Honesty is a vital quality of human behavior and always regarded as a virtue.Every time people refer to the topic, I would recall an unforgettable experience which had a deep impact on my growth.
I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him to Mijas, a town 18 miles away and then take the car in a nearby garage to get it serviced.At that time,I had just passed the driving test, and I hardly had a chance to use the car, so I said yes without hesitation.
I drove my father to Mijas,promising to pick him up again at 4 pm, then I went to a nearby garage,and put the car in there. Since I had several hours to spare, I decided to go to a movie theater near the garage to see a movie. However, I was so absorbed in the plot of the movie that l forgot the time. When the last movie finished, I looked at my watch:6 pm.I was two hours late!
I thought my father would be very angry if he knew what I was doing. And he would never let me drive again. So I decided to make up an excuse. Then, I drove to the appointed place,my father was sitting in a corner, waiting patiently. I first apologized for being late, then told him that I wanted to get there as soon as possible, but that something was wrong with some of the main parts of the car.
I would never forget the way he looked at me. “ I'm very disappointed that you thought you had to lie to me, Jason.” My father looked at me again and said, “When you didn’t show up on time, I called the gas station and asked if there was anything wrong. They told me you never picked up the car. So, you see, I know there's nothing wrong with the car at all.”
Paragraph 1
A wave of guilt swept over me.
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Paragraph 2
"I'm going to walk home now and think where I have gone wrong all these years,"father said to me.
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2 . It’s late in the evening, time to close the book and turn off the computer. You’re done for the day. What you may not realize, however, is that the learning process actually continues in your dreams.
It might sound like science fiction, but researchers are increasingly focusing on the relationship between the knowledge and skills our brains absorb during the day and the often strange imaginings they generate at night. Scientists have found that dreaming about a task we’ve learned improves performance in that activity (suggesting that there’s some truth to the popular idea that we’re “getting” a foreign language once we begin dreaming in it). What’s more, dreaming may be an essential part of understanding, organizing and retaining what we learn.
While we sleep, research indicates, the brain replays the patterns of activity it experienced during waking hours, allowing us to enter what one psychologist calls a neural (神经的) virtual reality. A vivid example of such replay can be seen in a video researchers made recently about sleep disorders. They taught a series of dance moves to patients suffering from sleepwalking and related conditions. They then videotaped the subjects as they slept. Lying in bed, eyes closed, one female patient on the tape performs the dance moves she learned earlier.
This shows that while our bodies are at rest, our brains are drawing what’s important from the information and events we’ve recently encountered, then integrating that material into the vast store of what we already know. In a 2010 study, researchers reported that college students who dreamed about a computer maze (迷宫) task they had learned showed a 10-fold improvement in their ability to find their way through the maze compared with participants who did not dream about the task.
That study’s chief researcher Herbert Smith suggested that studying right before bedtime or taking a nap following a study session in the afternoon might increase the probability of dreaming about the material. Think about that as you go to sleep tonight.
1. What happens when one enters a dream state?A.The body continues to act as if the sleeper were awake. |
B.The neural activity of the brain will become intensified. |
C.The brain once again experiences the learning activities of the day. |
D.The brain behaves as if it were playing a virtual reality video game. |
A.It replaces old information with new material. |
B.It processes and absorbs newly acquired information. |
C.It regroups information and places it in different files. |
D.It systematizes all the information collected during the day. |
A.Staying up late before finally going to bed. |
B.Having a period of sleep right after studying. |
C.Having a dream about anything you are interested in. |
D.Thinking about the chances of dreaming about the material. |
A.How study affects people’s dreams. |
B.Why people learn more after sleeping. |
C.What time students should study and sleep. |
D.How dreaming may lead to improved learning outcomes. |
3 . 阅读下面短文,根据所给情节进行续写,使之构成一个完整的故事。
It was Christmas Day. Pappy was working alone fixing an old lantern in the backroom when he heard the ringing of his bell on the shop door. The bell, which produced a uniquely pleasant sound, had been in Pappy’s family for over a hundred years. He valued it dearly and enjoyed sharing its song with all who came to his shop. Although the bell hung on the inside of the main door, Pappy had tied a wire to the screen door so that it would ring whether the inner door was open or not. Hearing the bell, he left the backroom to greet his customer.
“And how can I help you, little lady?” Pappy’s voice was joyful.
“Hello, sir.” The little girl spoke almost in a whisper. She looked at Pappy with her big brown eyes, and then slowly scanned the room in search of something special. Shyly she told him, “I’d like to buy a present, sir.”
“Well, let’s see,” Pappy said, “who is this present for?”
“My grandpa. It’s for my grandpa. But I don’t know what to get.”
Pappy began to make suggestions. “How about a pocket watch? It’s in good condition.” The little girl didn’t answer. She had walked to the doorway and put her small hand on the door. She shook the door gently to ring the bell. Pappy’s face seemed to glow as he saw her smiling with excitement.
“This is just right,” the little girl said. “Momma says grandpa loves music.”
Just then, Pappy’s expression changed. Fearful of breaking the little girl’s heart, he told her, “I’m sorry, Missy. That’s not for sale. Maybe your grandpa would like this little radio.”
The girl looked at the radio, bowed her head, and sadly sighed, “No, I don’t think so.”
In an effort to help her understand, Pappy told her that the bell had been his only companion, for the rest of his family were all gone now, except for his estranged (疏远的) daughter whom he had not seen for nearly a decade.
注意:
所续写短文的词数应为150左右;
应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
续写部分分为两段,每段开头语已为你写好;
续写完成后,请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
With a giant tear in her eye, the little girl looked up at him.
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Paragraph 2:
Later that evening when Pappy was closing up the shop, he heard a familiar ringing.
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4 . In the early 1960s Wilt Chamberlain was one of only three players in the National Basketball Association (NBA)listed at over seven feet. If he had played last season, however, he would have been one of 42. The bodies playing major professional sports have changed dramatically over the years, and managers have been more than willing to adjust team uniforms to fit the growing numbers of bigger, longer frames.
The trend in sports, though, may be obscuring an unrecognized reality: Americans have generally stopped growing. Though typically about two inches taller now than 140 years ago, today's people-especially those born to families who have lived in the U. S. for many generations-apparently reached their limit in the early 1960s. And they aren't likely to get any taller. "In the general population today, at this genetic, environmental level, we've pretty much gone as far as we can go," says anthropologist William Cameron Chum-lea of Wright State University. In the case of NBA players, their increase in height appears to result from the increasingly common practice of recruiting players from all over the world.
Growth, which rarely continues beyond the age of 20, demands calories and nutrients-notably, protein--to feed expanding tissues. At the start of the 20th century, under-nutrition and childhood infections got in the way. But as diet and health improved, children and adolescents have, on average, increased in height by about an inch and a half every 20 years, a pattern known as the secular trend in height. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, average height--5 '9" for men, 5'4" for women--hasn't really changed since 1960.
Genetic maximums can change, but don't expect this to happen soon. Claire C. Gordon, senior anthropologist at the Army Research Center in Natick, Mass ensures that 90 percent of the uniforms and workstations fit recruits without alteration. She says that, unlike those for basketball, the length of military uniforms has not changed for some time. And if you need to predict human height in the near future to design a piece of equipment, Gordon says that by and large, "you could use today's data and feel fairly confident."
1. Wilt Chamberlain is cited as an example to_________.A.illustrate the change of height of NBA players. |
B.show the popularity of NBA players in the U.S.. |
C.compare different generations of NBA players. |
D.assess the achievements of famous NBA players. |
A.Genetic modification. | B.Living standards. |
C.Natural environment. | D.Daily exercise. |
A.the garment industry will reconsider the uniform size. |
B.the design of military uniforms will remain unchanged. |
C.genetic testing will be employed in selecting sportsmen. |
D.the existing data of human height will still be applicable. |
A.the change of human height follows a cyclic pattern. |
B.human height is becoming even more predictable. |
C.Americans have reached their genetic growth limit. |
D.the genetic pattern of Americans has altered. |
5 . Brenda Bongos was a girl with one big ambition to play the drums in a band. But a(n)
Brenda was
One day, while watching a science documentary, she heard that
So Brenda built a space
It wasn't long before she had become
When asked how she had
A.obstacle | B.question | C.figure | D.hand |
A.match | B.band | C.talks | D.scene |
A.sick | B.local | C.elderly | D.poor |
A.delightful | B.wonderful | C.awful | D.respectful |
A.waking | B.reaching | C.embarrassing | D.bothering |
A.scared | B.thrilled | C.determined | D.encouraged |
A.tested | B.tried | C.played | D.found |
A.light | B.sound | C.air | D.heat |
A.musical | B.classical | C.medical | D.physical |
A.bag | B.bubble | C.container | D.aircraft |
A.set | B.pair | C.couple | D.part |
A.turned on | B.put on | C.got on | D.held on |
A.mature | B.skillful | C.famous | D.confident |
A.Hardly | B.Shortly | C.Rarely | D.Swiftly |
A.advice | B.lessons | C.speeches | D.concerts |
A.Suddenly | B.Generally | C.Finally | D.Fortunately |
A.effort | B.performance | C.ambition | D.attempt |
A.gained | B.done | C.got | D.achieved |
A.mattered | B.related | C.owed | D.talked |
A.classes | B.places | C.difficulties | D.lengths |
6 . Heimaey is a small island off the southern coast of Iceland of just 4,200 people. But with its neighboring islands, there
Baby puffins leave at night by instinct (本能) and follow the light of the
Each breeding season, the
The next morning, they take the birds to the beach for
“Thanks to kids’ help, we scientists have learned that baby puffins now weigh less. That means they have a
Scientists worry puffins will
A.has | B.lives | C.stands | D.contains |
A.search | B.continue | C.make | D.follow |
A.life | B.journey | C.trouble | D.luck |
A.sun | B.moon | C.candle | D.bulb |
A.puzzled | B.excited | C.delighted | D.surprised |
A.get into | B.give off | C.figure out | D.end up |
A.slightly | B.fluently | C.mainly | D.hardly |
A.scientists | B.children | C.birds | D.adults |
A.adventure | B.voyage | C.research | D.competition |
A.collect | B.get | C.turn | D.gather |
A.corner | B.run | C.catch | D.count |
A.sale | B.freedom | C.fun | D.release |
A.gentle | B.calm | C.tough | D.rough |
A.take | B.fold | C.spread | D.wave |
A.up | B.down | C.apart | D.free |
A.raised | B.weighed | C.eaten | D.tapped |
A.lower | B.higher | C.worse | D.better |
A.die away | B.die out | C.die down | D.die off |
A.source | B.love | C.energy | D.patience |
A.purpose | B.news | C.story | D.message |
7 . Ecology is a complicated thing. Given the facts that elephant damage often kills trees and bush fires often kill trees, it would be
One common way in which elephants harm trees is by stripping(剥) them of their bark(树皮). Dr Wigley, who did indeed start from the obvious
The researchers also found something else when they were measuring the trees’ wounds: ants. Ten of the 20 trees in the fire-prevention zone developed ant colonies in their wounds. The ants in question were a species that is known to damage trees and is supposed to
A.difficult | B.reasonable | C.necessary | D.awful |
A.however | B.therefore | C.furthermore | D.somehow |
A.uniquely | B.barely | C.actually | D.merely |
A.phenomenon | B.evidence | C.imagination | D.assumption |
A.equally | B.regularly | C.severely | D.purposely |
A.burnt with | B.protected from | C.covered by | D.exposed to |
A.participants | B.partners | C.victims | D.friends |
A.mark | B.remove | C.hit | D.measure |
A.regulated | B.checked | C.healed | D.monitored |
A.disappointment | B.surprise | C.joy | D.relief |
A.vitality | B.height | C.bark | D.strength |
A.controlled | B.prevented | C.started | D.boosted |
A.disturb | B.promote | C.impact | D.quicken |
A.therefore | B.nevertheless | C.then | D.otherwise |
A.beneficial | B.unbelievable | C.effective | D.cruel |
8 . Going to university is supposed to be a mind-broadening experience. That statement is probably made in comparison to training for work straight after school. But is it actually true? Jessika Golle of the University of Tubingen, in Germany reports in Psychological Science this week that those who have been to university indeed seem to leave with broader and more curious minds than those who have spent their immediate post-school years in vocational (职业的) training for work. However, it was not the case that university broadened minds. Rather, vocational training for work seemed to have narrowed them. The result is not quite what might be expected.
Dr. Golle came to this conclusion after she and a team of colleagues studied the early careers of 2,095 German youngsters. The team used two standardized tests to assess their volunteers’ personality traits (特点) including openness, conscientiousness (认真) and so on, and attitudes such as realistic, investigative and enterprising twice, once towards the end of each volunteer’s time at high school, and then again six years later. Of the original group, 382 had to make a choice between the academic and vocational routes, and it was on these that the researchers focused. University beckoned for 212 of them. The remaining 170 chose vocational training and a job.
When it came to the second round of tests, Dr. Golle found that the personalities of both groups had not changed significantly. As for changes in altitude, again, none were noticeable in the university group. However, those who had chosen the vocational route showed marked drops in interest in tasks that are investigative and enterprising in nature. And that might restrict their choice of careers.
The changes in attitude that the researchers recorded were more worrying. Vocational training has always been what Germany prides itself on. If Dr Golle is correct, and changes in attitude brought about by the very training are narrowing people’s choices that is indeed a matter worthy of serious consideration.
1. What does Dr. Colle’s research suggest?A.Going to university is a mind-broadening experience. |
B.College students pride themselves on their education. |
C.Working straight after school narrows people’s minds. |
D.Attending university has apparent effects on personalities. |
A.Examined. | B.Attracted. |
C.Organized. | D.Recognized |
A.it is essential to scientific research. |
B.It leads to marked change in personality. |
C.It helps to broaden the volunteers’ minds. |
D.It causes less interest in investigative job. |
A.Skeptical. | B.Optimistic. |
C.Concerned. | D.Unclear. |
9 . If you wear glasses, chances are you are smarter. Research published in the famous British journal Nature Communications has found that people who displayed higher levels of intelligence were almost 30 percent more likely to wear glasses.
The scientists studied the genes of thousands of people between the ages of 16 and 102.The study showed intelligence can be connected to physical characteristics. One characteristic was eyesight. In out of 10 people who were more intelligent, there was a higher chance they needed glasses. Scientists also said being smarter has other benefits. It is connected to better health.
It is important to remember these are connections which are not proven causes. Scientists call this correlation. Just because something is connected to something else does not mean one of those things caused the other. And it’s worth noting that what constitutes intelligence is subjective and can be difficult, if not impossible, to measure.
Forget genes though. Plenty of proof shows wearing glasses makes people think you are more intelligent, even if you do not need glasses. A number of studies have found people who wear glasses are seen as smarter, hard-working and honest. Many lawyers use this idea to help win their cases. Lawyer Harvey Solves explained this. Glasses soften their appearance. He said Sometimes there has been a huge amount of proof showing that people he was defending broke the law. He had them wear glasses and they weren’t found guilty.
Glasses are also used to show someone is intelligent in movies and on TV. Ideas about people who wear glasses have begun to shift. People who do not need glasses sometimes wear them for fashion only. They want to look worldly or cool. But not everyone is impressed by this idea, though. GQ magazine said people who wear glasses for fashion are trying too hard to look smart and hip (时髦的). However, that hasn’t stopped many celebrities from happily wearing glasses even if they do not need them. Justin Bieber is just one high-profile fan of fashion glasses.
1. What does the new study show?A.People wearing glasses are smarter. |
B.People wearing glasses are healthier. |
C.Wearing glasses can make people cleverer. |
D.Wearing glasses is associated with higher IQ. |
A.Shift. | B.Link. | C.Proof. | D.Consequence. |
A.Because it can create a moral image. |
B.Because it can mislead the witnesses. |
C.Because it can highlight clients’ qualities. |
D.Because it can prove the clients’ innocence. |
A.Positive. | B.Negative. | C.Mixed | D.Indifferent. |
10 . 阅读下面短文,根据所给情节进行续写,使之构成一个完整的故事。
A Vacation with My Mother
I had an interesting childhood. It was filled with surprises and amusements, all because of my mother---loving, sweet, yet absent-minded and forgetful. One strange family trip we took when I was eleven tells a lot about her.
My two sets of grandparents lived in Colorado and North Dakota, and my parents decided to spend a few weeks driving to those states and seeing all the sights along the way. As the first day of our trip approached, David, my eight-year-old brother, and I unwillingly said good-bye to all of our friends. Who knew if we’d ever see them again? Finally, the moment of our departure arrived, and we loaded suitcases, books, games, camping equipment, and a tent into the car and bravely drove off. We bravely drove off again two hours later after we’d returned home to get the purse and traveler’s checks Mom had forgotten.
David and I were always a little nervous when using gas station bathrooms if Mom was driving while Dad slept: “You stand outside the door and play lookout(放哨) while I go, and I’ll stand outside the door and play lookout while you go.” I had terrible pictures in my mind: “Honey, where are the kids?” “What?! Oh, Gosh…I thought they were being awfully quiet.” We were never actually left behind in a strange city, but we weren’t about to take any chances.
On the fourth or fifth night, we had trouble finding a hotel with a vacancy. After driving in vain for some time, Mom suddenly got a great idea: Why didn’t we find a house with a likely-looking backyard and ask if we could set up tent there? David and I became nervous. To our great relief, Dad turned down the idea. Mom never could understand our objections(反对). If a strange family showed up on her front doorstep, Mom would have been delighted. She thinks everyone in the world is as nice as she is. We finally found a vacancy in the next town.
注意:
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右;
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
3. 续写部分分为两段,每段的开头已为你写好;
4. 续写完成后,请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:The next day we remembered the brand-new tent we had brought with us. ______________
Paragraph 2:
We drove through several states and saw lots of great sights along the way. ______________