III. Reading

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body, and the needles are inserted to various depths. The medical community is not in conclusive agreement about how acupuncture works scientifically. However, we know that it does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief.

According to WHO, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more. People with tension, headaches or migraines may find acupuncture to be very effective in alleviating their symptoms. Another study found that twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of zerostomia - severe dry mouth - among patients treated with head and neck cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as chi or qi. Qi is said to flow through pathways in the human body. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these pathways and energy flows may be accessed.  Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations, it is said that the energy flow can be brought back into proper balance.

In Western societies and several other parts of the world, acupuncture is explained, including concepts of neuroscience. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated.  Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers.

In acupuncture, the insertion of the very thin needles involve with______ .

1. the thinness of needles and skin        
2. therapeutic benefits of pain relief
3. agreement from scientists      
4. the locations, and the depths

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body, and the needles are inserted to various depths. The medical community is not in conclusive agreement about how acupuncture works scientifically. However, we know that it does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief.

According to WHO, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more. People with tension, headaches or migraines may find acupuncture to be very effective in alleviating their symptoms. Another study found that twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of zerostomia - severe dry mouth - among patients treated with head and neck cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as chi or qi. Qi is said to flow through pathways in the human body. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these pathways and energy flows may be accessed.  Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations, it is said that the energy flow can be brought back into proper balance.

In Western societies and several other parts of the world, acupuncture is explained, including concepts of neuroscience. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated.  Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers.

It is thought that acupuncture is effective in treating all of the following symptoms EXCEPT ______.

1. headaches
2. cancer
3. migraines
4. nervousness

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body, and the needles are inserted to various depths. The medical community is not in conclusive agreement about how acupuncture works scientifically. However, we know that it does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief.

According to WHO, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more. People with tension, headaches or migraines may find acupuncture to be very effective in alleviating their symptoms. Another study found that twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of zerostomia - severe dry mouth - among patients treated with head and neck cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as chi or qi. Qi is said to flow through pathways in the human body. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these pathways and energy flows may be accessed.  Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations, it is said that the energy flow can be brought back into proper balance.

In Western societies and several other parts of the world, acupuncture is explained, including concepts of neuroscience. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated.  Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers.

With the practice of acupuncture, it is believed that _______ .

1. the energy flow can be brought back to patients
2. energy can go through acupuncture points in the body
3. patients can get proper balance between yin and yang
4. illness causes the imbalance of qi throughout the body

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body, and the needles are inserted to various depths. The medical community is not in conclusive agreement about how acupuncture works scientifically. However, we know that it does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief.

According to WHO, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more. People with tension, headaches or migraines may find acupuncture to be very effective in alleviating their symptoms. Another study found that twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of zerostomia - severe dry mouth - among patients treated with head and neck cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as chi or qi. Qi is said to flow through pathways in the human body. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these pathways and energy flows may be accessed.  Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations, it is said that the energy flow can be brought back into proper balance.

In Western societies and several other parts of the world, acupuncture is explained, including concepts of neuroscience. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated.  Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers.

According to Western medicine, the insertion of needles through acupuncture points in the body may ____.

1. increase blood flow and stimulate our instinct of pain relief
2. stimulate the effect of painkillers in our bodies for treatment
3. be used only in China and the Far East not the Western countries
4. help to explain where nerves and muscles can be stimulated

Read the passage below and choose one correct answer for each question.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through the patient's skin at specific points on the body, and the needles are inserted to various depths. The medical community is not in conclusive agreement about how acupuncture works scientifically. However, we know that it does have some therapeutic benefits, including pain relief.

According to WHO, acupuncture is effective for treating 28 conditions, while evidence indicates it may have an effective therapeutic value for many more. People with tension, headaches or migraines may find acupuncture to be very effective in alleviating their symptoms. Another study found that twice weekly acupuncture treatments relieve debilitating symptoms of zerostomia - severe dry mouth - among patients treated with head and neck cancer.

Traditional Chinese medicine explains that health is the result of a harmonious balance of the complementary extremes of yin and yang of the life force known as chi or qi. Qi is said to flow through pathways in the human body. Through 350 acupuncture points in the body, these pathways and energy flows may be accessed.  Illness is said to be the consequence of an imbalance of the forces. If needles are inserted into these points with appropriate combinations, it is said that the energy flow can be brought back into proper balance.

In Western societies and several other parts of the world, acupuncture is explained, including concepts of neuroscience. Acupuncture points are seen by Western practitioners as places where nerves, muscles and connective tissue can be stimulated.  Acupuncture practitioners say that the stimulation increases blood flow while at the same time triggering the activity of our own body's natural painkillers.

The word “triggering” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.

1. causing a device to start operating
2. causing something to explode
3. making something happen suddenly
4. making something develop very quickly

Read the passage below and decide which answer (from A, B, C or D) best fits each gap

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is suitable for your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, etc.   If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha Yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, Power Yoga may be right for you. Whether you prefer you're at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options
available to suit your goals and needs.

Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga.  During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Strong muscles do more than look good.  They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.

Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Twisting poses are thought to wring out venous blood from internal organs and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is released.

Many studies found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to greater levels of happiness and better immune function.

Yoga is a very convenient type of exercise because _______.

1. we can watch a DVD at a studio or gym and follow it
2. we can choose a yoga style that is suitable for our lifestyle
3. we can choose Hatha Yoga to focus on basic postures or to increase strength
4. there are a huge variety of options available for our private session

Read the passage below and decide which answer (from A, B, C or D) best fits each gap

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is suitable for your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, etc.   If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha Yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, Power Yoga may be right for you. Whether you prefer you're at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options
available to suit your goals and needs.

Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga.  During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Strong muscles do more than look good.  They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.

Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Twisting poses are thought to wring out venous blood from internal organs and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is released.

Many studies found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to greater levels of happiness and better immune function.

According to yoga’s principles, the spine is of great importance because _____ .

1. when the spine is working properly, postures will become possible
2. seemingly impossible poses will become possible
3. it is the center of your body, from which other muscles operate
4. we can avoid back, shoulder, and neck pain

Read the passage below and decide which answer (from A, B, C or D) best fits each gap

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is suitable for your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, etc.   If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha Yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, Power Yoga may be right for you. Whether you prefer you're at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options
available to suit your goals and needs.

Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga.  During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Strong muscles do more than look good.  They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.

Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Twisting poses are thought to wring out venous blood from internal organs and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is released.

Many studies found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to greater levels of happiness and better immune function.

In order to build strong muscles, _____.

1. we build strength with high expenses at the gym
2. we don’t pay any attention to our appearance
3. we should reinforce the muscles around the spine
4. we can have strength with flexibility through yoga.   

Read the passage below and decide which answer (from A, B, C or D) best fits each gap

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is suitable for your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, etc.   If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha Yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, Power Yoga may be right for you. Whether you prefer you're at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options
available to suit your goals and needs.

Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga.  During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Strong muscles do more than look good.  They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.

Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Twisting poses are thought to wring out venous blood from internal organs and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is released.

Many studies found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to greater levels of happiness and better immune function.

Yoga can improve our circulation because _______.

1. it helps to provide more oxygen to cells or internal organs
2. it helps us to perform twisting poses more easily
3. we can have more relaxation exercises
4. it helps to provide more blood to internal organs than others

Read the passage below and decide which answer (from A, B, C or D) best fits each gap

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a healthy lifestyle. One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that is suitable for your lifestyle, such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, etc.   If you are a yoga beginner, Hatha Yoga, which focuses on basic postures at a comfortable pace, would be great for you. If you want to increase strength through using more of your own body’s resistance, Power Yoga may be right for you. Whether you prefer you're at home, in a private session, watching a DVD or at a studio or gym, there are a huge variety of options
available to suit your goals and needs.

Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga.  During your first class, you probably won’t be able to touch your toes. But if you stick with it, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. Each of the yoga poses is built to reinforce the muscles around the spine, the very center of your body, which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is working properly, posture is improved, thus alleviating back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Strong muscles do more than look good.  They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through yoga, you balance it with flexibility. If you just went to the gym and lifted weights, you might build strength at the expense of flexibility.

Yoga gets your blood flowing. More specifically, the relaxation exercises you learn in yoga can help your circulation, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which function better as a result. Twisting poses are thought to wring out venous blood from internal organs and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is released.

Many studies found that a consistent yoga practice improved depression and led to greater levels of happiness and better immune function.

The word “alleviating” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.

1. keeping
2. relieving
3. worsening
4. boosting

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

According to the article, what is incredible about the human body?

1. How it is able to cure serious diseases on its own.
2. How its parts work together to allow many abilities.
3. How it is superior to modern technology.
4. How it enables everyone to sing beautifully.

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

Which one is the closest in meaning to the word “impressive” in the 2nd paragraph?

1. striking
2. normal
3. significant  
4. considerate

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

The vocal cords function by ______.

1. allowing people to breathe through the windpipe
2. vibrating in response to music that is heard
3. opening and vibrating as air moves past them
4. providing a thin membrane for a musical instrument

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

What was one of the negative effects of treating brain cancer in the past?

1. Damage to physical abilities.
2. Being sentenced to death.
3. Expensive medical bills.
4. Patients waking up during surgery.

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

Which one is the closest in meaning to the word “beat” in paragraph 3?

1. surrender
2. defeat  
3. skip  
4. give up

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

Another way to say the phrase “functioning properly” in the fourth paragraph is ______.

1. happening constantly
2. thinking quickly
3. working well
4. moving correctly

Read the passage and answer the questions.

Incredible Human Machine

People push their bodies to the limit in a variety of ways. Yet, when you consider that it takes as many as 100 muscles just to speak simple words, even everyday acts seem pretty impressive. This month, National Geographic takes a look at how our truly incredible bodies enable us to do the ordinary and the extraordinary in Incredible Human Machine.

When it comes to making music, the most impressive instrument might be the human vocal cords. These thin membranes are what enable speech and song. The vocal cords cover our throats just above the windpipe. As our breath passes through them, they open, close, and vibrate, creating the sounds that we hear. One person who puts his vocal cords to the test on a regular basis is Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler. In Incredible Human Machine, the National Geographic Channel will examine his remarkable set of vocal cords in real time during a concert.

Yet, abilities such as speech and song can be damaged by injuries or diseases like brain cancer. In the recent past, brain cancer was an almost certain death sentence. Even when brain cancer could be treated, treating it often came with the high price of brain damage. Doctors now have the power to beat this disease while protecting the remarkable skills that make the human body so amazing. Incredible Human Machine lets you watch as doctors perform brain surgery while the patient is still awake to ensure that the power of speech is preserved.

From recovering from injuries to simply walking around, our bodies possess endless abilities. Whether we're breaking records or just hanging out, we rely on 100 trillion cells functioning properly to live our lives. Watch the National Geographic Channel's Incredible Human Machine to see how they all fit together to make us who we are.

What does the word “they” in the last paragraph refer to?

1. Incredible Human Machine
2. National Geographic Channel
3. injuries
4. cells