At the age of ten I could not figure out what this Elvis Presley guy had that the rest of us boys did not have. I mean, he had a head, two arms and two legs, just like the rest of us. About nine o'clock on Saturday morning I decided to ask Eugene Correthers, one of the older boys, what it was that made this Elvis guy so special. He told me that it was Elvis' wavy hair and the way he moved his body.
About half an hour later all the boys in the orphanage (孤儿院) were called to the main dining-room and told we were all going to downtown Jacksonville, Florida to get a new pair of Buster Brown shoes and a hair cut. That is when I got this big idea, which hit me like a ton of bricks. If the Elvis hair cut was the big secret, then that's what I was going to get.
All the way to town I told everybody, including the matron (女管家) from the orphanage who was taking us to town, that I was going to look just like Elvis Presley and that I would learn to move around just like he did and that I would be rich and famous one day, just like him.
When I got my new Buster Brown shoes, I could hardly wait for my new hair cut and now that I had my new Buster Brown shoes I would be very happy to go back to the orphanage and practice being like Elvis.
We finally arrived at the big barber shop, where they cut our hair for free because we were orphans (孤儿). I looked at the barber and said, "I want an Elvis hair cut. Can you make my hair like Elvis?" I asked him, with a big smile on my face. "Let's just see what we can do for you, little man," he said. I was so happy when he started to cut my hair. Just as he started to cut my hair, the matron signed for him to come over to where she was standing. She whispered something into his ear and then he shook his head, like he was telling her "No". Then he told me they were not allowed to give us Elvis hair cuts. Then I saw my hair falling onto the floor. In the author's eyes, Elvis Presley was __________.
| A．disgusting | B．admirable |
| C．ambitious | D．dynamic |
From the passage, we can know that __________.
| A．Buster Brown was more appealing than Elvis Presley |
| B．An Elvis hair cut cost the orphans a lot of money |
| C．The author was fascinated with the stars Buster and Elvis |
| D．The barber was unwilling to give the boy an Elvis hair cut |
We can learn from the underlined sentence that the boy was __________.
| A．excited to have an Elvis hair cut |
| B．worried to think about the secret |
| C．anxious to remove the ton of bricks |
| D．careful to seize the chance |
How would the boy probably feel when he walked out of the barber shop?
| A．Delighted. | B．Guilty. |
| C．Self-satisfied. | D．Depressed. |
Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神经元）in our brains.
Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate (模仿)it，whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further： mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions y they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to ( for example ："The hand took hold of the ball" ) , the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much researeh suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders.
Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with ever more information concerning how humans behave and interact(互动）.Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent (相等物）for ncurosciencc of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does--well，perhaps you'll understand why.Mirror neurons can explain.
| A． why we cry when we are hurt |
| B．why we cough when we suffer from a cold |
| C． why we smile when we see someone else smile |
| D． why we yawn when we see someone else stay up late |
The underlined word "triggered" in the third paragraph probably means “’’•
| A．set off | B．cut off | C．built up | D．broken up |
We can learn from the passage that mirror neurons .
| A． relate to human behavior and interaction |
| B．control human physical actions and feelings |
| C． result in bad behavior and social disorders |
| D． determine our knowledge and language abilities |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A． Ways to find mirror neurons. |
| B．Problems of mirror neurons. |
| C． Existence of mirror neurons. |
| D． Functions of mirror neurons. |
Finally, a cell phone
That's… a phone
With rates as low as $3.75 per week ！
“Well, I finally did it. I finally decided to enter the digital age and get a cell phone. My kids have been annoying me and the last straw was when my car broke down, and I was stuck by the highway for an hour before someone stopped to help. But when I went to the cell phone store, I almost changed my mind. The phones all have cameras, computers and a "global-positioning" something or other that's supposed to spot me from space. Goodness, all I want to do is to be able to talk to my grandkids ！ The people at the store weren't much help. They couldn't understand why someone wouldn't want a phone the size of a postage stamp. And the rate plans! They were confusing, and expensive… and the'contract (合同）lasted for two years! I'd almost given up until a friend told me about her new Jitterbug phone. Now,I have the convenience and safety of being about to stay in touch with a phone I can actually use. ”
Affordable plans that I can understand一and no contract to sign (签订）！ Unlike other cell phones，Jitterbug has plans that make sense. Why should I pay for minutes I m never going to use? And if I do talk more than I plan，I won ’t find myself with no minutes like my friend who has a prepaid phone. Best of all, there is no contract to sign_so I m not locked in for years at a time. The US-based customer service is second to none. And the phone gets service anywhere in the country.
| Monthly Minutes |
50 |
100 |
| Monthly Rate |
$14.99 |
S19.99 |
| 911 Access |
FREE |
.FREE |
| Long Distance Calls |
No additional charge |
No additional charge |
| Friendly Return Policy |
30 days |
30 days |
Call now and receive a FREE gift when you order. Try Jitterbug for 30 days and if you don ’t love it, just return it! Why wait, the Jitterbug comes ready to -use right out of the box. If you aren't as happy with it as I am, you can return it and get your money back. Call now, the Jitterbug product experts are ready to answer your questions.
Call 1-888-809-8794 or visit www. jitlerbugdirect. com.What made “I” finally think of getting a cell phone?
| A． Being stuck by the highway. |
| B． Being urged by his grandkids. |
| C． Being persuaded by cell phone salespersons. |
| D． Being attracted by the friendly return policy. |
On the monthly basis of 100 minutes, the Jitterbug weekly rate is about.
| A．$3.75 | B．$4.99 | C．$14.99 | D．$19.99 |
An advantage of Jitterbug mentioned in the passage is .
| A． its discount price with a free gift |
| B． its reasonable rate plans without a contract |
| C． its M global-positioning" system with 911 access |
| D． its good customer service all over the world |
The main purpose of the passage is to.
| A． tell a customer's story of Jitterbug |
| B． provide two ways to order Jitterbug |
| C． give a brief introduction of Jitterbug |
| D． attract potential customers to Jitterbug； |
At exactly eleven Sir Percival knocked and entered, with anxiety and worry in every line of his face. This meeting would decide his future life，and he obviously knew it.
"You may wonder, Sir Percival,’’ said Laura calmly, “if I am going to ask to be released (免除）from my promise to many you. I am not going to ask this. I respect my father's wishes too much.“
His face relaxed a little, but one of his feet kept beating the carpet.
"No, if we are going to withdraw.(退出）from our planned marriage, it will be because of your wish, not mine.
“Mine?” he said in great surprise. “What reason could I have for withdrawing?’
"A reason that is very hard to tell you," she answered. "There is a change in me. ”
His face went so pale that even his lips lost their color. He turned his head to one side.
"What change?" he asked, trying to appear calm.
“ When the promise was made two years ago, ” she said, 44 my love did not belong to anyone. Will you forgive me, Sir Percival, if I tell you that it now belongs to another person?”
“I wish you to understand, “ Laura continued, “that I will never see this person again, and that if you leave me, you only allow mc to remain a single woman for the rest of my life. All I ask is that you forgive mc and keep my secret."
‘I will do both those things, “ he said. Then he looked at Laura, as if he was waiting to hear more.
"I think I have said enough to give you reason to withdraw from our marriage, “ she added quietly.
“ No. You have said enough to make it the dearest wish of my life to marry you, “ he said.How did Percival feel during his meeting with Laura?
| A．Angry. | B．Calm. | C．Nervous. | D．Excited. |
We can learn from the passage that .
| A． Laura had once promised to marry Percival |
| B． Laura's father wished to end her marriage |
| C． Percival had been married to Laura for two years |
| D． Percival asked to be released from the marriage |
The passage is probably taken out of .
| A．a novel | B．a report | C．a diary | D．an essay |
Some people believe that a Robin Hood is at work, others that a wealthy person simply wants to distribute his or her fortune before dying. But the donator who started sending envelopes with cash to deserving causes，accompanied by an article from the local paper, has made a northern German city believe in fairytales (童话）•
The first envelope was sent to a victim support group. It contained €10,000 with a cutting from the Braunschtveiger Zeitung about how the group supported a woman who was robbed of her handbag； similar plain white anonymous (匿名）envelopes, each containing €10,000, then arrived at a kindergarten and a church.
The envelopes keep coming, and so far at least €190,000 has been distributed. Last month, one of them was sent to the newspaper ’s own office. It came after a story it published about Tom, a 14-year-old boy who was severely disabled in a swimming accident. The receptionist at the Braunschweiger Zeitung opened an anonymous white envelope to find 20 notes of €500 inside , with a copy of the article. The name of the family was underlined.
"I was driving when I heard the news,” Claudia Neumann, the boy s mother, told DerSpiegel magazine. “I had to park on the side of the road； I was speechless. ”
The money will be used to make the entrance to their house wheelchair-accessible .and for a course of treatment that their insurance company refused to pay for.
“For someone to act so selflessly, for this to happen in such a society in which everyone thinks of himself, was astonishing," Mrs. Neumann said. Her family wonder whether the donator is a Robin Hood character, taking from banks to give to the needy.
Henning Noske, the editor of the Braunschweiger Zeitung, said： “Maybe it is an old person who is about to die. We just do not know. ” However, he has told his reporters not to look for the city’s hero, for fear that discovery may stop the donations.The Braunschweiger Zeitung is the name of .
| A．a church | B．a bank | C．a newspaper | D．a magazine |
Which of the following is TRUE about the donation to Tom?
| A． The donation amounted to €190,000. |
| B． The donation was sent directly to his house. |
| C． The money will be used for his education. |
| D． His mother felt astonished at the donation. |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A． the donator is a rich old man |
| B． the donation will continue to come |
| C． the donation comes from the newspaper |
| D． the donator will soon be found out |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A． Money Is Raised by the Newspaper |
| B． Newspaper Distributes Money to |
| C． Unknown Hero Spreads Love in Envelopes |
| D． Robin Hood Returns to the City |
The Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, is the best place in Europe for discovering dinosaur bones. Dinosaur Farm Museum was established in 1993. Since then, the museum has introduced the study of old bones to many more people.
What we offer
Visitors can enjoy our displays, or watch us cleaning dinosaur bones and other fossils found on the island’s beaches.
The museum has a variety of different fossils, many of them never displayed to the public before. As more are discovered all the time, you can be sure of seeing something new each time you visit.
We have a free Fossil Identification Service, so you can bring in any fossils you have and find out what they are. In addition, we have a reasonably-priced Museum Shop, where you can buy a souvenir of your visit. You could also bring a picnic and relax in our special picnic area.
Activities
Fossil hunts are organized from the museum and run all year round. Groups of up to 25 are guided on a local beach where they can search for fossils. All these hunts are fully licensed and insured, and guides can help to identify any fossils found and point out things of interest.
Due to the popularity of these hunts, all trips must be booked by a personal visit to Dinosaur Farm Museum.
Did you know…?
The BBC programme “Live from Dinosaur Island” was filmed along the coast here, and Dinosaur Farm Museum was the base for the television crew.
Find out more
Check out our website at www.isleofwight/dinosaurfarm to learn in detail how we dig for dinosaurs. You can also read about the many different kinds of dinosaurs which lived in this area, which was connected to Europe 120 million years ago.Why are there always new fossils to see at the museum?
| A．New fossils are discovered constantly. |
| B．People keep donating fossils to the museum. |
| C．Only a few of the fossils are displayed each day. |
| D．The museum exchanges fossils with other museums. |
Which of the following is free of charge at the museum?
| A．Food for a picnic. |
| B．Attending fossil hunts. |
| C．Having fossils identified. |
| D．A souvenir of the museum. |
One can book a fossil hunt _____.
| A．through a BBC programme |
| B．through the museum’s website |
| C．by making a call to the museum |
| D．by visiting the museum personally |