第三部分:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
请认真阅读下列短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Around the age of 40, honest people may already admit to noticing changes in their mental abilities. This is the beginning of a gradual decline that in all too many of us will end with full-blown dementia(痴呆).
However, a few drugs that might do the job, known as “cognitive enhancement(认知增强)”, are already on the market, and a few dozen others are on the way. Perhaps the best-known is modafinil. Licensed to treat narcolepsy, the condition that causes people to suddenly fall asleep, it has notable effects in healthy people too. Modafinil can keep a person awake and his or her attention fixed for 90 hours straight, with none of anxiety, nervousness and bad concentration. In fact, with the help of modafinil, people who can hardly go to sleep can perform even better than their well-rested, un-medicated(未服药的) selves.
It’s an open secret that many, perhaps most, prescriptions for modafinil are written not for people who suffer from narcolepsy, but for those who simply want to stay awake. Similarly, many people are using Ritalin not because they suffer from attention problem or any other disorder, but because they want superior concentration during exams or heavy-duty activities.
Some drugs have also been specially designed to improve memory. Many of these seem to work, and without any major side effects. So why aren’t we all on cognitive enhancers already?
“We need to be careful what we wish for,” says Daniele Piomelli at the University of California at Irvine. Repairing and improving memory may have unwanted effects, he warns. “Eventually we may end up remembering things we don’t want to.”
56. According to the message, we can learn that originally modafinil is a drug designed for _____.
A. for both healthy and unhealthy people
B. the treatment of dementia
C. people who can hardly go to sleep
D. those suffering from falling asleep suddenly
57. The passage mainly talks about _____.
A. dementia—a threat to the old people B. modafinil—a nice drug for dementia
C. relevant drugs to a better brain D. cognitive enhancement
58. The underlined sentences in paragraph two wants to tell us that _____.
A. without modafinil people suffering from sleep problems cannot rest well
B. people lacking sleep can work better than they are in a healthy state if taking modafinilC. modafinil has greater effects on healthy people if they take it
D. with modafinil people suffering from narcolepsy can fall asleep easily
59. What’s the writer’s attitude to the drugs mentioned in the passage?
A. Positive. B. Negative. C. Objective(客观的). D. Doubtful.
LG Electronics, the world’s fourth largest cell phone producer, has added another feature to the mobile phone-reading books for the visually impaired(弱视). The company started marketing the model, the LF1300 on Sep.18.No other people but the blind and visually-impaired with a certificate(证书) can buy the talking phone at sales shops of LG Electronics.
“The LF1300 is the world’s first mobile phone that is capable of reading books for the print-disabled, who otherwise could not enjoy them.This is not about making money but about continuing to put froth efforts to reduce the digital difference for the disabled,” LG Vice President said.
Its users can download about 300 audio books from the Internet site of LG Sangam Library to their phones for free in two ways. One is to access the digital library’s Website on a computer designed for the blind to get the audio books and transfer them to cell phones. The other is to download the digital books directly with cell phones through the wireless net work by touching a hot key on the LF1300 phone.
On top of its unique feature of reading books, the LF1300 is no worse than the pupular top-line phones in both outlooks and frnctionalities(功能性). The phone is armed with an MP3 player and a Bluetooth headset, enabling users to listen to the music or talk without a cord. The user interface(界面) of the LF1300 is also designed for the blind,enabling phone users to control it through a voice guidance system.
However, because the phone’s internal mimory of 17MB is small even for a single audio book file, which takes up 80MB on average, a high-volume external memory is a must for the talking book services.are allowed to buy the talking phone.
A.Disabled people with a certificate |
B.All the blind and poor-sighted people |
C.The blind and poor-sighted with a certificate |
D.Both healthy and disabled citizens |
The users can enjoy reading books on LF1300 by.
A.talking to the microphone | B.touching any key |
C.touching its screen | D.touching the hot key |
What can be learned from the passage?
A.This is the first time LG company has done something for the disabled. |
B.Phone users don’t have to pay much to download the digital books. |
C.LF1300 has a less attractive outlook than any other top-line phone. |
D.The disadvantage of LF1300 is that it has too small internal memory. |
The best title of the passage might be.
A.A New Type of Cell Phone is on the Market |
B.Mobile Phones Can Read Books for the Print-Disabled |
C.The Disabled will Benefit from Cell Phone Producers |
D.Advanced Technology Helps the Blind Read Books |
Have you ever been in a meeting while someone was making a speech and realized suddenly that your mind was a million miles away? You probably felt sorry and made up your mind to pay attention and never have daydreaming again. Most of us from earlier school days have been told that daydreaming is a waste of time.
“ On the contrary,” says L.Giambra, an expert in psychology(心理学), “ daydreaming is quite necessary. Without it, the mind couldn’t get done all the thinking it has to do during a normal day… .
You can’t possibly do all your thinking with a conscious(有意识的) mind. Instead, your unconscious mind is working out problems all the time. Daydreaming then may be one way that the unconscious states of minds have silent dialogues.”
Early experts in psychology paid no attention to the importance of daydreams or even considered them harmful. At one time daydreaming was thought to be a cause of some mental illness. They did not have a better understanding of daydreams until the late 1980s. Eric Klinger, a professor of psychology, is the writer of the book Daydreaming. Klinger says, “we know now that daydreaming is one of the main ways that we organize our lives, learn from our experiences, and plan for our futures… Daydreams really are a window on the things we fear and the things we long for in life.”
Daydreams are usually very simple and direct, quite unlike sleep dreams which may be hard to understand. It’s easier to gain a deep understanding of your life by paying close attention to your daydreams than by trying to examine your sleep dreams carefully. Daydreams help you recognize the difficult situations in your life and find out a possible way of handling them.
Daydreams cannot be predicted; they move off in unexpected directions which may be creative and full of useful ideas. For many famous artists and scientists, daydreams were and are a main source of creative energy.
So the next time you catch yourself daydreaming, don’t stop. Just pay attention to your dream. It may be more important than you think.In what way are daydreams different from sleep dreams?
A.Daydreams help to develop an unconscious mind. |
B.Daydreams are not so easy for us to control and direct. |
C.Daydreams help us to handle more difficult situations |
D.Daydreams are easier for us to understand. |
Professor Eric Klinger believes that _______.
A.our fears and longings in life are shown in our daydreams |
B.we may study our experiences just through our daydreams |
C.daydreaming is one of the important ways that we recognize our lives |
D.we should be able to tell our futures by having daydreams |
The writer of the article thinks that ______.
A.daydreaming is more helpful than sleep dreams |
B.many artists and scientists are famous because they have daydreams |
C.professor Eric Klinger has a better idea than L. Giambra |
D.daydreaming with an unconscious mind will do good to health |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Daydreaming was once regarded as a cause of mental illness. |
B.Experts began to have a better understanding of daydreams in the late 1980s. |
C.Scientists believe that we can know daydreams before having them. |
D. Many well-known artists gained energy of creation from daydream |
Bicycle Safety
Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus(校园). Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions.
Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack---even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It’s fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen.
Equipment
Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly.
Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fits properly.
Lights Always have a front headlight---visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea.
Rules of the Road
Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15 mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of way to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go.
Bicycle Parking Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such spots can result in a fine.
If Things Go Wrong
If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for:
No bicycle registration---------------------------------------------------$25
Bicycle parking banned--------------------------------------------------$30
Blocking path with bicycle ---------------------------------------------$40
Violation of bicycle equipment requirement -------------------------$35Registration of your bicycle may help you _____________.
A.find your stolen bicycle | B.get your serial number |
C.receive free repair services | D.settle conflicts with walkers |
According to the passage, what bike equipment is a free choice for bicycle riders?
A.Brakes. | B.A helmet. | C.A headlight. | D.A taillight. |
When you ride a bicycle on the campus, _________________.
A.ride on posted bicycle paths and sidewalks |
B.cycle at a speed of over 15 mph |
C.put the walkers’ right of way first |
D.call the police before leaving in case of accident |
What is the passage mainly about?
A.A guide for safe bicycling on campus |
B.Directions for bicycle tour on campus. |
C.Regulations of bicycle race on campus. |
D.Rules for riding motor vehicles on campus. |
In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bikes to work every day. In New York, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bikes to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines.
For several years, this group had been trying to get the city government to help bike riders. For example, they want the city to draw special lanes(车道) for bikes on some of the main streets, because when bike riders must use the same lanes as cars there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.
But no bike lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea—they say it will slow traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don’t like the idea—they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business.
The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park—the largest place open ground in New York— is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bikes only.In New York, a group of bike riders__________.
A.are keeping practicing for health |
B.have no cars of their own |
C.are complaining there are not enough buses |
D.are trying to settle the problem of air pollution |
The bike riders suggest that __________.
A.bikes should be used instead of cars |
B.bike lanes should be drawn |
C.fewer buses or cars should be used |
D.the number of special lanes should be decreased |
The advantage of the special lanes is that__________.
A.they will make cars and buses run slowly |
B.they will make it easier for bike riders to go to parks |
C.they will make the city more beautiful |
D.they will prevent accidents |
Why is a full moon, yellower and bigger when it is coming up than when it is higher in the sky?
That's a good question about something that we all can see. Let's talk about the moon's color first.
We see the moon only because of the sunlight that falls on it and is reflected. Actually, the moon is not a very good reflector, because its surface is all rocks and dirt. We see it in almost its true color when it is high in the sky.
When the moon first comes up, its light reaches our eyes after an extra-long path through the atmosphere (大气). There are lots of particles (微粒) scattering (分散) light in that long path. Blue light is scattered more than other colors, which means that it doesn't reach your eyes. The light that is left over looks yellow to your eye.
Now about the other question—why the moon seems to change in size. That's more complicated. It's not an effect of the atmosphere, the way color is; it's not caused by something fooling your eyes. It seems, instead, to be caused by something that fools your brain—an illusion(错觉).
Here's a drawing that creates an illusion. The two cones(圆锥体) are really the same size. But the rest of the drawing makes the right-hand cone seem farther away. Your brain knows that faraway objects are really larger than they look. It decides that the right-hand cone must be larger because it seems to be farther away.
Similarly, when you see the moon just come up over a line of trees or houses—or whatever makes the horizon(地平线)—it may be that your brain decides that the moon must be larger because it seems to be farther away.The moon doesn't reflect the sunlight very well because________________.
A.it is high in the sky | B.its surface is rough |
C.its surface is white | D.it isn't a good reflector |
Which statement is true according to the passage?
A.In the course of its rising, the moon is getting smaller and smaller |
B.The size of the moon is more complicated than its color |
C.The atmosphere has the same effect on the moon's size as on its color |
D.The change in the moon's size is caused by an illusion while that in its color is caused by the atmosphere |
After reading this passage, you can possibly answer one of the following questions. Which one? ______.
A.Why is the sun bigger when it rises over the horizon? |
B.Why does the sun look bigger when it rises over the horizon? |
C.Why does the sun look golden? |
D.Why does the sun rise in the east? |
Who do you think probably wrote this passage?________.
A.A novelist | B.A reporter |
C.A science editor | D.An English teacher. |