【推荐2】One of the most deeply-rooted myths in parenting is the so-called Mozart effect, which says that listening to music by the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart can increase a child’s intelligence. The idea has been promoted by advocates for arts education and by retailers(零售商) who sell special recordings of Mozart’s works for infants(婴儿) and toddlers(学步的儿童). Some pregnant women have even gone so far as to play Mozart recordings on headphones pressed against their bellies.

So, if you have kids or you’re expecting to have them, how seriously should you take the Mozart effect? Will the child who has no access to Mozart s music when born live a life of mediocrity(平庸)? Relax. There is no scientific evidence that listening to Mozart improves children’s cognitive abilities.

The whole idea came from a small study done in 1993, which found that college students who listened to Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K 448) showed slight improvement in a test of spatial reasoning( 空间推理). This finding was later turned into something unrealistic by the musician and entrepreneur(企业家) Don Campbell, who in 1997 published the best seller The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit. Campbell’s claims about the amazing power of Mozart s music was repeated endlessly in the media and sped up the enthusiasm for Mozart-based enrichment activities.

Since then, scientists have examined the claim that Mozart boosts intelligence and found no evidence for it. The original experiment with college students was reviewed in 1999, and the increase in the students’ spatial skills was found to be negligible. In 2007 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research commissioned a team of experts to examine the scientific literature regarding Mozart and child development, and they found no reason to believe that it boosted intelligence.

1. Who might be in favor of Mozart effect?

A．People who are opposed to arts education.

B．Musicians who admire Mozart very much.

C．Businessmen who sell toys and infant food.

D．Pregnant women who want to make their children cleverer.

2. What sped up people’s behavior of listening to Mozart’s music?

A．People have benefited a lot from listening to Mozart s music.

B．Don Campbell successfully sold Mozart s music recordings.

C．The media repeatedly stressed the the amazing power of Mozart s music.

D．A small study showed Mozart’s music could make students much smarter.

3. What does the underlined word “negligible” in the last paragraph mean?

A．obvious.

B．little.

C．strong.

D．sudden.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce the Mozart effect.

B．To correct a misunderstanding in parenting.

C．To stress the importance of listening to music.

D．To show parents how to make children smarter.

【推荐3】Why does time seem to fly faster as we get old? You've got your aging brain to blame. This is likely due largely to the physical changes of our nerves and neurons( 神经元). New research suggests ‘rapid fire’ abilities of the young brain allow us to process more information during youth, causing the days to seem longer earlier in life. However, as we get old, researchers say the older brain takes more time to process information.

The new finding put forward by a Duke University researcher was published in a paper in the journal European Review this week. According to Adrian Bejan, the J.A Jones Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke, the physical changes of our nerves and neurons play a major role in our perception(知觉) of time as we get old. Over the years these structures become more complex and eventually begin to degrade.

“Little babies, for example, move their eyes much more often than adults because they're processing images at a faster rate,” Bejan says. For older people, this means fewer images are being processed in the same amount of time, causing experiences to seem as though they're happening more quickly.

1. What causes time to fly faster as we get old?

A．Information in our brain.	B．Changes of our nerves and neurons.
C．The electrical signals.	D．Rapid fire abilities.

2. What is unavoidable in the process of getting old?

A．Longer days.

B．More images.

C．Less experience.

D．Aging brains

3. The passage shows that_________________.

A．the younger brain takes less time to process information

B．little babies move their eyes much more seldom

C．old people have fewer things to do than young people

D．young people are more energetic in their life

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Nerves and Neurons.	B．Time Flies Fast.
C．The Function of the Brain.	D．The Older, the Faster.

【推荐2】There are two factors which determine an individual's intelligence. The first is the sort of brain he is born with. Human brains differ considerably, some being more capable than others. But no matter how good a brain he has to begin with, an individual will have a low order of intelligence unless he has opportunities to learn. So the second factor is what happens to the individual—the sort of environment in which he is reared (培养). If an individual is handicapped (妨碍) environmentally, it is likely that his brain will fail to develop and he will never attain the level of intelligence of which he is capable.
The importance of environment in determining an individual's intelligence can be demonstrated by the case history of the identical twins, Peter and Mark X. Being identical, the twins had identical brains at birth, and their growth processes were the same. When the twins were three months old, their parents died, and they were placed in separate foster homes. Peter was reared by parents of low intelligence in an isolated community with poor educational opportunities. Mark was reared in the home of well-to-do parents who had been to college. He was read to as a child, sent to good schools, and given every opportunity to be stimulated intellectually. This environmental difference continued until the twins were in their late teens, when they were given tests to measure their intelligence. Mark's I.Q. was 125, twenty-five points higher than the average and fully forty points higher than his identical brother. Given equal opportunities, the twins, having identical brains, would have tested at roughly the same level.
1. This passage can be best titled_________.

A．Intelligence and Environment

B．Measuring Your Intelligence

C．The Case of Peter and Mark

D．How the brain Influences Intelligence

2. According to the passage, the average I.Q. is _____.

A．85

B．125

C．110

D．100

3. The case history of the twins appears to support the conclusion that _______.

A．individual with identical brains seldom test at same level

B．an individual's intelligence is determined only by his environment

C．changes of environment produce changes in the structure of the brain

D．lack of opportunity blocks the growth of intelligence

4. This passage suggests that an individual's I.Q.______.

A．can be increased by education

B．stays the same throughout his life

C．can be predicted at birth

D．is determined by his childhood

【推荐1】At the Green Free School in Copenhagen, students learn how to read and write and they study math and science. But the curriculum centers on sustainability.

The goal of the school is to prepare the students—about 200 of them, ranging in age from 6 to 15—for the green “transition.” That’s the transformation toward a sustainable society.

As a filmmaker, Ambo says she has always learned how to be around the world in a respectful way. Yet, she never saw that respect taught to children in Danish schools.

“So we founded a school where sustainable learning was the focus,” she says.

The school’s syllabus is modeled on systems thinking and project learning. System thinking is a way of learning that looks at how the pieces of a puzzle are related, instead of just looking at one small part. For example, how is a tree interconnected with other living things and what happens if part of the connection breaks along the way? Students also focus on project learning and hands-on thinking. They grow vegetables in the garden or look for wild mushrooms, draw pictures of them, then learn how to cook them and eat them. They do experiments on fibers and clothing, learning how much heat it takes to melt a piece of thread.

“They learn at an early age how to make their own data and be critical and curious about what kind of data they are presented with,” Ambo says.

They take classes to identify greenwashing as well, which is learning how to see through misleading claims about whether a company or a product or a material is truly sustainable or environmentally sound.

Although traditional education is still important at the school, students don’t have tests or exams, which make it different from other kinds of schools. Those parents who choose the school just because of its smaller size sometimes don’t stay very long, Ambo says.

1. What does Ambo aim to do?

A．Train filmmakers	B．Teach sustainable learning
C．Popularize compulsory education	D．Educate kids to respect others

2. What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?

A．Learning styles	B．Teaching aims
C．The concept of syllabus	D．Examples of system thinking

3. What does the underlined word “greenwashing” probably mean?

A．A method of ridding products of green color

B．A skill to see through misleading claims or lies

C．A technique to make materials truly sustainable

D．A behavior to pretend to be environmentally concerned

4. What makes the Green Free School special?

A．The school is free for poor children	B．The students cook meals on their own
C．Students don’t need to worry about exams	D．Traditional education is especially important

【推荐2】Dogs certainly need to bark (犬吠) every now and then, but if your neighbor's dog is getting in the way of   your daily life, you need to do something.

“Before you take action, you should record the dates and times that the barking happens to find out any patterns,” says Schweitzer, who is a dog owner. You might notice the barking only happens when the owners are at work, or during thunderstorms.

After two to three weeks of observing, go to your neighbors with the facts. Wait for a time when the barking is over. “Since you're trying to keep a good relationship, you can't go when you're angry and upset,” says Schweitzer. Besides, your neighbors might not even realize the barks are a problem, especially if the worst barking happens when they're not at home.

Politely explain the times when the barking gets bad, and then suggest a way of solving the problem. Ask if the dog can stay inside during storms, or offer a dog training class.

Making friends with the dog could help you gain some peace and quiet. If your neighbors introduce you to their dog, you should give the dog a treat. “If they become more comfortable seeing you, they're less likely to bark when they see you or when they're in the backyard,” says Schweitzer.

Whatever you do, don't talk with your other neighbors about the problem or start a petition (诉状) to get the dog to quiet down. “Those make people feel angry,” says Schweitzer. “That's when things escalate.”

If weeks go by and you still aren't seeing a difference, follow up with a note. Tie a dog treat on the note to build trust with your neighbors, and make a copy before dropping it off. That way, you'll have evidence (证据) that you've   discussed it before and followed up politely if you need to bring in a third party, says Schweitzer.

1. What should people do first according to Schweitzer?

A．Record when the dog barks.	B．Find out why the barking happens.
C．Find out if the dog is really dangerous.	D．Record when the neighbor is usually out.

2. When would be a good time for you to talk to your neighbor?

A．When the dog is barking.	B．When you are feeling calm.
C．When you've found a problem.	D．When your neighbor is walking the dog.

3. What does the underlined word “escalate” in Paragraph 6 probably mean?

A．Become familiar.	B．Become worse.
C．Get interesting.	D．Get personal.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．How to teach your dog to be quiet.	B．What to do when your neighbor has a dog.
C．How to deal with a neighbor's noisy dog.	D．What to do if your neighbor makes you angry.

【推荐3】Are you concerned about your body image? These days, both women and men are surrounded by magazines and websites full of tips about dieting, exercise and fashion. Not to mention hairstyles! Gone are the days when all men had to consider wearing a nice suit to be smart and handsome. Things have changed.

Now, a survey by the University of the West of England (UWE) has suggested that 80% of men are unhappy about their body. The biggest body problems for them were beer bellies and lack of muscles.

Some think this sudden change is due to the pressure or influence of role models we see on TV and in magazines.

People end up with an understanding of what the perfect body should look like. But not everybody wants to put in the effort to have perfect pecs(胸肌) and white teeth like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A factory has even invented a muscle-enhancing shirt to be worn under a man’s clothes to make him look more of a hunk.

But Joe Warner, the former editor of Men’s Fitness magazine in the UK, thinks the padded shirt is just a gimmick(骗人的玩意). He thinks many people in the country are overweight, and should accept they need to do more exercise.

Warner says, “I think it’s a real shame that people still want short cuts when it doesn’t take an awful lot of efforts to get to the gym or go for a walk.”

Exercise is always a good thing. But we mustn’t forget that beauty is only skin deep. Character is more important than appearance.

So before I head off to the pub, it might be worth spending an hour at the gym. I’m not looking to get a six-pack(块块隆起的腹肌), but looking healthier would certainly improve my confidence and self-esteem.

1. From the survey by UWE, we can know 80% of men ________.

A．lack opportunity to prove themselves	B．are not satisfied with their body image
C．want to have a muscle-enhancing shirt	D．make complaints about the working conditions

2. The underlined word “hunk” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to ________.

A．a brave and cool man	B．a strong and sexually attractive man
C．a handsome and energetic man	D．a wise and wealthy gentleman

3. It can be learned that Joe Warner ________.

A．is the present editor of Men’s Fitness magazine in the UK

B．thinks it’s right for people to want short cuts to a good body image

C．thinks many people are overweight and should take regular exercise

D．thinks the shirt with soft materials can change the appearance of the body

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

B．More and more people become overweight in England.

C．Role models put great pressure on common people.

D．Men become more and more aware of the body image.

【推荐1】Alzheimer’s disease is mostly a condition of old age. Since life expectancy is getting longer around the world, the number of people affected by the brain disease is expected to increase greatly in some countries by the middle of the century. People with Alzheimer’s often have other medical needs that require the services of numerous health care professionals. The caregivers often have a hard time keeping up with all the medical information.

More and more family members are being called on to help care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. It is a responsibility for which most people are unprepared. This is why the Hebrew Home, a private non-profit health care group in Riverdale, New York, developed an iPhone and iPad application called “Balance.” The app offers caregivers advice on recognizing symptoms and on feeding, bathing and providing a healthy environment for patients. It can be bought on the Internet for four dollars. David Pomeranz is Hebrew Home’s program development director, and he created “Balance.”

“It is not easy and we hope this will make it a little easier for people,” Mr Pomeranz says. “We are dealing with their family members because, as a philosophy, we feel that we need to care for the caregivers equally in our response to the care needs of the clients themselves, since if the caregivers do not have the proper supports, they simply cannot be caregivers.”

Mr Pomeranz says the “Balance” software is designed to let users organize medical and other information so they can easily keep track of the person’s health. It helps caregivers manage doctor’s appointments and share information with doctors about the patients’ daily emotional changes.

Interest in the app is not limited to the United States. “It has been interesting to see that we have had apps purchased in countries from Egypt to the Netherlands to Greece. It is like the United Nations every day, to see where people are buying this.”

David Pomeranz says software developers are working on a version of “Balance” for mobile devices using the Android operating system.

1. Which of the following statements is correct?

A．Not all mobile phones can use the app “Balance”.

B．Fewer people will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

C．The app “Balance” are used in all countries in Europe.

D．The Hebrew Home has made money from the app.

2. It can be inferred from Para. 3 that ______.

A．most caregivers aren’t good enough	B．good caregivers are needed badly
C．caregivers also need professional aid	D．most caregivers are too old to learn

3. The purpose of the passage is ______.

A．to tell us the situation of Alzheimer’s disease

B．to introduce the “Balance” software to us

C．to ask us to care about Alzheimer’s disease

D．to attract people to buy the app “Balance”

【推荐2】What kind of amusing activities will you participate in during your life? Will you be spending your free time doing safe sports with little danger or will you always be one of the first people to try the next popular extreme activity? Scientists have been interested in finding out why some people seem to prefer dangerous activities.

Researchers have found that men often try to impress other people by proving that they are courageous and fearless, and they are more likely to take risks when people are watching them or when they are competing against other men. Research also shows that as people get older they usually behave more responsibly and try not to take unnecessary risks. In addition, when people are in stable relationships, they seem to be less attracted to daring activities.

Some people seem to be more daring than others, but there are many different types. Do they take all types of risk? Psychologists have identified a number of categories(种类) of risks. These include financial risks, risks related to health and safety, amusing risks and social risks. Psychologists discover that just if a person enjoys bungee jumping, it doesn’t mean he or she will take chances when investing money or that he or she will tell a joke to a group of strangers.

Interestingly, research shows that in most cases men are less cautious than women, but women take more social risks than men. Men are more likely to make career changes as they get older and to express unpopular opinions in business meetings.

Yet, at the end of the day, the probability of particular people taking a risk depends on what type of people they belong to. In general, optimistic people are more likely to take risks because they focus on the possible positive outcomes (结果) of their actions. On the other hand, pessimistic people are the complete opposite.

1. Why do men try to prove they are brave according to the research?

A．To attract people’s attention.

B．To take on more responsibility.

C．To make favorable impressions on people.

D．To develop stable relationships with others.

2. What does the example of bungee jumping indicate?

A．There are more than one type of risk.

B．Bungee jumping is dangerous, but popular.

C．People take one type of risk, but not another.

D．Some people are more courageous than others.

3. What have researchers discovered about women?

A．They are willing to take risks.

B．They are always changing jobs.

C．They are good at doing business.

D．They are usually more conservative (保守的) than men.

4. What mainly determine whether people take risks possibly?

A．Their personalities (性格).	B．Their financial conditions.
C．There social relationships.	D．Their expectations of outcomes.

【推荐3】One of the most inspiring quotes I ever heard was by Brian Tracy. He said: “The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people fail many more times than unsuccessful people.” I personally experienced its wisdom right after my first book was published. Like many authors, I expected hundreds of bookstore customers lining up for me to sign copies for them. I’m afraid to say, it didn’t quite happen like that.

My first signing was arranged at the largest book store in the city. Filled with anticipation, I was put into a private signing room in the beautiful store. However, not a single customer entered the room. As each minute passed, I became increasingly anxious.

After 90 minutes of long waiting I was absolutely distraught.

For the four years writing the book. I had felt a sense of mission and purpose like never before in my life. Working a full 8-hour day in my clinic. I had to get into bed by 9:30 pm every day, so I could wake up at 5:30 in the morning and have two hours of writing before heading into my clinic. Before I ever began each writing session, I would close my eyes for 10 minutes and then whisper, “Please grant me the words to touch just one person’s life.”

Now sitting there alone at my first book signing, I wondered if my entire life wasn’t just a big joke. At that moment, just when I couldn't feel any worse, a middle-aged couple walked into the room. I managed to hide my emotions and introduced myself and my book. The couple turned to each other, and the husband nodded to his wife. She then told me, “I think we’ll get the book.”

“We’re buying it,” she said hesitantly, "because we lost our son two years ago. Maybe your story will help us get over it.”

At that moment, I knew if I never sold another copy of the book, my four years of writing it had served its purpose. Although I would have many more challenging years until my book caught on and sold well, this couple’s story was all the motivation I needed at that point to keep me moving ahead.

1. The writer quotes Brian Tracy to stress the importance of __________

A．wisdom	B．success
C．confidence	D．persistence

2. The underlined word "distraught" in Paragraph 3 probably means __________

A．upset and disappointed	B．cheerful and proud
C．bored and impatient	D．hopeful and eager

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 4?

A．The writer had to quit his job to make time for his writing.

B．The writer was not sure about the purpose of his writing at first.

C．The writing was completed with great self-discipline and efforts.

D．The process of writing the book was full of pains and frustration.

4. Why does the author say “my four years of writing it had served its purpose” in the last paragraph?

A．Because he had succeeded in selling the first book to the couple.

B．Because he had managed to touch someone’s life with his book.

C．Because he was quite satisfied with the feedback of his readers.

D．Because he had found someone who appreciated his writing.