Can you imagine being able to remember every single experience of your life and every word in your favorite book? That’s what Becky’s life is like, and as wonderful as it sounds, it can also be quite terrifying at times.
Three years ago, Becky was reading a newspaper article which mentioned that it was impossible for people to remember the details of their life in the first three years. “What nonsense (胡说八道)!” she thought, because she could clearly remember her life all the way back to when she was just 12 days old. Her parents had carried her to the driver’s seat of their car and laid her down for a photo. But it wasn’t nonsense. She was just one of only 80 known people who have a condition called HSAM(Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory).
Becky’s unusual condition was recently shown on a program called 60 minutes, where reporter Allison tested her ability by asking her questions about her favorite book series, Harry Potter. Allison would pick up a book and open a page and read her a line. Immediately Becky would name the book, chapter number, chapter name and could recite every word until Allison told her to stop.
Being able to remember every little detail is a great ability, but as every person with HSAM will tell you, it can be very hard to deal with. Forgetting is one of the things we use to get over sad experiences in our lives, but it’s something that people like Becky are unable to do. Even walking on the street and lightly bumping(撞) into somebody brings back memories from Becky’s childhood, when a boy knocked her over. She’s taken right back to that time, living the experience all over again. Also, like Becky, people with HSAM never do well in school, because they have problems filtering(过滤) through all the information, remembering only the important bits.
Becky’s special brain could help scientists find a way to treat people with terrible illnesses like Alzheimer’s. Her condition could hold the secret to treating or even preventing Alzheimer’s.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A. What people with HSAM feel like.
B. Why HSAM is unfamiliar to people.
C. How Becky knew she was different.
D. How Becky spent her early childhood.
2.Why was Becky asked questions on 60 minutes?
A. To help treat her illness.
B. To advertise Harry Potter.
C. To test her ability to remember.
D. To encourage other kids to read.
3.Which of the following troubles Becky?
A. She can’t forget her painful experience.
B. She feels tired remembering everything.
C. She can’t get along well with other kids.
D. She is different from other kids of her age.
4.Why does Becky do poorly at school?
A. She feels sad every time she studies.
B. She remembers too much information.
C. She can’t deal with difficult problems.
D. She can’t understand the teacher in class.
Some of the world’s finest
Stained glass(彩色玻璃) artwork
Sainte Chappelle, France
While many say that Paris’ must-see cathedral(教堂) is Notre Dame de Paris, Sainte Chapelle should also be high up on the list. Louis IX ordered it to be built in 1239 to house the Crown of Thorns, a famous relic from Constantinople. Within the ceilings of the church are fifteen of the world’s finest stained glass windows. Unfortunately, as a result of the French Revolution, one third of the stained glass had to be replaced.
The Chicago Cultural Center, USA
While the Windy City might not house the nation’s winningest sports teams, it does have one of the world’s most eye-catching displays of stained galss. Today’s Chicago Cultural Center, which was designed as a library in 1887, has a 38-feet-tall Tiffany glass dome(圆屋顶), which is said to be the largest Tiffany dome in the world.
Erawan Museum, Thailand
The Erawan Museum, built in 1994, houses ancient, priceless Thai artworks, all of which are displayed within the building’s three floors, said to symbolize the three levels of the universe. The shiny stained glass is on the second floor, which museum owner Khun Lek Viriyapant considers to be the human level. Designed by German artist Jacob Schwarzkopf, the stained glass artwork shows five continents, with the sun delivering light, and therefore life, into all.
Saint Vitus Cathedral, Czech Republic
While the Czech church whose doors many travelers pass through every day was built way back in 1344, its amazing display of stained glass is a 20th-century donation from well-known Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha. The artwork is nothing if not fitting for Prague, the city in which the stained glass is displayed. After all, it is the modern-day Czech Republic from which dreamy Bohemians came.
1.Which of the following has the longest history?
A. Sainte Chapelle.
B. Erawan Museum.
C. Saint Vitus Cathedral.
D. The Chicago Cultural Center.
2.Where should you go if you want to see the Earth-themed stained glass?
A. France.
B. The USA.
C. Thailand.
D. Czech Republic.
3.What is special about the stained glass in Prague?
A. It fits the city well.
B. It is from a Bohemian.
C. It is the largest of its kind.
D. It sits in an ancient church.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What does Maha do?
A. She’s a doctor.
B. She’s a nurse.
C. She’s a worker.
2.What is the book Hard Work about?
A. A man and his son.
B. A difficult journey.
C. A film star.
3.Which book is written by a student?
A. The Long Night.
B. Hard Work.
C. Hospital or Cinema.
4.Where does the story in Hospital or Cinema happen most probably?
A. In Australia.
B. In Thailand.
C. In Britain.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Which vegetables does the woman need?
A. Carrots and lettuce.
B. Lettuce and peppers.
C. Carrots and peppers.
2.How many degrees does the woman first ask the man to turn the cooker on to?
A. 190 degrees.
B. 200 degrees.
C. 220 degrees.
3.How long will the dish take to cook?
A. 40 minutes.
B. 25 minutes.
C. 15 minutes.
4.What will the man do while the dish is cooking?
A. Do the washing-up.
B. Make a dessert.
C. Watch TV.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.With whom did the man go to Egypt?
A. His cousin.
B. His father.
C. His friend.
2.What place did the man visit in May?
A. The Giant’s Causeway.
B. The Grand Canyon.
C. Victoria Falls.
3.When did the man travel to the UK?
A. In August.
B. In October.
C. In November.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers going to do on Saturday?
A. Watch a game.
B. Attend a party.
C. Play football.
2.How will the woman go to the man’s house?
A. By bus.
B. On foot.
C. By car.
