Ever walked to the shops only to find, once there, you’ve completely forgotten what you went for? Or struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years we’ve accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of ageing as wrinkles and grey hair．But now a new book suggests that we’ve got it all wrong.
According to The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, by science writer Barbara Strauch, when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age．In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s—much later than previously thought.
Furthermore, rather than losing many brain cells as we age, we retain them, and even produce new ones well into middle age．For years it’s been assumed that brain, much like the body, declines with age．But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise.
This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years．It has found that on average, participants performed better on cognitive(认知的) tests in their 40s and 50s than they had done in their 20s．Specifically, older people did better on tests of vocabulary, verbal memory (how many words you can remember) and problem solving.
Where they performed less well was number ability and perceptual speed—how fast you can push a button when ordered．However, with more complex tasks such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond．In short, researchers are now coming up with scientific proof that we do get wiser with age.
Neuroscientists are also finding that we are happier with ageing．A recent US study found older people were much better at controlling and balancing their emotions．It is thought that when we’re younger we need to focus more on the negative aspects of life in order to learn about the possible dangers in the world, but as we get older we’ve learned our lessons and are sub-consciously aware that we have less time left in life: therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy．Barbara Strauch probably agrees that ______．
| A．the young are better at handling important things |
| B．people’s brains work best between their 40s and 60s |
| C．ageing leads to the decline of the function of the brain |
| D．wrinkles and grey hair are the only symbols of ageing |
The continuing research has found older people perform better on _____ .
| A．vocabulary tests |
| B．number ability |
| C．perceptual speed |
| D．body balance |
People are happier with age because ______.
| A．they learn to value the time left |
| B．they know how to share feelings |
| C．they cannot focus on negative aspects |
| D．they do not realize the possible dangers |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．People get wiser with age． |
| B．People get more forgetful with age． |
| C．People get happier with age． |
| D．People get more self-aware with age． |
Is it true that left-handed people are smarter than right-handed people? Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London, responds;
“If by intelligent you mean someone who performs better on IQ tests, the simply answer is no. Studies in the U.K., U. S. and Australia have revealed that left-handed people differ from right-handers by only one IQ point, which is not noteworthy.”
Left-handedness is, however, much more common among individuals with severe learning difficulties. A slightly higher proportion of left-handers have a stutter(口吃). Other problems, such as a higher rate of accidents reported in left-handers, mostly result from a world designed for the convenience of right-handers, with many tools not made for the left-handed.
However, if by smarter you mean more talented in certain areas, left-handers may have an advantage. Left-handers’ brains are structured differently from right-handers’ in ways that can allow them to process language, relations and emotions in more diverse and creative ways. Also, a slightly larger number of left-handers than right-handers are especially gifted in music and maths. A study of musicians in professional orchestras（管弦乐队）found a greater proportion of talented left-handers, even among those who played instruments that seem designed for right-handers, such as violins. Similarly, studies of adolescents who took tests to assess mathematical ability found many more left-handers in the population. The fact that mathematicians are often musical may not be a coincidence.
For other talents and skills, the benefits of being left-handed are less clear. In one-on-one competitive sports, being in the minority can be an advantage. For example, most right-handed tennis players have little experience of playing left-handers, but left-handers have plenty of experience of playing right-handers.
Whatever the advantages are, handedness seems to be genetic. With 10 percent of people preferring their left hand, there must be some selective advantages, or else the genes would probably not survive.The underlined word, “noteworthy”, in the second paragraph, probably means“_______”.
| A．remarkable | B．convincing |
| C．helpful | D．beneficial |
What is one of the characteristics of left-handed people?
| A．They have a much higher IQ than right-handed people. |
| B．They have an obvious advantage in tennis. |
| C．They are more likely to be talented in certain fields. |
| D．They usually don’t have learning difficulties. |
We can learn________ from the passage.
| A．right-handers have a higher rate of accidents. |
| B．most right-handed tennis players are good at playing left-handers. |
| C．left-handers can sometimes be more gifted in music and maths than right-handers. |
| D．left-handers’ brains process language in the same way as right-handers’. |
You are most likely to find this passage in the ____________ section of a magazine.
| A．travel and entertainment |
| B．gene and health. |
| C．fashion and trends |
| D．health and lifestyle |
In Vietnam, two members of a family of street vendors are finding a way to help the poorest students in Hanoi. Pham Minh Dap and his brother are providing the students with mostly free English and Japanese lessons at a learning center they created. The men want to help people who would not normally have a chance to learn a foreign language.
Some education experts in Vietnam say such knowledge may help college graduates get jobs. The country’s economy has improved. But many graduates continue to have a hard time finding employment. Local media reported ten percent of university graduates do not have a job.
Earlier this year, 24-year-old Pham Minh Dap and his brother established a school they call “Stand By You”. Volunteers teach poor students English and Japanese. Many classes are free. Students with some language knowledge pay 25 to 50 cents per class. Mr. Dap pays about $ 500 to rent the language center space and for other costs. He gives about $ 150 from his earnings as a street Vendor and private language teaching. His brother gives the same amount from the money he earns as a secretary. Friends provide the rest. Mr. Dap and many of his family members have sold things outside HoaBinh Park in the center of Vietnam’s capital for five years. They come from a village of rice farmers in Thanh Hoa Province.
Twenty-four-year-old Pham THi Trang is one of 600 students at the language school. She is finishing her university studies. Her parents work in a market in a village in Ha Nam Province. She says life is hard in the city. She earns about $50 a month from a part-time job, and her parents give her $ 75. But this is not enough to live on. She has said she has to be very careful with money so she can pay her bills.
Demand for the school is growing. About 1,000 people are on a waiting list to enter. Ten people have offered to teach for free. And Mr. Dap says he is hoping to raise money to pay for a bigger place. He wants to open more classes.“Stand By You” is established____________.
| A．by the Vietnam government | B．by a family |
| C．by a non-profit organization | D．by two brothers |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．All the courses provided by “ Stand By You” are free. |
| B．Farmers in Vietnam are very rich. |
| C．“Stand By You” is especially welcomed by the poor students in Vietnam. |
| D．Only ten percent of university graduates in Vietnam are employed. |
Mr. Dap wants to pay for a bigger place because___________.
| A．he wants to make more money. |
| B．he wants to open more classes for poor students. |
| C．he wants to change his job. |
| D．he wants to provide a wider space for students to play. |
The main idea of the passage is ____________.
| A．street vendors help the poor to learn English and Japanese. |
| B．the demand for school is growing in Vietnam. |
| C．free learning of English and Japanese are provided in Vietnam. |
| D．students in Vietnam are very poor. |
Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can’t miss.
Paris
The ranking for the “most romantic city” quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a café across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles.
Venice
Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas(贡多拉船) there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival(狂欢节). A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city’s past, the masked waltz and romance.
Prague
Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9th century, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague’s famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague.
Maldives
There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love.The city of light refers to___________.
| A．Paris | B．Venice |
| C．Prague | D．Vienna |
In Vienna, visitors can________________.
| A．go to the annual carnival. |
| B．admire the typical French architecture. |
| C．see the waltz in the ball season. |
| D．take beautiful pictures of reefs. |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．Vienna is known as the heart of Europe. |
| B．Prague has the largest ancient castle in the world. |
| C．Paris is called the cradle of European culture. |
| D．Most of the islands of the Maldives are more than 1 km in area. |
Anyone can try to lead a group, but not every individual is cut out for leadership. The better leaders possess a few qualities that can mean the difference between the success and failure of the group. These aret he qualities the leader of higher rank will look for when choosing a leader for a group, or when evaluating the performance of a leader. They're also the qualities team members want in a group leader, and appreciate when they find them.
Take Responsibility
Group leaders might share tasks around a group as necessary, but eventually a group leader needs to be able to accept that responsibility lies on her shoulders. That means that if things go wrong in a group project, she's the one who must accept the consequences and work out what mistakes were made. The group leader won't always have the power to control everything group members do, but she should be ready to admit any mistakes the group has made as a result of her leadership.
Concern for Members
The group leader has a commitment to the task or project at hand, but perhaps more importantly, he has a real concern for each and every person who is part of his group. This means getting to know the strengths, weaknesses and goals of team members, as well as making time to build the group through collective activities. The group leader should make sure that everyone is included, even if an individual is new to a group.
Good Listener
The group leader needs to be able to listen to the suggestions, complaints (抱怨) and ideas of group members. Not only will this allow complaints to be addressed and potentially suitable ideas to be put into practice, but a leader who listens will also encourage group members to share their concerns and thoughts,creating an atmosphere of free speech and productivity.The passage is mainly about____________.
| A．choosing a good leader for a group. |
| B．assessing the performance of a leader. |
| C．qualities of a good group leader. |
| D．team members’ appreciation of a leader. |
A good leader should always be able to_______.
| A．tell when things go wrong in a group project. |
| B．control everything group members do. |
| C．make group members admit their mistakes. |
| D．recognize any mistakes as his own. |
According to “Concerns for members”, which of the following is a good quality of a leader?
| A．fair | B．reliable |
| C．determined | D．generous |
Which of the following is not the benefit of being a good listener?
| A．Offer a chance for group members to express themselves freely |
| B．Allow the leader to put all his ideas into practice easily. |
| C．Make it possible to deal with group members’ complaints. |
| D．Make group members productive by sharing their thoughts. |
School children are using mobile phone applications to do their homework, which seem to be increasing during summer vacations. But instead of blaming students for their behavior, we should say no to too much homework. This is important because by using mobile phone applications to do their homework, students don't add much to their knowledge, says an article in Guangzhou-based Yangcheng Evening News. Excerpts (摘录):
Using mobile phone applications to do homework is no different from copying from someone else's work. This is the opinion of a vast majority of teachers. Students who seek cell phone apps help to do their homework will pay dearly during major exams when they cannot seek the help of such applications, the teachers say.
The heavy load of homework Chinese students are burdened with, said to be the heaviest in the world,has led to the popularity of these applications.
Senior high school students in China rarely go to bed before 11 pm. A report in Shanghai published in2013 showed that students in the city on average spend 28.2 hours in class every week, the 9th highest among 65 countries and regions surveyed. Also, they spend an average of 13.8 hours a week doing homework, most in the world.
There is no association between the amount of homework one does and the amount of knowledge one gathers. In fact, a research by Australian experts shows that the result is exactly the opposite: the more hours students spend doing homework, the less effective they will be in gaining knowledge.
The United States is one of the countries where students do little homework, but that has not damaged the country's academic status in the world.
So, it's time Chinese schools understood this fact and freed students of the unnecessary burden of homework.What’s the writer’s attitude toward the students’ using mobile phone applications to do their homework?
| A．Supporting | B．Understanding |
| C．Scolding | D．Praising |
The cause of the students’ using mobile phone applications to do their homework is______.
| A．the heavy burden of homework |
| B．the advance of modern technology |
| C．the pressure of the students’ parents |
| D．the influence of other countries |
What does the underlined phrase “pay dearly” mean?
| A．be rewarded | B．be dismissed |
| C． provide much money | D．suffer a lot |
Which of the following is probably the best title?
| A．Free kids of the burden of homework. |
| B．Stop using mobile phones to do homework. |
| C．Spend less time to gain much knowledge. |
| D．Improve China’s academic status in the world. |