PEOPLE who have had a painful experience may wish they could wipe the memory from their minds. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, US, say that this may someday be possible.
A drug remains far off, but researchers have laid a foundation with their discovery that proteins can be removed from the brain’s fear center to cut memories forever.
Previous research had already shown that a special behavior therapy (治疗) could cut painful memories. But relapse (复发) was possible because the memory hadn’t necessarily disappeared.
By looking at that process, Richard Huganir and Roger Clem, two researchers from Johns Hopkins University, discovered a “window of vulnerability (脆弱的窗口)” when proteins are created. The proteins help signals travel within the brain as painful memories are made. Because the proteins are unstable, they can be easily removed with drugs or behavior therapy to cut memories.
Researchers used mice to find the window, but think the process would be the same in humans. They used electric shocks to make the mice fear a certain sound. The sound triggered (触发) the creation of the proteins, called calcium-permeable (钙通透性) AMPARS, which formed for a day or two in the fear centers of the mice’s brains.
The researchers are working on ways to reopen the window by recalling (唤醒) the painful memory and using drugs to remove the protein. They published their report online last month in Science Express.
Their research has drawn interest and concern from experts in mental healthcare.
Kate Farinholt, a mental health expert with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Maryland, US, said many people suffering from a painful event might benefit from erasing a memory. “Erasing a memory and then everything bad built on that is an amazing idea, and I can see all sorts of potential ,” she said.
But there are a lot of unanswered questions, too.
“Completely deleting a memory is a little scary. How do you remove a memory without removing a part of someone’s life,” Farinholt said. “And is it best to do that, considering that people grow and learn from their experiences?”
【小题1】What have researchers at Johns Hopkins University found recently?  

阅读理解

　　Happy birthday! Do birthdays really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthdays celebrate the day we were born. What's more, that extra candle on the cake represents another year of growth and maturity (成熟)—or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just alder. Most of us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That's a different story. Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American . Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, “You're as young as you feel . ” Older people joke about how many years young they are ,rather than how many years old. People in sane countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americana seem to favor those that are young, or at least “young at heart”. Many older Americans find the“golden years” to be anything but golden. Economically, “senior citizens”often struggle just to get by. Retirement — typically at age 65—brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social Security Benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition(营养) , medical care and housing. Some even experience age discrimination.

　　Ironically, the elderly population in America is expanding fast. Why? People are living longer. Fewer babies ere being born. The middle-aged “baby boomers” are rapidly entering the ranks of the elderly, so America may soon be a place where wrinkles(皱纹) are “in” . Marketing experts are already focusing on this growing group of consumers. And even now the elderly have a great deal of political power.

　　A common stereotype(模式化的形象) of older Americana is that they are usually “put away” in nursing homes and forgotten about. Actually, only about 5 percent live on acme type of institution(慈善机构).

　　More than half of those 65 or older live with or near at least one of their children. The vast majority ad the elderly live alone and take care of themselves.

　　In spite of challenges they face, Americans in their “twilight years (暮年)” generally refuse to we up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall (商业区) walkers club, fitness programs and even the “Senior Olympics” .They can enjoy hours of entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills. For Americans, if you're going to grow old, you might as well do it gracefully.

1．Older people in America ________.

[　　]

A．think it sad to enter the golden age

B．are not popular in the society

C．are respected by all

D．find it happy to have another year of growth

2．Which of the following is NOT the reason why there are more and more older people in America?

[　　]

A．The birthrate is lower.

B．The older people are taken good care of.

C．There are many more middle-aged people than before.

D．The average life-span becomes longer.

3．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 refers to ________.

[　　]

A．the babies

B．baby-boomers

C．the middle-aged

D．the elderly

4．It can be seen from the passage that older people in America ________ .

[　　]

A．are content with their life now

B．are faced with challenges throughout their life

C．have chances to remain active in the society

D．receive continuing education programs to hunt for life

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。(注意：涂在答题卡上，E涂 AB  F 涂 AC   G涂 AD)

Our mood may change suddenly like a storm with lightning and thunderbolts that comes without notice.

The good news is that bad moods can leave as suddenly as they have come. Exceptions to this rule of course are cases where there are other problems such as depression or any other mental destruction.

How to improve your mood?

______1_________When you understand that you are not feeling happy but you are in depression or disappointment, then you can use these simple techniques that will be able to change the negative situation and improve your mood.

______2_______. Exercises, gymnastics and sports help a lot to achieve a better emotional balance.

If you feel that you are in a bad mood, take a hot bath or sauna. _________3__________.

Watch a movie, read a book or talk to a friend.

________4__________. When you leave work or home, go to places that make you happy and calm. This helps to improve your mood.

Make relations with happy, optimistic and pleasant people. ______5_______. Positive and optimistic feelings that create positive thinking for the future will help you overcome your bad feelings and defeat your bad mood.

When the problem of bad moods, frustration and negative emotions beyond normal situations becomes chronic (长期的), it is important to turn to a specialist for help.

E. First you have to learn to recognize when you are in a bad mood.

F. There are ways to improve your mood.

G. Changes in feelings and mood can happen for various reasons.

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。(注意：涂在答题卡上，E涂 AB  F 涂 AC   G涂 AD)
Our mood may change suddenly like a storm with lightning and thunderbolts that comes without notice.
The good news is that bad moods can leave as suddenly as they have come. Exceptions to this rule of course are cases where there are other problems such as depression or any other mental destruction.
How to improve your mood?
______1_________When you understand that you are not feeling happy but you are in depression or disappointment, then you can use these simple techniques that will be able to change the negative situation and improve your mood.
______2_______. Exercises, gymnastics and sports help a lot to achieve a better emotional balance.
If you feel that you are in a bad mood, take a hot bath or sauna. _________3__________.
Watch a movie, read a book or talk to a friend.
________4__________. When you leave work or home, go to places that make you happy and calm. This helps to improve your mood.
Make relations with happy, optimistic and pleasant people. ______5_______. Positive and optimistic feelings that create positive thinking for the future will help you overcome your bad feelings and defeat your bad mood.
When the problem of bad moods, frustration and negative emotions beyond normal situations becomes chronic (长期的), it is important to turn to a specialist for help.

Some researchers are finding that daydreaming may be important to ______ mental health and it is ______ good means of relaxation.