Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green was a color that represented the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils (災(zāi)禍).
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions (反應(yīng)) toward them. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomachaches.
Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is another calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some suggest that eating from blue plates can help.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.
【小題1】Muslims regard green as a symbol of heaven mainly because of their        .

A．cultural values	B．commercial purposes
C．personal experiences	D．physical reactions to the color

【小題2】Why will many commercial websites have a red “Buy Now” button?

A．To relax people physically.

B．To increase people’s appetites.

C．To encourage people to buy the goods.

D．To cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

【小題3】What color might help lose weight according to the text?

A．Red.

B．Green.

C．Blue.

D．Purple.

【小題4】 Which of the following would be the most proper title for the text?

A．Colors and Human Beings

B．The Cultural Meaning of Color

C．Colors and Personal Experiences

D．The Meaning and Function of Color

Yawning sends out certain messages---either “Oh, this movie is boring”or I probably need to get some sleep”. But did you know that a yawn can also help your brain to cool down when it is so overheated?
A new study, led by a research team of Princeton University, has indicated that yawning could be the brain’s natural way of regulating temperature. People yawn more often when the temperature outdoors is lower than their body temperature but are less likely to yawn when it is hotter outdoors, according to Sciencedaily.com.
The research team did an experiment on 160 people , 80 in summer and 80 in summer and 80 in winter, to examine how often they yawned at different air temperatures. The study found that people yawned more often in winter than in summer. Scientists say that when the air temperature is lower outside the body, there is heat exchange between the overheated brain and the cool air. But when the air temperature is higher than or equal to the body, people are less likely to yawn because the hot air they breathe in will make the brain even hotter.
When people yawn, their jaw is also stretched, which increases blood flow and may also help cool the brain.
The study showed that the amount someone yawned could be related to the amount of time they spent outside. The longer they spent outside in summer, the less they yawn. Nearly 40 percent of participants yawned within their first five minutes outside, but after that the percentage was reduced to less than 10 percent.
However, the result was the opposite in winter. The number of people who yawned increased when they spent more than five minutes outdoors. But the change was only slight compared to summertime.
According to Gallup, this is the first report to show that yawning frequencies change depending on season. This could help us to understand better the way our brains work. It may also help us understand the reason why frequent yawning can sometimes be a sign of brain disease.
【小題1】The purpose of the experiment is ________.

A．to prove people yawn in winter and in summer equally.

B．to indicate brain can regulate temperature naturally

C．to find the frequency of people’s yawning

D．to show the real reason why people yawn

【小題2】The information we get from Paragraph 5 and 6 is that_______

A．longer outdoor summertime results in more yawns.

B．yawning frequency changes with outdoor time

C．yawning frequency increases with outdoor time

D．longer outdoor wintertime leads to fewer yawns

【小題3】According to the text, people yawn more often________.

A．when the air temperature is lower outside the body

B．when the hot air breathed in makes the brain hotter

C．when the air temperature is higher than the body

D．when the air temperature is equal to the body.

【小題4】What could be the best title for the text?

A．Yawning is a Sign of Brain Disease

B．Yawning Carries Some Information

C．Yawning Benefits Your Body

D．Yawning Cools Your Brain

Kong Zi, also called Confucius (551—479B.C.), and Socrates(蘇格拉底) (469—399 B.C.) lived only a hundred years apart, and during their lifetimes there was no contact between China and Greece, but it is interesting to look at how the world that each of these great philosophers came from shaped their ideas, and how these ideas in turn, shaped their societies.
Neither philosopher lived in times of peace, though there were more wars in Greece than in China. The Chinese states were very large and feudal, while the Greek city-states were small and urban. The urban environment in which Socrates lived allowed him to be more radical (激進(jìn)的) than Confucius. Unlike Confucius, Socrates was not asked by rulers how to govern effectively. Thus, Socrates was able to be more idealistic, focusing on issues like freedom, and knowledge for its own sake. Confucius, on the other hand, advised those in government service, and many of his students went out to government service.
Confucius suggested the Golden Rule as a principle for the conduct of life: "Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you." He assumed that all men were equal at birth, though some bad more potential than others, and that it was knowledge that set men apart. Socrates focused on the individual, and thought that the greatest purpose of man was to seek wisdom. He believed that the superior class should rule the inferior (下層的) classes.
For Socrates, the family was of no importance, and the community of little concern. For Confucius, however, the family was the centre of the society, with family relations considered much more important than political relations.
Both men are respected much more today than they were in their lifetimes.
【小題1】Which of the following is TURE according to the first paragraph?

A．Socrates and Confucius had much in common,

B．Confucius had much influence on Socrates’ ideas.

C．The societies ware influenced by the philosophers’ ideas.

D．There were cultural exchanges between China and Greece.

【小題2】 Socrates shared with Confucius the idea that ________.
A. all men were equal when they were born
B. the lower classed should be ruled by the upper class
C. the purpose of man was to seek freedom and wisdom
【小題3】 What made some people different from others according to Confucius?

A．Family.

B．Potential.

C．Knowledge.

D．Community.

【小題4】This passage is organized in the pattern of ________.

A．time and events	B．comparison and contrast
C．cause and effect	D．definition and classification

A new study of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love (早戀) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression . The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “l(fā)oss of self”. According to the study, even though boys would say “l(fā)ose themselves in a romantic relationship”, this “l(fā)oss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marian Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression -- eating or mood changes -- and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity (成熟) gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.
【小題1】 Which of the following is more likely to have depression?

A．Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness.

B．Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions.

C．Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior.

D．Careless parents whose children are deep in love.

【小題2】What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The older a woman is, the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance.

B．Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly.

C．Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents.

D．Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression.

【小題3】 What’s the author’s attitude towards puppy love?

A．Confused.	B．Disinterested.
C．Scared.	D．Disapproving.

【小題4】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Puppy love may bring young people depression.

B．Parents should forbid their children’s love.

C．Romance is a two ­ edged sword for adults.

D．Romance is good for young people.

A warm blanket is the ideal sleep aid for a freezing winter night. The right blanket can warm your bones but the wrong one can affect your sleep. I asked experts for advice on picking the perfect blanket for a good night’s sleep. Here’s what they told me.
When it comes to sleep temperature, experts recommend following the principle: not too cold, not too hot, but just right. “People seem to sleep best at temperature between 62 and 70 degrees F,” says Dr. Alice Hoagland. When the surrounding temperature falls too low, it can rouse you from sleep. A good blanket helps drive the coldness away.
At the other extreme, overheating yourself can affect your sleep as well. “Core body temperature typically drops during the first four hour’s of sleep,” says Dr. Hoagland. This decline in body temperature helps you fall asleep and stay asleep.
“In medical care, weighted blankets are one of our most powerful tools for helping people who are anxious, upset, and possibly losing control,” says Dr. Karen Moore. These special blankets are filled with weighted pellets. Weighted blankets are also marketed for general use as an aid to sleep and relaxation. Like a firm hug, weighted blankets help us feel safe.” This is the reason why many people like to sleep under a blanket even in summer.
“If you want to try this type of blanket, the best weight depends on your body size and personal preference. However, 15 to 30 pounds is typical for adults,” Moor says. She adds that weighted blankets are not recommended for those recovering from surgery.
“People can also have serious preferences for a particular blanket,” says Dr. Hoagland. “Regularly using a favorite blanket for sleep can help to develop a conditioned response so that sleep is quicker.” In fact, many sleep centers ask patients to bring their own blanket and pillow from home, which helps them fall asleep more easily.
【小題1】 The author wrote the passage mainly to tell us _____.

A．the importance of blankets

B．how to choose the perfect blanket

C．different materials used to make blankets

D．the history and usage of blankets

【小題2】The underlined word “rouse” in Paragraph 2 is the closest in meaning to “______”.

A．wake up

B．take up

C．make up

D．pick up

【小題3】What do we know from the passage?

A．Body temperature rises when we fall asleep

B．The perfect sleep temperature should be above 70 degrees F.

C．Weighted blankets should be at least 30 pounds.

D．People are advised to use their own blankets.

Luo Gaoqi hopes to join the increasing number of Chinese students in the United States because he wants the experience of studying in a foreign land as it will help his future job at home. “I want to try Western education because people there think differently,” said the 21-year-old who is in his final year of undergraduate studies. “I also hope to meet friends from different cultures. The social connections may help in the future.”
The latest report from the US-based institute of International Education said China, for the first time, has become the top country of origin for international students in the United States.
For Yang Fan, a journalism student, said studying in the United States is a way to escape the competition for places in China’s top universities. “Due to limited education resources, only about 60 percent of high school graduates in China enter college, and a much lower rate enters the top-level ones. “A foreign degree will definitely help when I seek a job in China,” Yang said.
Both Yang’s and Luo’s parents are supportive of them studying abroad. Neither of them is thinking of settling down in the United States after graduation.
“It is not realistic to do so. As a journalism student, there would be no advantage for me to work in the United States,” Yang said. “But in China, with a US degree and good English, I may stand out against other students who have only studied in China.”
China still needs to improve its environment for scientists and high-level talents, said Xiao Mingzheng, director of the Center for Human Resource Development and Management Research of Peking University, adding that, in particular, the country needs to improve its policies relating to research environments.
In June, the Chinese government published a plan concerning talent development for the next 10 years. In it, it has improved policies and increased budgets to attract talented students back home.
【小題1】Why does Luo Gaoqi wants to study in a foreign land according to his words?

A．Because the people there are more intelligent.

B．Because the foreign countries are more developed.

C．Because he can make more friends there.

D．Because the culture there is different from that in China.

【小題2】What do Guo Gaoqi and Yang Fan have in common?

A．Their major is the same, which is journalism.

B．Both of them want to go back to China after graduation.

C．Their parents are against their decision.

D．They are forced to study in a foreign land by their parents.

【小題3】From the passage, we can infer that _______.

A．scientists and high-level talents need a better environment in China

B．the students abroad are unwilling to go back to China

C．China doesn’t need those people to come back to our country at all

D．we all need to go abroad to study and then serve our own country

It’s hard not to feel cheated and over-charged when you receive unexpected roaming (漫游) charges while traveling abroad—whether they come from making phone calls or checking e-mails.
Jeff Gardner received an $ 11,000 bill from Verizon after spending four days in Jamaica. Before the trip, Mr. Gardner, who runs a fly-fishing business in Grayling, Michigan, said he called Verizon to find out what it would cost to use his cellphone for calls and his wireless card to check e-mails while in Jamaica. He said he was told that calls would be about $ 2 a minute and that there would be no extra charges for data as he was on an unlimited plan. The latter part turned out to be wrong.
“I don’t mind paying a fair amount for fair service, but $11,000 for four days is ridiculous,” said Mr. Gardner, who used his phone carefully and economically on the trip. He also tried to check and send e-mails using his wireless card, but quickly gave up after the e-mails didn’t go through. Still, his Verizon bill said more than 500,000 kilobytes (千字節(jié)) of data was delivered while he was in Jamaica, an amount Mr. Gardner said is 100 times what he normally uses in a month.
As travelers increasingly use smart phones abroad in the same way they do at home—to check e-mails, update Facebook and Twitter and pull up online maps—many are facing costly roaming fees, which providers charge when customers use their phones outside their service area. In fact, roaming charges have gotten so out of hand that the Federal Communications Commission has proposed a plan that would require wireless companies to send their customers a voice or text message when they are approaching their plan’s limit, when they have reached that limit and when they are starting to result in roaming fees.
【小題1】Why did Jeff Gardner call Verizon before his trip to Jamaica?

A．To hand over his business.

B．To check his cellphone bill

C．To find out information about Jamaica.

D．To find out information about roaming charges.

【小題2】What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Extra charges were made for Jeff Gardner’s data delivery.

B．Jeff Gardner’s calls were charged over $2 per minute.

C．Jeff Gardner’s plan turned out to be limited.

D．Jeff Gardner had difficulty delivering data abroad.

【小題3】During the trip, Jeff Gardner______.

A．was careless with phone use

B．delivered no more data than at home

C．received quite poor e-mail services

D．frequently used his wireless card to send e-mails

【小題4】What should wireless companies do according to the Federal Communications Commission?

A．Make customers know when they’re outside their service area.

B．Get customers informed when they’re near the limit of their plan.

C．Stop serving customers when they’ve reached their plan’s limit.

D．Limit some services to reduce the amount of roaming charges abroad.

A
Some years ago, writing in my diary used to be a usual activity. I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day’s events, feelings, and impressions in my little blue diary. I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words, but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper. After all, isn’t accumulating memories a way of preserving the past?
When I was thirteen years old, I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley, well-equipped with pens, a diary, and a camera. During the trip, I was busy recording every incident, name and place I came across. I felt proud to be spending my time productively, dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels. On my last night there, I wandered out of my tent, diary in hand. The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon, and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows. I automatically took out my pen.
　　At that point, I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley. All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary.
　　Now, I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling. I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books, or observations that are particularly meaningful. I take pictures, but not very often—only of objects I find really beautiful. I’m no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old. I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera, busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future.
　　I don’t want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes. Maybe I won’t have as many exact representations of people and places; maybe I’ll forget certain facts, but at least the experiences will always remain inside me. I don’t live to make memories — I just live, and the memories form themselves.
【小題1】Before the age of thirteen, the author regarded keeping a diary as a way of __________.

A．observing her school routine

B．expressing her satisfaction

C．impressing her classmates

D．preserving her history

【小題2】What does the author put in her diary now?

A．Notes and beautiful pictures.

B．Special thoughts and feelings.

C．Detailed accounts of daily activities.

D．Descriptions of unforgettable events.

【小題3】The author comes to realize that to live a meaningful life is __________.

A．to experience it

B．to live the present in the future

C．to make memories

D．to give accurate representations of it

Dear Michelle,
My Dad hates my Mom. He tells me that she is a liar and that I should not trust her. Of course, they are divorced but they have “joint custody” (共同監(jiān)護(hù)). What a joke! I am 15, my brother is nine, and we have a life of hell, frankly.
We live one week on and one week off. This was the brilliant idea of both of my parents, which was fair to them but ruining my life. I cannot get away from his voice and his putting my mom down. Sometimes I think about running away.
A Hopeless Ant
Dear Hopeless Ant,
First, thank you for trusting me with your problem. If all you said is correct, then there are several things that you can and should do to help yourself, your brother, and oddly enough, your parents.
You need a family counselor. Such a person could listen to each family member alone and then meet together to talk about the situation.
If refused, you need to talk to a counselor in your school. You need to be heard, and you need an adult who will listen. A school counselor can organize a meeting with your parents.
Perhaps you need to write to your mother. Writing things down allows people to go over it more than one time.
I cannot imagine that she will stand passively by and do nothing at all to help once she reads how you feel. Your father needs a letter as well. He may not realize the destructive effect that it has on his children.
Lastly, have a plan in mind when all else fails that is not self-destructive. Life passes very quickly, sweetheart, and you will grow up and have your own life.
Until then, you need to keep yourself safe. Never doubt that it will get better. Write back and let me know how everything is going.
Michelle
【小題1】The Hopeless Ant wrote the letter to ________.

A．express dissatisfaction with his parents

B．a(chǎn)sk for advice seriously

C．make his father punished

D．just make a joke

【小題2】The Hopeless Ant hated his father because ________.

A．his father always told a lie

B．his father wasn’t friendly to his mother

C．his father divorced his mother

D．the Hopeless Ant couldn’t stay with his parents

【小題3】According to the text, which of the following is the Hopeless Ant in need of at present?

A．Keep himself/herself away from danger.

B．Have a talk with his/her parents.

C．Have his/her own family plan.

D．Write letters to families.

【小題4】In which part of a magazine will the text probably appear?

A．Entertainment

B．Advertisement

C．Life

D．Education

If English is not your first language, it is a good idea to take English language classes to improve your written and spoken communication skills. There are many ways to learn English. You can learn from a book, a DVD, on the Internet or by attending classes. One of the most successful ways to improve your English is to join a course in a country where English is widely spoken. The more you practice, the more you will learn. But why learn the English language? English is an important language for anyone who is planning to travel or become involved in business.
Many people love travelling, but if their English is poor, it can be difficult to understand signs, read directions and make themselves understood. Before travelling, it is important to understand the culture and customs of the places you visit. Learning basic English before you travel will help you to understand these customs and avoid mistakes that could be embarrassing. When you are travelling, you will also enjoy meeting new people. If you can speak English, you will have a better chance of being able to communicate with the people you meet. Many of your new friends will speak English and others will have English as a second language. Without English, your friendships will be limited as you travel around the world.
If you are involved in business, it is important to be able to communicate in English. The Internet, world travel and modern communication systems have made the world seem like a much smaller place. These days business people interact with customers and other business people from all over the world. That makes your English language skills more important than ever. There are many English language courses that major in business communications. Improving your English skills is one of the best things you could ever do to increase your chances of business success.
【小題1】 What kind of people is English important to according to the passage?

A．Travelers.

B．Teachers.

C．Students.

D．Language experts.

【小題2】Which of the following is the best way to learn English well?

A．Travelling around the world with English-speakers.

B．Taking a course in an English-speaking country.

C．Learning from all kinds of books or DVDs.

D．Learning on the Internet by yourselves.

【小題3】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the aim of learning basic English?

A．To research the causes of cultural differences.

B．To understand the customs of your destination.

C．To avoid embarrassing mistakes on your journey.

D．To have more opportunities to communicate with others.

【小題4】 What is the main idea of the third paragraph?

A．The more you practice, the more you will learn.

B．Doing business helps to improve your communication skills.

C．English is important for anyone who is involved in business.

D．The Internet has made the world become smaller and smaller.

【小題5】We can infer from the passage that _____.

A．learning English well will make you achieve goals more easily

B．learning English only aims at achieving business success

C．without learning English, your friendships will be limited wherever you are

D．you needn’t learn English if you don’t want to travel