1 . James Rilling of Emory University in Atlanta published the study in The Royal Society in November,2021. His team surveyed 50 grandmothers each with one biological grandchild be-tween 3 and 12 years old and one of their own child. They also measured the brain function as the participants viewed pictures of their grandchild and the same-sex parent of the grandchild. Researchers found that grandmothers viewing their grandchild’s pictures activated parts of the brain that involved emotional empathy(共鸣)and movement.
In contrast, the study also found that when grandmothers viewed images of their adult child, they showed stronger activation in an area of the brain associated with cognitive(认知的)empathy. That indicates they may be trying to cognitively understand what their adult child is thinking or feeling and why, but not as much from the emotional side. Compared with results from an earlier study by the Rilling lab of fathers viewing photos of their children, results showed that grandmothers activated more parts of the brain that involved emotional empathy and motivation.
“That suggests that grandmothers tend to feel what their grandchildren are feeling when they interact with them,” Rilling said. “If their grandchild is smiling, they’re feeling the child’s joy. And if their grandchild is crying, they’re feeling the child’s pain and sorrow.” In many societies, grandmothers are important caregivers, and their investment is often associated with improving their grandchildren’s well-being.
It’s part of the reason why the US celebrates Grandparents’ Day each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day in September. The announcement was signed in 1978. “Because grandparents are usually free to love, guide and befriend the young without having to take the daily responsibility for them. They can reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations,” the announcement read.
1. How many generations were there at least in the participants’ families?| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
| A．Their cognitive abilities. | B．Their emotional interaction. |
| C．Their respective preferences. | D．Their important characteristics. |
| A．The fear of grandparents. | B．Grandparents’ Day activities. |
| C．Grandparents’ responsibilities. | D．The origin of Grandparents’ Day. |
| A．Grandmothers Are More Likely to Be Emotional |
| B．Grandmothers Empathize with Their Own Children |
| C．Grandmothers Hold Deep Bond with Grandchildren |
| D．Grandmothers Have Generation Gaps with Grandchildren |
2 . A British family was on holiday in a rented motor home in the USA. Traveling through California, they visited the Magic Mountain-Amusement Park. In the mid-afternoon, halfway through what was turning out to be a most enjoyable day at the park, the family came upon a particularly steep ride. In the line, the ride attendants(服务员) strongly warned everyone about the risks of losing hats, glasses, coins and keys, etc., and these warnings were repeated by large signs around the ride. During the ride, their keys’ fate was just as the warnings repeated.
However, the fact was that there were no spare keys. One park attendant drove the family back to the motor home, suggesting the least damaging ways to break into it. Fortunately, a window had been left slightly open, enabling the middle son to be put in and to open the doors from the inside. What was even more fortunate was that the attendant made the engine fire without the key.
The next day the father called a local locksmith(锁匠) to see what could be done. “I might be able to make new keys from the locks if you bring the vehicle to me.” said the locksmith. So the family drove to the locksmith, whose business was in a small shopping centre in the countryside. The locksmith looked at the motor home, and said he would try. In fact, the job took the locksmith most of the day and he put away all his present work. The family hung around the locksmith’s, visited the shops again, and generally spent a day at the little shopping centre.
In the late afternoon the locksmith said that he had nearly done. When the father entered the locksmith’s shop, the locksmith was smiling. He put two new shining keys on the counter. Although the day was not included in their plan, the family really appreciated all the help and kindness they received from the people.
1. What happened to the family in the amusement park?| A．One of the kids fell from the ride. | B．They were hit by a warning sign. |
| C．Their rented vehicle broke down. | D．They encountered the loss of keys. |
| A．He started the vehicle. | B．He found a spare key. |
| C．He opened the car door. | D．He contacted a locksmith. |
| A．It was difficult to make the new keys. | B．The locksmith had a large workplace. |
| C．The family was refused by the locksmith. | D．The family had a happy day in the city. |
| A．Respectful. | B．Humorous. | C．Hard-working. | D．Warm-hearted. |
3 . One month ago my kind grandmother, Nonie, was put into hospice（临终安养院）. This was as much a （n）
Three weekends were possible for me to make a
My trip was a
My grandpa got dementia(痴呆),and he almost
| A．business | B．decision | C．discussion | D．exchange |
| A．advised | B．promised | C．required | D．allowed |
| A．stuck | B．settled | C．stopped | D．put |
| A．danger | B．death | C．existence | D．nature |
| A．minute | B．day | C．while | D．decade |
| A．ordered | B．commanded | C．appealed | D．suggested |
| A．routine | B．schedule | C．trip | D．design |
| A．workday | B．term | C．weekend | D．date |
| A．busy | B．free | C．easy | D．flexible |
| A．constantly | B．endlessly | C．gradually | D．quickly |
| A．arrangement | B．convenience | C．connection | D．requirement |
| A．express | B．devote | C．forgive | D．support |
| A．right | B．normal | C．reliable | D．wrong |
| A．turned up | B．stood up | C．made up | D．woke up |
| A．short | B．unique | C．grateful | D．casual |
| A．standing | B．lying | C．sitting | D．resting |
| A．usual | B．popular | C．curious | D．fruitful |
| A．married | B．moved | C．united | D．determined |
| A．confirmed | B．forgot | C．doubted | D．witnessed |
| A．Therefore | B．Otherwise | C．Moreover | D．However |
1. Who might the woman be?
| A．James’ teacher. | B．James' mother. | C．James' classmate. |
| A．Troublemaking. | B．Hardworking. | C．Easygoing. |
| A．He really likes potatoes. |
| B．He is fond of watching TV. |
| C．He seldom visits his parents. |
| A．Send mail to Sally. | B．Contact Mary. | C．Get Mary’s address. |
7 . We all want to be successful in our work. But what happens when our achievements come at the risk of losing important friendships? If your friends didn't receive what they were hoping for, your success could make them feel like they've been “left in the dust”. But does that mean that we shouldn't enjoy our achievements in case we displease someone or that we should feel sorry for being successful when others aren't?
Those of us who value friendships and close working relationships might feel embarrassed for achieving more than our friends. But we deserve our success, and nothing should take it away. Jealousy is only natural, but It’s often unreasonable, too. Your success is probably not connected with your friends' progress, so you shouldn't feel bad about achieving your goals. If your friends stay unfriendly, don’t be afraid to keep yourself away from them. You are not responsible for their weaknesses, and nor should they treat you sharply for furthering your work.
On the other hand, your friends may think highly of your recent success while hiding their real feelings. They could be jealous, angry or sad that they are not progressing at the same rate. So, be careful not to boast. It's a thin line between pride and self-importance, and by crossing the line, you may risk losing team support.
Next time you want to boast about your end-of-year win, or high-class new office, consider your listeners. Maybe your friends narrowly missed out on a position-raising, or experienced pay cuts which meant they didn't get what they were expecting. If your work is on a rising path, it doesn't mean that's the case for everyone.
Perhaps a step forward in your work has meant that you don't spend as much time with your friends as you used to. If you've changed a post or moved to a new office, take the time to stay in touch with old friends. Chances are that in the build-up to your success you've built strong relationships along the way. Don't let that hard work go to waste by losing touch with them.
1. From the first two paragraphs, it can be inferred that ________.| A．we should enjoy our deserving success |
| B．our success will certainly hurt our friends |
| C．friends will surely help us achieve success |
| D．our success is connected with our friends’ progress |
| A．Show up. | B．Stand out. |
| C．Talk big. | D．Keep silent. |
| A．Improve ourselves further. |
| B．Consider their feelings. |
| C．Help them make progress. |
| D．Make them proud of us. |
| A．How to share our success with friends. |
| B．How to enjoy our success to the fullest. |
| C．How to keep relationships between friends. |
| D．How to keep friendships while enjoying achievements. |
8 . When I sent my daughter, Emma, off for her freshman year of college a few years ago, I found myself affected by an unbelievable feeling of melancholy. Clearly, I'm not alone. Just last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that more than 90 percent of colleges offer to help moms and dads who are “struggling with the change.”
Between Thanksgiving, winter holiday, spring break and summer break, the first one out of my nest has come fluttering back home nearly every month of the year since she has been away. Good friends like to joke that they see more of her now than they did when she was a senior in high school. In the meantime, Emma calls, texts or e-mails me almost every day.
Given all this, missing Emma seems kind of silly；I've never really gotten the chance. So why, then, have I still felt on some level that I've experienced a great loss?
All summer long before Emma left that first year, I took Emma out for countless mother-daughter breakfasts, lunches, coffees and walks. At the same time, I seemed to find fault with Emma all the time. In my eyes, Emma had spent the weeks leading up to school going out with her friends too much, staying out way too late, making too big a mess, not working enough and, for goodness sake, certainly not spending enough time with me!
Although it's taken quite a while to realize what was happening, I now understand that my unhappiness and anxiety are not a reflection of how much time Emma and I spend together. Regardless of how often she comes home, or how many times a day we chat or text, Emma is now gone in a far grander sense. She is well on the road to adulthood, and from this, she will never return.
1. What does the underlined word “melancholy” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Fierce anger. | B．Deep sadness. |
| C．Extreme excitement. | D．Great satisfaction. |
| A．They keep in touch frequently. | B．Friends like to make fun of her. |
| C．Emma has grown up to an adult. | D．Other parents don't behave like this. |
| A．The untidiness of Emma's room. | B．The passing of Emma's childhood. |
| C．Taking Emma out all too often. | D．Spending little time with Emma. |
| A．Changes in the Parent-Child Relationship | B．The Most Concerned Parents of All Time |
| C．Growing Pains for College Students | D．Struggling to Let Go of My Daughter |
9 . Another person's enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved. That person was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia. My father
My stepmother walked over to me,
That statement began a(n)
She changed many things. She
When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand
What power
You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.
1.| A．rushed | B．sent | C．carried | D．introduced |
| A．distinguished | B．favored | C．mistaken | D．rewarded |
| A．sooner | B．later | C．longer | D．earlier |
| A．dragged | B．shook | C．raised | D．bent |
| A．perfect | B．right | C．wrong | D．impolite |
| A．but | B．so | C．and | D．or |
| A．agreement | B．friendship | C．gap | D．relationship |
| A．opinion | B．image | C．expectation | D．mind |
| A．begged | B．persuaded | C．ordered | D．invited |
| A．successful | B．meaningful | C．helpful | D．useful |
| A．treated | B．entertained | C．educated | D．respected |
| A．camera | B．radio | C．bicycle | D．typewriter |
| A．considered | B．suspected | C．ignored | D．appreciated |
| A．belief | B．request | C．criticism | D．description |
| A．teaching | B．writing | C．studying | D．reading |
| A．next | B．same | C．only | D．real |
| A．cleverest | B．wealthiest | C．strongest | D．healthiest |
| A．enthusiasm | B．sympathy | C．fortune | D．confidence |
| A．deliberately | B．happily | C．traditionally | D．constantly |
| A．win | B．match | C．reach | D．doubt |
10 . The great-grandmother is learning English with the help of her family when she is at the age of 91. She hopes to use the language at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Takamizawa was one of the more than 200, 00 people who requested to volunteer for Tokyo’s 2020 Games. English is not required for service, but it is a useful skill for volunteers to have.
But Takamizawa had not been able to learn the language when she was young. Takamizawa said that she was in high school when World War Two started. She said, “In my second year there, English was banned because it was the enemy language.”
Takamizawa said her grandchildren helped persuade her that she was not too old to learn. “When I talked to my grandchildren about my wish, they said, ‘It’s not too late. We will teach you one word a day’ ”. Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and main English teacher. Natsuko sends a new English word to her grandmother’s phone every day. They also often work together directly on phrases that Takamizawa will need for the Olympics. “Welcome to Tokyo, this is the Olympic stadium, how can I help you?” Takamizawa answers when asked to say an English phrase she has learned. Natsuko explains that she wanted to give her grandmother something to enjoy. “I can clearly see her English is getting better. It’s my joy now.”
The EF English Proficiency Index is a measure of the level of English spoken in a country. Japan ranks 49th among countries where English is not the first language. This situation is slowly changing as younger generations welcome English. However, Takamizawa believes real change will not happen unless Japanese people become more open to the rest of the world. With around 500 days to go until the games begin, the whole Takamizawa family is ready to welcome the world to Tokyo.
1. Why couldn’t Takamizawa learn English when she was young?| A．Because English was useless. |
| B．Because she was too young to learn English. |
| C．Because English was forbidden to learn. |
| D．Because she was unwilling to learn English. |
| A．Takamizawa gets strong support from her family. |
| B．Takamizawa’s grandchildren love her a lot. |
| C．Natsuko is Takamizawa’s granddaughter and only English teacher. |
| D．Natsuko teaches Takamizawa English mainly by talking with her. |
| A．English is not the first language in Japan. |
| B．The level of English spoken in Japan is relatively low. |
| C．Younger generations in Japan welcome English. |
| D．Japanese people become open to the rest of the world. |
| A．Where there is a will, there is a way. | B．It is never too late to learn. |
| C．The early bird catches the worm. | D．Two heads are better than one. |
