During the 19th century, scientists found that when certain parts of the brain of a person were hurt, he would lose the power of doing certain things. And so people thought that each part of the brain does a different job. But modern research has discovered that this is not so, for it is not easy to show exactly what each part of the brain does.
In the past fifty years there has been a great increase in the amount or research done on the brain. Scientists have found out that the way the brain works is not so simple as people in general may think. Chemists tell us that about 100,000 chemical changes take place in the brain every second. Some recent researches also suggest that we can remember everything that happened to us. We may not be able to think of the things we have heard and seen but it is kept there in the store-house of the human mind. Earlier scientists thought that the power of one’s brain got weaker and weaker as one grows older. But it is plenty of exercise, it keeps its power. It is now thought that is not true. As long as the brain is given plenty of exercise, it keeps its power. It has proved that an old person who has always been active in the mind has a quicker mind than a young person who has done physical work without using much of his brain

  1. 1.

    In the last century, scientists found that a person would lose the power to do certain things _______.

    1. A.
      when he got weaker in health
    2. B.
      if certain parts of his brain were hurt
    3. C.
      after he did a quite different job
    4. D.
      when he grew older
  2. 2.

    Scientists today are still unable to show exactly_______.

    1. A.
      what each part of the brain is doing
    2. B.
      how many chemical changes take place in the brain each second
    3. C.
      whether each part of the brain does the same job
    4. D.
      which part of the brain is the most important
  3. 3.

    It has been found that one’s brain usually works _______.

    1. A.
      faster when he is old
    2. B.
      a little now and a little then
    3. C.
      in a very simple way
    4. D.
      without any rest all day long
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

    1. A.
      Scientists are working hard at the researches on the brain
    2. B.
      As many as six million chemical changes take place in the brain every minute
    3. C.
      A young man doing physical labor is sure to have a much slower mind
    4. D.
      Even an old man has a quick mind only if his brain is given much exercise
  5. 5.

    The more work we give our brains,_______.

    1. A.
      the less result we will gain
    2. B.
      the more work they are able to do
    3. C.
      the weaker their power will get
    4. D.
      the more tired they will feel

Mr. Patrick was new to the school and to us. Even though he was a great teacher, he seemed rather like a character out of a horror movie. He didn’t look that bad, but somehow, he looked extremely scary to me.
Some kids began to believe that he was a murderer or a ghost; some believed he was mad and a few believed that he might have suffered a lot in his life. I was one of those ‘few’.
One day I gathered up my courage and headed towards the school garden. He was, as usual, sitting on a bench alone. I breathed heavily a few times and then walked towards him.
“How are you?” I asked with my voice crackling.

He managed to say, “Fine.”
“Well, good to know,” I tried to be happy.
“Hmmm…” was all I heard.
“What’s up with you?” then seeing a puzzled look on his face, I tried to be more formal and respectful. “I mean, why aren’t you like all other people in the school? Why are you always so quiet and sad? Why…”
“No dear, some things are better left unsaid,” he said gloomily.

“Oh no sir, nothing is better left unsaid. If you want to share your feelings with me and reduce the pain of your heart, you are free to do so. I promise I will never ever tell anyone.”
“With you? You are just a little girl; what will you understand?”
I was somehow offended but still I managed to persuade him, “So what, Sir? You see, if you tell me your problem, you will have a light heart and you will have the feeling that someone somewhere cares about you.”
“Oh okay, that was a very nice belief indeed; let’s take a walk and I will let you know everything.”
Soon after our little talk, there was a visible change on his face. Later that day in the class, there was a smile on his face

  1. 1.

    From the text, we can know about Mr. Patrick that he _______.

    1. A.
      once acted a character in a horror movie
    2. B.
      scared his students with his looks
    3. C.
      often punished the students for bad marks
    4. D.
      did better in teaching than others in the school
  2. 2.

    Mr. Patrick was thought by the author to _______.

    1. A.
      be a murderer or a ghost
    2. B.
      be mad
    3. C.
      have suffered a lot
    4. D.
      have a special personality
  3. 3.

    While walking towards Mr. Patrick in the school garden, the author felt _______.

    1. A.
      excited
    2. B.
      nervous
    3. C.
      worried
    4. D.
      happy

I fell in love with England because it was quaint (典雅)—all those little houses, looking terri?bly old-fashioned but nice, like dolls’ houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I’ve slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it’s an ugly town now.
Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentlemen, fair play, and good man?ners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good man?ners—people shut doors heavily in your face and politeness is disappearing.
I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You’re forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.
As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a bomb on taxis because I will not take public trans?port after 10 p. m. I used to use it, but now I’m afraid.
The idea of family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is well united and that’s typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbour who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone

  1. 1.

    The writer doesn’t like London because she _______.

    1. A.
      is not used to the life there now
    2. B.
      has lived there for seventeen years
    3. C.
      prefers to live in an old-fashioned house
    4. D.
      has to be polite to everyone she meets there
  2. 2.

    Where do people usually meet their friends in England?

    1. A.
      In a cafe
    2. B.
      In a restaurant
    3. C.
      In a nightclub
    4. D.
      In a pub
  3. 3.

    The underlined part “it” (in Para. 4) refers to_______.

    1. A.
      a taxi
    2. B.
      the money
    3. C.
      a bomb
    4. D.
      public transport
  4. 4.

    The writer took her neighbour to France for Christmas because he _______.

    1. A.
      felt lonely in England
    2. B.
      had never been to France
    3. C.
      was from a typical French family
    4. D.
      didn't like the British idea of family

Anais Nin was a famous writer. Nin was born French-Cuban but lived in the United States in her later years of life till she died. Nin’s works had her relationships with authors，artists，and other figures as the main subject. Some of her writings were made into films. Nin was also a visiting lecturer in several colleges and promoted Women's Movement with her strong writings.
Anais Nin was born in France in 1903. Her father was a Spanish artist and a composer living in Cuba（古巴）where he met her mother, a French singer working in Cuba. As a child Nin was brought up in Spain. When her parents separated, Nin and her two brothers moved to New York with their mother. At the age of 16 Nin decided to give up studying and started to work as a dancer and model to reduce the financial burden on her mother so that her brothers could go on with their studies.
In 1923 Nin got married to her husband，Hugh Parker Guiler in Cuba. In 1924 Nin and Hugh moved to Paris where Hugh continued with his banking career and Nin started writing. Nin wrote her first book in print, D. H. Lawrence：An Unprofessional Study in 16 days. In 1939 Nin left Paris as it was a French government's request to its residents to leave Paris because of the coming war. Nin returned to New York with Hugh and sent her written books to Frances Steloff of the Gotham Book Mart in New York for safekeeping.
In 1931 Nin wrote her book Henry and June from the Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin. In 1936 Nin published House of Incest which was a 72-page fiction novel.
Nin also appeared and was a part of various films. In 1973 Anais Nin was awarded an honorary doctorate（荣誉博士学位）by the Philadelphia College of Art. In 1974 Nin was elected to the United States National Institute of Arts and Letters.
In 1977 Nin died in her Los Angeles home after battling with cancer for three years

  1. 1.

    What information can we get from Paragraph one?

    1. A.
      Anais Nin was a native American
    2. B.
      Anais Nin started Women's Movement
    3. C.
      Anais Nin gave lectures in several colleges
    4. D.
      Anais Nin wrote mainly about her family life
  2. 2.

    Why did Nin and her husband move back to New York in 1939?

    1. A.
      Because they expected to enter the film industry
    2. B.
      Because the couple wanted to stay away from the coming war
    3. C.
      Because they intended to have her books published
    4. D.
      Because they both meant to promote the sales of new books
  3. 3.

    We can infer from the passage that_______.

    1. A.
      Nin got married in 1923 and started writing a year later
    2. B.
      Nin wrote her book Henry and June from the Unexpurgated Diary of Anais Nin after she moved to America
    3. C.
      Nin directed and played in various films
    4. D.
      Anais Nin was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Philadelphia College of Science

Every year many students went to the college bookstore to purchase the different textbooks that they need for their classes. Little do these students realize that, in doing so, they are throwing good money away. It may sound unbelievable but textbooks, in some cases, actually cost as much as, if not more than, college fees.
Many people think that college bookstores are the most convenient source for textbooks. Titles are usually kept and students may purchase new textbooks or choose to buy second-hand books and save money. But the money saved by purchasing second-hand textbooks from college bookstores is small compared to the amount they could save by shopping online.
More and more online booksellers have begun selling textbooks at heavily discounted prices. Online second-hand bookstores are another source for college books as they keep a large number of textbooks, which means sizable savings for students. Students should avoid purchasing their textbooks at the first store that they surf online since there are so many ‘unreal’ booksellers on the Net. Price isn't the only factor to consider when making an online purchase. Students should also consider shopping costs and delivery time when making their decision.
Online auctions(拍卖) are another option for students seeking a bargain. This option, however, has its pros and cons. A plus is that students can get incredibly cheap books. One problem is that while online bookstores have a system in place that ensure you receive your order within a reasonable amount of time, with an auction purchase, however, you  must depend on the auction seller's timetable.
One way that students can really save is by getting books for free. Project Gutenberg is one resource that English majors will find invaluable. Here students can legally download a huge collection of classic novels. In the past students needing help with their studies would often have to spend a lot of money buying expensive study guides. Today that is no longer the case. Cash-strapped students can now visit the website SparkNotes for free downloadable study guides as well as classics

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is the best title of this passage?

    1. A.
      Learning to Save on Textbooks
    2. B.
      Why Buy Textbooks
    3. C.
      Online Shopping
    4. D.
      Tips for Buying Secondhand Textbooks
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source to obtain textbooks ?

    1. A.
      College bookstores
    2. B.
      Online used bookstores
    3. C.
      Online auctions
    4. D.
      Second-hand bookstore centres
  3. 3.

    The underlined expression “pros and cons” (paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to _______.

    1. A.
      professionals and conservatives
    2. B.
      joy and sadness
    3. C.
      advantages and disadvantages
    4. D.
      processes and conditions
  4. 4.

    According to the passage, Project Gutenberg is probably _______.

    1. A.
      a government project aimed at helping English majors
    2. B.
      a project to help poor students get free learning materials
    3. C.
      a website for English majors to get the guides from language experts
    4. D.
      a website for students to get free sources for English learning
  5. 5.

    From the passage, we can learn that_______.

    1. A.
      the cost of textbooks in college is low compared to the amount spent on tuition
    2. B.
      online auctions are perfect for students seeking text books
    3. C.
      students should visit many websites before buying their books
    4. D.
      students should consider shopping costs and delivery time above all else when making their buying decision

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced trends in fruit and vegetable consumption(食用) among adults. Since 2000, the CDC has made efforts with goals of getting 75% of Americans to eat two or more servings of fruit a day and 50% of Americans to eat three or more servings of vegetables a day. Unfortunately, Americans aren’t meeting these modest targets.
Although a diet high in fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of many diseases, Americans just aren’t getting enough. In fact, since 2000, the amount of vegetables Americans are eating has stayed the same and the amount of fruit Americans are eating has gone down. The CDC also finds that only about a third of adults are eating their expected servings of fruit, and just over a quarter of adults are eating their expected servings of vegetables.
So why aren’t Americans getting their expected servings of fruit and vegetables? It turns out that Americans might be spoiled when it comes to their produce. A national survey conducted by Fruit2day reveals that nearly half of Americans leave fruit in their fridges until it rots with people in Boston among the worst and those in New York and Los Angeles among the best. Sadly, most Americans admit to leaving fruit in the fridge for more than a week.
There are many reasons why Americans don’t eat their fruit or vegetables, including the inconvenience of having to wash or peel it. Fruit2day offers consumers a surprising and convenient way to enjoy the goodness of fruit.
“With no added sugar, natural juices and two full servings of fruit, our Fruit2day line has really captured the imaginations of health-conscious consumers who are actively looking to get more fruit in their diets,” said Hanno Holm, president and chief executive officer of Hero-White Wave. “Fruit2day makes getting more fruit in one’s diet easier for any daily snack routine.”

  1. 1.

    For 4 million American adults, how many of them are eating two or more servings of fruit a day?

    1. A.
      About 1.3 million
    2. B.
      About 2 million
    3. C.
      About 3 million
    4. D.
      About 1 million
  2. 2.

    We can learn from the first two paragraphs that_______.

    1. A.
      Americans have been eating fewer vegetables since 2000
    2. B.
      most Americans eat less fruit to reduce the risk of diseases
    3. C.
      most Americans prefer fruit to vegetables
    4. D.
      over 25% of adults are eating three or more daily servings of vegetables
  3. 3.

    In which city are people most likely to leave fruit in their fridge?

    1. A.
      In Boston
    2. B.
      In New York
    3. C.
      In Los Angeles
    4. D.
      Not mentioned
  4. 4.

    With the help of Fruit2day, Americans can _______.

    1. A.
      easily get rid of their bad eating habits
    2. B.
      conveniently have more fruit in their diets
    3. C.
      add sugar and natural juices to their diets
    4. D.
      find another excuse for not eating healthily
  5. 5.

    Americans don’t eat their fruit or vegetables because_______.

    1. A.
      they are relatively forgetful
    2. B.
      they are too busy with their work
    3. C.
      they don’t think it convenient to eat them
    4. D.
      they prefer daily snacks with added sugar

My teenage son Karl became withdrawn(孤僻) after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. In this way he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and asked God for help. "Please God, I can't do anything more for my son. I'm at the end of my rope. I'm giving the whole thing up to you."
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. "I want to talk to you about Karl's absences." Before he could say another word, I choked up (哽咽) and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. "I love my son, but I just don't know what to do. I've tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It's out of my hands." For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, "Thank you for your time", and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he was even on the list of the best students at school. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, "Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?" I nodded. "That was me. I thought I'd play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That's when I knew I had to make you proud." 　

  1. 1.

    According to the first report card, Karl _______.

    1. A.
      often went to school late
    2. B.
      failed in all the exams
    3. C.
      did a good job at school
    4. D.
      didn't do well at school
  2. 2.

    When the mother said "It's out of my hands." to the headmaster, she meant that she_______.

    1. A.
      didn't know what to do about her son
    2. B.
      would drive her son away from the house
    3. C.
      had no money to support the family
    4. D.
      she would have to hang up
  3. 3.

    There was silence on the other end of the line because _______.

    1. A.
      the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother
    2. B.
      the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking
    3. C.
      the speaker didn't want the mother to recognize his voice
    4. D.
      the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother
  4. 4.

    Who was it that telephoned Karl's mother that day?

    1. A.
      The headmaster
    2. B.
      The school adviser
    3. C.
      Karl himself
    4. D.
      The passage doesn't tell us
  5. 5.

    From the passage we can learn that _______.

    1. A.
      children in single-parent families always have mental problems
    2. B.
      mother's love plays an important role in teenagers' life
    3. C.
      parents should give their children as much help as possible
    4. D.
      school education still works well without support from parents

Love, success, happiness, family and freedom----how important are these values to you? Here is one interview which explores the fundamental questions in life.
Question: Could you introduce yourself first?
Answer: My name is Misbah, 27 years old. I was born in a war-torn area. Right now I am a web designer.
Q: What are your great memories?
A: My parents used to take me to hunt birds, climb trees, and play in the fields. For me it was like a holiday because we were going to have fun all day long Those are my great memories.
Q: Does your childhood mean a lot to you?
A: As life was hard, I used to work to help bring money in for the family. I spent my childhood working, with responsibilities beyond my age .However, it taught me to deal with problems all alone. I learnt to be independent.
Q: What changes would you like to make in your life?
A: If I could change something in my life, I’d change it so that my childhood could have taken place in another area. I would have loved to live with my family in freedom. Who cares whether we have much money, or whether we have a beautiful house? It doesn’t matter as I can live with my family and we are safe.
Q: How do you get along with your parents?
A: My parents supported me until I came of age. I want to give back what I have got. That’s my way. But I am working in another city. My only contact with my parents now is through the phone, but I hate using it. It filter(过滤) out your emotion and leaves your voice only. My deepest feeling should be passed through sight ,hearing and touch

  1. 1.

    In Misbah’s childhood, ______.

    1. A.
      he was free from worry
    2. B.
      he liked living in the countryside
    3. C.
      he was fond of getting close to nature
    4. D.
      he often spent holidays with his family
  2. 2.

    What did Misbah desire most in his childhood?

    1. A.
      A colorful life
    2. B.
      A beautiful house
    3. C.
      Peace and freedom
    4. D.
      Money for his life
  3. 3.

    Which phrase do you think can take the place of the underlined phrase “all alone” in the passage?

    1. A.
      lonely
    2. B.
      without difficulty
    3. C.
      without hesitation
    4. D.
      on his own
  4. 4.

    How would Misbah prefer to communicate with his parents?

    1. A.
      By chatting on the Internet
    2. B.
      By calling them sometimes
    3. C.
      By paying weekly visits
    4. D.
      By writing them letters
  5. 5.

    If there were only one question left, what would it most probably be?

    1. A.
      What was your childhood dream?
    2. B.
      What is your biggest achievement ?
    3. C.
      What is your parents’ view of you?
    4. D.
      What was your hardest experience in the war?

When Christopher Columbus landed on the then unnamed Costa Rica in 1502, he saw many Indians wearing gold earrings. So he thought the land must be rich in gold. He named the place Costa Rica, which means “rich coast” in Spanish.
Though little gold was found, Costa Rica today is indeed rich with coffee and bananas. Coffee is the most important product in Costa Rica and most of it is exported (出口) to other countries like America and West Germany. Bananas are the country’s second most important export.
Costa Ricans also grow many other crops such as fruits, corn and beans for their own use. Costa Ricans love colors and their houses are painted in bright colors.
Education is very important to the Costa Ricans. Almost every village has a school and education is a must for children between seven and fourteen years of age. Boys and girls go to separate (单独的) schools. Classes begin in March and end in November. The other three months of the year are harvest time and the children have to help their parents to pick coffee beans

  1. 1.

    What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?

    1. A.
      How Columbus found Costa Rica
    2. B.
      What the Costa Ricans wore
    3. C.
      How Costa Rica got its name
    4. D.
      What language the Costa Ricans spoke
  2. 2.

    The Costa Ricans may NOT paint their houses ______

    1. A.
      pink and red
    2. B.
      blue and green
    3. C.
      grey and black
    4. D.
      yellow and orange
  3. 3.

    In Costa Rica, boys and girls between seven and fourteen ______

    1. A.
      can choose to stop schooling at any time
    2. B.
      study in the same school
    3. C.
      do not have to go to school at all
    4. D.
      must go to school
  4. 4.

    From December to February, school children in Costa Rica ______

    1. A.
      have lessons every day
    2. B.
      help their parents pick coffee beans
    3. C.
      have their examinations
    4. D.
      help their parents decorate their houses
  5. 5.

    This passage is mainly about ______

    1. A.
      Christopher Columbus
    2. B.
      some products from Costa Rica
    3. C.
      Costa Rica
    4. D.
      the education of Costa Rica

We’re so well educated – but we’re useless students who have lost the ability to do anything practical. The only thing we’ve mastered is consumption(消费).
Large numbers of students have entered higher education in the past 10 years, but despite being the most educated generation in history, it seems that we’ve grown increasingly ignorant when it comes to basic life skills.
Looking back on my first couple of weeks of living in student halls, I consider myself lucky to still be alive. Unfamiliar to fresher’s， there are many hidden dangers in the dirty corners of students accommodation.
I have survived a couple of serious boiling egg incidents and lots of cases of food – poisoning, probably from dirty kitchen counters. Although some of my clothes have fallen victim to ironing experimentation, I think I have now finally acquired all the domestic (居家的) skills I missed out in my modem education.
In 2006 and 2010, the charming educationist Sir Ken Robinson gave two very amusing talks in which he discussed the importance of creativity in education. Robinson’s main viewpoint is that our current education system dislocates people from their natural talents. I would like to go a step further and propose that besides our talents, the system takes away what used to be passed from generation to generation – a working knowledge of basic life skills.
Today’s graduates may have earned themselves honor in history, law or economies, but when it comes to simple things like putting up a shelf to hold all their academic books, or fixing a hole in their on – trend clothes, they have to call for help from a professional handyman or tailor.
Since the invention of the internet, it has never been easier for people to access information, but our highly specialized education has made us more one – sided than ever.
I suggest that we start with the immediate reintroduction of some of the most vital aspects of “domestic science” education, before the current lack leads to serious accidents in student halls

  1. 1.

    People call us useless students for the reason that         

    1. A.
      what we’ve learned is beyond consumption
    2. B.
      we are educated generation
    3. C.
      we’ve entered higher education
    4. D.
      our living skills are so poor
  2. 2.

    Which is NOT the incidents the writer had during the first few weeks in student halls?

    1. A.
      He was seriously burnt by boiled eggs
    2. B.
      He was accidentally poisoned by food
    3. C.
      He damaged his clothes while ironing
    4. D.
      He was severely beaten by fresher
  3. 3.

    According to Robinson’s opinion, our current education        

    1. A.
      focuses on the importance if creativity
    2. B.
      dislocates people from their natural talents
    3. C.
      has equipped students with basic life skills
    4. D.
      has followed the convention properly
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