Almost everyone wants to get smarter. We struggle to improve our 36_ , intelligence and attention. We drink cup after cup of coffee to help us 37_ the day.
38 __, a new study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science warns that there are 39___ to how smart humans can get.
Each of our body parts develops in a certain way for a reason. 40 _, we are not 3 meters tall 41 _ most people’s hearts are not strong enough to send 42 _ up that high. Scientists say that our thinking ability works in the same way. A baby’s brain size is limited by a series of __43 , such as the size of the mother’s pelvis (骨盆). If our brains developed to be bigger, there could be more 44 during childbirth.
The study of Jews, who have an average IQ much _ 45_ than other Europeans, showed they were more _46_ to develop diseases of the _47_ system. This might be because of their increased brainpower.
If intelligence cannot be improved, can we at least get better at _ 48 _ ? Not really, say scientists. They studied _49_ like caffeine (咖啡因)that improve attention. They found the drugs only helped people with serious 50 _ problems. For those who did not have trouble paying attention, the drugs could have the 51 _ effect. Scientists say that this suggests there is a(n) 52 limit to how much people can or should concentrate.
Our memory is also a “double-edged sword”. People with extremely good memories could 53__ having a difficult life because they cannot _54 bad things that happen to them.
Thomas Hills, one of the authors of the paper, said that 55 all the problems in trying to get smarter, it’s unlikely that there will ever be a “super mind”.
A．ability B．character C．memory D．emotion
A．go through B．put through C．get through D．carry through
A．Though B．Therefore C．However D．Meanwhile
A．standards B．measures C．ranges D．limits
A．At first B．In addition C．For example D．Above all
A．until B．because C．before D．so that
A．blood B．information C．breath D．strength
A．factors B．reasons C．aspects D．effects
A．chances B．deaths C．choices D．lives
A．smarter B．better C．lower D．higher
A．likely B．possible C．probable D．sure
A．physical B．bodily C．personal D．nervous
A．exercising B．concentrating C．memorizing D．thinking
A．poisons B．drinks C．plants D．drugs
A．attention B．family C．health D．living
A．same B．opposite C．different D．similar
A．lower B．smaller C．upper D．higher
A．end up B．make up C．start up D．come up
A．forget B．remember C．perform D．share
A．supposing B．concerning C．considering D．regarding
Recently I had completely changed my views about life after a talk with one of my friends. He told me despite being 31 , he was happy and 32 that it was because of something he saw in Thailand.
A few years ago he was 33 feeling sad and was touring Thailand. He said right in front of his very eyes, he saw a mother34 her child's right hand with a knife. The helpless 35in the mother's eyes and the scream of the36 four-year-old child still remained in his mind.
The37 mother made the child handicapped (disabled) 38 he could go out on the streets to beg. 39 by the scene, he dropped a small piece of bread he was eating.
And almost at once, several children 40 around this small piece of bread covered with sand, 41 bits from one another. It was the42 reaction of hunger. He then went to the nearest bakery and bought every single loaf of bread. 43 he gave out the bread to the children (mostly handicapped), he 44 cheers and bows from these 45 children. For the first time in his life, he understood 46 people could give up their 47 for a loaf of bread. He came to 48 how fortunate he was to be able to have a sound body, have a job, have a family, have the chance to 49 about food that didn't taste good, and have the many things that these people in front of him 50 dreamed of having. Perhaps life wasn't bad at all.
A．in poor health B．on a diet C．in debt D．out of work
A．mentioned B．recalled C．explained D．insisted
A．certainly B．absolutely C．seriously D．really
A．took off B．cut off C．put out D．put off
A．impression B．appearance C．expression D．anger
A．unbelievable B．troublesome C．terrified D．painful
A．angry B．upset C．crazy D．hopeless
A．unless B．in case C．so that D．because
A．Puzzled B．Shocked C．Wondered D．Attracted
A．turned B．looked C．sat D．gathered
A．offering B．taking C．sharing D．giving
A．natural B．physical C．mental D．emotional
A．Since B．Until C．As D．If
A．accepted B．received C．heard D．rejected
A．unfortunate B．polite C．energetic D．greedy
A．whom B．what C．when D．how
A．honor B．identity C．dignity D．belief
A．think of B．conclude C．realize D．recognize
A．argue B．comment C．complain D．decide
A．even B．never C．ever D．hardly
Hope in my arms
Last year, I was invited to participate in a carnival for Tuesday’s Child, an organization that helps children with AIDS.
All the children that had gathered at one particular room could 36a square on a piece of cloth. Later the squares would be sewn(缝) together to37a quilt. The quilt would be38 to a man who had devoted his life to the39 and would soon be 40 .
The kids were given paints in bright colors and asked to paint something that would make the quilt41 . As I looked around at all the squares, I saw pink hearts, blue clouds, orange sunrises and red flowers. The pictures were all bright and42 . All 43 one.
One boy was painting a heart, but it was dark and lifeless. It44 the bright colors that his fellow artists had used.I asked why. He told me that he was very 45 and so was his mom. He said that his sickness was not ever going to get better and neither was his mom’s. He looked 46 into my eyes and said, “There is no hope in my life.”
I told him I was sorry and I could understand why he had made his heart a dark color. I told him that 47 we couldn’t make him better, we can give48 , which can really help when you are feeling sad. I told him that if he would like, I would be 49 to give him one so he could see what I meant.50 , he crawled into my lap. I thought my own heart would burst for this sweet little boy.
He sat there for a long time. Finally he51 down to finish his coloring.
As I was getting ready to52 home, I felt a tug (猛拽) on my jacket. Standing there was the little boy,53 . He said, “My heart is changing54 . It is getting brighter. I think those hugs really do55 .”
On my way home I felt my own heart. It too had changed to a brighter color.
A．find B．paint C．cut D．draw
A．fold B．become C．spread D．make
A．presented B．sold C．lent D．thrown
A．education B．country C．organization D．neighborhood
A．dying B．coming C．visiting D．retiring
A．beautiful B．strong C．new D．comfortable
A．empty B．puzzling C．confusing D．inspiring
A．without B．besides C．except D．beside
A．needed B．lacked C．contained D．showed
A．curious B．disappointed C．angry D．sick
A．forward B．still C．straight D．even
A．so that B．as long as C．even though D．as though
A．hugs B．smiles C．prizes D．lessons
A．sorry B．happy C．eager D．relaxed
A．Suddenly B．Quickly C．Unwillingly D．Slowly
A．slowed B．jumped C．slipped D．fell
A．leave B．stay C．head D．arrive
A．smiling B．crying C．dancing D．glaring
A．shape B．color C．weight D．form
A．fit B．hurt C．fail D．work
Alone in the light at the dining room table, surrounded by a nearly dark house, I sat in tears.
Finally, I 36 in getting both kids to bed. As a new single 37 , I had to be both Mommy and Daddy to my two little children.
With full rights of my children, I 38 to give them a normal and comfortable home life. I 39 a happy face for them.
I rose slowly, trying not to 40 even the least sound which might start them up 41 . I tiptoed(蹑手蹑脚地走) out of their room, 42 the door part way, and went downstairs.
And loneliness(孤独). I 43 as thought I were at the bottom(底部) of a great sea of loneliness. It all 44 together and I was at once lost. I sat there, 45 crying.
Just then, a pair of little 46 went around my middle and a little face looked up at me. I looked down into my five-year-old son’s 47 face.
I was shy to be 48 crying by my son. “I’m sorry. Ethan, I didn’t know you were still awake.” I don’t know why, but so many people 49 when they cry and I was no exception. “I didn’t 50 to cry. I’m just a little 51 tonight.”
“It’s ok, Daddy. It’s okay to cry; you’re just 52 .”
I couldn’t express(表达) how happy he made me, this little boy, who was simple, gave me 53 to cry. He seemed to be saying that I didn’t have to always be 54 , and that sometimes it was possible to allow myself to feel weak and let out my 55 .
A．succeeded B．escaped C．failed D．helped
A．mother B．worker C．parent D．stepfather
A．followed B．grew C．joined D．tried
A．put on B．took on C．put down D．took in
A．fill B．stop C．make D．end
A．over B．again C．once D．already
A．locked B．fixed C．opened D．closed
A．felt B．thought C．fell D．woke
A．went B．afforded C．came D．agreed
A．loudly B．hardly C．widely D．silently
A．arms B．legs C．hands D．eyes
A．pleased B．helpful C．excited D．angry
A．moved B．seen C．heard D．touched
A．explain B．complain C．apologize D．wonder
A．want B．mean C．appear D．prefer
A．worried B．special C．tired D．sad
A．a person B．a male C．terrific D．nervous
A．decision B．interest C．right D．truth
A．experienced B．strong C．single D．able
A．ideas B．secrets C．words D．feelings
When I was nine , my father was ill．I can remember my mother’s words ___16___ it were yesterday: “Kerrel, Your father has AIDS．Be very ____17___ when you are around him.”
AIDS wasn’t something we talked about in my country when I was growing up．From then on, I knew that this would be a family ___18___．My parents were not together anymore, and Dad lived ___19___．For a while, he____20__ take care of himself．But when I was 12, his condition__21____．My father’s other children lived far away, so it fell to me to look after him.
We couldn’t___22____ all the necessary medication for him, and because Dad was unable to work, I had no money for ___23____ supplies and often couldn’t even buy food for dinner．I would sit in class feeling completely ___24____, the teacher’s words muffled as I tried to figure out how I was going to manage.
I did not share my ___25___ with anyone．I had seen how people ___26___ to AIDS．Kids laughed at classmates who had parents with the disease．And even adults could be ___27__．When my father was __28____to the hospital, the nurses would leave his food on the bedside table even though he was too weak to feed himself.
I had known that he was going to die, but after so many years of __29____ his condition a secret．I was completely __30____when he reached his ___31___ days．__32___ and hopeless, I __33___ a woman at the nonprofit National AIDS Support．That day, she kept me on the phone for hours．I was so __34____to find someone who cared．She saved my life．
I was 15 when my father died．He took his secret away with him, having never spoken about AIDS to___35____, even me．He didn’t want to call attention to AIDS．I do.
A．as B．though C．as if D．even if
A．dangerous B．careful C．calm D．confident
A．difficulty B．shyness C．secret D．weight
A．unhappily B．lonely C．separately D．alone
A．could B．must C．should D．need
A．broken B．worsened C．damaged D．destroyed
A．pay B．spend C．afford D．offer
A．family B．everyday C．medical D．school
A．lost B．nervous C．disappointed D．worried
A．suffering B．burden C．pressure D．sadness
A．treated B．cared C．reacted D．feared
A．different B．nervous C．sensitive D．cruel
A．moved B．retreated C．returned D．recovered
A．leaving B．keeping C．stopping D．preventing
A．uneasy B．unabsorbed C．unprepared D．uncomfortable
A．due B．relaxing C．profound D．final
A．Curious B．Strange C．Terrified D．Sad
A．encountered B．visited C．called D．contracted
A．lucky B．dramatic C．romantic D．magical
A．anyone B．someone C．nobody D．none
Last Friday, after doing all the family shopping in the town. I wanted to have a rest before catching the train. I __1__ a newspaper and some chocolate and __2__ into the station coffee shop. It was a cheap self-service place with long tables to __3__ at. I put my heavy bag down on the floor, __4__ the newspaper and the chocolate on the table and then went to get a cup of coffee.
When I came back with the coffee, There was someone __5__ in the next seat. __6__ was a boy, with dark glasses and old clothes, and his hair was __7__ bright red at the front. He had started to eat my chocolate!
Naturally, I was rather uneasy（不自在的）about him, but I didn’t want to have any __8__. I just read the newspaper, tasted my coffee and took a bit of chocolate. The boy looked at me in __9__.Then he took a __10__ piece of my chocolate. I could hardly believe it. Still I didn’t say anything to him. When he took a third piece, I felt more angry than uneasy. I thought, “Well, I shall have the last piece.” And I got it.
The boy gave me a strange look, then __11__ up. As he left, he shouted out, “There’s something __12__ with that woman!” Everyone looked at me, __13__ I didn’t want to quarrel with the boy, so I kept quiet. I did not realize that I had __14__ a mistake until I finished my coffee and was ready to __15__. My face turned red when I saw my unopened chocolate under the newspaper. The chocolate that I had been eating was the boy’s!
A．stole B．bought C．sold D．wrote
A．went B．sat C．seated D．looked
A．sit B．seat C．lie D．laugh
A．pushed B．took C．put D．pulled
A．jumping B．playing C．sitting D．sleeping
A．He B．It C．Who D．What
A．cut B．washed C．covered D．colored
A．coffee B．trouble C．chocolate D．matter
A．carelessness B．anger C．surprise D．happiness
A．first B．second C．very D．last
A．stood B．took C．cried D．looked
A．strange B．wrong C．OK D．funny
A．and B．but C．so D．while
A．spelt B．corrected C．made D．found
A．finish B．leave C．jump D．shop