In the early 1950s, researchers found that people scored lower on intelligence tests if they spoke more than one language. Research in the sixties found the opposite. Bilingual people scored higher than monolinguals, people who speak only one language. So which is it?
Researchers presented their newest studies last month at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The latest evidence shows that being bilingual does not necessarily make people smarter. But researcher Ellen Bialystok says it probably does make you better at certain skills.
Ellen Bialystok said, “Imagine driving down the highway. There’re many things that could capture your attention and you really need to be able to monitor all of them. Why would bilingualism make you any better at that?”
And the answer, she says, is that bilingual people are often better at controlling their attention — a function called the executive control system.
Ms. Bialystok is a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, Canada. She says the best method to measure the executive control system is called the Stroop Test. A person is shown words in different colors. The person has to ignore the word but say the color. The problem is that the words are all names of colors.
Ellen Bialystok said, “So you would have the word blue written in red, but you have to say red. But blue is so salient(显著的), it’s just lighting up all these circuits(电路) in your brain, and you really want to say blue. So you need a mechanism(机制) to override that so that you can say red. That’s the executive control system.”
Her work shows that bilingual people continually practice this function. They have to, because both languages are active in their brain at the same time. They need to suppress(抑制) one to be able to speak in the other.
This mental exercise might help in other ways, too. Researchers say bilingual children are better able to separate a word from its meaning, and more likely to have friends from different cultures. Bilingual adults are often four to five years later than others in developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

  1. 1.

    What’s the best title of the text?

    1. A.
      Bilingual People, Smarter
    2. B.
      Monolingual People, Smarter
    3. C.
      Bilingual People, Longer Lives
    4. D.
      Bilingual People, Better at Some Skills
  2. 2.

    The underlined word “override” in Paragraph 6 probably means ____.

    1. A.
      pay attention to
    2. B.
      take no notice of
    3. C.
      take an interest in
    4. D.
      take care of
  3. 3.

    In the Stroop Test, supposing you have the word yellow written in white, you will have to say ____.

    1. A.
      white
    2. B.
      yellow
    3. C.
      blue
    4. D.
      red
  4. 4.

    Which group of people can most likely pass the Stroop Test?

    1. A.
      People who can speak only Chinese.
    2. B.
      People who can speak only Japanese.
    3. C.
      People who can speak more than one language.
    4. D.
      People who can speak only English.
  5. 5.

    Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the text?

    1. A.
      A bilingual child is better at separating a word from its meaning.
    2. B.
      A bilingual child can more easily make friends with a foreign child.
    3. C.
      Bilingual people are more able to monitor several things at the same time.
    4. D.
      It’s not possible for bilingual people to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

These days we are all conditioned to accept newness, whatever it costs. Very soon, there is no doubt that Apple's tablet (平板电脑) will seem as a vital tool of modern living to us as sewing machine did to our grandparents. At least, it will until someone produces an even smarter, thinner and more essential tablet, which, if recent history is any guide, will be in approximately six months' time. Turn your back for a moment and you find that every electronic item in your possession is as old as a tombstone. Why should you care if people laugh just because you use an old mobile phone? But try getting the thing repaired when it goes wrong. It's like walking into a pub and asking for an orange juice. You will be made to feel like some sort of time-traveler from the 1970s. "Why not buy a new one?" you will get asked.
And so the mountain of electrical rubbish grows. An average British person was believed to get rid of quite a number of electronic goods in a lifetime. They weighed three tons, stood 7 feet high, and included five fridges, six microwaves, seven PCs, six TVs, 12 kettles, 35 mobile phones and so on. Even then, the calculation seemed to be conservative. Only 35 mobiles in a lifetime? The huge number of electronic items now regularly thrown away by British families is clearly one big problem. But this has other consequences. It contributes greatly to the uneasy feeling that modem technology is going by faster than we can keep up. By the time I've learnt how to use a tool it's already broken or lost. I've lost count of the number of TV remote-controls that I've bought, mislaid and replaced without working out what most of the buttons did.
And the technology changes so unbelievably fast. It was less than years ago that I spotted an energetic businessman friend pulling what seemed to be either a large container or a small nuclear bomb on wheels through a railway station. I asked. "What have you got in there? Your money or your wife?" "Neither," he replied, with the satisfied look of a man who knew he was keeping pace with the latest technology, no matter how ridiculous he looked. "This is what everyone will have soon—even you. It's called a mobile telephone."
I don't feel sorry for the pace of change. On the contrary, I'm amazed by those high-tech designers who can somehow fit a camera, music-player, computer and phone into a plastic box no bigger than a packet of cigarette. If those geniuses could also find a way to keep the underground trains running on the first snowy day of winter, they would be making real progress for human beings. What I do regret, however, is that so many household items fall behind so soon. My parents bought a wooden wireless radio in 1947, the year they were married. In 1973, the year I went to university, it was still working. It sat in the kitchen like an old friend—which, in a way, it was. It certainly spoke to us more than we spoke to each other on some mornings. When my mum replaced it with a new-style radio that could also play cassette-tapes, I felt a real sense of loss.
Such is the over-excited change of 21st-century technology that there's no time to satisfy our emotional needs. Even if Apple's new products turn out to be the most significant tablets I very much doubt if they will resist this trend.

  1. 1.

    When you try getting an old mobile phone repaired, ____.

    1. A.
      you are travelling through time
    2. B.
      you are thought to be out of date
    3. C.
      you will find everything wrong
    4. D.
      you have got to buy a new one
  2. 2.

    Throwing away so much electronic rubbish makes the writer feel quite _____.

    1. A.
      lost and upset
    2. B.
      unbelievably fast
    3. C.
      broken or lost
    4. D.
      regularly wasteful
  3. 3.

    The example of the businessman implies that____.

    1. A.
      the businessman mastered the latest technology
    2. B.
      mobile phones used to be quite big just years ago
    3. C.
      the businessman was a very ridiculous person
    4. D.
      the writer failed to follow modern technology
  4. 4.

    The passage is organized in the pattern of ____.

    1. A.
      time and events
    2. B.
      comparison and contrast
    3. C.
      cause and effect
    4. D.
      examples and analysis
  5. 5.

    Which of the following is conveyed in the passage?

    1. A.
      The fast pace of change brings us no good.
    2. B.
      We have to keep up with new technology.
    3. C.
      Household items should be upgraded quickly.
    4. D.
      We should hold on for new technology to last.

[3]Christmas is known as a happy and homecoming festival, so the holiday season is meant to be spent happily with your family. It is recognized that the music media wants to get the point across and add to the festival atmosphere. But isn't the music being pushed to the public too much?
[4]Most grocery stores play the music non-stop ，Christmas song after Christmas song， disgusting the customers who don't like that kind of music. You can walk through stores and attempt turning off the music, but sometimes it's impossible to do so. On the other hand, almost everyone has witnessed random persons walking along happily and either singing or whistling to the tune of the song that's played throughout the store.

  1. 1.

    What is the main idea of the passage? (no more than 10 words)

  2. 2.

    Why is the common seasonal Christmas music annoying? (no more than 8 words)

  3. 3.

    What does the music media hope to tell the public?

  4. 4.

    Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words.(no more than 3 words)

  5. 5.

    What does the word “them” (Line 6 Paragraph 2) probably refer to? (no more than 4 words)

Are there fastest ways to lose weight? Yes, there are! This is no magic trick or miracle. It just needs sensible actions.
●Drink water
No, you don’t have to fill up like a tub, but ensure that you drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Don’t substitute for juice. With adequate water intake your body will be able to metabolize（新陈代谢）fat more effectively. And if you have a glass of water 10-15 minutes before your meal, you will feel full once you start eating. Another fun fact, did you know that you can lose 62 calories by drinking ice cold water?
●Eat 5 times a day
Start with breakfast. The more you eat for breakfast, the less food you will want to eat at night. Please don’t skip this meal as you’ll end up swallowing everything in sight for the rest of the day. You don’t need to gobble up 5 large meals. Eat sensibly so your body doesn’t crave for food.
●Use weights
Needless to say, exercise is crucial to weight loss. You can’t expect to sit on the sofa all day, sip water and lose weight. Join a good gym that lets you work with weights. It will help you build muscle and your metabolism rate will increase. You’ll soon see the fat come off and in its place muscle will develop.
●Smaller bowls
It’s better to substitute the huge bowls you usually use for small ones – when food starts to fall off, you’ll know it’s enough. Try to get these new bowls in dark colors. Dark blue will be your best choice since it is the number one color that fights off the appetite. Avoid red/orange/yellow colors in your dining area – they are the ones making your appetite go sky high.
●Read between lines
Food and drink products are all out to get you. They scream “Buy me! Buy me!” They could be “fat free” but they could still have a lot of calories. You need to analyze the nutrition label on the cover. Find out what’s good for you and what isn’t. Knowing in advance can help you stay away from products that are calorie-enriched.
●Don’t punish yourself
Go easy on yourself at least one day in a week. If you begin to dislike your diet then there’s something wrong. Find a diet that suits your body type and your lifestyle.

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

    1. A.
      If you are on a diet, you should always keep to your diet.
    2. B.
      Use smaller bowls can help you eat less food.
    3. C.
      Skipping breakfast is not a wise way to lose weight.
    4. D.
      Reading the nutrition label on drink and food products is helpful.
  2. 2.

    If you are going to run a restaurant, which colors will you choose to paint the dining area?

    1. A.
      black and yellow
    2. B.
      gray and white
    3. C.
      red and orange
    4. D.
      blue and purple
  3. 3.

    Which of the following belongs to “weights” mentioned in the text?

    1. A.
      beam
    2. B.
      shot
    3. C.
      barbell
    4. D.
      badminton
  4. 4.

    In order to lose weight quickly, you can do the following except_____.

    1. A.
      drinking juice instead of water
    2. B.
      working with weights to build muscle
    3. C.
      buying products that are not calorie-enriched
    4. D.
      eating proper amount of food

On May 23,1989, Stefania Follini came out from a cave at Carlsbad, New Mexico. She hadn’t seen the sun for eighteen and a half weeks. Stefania was in a research program, and the scientists in the program were studying body rhythms(节奏). In this experiment Stefania had spent 130 days in a cave, 30 feet in depth.
During her time in the cave, Stefania had been completely alone except for two white mice. Her living place had been very comfortable, but there had been nothing to tell her the time. She’d had no clocks or watches, no television or radio. There had been no natural light and the temperature had always been kept at 21℃.
The results were very interesting. Stefania had been in the cave for over four months, but she thought she had been there for only two. Her body clock had changed. She hadn’t kept to a 24-hour day, she had stayed awake for 20-25 hours and then had slept for 10 hours. She had eaten fewer meals and had lost 171bs in weight as a results! She had also become rather depressed（抑郁）.
How had she spent her time in the cave? As part of the experiment she’d done some physical and mental tests. She’d recorded her daily activities and the results of the tests on a computer. This computer had been specially programmed for the project. Whenever she was free, she’d played cards, read books and listened to music. She’d also learned French from tapes.
The experiment showed that our body clocks are affected by light and temperature. For example, the pattern of day and night makes us wake up and go to sleep. However, people are affected in different ways. Some people wake up naturally at 5:00 am, but others don’t start to wake up till 9:00 or 10:00 am. This affects the whole daily rhythm. As a result, the early risers, on the other hand, are tired during the day and only come to life in the afternoon or evening!

  1. 1.

    Stefania stayed in the cave for a long time because ______.

    1. A.
      she was asked to do research on mice
    2. B.
      she wanted to experience loneliness
    3. C.
      she was the subject of a study
    4. D.
      she needed to record her life
  2. 2.

    What is a cause for the change of Stefania’s body clock?

    1. A.
      Eating fewer meals.
    2. B.
      Having more hours of sleep.
    3. C.
      Lacking physical exercise.
    4. D.
      Getting no natural light.
  3. 3.

    Where does the text probably come from?

    1. A.
      A novel.  
    2. B.
      A news story. 
    3. C.
      A pet magazine.  
    4. D.
      A travel guide.

If you ask people to name one person who had the greatest effect on the English language, you will get answers like“Shakespeare”,“Samuel Johnson”and“Webster”but none of these men had any effect at all compared with a man who didn't even speak English---William the Conqueror.
Before 1066, in the land we now call Great Britain lived people belonging to two major language groups. In the west-central region lived the Welsh, who spoke a Celtic language, and in north lived the Scots, whose language, though not the same as Welsh, was also Celtic. In the rest of the country lived the Saxons, actually a mixture of Anglos-Saxons, and other Germanic and Nordic peoples, who spoke what we call Anglo-Saxon (or Old English), a Germanic Language. If this state of affairs had lasted, English today would be close to German.
But this state of affairs did not last. In 1066 the Normans led by William defeated the Saxons and began their rule over England. For about a century, French became the official language of England while Old English became the language of peasants. As a result, English words of polities and the law come from French rather than German. In some cases, modern English even shows a distinction(区别) between upper-class French and lower-class Anglo-Saxon in its words. We even have different words for some foods, meat in particular, depending on whether it is still out in fields or at home ready to be cooked, which shows the fact that the Saxon peasants were doing the farming, while the upper-class Normans were doing most of the eating.
When Americans visit Europe for the first time, they usually find Germany more“foreign”than France because the German they see on signs and advertisements seems much more different from English than French does. Few realize that the English language is actually Germanic in its beginning and that the French influences are all the result of one man's ambition.

  1. 1.

    The two major languages spoken in what is now called Great Britain before 1066 were _____.

    1. A.
      Welsh and Scottish
    2. B.
      Nordic and Germanic
    3. C.
      Celtic and Old English
    4. D.
      Anglo-Saxon and Germanic
  2. 2.

    Which of the following groups of words are, by inference, rooted in French?

    1. A.
      president , lawyer, beef
    2. B.
      president , bread, water
    3. C.
      bread , field, sheep
    4. D.
      folk , field, cow
  3. 3.

    Why does France appear less foreign than Germany to Americans on their first visit to Europe?

    1. A.
      Most advertisements in France appear in English.
    2. B.
      they know little of the history of the English language.
    3. C.
      Many French words are similar to English ones.
    4. D.
      They know French better than German.
  4. 4.

    What is the subject discussed in the text?

    1. A.
      The history of Great Britain. 
    2. B.
      The similarity of Great Britain.
    3. C.
      The rule of England by William the Conqueror.
    4. D.
      The French influences on the English language.

Even though he has been caught, the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is still causing trouble. His arrest has thrown up as many questions as it has answers. Top of the list is what should happen to Saddam now, closely followed by calls for information from him about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction(大规模杀伤性武器). He is currently being held by American troops at a secret place. The US says he will stand trial(审判) for his cruel actions during his years in power. This is likely to take place at a court set up two weeks ago by the US-backed Iraqi Governing Council(伊拉克临管会). The council's president Abdul Azizal-Hakim has warned Saddam could be executed(处死) if found guilty by the court. And the US supports this.“I think he ought to receive the worst punishment for what he has done to his people,”said US President George W. Bush, without directly stating that Saddam should be put to death. However, many nations, including Saddam's long time enemy Iran, believe he would receive a fairer trial in an international court. Even Britain, America's closest supporter, said it would not take part in any trial that could lead to Saddam's execution. The UN Security Council(联合国安理会) has yet to make its position clear. But UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan did say that“the UN does not support a death penalty.”Besides waiting for a trial of Saddam, the world wants to see if the US and Britain can find the banned weapons they gave as the reason for the war in Iraq. Asked if Saddam's capture could lead to a breakthrough in the hunt for the weapons of mass destruction, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said,“there's obvious possibility there. But I think we should carry on what we're doing in Iraq”.

  1. 1.

    After the arrest(逮捕) of Saddam, people are most concerned with the question that _____.

    1. A.
      whether there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq 
    2. B.
      where he is held now
    3. C.
      how he will be punished  
    4. D.
      none of the above
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is not true?

    1. A.
      Saddam will be punished for his cruel actions.
    2. B.
      An international court will be set up.
    3. C.
      UN does not support a death penalty.
    4. D.
      Many nations think it is not fair to have the trial in the court set up by the US-backed Iraqi Governing Council.
  3. 3.

    Tony Blair's words implies that _____.

    1. A.
      he is not sure whether they can find the weapons 
    2. B.
      Britain will not take part in trial
    3. C.
      Both A and B     
    4. D.
      Neither A nor B

Transportation and communication networks bring people together．Yet sometimes people themselves create barriers(障碍)to transportation and communication．
In some countries，laws stop people from moving freely from place to place．Over the centuries，many groups of people have been denied the freedom to travel because of their race，religion，or nationality．In the Middle Ages，for example，Jews were often forbidden to move about freely within certain cities．South Africa’s government used to require black Africans to carry passes when they travel within the country．Some governments require all citizens to carry identification papers and to report to government officials whenever they move．
Countries set up customs posts at their borders．Foreign travellers must go through a customs inspection before they are allowed to travel in the country．Usually travellers  have to carry special papers such as passports and visas(签证)．Some countries even limit the number of visitors to their country each year．Others allow tourists to visit only certain areas of the country，or they may require that travellers be with an official guide at all times during their stay．
Many of those barriers to travel also act as barriers to communication．When two governments disagree with each other on important matters，they usually do not want their citizens to exchange news or ideas freely．Countries often try to keep military or lndustrial information secret．
Today，people have the ability to travel，to communicate，and to transport goods more quickly and easily than ever before．Natural barriers that were difficult or dangerous to cross a hundred years ago can now be crossed easily．The barriers that people themselves make are not so easy to overcome．But in spite of all the different kinds of barriers，people continue to enjoy travel and the exchange of goods and ideas

  1. 1.

    Choose the best title for the passage．

    1. A.
      Progress of Human Society
    2. B.
      Restrictions on Transportation
    3. C.
      Functions of Communication
    4. D.
      Barriers Made by People
  2. 2.

    The author uses the examples in the second paragraph to tell people that_______

    1. A.
      travellers have to carry special papers such as visas
    2. B.
      customs posts are necessary at the borders of the countries
    3. C.
      people have been allowed to travel freely within the country
    4. D.
      people have not been permitted to travel freely for various reasons
  3. 3.

    Why do some governments limit the freedom of communication?Because they______

    1. A.
      intend to keep their national secrets unknown to others
    2. B.
      think such freedom will lead to wars
    3. C.
      often disagree with each other on important matters
    4. D.
      want to show their authority over communication
  4. 4.

    We may learn from the passage that_______

    1. A.
      people do not care about the removal of barriers between countries
    2. B.
      people can not remove the obstacles made by themselves
    3. C.
      man-made barriers are sometimes harder to overcome than natural ones
    4. D.
      barriers should be taken for granted as they always exist

As the proverb says,“No one knows the value of health until he loses it.”In other words, nothing is more valuable than health.
It is clear that health is the foundation(基础) of one's future success. If you become sick, it is scarcely possible to pursue(从事) your career effectively, much less make your dreams come true. On the other hand, if you are strong, you can go all out to overcome the obstacles(障碍) that lie ahead of you.
Health is the resource of our energy. What should we do to maintain(保持) our health? First we should exercise every day to strengthen our muscles. Second, we might as well keep good hours. If we get up early, we can breathe fresh air and see the sunrise. This habit can do wonders for our outlook on life. Third, there is a proverb that says,“Prevention is better than cure.”If you pay close attention to your health, you can avoid getting sick, or at least cure yourself of a disease while it is still in its beginning stage.
In conclusion, health is more important than wealth. Those who are rich but poor in health are no more fortunate than those who are poor, and healthy in body. If you want your wish to come true, health is the most important component(组成部分) of your success.

  1. 1.

    A man knows the value of health _____.

    1. A.
      till he loses
    2. B.
      before he loses it
    3. C.
      after he loses it
    4. D.
      when he doesn't lose it
  2. 2.

    In the second paragraph,“go all out to”means _____.

    1. A.
      go yourself outside to
    2. B.
      try very hard to
    3. C.
      go with your friends to
    4. D.
      save your energy to
  3. 3.

    In the third paragraph, the topic sentence is _____.

    1. A.
      Health is the resource of our energy 
    2. B.
      Prevention is better than cure
    3. C.
      We might as well keep good hours 
    4. D.
      This habit can do wonders for our outlook on life
  4. 4.

    “Those who are rich but poor in health are no more fortunate than those who are poor, and healthy in body”this sentence is understood as “_____”.

    1. A.
      Those who are rich but poor in health are less fortunate than those who are poor, and healthy in body.
    2. B.
      Those who are rich but poor in health are as fortunate as those who are poor, and healthy in body.
    3. C.
      Those who are rich but poor in health are not more fortunate than those who are poor, and healthy in body.
    4. D.
      Those who are rich but poor in health are as unfortunate as those who are poor, and healthy in body.

The teacher who did the most to encourage me was, as it happens, my aunt. She was Myrtle C. Manigault, the wife of my mother’s brother Bill. She taught me in second grade at all-black Summer School in Camden, New Jersey.
During my childhood and youth, Aunt Myrtle encouraged me to develop every aspect of my potential, without regard for what was considered practical or possible for black females. I liked to sing; she listened to my voice and pronounced it good. I couldn’t dance; she taught me the basic dancing steps. She took me to the theatre—not just children’s theatre, but adult comedies and dramas—and her faith that I could appreciate adult plays was not disappointed.
My aunt also took down books from her extensive library and shared them with me. I had books at home, but they were all serious classics. Even as a child I had a strong liking for humour, and I’ll never forget the joy of discovering Don Marquis’s Archy & Mehitabel through her.
Most important, perhaps, Aunt Myrtle provided my first opportunity to write for publication. A writer herself for one of the black newspapers, she suggested my name to the editor as a “youth columnist”. My column, begun when I was fourteen, was supposed to cover teenage social activities—and it did—but it also gave me the freedom to write on many other subjects as well as the habit of gathering material, the discipline of meeting deadlines, and, after graduation from college six years later, a solid collection of published material that carried my name and was my passport to a series of writing jobs.
Today Aunt Myrtle is still an enthusiastic supporter of her “favourite niece”. Like a diamond, she has reflected a bright, multifaceted (多面的) image of possibilities to every pupil who has crossed her path.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following did Aunt Myrtle do to the author during her childhood and youth?

    1. A.
      She lent her some serious classics.
    2. B.
      She cultivated her taste for music.
    3. C.
      She discovered her talent for dancing.
    4. D.
      She introduced her to adult plays.
  2. 2.

    What does Archy and Mehitabel in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?

    1. A.
      A book of great fun.
    2. B.
      A writer of high fame.
    3. C.
      A serious masterpiece.
    4. D.
      A heartbreaking play.
  3. 3.

    Aunt Myrtle recommended the author to a newspaper editor mainly to ______.

    1. A.
      develop her capabilities for writing
    2. B.
      give her a chance to collect material
    3. C.
      involve her in teenage social activities
    4. D.
      offer her a series of writing jobs
  4. 4.

    We can conclude from the passage that Aunt Myrtle was a teacher who ______.

    1. A.
      trained pupils to be diligent and well-disciplined
    2. B.
      gave pupils confidence in exploiting their potential
    3. C.
      emphasized what was practical or possible for pupils.
    4. D.
      helped pupils overcome difficulties in learning
 0  3944  3952  3958  3962  3968  3970  3974  3980  3982  3988  3994  3998  4000  4004  4010  4012  4018  4022  4024  4028  4030  4034  4036  4038  4039  4040  4042  4043  4044  4046  4048  4052  4054  4058  4060  4064  4070  4072  4078  4082  4084  4088  4094  4100  4102  4108  4112  4114  4120  4124  4130  4138  151629 

违法和不良信息举报电话：027-86699610 举报邮箱：58377363@163.com

精英家教网