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.

2. What can be learned from the findings?

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.

3. What can better math education according to Cohen Kadosh?

A．Studying more possible options.

B．Tracing slow learners’ early learning.

C．Training math learners respectively.

D．Developing key relevant brain areas.

4. What can be the best title of the text?

A．Factors Affecting Math Skills

B．Ways to Promote Math Education

C．Brain Activities Involved in Math Study

D．Math Ability Predicted by Neurotransmitters

2 . Questions 14 through 16 are based on the following passage. 1.

A．Recognizing one’s abilities.

B．Analyzing one’s strengths and weaknesses.

C．Matching one’s abilities to job vacancies.

D．Presenting one’s abilities to future employers.

2.

A．Finding out what they can do about the employer.

B．Avoiding asking unsure questions.

C．Arriving as early as they can.

D．Answering questions in a polite way.

3.

A．Graduates from famous universities.	B．Determined, skilled and able people.
C．Capable and modest people.	D．People with much work experience.

3 . 主席不仅致力于打造一个科技强国，还号召人们加强科技创新园区的建设，并推动绿色制造业的发展。（call on）(汉译英)
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4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
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.

2. What does Ethan Mollick think of Gemini’s early launch?

A．Creative.

B．Promising.

C．Controversial.

3. What can we infer about Google from the last paragraph?

A．Its employees are irresponsible.

B．It needs further improvement.

C．Its security is doubted.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Bill and I were far from expert sailors. We’d purchased our 36-foot boat a few years earlier. Since then, we’d taken a number of short trips around Lake Michigan. But Bill and I still had a lot to learn.

It was clear on the first day of this trip, our longest adventure to date—80 miles to Fayette State Park. Not long after we’d left our home port, Menominee, Michigan, on the shore of Green Bay, the sky turned dark, the waves grew and the wind picked up. There had been rain and strong wind forecast, but we weren’t prepared for them. Should we keep going or head for a safe port?

“Escanaba’s not far away if we can make it,” Bill said. I nodded my head. He drew down the sails and turned on the engine. Soon we made it to the port. After Bill gassed up, we cooked up some dinner, made hot coffee and listened to the music of the rain and wind.

The next morning, we awoke to a beautiful midsummer day. The sky was clear. We set sail after breakfast across Green Bay and onto the waters of western Lake Michigan. Twenty miles were left to our destination. For the first hour or so, everything went well. Then the wind, which had carried us along at a steady but gentle pace, suddenly died. Died completely. We had to start the motor.

The engine coughed, and the boat trembled. I looked at Bill. “I pumped in enough gas, so that can’t be the problem,” Bill said. The engine coughed again, and then shut down. Every attempt to start it failed. “I think I know what’s wrong,” he said and raced to the bow. I followed. When I reached there, he was holding the gas cap. He had been in such a rush to fill up the tank the night before to get out of the rain that he had forgotten to fasten the gas cap back on. Now the boat motor was flooded.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。

We tried to make a phone call, but there was no signal.

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Just as we were desperate, an old boat came along.

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6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What can the woman see?

A．A drink shop.

B．The traffic lights.

C．An advertisement.

2. Where is the man?

A．At the bottom of North Street.

B．At the front door of a clothes store.

C．At the front door of a department store.

3. What will the man do next?

A．Call the police.

B．Have a drink in a cafe.

C．Go to meet the woman.

4. What problem do the speakers have?

A．They arrive at different places.

B．They can’t agree on a place for shopping.

C．They don’t know where a department store is.

7 . 假设近期你们班组织了一场辩论赛。讨论的主题是：城市内是否可以养宠物（pet）。请你根据以下信息，介绍辩论结果，并说明自己的看法。

正方	反方
安慰、陪伴孤寡老人	造成环境污染
人与动物和谐相处，增添生活乐趣	吵闹声，甚至伤人

要求：1. 词数80词左右；2. 适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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8 . 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.     1    . Regularly interacting with a wide variety of social ties, both “weak” and “strong”, enhances our satisfaction. A rich diversity of ties provides more significant benefits to well-being, and “weak” social ties can prove just as important to life satisfaction as core, or “strong” ties.     2    . There you can find the people who cheer, serve, support, comfort, educate, motivate, and entertain you.

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.     3    . I remember discussing Anna Karenina on an airplane with a wise economics professor, and finding meaningful moments of joy with street musicians and performers.

    4    . When you show kindness to a stranger, your seemingly small act might stay in their memory as a source of support and positivity. Everyone needs to feel significant in the eyes of another. You could be that person for someone in your extended circle. That’s why it’s so important to reach out to people around you, especially when they’re going through hard times.

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.     5    . Being open to both our strong and weak ties allows us to benefit from the comfort, connection, and community they provide.

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

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How long is a laundromat usually open?

A．7 hours.

B．10 hours.

C．15 hours.

2. What can people do after using up washing soap at the laundromat?

A．Buy it from a machine.

B．Ask the employees for help.

C．Borrow it from other people.

3. What has been added at the laundromat recently?

A．Reading rooms.

B．Free Wi-Fi.

C．Cafes.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What happened to Claire when she was six years old?

A．Her mother left her.

B．She lost her father.

C．She lived with her aunt.

2. What did Claire have to do at 8?

A．Work on the farm.

B．Make meals for the family.

C．Go to school early.

3. How did Claire complete her high school?

A．By learning from farmers.

B．By teaching herself.

C．By going to night school.

4. How was Claire’s childhood?

A．Happy.

B．Tough.

C．Carefree.