1 . If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and
philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks(缺陷)of Western philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.
1. The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______________.| A．provide some key facts about Confucius |
| B．attract the readers' interest in the subject |
| C．show great respect for the ancient thinker |
| D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations |
| A．have a great interest in studying Chinese |
| B．take an active part in Chinese competitions |
| C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams |
| D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese |
| A．Forgotten Wisdom in America |
| B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language |
| C．Chinese Culture for Westerners |
| D．Old Thinker with a Big Future |
| A．a personal biography | B．a history paper |
| C．a cultural newspaper | D．a philosophy textbook |
2 . As a famous doctor, Sigmund Freud has problems telling his left from his right. He writes in his diary: I do not know whether it is obvious to other people which is their own or other’s right or left. In my case, I have to think which is my right and no organic feeling tells me. To make sure which is my right hand, I have to make a few writing movements quickly.
Neuroscientist Eric Chudler at the University of Washington referred to a recent study where 71 of 364 (19.5 percent) college professors and 311 of 1,185 (26.2 percent) college students said that they occasionally, frequently or all of the time had difficulty when they had to quickly identify right from left. Chudler told The Washington Post that 95 percent of the 3,719 people who tried his test reported more difficulty with left/right than with up/down.
In most cases, left/right confusion is rarely a big deal. But knowing your directions obviously can be critical if you’re a surgeon or a pilot. That’s why in key situations, there are plans in place to minimize（使减到最少）the chance of problems. In a health care situation, someone may write “not this leg” on a limb（肢）, for example. And in the air, because distractions（分心）can cause any number of errors, pilots must avoid all non—essential conversation during the critical phases of flight.
Experts say that right/left confusion doesn’t mean you’re not smart. But scientists aren’t totally sure what causes the right/left confusion. There does, however, seem to be a link between right/left confusion and brain lateralization（偏侧性）—the fact that the right and left halves of the brain each control unique functions.
There may, however, be an association with gender（性别）. Several studies have found that women are more likely than men to say they are sometimes unable to distinguish between their right and their left. But some researchers say that’s only because women are more likely than men to admit they may have a problem.
1. According to Sigruund Freud’s diary, he .| A．can’t tell the right directly |
| B．doesn’t know which is his right hand |
| C．is more foolish than other people |
| D．isn’t satisfied with his organic feeling |
| A．it is easy to tell up from down |
| B．left/right is as important as up/down |
| C．many people have trouble with left/right |
| D．most people can judge left/right easily |
| A．When the plane is taking off. |
| B．When the plane is coming down. |
| C．When the pilot is talking with others. |
| D．When the pilot is judging the directions. |
| A．In a private diary. | B．In a science fiction. |
| C．In a latest newspaper. | D．In a fashion magazine. |
3 . Despite the countless differences between people’s characters and careers, or their likes and their dislikes, it seems that we are all connected in this wonderful life by one thing: namely, seeking happiness.
Happiness means, naturally, different things to different people. For myself, happiness is synonymous（同义的）with horse riding, Cadbury’s Creme Eggs and spending time with my friends. Some people are at their happiest at home, while others find their happiness through travelling far-off foreign lands. Happiness can be as simple as a surprise bunch of fresh flowers or a really strong coffee, just when you need it most. Sometimes, happiness comes from spending time with loved ones; for others, it’s having a well-earned quiet night at home, with nothing but a comfortable bed for company.
Since it comes in so many shapes and sizes, it’s sometimes easy to take happiness for granted. It is especially true if it’s been “one of those days”. Maybe you overslept, missed the bus and had to walk to school in the rain, only to be told that you were late. Or perhaps, because of work, you had to cancel plans with friends, despite looking forward to seeing them for ages. Forgotten keys, delayed flights, an argument with your parents, illness or injury... all very frustrating, and understandably guaranteed to make you feel unhappy.
Luckily, there are a few simple, scientifically proven ways to make the glass seem half-full again. To start with, things like trying out cycling or walking instead of driving to work and listening to music are great moodboosters（情绪助推器）. Volunteering and getting involved with a charity are two ways in which you can become happier through helping others. Last, but certainly not least, try hugging your way to happiness; it’s been suggested that we humans need a minimum（最少的）of five hugs a day. If you’ve been having a bad day, there’s nothing better than a good old bear-hug.
1. What would be the main idea of Paragraph 2?| A．Happiness comes from different things. |
| B．Fresh flowers can give you a surprise. |
| C．Some people enjoy themselves at home. |
| D．It is pleasant to spend time with close friends. |
| A．it is easy to be happy |
| B．you go to work on time |
| C．you have a coffee at home |
| D．you tend to be sad at your life |
| A．performs an experiment | B．provides some examples |
| C．tells an interesting story | D．brings up some problems |
| A．In a scientific report. | B．In an advertisement. |
| C．In a guidebook. | D．In a novel. |
