What happens inside the skull of a soccer player who repeatedly heads a soccer ball? That question motivated a challenging new study of the brains of experienced players that has caused discussion and debate among soccer players, and some anxiety among those of us with soccer-playing children.
For the study, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York selected 34 adults, men and women. All of the volunteers had played soccer since childhood and now competed year-round in adult soccer leagues. Each filled out a detailed questionnaire developed especially for this study to determine how many times they had headed a soccer ball in the previous year, as well as whether they had experienced any known concussions (脑震荡) in the past.
Then the players completed computerized tests of their memory and other learning skills and had their brains scanned, using a complicated new M.R.I. technique which can find structural changes in the brain that can’t be seen during most scans.
According to the data they presented at a Radiological Society of North America meeting last month, the researchers found that the players who had headed the ball more than about 1,100 times in the previous 12 months showed significant loss of white matter in parts of their brains involved with memory, attention and the processing of visual information, compared with players who had headed the ball fewer times.
This pattern of white matter loss is “similar to those seen in traumatic (外伤的) brain injury”, like that after a serious concussion, the researchers reported, even though only one of these players was reported to have ever experienced a concussion.
The players who had headed the ball about 1,100 times or more in the past year were also generally worse at recalling lists of words read to them, forgetting or fumbling the words far more often than players who had headed the ball less.The passage is most probably a______.
A.news report |
B.research report |
C.story for soccer players |
D.text for doctors |
In which way can we find the structural changes in the brain?
A.Computerized test. | B.Questionnaire.. |
C.Scanning. | D.M.R.I. technique. |
From the passage we can conclude that frequent heading may have_____.
A.significant effect on brain |
B.little effect on one’s brain |
C.nothing to do with the brain injury |
D.one’s memory improved |
The underlined word "fumbling" is closest in meaning to______.
A.remembering | B.misunderstanding |
C.recalling | D.missing |
Some people believe that international sport creates goodwill between the nations and that if countries play games together they will learn to live together. Others say that the opposite is true: that international contests encourage false national pride and lead to misunderstanding and hatred. There is probably some truth in both arguments, but in recent years the Olympic Games have done little to support the view that sports encourage international brotherhood. Not only was there the incident of tragedy involving murder of athletes, but the Games were also ruined by lesser incidents caused principally by minor national contests.
One country received its second-place medals with visible anger after the hockey final. There had been noisy scenes at the end of the hockey match, the losers objecting to the final decisions. They were convinced that one of their goals should not have been disallowed and that their opponents’ victory was unfair. Their manager was in a rage when he said; “This isn’t hockey. Hockey and the International Hockey Federation are finished.” The president of the Federation said later that such behavior could result in the suspension of the team for at least three years.
The American basketball team announced that they would not yield first place to Russia, after a disputable end to their contest. The game had ended in disorder. It was thought at first that the United States had won by a single point, but it was announced that there were three seconds still to play. A Russian player then threw the ball from one end of the court to the other, and another player popped it into the basket. It was the first time the US had ever lost an Olympic basketball match. An appeal jury (评审委员会) debated the matter for four and a half hours before announcing that the result would stand. The American players then voted not to receive the silver medals.
Incidents of this kind will continue as long as sport is played competitively rather than for the love of the game. The suggestion that athletes should compete as individuals or in non-national teams, might be too much to hope for. But in present organization of Olympics there is far too much that encourages aggressive patriotism (爱国主义).
51. The author thinks that in recent years Olympic Games have _____.
A. showed little international friendship
B. greatly encouraged international brotherhood
C. created goodwill between the nations
D. created only misunderstanding and hatred
52. What did the manager mean by saying “This isn’t hockey. Hockey and the International Hockey Federation are finished”?
A. This is not a standard hockey match.
B. The federation would not exist any longer after this match was over.
C. His team would not enter the game in three years.
D. The unfair decision ruined both hockey and the Federation.
53. The basketball match showed that _____.
A. aggressive patriotism was displayed in the incident
B. the Russian team should not have taken advantage of the last three seconds
C. the appeal jury was too inefficient in making a decision
D. the American team should have taken the first place
54. The author gives two examples in the 2nd and the 3rd paragraphs in order to show that _____.
A. contests often end in disorder
B. no contests are fair in Olympic Games
C. competition discourages international friendship
D. unfair decisions are common in sports
55. Which statement best summarizes this passage?
A. Athletes should compete as individuals.
B. The organization of the Olympic Games must be improved.
C. Any team that has disrespectful behavior should be suspended.
D. Different teams often have disputes when fighting for the first place.
Did you ever wonder why leaves change colors in autumn, or how it happens? Here’s a quick explanation.
First of all, you’ve probably noticed that not all trees lose their leaves. There are two major types of trees: deciduous trees and evergreens. Evergreens keep their leaves and stay green all year long. The deciduous trees are the ones that lose their leaves each year.
In autumn, the days begin to get shorter. The sun is also lower in the sky at noon, which causes temperatures to be cooler. The combination of less sunshine and lower temperatures is what causes the deciduous trees to drop their leaves. In winter, deciduous trees “go to sleep”, sort of like a bear goes into hibernation.
Leaves are the food factories for a plant. Unlike animals,plants make their own food by taking energy directly from the sun. Plants do this by using a chemical in their leaves called chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is green. During the spring and summer the leaves of a deciduous tree look green because there is a lot of chlorophyll there. In autumn, however, the sunshine becomes more scarce and the leaves on the trees stop making new chlorophyll. As the old chlorophyll starts to break down, the green color of the leaf begins to go away.
You’ve probably also noticed that the leaves of different kinds of trees change different colors. The leaves of some trees turn yellow or orange, while the leaves of other trees turn bright red or purple. The different colors are caused by the different chemical reactions that are happening in the leaves.
For example, the leaves of some trees turn yellow when the chlorophyll breaks down. When the green chlorophyll goes away, a yellow pigment in the leaf becomes visible. The yellow pigment, called cartenoid, was already there during the summer, but is was not easily seen because there was too much green chlorophyll.
In other trees where the leaves turn red or purple a different chemical reaction takes place. In those leaves the chlorophyll also breaks down, but another chemical reaction takes place at the same time. Chemicals in the leaves, called starches, begin to change into chemicals called anthocyanins, which give the leaves their red and purple colors.
So next time you see the beautiful colors of autumn you will also know the science behind that beauty.
46. What is the correct term for trees that lose their leaves in the autumn?
A. Evergreens B. Deciduous C. Cartenoids D. Anthocyanins
47. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause of trees dropping their leaves?
A. A change in temperature B. The amount of daylight available
C. Extra chlorophyll D. Chemical changes in the leaves
48. If there are 50 evergreens and 10 deciduous trees in a forest, in autumn what color are most of the leaves in the forest likely to be?
A. Green B. Red and purple
C. Yellow D. not enough information to determine the answer
49. Which of the following is only present in leaves during the autumn?
A. Chlorophyll B. Starch C. Cartenoids D. Anthocyanins
50. Where would such an article mostly likely be published?
A. In a book B. In a primary school science text book
C. In a magazine for young people D. All are equally likely
Ⅲ 阅读 (共两节,满分40分)
第一节阅读理解 (共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who lived between 1867-1934. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered two new elements (radium and polonium, two radioactive elements that they extracted chemically from pitchblende ore) and studied the x-rays they emitted. She found that the harmful properties of x-rays were able to kill tumors. By the end of World War I, Marie Curie was probably the most famous woman in the world. She had made a conscious decision, however, not to patent methods of processing radium or its medical applications.
Marie Curie was born November 7, 1867 in Poland and died on July 4, 1934. Her co-discovery with her husband Pierre Curie of the radioactive elements radium and polonium represents one of the best known stories in modern science for which they were recognized in 1901 with the Nobel Prize in Physics. In 1911, Marie Curie was honored with a second Nobel prize, this time in chemistry, to honor her for successfully isolating pure radium and determining radium's atomic weight.
As a child, Marie Curie amazed people with her great memory. She learned to read when she was only four years old. Her father was a professor of science and the instruments that he kept in a glass case fascinated Marie. She dreamed of becoming a scientist, but that would not be easy. Her family became very poor, and at the age of 18, Marie became a governess. She helped pay for her sister to study in Paris. Later, her sister helped Marie with her education. In 1891, Marie attended the Sorbonne University in Paris where she met and married Pierre Curie, a well-known physicist.
Marie Curie contributed greatly to our understanding of radioactivity and the effects of x-rays. She received two Nobel prizes for her brilliant work, but died of leukemia, caused by her repeated exposure to radioactive material.
41. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. To give us a general introduction to Madame Curie.
B. To show us how Madame Curie discovered radium.
C. To tell us how Madame Curie developed as a scientist.
D. To tell us how Madame Curie received two Nobel Prizes.
42. Madame Curie was given the Nobel Prize in chemistry because_________.
A. she discovered radium
B. she separated pure radium and calculated its atomic weight
C. she discovered polonium
D. she didn’t patent methods of processing radium
43. Which of the following statements about Madame Curie is Not True?
A. Madame Curie made great contributions to medical science.
B. Madame Curie was very smart and ambitious when she was a child.
C. Madame Curie received two Nobel Prizes in physics.
D. Madame Curie’s husband helped her a lot in her research.
44. We can infer from the third paragraph that_________.
①Madame Curie got married when she was at college.
②Madam Curie had a great ambition when she was young.
③Madame Curie loved teaching more than anything else.
④Madam Curie must have met a lot of difficulties to get high education.
⑤Her father had a great influence on Madam Curie’s future career.
⑥Madam Curie was very smart when she was a child
A. ①②④⑤⑥ B.②④⑤⑥ C. ②③④⑤⑥ D. ①②③④⑤
45. Which is the right order about Madam Curie according to the passage?
a. married Pierre b. attended University c. discovered radium
d. determined radium’s atomic weight e. won the Nobel Prize in physics
A. b, c, a, d, e B. b, a, c, d, e C. b, a, c, e, d D. b, c, a, e, d
In “Relax, We’ll Be Fine”, columnist David Brooks writes, “the fact is, despite all the problems, America’s future is extremly bright.”
Mr. Brooks acknowledges that “According to recent survey, 60 percent of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction. The same percentage believe that the U.S. is in long-term decline. The political system is not functional. A financial crisis looks unavoidable. There are plenty of reasons to be sad.”
But, he writes:
“Demographers(人口学家) predict that over the next 40 years, the U.S. population will increase by an additional 100 million people, to 400 million over all. The population will be determined, hardworking and relatively young. In 2050, only a quarter will be over 60, compared with 31 percent in China and 41 percent in Japan.”
As the rising generation leads an economic recovery, it will also participate in a communal
(of community) one. We are living in a global age of social entrepreneurship(创业精神).
In sum, the U.S. is on the edge of a demographic, economic and social recovery, built on its historic strengths. The U.S. has always been good at destructive change. And it’s always been good at decentralized community-building, too. Surely a country with this much going for it is not going to wait around passively and let a rotten political culture drag it down.
51.In his article Relax, We’ll Be Fine, David Brooks intends to____________.
A.encourage Americans to be optimistic about their future
B.give Americans courage to face their financial crisis
C.persuade Americans to live happily and generously
D.inspire Americans to lead an economic recovery
52.There are all the reasons for Americans to be unhappy except____________
A.the function-failed political system B.the increasing population
C.the declining economy D.the wrong direction and financial crisis
53.Over the next 40 years, according to David Brooks, Americans will be____________
A.more optimistic and humorous B.more pessimistic and stronger
C.more energetic and promising D.more considerate and aggressive
54.In the author’s opinion, America____________.
A.has always benefited from wars B.has done well by its political system
C.has contributed a lot to human progress D.has contributed to world’s economy
55.We can learn from the passage that____________
A.American political system and culture are backward
B.Americans are not a nation to give in to difficulties
C.Americans are very destructive and aggressive
D.America has been in an economic and social recovery
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan–-- Afghans burned tires and chanted “Death to America” after U.S troops fired Monday(April 12, 2010) on a civilian bus near Kandahar, killing four people and wounding more than a dozen. Afghanistan’s president accused NATO of breaking its commitment to safeguard civilian lives.
The attack angered Afghan officials and the public in Kandahar, the Taliban’s birthplace, and dealt a blow to U.S and NATO efforts to win popular support for a coming offensive to drive the insurgents(叛乱分子) from the biggest city in the south. NATO expressed regret for the loss of civilian lives and said it was investigating.
Nearly 200 Afghans blocked highway where the shooting occurred, burning tires, firing weapons and chanting “Death to America” and other slogans. They also called for the ouster (forcing somebody out of a pasition) of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a Kandahar native who has been appealing for the people here to support the U.S-led campaign against the Taliban.
“The Americans are constantly killing our civilians and the government is not demanding an explanation,” protester Mohammad Razaq said. “We demand justice from the Karzai government and the punishment of those soldiers responsible.”
Kandahar, a city of about a half million people, is nominally under government control, but the Taliban have stepped up infiltration(浸润), staging attacks and threatening local people.
“These foreigners have their enemies, but killing Afghans is not the answer,” said Abdul Hadi, who sells homemade herbal medicine in a public market. He said international forces should publish a schedule of their patrols(巡逻) so Afghans can keep out of the way.
“Better yet, I would like to see them leave Afghanistan,” he added.
Haji Zahir, who runs a transport firm, said it was time for U.S. and other foreign forces to withdraw from the country.
“They say they want to bring security. It is all lies, lies. They kill Afghans. That is not the way to bring security,” Zahir said.
46.According to the passage, we can safely conclude that____________.
A.American soldiers are killing Talibans effectively
B.Anger rises as US troops kill 4 Afghans on a bus
C.NATO expressed great dissatisfaction with American troops
D.Afghan President Hamid Karzai required NATO to withdraw
47.The underlined word in Paragraph 5 nominally most probably means____________.
A.completely unknown to the people in the world
B.partially well-known to the people across the globe
C.bearing the name of a famous person around the world
D.officially described as something, when this is not really true
48.As for NATO soldiers’ rude action, Abdul Hadi is ____________.
A.absolutely angry and upset B.a little pleased but impatient
C.very angry and dissatisfied D.impatient but bearable
49.We can infer from the passage that____________
A.NATO troops can completely control Afghanistan
B.NATO troops can bring security to Afghanistan
C.Afghans will accept NATO’s control sooner or later
D.it’s impossible for NATO to conquer Afghanistan and its people
50.Which statement is true according to the passage?
A.NATO fails to win popular support for a coming offensive.
B.Kandahar is the most important city in Afghanistan.
C.NATO has really brought security to Afghanistan.
D.NATO troops will withdraw from Afghanistan in the near future.