It has been discovered that after the age of sixteen, the number of our brain cells begins to decrease at a speed of several million a year. They simply die off. In certain types of activity, the human brain is at its highest point in the early twenties, when it has collected enough information to be able to use the vast number of cells freely in the most effective way. Pure mathematics is one of the fields in which this happens, and we know that Albert Einstein made all his world-shaking discoveries between the age of about 20 and 25, and spent the rest of his life tidying them up and arranging them.
But in certain other types of activity (of which being an author is perhaps one), experience is more important than sharpness of brain, and there one usually finds that a person reaches his or her peak much later in life.
Besides sharpness of brain and experience, here is another thing that is very important, and that is wisdom. One can have a very quick, inventive brain and plenty of experience, but if one uses these foolishly, one harms both oneself and others. Wisdom does not always come with age ——there are plenty of foolish middle-aged people about ——but the average person tends to learn wisdom as he gets older, usually by making painful of embarrassing mistakes. Leaning to be wise is basically learning what is not possible ； and what is possible but so difficult that it is not worth all the trouble one has to go through to get there. Mostly, it is learning about human nature ； how real people behave and react, as against how one would like them to behave and react. One can read and hear lot of idealistic stuff about how to make the world a better place, which would be found if it was based on an accurate observation of human nature, but which is basically a waste of time because it is not.
1.According to the writer, the great discoveries made by Albert Einstein were mainly a result in .
A.years of hard work B.sharpness of the brain
C.rich experience D.his deep understanding of the nature
2.Some people achieve success much later in life because .
A.their work often requires much experience
B.they do not have a chance to show their talents
C.they have to learn lessons from failures
D.they fail to realize earlier the importance of hard work
3.The importance of wisdom lies in the fact that .
A.it helps to avoid various mistakes
B.it contributes to one's creativity
C.it encourages one to go forward in face of difficulty
D.it provides the right direction of efforts
4.The writer came to believe that .
A.it is always a waste of time to make plans about the future
B.it is human nature to make attempts on what looks impossible
C.one should always challenge the impossible to push the society forward
D.one has to use wisdom in deciding what is the best thing to do
Delhi has been the centre of a succession of mighty empires and powerful kingdoms in India. Numerous ruins scattered throughout the territory offer a constant reminder of the area's history, which makes the city always be a fascinating place for tourists.
With the development of the city and more and more people moving, the city has expanded several times in size. That is why it is called New Delhi. New Delhi, a city with a population of over 20 million people, has its newest problem: never before has this city met with the worst air problem.
Air pollution in Indians capital surged to its worst levels in years, covering the city in a thick smog that has become an annual public-health emergency despite government vows to solve the problem.
Hundreds of flights were diverted, delayed and canceled over the weekend due to poor visibility, schools and offices were closed Monday and officials rushed to take emergency measures to try to reverse the eroding air quality. Millions of antipollution masks were distributed at schools, colleges, hospitals and markets.
New Delhi, is engulfed each year as the weather cools and a thick haze builds up from the pollutants emitted from cars and coal-based power plants, swirling dust from construction sites and roads and smoke from crop stubble burning in neighboring states. Fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali then arrives, leaving Delhi the world's most polluted city.
The city's air quality index, which measures a mix of dangerous pollutants, registered an average score of 494 Sunday. That is the highest 24-hour average since Nov. 6 , 2016 , when it hit 497, according to data measured by the Central Pollution Control Board.
1.Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Diwali is one of the most important festivals in India.
B.The government did little to protect its citizens against the serious pollution.
C.Such a serious air pollution in New Delhi appears on a regular basis.
D.The index of the recent air pollution is not the worst in the history.
2.Who may not complain about the serious air pollution?
A.The parents whose children have to stay at home.
B.The pilots whose planes have been diverted or delayed.
C.The manufacturers who produce antipollution masks.
D.The officials who have to work out of their offices.
3.Which of the following phrases can replace the underlined word in paragraph 5?
A.Sent out. B.Sent up.
C.Sent in. D.Sent on.
4.The title of the passage should be .
A.Problems Caused by the Development of New Delhi
B.Dangerous Pollution Envelops New Delhi
C.Antipollution Masks Are in Great Need in New Delhi
D.Farmers in the Neighboring States are to Blame for Burning Crop Stubble
There are at least 3 ,000 miles of waterways in Britain. On these canals and rivers, there are over 30,000 'houseboats'—boats that people use as homes. Around 10 ,000 of them are located in London.
The earliest populations of Britain's 'boat people' have been living on the water since the canals were built during the industrial revolution. Since then, houseboat living has usually attracted people who prefer to live an alternative lifestyle. Houseboat communities are typically made up of people who are looking for a slower way of life and who want to be in touch with nature.
Living on the water sounds romantic, but it is also hard work. There are daily things that need to be done, like bringing fuel and water on board and dealing with 'waste' water from kitchen sink, shower and toilet. In winter, living on a boat can be very cold and there is always a feeling of damp. Of course, most boats are quite small inside, so you don't have much space, especially if you are a couple, family or a group of friends.
Despite these difficulties, the number of people living on Britain's waterways has increased by around 50 per cent over the past ten years. More and more families and young professionals are moving onto houseboats, not only because they like the idea of life on water.but also because it is much cheaper to buy or rent a boat than a flat or a house.
There is a great sense of community on the waterways ； many boat people say that their neighbours are always ready to help them, and houseboat neighbours often become friends for life. This is quite a different story from people who live in flats or houses and may hardly know the people next door at all.
1.What does the underlined word "alternative" in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Creative. B.Enjoyable.
C.Non — traditional. D.Primitive.
2.From the third paragraph, we know that it is to live on the boat.
A.inconvenient B.easy
C.boring D.unforgettable
3.Which of the following information is not given in the text?
A.There are lots of rivers and canals in Britain.
B.Many people live on houseboats in Wales.
C.Houseboat living become popular in the industrial revolution.
D.People who live on houseboats are usually very friendly with their neighbours.
4.Why do many people choose to live on the water? Because .
A.living on the water is romantic
B.living on the water is easy and natural
C.living on the water can avoid unfriendly neighbours
D.living on the water costs less than living on the land
Basic information about three classical movies
1. Forrest Gump
"Stupid is as stupid does," says Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks in an Oscar-winning performance) as he discusses his relative level of intelligence with a stranger while waiting for a bus. Despite his sub-normal IQ, Gump leads a truly charmed life, with a ringside seat for many of the most memorable events of the second half of the 20th century... (Click here to show more)
Rating: PG-13 (Under 13 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian )
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
Written By: Eric Roth
In Theaters: Jul 6, 1994 Wide
On Disc/Streaming: Aug 28, 2001
Box Office： $ 330,000,000
Runtime: 142 minutes
Studio: Paramount Pictures
2. Rain Man
Self-centered, avaricious Californian Charlie Babbitt (Tom Cruise) is informed that his long-estranged father has died. Expecting at least a portion of the elder Babbitt's $ 3 million estate, Charlie learns that all he's inherited is his dad's prize roses and a 1949 Buick Roadmaster. Discovering that the $ 3 million is being held in trust for an unidentified party, Charlie heads to his home town of Cincinnati to ascertain who that party is. . .. (Click here to show more)
Rating ： R(Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)
Genre: Drama
Directed By: Barry Levinson
Written By: Ronald Bass, Barry Morrow, David Rayfiel, Barry Levinson
In Theaters: Dec 16, 1988 Wide
On Disc/Streaming: Jan 1, 2000
Runtime ： 133 minutes
Studio ：MGM
3. The Shawshank Redemption
In 1946, a banker named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of a double murder, even though he stubbornly proclaims his innocence. He's sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison in Maine, where another lifer, Ellis "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman) , picks him as the new recruit most likely to crack under the pressure. But... (Click here to show more)
Rating: R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian)
Genre: A Prison Drama
Directed By: Frank Darabont
Written By: Frank Darabont
In Theaters: Sep 10, 1994 Wide
On Disc/Streaming ： Jan 27, 1998
Runtime: 142 minutes
Studio: Columbia Pictures
1.Who is the director of Rain Man?
A.Frank Darabont. B.Barry Morrow.
C.Barry Levinson. D.Robert Zemeckis.
2.The type of The Shawshank Redemption is .
A.prison drama B.romance
C.love D.comedy
3.Which of the following persons is regarded to be unintelligent in the three movies?
A.Andy Dufresne. B.Charlie Babbitt.
C.Forrest Gump. D.Rain Man.
阅读下面材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
I was ten years old, when some people from a nearby government school came and told my parents that they should send me to a one-year education camp.
My parents replied, "What's the use? Education never got us Villagers anywhere. What good will it do to a girl? Girls should stay at home and learn household work. That comes in handy when they get married. And anyway, how can we send our child so far away all by herself for a whole year? "
But the people persuaded my parents. They said there would be about a hundred girls coming from different villages and all of them would be safe and taken care of well. My parents had to agree finally. They felt that if other families sent their girls, they would also have to.
My friend, Mala, was going too. We were the only two girls from our village, ‘Swaroop ka Talaab'We would sit in the evenings and wonder how things would be in an unknown place. Once, Mala asked me, "Will there be any sand dunes（沙丘）there? “I didn't understand her question. How could any place in the world not have sand dunes? I have traveled far with my goats, sat on hills and looked at the desert beyond. For miles and miles there is only sand.
The day before leaving home, I was very nervous. I had dreamt of going to this unknown place but I couldn't imagine living without my parents and goats. They would surely miss me. My mother was sad too. With tears in her eyes, she packed my clothes and wrapped snacks for me.
When they took me away, I sobbed the whole way. I kept crying for the first few days in the camp. Then gradually, I started making friends with the other girls. There were so many girls. We would all study together, play together, eat together and sleep together. Sometimes, my parents would send me clothes and food. I also sent messages telling them not to worry and that I was well.
Para I：At the end of the term I studied hard for the examination. ________
Para 2：When Mala and I went back home, we became different persons. ________
假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Henry来信说他寒假期间将来中国旅游，并借此了解中国文化。请你给他写封回信，内容包括：
1．表示欢迎；
2．推荐景点；
3．简述理由。
注意：1．词数80左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．信的格式已为你写好。
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