1 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses （球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?| A．Cycling around a lake. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
| A．it is an outdoor sport |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it uses fewer resources |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to go in for green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
2 . When I was little, my grandfather would pick me up after school and take care of me until my parents came home. Every day I looked forward to being with Grandpa.
If it was a fine day, he would take me to the park where he told me the names of the flowers and trees. Sometimes, we would go shopping together. He would push the cart and I would help him get things off the shelves. He always found ways to involve me in what he was doing. I was his “little helper”. Grandpa taught me to care about the world by having me help with the gardening. He watered the trees and bushes, while I watered the flowers. We fed the birds. He showed me that if you were really quiet and stayed still, the birds would come up to you. I still love feeding birds and never understand people who get so wrapped up in owning a home that they don’t stop to care for the surrounding wildlife.
For an after-school snack, my grandfather would give me boiled potatoes and carrots with a little bit of butter on them or he would cut up some fresh fruit for me. My mother was so strict that she held that I must finish my homework as soon as I got home from school. Grandpa thought it was more important to relax, so he would let me watch one show first. He had his way and the way worked. And he said, “Were I you, I wouldn’t tell your mother, or you won’t have time to relax.” Whenever I left a room, Grandpa would remind me to turn off the light to save electricity. My grandpa was a devoted family man. He helped my parents through really tough financial times.
Grandpa passed away when I was 10. I love him and he will live in my heart forever and always.
1. We can learn from this passage that .| A．the writer was attached to her grandpa |
| B．the writer lived with her grandpa as a little girl |
| C．the writer’s grandpa died when she was grown-up |
| D．the writer’s grandpa finally moved to live with her parents |
A．help her grandpa a lot when he was busy |
| B．get the idea of protecting the wildlife |
| C．know vegetables were difficult to plant |
| D．become a gardener when she grew up |
| A．Because he was afraid that she would punish the writer. |
| B．Because he wanted the writer to know about TV shows. |
| C．Because he was afraid that she would get angry with him. |
| D．Because he wanted to let the writer relax before studying. |
| A．grandpa made her develop a good habit |
| B．grandpa tried his best to save money |
| C．she was too forgetful to remember that |
| D．she was careless when she was young |
3 . Two recent studies have found that punishment is not the best way to influence behavior. One showed that adults are much more cooperative if they work in a system based on rewards. Researchers at Harvard University in the United States and the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden did the study.
They had about two hundred college students play a version of the game known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma. The game is based on the tension between the interests of an individual and a group. The students played in groups of four. Each player could win points for the group, so they would all gain equally. But each player could also reward or punish each of the other three players. Harvard researcher David Rand says the most successful behavior proved to be cooperation. The groups that rewarded the most earned about twice as much in the game as the groups that rewarded the least. And the more a group punished itself, the lower its earnings. The study appeared last month in the journal Science.
The other study involved children. It was presented last month in California at a conference on violence and abuse(虐待). Researchers used intelligence tests given to two groups. More than eight hundred children were aged two to four the first time they were tested. More than seven hundred children were aged five to nine. The two groups were retested four years later, and the study compared the results with the first test. Both groups contained children whose parents used physical punishment and children whose parents did not.
The study says the IQs of the younger children who were not spanked were five points higher than those who were. In the older group, the difference was almost three points. The more they are spanked, the slower their mental development.
1. What do we know about the second study?| A．Children's IQs have much to do with physical punishment. |
| B．The study is about violence and cooperation of children. |
| C．The children tested were divided into groups of four. |
| D．Children's mental development only relies on their IQs. |
| A．punished | B．blamed |
| C．tested | D．praised |
| A．The Best Way to Correct Misbehavior |
| B．Punishment Is the Best Way of Education |
| C．Cooperation Is the Most Successful Behavior |
| D．Punishment or Reward: Which Works Better on Behavior? |
| A．Punishment is the best way to influence bad behaviors. |
| B．The participants in the first study have the right to reward or punish others in the group. |
| C．the younger children have a higher IQ because of their parents’ educational level. |
| D．Adults are much more cooperative than children. |
4 . Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For example, in American culture (文化) the smile is in general an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other uses. A woman’s smile at a police officer does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show love or politeness. It can also hide true feelings. It often causes confusion (困惑) across cultures. For example, many people in Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even improper. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places (although this is less common in big cities).Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians don’t smile enough. In Southeast Asian cultures, a smile is frequently used to cover painful feelings. Vietnamese people may tell a sad story but end the story with a smile.
Our faces show emotions (情感), but we should not attempt to "read" people from another culture as we would "read" someone from our own culture. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do not experience emotions.
Rather, there are cultural differences in the amount of facial expressions permitted. For example, in public and in formal situations many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. When with friends, Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly.
It is difficult to generalize about Americans and facial expressiveness because of personal and cultural differences in the United States. People from certain cultural backgrounds in the United States seem to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our own cultural habits, we may make the mistake of "reading" the other person incorrectly.
1. What does the smile usually mean in America?| A．Love. | B．Politeness. |
| C．Joy. | D．Thankfulness. |
| A．show friendliness to strangers |
| B．be used to hide true feelings |
| C．be used in the wrong places |
| D．show personal habits |
| A．Learn about their relations with others. |
| B．Understand their cultural backgrounds. |
| C．Find out about their past experience. |
| D．Figure out what they will do next. |
| A．Cultural Differences |
| B．Smiles and Relationship |
| C．Facial Expressiveness |
| D．Habits and Emotions |
5 . Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe. Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear. Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter, forcing animals to migrate (迁徙) north.
Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases. Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense. If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100, many of today’s familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today’s world. It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these far-reaching consequences for the whole world. The planet itself has been showing signs of change. In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake. Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was devastated in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake.
Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought. At this point, it doesn’t matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it. What’s more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year. There is war and threat of war everywhere. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this. No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data.
1. What is the major function of paragraph 1?| A．To arouse the reader’s concern. |
| B．To introduce the theme of the whole passage. |
| C．To summarize the whole passage. |
| D．To state how climate changes. |
| A．To show major changes are taking place on the planet. |
| B．To remind people to prevent future earthquakes. |
| C．To show the damage earthquakes caused. |
| D．To tell us more earthquakes will happen in the future. |
| A．Animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear. |
| B．It could lead to the spread of diseases. |
| C．Current world climate zones could shift and completely disappear. |
| D．Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious. |
| A．Animals and plants won’t die out as long as climate changes slowly. |
| B．There’s enough data for us to predict the future of climate change. |
| C．The world is getting more unstable because of animal migration. |
| D．The earth is not the only planet that is experiencing climate change. |
6 . In Britain, many theatres put on shows for children at Christmas and many theatres have a theatre-in-education team working there. This team, made up of actors and teachers, writes plays for children, usually performing them in schools. They do different plays for different age groups and the children often take part in the play in some way.
Pantomime is a special kind of Christmas show for children. It is loved by people and also allows the audience to join in. “Pantomime” was the name of the Roman actor who performed shows without speaking — this is where the English word “mime” comes from.
A pantomime is always based on a well-known children's story. But there are always certain types of characters in the show and certain situations and events. For example, a pantomime must always include a hero, known as the “principal boy” and this principal boy is always played by a pretty girl wearing a short costume. Then there is the comic older woman, known as the “dame” who is played by a man. There is always a group of men and women who sing and dance and often there is a pantomime horse. The horse is played by two men who form the “front” and “back” ends inside a “horse” costume. It is funny and it usually kicks the dame when she isn't looking.
Members of the audience have to shout a warning to one of the characters and argue with the character (usually the dame) when she does not believe them. When she shouts, “Oh no, it isn't,” the audience always responds with “Oh yes, it is!”. The audience also learns and sings a simple song and a few children are sometimes invited to help one of the characters during the show.
1. The theatre-in-education teams _____.| A．are made up of famous local actors |
| B．write plays for the same age group |
| C．often give plays in their own theatres |
| D．usually allow children to join in a play |
| A．is designed to make people laugh |
| B．is made up of three characters |
| C．is especially popular with grown-ups |
| D．can be watched all year round in Britain |
| A．follow her and sing |
| B．stand up and dance |
| C．repeat what she says |
| D．disagree with her loudly |
7 . Over 40 years ago, a country music DJ convention (大会) was held every year in Nashville, Tennessee. Many country performers used to attend (参加) the convention to give their performances. Fans would go to Nashville hoping to see their favorite performers. In the end, so many fans began showing up in Nashville that a festival named Fan Fair was born.
The first Fan Fair was held in April 1972, in Nashville for four days. Some of country music's biggest stars attended. There were about fifty thousand fans. The first Fan Fair was so successful that planning began almost immediately for 1973. The date was changed to June, when the weather would be better. Over one hundred thousand fans attended the second Fan Fair.
Every year brought so many performers and fans to Fan Fair that, in 1982, it was moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Fan Fair stayed at the fairgrounds for another nineteen years.
There was always the unexpected during the festival. In 1974, former Beatle Paul McCartney attended. In 1992, more than six hundred reporters from Europe, Asia, and South America went to cover the appearance of a popular star, Billy Ray Cyrus, who had introduced a new country line dance. In 1996, Garth Brooks, who made a surprise appearance, signed autographs (签名) for 23 hours.
In 2001, Fan Fair returned to downtown Nashville as the world's biggest country music festival. Now, over one hundred and twenty-five thousand country music fans go to Nashville every June. As you can imagine, those who want to attend Fan Fair must plan ahead. For example, they need to buy a ticket several months ahead of time. Of course, there’s much more to prepare.
1. According to the text, Fan Fair _____.| A．has a history of more than 50 years |
| B．lasts almost half a month every year |
| C．is the most important music festival in America |
| D．is a time when country music lovers get together |
| A．was held in the spring of 1972 |
| B．was more popular than the first one |
| C．was moved from Nashville to the fairgrounds |
| D．was attended by former Beatle Paul McCartney |
| A．show why Fan Fair has been popular |
| B．introduce three famous musicians |
| C．explain how Fan Fair started |
| D．ask people to attend Fan Fair |
| A．Advice for fans. |
| B．Music in America. |
| C．Education in Nashville. |
| D．The future of country music. |
The door opened and Wendy Barton came out. I walked in, sat down on the piano bench and began to sort through my sheet music. Today Mrs. Windsor introduced her niece Pasha to teach me. With a smile, Pasha sat beside me on the piano bench, opened my sheet music to the beginning page and asked me to play. I arranged my fingers on the keys. Then I frowned(皱眉) and concentrated to make the notes on the page match the finger movements. I had to admit I was a rather mechanical (呆板的) pianist.
After about a page or two, Pasha gently put her hand on top of mine as if to calm my fingers. There was a long pause. “What are you hearing in the music?” I looked at her rather strangely and admitted I didn’t know what she meant. “Like a story. Here, let me try and you listen,” Pasha advised.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her fingers dance lightly over the keys. Then, she began to play. “See, it begins here beside some kind of river. Hear the water flowing beside you?”
Her fingers rose and fell gently on the keys. “Now the princess appears and she’s picking flowers from the water’s edge.” A happy piece of music filled the air in time to Pasha’s dancing fingers. “Oh, but she slips!” The music changed. “And our princess is being carried off by the fast-flowing stream. Quickly, the princess’ horse sees her plight (困境) and races to the river’s edge where he swims out to let her catch hold of him. Luckily, they make it to the bank.” Pasha said.
I played many pieces of music that afternoon, finding the stories in the music and learning that sometimes it takes a friend to pull you out of the river onto dry land again.
1. By describing herself as a mechanical pianist, the author meant ________.
| A．she could remember the notes in a short time |
| B．she was playing the piano without emotion |
| C．her fingers couldn’t move freely |
| D．it had been a long time since she played last time |
| A．Creative. | B．Honest. | C．Humorous. | D．Brave. |
| A．imagined herself as a princess |
| B．knew its original background story |
| C．had a strong desire to make a friend |
| D．combined the music with a story |
| A．A Friend Forever |
| B．Never Give up |
| C．A Piano Lesson |
| D．My Favorite Piece of Music |
Researchers consider that sleeping on a problem in most cases leads to elucidation(解释). They say when a person enters a phase called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep, it increases the effect. Such phase takes place right before we awake and according to scientists it helps our brain make links between unrelated subjects.
In the study, led by Professor Sara Mednick, scientists made a conclusion that the REM was “important for assimilating(消化) new information into past experience” in order to find solutions to creative problems.
Prof. Mednick is a psychiatrist at the University of California. Her study involved the analysis of 77 adults. Each participant was given several word-associated creative tasks. All tasks were given in the morning, with participants being shown a number of groups of 3 words, for example: cookie, heart and sixteen. They were asked to come up with a word that would be associated with all three given terms—like sweet. Sometime later, after some participants were allowed to sleep, they were asked to perform the same tasks and some new ones. It is worth mentioning that while some people slept, researchers used brain scans to see the type of sleep each participant entered.
When given the same tasks, participants, who took a nap, were able to give more varied solutions, some of which were much better than they gave earlier. But when given new tasks, researchers found that those who entered REM sleep had a 40 percent better result compared to the performance they showed in the morning.
1. What does “it” refer to in the second paragraph?
| A．The effect. | B．REM. | C．Sleep. | D．A problem. |
| A．Because REM takes place just after you sleep. |
| B．Because REM can store more information. |
| C．Because REM can help find creative solutions |
| D．Because REM can make a creative invention. |
| A．Taking a short nap is good for your thinking during the day. |
| B．Sleeping has three processes which is good for creativity. |
| C．Each adult was allowed to sleep after the task was given. |
| D．REM is a process taking place right after we awake when we nap. |
| A．to think of a creative word |
| B．to show a group of 3 words |
| C．to give participants time to think |
| D．to let some participants sleep for a while |
10 . A Japanese telecom company has designed a robot that it says has emotions (情绪). But rather than run in fear from it, we’ve welcomed it into our homes: Pepper, the “emotional robots” sold out within a minute of going on sale.
Created by Aldebaran Robotics and Japanese mobile giant SoftBaok, Pepper went on sale to the general public in Japan on June 20. It is “the first humanoid (类人的) robot designed to live with humans,” Aldebaran says on its website. Pepper costs about $ 1,600. And like all good mobile products, there’s a $ 120 per month data fee, as well as an $80 per month damage insurance fee. According to a news report, Pepper can pick up on human emotions and create his own using a “multi-layer neural (神经的) network.” Pepper’s touch sensors and cameras are said to influence its mood, which is displayed on the tablet-sized screen on its chest.
Pepper will sigh when unhappy, and can go around your house recording your family’s daily activity. Aldebaran says Pepper can feel “joy, surprise, anger, doubt and sadness,” but it doesn’t say how strongly it can feel these emotions. What happens when Pepper is having a bad day? Will it, like many humans, become uncooperative? Will it ask for some time alone? What happens if it knows that its purpose in life is just to take part in small talk? Thankfully, Pepper is only about four feet tall, with roller balls instead of legs, so if it is angry with and even turns on its owners, you’ll be safe if you can make it upstairs.
Aldebaran says in reality, they’re probably quite a few years away from artificial intelligence that could create real emotions. Aldebaran wasn’t immediately able to tell when Pepper will be available out of Japan, but additional sales are scheduled for July after the first 1,000 units sell out. SoftBank currently uses the robots in its stores as greeters, and it plans to offer Pepper to other stores in the future. Hopefully “boredom” is not an emotion Pepper can feel.
1. According to the author, Pepper .| A．is very popular among customers |
| B．can not only run but also show fear |
| C．is going to be sold all over the world |
| D．can deal with many kinds of housework |
| A．80 dollars. | B．120 dollars. |
| C．1,440 dollars. | D．2,400 dollars. |
| A．introduce its appearance | B．tell Pepper won’t get angry |
| C．show that safety isn’t a big problem | D．explain robots have strong emotions |
| A．Pepper cannot produce real emotions. |
| B．Pepper can feel joy, surprise and boredom. |
| C．Pepper will be sold in other countries next year. |
| D．Pepper is being used as waiters in some restaurants. |
