Newborns begin to develop language skills long before they begin speaking. And, compared to adults, they develop these skills more quickly. People have a hard time learning new languages as they grow older, but babies have the ability to learn any language easily.
For a long time, scientists have tried to explain how such young children can learn the complicated grammatical rules and sounds of a language. Now, researchers are getting a better idea of what’s happening in the brains of the tiniest language learners. This new information might help kids with learning problems as well as adults who want to learn new languages. It might even help scientists who are trying to design computers that can communicate like people do.
Most babies go “ma ma” by 6 months of age, and most children speak in full sentences by age 3. For many years, scientists have wondered how the brains of young children figure out how to communicate using language. With help from new technologies, scientists are now finding that babies begin life with the ability to learn any language. They get into contact with other people, listen to what they say and watch their movements very closely. That is why they quickly master the languages they hear most often.
Studies show that, up to about 6 months of age, babies can recognize all the sounds that make up all the languages in the world. Starting at around 6 months old a baby’s brain focuses on the most common sounds it hears. Then, children begin responding only to the sounds of the language they hear the most.
In a similar way older babies start recognizing the patterns that make up the rules of their native language. For example, English children who are about 18 months old start to figure out that words ending in “-ing” or “-ed” are usually verbs, and that verbs are action words.
1.The new research in the second paragraph can be helpful in _____.
A. finding successful language learners
B. teaching kids with learning problems
C. designing human-shaped computers
D. improving babies’ language ability
2. The researchers found out that babies learn a language mainly by _____.
A. repeating the words of other people
B. remembering the full sentences they hear
C. hearing and closely watching others speak
D. figuring out the meaning of different sounds
3.The purpose of the text is to _____.
A. discuss B. educate
C. inform D. Entertain
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Elizabeth Freeman was born about 1742 to African American parents who were slaves. At the age of six months she was acquired, along with her sister, by John Ashley, a wealthy Massachusetts slaveholders. She became known as “Mumbet” or “Mum Bett.”
For nearly 30 years Mumbet served the Ashley family. One day, Ashley’s wife tried to hit Mumbet’s sister with a spade(铁锹). Mumbet protected her sister and took the blow instead. Angry, she left the house and refused to come back. When the Ashleys tried to make her return, Mumbet turned to a lawyer, Theodore Sedgewick. With his help, Mumbet sued(起诉) for her freedom.
While serving the Ashleys, Mumbet had listened to many discussions of the new Massachusetts laws. If the laws said that all people were free and equal, then she thought it should apply to her. Eventually, Mumbet won her freedom—the first slave in Massachusetts to do so under the new law.
Strangely enough, after the trial, the Ashleys asked Mumbet to come back and work for them as a paid employee. She refused and instead went to work for Segdewick. Mumbet died in 1829, but her spirit lived on in her many generations. One of her great-grandchildren was W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the founder of the NAACP, and an important writer and spokesperson for African American civil rights.
Mumbet’s tombstone still stands in the Massachusetts cemetery where she was buried. It reads, in part: “She was born a slave and remained a slave for nearly thirty years. She could neither read nor write, yet in her own area she had no superior or equal.”
1.What do we know about Mumbet according to Paragraph 1?
A. She was born into a rich family.
B. She was a slaveholder.
C. She was born a slave.
D. She had a famous sister.
2.What did Mumbet do after the trial?
A. She founded the NAACP.
B. She went to live with her grandchildren.
C. She continued to serve the Ashleys.
D. She chose to work for a lawyer.
3.What did Mumbet learn from discussions about the new constitution?
A. How to be a good servant.
B. How to apply for a job.
C. She should always obey her owners’ orders.
D. She should be as free and equal as whites.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. A trial that shocked the whole world.
B. The life of a brave African American woman.
C. A story of a famous writer and spokesperson.
D. The friendship between a lawyer and a slave.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
My roommate Lily was well organized, while I was not. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Lily got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Lily came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Lily answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Lily had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”
Lily and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1.What made Lily so angry one evening?
A. She heard the author shouting loud.
B. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed.
C. She got the news that her grandma was ill.
D. She couldn’t find her books.
2.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?
A. By analyzing causes.
B. By following time order.
C. By showing differences.
D. By describing a process.
3.The author tidied up the room most probably because _______.
A. she wanted to show her care
B. she hated herself for being so messy
C. she was asked by Lily to do so
D. she was scared by Lily’s anger
4.What might be the best title for the story?
A. Hard Work Pays Off B. Learning to Be Roommates
C. My Friend Lily D. How to Be Organized
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
(Q = Question; A = Answer)
Situation I
Q: If someone sits right next to me in an empty movie theater, is it rude to move?
A: Maybe, but nobody will fault you for it. Chances are that the close sitter doesn’t realize he disturbs you, so he may miss your annoyance. You undoubtedly aren’t the first person he’s met who needs enough room. Forgive his bad judgment, move quietly and enjoy the show.
Situation II
Q: If I use the bathroom at a store, do I need to buy something?
A: Consider frequency and urgency. Is this a one-time thing or an emergency? If so, you don’t have to buy anything, but it would be kind if you did. However, if you regularly use the bathroom at this place, then you are a customer, and you should act like one.
Situation III
Q: If someone is talking loudly on the bus, is there a nice way to ask him to keep it down?
A: No. Try other means: 1) Stare at him until he gets aware of it and quiets down. 2) Lift your finger in a silence motion(动作) and smile. 3) Put on earphones and ignore him.
Situation IV
Q: If I remember my friend’s birthday a day late, should I apologize or just wish her a happy birthday like nothing happened?
A: This is the reason why the word belated was invented. “Happy belated birthday!” is short for: “Well, I know I forgot, but then I remembered. Forgive me and happy birthday.”
Situation V
Q: Can I lie about seeing a text because I was loo busy or lazy to respond to it?
A: Don’t lie. Receiving a text does not mean you need to respond(回复) to it. Why waste a perfectly good lie when the truth will serve? “Yes,” you can say if ever asked, “I saw it.” No explanation is needed as to why you don’t respond.
1.How will you quiet someone down in a public place?
A. By talking to him directly.
B. By pointing angrily at him.
C. By looking purposefully at him.
D. By making fun of him continuously.
2.The underlined word “belated” in Situation IV probably means ________.
A. delayed B. returned C. predicted D. regretted
3.You will get annoyed in a theater when ________.
A. a person is too rude to you
B. a person sits too close to you
C. a person is too active
D. a person talks too loudly
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Different ways to change others’ manners.
B. Good manners to talk to people.
C. Proper manners to offer help to others.
D. Modern ways to mind your manners.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式
The Amber Room 1. (put) up in 1709. It used to belong 2. Frederick William I, the first King of Prussia. Peter the Great fell in love with the room on a visit, and in 1716 the King of Prussia sent it to Peter the Great as a gift.
The Amber Room was shipped to Russia in 18 large boxes and put in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg as a part of a European art collection. It was first open in 1746 in the Winter Palace, 3. it was housed till 1755. In 1755, Czarina Elizabeth ordered the room 4. (move) to the Catherine Palace in Pushkin. An Italian 5. (art) Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli redesigned the room to fit into its new larger space, 6. (use) extra amber from Berlin.
7. seems hard to believe that boxes of several tons of amber could go missing, and many historians have tried to solve the mystery. Most of them believe 8. the boxes were destroyed in the Second World War. One of the more extreme theories is that Stalin 9. (actual) had a second Amber Room and the Germans stole a fake (赝品).
The history of the new Amber Room, at least, is known for sure. The reconstruction (重建), 10. was based largely on black and white photographs of the original Amber Room, began in 1979 at Tsarskoye Selo and was completed 25 years later.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假如你是李夏。你看到美国留学生Sharon在网上发帖，希望有人能帮助她提高普通话(Mandarin)水平，她可以教英文作为回报。请根据以下提示用英语给她写一封电子邮件。
1．表达给她提供帮助的意愿；
2．说明你能胜任辅导的理由；
注意：
1．词数100词左右；
2．信中不能出现与本人相关的信息；
3．信的开头与结尾已为你拟好,不计入总词数。
Hi, Sharon,
This is Li Xia. I learned from your post that you want to improve your Mandarin.
.
.
.
Yours,
Li Xia
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a quality that is difficult to possess. When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your hate. However, forgiveness is possible, and it can be surprisingly beneficial to your physical and mental health. People who forgive show less sadness, anger and stress and more hopefulness, according to a recent research.
1. Try the following steps：
Calm yourself. 2. You can take a couple of breaths and think of something that gives you pleasure: a beautiful scene in nature, or someone you love.
Don’t wait for an apology. Many times the person who hurt you does not intend to apologize. They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same way.
3. Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean becoming friends again with the person who upset you.
Take the control away from your offender(冒犯者). Rethinking about your hurt gives power to the person who caused you pain. Instead of focusing on your wounded feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness around you.
4. If you understand your offender, you may realize that he or she was acting out of unawareness, fear, and even love. You may want to write a letter to yourself from your offender’s point of view.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself. 5. But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don’t do it.
A. How should you start to forgive?
B. Why should you forgive?
C. Try to see things from your offender’s angle.
D. Recognize the benefits of forgiveness.
E. For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge.
F. If you wait for people to apologize, you could be waiting an awfully long time.
G. To make your anger die away, try a simple stressmanagement technique.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a ________reason, such as your job or your studies? ________ perhaps you’re interested in the ________, films or music of a different country and you know it will help a lot to have a ________ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ________, but traditional classes are an ideal (理想的) start for many people. They ________ an environment where you can practice under the ________ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ________ lives and learning a language takes ________ . You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ________ . It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming fluent in a language will take years, but knowing about it takes ________ .
Many people start learning a language and soon give up. “I’m too ________, ” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more ________ than adults，but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ________ . And learning is good for the health of your brain too. I’ve also heard people ________ about the mistakes they make when ________ . Well, relax and laugh about your mistakes ________ you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ________ . But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be ________ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ________ own language. Good luck!
1.A. practical B. physical C. political D. cultural
2.A. Though B. After C. Or D. So
3.A. agriculture B. literature C. transport D. medicine
4.A. view B. form C. database D. knowledge
5.A. principles B. methods C. paintings D. computers
6.A. respect B. protect C. provide D. change
7.A. command B. guidance C. control D. pressure
8.A. simple B. busy C. normal D. happy
9.A. courage B. energy C. place D. time
10.A. habit B. project C. business D. design
11.A. a lot less B. a lot more C. some notes D. some risks
12.A. weak B. nervous C. tired D. old
13.A. privately B. quietly C. quickly D. closely
14.A. distance B. age C. speed D. school
15.A. quarrel B. think C. worry D. debate
16.A. learning B. bargaining C. singing D. working
17.A. but B. before C. if D. and
18.A. easy B. hard C. tiresome D. interesting
19.A. devoted B. deserved C. amazed D. blamed
20.A. our B. their C. your D. His
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅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(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
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。
Mr. Smith, our English teacher, works hard. Every day, he spends too much time with his work. With little sleep and hardly any break, so he works from morning till night. Hard work have made him very ill. “He has ruined his healthy. We are worried about him.” That is which other teachers say. Yesterday afternoon, I paid visit to Mr. Smith. I was eager to see him, but outside her room I stopped. I had to calm myself down. Quietly I step into the room. I saw him lying in bed, looking at some of the picture we had taken together. I understood that he missed us just as many as we missed him.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析