1 . In comparison to many closely-related species, the human child takes a long time to grow up and requires a high degree of parental investment(亲情投资). Human children need more time to reach maturity(成熟)than other closely-related species.
A new study finds that one reason is the large amount of energy that the brain requires as it grows.
Christopher Kuzawa, first author of the study, explained: “Our findings suggest that our bodies can’t afford to grow faster during the toddler(幼童)and childhood years because a huge quantity of resources is required to fuel developing the human brain. As humans we have so much to learn, and that learning requires a complex and energy-hungry brain.”
Data from the study shows that at the moment when children’s bodies are growing the least-on average, at four years old-their brains are using the highest percentage of glucose(葡萄糖). That means that 40% of the child’s total energy expenditure is being used by its brain.
The findings support the theory that children take so long to mature because of the energy-intensive task of growing a massively over-sized brain in comparison to the brain-to-body weight ratio of other species.
Kuzawa continued: “After a certain age it becomes difficult to guess a toddler or young child’s age by their size. Instead you have to listen to their speech and watch their behavior. Our study suggests that this is no accident.”
Body growth nearly stops at the ages when brain development is happening at a lightning pace, because the brain is using up the available resources.”
“The mid-childhood peak in brain costs has to do with the fact that there are a huge number of synapses(神经元突触), connections in the brain, at this age, when we learn so many of the things we need to know to be successful humans.”
1. Why does it take people so long to grow up?A.They need to store energy to grow later. |
B.They need time to adapt to their environment. |
C.Most of the energy is used for brain development. |
D.They need a high degree of parental investment. |
A.At about four years old. | B.At about two years old. |
C.At about one year old. | D.At about five years old. |
A.Why toddlers and children need plenty of resources. |
B.The reason why it takes human infants a long time to grow up. |
C.The reason why human infants are similar to other animals. |
D.Why the brains of people need a large amount of energy. |
A.age | B.their size |
C.listen to their speech | D.guess their age by listening and watching |
2 . A sense of humour, God’s greatest gift to mankind, is universally considered the most valuable personality. It is born within every person’s heart, but has to be cultivated (培养). A person without humour is just like a spring without flowers, or like a dish without seasoning (调味品). In a sense, your personality lies in your sense of humour.
Humour can improve physical as well as mental well-being. It helps us bear our burdens, reduce our tension, overcome our frustration. With a piece of joke, all our worries and sadness disappear like smoke, and we are all full of energy once again.
Humour helps us live in harmony with others. It is unavoidable to have misunderstanding and tension with others during work and study. But humour can help us solve these problems more quickly than angry words or quarrels. With it you can always keep on good terms with others.
A sense of humour is really one of the keys to happiness. It gives fun and interest to life to make it worth living.
Here are five ways to improve your sense of humour.
1. Begin to cultivate an atmosphere of humour and laughter in your relationships.
2. Start association with humourous, fun loving people.
3. Learn to laugh at yourself.
4. Collect cartoons and jokes and share them with others.
5. Use humour to deal with conflict in your relationships:
Remember that a sense of humour is learned, not inherited (遗传). You can sharpen your sense of humour if you really want to.
1. What would be the best title for this passage?A.A Sense of Humour—a Great Personality | B.A Sense of Humour—the Secret to Success |
C.How to. Improve Your Sense, of Humour. | D.Humour Helps to Improve Our Health |
A.a person without humour is dull | B.humour can make us happy. |
C.humour can help us deal with worries | D.humour can help us solve all the problems |
A.pleasing | B.interest | C.friendship | D.eager |
A.learned | B.cultivated | C.inherited | D.improved |
3 . I was required to read one of Bernie Siegel’s books in college and had a great liking for his positivity from that moment on. The stories of his untraditional
I’m an ambitious
We would see each other at various times and
A.tastes | B.ideas | C.notes | D.memories |
A.amazing | B.shocking | C.amusing | D.strange |
A.strike | B.push | C.challenge | D.effect |
A.learn from | B.go over | C.get through | D.refer to |
A.reader | B.writer | C.editor | D.doctor |
A.positive | B.agreeable | C.humorous | D.honest |
A.mood | B.position | C.state | D.way |
A.advice | B.reference | C.protection | D.treatment |
A.viewed | B.knew | C.noticed | D.wondered |
A.while | B.because | C.although | D.providing |
A.came out | B.worked out | C.proved out | D.turned out |
A.naturally | B.only | C.hopefully | D.actually |
A.deciding | B.operating | C.working | D.relying |
A.became | B.helped | C.missed | D.visited |
A.patient | B.operator | C.fan | D.publisher |
A.sign | B.smile | C.mark | D.mask |
A.showed up | B.set off | C.fell down | D.passed away |
A.since | B.but | C.so | D.for |
A.guidance | B.trust | C.opportunity | D.inspiration |
A.promised | B.laughed | C.thought | D.replied |
4 . Christmas is long gone and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it’s a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here are a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l8K. Anything over l8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it’s confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver-something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
1. According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.A.being charged | B.being affected |
C.being cheated | D.being attracted |
A.A 14K necklace. | B.A gold-plated ring. |
C.A gemstone necklace. | D.A vermeil earring. |
A.in a cold place | B.in a dry place | C.in a wet place | D.in a hot place |
A.encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry |
B.tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver |
C.introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver |
D.inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry |
5 . IT was a 12-minute walk into the unknown, and it changed the history of space exploration forever. The first-ever spacewalk by former Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, 50 years ago on March 18, was also the first big test of space suit technology.
The old Soviet-style space suit was not quite ready yet, however. It was affected by the lack of atmospheric pressure in space. When Leonov had completed his space walk, he realized that his space suit “had inflated like a balloon, preventing him from getting back inside the spacecraft”, according to the BBC. The cosmonaut let half of the air out of his spacesuit and survived despite losing oxygen.
Nowadays, of course, this type of incident does not happen. But the problem of what to wear in space is still important, as space travel may soon be available to more people than ever.
In 2017, Space X and Boeing may become the first private companies to put people in space. What should the new, rich space travelers wear?
Well, their outfits won’t be like the white, boxy suits in the film Gravity. Those types of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suits will be for professionals working outside a spacecraft. The average space traveler will instead need something to wear inside in case of an emergency when getting up and down again in a rocket or during docking.
These are called IVA (intra-vehicular activity) pressure suits, which should be effective, comfortable, and perhaps even fashionable. The best-known example is the orange “pumpkin suit” made famous by NASA, but more fashionable options may later be available.
In fact, fashion and space have been together for years. The first space suits for the Apollo moon program were built by Playtex, an underwear maker, and the company still works with NASA.
Nowadays in Brooklyn, New York there is a company called Final Frontier Design that makes the latest in space suit technology. All of their staff have backgrounds in show business, making Broadway musical and circus costumes. They are currently looking to introduce their space tech, like vibrating belts that can give directions by feel, to people on Earth.
The walk into unknown space fashion is just beginning. How would you show off in space?
1. According to the article, today’s space travelers have different experiences to that of Alexei Leonov because ______.A.they have to perform space walks for long periods |
B.today’s space suits are much safer and more convenient |
C.they are provided with extra oxygen to survive in space |
D.they can wear their own outfits on space missions |
A.fail their space walk missions |
B.put on the wrong space suit |
C.have trouble with their space suits |
D.forget the correct operating procedures |
A.They will be intended for tough working conditions outside a spacecraft. |
B.They will have to be orange. |
C.They will be very heavy and expensive despite their fashionable look. |
D.They will be created with the help of artists and designers. |
A.Fashion comes to space. |
B.Space travel exploration becomes more popular. |
C.What happened to Alexei Leonov 50 years ago? |
D.How space suits work? |
6 . Are parents rational (理性的) about their children? No. Parents aren’t rational because
My eldest daughter’s
“I sailed around the Mediterranean in a yacht (游艇) when I was seventeen,” she said. “I hiked through the Pyrenees from Spain to Paris. I’ve done rock climbing and deep-sea diving and slept in rainforests in the jungle of Indonesia. Right?”
“Right,” I said, “So
“So this,” she went on. “When I go to the corner drugstore to pick up some shampoo, why do you always tell me to be
There is no
All I could mumble (嘟囔) in
There is something else, too, that children find it hard to
But when the children are
Most
In the parent’s mind, a child ages but does not
A.anxiety | B.fear | C.love | D.desire |
A.accept | B.improve | C.remove | D.dislike |
A.problem | B.question | C.warning | D.explanation |
A.anger | B.pride | C.worry | D.surprise |
A.when | B.how | C.what | D.why |
A.brave | B.careful | C.quick | D.helpful |
A.necessary | B.different | C.satisfactory | D.ordinary |
A.apology | B.turn | C.regret | D.reply |
A.persuade | B.promise | C.remind | D.expect |
A.different | B.same | C.extra | D.right |
A.age | B.distance | C.gender | D.power |
A.decide | B.miss | C.choose | D.understand |
A.success | B.happiness | C.luck | D.safety |
A.argue | B.think | C.forget | D.complain |
A.aware | B.hesitant | C.close | D.frightened |
A.prove | B.matter | C.mean | D.mind |
A.accidents | B.failures | C.changes | D.mistakes |
A.follow | B.protect | C.spoil | D.treat |
A.impression | B.effect | C.opportunity | D.response |
A.stop | B.compete | C.leave | D.grow |
7 . People generally like to pick out the best-looking fruits and vegetables when shopping for produce (农产品), but Canadian supermarket chain Loblaws is attracting customers with badly-shaped and faulty produce at the price of 30% lower than normal-looking one.
A trial run of the ugly food line, named “Naturally Imperfect”, began with only apples and potatoes to choose from. Consumer demand has been so huge that Loblaws is going to introduce more ugly vegetables and fruits like onions and mushrooms.
All the produce that will be sold through Naturally Imperfect would otherwise have been used in juices, sauces, or soups, or have not been harvested at all. The director Dan Branson explained that this program benefited both food producers who would otherwise have to let abnormal produce go to waste, and consumers who could buy fresh produce at low prices. And he was right, given how popular the line has become.
“It really went well beyond our expectation,” Branson said. “I think it really spoke to the fact that Canadians are out there really looking for some options.”
Of course, Canadians know that beauty is more than skin deep, and they also recognize that they can get the same flavor and nutritional benefits in spite of appearances. The positive response to the initial offering of apples and potatoes showed the opportunity to expand the line and offer more options at a greater price to Canadian families.
“If you grow produce in your backyard, there will be a lot of produce that won’t look as pretty as what you will see in a grocery store”, said Branson. “And nature doesn’t grow everything perfectly. I’d like to think if somebody were to take a No Name Naturally Imperfect apple, put it right beside a No.1 apple, close his eyes and eat them, there would be no difference.”
1. Loblaws is different from other supermarkets in that ______.A.more fruits are offered at lower prices | B.normal-looking produce is forbidden there |
C.only apples and potatoes are sold every day | D.imperfect produce is sold at lower prices there |
A.prevents people from wasting their food | B.happens to be a win-win mode |
C.teaches food producers how to grow | D.enables consumers to eat more fresh produce |
A.Canadians are used to eating perfect produce. |
B.Smart consumers know the importance of ugly produce. |
C.Loblaws intends to improve customers’ quality of life. |
D.Customers’ support promotes the development of the ugly food line. |
A.Imperfect fruits are as tasty and nutritious as perfect ones. |
B.The world is usually full of imperfect things. |
C.We should eat imperfect apples with our eyes closed. |
D.The fruits grown by ourselves are more nutritious than those in the store. |
8 . “When studying foreign speech, don’t forget about body language. ” Anne Merritt said.
Something as simple as a smile can show: friendliness in one culture, embarrassment in another, impatience in a third. Even silence means different things in different places. If you want to avoid making some mistakes when traveling abroad, you should pay attention to the following.
Touch
Britain, along with much of Northern Europe and the Far East, has a “noncontact” culture. In those countries, there is very little physical contact (接触) in people’s daily talks. Even brushing someone’s arm by accident is the reason for an apology. However, in the high-contact cultures of the Middle East, Latin America, and Southern Europe, physical touch is a big part of daily life.
What’s more, there are different standards, for who touches whom and where. In much of the Arab world, men hold hands and kiss each other in greeting, but would never do the same with a woman. In Thailand and Laos, it is taboo (禁忌的) to touch anyone’s head, even children’s. In South Korea, elders can touch younger people with force when trying to get through a crowd, but younger people can’t do the same.
Eye contact
In most Western countries, frequent eye contact: is a sign of confidence and attentiveness (注意). We may think that a conversation partner who looks away is either not listening to us or lying. Of course, this is not the standard around the world.
In many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, the unbroken (未间断的) eye contact would be considered impolite and rude. These cultures consider avoiding eye contact a sign of respect for bosses and elders. In these parts of the-world, children won’t look at an adult who is speaking to them, nor will employees look at their bosses.
1. In Britain, when people are talking, they usually_________.A.avoid eye contact | B.brush the others’ arms |
C.avoid physical contact | D.apologize for their mistakes |
A.unnecessary | B.impolite | C.dangerous | D.common |
A.How to have a good time abroad. | B.The importance of body language. |
C.How to communicate with foreigners. | D.An introduction to some body language. |
9 . Ice cream can’t cure cancer or bring back a lost love, but it can make one feel better for a while. About 18 months ago, my father was in hospital recovering from a major lung operation. My mother had recently
A.passed away | B.gone out | C.comeback | D.calmed down |
A.work | B.life | C.studies | D.games |
A.speak | B.laugh | C.drink | D.eat |
A.though | B.however | C.instead | D.therefore |
A.joy | B.satisfaction | C.surprise | D.relief |
A.if | B.unless | C.so | D.because |
A.borrowed | B.bought | C.made | D.fetched |
A.woman | B.granny | C.girl | D.child |
A.question | B.situation | C.process | D.decision |
A.better than | B.more than | C.rather than | D.other than |
A.pretty | B.honest | C.sick | D.shy |
A.offered | B.told | C.sold | D.charged |
A.hardly | B.finally | C.gradually | D.totally |
A.accepted | B.stored | C.exchanged | D.gave |
A.remembering | B.denying | C.explaining | D.forgetting |
A.ordinary | B.similar | C.interesting | D.great |
A.have | B.like | C.expect | D.attract |
A.reported | B.expressed | C.noticed | D.repeated |
A.covered | B.connected | C.rewarded | D.filled |
A.politeness | B.kindness | C.selflessness | D.willingness |
10 . I had worried myself sick over Simon’s mother coming to see me. I was a new
So when Simon’s mother entered the room, my palms (手掌心) were sweating. I was completely
I sat, stunned (惊呆), for about half an hour,
It taught me the most
A.cleaner | B.teacher | C.monitor | D.reporter |
A.Or | B.And | C.But | D.So |
A.abilities | B.courage | C.feelings | D.dream |
A.desperate | B.responsible | C.unsuitable | D.unprepared |
A.panicking | B.relieving | C.surprising | D.defeating |
A.envied | B.loved | C.pleased | D.criticized |
A.gradually | B.constantly | C.recently | D.obviously |
A.self-defense | B.self-doubt | C.self-pity | D.self-respect |
A.imagining | B.observing | C.wondering | D.regretting |
A.difference | B.impression | C.improvement | D.conclusion |
A.remember | B.expect | C.believe | D.accept |
A.writing | B.giving | C.editing | D.reviewing |
A.quietly | B.repeatedly | C.quickly | D.firmly |
A.lucky | B.only | C.lonely | D.likely |
A.entrance | B.middle | C.front | D.back |
A.slept | B.shouted | C.smiled | D.quarreled |
A.intended | B.pretended | C.refused | D.happened |
A.change | B.thanks | C.praise | D.visits |
A.difficult | B.painful | C.valuable | D.enjoyable |
A.early | B.slowly | C.frequently | D.occasionally |