Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the Cruelty young age of 30. It used to be thought that this couldn't be helped, but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster. "Your brain is a learning machine," says University of California scientist Dr. Michael Merzenich. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is the practice designed just for the purpose: a few exercises for the mind.
Merzenich has developed a computer-based training method to speed up the process(過程)                         in which the brain deals with information (positscience.com). Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy (準(zhǔn)確性).
Over the course of training, the program starts asking you to distinguish (辨別) sounds (between "dog" and "bog", for example) at an increasingly faster speed. It's a bit like tennis instructor, says Merzenich, hitting balls at you ~faster and faster to keep you challenged(受到挑戰(zhàn)). You may start out slow, but before long you're pretty quick.
The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that the brain at any age is highly plastic. If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn. And it may even speed up while in the process.
To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzles, learning a language.... "When it comes to preventing ageing, you really do 'use it or lose it' ," says Barbara Sahakian, professor at Cambridge University.
小題1:Dr. Merzenich’s training method mainly depends on ________.
A．speech trainingB．computer languages
C．the activities one joins inD．the information being dealt with
小題2: By saying "the brain at any age is highly plastic ", the writer probably means the brain can be______.
A．usedB．masteredC．developedD．researched
小題3:What can we learn from the text?
A．Practice makes a quick mind.
B．Brain research started ten yeas ago.
C．Dr. Merzenich is a scientist in computer,
D．People believed nothing could stop the brain slowing down.
小題4: Which of the following agrees with the writer's idea?
A．The training methods work better for the old.
B．People should use the brain to stop it from ageing.
C．The training of the brain should start at an early age.
D． It's necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.

小題1:A
小題2:C
小題3:D
小題4:B

小題1:細(xì)節(jié)理解，由文章第二段第二句話可知答案。
小題2:句意猜測(cè)，由短文第四段第二句話可知；如果你讓你大腦學(xué)習(xí)，它就學(xué)習(xí)，并且在這過程中，能加快學(xué)習(xí)速度，由此可知大腦是可以“開發(fā)的”
小題3:推理判斷，由文章第一段第二句話“It used to be thought that this couldn't be helped”可知答案。
小題4:細(xì)節(jié)理解，根據(jù)最后一段可知答案。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


Of all living creatures on earth, insects are the most plentiful. Some 1 are very useful to man, for example, bees, 2 we get honey and wax, and silkworms, which 3 us with silk. Other varieties, 4 , are extremely harmful, and do a great 5 of damage, especially to crops. Locusts are perhaps the most dangerous of all, 6 they will eat almost any green 7 , and when millions of them 8 on cultivated land they soon leave it 9 . In some countries they are the farmers’ 10 enemy. Another nuisance is the common 11 , not only because it 12 us indoors and out-of-doors, but because it spreads diseases.
　　Scientists have given much time and 13 to the study of insects. It needs the most careful and 14 observation. Thanks 15 their discoveries we now know almost all 16 is to be known about the habits of these hardworking insects, bees and ants, which live in 17 better planned in some ways than our 18 . But the most valuable work has been done in trying to give 19 to men, animals and crops from the 20 which insects cause.
1．A．members            B．forms        C．qualities           D．varieties
2．A．by which            B．from which     C．of which           D．in which
3．A．give                B．produce        C．offer              D．supply
4．A．however             B．meanwhile     C．offer             D．supply
5．A．majority             B．number        C．a(chǎn)mount           D．what’s more
6．A．a(chǎn)nd                 B．for            C．if                D．when
7．A．grass               B．field          C．fruit              D．plant
8．A．settle               B．a(chǎn)ttack         C．pass              D．cross
9．A．bare               B．nothing        C．empty             D．untouched
10．A．hardest            B．greatest        C．serious            D．wildest
11．A．insect              B．creature       C．fly               D．enemy
12．A．dislikes            B．bites          C．worries           D．hates
13．A．understanding       B．ideas           C．comprehension      D．thought
14．A．serious            B．patient        C．curious           D．long
15．A．for                B．of            C．to                D．with
16．A．that               B．which        C．there             D．what
17．A．societies            B．crowds        C．teams             D．organizations
18．A．world              B．nation       C．selves             D．own
19．A．help              B．protection    C．living             D．defense
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia,and the Sahara lands of Mall further north,the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant,the desert cousin differs in many ways.Their bodies are smaller,to absorb less heat,and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces.They are taller,to reach higher branches.They have shorter tusks(象牙),and most importantly,longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and water-holes,and have a larger group of families.They drink only every 3-4 days,and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat,which is only used when badly needed.Desert elephants are careful feeders—they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches,and thus maintain what little food sources are available.Young elephants may even eat the dung(糞便) of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly.Desert elephants have sand baths,sometimes adding their own urine(尿液) to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet,it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.
小題1:The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “_______”.
A．remains in the African countries
B．drinks 120 liters of water a day
C．manages to live in desert areas
D．eats 150 kilograms of food daily
小題2:Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they______.
A．rarely ruin trees
B．drink only every 3-4 days
C．search for food in large groups
D．protect food sources for their young
小題3:The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with______.
A．stories and explanation
B．facts and descriptions
C．examples and conclusion
D．evidence and argument
小題4:What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?
A．Overheating the earth can be stopped.
B．Not all animal species are so adaptable.
C．The planet will become hotter and hotter.
D．Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

For those who are conditioned to think that learning only happens in a classroom, the world of self-learning can be a little daunting. How do we best take   1  of these new opportunities?
Your interest in the subject is the essential driver of success. You can’t learn what you do not want to learn. Emotion is an important part of the learning   2  . If you are even moderately interested in a subject, give yourself  a chance. The key is to get started. If you can create some pleasurable   3 , you may find that the subject grows on you.
Don’t expect to understand things, much less remember them, the first time you study them. Trust that things will get clearer   4  your brain comes to grips with new information. It is like a cross-word puzzle. As you start to put the pieces together, or string the words together, the full picture becomes clearer. The brain learns all the time, but    5   its own schedule. Learning does not take place according to a schedule laid down by a curriculum or teacher. Some things are easier to learn than others. Some things just take    6  to click in. Keep at it, and you will gradually find that things that seem difficult at first , will become easy with time.
Your brain is struggling to form patterns to    7   new input from your learning activities. Sometimes, no matter how long you focus on one subject, your brain is not going to pick it up. If you are stuck, move   8  . Then cover the same general information from a different source, a different book, or a podcast, or an online lecture or a video. Try to become a  grazing learner, roaming the countryside,     9  a feedlot learner, just standing there in one spot. The broader your base, the easier it is to learn. Just as the “rich get richer”, the more you know,     10  you can learn.
Take full advantage of the Internet, iTunes, and     11  mobile devices, not to mention good old-fashioned books and magazines. Learn during “dead time”. Listen in your car, on the train, or   12  jogging. Have your learning with you while waiting in the doctor’s office, or listen while checking out at the supermarket. Anytime is     13 time. Remember, you are learning through exposure, not by nailing things down. It is more like moisture accumulation in a    14  , rather than building a brick wall.
The more varied your learning content, and the more varied the ways in which you learn, the       15 the puzzle will become. Different learning activities suit different people, at different times of the day. Vary your activities in order to keep your interest level   16   . Even if listening and reading work best for you, treat yourself to the odd video lecture, or get-together with other learners. This will renew your batteries.
The “l(fā)oneliness of the distance learner” is a thing of the   17 . Join a learning communityon the web, where members share their knowledge and experience. Search for the communities that suit your interests and learning style. You will find encouragement, advice and stimulus from fellow learners,        18   from tutors, teachers and coaches. In these communities, you can measure your progress against your own goals, or compare your experience     19   that of other learners. You can even teach and help others, which is a great way to learn.
Never has it been easier nor more exciting to be a learner. Let constant learning be a major part of your life-style. The   20       will be constant, personally, socially, and professionally.
(   ) 1. A. advantage    B. place               C. possession         D. example
(   ) 2. A. progress      B. process             C. pressure            D. proposal
(   ) 3. A. roads          B. streets              C. routines            D. building
(  ) 4. A. with           B. if                     C. unless               D. as
(   ) 5. A. on              B. to                   C. with                D. for
(   ) 6. A. shorter               B. sooner              C. longer              D. lower
(   ) 7. A. take with     B. com with          C. go with            D. cope with
(   ) 8. A. down          B. on                   C. away               D. off
(   ) 9. A. more than   B. less than           C. rather than               D. other than
(   ) 10. A. less           B. quicker             C. lower                      D. more
(   ) 11. A. same         B. similar             C. familiar            D. various
(   ) 12. A. while               B. before              C. after                D. if
(   ) 13. A. playing     B. learning            C. talking             D. speaking
(   ) 14. A. cloud               B. sky                 C. earth               D. sea
(   ) 15. A. cleaner      B. clearer              C. harder              D. lower
(   ) 16. A. down               B. up                    C. in                   D. out
(   ) 17. A. present      B. day                  C. past                 D. night
(   ) 18. A. as long as B. as far as            C. as well as          D. as soon as
(   ) 19. A. without     B. with                C. to                   D. beyond
(   ) 20. A. awards      B. words               C. remarks            D. rewards

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


　　Trees are useful to man in three very important ways: they provide him with wood and other products, they give him shade, and they help to prevent drought and floods.
　　Unfortunately, in many parts of the world man has not realized that the third of these services is the most important. In his eagerness to draw quick profit from the trees, he has cut them down in large numbers, only to find that without them he has lost the best friends he had.
　　Two thousand years ago a rich and powerful country cut down its trees to build warships, with which to gain itself an empire. It gained the empire but, without its trees, its soil became hard and poor. When the empire fell to pieces, the country found itself faced by floods and starvation.
　　Even though a government realizes the importance of a plentiful supply of trees, it is difficult for it to persuade the villager to see this. The villager wants wood to cook his food with, and he can earn money by making charcoal or selling wood to the townsman. He is usually too lazy or too careless to plant and look after trees. So unless the government has a good system of control, or can educate the people, the forests will slowly disappear.
　　This does not only mean that the villagers? sons and grandsons have fewer trees. The results are even more serious. For where there are trees their roots break the soil up—allowing the rain to sink in and also hold the soil, thus preventing it being washed away easily, but where there are no trees, the soil becomes hard and poor. The rain falls on hard ground and flows away on the surface, causing floods and carrying away with it the rich topsoil, in which crops grow so well. When all the topsoil is gone, nothing remains but a worthless desert.
63. The purpose that the writer wrote this article for is ____ .
　A. to tell people that trees are very useful to man
　B. to warn people not to cut down trees any more
　C. to warn that man mustn't destroy forests any more
　D. to explain how trees help to prevent drought and floods
64. In the writer's opinion, ____ , or the forests slowly disappear.
　A. measure must be taken                      B. people shouldn't draw benefit from the tree
　C. government must realize the serious results      D. unless trees never be cut down
65. According to the article we know it is ____ to prevent the forests from slowly disappearing.
　A. necessary but impossible                    B. necessary but difficult
　C. impossible and unimportant                  D. difficult and impossible
66. In the last two paragraphs the writer wanted to make it clear that ____ .
　A. where there are no trees, the soil becomes hard and poor
　B. where there are many trees, there are fewer floods
　C. where there are no trees, the land might become desert slowly
　D. floods will make the land become desert

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

完形填空（共15小題，每題1分，滿分15分）
When I was a young child, my parents often told me that it was time that taught a man everything. I didn’t understand and wondered why _31_ had such a big influence _32_ a person. I thought I could grow up quickly to find it out as an adult. But now, _33_ I come to knock at the door of adulthood, I feel _34_ to express my own opinion on this saying. I know that I am just a high school student with very few experiences. There are still many things waiting for me in the future, yet I would like to express myself in a childish voice.
I once read this sentence, “To make this world a happy place in which to live, you had better _35_ yourself and your heart, instead of the whole world.” I was shocked. It made me think about _36_ itself. There are so many things around us that _37_ our will. We can’t force life to follow our wishes. The earth won’t stop turning no matter whether we _38_ it or not . What we can do is just to make  _39_ suit the world. I think we should learn to accept _40_ life gives us, no matter whether it’s the spring sunlight or the winter snowfall, and try to be happy.
The pop song Grandmother by Jay Chou is my favorite. I’m deeply moved by this beautiful song. I always try to _41_ every pleasant thing in my life, but now I see that I don’t catch most of the pleasant moments. It is more likely that they slip by（流逝）and leave you _42_ regretful. I realize that I’m not just living for myself and that there are others I should _43_ such as my parents, friends, and so on. They all pay attention to my growing up, _44_ it’s just a little progress.
Everyone has his or her own _45_ towards life, positive or negative. It doesn’t  matter, I think. There is one rule that should be obeyed and that’s to make this world better.
31. A. man
B. time
C. thing 
D. parent
32. A. about
B. with
C. on
D. in
33. A. before
B. after
C. as 
D. when
34. A. glad
B. angry  
C. tired 
D. anxious
35. A. praise 
B. change
C. exchange 
D. force
36. A. life 
B. money
C. heart
D. world
37. A. go with
B. go along 
C. go for
D. go against
38.A. receive 
B. check 
C. refuse  
D. accept
39.A. himself 
B. themselves
C. ourselves 
D. yourself
40. A. what
B. that 
C. which 
D. why
41. A. touch
B. escape 
C. catch
D. lose
42. A. feeling
B. looking 
C. remaining
D. proving
43. A. make of
B. speak of  
C. hear of
D. think of
44. A. in case 
B. in that
C. even if  
D. as if
45. A. idea
B. way 
C. view
D. attitude

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Indians Refuse Higher Education
On June 17,1744, the officials from Maryland and Virginia held a talk with the Indians of the Six Nations． The Indians were invited to send boys to William and Mary College． In letter the next day they refused the offer as follows:
We know that you have a high opinion of the kind of learning taught in your colleges, and that the costs of living of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you． We are certain that you mean to do us good by your suggestion; and we thank you heartily． But you must know that different nations have different ways of looking at things, and you will therefore not be displeased if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same as yours． We have had some experience of it． Several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges of the northern provinces:
They were taught all your sciences; but, when they came back to us, they were bad manners, and they knew little of every means of living in the woods．．． they were totally good for nothing．
We are, however, not the less obliged for your kind offer, though we refuse to accept it; and, to show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take care of their education, teach them in all we know, and make men of them．
59．The passage is about _______．
A．the talk between the Indians and the officials
B．the colleges of the northern provinces
C．the educational values of the Indians
D．the problems of the Americans in the mid-eighteenth century
60．The Indians’ chief purpose in writing the letter seems to be to______．
A．politely refuse a friendly offer
B．express their opinions on equal treatment
C．show their pride
D．describe Indian customs
61．Different from the officials’ view of education, the Indians thought______．
A．young women should also be educated
B．they had different objects of education
C．they taught different branches of science
D．they should teach the sons of the officials first
62．The mood of the letter as a whole is best described as ______．
A．a(chǎn)ngry      B．polite     C．pleasant       D．inquiring

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


In the last 500 years, nothing about people — their clothes, ideas, or languages—has changed as much as what they eat. The original chocolate drink was made from the seeds of the cocoa tree(可可樹)by South American. Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500’s. And although it was very expensive, it quickly became fashionable. In London, shops where chocolate drinks were served became important meeting places. Some still exist today.
The potato is also from the New World. Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Eu¬rope, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland became so dependent on it that thousands of Irish peo¬ple starved when the crop failed during the "Potato Famine (饑荒)" of 1845—1846, and thousands more were forced to leave their homeland and move to America.
There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world’s largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an important crop in Colombia and other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia, a country in Africa. It was first made into a drink by Arabs during the 1400’s.
according to an. Arabic legend, coffee was discovered when a person named Kaldi noticed that his goats were attracted to the red berries on a coffee, bush. He tried one and experienced the " wide-awake" feeling that one third of the world’s population now starts the day with.
1. according to the passage, which of the following has changed the most in the last 500 years?
A. Food.     B. Clothing.          C. Ideology.           D. Language.
2. The word "some" in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to________.
A. some cocoa trees                  B. some chocolate drinks.
C. some shops                          D. some South American Indians
3. Thousands of Irish people starved during the " Potato Famine" because________
A. they were so dependent on potatoes that they refused to eat anything else
B. they were forced to leave their homeland and move to America
C. the weather conditions in Ireland were not suitable for growing potatoes
D. the potato harvest was bad
4. according to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. One third of the world’s population drinks coffee.
B. Coffee is native to Colombia.
C. Coffee can keep one awake.
D. Coffee drinks were first made by Arabs.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Dropouts for Ph. D. s
Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of Ph. D. s. Some have placed the dropouts loss as high as 50 percent. The extent of the loss was, however, largely a matter of expert guessing. Last week a well-rounded study was published. It was published. It was based on 22,000 questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless.
The dropouts rate was found to be 31 per cent, and in most cases the dropouts, while not completing the Ph. D. requirement, went on to productive work. They are not only doing well financially, but, according to the report, are not far below the income levels of those who went on to complete their doctorates.
Discussing the study last week, Dr. Tucker said the project was initiated 'because of the concern frequently expressed by graduate faculties and administrators that some of the individuals who dropped out of Ph. D. programs were capable of competing the requirement for the degree. Attrition at the Ph. D. level is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity. Some people expressed the opinion that the shortage of highly trained specialists and college teachers could be reduced by persuading the dropouts to return to graduate schools to complete the Ph. D.’
"The results of our research" Dr. Tucker concluded, "did not support these opinions."
1.    Lack of motivation was the principal reason for dropping out.
2.    Most dropouts went as far in their doctoral program as was consistent with their levels of ability or their specialties.
3.    Most dropouts are now engaged in work consistent with their education and motivation.
Nearly 75 per cent of the dropouts said there was no academic reason for their decision, but those who mentioned academic reason cited failure to pass the qualifying examination, uncompleted research and failure to pass language exams. Among the single most important personal reasons identified by dropouts for non-completion of their Ph. D. program, lack of finances was marked by 19 per cent.
As an indication of how well the dropouts were doing, a chart showed 2% in humanities were receiving $ 20,000 and more annually while none of the Ph. D. 's with that background reached this figure. The Ph. D. 's shone in the $ 7,500 to $ 15,000 bracket with 78% at that level against 50% for the dropouts. This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where Ph. D. 's tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields.
As to the possibility of getting dropouts back on campus, the outlook was glum. The main condition which would have to prevail for at least 25 % of the dropouts who might consider returning to graduate school would be to guarantee that they would retain their present level of income and in some cases their present job.
小題1: The author states that many educators feel that            
[A] steps should be taken to get the dropouts back to campus.
[B] the dropouts should return to a lower quality school to continue their study.
[C] the Ph. D. holder is generally a better adjusted person than the dropout.
[D] The high dropouts rate is largely attributable to the lack of stimulation on the part of faculty members.
小題2:  Research has shown that          
[A] Dropouts are substantially below Ph. D. 's in financial attainment.
[B] the incentive factor is a minor one in regard to pursuing Ph. D. studies.
[C] The Ph. D. candidate is likely to change his field of specialization if he drops out.
[D] about one-third of those who start Ph. D. work do not complete the work to earn the degree.
小題3:  Meeting foreign language requirements for the Ph. D.
[A] is the most frequent reason for dropping out.
[B] is more difficult for the science candidate than for the humanities candidate.
[C] is an essential part of many Ph. D. programs.
[D] does not vary in difficulty among universities.
小題4:  After reading the article, one would refrain from concluding that          
[A] optimism reigns in regard to getting Ph. D. dropouts to return to their pursuit of the degree.
[B] a Ph. D. dropout, by and large, does not have what it takes to learn the degree.
[C] colleges and universities employ a substantial number of Ph. D. dropouts.
[D] Ph. D. 's are not earning what they deserve in nonacademic positions.
小題5:  It can be inferred that the high rate of dropouts lies in            
[A] salary for Ph. D. too low.
[B] academic requirement too high.
[C] salary for dropouts too high.
[D] 1000 positions.

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