1 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

Is it possible to improve your brain function? The answer is “yes”.

Information in your brain is collected, stored and recalled by neural pathways. These pathways are responsible for your abilities to solve problems, remember familiar faces and tasks, without paying a ton of efforts. Millions of these neural pathways begin developing from the time when you are growing into a baby. To keep our memory healthy, we need to create new pathways continually.

As we age, our lifestyles often change, stopping those pathways from being developed. Two frequent changes are a decrease in exercise and less attention to our diet, which have a negative effect on our brain and memory. Our brain requires consistent stimulation, regardless of our age, and looking for ways to excite the production of new pathways is critical. Just like your physical muscles need to be used in different ways to make them stronger, our brain needs change to help challenge its abilities.

One simple way to stimulate the production of new pathways is trying something new.

Challenge your brain with puzzles, a new language or learning how to play an instrument. Anything different and new can stimulate your brain and memory. The best activities are the ones outside of your comfort zone. They push you as you develop new neural pathways. The effort involved in learning and committing to memory a new skill, with new terms and language, is a great way to exercise your brain.

Another way to stimulate the production of new pathways is doing exercise. When you exercise your body, you are also working out your mind, because regular activity helps to improve the chemicals in your brain and to protect brain cells.

1. According to the passage, what can negatively affect our brain and memory?
2. Why are the best activities the ones outside of your comfort zone?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The two ways mentioned in the passage to help create new pathways are trying something new and exercising your brain by challenging your brain with different tasks.
4. What else can you do to improve your brain function? (In about 40 words)

2 . Exploring Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Gaining a richer and deeper understanding of psychology can help people achieve insights into their own actions as well as a better understanding of other people.     1    

One important benefit from a psychology major is that it teaches the student about the human mind and why people act in various manners. Not all psychology majors will become psychologists.     2     All people must interact with others whether it is at home or at a workplace. People respond to these interactions in a wide number of ways. For instance, the person may not know why he or she is bothered by a specific action at work. However, the person who has studied psychology has an obvious advantage in this area.

Psychology also offers the individual insight into himself or herself. As the person learns about the human mind, how it works and why people behave in specific manners, the person may also begin to recognize both harmful and helpful thought patterns in himself or herself.

This may lead the person to an increased level of self-awareness.     3     It also shows the person where he or she possesses strength and crucial skills for the modern world. Individuals who are more self-aware are more likely to accomplish their goals and dreams.

    4     A person may enter a vast field where psychologists and those trained in psychology work. These areas include industrial psychology, school psychology, private practice, organizational behavioral fields, law enforcement and virtually every other field.

    5     As stated, there are a number of career opportunities from which a psychology major may choose.

A．Self-awareness is a vital skill for any person to have.

B．It shows the individual what areas the person needs to strengthen.

C．As a result, psychology becomes an incredibly popular college major.

D．A psychology major examines the science of human behavior and mental processes.

E．All fields have the opportunity to benefit from the guidance that psychology can offer.

F．The third reason why psychology is a useful major is that it opens up a wide range of career opportunities.

G．However, all psychology majors will develop an increased awareness about human behavior and thought patterns.

3 . The 24 solar terms were created thousands of years ago in China to guide agricultural production. They also reflect China’s rich history through the seasonal festivals, special foods, cultural ceremonies, family gatherings and even healthy living tips that correspond with each solar term.    1    

Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north and trees and grass turn green again.

    2    In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall. At this time of year, farmers begin to plough their fields. It’s the right time to prepare for spring sowing when the day gets warmer.    3    

During Rain Water period, extra care is needed to deal with a returning cold spell and humidity, which is the amount of water in the air.    4    It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially the elderly and children.

The wet and humid weather during Rain Water period is considered harmful for people’s spleen and stomach according to Chinese medical practice.    5    People in Beijing often eat porridge (粥) cooked with a kind of Chinese herb medicine to resist cold and wet weather. Honey, dates and Chinese yam are also very good nourishment (营养) to put in the porridge.

A．With Rain Water coming, insects become more active.

B．A bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.

C．Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period to water the fields.

D．According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil.

E．The temperature in most of the basin areas increases quickly during Rain Water.

F．One of the 24 solar terms, which is very important in spring, is called Rain Water.

G．The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather.

4 . There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the influence of media is growing stronger and stronger as time passes. If you have noticed, the speed at which news travels around the world has become faster with the development and advancement in technology Media are actually influencing people in different ways.

Whether you admit it or not, watching movies and programs on the television or our laptop, ipad and other mobile devices as we relax takes us away into this different kingdom — that is, there are parts in our being that feels we are the ones in the movie and sometimes we even feel what they are feeling as we get caught in the emotional excitement. The effect of media does not stop when the movie or program ends. And this effect might just be the cause of behavioral changes in people.

With action films, children tend to follow the movie hero, engaging them to violent acts thinking that it is acceptable because his hero became successful in the end. There are cartoon programs that show acts of violence and dishonest acts against others. In return, children tend to copy the characters and think that cheating other people is a way to deal with their problems. They learn to transfer these ill behaviors to friends.

There are some television shows and movies that attempt to create an atmosphere to change the view of people towards social issues such as racial discrimination. In the minds of other people, the effect can be for the better, but some unfortunately for the worse.

There had been instances in the past that young people drunk driving imitating their favorite actress. There was also a case where somebody set a subway ticket booth on fire because he saw it in his favorite film. These are just a few examples of the disturbing influence of media on people’s behavior.

An explanation to these bad acts is that these people could not distinguish fantasy from reality. They get caught up in the kingdom of what they had been watching and the images and scenes become deeply rooted in their minds.

So the media is largely responsible for giving people false ideas and unhealthy pictures, which lead to misbehavior against other people, and can create a dangerous cycle among individuals as they attempt to do the same or even worse things to others. The sad reality is, no one is tuning off their televisions or disconnecting from these influences. The only way programming of this sort will change is when people no longer buy into it, demand it, and watch it.

1. What does the author want to tell us in Paragraph 2?

A．What it is that changes our emotion.

B．How media affect people's behavior.

C．Why we are attracted by movies and programs.

D．Whether people feel being taken away from the reality.

2. According to the author, some people act badly because ________.

A．they are just the violent people

B．they hope to solve social problems

C．they actually can’t tell fantasy from reality

D．they want to change people’s attitudes towards media

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards media?

A．Sympathetic.

B．Critical.

C．Supportive.

D．Cautious.

4. The author supports his ideas mainly by ________.

A．making contrasts and giving examples

B．listing facts and giving research results

C．raising problems and providing solutions

D．showing facts and presenting explanations

5 . Career planning is important. Get started today. Connect your personal interests and academic aspirations to plan a wonderful career at University of New Brunswick (UNB).

Career Connections will help you figure out who you are — your strengths and interests — as you find which field of study and careers arc right for you. Career Connections also helps connect you to the experts, workshops and information you need.

To guide you through your academic and career exploration, Career Connections includes information for future, current, and graduating students. In this site, you will find:

Program Blueprints for each of our programs, career resources including workshops and expert advice, information about experiential learning opportunities, career myths, news trends and career-related research.

On-campus Career Support

We have the experts to help you in your academic and career development.

Career Development & Employment Centre

Consult with your career and employment advisors, depending on your needs; complete workshops for the Career Development Certificate; learn about the Work-study Program; go to career fairs and much more.

Career Counselling

Students are supported by two career counsellors who will help you explore academic and career options through the Carcer Planning Process. They will help you develop a plan for gaining the skills and knowledge needed to pursue your passions.

Academic Advising

Academic advising is an important aspect of career exploration. It is through your academic advisor(s) that you will explore program options, discussing how these fit your career goals, and how to map your academic future in developing the knowledge and skills needed to be an employment-ready, life-long learner.

Experiential Education

There are many experiential (体验的) learning opportunities at UNB. Several programs include work placements as part of your degree requirements. Additional experiential opportunities include the Work-study Program and The Summer Institute. as well as finding and securing employment during your studies or the summer.

1. If you want to get a Career Development Certificate, you’d better go to ________.

A．Career Counselling	B．Academic Advising
C．On-campus Career Support	D．Career Development & Employment Centre

2. Experiential Education can help you ________.

A．get chances for experiential learning

B．study on articles during summer vacation

C．obtain high professional grades and degrees

D．work out the value of programs and institutes

3. Where can you most probably read this passage?

A．In a brochure.

B．On a website.

C．In a magazine.

D．In a news report.