Sorry to say , our brains naturally start slowing down at the cruelly young age of 30 . It used to be thought that this couldn’t be helped , but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster . “ Your brain is a learning machine , ” says University of California scientist Dr . Michael Merzenich . Given the right tools , we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger . All that’s required is the practice designed just for the purpose : a few exercises for the mind .
Merzenich has developed a computer-based training method to speed up the process in which the brain deals with information ( positscience. com ) . Since much of the data we receive comes through speech , the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy .
Over the course of training , the program starts asking you to distinguish sounds ( between “ dog ”and “ bog ” , for example ) at an increasingly faster speed . It’s a bit like tennis instructor , says Merzenich , hitting balls at you faster and faster to keep you challenged (受到挑战) . You may start out slow, but before long you’re pretty quick .
The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly plastic. If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn . And it may even speed up while in the process.
To keep you brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you : playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzle , learning a language ….“ When it comes to preventing ageing, you really do ‘ use it or lose it ’ , ” says Barbara Sahakian , professor at Cambridge University .
67. Dr . Merzenich’s training method mainly depends on .
A. speech training B. computer languages
C. the activities on joins in D. the information being dealt with
68. By saying “ the brain at any age is highly plastic ”, the writer probably means the brain can be .
A. used B. mastered C. developed D. researched
69. What can we learn from the text?
A. Practice makes a quick mind.
B. Brain research started ten years ago .
C. Dr. Merzenich is a scientist in computer.
D. People believed nothing could stop the brain slowing down.
70. Which of the following agrees with the writer’s idea?
A. The training methods work better for the old.
B. People should use the brain to stop it from ageing.
C. The training of the brain should start at an early age.
D. It’s necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.
Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York, in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank did not want to be a farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people’s interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends（小商品）for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said “FIVE CENTS EACH’. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store, selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always ran his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was : ‘THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.”Frank took a short business course in order to __________.
| A．earn more money for his family |
| B．learn something from a salesman |
| C．get away from the farm |
| D．get enough to eat |
Frank sold the odds and ends quickly because ________.
| A．he knew how to get people to buy his goods |
| B．he cut down the price by half |
| C．he had put the goods on a table in a very nice way |
| D．the sign he put on the table was well designed |
The price of the knives was cut down by half because _________.
| A．the factory workers worked 24 hours a day |
| B．knives were ordered in large quantities directly from the factory |
| C．the knives were made in German, where labour was cheap |
| D．the knives were produced in one factory |
__________ make Woolworth a world-famous man.
| A．His business skills and his wealth |
| B．The low price of the goods he sold |
| C．His trip to Germany and his huge order of knives |
| D．His natural skill for showing things |
The belief that “The customer is always right” suggests that __________.
| A．whenever there is a quarrel between the customer and shop assistant, the customers are always right. |
| B．If you want to succeed, the rule is the only way |
| C．stores must always follow the customer’s orders if they want to make more money |
| D．stores should do their best to meet the customer’s needs if they want to be successful |
Nuclear radiation（核辐射）has a certain mystery, partly because it cannot be detected（探测） by human senses. It can’t be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around but we can’t detect them or sense them without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can’t sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things.
At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being outright by killing masses of cells in important organs. Even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no level of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and when they are killed outright. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They reproduce themselves in an unusual way. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years.
This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the knowledge of the person at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated（放射治疗）and feel fine, then die of cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. A child can be born weak or easy to get serious illness as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents.According to the passage, the danger of nuclear power lies in __________.
| A．nuclear mystery | B．radiation detection |
| C．radiation level | D．nuclear radiation |
Radiation can lead to serious trouble even at the lowest level __________.
| A．when it kills a few cells |
| B．if it damages a few cells |
| C．though the damaged cells can repair themselves |
| D．unless the damaged cells can reproduce themselves |
Radiation can hurt us so much that it can ___________.
| A．kill large numbers of cells in main organs |
| B．replace cells which may grow into cancer years later |
| C．affect the healthy growth of our younger generation |
| D．A and C |
Which of the following can be best inferred from the passage?
| A．The importance of protection from radiation cannot be overemphasized（过度强调）. |
| B．The mystery about radiation has been solved. |
| C．Cancer is only caused by radiation. |
| D．Radiation can hurt those who do know about its danger. |
What would be the best title of the text?
| A．Radiation Can Hurt Us. |
| B．Radiation Is the Source of Cancer. |
| C．Radiation Is a Subject Scientists Work on. |
| D．Radiation Is a Mystery. |
Diao Weihao, a student who studies business English at the Chengdu campus of Sichuan International Studies University, was in his dormitory when the earthquake struck at 2:30 pm on Monday.
The 22-year-old felt that his chair was shaking. All of a sudden, the textbooks on the bookshelf began to fall to the floor. The glass in the window broke.
“It felt like our dormitory building was being hit by a tractor,” recalled Diao. “I wasn’t afraid.. I was even excited and curious. Now, looking back, it was a scary experience.”
Diao and his roommates kept their calm. They didn’t try to get out of the building until the shaking stopped. They were on the fifth floor and they feared there might be trouble if they didn’t remain calm.
“We’ve watched lots of disaster films, and that helped us keep cool,” he said. “Only one student sprained（扭伤） his ankle. He was escaping in a hurry. Most of us got outside quickly and safely.”
They were surprised to see so many students outside.
“I began to realize then what had happened,” he said. The college had warned them that in the event of an earthquake, they should leave the dormitory immediately. A few did rush in when it was safe to grab some clothes to keep warm.
Without any tents or bedding, the students stayed on the football field for the whole night. Rain started falling in the morning, but the students all kept in good order. They simply chatted and shared their feelings and comforted each other.
“Our students seemed to have self-control,” he said. “I heard that hospitals in Chengdu have lots of injured people who jumped out of buildings.”
Now, Diao is mostly worried about the people in Wenchuan County.
“It seems we won’t be able to have classes in one or two day’s time,” said Diao. “I want to become a volunteer at the damage-hit area, or donate my blood to the injured people in hospital. Also, I will write on my blog to keep people calm and encourage them to protect themselves during emergencies.”
Since the university is close to Dujiangyan, Diao and his classmates are still forbidden to return to their dorms or classrooms. However, they can eat in the canteen and get information about other parts of Sichuan by reading the newspapers.Where was Diao Weihao when the earthquake happened?
| A．He was in the campus. | B．He was in the football field. |
| C．He was in his dormitory | D．He was in his classroom. |
What did Diao Weihao feel when he realized what was happening?
| A．Afraid | B．Interesting | C．Moved | D．Calm |
When did Diao Weihao and his classmates rushed outside?
| A．During the quake |
| B．The moment they realized what was happening |
| C．After the quake |
| D．When they got warnings. |
Rearrange the following events in the proper order according to the passage.
a. They got out of buildings safely.
b. Diao Weihao was in his dormitory.
c. Diao Weihao wanted to be a volunteer.
d. Many classmates went out of the building.
e. An earthquake happened.
f. They stayed on the football field for the whole night.
| A．b→e→a→d→f→c | B．b→e→d→a→f→c |
| C．e→a→b→d→c→f | D．f→a→c→f→e→d |
From this passage, we know that Diao Weihao and his classmates are _________.
| A．energetic and strong in will | B．wise and caring |
| C．hardworking and learned | D．helpful and honest |
It’s only 4 hours flying time from Sydney, but a world away. What better place to rest than a country where the only place people hurry is on the football field and things are done in “Fiji time”?
Viti Levu – Great Fiji – is the largest island. Here you’ll find the capital Suva and the international airport at Nadi. Vatoa, on the other hand, is a tiny island in the farthest part of Fiji. Then there are 331 other islands, many of them with places to stay.
With less than a million people living on islands, you’ll never feel crowded. And with a climate that changes only for five degrees between seasons, there’s never a bad time to come.
From cities to villages, from mountains to beaches, from water sports to wooden artworks, Fiji can give you more adventures and special experiences than you could find almost anywhere in the world.
Whenever you come, wherever you go, you’re sure to see some unforgettable events. From war dances to religious(宗教的) songs. From market days to religious days. It’s not just staged for tourists; it’s still a part of everyday life in Fiji. And any one of us can enjoy Fiji’s spirit by being part of the traditional sharing of yaqona, a drink made from the root of a Fiji plant.
So why not join us for the experience of a lifetime? Where is the international airport of Fiji?
| A．In Suva. |
| B．In Sydney. |
| C．On the island of Vatoa. |
| D．On the island of Viti Levu. |
What does the text tell us about Fijian people?
| A．They invented “Fiji time” for visitors. |
| B．They stick to a traditional way of life. |
| C．They like to travel from place to place. |
| D．They love taking adventures abroad. |
The words “…is just staged for ”in the fifth paragraph most probably means________
| A．to make sth happen |
| B．to organize an event for people to see |
| C．to take part in an action |
| D．to divide into some parts |
One of the things that make Fiji a tourist attraction is _______.
| A．its comfortable hotels |
| B．its good weather all year round |
| C．its exciting football matches |
| D．its religious beliefs |
Where can we most probably read this text?
| A．In a personal diary. |
| B．In a science report. |
| C．In a travel magazine. |
| D．In a geography textbook. |
Down-to-earth means being honest, open, and easy to deal with. It is a pleasure to find someone who is down-to-earth. A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to. He or she accepts others as equals. A down-to-earth person may be an important member of society, of course, but they do not let their importance go to their heads, and they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important. Someone who is filled with self-importance and pride, often without cause, is said to have his nose in the air. There is no way a person with his nose in the air can be down-to-earth.
Americans use another expression that is similar in some way to down-to-earth. The expression is both feet on the ground. Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality. He has what is called common sense. He may have dreams but he does not allow them to block his knowledge of what is real. The opposite kind of person is one who has his head in the clouds. A man with his head in the clouds is a dreamer whose mind is not in the world. Sometimes such a dreamer can be brought back to reality; sharp words from the teacher, for example, can usually get a daydreaming student to put both feet back on the ground.
The person who is down-to-earth usually has both feet on the ground. But the opposite is not always true. Someone with both feet on the ground may not be as open and easy to deal with as someone who is down-to-earth. When we have both our feet firmly on the ground, we are realistic and we act honestly and openly toward others, and our lives are like the ground below us, solid and strong.If a person has his nose in the air, he ____.
| A．is down to the earth |
| B．is easy to deal with |
| C．always thinks he is more important than others |
| D．is confident |
If a person has both feet on the ground, he ____.
| A．is in touch with reality, and doesn’t have any dreams |
| B．has some dreams but he is realistic |
| C．is honest, open and easy to deal with |
| D．is honest, open but hard to deal with |
The underlined sentence “But the opposite is not always true.” most probably means that ______.
| A．the person who has his nose in the air is not true |
| B．a man with his head in the clouds is often not intelligent |
| C．the opposite direction is always wrong |
| D．a person who has both feet on the ground may not be down-to-earth |
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