阅读下面短文，从各题A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。
People who smoke could lose around one third of their daily memory, researchers say.
A study by a team at Northumbria University showed that smokers lost more of their memory when compared to non-smokers.
And the research also found that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect information restored to almost the same level as non-smokers.
The study involved more than seventy 18-to-25-year-olds and included a tour of the university’s campus. Those who took part were asked to recall small details, such as a list of songs played at a campus concert and tasks completed at various points－known as real world memory test. Smokers performed badly, remembering just 59 percent of tasks. But those who had given up smoking remembered 74 percent and those who had never smoked recalled 81 percent of tasks.
Dr. Tom Heffernan, who leads Northumbria University’s Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group, said the findings would be useful in anti-smoking campaigns. He said, “Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the UK and as many as 45 million in the United States, it's important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive（认知的）function-of which prospective memory is an excellent example. ”
“This is the first time that a study has set out to examine whether giving up smoking has an impact on memory. We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body, but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have knock-on benefits for cognitive functions too. ’’
The research will now investigate the effects of passive smoking on memory, while Dr. Heffernan and Dr. Terence O’Neil will look into the effects of third-hand smoking－toxins left on curtains and furniture. What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Smoking does harm to health. |
| B．Smokers take a tour to the University’s campus. |
| C．Smoking can affect one’s memory. |
| D．Smokers are compared to non-smokers. |
How did those who took part in the study perform when asked to recall small details?
| A．Smokers did the worst among the participants. |
| B．Non-smokers could recall about half of them. |
| C．Smokers could recall nothing at all. |
| D．Those who gave up smoking did best. |
According to Dr. Tom Heffernan, the findings_______.
| A．would be really a surprise to the public |
| B．would contribute to fighting against smoking |
| C．would be used in real world memory test |
| D．would be nothing new to the researchers |
What does the underlined word “impact’’ most probably mean?
| A．order | B．impression | C．expression | D．effect |
What will Dr. Heffernan and Dr Terence O’Neil do?
| A．Investigate the effects of third-hand smoking. |
| B．Do research on how smoking affects passive smokers. |
| C．Find ways to persuade people to quit smoking. |
| D．Study whether giving up smoking affects memory. |
The Chinese Antarctica(南极洲)expedition(探险队)returned to Shanghai on March 20 following a month living on the ice. It was the first time Chinese scientists had visited the Amery Ice Shelf—the longest ice shelf in the world.
The team collected ice samples and data on temperatures, which are necessary for research on global warming.
So far, about 27 countries have visited Antarctica for scientific research. Although the living conditions are very hard, many scientists have to stay there for long periods of time. So, how do they manage their lives on the ice?
Well, during the summer, the temperature in Antarctica reaches about-20℃. It falls to about-60℃ in winter. So, even if there are 24 hours of sunshine, scientists must keep wearing all the correct clothes to protect them from the cold. These clothes include jeans, running shoes, jackets, long underwears, boots and woolen socks.
Although highly technical clothing provides much protection against the extreme cold, scientists often need to go outside when there is an icy wind blowing and the temperature is-30℃. Natural protection such as facial hair can also help.
“That’s why many researchers wear a beard. It really does keep you warm，”says German explorer Arved Fuchs.
Usually, the polar researchers have good meals. Some even have feasts(盛宴)on holidays like Christmas and New Year’s Day. Vegetables are always welcome and usually finished the quickest.
Life on the ice means living with other researchers in tight living space. Most people sleep in dorm(宿舍)style rooms. More remote field camps use separate tents. So, at least some researchers don’t have to put up with annoying snorers(打鼾者)．
But what do they do for fun in their spare time? There are actually a lot of things they can do. They watch movies, read tons of books, listen to music, have saunas(桑拿浴)，paint and ski. Some female researchers might even do some knitting.
It is important for a polar researcher to be in good physical condition. They can be required to climb to heights of more than 3, 000 meters. And the Antarctic atmosphere has less oxygen than that of any other continent. In which month of this year did the Chinese Antarctica expedition mentioned in the passage reach the Amery Ice Shelf?
| A．February. |
| B．March. |
| C．January. |
| D．December. |
Why do some polar researchers wear beards? Because _______.
| A．they have no time to shave(刮脸)their beards |
| B．beards are helpful to keep warm |
| C．beards will come out soon when they are shaved |
| D．they think beards will make them look handsome |
The underlined phrase “put up with” probably means _______.
| A．hear |
| B．turn down |
| C．let out |
| D．suffer from |
Which of the following do you think is the most important one to a polar researcher?
| A．Clothes. |
| B．Meals. |
| C．Tents. |
| D．Health. |
The best title of the passage is _______.
| A．The Antarctica |
| B．The Chinese Antarctica Expedition Explored the Antarctica |
| C．Life in Antarctica |
| D．The Exploration of Antarctica |
Just 25 years ago, the top three career hopes for young people in Britain were teacher, banker and doctor. Now, they want to be sports stars, pop stars and actors, according to a survey by the Guardian newspaper.
Rachel, a character in the popular TV show Glee, may be said to speak for British teenagers. “Nowadays being nobody is worse than being poor.” He said.
Emma Brockes, a reporter with the Guardian, believes it is “the bad influence of celebrity(名人) culture” that is to blame.“When children wanted to be doctor, it wasn’t because they were really more interested in the functions of human organs than they are now; you go where the respect is.”She wrote.
It could explain why there has been such an increase in levels of anxiety and depression. Dr Carlo Stranger, of Tel Aviv University, studied the sense of self for his new book The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the 21st Century. He told the Daily Mail that young people now are “affected by the close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and rating people according to wealth and celebrity into an obsession(痴迷).”
“As humans, we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village. We are comparing ourselves with the most ‘important’ people in the world and finding ourselves wanting…” he said. Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media.
The way out? Simply stop measuring your achievement through a fantasy of wealth and celebrity. Dr Strenger said that it is a process called “active self-acceptance through a constant search for self-knowledge through life.”
“The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement,” he said.Nowadays, young people in Britain want to _______.
| A．choose jobs based on interests |
| B．become famous |
| C．be teacher, banker and doctor |
| D．earn more money |
According to Emma Brockes, what causes the increasing level of anxiety?
| A．Choices of future careers. |
| B．Access to the global network. |
| C．Bad influences of celebrities. |
| D．Endless comparison with others. |
Which of the following is true of Dr Carlo Strenger?
| A．He is a newspaper reporter. |
| B．He is the spokesman of teenagers. |
| C．He tells success stories on TV. |
| D．He is against ranking people with wealth. |
Dr Carlo Strenger suggests that young people should _______.
| A．seek active self-acceptance |
| B．stick to their own dreams |
| C．make great achievements |
| D．search for the secret of wealth |
The text is mainly written to _______.
| A．talk about job choices |
| B．analyse a social phenomenon |
| C．encourage celebrity culture |
| D．introduce three famous people |
Looking through a magazine in a waiting room recently, I came across an article with the title “My top five most precious possessions”．It was just a few lines of text with pictures, but it caught my imagination.
It’s interesting how inanimate(无生命的) objects can take on such significance and become woven into a person’s, and sometimes a whole family’s, life history.
Anyway, the article had me considering what my most precious possessions are.It was difficult to choose only five, but here are mine:
An old cardboard box filled with my children’s baby photos.
A yellow pocket-sized birthday book of special things (poems, pictures of flowers and trees, etc) given to me by my dad when I was probably about seven or eight years old.
A 21st Birthday card from my mum.In it she’s written her congratulations, her love, and her hopes for my future.She died not long after, when I was in my early twenties.
A few ancient but very beautiful botany books that were once my great grandmother’s.She was a botanist in a time when it was relatively unusual for women to be qualified in this field and I think she was probably a remarkable and very interesting woman.I’d like to have known her.
A brooch(胸针) left to me by my much-loved grandmother.It was given to my great grandmother (her mother) by my great grandfather on his return from World War Ⅰ.It is not worth anything in terms of money.However, it not only stands for a link between four generations of women, but it is also a reminder of one young man’s return from World War I.
How about you? I’d love to hear what you feel are your most precious possessions. What made the writer have the idea of writing the passage?
| A．Her love for her relatives. |
| B．Her rich imagination about the objects. |
| C．An article in a magazine. |
| D．Some pictures in an article. |
According to the passage, the writer ________.
| A．lost her mother at the age of 26 |
| B．was a mother of several children |
| C．got the yellow birthday book at 8 |
| D．studied botany well when she was young |
The writer considered her grandmother remarkable and interesting because she ______.
| A．wrote a large number of botany books |
| B．left the writer some ancient but beautiful botany books |
| C．was unusually famous for her achievements |
| D．could become a botanist in the special time |
How many reasons made the writer think the brooch was one of her most precious possessions?
| A．One. |
| B．Two. |
| C．Three. |
| D．Four. |
In the writer's opinion, something that is thought to be the most precious should be able to ________.
| A．change a person’s and even the whole family’s life history |
| B．have a great effect on one person’s life |
| C．remind somebody of his or her close relatives |
| D．show a person’s love and respect for his or her relatives |
Most kinds of rose plants come from Asia. But roses are also native to other areas including northwest Africa, Europe and the United States. In 1986, Congress chose the rose as American’s national flower. Technically, Congress and President Ronald Reagan declared it the “national floral emblem（国花）.” Whatever the name, the decision did not smell sweet to supporters of other popular flowers.
Some people say roses are difficult to grow. But you have a good chance of success if you start with a few suggestions from experts. You should plant your roses where they can get sunshine for about six hours on bright days. You can buy roses from a garden center or by mail order. You can buy potted roses, also known as container roses, or bare-root plants. Each kind has its fans.
Some gardeners say potted roses are easier to plant. They say the roots develop better. But Jeffrey Dinslage, an expert, points out that bare-root roses come without soil. So they weigh less to transport.
Another expert advises getting bare-root roses as close to planting time as you can.. If they arrive before you are ready to plant them, make sure the packing material is moist. Keep the plants in a cool, dark place. The resting plants have no leaves but still need water. When growing roses, the soil should feel moist deep down. Watering should be done in the morning.
But do not water too much. People often ask Jeffrey Dinslage about unhealthy discoloration on rose leaves. He says the spots are usually caused by too much water. After heavy rains or too much watering, he advises pulling away mulch, the substance used to protect the roots, to improve the quality of the soil, temporarily from around the roots. This will help dry the soil.From the first paragraph, we know that in the United States _______.
| A．all the people like roses |
| B．there are a lot of national flowers |
| C．some roses don' t smell sweet |
| D．there are some other popular flowers |
How many kinds of roses can you buy according to the passage?
| A．One. |
| B．Two. |
| C．Three. |
| D．Six． |
Why does Jeffrey Dinslage suggest planting bare-root roses?
| A．They are easier to plant. |
| B．Their roots develop better. |
| C．They are cheap to transport. |
| D．Their leaves need no water. |
Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “moist”?
| A．Slightly wet. |
| B．Pretty dry. |
| C．Too hard. |
| D．Lightly soft. |
According to Jeffrey Dinslage, people should _______ to avoid the sports on rose leaves.
| A．not water roses in the morning |
| B．protect the roots of roses |
| C．improve the quality of the soil |
| D．not water roses very much |
I’m Sorry, I Won’t Apologize
Almost daily，news reports include accounts of public figures or heads of companies being forced to say they're sorry. In a recent case，Marge Schott，managing partner of the Cincinnati Reds，at first did not want to apologize for her remark that Hitler "was good at the beginning but he just went too far. "Under pressure，she finally said that she regretted her remarks "offended many people". Predictably — and especially given her history with such comments — many were not satisfied with this response and successfully lobbied for her resignation.
This particular use of "I'm sorry" has a familiar ring. The other day my husband said to me，"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings." I knew he was really trying. He has learned，through our years together，that apologies are important to me. But he was grinning，because he also knew that "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings" left open the possibility — indeed，strongly suggested — that he regretted not what he did but my emotional reaction. It sometimes seems that he thinks the earth will open up and swallow him if he admits fault.
It may appear that insisting someone admit fault is like wanting him to humiliate himself. But I don't see it that way，since it's no big deal for me to say I made a mistake and apologize. The problem is that it becomes a big deal when he won't.
This turns out to be similar to the Japanese view. Following a fender bender，according to a Times article，the Japanese typically get out of their cars and bow，each claiming responsibility. In contrast，Americans are instructed by their insurance companies to avoid admitting fault. When an American living in Japan did just that — even though he knew he was to blame — the Japanese driver "was so incensed by the American's failure to show contrition that he took the highly unusual step of suing him."
The Japanese driver and I are not the only ones who are offended when someone obviously at fault doesn't just fess up and apologize. A woman who lives in the country told me of a similar reaction. One day she gave her husband something to mail when he went into town. She stressed that it was essential the letter be mailed that day，and he assured her it would. But the next day，when they left the house together，she found her unmailed letter in the car. He said，"Oh，I forgot to mail your letter." She was furious— not because he had forgotten，but because he didn't apologize.What was Marge Schott forced to do？
| A．To make a prediction of the future. |
| B．To say "Hitler was good at the beginning." |
| C．To say "Im sorry." |
| D．To count figures. |
The author felt _____ .
| A．her husband regretted the choice he had made |
| B．her husband regretted what he did |
| C．her husband regretted her emotional response |
| D．her husband regretted the dirty words he had used |
According to the author，when one makes a mistake，he should _____ .
| A．admit it and apologize |
| B．avoid admitting it |
| C．wxplain it away |
| D．make every effort to maintain his face |
According to the passage，what would Japanese drivers usually do after a car accident？
| A．They would admit their own faults. |
| B．They would blame each other. |
| C．They would avoid admitting faults |
| D．They would sue each other. |
What does the underlined word “furious” in the last paragraph mean?
| A．Angry |
| B．Surprised |
| C．Crazy |
| D．Mad |
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