A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy (摇头丸) can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson’s disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson’s for the first time.
A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons (狒狒) found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson’s, after receiving three low doses(剂量)of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.
The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. “The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older.”
Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, “This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We’ve long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don’t experiment with your own brain.”
Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995, said, “This comes as no surprise. But people can’t see the effects at first, and they say it won’t happen to them. We’ll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking.”
The article is intended to ______.
A.explain the bad effects of drugs on people’s health |
B.warn young people of the risk of taking the drug Ecstasy |
C.persuade people out of such bad habits as smoking and using drugs |
D.tell us the links between the drug Ecstasy and Parkinson’s disease |
We know from the passage that a low dose of Ecstasy ______.
A.won’t cause serious brain damage |
B.can permanently destroy one’s brain cells |
C.will result in immediate symptoms |
D.may bring on Parkinson’s at once |
Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments?
A.Because their brain is similar to human being’s. |
B.Because these animals usually take drugs. |
C.Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment. |
D.Because there is a ![]() |
The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph probably means that ______.
A.Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995 |
B.taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking |
C.occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems |
D.people have long known that re![]() |
The national schools’ first aid competition is an interesting way for young people to practice their first aid skills in a safe environment.
A school may have three teams. The deadline for this competition has now been continued to April 21, 2012. All teams will compete at an elimination (淘汰) round, with the winners going forward to the National Final for the chance to become the winner.
A team has three formal members, and a reserve is also needed. All team members, together with the reserve, will take part. There are two age sections:
Junior: 7 to11
Senior: 12 to 16
This competition is based on the Young First Aid Course from St. John Ambulance Training Officer. Support will be given to make sure everyone has equal chances to win.
The winners of this competition will be invited to take part in the Young Grand Prior Competition. This competition improves the practical first aid skills of young people and tests their knowledge and skills with a series of realistic accidents and injuries. Youth teams are aged between 12 and 16 years old and should have three members. Young adults are aged between 17 and 21 and should have two members. All teams may bring a reserve. The Young Grand Prior Competition will be held at the Spa Complex, Scarborough, on November 28, 2012.
Those who want to take part in the national schools’ first aid competition will have to complete our application form. If you are fifteen and want to take part in the competition, you will _________.
A.belong to the junior sections of the first aid competition |
B.complete our application form by the end of April, 2012 |
C.study the course of St. John Ambulance Training Officer |
D.teach yourself a lot of knowledge and skills of first aid |
How many students will stand for a school?
A.Sixteen | B.Twelve | C.Four | D.Three |
Form the passage we can learn that the Young Grand Prior Competition will __________.
A.have a test with realistic accidents and injuries |
B.not allow the adult competitors to take part in |
C.be the highest level competition in the country |
D.be held on April 21, 2012 |
The passage is written mainly for __________.
A.those who want to practice their first aid skills |
B.the young school students in the country |
C.the middle school teachers in the country |
D.the young people throughout the country |
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。(共5题,每小题2分,满分10分)
Active listening is an essential skill in learning. It is when you listen carefully to make sure you understand and learn the information that is being conveyed.1Here are some things which can help you to listen actively.
Listen for the main point and major subpoints(次要点). Don’t just write everything down. Listen carefully and make sure you understand what the purpose of this lecture is. As you take down notes, keep the main point in mind and make sure you understand how these notes are related.
Listen for an organizational structure. Listen carefully to figure out how the ideas are organized and they will make more sense.
Pay attention to organizational cues(暗示). 2Pay close attention to the introduction, as it will probably indicate how you should organize your notes. If the lecture begins with, “ Today, I’m going to talk about three conflicts in the Middle East,” then you have a good idea of what’ s going to follow. Listen for “signpost” words to indicate a transition for one point to the next, such as “next” and “finally” and numerical signposts like “first” or “third”.
Listen with your eyes. 3Watch the teacher and be aware of how he or she uses hand gestures, eye contact and other body language to convey points.
___4____ Put away the campus newspaper, your cell phone and anything else that might be more interesting than the lecture. Learning to concentrate and listen actively is an endurance(持久) skill. 5
A. Speakers communicate information through nonverbal(不使用语言的) communication. |
B. Unfortunately, many students don’t know how to listen actively when they attend classes. |
C. If your teacher indicates that something is important ,mark it. |
D. Make yourself do it, and it will get easier over time. |
E. Listen carefully for words and phrases that reflect the organizational structure of the lecture.
F. Your teachers’ notes are probably organized into some kind of outline.
G. Remove distractions.
They only got engaged(订婚)on Saturday, but it seems that Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes are planning on marrying in March. The pop stars are eager to tie the knot in just ten weeks in order for their big day to coincide with(重合)their birthdays. are both keen to turn the events into one big celebration. According to the Daily Star, the couple think it is the perfect excuse to have one huge party.
“After getting engaged this Christmas, Rochelle and Marvin didn’t waste any time in thinking about dates,” a source told the newspaper. The couple apparently came to a mutual agreement that they would like to be married by the summer, and then the subject of their birthdays came up.“Rochelle has been telling her pals how excited she is and that she loves the birthday idea,” the source continued, “she thinks combining the events will make it the most amazing three—way celebration ever.”
JLS star Marvin proposed(求婚)to Rochelle during a festive break in Antigua,and The Saturdays singer was keen to announce the news as soon as possible.“It’s official Marvin proposed 2 me 2day, wanted 2 tell u b4 some1 else did! So excited 2 b Mrs Humes.” she tweeted(微博留言)on December 31. She also posted a photo of her and her husband-to-be in which she flashes her £45,000 heart-shaped diamond engagement ring. Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes want to get married in March_________.
A.to celebrate both their wedding and birthdays |
B.to make their wedding different from others |
C.to satisfy the curiosity of their fans |
D.to please their parents and relatives |
What can be inferred from the passage?
A.The wedding was arranged in January. |
B.Both Rochelle Wiseman and Marvin Humes are pop stars. |
C.Rochelle Wiseman is the husband-to-be. |
D.They decided to get married shortly after they got engaged. |
The numbers “2,4,1” and letters “u,b” in the underlined sentence probably mean______.
A.two, four, one;you, be |
B.to, four, first;use, bee |
C.to, fore, one;you, be |
D.two, for, one;you, bee |
The Louvre Museum is one of the largest, oldest, most important and famous museum in the world. It is famous for holding several of the world’s most valuable works of art. Its collections’ number is over 380,000 objects, though not one of the world’s largest collections, arguably one of the finest. The art treasures of the Louvre Museum cover 5,000 years and are displayed in over 10 kilometers of galleries. The oldest artifact in the museum is 9,000 years old. Mona Lisa(1503-1506), painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. The artist’s use of very deep space in the background with a half-length portrait is typical of Renaissance painting style. This painting hangs in the Louvre, Paris. It is one of the most famous collections in the Louvre.
On November 8th, 1793, the Louvre was opened as a public museum.
It is open from 9 am to 6 pm all days except Tuesdays. The entrance fee is 7.5 before 3 pm. It is free under 18 years old. The Louvre Museum in Paris had a record number of visitors in 2005. About 7.3 million people visited the art museum in 2005. After reading the first paragraph, we can come to the conclusion that ____.
A.The Louvre Museum is the only largest, oldest, most important and famous museum in the world |
B.The Louvre Museum has the world’s largest collections |
C.The oldest artifact is over 9,000 years old |
D.The Louvre Museum is priceless |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Mona Lisa is typical of Renaissance painting. |
B.Mona Lisa is painted by a Canadian. |
C.Light space in the background is used in Mona Lisa. |
D.All the above. |
Which of the following statements leads us to the conclusion that The Louvre Museum is popular?
A.The art treasures of the Louvre Museum cover 5,000 years. |
B.It is famous for holding several of the world’s most valuable works of art. |
C.The Louvre Museum in Paris had a record number of visitors in 2005. |
D.The entrance fee is 7.5 before 3 pm. |
Holidaymakers who are bored with baking beaches and overheated hotel rooms head for a big igloo. Swedish businessman Nile Bergqvist is delighted with his new hotel, the world’s first igloo hotel. Built in a small town in Lapland, it has been attracting lots of visitors, but soon the fun will be over.
In two weeks’ time Bergqvist’s ice creation(作品) will be nothing more than a pool of water. “We don’t see it as a big problem,” he says. “We just look forward to replacing it.”
Bergqvist built his first igloo in 1991 for an art exhibition. It was so successful that he designed the present one, which measures roughly 200 square meters. Six workmen spent more than eight weeks piling 1,000 tons of snow onto a wooden base; when the snow froze, the base was removed. “The only wooden thing we have left in the igloo is the front door,” he says.
After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success. With no windows, nowhere to hang clothes and temperatures below 0℃, it may seem more like a survival test than a relaxing(轻松的) hotel break. “It’s great fun,” Bergqvist explains, “As well as a good start in survival training.”
The popularity of the igloo is beyond doubt: it is now attracting tourists from all over the world. At least 800 people have stayed at the igloo this season even though there are only 10 rooms. “You can get a lot of people in,” explains Bergqvist. “The beds are three meters wide by two meters long, and can fit at least four at one time.” Bergqvist designed and built the world’s first igloo hotel because ________.
A.an art exhibition was about to open |
B.he wanted to make a name for the small town |
C.he believed people would enjoy trying something new |
D.more hotel rooms were needed |
When the writer says “the fun will be over,” he refers to the fact that ________.
A.hotel guests will be frightened at the thought of the hard test |
B.a bigger igloo will replace the present one |
C.holidaymakers will soon get tired of the big igloo |
D.Bergqvist’s hotel will soon become a pool of water |
According to the text, the first thing to do in building an igloo is ________.
A.to gather a pool of water |
B.to prepare a wooden base |
C.to cover the ground with ice |
D.to pile a large amount of snow |
When guests leave the igloo hotel they will receive a paper stating that ________.
A.they have had a taste of adventure |
B.they have had an ice-snow holiday |
C.they have had great fun sleeping on ice |
D.they have visited Lapland |
Which of the following pictures below is closest to the igloo hotel as described in the text?