Washoe, a female chimpanzee (黑猩猩) believed to be the first non-human to acquire human language, has died of natural causes at the research institute where she was kept.The chimp died on Tuesday night, according to Roger and Deborah Fouts, co-founders of The Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute in Washington, where she lived.

Washoe was born in 1965 in Africa, where she was captured by the Air Force and taken to the US for research use in the space program. In 1966, she left the program and began living with two scientists, Allen and Beatrix Gardner, who led a project to teach the chimp American Sign Language (ASL) in Washoe, Nevada, for which it was named. Washoe had been living on Central Washington University’s Ellensburg Campus since 1980. She had a vocabulary of about 250 words. Also, Washoe taught sign language to three younger chimps: Tatu, 31, Loulis, 29, and Dar, 31

Primate (灵长类) researcher Jane Goodall, in Fouts’ book Next of Kin, noted the importance of the work with Washoe. “Roger, through his ongoing conversations with Washoe and her extended family, has opened a window into a chimpanzee’s mind,” Goodall said.

Though previous efforts to teach chimps spoken languages had failed, the researchers believed there was a better chance using signs. But Washoe’s language skills were disputed by scientists who believed that language is unique to humans. Among those who doubted that chimps could use language were linguist (语言学家) Noam Chomsky and Harvard scientist Steven Pinker. They believed primates simply learn to perform certain acts in order to receive rewards, and do not acquire true language. 

As for its first task, Washoe was involved with _______.

A. some space research   

B. a study on African animals

C. an ASL project     

D. the program of training the Air Force

In Goodall’s opinion, teaching Washoe ASL ______.

A. was not successful   

B. led to the book Next of Kin

C. won honor for Fouts   

D. made a difference

In the last paragraph, the underlined word “disputed” probably means “______”.

A. supported 

B. studied 

C. questioned 

D. discussed

What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The ASL project was first set up in Africa for the study on Washoe.

B. Washoe may communicate with other chimps by signing.

C. Washoe must have been able to speak 250 words or so.

D. The researchers will prove that most chimps could use language.

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Washoe was the first animal to be taught human language.

B. Washoe, the chimp, was named in honor of a place.

C. There were four chimps in total at Ellensburg Campus.

D. Chomsky believed primates only perform silent signs.

The day that I met my best friend for the first time, I was full of anxiety. I was trying to do some ______ for an important oral exam in the local library, but people kept ______ me. I was getting annoyed and of course, I wasn’t able to ______. Suddenly I heard someone singing behind me. I ______ and glared at the person who was singing. It was a tall girl about the same age as me.

She looked like a sensitive, friendly girl didn’t matter. If anything, it made me even angrier.” How could she be so selfish?” I thought ______.

I picked up my books, glared at her and whispered coldly, “Thanks to your ______, I’ve been unable to study. You’re so ______!”

I left the library in such a hurry, I left the most important textbook ______. when I got home two hours later, I found that textbook gone. I was so ______ that I almost cried. Just then, the phone rang. a gentle voice ______ the speaker as Jenny and asked if I was Jane. After ______ that I was, she said that she had noticed I’d left my book in the library and as my ______ was in it, she’d asked a librarian to get my phone number f. She said that she didn’t live far away and could bring it around for me if I needed it. 

I sighed with ______and agreed to meet her at the convenience store down the road. Of course you’ve ______ who Jenny was. She was the girl I had shouted at for singing in the library. When I recognized her in the convenience store, I was filled with ______ and apologized for my ruled behavior I felt so ______, but Jenny just laughed, saying she was glad to see that I’d also left my ______ in the library! I couldn’t help laughing at this and I invited her back to my apartment for a quick cup of tea. 

Ever since then we’ve been best friends and we got along really well. To be honest, I trust her more than any one else. I often think how ______ I am. If Jenny hadn’t been a kind person who was willing to ______ my shortcomings, I would ______ have experienced such true friendship.

1.A. research    B. revision         C. work     D. experiment

2.A. watching    B. asking   C. warning         D. disturbing

3.A. speak          B. improve         C. concentrate  D. follow

4.A.turned around    B. turned down          C. turned off     D. turned over

5.A. sadly  B. hopelessly     C. angrily  D. crazily

6.A. practice     B. noise     C. attitude          D. existence

7.A. selfish         B. active    C. sensitive        D. stupid

8.A. out     B. around C. aside     D. behind

9.A. nervous     B. careless         C. upset    D. forgetful

10.A. introduced       B. considered   C. took      D. remembered

11.A. deciding  B. conforming   C. realizing         D. thinking

12.A. address    B. class      C. writing  D. name

13.A. comfort   B. relief     C. confidence   D. satisfaction

14.A. recognized       B. found    C. guessed         D. heard

15.A. courage   B. energy  C. doubt    D. shame

16.A. worried   B. sorry     C. terrible D. excited

17.A. glare         B. expression    C. virtue    D. friendship

18.A. considerate      B. pleased          C. luck       D. grateful

19.A. overcome         B. share    C. hide      D. forgive

20.A. ever         B. never    C. seldom D. Fstill

It’s a common belief that over time, pet owners start to look like their animals, and vice versa. Now conies the terrifying news that cats look up to their owners as role models and copy their behavior.
Next time you reach for your fridge, think twice. If Kitty is watching, she is likely to overeat as well.
What is your cat’s IQ?
In a new study from the University of Messina, it turns out that indoor cats who live closely to their owners “mirror” the lives of their caregivers. They sleep at the same time, eat at the same time,  and can even become more or less social depending on the behavior of their owners.
“Cats are intelligent animals with a long memory, ”Jane Brunt, the executive director of the CATalyst Council, told Discovery News. “They watch and learn from us, noting the patterns of our actions. as evidenced by knowing where their food is kept and what time to expect to be fed, how to open the cupboard door that’s been improperly closed, and where their feeding and toileting areas fife. ”Because cats copy our habits, if you spend a lot of time raiding(搜刮)the fridge, your cat will return to its food bowl for that midnight snack, too. According to the study, this explains why “human and cat overweight rates often seem to match. ”So. if you felt guilty about leaving your precious kitty at home while you go to work, now you call feel even worse：You fife making your cat fat!
There’s no word if drinking green tea and making sure you go to Yoga will benefit your cat, but based on the study. it sounds like sticking to a healthy eating and sleeping schedule is best for both of you.
There’s a lot we can learn from our cats in return. “When they sit on our laps softly purring with rhythmic breathing and half-closed eyes. the sense of peace and calm that comes over us is like a private 1esson in inner meditation. ”Brant said. Sure. But cats don’t have to sit in rush hour traffic for an hour a day or worry about their in-laws. They’re probably pretty good at remaining calm.
So, according to science。even though we assumed that cats were not close to us all these years, it turns out they fife in fact learning from us and looking up to us. Scary, huh?
【小题1】According to the passage. which of the following is NOT true?

Soon it would be the holidays, but before that, there were year exams. All the 36 _____ had been working hard for some time, reviewing their lessons for the exams. If they didn’t 37 _____, they would have to retake them in September. There were usually a few who 38 _____, but Jane didn’t want to be one of them. She had worked hard all year, 39 _____ just before the exams she was working so hard that her sister Barbara was 40 _____ about her. She went to bed too 41 _____. The night before the first exam, Barbara 42 ____ that she have an early night and take a 43 ____ pill. She promised to wake 44 _____ up in the morning.
As she was falling asleep, Jane was afraid that she might oversleep. Her 45 _____ kept jumping from subject to subject. At last, with the help of 46 ____, she went to sleep. In no time at all, she was sitting in the examination hall, looking at the examination 47 _____, but she couldn’t answer any of the questions. 48 _____ around her was writing pages and pages. 49 _____ she thought hard, she couldn’t find anything to write 50 _____. She kept looking at her 51 _____. Time was running out. There was only an hour to go. She started one question, wrote two sentences, 52 _____ and tried another one. With only half an hour left she wrote another two sentences. By this time she was so worried that she started 53 ____. Her whole body shook. It shook so much that she 54 ____ up. She was still in bed and it had all been a 55 _____ dream. A minute later, Barbara called her name.

Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist has warned．Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans （幅度）, encourage instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered．

   Warnings from neuroscientist （神经系统科学家） Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day．But they will strike a chord （弦） with parents and teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens．

    More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts．A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the "micro-blogging" service that lets users exchange text messages about themselves．But while the sites are popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good．

    Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain．Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said．"My fear is that these technologies are weakening the brain to the state of small children who are attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and live for the moment．" "I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf," she said．

    Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think．They point out that students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write—thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along．

    A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen．Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven．Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the areas responsible reasoning．

    Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said: "We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years．I'm not against technology and computers．But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people．"

1..

According to the passage, social networking websites might _____．

    A．make young users more selfish       

B．lengthen young users' attention span

    C．encourage young users constant satisfaction

    D．help young users communicate better with their families

2..

A neuroscientist may worry that sites like Facebook may ______．

    A．help children learn to make real relationships with people in society

    B．encourage students not to plan their term papers before starting to write

    C．disturb those whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites

    D．make real conversation in real time give way to easier and faster screen dialogue

3..

From the passage we can infer that _____．

    A．Baroness Tarot agrees websites cause small children's small attention span

    B．Jane Healy believes computer games can do good to children's reasoning

    C．Susan Greenfield's warnings have been brought to wide public attention

    D．Sue Palmer's book Toxic Childhood discusses the development of networking

4..

What is the purpose of this passage?

    A．To tell us the conflict between neuroscientists and psychologists on websites．

    B．To present some negative opinions on social networking websites．

    C．To offer advice on the problem of brain damage caused by social networking．

    D．To analyse how social networking websites cause damage in the brains of teenagers．