If you want to increase your vocabulary, the best way to do it might be to pick up a guitar, or learn the violin. A new study shows that learning to play a musical instrument makes the brain more able to remember words.

       “Grown-ups with music training in their childhood can have better memory for words,” said Dr Agnes Chan of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who did the research. “They can remember things that you tell them better than those who did not have music training when they were young.”

       It seems that one can remember spoken words because his brain has a special part. “That part of the brain is larger in musicians than in non-musicians,” Dr Chan told BBC. “If that part of the brain is larger, it may be better developed and so this explains very nicely our results.”

       Dr Chan and her workmates came to their conclusion after studying students. Their research is reported in the latest edition of the journal(杂志) Nature. “We did the experiment with 60 girl college students from our university and 30 of them have at least six years training with one western musical instrument (such as the violin and the piano) before the age of 12. The other 30 had received no music training. We tested their memory by reading them some words and asking them to remember these words—a very common test for memory. We found that people who have had music training can remember about 70% more information than those who have not had any music training.”

       Dr Chan thinks the process(过程) of learning is more important than the actual instrument used. She also believes if one is able to remember words through learning to play instruments, he or she could have some very real benefits. Dr Chan thinks this could be developed into a medical way for patients who are suffering from memory loss.

According to the writer, learning to play a musical instrument helps to ______.

   A. get more knowledge

   B. live more happily

   C. remember more words

   D. make one become a musician

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

   A. Dr Chan thinks people should have music training when they grow up.

   B. Dr Chan thinks the special part of the brain doesn’t need developing.

   C. Dr Chan thinks people should have music training when they are young.

   D. Dr Chan thinks musicians have a larger brain than non-musicians.

How many students took part in Dr Chan’s research?

   A. 30 girl students.                   B. 60 girl students.

   C. 17% of his students.               D. 60 girl and boy students.

“Long time no see” is a very interesting sentence. When I first read this sentence from an American friend’s email, I laughed. I thought it was a perfect example of Chinglish.
Obviously, it is a word-by-word literal translation of the Chinese greetings with a ruled English grammar and structure! Later on, my friend told me that it is a standard American greeting. I was too thrilled to believe her. Her words could not convince me at all. So I did a research on google.com. To my surprise, there are over 60 thousand web pages containing “Long time no see.” This sentence has been widely used in emails, letters, newspapers, movies, books, or any other possible places. Though it is sort of informal, it is part of the language that Americans use daily. Ironically, if you type this phrase in Microsoft Word, the software will tell you that the grammar needs to be corrected.
Nobody knows the origin of this Chinglish sentence. Some people believe that it came from Charlie Chan’s movies. In the 1930s, Hollywood moviemakers successfully created a world wide famous Chinese detective named “Charlie Chan” on wide screens. Detective Chan likes to teach Americans some Chinese wisdom by quoting Confucius. “Long time no see” was his trademark. Soon after Charlie Chan, “Long time no see” became a popular phrase in the real world with thanks to the popularity of these movies.
Some scholars refer to America as a huge pot of stew. All kinds of culture are mixed in the stew together, and they change the color and taste of each other. American Chinese, though a minority ethnic(少数民族的成员) group in the United States, is also contributing some changes to the stew! Language is usually the first thing to be influenced in the mixed stew.
You can have some other examples than adoptions from Chinese, such as pizza from Italian, susi from Japanese, and déjà vu from French etc. There is a long list! Americans do not just simply borrow something from others. They will modify it and make it their own, so you would not be surprised to find a tofu and peanut butter hamburger in a restaurant, or to buy a bottle of iced Chinese green tea with honey in a grocery store. Since Americans appreciate Chinese culture more and more nowadays, I believe more Chinese words will become American English in the future. In this way the American stew keeps adding richness and flavor.
【小题1】The writer himself felt surprised at ______. 

A.the Chinglish expression “Long time no see”
B.“Long time no see” used as standard American English
C.so many literal translation of the expressions used in America
D.finding out Americans use the expression every day
【小题2】The word “stew” in the 4th paragraph probably means ______.
A.mixture literatureB.Confucius’ words
C.a kind of cooked dishD.American changing cultures
【小题3】According to the passage, it can be inferred that ______.
A.detectives translate the phrase “Long time no see”
B.Hollywood made “Long time no see”popular
C.the huge pot of stew greatly affects all kinds of languages
D.cultures can be changed in the huge pot of stew
【小题4】The main idea of the passage is that ______.
A.some Chinese expressions are introduced into English
B.you’ll not be surprised at a tofu in a restaurant in America
C.some American expressions can be used in China
D.American English keep being enriched from different cultures
【小题5】According to the passage, which of the following statements is not true?
A.Informal language sometimes doesn’t go with grammar and structure.
B.Languages are always ruled by grammar and structure.
C.Long time no see” has been used in at least four media mentioned in the passage.
D.There are four languages mentioned to be adopted in the American stew.

请阅读下列师生的信息,然后匹配与其需求相对应的住宿信息。?
_____【小题1】. Robert Jones. Robert will be a guest teacher at the university beginning September 1. He has no car so needs accommodation that is very near work and that’s big enough for him and his wife. Privacy is important so he does not want to share things with others. As the university will pay his living expenses, money is no problem. ?
_____【小题2】 Bill West. Bill will begin his undergraduate studies in the autumn term (September 2009). Bill is very sociable and is eager to live with others. He would prefer to stay in town rather than the university so he can experience more of what the city offers.
_____【小题3】 Shelia Budgie. Shelia, a postgraduate student from Australia, will come to the university at the beginning of April for 6 months’ study. She needs a very quiet, private place in the university where she can study in peace. As she loves to cook she also wants a place with a private kitchen.
_____【小题4】 Angelo Liokas. Angelo, a language student from Greece, arrives in October and wants to live in the university and share with other students so he can practice his English. As his money is very limited he needs an inexpensive room that has cooking and washing equipment available to him.
_____【小题5】 Linda Chan. Linda will finish her studies this spring and wants her family to come from China to attend her graduation ceremony. She needs a place that can accept the four family members planning to attend in April. They will also need Internet access to stay in touch with family members in China.
A                                                  

Location:  Outside university?
Room Type: Shared flat?
Availability: From 1 Sept. 2010
Number of beds: 5 singles?
Weekly Rent: £65?
Notes: I vacancy, sharing with male undergraduates.

 
B
Location: Inside university?
Room Type: Private flat?
Availability: From 25 Aug. 2010?
Number of beds: 1 double?
Weekly Rent: £92.40?
Notes: Full private shower, basic kitchen, furniture, bedding services and broadband Internet included.?

 

Location: Outside university?
Room Type: Private flat?
Availability: From 1 Apr.2010
Number of beds:2 doubles?
Weekly Rent:£15.00?
Notes: 1 double bedroom with lounge, kitchen, bathroom and WC. Sofa bed in lounge can be used as a second double bed. Includes free broadband Internet.
?
 
D
Location: Inside university?
Room Type: Standard with washbasin?
Availability: From 25 Sept. 2010?
Number of beds:1 single?
Weekly Rent:£70.00?
Notes: Private single bedroom. Also has public kitchen, bathrooms, WC and relaxing area with sofas that are shared by around 15 people.

 
E
Location: Inside university?
Room Type: Townhouse flats?
Availability: From 25 Sept.2010?
Number of beds:12 singles?
Weekly Rent:£35.00?
Notes: 12 people share each house. These are brand new for 2008, and each house contains a good size public kitchen, living area with sofas and downstairs laundry. ?

 
F
Location: Inside university?
Room Type: Studio?
Availability: From 25 Mar.2010?
Number of beds:1 double?
Weekly Rent:£113.00?
Notes: This quiet studio flat has a small private kitchen (fridge, microwave, stove), table and chairs, double bed, bathroom and Internet.

 

Summer is a busy time for travel. For years, people have wondered whether they are safe from viruses when they travel in small, enclosed areas. They worry about close contact with others who may be sick.

The current spread of a swine flu(猪流感) virus has added to these concerns. Recently, the World Health Organization raised its warning about the new H1N1 virus to its highest level. W.H.O. Director-General Margaret Chan declared the sickness a pandemic–a disease that has spread to many nations. Given this information, many people want to know how safe it is to travel?

The answers people are getting may seem conflicting. For example, a W.H.O. statement urged nations not to close their borders or limit trade and travel. Director-General Chan said cases are generally not that serious for most people. Still, W.H.O. officials continue to report new cases across the world.

In the past, the W.H.O. and experts noted guidance for disease spread on airplanes. The experts said you could get infected only if you sit within two rows of someone who is sick. That would be a distance of up to three meters from the sick person. And this was true only if you sat there for more than eight hours.

But a travel-health expert says this guidance may not be helpful for swine flu. He suggests steps that could help prevent getting swine flu on an airplane. His advice includes keeping the airflow over your seat on the “low” position. The doctor says you should point the equipment so the flow of air is just in front of your face.

Doctors say anyone with pain, swelling(肿胀) or red skin on a leg during or after a long trip may have a blood clot(凝块). Anyone with such signs should see a doctor as soon as possible. The condition many times can be treated with drugs that thin the blood and stop the clot from moving through the body.

68.The underlined word “conflicting” is closest in meaning to ________.

A. in disagreement        B. not true                           C. the same                          D. unbelievable

69.According to Director-General Chan, the swine flu is ________.

A. a disease spread on airplanes                                B. a very dangerous disease

C. a disease requiring limit travel                              D. a widely spread disease

70.Which of the following is the travel-health expert’s opinion on traveling in an airplane?

A. It’s safe to sit within two rows of a sick person.

B. It’s helpful to keep air flowing right before your face.

C. It’s important for a passenger to stay in a plane within 8 hours.

D. It’s certain that a passenger will have a blood clot after a long flight.

71.What would be the best title for the text?

A. Stop Traveling in Case of Swine Flu                  B. Experts’ Arguments Over Swine Flu

C. Prevention of Swine Flu on the Trip                   D. No News Is the Best News

 

请阅读下列师生的信息,然后匹配与其需求相对应的住宿信息。?

_____1.. Robert Jones. Robert will be a guest teacher at the university beginning September 1. He has no car so needs accommodation that is very near work and that’s big enough for him and his wife. Privacy is important so he does not want to share things with others. As the university will pay his living expenses, money is no problem. ?

_____2. Bill West. Bill will begin his undergraduate studies in the autumn term (September 2009). Bill is very sociable and is eager to live with others. He would prefer to stay in town rather than the university so he can experience more of what the city offers.

_____3. Shelia Budgie. Shelia, a postgraduate student from Australia, will come to the university at the beginning of April for 6 months’ study. She needs a very quiet, private place in the university where she can study in peace. As she loves to cook she also wants a place with a private kitchen.

_____4. Angelo Liokas. Angelo, a language student from Greece, arrives in October and wants to live in the university and share with other students so he can practice his English. As his money is very limited he needs an inexpensive room that has cooking and washing equipment available to him.

_____5. Linda Chan. Linda will finish her studies this spring and wants her family to come from China to attend her graduation ceremony. She needs a place that can accept the four family members planning to attend in April. They will also need Internet access to stay in touch with family members in China.

 

A                                                  

Location:  Outside university?

Room Type: Shared flat?

Availability: From 1 Sept. 2010

Number of beds: 5 singles?

Weekly Rent: £65?

Notes: I vacancy, sharing with male undergraduates.

 

 

B

Location: Inside university?

Room Type: Private flat?

Availability: From 25 Aug. 2010?

Number of beds: 1 double?

Weekly Rent: £92.40?

Notes: Full private shower, basic kitchen, furniture, bedding services and broadband Internet included.?

 

Location: Outside university?

Room Type: Private flat?

Availability: From 1 Apr.2010

Number of beds:2 doubles?

Weekly Rent:£15.00?

Notes: 1 double bedroom with lounge, kitchen, bathroom and WC. Sofa bed in lounge can be used as a second double bed. Includes free broadband Internet.

?

 

D

Location: Inside university?

Room Type: Standard with washbasin?

Availability: From 25 Sept. 2010?

Number of beds:1 single?

Weekly Rent:£70.00?

Notes: Private single bedroom. Also has public kitchen, bathrooms, WC and relaxing area with sofas that are shared by around 15 people.

 

 

E

Location: Inside university?

Room Type: Townhouse flats?

Availability: From 25 Sept.2010?

Number of beds:12 singles?

Weekly Rent:£35.00?

Notes: 12 people share each house. These are brand new for 2008, and each house contains a good size public kitchen, living area with sofas and downstairs laundry. ?

 

 

 

F

Location: Inside university?

Room Type: Studio?

Availability: From 25 Mar.2010?

Number of beds:1 double?

Weekly Rent:£113.00?

Notes: This quiet studio flat has a small private kitchen (fridge, microwave, stove), table and chairs, double bed, bathroom and Internet.

 

 

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