If you are sending a text message, watching TV or listening to the radio, you may stop and give this your full attention. Multi-tasking shrinks(使……萎缩) the brain, research suggests.
A study found that men and women who frequently used several types of technology at the same time had less grey matter in a key part of the brain. University of Sussex researchers said, “Using mobile phones, laptops and other media devices simultaneously could be changing the structure of our brains.”
Worryingly, the part of the brain that shrinks is involved in processing emotion. The finding follows research which has linked multi-tasking with a shortened attention span, depression, anxiety and lower grades at school.
The researchers began by asking 75 healthy men and women how often they divided their attention between different types of technology. This could mean sending a text message while listening to music and checking email, or speaking on the phone while watching TV and surfing the internet. The volunteers were then given brain scans which showed they had less grey matter in a region called the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC) (前扣带皮质). Scientists have proved that brain structure can be changed on exposure to fresh environments and experience.
Other studies have shown that training – such as learning to play magic tricks or taxi drivers’ learning the map of London – can increase grey-matter densities(密度) in certain parts.
Experts have also warned of the harmful impact technology can have on our memory and attention span. The University of California team conducted a survey of more than 18,000 people aged between 18 and 99, and found 20% had problems with memory. Researchers were shocked greatly by the 14% of 18 to 39-year-old people who also worried about their memories.
Multi-tasking may shorten attention span, making it harder to focus and form memories, the researchers said, adding that youngsters may be particularly affected by stress.
1.The underlined word "simultaneously" in Para.2 means _________.
A. on one’s own B. at no time
C. at the same time D. by accident
2. All of the following are possible effects of multi-tasking except _________.
A. saving time
B. a shortened attention span
C. lower grades at school
D. depression and anxiety
3.What can increase grey-matter densities?
A. Sending a text message while listening to music .
B. Students’ doing their homework.
C. Taxi drivers’ learning the map of London.
D. Speaking on the phone while watching TV.
4.Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
A. Media multi-tasking is becoming more popular.
B. Multi-tasking shrinks the brain.
C. Multi-tasking may shorten attention span.
D. People are worried about their memories.
“I will never marry, ” the future Elizabeth I declared at the age of eight, and, to the terror of her people, the Great Queen kept her word.
For four centuries, historians have guessed why Elizabeth never married. In her own day, her decision to remain single was considered absurd and dangerous. A queen needed a husband to make political decisions for her and to organize and lead her military campaigns. More important, she needed male heirs (继承人) to avoid a civil war after her death.
There was no shortage of suitors for the Queen, both English courtiers (朝臣) and foreign princes, and it was confidently expected for the best part of 30 years that Elizabeth would eventually marry one of them. Indeed, although she insisted that she preferred the single state, she kept these suitors in a state of permanent expectation. This was a deliberate policy on the Queen's part, since by keeping foreign princes in hope, sometimes for a decade, she kept them friendly when they might otherwise have made war on her kingdom.
There were, indeed, good political reasons for her avoiding marriage. The disastrous union of her sister Mary I to Philip II of Spain had had an unwelcome foreign influence upon English politics. The English were generally prejudiced against the Queen taking a foreign husband, particularly a Catholic one. Yet if she married an English, jealousy might lead to the separation of the court.
There were other deeper reasons for Elizabeth's unwillingness to marry, chief of which, I believe, was her fear of losing her autonomy as Queen. In the 16th century, a queen was regarded as holding supreme dominion(统治权)over the state, while a husband was thought to hold supreme dominion over his wife. Elizabeth knew that marriage and motherhood would bring some harm to her power.
She once pointed out that marriage seemed too uncertain a state for her. She had seen several unions in her immediate family break down, including that of her own parents. Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, killed; her stepmother Catherine Howard later suffered the same fate. When Elizabeth was 14 she was all but attracted by Admiral Thomas Seymour, who also went to the prison within a year. Witnessing these terrible events at an early age, it has been argued, may have put Elizabeth off marriage.
Elizabeth had to decide her priorities. Marriage or being single? Elizabeth was far too intelligent. The choice she made was courageous and revolutionary, and, in the long run, the right one for England.
1.To the suitors including English courtiers and foreign princes, Elizabeth ________.
A. held back the truth
B. gave a definite answer “no”
C. kept them expecting on purpose
D. said she preferred the single state
2.If Elizabeth had married a foreign prince, there might have been ________.
A. prejudice against her
B. separation of the court
C. jealousy among English courtiers
D. a negative impact on English politics
3.Which of the following implications is right according to the passage?
A. Queen Elizabeth was not a Catholic.
B. Some foreign princes made war on Britain.
C. Catherine Howard was killed by Anne Boleyn.
D. Admiral Thomas Seymour was killed by Henry VIII.
4.What is the attitude of the author towards Queen Elizabeth never marrying in her life?
A. Pitiful. B. Approving. C. Negative. D. Neutral.
You put a great deal of effort into reaching the college of your choice. It’s time to get started. But what’s next? Beginning college can be an exciting but awkward time. Follow these tips to adjust to your new life rapidly and make the most of your college experience.
● To save time and money, use the college’s bus system. Taking the bus to school is quick, easy and free in most college towns. You won’t have to locate or afford a place to park either. It’s also a good way to be environmentally aware.
● Save pennies on books by waiting until class starts. You might not even need all of the recommended books. New textbooks cost an arm and a leg. Try buying used textbooks — it’s a surefire way to save money and serves the purpose as well.
● Do never look at college life as an endless series of parties and social activities. But there is a whole lot more to college if you’re serious about graduating. Having a good college experience is all about balancing work and fun.
● Be aware that your living environment can largely affect your academic success. If the dorm doesn’t suit you, consider living at home with your family or renting your own apartment. The best location for your studies isn’t always your dorm. Find a quiet area, like the library, to do your work. Alternatively, buy some headphones that block out noise.
● Be mindful of your diet. Make healthy food choices and watch what you eat. Avoid foods that are processed or high in sugar. The “freshman 15” is real. Many college students gain at least 15 pounds during their freshmen year.
● While electives (选修课) can be helpful when figuring out your major, you shouldn’t entirely rely on them. Clubs and other organizations exist around. Get involved. Make sure, though, that you still have time to study. Having too much on your plate can hurt your grades.
1. Which of the following ideas can be financially wise?
A. Driving your own car. B. Buying used books.
C. Renting an apartment. D. Attending activities.
2.In the text, freshmen are repeatedly warned against ______.
A. academic failures B. physical problems
C. traffic accidents D. social activities
3.The “freshman 15” tells the fact that some freshmen ______.
A. attend limited activities on campus
B. have little regular physical exercise
C. focus less on their academic work
D. take relaxed attitudes to their diets
4.The underlined phrase “having too much on your plate” in the last paragraph probably refers to ______.
A. using too much money for meals
B. eating too many unhealthy foods
C. taking part in too many after-class activities
D. taking an elective that has too many students
They will be here in a minute, surely. I’ll just stare at my shoes a little while longer to pass the time. Wish I’d brought a book. Hang on, though, what if I’ve got the wrong day? The wrong place? Have the clocks gone back? No, damn it, I’m off home. Whoever I’m waiting for clearly lives in a different time zone from me.
I am always 10 minutes early, so if you’re 10 minutes late, I’ve been foot-tapping for 20 minutes. I know it’s not fair to hold the first 10 against you, but I just can’t help myself. I never wait more than 20 minutes beyond the meeting time we decided upon, not for anyone, ever.
OK, that’s not strictly true. I have, on occasion, hung around anxiously and heart-brokenly for up to an hour, but the bitter anger that follows is never a pretty sight. If you’ve made me wait that long, you will wish you hadn’t bothered turning up at all.
How come some people are always late and some are always on time? If I can manage to be punctual, why can’t you? Because I left a hot cup of coffee at home while you sat down to roll another cigarette. Because I spilled jam on my pants and quickly wiped it off whereas you took time to change your whole outfit. Because I switched off midway through a TV series, but you had to ride out the end, didn’t you? And don’t even think about blaming the traffic. How do you think I got here? By flying carpet? Only carelessness or arrogance (傲慢) can explain a habit of lateness.
Some people are always late because they can’t make realistic calculations about how long it takes to do things. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour. Just deal with it. Painful as it may be, you have to accept that, as you’ve agreed to meet at eight and it’s now a quarter to, you don’t have time to phone your girlfriend.
Much worse, though, are those with big egos (自我). Being late is just rude. Being late on purpose really means that you hate the person you are meeting.
Of course, there are some perfectly lovely latecomers out there. I just never wait long enough to find out.
1.Which of the following words best describes how the author feels in the first paragraph?
A. Anxious. B. Curious.
C. Thankful. D. Joyful.
2.What does the author think contributes to people always being late?
a. Their big egos.
b. Traffic jams.
c. Their carelessness.
d. Being picky when choosing clothes.
e. Their realistic calculations of how long it takes to do things.
A. a, b B. a, c C. b, d, e D. c, d, e
3.We can learn from the article that the author ___________.
A. is tolerant of people being late
B. has missed lots of meetings
C. has trouble getting along with others
D. has a strong preference for good timekeeping
4.According to the author, people should ____________.
A. be patient when waiting for a latecomer
B. keep in mind that being late is rude and selfish
C. always arrive 10 minutes early for an appointment
D. ask people around them to remind them about an appointment
When introducing American universities, some of the first institutions to mention are the Ivy League schools. Originally, the Ivy League was an athletic conference made up of 8 private institutes of higher learning in northeastern United States. However, as time went on, these schools also became known for their excellence in academics besides athletics. Until now, these 8 schools have been recognized as some of the best colleges and universities in the United States.
Harvard University is a private institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university includes a number of graduate and professional schools, as well as a college for undergraduates. In 2012, Harvard ranked number one in US News’ ranking of national universities again. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institute of higher education in the United States. It can be said that first there was Harvard, then the United States of America. Also, Harvard’s library contains the oldest collection of books in the United States as well as the largest private collection in the world. Harvard has also been described by Forbes Magazine as one of the “billionaire universities” as of their recent list of 469 billionaires, 50 received a degree from Harvard.
Harvard College (the institute for undergraduate students) is one of the most famous schools in the United States. It offers over 40 undergraduate fields of study, including astrophysics, mathematics, neurobiology(神经生物学), etc. And the financial aid program there is amazing. Even though the tuition is about 37,576, and there are other expenses throughout the year, about 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid. Out of those students, over 90% of them had their full need met. And the policies for international students are the same for U.S. citizens.
Harvard College is very selective, as it only admits about 6% of their applicants. For admission into Harvard College, it is required that students take the SAT or the ACT, as well as 2 SAT Subject Tests. Harvard will also look at other factors during admission such as your application essay, high school transcript, recommendations, and most importantly, your character and personal qualities.
1. What are the Ivy League schools famous for?
A. Athletics and location. B. Academics and history.
C. Financial aid and training. D. Athletics and academics.
2.Harvard University includes .
A. only one college
B. a number of colleges for undergraduates
C. a kindergarten, a middle school and a college
D. many graduate and professional schools and a college for undergraduates
3.Why is Harvard called one of the “billionaire universities”?
A. Because people can get a lot of money from Harvard.
B. Because there are 50 billionaires in Harvard.
C. Because nearly one ninth of the billionaires once studied in Harvard.
D. Because 469 billionaires sponsor Harvard.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. 90% students in Harvard have their full need met.
B. About 70% of undergraduate students received financial aid.
C. Harvard College is the institute for graduate students.
D. The policies for international students are different for U.S. Citizens.
I recently traveled to San Francisco for some meetings and found myself with a half day to kill. My were to watch a football game or the America’s Cup sailing races. Or I could get lost.
After a terribly long line the car rental centre, I was free. I disappeared into the fog and clouds the Pacific Coast Highway and headed south with no destination in mind.
I through tunnels carved out of the mountains and stopped at a few state beaches; at , I watched a wedding out on the cliffs（悬崖）among the crashing waves.
Back in the car, I continued toward San Gregorio, a town that you can easily . I know because I was right through it and on a pine-tree-bordered ribbon of tar (焦油) that felt like it would go on forever.
A few people moved around the San Gregorio General Store, smoking cigarettes and talking about the motorcycles they’ve owned the years. Inside, I found a bar with , a guitar duo（二重奏）, and, of course, a store.
I ordered a beer in the crowded bar, a seat, and watched the guitarists jam out. Then I congratulated them, threw a couple of wrinkled (皱的) in their bucket, and walked back out into the world.
The day could have been so different: crowded into a or bar half-watching sports. But this was much more . Hours before, I was on a flight with the masses, going through the air sickness. Then I was out on my own, an unexpected and unrepeatable experience.
I learned that day: don’t be afraid to get lost – on purpose – and have zero expectations. It will be good for you. I promise.
1.A. suggestions B. thoughts C. choices D. decisions
2.A. with B. at C. of D. through
3.A. But B. Since C. Though D. So
4.A. covering B. forming C. mixing D. spreading
5.A. highly B. eventually C. entirely D. simply
6.A. walked B. drove C. approached D. climbed
7.A. that B. it C. this D. one
8.A. miss B. visit C. explore D. forget
9.A. broke down B. pulled over C. ended up D. set out
10.A. from B. outside C. back D. ahead
11.A. by B. before C. beyond D. over
12.A. regulars B. motorcyclists C. musicians D. experts
13.A. popular B. reliable C. typical D. permanent
14.A. arranged B. occupied C. exchanged D. booked
15.A. tickets B. cigarettes C. coins D. dollars
16.A. stadium B. hall C. gym D. museum
17.A. promising B. convenient C. rewarding D. traditional
18.A. reviewing B. having C. seeking D. affording
19.A. nothing B. anything C. everything D. something
20.A. or rather B. after all C. at all D. or otherwise
