It is not unusual for people to speak two or three languages; they’re known as bilinguals or trilinguals. Speakers of more than three languages are known as polyglots. And when we refer to people who speak many languages, perhaps a dozen or more, we use the term hyper-polyglot.

The most famous hyper-polyglot was Giuseppe Mezzofanti, a 19th century Italian cardinal, who was said to speak 72 languages. This claim sounds absurd. If you assume each language had 20,000 words, Mezzofanti would have to learn a word a minute, six hours a day, for eleven years—an impossible task. But Mezzofanti was tested by critics, and they were all impressed.

Did Mezzofanti have an extraordinary brain? Or are hyper-polyglots just ordinary people with ordinary brains who manage to do something extraordinary through hard work?

U.S. linguist Stephen Drashen believes that outstanding language learners just work harder at it and then they acquire unusually strong language ability. As an example, he mentions a Hungarian woman who worked as an interpreter during the 20th century. When she was 86, she could speak 16 languages and was still working on learning new languages. She said she learned them mostly on her own, reading fiction or working through dictionaries or textbooks.

Some researchers argue to the contrary. They believe that there is such a thing as a talent for learning languages. In the 1930s, a German scientist examined parts of the preserved brain of a hyper-polyglot named Emil Krebs, who could speak 60 languages fluently. The scientist found that the area of Krebs’s brain called Broca’s area, which is associated with language, looked different from the Broca’s area in the brains of men who speak only one language. However, we still don’t know if Krebs was born with a brain ready to learn dozens of languages or if his brain adapted to the demands he put on it.

Although it is still not clear whether the ability to learn many languages is in born, there’s no doubt that just about all of us can acquire skills in a second, third, or even fourth language by putting our mind to it.

1.What does the underlined sentence imply?

A. Mezzofanti could remember 360 words a day.

B. Mezzofanti had a special way to learn languages.

C. Mezzofanti’s achievement was ridiculous.

D. Mezzofanti language ability was astonishing.

2.The Hungarian woman became a hyper-polyglot mainly because of her __.

A. good memory       B. unique brain      C. hard work      D. learning methods

3.The German scientist’s findings showed that Krebs ___.

A. had an unusual brain

B. was born with great talent

C. had worked hard at languages

D. expected too much of himself

4.The author seems to agree that ___.

A. it is not hard to learn foreign languages

B. hard work plays a part in language learning

C. there is no such thing as a talent for languages

D. hyper-polyglots have an inborn talent for language

Four out of ten women who diet end up heavier than when they started watching their waistline, a study revealed today. The research also showed that a large percentage of women start noticing the pounds creeping back on just 21 days after reaching their ideal weight.
Yesterday, Dr Ian Campbell of the Jenny Craig weight management program said, ‘In the UK 61.4 percent of adults are overweight or obese. Successful weight management requires a long-term commitment in order to lose weight successfully and for good. Dieting can be a real challenge so setting realistic goals and remaining focused on them is important. Otherwise as this research shows, women could end up heavier than when they started.’
The “Food, Body, Mind” report was publicized by Jenny Craig who quizzed 2000 women aged between 18 and 65 who diet regularly on their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors around weight loss. Six in ten said they were currently on a diet and one in five women said they were on a continuous diet.
It found the most common triggers to start dieting was seeing their reflection in the mirror,  preparing for a summer holiday or unflattering photos posted on social networking sites. Other popular reasons include comments by friends or relatives or their other half.
However, the study showed that one in ten give up within one day, while almost a fifth manage to make it to a week or more. The average is ten days. Many blamed pressure they put on themselves to lose weight too quickly for the weight gain, which leaves them with a bigger appetite than normal. Others blamed colleagues, who tuck into fatty lunches and snacks unaware of the effect it has on the dieter, while mothers’ polishing off（吃光）their children's leftovers was another common cause of weight gain.
【小题1】Which of the following might be the best title for this article?

Dogs may not know exactly what you are doing especially when you’re trying to figure out a square root or diagram a sentence. But according to a new study, dogs can understand what we’re thinking and feeling by reading our facial expressions and body language and following our eyes.

Researchers studied 29 dogs. The dogs were shown a movie where a woman looked directly at them and said “Hi dog!” Then, the woman looked at a flowerpot sitting next to her. The researchers found that when the woman looked at and spoke directly to a dog, the dog usually followed her eyes to the flowerpot. It proved that the dogs knew that the woman was thinking about the flowerpot.

“By following the eye movements of dogs, we were able to get a first-hand look at how their minds are actually working,” said Jozsef, the senior researcher.

Later in the movie, the woman said “Hi dogs” in a low voice and didn’t look at the dog before looking at the flowerpot. In that situation, the dogs didn’t seem to understand what the woman was thinking. There was no eye contact, and the woman didn’t appear to speak to the dogs directly.

That comes as no surprise to dog trainer Jones. “Dogs normally speak through nonverbal signals. It’s more natural to them,” she said. “If you’ve ever watched dogs at a dog park, you’ve seen it. Within 30 seconds they enter the park, much information has passed between the new dog and the ones already in the park. They’re exchanging looks, observing eyes and body posture. On the other hand, when you speak to a dog, they are learning a foreign language.”

Picking up your nonverbal signals seems more natural. So, if you were hoping that all this means your dog could help you solve your math problems, you’re probably out of luck. But he or she might be a lot more in tune with what you’re thinking than you previously thought.

1.How could the researchers find that the dogs understood the woman’s intention?

2.According to the text, Jones finds that ______.

3.It is implied in the text that dogs can read your emotions only if ______.

4.What does the underlined phrase “be in tune with” in the last paragraph mean?

请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意：每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上。

You probably have lists to remember and steps to follow in order to have the best pet-friendly trip. There are, however, a few things that are best left at home. Here are a few things to forget when you’re traveling with pets. Forgetting them will make your trip run more smoothly and more effectively.

Time

Traveling with pets will take longer and will have unexpected turns. In reality, forgetting about time means leaving impatience behind. Don’t be in a rush. Your pets will require more extra stops than you will, and they’ll often surprise you with unpredictable delays. Plan on leaving early and arriving later and you’ll be right on time.

Anger

Getting angry at the delay will only make matters worse. Your feelings can add unnecessary stresses to you and your pets’ travel experience. If you feel yourself becoming out of control, stop and take a deep breath. Your pets have little control over their emotions, bowel movements, or motion sickness when traveling. Remember to be kind and understanding at all times, especially when under pressure.

Work Attitude

This may seem like a no-brainer, but when you are traveling, leave your work attitude behind. Traveling is not a task to be accomplished; it can be an enjoyable and memorable experience for both you and your pets as long as you have the right attitude.

Control

Part of the joy of traveling with pets is dealing with the unexpected. You can’t control everything and trying to do so will only end in frustration (挫败) and anger. Knowing that things will happen beyond your control will bring great relief to you and your pets. Messes happen; accidents happen. Once you accept that, traveling with your pets will be far easier to manage.

Selfishness

Traveling with pets often requires an extreme amount of selflessness. Your pets rely on you to take care of their needs, and sometimes you will need to put their needs before your own. Leave your selfish ambitions behind when traveling with your pets. They need your attention and care more than anything else because of the stresses and strains of traveling.

Traveling with pets can and will be a joy if you remember to leave these five items behind. It can be difficult at times to handle, but the traveling will go well if you can manage to do so.

Traveling with pets

Benefit                                 You’ll have a(n)   1.    and more effective trip by following the tips.

 Five things to   2._    Time * Traveling with pets will take longer and have unexpected turns.

* Plan to   3.    early to be on time.

         Anger        * Anger will only make matters worse when you are    4.   .

* Your pets can   5.    control themselves during the trip.

         Work

Attitude    * Leave your work attitude behind.

* Right attitude can    6.   you an enjoyable and memorable traveling experience.

         Control     * Dealing with the unexpected can be    7.   .

* Once you accept that, you will find traveling is not that    8.  to manage.

         Selfish-

ness * Traveling with pets often requires you to be    9.    .

* Your pets rely on you to take care of their needs.

* At times you should put your needs behind theirs.

     10.                                    Traveling with pets can be a joy and your trip will be successful.

       I suddenly heard an elephant crying as though frightened. Looking down, I immediately recognized that something was wrong, and ran down to the edge of the near bank. There I saw Ma Shwe with her three-month-old calf struggling in the fast-rising water, and it was a life-and-death struggle. Her calf was floating and screaming with fear. Ma Shwe was as near to the far bank as she could get, holding her whole body against the rushing water, and keeping the calf pressed against her huge body. Every now and then the rushing water would sweep the calf away.

There was a sudden rise in the water and the calf was washed clean over the mother’s body and was gone. Ma Shwe turned quickly to reach it and pressed the calf with her head and trunk against the rocky bank. Then with a huge effort, she picked it up in her trunk and tried until she was able to place it on a narrow shelf of rock.

Just at this moment, she fell back into the river. If she were carried down, it would be certain death. I knew, as well as she did, that there was one spot where she could get up the bank, but it was on the other side from where she had put her calf.

While I was wondering what I could do next, I heard the sound of a mother’s love. Ma Shwe had crossed the river and got up the bank and was making her way back as fast as she could, roaring(吼叫) all the time, but to her calf it was music.

The moment the author got down to the river bank he saw ___.

 the calf was about to fall into the river

 Ma Shwe was placing the calf on the rock

 the calf was washed away by the rising water

 Ma Shwe was holding the calf against the rushing water

How did Ma Shwe manage to save her calf from the fast-flowing water?

By putting it on a safe spot.

By pressing it against her body.

By taking it away with her

By carrying it on her back.

How did the calf feel about the mother elephant's roaring?

It was a great comfort.

It was a sign of danger.

It was a call for help.

It was a musical note.

What can be the best title for the text?

A Mother's love

A Brave Act

A Deadly River

A matter of Life and Death