When Babbage was working at Cambridge, a new idea occurred to him. He wanted to construct a
calculating machine to work out the solutions (解法) to maths problems not only with correctness but
also with a speed beyond the power of any human mind. His machine could solve problems involving
(涉及) long rows of figures in one continuous operation (運(yùn)算).
     In 1822 Babbage exhibited his invention and won a prize from the government. After that, he
immediately started to work on a larger machine designed to solve more difficult problems. Although he
received some money left by his father, the money was not enough to support his design. He wrote to
the government about his plan and was given ￡2500 to start with, a sum worth much more in those days
than it is now.
     Babbage continued his work in London for four years. Then his health broke down, and he had to take
a long holiday abroad. When he returned to London in 1828, he was at the end of his resources. Many bills
remained unpaid. His chief assistant and co-workers quarreled with him and left with many expensive tools.
For one year no work was done. During this period, Babbage, whose mind was always active, suddenly
thought of a completely new idea for the machine. He rushed to meet the government officials to explain his
new idea. But this time, they were unwilling to help him. For eight years, they refused to say whether they
wanted the machine or not, and their final answer was "No." 
     From 1828 to 1839, Babbage held the position of professor at Cambridge very successfully. But his
greatest work was the unfinished calculating machine which stood covered in dust in his house. It was the
beginning of the modern computer.

1. The machine Babbage designed would solve difficult maths problems ______.

A. in one operation with few mistakes
B. in more than one operation without any mistakes
C. in more than one operation with slight mistakes
D. in one operation without any mistakes

2. Babbage failed to continue his research work in 1828 mainly because _______.

A. he was in poor health
B. he almost ran out of money
C. his co-workers argued with him
D. he spent all his money on his bills

3. Babage explained his new idea to the government officials, expecting that _______.

A. they would agree to his plan
B. they would pay for his new idea
C. they would support him with money
D. they would exhibit his new design

4. From the passage, we can infer that _______.

A. Babbage failed to be a famous scientist at Cambridge
B. Babbage always had new ideas but gave them up easily
C. Babbage always needed support from the government officials
D. Babbage was the first designer of the modern computer

    You're sitting on the train home and the person opposite you yawns (打哈欠). Suddenly, you're yawning
with him, though you're not tired.
     This phenomenon confused scientists for years until a recent study found that people tend to sympathize
with fellow humans. Supporting this claim was the discovery that those children who were unable to form
normal emotional ties with others did not experience contagions (有感染力的) yawning, which showed that
humans communicate regularly without words.
     Hogo Critchley, a neuroscientist, has conducted an experiment recently, which will prove that happiness
and sadness can spread like the common cold. According to Critchley, our mind and body are in constant
exchange about how we're feeling. "Emotions are closely linked with states of internal (內(nèi)部的) responses,"
he explained. "There are also more visible changes in our gesture and facial expressions. When we're in a
group, these signals can spread to another person. For example, there're the obvious tendency to smile when
smiled at and there are less obvious changes that reflect emotions of surprise, anger or sadness such as a
change in our heart rate and blood pressure."
     Hugo Critchley further explained, "Our bodies synchronise and when we like the other Person, we even
copy his behaviour. Next time you chat with a friend, take note of how you're sitting-it's pretty likely that
you will be the same. Scientists believe it's our way of telling each other that you're parents. Through body
language, humans give each other very subtle (微妙的) but clear signals that show emotions."
     So, what lessons can we learn from this? "spend time with happy people-otherwise your health could
suffer," said Critchley. "When we're sad, our body goes into fight or flight mode. But when we're happy, our
body works normally and we feel relaxed and positive. So we look bright, our skin glows, we feel healthy and
it affects everyone around us."

1. According to Hugo Critchley, _____.

A. emotions are as visible as facial expressions
B. we yawn more frequently when we have a cold
C. emotions are connected with states of internal responses
D. the change of blood pressure is not linked with the change of emotions

2. The underlined word "synchronise" in paragraph 4 means "_____".

A. move slowly
B. change rapidly
C. relax temporarily
D. respond accordingly

3. From the passage we can learn _____.

A. sadness is as contagious as happiness
B. anger is less contagious than friendliness
C. surprise is more contagious than smile
D. surprise is the most contagious among emotions

4. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. Emotions have delicate influence on fellow humans.
B. Children like copying the actions of the fellow humans.
C. Scientists are still confused about contagious yawning.
D. People tend to communicate more with body language.

     A good study environment is as important as the studying itself. Here are a few suggestions that will help
you in making a good study environment for yourself. Take care of these, and you will find that you are doing
better by the day.
     1. (     )
     Pick a suitably quiet place, not necessarily where you can hear a pin drop, but not where you have people
screaming all around you, either. At the same time, if too much quietness makes you feel lonely, then you may
try playing some soft music in the background.
     2.(     )
     Think of all the related materials that you may require, and gather them beforehand. It's OK if you end up
not using a few of the books. Get a fruit or some snacks that will keep you comfortably full, without being too
heavy on your tummy. (胃)
     Lighting is very important.
     You must have a reasonable amount of lighting that will let you read properly, without putting stress on
your eyes, or making them burn and water after a while. 3. (     ) And at night, make sure that you have a light
that shines brightly on the book that you are reading.
     Know your limits.
     Don't compare yourself with your friend. Seriously, this is not a competition to see who studies more in a
day. You are you, and you are not your friend. 4. (     ) Stop asking your friend constantly how much he has
finished, or telling him how much you have done.
     Study smartly instead of studying hard. 
    5. (     ) Read important points, and highlight important sentences. Use techniques like mind mapping, logical
linking of points, or short forms to remember long lists. This will increase the speed of your studying, and help
you in getting more done in less time.

A. Select a quiet place.
B. The effect will be the same.
C. He has his limits, and you have yours.
D. Get all your stuff together before you start.
E. Get a nice and comfortable chair for yourself.
F. Try picking a place by the window during the daytime.
G. Reading through the entire text like it's a novel is pointless.

     Here are a few tips we've put together to help you learn English well.
     Speak, speak, speak!
     Practise speaking as often as you can-even speaking to yourself is good practice. Try recording yourself
whenever you can. Compare your pronunciation with the master version, see how you can do better and have
another try. If you do this several times, you will find that each version is better than the last.
     Why not learn with someone else? 
     It helps if you can learn with someone else. If you can persuade a friend or family member to study with
you, it will make you keep working. Arrange times to meet and set goals for the week, and test each other
regularly.
     Don't get stuck (卡住) by a word you don't know Practise improvising (即興的) ways of getting your
meaning across while speaking spontaneously (本能), even if you don't know the exact words or phrases.
Think of things you might want to say whenever you have spare time. A basic example is the use of tenses.
If you don't know the past tense but want to talk about yesterday, use the verb in the present tense and use
the word for"yesterday". Use facial expressions, hand movements, anything to get your meaning across.
     Language learning is also about intuition (直覺) Guesswork is important in learning a new language. When
listening to recorded material, you aren't expected to understand everything first time round. If you play the
same piece several times, you will most probably understand something new each time. Learn to make
maximum use of all the clues you can pick up. For example, what do the speakers sound like? Happy? Angry?
Calm? Etc.
     Build up your vocabulary A wide vocabulary is the key to successful language learning but don't try to
learn too much at once. It's best to study frequently, for short periods of time. Take a maximum of six or
seven items of vocabulary and learn them. Put them into sentences to fix them in your mind, then come back
to them later. Much of the vocabulary in the course is presented by topic. And above all, have fun!

1. Why should one have himself recorded when practicing speaking?

A. To encourage others to start.
B. To record his own progress.
C. To improve his speaking.
D. To compare himself with others.

2. Which of the following is the most important in learning English?

A. Speaking.
B. Pleasure. C. Intuition.
D. Vocabulary.

3. It is important in Tip 3 that _____ is helpful when you are learning English.

A. body language
B. a good memory
C. a good friend
D. a proper dictionary

4. Which of the following seems NOT to be true in learning a language?

A. Practice makes perfect.
B. A good beginning is half done.
C. Rome is not built in a day.
D. Don't run before you can walk.

     What would you think if you went back to school on Monday and there were no desks or chairs in your
classroom?
      That's what some fourth-and-fifth-graders at a school in Minnesota discovered earlier this year when they
took part in a research project to see if changing their classrooms would make them more active.
     Researchers from the Mayo Clinic were concerned about reports that as many as half of American kids
could be seriously overweight-or obese-by the year 2010. So they set up a different kind of classroom, which
you might see in the future.
      Instead of desks, the Elton Hills Elementary students had adjustable work stations where they could stand,
kneel on mats or sit on big exercise balls. Students were given laptops and iPods that allowed them to move
and learn at the same time.
     Sensors (傳感器) were attached to the kids' legs to calculate how many calories students burned in their
new set-up.
      Their typical school day was probably not anything like yours. One group of students downloaded an
audio file (有聲文件) of their teacher reading a book; they listened to it while walking for exercise. Another
group took a spelling test by listening to their iPods.
     Some students liked the freedom, but others missed the traditional classroom.
     "I don't like standing up," Mariah Matrious said."My legs get tired, and I like sitting down." So, did the
experiment work? Researchers still are studying the data, but early results indicate that the kids did move
around more in the new classroom.
     "It showed us that, given the opportunity to move, kids will move," said researcher Lorraine
Lanningham-Foster.
     That's important because studies have shown that even simple movement-climbing stairs instead of taking
an elevator (電梯), for example, or washing dishes by hand instead of loading the dishwasher-can be as
important as formal exercise when it comes to controlling one's weight.

1. The school in Minnesota carried out the research _____.

A. to punish the badly performed students
B. to prevent children from being too fat
C. to spare a lot of money for the state
D. to meet the needs of different children

2. The newly designed classrooms are different from the traditional ones EXCEPT that _____.

A. there were no desks and chairs
B. the students can move and learn at the same time
C. students in different groups are given different tasks
D. teachers don't necessarily instruct the students

3. According to Lorraine Lanningham-Foster, _____.

A. the research got some expected results
B. the experiment needs further changes
C. not everyone liked the freedom of this new style
D. The students should be taught without classrooms

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A. No Desks or Chairs in the Classroom
B. New Classrooms in the Future
C. School Takes a Stand Against Obesity
D. Washing dishes by hand in the Classroom

     When the six very best students from different cities in Guangdong Province all together chose universities
in Hong Kong; when the very best students of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Beijing
or Qinghua University; when the highest enrollment (錄取) rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University
reached 48:1, it's the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.
     Years ago, the answer certainly would be"Beijing or Qinghua University". But now no one could give the
exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual
attraction to a great many mainland students.
     It's no doubt to call this HK craze (狂熱), which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities them
selves.
     How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Beijing and Qinghua and attract so many mainland
students?
     First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive
the sum scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden
of many families, it's easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.
     Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual
(雙語(yǔ)) education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.
     Furthermore, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students. 
     Can mainland top universities like Beijing or Qinghua University be calm as before when facing the
unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help
them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.
     The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of
education in China. After the awakening and action-taking of mainland universities, they can perform better
together with HK universities.
     At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees (學(xué)費(fèi)) are among students' top concern when
they are choosing universities. It's time to move.

1. What is the passage mainly talking about?

A. Some thoughts brought by the enrollment of HK universities.
B. Higher education in Hong Kong.
C. The competition between HK University and Beijing University.
D. The fall of mainland universities.

2. Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because ______.

A. many students now would love to study abroad to get a better experience
B. they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities
C. HK Universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study
D. Beijing University has lost its worldwide reputation

3. From the passage we can see HK universities ______.

A. didn't mean to enroll top students from mainland
B. didn't expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular
C. have strict enrollment rules and only 1out of 48 students can get the chance to study there
D. are proud of their teaching staff and facilities

4. What does the author mean by saying "It's time to move." in the last paragraph?

A. Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students.
B. The opportunities come for top students to study abroad.
C. Mainland universities should make full preparations to enroll Hong Kong students.
D. Top students should be offered further education free of charge.

     Psychology (心理學(xué)) tells us that many people hate to take risks. But it is good for us to take risks,
especially (尤其)when the risk is to achieve a desired result. In that way, we become stronger and braver.
     Our human nature should be to take risks, but some people just sit and wish they didn't have the fear
(恐懼) to move on. This is because of one or two failures in their lives. Please step out and don't let the
past hold you back from living life to the fullest. Move forward and move on!
     In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human nature provides (提供) us with the
desire (渴望)to experiment and take chances.
     Risk taking is a great benefit(好處)that allowed our ancestors(祖先) to become stronger and stronger
day by day. By taking risks they fought off enemies and discovered new territories(領(lǐng)土). This attitude has
become a part of our modern culture. Riding a roller coaster is a common risk taking activity that even the
average person seems to enjoy although they have the understanding that it is dangerous. This psychological
and biological (生物學(xué)上的) connection (聯(lián)系)creates an interesting connection between what is unsafe
and what humans enjoy. Getting in a car each day is a risk.
     Getting out of bed is a risk. There is such thing as perfect safety. We need to take risks so that we can
finish many things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside a rocket; however, the things they achieve
are great. Businessmen take a risk when they buy parts of a company. However, without doing that, they
could not make more money.
     We need to take risks so that we can gain something. It is impossible to move forward in life, earn
money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or do anything else without taking a risk. It is all part of the game.
It's one of the most important parts of life.

1. Some people don't want to take risks, mainly (主要)because _______.

A. they are too lazy to move on
B. they feel pleased with the present life.
C. they have experienced some failures before
D. they show little interest in the strange world outside

2. What does the underlined part "This attitude" in Paragraph 4 mean? 

A. Taking risks
B. Fighting off enemies
C. Discovering new territories
D. Becoming stronger and stronger

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Daily life is full of risks
B. The safest place has the greatest risk
C. People should take risks when they are young
D. We can always achieve our goals by taking risks

4. What would be the title for the passage?

A. Taking risks is easier said than done
B. On risks taken by ancestors
C. Live our life to the fullest (充分地)
D. No risk, no gain.

     A Southampton University team found that people who were vegetarians by 30 had recorded five IQ points
higher on average at the age of 10. Researchers said it could explain why people with a higher IQ were healthier as a vegetarian diet was connected to lower heart disease and obesity rates. The study of 8,179 people was
reported in the British Medical Journal.
     Twenty years after the IQ tests were carried out in 1970, 366 of the participants said they were vegetarians
-although more than 100 reported eating either fish or chicken.
      Men who were vegetarians had an IQ score of 106, compared with 101 for non-vegetarians; while female
vegetarians averaged 104, compared with 99 for non-vegetarians. There was no difference in the IQ scores,
between strict vegetarians and those who said they were vegetarians but reported eating fish or chicken.
     Researchers said the findings were partly related to better education and higher class, but it remained
statistically significant after adjusting for these factors.
     Vegetarians were more likely to be female, to be of higher social class and to have higher academic or
vocational qualifications than non-vegetarians. However, these differences were not reflected in their annual
income, which was similar to that of non-vegetarians.
     Lead researcher Catharine Gale said, "The findings that children with greater intelligence are more likely to
report being vegetarians as adults, together with the evidence on the potential benefits of a vegetarian diet on
heart health, may help to explain why a higher IQ in childhood or adolescence is linked with a reduced risk of
coronary heart disease in adult life.
     But Dr Frankie Phillips of the British Dietetic Association said,"It is_like the chicken and egg. Do
people become vegetarians because they have a very high IQ or is it just that they are clever enough to be more
aware of health issues?"

1. What's the result of the research mentioned in the text?

A. Intelligent children are more likely to become vegetarians later in life.
B. Children with a higher IQ are less likely to have heart disease later in life.
C. Intelligent children tend to belong to higher social class later in life.
D. Children with a healthier heart tend to have a higher IQ later in life.

2. It was found in the research that______.

A. most of the participants became vegetarians 20 years after the IQ tests were carried out
B. vegetarians who ate fish or chicken were of similar intelligence with strict vegetarians
C. female vegetarians were more likely to have higher annual income than non-vegetarians
D. vegetarians were more likely to have higher annual income than non-vegetarians

3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A. Intelligence is linked to not just being a vegetarian but to many factors.
B. The rate of getting heart disease is linked to your lifestyle.
C. The link between a high IQ and being a vegetarian is still uncertain.
D. The link between a healthy heart and diet remains to be proved.

4. What' s the best title for the text?

A. Get more IQ points!
B. Be a vegetarian, please!
C. Vegetarian diet cuts heart risk
D. A high IQ is linked to being a vegetarian

     Nowadays everybody seems to think that they know English. Many people speak it but few speak it really
well. Practice is necessary in speaking English well.
     Reading is also one of the things that will help you to speak English better. Read whenever you can and
whatever you like! Read papers and Internet sites that you like in English every day. Then, you will see that the
number of known words is increasing and you are able to speak with more skills. Then you will have made the
foundations (基礎(chǔ)) and a good basis of English. It is not good to stop and get stuck there.
     Going to England or an English-speaking country is a good choice, but many people cannot afford it. If
you cannot go, reading and speaking with your friends will also help you to practice your English. However, I
think it is very good to visit some English - speaking country to see and test your knowledge in everyday life.
You will understand the everyday usage of the language in its natural environment. There your level of English
is going to improve even faster. You ability to speak English is better. Nothing can match the excitement and
happiness when a native speaker tells you that your English is very good!
      Finally, in order to speak English well, you must be persistent (堅(jiān)持的) and do it every day. It is like
playing the piano. Pianists play it every day and so should you. Include English in your life and you will see
where it is going. Practice, practice! Read, write and improve your language skills and you are on you way
when you will be able to speak it with more and more confidence!

1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. How to Improve Your Language Skills
B. How to Speak English Well
C. Speaking English
D. Practice, Practice!

2. What does the writer suggest about reading?

A. Trying to improve your vocabulary.
B. Keeping on reading when you have time.
C. Stopping when you have a good basis of English.
D. Looking up every unknown word when reading.

3. In the writer's eyes, the essential way to improve your speaking skills is _____.

A. practicing
B. going abroad
C. reading
D. writing

4. The main idea of the last paragraph is that ______.

A. we should play the piano every day
B. speaking English is fun and entertaining
C. we should practice English every day to improve our speaking skills
D. if we've learned to read and write, we'll certainly be able to speak

5. According to the passage, what may make the author excited?

A. Reading papers and Internet sites.
B. Having a good basis of English.
C. Going to an English - speaking country.
D. A native speaker's praise.

     In a recently published book, I came across some exercises with interesting names such as fishbone
diagrams, lotus flowers and clustering. As I used these exercises in my classes, I noticed that students were
interested. They said more and wrote more. They enjoyed expressing their ideas and sharing them in groups.
They were no longer passively waiting for the bell, but actively took part in the lesson. I find that creativity
can act as a way to increase participation and improve fluency (流利程度).
      Creativity has become a popular word in recent years. Scholars in the arts, psychology (心理學(xué)), business,
education, and science are all working to get a deeper understanding of it. Robert J. Sternberg is a creativity
specialist and Yale professor of psychology. He defines creativity as "the ability to produce work that is both
new (original) and appropriate (applicable to the situation )". This definition is useful, as we want our students
to use language in a new way, and to use it correctly and properly. Most scholars say there are two types of
creativity: big "C" creativity and small "c" creativity. Big "C" creativity refers to genius level thinking that results
in artistic masterpieces and scientific breakthroughs. Small "c" creativity refers to everyday level thinking that
can be used in any situation. Our emphasis is on the latter. While it goes without saying that any of our
students could go on to be the next Picasso or Edison, our aim is to help students produce more ideas and use
language in new ways.

1. The underlined words"waiting for the bell" in the first paragraph probably mean _____.

A. longing for a phone call
B. hoping to have a bell
C. expecting the end of the class
D. wanting to speak in class

2. It can be inferred from the passage that the author thought the exercises in the book were _____.

A. popular
B. useful
C. scientific
D. creative

3. When you use a very familiar word in a new way, you are _____.

A．creative in the sense of big "C" creativity
B．creative in the sense of small "c" creativity
C．not creative in the sense of big "c" creativity
D．not creative in the sense of small "c" creativity

4. The main purpose of the passage is to _____.

A. show how useful the book is
B. explain what creativity is
C. discuss how one can be creative
D. tell what teaching aims at