Did you know that women’s brains are smaller than men’s? The average women’s brain weighs 10% less than men’s. Since research has shown that the bigger the brain, the cleverer the animal, men must be more intelligent than women. Right? Wrong. Men and women always score similarly on intelligence tests, despite the difference in brain size. Why? After years of study, researchers have concluded that it’s what’s inside that matters, not just the size of the brain. The brain consists of “grey matter” and  “white matter”. While men have more of the latter, the amount of “thinking” brain is almost exactly the same in both sexes.

It has been suggested that smaller brain appears to work faster, perhaps because the two sides of the brain are better connected in women. This means that little girls tend to learn to speak earlier, and that women can understand sorts of information from different sources(来源)at the same time. When it comes to talking to the boss on the phone, cooking dinner and keeping an eye on the baby all at the same time, it’s women who come out on top every time.

There are other important differences between two sexes. As white matter is the key to spatial (空间的) tasks, men know better where things are in relation to other things. “A great footballer always knows where he is in relation to the other players, and he knows where to go,” says one researcher. That may explain one of life’s great mysteries: Why men refuse to ask for directions … and women often need to!

The differences begin when fetuses (胎儿) are about nine weeks old, which can be seen in the action of children as young as one. A boy would try to climb a barrier before him or push it down while a girl would attract help from others. These brain differences also explain the fact that more men take up jobs that require good spatial skills, while more women speech skills. It may all go back to our ancestors, among whom women needed speech skills to take care of their babies and men needed spatial skills to hunt, according to one research.

If all this disappoints you, it shouldn’t. “The brain changes throughout our lives according to what we do with it,” says a biologist.

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first paragraph?

A.Women’s brain is 10% less than men’s.

B.Grey matter controls thinking in the brain.

C.Grey matter plays the same role as white matter.

D.Both sexes have the same amount of white matter.

2.What can we infer from the second and third paragraphs?

A.Women don’t need to tell directions.

B.Women prefer doing many things at a time.

C.Men have weaker spatial abilities.

D.Men do better dealing with one job at a time.

3.Which of the following do you agree with according to the fourth paragraph?

A.Young boys may be stronger than young girls.

B.Women may have stronger feelings than men.

C.More women take up jobs requiring speech skills.

D.Our ancestors needed more spatial skills.

4.What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?

A.Defensive.

B.Persuasive.

C.Supportive.

D.Objective.

 

E

Some time ago during my vacation period, I traveled to Europe to tour the various parts of France.Our tour group was made up of forty—five travelers from different countries.My three friends and I made up the Canadian team on the bus.

As time passed we got to know each Other better and in some ways the new friendships that grew became as valuable and as memorable as the trip itself.

On the last day of the tour we were traveling through the peaceful French countryside when our guide came on the microphone.He said,“We are presently passing through World War I battlefields just south of Vimy Ridge.If you look to your right, just across the field there, you will see the war memorial that the people of France built to the Canadian soldiers who fought so bravely here.Even today some residents from the surrounding towns place flowers on the memorial regularly.My dear Canadian friends at the back of the bus, I would like to say thank you for the unselfish acts of your Canadian soldiers.”

Across the grassy field, the stone monument stood proud against the French sky.A Canadian flag rippled softly in the calm breeze.Lost in the moment, I could imagine the sights and sounds of war.Suddenly an unexpected wave of emotion swept over me.I felt great sadness for those men who never returned home to Canada, but at the same time my heart was filled with an enormous sense of pride.Tears welled up in my eyes.I was embarrassed by my uncontrolled reaction.As I turned around I realized that each of my friends had experienced the same feelings, their eyes also wet with tears.

72.From the passage we know the writer was traveling in Europe with    .

A.only his Canadian friends                 B.his foreign classmates

C.some foreigners as well as his friends        D.his colleagues and friends

73.It can be inferred from the passage that    .

A.the Canadian group didn’t know other members well at first

B.this must be a group for both traveling and study

C.the group was made up of people who got on well in real life

D.the numbers of the group must be students of history

74.The action of the local French shows that    .

A.they had made the battle field a place of interest

B.they still remember all the Canadians who have died

C.they honoured those Canadian soldiers who lost their lives m World War I

D.the numbers of the group must be students of history

75.At the guide’s words, as a Canadian, the writer     .

A.had complicated feelings

B.was only proud of those soldiers

C.thought it was his duty to help France

D.controlled his feelings so as not to be embarrassed

 

The Chinese word “Shanzhai” means a small mountain village, but now it becomes an accepted name for fakes (假货) after “Shanzhai Cellphones” produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years.

         Besides “Shanzhai” has electronic products, there are “Shanzhai” movies, “Shanzhai” stars and even a “Shanzhai” Spring Festival Gala, a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve.

         “Shanzhai” has become a culture of its own, symbolizing anything that imitates something famous.The phenomenon has caused a public debate over whether it is healthy or sick being a copycat.

         In southwestern China’s Chongqing Municipality, a “Shanzhai” version “Bird’s Nest” woven by farmers with bamboo attracts wide attention and the “Shanzhai” version “Water Cube” is popular with tourists too.Both are copies of the famous Olympics buildings in Beijing.

         Xie Xizhang, a literature critic, said that taking the “Shanzhai” Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the “Shanzhai” version appears naturally to attract people.“In spite of its poor techniques and operation, ‘Shanzhai’culture meets the psychological demands of common people and could be a comfort to their minds,” Xie said.

         Tian Huiqun, a professor at Beijing Normal University, said that “Shanzhai” culture never copies classic things, only trendy products.In that sense, it’s like a computer virus, multiplying without meaning.

         Though controversial, “Shanzhai” culture is becoming a widely accepted phenomenon.

         To the mainstream culture, the rise of “Shanzhai” culture is a challenge as well as a motivation, said Xie.Tian said different kinds of cultures developing together is an ideal situation and it is for the public to choose.

1.The Chinese Word“Shanzhai”may have its origin in _________.

         A.fake cellphones    B.electronic products

         C.Spring Festival Gala        D.Olympics buildings

2.The underlined word “imitates” is closest in meaning to _______.

         A.steals                B.copies               C.advertises        D.cheats

3.According to the passage, “Shanzhai” culture refers to ________.

         A.The action that a person imitates famous people

         B.anything that imitates something famous

         C.those similar names to famous brand

         D.products with poor techniques and quality

4.We can infer that the mainstream culture ________.

         A.will be held back by “Shanzhai” culture

         B.will sooner or later be replaced by “Shanzhai”culture

         C.may develop faster because of the challenging of “Shanzhai”culture

         D.thinks nothing of the challenge of “Shanzhai”culture

 

Beginning in October, more than 13,000 McDonald’s (麦当劳)restaurants in America will use a new variety of cooking oil. McDonald' s aims to make its French fries (油炸食品) and other fried foods healthier.

The change will not affect the taste or the number of calories in the food. But by changing the cooking oil, McDonald’s says, it hopes to cut by nearly half the amount of trans fatty acids (转换脂肪酸) in French fries and reduce the amount of saturated fats(饱和脂肪) by 16 percent. Scientists believe that trans fatty acids and saturated fats raise cholesterol(胆固醇) levels and increase the risk of heart disease.

McDonald's new step is important because McDonald’s is an industry leader and other fast-food chains and food processors may follow the lead.

For McDonald's ,the action comes at a time when Americans are becoming more and more concerned about; obesity (肥胖) and are increasing pressure on food companies to offer healthy and nutritious (有营养的) food to consumers.

After three years of study, McDonald’s officials say they are switching oil that is lower in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. McDonald's says the change will not cause higher price for consumers.

Though there is some change, scientists say that the amount of trans fat in foods at McDonald's and at other fast-food companies is still important.

1.More than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants in America will use a new kind of cooking oil to ______________.

A.lower the costs of the products

B.maker its food taste hatter than ever before

C.cure (治愈) the heart disease

D.do good to the health of consumers

2.The underlined ward "switching" here has the same meaning as "   _______ ".

A.turning on

B.turning off

C.changing

D.studying

3.The main idea of the passage is    __________ .

A.McDonald's is a pioneer in food products

B.McDonald's is enlarging its restaurants in the world

C.fried foods can’t keep up with the development of modem society

D.McDonald’s is to use new cooking oil

4.When a new kind of cooking oil is used in McDonald’s,     ________ 

A.the prices of McDonald’s foods will be a tot higher

B.consumers will find the taste of McDonald’s foods different

C.many other food companies will do what McDonald's does

D.obesity will disappear in American society sooner or later

 

A healthy amount of sunshine may be the secret to staying young. British scientists have discovered.

    Vitamin D is produced naturally by the skin in response to(对…的反应) sunlight and may help to slow the ageing process and protect against heart disease, according to the study.

    Researchers from King’s College London studied 2,160 women aged between 18 and 79, looking at their telomeres--- a biological marker of ageing found in DNA. As people get older, their telomeres get shorter and they become more susceptible(易受伤害的) to certain illnesses.

    But the study found women with high levels of vitamin D had comparatively longer telomeres--- a sign of being biologically younger and healthier.

    The study suggests vitamin D may help to slow down the ageing process of DNA, and therefore the ageing process as a whole.

    Lead researcher Dr Brent Richards said, “These results are exciting because they show for the first time that people who have higher levels of vitamin D may age more slowly than people with lower levels of vitamin D.” This could help to explain how vitamin D has a protective effect on many ageing related diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.”

Professor Tim Spector, a co-author of the report, added, “Although it might sound absurd

(荒唐的), it’s possible that the same sunshine which may increase our risk of skin cancer may also have a healthy effect on the general ageing process.”

    Vitamin D made by the action of sunlight on the skin accounts for 90 percent of the body’s supply, but lower levels can also be got through food such as fish, eggs and breakfast cereals(粥).

    Other studies have suggested the vitamin plays a key role in protecting against cancer and heart disease.

1. A certain amount of sunshine helps people stay young because _____.

A. people feel happy and energetic in the sun          

B. sunshine protects people against heart disease

C. vitamin D makes one’s skin look young and healthy 

D. vitamin D may help to slow the ageing process

2.From Brent Richards, we know that _____.

    A. sunlight causes skin cancer to people with high level of vitamin D

    B. the study generally has a healthy effect on the general ageing process

    C. vitamin D can only be got from fish, eggs and breakfast cereals

    D. the higher levels of vitamin D people have, the more slowly people may age

3.What can we infer from the passage?

    A. Telomeres are important signs of ageing of the DNA.

    B. Sunlight can be dangerous as it causes skin cancer.

    C. Sunlight does a great deal of good to our health.

    D. Vitamin D can also be gained from food.

4. What is the best title of the passage?   

A. Secret of Staying Young                  B. Vitamin D Helps Slow Ageing

C. Sunlight and Vitamin D                   D. Sunlight and Health

 

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