A 34-year-old mother has spoken of how she woke up thinking she was 15 years old and living in 1992.
Naomi Jacobs, from Manchester, was convinced she was still a teenager. In her mind, John Major was Prime Minister and George Bush Sr. was running the White House. She also showed how she screamed when a boy appeared and called her “Mum”. Mobile phones and e-mails were puzzling and Google, Facebook and YouTube sounded like made-up words, she said.
Ms. Jacobs, who had no memory of the years, was told by doctors that she had Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). She has now written a book about the experience which happened in 2008.
“I fell asleep in 1992 as a brave, very confident know-it-all-15-year-old, and woke up as a 32-year-old single mum living in a rented house,” Ms. Jacobs said. “The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my bed, dreaming about a boy in my class. When I woke up, I looked in the mirror and had the fright of my life when I saw an old woman with wrinkles staring back at me. Then a little boy appeared and started calling me Mum. That’s when I started to scream. I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t think he was much younger than I was, and I certainly didn’t remember giving birth to him. I began sobbing uncontrollably. I just wanted my mum. I couldn’t get my head around going to bed one night and waking up in a different century.”
TGA is a rare type of amnesia which can occur suddenly, affecting around three people per 100,000 each year. Fortunately, permanent memory loss is rare. Ms. Jacobs’ memory started to return after eight weeks.
Some people who often suffer from migraines (偏头痛) also appear to be more likely to have TGA. The cause of TGA is unknown. Some think that it may be caused by a temporary cut of blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory.When a little boy came to call her “Mum”, Naomi Jacobs was _____.
| A．excited | B．frightened | C．worried | D．embarrassed |
What was the last thing Naomi Jacobs could remember?
| A．She was a brave and confident girl. |
| B．She met an old woman with wrinkles. |
| C．George Bush Sr. was elected President. |
| D．She fell asleep dreaming of a boy in her class. |
According to the text, TGA _____.
| A．is quite common | B．is caused by brain injuries |
| C．results in permanent memory loss | D．causes people to lose part of their memory |
What’s the main idea of the text?
A. Naomi Jacobs has a poor memory.
B. Naomi Jacobs gets an amazing career after TGA.
C. Naomi Jacobs wakes up with the memory of her youth.
D. Naomi Jacobs succeeds in overcoming the disease.According to the passage, we know _______.
| A．Ms. Jacobs’ memory returned to normal now |
| B．Ms. Jacobs often doesn’t remember things |
| C．Ms. Jacobs has not got married yet |
| D．Ms. Jacobs is very young now in deed |
Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in order to cut he greenhouse gases they send out, which are thought to be responsible for global warming.
Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence(肠胃气胀)contains no methane(甲烷)and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who produce large quantities of the harmful gas.
While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack (烟囱) pushing out carbon dioxide, farm animals’ passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions (排放物)in some countries.
“Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia are from enteric methane from cattle and sheep,” said Athol Kleve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government.
“And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 percent, ” he said.
Researchers say the bacteria also make the digestive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.
But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate (分离) the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep.
Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.
The idea is controversial (有争议的), but about 20 percent of health-conscious Australians are believed to eat the national symbol already.
“It's low in fat, it’s got high protein levels and it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the free-range (放养的) animal,” said Peter Amp of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies.Scientists intend to put bacteria into cattle and sheep _________.
| A．so that they can make full use of special bacteria |
| B．to help Australian farmers to earn more money |
| C．so that they can protect Australian ecosystem |
| D．to prevent them from sending out harmful gases |
Athol Kleve seems to believe that ________.
| A．cattle and sheep produce more carbon dioxide |
| B．less cattle and sheep are raised in New Zealand |
| C．farm animals are responsible for greenhouse gases |
| D．New Zealand has the most animals in the world |
What do the underlined words “the idea” in paragraph 9 refer to?
| A．Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos. |
| B．The bacteria could make the digestive process much more efficient. |
| C．Australians should give kangaroo - style stomachs to cattle and sheep. |
| D．The bacteria could save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers. |
Which of the statements is the advantage Peter Amp lists about kangaroo?
| A．it is rich in protein | B．it is cheaper than beef |
| C．it is high in fat | D．it is more delicious than sheep |
Last week, President Barack Obama gave a back- to-school speech to students at the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Students in schools across the country also tuned in to watch the President's speech on TV. He stressed the importance of trying new things, working hard and believing in yourself.
While admitting that times are tough for families across the country, Obama reminded students that hard work now can mean big success later. “Nobody gets to write your destiny(命运）but you,” he said. “Your future is in your hands. Your life is what you make of it. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is beyond your reach."
Obama spoke about his own life, and lessons he learned from his mother, who had to remind him to stay focused on his studies. He told students the recipe (诀窍) for success: “Showing up to school on time. Paying attention in class. Doing your homework. Studying for exams. Staying out of trouble. ”
Obama encouraged students to embrace(欣然接受)what makes them different. “We shouldn't be embarrassed by the things that make us different,” he said. “We should be proud of them.”
He also suggested taking advantage of all of the opportunities at your school, and always being open to trying new things. “Just because you’re not the best at something today doesn't mean you can't be tomorrow,” he said. “Even if you don't think of yourself as a math person or as a science person—you can still excel in those subjects if you're willing to make the effort. And you may find out you have talents you’d never dreamed of.”What does Obama mainly want to tell the students in Paragraph 2?
| A．Some families are experiencing a hard time. |
| B．Different people have different destinies. |
| C．They can create their own future. |
| D．Those who don't study hard will achieve nothing. |
In Paragraph 3, Obama tried to encourage the students by _______.
| A．telling an interesting story |
| B．sharing the secret to success |
| C．telling his own life experience |
| D．referring to some famous people |
Obama suggested the students should _________ .
| A．not study hard for high marks |
| B．accept things that make them different |
| C．do what they are really interested in |
| D．not do things which are difficult for them |
The underlined phrase “excel in” in the last paragraph means “_________”.
| A．be careful with | B．be attracted to |
| C．be interested in | D．be good at |
1. Need a room close to the US
Embassy for a week in early January
I need a room close to the US embassy for a week in early January. My parents are going to the US embassy for visa interview on January 7th. I am looking for a place for them to stay around this date. Hotels are too expensive for them since they have been retired long ago. They speak Chinese only. Rent can be made through Paypal in USD or cash in CNY, if the price is right.
Reply to: house-510574487@craigslist.org
2. House wanted May 17-24
Looking for 5 bedrooms from May 17-24. Can be one large apartment or 2 smaller ones, but they must be close to each other. Please email me at jcshap@sina.com if you have a nice place with air conditioning, high speed Internet.
3. Home swap or share
I have a beautiful 3-bedroom home with pool and spa (桑拿浴池) in Las Vegas, the USA, 10 minutes from the strip (商业街). I am willing to share or swap (交换) my house for yours (home or apartment) during the holiday. I need a place for 2 or 3 people in Shanghai from May 19-25. in exchange, you can have my house for any week either during the holiday, or any other time as long as I have a one-month advance notice to set up for you so you can have my house all to yourselves. If interested, please email me at sdiem@cox.net and I will send photos for my home.
4. Apartment or house wanted May 8-28, 2013
My daughter is working in Shanghai and my family wants to be there to stay with her for some time. We are looking for a 2-3 room apartment or house to rent from May 28 in the Pudong District. Need air conditioning.
Thanks
Reply to: wcondon7@msn.comWhich advertisement pays special attention to housing location and price?
| A．Advertisement One. | B．Advertisement Two. |
| C．Advertisement Three. | D．Advertisement Four. |
The four advertisements all need a place _________.
| A．with access to the Internet | B．for at least seven days |
| C．for at least three people | D．with air conditioning |
If your family leave Shanghai for America for a seven-day trip next month, you will probably contact __________.
| A．house-510574487@craigslist.org | B．jcshap@sina.com |
| C．sdiem@cox.net | D．wcondon7@msn.com |
Which advertisement is looking for a place in a way different from the other three?
| A．Advertisement One. | B．Advertisement Two. |
| C．Advertisement Three. | D．Advertisement Four. |
Most animals have little connection with animals of a different kind, unless they hunt them for food. Sometimes, however, two kinds of animals come together in a partnership(伙伴关系) which does good to both of them. You may have noticed some birds sitting on the back of sheep. This is not because they want a ride, but because they find easy food in the parasites(寄生虫）on sheep. The sheep allow the birds to do so because they remove the cause of discomfort. So although they can manage without each other, they do better together.
Sometimes an animal has a plant partner. The relationship develops until the two partners cannot do without each other. This is so in the corals(珊瑚）of the sea. In their skins they have tiny plants which act as “dustman”, taking some of the waste products from the coral and giving in return oxygen which the animal needs to breathe. If the plants are killed, or are even prevented from light so that they cannot live normally, the corals will die.Some birds like to sit on a sheep because _________.
| A．they can eat its parasites |
| B．they consider the sheep as their shelter |
| C．they enjoy traveling with the sheep |
| D．they find the position most comfortable |
The underlined word “they” in the first paragraph refers to _______.
| A．birds and parasites | B．sheep, birds and parasites |
| C．parasites and sheep | D．birds and sheep |
It can be learnt from the text that the coral depends on the plants for ________.
| A．comfort | B．light | C．oxygen | D．food |
What does the second paragraph mainly discuss?
| A．Some plants depend on each other for food. |
| B．Some animals and plants develop their relationship easily. |
| C．Some animals and plants depend on each other for existence. |
| D．Some animals live better together. |
What’s in name? Well, apparently, our general happiness. Psychologists say that what we are called has a direct connection with our happiness.
Those called Judy and Joshua are the happiest, while Lynn or Ben is likely to be the unhappiest, according to research. Psychologist Dr David Holmes found that this can cause the association(联想) that others make with the name. Hearing the name Judy may make them think of actress Judi Dench or TV presenter Judy Finnigan, and people who are considered good-natured and happy. On the other hand, people think Paulines are unhappy because of the character Pauline Fowler from the TV programme East Enders. The research claims that this association influences the person with the name and so their personality is shaped to fit in. Dr David Holmes said, “This also has some relation with the original meaning of the name, for example, the original meaning of Judy is ‘praised’.”
Certain names also work well in certain aspects of life. In the workplace Richard and Judy are the happiest, while those called Ruth and Carly are the happiest in relationships. At the other end of the scale the unhappiest workers are Stuart and Liz, with the unhappiest in relationships being Frank and Harriet.
Dr Holmes said, “The relation we have with certain names, particularly important namesakes (同名者), also shapes how we see ourselves and so may have an effect on our confidence. Names are like product brands in having a powerful effect on attitudes and should therefore be chosen with care.”
“Other names are connected with being brave, outgoing or serious. Therefore, many celebrities change their names to ones which reflect these characteristic. This, in turn, influences parents when they choose names for their babies,” said Dr Holmes, “while names connected with ordinary people are rarely chosen for their babies.”What’s the main idea of this passage?
| A．How to choose a good name for babies. |
| B．The relation between names and happiness. |
| C．How to have a name connected with celebrities. |
| D．The relation between names and success. |
According to the passage, which of the following names are better?
| A．Joshua and Ben. | B．Pauline and Frank. |
| C．Richard and Stuart. | D．Ruth and Joshua. |
The author may continue the passage with _________.
| A．names and product brands |
| B．famous people’s names |
| C．names and personality |
| D．parents’ choices of baby names |
Which of the following is connected with names according to the passage?
| A．Personality and self-confidence. | B．Self-confidence and position. |
| C．Position and characteristic. | D．Personality and appearance. |