1 . Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are.

You may not want to hear this, but Crabtree believes that human intelligence reached its peak more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then has been going downhill. “If an average Greek from 1,000 BC were transported to modern times, he or she would be one of the brightest among us,” Crabtree told The Guardian.

At the heart of Crabtree’s thinking is a simple idea. In the past, intelligence was critical for survival when our ancestors had to avoid dangerous animals and hunt for food. The difference of being smart or stupid is often life or death. However, after the spread of agriculture when our ancestors began to live in dense farming communities, the need to keep their intelligence in peak-condition gradually reduced.

This is not hard to understand. Most of the time, pressure is what keeps us going—you need the pressure from your teachers to finish your homework the pressure of looking pretty encourages you to lose weight when summer comes. And the same is also true of our intelligence-if we think less, we become less smart.

These mutations (变异) are harmful to our intelligence and they were all developed in the past 3,000 years. The other evidence that Crabtree holds is in our genes. He found that among the 2,000 to 5,000 genes that we have that determine human intelligence, there are two or more mutations in each of us.

However, Crabtree’s theory has been criticized by some who say that early humans may have better hunting and surviving abilities, but people today have developed more diverse intelligence. For example, spearing (用矛刺) a tiger doesn’t necessarily require more brainpower than playing chess or writing a poem. Moreover, the power of modern education means lot more people have the opportunity to learn nowadays.

“You wouldn’t get Stephen Hawking 2,000 years ago. He just wouldn’t exist,” Thomas Hills of the University of Warwick, UK, told Live Science. “But now we have people of his intellectual capacity doing things and making insights (洞察力) that we would never have achieved in our environment of evolutionary adaptation (进化适应).”

1. What is Crabtree’s recent finding according to the article?

A．The Greeks from 1,000 BC could have been the smartest in human history.

B．Our ancient ancestors had no better surviving abilities than we do nowadays.

C．Mutations in genes that decide human intelligence have affected the development of intelligence.

D．Humans have been getting steadily more intelligent since the invention of farming.

2. According to Crabtree, ancient humans ________.

A．had much more genes that determine human Intelligence

B．were forced to be smart due to natural selection pressures

C．relied more on group intelligence than individual intelligence

D．developed a diverse intelligence to adapt to the hard realities

3. Some argue that Crabtree’s theory is false because they think ________.

A．people today are under much more pressure than early humans

B．it’s unreasonable to compare hunter’s and a poet’s intelligence

C．modern education is far more advanced than ancient education

D．human intelligence nowadays is different from that of the distant past

4. What is Thomas Hill’s attitude toward Crabtree’s theory?

A．He is for Crabtree’s theory.

B．He is against Crabtree’s theory.

C．He is worried about Crabtree’s theory.

D．He is confused about Crabtree’s theory.

2 . A brand is a name, word, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of these, intended to identify the goods or services of a company or a group of companies. Another purpose of a brand is to contrast one company from another. The most important skill of professional marketers is the ability to create, maintain, protect, and enhance the brands of their products and services. Branding has become so important that today hardly any company or product is without one. Therefore, brand management is an increasingly important element in marketing.

Brand power refers to the relative strength of a company’s brand in the minds of consumers, and can influence consumers’ choice of products. Brands are powerful to the extent that they give high brand loyalty and strong brand associations, name recognition, perceived quality and other assets to a company. A strong brand can be one of a company’s most important assets.

High brand power provides a company with many competitive advantages. A powerful brand enjoys a high level of consumer brand awareness and loyalty. Because consumers expect stores to carry the brand, the company has more bargaining power when negotiating with retailers (零售商). And because the brand name brings high credibility, a company with a strong brand can more easily launch new products with the same brand name.

Many companies use the advantage of a strong brand power strategically to expand their business. When a company introduces an additional item with a new flavour, form, colour or package size in a given product category and under the same brand name, it is called a line extension. Another strategy is called brand extension. This involves the use of a successful brand name to launch new or modified products in a new category, thereby employing brand recognition in order to increase sales of new products.

Brand recognition is certainly important. Because consumers often hold long-standing perceptions about brands, high brand power ensure a company continued sales of its products.

                      
1. What does the word “assets” in the 2^nd paragraph mean?

A．points

B．advantages

C．aspects

D．elements

2. All of the following statements are the advantages of a high brand power EXCEPT that______.

A．a high brand wins the loyalty of consumers

B．a high brand usually sets a much higher price

C．it’s easy for a high brand company to launch new products

D．a high brand company is more competitive when doing business with retailers

3. A brand extension ______.

A．happens when the company is developing a new product

B．means the expansion of a company’s business in its established field

C．takes place when the company introduces a similar item but with a new colour

D．refers to the use of an established brand name to promote a new product in a new category

4. What might be the best title of this passage?

A．Brand Power	B．Famous Brands
C．Company Brands	D．Brand Products

3 . Imagine you are a citizen of Athens, enjoying a warm Mediterranean night in the Theater of Herodes Atticus. You are wearing jeans and a T-shirt, listening to a great concert.

Now rewind this picture 1,839 years. You are in the same seat, only you are watching classical Greek entertainment.

The city of Athens is a fun mix of the old and the new, the classic and the modern. Often a little shop is located next to the ruins of a temple, which is only a block from a large, air-conditioned hotel. The great city of 2,500 years ago is still visible today.

Ruins are the most obvious sign of ancient Athens, and the most famous of these is the Acropolis(卫城). The Acropolis is a large hill that was the center of life in Athens. On its slopes were temples, monuments, and theaters. From the top, you can see how the urban area of Athens stretches out in every direction.

On the top of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. This was once a huge temple to Athena, the city’s patron. It was first completed in 432 B.C., but has been damaged and destroyed several times. However, visitors can still see the “tricks” used in building the Parthenon. The columns along the outside lean inward, and are slightly fatter in the middle. The temple is also higher in the middle than on the sides. All these effects make the Parthenon look perfectly straight from a distance.

Only a block away from the Acropolis is the neighborhood of Plaka. The area, with its little shops and restaurants, is very popular with both tourists and locals, and is an important part of modern Athenian culture. Many great thinkers, writers, and political leaders lived in ancient Athens. The ruins of their homes and favorite spots are scattered throughout the busy port city. The hill where St. Paul addressed early Christian Athenians is located near the Acropolis. Great thinkers such as Perikles and Demosthenes spoke to the civil assemblies held at the Pnyx Hill. Today the Pnyx is an open-air theater for light and sound shows.

Tourism is very important to people who live in modern-day Athens. Thousands of people come every year to see these ruins and to tour the many museums that house artifacts from ancient times. This provides many jobs and brings money into Athens, which helps the city pay for improvements. Athenians take pride in the accomplishments of their ancestors, and people from all around the world come to admire them. By looking around the city today, we can imagine what life was like in ancient Athens.

1. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT about the city of Athens?

A．The culture of the city is a mixture of the old and modern.

B．Traces of the ancient city can still be found

C．Ruins and modern hotels co-exist in the city.

D．All the temples are not far away from air-conditioned hotels.

2. According to the context, “tricks” in Paragraph Five refer to ________.

A．naughty acts	B．confusing constructing skills
C．skillful constructing methods	D．constructing materials

3. The writer mentioned all the following benefits of tourism in Athens for Athenians EXCEPT ________.

A．offering job opportunities to Athenians

B．enriching Athenians by providing accommodation for tourists

C．enabling Athenians to improve the infrastructures

D．making Athenians proud of their ancestors

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Tourism in Athens	B．Athens: Then and Now
C．Historic Interests in Athens	D．The Magic of Ancient Athens

4 . Do you shop for groceries online and have them delivered to your door? Well, this might be just the start of a digital revolution in food. How about tattooed (刺花的) fruit, ice cubes which send text messages, and wine from the bottom of the ocean? All these things are on the _______ according to global innovation research firm Stylus.

They say stickers and wasteful packaging on fruit could be _______ by eatable tattos. These would be _______ “directly to the skin of the fruit without _______ damaging skin cells”, according to Stylus’s senior vice-president of content, Tessa Mansfield.

Our _______ are changing rapidly too, and some companies are cooking up menu of technological advances. _______, there’s a smart knife which can _______ the freshness of food and any bacteria present as it is being used.

Innovative ways to _______ what we consume are always being _______. Mandy Saven, Stylus’s head of food, beverage and hospitality says new digital ice cubes will send a text message to a friend if you drink too much alcohol.

Indeed, some companies are helping consumers stay ________ and make environmentally-friendly choices. Dutch firm Bilder and De Clerca sells food organized by recipe, which helps customers avoiding ________ by buying too much.

This makes the retailer more than just a supplier of food — it becomes “kind of food ________ to a shopper.” says Tessa Mansfield.

For the discerning (有眼力的) drinker, the future holds another new experience. How would you like to try “ocean-aged wine”? This is the wine which has been sunk to the bottom of the ocean to help it ________ before you enjoy it.

I find all these ________ exciting. What about you? Are you happy to ________ the new frontier of food?

1.

A．rise

B．contrary

C．horizon

D．whole

2.

A．replaced

B．exchanged

C．covered

D．understood

3.

A．connected

B．contributed

C．imported

D．applied

4.

A．heavily

B．actually

C．purposefully

D．weakly

5.

A．situations

B．groceries

C．services

D．kitchens

6.

A．In short

B．At first

C．For instance

D．After all

7.

A．enhance

B．add

C．analyze

D．locate

8.

A．search

B．monitor

C．elect

D．limit

9.

A．developed

B．tracked

C．tempted

D．followed

10.

A．comfortable

B．smart

C．holy

D．healthy

11.

A．consumption

B．waste

C．cost

D．bargain

12.

A．consultant

B．customer

C．designer

D．guard

13.

A．delicate

B．dizzy

C．mature

D．delicious

14.

A．innovations

B．goals

C．behaviors

D．consumers

15.

A．move about

B．step across

C．join in

D．get on

5 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Virtual Fitness

Exercise plays a very important role in a healthy lifestyle. But you may not have time or money to go to a gym on a regular basis. The good news is that today's technology lets you access fitness classes from the comfort of your home. A quick Internet search will turn up thousands of online fitness classes. You can watch videos on your phone, computer or tablet and do the exercises right where you are. All you need is an Internet connection and a space large enough to move around in.

Online fitness classes take a wide variety of forms. Some focus on stretches and slow movements. Other classes involve fast aerobic activity, while others build muscle strength. Some require equipment such as weights, but others use only your body. This means that you can choose a class that does what you like. And you can try a different one whenever you like.

Anyone can post a fitness video on the Internet. Not everyone knows what they are doing. So it is important to think about who is teaching the class. Try to find teachers who are certified by an organization with a good reputation. I tried some virtual fitness classes several years ago.The reason was simple: convenience. I could do a fitness class at any time of day. I didn't need to travel to a gym and back, which saved me a lot of time. But being able to work out any time meant I kept putting it off. I'd do everything else first and then the day would be over. I’d never actually get around to exercising.

Having to exercise at a definite time means I have to put it on my schedule. So for me, scheduled classes such as those at a gym are helpful.

Anyhow,if the gym isn't for you, you may want to give an online fitness class a try.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . Trackers on Ice

Just because a scientist puts a GPS tracking collar on a wild polar bear does not mean the animal will willingly keep it on.   _______, these huge collars are purposefully loose so that if one becomes annoying, a bear can _______it. But scientists have now found a way to use signals from the discarded(丢弃的)devices.

“These dropped collars_______would have been considered garbage data,” says Natasha Klappstein, a polar bear researcher at the University of Alberta. She and her colleagues instead used_______from such collars, left on sea ice in Canada's Hudson Bay, to track the ice itself. For their study, published in June in The Cryosphere, the researchers _______twenty collars that sent movement data consistent(与······一致的)with ice drift rather than polar bear _______between 2005 and 2015. The resulting records of how melting ice typically drifts in Hudson Bay are unique; there are no easily _______on-the-ground sensors, and satellite observations often cannot _______capture the motion of small ice sheets.

The team compared the discarded collars' movements with widely used ice-drift modeling data from the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Collar data indicated that the NSIDC model underestimates the speed at which ice moves around in Hudson Bay--as well as the overall _______of drift. Over the course of several months the model could drift away from an ice sheet's location by a few hundred kilometers, the researchers say.

This means the bears may be working harder, when moving against the direction of the ice, than scientists had   ________ .“Since we're underestimating the speed of drift, we're likely underestimating the energetic effort of polar bears," says Natasha Klappstein. The research reveals________insight (洞悉) into how highly mobile ice moves. As melting increases in coming years, such ice will likely become more ________farther north, in the central Arctic. Scientists had known NSIDC data could underestimate drift speeds, but “any time we can find a data ________,it is a good thing.”

Plus,such data could improve predictions about how oil spills or other pollutants may spread in seas ________ with drifting ice, says Walt Meier, a senior NSIDC research scientist,who was not involved in the study. The findings may even ________future NSIDC models. “It's a really nice data set,” Meier says."And certainly one we’ll take consideration.

1.

A．In fact

B．In a way

C．In addition

D．In the end

2.

A．destroy

B．remove

C．resist

D．reject

3.

A．particularly

B．relevantly

C．intentionally

D．potentially

4.

A．estimates

B．subjects

C．measurements

D．patents

5.

A．displayed

B．identified

C．justified

D．preserved

6.

A．behavior

B．habitat

C．manner

D．motion

7.

A．flexible

B．favorable

C．accessible

D．changeable

8.

A．internally

B．accurately

C．securely

D．independently

9.

A．extent

B．damage

C．trend

D．limit

10.

A．agreed

B．promised

C．proved

D．assumed

11.

A．immediate

B．superior

C．entire

D．timely

12.

A．evident

B．unique

C．common

D．realistic

13.

A．gap

B．scan

C．boom

D．fit

14.

A．replaced

B．littered

C．packed

D．matched

15.

A．reverse

B．resemble

C．influence

D．motivate

7 . Do you remember how you felt the first time you rode bike? What about your first heartbreak? _________ moments and the emotions they arouse can resonate in our minds for decades, powerfully shaping who we are as individuals. But for those who experience severe trauma(创伤), such painful memories can leave people with life-changing mental conditions. So, what if traumatic memories did not have to cause so much _______ ? For now, the work is happening in mice.

Neuroscientists usually define a singular memory as an engram---a physical change in brain tissue ________ a particular recollection. While at MIT in 2013, Steve Ramirez of Boston University and his research partner Xu Liu had a breakthrough: They were able to target the cells that _______ one engram in a mouse's brain and then implant a false memory. In their work, mice _____ in fear to a particular stimulus even when they had not been conditioned in advance.

In their current work, Ramirez and his colleagues are investigating whether ______ memories can be “overwritten” by positive ones. In their experiments, positive memories are created by putting male mice in cages with female ones for an hour, and negative memories are created by putting the mice in cages that deliver brief foot shocks. After a surgical operation on the mice, the researchers find that _______ positive memories while mouse is in a cage makes it less fearful. They think that this memory “retraining"may be helping to ______ some of the mouse's trauma. _______ , it is unclear whether those original fear memories are completely lost or just suppressed(抑制).

_____ Ramirez’s team stresses that their work in mice is preliminary(初步的), they see treatment potential for humans down the road. Those suffering from PTSD or depression could have their memories _______ , for instance, so that they don't have a strong ______ response to painful recollections.

If it’s one day possible to alter human memory, who should be allowed to receive that treatment? And would the _______ system be at a disadvantage if key witnesses and victims cannot remember a crime? These are questions New York University bioethicist Arthur Caplan says are worth thinking about before the technology is ready for human clinical settings.

As neuroscientists progress with their research, they say these _______ issues are being taken into account. Ramirez sees the idea of   ______ memories as neither good nor bad. Like water, it just depends on how you use it.

1.

A．Forgettable

B．Memorable

C．Sustainable

D．Believable

2.

A．fruit

B．difference

C．pain

D．movement

3.

A．associated with

B．exchanged for

C．sentenced to

D．deprived of

4.

A．put off

B．pick up

C．turn on

D．make up

5.

A．reacted

B．hurried

C．stunned

D．resolved

6.

A．short-term

B．negative

C．enjoyable

D．reliable

7.

A．deleting

B．decreasing

C．activating

D．pausing

8.

A．recreate

B．eliminate

C．liberate

D．memorize

9.

A．Therefore

B．Besides

C．Indeed

D．However

10.

A．Since

B．Unless

C．Until

D．While

11.

A．removed

B．strengthened

C．altered

D．stimulated

12.

A．emotional

B．physical

C．controversial

D．mechanical

13.

A．immune

B．justice

C．medical

D．commerce

14.

A．mental

B．ethical

C．criminal

D．equality

15.

A．killing

B．multiplying

C．controlling

D．justifying

8 . Could Buying Paintings Make You Rich?

Is investing in paintings a good way to get rich fast? And how should you invest in art?

“With extreme _______” is the advice of Patrick Connolly, a financial adviser. “We don’t _______ our customers to invest in art because the downsides are greater than the upsides. It doesn’t produce income or earnings. What you _______ is exclusively based on supply and demand, and there are big movements upwards or downwards if there are changes in the economic environment,” he said.

To invest in art as a true investment, you need a starting fund of at least $5,000. But it’s not just about having enough _________ to buy the painting in the first place. Expensive works of art are often stored in protective boxes complete with detectors to monitor humidity and temperature levels, and to protect them from sun damage or other _______ such as a spilled cup of coffee. And if you do put it on your wall, then your insurance costs are likely to be high. If word gets out that you have expensive art hanging on your wall, then you’re likely to be a _______ for thieves.

Art is also not a regulated investment so when things go wrong — for example, an artwork turns out to be a fraud (赝品) — then investors cannot fall back on _______ for any repayment.

Of course given the current environment of low interest rates, that’s still a(n) _______   return than many savings accounts will give you. As art has no association to the stock market, it means paintings can _______ in value even when the market crashes, making it a good option for investment __________.

It is reported that after a decrease in the global art market throughout 2016, auction (拍卖) sales __________ in the first six months of 2017. Yet you don’t necessarily have to be super-wealthy to invest in art. There are a growing number of art fairs and online marketplaces aimed at buyers with a more __________ budget. Most art industry experts suggest that you buy a piece of art because you like it, not because you want to get rich. The most __________ approach is probably to buy something you like and can __________ and, be prepared to keep it just for your own pleasure. If it goes up in value that should be just a(n) __________ benefit.

1.

A．accuracy

B．carefulness

C．enthusiasm

D．generosity

2.

A．beg

B．control

C．forbid

D．recommend

3.

A．get back

B．look into

C．take out

D．turn to

4.

A．desire

B．energy

C．money

D．time

5.

A．accidents

B．appliances

C．measures

D．drinks

6.

A．partner

B．spectator

C．target

D．therapy

7.

A．initiative

B．regulation

C．strategy

D．tradition

8.

A．better

B．earlier

C．healthier

D．lower

9.

A．fall apart

B．fall down

C．go ahead

D．go up

10.

A．funds

B．levels

C．selections

D．rates

11.

A．ceased

B．proceeded

C．recovered

D．shrank

12.

A．fixed

B．limited

C．massive

D．modest

13.

A．creative

B．direct

C．flexible

D．sensible

14.

A．afford

B．preserve

C．transfer

D．undertake

15.

A．added

B．maximum

C．obvious

D．social

9 . Unearthing the Importance of the Life-Sized Terracotta Warriors

The unexpected unearthing of the Terracotta Army is renowned as one of the world’s greatest archaeological events. Discovered in northwestern China and dating back to its first dynasty, the ceramic(陶制的)figures have shed light on the country’s ancient artistic practices and age-old burial traditions.

In addition to offering a glimpse into Imperial China’s distinctive approach to_______art, the sculptures are also celebrated for their scale ---both______each individual sculpture’s height and the group as a whole.

Here, we present the history of the Terracotta Army, including its creation in the third century BCE and its_______in the 1970s.

History

In 246 BCE, Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor, took________the empire at just thirteen years old. As ruler of the first Imperial Empire, he is credited with several accomplishments, including standardized scripts and coins, the construction of the Great Wall, and the_______of the state.

To celebrate his triumphs and_______his life, he ordered the construction of a necropolis(陵寝)in Xi’an. He filled his necropolis with precious possessions as well as thousands of specially-made terracotta soldiers to _______ him in the afterlife. Though 7,000 laborers devoted decades to constructing the over-the-top necropolis, the_______ was left unfinished when Qin died in 210 BCE.

Historians theorize that the heads and bodies of the warriors were made through________ production. This means that each individual part, such as the arms and legs, were made independently of one another to speed up manufacturing. Then, after being________in the kiln, a large furnace for burning, baking and drying, these various parts became one figure.

Discovery

For centuries, Qin Shi Huang’s massive necropolis remained undetected. However, in 1974, workers stumbled upon a large_______ of a terracotta warrior while digging a well. Inspired by this surprising find, archaeologists began to explore the area, resulting in the discovery of thousands of similar soldiers in four pits.

Designed with an impressive level of detail, each figure is a one-of-a-kind work of art. The life-sized sculptures are______in height according to military ranking --- some as tall as Yao Ming, while some as short as 1.77 meters, with their uniforms, hairstyles, and even facial shapes and expressions following suit. Though they appear the same shade of grey, the figures would have originally been______painted, highlighting their lifelike features and drawing attention to their eye-catching artisanship.

________the 8,000 soldiers themselves, 130 ceramic chariots and 670 horses were also found in the necropolis._______, clay figures of dancers, acrobats, and musicians were also unearthed, though these vivid figures are greatly outnumbered by the stoic army.

1.

A．funerary

B．fancy

C．unique

D．routine

2.

A．in relation to

B．on behalf of

C．in terms of

D．in case of

3.

A．discovery

B．routine

C．description

D．origin

4.

A．part

B．effect

C．over

D．power

5.

A．organization

B．unification

C．exploration

D．inspiration

6.

A．admire

B．reflect

C．decorate

D．memorize

7.

A．defend

B．preserve

C．energize

D．challenge

8.

A．position

B．destination

C．site

D．facility

9.

A．self-disciplined

B．assembly-lined

C．cutting-edge

D．well-off

10.

A．transported

B．dismissed

C．fired

D．improved

11.

A．sculpture

B．status

C．knot

D．packaging

12.

A．amazing

B．different

C．selective

D．senior

13.

A．historically

B．equally

C．currently

D．realistically

14.

A．In addition to

B．Other than

C．In response to

D．with regard to

15.

A．Typically

B．Actually

C．Similarly

D．Contrarily

10 . 选词填空

A.	currently	B.	requests	C.	attitude	D.	common	E.	specially	F.	refers
G.	frequent	H.	practical	I.	contributes	J.	essential	K.	variety

The Art of Gift Giving in China

On my fifth birthday party, after having opened all of my gifts, I expressed my disappointment at the lack of planning and understanding of me that they revealed. Not much has changed since becoming an adult, except that I have learned to keep my mouth shut.

In China, though, my beliefs fit right in. Gifts are a(an)    1    part of friendships and business relationships, and Chinese people share my    2    that a gift should be special, and should have substance (实质).

That doesn’t mean expensive, and in fact it    3    to being “thoughtful”. In America, for example, it wouldn’t be uncommon for a friend to come to a dinner at your home and bring a candle. But in China, if you received a candle, it would have to be very, very special — such as a candle made only in the southern provinces of China from tallow tree (乌桕树) berries, using techniques that have been in place for more than 1,500 years. That’s    4    a gift.

I have received some beautiful gifts from my Chinese colleagues, including tea sets    5    made for me, hand-painted fans, paintings and many books with special significance.

In turn, I must give gifts. I have three standard gifts I use for first meetings: a coffee table book of Arizona photos, an Arizona snow globe and candy made from cactus (仙人掌). Sometimes the gifts I give are    6    things that my colleague    7    from America, such as vitamins and cosmetics (化妆品) not available in China.

As I travel throughout America, I also keep my eyes open for unusual regional gifts, like “tobacco spit” pottery from Kentucky, any “I Love N.Y.” items, United States Congress pens from the Capitol gift shop, California wines or polished semi-precious gems (宝石) from the Southwest. I keep a(an)    8    of gifts in my apartment in Shanghai that I am always restocking as I go back and forth from the United States.

Thanks to my    9    gift exchanges, I have received some amazing things that I truly cherish. And I am glad to finally have found friends who have much in    10    and enjoy giving and receiving meaningful gifts.