What do Napoleon, Clinton and Wang Nan have in common? They are all left-handed. Today about 15% of the people are left-handed. But why are people left-handed? The answer is the way the brain (大脑) works. The brain has two halves---the right half and the left half. The right half controls (控制) the left side of the body, and the left half controls the right side of the body. So right-handed people have a strong left brain, and the left –handed people have a strong right brain.
The two halves of the brain are about the same size. But each side controls different things. The left side controls language, Maths and logic (逻辑). When you remember new words, or when you put things in order, you use your left side.
The right side of the brain controls colour and music. It is also good at recognizing (认出) faces. This does not mean that all artists are left-handed and all accountants (会计师) are right-handed. Some right-handers have a strong right brain, and some left-handers have a strong left brain.From the passage we know _____________.
A.all artists are left-handed |
B.all accountants are right-handed |
C.the left side of the brain controls your love of art, colour and music |
D.some right-handers have a strong left brain |
Whether是否 people are right-handed or left-handed is mostly decided by ________________.
A.their parents | B.their minds |
C.the way the brain works | D.the way the head works |
Each side of the brain _____________.
A.likes music and Maths | B.controls different things |
C.controls the same thing | D.has two halves |
When you are singing, you are using your ___________.
A.logic thinking | B.heart |
C.right brain | D.left halves |
Which part of the body does the right half of the brain control?
A.The right side of the body. |
B.The left side of the body. |
C.The heart. |
D.The language. |
When you are waiting on a phone call with a pen in your hand or feeling bored on a train,you may probably doodle(涂鸦).Consultant Graphology(笔迹咨询师)Tracey has studied the most common doodles and their meaning in a new piece of research.Here she shares the psychology(心理学)behind those doodles.
Circles Drawing round shapes expresses the need to love and be loved. |
Squares If you're drawing squares,then this shows a practical(脚踏实地的)nature. |
TrianglesIf you're drawing triangles,this shows you are an energetic and powerful nature. |
Flowers If your flower has a large round centre,this expresses confidence and the enjoyment of a good social life. |
Hearts Hearts have always been symbols of love.It clearly expresses that you pay much attention to feelings,but easily get sad as well. |
Coils(线圈) Drawing these complicated(复杂的)shapes means the doodlers have a colorful life and the ability of creativity.What unusual doodles they are! |
WebsThis kind of doodles may be unusual and complicated,but drawing webs shows special personalities that are good at leading people to a special situation. |
Boxes It's not good news for people who draw boxes.Because Tracey believes that while this shows great dreams,it can also be a sign of materialism(物质主义). |
(1)Doodling most probably happens when you are .
A. |
driving a car |
B. |
feeling bored on the train |
C. |
having a sleep |
D. |
cooking a meal at home |
(2)The doodles of hearts express that you .
A. |
need to love and be loved |
B. |
pay much attention to feelings |
C. |
are a practical nature |
D. |
have a colorful life |
(3) are unusual and complicated doodles.
A. |
Coils and webs |
B. |
Circles and boxes |
C. |
Hearts and flowers |
D. |
Squares and triangles |
(4)Tracey believes the doodles of can be a sign of materialism.
A. |
circles |
B. |
webs |
C. |
boxes |
D. |
flowers |
(5)The writer wrote this passage to .
A. |
spend the boring time |
B. |
teach people how to doodle |
C. |
make people know each other |
D. |
share the psychology behind doodle |
In some western countries,a gap year(空档年)is regarded as a special celebration for teenagers.They think it is a necessary process for teens to develop into adults.Then what's a gap year?It's a short break from study for a year or less.It's normally between high school and university.During the gap year,the students usually take a break from their school education to travel,volunteer,study or work.
There are some reasons why students might want to take a gap year.They usually think it is a chance to get professional or personal experience.Some common reasons to take a gap year include:
★ Open their eyes.
★ Make international friends.
★ Make some money.
★ Get useful work experience and key skills.
Although teenagers can benefit from(从……获益)the gap year activities,there are many disadvantages.The parents are worried.Here are the reasons why parents disagree with the idea of taking a gap year.
★ It may cost a lot of money to organize.
★ They may get hurt or sick during the travels.
★ They may simply find that they didn't get the experience they were hoping for.
A gap year is a new experience for not only teenagers but also people who were born in the 1960s. Maybe it's really a good chance for them to experience the retirement(退休生活)in advance(提前).
(1)A gap year is a special celebration for .
A. |
parents |
B. |
volunteers |
C. |
teenagers |
D. |
teachers |
(2)A short break from study refers to(指的是)a certain period of time .
A. |
before high school |
B. |
between primary school and high school |
C. |
during high school |
D. |
between high school and university |
(3)The second paragraph talks about the for taking a gap year.
A. |
chances |
B. |
reasons |
C. |
suggestions |
D. |
methods |
(4)The parents are worried because the students may in gap year activities.
A. |
get work skills |
B. |
make some friends |
C. |
open their eyes |
D. |
get hurt or sick |
(5)From the last paragraph,we can infer that people who will retire may a gap year.
A. |
be interested in |
B. |
be worried about |
C. |
be disappointed at |
D. |
be nervous about |
What are the basic ingredients(要素)of good manners?A strong sense of fairness is one of them.
A friend once told me an experience that he had.When he was driving along a one﹣lane(单行小路),unpaved(未铺路的)mountain road,the car ahead of his produced clouds of choking dust(呛人的尘土),and it was a long way to the nearest paved main road.Suddenly,the car ahead stopped at a wider place on the road.My friend thought there must be something wrong with the car ahead.He stopped and asked if anything was wrong. "No," said the other driver. "But you've endure d my dust so far.I'll endure yours the rest of the way."
Another ingredient is empathy(同情心).It makes a person see into the mind or heart of someone else.Recently I happened to read such a story in a book.
A man was having dinner alone,and he was trying to open a bottle.But he failed.Then he asked a waiter for help.The waiter took the bottle,turned his back and opened it without difficulty.Then the waiter closed it again and turned back.He pretended(假装)to make a great effort to open the bottle without success.Finally he took it into the kitchen and returned very soon.He told the man that he managed to open it,but only with a tool.
Yet another ingredient is the ability to treat people alike(一视同仁).No matter who he is and what he does,everyone is worth respecting.
(1)The driver in the car ahead stopped to .
A. |
repair the car |
B. |
have a rest |
C. |
ask the way |
D. |
let the back car go |
(2)The underlined word "endure" probably means in Chinese.
A. |
原谅 |
B. |
容忍 |
C. |
抱怨 |
D. |
谴责 |
(3)In fact the waiter opened the bottle .
A. |
by himself easily |
B. |
with a tool |
C. |
with difficulty |
D. |
without success |
(4)The second story may happen .
A. |
in the kitchen at home |
B. |
on the main road |
C. |
in the restaurant |
D. |
on the busy street |
(5)The best title of the passage is " ".
A. |
The Ability to Solve Problems |
B. |
The Ways to Help Others |
C. |
The Good Manners to Treat Others |
D. |
The Empathy for Strangers |
Humans can go to the hospital when they're ill.But as for animals,what should they do?To stay healthy,animals have their own ways to heal(治愈)themselves.Now let's get to know their special skills.
Skill One
Have you ever seen your dog or cat lick(舔)its wounds?Why do they do it?It probably feels good,but it's good medicine.Licking cleans a wound,and saliva(唾液)has chemicals that kill germs(细菌).
Skill Two
To avoid diseases,many animals have good living habits.They hate to be dirty.Most animals separate their pooping(lF1E)areas from their eating areas.Horses poop far away from the grass they eat.Rabbits put their poop in special pooping areas.
Skill Three
Have you ever heard of the expression "starve a fever(发烧时宜饿)"?Many animals stop eating when they're ill.When a sick animal stops eating,it can stop germs from getting necessary things.
Skill Four
Another way that animals heal themselves is to raise their body temperature.High temperature can kill germs.Warm﹣blooded animals(like us)get fevers to fight with germs.Cold﹣blooded animals(like snakes)look for pieces of wood or rocks heated by the sun.Fish move to warmer waters.
(1)A cat cleans its by licking.
A. |
medicine |
B. |
saliva |
C. |
wound |
D. |
chemicals |
(2)In order to avoid diseases,horses and rabbits .
A. |
eat special grass |
B. |
choose dirty areas |
C. |
put poop into holes |
D. |
have good living habits |
(3)Starving can stop germs from getting things.
A. |
wild |
B. |
waste |
C. |
necessary |
D. |
useless |
(4)Fish move to warmer waters to .
A. |
lick their wounds |
B. |
keep themselves clean |
C. |
starve a fever |
D. |
raise their body temperature |
(5)We may find the passage in a .
A. |
science novel |
B. |
magazine |
C. |
travel guide |
D. |
storybook |
Afternoon Tea
The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, what could be nicer than having a relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking a break from studying?
The concept (概念) of "afternoon tea" first appeared in the UK in the mid﹣19th century. It was introduced in England by Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford. The evening meal in her household was normally served fashionably late at 8 p.m., but she felt hungry at 4 p.m. every day, so she started asking for a tea tray with butter, bread and cakes at that time. Several days later, she found her new habit difficult to break and soon invited her friends to join her. This pause (间歇) for tea quickly became a fashionable social event. During the 1880s,upper class and society women would even change into long dress, gloves and hats for their afternoon tea.
Traditional afternoon tea is a small meal which is normally served from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. once a day. It uses a three﹣tiered serving tray. The trays carry a variety of foods, such as finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones served with cream and fruit jam, cakes and pastries. Of course, tea or coffee, served with milk and sugar, is also provided.
Traditional afternoon tea is a dainty (讲究的) meal. Therefore, the order of enjoying the food is from the bottom to the top and from salty to sweet. Sandwiches are eaten first, followed by scones, then the sweet snacks like cakes and pastries. When drinking the tea, they taste slowly rather than "glugging" it down. It's also a social activity. As you can see the scene in the TV play "Downton Abbey", ladies wear pretty clothing, men are dressed neatly and the waiters are well trained and polite.
Nowadays, you can enjoy a traditional fancy afternoon tea in many restaurants and hotels. It is also enjoyed to celebrate a special event such as a birthday, a pre﹣ wedding or baby shower party with a group of friends. So far, afternoon tea activities have become far beyond friends getting together and eating. It has been a part of the traditional culture as well as a fashion for British.
(1)Who introduced "afternoon tea" in England?
(2)What did the upper class ladies wear during the 1880s?
(3)When is traditional afternoon tea served?
(4)What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?
(5)Why is afternoon tea popular for British all the time?