Some scientists believe that one of the most intelligent beings on Earth is in fact the octopus (章鱼).
Octopuses usually live at the bottom of river mouths and seas-areas which are not attractive to researchers. They are not social animals so it can be hard to study their interaction with others. And the octopus’ intelligence is not easy for humans to understand. When we observe some animals such as rats or dogs, we can often understand their behavior. Octopuses，however can seem like aliens (外星人). Scientists need to have a lot of imagination to understand what an octopus is thinking!
In the 1950s, the US Air Force sponsored scientists to study the way octopuses use their brains. They hoped that they could use this knowledge to help them build better computers. However, their brains were so complex that the scientists felt it of no significance to continue with it. Octopuses have a very complex nervous system and recent research suggests that they have some of their intelligence inside each arm, which means that each arm can “think” for itself. It also appears that they have a good memory, perhaps similar to a cat’s.
Perhaps the most striking thing about octopuses is their ability to change their color and body pattern. They do this to camouflage themselves to avoid their enemies and also to communicate with others. They can completely change their appearance in less than a second. It can change its skin to look like rocks, sand or planktron (浮游生物).
Some scientists have even suggested that these different patterns and colors are in fact a very hard language-and that each design is a different verb，adjective or noun. But nobody has been able to work out what they might be saying. There’s a long way to go to get to know the octopus completely.
1.What can we infer about the octopus’ intelligence from Paragraph 2?
A.It does not attract scientists. B.Little has been known about it.
C.It is equal to the cat’s or dog’s. D.Much has been done about it.
2.What can we say about scientists’ study on the octopus in the 1950s?
A.They had to give it up eventually. B.They used computers to help.
C.They found its arms could think. D.They judged it lived like a cat.
3.What does the underlined word “camouflage” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Relax. B.Strengthen. C.Hide. D.Express.
4.What does the author think of the octopuses?
A.They are the smartest animals. B.They’re easy to be seen in the sea.
C.It is useful to copy their language. D.It is difficult to understand them.
Buckingham Palace
It is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II in London. The architectural core of Buckingham Palace is the former Buckingham House，built in 1703. You can visit the state rooms from August to October when the Queen is on holiday. It is one of the world’s most familiar buildings. It has 775 rooms. During the summer the famous Changing of the Guards takes place at the front of the palace at 11:30 and is a popular event for visitors to the capital.
Big Ben and Westminster Palace
It is one of London’s best-known landmarks. Big lien is the name of the clock inside the Clock Tower. It lies at the north-eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. Westminster Palace is one of the largest parliaments in the world. It was built between 1840 and 1880.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a historical monument in Central London on the north bank of the river Thames. It was founded by William the Conqueror. It was a palace and a prison (for Queen Elizabeth I for example).There you can see strange guards called “the Beefeaters”. Since the beginning of the 14th century, the Tower of London has been the home of the world famous British Crown Jewels-they are a must of your visit!
Trafalgar Square
It was named in 1835 to give honour to the memory of the British victory over the French at Trafalgar in 1805. There is a huge statue of Admiral Nelson (the British hero killed during the battle) in the middle of the square. It is a popular tourist attraction with the four lion statues.
1.Which has the second longest history?
A.Trafalgar Square. B.The Tower of London.
C.Westminster Palace. D.Buckingham House.
2.What is The Tower of London noted for in the world?
A.Its strange guards. B.Its British Crown Jewels.
C.Its founder. D.Its geographical site.
3.Why was Trafalgar Square built?
A.A battle happened here. B.It could be good for tourism.
C.Admiral Nelson was horn here. D.Four lion statues had been built.
Student loan (贷款) debt has become a worldwide problem. In America, the country's overall student debt reached a record of $1.6 trillion in 2019. The average person with student loan debt owed between $20,000 and $25,000. A recent Japanese government report says it has been lending over $9 billion yearly to students since 2010. Similar conditions exist in Africa and South America.
Several factors account for high student loan debt. One is that employers everywhere have increased their demands for skilled workers, making higher education a requirement for many jobs. The students, however, after graduation, often find that their country's economy is not strong enough to support their financial needs, so their ability to pay back the loan becomes a problem.
To solve the problem, many countries are seeking their ways. Australia has developed a system where students do not have to pay anything back until they are earning at least $40,000 a year. In America, several candidates running for president in the 2020 election have offered more extreme solutions that all or at least some of these loans will be forgiven.
Some professors in several universities recently studied what the effects of debt forgiveness might be. They found that, overall, sudden debt relief greatly improved the borrowers' lives. Not only did they have more money, but they were more likely to move to a new area and seek better paying work.
Yet the professors' research doesn't include what might happen to financial institutions or the overall economy if debt were totally forgiven. It only looks at how debt forgiveness would help the borrowers. They warn of some other possible negative effects. If a borrower knew that if he ran into any trouble he would be saved because he could get the debt relief, then he might actually become more reckless (轻率的) with his borrowing in the future.
No matter what, the professors agree that if countries do decide to approve some student debt relief the neediest students should be helped first.
1.How does the author introduce the problem of student loan?
A.By making a comparison. B.By making classifications.
C.By presenting some statistics. D.By setting down general rules.
2.What can we learn about student loan debt relief?
A.It will surely provide some benefits to borrowers.
B.It has already been carried out in the United States.
C.It aims to encourage more students to borrow money.
D.It will prevent a person from landing a well-paying job.
3.What is the professors' attitude to debt forgiveness?
A.Uncaring. B.Positive.
C.Disapproving. D.Cautious.
4.What's the main idea of the text?
A.Student loan debt is the most serious problem worldwide.
B.Growing global student debt fuels search for solutions.
C.Student loan debt tends to pull the needy out of trouble.
D.People hold different opinions on debt forgiveness.
Mice and rats have long been used in medical research because of their biological similarities to humans. Recently scientists at the University of Richmond in Virginia have trained rats to drive small vehicles.
The research team built tiny cars out of plastic and other materials, which had an opening at one end to which electrical wires were attached. By touching one of three different wires, the rat could control the car in different directions-left, center and right. Sweet treats were placed inside the containers in an attempt to get the rats to drive the vehicle for the food. After several months' training, the animals could drive to get to the treats.
Kelly Lambert, who has long been interested in the way the brain changes to react to different experiences and difficulties, led the experiment. She told the French news agency AFP the research suggested rat brains might be more complex and flexible than once thought. The driving activity seemed to help the rats relax and the rats kept in what was called “enriched environments” performed far better than those in labs.
The researchers examined levels of two hormones (荷尔蒙) in the rats — one that causes stress and the other that counters it. All the rats that took part in the training had higher levels of the hormone that reduces stress. The research suggests the increased relaxation levels could be linked to the enjoyment of successfully completing a new skill. The team also found the rats that drove themselves showed higher levels of the stress-fighting hormone than those that simply rode in small cars controlled by humans.
Lambert's team is planning to further the research to learn more about how the rats learned to drive. This research may open new areas of non-drug treatments for people suffering from mental health conditions.
1.Why have scientists chosen rats for the research?
A.They can build tiny vehicles on their own.
B.They are biologically similar to human beings.
C.They are clever enough to be trained to drive cars.
D.They can be used as non-drug treatments for humans.
2.What does the underlined word "counters" in paragraph 4 mean?
A.removes. B.substitutes.
C.resists. D.transforms.
3.What can we learn about the experiment?
A.The brains of rats might be more complex and flexible than those of human beings.
B.The increased relaxation levels led to the rats' enjoyment of learning a new skill.
C.All the rats involved in the training had higher levels of the hormone causing stress.
D.The rats in cars controlled by humans had lower levels of the stress-fighting hormone.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Science. B.Sports.
C.Education. D.Entertainment.
An unusual trip to Hawaii brought two strangers closer and closer and their story deserves a wide spread.
As her plane sliced through the sky above the ocean, there came a sudden thunderstorm. Five minutes later, Uemoto and her copilot McMahon heard a strange sound. Then, without warning, they lost power to both of the engines. It took them a moment to process the fact that they might crash. The pilots powered through the items on the emergency checklist. Nothing worked. As the plane was falling, they jumped into the ocean.
By ten that night, their bodies began trembling uncontrollably in the cool night air. Something must be done to pull them through. Swimming on her stomach, Uemoto had McMahon wrap his arms around her knees so he could rest his head on the back of her legs. To be with someone else and to feel another person's comforting presence in the darkness somehow made the suffering bearable.
When the sun rose the next morning, they caught sight of the island of Hawaii, the destination they had dared dream! Suddenly, Uemoto saw a shark, which made her breath catch in her throat. "What do we do? What do we do?" Uemoto asked, panicked. "Just keep looking forward! If it comes close, I'll kick it in the eye!" said McMahon evenly. Unexpectedly, the shark circled them for about 30 minutes. Then, as quietly as it had appeared, it swam off. Uemoto and McMahon breathed a sigh of relief.
After struggling in the water for over 20 hours, there came a US Navy helicopter. It flew overhead and next banked towards them. Uemoto and McMahon burst into tears. Alone, either of them would have died. But together, they made it.
1.What caused the plane to crash?
A.A sudden thunderstorm hit the plane.
B.The engines of the plane broke down.
C.The pilots operated the plane improperly.
D.The emergency list failed to help the pilots.
2.What do we know about McMahon in paragraph 4?
A.He calmed his partner down.
B.He kicked the shark in the eye.
C.He was scared to death at the shark.
D.He managed to drive the shark away.
3.Which of the following best describes Uemoto and McMahon?
A.Ambitious and humorous. B.Clear-headed and generous.
C.Demanding and appealing. D.Strong-willed and considerate.
4.What may be the best title of the passage?
A.A Race against Death
B.A Test of Friendship
C.A Wonder Made by Joined Hands
D.A Struggle Fought in the Darkness
Camp Odayin provides fun, safe and supportive camp experiences and community building opportunities for young people and their families this year.
Winter Camp February 15 - February 17
It is hosted in Amery, a two-hour drive from the Twin Cities and free round trip transportation is provided from Minneapolis and Madison. This camp is for children who have attended Residential Camp or Day Camp before. Campers can experience snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding. Registrations are processed during December & January.
Moms Retreat May 16 - May 17
Scheduled in downtown Stillwater, Moms Retreat will seek to improve the quality of caregivers' life. It will include meals, boarding and yoga activities.
Registration will open in April for moms that receive the email invitation from Camp Odayin. If the limit is reached, we will start a wait list.
Residential Camp July 13 - July 18
Campers will have a chance to communicate with other young people sharing the same grade. Hosted in Lutherdale, it will include swimming, horseback riding and talent show. The approval by the Camp Odayin Director is necessary.
Registration will open in early March and is due May 1st.
Family Camp October 26 - November 1
Hosted in Camp Lake, the camp is a two-night commitment for families with children suffering from heart diseases, who will benefit from connecting with other families who have similar health, emotional and social concerns. Activities will include drawing, fancy dress balls and movies.
Families who have a child in 12th grade or younger (no minimum age) can attend. Camper registration is available online in late August.
1.Which camp is intended for previous campers only?
A.Moms Retreat. B.Winter Camp.
C.Residential Camp. D.Family Camp.
2.Where can you go if you choose to register on August 28?
A.To Amery. B.To Stillwater.
C.To Camp Lake. D.To Lutherdale.
3.What is special about Residential Camp?
A.It offers a variety of activities.
B.It provides access to shopping.
C.It allows sick children to participate.
D.It requires the camp leader's approval.
