It’s the place where smart people make smart machines work even smarter. It’s also in the heart of sunny California, a great place to start a family and raise kids. What could be better?
But something is happening to their children. Up until the age of two they develop normally. But then everything seems to go backwards. The children become locked into their own small world, unable to communicate at all.
They call it the “curse(詛咒)of Silicon Valley,” but the medical name for the condi­tion is autism(自閉癥). It used to be thought that autism was a kind of mental illness. Now doctors are sure that it is a neurological disease transmitted genetically. It seems that the people leading the communications revolution are having children who cannot commu­nicate at all.
But even the parents have trouble communicating. Asperger’s Syndrome is a mild version of autism. People who have it are highly intelligent and often brilliant with num­bers or system but have no social skill. This very combination of symptoms makes Asperger’s sufferers into ideal computer professionals.
The Asperger’s sufferer has always been a well—known figure in popular culture. He or she was the eccentric but dedicated scholar or the strange uncle or auntie who never married. But the high numbers of such people in Silicon Valley mean that they can meet others who understand them and share their interests. And while they might not be per­sonally attractive, they can earn truly attractive amounts of money. They can get married and have kids. Unfortunately, many of the children of two Asperger’s parents seem to be developing serious autism.
There is little anyone can do. It takes hours of work just to make autistic child realize that anyone else exists. And there is no cure in sight. Some argue that no cure should be found. “It may be that autistics are essentially different from normal people, but that these differences make them invaluable for the evolution of the human race,” says Dr. Kirk Whilhelmsen of the University of California. “To eliminate the genes for autism could be disastrous. ”
It seems that the children of Silicon Valley are paying the price of genius.
小題1:What does Dr Kirk Whilhelmsen think of autism?

A．It is disastrous to society.

B．It is not completely a bad thing.

C．It is a punishment to those working in Silicon Valley.

D．People with autism should never marry.

小題2:What can we learn about autism according to the passage?

A．It is believed to be a king of mental illness that can be cured.

B．People with autism can’t find people sharing their interests.

C．They do not care about the presence of others.

D．They are a burden for the society.

小題3:Why do people call autism “curse of Silicon Valley”？

A．Because autistic people live in Silicon Valley.

B．Because many people working in Silicon Valley have autism children.

C．Because people with autism will be driven out of Silicon Valley.

D．Because people with autism are not personally attractive and not liked by others.

小題4:What can we know about Asperger’s Syndrome according to the passage?

A．Asperger’s sufferers are ideal computer professionals.

B．Asperger’s sufferers never get married and have children.

C．Asperger’s sufferers are ashamed of themselves and locked into their own world.

D．Asperger’s sufferers can be beneficial to society if they are cured.

Kids undergo a large amount of pressure and stress during their school exams, which can often become quite overwhelming (to much) for them. It may be the first experience of stress, at this level, they have ever experienced and therefore quite frightening. Yes, you may say that it's all a part of growing up and therefore good lessons for them to learn, and to an extent I agree with you. However, it’s important to learn how to prepare for life’s challenges so that they aren’t overwhelming or scary and so that we are able to manage them the best we can.
Here are some tips you can use during your kids exam time.
Break their revision plan down into small parts. Doing this will help transform what once seemed like a huge impossible task into a more manageable one.
Help them arrange properly so that the subjects they like the least (perhaps ones that require more time and effort) are worked on first; once they are out of the way, it will help reduce the worry.
Plan week on week to make sure they are on track. Ticking items of a list each week will help them to feel good about themselves and their progress.
Create rewards for all the ticks - a favourite TV programme, a delicious snack, an hour’s surfing the Internet, computer games or whatever it was that they enjoy the most. This will encourage them to carry on and make them feel good.
Think of strategies on how to deal with exams calmly so their anxieties don't get the better of them.
Talk about times in their lives when they had been successful at something and look at the qualities they used to get them there - determination, persistence, hard work, patience, positivity, dedication - discuss how they can apply these skills to their exams.
Acknowledge that if they do their best that is good enough.
Ensure they realize that this period in their lives will pass and that exams are only a temporary time in their lives; nothing can and does last forever.
Ensure they keep their eye on the prize: enjoying their long summer holiday when the exams are finished; giving them something to look forward to will help to motivate them and provide a positive end in sight.
小題1:According to paragraph 1, it’s important to learn how to prepare for exams because___.

A．it is a part of growing up.

B．It is the first experience of stress

C．it helps kid release stress and do better.

D．it is important to get a good mark in exams.

小題2:Which subjects should be worked on first?

A．Their best ones.	B．Their favourite ones.
C．the easiest ones	D．the most difficult ones

小題3:According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A．Kid should become aware of the importance of exams.

B．Kids should learn to deal with exam pressure independently.

C．Parents should keep their kids away from entertainment.

D．Parents should care about the psychological development of children.

The mental aspect of athletics is underrated. The common expression, “athletics are 90 percent ____ and 10 percent physical,” is often used by coaches, and stresses that mindsets make a huge ____ in competitions.
“The physical aspect of the sport can only take you ____ ,” said Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Shannon Miller during an interview with the Dana Foundation. “The mental aspect has to ____ , especially when you’re talking about the best of the best. In the Olympic games, everyone is talented. Everyone ____ hard. Everyone does the work. What ____ the gold medalists from the silver medalists is simply the mental game.”
Many athletes have used the technique of mental imagery, or ____ , to perform at their best. Research on the brain patterns of ____ found that the patterns activated when a weightlifter lifted heavy weights were activated ____ when they simply imagined lifting and some studies have suggested that mental ____ can be almost as effective as physical training. One study, published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology in 1996, found that ____ weight lifting caused ____ changes in muscle activity.
“Mental imagery ____ many cognitive (認(rèn)知的) processes in the brain: motor control, attention, perception, planning, and memory,” researcher Angie LeVan wrote in Psychology Today. “So the ____ is getting trained for actual performance during visualization. It’s been found that mental practices can enhance motivation, increase confidence, improve motor performance and ____ your brain for success.”
____ visualizing is more than just thinking about an upcoming event. ____ athletes use visualization, they truly feel the event taking place in their mind’s eye.
“During visualization, she incorporates (整合) all of her ____ into the experience,” sports psychologist Dr JoAnn Dahlkoetter wrote in a blog post on The Huffington Post ____ a speed skater she works with. “She feels her forefoot pushing off the track, she hears her skating splits, and she sees herself racing ahead of the competitors. She experiences all of the elements of her race ____ before executing (完成) her performance.”

小題1:	A．lucky B．intelligent C．mental D．strategic

小題2:	A．difference B．importance C．improvement D．challenge

小題3:	A．so long B．so far C．so much D．so high

小題4:	A．turn on B．show off C．take up D．set off

小題5:	A．thinks B．moves C．runs D．trains

小題6:	A．breaks B．pushes C．decides D．distinguishes

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)ctivation B．visualization C．motivation D．perception

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)thletes B．gymnasts C．weightlifters D．skaters

小題9:	A．regularly B．normally C．finally D．similarly

小題10:

A．connection B．practice C．performances D．directions

小題11:

A．imagining B．considering C．reviewing D．dreaming

小題12:

A．few B．usual C．a(chǎn)ctual D．strange

小題13:

A．impacts B．increases C．slows D．follows

小題14:

A．brain B．body C．a(chǎn)ttention D．memory

小題15:

A．help B．a(chǎn)pply C．use D．prepare

小題16:

A．Though B．But C．Thus D．Otherwise

小題17:

A．Unless B．After C．When D．Until

小題18:

A．observations B．spirit C．determination D．senses

小題19:

A．to B．for C．a(chǎn)bout D．with

小題20:

A．in surprise B．in detail C．on time D．for example

IT’S never a real problem for us when the weather gets cold. We can put on more clothes, stay next to a fireplace, turn on the air conditioner or simply travel to a warmer city to spend the winter – people have many different ways of coping with the cold.
But things are not as easy for plants. Unlike humans, plants can’t move to escape the cold or generate heat to keep themselves warm. So how do they manage to survive the freezing winter?
It turns out that plants have their own strategies too, said a study published on Dec 22 in the journal Nature.
According to researcher Amy Zanne of George Washington University, US, the cold is a big challenge for plants. Their living tissues can be damaged when they freeze. “It’s like a plant’s equivalent to frostbite (凍瘡),” Zanne told Science Daily. Also, the process of freezing and thawing (解凍) can cause air bubbles to form in the plant’s water transport system. “If enough of these air bubbles come together as water thaws they can block the flow of water from the roots to the leaves and kill the plant,” she explained.
To live through cold weather, plants have developed three traits, according to the study. Some plants, such as oak trees, avoid freezing damage by dropping their leaves before the winter chill sets in – effectively shutting off the flow of water between roots and leaves – and growing new leaves and water transport cells when the warm spring returns.
Other plants, pine trees for example, protect themselves by narrowing their water transport cells, which makes it easier for cells to travel among air bubbles.
The third strategy is also the most extreme – some plants die on the ground in winter and start growing as new plants from seeds when conditions get warmer.
However, the study also found that these smart strategies were developed very slowly – over millions of years of evolution. This leads scientists to worry that plants may not be able to deal with human-caused climate change, which has only started occurring over the past few decades.
Scientists are hoping that this study can help people find possible ways to save plants from the threat of climate change.
小題1:What is the article mainly about?

A．Why plants are not afraid of the winter chill.

B．The ways that plants survive cold weather.

C．Changes in plants’ water transport system in winter.

D．How plants evolve to keep up with climate change.

小題2:According to the article, if a plant freezes in the winter, ______.

A．it produces more living tissues to stay alive

B．its leaves quickly fall out and its roots begin to die

C．lots of air bubbles form in its water transport system

D．its water transport system could be blocked in the spring

小題3:How do oak trees usually survive the cold winters?

A．By dropping their leaves before winter.

B．By narrowing their water transport cells.

C．By widening their water transport cells.

D．By leaving only the seeds alive and growing from the seeds in the spring.

小題4:What are scientists worried about when it comes to plants according to the article?

A．Plants may not be able to adapt to the increasingly cold climate.

B．Human activities might have a great impact on the pace of plants’ evolution.

C．Plants may not be able to evolve fast enough to adapt to human-caused climate change.

D．The strategies plants develop are not good enough to protect them against cold.

EVERYONE has those nights – you lie in your bed for hours, tossing and turning, totally unable to fall asleep. You wish you could just turn your brain off as if it were a light. That would make things much easier, wouldn’t it?
Now it looks like you are one step closer to this wild dream of yours – scientists from Oxford University, UK have just discovered the “switch” that tells the brain to go to sleep, reported Forbes.
To understand the study, you first need to know that there are two mechanisms (機(jī)能) that regulate sleep. There’s one that we’re already familiar with – our body clock, which works in a 24-hour cycle based on the light changes throughout the day.
The other one is what scientists call the sleep “homeostat (動(dòng)態(tài)平衡系統(tǒng))”. This mechanism has nothing to do with daylight. Instead, it keeps track of the brain’s waking hours and urges it to rest if it has been awake for a long time. “It is similar to the thermostat (自動(dòng)調(diào)溫器) in your home. A thermostat measures temperature and switches on the heating if it’s too cold,” Professor Gero Miesenböck, who led the study, told The Telegraph.
Our bodies use both of the mechanisms to regulate sleep. “The body clock says it’s the right time, and the sleep thermostat has built up pressure during a long waking day,” explained Miesenböck.
There is no way that scientists can trick the body clock. But with the sleep homeostat, there might be something they can do.
The researchers found that the sleep homeostat works by activating a specific group of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. They tested their theory on fruit flies by removing the neurons from the insects’ brains. And as expected, they found that the flies without the homeostat neurons did not keep a regular sleep pattern anymore.
Now that scientists have pinpointed (定位) the exact place in the brain – or, the “switch” – that regulates sleep, they can begin investigating (研究) how to activate these cells at any given time so that people can be sent to sleep instantly.
More importantly, figuring out how sleep mechanisms work may also help us to one day unravel one of the oldest mysteries of all: why do we need to sleep in the first place?
小題1:What is the article mainly about?

A．A new way to treat sleep disorders.

B．The discovery of the sleep “homeostat”.

C．Advice on what to do when you fail to fall asleep.

D．A comparison of the two mechanisms that regulate sleep.

小題2:How does the author explain the function of the sleep homeostat?

A．Through examples.

B．With comparisons.

C．Through cause and effect analysis.

D．By presenting research findings.

小題3:What can we conclude from the article?

A．Generally, the sleep homeostat has less effect on people during the day than at night.

B．There is little scientists can do to affect the way the sleep homeostat works.

C．What makes us go to sleep at night is probably a combination of the two mechanisms.

D．The more homeostat neurons there are in one’s brain, the more easily one can fall asleep.

小題4:The underlined word “unravel” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.

A．put up with

B．figure out

C．keep track of

D．take notice of

Running like the wind, roaring (咆哮) like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China.
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China. In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixty­six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing. If they were set free they could not look after themselves.
“Breeding has damaged the quality of the species”, said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts(本能) and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
“South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in”, said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center.“We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco­chain(生物鏈) and there was a lack of space.”
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
小題1:What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?

A．Because it has lost its natural instincts.

B．Because there is not a complete eco­chain.

C．Because there is no space for it.

D．Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions.

小題2:How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?

A．Its effect still remains to be seen.

B．Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins.

C．Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills.

D．The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007.

小題3:By saying “but they are nothing like their wild cousins”，the writer means that________.

A．they are no longer feared by other wild animals

B．they don't know how to hunt or kill

C．a(chǎn) complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding

D．to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task

小題4:What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?

A．To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild.

B．To provide them with a better environment.

C．To get the tigers to go on a tour.

D．To find a complete eco­chain for them.

小題5:Which one is NOT the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?

A．Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.

B．Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers.

C．Because there is a complete eco­chain and enough space there.

D．Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in.

Reseachers at the University of Kansas say that people can accurately judge 90 percent of a stranger's personality simply by looking at the person’s shoes．“Shoes convey useful information about their wearers，’’the authors wrote in the new study published in the Journal of Research in Personality．
Lead researcher Omri Gillath said the judgments were based on the style，cost，color and condition of someone’s shoes．In the study，63 University of Kansas researchers looked at pictures showing 208 different pairs of shoes worn by the study’s participants.Volunteers in the study were photographed in their most commonly worn shoes，and then filled out a personality questionnaire．
Some of the results were expected：People with higher incomes most commonly wore expensive shoes，and flashier shoes were typically worn by outgoing people．However，some of the more specific results are strange enough．For example，“practical and functional’’shoes were generally worn by more“pleasant"people，while ankle boots were more linked with ‘‘a(chǎn)ggressive’’personalities．The strangest of all may be that those who wore‘‘uncomfortable looking” shoes tend to have “calm” personalities. And if you have several pairs of new shoes or take extreme care of them，you may suffer from“attachment anxiety"，spending lots of time worrying about what other people think of your appearance．There was even a political calculation in the mix with more liberal(主張變革的)types wearing“shabbier and less expensive” shoes．
The researchers noted that some people will choose shoe styles to mask their actual personalities，but researchers noted that volunteers were also likely to be unaware that their footwear choices were showing the deep side of their personalities．
小題1:What does this text mainly tell us?

A．People’s personalities call be judged by their shoes．

B．Shoes convey false information about the wearer．

C．People know little about their personalities．

D．Shoes Call hide people’s real personalities．

小題2:The participants were asked to       

A．look at pictures of different shoes

B．provide pictures of their shoes

C．hand in their commonly worn shoes

D．design a personality questionnaire

小題3:Which of the results is beyond people’s expectation?

A．Pleasant people like wearing uncomfortable shoes．

B．Wealthy people often wear expensive shoes．

C．Flahshier shoes are typically worn by outgoing people．

D．Aggressive people are likely to weal"ankle boots．

小題4:People suffering from“attachment anxiety” tend to       

A．become a political leader

B．have a calm character

C．worry about their appearance

D．wear strange shoes

小題5:The author wrote the text in order to      

A．teach how to choose shoes

B．describe different personalities

C．inform us of a new study

D．introduce a research method

ARE you a dog person or a cat person?
With so many photos and videos of cats and dogs doing cute things online, it’s easier than ever to answer which of these furry friends you like more. There are many reasons why people prefer one type of pet over the other. So, have you ever wondered what your preference for cats or dogs says about you?
In fact, a 2010 study done by Sam Gosling , a psychologist at the University of Texas, US, and his graduate student Carson Sandy found that dog people are more extroverted（外向的）agreeable and serious than cat people.
“Cats will occasionally engage in social activities, but usually after only a few minutes they will abandon the game. Dogs, on the other hand, will often engage in play, like fetching a thrown lull, for hours at a lime," said Modem Dog magazine.
Just on the basis of dogs' nature being more sociable than cats’, you may expect that the personalities of dog people also reflect higher sociability. And Cosling’s study found that dog people are generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable, both of which are associated with social altitude.
In addition, dog people are 11 percent more conscientious than cat people.
“Conscientiousness" is a tendency In show self-discipline（自律）,to complete tasks and aim for achievement. This quality also shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous （一時(shí)沖動(dòng)的） behavior.
In comparison, cat people an; about 12 percent more anxious, but they are also 11 percent more “open” than dog people, due to a general appreciation for art, emotion, imagination, curiosity, adventure, unusual ideas and variety of experience. And people high on openness are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs.
Despite vast differences, there an some things that cat people and dog people have in common. “Both types of people consider themselves close to nature, dislike animal-print clothing and generally optimists. ” noted Mother Nature Network.
小題1:What does the article mainly talk about?

A．Differences between dogs and cats in their personality qualities.

B．Factors that influence people’s preference for dogs or cats.

C．How raising a pet helps shape your personality.

D．What your preference for dogs or cats reveals about you.

小題2:The underlined phrase “engage in ”in the fourth paragraph probably means        .

A．get involved in	B．benefit from
C．take little interest in	D．perform well in

小題3:According to the study done by Sam Costing, dog owners tend to    than cat owners.

A．be more imaginative and creative

B．live a more organized life

C．love to get close to nature more

D．be more easygoing and adventurous

小題4:According to the article, both dog people and cat people      .

A．a(chǎn)re generally self-disciplined

B．a(chǎn)re usually positive and care about nature

C．a(chǎn)re likely to hold unconventional beliefs

D．like to wear animal-print clothing;

DAVID Beckham. Cristiano  Ronaldo and Rnfacl Nadal while you watch sports and admin* the players’ skills, do you ever notice how handsome the players are?
Yes, sportsmen tend to be handsome. And they haven’t only attracted the interest of the audience even scientists are now studying their good looks.
In a recent study, Erik Postma, a biologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, collected the headshots（頭像）of 80 professional athletes from I hr 2012 Tour He France, a bicycle race held in Franco. The race, which covers 3,200 kilometers in 23 days, is often considered to In* one of the hardest endurance（耐力）events, according to The Telegraph.
Postma then asked female participants to score the cyclists’ attractiveness.judging them only based on their facial appearances. So, if a participant recognized any of the cyclists, meaning she knew how good he was at the sport, her score wouldn’t count.
After comparing all the scores with the cyclists’ performances in the 2012 race, Postma was surprised to find that the best riders were rated on average 25 percent more attractive than the worst ones. For example, one of the cyclists, Maxime Monfort , came third in terms of attractiveness and sixth in terms of performance, reported Discovery News.
But where did women get the ability to single out a good rider by simply looking at his face?
According lo Postma, evolution (進(jìn)化) seems to be the answer. In ancient times, women preferred to marry strong men because they would provide good genes for their children. A man with great endurance was also able to cover long distances to hunt for food, which would allow him to better feed the family. “That’s why endurance performance was a key evolutionary factor.” Postma told Discovery News.
As you can see, it’s not that sportsmen ate more attractive themselves, women were just born to think of them that way.
Perhaps surprisingly, when Postma did the same test with male participants, he found that men actually had a quite similar view on which riders were handsome. Even
though most men aren’t aware of it. they inherited (繼承) this ability from their ancient past, when it was necessary to “spot potential competitors” , explained Postma.
小題1:What did Erik Postma ask female participants to do in his study?

A．To help collect the headshots of professional cyclists from the Tour de France.

B．To pick out the cyclists whom they are familiar with or appreciate most.

C．To rate the cyclists’ attractiveness according to facial appearance.

D．To predict the cyclists ’ performances based on facial appearance.

小題2:What did Postma discover from his study?

A．The more attractive a cyclist was, the better he performed in the race.

B．Generally, a cyclist’s endurance had nothing to do with his attractiveness.

C．Attractive cyclists proved to have less endurance than those who were less attractive.

D．Those who performed best in the games were considered more attractive than those who performed worst.

小題3:What can we conclude from the last three paragraphs?

A．Women and men hold quite different views on male attractiveness.

B．Men with good looks tend to lie less popular than men with great endurance.

C．A man with great endurance appealed to women in ancient times and this remains the same today.

D．Most men don* t have the same ability as women to single out a good sportsman by simply looking at his face.

When another old cave is discovered in the south of France，it is not usual news．Rather，it is art ordinary event．Such discoveries are so frequent these days that hardly anybody pays heed to them．However，when the Lascaux cave complex was discovered in 1940，the world was amazed．Painted directly on its walls were hundreds of scenes showing how people lived thousands of years ago．The scenes show people hunting animals，such as bison or wild cats．Other images show birds and，most noticeably，horses，which appear in more than 300 wall images，by far outnumbering all other animals．

Early artists drawing these animals accomplished a monumental and difficult task．They did not limit themselves to the easily accessible walls but carried their painting materials to spaces that required climbing steep walls or crawling into narrow passages in the Lascaux complex．
Unfortunately，the paintings have been exposed to the destructive action of water and temperature changes，which easily wear the images away．Because the Lascaux caves have many entrances，air movement has also damaged the images inside．
Although they are not out in the open air, where natural light would have destroyed them long ago，many of the images have been destroyed and are barely recognizable．To prevent further damage，the site was closed to tourists in 1963，23 years after it was discovered．
小題1:What can be the best title for the text?

A．Wild Animals in Art	B．Hidden Prehistoric Paintings
C．Exploring Caves Respectfully	D．Determining the Age of French Caves

小題2:The underlined phrase“pays heed to”in Paragraph 1 probably means _____________．

A．discovers

B．watches

C．notices

D．buys

小題3:According to the text，which animals appear most often on the cave walls?

A．Birds

B．Bison

C．Horses

D．Wild cats

小題4:Why was painting inside the Lascaux complex a difficult task?

A．It was completely dark inside．

B．The caves were full of wild animals．

C．Painting materials were hard to find．

D．Many painting spaces were difficult to reach．

小題5:According to the text，all of the following have caused damage to the paintings except________________.

A．temperature changes	B．a(chǎn)ir movement
C．water	D．tourists