Plasticsurgeryisbecomingpopula-优题课

As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.
Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping(录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”
The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings(兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”
1．The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _________.
A．show the relationship between parents and children
B．teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table
C．report on the findings of a study
D．give information about family problems
2．Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because ____________.
A．they are busy serving food to their children
B．they are busy keeping order at the dinner table
C．they have to pay more attention to younger children
D．they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family
3．By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle
children _________.
A．have to help their parents to serve dinner
B．get the least attention from the family
C．are often kept away from the dinner table
D．find it hard to keep up with other children
4．Lewis’ research provides an answer to the question _________.
A．why TV is important in family life
B．why parents should keep good order
C．why children in small families seem to be quieter
D．why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life
5．Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?
A．It is important to have the right food for children.
B．It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.
C．Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.
D．Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner

How would you like an easy way to earn 2, 500 dollars? All you have to do is sit around and wait for your meals. There’s a catch, however. You have to stay in a chicken cage with a stranger for a whole week. There are no books or television or radio for amusement. You can’t leave until the week is up. And a camera will be recording your every move.
Two people actually took the job. The idea came from Rob Thompson, a video artist. He wanted to make a film about the way animals are treated. His goal was to raise people’s awareness of the living conditions of animals that are raised for food. He decided to pay $5000 out of his own savings to two people who were willing to lie like chicken for a week.
To Rob’s surprise, quite a few people answered his advertisement. He had interviews and selected Eric, a 24-year-old restaurant worker, and Pam, a 27-year-old chemist. The plan was for them to spend seven days together in a chicken cage that was six feet long and three feet wide. A camera would record their experience, which would take place in an art museum.
The week was long and difficult. They slept on a hard wooden floor. They couldn’t stand up without banging (重击)their heads. They ate vegetarian mash (土豆泥)and drank water from a garden hosepipe(水龙头软管). Their only privacy was a toilet surrounded by a curtain. There were no sinks, mirrors, or toothbrushes in the cage. Their only inspiration was the two framed checks that hung on the wall outside the cage. Visitors who came here were warned, “Do not feed the humans.”
Finally it was over, Pam and Eric emerged from their cage. They had survived the week, and they each had a $2, 500 check in their hands. When Rob Thompson opened the cage, Eric came out, changed into clean clothes, and ate a chocolate bar right away. “It’s great to be able to stand up, ” he said. Pam just changed her clothes and left. After a week of visitors and reporters watching her, she didn’t want to talk to anyone.
1. What kind of person is Rob Thompson?
A. He is curious about people’s personal life
He is kind-hearted to animals.
He hates people around.
He likes to help poor people.
2. The underlined word “catch” probably means ______.
A. unsolved problem B. surprising wonder
C. unbelievable fact D. hidden difficulty
3. What made it most difficult for the two to stay in the cage?
A. They didn’t know each other.
They couldn’t lie down to sleep in the cage.
They didn’t have meat to eat.
They had to do almost everything under others’ eyes.
4. Rob offered the money because he wanted ______________________.
A. to see if there were any people who would like to live in a cage
to show the public how bitter animals’ life could be
to make more money by publishing the recorded video tapes
to improve housing conditions of working people like Eric
5 . Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. Easy Way to Earn $2, 500.
B. Do Not Feed the Humans.
C. Living Like a Chicken.
D. Getting Along Well Anyway.

第三部分阅读（共两节；满分30分）
阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，
并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the effect is greater the younger people learn a second language.
A team led by Dt Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density(密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.
“our finding suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increase the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “ Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible(灵活的),” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and 34. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
1．The main subject talked about in this passage is .
A．science on learning a second language
B．man’s ability of learning a second language
C．language can help brain power
D．language learning and maths study
2．In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to .
A．say language is also a kind of physical labor
B．prove that one needs more practice when he（she）is learning a language
C．to show the importance of using the language when you learn the language
D．make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well
3．The underlined word “bilingual” probably means .
A．a researcher on language learning B．a second language learner
C．a person who can speak two languages D．an active language learner
4．We may know from the scientific findings that .
A．the earlier you start to learn a second language the higher the grey matter density is
B．there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn’t know a second language
C．the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people’s brain
D．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time
5．In the last two paragraphs, the author wants to tell us that .
A．learning a second language is the same as studying maths
B．early learning of a second language helps you a great deal in study other subjects
C．Italian is the best choice for you as a second language
D．you’d better choose the ages between 2 and 34 to learn a second language.

第二节：信息匹配：（共5小题，每题2分，满分10分）
下面是一篇应用文及其应用场合的信息，请阅读下列应用文和相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余的。
首先，先阅读下列的书目：
A. INSTRUCTORS' MANUAL Badminton Association of England. Recommended reading for all coaches and essential reading for instructors.
B. BEYOND THE BASICS — EXCELLING AT BADMINTON by Jack Downey. A reference manual for players who want to improve their standard of play and improve their performance in competition. It's a must for serious players and coaches.
C. WINNING BADMINTON DOUBLES By Jack Downey. A comprehensive account of all aspects of mixed doubles with lots of advice about tactics and position play.
D. THE LAWS OF BADMINTON Badminton Association of England. Incorporating laws of "Badminton for disabled people" .
E. FAIR PLAY FOR CHILDREN IN SPORT (NCF) Important guidelines for coaches, parents and officials dealing with junior players.
F. TAKE UP BADMINTON Published by Springfield Book Ltd. Learn to play the right way from the start. Find out how to join a club or group and discover the secrets of rapid progress in skill and enjoyment.
阅读下列的任务信息，然后匹配他（她）们需要的书籍
56. Edwin, a child who wants to start playing badminton.
57. Jack, a disabled person who has just started to play.
58. Simon, a new instructor who is not certain that he can answer all the questions people may ask about the game.
59. Ivy, a woman who is a good mixed doubles player.
60. Jason, a good player who has just started taking part in serious competitions.
56. Edwin A. INSTRUCTORS' MANUAL
57. Jack B. BEYOND THE BASICS-EXCELLING AT BADMINTON
58. Simon C. WINNING BADMINTON DOUBLES
59. Ivy D. THE LAWS OF BADMINTON
60. Jason E. FAIR PLAY FOR CHILDREN IN SPORT(NCF)
F. TAKE UP BADMINTON

Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there’s a big difference between “being a writer” and writing. In most cases individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. “You’ve got to want to write,” I say to them, not want to be a writer.”
The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the US Coast Guard to become a freelance writer(自由撰稿者), I had no prospects at all. What I did have was a friend who found me a room in a New York apartment building. It didn’t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought used manual typewriter and felt like a genuine writer.
After a year or so, however, I still hadn’t got a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years, I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if? I would keep putting my dream to the test-even though it meant living with uncertainly and fear of failure. This is the shadowland of hope, and any one with a dream must learn to live there.
1. The passage is meant to .
warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience
advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer
show young people it’s unrealistic for a writer to pursue wealth and fame
encourage young people to pursue a writing career
2. What can be concluded from the passage?
Genuine writers often find their work interesting and rewarding.
A writer’s success depends on luck rather than on effort.
Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation.
The chances for a writer to become successful are small
3. Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career?
He wasn’t able to produce a single look.
He hadn’t seen a change for the better
He wasn’t able to have a rest for a whole year.
He found his dream would never come true.
4. “I wasn’t going to be one of those people who die wondering. What if?” refers to “those .”
who think too much of the dark side of life
who regret giving up their career halfway
who think a lot without making a decision
who are full of imagination even upon death
5. “Shadowland” in the last paragraph refers to .
the wonderland one often dream about
the bright future that one is looking forward to
the state of uncertainty before one’s final goal is reached
a world that exists only in one’s imagination