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? Not 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. |
Many grown-ups worry that spending too much time playing video games isn’t good for a kid’s health. But some doctors have noticed that kids who bring their game players to the hospital seem less worried about being there. They also seem to feel less pain when they are giving all their attention on a car race or other games.
At a children’s center in Baltimore, Maryland, young kids are finding hospital visits easier to deal with, thanks to a test program called HOPE. Patients in HOPE have a life-threatening condition where their kidneys(肾) no longer get rid of wastes from their blood. To get their blood cleaned, these kids must use the dialysis (透析) machines at the hospital three times a week, for at least three hours each time. HOPE allows kids to play Internet sports, racing, and other games with each other. They will be able to connect with kids in other hospitals who have the same problem. “We want to use the Internet to bring together kids who are ill, and let them know they are not alone,” said Arun Mathews, the doctor of the program. He loved video games himself and got the idea to connect kids all over the country.
Many researchers elsewhere are testing video programs that might help young patients. For example, nine-year-old Ben Duskin of San Francisco, California, who was struggling with cancer helped to design a video game where players got rid of cancer cells.
That’s all great news, because doctors already know that reducing pain and worry helps patients heal(痊愈) faster.
According to the passage, the sick kids may feel less pain when they _________.
A.use the dialysis machines | B.are in a car race |
C.are playing video games | D.stay alone with illness |
HOPE allows the sick kids to play Internet games in order to _________.
A.encourage them to fight against the illness | B.get rid of their pain and worry |
C.let the kids make more friends | D.bring the kids in the country together |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Grown-ups all think video games are bad for kids’ health. |
B.Some doctors think video games may help the sick kids reduce pain. |
C.The HOPE is a famous organization all over the world. |
D.Arun Mathews is against the testing program. |
Which can be the best title for the passage?
A.Video Games Are Bad for Health |
B.Video Games May Help Reduce Pain |
C.A Famous American Organization |
D.HOPE Allows Kids to Play Online Games |
The journey to the moon had been the first step toward future exploration(探险) in space. The distance between the Moon and Earth is very short indeed when compared with the distances between Earth and the other planets. Mars, the nearest planet to Earth is millions of miles away. Traveling to the planets will be man’s next aim. Such travels will be more challenging than the trip to the moon and certainly more adventurous.
Recently, two American spaceships, Vikings 1 and 2, landed on Mars trying to discover whether that planet has any life on it. So far the signs of life on Mars has neither confirmed(确认) nor ruled out. Russians have discovered that the surface of Venus(金星) is so hot that it is almost certain that there is no life there. Also the atmosphere of Venus is extremely dense(稠) and the pressure is nearly a hundred times greater than that of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Scientists believe man may find planets which have the same conditions as those we have on Earth , but man should realize Earth will be his only home for a long time and begin to love and care for it.
According to the passage, traveling to the planets will be ________.
A.much easier and even more interesting |
B.far more exciting and dangerous |
C.man’s final aim |
D.man’s first step |
Which of the following is Not true?
A.Mars is nearer to the earth than the moon. |
B.The moon is much nearer to the earth than Mars. |
C.Of all the planets, Mars is the nearest to the earth. |
D.All the planets are much farther to the earth. |
From the passage, we can guess______________.
A.there is life on Mars |
B.there is no life on Mars |
C.the atmosphere of Mars is not so dense as that of Venus |
D.scientists will have little hope to find the answers |
Man can live on under the conditions of ______________.
A.much too hot surface |
B.the same pressure as we get on earth |
C.normal atmosphere as we have on earth |
D.both B and C |
I made a pledge (发誓) to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting (引用) a Biblical (圣经的) passage about husbands being considerate towards their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.”
“Oh, Tom, you noticed,” she said, surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with the kids all the week and now she wants to stay with me.” We walked on the beach when the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that’s how the whole vacation passed, I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love. There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. Last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom,” she said in a voice filled with sorrow, “do you know anything I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…that checkup (体检) I had several weeks ago…our doctor…Did he tell you anything about me? Tom, you’ve been so good to me... Am I dying?”
It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just starting to live.”
From the story we may infer that Tom went to the beach cottage ________.
A.with his family | B.with Evelyn | C.alone | D.with his children |
During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because ________.
A.she looked lovely in her new clothes |
B.he had made a lot of money in Wall Street |
C.he was determined to be a good husband |
D.she was seriously ill |
The underlined words “one thing” in the passage refer to the fact that ________.
A.he praised her sweater, which puzzled her |
B.she insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated |
C.he knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her |
D.he was so good to her that she thought she must be dying |
By saying “I’m just starting to live”, Tom means that ________.
A.he is just beginning to understand the real meaning of work |
B.he is just beginning to enjoy his life as a loving husband |
C.he lived an unhappy life before and is now starting to change |
D.he is beginning to feel sorry for what he did to his wife |
Large wall posters for kids. Your kids will love these cool posters by artist Darla Daly—zebras boarding in the skateboard park, a group of jungle animals playing in the playground and two giraffes taking a drive in the city. Your kids will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with these posters and their friends will think they are the coolest!
Displaying 1 to 4 (of 4 products)
Name: Alphabet Wall Art Size: 44×72cm (17.5’×28’) Dispatch time: at 9:00 a.m. every day Prices: $6.8/piece Colorful alphabet art for your kids’ bedroom and playroom. A fun, educational art piece that all kids will enjoy. Kids and babies will love learning their animals and the ABC at the same time! |
Name: Kids World Map Size: 45×75cm (17.5’×29.5’) Dispatch time: at 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday Prices: $7.2/piece A Colorful, large print by artist Carla Daly. Your kids will love this illustrated world map showing the lands, oceans and the fun animals that live in them. An educational map that will keep your kids amused for hours! |
Name: Skateboard Park Size: 44×60cm (17.5’×23.5’) Dispatch time: at 9:00 a.m. on weekends Prices: $8.8/piece Fun zebra children’s wall art! Children and kids will love these fun animals enjoying this popular kids’ sport. Boys and girls will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
Name: City slickers Size: 44×55cm (17.5’×23.5’) Dispatch time: at 2:00 pm. every day except Friday Prices: $6.5/piece Cute kids wall art of two cool giraffes taking a drive through the city. Unusual, fun style for kids walls! Your kids will love this fun giraffe wall art. Boys and girls will have fun decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
The passage is written for ________.
A.teachers | B.students | C.kids | D.parents |
. Which poster has the biggest size?
A.Alphabet Wall Art. | B.Kids World Map. | C.Skateboard Park. | D.City Slickers. |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Kids can just learn some English letters on Alphabet Wall Art. |
B.City Slickers posters can be bought at 2:00 p.m. every day in a week. |
C.Kids can get some geography knowledge on Kids World Map. |
D.Kids can find two cool giraffes on Skateboard Park. |
The underlined word “illustrated” in Poster II means “________” in Chinese.
A.印刷 | B.装饰 | C.展示 | D.图解 |
It has always been said that women are not good drivers, because they simply don’t have very good driving ability. On the other hand, most car accidents happen to men; very few happen to women.
From this, we can see that women are much more careful while driving. Another very interesting fact is that in the past, women preferred to let their husbands be the only driver in the family rather than have a driving license. Somehow they were prevented from making this step in their life, but nowadays there are many women that want to pass their driving tests at an early age.
However, we have to admit that men are more skillful drivers than women, but this does not mean that a woman cannot become a good driver by accumulating (积累) experience. So more and more teenagers and women around the age of thirty now want to pass their driving tests. While taking their driving lessons, they also have a number of special lessons with their parents or somebody in the family that has a driving license. This is just to improve their driving abilities and help them to pass the tests more easily.
To conclude, we can say that women are not such bad drivers. They just need more experience than men in order to be able to drive well. And on the other hand, there are a number of women that show better driving skills than the men around them.
Compared with the past, nowadays many women ________.
A.prefer to have a driving license | B.have more accidents while driving |
C.are somehow prevented from driving | D.are the only driver in the family |
What advantage do women have over men in driving?
A.They have more skills. | B.They are much more careful. |
C.They know more traffic rules. | D.They have more driving experience. |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.Teenage girls cannot take driving tests. |
B.Men didn’t allow women to drive in the past. |
C.With enough experience, women can become good drivers. |
D.Women can easily pass their tests by taking driving lessons. |
The passage mainly talks about ________.
A.women and their driving ability |
B.men and their driving ability |
C.why men are better drivers than women |
D.why more women like to have a driving license |