1 . There are many movies that you can focus on if you want to improve the way you are learning. Choose one of the movies below and the results will be great in the end!
The King’s Speech
The King's Speech tells the story of a man forced to speak to the world with a stammer (口吃).That movie is filled with lots of encouraging information and is a wonderful movie for those who love language classes.
Inside Job
Inside Job is an Oscar-winning film by Charles Ferguson. It provides a detailed analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008. which caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It's a movie for students who want to learn more about the economic market.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a story of a young drummer who wants to realise his dreams although he doesn't receive any help from the people around him. It\s an interesting movie that will help art students better understand how much hard work can help them realise their dreams.
A Beautiful Mind
A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Prize winner with schizophrenia (精神分裂症).It follows his journey from the point where he is not even aware he has schizophrenia, to the point where Nash and his wife find a way to manage his condition. It includes some interesting physics elements that will help you quite a lot.
1. Which film will you choose if you are interested in economic development?| A．The King’s Speech. | B．Inside Job. |
| C．Whiplash. | D．A Beautiful Mind. |
| A．Making efforts. | B．Asking for help. |
| C．Keeping an interest. | D．Being understandable. |
| A．It focuses on interesting scenic spots. |
| B．It describes the progress in medicine. |
| C．It is based on the story of a real person. |
| D．It records the selection of Nobel Prize winners. |
2 . An ice boat, or iceboat, is a boat fitted with skis or runners and built to travel over ice in much the same way that sailboats do on the water.
Traveling over ice by boat was firstly undertaken for the purpose of transporting goods and equipment. The first recorded ice sailing for pleasure or sport took place in Europe, and the use of iceboats for commercial purposes soon died altogether.
As the result of significantly reduced friction(摩擦), the newer, aerodynamically(空气动力地) designed iceboat can reach extremely high speeds. The runners are angled in such a way as to counter the lateral force of the wind on the sails.
High speed and cruel weather can combine to create a dangerous environment.
| A．Therefore, people are cautious when using an ice boat. |
| B．Safety is a very high priority. |
| C．Once a certain level of force has been reached. |
| D．They are of great use in colder places. |
| E．The earliest iceboats were patterned after traditional sailboats. |
| F．Most iceboats are built for one person only. |
| G．The only exception was their use in transporting lighthouse workers during the winter. |
3 . When Carson Palmer, a professional American football player, hurt his arm a few years ago, he took a week off from throwing the football. But in his head, Palme practiced every day. The following weekend, Palmer had the best game of his life.
For more than a century, scientists have been trying to understand how this mental training works. In the 1930s, researchers proved by experiment that when you’re imagining an action, your brain sends signals to your muscles which are too weak to tighten the muscles but might help train the body to perform. In other words, mental practice might create a pattern in your head, like an inner how-to guide for a particular skill.
Sports psychologists have conducted hundreds of studies comparing imagined and physical practice for actions. On the whole, the research shows that mental training works. A 2012 study, for example, compared 32 amateur golfers who practiced hitting the balls to another 32 who merely held a golf club in their hands and visualized (想象) their swings.
Under the same training rules, both groups improved their skills by getting the ball about 4 inches closer to the hole.
Visualization has advantages over the real thing: You can do it anywhere, even when injured. It is safe — a major plus for high-risk performers such as gymnasts and surgeons. And you can practice for longer periods of time because you’re not restricted by physical tiredness. That’s not to say it’s easy. “We’ve had Olympic-level athletes sitting in our lab, visualizing the movements for two hours,” says Tadhg Macintyre, a sports psychologist at the University of Limerick in Ireland. “When we’re done, they’re absolutely tired.”
It doesn’t work for everyone, though. “If you’re a novice, the effect can be harmful,” warns Macintyre. “If you’re trying to visualize a free throw, and you don’t even know the proper movement, then you’re probably going to mentally practice the wrong skill.”
1. The author introduces the topic of the text by_ .| A．giving an example | B．presenting an argument |
| C．explaining a phenomenon | D．making an assumption |
| A．A special skill is quickly acquired. |
| B．A certain model is formed in the head |
| C．The muscles grow increasingly tense. |
| D．The brain sends strong messages to the body. |
| A．Athletes are likely to win games through imagined practice. |
| B．Practicing a skill properly in mind can produce intended effect. |
| C．Practice whether mental or physical has its own characteristics. |
| D．Scientists have found a sale way for athletes to practice their skills. |
4 . While everyone enjoys listening to good music, not many of us are what the world calls "musician" —the ones with the ability to play a musical instrument. This could be due to not having the chance to learn as kids or simply due to lack of proper instruction.
It teaches patience.
It promotes a sense of achievement. The process of learning how to play an instrument can be both time consuming and tiring.
It regulates mood. Research shows that creating music reduces stress. Playing music can also act as an emotional way to express your feelings.
| A．It brings pleasure. |
| B．It improves listening skills. |
| C．However, music is something that is never too late to learn. |
| D．Overcoming this directly results in a sense of achievement and pride. |
| E．Playing an instrument is not something that can be learned overnight. |
| F．Regularly playing any instrument is a great form of exercise for the brain. |
| G．Creating your own music can change your sadness or joy into a real work of art. |
5 . It's common that a Japanese-American bows on the phone—but only in Japanese. Behaviors and manners can become so routine that they appear even when there's no need for them.Those who are bilingual and bi-cultural know first-hand that how we behave can depend on what language we are speaking.Experts have shown that who you are in the moment can depend on the language you are using at that time.
This is because when you have an experience,the language you are using becomes associated with it.For bilingual people,this means certain memories are more closely associated with one language than the other-a phenomenon called language-dependent memory.For example,a childhood memory is more likely to be remembered when the language spoken during that childhood event is spoken again.
How we think and feel can thus change depending on what language we are using.For example,people who are bilingual have an intensified stress response when listening to the words of scolding in a native language.This may be,in part,because our early memories associated with learning a"bad”word or being scolded by our parents happened in our native language.
Because emotions play a key role in how we make decisions,people are often more sensible when making choices in the less emotional foreign language.When asked whether they would be willing to give one person's life to save a group,people who speak more than one language are much more likely to say"yes" when answering in a foreign language.The unpleasant feelings that can prevent us from making difficult choices are reduced when we're using a non-native language.
The Language we speak has an influence on how we think,feel,and even behave.In a way,knowing different languages can provide people with a variety of views through which to see the world.
1. Why is the example of Japanese-American mentioned?| A．To show the influence of culture is huge. |
| B．To show bowing is Japanese people's routine. |
| C．To show Japanese people are polite on the phone. |
| D．To show one's use of language affects one's behavior. |
| A．Worse. |
| B．Better. |
| C．Increased. |
| D．Limited. |
| A．make a sound decision |
| B．prevent himself from danger |
| C．be influenced by other people |
| D．have difficulty making decisions |
| A．You Are Actually What You Are Speaking |
| B．Native Languages Make People Speak More |
| C．Different Languages Have Different Influences |
| D．Speak Your Native Language in Other Countries |
6 . Meeting at a church on a Friday night is not usual for most college students,but it is usual for the women members of the Alcoholics Anonymous(AA)in my hometown, which is an organization for alcoholics who want to stop drinking alcohol.AA is founded upon a number of principles,including twelve steps and twelve traditions,but the only requirement for becoming a member is a strong wish to stop drinking.
The AA meeting I attended was in a speaker week,which meant that most of the time was spent listening to a member talking about her journey with alcohol.The speaker told other members her true story of alcohol problems.The group processed the story in a positive way.I noticed several times when members laughed,smiled,and made brief supporting comments while she spoke.Later,a member named Lucy shared with me her view that"this is the kind of place where you can talk about things,and everyone just laughs...no judgment but support."Being able to talk about her feelings and experiences,receiving support,and the lack of judgment were a large part of her decision to keep coming to the meetings.
Years later,I looked back on the meeting I attended with positive memories.The members at the meeting were mothers,sisters,grandmothers,aunts,daughters,and friends.Some were professionals, some were students,and some were unemployed. Despite their differences,they united in their common goal for a better life.AA is a prime example of how a group of people follow a program and work together at changing their habits.The meeting changed the way I looked at addiction-it was no longer a monster. Now I think it's essential to have support when you're struggling with addiction,just as with any lifestyle change.
1. What is the purpose of the Alcoholics Anonymous?| A．To create a program for college students. |
| B．To improve the alcohol industry. |
| C．To help people give up drinking. |
| D．To break twelve traditions. |
| A．Unfriendly judgment on her stories. |
| B．Loud laughter from the audiences. |
| C．Too little time left for her. |
| D．Silence after her speech. |
| A．Sharing feelings with friends. |
| B．My experience of an AA meeting. |
| C．AA helping women lead a better life. |
| D．Tips on getting rid of alcohol addiction. |
7 . On the 3rd of July,about six in the morning,I was watering my flowers.A young man entered the garden.He was blonde,beardless;he wore a German cap and gold glasses in a proud way.A long,loose woolen coat hung down in a sad way around his body.He wore no gloves;his leather shoes had huge soles.I put down my watering-pot, and greeted him in German with:"Guten Morgen!”＂Monsieur,"he said to me in French, but with a very unpleasant accent,"my name is Hermann Schultz;I have come to pass some months in Greece,and I have carried your book with me everywhere."
That praise filled my heart with sweet joy;the stranger's voice seemed more beautiful than Mozart's music,and I directed a swift look of gratitude toward his gold glasses.You would hardly believe how much we love those who have taken the trouble to understand our jargon(行业术语)。
I took him by the hand and seated him beside me on the garden-bench.He told me that he was a botanist and that he had a commission from the"Jardin des Plantes"in Hamburg.In order to complete his herbarium(植物标本馆)，he was studying the country,the animals,and the people.He expressed himself uneasily,but with frankness which inspired confidence.He questioned me,if not about every one in Athens,at least about all the principal persons in my book.In the course of the conversation,he made some statements on general subjects,which seemed to me quite insightful.Therefore, they motivated me to think more deeply and get a more reasonable opinion.At the end of an hour we had become good friends.
1. How did the author find the young man at first?| A．Fashionable. |
| B．Unfavorable. |
| C．Easy-going. |
| D．Indifferent. |
| A．Because he brought the author a good pair of glasses. |
| B．Because he thought highly of the author's achievements. |
| C．Because he delighted the author with Mozart's music. |
| D．Because he took the time to read the author's work. |
| A．He was good at public speaking. |
| B．He was lacking in self-confidence. |
| C．He was slow in learning German culture. |
| D．He was enthusiastic about studies of plants. |
| A．To introduce a young botanist's achievements. |
| B．To show the start of his friendship with a stranger. |
| C．To describe the benefits of doing gardening. |
| D．To explain the beauty of studying biology. |
8 . Jo Du was being helped into her beautiful white wedding dress this week when a tooth on the zipper (拉链) broke. It was Sunday in Guelph, Ontario, and no tailor (裁缝) shop was open.
Jo Du didn't want to marry Earl Lee with pins (别针) in the back of her dress. But no one in the wedding party knew how to make the repair.
The best man knocked on a neighbor's door to ask David Hobson if he might have a pair of scissors they could borrow. Mr. Hobson said, “I've got better than tools. I've got a tailor.”
David Hobson had a family of Syrian refugees (难民) living in his home for a few days: a mother, father, and 3 children.
The father of the Syrian family was Ibrahim Halil Dudu. He was a tailor in Syria for 28 years, and as soon as he saw the dress, Ibrahim Dudu got out his sewing (缝) tools and set to work.
“He really sewed her wedding dress back onto her,” Lindsay Coulter, the wedding photographer, told CTV News. “Everyone was so thankful. They said thank you a million times.”
“Every weekend I take photos of people on the happiest days of their lives, and today one man who has seen some of the worst things our world has to offer came to help,”said Lindsay Coulter, who posted photos and wrote on her Facebook page.
“I was so excited and so happy,” Ibrahim Halil Dudu said through a translator.“I like to help Canadian people from my heart.”
Earl Lee called the tailor's skillful repair, an “unbelievable act of kindness”from a“complete stranger who had only stepped foot in this country days ago.”
1. What was a big problem for Jo Du?| A．It was not easy for her to find some pins. |
| B．Her wedding dress had to be repaired soon. |
| C．She didn't know where to buy a new zipper. |
| D．There was something wrong with her scissors. |
| A．He introduced a tailor to her. |
| B．He lent a pair of scissors to her. |
| C．He helped her find the best man. |
| D．He helped organize her wedding. |
| A．Earl Lee. |
| B．David Hobson. |
| C．Ibrahim Dudu. |
| D．Lindsay Coulter. |
| A．She worked as a translator. |
| B．She felt sorry for the tailor. |
| C．She was a refugee from Syria. |
| D．She was a news reporter. |
9 . If you’ re a student, developing the following skills will help you achieve success in school and in life.
Time management. High-school students have an average of 35 hours per week of class time and college students have an average of 15 to 18 hours per week. Manage your free time wisely and you'll make full use of each day.
Good study habits. If you’ve got them, it’s great. If not, there's still time to develop them. Good study habits include the following:
●Always be prepared for class, and attend classes regularly.
●Finish homework in a timely manner.
●Review your notes daily rather than study for tests the night before.
●Set aside quiet time each day for study, even if you don't have homework or a test the next day!
Good note-taking. Your can't possibly set down everything the teacher says since we talk at a pace of about 225 words per minute. But, you do need to set down the important materials. Note-taking should be in a way that's the most helpful to you. You can try writing notes on different colored cards. If you really have a problem with note-taking, you might ask your teacher if you can record daily lessons.Do whatever it takes.
Review of daily notes. Don't wait until the night before the test to review your notes. Go over your notes each day while the lecture is still fresh in your mind. Add any missing pieces. Compare your notes with a classmate's notes. Review your notes each day to improve your learning and build towards your final goal: mastery of the subject or skill.
1. What is the main advantage of reviewing daily notes?| A．To help write down the important materials. |
| B．To add any missing pieces to your notes. |
| C．To solve the problem with note-taking timely |
| D．To help you to master the subject greatly. |
| A．get them as early as you can | B．go over your notes every day |
| C．study for tests the night before | D．set down all the teacher says |
| A．Wise Time Use and Management |
| B．The Importance of Good Study Habits. |
| C．Tips for Students to Achieve Success. |
| D．Good Note-taking and Review of Daily Notes. |
10 . Being a teenager can be hard, for you have to face a lot of difficult problems, but a new program called Nfusion is working hard to help teens with mental(精神的) health needs. Nfusion gives teenagers classes where they study or discuss some troubling subjects. Drugs and bullying(欺凌) are just a few of the topics discussed during the class on Saturday.
“I had a bad attitude,” said 17-year-old Titeana Davis. Davis went through the Nfusion Program last year. The teen, who once had trouble with her attitude towards others, says the program has changed her life. “They taught me a bad attitude is not going to get you anywhere,” said Davis.
Nfusion is a new program that meets teens mental health needs and provides help for their families. The program is designed to help teens aged 14-21 live through a difficult period.
“They’re still growing, still developing and still there are a lot of things they don’t know how to address. So this is a good program for them to be a part of,” said Lakicha Jemigan, who worked for the Nfusion Program.
Teens like Davis are just a few who have come through the program successfully. Now thanks to Nfusion, Davis says she’s looking forward to a bright future. “After I graduate from college, I want to work at a primary school and I want to be a second grade teacher,” added Davis.
1. What’s the purpose of Nfusion?| A．To provide teens with some programs. | B．To help teens fight for a better future. |
| C．To help teens receive a good education. | D．To meet the mental health needs of teens. |
| A．look for | B．deal with |
| C．talk about | D．learn from |
| A．She became a teacher. | B．She worked for Nfusion. |
| C．She went back to school. | D．She got along well with others. |
