— I feel really disappointed not to have got that job.
— Don't worry. Maybe something better will ______.
A. go by B. take on C. turn up D. fall down
We_____ the old scientist________ his contribution________ the country.
A.admire；for；to B.admire；at；to C.respect；on；for D.respect；on；at
If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?
According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles.
The study also found the effect is greater, the younger people learn a second language.
A team led by Dr Andrea Michelle, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners.
Scans showed that grey matter density (密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference.
“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.
It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn.
Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible (灵活的).” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”
The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and 34. Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.
1.The main subject talked about in this passage is ______.
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A．science on learning a second language |
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B．man’s ability of learning a second language |
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C．language can help brain power |
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D．language learning and maths study |
2.In the second paragraph, the writer mentions “exercise” in order to ______.
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A．say language is also a kind of physical labor |
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B．prove that one needs more practice when he (she) is learning a language |
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C．to show the importance of using the language when you learn the language |
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D．make people believe language learning helps grey matter work well |
3.We may know from the scientific findings that ______.
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A．the earlier you start to learn a second language, the higher the grey matter density is |
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B．there is no difference between a later second language learner and one who doesn’t know a second language |
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C．the experience of learning a second language has bad effect on people’s brain |
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D．the ability of learning a second language is changing all the time |
4.The underlined word “bilingual” probably means ______.
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A．a researcher on language learning |
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B．a person who is good at learning foreign languages |
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C．a person who can speak two languages |
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D．an active language learner |
There are some highlights in April in Shanghai.
Live Music – Late Night Jazz
Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player. He’s coming with his new 7 – piece band, Herbie’s Heroes. Herbie is known to play well into the early hours, so don’t expect to get much sleep. This is Herbie’s third visit to Shanghai. The first two were sold out, so get your tickets quickly.
Place: The Jazz Club Dates:15 – 23 April Price:￥80
Time: 10:00 p.m. till late! TEL:6466 – 8736
Scottish dancing
Take your partners and get ready to dance till you drop. Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn. Instructors will demonstrate the dances. The live band, Gordon Stroppie and the Weefrees, are also excellent.
Place: Jack Stein’s Dates: every Monday Price:￥60 including one drink
Time: 7:00 – 00:00 p.m. TEL:6402 – 1877
Exhibitions – Shanghai Museum
There are 120,000 pieces on show here. You can see the whole of Chinese history under one roof. It’s always interesting to visit, but doubly so at the moment with the Egyptian Tombs exhibition. There are lots of mummies and more gold than you’ve ever seen before. Let us know if you see a mummy move!
Place: Shanghai Museum Price:￥30（￥15 for students）
TEL:6888 – 6888 Dates: daily
Time: Monday – Friday 9:00 a. m. – 5:00 p. m., Weekends 9:00 a. m. – 9:00p.m.
Dining – Sushi chef in town
Sushi is getting really big in Shanghai. In Japan, it’s become an art form. The most famous Sushi ‘artist’ is Yuki Kamura. She’s also one of the few female chefs in Japan. She’ll be at Sushi Scene all of this month.
Place: Sushi Scene in the Shanghai Hotel Dates: all month
Price: ￥200 Time: lunchtime TEL: 6690 – 3211
For a full listing of events, see our website.
1.From the text we may learn that Sushi is .
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A．a cook |
B．an instructor |
C．a kind of food |
D．an artist |
2.Which is not true about the ads?
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A．Yuki Kamura will stay in Shanghai in April for a whole month. |
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B．A family of parents with 15 – year – old twins should pay 75 yuan for the Shanghai museum admission. |
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C．You will probably be taught to dance if you go to Jack Stein’s. |
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D．American jazz from Herbie Davis is popular in Shanghai. |
3.Where are the ads available to people?
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A．Newspaper |
B．Magazine |
C．TV |
D．Internet |
Last Friday my brother and I were driving home together after doing some shopping and gave our attention to an interesting conversation. Because of this distraction (分心)my brother took a wrong turn.
Unfortunately, the wrong turn took us towards a bridge and we had no way to turn back. Unwillingly, my brother paid the bridge fee and drove on. He was clearly frustrated by the mistake and the needless waste of $4.
We eventually reached an exit and, as we took it, my brother noticed a young fellow pulled over to the side of the road. He came out of his car and tried to phone someone. I was busy trying to figure out which way we would go next but my brother pulled over and asked the guy if he needed any help. And he did. He had a flat tire and needed a tool to get it off.
My brother gave him a wrench, and then began to help him change the flat. The young man said that this had been a bad week for him: earlier he had gotten into a minor car accident, and now this flat on his way home from work. But he called us “a breath of fresh air” and kept thanking us because he really would have been stuck if we hadn’t come along.
After we finished the job he thanked us again and pulled out $20 from his pocket and tried to give it to us. “No,” I said. “We were never supposed to even get on that bridge,we took a wrong turn. But now we know why we did. It was to help you. Thank you for turning our mistake into an opportunity to serve.”
What I loved most was that my brother was able to see a chance to help. His reaction in the situation is a lesson for everyone and we felt so good the rest of the day.
1.When did the author and his brother notice the young man who had a flat tire?
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A．Before they arrived at a bridge. |
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B．When they were passing through an exit. |
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C．When the young man stopped them for help. |
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D．After they came back to the right road. |
2.We can learn from the text that the writer’s brother ________.
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A．didn’t know the roads well |
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B．was a warm-hearted young man |
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C．made the turn to help the young man |
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D．regretted making a wrong turn all the way home |
3.What did the young man mean by calling the writer and his brother “a breath of fresh air” ?
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A．He had been in the hot sun waiting for help for so long. |
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B．His car’s air conditioner was broken. |
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C．They calmed him down by offering him a cold drink. |
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D．They changed his bad luck and the bad mood he was in. |
4.Which of the following sentences best describes the writer’s experience?
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A．It’s no use crying over spilt milk. |
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B．God helps those who help themselves. |
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C．Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it. |
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D．If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path. |
Once there was a very brilliant, creative and learned man. He gained much ____36_____while traveling throughout the world. Unfortunately he lost his legs and left arm in a traffic accident, leaving only a finger and thumb on his right hand. He became so ____37_____ that he was afraid he would spend his life _____38_____ and would no longer be able to use his life in a(n) ____39_____way.
One day, he remembered how he had always loved getting ____40_____. He realized that he still had partial ____41_____ of his right hand and could write with ____42_____. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need encouragement?”
He ___43___ where he could find those who could be encouraged if they read his letters. He thought of people in ____44___. Many of them had hope of regaining their ____45___ . Others would keep feeling depressed and remain put away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to __46____ them. So he wrote to a prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied that writing to the prisoners would be ____47____. However, it would be against prison rules for the prisoners to write back.
____48_____with the intention, the man began sending 49 messages of God’s love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the ___50____. He poured his heart and soul into his words, ___51_____ his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.
It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of any ___52___. Frequently, he felt discouraged, wondering if anyone ___53____read his letters. However, this was his ___54____chance，so he determined to continue.
At last, he received a letter from the prison officer, which said, “Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they almost fall to ____55___!”
We all have unique experiences, abilities and talents. We can discover ways to reach others in need of encouragement and strength.
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