Learning a second language can improve brain power, scientists believe. US researchers from Northwestern University say bilingualism(双语) is a form of brain training — a mental "work out" that adjusts the mind finely.
Speaking two languages well affects the brain and changes how the nervous system reacts to sound, lab tests showed. Experts say the experiment performed by the National Academy of Sciences provides "biological" evidence of this.
In an attempt to prove the guess that speaking two languages is good for one's mind, the team monitored how the brain of 48 healthy student volunteers reacted to different sounds. Twenty three of these volunteers were bilingual.
The scientists used special equipment to trace the pattern of brainwaves. Under quiet, laboratory conditions, the bilingual students responded in a similar way to the English-only-speaking students, who formed the control group. But the bilingual group were far superior at processing sounds even when there were a lot of people talking in the room. They were better able to focus on to the important information — the speaker's voice — and block out other distracting noises.
Prof Nina Kraus, who led the research, said: "The bilingual's better experience with sound results in a hearing system that is highly efficient, flexible and focused in its automatic sound processing, especially in challenging or novel listening conditions."
Co-author Viorica Marian said: "People do crossword puzzles and other activities to keep their minds sharp. But the advantages we've discovered in double language speakers come automatically simply from knowing and using two languages.''
Musicians appear to gain a similar benefit when rehearsing(彩排), say the researchers. According to some theories, being bilingual might help avoid dementia（痴呆）.What’s the purpose for the lab test led by Prof Nina Kraus?
| A．To find how better the bilingual students can react to sound than other students. |
| B．Just to find scientific proof for a previous guess. |
| C．To show the students how good it is to learn a second language. |
| D．To find a way to prevent dementia. |
What does the underlined word “distracting” mean?
| A．tiring | B．exciting |
| C．interesting | D．disturbing |
What does Viorica Marian seem to believe?
| A．People should do crossword puzzles to keep their minds sharp. |
| B．Bilingual students have more advantages in study than non-bilingual ones. |
| C．Speaking two languages is an easier way for people to increase their brain power. |
| D．Bilingual students are better at solving crossword puzzles. |
What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?
| A．Being bilingual strengthens brain power. |
| B．Speaking a second language can change your nervous system. |
| C．Bilingual musicians perform better on stage. |
| D．The English-only-speaking students can concentrate easily. |
How was the bilingual group better at processing sounds?
| A．They were the control group. |
| B．They could better fix their attention on something of importance. |
| C．They were able to find the speaker’s voice quickly. |
| D．They had better nervous system. |
A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced towaist-high ruins, smelly and dirty.
Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill，she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?”she asked I said I was, “No charge.”She said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.
As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage (抵押贷款〉on our mined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d began to accept that we*d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kemmedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for State, the online magazine and wanted to give us (""no conditions attached’）a new house across thelake from New Orleans.
It sounded too good to be true, but I replied, thanking him for his exceptional generosity, that we had no plan to go back. Then a poet at the University of Florida offered to let his house to me, while he went to England on his one-year paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kemdedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.
Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing your worldly possessions to be reminded that people are really nice when given half a chance.The garage employee’s attitude toward the author was that of
| A．unconcern | B．sympathy |
| C．doubt | D．tolerance |
What do we know about James Kemnedy?
| A．He was a writer of an online magazine. |
| B．He was a poet at the University of Florida |
| C．He offered the author a new house free of charge. |
| D．He learned about the author’s sufferings via e-mail |
It can be inferred from the text that
| A．the author’s family was in financial difficulty |
| B．rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster |
| C．houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area |
| D．the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank |
The author learned from his experience that
| A．worldly possessions can be given up when necessary |
| B．generosity should be encouraged in some cases |
| C．people benefit from their sad stories |
| D．human beings are kind after all. |
Understanding the process of making career choices and managing your career is a basic life skill that everyone should understand.
Your career decisions have such a profound effect on all aspects of your life. It’s important to have the knowledge and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions. Whether you are looking for a new job, aiming to take the next step at your current job or planning your retirement options, you are making career decisions. Using good resources and the guidance of a career counselor can help you to make those decisions well.
Many people mistakenly believe that choosing a career is a one-time event that happens some time in early adulthood. However, career management is actually a life-long process, and we continue to make consequential (重大的) career choices over the years. When people want to take action in their career, career management and job search are about so much more than writing a good resume. If you learn about and act on the following areas of career management, you’ll be rewarded throughout your career.
Your interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities should all be taken into account in any career decision making process. You spend countless hours at work, and it impacts your life in so many ways; it makes sense that you should be fully informed before making such profound decisions.
Do you know how many different career choices are available to you? Both The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (American) and The National Occupational Classification (Canadian) list well over 20,000 different job titles. So unless you’ve actively explored a variety of career options, there’s a very good chance that there are great possibilities available to you, and you don’t even realize they exist.
Match your understanding of yourself with your understanding of possible career options. Once you have developed a good understanding of yourself, you will be able to combine that self-knowledge with your career and labor market research to determine potential careers that are a great fit for you.
When you’ve made a well informed decision, then you’re ready to make it happen. Making use of good career guidance and resources will help you to acquire the education, skills, and experience needed to get the job and learn and implement (实施) effective job search strategies.
Time spent understanding your needs, researching your career options and developing outstanding job search skills, guided by great career resources, is a powerful investment in your future.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．In the process of making career decisions, people should consider interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities. |
| B．All the people should have a good knowledge of how to make career choices and manage their career. |
| C．Career decisions have a great impact on people’s life. |
| D．There are various possibilities available to you of making career decisions. |
How many tips does the author give on career management?
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
It can be inferred that _______.
| A．career decision is misunderstood by many people because they don’t take it as a life-long process |
| B．your career will be definitely successful if you make a well informed decision |
| C．making yourself understood can help you make a final choice |
| D．writing a good resume can find a good job |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Your interests in the occupation you choose are vital. |
| B．Good career guidance and resources can help you gain the skills and experience. |
| C．You are to make significant decisions without good resources and the guidance of a career adviser. |
| D．Planning your retirement options is related to career management. |
Dublin City Hall
Inside City Hall is an interesting exhibition about Dublin’s history, with historical items from the old city and multimedia presentations. The building, which dates from 1779, once badly damaged, was recently renovated. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:15 p.m., Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~5:00 p.m. Admission is €6.50. Phone 672- 2204.
Dublin Castle
This is a joy for anyone interested in archaeology or history. Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century on top of the foundations of a Viking structure. The castle served as a military fortress, prison, court of law and the core (核心) of British administration in Ireland until 1922. It’s now used for state functions and government conferences. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m.~4:50 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~4:50 p.m. Closed during state functions. Admission is €4.50. Phone 677- 7129 or 677- 7270.
Trinity College
The sole college of the University of Dublin, Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The reason most visitors venture to Trinity is to take a look at the Book of Kells, which is on display at the Old Library. The ticket price includes admission to the Long Room, a striking space that contains 200,000 of the college’s oldest books. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am~5pm, Sunday noon~4:30 p.m. (from 9:30 a.m. June to September). College Green. Phone 608 -1177.
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Housed in the beautifully restored (修复) Royal Hospital Kilmainham (which was modelled (复制) on Les Invalides in Paris), the museum exhibits contemporary art and has an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces representing the cutting edge of Irish and international art. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays noon~5:30 p.m. The museum has no admission charge. Military Road, Kilmainham. Phone 612- 9900.
James Joyce Centre
James Joyce is one of Dublin’s most famous 20th century writers. Author of such works as Dubliners, Ulysses and his autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Joyce’s name is forever linked to the city of Dublin. The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting the life and works of James Joyce to novices and scholars alike. Open Tues.~Sat. 10:00 a.m.~5:00 p.m., Sun. 1: p.m.~5:00 p.m., admission costs €5.00 for adults. North Great George’s Street. Phone 878- 8547. According to the passage, we can know ________.
| A．Dublin Castle was used for government conferences |
| B．the sole college of the University of Dublin was established by Queen Elizabeth II |
| C．Dublin Castle served as a court of law in the 1930s |
| D．the novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is about James Joyce’s life |
The underlined word “renovated” in the first paragraph means ________.
| A．reviewed | B．recreated | C．repaired | D．destroyed |
Which place do you pay the least money to visit?
| A．Dublin City Hall. | B．Dublin Castle. |
| C．Irish Museum of Modern Art. | D．James Joyce Centre. |
A is for always getting to work on time.
B is for being extremely busy.
C is for the conscientious（勤勤恳恳的） way you do your job.
You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.
Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics—a better job, a raise, praise—many people are still unable or unwilling—to “play the game”.
“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative（工于心计的） behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University, “But politics derives from the word ‘polite’. It can mean lobbying（游说）and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying to please your superior, and then expecting something in return.”
In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behaviors used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment—not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.
“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,” says Neil P.Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It’ s simple human nature.”
Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery(奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.
Experts suggest altering（改变） this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.“Office politics” （Line 2,Para.4） is used in the passage to refer to____.
| A．the political views and beliefs of office workers |
| B．the interpersonal relationships within a company |
| C．the various qualities required for a successful career |
| D．the code of behavior for company staff |
Why are many people unwilling to "play the game" (Line 4, Para. 5) ?
| A．They believe that doing so is impractical. |
| B．They feel that such behavior is unprincipled(不道德的). |
| C．They are not good at manipulating colleagues. |
| D．They think the effort will get them nowhere. |
To get promoted, one must not only be competent but____.
| A．avoid being too outstanding |
| B．get along well with his colleagues |
| C．honest and loyal to his company |
| D．give his boss a good impression |
It is the author’ s view that____.
| A．self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery |
| B．hard work contributes very little to one’ s promotion |
| C．many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery |
| D．speaking up for oneself is part of human nature |
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn't sure what to do. After all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying.
Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life. Should I have been careless enough to step on her? His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety seemed admirable. I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.
Since then, I’ve used that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.The writer changed his direction while walking down a path because he wanted_______.
| A．to get close to a butterfly |
| B．to escape a sudden attack |
| C．to look over the bad situation |
| D．to avoid getting his shoes dirty |
From the passage we can learn that the attacker _________.
| A．struck the author four or five times and made him badly hurt |
| B．paused until the author took a step backwards |
| C．thought it was the author who caused the death of his mate |
| D．attacked the author for his mate’s safety and to accompany her for the last moments of life |
From this experience the man learned_____.
| A．butterflies are brave insects |
| B．the small can defeat the large |
| C．how to deal with challenges in his life |
| D．people should try their best to fight for everything |
Which of the following words can best describe the butterfly?
| A．caring | B．ambitious | C．courageous | D．aggressive |