It’s been claimed that playing a musical instrument makes you smarter.
New research suggests that regularly playing a musical instrument changes the shape and power of the brain, and may be used in therapy (療法) to improve cognitive (認知) skills.
Experts say there is growing evidence that musicians have brains that are structurally and functionally different from those of non-musicians, especially in the areas of the brain used in processing (處理信息)
The parts of the brain that control motor skills, the storage of audio information, hearing and memory become larger and more active when a person learns how to play an instrument and can apparently improve the alertness (警覺) and planning.
Lutz Jancke, a psychologist at the University of Zurich, said, “Leaning to play a musical instrument has great benefits and can increase IQ by seven points in both children and adults.We found that even people over the age of 65, after four or five months of playing an instrument for an hour a week, had strong changes in the brain.” The parts of the brain that control hearing and memory, and the part that controls the hands, among others, all become more active.
“Of course music isn’t the only answer, but I do believe that it should be used in addition to other things.”
Mr.Jancke also said that learning a musical instrument could also make it easier to learn foreign languages and make one more sensitive to understanding the emotions of others.“So not only does this make it easier to pick up other languages and have a better memory of one’s own, we have also seen musicians are able to pick out exactly what others are feeling just by the tones of their voices—sympathy, disappointment, that kind of things.”
He added, “Several studies indeed show that playing music increases memory and language skills, but more research is needed.”
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A.How to use musical instruments.
B.How music affects the brain.
C.How playing music makes people smarter.
D.The development of research into music.
2.Compared with non-musicians, __________.
A.musicians are better at foreign languages
B.musicians are more active in sports
C.musicians have stronger emotions
D.musicians’ brains work differently in processing
3.Which of the following is NOT a benefit of playing an instrument?
A.It makes it easier for one to pick up foreign languages.
B.It allows one to show his feelings more exactly to others.
C.It gives one a better memory in one’s own language.
D.it makes one understand others’ feelings better.
4.From Luz Jancke we lean that _________.
A.playing an instrument benefits children more than adults
B.playing an instrument has no benefits for people over 65
C.some studies show playing music can increase memory
D.he will do more research into brain development and music

小題1:C
小題2:D
小題3:B
小題4:C
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Ⅲ 閱讀 (共兩節(jié),滿分40分)
第一節(jié)閱讀理解 (共15小題;每小題2分,滿分30分)
閱讀下列短文,從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中,選出最佳選項,并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
For most pregnant women, exercise is the last thing on their minds. After all, keeping slim while you’re expecting isn’t exactly the top priority— rather, it’s making sure your baby gets enough nutrients to grow. But in a small new study, researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand report that a mother’s regular aerobic exercise may be good for a growing fetus’ health — and may even help a baby get a healthier start in life.
The finding is a bit surprising, because exercise is known to lower the risk of insulin resistance(胰島素抵抗),a condition eventually leading to diabetes(糖尿病). Although insulin resistance is a detriment in healthy adults, it turns out to be helpful for proper fetal(胎兒)development. In pregnant women, this condition means nutrients get shunted to the growing baby.
The question is: could a mother’s exercise put her developing baby’s food supply at risk? Past studies looking at the effect of exercise on birth weight have been inconclusive, and none have really investigated the influence of exercise on the mother’s sensitivity to insulin. So the University of Auckland’s Dr. Paul Hoffman and his team decided to study 84 first-time mothers, who were of normal weight on average, and track any effects aerobic exercise(有氧運動) might have on their insulin sensitivity and, ultimately, on their babies’ birth weight. Researchers asked some women to exercise on a stationary bicycle for at least 40 minutes per session, up to five times each week, starting in the 20th week of pregnancy; the other women were not specifically asked to exercise. When the two groups and their babies were compared, the team found that women who bicycled regularly gave birth to babies who were on average 150g lighter than those born to the non-exercising mothers. In both groups, however, the babies were of healthy weight, and there was no difference in the mothers’ weights.
Generally speaking, babies on the lower end of the normal weight range are considered healthier and less prone to developing diabetes and obesity than heavier ones, so this was an encouraging result. Even more reassuring was that regular exercise did not seem to affect the flow of nutrients to the growing babies in the womb.
1. According to the new study, a pregnant woman’s regular exercise may _______.
A. bring benefits to a baby’s growth
B. lower the risk of insulin resistance
C. put her baby’s food supply at risk
D. help her keep slim and healthy
2. What does the underlined word “detriment” mean in the second paragraph?
A. Something that brings good.
B. Something that brings damage.
C. Something that brings obstacles.
D. Something that brings development.
3. What is the purpose of the experiment carried out by Dr. Paul Hoffman?
A. To investigate the influence of exercise on pregnant women.
B. To find out what aerobic exercise can benefit a baby’s growth.
C. To make sure of the effects exercise may have on babies’ birth weight
D. To compare the differences between mothers who exercise and who don’t
4. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Lighter babies are generally believed to be healthier than heavier ones.
B. Non­-exercising mothers will definitely give birth to heavier babies.
C. No studies have looked at the effect of exercise on birth weight before.
D. Some women studied were asked to exercise regularly while some don’t.
5. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?
A. All mothers should take aerobic exercise.
B. Moms who exercise give birth to lighter babies。
C. Exercise reduces the risk of insulin resistance.
D. Heavier babies are more likely to develop diabetes.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


第三部分:閱讀理解(共20小題,每小題2題,滿分40分)
閱讀下列短文,從每題所給的四個選項(A,B,C,和D)中,選出最佳選項。
Who says Americans worship the almighty dollar? It’s not true.Having enough free time is more important to most Americans than being rich, according to a new poll.
Only 13 percent of more than 2,400 people questioned in the telephone poll ranked being wealthy as most important to them, while 67 percent ranked free time as their top priority, higher than having a successful career, getting married, and having children."Everyone wants free time to do the things they want to do, young, middle-aged or old," said Richard Morin, of the Pew Social & Demographic Trends Project, which conducted the survey."So our desire to play unites us."
The poll also showed that people who were university educated valued career success over wealth, as middle-aged people did.Not surprisingly, those who didn't have money, ranked wealth very highly.This included minorities, first generation Americans and less educated people.The survey also revealed that a disproportionate (不成比例的) number of people under the age of 30 and retirees in the group made $ 20,000 or less a year.But the emphasis on wealth lessens with age, with younger people putting value on it but hardly any seniors."It just diminishes with time as the reality sets in that you would never be rich," Morin said."But also, the reality sets in that you don't have to be rich to lead a very comfortable and fulfilling life."
While wealth was not at the top of people' s list of priorities, 43 percent still said it was somewhat important.
56.The poll showed that the majority of American people ranked ____ as the most important.
A.wealth              B.a(chǎn) successful career 
C.marriage            D.free time
57.Who cares least for wealth, according to the passage?
A.Young people.                    B.Middle-aged people.
C.Old people.                       D.Well-educated people.
58.The underlined word "diminishes" in the third paragraph probably means "____".
A.to increase          B.to decrease          C.to change          D.to stay

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The concept of personal choice in relation to health behaviors is an important one. An estimated 90 percent of all illnesses may be preventable if individuals would make sound personal health choice and do not like to see it restricted when it is within the legal and moral boundaries of society. The structure of American society allows us to make almost all our own personal decisions that may concern our health. If we so desire, we can smoke, drink excessively, refuse to wear seat belts, eat whatever foods we want, and live a completely sedentary life style without any exercise. The freedom to make such personal decisions is a fundamental aspect of our society, although the wisdom of these decisions can be questioned. Personal choices relative to health often cause a difficulty. As one example, a teenager may know the facts relative to smoking cigarettes and health but may be pressured by friends into believing it is the socially accepted thing to do.?
A multitude of factors, both inherited and environmental, influence the development of health related behaviors, and it is beyond the scope of this text to discuss all these factors as they may affect any given individual. However, the decision to adopt a particular health related behavior is usually one of personal choices. There are healthy choices and there are unhealthy choices. In discussing the morals of personal choice, Fries and Grapo drew a comparison. They suggest that to knowingly give oneself over to a behavior that has a statistical probability of shortening life is similar to attempting suicide. Thus, for those individuals who are interested in preserving both the quality and quantity of life, personal health choices should reflect those behaviors that are associated with a statistical probability of increased vitality and longevity.
68.The concept of personal choice concerning health is important because ____.
A.personal health choice helps cure most illness
B.it helps raise the level of our medical knowledge
C.it is essential to personal freedom in American society
D.wrong decisions could lead to poor health
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A.to “l(fā)ive an inactive life”    B.to “l(fā)ive a decent life”
C.to “l(fā)ive a life with complete freedom”     D.to “l(fā)ive a life of vice”
70.Sound personal health choice is often difficult to make because ____. ?
A.current medical knowledge is still insufficient
B.there are many factors influencing our decisions
C.few people are willing to trade the quality of life for the quantity of life
D.people are usually influenced by the behavior of their friends
ADC

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


For 52 years my father got up at 5:30 am every morning, went to work, and returned home at 5:30 pm. I never saw my father stayed home from work ill, nor did I ever see my father lay down to take a nap. He had no hobbies, other than taking care of his family. All he asked from me, his daughter, was to help him while he was repairing something, so we could have some time to talk.
For 22 years, after I left home for college, my father called me at 9:00 am every Sunday. Nine years ago when I bought my first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours a day for three days in the 80-degree Kansas heat, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked for was a glass of iced tea. Five years ago, at age 71, my father spent five hours putting together a swing set for my daughter. Four years ago, my father drove all the way from Denver to Topeka, with an eight-foot Colorado Blue Spruce (云杉) in his truck, so that we could have a part of Colorado growing on our land.
On the morning of January 16, 1996, my sister telephoned me; my father was in the hospital with an aneurysm(動脈瘤) in Florida. I got on an airplane immediately, and on the way I realized that I hadn’t communicated with him as much as I’d always wanted to. I vowed(發(fā)誓) that when I arrived, I would have a long talk with him. I arrived in Florida at 1 am, only to find that my father, at the age of 76, had passed away at 9:12 pm. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me.
1. From the first paragraph we can infer that the author’s father ______.
A. was a good driver      B. was in good health
C. sometimes fell ill         D. had no hobbies
2. The underlined phrase “other than” in the first paragraph can be replaced by “______”.
A. except       B. including      C. without     D. due to
3. According to the last paragraph, we can know that the author’s father was born in ______.
A. 1916          B. 1918             C. 1920        D. 1922
4. The author wrote the article in order to ______.
A. praise her father            B. remember her father
C. show her father loved her   D. let her father be known

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


It was late Wednesday night when the dreadful phone call reached our home . I rememeber laying in my bed trying to fall asleep when I heard the phone ring . Interested in who would be calling so late I sat up, so I could hear the phone call better . To my surprise , I heard my mom burst into tears , “ Get the car , dear ! Andrea has been in a car accident .”
We ran every red light on the way to the hospital and our tires screeched(發(fā)出刺耳聲) around every corner . We got to the hospital , but were not allowed to see Andrea . The next morning , after wearing masks , we were allowed to go to the ICU to see Andrea . Well , the least I could say was that everything was injured in her body and she lost all of her memories . It was a fatal car accident .
Over the next two months , I lived more at the hospital than I did at my house . I watched as Andrea worked so hard to gain back everyday motor skills . She never once complained or pitied herself , and her determined spirit was shining through . After two weeks in the ICU and two months of regular hospital treatment , Andrea came home . She missed several months of school , so it was hard for her to catch up . Andrea had many tasks to accomplish , and no matter how hard it was , she stuck to it until the job was done . Though she was busy dealing with the pain and the therapy , she always found time to love and play with me .
I’ll never forget the impact that this incident made on my life . I admire my sister for her strong-willed personality and her determined spirit . Today she is perfectly normal , despite the scars and the pins holding her leg in place . I couldn’t ask for a better sister or a hero in my life .
1. The writer wanted to hear the call better , because_______.
A. he sensed that something terrible had happened
B. he might be curious about who would phone so late
C. he wanted to scold the person who phoned so late
D. he wasn’t sure whether the telephone concerned him
2. From the underlined sentence in the second paragraph , we can learn that________.
A. the family didn’t obey the traffic rules
B. the writer’s father wasn’t good at driving
C. the whole family were anxious to see Andrea
D. their house was very far from the hosptial
3. It was mainly________that made the author’s sister recover from the car accident .
A. the family’s encouragement        B. Andrea’s strong will
C. the treatment                    D. the eagerness to study
4. What would be the best title for the passage ?
A. A Miracle Happening to My Sister   B. My Sister—the Hero in My Life
C. An Accident Changed My Sister     D. An Incident Which Influenced Me Much

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

.Can you imagine your doctor warning that taking a bath could be unhealthy? In the early 1800s, many doctors thought that bathtubs(浴缸) could carry diseases, so they advised against their use. The advice wasn’t based on personal experience, because few of the doctors owned bathtubs. The White House did not even have a bathtub until 1851.
In the 19th century, only one home out of six had a bathroom. A child took only one bath a week. On Saturday nights, children all lined up for their turns to wash in a wooden bathtub in the kitchen. Mothers had to boil the water on the stove and carry it over to fill the bathtub. It’s no wonder that children could not jump into a bathtub as they do today.
When the first bathtubs were introduced, even their makers weren’t sure whether the new fashion would last. They advertised their products as water containers that “could be used as bathing tubs”.
The bathtub became popular in America shortly after World War I. By then most middle-class families had indoor taps. At first most bathtubs were made of wood, but as the popularity of the product increased, so did the creativity of bathtub makers. Before porcelain(瓷) bathtubs there were rubber ones like the plastic swimming pools kids use today. In the past few years owners often invited guests to see them. They told their friends how wonderful baths in these bathtubs could be.
Now doctors no longer warn that bathtubs carry diseases. Instead, they tell their patients about the benefits of frequent bathing in the bathtubs. Maybe one of the best reasons why doctors encourage frequent trips to the bathtub is that bathed patients smell better!
47. Many doctors in the past were against using bathtubs because ______.
A. they didn’t have their own bathtubs
B. they thought bathtubs could carry diseases.
C. the children might hurt themselves in the bathtubs
D. bathtubs were too expensive for the common families
48. Why couldn’t children jump into a tub in the 19th century as they do today?
A. It was unhealthy to do so.      B. The bathtubs were not enough.
C. Mothers were always busy.     D. The bathtubs were made of wood.
49. Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Some different materials can be used to make bathtubs.
B. In the 19th century only one home out of seven had a bathroom.
C. The bathtub became popular when they were introduced to the market.
D. Children prefer the bathtubs made of plastic to those made of porcelain.
50. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ______.
A. all the doctors have bathtubs in their homes
B. the doctors have realized the advantages of bathtubs
C. the doctors will make lots of money by advertising bathtubs
D. the patients should take a bath before going to see a doctor

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Sports medicine experts have observed for  years that athletes such as long distance runners, especially women athletes, often display a lack of iron. Now a new study by a team of Purdue University researchers suggests that even moderate exercise may lead to reduced iron in the blood of women.   
"We found that women who were normally inactive and then started a program of moderate exercise of middle degree showed sings of iron loss," says Roseanne M. Lyle, associate professor at Purdue. Her study of 62 formerly inactive women who began exercising three times a week for six months was published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Iron deficiency is very common among women in general, affecting one in four female teenagers and one in five women aged 18 to 45, respectively. But the ratio is even greater among active women, affecting up to 80 percent of female endurance athletes. This means, Lyle says, that "too many women ignore the amount of iron they take in". Women of child-bearing age are at greatest risk, since their monthly bleeding is a major source of iron loss. Plus, many health-conscious women increase their risk by rejecting red meat, which contains the most easily absorbed form of iron. And because women often restrict their diet in an effort to control weight, they may not consume enough iron-rich food, and are liable to experience a deficiency.
Exercise can result in iron loss through a variety of mechanisms. Some iron is lost in sweat, and, for unknown reasons, intense endurance exercise is sometimes associated with bleeding of the digestive system. Athletes in high-impact sports such as running may also lose iron through a phenomenon where small blood vessels in the feet leak blood.
There are three stages of iron deficiency. The first and most common is having low iron reserves, a condition that typically has no symptoms. Fatigue and poor performance may begin to appear in the second stage of deficiency, when not enough iron is present to form the molecules(分子) of blood protein that transport oxygen to the working muscles. In the third and final stage, people often feel weak, tired, and out of breath - and exercise performance is severely compromised.
"People think that if they're not at the third stage, nothing is wrong, but that's not true," says John L. Beard, who helped design the Purdue study. "You're not stage 3 until your iron reserves go to zero, and if you wait until that point, you're in trouble."
Beard and other experts say it’s advisable for people to have a yearly blood test. If iron levels are low, talk with a physician to see if the deficiency should be corrected by changing your diet and taking iron-rich foods or by taking iron-added pills.
“Select breads and cereals with the words ‘iron-added’ on the label,” writes sports diet expert Nancy Clark. “This added iron supplements the small amount that naturally occurs in grains.” Clark also recommends cooking in iron pans, as food can obtain iron from the pan during the cooking process.
64.Which of the following may be the title for the passage?
A.Science, sports and exercise
B.Correct iron deficiency
C.Women, Iron and exercise
D.Women, health and exercise
65.The third paragraph is developed mainly by________ .
A.organizing the details according to the order of time
B.presenting the result followed by specific causes
C.beginnign with details followed by a general statement
D.making comparisons ad contrasts
66.What does it mean when you are in the third stage of iron defieiency?
A.Nothing serious though you don’t have much iron stored in the body.
B.There is not enough iron to form the molecules of blood protein to transport oxygen.
C.The small blood vessels in your reet are beginnig to leak blood.
D.No iron is left in your body and you would be in trouble without urgent measures.
67.What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?
A.Defensive.       B.Persuasive.      C.Supportive.      D.Objective.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

As AH1N1 flu continues to spread, experts from the World Health
Organization are calling for everyone to practice smart flu prevention
techniques. Besides washing your hands and getting enough sleep,
here are the other 7 ways to keep your body strong and your immune
(免疫) system ready to fight infection.

Avoid Contact with Sick People

Flu virus is spread when particles (微粒) blown into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you’re coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and then wash your hands, and if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and avoid physical contact.
Eat Immune – Boosting Foods
Keeping your body strong and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. Fatty foods can make you feel lazy, and make your immune system working in an inactive and compromised way. So stick with wholes grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin – rich fruits.
Avoid Alcohol
In addition to being a mood calm and pleasant, alcohol is an immune restriction that can actually decrease your resistance to virus infections like AH1N1flu. So avoid alcohol to keep your immune system strong.
Drink Enough Water
Drink 8 – 10 glasses of water each day to wash out poisonous things from your system and maintain system in a good state,
Keep Physically Active
Adequate exercise – for example walking for 30 to 40 minutes 3 or 4 times a week – supports the immune system by increasing circulation, speeding the body’s oxygen – taking – in, taking away poisonous things through sweat, and releasing tension and stress. So get moving!
Be Careful of Surfaces
This is as much a mindfulness exercise as anything else. Be aware of what public surfaces you touch, when you’ve shaken hands with someone, or when you’re using something like a pen that others have recently used – and don’t touch your face until you’ve had a chance to wash your hands.
Know When to Get Help
AH1N1 flu can look like regular flu, so don’t feel like you necessarily are infected if you’re exhibiting flu – like symptoms. But do consult your doctor if your symptoms are severe.

 

 
64.Which of the following pictures is talked about in the passage?       

 
65.How can fatty foods affect a person?           .
A.They cause human’s immune system inactive
B.They help to keep one’s body strong
C.They are good for fighting infection
D.They are favorable for a calm mood
66.Drinking water and having enough exercise play the similar role in        .
A.increasing circulation                                     B.taking in  more oxygen
C.cleaning your system                                     D.reducing your pressure
67.What does the author strongly suggest in the last paragraph?         
A.Don’t touch your face!                                  B.Avoid using others’ pen!
C.Don’t fear getting infected!                         D.See a doctor if you’re seriously ill!

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