1 . The benefits of regular exercise are well documented but there’s a new bonus to add to the ever-growing list. New researchers found that middle-aged women who were physically fit could be nearly 90 percent less likely to develop dementia in later life, and as they did, it came on a decade later than less sporty women.
Lead researcher Dr. Helena Horder, of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said : "These findings are exciting because it’s possible that improving people's cardiovascular （心血管的）fitness in middle age could delay or even prevent them from developing dementia. "
For the study, 191 women with an average age of 50 took a bicycle exercise test until they were exhausted to measure their peak （最大值的） cardiovascular capacity. The average peak workload was measured at 103 watts.
A total of 40 women met the criteria for a high fitness level, or 120 watts or higher. A total of 92 women were in the medium fitness category; and 59 women were in the low fitness category, defined as a peak workload of 80 watts or less, or having their exercise tests stopped because of high blood pressure, chest pain or other cardiovascular problems.
These women were then tested for dementia six times over the following four decades. During that time, 44 of the women developed dementia. Five percent of the highly fit women developed dementia, compared to 25 percent of the women with medium fitness and 32 percent of the women with low fitness.
"However, this study does not show cause and effect between cardiovascular fitness and dementia, it only shows an association. More research is needed to see if improved fitness could have a positive effect on the risk of dementia and also to look at when during a lifetime a high fitness level is most important. " She also admitted that a relatively small number of women were studied, all of whom were form Sweden, so the results might not be applicable to other groups.
1. What is on the ever-growing list mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．Positive effects of doing exercises. |
| B．Exercises suitable for the middle-aged. |
| C．Experimental studies on diseases. |
| D．Advantages of sporty woman over man |
| A．To predict their maximum heart rate. |
| B．To assess their cardiovascular capacity |
| C．To change their habits of working out |
| D．To detect their potential health problems |
| A．It aimed to find a cure for dementia. |
| B．Data collection was a lengthy process. |
| C．Some participants withdrew from it. |
| D．The results were far from satisfactory. |
| A．More Women Are Exercising to Prevent Dementia |
| B．Middle-Aged Women Need to Do More Exercise |
| C．Fit Women Are Less Likely to Develop Dementia |
| D．Biking Improves Women's Cardiovascular Fitness |
2 . The United States rose to global power on the strength of its technology, and the lifeblood that technology has long been electricity. By providing long-distance communication and energy, electricity created the modern world. Yet properly understood, the age of electricity is merely the second stage in the age of steam, which began a century earlier.
"It is curious that no one has put together a history of both the steam and electric revolutions." writes Maury Klein in his book The Power Makers, Steam, Electricity, and the Men Invented Modern America. Klein, a noted historian of technology, spins a narrative so lively that at times it reads like a novel.
The story begins in the last years of the 18th century in Scotland, where Watt perfected "the machine that changed the world". Klein writes, "America did not invent the steam engine, but once they grasped its passwords they put it to more uses than anyone else. "
Meanwhile, over the course of 19th century, electricity went from mere curiosity to a basic necessity. Morse invented a code for sending messages over an electromagnetic circuit. Bell then gave the telegraph a voice. Edison perfected an incandescent bulls that brought electric light into the American home.
Most importantly, Edison realized that success depended on mass electrification, which he showed in New York City. With help from Tesla, Westinghouse's firm developed a system using alternating current, which soon became the major forms of power delivery.
To frame his story, Klein creates the character of Ned, a fictional witness to the progress brought about by the steams and electric revolutions in America during one man's lifetime. It's a technique that helps turn a long narrative into an interesting one.
1. What is Klein's understanding of the age of electricity?| A．It is closely linked to the steam age. |
| B．It began earlier than proper thought. |
| C．It is a little-studied period of history. |
| D．It will come to an end sooner or later. |
| A．He was born in New York City. | B．He wrote many increasing stories, |
| C．He created an electricity company. | D．He lived mainly in the 19th century. |
| A．A biography. | B．A book review. | C．A short story. | D．A science report. |
3 . Last year I decided to do some volunteer work. I began to
I was sent to the Coronado National Forest for my first 8-day
My job was to
Three days later, a beautiful stairway came into being. The
But on the last night we were
| A．calculate | B．negotiate | C．advertise | D．research |
| A．imagined | B．introduced | C．enjoyed | D．found |
| A．annoyed | B．surprised | C．scared | D．excited |
| A．arriving | B．sleeping | C．thinking | D．walking |
| A．confident | B．friendly | C．energetic | D．curious |
| A．funny | B．good | C．lucky | D．easy |
| A．tour | B．project | C．campaign | D．course |
| A．drop | B．make | C．carry | D．buy |
| A．nice | B．safe | C．long | D．quick |
| A．build | B．test | C．clean | D．guard |
| A．helped | B．ended | C．allowed | D．meant |
| A．hunted | B．trained | C．seen | D．fed |
| A．satisfaction | B．ambition | C．expectation | D．intention |
| A．work | B．memory | C．record | D．story |
| A．left | B．caught | C．attacked | D．separated |
| A．boiling | B．average | C．normal | D．freezing |
| A．tidy | B．dry | C．new | D．soft |
| A．By the way | B．Regardless of that | C．Needless to say | D．In either case |
| A．survived | B．resisted | C．escaped | D．recovered |
| A．smarter | B．stronger | C．happier | D．busier |
4 . Regardless of the weather or the distance, Paul Wilson will make sure low-income students in his neighbourhood arrive at their college classes on time.
A retired engineer, 76-year-old Wilson has been
Tina Stern
Wilson first worked as a driver through a student-support programme of the non-profit organisation. On Point for College. Although the
For many students, Wilson’s help is not only appreciated, it’s also entirely
| A．linking | B．sending | C．offering | D．distributing |
| A．donating | B．lending | C．delivering | D．volunteering |
| A．paved | B．covered | C．measured | D．wandered |
| A．arguments | B．interviews | C．negotiations | D．conversations |
| A．met | B．driven | C．addressed | D．greeted |
| A．even | B．ever | C．once | D．already |
| A．earned | B．received | C．assessed | D．demanded |
| A．transportation | B．style | C．time | D．communication |
| A．forced | B．awkward | C．ridiculous | D．suspicious |
| A．selects | B．recites | C．guesses | D．remembers |
| A．act on | B．settle on | C．check on | D．agree on |
| A．club | B．league | C．college | D．programme |
| A．far | B．around | C．beyond | D．forwards |
| A．assist | B．watch | C．urge | D．warn |
| A．expects | B．attempts | C．manages | D．hesitates |
| A．extra | B．unusual | C．necessary | D．adequate |
| A．share | B．fuel | C．repair | D．exchange |
| A．required | B．allowed | C．reminded | D．convinced |
| A．experience | B．arrangement | C．appreciation | D．employment |
| A．effort | B．ambition | C．privilege | D．convenience |
5 . No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own
I learned this lesson from a(n)
It was a tradition for the school’s old team to play against the
I started doing anything I could to help them build a little
Six months after suffering our
From the experience I learnt a lot about how the attitude of the leader can
Winners are made, but born.
1.| A．luck | B．tests | C．efforts | D．nature |
| A．experiment | B．experience | C．visit | D．show |
| A．operating | B．editing | C．consulting | D．coaching |
| A．successful | B．excellent | C．strong | D．new |
| A．cheer for | B．prepare for | C．help with | D．finish with |
| A．believe | B．agree | C．describe | D．regret |
| A．realize | B．claim | C．permit | D．demand |
| A．reacting to | B．looking for | C．depending on | D．caring about |
| A．decision | B．attitude | C．conclusion | D．intention |
| A．pride | B．culture | C．fortune | D．relationship |
| A．leaders | B．partners | C．winners | D．learners |
| A．rewards | B．vacations | C．health | D．honor |
| A．risked | B．missed | C．considered | D．practiced |
| A．defeat | B．decline | C．accident | D．mistake |
| A．relax | B．improve | C．expand | D．defend |
| A．shame | B．burden | C．victory | D．favor |
| A．chances | B．thrills | C．concerns | D．offers |
| A．surprise | B．serve | C．interest | D．affect |
| A．encouraged | B．observed | C．protected | D．impressed |
| A．honestly | B．individually | C．calmly | D．differently |
6 . Years ago, my sixth grade teacher had us write letters to our heroes.
In that
I didn’t want to seem like a crazy fan. So I
It was from Jennifer. We
During the conversation, we realized we
Jennifer Cihi, my early hero,
| A．Whether | B．While | C．Unless | D．Once |
| A．write | B．receive | C．mail | D．open |
| A．found out | B．missed out | C．piled up | D．put away |
| A．fan | B．business | C．reminder | D．introduction |
| A．letter | B．book | C．present | D．song |
| A．secret | B．balance | C．word | D．appointment |
| A．gradually | B．suddenly | C．generally | D．quickly |
| A．comfort | B．appreciate | C．envy | D．encounter |
| A．embarrassed | B．thrilled | C．astonished | D．amused |
| A．eventually | B．gently | C．slowly | D．merely |
| A．allowed | B．expected | C．inspired | D．advised |
| A．teacher | B．singer | C．presenter | D．supporter |
| A．instant | B．consistent | C．constant | D．insistent |
| A．signaled | B．declared | C．explained | D．marked |
| A．published | B．discussed | C．exchanged | D．expressed |
| A．by | B．in | C．at | D．on |
| A．shared | B．formed | C．needed | D．promoted |
| A．controlling | B．providing | C．attracting | D．demanding |
| A．described | B．selected | C．considered | D．designed |
| A．however | B．besides | C．though | D．again |
7 . One person’s happiness causes a chain reaction that benefits not only their friends, but their friends’ friends, and their friends’ friends’ friends. The effect lasts for up to one year. The opposite, interestingly, is not the case: Sadness does not spread through social networks as strongly as happiness. Happiness appears to love company more so than misery.
Focusing on 4,739 individuals, Christakis and Fowler, who co-authored this study, observed more than 50,000 social and family ties and analyzed the spread of happiness throughout this group. The researchers found that when an individual becomes happy, a friend living within a mile experiences a 25 percent increased chance of becoming happy. A co-resident spouse (配偶) experiences an 8 percent increased chance, siblings (兄弟姐妹) living within one mile have a 14 percent increased chance, and for next-door neighbors, 34 percent. But the real surprise came with indirect relationships. Again, while an individual becoming happy increases his friend’s chances, a friend of that friend experiences a nearly 10 percent chance of increased happiness, and a friend of that friend has a 5.6 percent increased chance.
The researchers also found that, contrary to what your parents taught you, popularity does lead to happiness. People in the center of their network groups are the most likely people to become happy, and then there are chances that increase to the extent that the people surrounding them also have lots of friends. However, becoming happy does not help migrate a person from the network fringe (外围) to the center. Happiness spreads through the network without changing its structure.
“Imagine a bird’s eye view of a backyard party,” Fowler explains. “You’ll see people in groups at the center, and others on the fringe. The happiest people tend to be the ones in the center. But someone on the fringe who suddenly becomes happy, say through a particular exchange, doesn’t suddenly move into the center of the group. He simply stays where he is—only now he has a far more satisfying sense of well-being.”
Next time, if you’re happy and you know it, thank your friends—and their friends. And while you’re at it, their friends’ friends. But if you’re sad, hold the blame.
1. Who will be more likely to become happy as a man is happy according to the research?| A．His wife. | B．His next-door neighbors. |
| C．His brothers and sisters. | D．A friend of his friend. |
| A．To explain a rule. | B．To clarify a concept. |
| C．To describe a fact. | D．To make a prediction. |
| A．Happiness changes social structures. |
| B．A social network is a double-edged sword. |
| C．Happiness goes hand in hand with sadness. |
| D．Happiness spreads through social networks. |
| A．Friends’ friends may bring you happiness. |
| B．Your friends are to blame for your sadness. |
| C．Your friends decide whether you are happy. |
| D．The happiest friends at party are on the fringe. |
8 . Eight months after my father died, I saw some letters on top of my mother’s coffee table. They were tied with a silk ribbon and addressed to her decades ago in my father’s neat handwriting. I couldn’t imagine my serious father ever writing anything like love letters.
“Would you like me to read them to you?” Mom asked with a hint of a smile.
The letters were written in 1974 over the course of a month when my father traveled to Italy to care for his beloved, sick mother, leaving his wife and me, their newborn daughter, behind in Toronto, the city my parents called home after immigrating to Canada from Italy in 1956.
Growing up, my father was my hero and protector, but he was also a man of few words, part of a generation of immigrant men who worked hard for a better life.
I sat back while my mother read his letters to me, and thought, “Who is this guy?” My father used endearing terms I had never heard him say. He referred to my mother as “my dearesr” and “my companion” who was always in his thoughts. In each letter, he enclosed a Canadian one-dollar bill for me and declared, “You and your mother are my life.”
As children, we assume we know everything about our parents. But, sometimes, we find out that they were and are people with various facets.
My father was proud and stubborn, and he married a woman who was his equal in that regard. During their 58-year marriage, their stubbornness often led to conflict. So it was bittersweet to hear my father’s youthful sentiments read aloud by my elderly mother with a wistful (留恋的) tone. I knew she was thinking about what could have been and what had been once upon a time. After she finished reading the letters, I held them in my hands and examined them like they were fossils. Although a man I knew as economical with his thoughts, he had filled the front and back of several pages.
These letters are only part of their correspondence. My mother wrote back to my father. One day she will read those letters to me, she’s assured me. And just as with my father, they might help me discover another dimension of a parent I never knew before.
1. What kind of person did the author think her father was?| A．Optimistic. | B．Reserved. | C．Sensitive. | D．Romantic. |
| A．Her mother was the family’s provider. |
| B．She didn’t get on well with her father. |
| C．Her parents were emigrants to Italy. |
| D．Her parents shared similar personalities. |
| A．Interests. | B．Ideas. | C．Sides. | D．Possibilities. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Awkward. | C．Thrilled. | D．Heartbroken. |
| A．He was good at hiding his feelings. |
| B．He regretted not being with his family. |
| C．He was a loving husband and father. |
| D．He was stubborn from the inside out. |
9 . Smartphones are our constant companions. For many of us, their glowing screens are a ubiquitous (十分普遍的) presence, drawing us in with endless distractions. They are in our hands as soon as we wake, and command our attention until the final moments before we fall asleep.
Steve Jobs would not approve.
In 2007, Jobs took the stage and introduced the world to the iPhone. If you watch the full speech, you will be surprised by how he imagined our relationship should be with this iconic (标志性的) invention. This vision is so different from the way most of us use these devices now.
In his remarks, Jobs spent an extended amount of time demonstrating how users could utilize (应用) its touch screen before detailing the many ways Apple engineers had improved the age-old process of making phone calls. “It’s the best iPod we’ve ever made,” Jobs exclaimed at one point. “The killer app is making calls,” he later added. Both lines drew thunderous applause.
The presentation confirms that Jobs imagined a simpler iPhone experience than the one we actually have more than a decade later. For example, there was no App Store when the iPhone was first introduced, and this was by design. Jobs was convinced that the phone’s carefully-designed native features were enough. He did not seek to completely change the rhythm of users’ daily lives. He simply wanted to take experiences we had already found important — listening to music, placing calls, generating directions — and make them better.
The minimalist (简约主义者) vision for the iPhone Jobs offered in 2007 is unrecognizable today — and that is a shame.
Under what I call the “constant companion model,” we now see our smartphones as always-on portal (通道) to information. We have become so used to it over the past decade that it is easy to forget the novelty (新奇) of the device. It seems increasingly clear to me that Jobs probably got it right from the very beginning: Many of us would be better-off returning to his original minimalist vision for our phones.
Practically speaking, to be a minimalist smartphone user means only using your device for a small number of features that do things of value to you. Otherwise, you simply put it away outside of these activities. This approach removes this gadget (小玩意) from the position of a constant companion down to a luxury object, such as a fancy bike, that gives you great pleasure when you use it but does not dominate your entire day.
Early in his 2007 keynote jobs said, “Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone.” What he didn’t add, however, was the follow-up promise: “Tomorrow, we’re going to reinvent your life.” The smartphone is fantastic, but it was never meant to be the foundation for a new form of existence. If you return this innovation to its original role, you will get more out of both your phone and your life.
1. According to Steve Jobs, what was the main selling point of Apple’s first iPhone?| A．It allowed its users to have access to the Internet. |
| B．It was actually an iPod that could make phone calls. |
| C．It was installed with applications by third-party developers. |
| D．It could fulfill people’s desire to multitask in their daily lives. |
| A．expect to reinvent his life with the device |
| B．buy the latest model of iPhone and see it as a luxury |
| C．spend more time working than playing with his device |
| D．remove the unnecessary applications from the device |
| A．the native features of smartphones | B．the information on the Internet |
| C．the novelty of the device | D．the constant companion model |
| A．The minimalism of iPhone helps users bring out the best of the device. |
| B．Jobs expected iPhone to be the foundation for a new form of existence. |
| C．Smartphone users have changed their life to enjoy pleasant experiences. |
| D．The invention of App Store has made smartphones luxury objects. |
| A．tell readers why Steve Job created the iPhone |
| B．remind readers not to be addicted to their smartphones |
| C．show readers that smartphones can greatly change their lives |
| D．encourage readers to block Internet access on their smartphones |
I remember the day shyness took over my life. I was 14 and having a French lesson The teacher told us to record ourselves speaking about a holiday. Perfect！ I recorded myself with confidence. Then, I pressed "play" to listen back. All I heard was a little kid talking. My immediate reaction was to assume I was listening to someone else's recording. But that was my voice. I realised there was something strange about me.
My little voice has made me feel really shy. And my shyness has caused me to avoid attending events, not make important connections, and keep my ideas to myself. As a shy person, working from home, hiding behind my computer was brilliant. But the more time I spent hidden away, the more my comfort zone shrank（缩小）. Everyday interactions, like ordering a coffee, became increasingly awkward and uncomfortable.
And then, one day I was at a big conference and it suddenly hit me like lightning. All speakers were confident, comfortable with being seen. There were no quieter voices. But the trouble is, if the loud voices are the only ones you hear, we quiet people feel even more alienated（疏远的）。 The world needs a mixture of personalities. Success is not just about who can shout the loudest. The world needs quieter people, too. That day I chose to stop hiding and embrace my shyness. No more feeling like I needed to change who I am in order to succeed. No more living a small life.
Then I created the Shy and Mighty Society, a space for shy people like me to shine, and in the process of helping others, I could also push myself forward, bit by bit. Now, I'm happy to tell people I feel shy. I'm not ashamed any more. And I know that I’m not alone.
1. Why did the author feel strange about herself after listening to the recording? （no more than 10 words）2. What is the main idea of Para.2? （no more than 10 words
3. What does the underlined word in Para.3 mean? （1 word）
4. Why did the author create the Shy and Mighty Society? （no more than 10 words）
5. Suppose you are in charge of the Shy and Mighty Society, what will you do to help other shy people? And why? （no more than 20 words）
