1 . Do boys and girls really deal with people in different ways? With Leaper’s help, we carried out some tests that showed us yes.
We offered the kids brightly wrapped (包装) gifts which may be disappointing: socks and a pencil. The girls responded very politely. Courtney said happily, “Just what I need. Socks and a pencil!” Her words made me feel good, while the boys weren’t about to make me feel good. “What?” Raja said, “Socks and a pencil? Rip-off!” Jacob had a similar reaction.
Are boys and girls simply born different?
Susan Witt, at the University of Akron, says boys and girls respond differently in situations like these because we parent them differently.
Witt means parents and society treat kids differently. A famous study called “Baby X” designed by Phyllis Katz tested adults on how they treated babies based on what they thought the gender (性别) was. When adults thought they were holding a girl, they held her gently and gave her dolls. When they thought the baby was a boy, they offered him a football. In the 1970s, some people took this to argue boys and girls were born entirely the same, and they behaved differently only because parents and society taught them to. Now, however, it’s accepted that society and biology both create the difference.
Witt also offered a few tips for the parents of girls: Don’t help them so much. Research shows parents tend to help girls more than boys. This can make girls feel helpless and less confident.
In the case of the boys who were honest in our test, we saw that their parents gave them a lot of freedom to act out. “Maybe too much,” says Witt. Witt said Moms should discourage kids who scream out demands.
Finally, a caution (警告) about generalizing about gender. The differences between individuals are frequently bigger than differences between sexes. In our experiments, some girls did speak their mind, and some boys were very polite.
1. What was the boys’ reaction to the gifts in the test?| A．They liked the gifts. |
| B．They were very polite. |
| C．They responded honestly. |
| D．They tried to make others feel good. |
| A．tested adults on how they treated babies based on their gender |
| B．was designed to prove boys and girls are born different |
| C．was designed by Phyllis Katz from the University of Akron |
| D．proved that boys and girls are born entirely the same |
| A．give them more freedom |
| B．offer them more help |
| C．control them a little more |
| D．make them more confident |
| A．The results of the experiments are confusing. |
| B．There’s no need to notice the differences between the sexes. |
| C．Differences between boys and girls aren’t true for all individuals. |
| D．Differences between sexes are more important than those between individuals. |
2 . Is it important for teenagers to own the latest cell-phone models? There are different ways of looking at this question.
First, why do teenagers need to have the latest models? Often it’s just to show off. The paradox is that there are many teenagers who own the latest cell-phone models but don’t even know how to use them properly. This is true. They just want one because their friends have similar ones, or because they take very good videos and photos.
On the other hand, if they do know how to use them, the latest cell phones are really good. They not only help teens to stay in touch with friends and family, but also help them to access the Internet and download pictures, videos or music they need when studying. These new phones are so powerful that having one is almost like having a whole library in your pocket. It’s an instant (即刻的) source of information that helps young people get the latest news. But many parents, thinking only of such positive sides, do not take into consideration the potential dangers. For example, children may constantly be distracted (分心) during class by sending and receiving text messages.
Each young generation loves the new technologies available — just think back to when you were a kid. But your job as a parent is to make sure your child gets the most out of this technology with the least possible harm.
1. According to the second paragraph, teenagers want to have the latest cell-phone models because ________.| A．they want to show they are fashionable |
| B．they think the latest models help them a lot with study |
| C．they think they can keep in touch with others more easily |
| D．they want to learn how to use new technologies |
| A．fault | B．problem | C．benefit | D．imagination |
| A．a new generation always loves new things |
| B．parents also liked technological products when they were young |
| C．parents should make sure children use the new technologies properly |
| D．parents shouldn’t allow children to own a cell Phone |
3 . Traveling can be a very fun and exciting way to vacation with your family, but it does not always turn out as expected. I have traveled a lot with my family over the years, but some experiences are worth forgetting altogether. I remember a particular traveling experience which sticks out in my mind for the wrong reasons.
My dad and stepmom had decided to drive to California for our family vacation. This was supposed to provide educational value, since we would be able to stop along the way and look at various sites in each state. Everything was going as planned until we decided to take a break and stop at the Grand Canyon(大峡谷). I had always wanted to see this exciting place and had decided to write a report on it for my eight-grade English class. We got out of the car and were walking on one of the paths to get to a cliff(悬崖) so we could take a family photo when I slipped(滑倒) and fell down. I fell on a piece of rock, and felt great pain run up my leg at once. My dad took me to the nearest hospital and, after an eight-hour wait in the emergency room(急诊室), found out that I broke two bones in my foot.
Needless to say, our vacation was no fun for me because I was in pain during the whole two-week trip. I ended up making an appointment the day we got home to see a doctor for a check-up. That was definitely not what I consider fun or a great vacation, and it really put a dent in our sightseeing plans.
1. What is the author’s attitude towards traveling?| A．Curious | B．Positive | C．Satisfied | D．Objective(客观的) |
| A．It was full of adventures. (冒险) | B．It was an unpleasant experience. |
| C．It was terribly boring and tiring. | D．It was of educational value to him. |
| A．parking his car | B．walking on a path to a cliff |
| C．taking a photo of his family | D．standing on the edge of a cliff |
| A．the bones of the author’s two legs were broken. |
| B．the author waited for 8 hours before the treatment |
| C．the author was taken to the hospital near his home |
| D．the travel of the family lasted about half a month |
4 . Mozart was one of the greatest composers who ever lived. He was born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756. Even when he was very young, Mozart loved music. His father, who was the leader of an orchestra, was very happy that his son was so interested in music. When Mozart was three years old, he learned to play the harpsichord, which is a kind of piano. Mozart began to compose music at the age of five, and his father took him to play in front of the kings and queens of Europe.
At one concert, one of the violinists was missing from the orchestra. Mozart picked up a violin and played the music without a mistake. Mozart’s father and the other players in the orchestra were surprised. Mozart had never been taught to play the violin! Mozart continued traveling around Europe with his father, who was his teacher in everything. He composed many pieces for the piano, the violin, and later for full orchestra.
Mozart could write down a piece of music even if he had heard it only once. One day, he went to hear a group of people singing in a big church in Rome. The song was very special. The church leader said that people could sing the song only once a year, and only in his church. No one else was allowed to have the music. Mozart listened to the song. Although it was very difficult and long, Mozart went back home and wrote down the whole piece from memory. The head of the church heard about this, and instead of being angry with Mozart, he gave him a prize. When Mozart grew up, people were not so interested in him. He worked as a teacher and pianist, but he did not make much money. In 1791, at the age of 35, he died. He was so poor that there was not enough money for him to have a proper grave. No one knows where he is buried.
1. The story is mainly about ________．| A．Mozart and his music |
| B．a leader of an orchestra |
| C．the life of a great composer |
| D．the head of a church in Rome |
| A．teaching him about music |
| B．giving him a violin to play with |
| C．sending him to a music school |
| D．giving him a lot of money |
| A．went to Rome | B．began to sing |
| C．began to compose music | D．played the harpsichord |
| A．he died poorly |
| B．he did not teach anyone |
| C．he did not know many famous people |
| D．he couldn’t play the piano or violin |
5 . I am lucky enough to have two pairs of grandparents. Both couples have been together for over 50 years and they seem to know a thing or two about relationships. I’ve asked my grandparents to share their secrets and combined their answers into this list. Read on to learn about the things you should do to have a happy family.
Have some time for yourself. Spending time with your family is great, but having time for yourself is also very important. Enjoying some alone time doesn’t make you a bad parent or spouse.
Have traditions.
Say nice things. Feeling appreciated is one of the most important things in a happy family. All of the family members should say how much they appreciate each other, and how grateful they are for everything they do for each other.
Travel. Seeing new things, visiting new places, and experiencing new emotions bring people closer together. Try to go on a big trip at least once a year.
| A．Eat together. |
| B．Everyone needs it. |
| C．Learn something new together. |
| D．If you can, go on some small trips once in a while, too. |
| E．Creating your own family traditions is an amazing thing to do. |
| F．Those easy words of appreciation can make a family much stronger. |
| G．Parents can surprise their children with an unexpected trip to a theme park. |
6 . Born in Balmain, New South Wales in 1937, Dawn Fraser is the youngest of eight children from a working-class family. In 1952, her great swimming ability was noticed by coach Harry Gallagher, who took over her training and set the 1956 Olympics as their goal.
In 1955 Dawn won her first Australian title in the 220 yards freestyle and. during that summer season, went on to rewrite the record books: setting new Australian records in all freestyle events up to 880 yards. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics she became an Australian national hero and world swimming star, winning the 100 metres freestyle gold medal in world record time as well as taking gold in the 100 metres freestyle relay and silver in the 400 metres freestyle.
Dawn won two more gold medals at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, and another gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960 for the 100 metres freestyle. By this time she had become a legend of the first rank in Australian sport. Back then, as today, she remained untouched by her achievements.
After winning four gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. Dawn finished her international swimming career at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, silencing her critics by winning a gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the age of 27. This took her Olympic medal count to four gold medals and four silver medals. She has continued to give back to her sport and other sports by being a mentor(良师) for Abled and Disabled Australian Olympic Teams since 1988.
Twenty years later Dawn returned to public life. She has since kept an active role in the sporting and wider community as patron(代言人) of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, the Wheelchair Sports Association of Victoria and of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She is also a member of the NSW Sports Advisory Board and is a director of the Wests Tigers Football Club, Balmain Leagues Club and Balmain Football Club.
1. What happened when Dawn was 18?| A．She broke records in different events. |
| B．She drew Harry Gallagher’s attention. |
| C．She found a new way of training. |
| D．She became a national hero. |
| A．After she finished her international swimming career in 1964 |
| B．After she won gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960. |
| C．At the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. |
| D．At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. |
| A．She has been working in the sporting business. |
| B．She has set up organisations to help athletes. |
| C．She has started to train young athletes. |
| D．She has been busy with her family life. |
| A．By showing opinions. | B．By giving instructions. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By providing research results. |
7 . Four Health Tips For College Students
As a college student, it is important that you take all of the necessary steps to take care of yourself.
1. Eat Healthy Foods
You may eat a lot of junk food, especially during exams when you don’t have enough time to prepare healthy meals.
2. Watch for Signs of Depression.
3. Get Plenty of Exercise
We all need to have at least a half an hour of exercise each day in order to be healthy. Even if you are busy, it is still important that you take the time to exercise.
4.
It is common for college students to not get enough sleep. Actually you have many things to do, however, you need your sleep, which is going to affect your studies. Make sure that you have a regular bedtime every night, and don’t drink coffee before going to bed.
| A．Get Enough Sleep |
| B．Don’t Study Before Sleeping |
| C．Take time to learn about healthy eating |
| D．If you get sick, learning does not come as easily as it should. |
| E．Sometimes getting sick may let you lose the good chances of your working career. |
| F．Depression is a common problem among college students, but it doesn’t have to be |
| G．Try doing a few exercises between classes, join a team or take part in activities. |
8 . If you are a high school student who will graduate in 2017, or 2018, we invite you to explore all that Harvard’s Secondary School Program has to offer.
Challenge yourself academically while attending college courses
Neuroscience, philosophy, creative writing, and computer science‑these are just a few of the 200-plus course you can choose from. Branch out from typical high school offerings, and explore more advanced topics that you have no chance to learn back home. You’ll study with Harvard teachers who teach the same courses to Harvard College students during the academic year.
Expand your world view
Learn and connect with students from all over the globe. You’ll broaden your horizons, build a lasting network of diverse individuals, and gain a better understanding of other cultures. On campus you can enjoy all that Harvard has to offer. Conduct experiments in Harvard labs, perform research in the world’s largest university library, or work out in our fully equipped fitness facilities.
Become a strong college applicant
You can participate in a variety of activities that expose you to college academics, campus life, and the admission process, including:
● A college fair with more than 60 colleges, including Duke, Stanford, Columbia, the University of North Carolina, and many more
● Organized vistits to New England colleges such as Brown and Yale
● College counseling sessions with assistant deans who can help you select the university that’s right for you
● Workshops to prepare you to write a college application essay or take college exams
The transformation begins here
From the moment you step on campus, you’ll be lost in the Harvard experience. Along with fellow students from around the world, you’ll learn, grow, and have fun in the process.
1. What do we know about the courses offered?| A．They will last for about 2 years. |
| B．They’re unavailable in high school. |
| C．There’s just a few choices. |
| D．They’re specially designed for high school students. |
| A．Enlarge their circle of friends. |
| B．Improve their attitude toward life. |
| C．Find where their interest lies. |
| D．Be more likely to be admitted to Harvard. |
| A．Have a tour of Yale University. |
| B．Take college entrance exams. |
| C．Decide on their future university. |
| D．Join in various cultural activities. |
| A．To list ways of preparing for college. |
| B．To advertise a program from 60 colleges. |
| C．To introduce a student-centered program. |
| D．To show readers how excellent Harvard is. |
9 . Cigarette smoking is injurious to health—everyone knows that. Well, till a few decades ago, people were unaware that smoking could cause lung and heart diseases and cigarette packs never had a warning on them, like they do now.
In recent years, research has shown that smoking is dangerous and it has now been made compulsory for all cigarette manufacturers to have a warning printed on the cover. It states that “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.”
However, cigarette manufacturers do not want people to stop buying their product after reading the warning. So, they have found a convenient way of dealing with the problem. They print the warning in such small letters that one can barely read them.
European health authorities are now insisting that the size of the letters used in these health warnings should be increased. One British engineering firm, Molins, that supplies machines to make cigarettes, has gone a step ahead. The company wants to patent a talking cigarette packet that recites the health warning every time you open it.
The talking packet uses a technology similar to the one used in musical cards. A stiff plastic strip is attached to the lid of the cigarette packet. When the pack is opened, the strip comes into contact with a tiny battery cell (the kind used in watches), which is wired to a small speaker on the base of the pack. This triggers a playback of the health warning.
Will cigarette manufacturers choose these talking packets?
Anti-smoking organizations are thrilled with the invention and are insisting that all cigarette manufacturers should use these packs. However, without government intervention, cigarette manufacturers will pay no attention to the request and continue to use tiny-lettered health warnings on their packets.
1. Cigarette manufacturers print the warning in small letters to________.| A．make it easy to be unnoticed | B．meet the requirement of law |
| C．cut down their cost | D．catch users’ attention |
| A．hear a piece of music | B．see the health warning in large letters |
| C．remember the health warning | D．hear the health warning being read |
| A．talking packets can be put into use soon |
| B．talking packets haven’t been put into use |
| C．cigarette manufacturers are forced to use talking packets now |
| D．talking packets are also welcomed by cigarette manufacturers |
| A．The Harm of Smoking. | B．Talking Cigarette Packets. |
| C．A New Invention. | D．The Trick of Tobacco Manufacturers. |
10 . I recently had an idea to delete my Facebook account. I've played with the idea for a while, but I always hesitated when it came to actually pulling the trigger（扳机）. It was1 a.m. and I was up late studying. After closing my book, I decided to take one last glance at my Facebook page. You know what I'm talking about, you've done it. One more glance just to see if anyone has posted on your wall. Then it hit me. "Dear God," I thought, “What on earth am I doing?” Had it really come to that I had to check my Facebook at l a.m. before I went to bed? How silly! I knew at that moment it had to be done. I had to pull the trigger. I took a deep breath, and with a few quick clicks of the mouse, my Facebook account was no more.
Some people were confused. One of my students wondered when I'll be back on Facebook. He claimed I wouldn't last five days. It's already been six. Overall, my world seems that much smaller, and I really like that. In a world of online communication that lacks true relational depth, it saves time in my already busy life. You don't realize how much time you waste on something like that until it's gone. I'm looking for purity（单纯）in my life, and with one less reason to be online I get one less reason to be exposed to material that can prove to be harmful for my soul. I'm also trying to improve upon the quality of relationships and community around me, and although Facebook is great for networking, I'd much rather sit down with you face to face, or at the very least over the phone to communicate.
1. What does the author mainly tell us in the passage?| A．The advantages and disadvantages of Facebook. | B．How he used to be addicted to Facebook. |
| C．Why he ended his relationship with Facebook. | D．What kind of communication we need in society. |
| A．Too many people posted on his wall recently. | B．He had to spare time for his career. |
| C．He felt very tired from studying. | D．Facebook wasted him much time. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Happy. | C．Disappointed. | D．Worried. |
| A．live a very busy life | B．reach a lot of people through Internet |
| C．communicate with people face to face | D．be surrounded by a few people |
