1 . As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remembering less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory,your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.

In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it.

In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the Internet. The information was in a specific computer folder (文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remembered the folder location better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called “transactive memory (交互记忆)”.

According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organise huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn’t mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing.

1. What is the effect of the Internet according to Sparrow’s research?

A．We are using memory differently.

B．We are becoming more intelligent.

C．We have poorer memories than before.

D．We need a better way to access information.

2. Why does the passage begin with two questions?

A．To introduce the main topic.

B．To show the author’s attitude.

C．To describe how to use the Internet.

D．To explain how to store information.

3. What can we learn about the first experiment?

A．Sparrow’s team typed the information into a computer.

B．The two groups remembered the information equally well.

C．The first group did not try to remember the information.

D．The second group did not understand the information.

4. What do people do in transactive memory?

A．To keep the information in mind.

B．To change the quantity of information.

C．To organise information like a computer.

D．To remember how to find the information.

2 . In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.

I have taught many children who held the belief that their self­worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life­and­death affairs. In their single­minded pursuit of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.

However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try.” What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self­respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．Competition helps to set up self­respect.

B．Opinions about competition are different among people.

C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

2. The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A．those who try their best to win

B．those who value competition most highly

C．those who are against competition most strongly

D．those who rely on others most for success

3. What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”？

A．One's worth lies in his performance compared with others'.

B．One's success in competition needs great efforts.

C．One's achievement is determined by his particular skills.

D．One's success is based on how hard he has tried.

4. Which point of view may the author agree to?

A．Every effort should be paid back.

B．Fear of failure should be removed in competition.

C．Winning should be a life­and­death matter.

D．Competition should be encouraged.

3 . 微信学习群越来越受到人们的欢迎。对此,不同的人持有不同的观点。请你根据以下提示，用英语给某英语报刊写一篇短文，并谈谈你的看法。

赞成的理由	反对的理由	你的看法
1. 获得新知识； 2. 利用闲暇时间学习；	1. 学习群管理不善； 2. 浪费时间；	1. …… 2. ……

注意：1. 短文须包括所有要点，不要简单翻译，可适当发挥；

2. 词数120左右，开头已给出，不计入词数；

3. 不得提及本人姓名及所在学校；       

4. 参考词汇：WeChat study group 微信学习群

Nowadays, WeChat study groups are more and more popular among people. However, different people hold different opinions.

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4 . Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.

A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. The reason this happens is because the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart, crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. You won’t feel any immediate effects, but sitting for long periods of time will hurt you forever.

Crossing your legs can also lead to neck and back pain. Ideally, it’s best for our bodies to sit with our feet planted flat, hip width apart, on the floor, but it’s not easy to maintain perfect posture all day at the office. When you sit with your legs crossed your hips are in a twisted position, which can cause one of your pelvic bones(骨盆) to rotate. Since your pelvic bone supports your neck and spine（脊椎）, this can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.

You also might notice that when you sit with your legs crossed for long periods of time your feet and legs get painful or have the feeling of being asleep. This is because when one leg sits on top of the other it causes pressure on the veins（静脉） and nerves in your legs and feet. It can cause numbness and/or temporary paralysis in the legs, ankles, or feet. While the feeling of discomfort may only last a minute or two, repeatedly crossing your legs until they feel numb can cause permanent nerve damage.

So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.

1. Which of the following is not the consequence of crossing legs?

A．Neck and back get hurt.

B．Feet and legs become numb.

C．Blood pressure goes up.

D．Pelvic bones keep perfect postures.

2. What does the underlined word “rotate” in Para3 mean?

A．break seriously

B．hurt greatly

C．move casually

D．straighten suddenly

3. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．How to choose a proper sitting posture

B．It is advisable not to sit with legs crossed

C．How to develop beneficial habits

D．Blood pressure harms our bodies.

5 . Kids with Special Needs

Kids with special needs refer to any kid who might need extra help because of medical, emotional, or learning problems. For example, disabled kids need wheelchairs. They not only need the equipment that helps them get around, but they might need to have ramps(斜坡) or elevators available.     1    

Kids with an illness would have special needs, too.     2     Kids with sight problems might need Braille books to read. Kids with hearing problems might need hearing aids.

    3     It might be harder to do normal things—like learning to read or just getting around school. The good news is that parents, doctors, nurses, teachers, and others can help. The goal is to help kids be as independent as possible.

Other kids also can be a big help. How? By being a friend. Kids who use a wheelchair or have lots of health problems want friends just as you do. But meeting people and making friends can be difficult.     4    Be sure to tell a teacher if you see someone being bullied(欺侮) or teased.

    5     You might carry the person’s books or do something simple, such as asking him or her to join you and your friends at lunch. It’s also important not to be “overly helpful” when no help is needed. Why? Because just like you, kids with special needs like to be as independent as they can be. Being friendly to kids with special needs is one of the best ways to be helpful. As you get to know, they may help you understand what it’s like to be in their shoes. And you’ll be helping fill a very special need, one that everybody has—the need for good friends.

A．Some kids might laugh at or make fun of them.

B．They also might need to get a special bus to school.

C．Life can be challenging for a kid with special needs.

D．It’s good manners to try to offer help to kids with special needs.

E．Also try to be helpful if you know someone with special needs.

F．Kids with special needs usually live a harder life than normal kids.

G．They might need medicine or other help as they go about their daily activities.