Brrriiinnng．The alarm clock announces the start of another busy weekday in the morning．You jump out of bed, rush into the shower, into your clothes and out the door with hardly a moment to think．A stressful journey to work gets your blood pressure climbing．Once at the office, you glance through the newspaper with depressing stories or reports of disasters．In that sort of mood, who can get down to work, particularly some creative, original problem-solving work?
The way most of us spend our mornings is exactly opposite to the conditions that promote flexible, open-minded thinking．Imaginative ideas are most likely to come to us when we’re unfocused．If you are one of those energetic morning people, your most inventive time comes in the early evening when you are relaxed．Sleepy people’s lack of focus leads to an increase in creative problem solving．By not giving yourself time to tune into your wandering mind, you’re missing out on the surprising solutions it may offer．
The trip you take to work doesn’t help, either．The stress slows down the speed with which signals travel between neurons （神经细胞）, making inspirations less likely to occur．And while we all should read a lot about what’s going on in the world, it would not make you feel good for sure, so put that news website or newspaper aside until after the day’s work is done．
So what would our mornings look like if we wanted to start them with a full capacity for creative problem solving? We’d set the alarm a few minutes early and lie awake in bed, following our thoughts where they lead．We’d stand a little longer under the warm water of the shower, stopping thinking about tasks in favor of a few more minutes of relaxation．We’d take some deep breaths on our way to work, instead of complaining about heavy traffic．And once in the office—after we get a cup of coffee—we’d click on links not to the news of the day but to the funniest videos the web has to offer．What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
| A．To tell us a specific story． |
| B．To introduce the topic of the passage． |
| C．To indicate how busy one usually is in the morning． |
| D．To show mornings are not suitable for creative work． |
What does the author imply about newspapers?
| A．They are normally full of bad news． |
| B．They are solution providers． |
| C．They are a source of inspiration． |
| D．They are more educational than websites． |
By “tune into your wandering mind” （in Para．2）, the author means “_______”．
| A．wander into the wild | B．listen to a beautiful tune |
| C．stop concentrating on anything | D．switch to the traffic channel |
The author writes the last paragraph in order to _______．
| A．establish a routine for the future | B．summarize past experiences |
| C．advocate diverse ways of life | D．offer practical suggestions |
Dr. Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish. It's not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low. It's not because they're bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water. It’s because they're smart.
"Fish are sensitive, they have personalities," says the marine biologist. For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat. "I would never eat anyone I know personally."
There's a lot more to fish than meets the eye: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human. They can remember things and learn from experience. Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket. "While it may seem conspicuous that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables," says Dr. Lynne Sneddon. "Really, it's kind of a moral question. Is the enjoyment you get from fishing (or eating fish) more important than the pain of the fish?"
Fishermen and (fried) fish lovers are skeptical. "I've never seen a smart fish," says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant. "If they were very smart, they wouldn't get caught."
"For years, everyone's been telling us to eat fish because it's so good for us," says another diner. "Now I've got to feel guilty while I'm eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don't eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?"According to Dr. Sylvia Earle, he would stop eating fish as a result of the following reasons EXCEPT ___________ .
| A．Fish are sensitive and have personalities |
| B．He knows fish very well |
| C．Fish are dangerous to eat because the water is polluted |
| D．Fish are clever |
Dr. Lynne Sneddon describes the behavior of eating fish in a(n) _______ tone.
| A．opposed | B．optimistic | C．indifferent | D．supportive |
Which word below can take the place of the underlined word “conspicuous” in Paragraph 4?
| A．obvious | B．easy | C．impossible | D．necessary |
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _____________ .
| A．Human beings should stop eating fish |
| B．We would feel guilty if we continued eating fish |
| C．People eat fish because fish are delicious |
| D．Cucumber is a kind of vegetable or fruit |
What was the author’s purpose when writing this passage?
| A．To advise people to stop eating fish. |
| B．To introduce a topic of whether people should eat fish. |
| C．To advise people not to stop eating fish. |
| D．To tell us that fish will feel pain when caught and transported. |
Debate: Can stricter gun control laws decrease the rate of crimes involving guns?
Yes, because with fewer weapons, you get fewer crimes.
Take a look at the crime rates of countries like the United Kingdom. Their crime rate is very low, compared to ours here in the United States. Just by simply putting stricter laws in place on who can own them, it will greatly reduce the crimes involving guns.
Posted by: 5h4yGlory
Past Practice
There was an assault weapon(攻击性武器) ban back in 1994 under Bill Clinton. Shootings and crime did not go down for the 10 years when this law was in effect. Criminals do not follow rules. The law only affects those who try to obey the law to arm them to protect themselves.
Posted by: jb1988
Wake up, you Americans!
It's hardly surprising that America has one of the highest gun related murder rates of all countries! And of course guns don't kill people, but the more people own guns, the easier it is to get access to one, the higher the chance of people using it to kill somebody is!
In Germany, we have really strict gun laws and only a few people own guns, and obviously we don't need them. There's no reason that a normal citizen would need a gun! Guns are made for one reason only: killing.
Posted by: cstephie13
More gun control laws, fewer shootings
On the same day as the Sandy Hook tragedy, a man in China entered a primary school with a knife and injured 22 students on December, 14. However, nobody was killed. Compare that to the 26 students and teachers killed at Sandy Hook in Connecticut with a powerful gun. We must learn something from this tragedy.
Posted by: Jasonx986
Gun violence goes up with more gun control
Criminals will take advantage of the situation. They will do whatever they want and take whatever they want and kill whoever gets in their way. They will get guns illegally. Crime rates go up as a result of more gun control, because criminals know you don't have one, and they will kill you as they like. There is no point in banning guns!
Posted by: eebnflowAccording to the first post, in the United Kingdom ___________.
| A．the crime rate is higher than America's |
| B．the crime rate is rising sharply |
| C．there is no gun control laws |
| D．buying guns is very hard |
We can infer that jb1988___________.
| A．is against gun control laws |
| B．was working under Bill Clinton |
| C．is in favor of gun control laws |
| D．has a gun |
Which of the following does cstephie13 probably agree with_________?
| A．The more people own guns, the more people will be killed by them. |
| B．The USA has one of the highest murder rates in the world. |
| C．People need guns to protect themselves in time of danger. |
| D．Guns are made to protect rather than kill. |
What do we know about the Sandy Hook tragedy___________?
| A．22 students and teachers were killed by a powerful gun. |
| B．22 students were injured without any deaths. |
| C．The tragedy took place on December 14 in Connecticut. |
| D．26 primary students were killed by a knife. |
Which of the following thinks that guns should not be controlled___________?
| A．Jasonx986 | B．eebnflow | C．5h4yGlory | D．cstephie13 |
Many people think of the brain as a mystery. They don't know much about intelligence and how it works. When they do think about what intelligence is, many people believe that a person is born smart, average, or dumb — and stays that way in the whole life. But new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle — it changes and gets stronger when you use it. And scientists have been able to show just how the brain grows and gets stronger when you learn.
Everyone knows that when you lift weights, your muscles get bigger and you get stronger. A person who can't lift 20 pounds when he/she starts exercising can get strong enough to lift 100 pounds after working out for a long time. That's because the muscles become larger and stronger with exercise. And when you stop exercising, the muscles shrink and you get weaker. That's why people say “Use it or lose it！”
But most people don't know that when they practice and learn new things, parts of their brain change and get larger a lot like muscles do when they exercise. Inside the cortex (皮层) of the brain are billions of tiny nerve cells, called neurons. The nerve cells have branches connecting them to other cells in a complicated network. Communication between these brain cells is what allows us to think and solve problems. When you learn new things, these tiny connections in the brain actually multiply and get stronger. The more you challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells grow. Then, things that you once found very hard or even impossible to do — like speaking a foreign language or doing algebra (代数) — seem to become easy after learning them for a period of time. The result is a stronger, smarter brain.
Scientists started thinking that the human brain could develop and change when they studied animals' brains. They found out that animals that lived in a challenging environment were more “perspicacious” — they were better at solving problems and learning new things.According to the first paragraph，________.
| A．the function of our brain is like that of the muscle |
| B．until now it's impossible to explain the brain's mystery |
| C．many people believe one's intelligence is naturally determined |
| D．one's brain grows stronger as the age increases |
Training muscles is compared to ________.
| A．using the brain |
| B．connecting things in your brain |
| C．lifting weights |
| D．doing research about the brain |
What is Paragraph 3 mainly about_________?
The complex structure of the brain.
B. How changes in the muscles affect the brain.
C. The importance of the brain.
D. How the brain becomes stronger by learning new things.What does the underlined word “perspicacious” in the last paragraph probably mean_________?
| A．Strong. | B．Smart. | C．Popular. | D．Active. |
The paragraph that follows the passage will most probably talk about _______.
| A．the differences between animals’ brains and humans’ brains |
| B．the relation between human brains and muscles |
| C．scientists’ findings about animals’ brains |
| D．how to make your brain smarter through self-development |
There are many great movie directors of all time and the following are five of those who have largely impressed audience with their body of work.
As a member of the New Hollywood gang, Francis Coppola is best remembered for The God Father series. His decision to cast Marlon Brando in the lead also met with fierce opposition from the studio bosses. Good sense became popular, and The God Father went on to become one of the most memorable movies ever. Critics may point out that he has become less creative after his seventies, but try as one might, no one can possibly take the place of this great director’s work.
Stanley Kubrick’s movies focus on the themes like sci-fi, horror, dark humor and war. He used symbolism in most of his movies, giving us some wonderful screen visuals, as shown in 2001: A Space Odyssey. His actors in Hollywood complained about the endless number of retakes, but they appreciated the performance he milked out of them. People argue about films like Lolita, A Clockwork Orange and Paths of Glory, but these are now seen as classics.
Steven Spielberg is a great success at the box office, and he is one of the world’s most popular filmmakers today. As the creator of classics like Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, ET, Indiana Jones series, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, no one can win his hold over the audience. His critics accuse him of being emotional and over the top, but the fact remains that his movies attract the audience, and set the cash registers ringing.
Woody Allen is a director who directs movies full of crime and hate. This comic genius has given us Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters and Midnight in Paris, which have also become classical. His movies constantly include characters who arouse the audience’s sympathy and laughter at the same time, as they set out on a journey of self-discovery. Hollywood star power has never fazed Allen. Thankfully, awards and honors do not interest him, which results in creativity that is original.What do the directors mentioned in the passage have in common_______?
| A．They are interested in awards for their works. |
| B．They are members of the New Hollywood gang. |
| C．They have created a lot of movies taken as classics. |
| D．They focus their themes on negative side of the society. |
The movie Indiana Jones series is directed by ______.
| A．Francis Coppola | B．Woody Allen |
| C．Stanley Kubrick | D．Steven Spielberg |
Stanley Kubrick’s works include the following except ______.
| A．Midnight in Paris | B．2001: A Space Odyssey |
| C．A Clockwork Orange | D．Paths of Glory |
It is implied in the underlined sentence Steven Spielberg ______.
| A．was successful in amusing the audience |
| B．succeeded in making a great box office |
| C．became much better at creating classics |
| D．had set a cash register working for himself |
What will be discussed in the paragraph that follows this passage________?
| A．Their contribution to the society |
| B．The difference between the directors |
| C．Another famous movie directors |
| D．More great movies from the directors |
When buying from a dealer, the law says that a car must be:
As described:
This includes the history of the car as well as its specification. For example, if the dealer described the car as previously having “one careful lady owner”, it shouldn’t turn out to have had several previous “boy racer” owners.
Of satisfactory quality:
It must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable and be free from any quality problem. Also, bear in mind that a second-hand car will have a slightly different definition of what is considered “satisfactory, because there’s certainly an element of wear and tear.
Fit for the purpose:
It must be reasonable fit for any normal purpose and this includes any purpose that you specify to the seller.
●If any of the above is violated, then in theory, you may have the right to reject the vehicle and get your money back if you’re reasonably quick. Alternatively, the dealer might offer to replace or repair the car; reduce the price of offering a partial refund(退款). Once you’ve informed the dealer that you wish to reject the car, you must stop using the vehicle.
●If the rejection is not accepted, then it’s up to you to prove your case. You’ll need to pay for an independent assessment of the car and sue for damages. If you do choose a repair, insist the dealer provide you with a hire car or pay any reasonable traveling expenses thus produced while your new car is in the garage.
●If the car is new, it’s likely that the claim will be too high to be fought. Using the small claims procedure to you may have to pay for legal representation. All this can be pretty daunting and expensive. You need to weigh up the pros and cons before rejecting a car. Would a repair do just as well? Selecting a dealer who offers a clear exchange policy may help.After the above writing, you will be better at .
| A．choosing a car | B．dealing with car sellers |
| C．making a claim | D．suing for damages |
According to the text, what is essential after you inform the dealer of your wish to reject the car________?
| A．Suing for damages. | B．Demanding traveling expenses. |
| C．Stopping using it. | D．Proving your case. |
If the dealer offers to repair the car you have bought, which of the following is acceptable_______?
| A．Asking the dealer to provide you with a hire car. |
| B．Asking the dealer to provide you with repair tool sets. |
| C．Asking the dealer to pay all of your traveling expenses. |
| D．Asking the dealer to return all your money. |
Which of the following words has the closest meaning to the underlined word “daunting” in the last paragraph________?
| A．Different. | B．Effective. | C．Discouraging. | D．Convenient. |
What does the writer want to say in the last paragraph_________?
| A．Buyers should select a dealer that offers to repair the car. |
| B．Rejecting a new car is not necessarily the best choice. |
| C．It’s necessary that a new car should be repaired. |
| D．Buyers should never reject a new car. |
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