Do you want to improve your memory? Are you struggling to remember names and faces as you get
older? Try picking up the phone and speaking to someone. Scientists have found that holding a simple
conversation could be just as effective as playing popular "brain-training" games that have reproduced a
multi-million pound industry.
     Researchers compared 36 studies on memory exercises performed between 1970 and 2007. Some
studies suggested both healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment (轻度认知缺陷)
could remember words better after some memory training.
However, other studies found this improvement was matched by those who were asked to hold a
discussion about art.
     The finding that social interaction could be just as effective at keeping memory loss from getting worse
comes after Age Concern warned more than a million people aged over 65 living alone in their own
homes. The charity warned solitary lifestyles were a 'silent disease' spreading through the nation quickly.
     Dr. Martin said most people experienced a cognitive decline (下降) in old age. This can include
memory loss and inability to plan, pay close attention or perform tasks as quickly as before. The normal
rate of decline seems to speed up in some people, leading to a condition called mild cognitive impairment, which some researchers see as a reason for developing mental diseases later in life.
     Although several studies have suggested that brain-training exercises could delay signs of cognitive
decline, the studies and the types of training have many different kinds. The findings do not mean that
longer, more intense or different exercises might not be effective, but that those which have been reported
thus far have only limited effect.
     Dr. Martin concluded researchers needed to improve the way they used their studies to eventually
determine ways of preventing cognitive decline in old age.

1. What's the main idea of Paragraph 1?

A. People should play more "brain-training" games.
B. Training has a great effect on our health.
C. Having conversation can improve memory.
D. People have no ways to improve memory.

2. What does the underlined word "solitary" probably mean?

A. Unhealthy.
B. Alone.
C. Lacking patience.
D. Enjoying being old.

3.  Mild cognitive impairment can cause people to _______.

A. have mental diseases
B. develop physical diseases
C. worry about the coming of old age
D. escape from the reality in life

4. What message can be implied in the passage?

A. Most people suffer from memory loss.
B. There are more social problems to be settled at present.
C. No one can prevent old age from coming.
D. Whether "brain-training" exercises have a great effect on memory is not sure.

5. The passage would be of great help to ______.

A. children
B. housewives
C. elderly people
D. bad-tempered people

     A good relationship (关系) with a teacher may help you learn better. But what should you do if you
find it difficult to get along well with your teachers? Here are some tips.
     If you're having problems with a teacher, try to find out why.     1      Or do you like the subject but
just dislike the teacher?
     If you don't like the subject, it can affect (影响) your relationship with the teacher. You should try to
find the practical value in classes you don't like. You may hate math.    2    
     If you find a subject hard, talk to your teacher to be given more help.      3  
     It may help you raise your grade gradually.
         4   Show an interest in the subject, which may change your attitude towards your teacher. You
can also talk to your teacher when he or she is free. Use this time to get extra help, ask questions, or talk
about your progress in class. You may be surprised to learn that your teacher is a bit more relaxed and
friendly than when lecturing in front of the whole class.
     If you don't agree with your teacher, do not quarrel with him or her.   5   Just as teachers need to
be fair and treat everyone equally, students have responsibilities too. You don't have to like your teacher
or agree with what he or she says, but it is necessary to be polite.

A. What if you just don't like the teacher?
B. Any teacher will give you some useful advice.
C. Do you dislike the subject?
D. What is your opinion about it?
E. But learning it well can help you in everything from sports to leaving a tip(小费).
F. And it's impossible to like everyone all the time.
G. Common respect is a basic requirement of any relationship

     All parents have skyhigh hopes for their children. We want them to be confident and content. What
can parents do to help their kids grow up to lead happy lives?Experts advise:
     1. Helping them find their talents. In order to succeed, children need to feel they're good at something. So expose your children to as many interests as possible, then let them choose those they like best.
     2. Applauding their achievements. A study found  that students whose parents paid attention to their
abilities were far more likely to do well in school-and in life-than students whose parents didn't show such
support. So celebrate your kids' achievements, no matter how small they are.
     3. Praising their efforts. Kids won't always come out on top. Still, they deserve kudos (赞誉) for
trying their best. Tenyearold April Cutler, for example, has had trouble with math since second grade.
"She usually gets C's on her report card, but last year she was determined to get A's and worked hard at
it,"  says her mom. "When the first grading period ended, April was disappointed when she got a B minus
in math," Lueille continues ."But my husband and I told her we were very proud that she'd improved. That
inspired her to try even harder. She got a B plus for the next period!"
     4. Letting them make decisions and mistakes. Making his/her own decisions increases a child's sense
of control and builds his/her selfesteem  (自尊心). And allowing kids to make wrong decisions-so long
as doing so won't harm them-helps kids learn from their mistakes.
     5. Encouraging  them to  solve  their  own problems. As they grow, children need practice in
communicating, standing up for themselves and compromising. One of the best places to learn these skills
is at home. So the next time your child runs to you complaining that her brother is blaming her, step back
and let them work it out.

1.What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To encourage parents to admire their kids.
B. To show how to praise kids.
C. To help kids study harder.
D. To give advice on how to help kids become mature.

2. The passage is mainly intended for________.

A. kids  
B. parents  
C. teachers  
D. educators

3 From the example of April Cutler, we can learn that________.

A. praising kids' efforts can help them make greater progress
B. setting a high goal makes kids feel discouraged
C. solving problems by themselves helps kids feel confident
D. interest is the best teacher

4.Why should parents allow kids to make mistakes?

A. Making mistakes is a normal thing for a kid.
B. Adults also make mistakes now and then.
C. Kids can learn something valuable from their mistakes.
D. Making mistakes won't harm kids.

     When an emergency (紧急) situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few
or no other witnesses (目击者). This phenomenon (现象) is referred to as the "bystander effect".
     The bystander effect is also called the "Genovese effect", which is named after Catherine  Genovese,
a young woman who was cruelly murdered on March 13, 1964. Early in the morning, 28-year-old
Genovese was returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked
and stabbed (刺) by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. Despite Genovese's repeated cries for
help, none of the dozen or so people in the nearby apartment building who heard her cries called police
for help. The attack first began at 3:20, but it was not until 3:50 that someone first contacted police.
     Many psychologists were set thinking by the incident, as well as most Americans. As the conclusion,
the bystander effect came out and later proved by a series of studies and experiments.
     There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the presence of other
people creates a division (分散) of responsibility. Because there are other observers, individuals do not
feel as much pressure to take action, since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among
all of those present. The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways.
When other observers fail to react, individuals often take this as a signal that a response is not needed or
not proper.
     Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to take action if the situation is uncertain.
In the case of Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed they were witnessing a
"lovers'quarrel", and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered.

1. The bystander effect is also called the "Genovese effect" because          .  

A. it somehow caused the murder of a woman named Genovese
B. its discovery resulted from the murder of a woman named Genovese
C. it was actually discovered by a woman named Genovese
D. it always makes people think of a woman named Genovese

2. Which could NOT be a reason for the neighbors standing by instead of offering Genovese help?

A. They believed in the bystander effect.            
B. They thought someone else might help her.
C. They didn't think they should help.
D. They didn't think she needed help.

3.  Before deciding to offer help, observers may         , according to the psychologists.  

A. wait for sort of a signal
B. consider the risk of getting hurt
C. want to be sure it's proper to react
D. wonder if the victim is worth helping

4. The article seems to suggest that, if there had been         observers, Genovese might not have
    been murdered.

A. no        
B. fewer
C. more
D. braver

                                                Young Inventors' Latest Concepts
     Students across China, studying in the fields of engineering, science and technology, are developing a
range of inventions that they hope will one day be marketable. Here are three examples from the minds of China's young inventors.
     Foot-Controlled Mouse
     This new kind of mouse is controlled by the feet instead of the hands, to help handicapped people
when surfing the Internet.
     The new device is called a "surf mouse", and looks like a pair of blue slippers. When users press the
slippers with their forefeet, they are clicking the left mouse button; when people press with their heels,
they are clicking the right mouse; when they roll their feet over the slippers, they can view Web pages.
      Dirty Water Filter
     The "pump of life", a filter, can make dirty water drinkable. The pump is over 30 centimeters long and
has a diameter of four centimeters. It has an in-pipe at the top and out-pipe at the end. There are two
main parts: the drive zone to pump water and the material zone to eliminate (去除) harmful substances.
Rain, fish tank water and coalmine water can all be cleaned in the material zone. The invention could be
used for many kinds of disaster relief. Pan told us that water was delivered by helicopters to Wenchuan.
If they had sent water-purifying equipment instead, people could have had more water faster after the
earthquake.
     Transformer Vehicle
     The multi-functional vehicle is named Tranfus. By changing the breadth of tires and the structure of a
car, it can become a motorbike or a luggage carrier. The name Tranfus is a contraction of "transforming
for us."
      Traffic jams can make a driver go crazy. The Tranfus can change into luggage carrier, and users
could walk with it. When started, the roof transforms, turning into a motorbike. But its inventor doesn't
think Tranfus will be on the market soon as some auto companies like it, but none are willing to invest.

1. Who will be most likely to use the Foot-Controlled Mouse?

A. Those who are left-handed.
B. Those absent-minded in classes.
C. Those hoping cheating in exams.
D. Those having disability in hands.

2。 How can users look through Web pages with the Foot-Controlled Mouse?

A. They can force down their forefeet.
B. They can raise their heels.
C. They can roll their feet.
D. They can press their heels.

3. When should Dirty Water Filter be most likely useful?

A. When there is a lack of water because of drought.
B. When there are natural disasters causing clean water shortage.
C. When there are earthquakes in the mountainous areas.
D. When there are too many people in a crowded city.

4. Why CAN'T the Transformer Vehicle be on the market soon?

A. It is only a crazy idea and has no scientifictheory to support it.
B. It is too small to be a car and too big to be a luggage carrier.
C. There are no auto companies offering to invest in it.
D. There are no auto companies showing interest in it.

     As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a
family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how
much more.
     Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping (录像) the families while they ate
ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each
other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents'
efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. "In general
the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children's IQ scores." Lewis says. "And the more
children there are, the less question-asking there is."
     The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life
than their siblings (兄弟姐妹), Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation
is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the
most attention "Middle children are invisible," says Lewis. "When you see someone get up from the table
and walk around during dinner, chances are it's the middle child." There is, however, one thing that stops
all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: "When the TV is on," Lewis says, "dinner is a
non-event."

1. The writer's purpose in writing the text is to_______.

A. show the relationship between parents and children
B. teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table
C. report on the findings of a study
D. give information about family problems

2. By saying "Middle children are invisible" in Paragraph 3. Lewis means that middle children ______.

A. have to help their parents to serve dinner
B. get the least attention from the family
C. are often kept away from the dinner table
D. find it hard to keep up with other children

3. Lewis' research provides an answer to the question _______.

A. why TV is important in family life
B. why parents should keep good order
C. why children in small families seem to be quieter
D. why middle children seem to have more difficulties in life

4. Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

A. It is important to have the right food for children.
B. It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.
C. Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.
D. Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner.

     How can you help kids cope with (应对) stress? Proper rest and good nutrition can improve coping
skills, so can good parenting. Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk or just be in
the same room with you, make yourself available.
     Even as kids get older, quality time is important. It's really hard for some people to come home after
work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day-especially if
they've had a stressful day themselves. But expressing interest in your kids shows that they're important
to you.
     Help your child cope with stress by talking about what may be causing it. Together, you can come up
with a few solutions. For example, he should cut back on after-school activities, spending more time
talking with parents or teachers, developing an exercise plan or keeping a journal.
     You can also help by predicting potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them. For
example, let a child know ahead of time(but not too far ahead of time) that a doctor's appointment is
coming up and talk about what will happen there. Keep in mind, though, that younger kids probably
won't need too much advance preparation. Too much information can cause more stress.
     Remember that some level of stress is normal; let kids know that it's OK to feel angry, scared, lonely,
or anxious and that other people share those feelings.
     When kids can't or won't discuss these issues, try talking about your own concerns. This shows that
you're willing to handle tough topics and are available to talk with when they're ready. If a child shows
symptoms (症状) that concern you and is unwilling to talk, consult a counselor or other mental health
experts.
     Most parents have the skills to deal with their children's stress. The time to seek professional attention
is when any change in behavior continues to exist, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or when the
behavior is causing significant problems in functioning at school or at home.

1. What is the purpose of the text?

A. To share the author's ideas on proper parenting.
B. To persuade parents to spend more time with kids.
C. To advise parents how to help kids deal with stress.
D. To seek different ways to help solve kids' problems.

2.What makes it difficult for parents to spare quality time for kids?

A. Kids growing so fast.            
B. Parents being tired out.
C. Kids losing interest in parents.      
D. There being too much homework.

3. You are advised not to talk too much about a stressful situation in advance because        . 

A. it does no good to your kids
B. it doesn't work in practice
C. your kids may lose interest
D. your kids don't want to listen

4. What can we learn from Paragraph 5?

A. Normal people share the same feelings.
B. It is normal for kids to have some stress.
C. Kids should get rid of the negative feelings.
D. Everybody feels angry, scared, lonely or anxious.

     People in Mutsuhito, Japan, lived through one hundreds, and sometimes thousands, a day. But they
couldn't get used to it.
     What was it? It was a string of earthquakes that made the small town shake all the time.This went on
for more than a year. Sometimes the quakes were very small. Only certain instruments could pick them
up.At other times, the quakes damaged houses and land. The people were always afraid. They wished
they knew how to stop the ground from shaking.
     People all over the world would like to know when an earthquake is coming. But an earthquake is
almost always a surprise. Under the surface of the Earth, huge blocks of rock drift apart or slide against
each other.The ground above splits apart or rumbles and shakes.
     Some scientists hope to predict quakes by keeping a close watch on animals. It seems that some
animals can sense an earthquake coming. In 1969, animals in a Chinese zoo began to act funny one day.
Swans flew out of their pond. A panda sat down, covered its eyes with its paws, and groaned. The
animals seemed to know that something was about to happen. And it did. An earthquake struck. What
was it that the animals sensed? Scientists are trying to find out.
     Keeping close track of the Earth's magnetic force in earthquake areas may also help. A few years ago,
in Hollister, CA, scientists kept a record of the area's magnetic pull. For one week, the force grew
stronger. Then it weakened suddenly. A day later, an earthquake struck.
     It may become possible to know when and where an earthquake will happen. But it will be much
harder to stop one from happening.
     Many scientists think that the Earth's covering is not smooth. They say the earth's "skin" is made up of
huge puzzle pieces called plates. Land and ocean floors make up these huge plates. Under the Earth's
crust (外壳), or plates, is hot rock. The plates float on top of this rock. Sometimes the rock forces its
way through the crust. What happens then? A volcano is born! More often, the rock moves and forces
the plates to pull away from each other, causing earthquakes to happen.(Volcanoes and earthquakes
often go together.)
     Sometimes, the plates end up on top of each other. When this happens, the land above may look
strange. Seen from the air, there seems to be a long scar in the Earth. This is called a fault (断层).The
areas along faults have more earthquakes than other parts of the Earth.
     For now, we'll just have to shake along with the Earth. It goes through millions of small earthquakes every year. With luck, you won't feel a thing!

1. In order to predict earthquakes, scientists can ______.Which is wrong according to this passage?

A. keep a close watch on animals
B. keep close track of the Earth's magnetic force in earthquake areas
C. keep inventing instruments to pick up every earthquake
D. keep a record of earthquake area's magnetic pull of force

2. When the rock forces its way through the Earth's crust, ______.

A. a volcano is born
B. an earthquake happens
C. a fault forms
D. the Earth's covering becomes smooth

3. How does a fault form?

A. When California rests on two separate plates.
B. When the plates end up on top of each other.
C. Before an earthquake happens.
D. After volcano comes.

     Twenty courses provided by 18 top Chinese universities went online on Wednesday, China's latest
attempt to spread teaching resources within the nation and promote (提升) Chinese culture globally.
     These courses cover 20 subjects or lectures given by speakers and professors from several universities, including Zhejiang University, Nankai University and Wuhan University. Most of the courses will focus on
traditional Chinese culture, according to the Ministry of Education. They are available through the
websites of NetEase and China Network Television, as well as icourse.edu.cn, for free.
     Some of the courses will be translated into English and promoted across the rest of the world,
according to NetEase Company, an international body promoting open content among the world's
universities.
     The company has set up a translation team and "will kick off the translation work when we finish the
negotiation (谈判) on intellectual rights with universities", said Zhu Xirui, a senior manager for NetEase
Company.
     "We want to promote Chinese culture to overseas netizens through the program," he said.
     Ding Xiuhong, another manager of NetEase Company, said they had invested (投资) more than 15
million yuan ($2.37 million) in the program.
     "Although we haven't made a profit from 'the program, it will at least help increase our website's page
views," Ding said.
     "I'd like to watch the Chinese elite (精英) classes, such as Chinese literature and poetry, as well as
economy," said Jeremy Scaramuzzi, a teacher at Tsinghua International School.
      He said he was also interested in Chinese classes on political science since that is the subject he
majored in in the United States.

1. Which of the following statements is true?

A. The courses mainly focus on university education.
B. Viewers will have to pay for watching the courses.
C. The program is intended to promote Chinese culture.
D. The program is of little value to Chinese students.

2.  According to the passage, people can get access to the courses from ____ websites.

A. 2.        
B. 3.          
C. 4.          
D. 5.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. the investors are making some profits    
B. the courses are given in Chinese at present
C. the program has gained great popularity  
D. the translation work is being carried out

4. The passage is most probably a(n) ______.

A. advertisement
B. lecture    
C. news report  
D. course introduction

     Bullies are a big problem in schools. Every week, many children are afraid to go to school. They are
afraid they will be played jokes on by a bully. One study found that 52% of children reported being bullied
at least once a week. Sixty percent say that they know someone who could harm them. One student was
always being joked because he was short. He didn't like to go to school because he had to face the bullies.
     Some children choose not to go to school at all so they can avoid the bullies. When they miss school,
students fall behind their classmates. A new program is helping put an end to this problem. The program
is teaching kids how to deal with bullies. This is helping more children feel safe in school.
     One school principal is working to end this negative behavior. Last year, he decided to let students know
bullying is not allowed there. Students are now encouraged to report bullies and stand up for themselves.
Those found to be bullies face harsh penalties (处罚). Students at his school participate in a program called
"Be Bold". In this program, students work together to prevent violence. They do skits and go into classrooms
to talk about the problem. They give other students strategies (策略) on how to deal with bullies.
     The principal says that the school has changed since he has addressed the bullying problem. But there
are other steps parents can take to help their children with this problem. First, students and their parents
should know the school's rules about bullying and what they should do if it happens. Second, children should
be taught to stand up for themselves. They should try to resolve issues by talking them out. If the problem
continues, parents and children should record each incident. Children should tell someone if they are being
joked. Many children keep bullying a secret.
     Parents should look for warning signs of bullying. These can include cuts and bruises (瘀伤), worrying,
wanting to stay home from school, or a sudden drop in grades.

1. What's the topic of the First paragraph?

A. Bullies are a big problem in schools.
B. Some students didn't go to school because they had to face the bullies.
C. Most students are being bullied at least once a week.
D. The bullies in the campus are out of control.

2. The bullies in school can mainly be solved by _____. 

A. the principal's address
B. the parents' measures
C. the students' talking them out
D. harsh penalties

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. A bully is a person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to Smaller or weaker people.
B. The best way to avoid the bullies is to miss school.
C. The school has taken some active measures to avoid the behavior of bully.
D. It's not only the responsibility of school to fight with bullies.