Looking back on my childhood, I am quite sure that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were all brought up in the same way, my brothers and sisters soon left their pressed flowers and insects completely forever. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and
languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do mental mathematics.
Before World War I, we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and of my toys. Nor do I remember clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a clear memory of the dogs, the farm animals, the local birds, and above all, the insects
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love of the natural world and my interest had led me into varied investigations. I love discussing my favorite subjects and enjoy burning the midnight oil reading about other people’s discoveries. Then something happens that brings these discoveries together in my mind. Suddenly you imagine you see the answer to the question, because it all seems to fit together. This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books, which some might honor with the title of scientific research.
But interest, a good eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist: one of the outstanding and necessary qualities required is self-discipline(自我修养), a quality I lack. A scientist, up to point, can be made. A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both worlds.The first paragraph tells us the author __________.
| A．was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood |
| B．lost his hearing when he was a child |
| C．didn’t like his brothers and sisters |
| D．was born to a naturalist’s family |
The author can’t remember his relatives clearly because __________.
| A．he didn’t live very long with them |
| B．the family was extremely large |
| C．he was too young when he lived with them |
| D．he paid more attention to nature |
The author says that he is a naturalist rather than a scientist probably because he thinks he __________.
| A．has a great deal of trouble doing mental mathematics |
| B．lacks some of the qualities required of s scientist |
| C．just reads about other people’s discoveries |
| D．comes up with solutions in a most natural way |
Teenagers will be told to "stand up for their elders" on public transport — or risk losing their right to free travel.
London Mayor Boris Johnson will declare plans today to make youngsters sign a “courtesy pledge" (文明宣言) to promise to behave in a respectful manner when travelling in the capital. The three-point pledge states that they will give up their seats to the elderly, pregnant and disabled; keep from using offensive or threatening language; and be courteous and polite to fellow passengers and staff.
Those who refuse, or are caught behaving in a loutish manner, will have their free travel passes removed. The plan — a key part of Mr. Johnson's re-election bid— will initially affect the 400,000 ll-to-15-year-olds in London who qualify for free travel cards, but Tory sources believe the idea could be used across the country.
A Conservative insider said: "The plan corresponds perfectly with the push to create a Big Society. It is about changing culture and expectations around behavior to improve the atmosphere on buses and trains for everyone."
Speaking before today's launch, Mr. Johnson said he was determined to deal with the anti-social behavior of a "minority of youngsters" on public transport. "When I was a boy, I was taught to stand up for those less able to, "he said. "Youngsters enjoy the privilege of free travel, which is paid for by Londoners, but they have to understand that with that privilege comes responsibility. Anyone who abuses this privilege will have it taken away, and will have to earn that right bach ."
Teenagers found guilty of a serious violation of the new behavior rules will lose their travel passes, and will have to carry out unpaid community work to earn them back.
Mr. Johnson is also introducing a "two strikes and you're out" policy to deal with repeat offenders, under which those committing a second serious violation of the rules will lose their travel rights permanently.Which of the following is NOT the content of the "courtesy pledge"?
| A．Teenagers should give up their seats to the old. |
| B．Teenagers shouldn't talk with strangers in public. |
| C．Teenagers mustn't use aggressive language in public. |
| D．Teenagers must be polite to people on public transport. |
What does the underlined word "loutish" in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?
| A．rude | B．stupid | C．polite | D．calm |
According to Mr Johnson,____________.
| A．youngsters should know duty comes with benefit |
| B．youngsters shouldn't use the privilege of free travel |
| C．anyone shouldn't make money with the privilege |
| D．youngsters should do some unpaid community work |
The worst punishment teenagers can face is____________.
| A．to sign an agreement | B．to work in the community |
| C．to be fined | D．to lose their travel passes forever |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．London Mayor Boris Johnson is a great person |
| B．The plan corresponds perfectly with the Big Society |
| C．Be polite and stand up for your elders or lose free travel |
| D．The "courtesy pledge” has been used across the country |
In 1997, I found myself in a situation I never thought I'd be in: alone and begging for money in New York. My father had been separated from our family, and my mother had recently died from complications related to AIDS. What I remember most about such nights is lying on the cold marble floor and using my backpack for a pillow.
Even though I had lost my family, I made choices every single day to turn my life around. There was the haven for homeless teenagers called the Door, a non－profit organization that provided me with guidance, medical care and food, all of which kept me going while I completed my homework in train stations and under hallway lights. Perhaps the most surprising help though, I did not seek out﹔it found me. The New York Times told my story. In the weeks that followed, dozens of strangers reached out to me from all across the United States. At my high school, I began receiving handwritten letters of encouragement. Strangers showed up bearing clothes, books, and even hugs. Since the article mentioned I was applying to Harvard, one woman knitted a blanket for me. She attached this note to the box it was posted in: "It gets cold in those dorms. May you warm yourself knowing that people care about you".
With the help of these people, my life today bears no resemblance at all to my life then. I graduated not only from high school but also from Harvard University.
Before these people — some of them nameless— I just didn't realize how good people could be. But now I do, and I can say that the people who helped me have forever changed me. They are the reason behind my decision to join the board at the Door so that I can be part of a small team of people opening a high school for homeless teenagers .They are the reason I dedicate my life to opening pathways for others. And they are the reason I travel around the world helping people transform their own lives.According to the passage, the author______________.
| A．tried to change her life |
| B．often slept m friends’ homes |
| C．felt lonely because of her illness |
| D．felt quite desperate for her father |
What can we learn about the Door?
| A．It helps the homeless teenagers. |
| B．It is an organization seeking profits. |
| C．It provides entertainment for children. |
| D．It reports the stories about the homeless. |
The 3rd paragraph mainly tells about.
| A．how the author applies to Harvard |
| B．how the author struggles for her ideal |
| C．how The New York Times helps the author |
| D．how people help the author in different ways |
Which of the following is the correct order to describe the author's life?
a. The newspaper reported her story.
b. She graduated from Harvard University.
c. She slept on the cold floor at night.
d. She joined the committee at the Door.
e. Her mother died from the illness.
| A．d→e→c→a→b | B．e→c→d→a→b |
| C．e→c→a→b→d | D．b→c→d→e→a |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
| A．Patience is a virtue. |
| B．Love can be passed on. |
| C．Time waits for no man. |
| D．Honesty leads to success. |
Motherhood may make women smarter and may help prevent dementia(痴呆) in old age by bathing the brain in protective hormones(荷尔蒙) , U.S. reseachers reported on Thursday.
Tests on rats show that those who raise two or more litters of pups do considerably better in tests of memory and skills than rats who have no babies, and their brains show changes that suggest they may be protected against diseases such as Alzheimer’s(老年痴呆症). University of Richmond psychology professor Craig Kinsley believes his findings will translate into humans.
“Our research shows that the hormones of pregnancy are protecting the brain, including estrogen(雌激素), which we know has many neuroprotective (保护神经的) effects,” Kinsley said.
“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals,” he added in a telephone interview. “They go through pregnancy and hormonal changes.”
Kinsley said he hoped public health officials and researchers will look to see if having had children protects a woman from Alzheimer’s and other forms of age-related brain decline.
“When people think about pregnancy, they think about what happens to babies and the mother from the neck down,” said Kinsley, who presented his findings to the annual meeting of the Society of Neuroscience in Orlando, Florida.
“They do not realize that hormones are washing on the brain. If you look at female animals who have never gone through pregnancy, they act differently toward young. But if she goes through pregnancy, she will sacrifice her life for her infant—that is a great change in her behavior that showed in genetic alterations(改变) to the brain.”What can protect the brain of a woman according to the passage?( within 4 words)
How do scientists know “Motherhood may make women smarter”?( within 8 words)
“It’s rat data but humans are mammals just like these animals are mammals.” What does the sentence suggest? ( within 13 words)
What’s the main idea of this passage? (within 10 words)
With high pace of modern society, more and more people get stressed and feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and doesn’t require any specially attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation ―for example, when a family problem appears, the time a loved one dies, or when they move to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, it usually lasts for more than two years and has no specific cause. People in this case have problems socializing and can not become close to others. Unfortunately, many such people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: They are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between habitual loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be normal, healthy part of life, habitual loneliness can be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition.
Title: _____________________
| Types |
Causes |
Existing Time |
||
| Temporary |
Not mentioned |
Not mentioned |
Very Short |
Normal and healthy |
Situational |
● a family problem, ● ● moving to a new place |
● headaches ● sleeplessness |
Not more than a year |
|
No specific cause |
Difficulties ● socializing ● others ● keeping fit |
We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people. “Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?” “When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck?” “And Paul-why didn’t pick up that he was friendly just because I had a car?” When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back， It’s too late.
Why do we go wrong about our friends – or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you， “You’re a lucky dog .” that’s being friendly. But “lucky dog”? There’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the “dog” bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you deserve your luck.
“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for ” is another noise that says one thing and means another. It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture? The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people say to you may save another mistake.This passage is mainly about .
| A．how to interpret what people say |
| B．what to do when you listen to others talking |
| C．how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with people |
| D．Why we go wrong with people sometimes |
According to the author，the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that .
| A．We fail to listen carefully when they talk |
| B．People tend to be annoyed when we check what they say |
| C．People usually state one thing but means another |
| D．We tend to doubt what our friends say |
In the sentence “Maybe he doesn’t see it himself” in the second paragraph，the pronoun “it “refers to .
| A．being friendly | B．a bit of envy | C．lucky dog | D．your luck |
When we listen to a person talking, the most important thing for us to do is .
| A．notice the way the person is talking |
| B．take a good look at the person talking |
| C．mind his tone，his posture and the look in his eyes |
| D．examine the real meaning of what he says based on his manner, his tone and his posture |
The author most probably is a .
| A．teacher | B．philosopher | C．psychologist | D．doctor |