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
Sports are full of wonderful moments, but perhaps36 is as exciting as the finish of the marathon. It is the longest, hardest37 of all. The name “marathon” comesfromavillage in 38 .Afamousbattle was 39 there in the year 490 BC. When the Greeks had beaten the Persians, a soldier40 all the way 41 Marathon to Athens, more than 40 kilometers to 42 people the good 43 . When the modern Olympic Games44 in 1896, the organizers knew this45 . The marathon has been a race46 that time.
In the ancient world the Olympic Games were held47 four years of 1000 years. They were an important partoflife. Inthe48 Gameswetrytocopy their49 . The finest sportsmen in the world are collected in one place 50 at least the finest “amateurs（业余爱好者 ） ” are. An amateur is someone who does not earn 51 money from sport. It is often difficult to say who is an amateur and who is not. It is 52 that Olympic athletes do not earn large amounts of money like professional （职业的）sportsmen. But Olympic athletes are often students orteachers of a53 . They haveto54 a lot of time training. Their governments pay for their training travel and pocket money, 55 they want them to win. Some people think this changes the Olympics. They feel that the Games are now a political marathon.
A．something B．everything C．anything D．nothing
A．run B．race C．game D．match
A．Greece B．England C．America D．France
A．broken out B．fought C．happened D．taken place
A．went B．drove C．ran D．walked
A．in B．of C．with D．from
A．tell B．say C．talk D．show
A．story B．film C．result D．news
A．held B．broke out C．had D．started
A．news B．soldier C．story D．race
A．at B．from C．after D．since
A．in B．each C．every D．after
A．modern B．exciting C．interesting D．important
A．plans B．diaries C．ideas D．programs
A．and B．but C．where D．or
A．some B．any C．a little D．much
A．true B．false C．a lie D．interesting
A．country B．lesson C．game D．sport
A．use B．take C．spend D．cost
A．as B．because C．since D．if
I was a publishing director and was looking forward to embracing a new day of work, as always，that morning．
I would always turn to the crossword, but that day it didn't 31 I'd been doing it for 30 odd years, but trying to read this one was like treading through syrup（糖浆）: 32 slow and hard． I thought I must be tired． I said to my assistant． The 33 colleague contacted my wife, Beth, and she drove me straight to hospital． There, confirmation came that I'd had a stroke in the part of my brain that 34 communication． I was now in a condition that means it's difficult or 35 to receive and produce language． It was the only time I 36．
I was back at home a week later, and my goal was to get better and 37 Work in a couple of months． The way to 38 my language ability was rough． I'd look at simple pictures and try to describe them as my mind 39 round and round in the darkness, looking for words．
As the months passed it became 40 that I wasn't going to be able to go back to my old job． For 25 years, I had 41 myself as a publisher． I was used to a busy day of meetings． I enjoyed colleagues and the 42 I'd had． I didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to my old self． There were times when I felt incredibly 43．
In the darkest months, I devoted myself to 44． I couldn't manage novels or newspapers, 45 I tried reading poetry, and found the shorter lines less overwhelming． My speech came back, and I learned how to read again, though much more slowly． I also learned the 46 to keep up． I allowed myself to slow down, and started to enjoy it．
47 , I rid of my old skin． I grieved the past, its passing and its absence, and started to 48 it． Now, 10 years later, I look after my grandson a day a week, and my relationship with my family is deeper than ever． If you'd asked me 15 years ago to 49 the importance of the things in my life I might have said work, but now I'm no longer a high-achieving publisher． I'm a 50 man．
A．wear off B．make any sense C．count up D．pay off
A．temporarily B．scarcely C．incredibly D．savagely
A．curious B．reserved C．rigid D．concerned
A．calls for B．deals with C．suffers from D．responds to
A．practical B．absurd C．impossible D．innocent
A．prayed B．cried C．failed D．withdrew
A．contribute to B．agree to C．return to D．appeal to
A．obtaining B．rebuilding C．revealing D．improving
A．slipped B．doubted C．wandered D．reckoned
A．messy B．flexible C．straightforward D．self-evident
A．informed B．estimated C．reflected D．defined
A．extinction B．reward C．agenda D．status
A．angry B．acute C．prejudiced D．merciless
A．speaking B．trying C．writing D．managing
A．since B．until C．SO D．as
A．favor B．patience C．coincidence D．comfort
A．Gradually B．Hopefully C．Narrowly D．Annually
A．keep up with B．come to terms with C．get around to D．live up to
A．arrange B．compare C．rank D．declare
A．genius B．community C．dignity D．family
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. 36 man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon. His bed was next to the room's only 37 . The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
They talked for hours 38 . Every afternoon when the man by the window could sit up, he 39 pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The other man felt his world would be 40 and enlivened by all the wonderful world outside.
The window overlooked a 41 with a lovely lake. Ducks played on the water while children 42 their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm in flowers. A fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the 43 .
As the man by the window described all this in delicate 44 , the other man would close his eyes and 45 the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade 46 . 47 the other man couldn't hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window pictured it with 48 words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the nurse arrived, 49 to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and had the body taken away.
The other man asked to be 50 next to the window. Painfully, he sat up to take his first look at the world outside. 51 , he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.
He slowly turn to look out the window. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have 52 his roommate to describe such wonderful things outside. The nurse 53 that the man was blind. "Perhaps he just wanted to 54 you."
Shared grief is half the sorrow, 55 happiness when shared, is doubled.
A．The one B．One C．Another D．This
A．entrance B．exit C．passage D．window
A．on end B．in vain C．at ease D．after all
A．would B．should C．might D．could
A．shortened B．deepened C．broadened D．sharpened
A．courtyard B．market C．wood D．park
A．flew B．designed C．sailed D．swapped
A．distance B．way C．process D．course
A．effect B．particular C．detail D．relief
A．expose B．imagine C．realize D．spot
A．passing away B．passing by C．passing down D．passing out
A．Because B．As C．Once D．Although
A．descriptive B．productive C．sensitive D．tentative
A．strangely B．surprisingly C．sceptically D．only
A．substituted B．offered C．switched D．organized
A．Willingly B．Finally C．Generously D．Occasionally
A．sacrificed B．referred C．motivated D．intended
A．responded B．respected C．requested D．resisted
A．recover B．defend C．observe D．encourage
A．or B．but C．so D．and
Many Tuesday mornings. I have coffee with my father. Although my father is a man of few words, I really 1 the time along with him.
One recent Tuesday, I found it a bit 2 when I rang the doorbell, no one seemed to be home. I climbed in through the window, noticing the lights that shone from the kitchen, and 3 that my dad must be there, but he wasn’t. I 4 through his home, checking every room. I tried not to 5 . Yet, upstairs, downstairs, no Dad anywhere.
I was worried . 6 , my father was seventy-one years old. Anything could have happened to him. Then, I got in my car and drove to my mother’s aerobics（有氧运动）class.
On the drive, I thought a lot about my father and our 7 together. Suddenly, I was three years old and he was 8 me up to the living room window to see the Christmas lights. In his 9 , I was safe and secure. At age ten, he used to wake me up with warm breakfast in bed. Then I was twelve and my dad was 10 all the kids at my birthday party with his magic tricks. I was so 11 of my father for being so 12 and talented. He’d made my party a 13 .
As I entered my mother’s class. I was nervous. My mom looked at me in 14.
“Mom, where’s Dad?” I asked, “He’s working in the 15 on the side of the house!” she answered.
And I hurried to my car and 16 back to the yard. “Hey, Dad!” I yelled out and told him about my fears of the last half hour. My dad 17 laughing his typical laugh that was always 18 . I was so thankful that I still had my daddy. And so , as I 19 the door to my father’s house, we went inside for our usual cup of coffee.
Thanks, Daddy, for all the 20 and more importantly, for all your love.
A．dislike B．share C．get D．enjoy
A．dangerous B．unusual C．joyful D．relaxing
A．decided B．hoped C．expected D．wondered
A．lived B．pulled C．hurried D．came
A．cry B．panic C．believe D．confirm
A．Above all B．In all C．After all D．For all
A．journey B．family C．interest D．past
A．holding B．picking C．calling D．bringing
A．heart B．chest C．eyes D．arms
A．amazing B．cheating C．inviting D．providing
A．sure B．aware C．proud D．afraid
A．honest B．special C．lucky D．practical
A．feast B．prize C．secret D．success
A．anger B．worry C．sorrow D．surprise
A．yard B．kitchen C．room D．home
A．fought B．raced(疾驰) C．looked D．fled
A．kept B．remembered C．began D．stopped
A．bitter B．simple C．familiar D．tight
A．closed B．unlocked C．kicked D．knocked
A．memories B．chances C．assistance D．advice
Perhaps what we like most about the successful man who has a sense of humor is that he doesn't seem to take himself too36 . The average person expects the man in a powerful 37 to be too vain and self-centered. “Walt Dizzy is just a plain, ordinary guy. It's absolutely amazing,” Harvey tells his friends, “He's really not different from any one of us. Boy, I'll tell you, success didn't spoil him.” 38 it was Walt Dizzy's aptitude for making the people around him feel39 that relaxed everyone who met him and gave people the impression that he’s “one of the boys’’.
It's always a surprise and a 40 when people discover that successful individuals are basically not different from anyone else. The majority of people 41 highly successful men and women to be very solemn and earnest because they 42 such big decisions. An executive who has a relaxed 43 and good sense of humor leaves a favorable impression. You've undoubtedly often heard someone say,44 discussing one of these tycoons(大人物), “I can identify with him.” The party who makes the remark has absolutely 45in common with the tycoons, but the 46 atmosphere, not the man himself, becomes the means of identification.
Greeting someone47 whom you are about to do business with a warm smile is the best way to introduce yourself. People can't48 immediately liking such an individual. He seems humble, and they're impressed with his informal manner. They notice his “human side,” and he 49 them over at once. People want to cooperate with this kind of man. A 50 first meeting sets the stage beautifully for the formal discussions.
On the other hand, there's the humorless, dull type who turns you completely 51 .Stanley Shtick, president of a large food company, is a good 52 . “He is the coldest fish I’ve 53 met,” says Zelda Zoftik, “You would think he was the King of England, the way he acts,” she 54 . “The longer it is before I meet with him again, the 55.”
A．seriously B．highly C．easily D．simply
A．situation B．position C．location D．tradition
A．Actually B．Eventually C．Gradually D．Naturally
A．nervous B．conscious C．comfortable D．reliable
A．pressure B．pleasure C．relief D．shock
A．expect B．want C．hope D．think
A．do B．make C．take D．carry
A．figure B．smile C．personality D．shape
A．when B．if C．though D．since
A．something B．nothing C．anything D．everything
A．excited B．relaxed C．interested D．embarrassed
A．for B．with C．through D．to
A．help B．control C．stand D．risk
A．wins B．gets C．beats D．captures
A．energetic B．regular C．friendly D．normal
A．on B．down C．over D．off
A．idea B．example C．friend D．person
A．ever B．seldom C．never D．often
A．explains B．suggests C．complains D．praises
A．more B．closer C．better D．worse