The ups and downs of life may seem unpredictable. But scientists know there are clear 1 that almost all people share. Even if you’ve passed your “best”, you still have other 2 years to come. Certain important high-points come later in life.

　 When are you 3 ? From 18 to 25, according to I.Q. scores; but you’re wiser and more 4 with increasing age. At around 30, metal abilities begin to decline, 5 your ability to do maths. But your ability to complete other tasks 6 . For example, your vocabulary increases over time. At 60, your brain　 7 almost four times as much information as it did at age 21. Because of this, some psychologists suggest that “maturity quotients” (M.Q.) be used to measure intelligence for 8 .

　 When are you happiest? You have the best 9 sense of yourself from 15 to 24, when you feel energetic all the time. The best professional sense is from 40 to 49. Before age 24, we believe that our happiest years are yet to 10 , but when we are over 30, we believe that they’re behind us. After age 30, we’re more 11 and don’t view happiness as a goal in itself. If we maintain our health, achieve professional and emotional goals, then 12 , we feel, will follow.

　 When are you most creative? Generally between 30 and 39, but it 13 with different professions. The high-points in areas such as science and economics come 14 — most Nobel prize winners did their top research in their 20’s and 30’s — but for people who keep an active mind, there is no upper age 15 .

1．A．plans　　　 B．lives　　　　 C．patterns　　　 　　　　 D．predictions

2．A．good　　　 　 B．stranger　　 C．interesting　 　　　　　 D．difficult

3．A．best　　　 　 B．smartest　　 C．most mature　 　　　　　 D．most skilled

4．A．powerful　 B．energetic　 C．experienced　 　　　　　 D．satisfied

5．A．generally　 B．specially　　 　　　　　　　 C．mainly　　　 D．particularly

6．A．climbs　　 　 B．stops　　　　 　　　　　　　 C．matters　　 D．works

7．A．recognizes　 B．posseses　　 　　　　　　　 C．communicates 　 D．receives

8．A．babies　　 B．teenagers　　 　　　　　　 C．adults　　　　 　 D．elders

9．A．mental　　 　 B．emotional　　 　　　　　　　 C．physical　　 D．personal

10．A．come　　 　 B．last　　　　 　　　　　　　 C．remember　　 D．disappear

11．A．confident　 B．realistic　　　 　　　　　　 C．hopeful　　 D．grateful

12．A．wealth　　 B．sharpness　 C．wisdom　　 D．happiness

13．A．agrees　　 B．varies　　　 　　　　　　　 C goes　　　　　 　 D．ends

14．A．early　　 B．naturally　　 　　　　　　 C．unexpectedly 　 D．recently

15．A．demand　 　 B．reason　　　 C．choice　　　　 　　　　　 D．limit

Shaking the fist is a ______ commonly used to express anger by male adults but the ways to release one’s anger _______ greatly from person to person.

　 A. gesture; ranges　 B. sign; varies　 C. symbol; changes　 D. posture; alters

Friendship is one of the basic bonds (纽带) between human beings. While the characteristics of friendship might vary from one country to another, people from all cultures not only enjoy friends but need them.

　　Many studies have shown that teenagers who have no friends often suffer from psychological disorders. It has been shown that teenagers, perhaps more than any other age group, need companionship and a sense of belonging. The negative consequences of loneliness have also been observed among the elderly. The death of a spouse often leaves a widow or a widower totally bereft (失去). If, however, they are surrounded by friends and relatives and if they are able to articulate（清楚表达） their feelings, they are more likely to recover from their grief.

　　“No man is an island.” In other words, we are all parts of society. We all need the love, admiration, respect and moral support of other people. If we are fortunate, our friends will provide us with all of these necessary aspects of life.

　　As most people observe, there are many levels of friendship. The degree or intensity of friendship varies depending on the personality of the individuals involved and the context of the relationships. Extroverts (性格外向者) enjoy being surrounded by many people whereas introverts（性格内向者）are perhaps content with fewer but more intense friendships.

　　Everyone is not equally open with all their friends. The degree of intimacy (密切) is determined by many factors. Close friends can be formed at any stage in one’s life but they are usually very rare. Not very many people have more than a few really close friends. Irrespective of the level of intimacy, all friendships are based on reciprocity（相互性）, honesty and a certain amount of love and affection.

53. The second paragraph implies that _____..

　 A. teenagers without friends will suffer from psychological problems

　 B. a widow or a widower will die very soon without companionship

　 C. human beings need companionship and a sense of belonging

　 D. both A and B

54. The degree of intimacy of friendship mainly depends on _____ .

　 A. age 　　　　　　　　　 B. belonging　　　　 C. personality 　　　　　　 D. culture

55. The author thinks that close friends _____ .

　 A. can be easily formed when one is young 　　　　 B. cannot be long-lasting

　 C. are not rare for everyone 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. are rare for most people

56. The word “irrespective”(Last sentence, Para. 5) means _____ .

　 A. not respecting 　 　B. dishonoring 　　　 C. regardless 　 D. considering

The form of leisure ______ from individual to individual.

ranges　　　　　　 B. distinguishes　　　　　　 C. varies　　　　　 D.covers

The charge ______from 5 yuan to 10 yuan.

A. changes　　　　 B.varies　　　　 C. differ　　　　 D. range