out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our 15 do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions. 16 is essentially a process of making neural connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to excel in making the neural connections that drive 17 is inherited. However, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and change according to 18 effort. Now, a new San Francisco web-based company has taken it a step 19 and developed the first “brain training program” to actually help people improve and regain their mental 20 . Called Lumosity, the program was designed by some of the 21 experts in neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford University. Lumosity is far more than an online place to exercise your mental skills. That’s because they have integrated these exercises into a web-based program that 22 you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program 23 your progress and provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement. Does it work? 24 it does. In randomized, controlled clinical trials, Lumosity was shown to 25 improve basic cognitive functions. One study showed students improved their scores on math tests by 34 percent after using Lumosity for six weeks, much greater gains than those made by other students, who were not training with this program. The company says its users have reported clearer and quicker thinking, 26 memory for names, numbers, directions, increased alertness and awareness, elevated mood, and better 27 at work or while driving. While many of the games at Lumosity are free, a 28 subscription fee is required to use the full program over the long term. However, Lumosity is currently offering a free trial of their program to new users so that you can see how well it works before you decide to subscribe. The 29 is completely free (no credit card required) and the company believes the results will 30 themselves. 11. A. remember B. see C. realize D. notice 12. A. develops B. fades C. accelerates D. declines 13. A. Since B. While C. When D. As 14. A. unpredictable B. undeniable C. incredible D. inevitable 15. A. tissues B. organs C. muscles D. cells 16. A. Thinking B. Sleeping C. Wandering D. Resting 17. A. memory B. attention C. intelligence D. imagination 18. A. consistent B. temporary C. physical D. mental 19. A. further B. behind C. backwards D. sideways 20. A. sensitivity B. sharpness C. capacity D. limitation 21. A. noble B. ordinary C. leading D. anonymous 22. A. allows B. promises C. forbids D. discourages 23. A. makes up for B. keeps track of C. cuts down on D. catches up with 24. A. Apparently B. Understandably C. Surprisingly D. Frankly 25. A. slightly B. significantly C. absolutely D. unnoticeably 26. A. enlarged B. raised C. amplified D. improved 27. A. interest B. understanding C. concentration D. cooperation 28. A. high B. fat C. modest D. mild
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29. A. game 30. A. speak for 三．阅读理解
B. trial B. pay for A
C. program C. see to
D. software D. belong to
Most people know that awkward feeling when you shuffle into an elevator with other people and try not to make eye contact.
But new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious power struggle being played out as you make your way up or down.
A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social class, established within seconds of entering the lift.
Rebekah Rousi, a Ph.D. student in cognitive science, conducted an ethnographic (人种学的) study of elevator behavior in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide, Australia. As part of her research, she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings, and discovered there was an established order to where people tend to stand.
In a blog for Ethnography Matters, she writes that more senior men seemed to direct themselves towards the back of the elevator cabins.
She said: ‘In front of them were younger men, and in front of them were women of all ages.’ She also noticed there was a difference in where people directed their gaze half way through the ride.
‘Men watched the monitors, looked in the side mirrors (in one building) to see themselves, and in the door mirrors (of the other building) to also watch others.
‘Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users (unless in conversation) and the mirrors,’ she writes.
The doctorate student concluded it could be that people who are shyer stand toward the front, where they can’t see other passengers, whereas bolder people stand in the back, where they have a view of everyone else.
31. The beginning sentence of the passage informs us that many people are ________ when they enter the elevator and avoid looking at others. A. excited B. uncomfortable C. guilty D. disappointed
32. According to Rebekah Rousi, when the famous actor Brad Pitt, who is about 50, Mr Jack Smith, 25, and Ms Emily Brown, 40, walk into an elevator, how do they possibly stand? A. Mr Pitt at the back, Ms Brown in the front, and Mr Smith in between. B. Mr Smith at the back, Ms Brown in the front, and Mr Pitt in between C. Ms Brown at the back, Mr Pitt in the front, and Mr Smith in between D. Mr Smith at the back, Mr Pitt in the front, and Mr Brown in between 33. Which of the following is NOT what Rebekah Rousi has found out? A. Men and women look in different directions in the elevator.
B. People’s personalities are revealed through their positions in the elevator. C. Shyer people have a tendency to stand before bolder people.
D. One’s position in the elevator is influenced by where monitors are.
34. Throughout the article, the author’s introduction to the new findings is ________. A. puzzling B. doubtful C. objective D. supportive
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B
For many students in the UK today, deciding whether or not to go to university can be as much about affordability as it is about ambition and aspiration. In times gone by, students in the UK could apply to a university or college safe in the knowledge that, even if they came from a low income family, their tuition fees and some of their living (or maintenance) costs would be covered by a local authority grant. A university education was, in a financial sense, open to all and the number of students attending university grew year on year. Sadly, it seems, those days are long gone. The turning point came in 1998, when the Labour Government introduced tuition fees of ￡1,000 a year and, instead of giving students a maintenance grant, asked them to cover their own living expenses with a repayable student loan. Only students on the lowest incomes were entitled to a grant. The flood gates had been opened. As time passed, the ceiling on tuition fees rose, and although applicants from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales still qualified for varying levels of allowance, by 2009/10 students in England often found themselves facing tuition fees beyond ￡3,000 a year.
But the biggest change was still to come. In 2011 the Government announced that, from 2012, universities could charge fees of up to ￡9,000 a year. Although the Government sweetened the pill by stating that postgraduates did not have to begin repaying their student loans until they were earning more than ￡21,000 a year, the news created great anger. Many students argued that it was unfair that students should have to begin their work life saddled with huge debt, while others complained that the changes would bring back a class divide to university education. These views were reflected in the number of students applying for a university place, which by January 2012 fell by more than 22,000. The Universities Minister, David Willetts, stood by the decision to increase tuition fees, saying that they would not “put universities’ finance on a sustainable footing” and promote “a stronger focus on high quality teaching.”
35. Based on the passage, which of the following may be the reason for British students nowadays choose to go to university?
A. They can afford the tuition fees. B. They can repay their student loans C. They are from very poor families. D. They are not worried about debt.
36. What do the underlined words “sweetened the pill” in the last paragraph mean? A. found out a cure for solving student loans B. held back students’ great anger C. beautified the fact of overcharging D. felt satisfied with its decision
37. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The increase in college expenses is too much for Davie Willetts. B. Some students from Scotland and Wales can still get financial help. C. The postgraduates needn’t repay their student loans after getting a job.
D. Despite tuition fees of over ￡9,000 a year, the number of students was not affected at all.
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38. The passage is mainly meant to tell the readers that ________.
A. the UK government encourages students from rich family to go to college B. the UK students have to consider financial issues while applying for colleges C. the UK colleges raise tuitions for the purpose of improving teaching qualities D. the UK families strive for better incomes to support kids going to college
四．书面表达 Chinese adults read news and threads on smartphone app WeChat for more than 40 minutes a day on average, according to the latest annual survey of China’s reading habits released on April 20. The results show that on average, Chinese adults use WeChat to read twice a day for a total length of more than 40 minutes. The survey showed that 66.4 percent of adults in China used WeChat to read, of which 72.9 percent read news, 67.1 percent read their friends’ updates and 20.9 percent read threads on public accounts. Professor Wang Yuguang of the Department of Information Management in Peking University said the dream of having libraries all over the world is still not realized, and the presence of WeChat is filling this void to some extent. But personally, he thinks WeChat is taking too much of our time. Students are too reliant on WeChat. “Reading on WeChat is fragmented (片段的), not to mention the inaccuracy of some of the information,” said Dean of Chinese Academy of Press and Publication Wei Yushan. Experts believe that children’s stories, academic reports and classic literature should still be read on paper. 【写作内容】
1. 用约 30 个单词写出上文概要；
2. 用约120 个单词发表你的观点，内容包括： (1) 支持或反对微信阅读；
(2) 用 2-3个理由或论据支撑你的观点。 【写作要求】
1. 可以支持文中任一观点，但必须提供理由或论据； 2. 阐述观点或提供论据时，不能直接引用原文语句； 3. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称； 4. 不必写标题。 【评分标准】
内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。
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