Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind. How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words, you are telling yourself the logic (逻辑) behind what you think, feel, or only partly understand. Often, explaining a thought is the process of understanding. In other words, you increase your brain power by exercising your “explain power.”
Try this experiment. Explain how you’ll increase your brain power, even if you have no idea right now. Just start with anything, and create an explanation. For example, start with “I’ll learn chess,” or “I’ll read an article on the mind every week.” Explain how that will help. You’ll be surprised how often this becomes a workable plan, and if you actually do this, you’ll have a better understanding of your brain from now.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember. Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes. You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas the next time you’re working on a big project, you’ll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it. That’s an extreme example, but if you are learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better. Want to invent something? Write an explanation of the problem, why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you’re half-way there.
Writers don’t always write because they clearly understand something beforehand. Often, they write about something because they want to understand it. You can do the same. Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try.What would be the best title for the text?
| A．A Way on How to Write. |
| B．Increase Your Brain Power through Writing. |
| C．Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing. |
| D．How to Start Your Writing. |
According to the text, writing can help you a lot in the following ways EXCEPT ______.
| A．the increase of your brain power |
| B．the ability to remember |
| C．the development of your interest in study |
| D．the better understanding of a topic |
If a writer writes something, it means that he or she ______.
| A．has understood it very well |
| B．needs to understand it better |
| C．wants to remember it in his or her mind |
| D．is exercising his or her “explain power” |
The underlined sentence “you’re half-way there” in the fifth paragraph implies
that ______.
| A．you are already successful |
| B．you still need to work hard |
| C．writing can help you walk half way |
| D．writing is important to solve problems |
What’s the main purpose of the writer writing the text?
| A．To advise readers to start their writing. |
| B．To explain the importance of writing. |
| C．To persuade readers to become writers. |
| D．To increase readers’ brain power. |
Edmund Halley was an English scientist who lived over 200 years ago. He studied the observations of comets(彗星)which other scientists had made. The orbit（轨道） of one particular comet was a very difficult mathematical problem. He could not figure it out. Neither could other scientists who dealt with such problems.
However, Halley had a friend named Isaac Newton, who was a brilliant mathematician. Newton thought he had already worked out that problem, but he could not find the papers on which he had done it. He told Halley that the orbit of a comet had the shape of an ellipse(椭圆形).
Now Halley set to work. He figured out(解决，计算出)the orbits of some of the comets that had been observed by scientists. He made a surprising discovery. The comets that had appeared in the years 1531, 1607, and 1682 all had the same orbit. Yet their appearance had been 75 to 76 years apart.
This seemed very strange to Halley. Three different comets followed the same orbit. The more Halley thought about it, the more he thought that there had not been three different comets as people thought. He decided that they had simply seen the same comet three times. The comet had gone away and had come back again.
It was an astonishing idea! Halley felt certain to make a prediction(预言)of what would happen in the future. He decided that this would appear in the year 1758. There were 53 years to go before Halley’s prediction could be tested. In 1758 the comet appeared in the sky. Halley did not see it, for he had died some years before. Ever since then that comet had been called Halley’s comet, in his honor.Edmund Halley figured out the orbit of ____.
| A．some different comets appearing several times |
| B．the same comet appearing at different times |
| C．three different comets appearing at the same time |
| D．several comets appearing at the same time |
Halley made his discovery ____.
| A．by doing experiments |
| B．by means of his own careful observation |
| C．by using the working of other scientists |
| D．by chance |
Halley made a surprising, but correct prediction in the year____.
| A．1704 | B．1705 | C．1706 | D．1707 |
This passage in general is about ____.
| A．Halley and other scientists |
| B．the orbit of a comet |
| C．Newton and Halley |
| D．Halley and his discovery |
Which of the following is TRUE?
A．Edmund Halley was an American  scientist. |
| B．Halley made his discovery by doing experiments. |
| C．Isaac Newton was a famous mathematician. |
| D．The orbit of a comet had the shape of an around. |
It was a quiet village in which there was a military camp. It was far from the towns and cities and there were some high mountains around. Of course it was a good place for training the new soldiers. But it was difficult for the young men to go outside. Mr. White, an officer of forty, was strict with them and he hardly let them leave the camp.
Once Mr. White was ill in bed. He couldn’t work and a young officer, Mr. Hunt, began to train the new soldiers instead of him. He knew the young men well and let nine soldiers go to the nearest town to have a holiday. But night fell and none came back to the camp. He was worried about it and stood at the gate. It was five to twelve when Mr. Hunt decided to go to the town and see what was happening with the young men. He started the car quickly and set off. At that moment the nine soldiers came back. It seemed they were all drunk. Of course they found the officer was angry.
“I’m sorry, sir,” said the first soldier. “I left the town on time. But something was wrong with my bus on my way here. I had to buy a horse and made it run fast. Bad luck! It died and I had to run back.”
And the other seven soldiers said they were late for the same reasons. It was the last soldier’s turn. He said, “I’m sorry, sir. I got on a bus on time, but…”
Having heard this, the officer became even angrier and stopped him at once. He called out, “If you say something was wrong with your bus, I’ll punish you at once!”
“No, no, sir,” said the young man. “My bus was all right, but the dead horses were in its way!” The military camp was built in the village to _______.
| A．stop the soldiers going to towns |
| B．stop the soldiers meeting their friends |
| C．train the new soldiers |
| D．make the young men live quietly |
Mr. Hunt let the nine soldiers have a holiday because _______.
| A．he was kind and understanding |
| B．they felt lonely |
| C．they had something important to do |
| D．they were the best of all the soldiers |
The young officer was worried because _______.
| A．a traffic accident had happened |
| B．he was afraid something happened to the nine soldiers |
| C．the nine soldiers didn’t come back on time |
| D．the nine soldiers drank too much in the town |
The nine soldiers returned to the camp late because _______.
| A．something was wrong with their buses |
| B．their horses died on the return way |
| C．it took them much time to run back |
| D．they all had drunk much in the town |
Which statement do you think is right?
A．The officer believed only th e last soldier. |
| B．The officer believed the nine soldiers. |
| C．The officer believed none of the nine soldiers. |
D．The of ficer wouldn’t punish his soldiers. |
Music is an international language. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are beautiful to all people everywhere.
Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers (扬声器) and play the music loudly as they drive on the street.
Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics, and activities of the American people. But most of the radio broadcast is music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to me
et him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.
Besides pop music, there are two other kinds of music that is important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. The other is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music. In America, every student likes ______.
| A．folk music | B．country music | C．pop music | D．western music |
According to the passage, most of the car radio broadcast is ______.
| A．sports | B．the weather | C．politics | D．music |
What do the cowboys do according to the passage?
| A．They sell cows. | B．They watch cows. |
| C．They sing and dance. | D．They travel around. |
How many kinds of music are mentioned in the passage?
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Music in America | B．Music Listeners |
| C．Cowboys in America | D．International Language |
Clarissa looked out of the taxi window at the wet road. It was still raining. She was looking forward to getting home after a busy and tiring week in Italy.
The taxi stopped outside the terminal and Clarissa got out. While she was finding some money in her purse, the driver took out her luggage. She picked up her suitcase and entered the terminal building. The British airways check—in desk was near the entrance. After checking in her luggage, she went to buy some magazines. Then she went through passport control and the security check.
After waiting in line with 
other passengers, Clarissa walked down the corridor and onto the plane. Her seat was next to the window. While the plane was taking off, she closed her eyes, but when the plane was in the air, she began to relax. She pressed the button at the side of the seat, lay back and opened her eyes again.
Pin! The sound of the bell woke Clarissa from her dreams. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching Heathrow. Will you fasten your seatbelts and extinguish all your cigarettes.”
When the plane landed and c
ame to a standstill, Clarissa saw that outside the sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was going to be a perfect day. When in Italy Clarissa was ______.
| A．airsick | B．sick | C．seasick | D．homesick |
Choose the right order when Clarissa went back home.
a. She waited in line for a while. b. She passed through the airport control.
c. She took a taxi to catch her plane.
d. She bought some magazines to read in the plane.
e. 
She went through the check - in desk.
f. she went through the security-check door. g. She went aboard the plane.
| A．c,e,d,b,f,a,g | B．c,f,d,e,a,b,g | C．d,e,f,b,g,e,a | D．a,c,d,e,b,f,g |
When the plane took off or before the plane was in the air, Clarissa was probably __.
A. gladＢ. anxious C. nervous D. relax
ed We know from the text ______.
| A．before the plane took off, smoking was not allowed. |
| B．just before landing, people were asked not to smoke. |
| C．when the plane took off and landed, smoking was not allowed. |
D．smokin g was not allowed all the way to Heathrow. |
In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, genero
us and real, yet fade away in a short time if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while— then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, or enjoy their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation(义务). Do not h
esitate to accept hospitality（好客） because you can’t 
give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as only home—cooked food, not “ doing something for your guest”. It is felt that restaurant entertaining, shows more respect and welcome. Or for other different reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to go to a public place, except in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room, either. Flowers are very expensive there; hotel delivery is uncertain; arrival times are delayed, changed, or 
canceled —— so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.In the United States, you will find friendships ______ if circumstances change.
| A．die suddenly | B．pass away |
| C．disappear gradually | D．last forever |
Americans _____ their foreign friends to make a return for their hospitality.
| A．ask | B．don’t expect | C．never allow | D．wish |
In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered ______ than in a restaurant.
| A．less friendly | B．less hospitable | C．more natural | D．more popular |
According to the passage, which of the follow
ing is NOT true?
| A．Flowers are signs of outward welcome. |
| B．Flowers are expensive. |
| C．Flowers are available at all time. |
D．Flowers are not necessarily sen t to guests. |