Sorry to say,our brains naturally start slowing down at the Cruelty young age of 30.It used to be thought that this couldn’t be helped,but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster.“Your brain is a learning machine,”saying University of California scientist Dr. Michael Merzenich.Given the right tools,we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger.All that’s required is the practice designed just for the purpose:a few exercises for the mind.

Merzenich has developed a computer-based training method to speed up the process(过程) in which the brain deals with information (positscience.com).Since much of the data we receive comes through speech,the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy(准确性).

Over the course of training,the program starts asking you to distinguish(辨别) sounds (between“dog”and“bog”,for example) at an increasingly faster speed.It’s a bit like tennis instructor,says Merzenich,hitting balls at you—faster and faster to keep you challenged(受到挑战).You may start out slow,but before long you’re pretty quick.

The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly plastic.If you ask your brain to learn,it will learn.And it may even speed up while in the process.

To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you:playing table tennis or bridge,doing crossword puzzles,learning a language...“When it comes to preventing ageing,you really do ‘use it or lose it’,”says Barbara Sahakian,professor at Cambridge University.

Dr.Merzenich’s training method mainly depends on ______.

A.speech training

B.computer languages

C.the activities one joins in

D.the information being dealt with

By saying “the brain at any age is highly plastic”,the writer probably means the brain can be ______.

A.used                                                            B.mastered

C.developed                                                     D.researched

What can we learn from the text?

A.Practice makes a quick mind.

B.Brain research started ten years ago.

C.Dr. Merzenich is a scientist in computer.

D.People believed nothing could stop the brain slowing down.

Which of the following agrees with the writer’s idea?

A.The training methods work better for the old.

B.People should use the brain to stop it from ageing.

C.The training of the brain should start at an early age.

D.It’s necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.

We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us—in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our __1__ have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us __2__ everything to their kindness and love.

When we __3__ them respect, whether it is by bowing to them, or __4__ them with a smile, or offering them any help they need, it is one way of __5__ our own love and gratitude to them.__6__, elders have also been through all the years you are __7__ and know a little more about the world than you do.

It is __8__ that you do not agree with the belief of your elders, but this is nothing new. All younger generations have always __9__ with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human __10__. However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their __11__.

With changing times and __12__ influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders. Youngsters should __13__ express their views and if there are arguments, they should not __14__ their voices.

If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately __15__ their places, and sit on the carpet. In buses and trains, youngsters are __16__ to give up their places to older people. This is not a __17__ of who has more rights. It is simply that those who are younger have the strength to bear __18__, or tolerate unpleasantness, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older and perhaps at a __19__ disadvantage.

When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become __20__ that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.

1. A. youngsters  B. elders  C. parents  D. juniors

2. A. devote    B. owe  C. pay  D. contribute

3. A. show    B. explain  C. exhibit  D. point

4. A. greeting  B. receiving  C. declaring  D. showing

5. A. expressing  B. describing  C. sending  D. suggesting

6. A. However   B. Therefore  C. Besides  D. Though

7. A. experiencing with     B. going through

C. suffering from        D. worrying out

8. A. maybe    B. likely  C. possible  D. probably

9. A. quarreled  B. dealt  C. lived  D. disagreed

10. A. community        B. organization

C. society           D. public

11. A. experience       B. reality

C. emotion          D. information

12. A. cultural            B. special

C. environmental       D. position

13. A. quietly  B. slightly  C. silently  D. coldly

14. A. rise       B. raise      C. support  D. force

15. A. give away  B. get rid of  C. give up  D. send out

16. A. expected  B. forced     C. needed  D. reminded

17. A. doubt      B. question  C. wonder  D. challenge

18. A. suffering  B. upset      C. trouble  D. discomfort

19. A. serious    B. light      C. heavy   D. slight

20. A. aware   B. alive       C. knowing  D. sensible

I grew up poor — living with six brothers, three sisters and my mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and   36  . I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still   37   a dream.

My dream was   38  . By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour baseball and   39   anything that moved on the field. I was also   40  : my high school coach was John, who not only   41   me, but also taught me how to believe in myself. He   42   me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念). One particular incident with coach John changed my life forever.

A friend   43   me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — money for a new bike, new clothes and the   44   of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to   45   up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.

When I told John, he was as   46   as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” he said, “Your   47   days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head   48  , trying to think of the words that would   49   to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his   50   in me.

“Well,” he asked, “is $3.5 an hour the   51   of a dream?”

That simple question made   52   to me the difference between   53   something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself in sports that summer and   54   the year I was chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and   55   a $ 20,000 contract(合同). Later, I bought my mother the house of my dream!

1.

A.attention

B.time

C.patience

D.fashion

 

2.

A.bring

B.continue

C.make

D.afford

 

3.

A.athletics

B.music

C.business

D.money

 

4.

A.kick

B.play

C.hit

D.pass

 

5.

A.right

B.popular

C.lucky

D.confident

 

6.

A.believed in

B.relied on

C.called on

D.dealt with

 

7.

A.gave

B.taught

C.brought

D.asked

 

8.

A.called

B.advised

C.applied

D.recommended

 

9.

A.aim

B.idea

C.start

D.purpose

 

10.

A.keep

B.end

C.give

D.pick

 

11.

A.happy

B.mad

C.frightened

D.excited

 

12.

A.living

B.working

C.playing

D.dreaming

 

13.

A.moving

B.hanging

C.shaking

D.nodding

 

14.

A.express

B.announce

C.apologise

D.explain

 

15.

A.belief

B.pride

C.fear

D.disappointment

 

16.

A.length

B.price

C.power

D.spirit

 

17.

A.clear

B.direct

C.straight

D.attractive

 

18.

A.wanting

B.changing

C.dreaming

D.enjoying

 

19.

A.by

B.for

C.beyond

D.within

 

20.

A.paid

B.found

C.offered

D.presented

 

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