Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.

         In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.

         “I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

       “At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people’s minds.”

1.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to _____________.

A. understand human-animal relationship

B. make lonely old people’s life better

C. find the causes of old people’s loneliness

D. improve the animal-assisted research

2. In the research, the old people are asked to _____________.

A. note the activities of AIBOs

B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C. record their feelings and activity

D. study the collected information

3.What does the underlined word “removes” mean?

A. moves again                   B. is movable         C. doesn’t need                      D. need

4.What is the better point of AIBO than live dogs?

A. It is easier to keep at home.

B. It can help the disabled people.

C. It responds to all the human orders.

D. It can watch TV with its owner.

5.The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.

A. cure certain diseases                                                B. keep old people active

C. change people’s ideas                                                        D. look more like real dogs

 

A new term has begun. Teachers are __36__ about the fact that new students are not easy to handle. They like to bring cellphones and MP3 players to school. What is __37__, some students even use cellphones to do with out-of-class matters in class, or sometimes just for fun. Some other students listen to MP3 players when they are having a lesson that they are not interested in.
Are these new students really that __38__? ‘Yes,’ says Delaney Kirk, a professor at Drake University. __39__ she adds it’s not their fault. Instead, the things that they bring into school --- cellphones, MP3 players and so on --- and the teachers are to blame. Kirk first began thinking about students’ manners six years ago. ‘I had my first class in which students were sleeping or talking to each other. It seemed that learning well __40__ nothing to do with them,’ she says. ‘At first, I got worried about this, but then I said to myself, “You’re teaching __41__, and you need to manage this … These students need to know more about manners. It’s time to help them develop some good __42__. They shouldn’t waste time doing nothing when they are young. Sooner or later, they might regret the time they have wasted.”’
Kirk also __43__ a list of suggestions to help teachers better manage their classes. The following are among her suggestions:
l     Tell students how they will benefit by taking the class. On the first day of class, emphasize its importance __44__ giving some homework that students must turn in next time.
l     Do not allow them to bring cellphones and MP3 players to the class at all.
l     Decide __45__ formal and informal the class will be.

【小题1】

A．excited B．worried C．surprised D．interested

【小题2】

A．bad B．worse C．good D．better

【小题3】

A．rude B．polite C．friendly D．curious

【小题4】

A．But B．However C．And D．Therefore

【小题5】

A．learned B．did C．had D．shared

【小题6】

A．management B．English C．Chinese D．lessons

【小题7】

A．ideas B．speeches C．habits D．classes

【小题8】

A．makes B．brings C．gets D．takes

【小题9】

A．of B．on C．at D．by

【小题10】

A．what B．how C．which D．why

Dreams are expressions of thoughts, feelings and events that pass through our mind while we are sleeping. Everybody dreams. But only some people remember their dreams. Our dreams often include all the senses—smells, sounds, sights, tastes and things we touch. We dream in colour. Sometimes we dream the same dream over and over again. These repeated dreams are often unpleasant. They may even be nightmares—bad dreams that frighten us.

Early in the twentieth century, two famous scientists developed their personal ideas about dreams. Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud published a book called “The Interpretation(诠释) of Dreams” in 1900. Freud believed people often dream about things they want but can’t have. These dreams often have something to do with sex and aggression(侵犯). Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung worked closely with Freud for several years, but he believed dreams could help people grow and understand themselves. He believed dreams provide solutions(解答) to problems we face when we are awake. He didn’t believe dreams hide our feelings about sex or aggression. Today we know more about the science of dreaming because researchers can take pictures of people’s brains while they are sleeping.

Other researchers are studying how dreaming helps our bodies work with problems and very sad emotions(感情). Robert Stickgold is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard University in Massachusetts. Doctor Stickgold says that when we dream, the brain is trying to make sense of the world. He does not agree with Sigmund Freud that dreaming is the way we express our hidden feelings and desires(愿望).

Scientists believe it is important to keep researching dreams. Doctor Stickgold says it has been more than one hundred years since Sigmund Freud published his important book about dreaming. Yet there is still no agreement on exactly how the brain works when we are dreaming or why we dream.

请根据短文内容，选择最佳答案, 将其标号在答题卡上涂黑。（每小题2分，共10分）

1. Dreams _________.   

A. are remembered by everyone

B. express all that we think in our mind

C. include few senses and things we touch

D. are sometimes nightmares that repeat and frighten us

2. A book on dreaming was published by _________.

A. Sigmund Freud        B. Robert Stickgold      C. Carl Jung   D. the writer

3. In the passage, all the psychiatrists _________.

A. believe dreams can help people understand all the problems that they face

B. think dreams always hide someone’s feelings about sex or aggression

C. study dream and dreaming and have their own ideas

D. have the same idea that people often dream about the things they want

4. From the passage, we know that _________.

A. Jung thought that dreams provide solutions to problems we face when we are sleeping

B. Freud developed the idea that dreams are expressions of people’s hidden feelings

C. scientists have known quite well why we dream because they can take pictures of our brains

D. other researchers have discovered how dreaming helps our bodies work with problems and very sad emotions

5.Which would be the best title(标题) for the passage?

A. The Explanations of Dreams         B. The Ways of Dreams

C. The Solutions to Dreams            D. The Mystery(奥秘) of Dreams and Dreaming

 

 

I am a professor of sports and exercise so I often deal with nervousness in my research with sports people. Actually, most people experience nervousness at some time or another.

If you are feeling anxious, my advice is to first find the cause or causes. Make s list of those things that are making you nervous and work out which ones you can do something about. Focus all of your efforts on managing the causes that you can control.

Most people cannot tell the difference between controllable(可控制的) and uncontrollable causes, so things they can’s control become a big reason for nervousness. Dealing with this is very important if people want to keep a healthy mind.

Simply try to accept the uncontrollable causes of nervousness. You might be worried about the weather on a big day, an accident or an attack on the train, or perhaps just things that other people are doing at work. The results may be very important but there is still no use worrying because you can’t control any of these things. Accept that you can’t control everything. Once you understand this, it becomes easier not to worry.

If a situation, such as swimming, is causing you to be anxious, try to face it as often as possible so that you can get used to it.

It can often help to think about yourself doing the thing that makes you nervous—then close your eyes and imagine it going well. Imagine how the flight or job interview is going to happen so that you can get used to it. This will help you understand that the thing you fear most is probably not going to happen.

1.Who wrote this passage?

A. A reporter.       B. A sportsman.        C. A patient.        D. A professor.

2.The writer thinks there is no use worrying about some causes of nervousness because____.

A. most are not very important

B. they are not the real causes of the problem

C. they cannot be controlled by people

D. it’s better to deal with one cause at a time

3. If swimming makes you nervous, what should you do according to the writer?

A. Go swimming often to get used to it.

B. Avoid going to the swimming pool.

C. Find a swimming teacher.

D. Imagine watching others swim.

4.What is true about nervousness according to the passage?

A. It usually has only one cause.

B. It is usually caused by people.

C. People can easily manage it.

D. Most people suffer from it.

5. What is the main purpose of this passage?

A. To introduce the writer’s sports experience.

B. To advise on how to deal with nervousness.

C. To help people remember their fears.

D. To explain the dangers of nervousness.