It seems hard to watch someone yawn（打哈欠） and not to yawn ourselves. Even reading about yawning can make you do it. Now, a new study has found why yawning has such a powerful force.
Yawning when others yawn, the study suggests, is a sign of pity and a form of social connection. Kids don’t develop this deeply rooted behavior until around age four, the study found. Kids with autism (自闭症) are less likely to catch yawns. In the most serious cases, they never do. Yawning might help doctors to see whether the children are developing rightly. The work could also lead to a better understanding of the ways that people communicate and connect.
“Emotional infection seems to be a born thing that connects us together,” said Molly Helt, a graduate student in psychology at the University of Connecticut. “Yawning may be part of that.” Inspiration for her study came when she tried to get her own autistic son to clear his ears on an airplane. She repeatedly yawned at him, hoping he would yawn back. He never did.
“The fact that autistic kids don’t do it might mean they’re really missing out on that emotional connection with people around them, ” she said. “The biggest thing people try to figure out after birth is how we become humans and understand that humans have minds that are different from others’," she added. "Autistic people never seem to understand that.”
Like infectious （有感染力的）laughter and crying, scientists have found that yawning is a shared experience that promotes social connection. Helt said it could fight stress after a period of being nervous and spread a feeling of calm through a group.According to the first two paragraphs, what does the new study suggest?
| A．Yawning is a form of communication. |
| B．It is easy to stop yawning when you see others yawn. |
| C．Children follow others in yawning just after they are born. |
| D．Yawning has some mysterious force which is related to God. |
According to Molly Helt, _______.
| A．humans differ from animals because they communicate with others |
| B．yawning is a kind of emotional connection among humans |
| C．emotions are infectious, but yawning is not |
| D．yawning helps clear ears on planes |
Which of the following is NOT true about yawning?
| A．It is natural to yawn back if people around you yawn. |
| B．Some kids are too young to yawn after others. |
| C．Yawning can be used to test children’s development. |
| D．Kids with autism yawn easily when others yawn. |
The author implies in the last paragraph that _______.
| A．yawning can make people feel relaxed |
| B．it is bad manners to yawn on some social occasions |
| C．the more you yawn, the happier you will be |
| D．yawning is different from infectious laughter and crying in theory |
The Batsquatch is described as a great winged bat. It’s reported that it lives in the shadows(阴暗处) of Mt. Saint Helens. It has purple skin, red eyes and the character is quite similar to the bat’s. Since reports tell it likes eating small animals like chickens, goats and pigs, some believe that it is actually a flying primate(灵长目动物). But researchers say that it is more closely related to the fruit bat of northern America.
Fear still fills the hearts of men, women and children of Washington. In May of 1980 during the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, the Batsquatch showed itself in the shadows of clouds from the eruption. In 1994, a local mountaineer was able to take pictures of the Batspuatch making the rumor(谣言) seem real. During this event some farm animals seemed to disappear though luckily no humans were reported missing at the time. The local mountaineer told about his meeting with the Batsquatch. When he suddenly heard a loud deep voice from the shadows, the mountaineer was knocked down. He tried to look for the creature(生物) that had made the sound. He saw a great creature with purple wings in the sky. It looked like it was about 30 feet tall.
The mountaineer kept this story a secret in fear of being laughed at by others but when new stories came in about the Batsquatch he shared his story.
The reality of the Batsquatch can no longer be ignored. It is only a creature that is trying to live. Respect! This is how we should take news such as this. Respect for a living creature instead of fear.The rumor about the batsquatch makes people of Washington full of______
| A．joy | B．surprise |
| C．fear | D．anger |
Why did people believe the rumor of the Batsquatch was real?
| A．Because it was reported in the newspaper |
| B．Because it was seen by many local people |
| C．Because someone once caught one |
| D．Because someone took its picture |
When the Batsquatch appeared, the mountaineer_______.
| A．heard nothing strange |
| B．shouted at it to frighten it away |
| C．was lying on the ground, relaxing |
| D．found it was a 30-foot-tall creature that could fly |
The mountaineer didn’t tell others his story because he________.
| A．was afraid of being laughed at |
| B．was too frightened to tell others |
| C．couldn’t believe what he saw |
| D．didn’t want to make fun of others |
The purpose of the last paragraph is to tell readers_______.
| A．the Batsquatch is being endangered |
| B．the Batsquatch is a dangerous creature |
| C．respect should be given to the Batsquatch |
| D．the news about the Batsquatch is real |
Below is a selection from a popular science book.
If blood is red, why are veins（静脉）blue?
Actually, veins are not blue at all. They are more of a clear, yellowish colour. Although blood looks red when it’s outside the body, when it’s sitting in a vein near the surface of the skin, it’s more of a dark reddish purple colour. At the right depth, these blood-filled veins reflect less red light than the surrounding skin, making them look blue by comparison.
Which works harder, your heart or your brain?
That kind of depends on whether you’re busy thinking or busy exercising. Your heart works up to three times harder during exercise, and shifts enough blood over a lifetime to fill a supertanker. But, in the long run, your brain probably tips it, because even when you’re sitting still your brain is using twice as much as your heart, and it takes four to five times as much blood to feed it.
Why do teeth fall out, and why don’t they grow back in grown-up?
Baby (or “milk”) teeth do not last long; they fall out to make room for bigger, stronger adult teeth later on. Adult teeth fall out when they become damaged, decayed and infected by bacteria. Once this second set of teeth has grown in, you’re done. When they’re gone, they’re gone. This is because nature figures you’re set for life, and what controls regrowth of your teeth switches off.
Do old people shrink as they age?
Yes and no. Many people do get shorter as they age. But, when they do, it isn’t because they’re shrinking all over. They simply lose height as their spine(脊柱)becomes shorter and more curved due to disuse and the effects of gravity（重力）. Many (but not all) men and women do lose height as they get older. Men lose an average of 3—4 cm in height as they age, while women may lose 5 cm or more. If you live to be 200 years old, would you keep shrinking till you were, like 60 cm tall, like a little boy again? No, because old people don’t really shrink! It is not that they are growing backwards—their legs, arms and backbones getting shorter. When they do get shorter, it’s because the spine has shortened a little. Or, more often, become more bent and curved.
Why does spinning make you dizzy(眩晕的)?
Because your brain gets confused between what you’re seeing and what you’re feeling. The brain senses that you’re spinning using special gravity-and-motion-sensing organs in your inner ear, which work together with your eyes to keep your vision and balance stable. But, when you suddenly stop spinning the system goes out control, and your brain thinks you’re moving while you’re not!
Where do feelings and emotions come from?
Mostly from an ancient part of the brain called the limbic system. All mammals have this brain area—from mice to dogs, cats, and humans. So all mammals feel basic emotions like fear, pain and pleasure. But since human feelings also involve other, newer bits of the brain, we feel more complex emotions than any other animals on the planet.
If exercise wears you out, how can it be good for you?
Because our bodies adapt to everything we do to them. And as far as your body is concerned, it’s “use it, or lose it”! It’s not that exercise makes you healthy; it’s more that a lack of exercise leaves your body weak and easily affected by disease.What is the colour of blood in a vein near the surface of the skin?
| A．Blue | B．Dark reddish purple |
| C．Red | D．Light yellow |
Why do some old people look a little shrunken as they age?
| A．Because their spine become more bent. |
| B．Because they are more easily affected by gravity. |
| C．Because they keep growing backwards. |
| D．Because their spine is in active use. |
Which of the following statements about our brain is true?
| A．The brains of the other mammals are as complex as those of humans. |
| B．When our brain senses the spinning, we will feel dizzy. |
| C．In the long run, our brain probably works harder than our heart. |
| D．Our feelings and emotions come from the most developed area in our brain. |
. In this article, we can know except _____.
| A．it takes four to five times as much blood to feed our brain as to feed our heart. |
| B．when adult teeth are gone, they cannot grow back. |
| C．the reason why spinning make us dizzy. |
| D．how we can grow taller. |
What is the main purpose of the selection?
| A．To give advice on how to stay healthy. |
| B．To report the latest discoveries in medical science. |
| C．To challenge new findings in medical research. |
| D．To provide information about our body. |
Believe it or not, going to school is not a legal(法定的) requirement in the United States. It
is a legal requirement that all kids be educated, though. When parents believe they can give their kids a better education--- or have other reasons for not wanting to send their kids to a local school --- they may choose home schooling.
However, if a kid hates school, home schooling is probably not the escape he is looking for. Home schooled students can learn just as much as they would in regular school if they and their parents work hard to cover all the subjects and experiences necessary. Parents who home school usually have higher levels of education than parents who do not. They already have the skills to educate themselves about teaching their kids.
Parents who home school have to be able to put the time and skill into not just teaching, but also researching lesson plans and resources(资源). So they have to know how to find the information necessary to teach their kids. State schools often provide home-schooling parents with a curriculum(课程), books and materials and places to meet. Some state schools will point parents to other resources for brushing up on forgotten subjects. Or parents may receive continuing education at local colleges or universities.According to American law, _______________.
| A．all kids shall go to school |
| B．all kids must receive education |
| C．home schooling parents shall receive continuing education |
| D．state schools must give support to home-schooling parents |
According to the text, most home-schooling parents________________.
| A．are short of money | B．dislike schools |
| C．used to work as teachers | D．are well-educated |
Which of the following is NOT true about parents who home school?
| A．They should have enough time. |
| B．They should have some skills in teaching. |
| C．They must receive special curriculums at the university. |
| D．They have to be able to know lesson plans and resources. |
The underlined phrase “brushing up on” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by _____.
| A．reviewing | B．changing |
| C．choosing | D．discussing |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Home schooled kids learn fewer. |
| B．Home schooled kids spend less time studying. |
| C．Being a home-schooling parent needs a lot of effort. |
| D．Home schooling will replaced school education. |
Luo Jingyu, 19, has four years of experience of running business. He is also a freshman in the arts department of Hubei University.
Luo Jingyu is from an ordinary family. He said, “My parents told me if I wanted something I should make an effort to get it, so I earned pocket money by doing housework when I was little.” The dream of running his own business grew in his heart. He said, “I want to be a successful person, like Alibaba’s Ma Yun.”
When Luo was a junior student, he had the idea of selling lanterns(灯笼)when he saw many people flying Chinese lanterns in a square. Luo bought some lanterns from a store, but the sales were not as good as he had expected. Then he found another way to do business. He bought lanterns on the Internet at a very low price. Finally he easily made 5,000 yuan in two days.
With a happy beginning, Luo planned to open a dress shop. “My parents didn’t support me opening a dress shop, so I had to borrow 120,000 yuan for it.” Although he did market research before starting, the business wasn’t very good because his taste in fashion wasn’t accepted by customers. The shop eventually closed down after half a year.
After experiencing a big loss, he decided to do something he was familiar with --- selling painting tools. As a fine arts student, he knew the market. He convinced his friends to invest one million yuan in his shop. With a good business mind and a lot of effort, the sales of the shop reached six million yuan in a year.
Even though Luo is rich, he uses a cheap cell phone and does not wear luxury(奢华的) clothes. He has a simple lifestyle. “It isn’t easy to make money, so money should be used on something worthwhile,” he said.We can learn from the second paragraph that Luo’s parents _______.
| A．asked him for money to pay the rent |
| B．gave him some money to do business |
| C．advise him to pay more attention to his studies |
| D．suggested that he work hard to get something |
What is the right time order for the following events?
a. Luo bought some lanterns from the store.
b. Luo bought some Lanterns on the Internet.
c. Luo began selling painting tools.
d. Luo opened a dress store.
| A．abcd | B．abdc | C．bacd | D．cbad |
Why wasn’t the dress shop successful?
| A．He had to prepare for his exam. |
| B．The dresses he bought weren’t of high quality. |
| C．Customers didn’t accept his taste in fashion. |
| D．He didn’t have enough money to buy beautiful dresses. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Luo learnt to make lanterns from his father. |
| B．Luo’s friends advised him to sell painting tools. |
| C．The loss at the dress shop taught Luo a lesson. |
| D．Luo borrowed money from the bank to open shops. |
Which of the following words can describe Luo best?
| A．Talented but lazy. |
| B．Rich but mean. |
| C．Optimistic and generous. |
| D．Hard-working and plain-living. |
When I was growing up in America, I was ashamed of my mother’s Chinese English. Because of her English, she was often treated unfairly. People in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
My mother has long realized the limitations of her English as well. When I was fifteen, she used to have me call people on the phone to pretend I was she. I was forced to ask for information or even to yell at people who had been rude to her. One time I had to call her stockbroker (股票经纪人). I said in an adolescent voice that was not very convincing, "This is Mrs. Tan."
And my mother was standing beside me, whispering loudly, "Why he don’t send me cheek, already two week late."
And then, in perfect English I said, "I’m getting rather concerned. You agreed to send the check two weeks ago, but it hasn’t arrived."
Then she talked more loudly. "What he want? I come to New York tell him front of his boss." And so I turned to the stockbroker again, "I can’t tolerate any more excuse. If I don’t receive the cheek immediately, I am going to have to speak to your manager when I am in New York next week."
The next week we ended up in New York. While I was sitting there red-faced, my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting to his boss in her broken English.
When I was a teenager, my mother’s broken English embarrassed me. But now, I see it differently. To me, my mother’s English is perfectly clear, perfectly natural. It is my mother tongue. Her language, as I hear it, is vivid, direct, and full of observation and wisdom. It was the language that helped shape the way I saw things, expressed ideas, and made sense of the world.Why was the author’s mother poorly served?
| A．She was unable to speak good English. |
| B．She was often misunderstood. |
| C．She was not clearly heard. |
| D．She was not very polite. |
From Paragraph 2, we know that the author was .
| A．good at pretending |
| B．rude to the stockbroker |
| C．ready to help her mother |
| D．unwilling to phone for her mother |
After the author made the phone call, .
| A．they forgave the stockbroker |
| B．they failed to get the check |
| C．they went to New York immediately |
| D．they spoke to their boss at once |
What does the author think of her mother’s English now?
| A．It confuses her. |
| B．It embarrasses her. |
| C．It helps her understand the world. |
| D．It helps her tolerate rude people. |
We can infer from the passage that Chinese English .
| A．is clear and natural to non-native speakers |
| B．is vivid and direct to non-native speakers |
| C．has a very bad reputation in America |
| D．may bring inconvenience in America |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号