People who have lost the ability to understand or use words due to brain damage are called aphasics(失语症患者).Such patients can be extremely good at something else.From the changing expressions on speakers’ faces and the tones of their voices,they can tell lies from truths.
Doctors studying the human brain have given a number of examples of this amazing power of aphasics.Some have even compared this power to that of a dog with an ability to find out the drugs hidden in the baggage.
Recently,scientists carried out tests to see if all that was said about aphasics was true.THEY STUDIED A MIXED GROUP OF PEOPLE.Some were normal;others were aphasics.It was proved that the aphasics were far ahead of the normal people in recognizing false speeches—in most cases,the normal people were fooled by words,but the aphasics were not.
Some years ago,Dr.Oliver Sacks wrote in his book about his experiences with aphasics.He mentioned a particular case in a hospital.Some aphasics were watching the president giving a speech on TV.Since the president had been an actor earlier,making a good speech was no problem for him.He was trying to put his feelings into every word of his speech.
But his way of speaking had the opposite effect on the patients.They didn’t seem to believe him.Instead,they burst into laughter.The aphasics knew that the president did not mean a word of what he was saying.He was lying!
Many doctors see aphasics as people who are not completely normal because they lack the ability to understand words.However,according to Dr.Sacks,they are more gifted than normal people.Normal people may get carried away by words.Aphasics seem to understand human expressions better,though they cannot understand words.What is so surprising about aphasics?
| A．They can fool other people. | B．They can find out the hidden drugs. |
| C．They can understand language better. | D．They can tell whether people are lying. |
How did the scientists study aphasics?
| A．By asking them to watch TV together. |
| B．By organizing them into acting groups. |
| C．By comparing them with normal people. |
| D．By giving them chances to speak on TV. |
What do we learn from this text?
| A．What one says reflects how one feels. |
| B．Aphasics have richer feelings than others. |
| C．Normal people often tell lies in their speeches. |
| D．People poor at one thing can be good at another. |
Movie makers at one time worried that they might be put out of business by television. Recently, however, more and more people have been going to the movies. This may be partly because the economic situation in America has worsened. When at the movies, people forget their troubles, as they get involved in the story on the screen. Also, directors have recently been producing pictures that large numbers of people want to see.
Americans in the millions are returning to their love affairs with the movies. Motion picture industry experts see two main factors responsible for this: an increased need by Americans to escape from economic worries and a large number of new movies with broad audience appeal.
Movie makers admit that their rising popularity is partly the result of poor economic conditions, which traditionally bring an increase in theatre attendance. "When people are fearful about the future, they look for escape, "comments Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. "In a shaded theatre, with a 65-foot screen, you lose yourself for two and a half hours and people find this beneficial." What did movie makers worry about before?
| A．That they couldn't have enough money to make films. |
| B．That they couldn't find good actors. |
| C．That their movies might be played on television. |
| D．That people preferred watching TV to seeing films. |
Why are so many people going to see movies now?
| A．Because people now have much more money. |
| B．Because people don't have any other entertainment. |
| C．Because people want to escape from real life. |
| D．Because watching movies is now much cheaper than watching TV. |
The main topic of American movies is about __ .
| A．economy |
| B．love |
| C．tradition |
| D．not mentioned |
According to Jack Valenti, why have movies become popular?
| A．Because America's economy is bad and people want to escape from their economic worries. |
| B．Because a large number of new movies have broad audience appeal. |
| C．Because the directors have cut the budget in making movies. |
| D．Because the films are worth seeing and are excellent motion pictures. |
What's the passage mainly about?
| A．More Americans are watching movies than before. |
| B．Television will take the place of movies. |
| C．America's economic depression. |
| D．Americans prefer to watch movies rather than watch TV. |
While assisted living centres have been available in the United States for many years, the growth and availability of assisted living has had a dramatic increase since the early 1990s. An assisted living centre is a residential alternative that promotes maximum independence for each resident through a combination of supportive services and assistance. The definition of assisted living from one state to another may vary and so will the cost and types of services.
Assisted living centres vary in size, style and the optional services they may offer. Small family style living centres or the larger complex units can be found in the United States. Some facilities are operated by nonprofit organizations, while others are proprietary In addition, some facilities may be colocated or affiliated (附属) with a hospital or nursing facility.
An assisted living centre is any institution, rest home, boarding home, place, building or agency that is maintained and operated to provide personal care and services which meet some needs beyond basic provision of food, shelter and laundry in a free standing, physically separate facility which is not otherwise required to be licensed.
In general terms, an assisted living centre is required to provide assistance with daily living activities, including eating, bathing, dressing and personal hygiene; three meals a day; supervision （监督,管理) of self-administration of medications; laundry service including personal laundry, housekeeping, and 24-hour staffing.What is an assisted living centre?
| A．A hotel that serves meals. |
| B．A place for children to be taken care of. |
| C．An entertainment place for adults. |
| D．A place which gives supportive services and assistance. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．All assisted living centres offer the same kinds of services. |
| B．A1l assisted living centres cost the same. |
| C．There are different kinds of assisted living centres in the United States. |
| D．All assisted living centres are of the same size. |
The underlined word "proprietary" in the second paragraph probably means "____".
| A．state-owned |
| B．governmental |
| C．owned by a charity organization |
| D．private |
An assisted living centre offers the following services EXCEPT ____.
| A．meals |
| B．washing |
| C．education |
| D．housekeeping |
What does the passage talk about?
| A．What's an assisted living centre? |
| B．Assisted living centres are popular in the United States. |
| C．Assisted living centres offer good services. |
| D．Welcome to the assisted living centre. |
Sport is very popular in England. In other words lots of English people like the idea of sport and watch sport on TV. But the number who takes part in sport is quite small. On the whole, English people prefer to
be fat rather than be thin.
The most popular sport in England is football. Football is played on Saturday afternoon in most towns and the supporters of a certain team will travel from one end of the country to the other to see their team play. There are four divisions (级别 ) of the footbaLl league. Not surprisingly the best teams are in the first division. But the best supporters are often in the fourth division. You have to be a good supporter to watch the fourth division football! is the most popular sport in England.
| A．Basketball | B．Football |
| C．Golf | D．Tennis |
You have to be a good supporter to watch division football.
| A．the first | B．the second |
| C．the third | D．the fourth |
Why do many English people not take part in sport?
| A．They are too busy. |
| B．They like watching sport on TV. |
| C．They would like to be fat. |
| D．They prefer to be thin. |
Fifty years ago not many people would have something repaired by themselves. In those days labour was fairly cheap and most people would have thought it worthwhile to have somebody repair their things unless they were very poor. Today, however, it is quite a different story. Men and women in all walks of life turn their hands to all kinds of jobs round the house. Some people have even successfully built their own houses. These jobs have been made easier today by using prepared materials.
In every high street throughout Britain nowadays there is at least one “DIY” shop. And “Do-it-yourself” is a booming business. A lot of people visit these shops every day because of the high cost of the present-day labour. Fifty years ago if people needed some repairs, they would .
| A．try to mend them by themselves |
| B．throw them away |
| C．repair them in their homes |
| D．have somebody repair them unless they were poor |
Many jobs have been made easier today because .
| A．some people have successfully built their own houses |
| B．men and women turn their hands to all kinds of jobs |
| C．they can be done by using prepared materials |
| D．a lot of people are very hard up for money |
From the passage we know that
| A．there are many “DIY” shops in Britain |
| B．not every high street in Britain has one “DIY” shop |
| C．people can do nothing without using prepared materials |
| D．"Do-it-yourself" is a lazy business in cities |
Why do a lot of people visit “DIY” shops every day?
| A．Because people are used to doing things at home. |
| B．Because the present-day labour is no longer cheap. |
| C．Because they are interested in shopping. |
| D．Because they enjoy the high cost of present-day labour. |
Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York — he in computers, she in special education. "Teaching means everything to us," Tim would say. In April 1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.
Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's hometown, Tennessee." I think, maybe Linda and I can do something like this when we retire," Tim recalled. He placed the brochure on his desk, "as a reminder".
Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on www.imaginationlibrary.com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of books and postage discounts.
The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. "We don't want to give the children rubbish, "said Linda. The books — reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists, and Dollywood board members - included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series.
Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: "This program introduces us to books I've never heard of."
The Richters spend about $400 a month sending books t0 200 children. "Some people sit there and wait to die, "said Tim. "Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left."What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?
| A．His health problem. |
| B．His love for teaching. |
| C．The influence of his wife. |
| D．The news from the web. |
What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?
| A．Give out brochures. |
| B．Mailing books to children. |
| C．Write books to children. |
| D．Retire from being a teacher. |
According to the text, Dolly Parton is____.
| A．a well-known surgeon |
| B．a mother of a child |
| C．a singer born in Tennessee |
| D．a computer programmer |
Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?
| A．To avoid signing up online. |
| B．To meet Dollywood board members. |
| C．To make sure the books were the newest. |
| D．To see if the, books were of good quality. |