Did you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since research has shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of “grey matter” and “white matter”. While men have more of the latter, the amount of “thinking” brain is almost exactly the same in both sexes.
It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources(来源)at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.
There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial (空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries: Why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!
The differences begin when fetuses (胎儿) are about nine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children as young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors, among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research.
If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it,” says a biologist.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?
A.Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s. |
B.Grey matter controls thinking in the brain. |
C.Grey matter plays the same role as white matter. |
D.Both sexes have the same amount of white matter. |
What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?
A.Women don’t need to tell directions. |
B.Women prefer doing many things at a time. |
C.Men have weaker spatial abilities. |
D.Men do better dealing with one job at a time. |
Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?
A.Young boys may be stronger than young girls. |
B.Women may have stronger feelings than men. |
C.More women take up jobs requiring speech skills. |
D.Our ancestors needed more spatial skills. |
What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?
A.Defensive. | B.Persuasive. | C.Supportive. | D.Objective. |
One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的) to the most powerful came for breakfast. I notice an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide range of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked.
“May I get you something?” “A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee. We talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked, “How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchchill Downs. ”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and to meet another human being with kindness and sincerity.What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?
A.Unfriendly. | B.Untidy. | C.Gentle. | D.Kind. |
The author bought coffee for the old man because ______.
A.he thought the old man was poor |
B.he wanted to start a conversation |
C.he intended to show his politeness |
D.he would like to thank the old man. |
How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
A.Proud. | B.Pitiful. | C.Surprised. | D.Regretful. |
What is the passage mainly expressed in the story?
A.We should learn to be generous. |
B.It is honorable to help those in need. |
C.People in high positions are not like what we expect. |
D.We should avoid judging people by their appearances. |
The way we do things round here
Some years ago, I was hired by an American bank. I received a letter from the head of the Personnel Department that started, “Dear John, I am quite pleased that you have decided to join us.” That “quite” saddened me. I thought he was saying “We’re kind of pleased you decided to join us although I wish we had hired someone else.” Then I discovered that in American English “quite” sometimes means “very”, while in British English it means “fairly”.
So the first lesson about working in other countries is to learn the language and by that I don’t just mean the words people speak. It is body language, dress, manners, ideas and so on. The way people do things highlights many of the differences we see between cultures.
Some of these differences may be only on the surface--- dress, food and hours of work--- while others may be deeper and take longer to deal with. Mostly, it is just a question of getting used to the differences and accepting them, like the climate (气候), while getting on with business.
Some of the differences may be an improvement. People are more polite; the service is better; you ask for something to be done and it happens without having to ask again. However, other differences can be troubling, like punctuality (准时). If you invite people to a party at 7 o’clock your guests will consider it polite to turn up exactly on time in Germany, five minutes early in the American Midwest, an hour early in Japan, 15 minutes afterwards in the UK, up to an hour afterwards in Italy and some time in the evening in Greece. I prefer not to use the word “late” because there is nothing wrong with the times people arrive. It is simply the accepted thing to do in their own country.The author was unhappy as mentioned in Paragraph 1 because he thought _____.
A.the American bank didn’t think much of him |
B.the American bank might hire another person |
C.it’s difficult to get used to American culture |
D.it’s easy to misunderstand Americans |
The word “highlights” in Paragraph 2 probably means _______.
A.encourages | B.helps to narrow | C.increases | D.draws attention to |
According to the author, what should we do with most cultural differences?
A.Ask the native people for help. | B.Understand and accept them. |
C.Do things in our own way. | D.Do in-depth research. |
When invited to a party the people who are usually punctual(准时的)are ______.
A.Italians | B.Germans | C.Greeks | D.the British |
第一节:(共15小题,每小题2分,满分30分)
A
![]() Joshua, Helmut, and Bethlehem Michelle O. Donovan ISBN 9781462058679 Life is not easy for nine-year-old Joshua during World War II. Because of his family’s Jewish background, they are sent to live in the concentration camps (集中营). Scared and alone, Joshua one day makes frinds with a little mouse he calls Bethlehem who becomes his closest friend. ![]() Encourage Me! Inspirational Poetry Gloria Coykendall ISBN 9781412027854 It is an easy to read collection of poems originally written to encourage in faith and to be a cure for chromic depression(长期抑郁) … cure to strengthen identity and purpose. |
![]() More Things in Heaven Bill Bosworth ISBN 9780595433582 In his More Things in Heaven, Bill Bosworth presents presents the highlights of his 83 years of life, including his trips to India and the study of the writings of several great spiritual leaders. More things in Heaven will appeal to anyone who insists on finding the deepest meaning for their existence based on their own experience. |
|
![]() Creation or Evolution Michael Ebifegha ISBN9781450289023 Were humans created, or did they evolve? How old is the Earth? The debate between science and religion continues to be heated. In Creation or Evolution, Michael Ebifegha examines these two opposed world views within the structure of empirical(实证的) science. |
||
![]() Seeking the Edge Dr. Joseph L. Rose ISBN 9781462031795 Seeking the Edge provides the tools and techniques to find that edge in one’s life. ---driving readers to achieve success whether in your current job, finding a new job, in education, family, or even hobbies. |
Who wrote the story about a little boy and a little mouse?
A.Bill Bosworth. | B.Michelle O. Donovan. | C.Dr. Joseph L. Rose. | D.Gloria Coykendall. |
The ISBN for the book of poems is _______.
A.9781462031795 | B.9781412027854 | C.9780595433582 | D.9781462058679 |
What kind of readers will probably like reading More Things in Heaven?
A.Those who are searching for the meaning of life. |
B.Those who are trying to be spiritual leaders. |
C.Those who study the art of writing. |
D.Those who like traveling abroad. |
Which of the following books explores the origin of humans?
A.Seeking the Edge. | B.Creation or Evolution. |
C.Joshua, Helmut, and Bethlehem. | D.More Things in Heaven. |
Many people think a telephone is essential. But I think it is a pest and a time waster. Very often you find it impossible to escape from some idle or curious chatter-box, or from somebody who wants something for nothing. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it tends to ring when you are asleep, or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are taking your bath. Are you strong minded enough to ignore it, to say to yourself,“Ah, well, it will all be the same in a hundred years’ time” You are not. You think there may be some important news or messages for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table, or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number?
But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isn’t it important to have a telephone in case of emergency—illness, an accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a thickly populated country like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of dreadful necessity.
I think perhaps I had better try to justify myself by trying to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different circumstances—if I were a tycoon(business VIP),for instance, or bed ridden I might find a telephone essential. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car essential.
Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent; one is mechanical invention, the other is literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have just been handed a slip of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important.The passage is mainly discussing _______.
A.that we should be strong enough to ignore a phone call |
B.that important message will reach you sooner or later |
C.whether it’s necessary to answer all phone calls |
D.whether it is necessary to have a telephone |
Judging from the passage, who is strong-minded enough to ignore a phone call?
A.The author. | B.A tycoon. |
C.A taxi-driver. | D.Hardly anyone. |
According to the passage, the author________.
A.thinks the telephone should go out of our life |
B.likes to be different from other people |
C.thinks the telephone is annoying |
D.speaks favourably of a telephone |
In the author’s opinion, which of the following is NOT true?
A.Nearly everyone has been told a wrong number. |
B.It’s necessary for everyone to have a telephone. |
C.He himself can not decide whether to answer a call. |
D.A telephone directory may bring in unexpected calls. |
Boiler rooms are often dirty and steamy, but this one is clean and cool. Fox Point is a very new47-unit living building in South Bronx, one of the city’s poorest areas. Two-thirds of the people living there are formerly (以前) homeless people, whose rent is paid by the government. The rest are low-income families. The boiler room has special equipment, which produces energy for electricity and heat. It reuses heat that would otherwise be lost to the air, reducing carbon emissions(碳排放)while also cutting costs.
Fox Point is operated by Palladian, a group that specializes in providing housing and services to needy, people. Palladian received support from Enterprise Community Partners (ECP), which helps build affordable housing by providing support to housing developers.
ECP has created national standards for healthy, environmentally (环境方面) clever and affordable homes which are called, the Green Communities Standards. These standards include water keeping, energy saving and the use of environmentally friendly building materials. Meeting the standards increases housing construction costs by 2%, which is rapidly paid back by lower running costs. Even the positioning of a window to get most daylight can help save energy.
Michael. Bloomberg, New York's mayor, plans to create 165,000 affordable housing units for500,000 New Yorkers. Almost 80% of New York City’s greenhouse-gas emissions come from buildings, and 40% of those are caused, by housing. So he recently announced that the city’s Department of Housing and Preservation and Development (DHPD) , whose duty is to develop and keep the city’s supply of affordable housing, will require all its new projects to follow ECP’s green standards.
Similar measures have been taken by other cities such as Cleveland and Denver, but New York’s DHPD is the largest city developer of affordable housing in the country. What is the purpose of describing the boiler room in the first paragraph?
A.To explain the measures the city takes to care for poor people. |
B.To suggest that affordable housing is possible in all areas. |
C.To show how the environment-friendly building works. |
D.To compare old and new boiler rooms. |
What is an advantage of the buildings meeting the Green Communities Standards?
A.Lower running costs. |
B.Costing less in construction. |
C.Less air to be lost in hot days. |
D.Better prices for homeless people. |
It can be learned from the text that,
A.New York City is seriously polluted |
B.people’s daily life causes many carbon emissions in New York City |
C.a great number of people in New York City don't have houses to live in |
D.some other cities have developed more affordable housing than New York City |
What is the main purpose of this text?
A.To call on people to pay more attention to housing problems. |
B.To prove that some standards are needed for affordable housing. |
C.To ask society to help homeless people and low-income families. |
D.To introduce healthy, environmentally clever-and affordable housing. |