1 . Do you have a brain for math? New research indicates that levels of two key neurotransmitters (脑神经传递素) — glutamate (谷氨酸) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)can predict mathematical abilities, suggesting brain chemistry may be playing a role in those who find math easy.
The new study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, recruited 255 subjects extending a range of six-year olds in primary school to university students. The research focused on glutamate and GABA, known to play a role in brain plasticity (可塑性) and learning. Based on prior research, the focus was on two brain regions linked with mathematical abilities — the left intraparietal sulcus (IPS 顶叶内沟) and the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG 脑额中回).
The results were interestingly different. In the youngest subjects high GABA levels and low glutamate levels in the left IPS were consistently associated with high math skills. But in the older university group the exact opposite was seen: low GABA and high glutamate were linked with strong mathematical abilities. Levels of both neurotransmitters in the MFG did not associate with math skills.
The group was tested twice over 18 months, allowing the researchers to see if these neurotransmitter levels could predict mathematical ability into the future. And it worked, with neurotransmitter levels effectively predicting one’s success on math tests completed a year and a half later.
Another recent study from the same research team looked specifically at GABA levels in MFG of 14 to 18 year olds. That research indicated MFG GABA levels could effectively predict whether a student was still studying maths or had ceased that subject years prior.
Cohen Kadosh, one of the researchers working on the study, says this may indicate math education can help stimulate the development of key brain regions. Further research will work on whether certain learning interventions can help those children less interested in math so these brain regions still get the developmental workout they need.
“Not every adolescent enjoys maths so we need to investigate possible alternatives, such as training in logic and reasoning that engage the same brain area as maths,” says Cohen Kadosh.
1. What is the new study aimed at?| A．Exploring mental development of the subjects. |
| B．Finding the tie between brain chemistry and math. |
| C．Testing the link between brain regions. |
| D．Revealing the structure of brain. |
| A．The levels of GABA decide one’s math skills. |
| B．Low MFG glutamate means poor math ability. |
| C．Neurotransmitters in the MFG affect math skills. |
| D．Math education may help with brain development. |
| A．Studying more possible options. |
| B．Tracing slow learners’ early learning. |
| C．Training math learners respectively. |
| D．Developing key relevant brain areas. |
| A．Factors Affecting Math Skills |
| B．Ways to Promote Math Education |
| C．Brain Activities Involved in Math Study |
| D．Math Ability Predicted by Neurotransmitters |
1. What do the words “this trap” in the first paragraph refer to?
| A．Having a racial bias. | B．Responding to wrong texts. | C．Criticizing political figures. |
| A．Creative. | B．Promising. | C．Controversial. |
| A．Its employees are irresponsible. |
| B．It needs further improvement. |
| C．Its security is doubted. |
3 . The Surprising Strength of “Weak” Social Ties
It’s long been known that a community of supportive relationships improves our quality of life and can even help us recover from illness.
Claire gets cheered up by going to the library and chatting with her favorite librarian every week. Sherry gets great joy from her Sunday breakfasts at a local diner because the manager and her favorite waitress are nice to her.
When we feel blue or lonely, we tend to turn down social engagements, either to avoid the imagined embarrassment of being the only sad person in a group or because socializing with people we don’t know well can be awkward at first.
| A．All of those connections matter — and so do you |
| B．Harvard researcher Hanne Collins discovered something new |
| C．Even those we meet only once can leave a lasting impression |
| D．Our shared kindness and familiarity offer me a sense of community |
| E．Interacting with the weak ties encourages us to behave more professionally |
| F．But saying yes, despite the hesitation, offers an opportunity to feel less lonely |
| G．So notice, pay attention to, and be grateful for your big, wide world of loose social ties |
1. How long is a laundromat usually open?
| A．7 hours. | B．10 hours. | C．15 hours. |
| A．Buy it from a machine. |
| B．Ask the employees for help. |
| C．Borrow it from other people. |
| A．Reading rooms. | B．Free Wi-Fi. | C．Cafes. |
Meles Mauro fled from his village near Addis Ababa to the Nigeria capital because he had nowhere else to go. He was five years old and both his parents were dead. He’d headed to his aunt’s, but she had seven children and couldn’t take him in permanently. Soon Mauro was participating in the street economy, along with roughly 10,000 other orphaned kids in Addis. To survive, he shined shoes, sold peanuts and begged.
Then, when he was about nine, Mauro met Kelsey Golden. A year earlier, in 1996, Golden had flown from Germany to her hometown of Addis to visit her mother for the first time in well over a decade. Accompanying Golden were her husband, Scott Smillie (a social worker), and their two children. The family had come with the intention of helping street-involved children, but without a set target.
When they were walking on the street of Addis, their children found something confusing. “Why aren’t they wearing any shoes?” “Why do they just sit there aimlessly on the street without going to school?” Golden was constantly asked about the kids in the street, bringing her back into the memories of her childhood. Golden had left Nigeria in 1981 on a scholarship to Germany, where she finished her bachelor of science degree at the University of Alberta, began teaching, met Smillie and started a family.
Deep in her heart was the words by her father, a general who had passed away. Her father’s final wish was for his children to someday return to help their country and get orphaned street-involved children to class.
“Mom, do you see that boy, who seemingly looks hungry and wants my hamburger?”
Golden’s mind was drawn back to the present. Following the direction of her son’s finger, she noticed a boy, barefoot, in rags, sitting on the ground, eyes fixed on the hamburger.
Instantly she walked over to the boy, bent down and asked gently, “what’s your name?”
“Mauro, Meles Mauro.” the boy answered, eyes still on the burger.
“Would you like to have a lunch with us together?
“Can I?” Mauro’s eyes fell on Golden, wide open in disbelief.
With the firm nodding from the woman, the boy’s face cracked a radiant smile and had the most delicious meal ever in his life.
注意： 1.续写词数应为150 左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡得相应位置做答。
With the help of the couple, Mauro enjoyed a wonderful life.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Aged 29, Mauro had a job as a professor in a college and he still stayed in touch with Golden.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . The psychological term, valence weighting bias, describes people’s tendency to adapt in new circumstances by drawing more strongly from either their positive or negative attitudes, or rather, whether negative or positive internal “signals” carry the most weight in guiding people’s final behavior.
Studies led by Russell Fazio and Javier Granados from Ohio State University found links between a negative-leaning attitude and procrastination (拖延) and that it’s possible to shift the weighting bias and reverse the tendency to delay a task.
In the study, 147 college students participated in a program allowing them to accumulate course credits for engaging in a research. Those who thought it was an awful thing to do procrastinated starting. The study also explored whether students’ measures of self-control influenced task-related behaviors: How students characterized their level of motivation about the research program, and if that affected whether students got an early start. Results showed the combination of negative weighting bias and self-reported low motivation for self-control was linked to students putting off research program participation by getting started later in the semester.
Then the students in the program who were self-reported procrastinators and who scored high for negative weighting bias were asked to join in another study. Researchers then inspired one group in a way that led participants to weigh positive and negative signals in a more balanced way. This shift caused the students to accumulate credit hours more quickly than the group whose negative weighting bias and low self-control reliably predicted their delay. “If somebody is more motivated and able to think more about it, that might bring other considerations that weaken the influence of the valence weighting bias,” researchers said.
Negative weighting bias can have a positive effect on behavior, though. These researchers have also found evidence that a negative weighting bias may help people be more realistic when they’re asking themselves, “Have I studied enough for this test?” “It’s better to be more objectively balanced than to be at either extreme,” Fazio said. “But the situation where a particular valence weighting bias is likely to be problematic is going to vary.”
1. What can we know about valence weighting bias?| A．It is used in modern technology. | B．It influences people’s mental health. |
| C．It directs what people do variously. | D．It leads to delays in carrying out tasks. |
| A．suffered from valence weighting bias | B．drew more strongly from positivity |
| C．thought poorly of their self-discipline | D．considered themselves lack of motivation |
| A．High scores lead to more consideration. |
| B．Negative weighting bias can be reversed. |
| C．Participants need professional knowledge. |
| D．Measuring properly is of vital importance. |
| A．Negative weighting bias can be beneficial. |
| B．People need to strive to be positive at any time. |
| C．Positive people tend to make random decisions. |
| D．Valence weighting bias applies to different situations. |
I pressed my fist into Dad’s old baseball glove as I stared out of the window of my stepfather’s van. Not a day went by that I didn’t think about Dad and how much I missed him.
The van stopped at the edge of the baseball field. “Hey, buddy, have fun at practice. And don’t forget about your sister’s recital (表演) tonight,” said my stepfather as I climbed out.
Zoe is not my sister, and you can’t tell me what to do, I grumbled (嘟囔) to myself.
A bunch of guys from the team waved from the dugout. I jogged over half-heartedly. “Why do you look so unhappy?” David asked. “I have to go to my stepsister’s dance recital,” I sighed. “It could be worse,” David replied. I shot him an I-highly-doubt-that expression. “What if you had to perform in it?” Kevin said as he leaped and twirled (旋转) like a rodeo bull. I tried not to smile.
The truth was that I had a lot of mixed-up feelings since Mom remarried a few months ago. I had always loved baseball, but even that felt different lately. I could barely concentrate.
After practice, David and I sat together waiting for our ride. “I wish things didn’t have to change,” I said, “you know, for my mom and me.” “I have a stepmother and stepbrother too,” David said as if it were no big deal. “Seriously?” I hadn’t realized that, so I asked. David shrugged, “They’re just Mom and Dennis now. Give it a chance.” I let out a breath, still unsure about the recital tonight. Still unsure about everything!
Back home, I found Zoe in her costume, but something was wrong. Her arms were folded tight across her chest, and her eyes were glossed with tears. “What’s wrong, Zoe?” I asked. “Opening night jitters (战战兢兢),” my stepfather said. “She doesn’t want to be in the recital,” Mom said.
Huh. This should have been the best thing that could have happened — the possibility of not having to go to the performance. But somehow it wasn’t. Zoe had practiced so hard. And she’d reminded me at least a thousand times where she would be onstage.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Thinking of Kevin’s funny dance, I had an idea.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After Zoe disappeared into dancers backstage, we found our seats.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________William grew up in Miami in a rough area. William’s father ran a fish business in the Florida Keys, and William helped with it. Fishing was a huge part of their life. His father always said, “Fishing is so peaceful, and it is like an escape.”
Inspired by his father. William founded a nonprofit fishing organization in Lakeland, Florida, which took many kids on fishing trips. Its purpose was to instruct poor kids without their fathers’ company through the sport of fishing.
During the weekdays, William worked as a tire salesman. On weekends, he and a few other volunteers, mostly people from his workshop, took about 20 kids out to fish in the nearby river at a time. To make the kids enjoy fishing safely and happily, he previously led his staff in professional training in fishing and boating.
William went to local homes himself to invite the kids to go fishing. Many had never been fishing or even on a boat, so William. or Big Will, as the kids call him, started by teaching the basics. Then came the life lessons that fishing offered: patience, teamwork and the simple joy of relaxing outdoors. The fishing organization took more than 600 fishing trips with almost 2,000 kids who lacked their fathers’ company in their lives.
Of course, William’s great kindness was widely recognized in society. When William explained his mission to Captain Jack, who was in charge of a boat in Clearwater, Captain Jack offered him a great deal. Then the nonprofit fishing organization paid less money to spend weekends on the boat. The kids were inspired to release little fish. On a recent trip with kids from a group home, William kept some big fish and enjoyed delicious fish soup with the kids at dinner.
William kept searching the neighborhood for kids in need and sharing his love of fishing with the kids. He said, “I just want to show them that I care about them and that I’m there for them.” Many kids went on multiple trips, so William was able to build relationships with them.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One day, William noticed his eight-year-old neighbor, Camron, sitting sadly in front of his door.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Big Will’s reputation was growing, and the nonprofit fishing organization attracted more sponsors besides Captain Jack.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________| A．The U.S. is not one of the happiest countries in the world |
| B．The U.S. experienced a decline in happiness only from 2005 to 2007 . |
| C．The U.S. is not included in the top 10 happiest countries |
| D．The U.S. is among the 47 countries experiencing a decline in happiness |
| A．Greece . | B．Burundi. | C．Denmark . | D．Australia. |
| A．Quality education. | B．Safety from crime | C．Good health. | D．Wealth. |
| A．Endurance. | B．Exhausted. |
| C．Survivor. | D．That’ll Teach’em. |
| A．It aims at making money. | B．It gets adults involved. |
| C．It is unpleasant. | D．It is educational. |
| A．They are extremely dangerous. | B．They are over commercial. |
| C．They are entirely fictional. | D．They are quite popular. |
