I needed to buy a digital camera, one that was simply good at taking good snaps (快照), maybe occasionally for magazines. Being the cautious type, I fancied a reliable brand. So I went on the net, spent 15 minutes reading product reviews on good websites, wrote down the names of three top recommendations and headed for my nearest big friendly camera store. There in the cupboard was one of the cameras on my list. And it was on special offer. Oh joy. I pointed at it and asked an assistant, “Can I have one of those?” He looked perturbed (不安).“Do you want to try it first?" he said. It didn't quite sound like a question. "Do I need to?" I replied. "There's nothing wrong with it?" This made him look a bit insulted and I started to feel bad. "No, no. But you should try it," he said encouragingly." Compare it with the others. "

     I looked across at the others: shelves of similar cameras placed along the wall, offering a wide range of slightly different prices and discounts, with each company selling a range of models based around the same basic box. With so many models to choose from, it seemed that I would have to spend hours weighing X against Y, always trying to take Z and possibly H into account at the same time. But when I had finished, I would still have only the same two certainties that I had entered the store with: first, soon after I carried my new camera out of the shop, it would be worth half what I paid for it; and second, my wonderful camera would very quickly be replaced by a new model.

     But something in the human soul whispers that you can beat these traps by making the right choice, the clever choice, the wise choice. In the end, I agreed to try the model I had chosen. The assistant seemed a sincere man. So I let him take out my chosen camera from the cupboard, show how it took excellent pictures of my fellow shoppers... and when he started to introduce the special features, I interrupted to ask whether I needed to buy a carry-case and a memory card as well.

      Why do we think that new options (选择) still offer us anything new? Perhaps it is because they offer an opportunity to avoid facing the fact that our real choices in this culture are far more limited than we would like to imagine.

1. The shop assistant insisted that the writer should __ .

     A. try the camera to see if there was anything wrong with it

     B. compare the camera he had chosen with the others

     C. get more information about different companies

     D. trust him and stop asking questions

2. What does the writer mean by "it would be worth half what I paid for it"  (Paragraph 2) ?

     A. He should get a 50% discount.

     B. The price of the camera was unreasonably high.

     C. The quality of the camera was not good.

     D. The camera would soon fall in value.

3. The writer decided to try the model he had chosen because he __ .

     A. knew very little about it

     B. didn't trust the shop assistant

     C. wanted to make sure the one he chose would be the best

     D. had a special interest in taking pictures of his fellow shoppers

4. It can be inferred from the passage that in the writer's opinion, __

     A. people waste too much money on cameras

     B. cameras have become an important part of our daily life

     C. we don't actually need so many choices when buying a product

     D. famous companies care more about profit than quality

Do you know how it is when you see someone yawn and you start yawning too? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons (神经元）in our brains.
Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate (模仿)it，whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further： mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions _y they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people.
Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to ( for example ："The hand took hold of the ball" ) , the same mirror neurons were triggered as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball).
Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much researeh suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders.
Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with ever more information concerning how humans behave and interact(互动）.Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent (相等物）for ncurosciencc of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does--well，perhaps you'll understand why.
【小题1】Mirror neurons can explain         .

   Have you ever received a gift that was so dearly, not your taste that you wondered if perhaps it had been handed to you by mistake? Worse, have you ever given a present and watched your friend look as though she had opened the wrong box? Maybe she responded with a polite "Why, thank you," but you knew you had missed the mark. Why do presents sometimes go wrong? And what do your choices (good and bad) reflect about your persona] qualities?

Choosing the right gift is an art, I believe. It calls for empathy -- the ability to put yourself into someone else's head and heart We're all able to do this; in fact, we're born with a kind of natural empathy. After the earliest period of childhood, however, it needs to be reinforced (加强)--by our parents, teachers, friends. When it isn't, we're not able to understand other people's feelings as sharply. This can show in the gifts we select, and so can many other emotional (情感的) qualities.

   Think back to the presents you’ve given over the past year, the time and effort you put into your selection, how much you spent, your thoughts while you were shopping, and your feelings when the receiver opened the package. Keep in mind that what you choose displays your inner world. (Y/course, you may express yourself differently with different friends, relatives, and other people you know.

   We live in a society where exchanging presents is an important part of communication. Ignoring the tradition won't make it go away. If you really dislike such a tradition, tell your friends ahead of time.

60.  The underlined expression "you had missed the mark" means "you had failed to _____'.

   A. make her feel better            B. keep your friendship

   C. receive a present in return   D. get the expected effect

61. Which of the following is the main idea of the second paragraph?

   A. Natural empathy needs to be reinforced.

   B. Emotional changes influence one's choice of gifts.

   C. Selecting the right gift is an ability people are born with.

   D. Choosing gifts requires one to understand the receivers.

62. In the third paragraph, the author tells us that________..

    A. attention should be paid to the receivers' responses

    B. one learns from what he did in the past

    C. the choice of gifts reflects one's emotional qualities

    D. one should spend more time choosing gifts

 63. The best possible title for this passage is “_______”.

    A. Ways of Choosing Gifts                     B. An Important Tradition

    C. Exchanging Presents                         D. Message in a Gift

 (10·浙江E篇)

I needed to buy a digital camera, one that was simply good at taking good snaps (快照), maybe occasionally for magazines. Being the cautious type, I fancied a reliable brand. So I went on the net, spent 15 minutes reading product reviews on good websites, wrote down the names of three top recommendations and headed for my nearest big friendly camera store. There in the cupboard was one of the cameras on my list. And it was on special offer. Oh joy. I pointed at it and asked an assistant, “Can I have one of those?”  He looked perturbed (不安). “Do you want to try it first?” he said. It didn’t quite sound like a question. “Do I need to?” I replied ,“There is nothing wrong with it？” This made him look a bit insulted and I started to feel bad. “No, no. But you should try it,” he said encouragingly. “Compare it with the others.”

 I looked across at the others: shelves of similar cameras placed along the wall, offering a wide range of slightly different prices and discounts, with each company selling a range of models based around the same basic box. With so many models to choose from, it seemed that I would have to spend hours weighing X against Y, always trying to take Z and possibly H into account at the same time. But when I had finished, I would still have only the same two certainties that I had entered the store with: first, soon after I carried my new camera out of the shop, it would be worth half what I paid for it; and second, my wonderful camera would very quickly be replaced by a new model.

But something in the human soul whispers that you can beat these traps by making the right choice, the clever choice, the wise choice. In the end, I agreed to try the model I had chosen. The assistant seemed a sincere man. So I let him take out of my chosen camera from cupboard, show how it took excellent pictures of my fellow shoppers… and when he started to introduce the special features, I interrupted to ask whether I needed to buy a carry-case and a memory card as well.

Why do we think that new options(选择) still offer us anything new? Perhaps it is because they offer an opportunity to avoid facing the fact that our real choices in this culture are far more limited than we would like to imagine.

57.The shop assistant insisted that the writer should               

A. try the camera to see if there was anything wrong with it.

B. compare the camera he had chosen with the others.

C. get more information about different companies.

D. trust him and stop asking questions.

58. What does the writer mean by “it would be worth half what I paid for it ”(paragraph 2)

A. He should get a 50% discount.

B. The price of the camera was unreasonably high.

C. The quality of the camera was not good.

D. The camera would soon fall in value.

59. The writer decided to try the model he had chosen because he                  

A. knew very little about it.

B. didn’t trust the shop assistant.

C. wanted to make sure the one he chose would be the best.

D. had a special interest in taking pictures of his fellow shoppers.

60. I t can be inferred from the passage that in the writer’s opinion,            .

A. people waste too much money on cameras

B. cameras have become an important part of our daily life

C. we don’t actually need so many choices when buying a product

D. famous companies care more about profit than quality

The new Sherlock Holmes film might inspire mystery fans to visit the scenes of the crime or, perhaps, places that inspire classic mysteries. Otto Penzler, owner of New York's Mysterious Bookshop and editor of The Best American Mystery Stories 2009, recommends for USA TODAY some spots to go undercover.
Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, N.Y.
At this picturesque Hudson Valley Victorian resort, "Guests are divided into teams as they try to solve the mystery dramatization presented on opening night." Penzler says. An upcoming vampire-inspired weekend (March 12-14) is called Fangs for the Memories. "Many rooms have fireplaces, and the lake views will take away your breath." he says.
More info: 800-772-6646; mohonk.com
Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
"You get a list of suspects when you check in for the interactive crime-solving weekend (Feb. 12-14)." Penzler says. Other than the "murders" that occur, the weather and surroundings make for a pleasant weekend. More info: 800 654-2924; KiawahResort.com
Poe Museum, Richmond, Va.
"The current exhibit here, Ratiocination: Poe the Detective, is about Poe's efforts to solve the real life murder of Mary Rogers in New York." Penzler says of the case that inspired Poe's story, The Mystery of Marie Roget. Poe spent a third of his life in Richmond. On display are his neatly written manuscripts, childhood bed and a lock of his hair. There is also a section about his mysterious death.
More info: 888-213-2763; poemuseum.org
Sherlock Holmes' ， London, England
In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes is a guided tour of sites related to "the greatest detective who ever lived. "Penzler says of the excursion that includes references to the new Sherlock Holmes movie. "The tour finishes up at the Sherlock Holmes Pub with its re-creation of Holmes and Dr. Watson's sitting room, complete with bullet holes, and letters pinned to the fireplace mantel with a knife."
Further enquiry: 020-7624-3978, walks.com
Grand Hotel, Torquay, England
The Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, spent her honeymoon at the hotel. "This lovely place offers bargain rates that include a boat ride on the River Dart to Greenaway and a house tour of the place where Dame Agatha lived for more than 20 years. It's a chance to enjoy a nostalgic look at another time.
60.Further enquiry: 800-005-3905, grandtorquay.co.uk/agathachristie.php
If you want to experience detective activities, you may log on_________  .
A. KiawahResort.com           B. Poemuseum.org
C. Walks.com                D. grandtorquay.co.uk.agathachristie.php
61.If you want to see some documents of real world murder you can visit__________.
A. Sherlock Holmes' London B. Kiawah Island Golf Resort
C. Poe Museum      D. Mohonk Mountain House
62.If you want to find some clues about a new detective film, you had best contact____for a tour.
A. 800 654 2924       B. 888-213-2763      C. 800-772-6646       D. 020-7624-3978