Many psychologists in the early twentieth century believed that humans use only 10 percent of their brains, and even the great Albert Einstein once wrote that most people use only a small portion of the grey matter between their ears. It’s a theory that has often been put forward in television documentaries; magazines, advertisements and books over the past century.
But nearly all scientists now agree the 10 percent theory is completely unfounded. In fact, they question how this figure was ever arrived at in the first place and what areas of the brain are supposed to be unneeded. The theory supposes that if 90 percent of the brain were removed, a person would Still be able to function normally, while in reality it is known that damage to even a small area of the brain can result in extremely serious physical injury different activities and that many areas of the brain are used at the same time for some complex activities or thought processes.
Throughout the course of one day, most .areas of the brain are active at some time, even during sleep. The 10 percent theory suggests that certain areas o’ the brain are not used, but scans slow activities throughout the entire brain and not in any separate part. The final argument against the 10 percent theory is the fact that doctors carefully map the brain before removing brain cancers so that they don’t affect other essential areas.
From an evolutionary point of view, it’s highly unlikely butt our comparatively larger brains would have evolved from our ancestors if the extra areas were not needed. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence support the 10 percent theory.How did the 10 percent theory get such widespread popularity?
| A．It was promoted in various types of copular media. |
| B．Albert Einstein argued strongly in support. |
| C．It was proven in scientific research. |
| D．Few people could prove it wrong. |
The underlined word "unfounded" is chest in meaning to _________.
| A．undiscovered | B．unproven | C．unknown | D．unnecessary |
Which of the following is true according to the writer?
| A．We use less than 10% of our brains. |
| B．Most brain disorders affect the same part of the brain. |
| C．The brain is less active during times of sleep. |
| D．The 10 percent theory does not make evolutionary sense. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．People today use more of their brain than in the past. |
| B．Scientific opinion about the topic of brain use is equally divided. |
| C．Our understanding of the brain has changed greatly in the past decades. |
| D．Modern scientists have a complete picture of how the brain works. |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
| A．To present two sides of brain theory. |
| B．To criticize the 10 percent theory. |
| C．To explain how brain works. |
| D．To describe the history of brain research. |
It’s the Year of the Rat!
Millions of people crowded onto trains and buses across China on Wednesday. They were hurrying home to be with their families for the country’s most important holiday, the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. Thursday marked the end of the Year of the Pig, and the beginning of the Year of the Rat. But for a while, it looked as if severe winter weather in some regions of China would put a deep freeze on the celebrations. Due to dangerous conditions, airlines, railways and highways across the country were forced to shut down for the past few weeks. Many travelers were worried that they would not make it home for the holidays. Luckily, the crisis started winding down just in time for some roads and railways to reopen on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
More than one billion people worldwide celebrate the Lunar New Year. In China, people from Beijing to Guangzhou enjoy a holiday. Businesses and government offices are closed. Many people go to temples to pray for good fortune for the future. The Lunar New Year is celebrated at the second new moon after the winter solstice（冬至）.
On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the Chinese celebrate with fireworks, family gatherings, and festivals. One of t
he most popular ways to celebrate the holiday is with the lion dance. The lion is considered a holy animal. During celebrations, dancers dressed as lions（or holding up elaborate paper lions in the air）perform to bring good luck to the people they visit at their homes or businesses. People often wear red, which symbolizes fire. Legend has it that fire can drive away bad luck. The 15-day New Year season is celebrated with firecrackers, dragon dances and visits to friends and families. The celebrations end with the Lantern Festival, when brightly colored lamps are hung in parks around China.
49. When the Spring Festival comes, trains and buses are usually crowed because________.
A. millions of people hurried to go abroad for travelling
B. millions of people are hurrying home to get together with their folks
C. at this time the transportation cost is at the lowest point
D. million of people hurried to send firecrackers to their home
50. Why were many travellers worried whether they would go home for the Year of the Rat?
A. Because a deep freeze hit some regions of China.
B. Because many transportation companies have a holiday
C. Because some roads and railways won’t reopen in a long time.
D. Because businesses and government offices are closed.
51. Where do people usually go to beg for their good luck?
A. Government offices B. Business offices
C. Temples D. Beijing
52. In order to bring good luck to the people they visit, dancers dress themselves________.
A. as lions to have a dance B. as tigers to have a dance
C. as rats to have a dance D. as cats to have a dance
To Whom It May Concern:
My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children. Then four years ago, our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work.
My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision. He emphasized all of the things I can do around the house, and said he thought I could be a great success in business.
After several weeks of job-hunting I found my present job, which is working for a small public relations firm. At first, my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends , "My clever little wife can run that company she's working for."
But as his joking remark approached reality, my husband stopped talking to me about my job. I have received several promotions and pay increases, and I am now making more money than he is. I can buy my own clothes and a new car. Because of our combined incomes, my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing, but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy.
We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends. For the first time in our marriage, I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end.
I love my husband very much, and I don't want him to feel inferior（自惭形秽）, but I also love my job. I think I can be a good wife and a working woman, but I don't know how. Can you give me some advice? Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career?
Please help. "Distressed"
45.The letter was most probably written ________.
A. in 1975 B. around 1980 C. four years ago D. in 1965
46. Her husband ________ when she first found her present j
ob.
A. was very critical of her B. felt disappointed
C. was proud of her D. was happy but critical
47. What does the underlined word "promotion" mean?
A. scolding B. criticism C. prize D. advancement
48. As her income increased, ________.
A. she found a gap（分歧）emerged（显露）between her and her husband
B. she bought more clothes and a house
C. she did the many things she and her husband dreamed of
D. she felt very proud of herself
Trogmire Troll was dealing with a crisis. The new girl in class really liked him a lot. Trogmire was not happy about it.
Trogmire’s good friend, Tremor Troll, tried to comfort him.“What’s the big deal? I think Treasure Troll is kind of cute. And she seems to be nice enough.”
Trogmire swallowed his last bite of salad and glared at Tremor.“Then why don’t you ask her to be your girlfriend? There she is, sitting all by herself at the other end of the cafeteria. March over there and ask her to be your sweetie-poo!”
“She’s crazy about you, not me,”Tremor replied.
“Well, I don’t want any girlfriend, especially not a weird（古怪的）,annoying one like her!”Trogmire growled（to make a sound to show anger）.
Tremor wouldn’t give up.“The only thing annoying about her is that she keeps writing you thos
e notes and she stares.”
“Annoying love notes!”Trogmire interrupted. He took another sip of milk.“Did you notice those strange brown eyes? Why aren’t they normal red or pink?”
Tremor took another look at Treasure.“I think her face is a lovely shade of green. And her dark green curly hair is quite pretty. Besides, she’s very sweet and that’s what really matters.”
Trogmire stuck out his tongue.“I think I’m going to be sick! I’d better save my apple pies for later.”He crammed a small bag of Maggot Munchies into his even smaller shirt pocket. “The fact is, I have a problem. That girl is getting on my nerves!”
Tremor followed Trogmire’s example and decided to save his apple pies for later. However, he carefully placed the bag into his lunch box.“Do you have any ideas about how to solve your problem?”Tremor asked.
“I’m going to be mean and rude to her,”Trogmire announced.“I’ll call her names and make ugly faces at her.”
“That’s how you treat everyone,”Tremor reminded his friend.
Trogmire nodded.“It’s time that Treasure got to know the real Trogmire Troll!”
41.How did Treasure Troll feel about Trogmire Troll?
A. She didn’t like him because he was rude.
B. She was annoyed by his strange appearance.
C. She didn’t have any strong feeling about him.
D. She liked him a lot.
42 .How did Trogmire feel about Treasure?
A. He f
elt annoyed. B. He enjoyed the attention.
C. He didn’t realize that she existed. D. He was crazy about her.
43.Who did Trogmire want for a girlfriend?
A. No one. B. Tremor’s sister. C. Treasure Troll. D. Weird girl from another class.
44.Which statement is true?
A. Trogmire pretended to be rude in order to make Treasure stop liking him.
B. Tremor thought that looks were more important than personality.
C. Tremor thought that Treasure was cute.
D. Trogmire offered his apple pies to Treasure to make her sick.
第二部分阅读理解
（共25小题。第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分）
第一节阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
E
Anxiety is the appropriate emotion when the immediate personal terror—of a volcano, an arrow, a stab（刺伤）in the back and other disasters— is directed against one’s self–disappears.
The kind of word that produces anxiety is actually a world of relative safety, a world in which no one feels that he himself is facing sudden death. The anxiety exists as an uneasy state of mind, in which one has a feeling that something unspecified（不具体的）and indeterminable may go wrong. If the world seems to be going well, this produces anxiety—for good times may end. If the world is going badly—it may get worse. Anxiety tends to be without focus；the anxious person doesn’t know whether to blame himself or other people. He isn’t sure whether it is a change in climate or the atom bomb that is to blame for this unclear sense of unease.
It is clear that we have developed a society which depends on having the right amount of anxiety to make it work. While we agree that too much anxiety is harmful to mental health, we have come to rely on anxiety to push us into seeing a doctor about a symptom（症状）which may indicate cancer, into checking up on that old life–insurance policy which may have out–of–date provisions in it, into having a conference with Bill’s teacher even though his report card looks all right.
People who are anxious enough keep their car insurance up, have the brakes checked, and don’t take a second drink when they have to drive. People who are too anxious either refuse to go into cars at all or drive so tensely that they help cause accidents. People who aren’t anxious enough take chance after chance, which increases the terrible accidents of the roads. In the world that produces anxiety, _____.
| A．people have sudden uneasiness |
| B．everything goes well |
| C．people are clear about their life |
| D．danger is almost everywhere |
The author holds that _____.
| A．anxiety is a good thing |
| B．anxiety is a symptom of mental illness |
| C．some anxiety can lead to changes for the better |
| D．no anxiety is bad for society |
Accidents of the road tend to be caused by _____.
| A．all those who are too anxious |
| B．all those who have anxiety |
| C．those who have no anxiety |
| D．those who are not anxious enough |
The best title for the passage would be _____.
| A．Anxiety |
| B．The Right Amount of Anxiety |
| C．Anxiety Vs Safety |
| D．Different Attitudes to Anxiety |
第二部分阅读理解
（共25小题。第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分）
第一节阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
D
When people lose legs after accidents or illnesses, emergency care and artificial limbs（假肢）often allow them to walk again. Newts （蝾螈） in the same situation, on the other hand, can grow limbs back on their own! Scientists have known for a long time that certain animals can re–grow limbs, but they haven’t quite figured out how these creatures do it.
Researchers have now come up with some new ideas. Their work may give people the ability to re – grow lost limbs. The researchers started with two simple experiments：when you cut a newt’s leg at the ankle, only the foot grows back；when you cut off a leg at the very end, the whole leg grows back. In both cases, the re–growth begins with stem cells. Stem cells can develop into nearly any type of cell in the body.
How do a newt’s stem cells know when to grow only a foot and when to re–grow a whole leg?
This question relates to another mystery. In newts, a cut–off leg will grow back only if the nerve bundle（神经束）in it also grows back , but if something prevents the nerve bundle from growing, the stem cells at the wound won’t re–grow a new leg.
In its study, a British team focused on a protein called nAG. When the team prevented nerves in a limb from growing, but added the nAG protein to stem cells in the limb, the limb still re–grew. That protein seems to guide limb re–growth. People have proteins that are similar to nAG. Further research into these materials may someday help human limbs recover by themselves.In the experiments, the researchers cut off a newt’s foot or leg to find out _____.
| A．what stem cells were | B．whether they would grow back |
| C．how long it would take to re–grow | D．how they would re – grow |
A newt will re–grow its leg if _____.
| A．its ankle was cut off but the nerve bundle was good |
| B．its leg was cut off and the nerve bundle stopped growing |
| C．its leg was cut off and the nerve bundle could grow back |
| D．its ankle and the nerve bundle were cut off |
What do the underlined words “these materials” refer to?
| A．Nerve bundles and proteins. | B．Proteins similar to nAG. |
| C．Stem cells and proteins. | D．Stem cells and nerve bundles. |
The first sentence of the passage _____.
| A．acts as a lead–in |
| B．shows where researchers got their new ideas |
| C．states the author’s opinion |
| D．describes the result of researchers’ studies |