judge a book by its cover, but this man was no good.

She drove by him. He looked at her car as she drove by. She continued driving. She watched him in her rear view mirror. She got to the corner and stopped. She continued to watch him walking in her direction. Suddenly, he turned left up a driveway. A red SUV was parked in the driveway right next to the sidewalk. She saw him walk up to the driver's door and put his hand on the handle. He returned to the sidewalk and continued walking in her direction.

What was that all about, she wondered. Then she realized that he had tested the door to see if it was locked. He is a criminal, she thought. That's what he does. He just walks through our neighborhoods looking for cars to break into.

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