There is a popular saying in the English language: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Well, that is not true. Unkind words, name-calling or even the so-called “the silent treatment” can hurt children as much as being physically hit, sometimes even more so. A recent study of middle school children showed that verbal (言语的) abuse by other children can harm, the development in the brain. The study was a project of researchers at Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts. Researcher Martin Teicher and his team studied young adults, aged 18 to 25. These young men and women had not ever been treated in a cruel or violent way by their parents. The researchers asked the young people to rate their childhood exposure to verbal abuse from both parents and other children. Then the researchers performed imaging tests on the brains of the subjects.
The images showed that the people who reported suffering verbal abuse from peers in middle school had underdeveloped connections between the left and right side of the brain. The two sides of the brain are connected by a large bundle of connecting fibers called the corpus callosum. This was the area that was underdeveloped.
The middle school years are a time when these brain connections are developing. So, unkind, hurtful comments from children or adults during this period have the greatest effect. The researchers tested the mental and emotional condition of all the young people in the study. The tests showed that this same group of people had higher levels of fear, depression, anger and drug abuse than others in the study.
The researchers published their findings online on the American Journal of Psychiatry's website.
Parents cannot control what other people say to their children, but they can prepare their children.
1. Why does the author use the popular saying at the beginning?A.To show the power of words. |
B.To introduce an opposite view. |
C.To prove the author's argument. |
D.To show ancient people's wisdom. |
A.They were hurt by unkind words. |
B.They performed poorly in imaging tests. |
C.They had their brain slightly damaged. |
D.They experienced no physical abuse at home. |
A.Comments on the findings. |
B.Approaches to further studies. |
C.Suggestions to parents. |
D.Different opinions on the matter. |
A.Unkind words hurt the brain. |
B.Verbal violence should be stopped. |
C.The way we speak matters. |
D.Words are worse than sticks and stones. |
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【推荐1】When did you last write a letter? Properly write one—by hand? In a digital world, sending a text or email is far more convenient than using traditional mail. Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to throw away your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.
These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, copied and sent via email. But doing a handwritten document is unique: it requires planning and thought, and, as well as practicing your handwriting, it helps you to remember selling and punctuation.
Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly related to students, because typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the “tactile feedback” (触觉回馈) to the brain. They think taking note by hand involve cognitive engagement (认知参与) in summarizing, paraphrasing organizing, concept and vocabulary mapping. They also agree that handwriting may improve fine movement skills in your hands and fingers.
There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper too. Writing notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and convenient. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most influence. Pen pal writer Katherine Moller told the BBC: “In a word where it is so easy to get online email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone choose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”
So, while digital skills remain important, don’t get rid of your pens and pencils yet-especially if your smartphone, tablet or laptop runs out of power!
1. Two questions are asked in paragraph 1 to ________.A.offer background information | B.ask for opinions |
C.show disagreement | D.lead to the topic |
A.Because it involves planning, thought and handwriting. |
B.Because it creates spelling and punctuation. |
C.Because it does harm to hands and fingers. |
D.Because it helps the brain recover from disease. |
A.There are everyday benefits to using pen and paper. |
B.Writing by hand to someone shows true emotion. |
C.It is not easy to email or to send a fast text today. |
D.Digital sills are always important and necessary. |
A.It’s Time to Throw Away Your Pens |
B.A World with Writing by Hand |
C.Do We Still Need to Write by Hand? |
D.The Birth of Writing by Hand |
【推荐2】A latest national survey has found that over half of China’s netizens (网民) are suffering from various mental problems although some 62 percent of them claim at the same time that they are happy on the whole anyway.
This is the result of China’s first White Paper on Netizens’ Health Conditions issued on Wednesday by 39.net, China’s largest authoritative website on health sciences. It is the first most comprehensive health survey on netizens’ health situation ever conducted in China in ten years’ time. The white paper came out after two months of online and offline research that involved over 150 thousand netizens, covering topics and questions on health knowledge, mental situation, sense of health, and living habits.
According to the white paper, more than 70 percent of China’s netizens say they are suffering from mental problems such as bad memory, anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence. And a similar 72 percent of them also say they are often suffering from diseases like insomnia, dizziness, joint degeneration and achings. Meanwhile, another 53 percent of netizens believe that white collar employees who have bigger work pressures are more likely to catch mental problems.
The white paper adds, doing almost no sports and spending long time surfing online lead to the above mentioned health problems among netizens. Only 9 percent of netizens take up sports on weekends while over 40 percent stay home, surfing. And only 16 percent netizens can assure more than eight hours’ sleeping daily.
At present, China has a netizen population of 162 million, with a monthly consumption of 186 yuan, or about 25 dollars, on Internet surfing.
1. The national survey on netizens’ health situation ________.A.was conducted on Wednesday | B.was carried out online and offline |
C.is conducted every year | D.covered about half a million netizens |
A.White clothes. | B.Office workers. |
C.White offices. | D.White people. |
A.shopping online | B.spending long time online |
C.heavy work pressures | D.doing no sports |
A.China has a large netizen population. |
B.The Internet has a negative influence on people. |
C.Many netizens in China have mental problems. |
D.How to surf the Internet safely and healthily. |
【推荐3】You scroll through Instagram and like every post you see. You read an acquaintance’s story as soon as they post it. You leave a comment on a post or two. Then it hits you: Didn’t you just leave a comment on that person’s post yesterday? And the day before that? And last week?
An Instagram creep is someone who offers unprompted significant attention online to certain individuals they’ve taken an interest in. It is a strategy to send a signal of affection -whether it is to a romantic partner, or a close friend, but it can also be perceived as being too much, too interested and too involved. At worst, it might be seen as being possessive, as the person absolutely has to be the first to comment, to establish his importance in front of others.However, not every Instagram creep has the same intentions, with some lighthearted and innocent. “For example, people who have a higher frequency of being online may have a higher likelihood of seeing the posts quickly, “said Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St.Mary’s University in Canada. “In a way, it could be simply an exposure effect.”
“If you feel like you’re the creeper, there’s a quick way to fix the problem. Resisting the urge to comment or like every post would be helpful,” Fisher said. It’s important to be aware that while you might be doing it to express affection, it can be perceived as being possessive. You should ask yourself what your intention is. What need is getting met by that behavior? If it makes the recipient feel uncomfortable and excessive, that should be attended to. If it’s a pattern and if it’s a “need”, then there might be something more significant going on.
All told, remember that anything you put on the Internet has consequences. If you think you’re being creepy even for a second, take time to separate yourself from it.
1. Who is likely to be an Instagram creep?A.An old man unfamiliar with social media. |
B.A young guy having a preference for a certain brand. |
C.A woman having a tendency to talk online with friends. |
D.An adult who is paying special attention to his friend’s Instagram update. |
A.Ways to fix the problem. |
B.Effects on the recipients. |
C.Possible reasons for being creepy. |
D.Differences between serious and lighthearted creepers. |
A.The person likes the behaviour. |
B.The person wasn’t aware of that. |
C.The person might not feel at ease. |
D.The person might feel like the creeper. |
A.Less is more. |
B.Look before you leap. |
C.Love me,love my dog. |
D.Put the cart before the horse. |
【推荐1】Around the world, 62 million girls are not in school. The White House's Let Girls Learn effort aims to change that.
At 13, Hawa Abdulai Yorke left her family's home, in Ghana, Africa, to live with an aunt who promised to send her to school. Instead, the aunt put Yorke to work as her maid. Determined to go to school, Yorke returned home and began selling water in a nearby city to raise money for her education. She did that for three years. What hurt most was that her father had the money to pay the school fees. But he chose to spend the money on a motorcycle.
Yorke's story is familiar to girls growing up in Ghana. There, a girl's place is in the home. Educating girls is considered a waste of money.
"It happens more than it should, where parents have money to send their girls to school but choose not to," says Ryan Roach, a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, where nearly 55% of girls are not enrolled in secondary school. "Cultural beliefs say education is not a wise investment".
The White House's Let Girls Learn is working to change this view of girls' education, in Ghana and in countries worldwide. First Lady Michelle Obama says parents have to be persuaded that girls' education is a better investment than marriage or household labor. A World Bank study backs that up. It shows that for every year of secondary-school education, a girl's earning power increases by 18%.
Today, Let Girls Learn works in 13 countries, and there are plans to expand the program. Recently, Let Girls Learn hosted a 24-hour event at which girls in different parts of Ghana joined Peace Corps volunteers, tech experts, and university students to brainstorm creative solutions for the barriers to girls' education. Yorke's team came up with an idea for an app that sends a recorded message to parents' phones from a Ghanian celebrity about the benefits of girls attending school.
Yorke, now 22, is about to finish high school. Thanks to Let Girls Learn, she plans to attend college and study computer science. She says working alongside women college students at the Let Girls Learn event strengthened her determination. "I'm focused on my books," says Yorke. "I know if I study hard, I, too, can go to the university and live a happy life."
1. What was the attitude of Yorke's aunt towards girls attending school?A.She was against it. |
B.She had no idea of it. |
C.She was in favor of it. |
D.She considered it hard work. |
A.they are too busy to go to school |
B.their families are too poor to afford it |
C.there are few secondary schools for girls |
D.cultural beliefs prevent from attending school |
A.It has spread all over the world. |
B.It is a Ghana-based organization. |
C.It aims to offer free education to girls. |
D.It has got support from Michelle Obama. |
A.To further her studies. |
B.To join in Let Girls Learn. |
C.To write some books for girls. |
D.To get a computer-related job. |
【推荐2】Taking online classes from far away
Faiqa, a 15-year-old freshman at a public high school, logs in to her all-remote classes each night from Pakistan in a time zone nine hours ahead. Max, who also attends school in the same state, has joined his Advanced Placement history class for about two months from Guayaquil, Ecuador.
It is unclear how widespread the practice is. But out-of-country logins have become increasingly common since late fall according to educators in the country.
Max says he is grateful that he is still able to log in to classes during the special period of time. “
A.Missing school for a long time is really bad |
B.Some families paid a visit to other countries |
C.I’m desperate to get back to the online world |
D.students take virtual classes from outside the state |
E.over two-thirds of young students find it easier to learn lessons online |
F.Max’s schoolmate, Naobe, participates in classes from northern Honduras |
G.The officials say it is possible for students to log in from anywhere in the world |
【推荐3】Smith College Precollege Programs offer intellectually inspiring and unique opportunities to high school girls who wish to pursue their academic interests in the classroom and beyond. Annually, these programs offer over 225 young women the freedom to explore challenging subjects while living and studying with other motivated students from around the world.
College Admission Workshop: This new one-week program is for rising high school juniors and seniors who are beginning to look at colleges. It helps you gain a competitive advantage when you are applying to colleges. You can know how to write a college-level essay, excel in a college admission interview and give an introductory speech.
Summer Science and Engineering Program: Do you want to conduct college-level research? This program is a unique four-week residential program that will give you a taste of both college life and college-level science. You will attend small classes taught by top faculty (学院) members. The classes also have a current Smith College student working as an intern (实习生).
Discovering Women's History: This program allows you to explore the lives and writings of notable women of the 19th and 20th centuries. You will read the private papers of Sylvia Plath, Gloria Steinem and Virginia Woolf. You will also examine poet Emily Dickinson's personal diaries and letters. You will learn archival (档案的) research skills.
Field Studies for Sustainable(可持续的) Futures: This program is for students who want to explore their interest in environmental protection in a directed way. You will learn about sustainable living and environmental science. Much of the program is conducted in the field, and you will engage in a variety of activities including hiking, visiting local farms and learning about sustainable food and agriculture.
1. What's special about Smith College Precollege Programs?A.They are free to apply for. |
B.They mainly admit female students. |
C.They offer host families to students. |
D.They target English-speaking students. |
A.visit colleges they want to attend |
B.have a chance to publish their own writings |
C.practice as teachers for high school students |
D.learn how to deal with college application process |
A.learn from students and teachers from Smith College |
B.take part in various physical sports |
C.have access to valuable historical information |
D.gain some knowledge on environmental protection |
A.enjoy doing experiments |
B.have an interest in literature |
C.want to learn with advanced technology |
D.wish to communicate with famous people |
A.College Admission Workshop. |
B.Discovering Women's History. |
C.Field Studies for Sustainable Futures. |
D.Summer Science and Engineering Program. |
【推荐1】India has a very vast history and heritage(遗产). The country has witnessed some of the most important events in the past and every event has an effect of its own on the culture, religion, lifestyle, and economy of the country. This is one of the leading reasons why tourists prefer India to travel and explore. Historical tours in India provide everything that a traveler expects from his/her journey. These historical tours give an opportunity to study and explore Indian history.
Historical tours of India generally consisted of four phases(阶段): ancient, medieval(中世纪的), modern India and contemporary India. Some of the historical travel packages are:
Forts and Palaces
The rich cultural past of India is reflected in the countless forts(城堡) and palaces across the country. Most of the forts were constructed as a defense device to keep the enemy away and palaces were made on the names of the kings and queens. Some of the famous forts and palaces are: Agra Fort (Agra), Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Amber Fort (Jaipur), City Palace (Jaipur), Gwalior Fort (Gwalior), Mysore Palace (Mysore), Red Fort (Delhi), etc.
India Heritage Tours
The main purpose of India Heritage tours is to make Indians as well as tourists familiar with the rich Indian legacy(遗产). The heritage of the country is at least 5000 years. Some of the heritage tours are: medieval heritage, Rajput heritage, Golden Triangle, splendid Gujarat, etc.
South India Historical Tours
The Southern India is known for its diversity and there are many places, which attract tourists, not only from the country but also from all around the world. The famous tourists’ destinations in South India include Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Munnar, Periyar, Kottayam and the list goes on and on.
1. The main purpose of this passage is ________.A.to report some important events in the history of India |
B.to help study the culture and history of India |
C.to introduce some tours that can explore the history of India |
D.to tell us how to explore the history of India |
A.modern India has little to study |
B.its culture is greatly influenced by its history |
C.Indian people have an interesting lifestyle |
D.India’s history is longer than that of any other country |
A.honor the kings | B.act as a palace for queens |
C.attract tourists | D.keep enemies away |
【推荐2】Earthquakes are something that people fear. There are some places that have few or no earthquakes. Most places in the world, however, have them regularly (有规律的). Countries that have a lot of earthquakes are usually quite mountainous (多山的).
The most talked about earthquake in the United States was in San Francisco in 1906. Over 700 people died in it. The strongest one in North America was in 1964. It happened in Alaska.
Strong earthquakes are not always the ones that kill the most people. In 1755, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded was felt in Portugal. Around 2,000 people died.
In 1923, a very strong earthquake hit the Tokyo, Yokohama area of Japan. A hundred and forty thousand people died. Most of them died in fires which followed the earthquake.
One of the worst earthquakes ever was in China in 1976. It killed a large number of people. The worst earthquake ever reported was also in China, in which 400,000 people were killed or injured. This earthquake happened in 1556.
Earthquakes worry people a lot. The reason is that we often do not know when they are coming. People can not prepare for it.
1. Earthquakes happen __________ .A.in all the places in the world |
B.only in the countries that have a lot of mountains |
C.regularly in most places in the world |
D.only in a few places along the coast |
A.500. | B.140,000. | C.400,000. | D.2,000. |
A.1964; Alaska. | B.1556; China. | C.1923; Japan. | D.1976; China. |
【推荐3】Though Chinese is older than English, English is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always making new words and we should be able to know where most words come from.
Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called hamburgers especially when they are not made with ham? About a hundred years ago some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg.
They did not speak good English but they ate good food. When some American saw them eating round pieces of beef they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans did not understand the question and answered “We came from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of the beef like what the man from Hamburg ate and sold in many countries around the world.
Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why a word has a certain meaning is interesting too. The reason may be found in any large English dictionary.
1. According to the story _______.A.few Americans like hamburgers |
B.hamburgers are made with ham |
C.hamburgers are made with beef |
D.hamburgers were sold all over the world about a century ago |
A.Where all the new words come from. |
B.Where those Germans came from. |
C.The reason why English is spoken around the world. |
D.The reason why a word has a certain meaning. |
A.China because it has a long history |
B.England because Germans don’t speak good English |
C.English speakers because they always make new words |
D.The round pieces of beef those people from Hamburg brought to America |
A.Germans | B.Americans |
C.Chinese | D.Europeans |