第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分,满分40分）Ih-优题课

Babies who watch TV are more likely to show late learning development and language at 14 months, especially if they are watching programs aimed at adults and older children, according to a new study, which would probably surprise those parents who leave their babies in front of a TV set.
Babies who watched 60 minutes of TV daily had developmental scores a third lower at 14 months than babies who were watching less TV. Although their developmental scores were still in the normal range, the difference may have been due to the fact that when children and parents are watching TV, they are missing the talking, playing and other communications that are important to learning and development.
This new study, which appeared in the Aechives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, followed 259 lower-income families in New York, most of whom spoke Spanish as their primary language at home. Other studies of higher-income families have also come to the same conclusion: TV watching is not only non-educational, but it seems to slow down babies’ development.
But what about “good” TV, like Sesame Street? The researchers didn’t find any difference when compared to non-educational programs designed for small children, like Spongebob SquarePants. Earlier research by some of the same scientists, most of whom are at New York University School of Medicine’s Bellevue Hospital Centre, has found that parents whose children watch non-educational TV programs like Spongebob SquarePants spend less time reading to their children or teaching them.
At this point, parents reading this will probably be astonished. TV is so often a parent’s good friend, keeping children happily occupied（占时间）so that the adults can cook dinner, answer the phone, or take a shower. But, clearly, this electronic babysitter（保姆）is not an educational aid. It is best to make sure the babies are fast asleep if you have to watch TV.
According to the first paragraph, 14-month-old babies who watch TV probably_______.

A．learn things quickly

B．prefer programs for older children

C．surprise their parents with their development

D．speak later than babies who don’t

Babies who watched 60 minutes of TV daily had lower developmental scores perhaps because _______.

A．they watch non-educational programs

B．they have little communication with their parents

C．they lost interest in real things

D．their parents don’t speak English at home

We can infer from the passage that______.

A．Educational and non-educational TV have different effects on babies

B．Many parents leave babies to the TV to do their own things

C．Educational TV is very popular among higher-income families

D．Lower-income families tend to teach their babies at home

Which would be the best title for the passage?

A．Developing Better Learning Ability

B．A New Study on Babies’ Bad Habits

C．TV Watching Is Bad for Babies’ Brains

D．Make Sure Your Babies Watch “Good” TV Programs

Who doesn’t have a clingy friend? You know, that person who often calls, texts, and e-mails. He often needs your attention, your feedback, or your help. Worse yet, he often gets antsy when you don’t reply immediately.
Is there ever a moment when you just want to turn off your phone and be alone? But you won’t do that to a friend. Actually there are better ways to deal with a clingy friend.
Give Yourself Some Time
If you really need some time for yourself, or you’re just tired of being the listener, just explain to your friend honestly that you want or need some time of your own. Even the most determined friends will understand and give you some space. Of course, those extremely clingy friends will still call, text, and e-mail. If that happens, just reply gently that you need some time for yourself.
Suggest an Activity for Your Friend
If you are tired of different get-togethers and outings, then you should advise your friend to do something alone. If you both like sports, you could tell your friend to have a try at the new gym. If your friend likes your suggestion, but insists that you go along, just explain that you’ve already visited the gym. Mention that you enjoy the gym. If you’re lucky , he’ll try it, and like it.
Introduce Your Clingy Friend to Others.
Your clingy friend may just be lonely or have trouble meeting new people. If that’s the case , introduce him to others with similar interests. He may just make some new friends.
_________________________________________
There’s no reason for you to rudely tell your clingy friend that he’s a pain in the neck. Just follow the above advice to take your time back. After a while, your clingy friend should learn to value your time and your friendship.
What does the underlined word “antsy” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．busy

B．silent

C．nervous

D．bored

What does the author suggest you do in the first advice?

A．Understand your friends.

B．Be honest with your friends.

C．Spend more time with your friends.

D．Keep your distance from your friends.

Which of the following can best fill in the blank of the last paragraph?

A．Give Your Friend Some Time	B．Take Your Time Back
C．Don’t Be Rude	D．Value Your Friendship

We can learn from the passage that clingy people __________.

A．are very confident	B．have little free time
C．don’t respect others	D．don’t want to be alone

Two traveling angels(天使) stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied: “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor but very hospitable(好客的)farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, “How could this happen? Why didn’t you watch out for the cow? The first man had everything, yet you watched over his house,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you did not help.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal(封口)the wall so he couldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”
Why did the older angel repair the hole for the rich family?

A．Because the basement was too cold to stay in.

B．Because she wanted to save the gold for the poor.

C．Because she wanted to punish the greedy owner.

D．Because she believed that one should always be ready to offer help.

In paragraph two, the pair refers to __________.

A．the poor couple	B．the rich couple
C．the guests	D．the angels

The younger angel was very angry because __________.

A．the older angel killed the farmer’s cow

B．the older angel treated the two families unfairly

C．the wealthy man gave them a bad place to live

D．the angel of death took the cow away

The story tries to tell the reader that ___________.

A．sometimes things are not what they seem

B．angels are always ready to help the poor

C．angels are always ready to help the rich

D．the young should always learn from the old.

Is there clear boundary between science and the liberal arts as a major for college students? The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts in higher education is not an either / or proposition (命题), although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) -related fields can make it seem that way.
The latest congressional report acknowledges the critical importance of technical training, but also stresses that the study of the humanities (人文学科) and social sciences must remain central elements of America’s educational system at all levels. Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become innovative (创新的) leaders, and benefit from the spiritual enrichment that the reflection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides.
Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects (前景) as technological advances and changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs. Under this circumstances, it’s natural to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem. “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run. Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily.
Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4^th and 5^th jobs, as there is little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers. The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be flexible. The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight - picked up from science, arts, and technology - to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States.
What does the latest congressional report suggest?

A．Higher education should be adjusted to the practical needs of society.

B．The liberal arts in higher education help enrich students’ spiritual life.

C．STEM-related subjects help students find jobs in the information society.

D．The humanities and STEM subjects should be given equal importance.

What does the author say about the so called soft subjects?

A．They are essential to students’ healthy growth.

B．They improve students’ communication skills.

C．They broaden students’ range of interests.

D．They benefit students in their future life.

What is the main concern of students when they choose a major?

A．The academic value of the courses.

B．Their interest in relevant subjects.

C．Their chances of getting a good job.

D．The quality of education to receive.

What advice does the author give to college students?

A．Try to take a variety of practical courses.

B．Prepare themselves for different job options.

C．Adopt a flexible approach to solving problems.

D．Seize opportunities to tap their potential.

My mom has eyes in the back of her head. She also taught me from an early age to be suspicious of strange men, especially when they give you presents. One day, a “nice man” bearing flowers managed to steal 20 euros from her purse, while she was holding it in her hands. “He said he was collecting for a church charity so I pulled out a euro,” she explains, “He said ‘no, no, that’s too much’ and offered to look in my purse to find a smaller coin. He must have slid out that 20 euro note at the same time. I did not even notice until an hour later. I felt so stupid.”
According to neuroscientists, the key requirement for a successful pickpocket is not having nifty (熟练的) fingers, it’s having a working knowledge of the loopholes (漏洞) in our brain. The most important of these loopholes is the fact that our brains are not set up to multi-task. Most of the time that is a good thing — it allows us to filter (过滤) out all but the most important features of the world around us. But a good trickster can use it to against you. This kind of trick involves capturing all of somebody’s attention with other movements. Street pickpockets often use this effect to their advantage by manufacturing a situation that can not help but overload your attention system. Other strategies are more psychological. Pickpockets tend to hang out a “beware of pickpockets” signs, because the first thing people do when they read it is check they still have their valuables, helpfully giving away where they are. And in my mom’s case, the thief’s best trick was not coming across like a pickpocket. “He was a very nice guy and very confident. Not someone that would cause you to suspect,” she says. Apollo Robbins, a stage pickpocket, said smart move, like moving your hand in an arc (弧) motion rather than a straight line, is another popular strategy employed by tricksters.
At last, it should be pointed out that most thefts are opportunistic. The skill level of most thieves is far less than you think. But they are opportunistic enough to keep up with new technology.
What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．People’s brains are not designed to multi-task.

B．People’s brains can filter out all but the most important features.

C．Somebody’s attention can be distracted by a certain trick.

D．Somebody’s overload attention system.

According to the passage, all of the following are pickpocket strategies except __.

A．having nifty fingers

B．hanging out “beware of pickpockets” sign

C．displaying confidence

D．moving hand in an arc motion

In the author’s opinion, _________.

A．people’s brains have many loopholes

B．thieves are more skillful than opportunistic

C．his mom’s losing money is nothing but a by-accident experience

D．signs reminding people of pickpockets can play a negative role in protecting valuables

What will the author probably talk about next?

A．Mom’s another suffering

B．Pickpockets concerning new technology

C．Pickpockets’ tricks

D．Apollo Robbins’ stage pickpockets