1 . Large Study Details Years of Brain Changes in Alzheimer’s Patients

A long-term study in China has shown that a series of changes take place in the brains of people who get Alzheimer’s disease long before they present signs of the sickness.

    1     The individuals were examined on a regular basis during that period. The researchers used brain imaging, spinal fluid (脊髓液) checks and other tools to collect data.

The researchers reported that the study subjects who later developed Alzheimer’s showed high levels of disease-linked protein in their spinal fluid.     2     Then every few years, the study detected another so-called biomarker of coming trouble.

Scientists still do not know exactly how Alzheimer’s forms. The disease slowly destroys the brain, affecting the ability to think. Alzheimer’s patients develop proteins called beta-amyloid and tau, which over time build up into plaques (斑块) that block brain processes. The new research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, offers a timeline for how these proteins develop.

Scientists already knew that in rare, genetic forms of Alzheimer’s that affect young people, a poisonous form of amyloid starts developing about 20 years ahead of symptoms. At some point after that, tau develops as well.     3    

“The more we know about Alzheimer’s treatment targets and when to address them, the better and faster we will be able to develop new therapies and preventions,” said Claire Sexton, director of scientific programs with the Alzheimer’s Association. She noted that blood tests are coming soon that promise to also help by making it easier to find amyloid and tau.

More than 6 million Americans, and millions more worldwide, have Alzheimer’s. There is no cure. But last year, Leqembi became the first approved drug that could slow the worsening of early Alzheimer’s for a few months.     4     Other drugs are being developed to target tau.

A．The drug works by clearing away some of the amyloid protein.

B．The large study followed middle-aged and older adults for 20 years.

C．Knowledge of the timing of these events is critical for preventing Alzheimer’s.

D．The new findings show the order of such biomarker changes common to age-related Alzheimer’s.

E．The higher levels were recorded as much as 18 years before the patients were identified as having Alzheimer’s.

F．The researchers compared 648 people who were later found with Alzheimer’s to an equal number who remained healthy.

2 . Creativity is commonly thought of as a personality trait (特征) within the individual. Over the past several years, however, social psychologists have discovered that creativity is not only a characteristic of the individual, but may also change depending on the situation and context. The question, of course, is what those situations are: what makes us more creative at times and less creative at others?

In a recent paper, scientists have demonstrated that increasing psychological distance so that a problem feels farther away can actually increase creativity. Jia and colleagues at Indiana University at Bloomington examined the effect of spatial distance on creativity in this most recent set of studies. Participants in the first study performed a creative generation task, in which they were asked to list as many different modes of transportation as possible. The task was performed either by Indiana University students studying in Greece or by Indiana University students studying in Indiana. As predicted, students in the distant condition generated more numerous and original modes of transportation than those in the proximal condition. Similar results were obtained in a second study, in which performance on three insight problems was measured.

This pair of studies suggests that even minimal cues (提示) of psychological distance can make us more creative. Although the geographical origin of the various tasks was completely irrelevant — it shouldn’t have mattered where the questions came from simply telling subjects that they came from somewhere far away led to more creative thoughts.

The results build on previous studies which demonstrated that distancing in time — projecting an event into the remote future — and assuming an event to be less likely (that is, distancing on the probability dimension) can also enhance creativity.

This research has important practical implications. It suggests that there are several simple steps we can all take to increase creativity, such as traveling to faraway places (or even just thinking about such places) and communicating with people who are dissimilar to us. So the next time you’re stuck on a problem that seems impossible, don’t give up. Instead, try to gain a little psychological distance, and pretend the problem came from somewhere very far away.

1. What can we learn from the studies of Jia and his colleagues?

A．Students studying in Indiana were better at creative tasks.

B．They carried out two experiments with quite opposing results.

C．The participants in the studies were students living in Greece.

D．They demonstrated the impact of distance in space on creativity.

2. The underlined word proximal in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to______.

A．casual

B．near

C．promising

D．formal

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Considering unlikely alternatives to reality helps to boost our creativity.

B．According to the studies, distancing in time can help to enhance creativity.

C．People’s creativity is a fixed characteristic in spite of the situation and context.

D．Jia and his colleagues were the first to examine the factors in increasing creativity.

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Creativity is a personality trait within individuals.

B．Travelling faraway is a remedy for poor creativity.

C．Psychological distance contributes to better creativity.

D．New research has demonstrated the benefits of creativity.

3 . In a culture obsessed with measuring talent and ability, we often overlook the important role of inspiration because of its complicated nature. Its history of being treated as supernatural hasn’t helped the______. But as recent research shows, inspiration has a major effect on important______.

Inspiration is the springboard for creativity. Being in a state of inspiration ______the creativity of writing samples across scientific writing, poetry and fiction. Inspired writers are more ______and productive, and spend less time pausing and more time writing. The link between inspiration and creativity is in line with the surpassing aspect of inspiration, since creativity involves seeing possibility beyond existing restrictions.

Inspiration facilitates progress toward goals. In a recent study conducted by Marina Milyavskaya and her colleagues, college students were asked to report three goals they intended to_______ throughout the course of the semester. They then reported on their progress three times a month. Those who scored higher on the Inspiration Scale displayed increased goal progress, and their progress was a ______of setting more inspired goals. ______, people who were generally more inspired in their daily lives also tended to set inspired goals, which were then more likely to be successfully achieved. ______the relationship between inspiration and goal progress was mutual: goal progress also predicts future goal inspiration. Finally, inspired individuals reported experiencing more purpose in life and more gratitude.

Inspiration increases______. In another study, those who were exposed to Michael Jordan’s greatness experienced higher levels of Positive Affect, and this increase in Positive Affect was completely explained by their score on the Inspiration Scale. This inspiration was not______ though, foretelling positive well-being (e.g., life satisfaction) three months later!

Inspiration was more strongly______ future than to present satisfaction. The extent to which inspiration lasted was explained by self-reported levels of purpose and gratitude in life.

These findings show that inspiration______ a lot, which may put the burden on someone to become inspired and helpless to do so. The writer Elizabeth Gilbert rightly expresses this ______in her inspiring TED talk. I agree with Gilbert that one should not put______ on oneself to become inspired. These key scientific findings suggest that inspiration is not______— it happens. Knowing this should free you from the pressure to make inspiration happen.

1.

A．situation

B．quality

C．field

D．mystery

2.

A．moral lessons

B．academic careers

C．writing dreams

D．life outcomes

3.

A．involves

B．classifies

C．transforms

D．predicts

4.

A．ambitious

B．extraordinary

C．efficient

D．humble

5.

A．restore

B．accomplish

C．assign

D．share

6.

A．tribe

B．cause

C．survey

D．result

7.

A．Therefore

B．However

C．Otherwise

D．Instead

8.

A．Relatively

B．Brilliantly

C．Importantly

D．Initially

9.

A．vision

B．dedication

C．interaction

D．welfare

10.

A．substantial

B．temporary

C．speedy

D．distinctive

11.

A．related to

B．based on

C．impressed on

D．addicted to

12.

A．improves

B．matters

C．arises

D．changes

13.

A．hatred

B．regret

C．concern

D．disappointment

14.

A．smile

B．emphasis

C．pressure

D．criticism

15.

A．ruined

B．interpreted

C．revised

D．imposed

4 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. approach       B. demands       C. desirable       D. limited       E. matter       F. multiple G. range       H. rapidly       I. shifting       J. significantly       K. spoil

Multitasking: blessed or cursed?

Your phone is going off, you have a report to complete, and there’s just enough time to throw a load of laundry in before your next meeting. Does it sound like business as usual? With the high       1     of work, social life, and personal responsibilities, we often find ourselves multitasking.

The figure of a multitasker is often portrayed as someone who can handle numerous tasks at once, seamlessly (无缝地) switching between them. However, since the human brain is very     2     in how much we can truly do at one time, this is misleading. Multitasking is the practice of switching     3     from one task to another-and we’re not as good at it as we think. So the overestimation (高估) of our multitasking abilities can     4     the quality of work and sacrifice our attention to detail, which can result in errors and missed deadlines in work.

Of course, there’s a wide     5     of multitasking pairings. It’s probably fine if you listen to a podcast while doing the dishes. However, when the task requires a quick reaction time, multitasking could be fatal (致命的). A second we lose may not     6     much when doing the dishes, but they could make all the difference when driving a car.

The stress that comes with multitasking can also have a negative impact on both mental and physical well-being. Constantly     7     focus from one task to another can lead tiredness. Additionally, the pressure to perform well on     8     tasks can lead to feelings of anxiety and burnout.

In a professional setting, the ability to multitask is often seen as a (n)     9     quality. However, it is essential to     10     it with care, finding a balance between staying productive and maintaining a firm grasp on our well-being.

5 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. essential     B. processed     C. challenges     D adapt     E. switching F. available     G. large-scale     H. strategies     I. opting     J. significant     K. fresh

Cutting Salt May Lower Blood Pressure as Much as Medication

Reducing daily salt intake by just one teaspoon, equivalent to approximately 2,200 milligrams of sodium(钠), can lead to a blood pressure drop comparable to that achieved with prescription antihypertension (抗高血压) medication, reveals a recent study. Conducted on 213 individuals aged 50 to 75, the research included participants both on and off blood pressure medication. Regardless of their initial measurements, all groups experienced a(n)     1     reduction in blood pressure after a week on a low-sodium diet.

The study     2     the common notion that only those not taking medication benefit from salt reduction. Notably, the blood pressure decrease observed was similar to the effect seen when individuals start hypertension medication. The investigation aims to shed light on how excess salt raises blood pressure, aside from the conventional theory of increased water retention causing hypertension.

While sodium is     3     for bodily functions, humans, evolutionarily did not     4     to a high-sodium diet. The average daily sodium intake in the U.S. is around 3,400 milligrams, mainly sourced from     5     and restaurant foods, exceeding the recommended 2,300 milligrams by the FDA. Encouraging people to reduce salt intake proves challenging and experts suggest     6     to lower-sodium options instead of mere reduction. One proposal is transitioning from regular sodium chloride to a blend of 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride, a form of salt     7     in health food stores.

Changing dietary habits presents a puzzle, but historical precedents, like the introduction of iodized (含碘的) salt in1924 to combat pediatric goiters (儿科甲状腺肿), show that     8     shifts are possible.

Although potassium-supplemented (含钾的) salt may not be mainstream yet, it could become a future staple (基本食物) for those aiming to lower sodium intake. For now, cooking at home and     9     for lower-sodium remain practical     10     for individuals mindful of their salt consumption.

6 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Just as people have altered their skin’s color to indicate wealth and beauty, so have cultures around the globe marked their skin to show cultural identity or community status. Tattooing (纹身), for example, has been carried out for thousands of years. Leaders in places     1    (include) ancient Egypt, Britain, and Peru wore tattoos to mark their status or bravery. Today, among the Maori people of New Zealand, full-facial tattoos are still used     2    (identify) the wearer as a member of a certain family.

In Japan, tattooing had been practiced for a long time     3     it was outlawed in the 19^th century. Despite the fact that there are no laws against it today, tattoos are still strongly associated with criminals — particularly the yakuza known for their full-body tattoos. The complex design of a yakuza member’s tattoo includes symbols of character qualities     4     the wearer wants to have. The process of getting a full-body tattoo is both slow and painful and     5     can take two years or more to complete.

In some cultures, scarring — a marking which     6    (cause) by cutting or burning the skin — is a practice, usually among people who have darker skin on which a tattoo would be difficult to see. For many men in West Africa, scarring is a ceremony of passage —     7     act symbolizing that a male has matured from a child into an adult. In Australia, among some native people, cuts     8    (make) on the skin of both men and women show that they reach the age of 16 or 17.     9     these, they were traditionally not permitted to trade, sing ceremonial songs, or participate in other activities.

Not all skin markings are permanent, though. In countries such as Morocco and India, women     10     decorate their skin with colorful henna designs for celebrations such as weddings and important religious holidays. The henna coloring, which comes from a plant, fades over time.

7 . Nowadays, body language has played a more and more important part in daily communication among people. To avoid confusion and embarrassment in cross-cultural communication, it’s necessary to have fluency in some common body language worldwide.

In Australia, it is very rude to wink (眨眼) at women.

In Brazil, pulling down the lower lid (眼睑) of the right eye means that the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying. In India, holding your ear means either “honesty” or “I’m sorry”.

In Indonesia, hands on hips while talking means that you’re angry and it is also impolite.

In Japan, It’s unacceptable for two adults of the same sex to hold hands while walking together A smile can mean happiness, anger, or sadness. When someone praises you, respond by waving your hand back and forth in front of your face. Because it is considered impolite to show their teeth. women usually cover their mouths when they laugh. To make a promise, two people generally book their little fingers together.

In South Korea, when talking to someone, keep your hands in full view. It is rude to keep your hands behind your back or in your pockets.

In Spain, snapping the thumb and first finger together a few times is a form of applause. If you think the person you are talking about is mean, ta p your left elbow with your right hand. If you’ve heard the story that someone is telling before, put your right hand behind your head and pull your left ear.

In Sri Lanka, moving your head from side to side means “yes” and nodding your head up and down means “no”!

In Thailand, people point to an object with their chins, not their hands.

Have you learned the meanings of the above body languages in different countries? Keep these in mind and you’ll realize that they’re very helpful one day.

1. In which country do women cover their mouth while laughing?

A．In China.

B．In America.

C．In Africa.

D． In Japan.

2. What do people do when they make applause in Spain?

A．Wave their hands back and forth in front of their face.

B．Put their hands on haps all the time.

C．Snap the thumb and first finger together several minutes.

D．Clap their hands together for a few minutes.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Moving your head from side to side to means “yes” in Thailand.

B．When talking to someone, make sure others can see your both hands in South Korea.

C．Adult women in Japan of ten hold their hands when walking together.

D．In Indonesia, pulling down the lower lid of the left eye means the listener doesn’t believe what you’re saying.

4. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．Body language is of great importance in daily communication.

B．Understanding the meaning of some gestures in foreign countries is helpful.

C．The same movement may deliver different meanings in different cultures.

D．We should use body language in daily communication with others.

8 . The way of recording things has never ceased to develop. In the 1980s, as sales of video recorders went up, old 8mm home movies were gradually replaced by VHS (video home system)tapes. Later, video tapes of family holidays lost their appeal and the use of DVDs ______. Those, too, have had their day. Even those holding their childhood memories in digital files on their laptops now know these files face the risk of ______.

Digitising historical documents brings huge benefits—files can be ______ and distributed, reducing the risk of their entire loss through physical damage caused by fire or flooding. And developing digital versions reduces ______ on the original items. The International Dunhuang Project, ______, has digitised items like manuscripts (手稿) from the Mogao caves in China, enabling scholars from around the world to access records easily without touching the real items.

But the news that the Ministry of Justice of the UK is proposing to scan the 110 million people’s wills it holds and then destroy a handful of ______ after 25 years has shocked historians. The ministry cites this as a way of providing easier access for researchers. But that only justifies digitisation, not the ______ of the paper copies. The officials note the change will be economically efficient (saving around £4.5m a year) while keeping all the essential information.

Scholars ______. Most significantly, physical records can themselves carry important information — the kind of ink or paper used may be part of the history that historians are ______. and error s are often made in scanning. Besides, digital copies are arguably more ______ than the material items, just in different ways. The attack from the Internet on the British Library last October has prevented scholars from ______ digitised materials it holds: imagine if researchers could not return to the originals. Some even think digitised information can easily be lost within decades no matter what ______ are put in place.

The government says that it will save the original wills of “famous people for historic record”, such as that of Princess Diana’s. However, assuming that we know who will ______ to future generations is extraordinarily proud. Mary Seacole, a pioneering nurse who now appears on the national school course in the UK, was largely ______ for almost a century.

The digitisation of old documents is a valuable, even essential measure. But to destroy the originals once they have been scanned, is not a matter of great ______, but of huge damage.

1.

A．paused

B．boomed

C．recovered

D．disappeared

2.

A．getting outdated

B．coming into style

C．being fined

D．making an error

3.

A．deleted

B．named

C．copied

D．altered

4.

A．fight or flight

B．life or death

C．wear and tear

D．awe and wonder

5.

A．unfortunately

B．additionally

C．in summary

D．for example

6.

A．the originals

B．the essentials

C．the visualised

D．the digitised

7.

A．preservation

B．classification

C．publication

D．destruction

8.

A．applaud

B．disagree

C．discriminate

D．withdraw

9.

A．revising

B．abandoning

C．uncovering

D．enduring

10.

A．meaningful

B．favourable

C．resistant

D．delicate

11.

A．inventing

B．adjusting

C．accessing

D．damaging

12.

A．outcomes

B．safeguards

C．deadlines

D．byproducts

13.

A．matter

B．respond

C．lose

D．live

14.

A．spared

B．discussed

C．forgotten

D．protected

15.

A．sacrifice

B．courage

C．efficiency

D．admiration

9 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one more word than you need.

A. conserve             B. wrinkly             C. stationary             D. exceptional             E. oddities             F. nursing       G. timely             H. sounding             I. generalize             J. comprise             K. rules

The Curious World of Bats

Not all bats are unbelievably adorable, like the one below. Many of them have     1     faces and large ears that help them “see” in the dark, using echo location (回声定位). But all bats are, without a doubt,     2     creatures.

Scientists are typically reluctant to     3     about bats because they make up such a large and diverse group of winged animals. With nearly 1, 500 species, bats     4     about one-fifth of all mammal (哺乳动物) species on Earth. But one thing that can be said about them as a group is that they are, in not- so-scientific terms, very odd. “They break all the     5    ,” said Cori Lausen, a bat expert at the environmental group Wildlife Conservation Society Canada.

Being able to fly is just one of their     6    , since mammals rarely fly. Apart from that, bats can also push their heart rate to extreme highs and lows-as slow as one beat per minute. Many bat species can go into a period of deep sleep, known as “torpor”, for a few hours a day or even for weeks to     7     energy when it’s cold or food is unavailable. And while most small mammals have short lives and lots of babies, some bats can live for two decades or more and typically have just one baby per year.

For how much energy they need, it’s also surprising that many bat species, including most of those in the US, rely on insects alone for food. They have to eat ridiculous quantities of them. A mom that is     8     a baby can catch more than 4,000 insects in one night.

Oddly, although bats can fly, they can’t easily take off from a(n)     9     position, like most birds and insects do. That’s one reason why they hang upside down-bats have to gain the momentum they need by falling. “For them, it’s not upside down,” Frick said. “It’s flight-side ready!”

While bats remain highly understudied relative to birds and other mammals, scientists are     10     the alarm. In North America, more than half of all bat species are at risk of severe population decline. Climate change, they say, threatens to only speed up their extinction.

10 . 5 Ways to Determine Website Reliability

For every trustworthy website, there is tons of information that’s inaccurate, unreliable or just crazy. For the inexperienced journalist or researcher, such sites can _________ a wide range of possible problems. With that in mind, here are five ways to tell if a website is _________.

● Look for Established Institutions

The internet is full of websites that were _________ five minutes ago. What you want are sites associated with _________ institutions that have been around for a while and have a proven track record of reliability. Such sites may include those run by government agencies, nonprofit organization or universities.

● Consult Sites with Expertise (专门知识)

You wouldn’t go to the hospital to have your car repaired. This is an obvious point: _________ websites that specialize in the kind of information you’re seeking. _________, if you’re writing a story on a flu outbreak, check out medical websites, such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

● _________ Commercial Sites

Sites run by companies and business—their websites usually end in. com—are often trying to sell you something. And if they’re trying to sell you something, chances are whatever information they’re presenting will be tilted (偏向) _________ their product. That’s not to say commercial sites should be _________ entirely. But be cautious.

● Check the ____________

As a reporter, you need the most up-to-date information available, so if a website seems old, it’s probably best to keep distance from it. One way to check: Look for a “last ____________” date on the page or site.

● Check the Links

Respected ____________ often link to each other. You can find out which other websites link to the site you’re researching by conducting a link-specific Google search. Enter the following text into the Google search field, ____________ “[WEBSITE]” with the domain (域名) of the site you’re researching: link: http://www.[WEBSITE].com. For example, link: http://www.baidu.com.

The search ____________ will show you which websites link to the one you’re researching. If lots of sites are linking to your site, and those sites seem reliable, that’s a good ____________. Then it seems that you don’t need to worry about them too much

1.

A．perceive

B．cause

C．track

D．confirm

2.

A．flexible

B．informative

C．reliable

D．appealing

3.

A．started

B．banned

C．visited

D．evaluated

4.

A．temporary

B．accessible

C．existing

D．trusted

5.

A．Set up

B．Communicate with

C．Look for

D．Invest in

6.

A．However

B．Contrarily

C．In addition

D．For example

7.

A．Avoid

B．Greet

C．Notice

D．Run

8.

A．in place of

B．in resistance to

C．in favour of

D．on behalf of

9.

A．considered

B．screened

C．assessed

D．refreshed

10.

A．Site

B．Journalist

C．Source

D．Date

11.

A．updated

B．registered

C．spotted

D．clicked

12.

A．fields

B．companies

C．texts

D．websites

13.

A．illustrating

B．replacing

C．connecting

D．searching

14.

A．teams

B．firms

C．results

D．authorities

15.

A．sign

B．reputation

C．journal

D．product