A team of US psychologists(心理学家) have found that talking to another person for ten minutes a day helps with memory.
“Socializing(交际) is just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual(智力的) performance,” Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, said in a statement.
In one investigation, they analyzed data on 3610 people, aged 24 to 96.
They found that the higher their level of social interaction(交流), the better their cognitive(认知的) functioning. Social interaction includes getting together or having phone chats with relatives, friends and neighbors.
In another experiment, the researchers conducted laboratory tests on 76 college students, aged 18 to 21, to evaluate(评估) how social interactions and intellectual exercises affected the results of memory and mental performance tests.
The students were divided into three groups: the social interaction group had a discussion of a social issue for 10 minutes before taking the tests; the intellectual activities group completed three tasks (including a reading comprehension exercise and a crossword puzzle) before the tests; and a control group(对照组) watched a 10-minute clip(电影片段) of the Seinfeld television show.
“We found that short-term social interaction lasting for just 10 minutes improved participants’ (参与者) intellectual performance as much as engaging in (从事) so-called ‘intellectual’ activities for the same amount of time,” Ybarra said.
The study was expected to be published in the February issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.What does the underlined word “boosting” in the second paragraph probably mean?
| A．Improving. | B．Reducing. |
| C．Preventing. | D．Training. |
Which is not included in social interaction?
| A．Having a talk with a neighbor. |
| B．Attending a birthday party. |
| C．Watching TV at home alone. |
| D．Calling your classmates. |
What’s the purpose of the experiment on 76 college students?
| A．To judge the effect of social interaction on memory and intelligence. |
| B．To find out what is real social interaction. |
| C．To learn how much time is needed for social interaction. |
| D．To show the function of people's cognition. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Intellectual exercises make your memory better. |
| B．Different people have different ways of communication. |
| C．Communicating with others keeps you healthy. |
| D．Social interaction makes you smart. |
A Great Creator
Steven Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, was not clever when he was in school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made troubles with his schoolmates. When he went into college, he didn’t change a lot. Then he dropped out. But he was full of new ideas.
After he left college, Steven Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in life.
Steven Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India.
In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple Computer with his friend in his garage. He chose the name “Apple” just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent an apple tree garden.
His Apple Computer was such a great success that Steven Jobs soon became famous all over the world.Steven Jobs was not a good student in school because he .
| A．never did his lessons |
| B．was full of new ideas |
| C．always made troubles with his schoolmates |
| D．he was not clever |
Then he dropped out.
| A．drop in | B．gave up college | C．fall off | D．left out |
Steven Jobs called his new computer “Apple” because .
| A．he likes apples too much |
| B．he wanted to remember the happy time in an apple tree garden |
| C．he always liked some new ideas |
| D．he wanted to change in his life |
Steven Jobs is famous for hisall over the world.
| A．new ideas | B．apple |
| C．Apple Computer | D．video games |
From this passage we know .
| A．Steven Jobs didn’t finish his studies in the college because he hated his schoolmates. |
| B．Steven Jobs liked traveling in India and California. |
| C．Steven Jobs only designed video games. |
| D．Steven Jobs liked trying new things and making new ideas become true. |
When talking about the 2008 Olympic Games, you must think of the host city—Beijing. But maybe you don’t think of the other cities—Qingdao, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Qingdao held the Olympic sailing competition. Horse-riding events was held in Hong Kong. Tianjin, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang and Shanghai held football preliminaries (预赛).
The following form tells you more.
| City |
Event |
Where |
Time |
| Qingdao |
Sailing |
Qingdao International Sailing Center |
Aug.9-Aug.21 |
| Hong Kong |
Horse-riding |
Existing Competition Venue （沙田马术中心） |
Aug.9-Aug.20 |
| Tianjin |
Football preliminaries |
Tianjing Olympic Center Stadium |
Aug.10, Aug.12 |
| Qinhuangdao |
Football preliminaries |
Qinhuangdao Olympic Center Stadium |
Aug.10, Aug.12 |
| Shengyang |
Football preliminaries |
Shenyang Olympic Center Stadium |
Aug.10’ Aug.12 |
| Shanghai |
Football preliminaries |
Shanghai Stadium |
Aug.10, Aug.12 Aug.13 |
根据短文和表格内容，选择正确的答案How many cities were getting ready for the2008 Olympic Games?
| A．One. | B．Six. | C．Seven. | D．Eight. |
_______ held horse-riding events.
| A．Qingdao International Sailing Center |
| B．Existing Competition Venue |
| C．Qinhuangdao Olympic Center Stadium |
| D．Shanghai Stadium |
How long did football preliminaries take?
| A．13 days. | B．12 days. | C．7 days. | D．3 days. |
The sailing was held in _______.
| A．Qingdao | B．Hong Kong | C．Qinhuangdao | D．Shanghai |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Football preliminaries for the 2008 Olympics were held in four cities in China. |
| B．Horse-riding events for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 20. |
| C．Sailing for the 2008 Olympics lasted from Aug. 9 to Aug. 21. |
| D．Sailing events for the 2008 Olympics was held in Qinhuangdao. |
Recently, an Internet game has become a new fashion among young office workers and students. People can “farm” on a piece of “land” and “grow”, “sell” or even “steal vegetables”, “flowers” and “fruits” on the Net. They can earn some e-money and buy more “seeds”, “pets” and even “houses”.
Joyce interviewed some young people. Here are their opinions:
Harold: I don't quite understand why they are so mad about the childish game. Maybe they are just not confident enough to face the real world.
Allan: I enjoy putting some “bugs” in my friends’ gardens and we’ve become closer because of the game. Having fun together is the most exciting thing about it.
Laura: You know, people in the city are longing for（渴望）the life in the countryside. It reduces my work pressure（压力）. Besides, it gives me the exciting experience of being a “thief”.
Ivy: Well, it's just a waste of time. Teenagers playing the game spend so many hours on it that they can not focus on （专注于）their study. According to the passage, people can’t things in this game.
| A．grow | B．borrow | C．steal | D．sell |
Among the people Joyce interviewed, _____ likes the game whiledislikes the game.
| A．Laura, Allan | B．Allan, Harold | C．Harold, Ivy | D．Ivy, Allan |
From Laura's words, we can guess that she's most probably.
| A．a student | B．an office worker | C．a farmer | D．a thief |
Which is NOT the reason why people like the game?
| A．They are longing for country life. |
| B．They can have fun with friends. |
| C．The game can relax people and give them a new experience. |
| D．They are confident enough to face the real world. |
Where can you find this passage?
| A．In a car magazine. | B．In an advertisement. |
| C．In a newspaper. | D．In a science book. |
Each year, we celebrate many holidays here in America.
On January 1, we welcome the coming of a new year like many people in other countries. And we have another four holidays on the first day of a month: April Fool’s Day, May Day, Friendship Day (Aug.1) and Grandparents Day (Sep. 1).
The most important holiday for the young people comes in February. It is Valentine’s Day. Lots of boys give red roses to girls as a present.
People celebrate some holidays for their family members. We say thanks to our mother in May and celebrate Father’s Day in the following month. In November many people return home for Thanksgiving Day, so the whole family can stay together.
There are also some interesting holidays for children. For example, Halloween comes at the end of October. Children often play with pumpkin lanterns and put on all kinds of masks.
Of course, the most important festival is Christmas. After a year of work and study, people can enjoy a long holiday, eat big meals, and visit family and friends.How many holidays do you know on the first day of a month in America?
| A．Four. | B．Five. | C．Seven. | D．Ten. |
What is the most important holiday for the young people?
| A．Thanksgiving Day. | B．Christmas Day. |
| C．Valentine’s Day. | D．New Year’s Day. |
From the reading we know that Father’s Day comes .
| A．in May | B．in April. | C．in June | D．in July |
Halloween is one of the interesting holidays for.
| A．children | B．mothers | C．girls | D．students |
Many people return home in November because they want to ___________.
| A．enjoy a long holiday | B．stay with their family members |
| C．eat big meals with friends | D．spend Thanksgiving Day |
One Friday Mrs. King asked her class to write a story after class. “Use your imagination!” she cried, “You can write your story about anything.” Kenny looked worried. “A story?” he thought, “What could I possible have to write about? I don’t know any stories.” The bell rang and all the kids went home.
The next day, Kenny sat at his desk at home, thinking and thinking. The warm sun was shining through the windows, making him drowsy. And soon he fell fast asleep. As he slept, Kenny began to dream about fantastic things.
First he dreamed that he was a world-famous doctor, saving whole cities and curing diseases. Then he dreamed that he was in a UFO. He was talking to strange but friendly space creatures. Then he dreamed that he had become as small as a mouse by a bad scientist. He had to find a way to stop the plot（阴谋）of the mad scientist!
Kenny dreamed wonderful and exciting things until his little brother woke him up. “What were you dreaming about?” he asked. Kenny told his brother the wonderful dreams. His brother enjoyed the stories. Suddenly, Kenny knew that he had his kinds of stories in his imagination.What did the teacher ask the students to do as homework?
| A．To act as a doctor | B．To read some stories |
| C．To help family members | D．To write a story |
How many dreams did Kenny have?
| A．One | B．Two | C．Three | D．Four |
What was Kenny in his first dream?
| A．A great doctor | B．A mad scientist |
| C．A visitor on a spaceship | D．A good student |
The underlined word “drowsy” means_______.
| A．unhappy | B．sleepy | C．upset | D．awake |
The best title for this passage is _______.
| A．A strange dream | B．Mrs. King's class |
| C．Writing a story with imagination | D．An evil scientist |