The baby is just one day old and has not yet left hospital. She is quiet but alert (警觉). Twenty centimeters from her face researchers have placed a white card with two black spots on it. She stares at it carefully. A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another, this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other, her gaze(凝视) starts to lose its focus - until a third, with three black spots, is presented. Her gaze returns; she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three, just 24 hours after coming into the world?
Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer? The same experiment, but with three spots shown before two, shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness? When slightly older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects(a comb, a key, an orange and so on), changing the number of objects had an effect separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make, as opposed to three? No again. Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three, or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats than when they heard just two; likewise(同样地) when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots.The experiment described in Paragraph 1 is related to the baby’s ______.
| A．sense of hearing. |
| B．sense of sight. |
| C．sense of touch. |
| D．sense of smell. |
Babies are sensitive to the change in ______.
| A．the size of cards. |
| B．the colour of pictures. |
| C．the shape of patterns. |
| D．the number of objects. |
Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats?
| A．To reduce the difficulty of the experiment. |
| B．To see how babies recognize sounds. |
| C．To carry their experiment further. |
| D．To keep the babies’ interest. |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．Science fiction. |
| B．Children’s literature. |
| C．An advertisement. |
| D．A science report. |
From the same place that brought you the Robot Suit HAL comes the “motorized knee”．Designed by researchers at Japan's Tsukuba University, the device supports the flex(弯曲 ) of the knee, which enables a runner to use 30% less muscle power compared to running unassisted.
Coming in a kit (成套工具), the device consists of a small motor that helps flex the knee, a sensor that detects the knees' degree of flex, and a safety lever (杠杆)—all of which attach to the user's leg.The user is also forced to carry a backpack that holds a control unit and battery to power the motor.All up the device weighs around 5kg，which will probably lessen the performance benefits of wearing the device somewhat.In experiments runners wearing the device could jog at 7.5kmh, which is hardly anything special—but predictably they could do it for longer.
Curiously, the makers of the motorized knee say it isn't designed for the physically handicapped.Rather it is intended for people who want to run in a more efficient way.I can't help thinking this cuts down the potential market considerably.After all, most runners I know do it for the sake of their fitness.Wouldn't a device that is designed to do some of the work mean that someone would have to run for longer to receive the same fitness benefits?
Regardless, the research team expects to commercialize the kit within the next three years, by which time they also plan to have made the device significantly smaller and lighter.To make sure that the device runs smoothly，________.
| A．the user should be equipped with other related units |
| B．the device should be improved through experiments |
| C．the user shouldn't be physically handicapped |
| D．the device should be smaller and lighter |
What is the special feature of the device according to the passage?
| A．It helps its user run faster. |
| B．It helps save physical strength. |
| C．It adds more fun to running. |
| D．It helps its user keep a good shape. |
In the author's opinion, the device________.
| A．should specially serve the disabled |
| B．won't be popular with people at all |
| C．does harm to its user's health |
| D．may not sell as well as expected |
Which of the following aspects of the device is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Its advantages. | B．Its components. |
| C．Its weight. | D．Its price. |
In which column of a newspaper would this passage be found?
| A．Science. | B．Health. |
| C．Education. | D．Business. |
On a recent Saturday evening at around midnight our home became the victim of an egg bombing.Early next morning I was ready to wash off the mess above our front bedroom windows.As I climbed up，I noticed that the glass in a small window just under the roof line was very badly broken.On a closer check，the crack ran around over half of the outer edge of the window.As the awning(雨篷)protected the window，it was clear to me that the damage had not been caused by the egg bombing.I discovered that the window was very loose.
Just a few meters away，we have a small area for playing basketball and on most days of the week there are up to six young people who play there，including both my sons.My thoughts immediately turned to what could have happened if the broken glass in the window had gone unnoticed for much longer and then suddenly broke.Then my two sons and their friends would be likely to be seriously injured.The pain that could have been caused by the broken glass would never go away.
Frequently in life，the small things that happen to us may cause some form of pain，sadness，discomfort or anger.My personal experience with the egg bombing on that Saturday evening reminded me that in most cases there is always a flip_side to everything that happens to us and that often it can provide a positive outcome or an even greater benefit，if not now，then at some time in the future.
From now on whenever I see or break an egg，I will think of the egg bombing incident and say a thankyou to those latenight trickers.I will always be reminded of JeanPaul Sartre's words，“What is important is not what happens to us，but how we respond to what happens to us.”The egg bombing on that Saturday evening resulted in________.
| A．a broken window |
| B．a dirty awning |
| C．a loose roof |
| D．a mess above windows |
What was the author's concern after he found the broken glass in the window?
| A．His sons and their friends might face unexpected problems. |
| B．People in the bedroom would be seriously injured. |
| C．The place for playing basketball was crowded. |
| D．It would be difficult to fix the cracked glass. |
The underlined phrase “flip side” in Paragraph 3 refers to something________.
| A．different | B．safe |
| C．positive | D．important |
What has the author learned from the egg bombing incident?
| A．Better early than late. |
| B．A bad thing never dies. |
| C．Bad luck comes in threes. |
| D．Every cloud has a silver lining.(凡事总有好的一面) |
The author used JeanPaul Sartre's words to suggest we should________.
| A．learn to forgive |
| B．be kind to others |
| C．have a right attitude |
| D．keep the past in mind |
Let's be honest：If you like to take lots of vacation，the United States is not the place to work.Besides a handful of national holidays，the typical American worker gets two or three precious weeks off out of a whole year to relax and see the world—much less than what people in many other countries receive.Only 57% of the US workers use up all of the days they're entitled (授权) to，compared with 89% of workers in France, a recent research found.
So what's going on here？A big reason for the difference is that paid time off is supported by law in many parts of the world.Germany is among more than two dozen industrialized countries—from Australia to Slovenia to Japan—that require employers to offer four weeks or more of paid vacation to their workers，according to a 2009 study by the human resources consulting company Mercer.Finland, Brazil and France are the champions, guaranteeing six weeks of time off.
But employers in the United States have no duty under federal law to offer any paid vacation, so about a quarter of all American workers don't have access to it，government figures show.That makes the US the only advanced nation in the world that doesn't guarantee its workers annual leave，according to a report titled “NoVacation Nation” by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a liberal policy group.
But the fear of layoffs(下岗) and the everfaster pace of work mean many Americans don't want to be absent from the office—anxious that they might look like they're not willing to work hard.Or they worry they won't be able to deal with the backlog (积压未办之事)of work waiting for them after a vacation.
Working more makes Americans happier than Europeans, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Happiness Studies.That may be because Americans believe more than Europeans do that hard work is associated with success, wrote Adam OkuliczKozaryn，the study's author and an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas.“Americans increase their happiness by working, and Europeans increase their happiness through vacation，” he found.Which of the following countries has the longest paid vacation?
| A．America. | B．Germany. |
| C．Australia. | D．France. |
What does the underlined word “it”in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．Federal law. | B．Paid vacation. |
| C．Annual leave. | D．Long vacation. |
Why are many Americans unwilling to be absent from the office?
a．They enjoy their work very much.
b．They are afraid of being fired.
c．They are not protected by law.
d．They are worried about falling behind.
| A．a，b | B．a，d |
| C．c，d | D．b，d |
What does the study in the Journal of Happiness Studies find?
| A．Americans get more happiness from work than Europeans. |
| B．Americans believe happiness is the most important thing. |
| C．Europeans believe more hard work leads to success. |
| D．Europeans do not like taking long vacations. |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．Why American workers have fewer vacations. |
| B．The reasons why American workers dislike work. |
| C．How workers in different countries take vacations. |
| D．Why American workers are happier than Europeans. |
Psychologists in Britain have said that the last full week of January is the most depressing time of year, and labelled next Monday ‘Blue Monday’. Blue is a slang way of saying unhappy.
Mondays are generally seen as the worst day of the week because people feel grumpy(脾气坏的) and tired at having to go back to work after a weekend with a different sleep pattern.
There are various reasons why more people feel depressed at this time of year. Many people have unpaid credit card bills for the Christmas presents they bought, and pay day is often not until the end of the month.
As the party season is over, people feel stressed because they have to go back to real life – work and commuting; and they may be unhappy with their body image after bingeing on booze, chocolates, and other food at Christmas-time.
People may have already failed in their New Year’s resolutions, such as giving up smoking. The bad weather in January can also contribute to people feeling fed up.
Some companies are taking this quite seriously and offering counselling (咨询) for any staff who are feeling depressed. They hope that helping people as soon as there are signs of depression will avoid absenteeism(旷工). Evidence shows that unreasonable managers who contribute to their staff feeling fed up at this time can expect an uncooperative workforce.
However, it’s not all bad! Many people feel optimistic at this time, that things can only get better. Psychologists offer suggestions of how to combat feeling blue. These include spending 15 minutes doing a ‘gratitude exercise’ thinking about and writing down what you are grateful for, such as health, family, friends and so on.
Taking up a new hobby, doing some exercise, going to bed earlier, eating a healthy breakfast, and listening to some uplifting music, are all recommended as ways to feel more cheerful.
To avoid feeling blue next January, experts say that the best thing to do is to plan better next December. Spend less on presents, eat and drink less over the festive period, and make more realistic New Year’s resolutions.What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．A Happy Monday. | B．Blue Monday. |
| C．New Year’s Resolutions. | D．A Sad Christmas. |
What can be inferred from the second and the third paragraphs?
A. People have to pay for the things and can’t get paid until the end of the month.
B. People feel happy when they go to work on Monday.
C. Many companies offer counselling to their staff who are feeling depressed.In order to avoid feeling blue next time, you can do the following EXCEPT _______.
| A．spend less on gifts. |
| B．eat and drink less over the holidays. |
| C．drinking alcohol with your best friends. |
| D．make more realistic New Year’s resolutions. |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．the last full week of January is the most depressing time of year. |
| B．The bad weather in January can also lead to people feeling fed up. |
| C．Some companies are offering counselling for any staff who are feeling depressed. |
| D．Many people feel optimistic at that time and can get better. |
The following are books sold on our website, perhaps some of them you’ll be interested in.
The Top Gear Guide to Britain (Hardback)
Our price: £9.99
For over ten years, Top Gear has been travelling all over Britain in the course of making the world’s best programme about cars, driving.
This book is not only a guide for outsiders; it is an invaluable reference manual for Britons themselves, like a mirror held up to our very souls.
Still Open All Hours (Hardback)
Our price: £12.49
From its first episode in 1973, Open All Hours was an instant hit. Audiences around Britain loved its familiar setting, good natured humour, and the hilarious (非常滑稽的) partnership of Ronnie Barker and David Jason. Whilst it only ran for 26 episodes, it firmly cemented itself as a British comedy classic.
Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook (Paperback)
Our price: £7.99
Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook, the first and only official book from Brendan O’Carroll’s brilliant educational creation, is filled with useful advice and gives us a unique look into the lives of the Brown family.
I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: The Best of Forty Years (Hardback)
Our price: £15.99
“I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue” is the most listened to comedy programme on British radio. It regularly attracts a large audience. The author tells us about the forty years of the programme.
Life on Air (Hardback)
Our price: £16.49
Sir David Attenborough is Britain’s best-known natural history film-maker. His career as a naturalist and broadcaster has spanned nearly six decades, and in this volume of memoirs Sir David tells stories of the people and animals he has met and the places he has visited.If you are driving to Britain for your holidays, you probably will be interested in _______.
| A．The Top Gear Guide to Britain |
| B．I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: The Best of Forty Years |
| C．Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook |
| D．Still Open All Hours |
Sally is a housewife with three naughty children, which book will attract her most?
| A．Life on Air. |
| B．Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook. |
| C．The Top Gear Guide to Britain. |
| D．Still Open All Hours. |
If you are interested in comedy, which books may you buy?
| A．Life on Air and Still Open All Hours. |
| B．Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook and The Top Gear Guide to Britain. |
| C．I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: The Best of Forty Years and Mrs Brown’s Family Handbook. |
| D．I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue: The Best of Forty Years and Still Open All Hours. |