Work your brain!
Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder，it controls everything we say，do or think，who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.
The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein，fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells，it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don't die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orange­flavored drinks.
Its intricacies(复杂性)are stunning，far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished(有光泽的) as possible we need to eat right，exercise and keep mentally stimulated(刺激)．
Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone(荷尔蒙)in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.
“It's very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active，” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart.
“People cannot stop aging，but you're able to reduce the damage；you're able to keep the function up.”
Following are Dr.Stewart's advice for improving brain health：

Work your brain!

   Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder, it controls everything we say, do or think, who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.

    The brain uses 20 percent of our body’s oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein, fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells, it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don’t die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orange­flavored drinks.

    Its complexity are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated. Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.

“It’s very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active,” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart.“People cannot stop aging, but you’re able to reduce the damage; you’re able to keep the function up.”

Following are Dr. Stewart’s advice for improving brain health：

1.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ______.

A. inform us how the brain works

B. give us advice on how to keep the brain healthy

C. tell us that the brain plays an important role in our lives

D. show how special the brain is to us

2.The underlined word “stunning” means ______.

A. interesting 　               B. strange                          C. significant　                  D. amazing

3.According to the text，more exercise ______.

A. keeps our mind sharp             

B. helps improve our memory

C. gives our brain a rest 　           

D. is good for brain cells communicating with each other

4.In order to keep brain healthy，we should avoid ______.

A. eating a good lunch                                     B. doing puzzles

C. eating a large supper                                  D. taking aerobic exercise

Work your brain!

Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder，it controls everything we say，do or think，who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.

The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein，fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells，it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don't die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orange­flavored drinks.

Its intricacies(复杂性)are stunning，far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished(有光泽的) as possible we need to eat right，exercise and keep mentally stimulated(刺激)．

Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone(荷尔蒙)in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.

“It's very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active，” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart.

“People cannot stop aging，but you're able to reduce the damage；you're able to keep the function up.”

Following are Dr.Stewart's advice for improving brain health：

1.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ______.

A. inform us how the brain works

B. give us advice on how to keep the brain healthy

C. tell us that the brain plays an important role in our lives

D. show how special the brain is to us

2.The word “stunning” in Paragraph 5 means ______.

A. interesting 　       B. strange              C. significant　        D. amazing

3. According to the text，more exercise ______.

A. keeps our mind sharp 　　 

B. helps improve our memory

C. gives our brain a rest 　　 

D. is good for brain cells communicating with each other

4. In order to keep brain healthy，we should avoid ______.

A. eating a good lunch                      B. doing puzzles

C. eating a large supper                    D. taking aerobic exercise

Works of Art

Kenji’s sister Ann was at the kitchen table. The table was covered with newspapers. Small bowls of paint were spread across the newspapers. Painted fans were drying on the chairs beside Ann. “What are you doing?” Kenji asked. Ann held up a plain white fan that she had just started to work on. In one corner was a small and beautiful pink flower. “I’m painting fans to sell at the fair on Saturday,” she said. Then she shrugged(耸肩). “But I’m sure no one will buy them.”

Kenji picked up one of the finished fans. He smiled. “I think you’re wrong,” he said. “This is beautiful!” “I agree!” Mr. Sato cried. He had just come into the kitchen. “Your work is lovely, Ann!” Ann smiled at her father’s words. “Thanks, Dad,” she said. “I hope other people think so too.”

Two days later Kenji and his friend Nick attended the crafts fair. The school gymnasium was filled with rows and rows of tables. Each hopeful seller had covered a table with handmade items. There were paintings, jewelry, clay pots and dishes, paperweights, colorful boxes, hats－and much more.

It took Kenji and Nick some time to find Ann. She was sitting behind her table. There were only a few fans spread out in front of her. Kenji looked puzzled. “Where are the rest of your fans?” he asked. “I sold them!” she said. Kenji smiled broadly at her. He picked up a fan to show his friend. “Oh, that fan is extremely beautiful!” a woman behind him said. “It is pretty, isn’t it?” Kenji said, handing it to her. “My sister painted it!” he added proudly. “Your sister is quite an artist!” the woman said as she eagerly pulled out her wallet.

1．What can we know from the passage?

       A．Nick is satisfied with Ann’s painting.

       B．Kenji is quite proud of his sister’s works

       C．Ann is confident of her ability to paint fans.

       D．Ann’s father helps her in order to cheer her up.

2．Paragraph 3 is mostly about __________.

       A．why Kenji likes the fair                         B．what Ann does at the fair

       C．when the fair starts                              D．what the fair is like

3．According to the story, what will probably happen next?

       A．The woman will pay for the fan.

       B．Ann will make more fans for sell.

       C．Nick will help sell the rest of Ann’s fans.

       D．Kenji will learn how to make beautiful fans.

Work your brain!

    Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder, it controls everything we say, do or think, who we are and what we care about. The way we walk or laugh or figure out things. What we like and the talents we possess. How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food.

    The brain uses 20 percent of our body’s oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein, fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells, it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don’t die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orange­flavored drinks.

    Its complexity are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated（增强）. Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age.

“It’s very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active,” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart.“People cannot stop aging, but you’re able to reduce the damage; you’re able to keep the function up.”

Following are Dr. Stewart’s advice for improving brain health：

56. The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ______.

A. inform us how the brain works

B. give us advice on how to keep the brain healthy

C. tell us that the brain plays an important role in our lives

D. show how special the brain is to us

57. The underlined word “stunning” means ______.

A. interesting 　          B. strange                        C. significant　          D. amazing

58. According to the text，more exercise ______.

A. keeps our mind sharp       B. helps improve our memory

C. gives our brain a rest 　    D. is good for brain cells communicating with each other

59. In order to keep brain healthy，we should avoid ______.

A. eating a good lunch                                  B. doing puzzles

C. eating a large supper                               D. taking aerobic exercise