NOT all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares.
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly wipe out, the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are wiped out. They are not sure to what degree people’s memories are affected.
The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it.
Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war.
They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.
"Some memories can ruin people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering."
But those who are against the research say that maybe the pills can change people’s memories and changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.
"All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were terrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist.The passage is mainly about .
| A．a new medical invention |
| B．a new research on the pill |
| C．a way of wiping out painful memories |
| D．an argument about the research on the pill |
The drug tested on people can .
| A．cause the brain to fix memories |
| B．stop people remembering bad experiences |
| C．prevent body producing certain chemicals |
| D．wipe out the emotional effects of memories |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．people doubt the effects of the pills |
| B．the pill will certainly stop people's emotional memories |
| C．taking the pill will do harm to people's physical health |
| D．the pill has already been produced and used by the public in America |
Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with in the last paragraph ?
| A．some memories can ruin people's lives. |
| B．people want to get rid of bad memories. |
| C．experiencing bad events makes us different from others. |
| D．the pill will reduce people's sufferings from bad memories. |
Scientists have produced new evidence suggesting eating lots of red and processed meat damages health. They found big meat eaters had a raised risk of death from all causes over a 10-year period. In contrast, a higher intake of white meat was associated with a slightly reduced risk of death over the same period.
The US study, based on more than 500,000 people, found those whose diet contained the highest proportion (比例) of red or processed meat had a higher overall risk of death, and specifically a higher risk of cancer and heart disease than those who ate the least.
People eating the most meat were eating about 160g of red or processed meat per day— approximately a 6oz steak. Those who ate the least were only getting about 25g per day— approximately a small piece of bacon. Just the opposite, those who ate the highest proportion of white meat had a lower risk of overall death, and a lower risk of fatal cancer or heart disease than those who ate the lowest proportion.
Meat is a major source of saturated (饱和的) fat, which has been associated with breast and colorectal cancer. In addition, lower meat intake has been linked to a reduction in risk factors for heart disease, including lower blood pressure and cholesterol (胆固醇) levels. The latest study adds to a growing body of research linking high red and processed meat consumption to an increased risk of ill health. Ed Yong, of the charity Cancer Research UK, said, “Evidence from large studies tells us that cutting down on processed food, such as bacon or burgers, can reduce the risk of dying from cancer and other diseases.”
Dr Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina stressed there were health benefits from eating some red meat. But he added: “The need is for a major reduction in total meat intake, an even larger reduction in processed meat and other highly processed and salted animal source food products and a reduction in total saturated fat.” Dr Mark Wahlqvist, a nutrition expert from Australia, said eating small amounts of red meat—around 30g a day—provided a good source of key nutrients. He said, “Fresh, lean red meat of these amounts is likely to be of more benefit than harm.”According to the passage, we know ______.
| A．big meat eaters eat a 6oz steak per day |
| B．big meat eaters have heart disease ten years earlier |
| C．people eating more meat will suffer from a heart attack |
| D．people eating more red meat have a higher risk of death |
Processed meat is a kind of ______.
| A．red meat |
| B．white meat |
| C．vegetable with a similar taste of meat |
| D．meat prepared by producers |
According to the passage, how should we eat red meat in a healthy way?
| A．We should eat red meat as we like. |
| B．We should eat proper amount of red meat per day. |
| C．We should reduce the amount of fresh, red lean meat. |
| D．We should completely cut out red meat from our diet. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Too much red meat consumption contributes to ill health. |
| B．A well-balanced diet accounts for a healthy life. |
| C．A higher intake of white meat brings benefits. |
| D．Red meat contains saturated fat. |
（Published March 30, 2011）Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity might have a few mistakes—and Jake Barnett has set out to prove it. Between attending college classes at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and tutoring his fellow students, Jake is also working on a new theory about the creation of the universe. He happens to be 12 years old.
From an early age, Jake showed an extraordinary interest in stars. When he was 3, his parents took him to a space observatory. He tried to learn as much as he could about astronomy. Jake’s IQ measured remarkably high at 170.
As a baby, Jake was found out with Asperser’s syndrome, a form of autism (孤独症). Autism causes difficulties in communication and social abilities. People with autism may also have strong interests—like Jake’s interest in the stars at a young age.
The symptoms of autism can range from mild to extremely severe. Asperser’s is one of the milder forms of autism. Sometimes people with Asperser’s, like Jake, develop extremely advanced skills in science, music or art.
When Jake was in elementary school, his parents worried that the effects of his Asperser’s were worsening. He became quiet. And he was withdrawing from people. So a doctor recommended that Jake’s parents let him study more advanced subjects, like math and physics.
Jake’s mother asked an astronomy professor to let Jake sit in on his class. Now, Jake studies advanced sciences like electromagnetic physics at IUPUI.
But Jake thinks it’s important to have a normal life too. He likes to play Guitar Hero with his friends and watch science fiction movies. He also enjoys playing classical music on the piano.But for Jake, studying physics is the most important thing. Jake’s professor, John Ross, is working on getting a large sum of money for him to do research at the university.
Doctors have said Jake’s autism symptoms have lessened over time. Still, Jake proudly refers to himself as an “Aspy”, or someone with Asperser’s. In an interview with his university student newspaper, he said, “I think the autism is the reason I’m even at IUPUI.”What did Jake want to do at IUPUI?
| A．Get a degree in astronomy. |
| B．Put forward his own theory in physics. |
| C．Become an Albert Einstein in the future. |
| D．Teach his fellow students Theory of Relativity. |
Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Jake?
a. He set out to disprove Einstein’s theory.
b. He was interested in astronomy.
c. He began to study math and physics.
d. He was found out with a mild form of autism.
| A．b-d-c-a | B．d-b-c-a | C．b-a-c-d | D．d-c-b-a |
The underlined sentence in the passage means ______.
| A．he was unable to help others |
| B．he was impolite to other people |
| C．he was afraid of seeing other people |
| D．he was only concerned about learning |
In the eyes of Jake, autism is something ______.
| A．not worth worrying about |
| B．annoying |
| C．not necessary to know about |
| D．embarrassing |
In the past, if a person wanted to see the national treasures of a country, one had to go there in person. Therefore, very few people were able to enjoy some of history’s most important and interesting artifacts (手工艺品). This has changed with an increase in the number of traveling museum exhibitions.
King Tutankhamen Artifacts
A traveling exhibition of artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamen, popularly known as “King Tut”, toured the United States from November 1976 to April 1979. The 55 objects were shown in six cities and were seen by around eight million museum-goers. The second touring exhibit was started in 2007, this time with 130 artifacts and stops in London and three different American cities. However some objects, like the king’s golden face mask, are too valuable or too delicate to be transported long distances, so “replicas” (exact copies of something) are on show.
Japanese Color Woodblock Prints
The Art Museum at University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia, has an extraordinary collection of Japanese color woodblock prints (木刻版画). These prints document the period from about 1850 to 1900, a time when Japan was opening itself to Western influences. Before this point, Japan was a closed society that had little communication with the world outside of its borders. These works of art beautifully show the feeling of change and the trend toward modernization. The museum has put together a traveling exhibition of 60 of these prints, which can be borrowed and exhibited worldwide for periods of eight weeks or more.
Face-to-face with “Lucy”
One of the world’s most famous archaeological (考古学的) finds in history are the 3.2 million-year-old bones of a 106-centimeter-tall female found in the Ethiopian desert in 1974. Lucy, a name given to her by the discovery team, is a “hominid”, or a creature that scientists believe is the earliest ancestor of modern human beings. Rarely is an artifact this valuable allowed to travel widely, but Lucy has been taken to several museums in the U.S. while a detailed replica remains at the Ethiopian Natural History Museum.What do we learn about King Tutankhamen’s artifacts?
| A．The artifacts were shown in London first. |
| B．The artifacts were on show in the United States once. |
| C． The second touring exhibit showed more artifacts than the first one. |
| D．The king’s golden face mask was also shown in the traveling exhibitions. |
What do the Japanese woodblock prints show about the society from 1850 to 1900?
| A．Japan had little communication with other countries. |
| B．The whole country refused changes in the society. |
| C．Japan was opening itself up to Western ideas. |
| D．Japan achieved modernization. |
Who is Lucy according to the passage?
| A．An archaeologist. |
| B．The ancestor of modern human beings. |
| C．A 106-centimeter-tall female who died in 1974. |
| D．The first woman who visited the Ethiopian desert. |
A Japanese company has ordered its employees to get the same hairstyles--- to help save energy.
Tokyo-based Maeda Corporation has announced the move as part of a national campaingn to cut energy use.
Since Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March, 2011, the county’s government has asked its people to slash their energy consumption.
Men are expected to sport a short back-and-sides, slightly longer on the top, while women have been asked to wear short hair with a fringer (刘海) that can be swept to one side.
Chizuru Inoue, a spokesman for Maeda Crop, said: “Our company is very devoted to protecting the environment and we encourage our staff to adopt many environment-friendly actions.”
“We are not sure of the data yet, but we believe if people have short hair they do not need to use their hairdryers for so long and they will use less water. If all our staff do this, then it may save a lot of power.”
There is another advantage for employees of the construction firm, Ms. Inoue added, as it is easier to make short hair neat again after staff had been wearing hard hats. She said a lot of staff had been calling for information on where they can get their hair cut in the correct style.
Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March, Japan has been struggling to produce enough electricity for the tsunami ended production at the Fukushima plant. The disaster resulted in a review of the country’s energy policy that now means less than a quarter of its remaining nuclear plants are in use. The government has talked about a move away from nuclear energy towards more sustainable (可持续性的) technologies. Many government institutions have taken measures to save power, including a reduced use of air-conditioning in offices and schools.What does the underlined word ”slash” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
| A．Stop | B．Maintain |
| C．Change | D．Reduce |
According to Chizuru Inoue, there are ____ advantages for the employees to have short hair.
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A．Japan can provide enough electricity for its people. |
| B．The present situation of Japan’s energy is worrying. |
| C．Sustainable technologies are replacing nuclear energy. |
| D．One fourth of Japan’s nuclear plants are out of order. |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Japan takes steps to protect the environment. |
| B．Japan is moving towards sustainable technologies. |
| C．A Japanese company takes measures to save energy. |
| D．Japan starts a campaign to save energy across the country. |
“I can’t live without my mobile phone!” is what I often hear people say as they talk about how mobiles have become an essential part of their lives.
The all so common sight of heads bent, eyes staring at mobile screens and fingers busy tapping away repeats itself across major cities around the world. Whenever there is a moment to spare while on the train, taxi or waiting in a queue, people busy themselves with their mobile phones.
Some people believe our unhealthy obsession(着迷) with mobile phones is destroying how we appreciate the little things in life or miss the moments that matter. The truth is that technology overall should be seen as just a tool to improve our lives.
Mobile phones have certainly had a great influence on our lives, but I truly believe it is for the better.
It’s changed the way we communicate, whether for work or play. We are now less constrained(限制)by time and geographical location. With my mobile phone, I can dial into conference calls while stuck in a traffic jam, or reply to urgent e-mails while on the go. I can send a text message or share photos and videos with friends who aren’t living in the same country. My phone calendar keeps my life organized, and even Facebook, Twitter, and instant messaging are now accessible from mobile phones!
The mobile revolution isn’t just changing the lives of urbanities (都市人) like myself. I know of a young Bangladeshi woman named Shompa Akhter who is crazy about fashion and design. She dreamt about starting her own business and she did just that, opening a shop in Kushtia featuring her own creations. Dealing with supplies in different towns was a problem for Shompa --- purchase orders had to either be hand delivered or mailed out to supplies. Shompa also found it tough publicizing her business to potential customers outside her town. But once she learnt to operate the mobile phone, she was addicted. The 25-year-old businesswoman now stays in touch easily with her suppliers. Mobile e-mail is a blessing in her life.
Who would have thought that mobility could bring about such enormous change? It shouldn’t really be a surprise though.In the first two paragraphs, the author wants to show ____.
| A．mobile phones make people communicate less |
| B．mobile phones make people’s life more enjoyable |
| C．people’s health is greatly affected by mobile phones |
| D．people become addicted to mobile phones in daily life |
What’s the author’s attitude towards mobile phones? .
| A．Doubtful | B．Supportive |
| C．Critical | D．Uninterested |
Paragraph 5 is mainly about__________.
| A．New functions of mobile phones |
| B．New changes in Information Age |
| C．The advantages of mobile phones |
| D．The author’s personal experiences |
How is the text mainly developed?
| A．By inferring. | B．By analysing causes. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By comparing different ideas. |