Here is an astonishing and significant fact：Mental work alone can’t make us tire. It sounds absurd．But a few years ago, scientists tried to find out how long the human brain could labor without reaching a stage of fatigue(疲劳). To the amazement of these scientists, they discovered that blood passing through the brain, when it is active, shows no fatigue at all!
If we took a drop of blood from a day laborer, we would find it full of fatigue toxins (霉素) and fatigue products. But if we took blood from the brain of an Albert Einstein, it would show no fatigue toxins at the end of the day.
So far as the brain is concerned, it can work as well and swiftly at the end of eight or even twelve hours of effort as at the beginning. The brain is totally tireless. So what makes us tired?
Some scientists declare that most of our fatigue comes from our mental and emotional (情绪的)attitudes. One of England’s most outstanding scientists, J. A. Hadfield, says, “The greater part of the fatigue from which we suffer is of mental origin. In fact, fatigue of purely physical origin is rare. ”Dr. Brill, a famous American scientist, goes even further, He declares, “One hundred percent of the fatigue of sitting worker in good health is due to emotional problems.”
What kinds of emotions make sitting workers tired? Joy? Satisfaction? No! A feeling of being bored, anger, anxiety, tenseness, worry, a feeling of not being appreciated— those are the emotions t hat tire sitting workers. Hard work by itself seldom causes fatigue. We get tired because our emotions produce nervousness in the body.
1.What surprised the scientists a few years ago?
A. Fatigue toxins could hardly be found in a laborer’s blood
B. Albert Einstein didn’t feel worn after a day’s work
C. The brain could work for many hours without fatigue
D. A mental worker’s blood was filled with fatigue toxins
2.According to the author, which of the following can make sitting workers tired?
A. Challenging mental work B. Unpleasant emotions
C. Endless tasks D. Physical labor
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the scientists’ idea?
A. He agrees with them B. He doubts them
C. He argues against them D. He hesitates to accept them
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How I Turned to Be Optimistic
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house,and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America.We were on the bus then.I was crying,and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me.I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again.In fact,I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives.When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had,known only from books and pictures.The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism,but the idea did not come to me at once.For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves.I did not quite know what I was or what I should be.Mother remarried,and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other.I was often sad,and saw no end to "the hard times."
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home.I wrote letters,filled out forms,translated at interviews with Immigration officers,took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there,and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up,and just wait a little!I believe that my life will turn out all right,even though it will not be that easy.
1.How did the author get to know America?
A. From her relatives. B. From her mother.
C. From books and pictures. D. From radio programs.
2.Upon leaving for America the author felt .
A. confused B. excited
C. worried D. amazed
3.What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4?
A. She worked as a translator.
B. She attended a lot of job interviews.
C. She paid telephone bills for her family.
D. She helped her family with her English.
4.The author believes that .
A. her future will be free from troubles
B. it is difficult to learn to become patient
C. there are more good things than bad things
D. good things will happen if one keeps trying
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Choosing the Right Resolution（决定）
Millions of Americans began 2014,with the same resolution they started 2013 with,a goal of losing weight. However,setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.
To reach our goal of losing weight—the output,we need to control what we eat—the input（输入）.That is,we tend to care about the output but not to control the input.This is a bad way to construct goals.The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input.Instead of resolving to lose weight,try an actionable resolution:"I'll stop having dessert for lunch,"or "I'll walk every day for 20 minutes."Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.
Recently a new science behind incentives（激励）,including in education,has been discussed.For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school.In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input,like reading certain books,while in others,the incentives were based on output,like results on exams.His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output.Fryer's conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because do not know how to do better on exam,aside from general rules like "study harder."Reading certain books,on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.
As long as you have direct control over your goal,you have a much higher chance of success.And it's easier to start again if you fail,because you know exactly what you need to do.
If you want to cut down on your spending,a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe,for example.This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn't a goal because it's too general.Similarly,if you want to spend more time with your family, don't stop with this general wish.Think bout an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to,like a family movie night every Wednesday.
In the long run,these new goals could become a habit.
1.The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because .
A. it is hard to achieve for most Americans
B. it is focused too much on the result
C. it is dependent on too many things
D. it is based on actionable decisions
2.In Roland Fryer's research,some students did better than the others because .
A. they obeyed all the general rules
B. they paid more attention to exams
C. they were motivated by their classmates
D. they were rewarded for reading some books
3.According to the writer,which of the following statements is a good goal?
A. "I'll give up dessert."
B. "I'll study harder."
C. "I'll cut down my expense."
D. "I'll spend more time with my family."
4.The writer strongly believes that we should .
A. develop good habits and focus on the outcome
B. be optimistic about final goals and stick to them
C. pick specific actions that can be turned into good habits
D. set ambitious goals that can balance the input and output
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and,at its best,it makes little environmental influence.But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness,it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively（不引人注目地）and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places,particularly in crowded lowland Britain.Wherever you are,find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces,and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building.For example,it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland,but in England you must ask the landowner's permission,except in national parks.
Camping is about having relaxation,sleeping outdoors,experiencing bad weather,and making do without modem conveniences.A busy,fully-equipped campsite（野营地）seems to go against this,so seek out smaller,more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches.Better still,find a campsite with no road access: walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night's sleep.Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment.Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot.When camping in woodland,avoid standing dead trees,which may fall on a windy night.Avoid animal runs and caves,and possible homes of biting insects.Make sure you have most protection on the windward side.If you make a fire,do so downwind of your shelter.Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world.Avoid damaging plants.A good campsite is found,not made—changing it should be unnecessary.
1.You needn't ask for permission when camping in .
A. national parks in England B. most parts of Scotland
C. crowded lowland Britain D. most parts of England
2.The author thinks that a good campsite is one .
A. with easy access B. used previously
C. with modern conveniences D. far away from beaches
3.The last paragraph mainly deals with .
A. protecting animals B. building a campfire
C. camping in woodland D. finding a campsite with privacy
4.The passage is mainly about .
A. the protection of campsites B. the importance of wild camping
C. the human influence on campsites D. the dos and don'ts of wild camping
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Getting your children to study can be a little like getting them to eat their vegetables.1. Make a study time and have it at the same time every day. This will help your kids to learn to schedule their day and will give them a sense of control over how they spend their time.
Allow them to study in blocks of time，such as for half an hour with a five-minute break in the middle. 2. Ideal(理想的) study times are after dinner or right after school before dinner.
Never allow your children to study in front of the television，as that will encourage passive activity. 3.You'll also need to help your kids find the right place to study. After you've set up a good study time for little learners，set up a good place where they can get those creative juices flowing. 4. Make sure there is a table or a desk and a comfortable chair.
5. This includes helping them out with their homework sometimes and being there for them with the answers to any questions. The input you give your children during study periods will help form a bond and help make studying enjoyable.
A．Pick a place where your children can study properly.B．Hold them to the schedule they create for themselves.
C．Finally，spend time with your kids when they're studying.
D．Keep the atmosphere light and offer lots of encouragement，too.
E．Instead，use TV as a treat or a reward when the homework is completed.
F．Try to stop this bad habit by offering some sort of reward.
G．One of the best ways to form good study habits for your kids is to design a schedule that they keep to.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I met Mrs. Neidl in the ninth grade on a stage-design team for a play and she was one of the directors. Almost instantly I loved her. She had an Unpleasant voice and a direct way of speaking,______ she was encouraging and inspiring. For some reason, she was impressed with my work and me.
Mrs. Neidl would ask me for my _____ . She wanted to know how I thought we should_______things. At first I had no idea how to answer because I knew _______ about stage design! But I slowly began to respond to her ______ . It was cause and effect: She believed I had opinions, so I began to _____ them. She trusted me to complete things, so I completed them perfectly. She loved how _______ I was, so I began to show up to paint more and more. She believed in me, so I began to believe in myself.
Mrs. Neidl's ____ that year was, "Try it. We can always paint over it ______ !"I began to take______ . I had been so afraid of failing but suddenly there was no failing--only things to be _____upon. I learned to dip my brush into the paint and ______ create something.
The shy, quiet freshman achieved success that year. I was _______in the programs "Student Art Assistant" because of the time and effort I'd put in. It was that year that I _______ I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing stage design.
Being on that stage-design team _____ Mrs. Neidl changed me completely. Not only was I stronger and more competent than I had thought, but I also _______a strong interest and a world I hadn't known existed. She taught me not to ______ what people think I should do: She taught me to take chances and not be ____ . Mrs. Neidl was my comforter when I was upset. Her ______in me has inspired me to do things that I never imagined_______ .
1.A. and B. yet C. so D. for
2.A. opinion B. impression C. information D. intention
3.A. make B. keep C. handle D. change
4.A. anything B. something C. everything D. nothing
5.A. questions B. comments C. explanations D. remarks
6.A. hold B. follow C. evaluate D. form
7.A. happy B. lively C. reliable D. punctual
8.A. message B. motto C. saying D. suggestion
9.A. again B. more C. instead D. later
10.A. steps B. control C. charge D. risks
11.A. improved B. acted C. looked D. reflected
12.A. easily B. carefully C. confidently D. proudly
13.A. introduced B. recognized C. identified D. considered
14.A. confirmed B. decided C. realized D. acknowledged
15.A. with B. below C. of D. by
16.A. developed B. discovered C. took D. fostered
17.A. accept B. care C. judge D. wonder
18.A. bored B. lazy C. sad D. afraid
19.A. trust B. patience C. curiosity D. interest
20.A. accessible B. enjoyable C. possible D. favorable
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The search for beauty lasts centuries.Paintings of Egyptians1.(date) back to 4,000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing make-up.In the 18th century,wealthy French noblemen2.(wear) wigs（假发）of long and white hair to make3.(them) attractive.Today people continue to devote a lot of time and money 4.their appearance.
But what exactly is beauty?It's difficult to describe it clearly,and we know it when we find it.Our5.(aware) of it may start from an early age.In a study,six-month-old babies6.(show)a series of photographs.The faces in the pictures had been rated by attractiveness.Babies spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.
For better or worse,beauty plays7.role in our life.But it is8.(extreme)difficult to describe exactly what makes a person attractive to another.Although there are certain physical traits9.(consider) universally appealing,it is also true that beauty does not always keep to a single standard.Beauty really is,10.the saying goes,in the eye of the beholder（旁观者）.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
1.An idea o________to Mary that she could buy her mother a washing machine as a birthday present.
2.There were 16 votes in f________of my suggestions and 15 against.
3.Some members of the committee o________to our proposal.
4.A________,he was shocked when he witnessed the violent scene.
5.The thin ice on the lake hardly b________your weight.Take care!
6.When we plan our vacation,mother often offers________（实际的）suggestions.
7.Research________（表明）that eating habits are related to health.
8.There were more than 50________（申请者）for the job,but only ten were employed.
9.He was________（选举）to be President.
10.She was on a diet,but she couldn't________（抵抗）eating sweet food.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文中共有10处错误，错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Of all the books I've read,I like Robinson Crusoe best,that is one of the famous British writer Daniel Defoe's greatest work.The main character of the novel is Robinson Crusoe,who was trapped on a disaster during a boat tour. He had to swim to a lonely island and lived there for many years.There were no other people on a remote island,and there was no food for him.He fight against various natural disasters and diseases alone brave.He tried his best to overcoming all the difficulties and saved finally.After reading the novel,I am really moved by Robinson Crusoe's spirit,which has been taught me that something is difficult if you go with courage.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
你校学生会需招聘一名留学生做英语学习顾问（English Study Advisor），请你以短文形式写一则招聘启事。主要内容包括：
（1）母语是英语，汉语流利者优先；
（2）解答英语学习问题，协助组织英语活动；
（3）每周工作四小时，报酬面议；
（4）联系人：李华（Tel. 13011223344）
注意：
（1）词数100左右；
（2）可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
English Study Advisor Wanted
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Students’ Union
难度: 中等查看答案及解析