A. Early to Bed, Early to Rise

B. Read Challenging Books

C. Exercise

D. Relax yourself

E. Minimize Television Watching

F. Take Time to Reflect

Five Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence

Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus.

Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.

66._______– This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.

When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.

67.________ – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.

68.________– Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.

69.________– Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic(无精打采) and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity(敏锐) all day.

If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.

70.________ – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance to organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.

Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.

When my grandfather died, my 83-year-old grandmother, once so full of life, slowly began to fade. No longer able to manage a home of her own, she moved in with my mother, where she was visited often by other members of her large, loving family. Although she still had her good days, it was often hard to arouse her interest.

But one chilly December afternoon three years ago, my daughter Meagan, then eight, and I were visiting her, when she noticed that Meagan was carrying her favorite doll.“I, too, had a special doll when I was a little girl,” she told a wide-eyed Meagan. “I got it one Christmas when I was about your age. I lived in an old farmhouse in Maine, with Mom, Dad and my four sisters, and the very first gift I opened that Christmas was the most beautiful doll you’d ever want to see.”

“She had an exquisite(优美的,高雅的), hand-painted face, and her long brown hair was pulled back with a big pink bow. Her eyes were blue, and they opened and closed. I remember she had a body of kidskin, and her arms and legs bent at the joints.”

GG’s voice dropped low, taking on an almost respectful tone. “My doll was dressed in a pretty pink gown, decorated with fine lace. … Getting such a fine doll was like a miracle for a little farm girl like me — my parents must have had to sacrifice so much to afford it But how happy I was that morning!”

GG’s eyes filled and her voice shook with emotion as she recalled that Christmas of long ago. “I played with my doll all morning long. And then it happened. My mother called us to the dining room for Christmas dinner and I laid my new doll down gently on the hall table. But as I went to join the family at the table, I heard a loud crash.”

“I hardly had to turn around — I knew it was my precious doll. And it was. Her lace skirt had hung down from the table just enough for my baby sister to reach up and pull on it. When I ran in, there lay my beautiful doll on the floor, her face smashed into a dozen pieces. She was gone forever.”

A few years later, GG’s baby sister was also gone, she told Meagan, a victim of pneumonia(肺炎). Now the tears in her eyes spilled over — tears, I knew, not only for a lost doll and a lost sister, but for a lost time.

Subdued(沉默的) for the rest of the visit, Meagan was no sooner in the car going home than she exclaimed, “Mom, I have a great idea! Let’s get GG a new doll for Christmas. Then she won’t cry when she thinks about it.”

My heart filled with pride as I listened to my sympathetic little daughter. But where would we find a doll to match GG’s fond memories?

Where there’s a will, as they say, there’s a way. When I told my best friends, Liz and Chris, about my problem, Liz put me in touch with a local doll-make. From a doll supply house I ordered a long brown hair and a kidskin body to copy the outfit GG had so lovingly described. Liz volunteered to put the doll together, and Chris helped me make the doll’s outfit. Meagan wrote the story of the lost doll by giving examples.

Finally our creation was finished. To our eyes it was perfect. But there was no way it could be exactly like the doll GG had loved so much and lost. Would she think it looked anything like it?

On Christmas Eve, Meagan and I carried our happily packed gift to GG, where she sat surrounded by children, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. “It’s for you,” Meagan said, “but first you have to read the story that goes with it.”

GG no sooner got through the first page than her voice cracked and she was unable to go on, but Meagan took over where she left off. Then it was time to open her present.

I’ll never forget the look on GG’s face as she lifted the doll and held it to her chest. Once again her tears fell, but this time they were tears of joy. Holding the doll in her frail arms, she repeated over and over again, “She’s exactly like my old doll, exactly like her.”

And perhaps she wasn't saying that just to be kind. Perhaps however impossible it seemed, we had managed to produce a close copy of the doll she remembered. But as I watched my eight-year-old daughter and her great-grandmother examining the doll together, I thought of a likelier explanation. What GG really recognized, perhaps, was the love that inspired the gift. And love, wherever it comes from, always looks the same.

60. GG moved in with her daughter because ______.

  A. she wanted to live with a large family

  B. she was not able to live on her own due to her weakness

  C. her husband passed away

  D. she thought it was the children’s obligation to take care of her

61. Why did GG become very emotional on a December afternoon?

  A. Because she saw her great granddaughter’s doll.

  B. Because she recalled her long deceased parents.

  C. Because she was surrounded by her offspring.

  D. Because she felt lonely during the Christmas season.

62. What can we infer from the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

  A. GG’s doll was important and was a symbol of many things.

  B. GG showed great respect for his husband’s love.

  C. GG missed the great old days she spent with her family

  D. GG was grateful for her long life.

63. What happened to GG’s baby sister?

  A. She envied her sister all her life.

  B. She felt guilty for breaking GG’s doll and decided to go.

  C. She left home at a young age.

  D. She died of some disease at a young age.

64. Why did Meagan’s mum feel proud of her daughter?

  A. Because she was clever.                   B. Because she was loving.

  C. Because she was amiable.               D. Because she was imaginative.

65. This passage implies that ______.

A. treating the elderly well is moral

B. it is impossible to copy the exact doll for the elderly

C. love, the permanent rhythm of life, will always remain in the elderly’s heart

D. physical comfort from children rather than psychological care is important

Below is a discussion on http://www.TalkingPoints.com/.
Stuck on a desert island?
Started on 23rd April by Steve                   Posts 1 – 7 of 42
Post 1
Steve
USA Hi, everyone. What would you miss most and least if you were stuck on a desert island? For me, it would be the changing seasons in New England. I guess this will sound stupid but I’d probably miss the rain, too. I would not miss getting up at six every day to go to work, though! What about you?
Post 2
Tomas
Germany Good question. Steve, I think I’d miss different types of bread, and shopping at the supermarket. I’d miss the food most. What would I miss least? My mobile phone---I’d like to be completely quiet --- at least for a little while
Post 3
Paola
Italy I would miss the company of people because I know I’d like to have someone to share experiences with. I’d go mad on my own. And I sure would not miss junk (垃圾)mail--- I hate coming home every evening and a pile of junk mail in my post box.
Post 4
Miko
Japan Hi, I would miss Manga cartoon, the internet and Japanese food, like sushi. I’d also miss TV shows and shopping for clothes… In fact, I’d miss everything.
Post 5
Roger
UK I would miss my daily newspaper and listening to the news on TV and radio. I’d feel very cut off if I didn't know what was happening in the world. What I’d miss least would be traffic jams in the city, particularly my journey to work.
Past 6
Jayne Why hasn't anyone mentioned their family? I’d be lost without my husband and two kids. They’re the most important for me. And I can’t get started in the morning without a cup of black coffee. I wouldn't miss doing the housework! 
Post 7
Jaime
Mexico It would have to be music. I couldn't live without my music. I wouldn't miss going to school at all or doing homework!
56.  Who would miss his or her family most?
       A. Jaime               B. Jayne               C. Miko                D. Paola.
57.  Which of the following people would feel most uncomfortable without the news media?
       A. Steve.              B. Jaime               C. Roger.              D. Tomas
58.  How many of them mentioned that they would miss food or drink?
       A. One                 B. Two                 C. Three               D. Four

59.  Where is the passage probably taken from?

      A. Newspaper       B. Internet            C. Textbook          D. Magazine

                                    

It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their ears, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.

The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries (食品杂货) saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.

I was so grieved that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that,several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick ii up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.

People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity (人性) as a whole. And it has influenced (影响) us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.

51. Why was the bike so important to the couple?

A. The man's job was bike racing.           B. It was their only possession.

C. It was a nice Kona 18 speed.             D. They used it for work and daily life

52. We can infer from the text that ________

A. The couple worked 60 hours a week       B. people were busy before Christmas

C. the stranger brought over the bike         D. life was hard for the young family

53. How did people get to know the couple's problem?

A. From radio broadcasts.                 B. From a newspaper.

C. From TV news.                         D. From a stranger.

54. The underlined word "grieved" in paragraph 3 probably means________.

A. upset        B. pleased         C. frightened       D. lucky

55. What do the couple learn from their experience?

A. Strangers are usually of little help. B. One should take care of their bike.

C. News reports make people famous. D. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

                 

             

The Colors of Friendship

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would __31__ ."

  Blue interrupted, “You only think about the   32  , but consider the sky and the sea.   33__ the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. Without my peace, you would all be   34  .

  Yellow laughed, “ You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and  35   into the world.”

  Orange started next to blow her trumpet, “ I am the color of health and strength. I may be  _36  , but I am priceless for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky at sunrise or   _37  , my beauty is so striking that no one gives another  38  to any of you.

  Red could stand it  39   and he shouted out, “I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and bravery. I am willing to   40_  truth. I am also the color of passion and of love.”

  Then came Purple and Indigo.

  The colors went on boasting(自夸), each convinced of his or her won superiority(优越). Their _41   became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning thunder. Rain started to pour down   42  . The colors crouched (蜷缩)down   43  , drawing close to one another for comfort.

  In the midst of the shout, rain began to speak, “You foolish colors, fight  44   yourselves, each trying to dominate(统治)  45  . Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose,   46   and different? Join hands with one  47   and come to me.”

  Doing as they were told, the colors   48   and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good  49   washes the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to___50__ one another.

31. A. stay                  B. leave                 C. go out            D. die

32. A. earth                 B. moon              C. star              D. sun

33. A. That is               B. I am               C. It is              D. This is

34. A. anything              B. nothing           C. something          D. everything

35. A. warmth              B. sadness             C. depression(抑郁)     D. anxiety(焦虑)

36. A. usual                B. normal                   C. common           D. scarce(稀少)

37. A. midnight              B. noon               C. sunset            D. the day

38. A. gift                  B. honor                  C. thought           D. respect

39. A. for more             B. any more           C. very much          D. no longer

40. A. turn to               B. fight for            C. struggle with                 D. bend over(弯腰)

41. A. quarrel                  B. discussion          C. laughter            D. talk

42. A. gently                B. quietly            C. violently            D. peacefully

43. A. with care             B. in fear(害怕地)      C. by chance          D. on purpose

44. A. among                B. by               C. for               D. against

45. A. others                B. themselves          C. the other          D. the rest

46. A. equal                B. ordinary            C. similar             D. unique

47. A. other                B. the other            C. another            D. others

48. A. combined              B. separated           C. united            D. divided

49. A. snow                 B. rain               C. wind             D. fog

50. A. appreciate             B. quarrel with         C. ignore             D. praise

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