Easy ways to keep your brain sharp

    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit — and that can be a very annoying thing.   71   Read on for some techniques worth trying.

1.   72   

    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced chance of Alzheimer's disease (早老性痴呆症), according to a recent study.   73   Something as simple as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other words, keep your brains looking forward.

2. Go for a walk.

    Mildly raised glucose (葡萄糖) levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces chemicals that are good for your brain.   74  

3. Learn something new.

    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found t hat mental stimulation (刺激) limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time.   75   Or go dancing with your friends.

A. Focus on the future.

B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.

C. It should be something like learning gardening.

D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.

E. But don't worry if your schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.

F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.

G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain

Australia is a multicultural society with about a quarter of the population foreign-born. The population has more than doubled since 1945. Now it is about 17 million or about 2 people per square kilometer, and more than 80 % of Australians live in the southeast, within 100 kilometers of the coast. Sydney, the nation’s largest city, is the capital of New South Wales. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and Opera House attract visitors from all over the world. Canberra is the nation’s capital.

　 Australians are very kind and very polite. They also have their own customs. For example, they mind very much if you speak with your mouth full of food, and they also mind if you talk to somebody when this person is talking to another person!

68. Which of the following is NOT one of the six largest countries in the world?

A. Brazil.　　　　 　　　　　　 B. Canada.

C. Australia.　　 　　　　 　　D. Cuba.

69. Concerning Australia, the author mentioned all of the following EXCEPT _____.

A. the coastline　 　　　 　　B. the climate

C. the population　 　　　 　　D. the customs

70. We can infer from the passage that _____.

A. Australians don’t like people from other countries

B. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge is famous all over the world

C. the capital of Australia is the nation’s largest city

D. most of the southeast of Australia is desert

Tour One invites you to join our tours of the Capital City. Your host will entertain you with historical anecdotes (奇闻) and offer an endless supply of “insider” tips to make your visit wonderful. Your time with us will be the highlight of your visit to Washington DC. Because class size does matter, Tour One uses a minibus for your convenience and personal attention. Also a minibus can easily get in and out of the popular areas. You’re not here to waste time. Day tour picks you up at your hotel in DC at 9 am. Your personal tour guide will narrate while you are visiting the White House, the US Capitol, the Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial.

    Your 90-minute lunch break will be at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. The eventful day tour ends at 5 pm back at your hotel. The price is $60 per adult, $40 per child under 13 years. There are no admission fees because all government buildings, the Smithsonian Museum, memorials and monuments have free access. Tour One Inc. accepts credit cards, checks, cash and stock options. If you have any questions or wish to make reservations (预订), please e-mail us at the bottom of the page.

    The night tour will show off the true glory of the glowing symbols of the nation. We pick you up at your hotel at 7 pm and drop you back by 10 pm. You will visit the Iwo Jima, the Jefferson, the Kennedy Center and the FDR Memorials. The price is $25 per adult and $15 per child under 13 years. Contact us at TOUR ONE INC. POB 77084 Washington DC 20013. Office: 202-487-TOUR. Fax: 301-530-5542. E-mail: ThePresident@whitehousetours.com.

65. The purpose of this passage is to _____.

A. advise people to learn more about the Capital City

B. introduce Tour One Inc. to us 

C. advertise a tour in the Capital City    

D. attract people to go on the tours

66. The underlined word “narrate” in Paragraph One probably means “_____”.

A. translate               B. show  

C. tell                       D. organize

67. How much will they pay if a couple goes on both a day tour and a night tour with their twelve-year-old boy?

A. $140.        B. $160.       C. $225.       D. $215.

There are a number of ways in which mass media make daily life easier for us.

First, they inform and help us keep a watch on our world. They gather and pass on information we would be unlikely or unable to gain on our own.

Second, mass media help us to arrange our time and life. What we talk about and what we think about are greatly influenced by the media. When people get together, they tend to talk about certain happenings on the newspapers or on TV. Because we are provided with differing points of view through different kinds of media every day, we are able to comment on all sides of a certain issue.

Third, mass media help us to connect with various groups in society. Through mass media, we are able to keep in contact with politicians in the world; with famous actors and actresses, and with our beloved singers.

Fourth, the media help to socialize us. We learn about the preferred behavior and values from the people we meet as well as from the media. Through portrayals of people, the media tell us what proper behaviors are. By doing so, they teach us standards of behavior and values, and help us in our daily life.

Fifth, the media are used to persuade people. A good example is advertisements through the media. Newspapers, magazines and TV are filled with all kinds of colorful, persuasive advertisements. Though many advertisements may not say openly that they want you to buy a certain product, they describe their products in such a way that you may want to buy them.

Sixth, the media entertain. All of the media make some effort trying to entertain their audience. For example, even though the newspaper is a main medium of information, it also contains entertainment features. Many newspapers offer their readers at least some of the following: comics, fiction books and puzzle games, televisions and magazines are devoted mainly to entertainment. It is guessed that in the future, the entertainment function of mass media will become even more important than it is now.

61. The underlined word “scattered” in paragraph 1 means______.

A. far away　　 B. nearly　　 C. a small number of　　 D. small and far apart

62. The underlined word “portrayal” in Paragraph 5 means ______.

A. photograph　 B. words　　 C. description　　 D. clothes

63. According to the passage, which of the following statements isn’t true about medium?

A. Mass media have an effect on our speech and thoughts.

B. Mass media keep us informed and connected.

C. Mass media persuade us into buying what we don’t need at all.

　 D. Mass media help us spend time with others in a friendly way.

64. Which of the following isn’t included about mass media in the passage?

A. entertainment　 B. sports　 C. famous people　　 D. advertisements

The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing.

October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar. Universities have something called Freshers' Week for their newcomers. It's a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.

However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve-wracking. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?

Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don't rush into anything that you'll regret for the next three years.

Here are some top tips from past students on how to survive Freshers' Week:

- Blend in. Make sure you are aware of British social etiquette（礼节）. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.

- Be hospitable（好客的）. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.

- Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you'll be to meet new people than if you're someone who never leaves their room.

- Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you're in and that sends positive messages to your neighbours that you're friendly.

So with a bit of clever planning and motivation, Freshers' Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you'll be passing on your wisdom to next year's new recruits.

56. what’s the purpose of the passage?

A. To persuade you to receive higher education in the UK.

B. To present the advantages of the UK’S education system.

C. To introduce the college life in the UK.

D. To help new college students to survive the starting days.

57. According to the passage, Freshers’Week_______.

A. makes all new students uncomfortable.

B. is a big turning point for new students’life

C. sees many clubs come into being

D. take place in the first week of October.

58. The underlined phrase “in the same boat” in paragraph 4 probably means________.

A. in the same situation

B. in the same university

C. with the same disadvantage

D. with the same chance

59. As a new student, if you are a shy person, you should ______.

A. blend in         B. be hospitable

C. be sociable       D. bring a doorstop

60. Which of the following are the intended readers of the passage?

A. Parents          B. Teachers       C. Experts     D. Students

My parents got divorced when I was seven. I stopped   36   to anyone willingly since then. However, the 37   changed half a year ago. It started in a summer camp, where I met a boy called John. Now I realize that when he   38   himself to me, it was the beginning of a life-changing experience.

    Although there were hundreds of students, I became   39   with him. He noticed that I was staying alone and came to talk to me. We talked like everyone else about our   40   and hobbies. We didn’t seem to have anything in common at all, but   41   , we got along well. By the end of the camp, we were   42   stories and laughs and promised to keep in touch.

    When I returned home, I   43  that I had lost his email address. I looked through all my stuff but without   44   . One day, I thought to look him up on the online network that had been   45   for the campers. As I was online, an instant message popped up (突然出现) on the  46 . It was him, whom I had just tried to look up a moment before. Thank goodness， it     47    .

    A series of  48   conversations started from there. I don’t know  49 , but for some reason we started to  50  our deepest feelings through typed words and we learned about each other’s pain and experiences. It was a very  51  experience for me, but it was extremely beneficial to my heart and my soul. I had finally found someone who was  52  to understand me.

     53  I have only known him for half a year, the  54  that has occurred in me is huge. I believe in my life and I no longer cry every night because of the  55  inside me.

36. A. turning  B. writing       C. shouting     D. talking

37. A. condition      B. situation     C. position      D. life

38. A. introduced    B. showed      C. pointed       D. proved

39. A. classmates   B. friends      C. relatives     D. strangers

40. A. suggestions  B. plans       C. books        D. interests

41. A. strangely      B. unluckily    C. honestly    D. anxiously

42. A. appreciating  B. telling     C. sharing       D. making

43. A. thought     B. saw        C. felt         D. realized

44. A. chance      B. luck        C. reason     D. care

45. A. carried on    B. made out  C. set up         D. checked in

46. A. screen      B. desk        C. board      D. computer

47. A. moved      B. began      C. opened       D. worked

48. A. inspiring       B. surprising  C. sad            D. popular

49. A. when        B. why        C. how        D. where

50. A. express     B. present       C. dig          D. find

51. A. practical       B. ordinary     C. new        D. depressing

52. A. clever       B. brave      C. dying      D. willing

53. A. If             B. Though      C. Because     D. Since

54. A. love          B. appreciation C. respect      D. change

55. A. pain             B. regret            C. anger      D. attitude

 The film brought the hours back to me ____ I was taken good care of in that far-away

village.

A. until        B. that        C. when        D. where

— Are you _______ to be out late tonight?

— No, because it is rather cold outside.

A. possible　　 B. maybe　　　 C. probable　　 D. likely

I regret _____ you that the goods you delivered to us are not the ones we ordered. I would appreciate _______ if you solve the problem as soon as possible.

A. informing; it 　　　　　　 B. having informed; /

C. to inform; it 　　　　　　 D. to inform; that

 I really appreciate _____ to help me

   A. your offering      B. that you offered       C. you to offer    D. you offered