Ever walked to the shops only to find, once there, you’ve completely forgotten what you went for? Or struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years we’ve accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of aging as wrinkles and gray hair. But now a new book suggests that we’ve got it all wrong.
According to The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, by science writer Barbara Strauch, when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age. In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s — much later than previously thought.
Furthermore, rather than losing many brain cells as we age, we keep them, and even produce new ones well into middle age. For years it’s been assumed that brain, much like the body, declines with age. But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise.
This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years. It has found that on average, participants performed better on cognitive (认知的) tests in their 40s and 50s than they had done in their 20s. Specifically, older people did better on tests of vocabulary, verbal memory (how many words you can remember) and problem solving. Where they performed less well was number ability and perceptual speed — how fast you can push a button when ordered. However, with more complex tasks such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond. In short, researchers are now coming up with scientific proof that we do get wiser with age.
Neuroscientists are also finding that we are happier with aging. A recent US study found older people were much better at controlling and balancing their emotions. It is thought that when we’re younger we need to focus more on the negative aspects of life in order to learn about the possible dangers in the world, but as we get older we’ve learned our lessons and are aware that we have less time left in life: therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy.
1.Barbara Strauch probably agrees that ______.
A.the young are better at handling important things
B.wrinkles and gray hair are the only symbols of aging
C.aging leads to the decline of the function of the brain
D.people’s brains work best between their 40s and 60s
2.The continuing research has found older people perform better on ______.
A.vocabulary tests B.number ability
C.perceptual speed D.body balance
3.People are happier with aging because ______.
A.they know how to share feelings B.they learn to value the time left
C.they cannot focus on negative aspects D.they do not realize the possible dangers
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.People get happier with age. B.People get more forgetful with age.
C.People get wiser with age. D.People get more self-aware with age.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Theme Parks on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast theme parks come in all shapes and sizes and whether you like roller coasters or patting furry animals，you’re sure to find something.
Dream world
It is home to the greatest number of traditional theme park rides on the coast with all the kid friendly rides, roller coasters, water slides, bumper cars and more gravity defying than you could want. If there’s the most perfect theme park you’re after, Dreamworld is the one for you.
Contact Information:
Phone: +61755881111
Address: Dreamworld Parkway Coomera Queensland 4209
Movie World
Movie World is the only movie-related theme park in Australia. With one of the best roller coasters on the coast and a good handful of movies related to rides, you’ll experience a fun-filled adventure with some famous scenes in the films of Hollywood.
Contact Information:
Phone: 0755738485
Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Queensland 4210
Sea World
With an obvious emphasis on creatures that live in the water. Sea World has a fantastic range of fish, sharks, dolphins, seals, polar bears, and other animals on display in realistically natural environments. Many of the animals will also entertain you in some water shows. It may be the best all-round theme park on the Gold Coast.
Contact Information:
Phone: 0755882222
Address: Sea World Drive, Main Beach, Cold Coast, Queensland 4217
Wet ‘n’ Wild
With nothing but amazing water slides, swimming pools and “dive in movies”，Wet ‘n’ Wild is one of the greatest water parks in Australia, if not the world. In winter everything is heated, so you won’t get cold, and on a hot Gold Coast summer day, you’ll have a hard time finding a better place. Each year the team at Wet ‘n’ Wild come up with new and exciting rides to thrill and chill you.
Contact Information:
Phone: 0755561660
Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland 4210
1.Which of the following about Movie World is TRUE?
A.It is the best all-round theme park on the Gold Coast.
B.It has lots of traditional theme park rides on the coast.
C.It has many amazing water slides and “dive in movies”.
D.It can help visitors know more movies related to rides.
2.If you want to watch water show of animals, you should dial ________.
A.0755561660 B.0755882222
C.0755738485 D.+61755881111
3.If you don’t want to get cold in winter, you can go to ________.
A.Dreamworld B.Movie World
C.Wet ‘n’ Wild D.Sea World
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I was standing in the checkout line behind a woman who looked to be in her 60s. When it was her turn to pay, the cashier greeted her by name and asked her how she was doing.
The woman looked down, shook her head and said,“Not so good. My husband just lost his job and my son is up to his old tricks again. The truth is, l don't know how I’m going to get through the holidays.”
Then she gave the cashier food stamps(食品券).
My heart ached.
I wanted to help but didn’t know how. Should I offer to pay for her groceries, ask for her husband’s resume?
As I walked into the parking lot, I spotted the woman returning her shopping cart. I remembered something in my purse that I thought could help her. It wasn't a handful of cash or an offer of a job for her husband, but maybe it would make her life better. My heart pounded (狂跳) as I approached the woman.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice trembling a bit, “I couldn’t help overhearing what you said to the cashier. It sounds like you’re going through a really hard time right now. I’m so sorry. I’d like to give you something.”
I handed her the small card from my purse.
When the woman read the card’s only two words, she began to cry. And through her tears, she said, “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
I was a little startled by her reply. Having never done anything like this before, I didn’t know what kind of reaction I might receive. All I could think to say was, “Oh my. Would it be OK to give you a hug?”
After we embraced, I walked back to my car-and began to cry too.
The words on the card?
“You Matter.”
A few weeks earlier, a colleague gave me a similar card as encouragement for a project I was working on. When I read the card, I felt a warm glow spread inside of me. Deeply touched, I came home and ordered my own box of You Matter cards and started sharing them.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the first three paragraphs?
A.The woman and her family were having a tough time.
B.The cashier helped the woman by giving her some food for free.
C.The woman’s family mainly depends on her son.
D.The author wondered why the cashier was familiar with the woman.
2.The woman cried when she got the card, probably because .
A.it could solve her present problem
B.she could use it to buy food
C.it greatly encouraged her
D.it could land her husband a job
3.The underlined word “startled” in Paragraph 10 probably means .
A.interested B.grateful
C.ashamed D.astonished
4.From the article, we can tell that the author is .
A.a knowledgeable person B.a kind-hearted person
C.a horrible person D.a confident person
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
For many adolescents, “screen time” is almost a full-time job that could lead to obesity, diabetes and other health issues, a Canadian researcher says.
Adolescents now spend an average of six hours a day in front of some type of screen, whether it’s a television or computer screen or one of the many portable devices now popular with young people, studies done by Dr. Ian Michael Janssen show. “They spend more hours daily in front of a screen than they do in a classroom in a given year,” said Janssen, a researcher at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. The result is a rise in obesity rates among adolescents. Unfortunately, fixing the problem isn’t as easy as simply cutting down screen time, Janssen cautions. “Decreasing screen time will not automatically increase physical activity levels,” said Janssen, Some active kids also spend a lot of time in front of television and computer screens, and some kids who have low screen times also have low levels of physical activity, he points out.
As well, screen time is not necessarily bad, Janssen said. “The tricky part is that children today need to be using computers,” he said. Computers are required for schoolwork, and technological skills are important for future job prospects. The quality of screen time matters too, along with the quantity---consider the negative health messages found in food advertising during children’s shows, he said. Ideally, children should aim for no more than two hours of recreational screen time a day.
Janssen’s real worry about the rise in childhood obesity rates is not that there are now rare cases of type diabetes in kids, where once there were none, but the health problems these children are likely to face in the future as adults, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.
1.Which one doesn’t belong to “screen time” according to the passage?
A.Watching TV. B.Surfing the Internet.
C.Seeing a film on an MP4. D.Making a telephone call.
2.In Janssen’s opinion, kids had better to keep healthy.
A.lose weight. B.decrease screen time
C.take physical activities D.go on a diet
3.What’s the researcher’s attitude towards “screen time of adolescents" ?
A.Concerned. B.Passive.
C.Positive. D.Frightened.
4.We can learn from the passage that .
A.many of the people having full-time jobs suffer from obesity and diabetes.
B.decreasing screen time can’t really solve the problem
C.children today most use computers to finish their school work
D.a new type of obesity in kids becomes Janssen’s real worry
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
Last week, I, along with the rest of my grade, went on a 18-hour survival training trip. When we arrived in, we put up our tents before making lunch. Then we participated in team-building activity such as dragon boat racing or rock climbing. They were all extremely fun yet tiring. The most excited event was the boat racing, as I have never been in a dragon boat before. The thrilling feeling of riding over the waves will stay my mind forever. By the end of the day, they were all sweaty and exhausted. We packed up the next morning, take back with us our new created memories.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
There were two men living next to each other, both 1. large gardens. One of them was a retired teacher and the other was a baker. The teacher 2. (rare) cared for the plants in his garden, but the baker was very careful with his plants. Therefore, the teacher’s plants were small, while the baker’s plants were3. bigger and greener.
One night, 4. heavy storm hit the village. The next morning, both of the neighbors came out to check on their gardens. The baker saw that his plants 5. (destroy). However, the teacher’s plants were not damaged at all and stood firm.
6. (surprise), the baker asked the teacher, “We both grew the same plants and I cared for my plants better 7. you did. How are your plants still OK?”
The teacher smiled and said, “You gave your plants too much attention, so you made 8. too easy for them to grow. I gave my plants just a little bit of water, so their roots had to grow deeper 9. (find) more by themselves. That’s 10. my plants survived.”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Having proper manners is essential in all aspects of life if you want others to respect you. Here are some of the advantages of having good manners:
Professional manners get positive attention.1.. However, knowing how to do the work isn’t the only thing expected of you. Following the manners rules at work will also help you earn respect and possibly even contribute to promotions and raises.
2.. Show your customers your good manners by speaking to them politely and giving them an opportunity to express their needs, and you are more likely to earn their future business.
Being polite to your friends will keep them calling you.3., they are more likely to include you in activities and events. Treating other people with respect makes them want to be nice back to you. Whether you need help at the grocery store or you have a complaint about a product, showing good manners will make the store employees want to work with you. 4.. Smile at someone, and that just might be the bright spot in his or her day.
Knowing and using proper manners regularly can help with confidence. If you are in the habit of using good manners all the time, which is a sign of respect for others, you won’t have to worry about whether or not you’re doing or saying the right thing. It will come natural to you. 5..
A. Skills on the job are important
B. If you want to make more honest friends
C. Being kind to customers increases sales
D. And then others will respect you more for it
E. Employers are trying to earn much money from their customers
F. When your friends know you care enough to have good manners with them
G. Holding a door for a mom with a baby or an older person can make their day better
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I still remember my kindergarten teacher Mrs White, although I don’t remember much about what we learned in her class. My mother once told me that we used to____a lot. And I would bring back what I wrote and she could see there were so many____. But no red corrections. And always a star. Sometimes____a “Good”，which would make my heart soar (高涨）with____, But it worried my mother, so one day when she met Mrs White, she asked her why she never____the wrong spellings of words.
Mrs White replied,“The children are just beginning to get____about using words, about forming sentences. I don’t want to____that enthusiasm with red ink. Spelling and grammar can wait. The wonder of words won’t…”Maybe she didn’t say it____like that. It was long ago. But I did grow up learning to use words with loving____like that.
I____now and think Mrs Whites was a rather____teacher. She encouraged the joy,____and excitement of expression-however faultily-like that. I used to____“beautiful” a lot. Never could I quite remember that the “e”went ___the “a”.____my teacher in high school very much.____eventually the e’s and a’s settled into their____places. I am glad I didn’t ___on them though. “Pretty” is ___to spell but it doesn’t hold as much as you mean sometimes. And thanks to Mrs White, I had no____about writing what I meant even if I couldn’t quite spell it out. Because life isn’t Pretty. It’s Beautiful.
1.A.listen B.speak C.write D.read
2.A.marks B.stars C.words D.mistakes
3.A.even B.naturally C.especially D.particularly
4.A.happiness B.sadness C.discouragement D.disappointment
5.A.found B.corrected C.ignored D.remembered
6.A.worried B.excited C.anxious D.nervous
7.A.keep B.create C.stop D.make
8.A.really B.carefully C.totally D.exactly
9.A.fear B.confidence C.pride D.content
10.A.look forward B.look after C.look back D.look for
11.A.extraordinary B.strict C.hardworking D.careless
12.A.delight B.wonder C.relief D.satisfaction
13.A.mistake B.misuse C.misunderstand D.misspell
14.A.behind B.after C.before D.below
15.A.annoyed B.pleased C.frightened D.confused
16.A.So B.But C.And D.Or
17.A.right B.wrong C.good D.bad
18.A.stand B.keep C.wait D.rely
19.A.funnier B.harder C.nicer D.easier
20.A.interests B.hope C.worries D.sadness
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
假如你是高三学生李华，从校园网上得知你校将在暑假举办去英国牛津大学(Oxford University)的夏令营。请写一封电子邮件申请参加。内容主要包括:
1. 自我介绍(突出特长)；
2. 参加原因(文化交流、心仪大学等)；
3. 希望获批。
注意:
1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Sir or Madam,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 简单查看答案及解析