1 . Can we forget bad memories? Someone might tell you that time is the only “cure”. But this might be not true.
Researchers at Canada’s McGill University have tested a pill that can help you forget bad memories. They tested it on 60 people and found it to be successful.
All 60 people had experienced painful romantic relationships and wanted to forget them. In the study, they were asked to write about these bad memories. Then, they took a pill that is usually used to treat high blood pressure. They then recalled their bad memories by reading what they wrote earlier. In the end, they talked about their feelings, saying that they were finally able to forget their bad experiences.
Dr. Alain Brunet, who led the study, believes that the pill can ease the pain that bad memories bring. People can take it after bad things happen to them.
How did the pill do this? In fact, your memories change all the time. They’re like text files on your computer. Every time you recall and “open” the files, you might happen to make some changes and “save” them. Researchers believe that the pill can stop proteins in the brain from “re-saving” these memories. This means some details of the memory are lost.
However, there are some ethical worries about this treatment. Some people might use it to forget things that they should be learning from, such as when they committed a crime. People are discussing which kinds of memories should be forgotten with this pill.
How do we form memories?
The part of our brain known as the hippocampus is important for forming new memories. Scientists found it after studying a patient named Henry Molaison in the 1950s. After Molaison’s hippocampus got hurt during an operation, he couldn’t store new memories. But he could remember memories from before the operation. This means long-term memories are stored outside the hippocampus. Scientists believe they are stored in the neocortex, which controls attention and planning.
1. The study found that the pill can help people ________.| A．recall happy memories | B．remember things more easily |
| C．control their blood pressure | D．forget bad experiences |
| A．have painful experiences | B．write down their bad memories |
| C．have high blood pressure | D．recall what they wrote down before |
| A．how our memories change over time | B．how the pill stops bad things from happening |
| C．how the research group created the pill | D．how the pill helps us forget bad memories |
| A．The pill might come with some problems. | B．The pill can stop criminals from committing crimes. |
| C．The writer doesn’t think the pill is good. | D．Many people want to forget bad memories. |
2 . On the first day of my new high school, I almost had a nervous breakdown. Everything about the school seemed so difficult. On that first day I was late for every class and was constantly lost. The school seemed like a puzzle that I couldn't figure out. Was this how the whole year was going to be? I didn't think I could rise to this challenge, especially carrying a huge backpack that I could hardly lift. It was so big that I could knock someone out with it! The schoolmates seemed to regard me as a fool, and they were probably right.
Despite my fears, after the first week I finally had my schedule figured out. With the exception of falling up and down the stairs a couple of times and getting laughed at, high school was turning out to be not so bad. It was actually much better than middle school and much more challenging.
Since then, I've been elected vice monitor of my class, which wasn't much of a victory since only three people ran for the four positions.
It is normal to be scared about a new school. Take a deep breath and relax. High school is something that any student can overcome. Make sure you participate in some out-of-class activities because you'll find it easier to make friends. Try to do your best, even if it isn't straight A's.
Most important of all, be who you are, whether you're a "fool", an athlete, or a lower grader. Don't try to pretend to be someone you're not. Now you know the true secrets of high school.
1. The main reason for the author's fear on his first day is that .| A．he was not familiar with the new surroundings |
| B．his schoolmates were unfriendly to him |
| C．he was unable to work out the puzzle |
| D．his schoolbag was too heavy for him to carry |
| A．his home was far away from the school |
| B．he got to school after classes began |
| C．he didn't get any school schedule |
| D．he didn't know the right way to class |
| A．gradually adjusted himself to the new school |
| B．was still not accustomed to the schedule |
| C．found high school not so challenging as he had imagined |
| D．ran for monitor of his class against three other students |
| A．making more friends | B．getting more A's at school |
| C．being who he really is | D．joining in out-of-class activities |
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1. What do the first two courses have in common?| A．Both last for one and a half months |
| B．Both are offered by the same university |
| C．Both require students to have discussions online. |
| D．Both include an explanation of grammatical rules. |
| A．Ted Supalla. | B．Derek Brown. |
| C．Maggie Sokolik. | D．Kasey Champion. |
| A．Testing English language skills. | B．Giving tips on academic writing. |
| C．Improving practical coding skills. | D．Discussing Sign Language science. |
4 . For many years doctors have warned us about the dangers of stress (压力) and have given us advice about how to cut down our stress levels. Everyone agrees that long-term stress, for example having to look after someone who has a chronic (慢性的) illness, or stressful situations where there is nothing we can do, for example being stuck in a traffic jam, should be avoided whenever possible. However, some medical experts now believe that certain kinds of stress may actually be good for us.
Dr Marios Kyriazis, an anti-ageing expert, points out that what he calls "good stress” is beneficial to our health and may, in fact, help us stay young and attractive and even live longer. Dr Kyriazis says that “good stress” can strengthen our natural defences which protect us from illnesses common among older people, such as Alzheimer's and heart problems.
According to Dr Kyriazis, running for a bus or having to work to meet a deadline are examples of “good stress”, that is situations with short-term or low stress. The stress usually makes us react quickly, and gives us a sense of achievement — we did it! However, in both situations, the stress damages the cells(细胞) in our body or brain and they start to break down. But then the cells own repair mechanism “switches on”and it produces proteins which repair the damaged cells and remove harmful chemicals that can gradually cause disease. In fact, the body's response is greater than is needed to repair the damage, so it actually makes the cells stronger than they were before.
“As the body gets older, this self-repair mechanism of the cells starts to slow down,” says Dr Kyriazis.“The best way to keep the process working efficiently is to ‘exercise’ it, in the same way you would exercise your muscles to keep them strong. This means having a certain amount of stress in our lives.”Other stressful activities that Kyriazis suggests as being good stress include redecorating a room in your house over the weekend, packing your suitcase in a hurry to reach the airport on time, or shopping for a dinner party during your lunch break.
So next time your boss tells you that she wants to see the report finished and on her desk in 45 minutes, don't worry; just think of it as “good stress” which will benefit your long-term health!
1. What is Dr Kyriazis' opinion probably based on?| A．How to get a sense of achievement. |
| B．How to cut down our stress levels. |
| C．The benefits of doing physical exercise. |
| D．The relationship between stress and health. |
| A．The daily stress. | B．Long-term stress. |
| C．The increasing stress. | D．Short-term or low stress. |
| A．Being stuck in a traffic jam. |
| B．Packing for a trip at the last minute. |
| C．Being late for work for several days. |
| D．Looking after a patient with heart trouble. |
| A．Stress beats success | B．Stress attracts illness |
| C．Get stressed, stay young | D．Less stress, better health |
5 . A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading（扩大） quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely falling below 16°C. Rainforests have a great influence on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate.
Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect（反射）more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially（潜 在地） causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources ： land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example, a lot of carbon dioxide in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees, generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply. Rainforests are often called the world's drugstore. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking（减 少）rainforests.
1. Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they______.| A．reflect more heat into the atmosphere |
| B．bring about high rainfall throughout the world |
| C．rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16°C |
| D．absorb（吸收） the heat from the sun, reducing the effect of heat from the sun on the earth |
| A．We will lose much more than we can gain. | B．Humans have begun destroying rainforests. |
| C．People have a strong desire for resources. | D．Much carbon dioxide （二氧化碳）comes from burning rainforests. |
| A．we can get enough resources without rainforests |
| B．there is great medicine potential in rainforests |
| C．we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land |
| D．the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns |
| A．How to Save Rainforests? | B．How to Protect Nature? |
| C．Rainforests and the Environment. | D．Rainforests and Medical Development. |
6 . During the ongoing battle against the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP)(新型冠状肺炎), you may have read news that garlic can quickly kill the virus but it proved to be misinformation. While the nation continues to fight against the NCP, it’s also stepping up efforts to fight the spread of misinformation.
In the Internet era, the nature of how information spreads has changed largely. Information and misinformation can spread to thousands of people in seconds.
For most people, fact-checking is an afterthought — if it is a thought at all. Therefore, misinformation spreads, said The Washington Post. People simply prefer passing on information that will lead to an emotional response(反应) from readers. Whether or not it is factual is not always important.
Misinformation could be a greater danger than the virus itself. Misinformation is “making the work of our heroic workers even harder”, World Health Organization(WHO) Director-General Tedros told China Daily. He said misinformation “causes confusion and spreads fear”.
During the fight against the NCP, Ghebreyesus said that “at the WHO we’re not just fighting against the virus, we’re also battling conspiracy(阴谋) theories that undermine our response. ”
It is true that as China races to contain the NCP and minimize(减少到最低限度) its spread across countries, fears and rumors(谣言) surrounding the virus are creating their own problems on social media. “Ironically(讽刺地), speed is important on those things,” US professor Gabriel Kahn told The Los Angeles Times. “But.... those are the ones you have to be most certain about verifying (验证) before you share.”
As ordinary people, we may not be able to devote ourselves like those medical staff. But we could think twice about what we read. If you can be careful about sharing information, it’s your contribution to the fight against the outbreak.
1. According to the article, what is the main cause of the spread of misinformation?| A．The lack of fact-checking. |
| B．An increase in viruses. |
| C．People’s desire to trick others. |
| D．Changes in the way people view information. |
| A．Test. | B．Harm. | C．Guide. | D．Explain. |
| A．People have fears caused by misinformation. |
| B．It is hard to deal with misinformation across countries. |
| C．Rumors about the virus travel too fast to be controlled. |
| D．Social media creates problems for people to verify misinformation. |
| A．To share tips on how to fight against misinformation. |
| B．To introduce some misinformation about the NCP. |
| C．To call on people to watch out for misinformation. |
| D．To tell people what China has done to deal with misinformation. |
7 . I waited 14 years to do something that I should have done in my first year of teaching: shadow a student for a day.
This is the first year I am working in a school but not teaching my own classes. Being the High School Learning Coach, my job is to work with teachers and administrators to improve students’ learning outcomes.
As part of getting my feet wet, the headmaster suggested I “be” a student for a day: I was to complete all the work of a 10th-grade student: if there were notes on the board, I copied them as fast as I could into my notebook; if there was an experiment, I did it with my host student; if there was a test, I took it.
I could not believe how dog-tired I was after the day, because I literally sat down the whole day, except for walking to and from classes. We forget as teachers, because we are on our feet a lot — in front of the board, walking as we speak, circling around the room to check on student work…. we move a lot.
But students almost never move, because in every class, the expectation was for us to come in, take our seats, and sit down for the whole class. Therefore, by the end of the day I was eager to move. I had planned to go back to my office and write down some notes on the day, but I was so exhausted that I couldn’t do anything but watch TV and I was in bed by 8:30.
If I could go back and change my classes now, I would immediately change the following three things:
1. mandatory stretch halfway through the class;
2. put a basketball hoop on the back of my door and encourage kids to play in the first and final minutes of class;
3. build a hands-on, move-around activity into every single class day.
1. Why did the headmaster suggest the author do the task?| A．To help the author with her new job. | B．To allow the author to realize her dream. |
| C．To let the author learn from other teachers. | D．To test whether the author was a good coach. |
| A．Instruct the students how to take notes. | B．Find out what subject the students liked. |
| C．Do what the students were required to do. | D．Teach students to do chemical experiments. |
| A．She lost interest in TV. | B．She had pity for students. |
| C．She felt unsatisfied with the school. | D．She thought teachers move too much. |
| A．They are after-class activities. | B．They encourage students to love sports. |
| C．They prevent students from sitting too long. | D．They are good for both teachers and students. |
8 . Recently, as I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his school team, I was feeling sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity (困境) on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment — it was the opponent’s home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters of the game. As for me, I had just been dismissed (解雇) from my job earlier in that day.
During the drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time — I was always confident in my experience and abilities, but self-doubt was still sticking its foot in the door.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face as well as his teammates’ as they fought back to not only tie the game, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to make the game tied again. With the tied scores and seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball and with skill and confidence, he made the basket with a defender hanging all over him. The other player was called for a foul (犯规).
As Nathan stood preparing for a shot that would put his team up by three points, I saw the focus and determination on his face, with no room for self-doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill, as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride, it dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance (毅力) in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He will play in the finals, but it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses. At this moment, we both won.
1. What did the author estimate his son’s team would be like at first?| A．The team would finally win. |
| B．The team would lose at away court. |
| C．The team would lose at home court. |
| D．The team would tie with the opponents. |
| A．Avoid. | B．Focus. | C．Create. | D．Receive. |
| A．My son would win in the finals and I would find a job soon. |
| B．I had once taught my son face to face that we should never give up. |
| C．It was my encouragement and help that made my son win the game. |
| D．I would become more confident about my future after this experience. |
| A．Life Goes Just Like Playing Basketball |
| B．It Matters Whether to Win or Lose |
| C．A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
| D．A Moment of Self-doubt |
9 . Humans have favoured red apples for generations, but rising temperatures could mean the end of a rosy red apple.
The ancestors of the modern apple were wild trees growing in what is now Kazakhstan. Today, wild apple trees still grow there, perfuming the air with fallen fruit and feeding the bears that move slowly through the forest, although the wild apples' numbers have become smaller by 90% in the last 50 years due to human development and their future is uncertain.
Apple colour arises from the expression level of certain genes in the skin, scientists have found. Interestingly, colour also depends on temperature. To get an apple that's fully red, temperatures must stay cool, David Change, an expert at Plant and Food Research in New Zealand, explains. As temperatures warm, he suggests, it could become more difficult for apples to turn red.
Colour probably didn't win other features of an apple when growers were evaluating a new tree, however. Instead, they focused on the taste and use for the apple: some are good for cider, some for pies, some for sauce, and some for eating. It didn't much matter exactly what the fruit looked like and whether it looked the same from tree to tree, because farmers were growing fruit for themselves and for their local market, and function mattered more than looks.
Bunker says that all changed about a hundred years ago. The redder apples might not be better than the yellower ones—in fact they might be worse---but, "red sells; that's the problem”.
"It happens to every single apple on the market," says Bedford. "That's just the nature of our desire to have apples the way we want them to look...ever since man has been making choices they've been making them redder and redder. "
1. What's the main idea of the passage?| A．Humans have been preferring red apples. |
| B．Rising temperatures make apples no longer red. |
| C．The ancestors of modern apple still exist. |
| D．Growers pay less attention to change the colour of apples. |
| A．Scientists have found ways to change the colour of apples. |
| B．Apples will become red in winter because of the low temperature. |
| C．Apple colour is greatly influenced by temperature. |
| D．The higher the temperature is , the redder apples will be. |
| A．The colour of the apple. | B．The taste of the apple. |
| C．The use of the apple. | D．The function of the apple. |
| A．Every single apple on the market looks nice. |
| B．We humans desire to change the appearance of apples. |
| C．Humans have been choosing various apples. |
| D．Humans in fact prefer the apples which look redder. |
10 . Three very strong women-my mother, my grandmother, and Melinda-deserve big credit(赞扬) for helping me become the man I am today. But Blanche Caffiere, a very kind librarian and teacher I've never written about publicly before, also had a huge influence on me.
When I first met Mrs. Caffiere, she was the elegant and engaging school librarian at Seattle's View Ridge Elementary, and I was a shy fourth grader. I was desperately trying to go unnoticed, because I had some big deficits, like terrible handwriting and a killingly messy desk. And I was trying to hide the fact that I liked to read something that was cool for girls but not for boys.
Mrs. Caffiere took me under her wing and helped make it okay for me to be a messy, nerdy boy who was reading lots of books
She pulled me out of my shell by sharing her love of books. She started by asking questions like, "What do you like to read?" and "What are you interested in?" Then she found me a lot of books-ones that were more complex and challenging than the Tom Swift Jr. science fiction books I was reading at the time. For example, she gave me great biographies she had read. Once I'd read them, she would make the time to discuss them with me. She sincerely listened to what had to say. Through those conversations about books in the library and in the classroom we became good friends.
Looking back on it now, there's no question that my time with Mrs. Caffiere helped spark my interest in libraries (Melinda's and my first large-scale effort in philanthropy(慈善)) and my focus on helping every child in America get the benefit of great teachers. It's remarkable how much power one good person can have in shaping the life of a child.
1. We can learn from the passage that the author was_______ before he met Mrs. Caffiere.| A．an average student. | B．not able to read and write. |
| C．hated by other boys | D．not self-confident |
| A．Accidents. | B．Strengths. |
| C．Problems. | D．Concerns. |
| A．sharing reading reflections with him. |
| B．telling him he was mot messy boy. |
| C．hiding him in the library. |
| D．listening to his complaint. |
| A．The author's interest in libraries. |
| B．Mrs. Caffiere's influence on the author's life. |
| C．The author's achievements later in his life. |
| D．The importance of a good person in society. |
