Almost every child is scared of something, from monsters in the cupboard to dogs in the park. But the
fact that such fears are common and normal doesn't mean they can be taken lightly. Kids experience fears
and phobias (恐懼癥) much more strongly than adults. And the influence of the fear can be physical as well
as psychological (心理的). It can build up so they almost seem scared of everything－a kind of childhood
anxiety. Dr. Creswell says: "Your child may always seem to expect the worst to happen and lack confidence
in his or her ability to deal with any challenge." So don't make the same old mistake of treating them as if
they're silly for being a "scaredy cat". Handling the fears is essential.
      Children can be born nervous and, if you have such a baby, you'll tend to prevent them from getting
worried. So if they fear dogs, you'll keep them away from dogs, but in fact that can just confirm to the child
that dogs are scary. What is worse, keeping your child away from what they fear can turn that feeling into
a phobia. Instead, you should encourage them to get in touch with the thing they fear, in a safe and supportive
environment. Dr. Andy Field, a researcher of childhood fears, says: "You shouldn't force, for example, a dog
anxious child to go up to a dog. But you can approach it yourself, show them there is nothing to be afraid of,
stroke (撫摸) it, and talk about the dog being friendly. Once your child dares to stroke a dog－one that's good
with children, of course－then you should encourage them to carry on until they feel calmer, and reward them
for 'being brave'."

1. Children's fears are usually taken lightly because ______.

A. they will not develop into phobias
B. their influence is psychological
C. they exist widely in the world
D. they will disappear gradually

2. If we fail to help children to overcome fears, they will ______.

A. make the same old mistake
B. overcome them by themselves
C. experience the worst of things
D. grow up lacking self confidence

3. According to Dr. Andy Field, if a child is afraid of a cat, parents should ______.

A. tell the child not to be afraid of it
B. show the child how to approach it
C. keep the child away from it
D. ask the child to stroke it

     Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found
out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a
certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.
     Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself,
each extra dollar makes less and less difference.
     Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and
happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries,
yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems
to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.
     "Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better," conclude some experts, which helps explain
why people who can seek status in other ways－scientists or actors, for example－may happily accept
relatively poorly-paid jobs.
     In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desire－not just for money, but for
friends, family, job, health－rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those
who felt a smaller gap (差距). Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than
income alone. "The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income." Says Michalos.
     Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. "Given all the problems
of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?" asks Professor Laura Carstensen.
     In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill
out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young
people, but negative emotions much less often.
     Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn
to live with it, or they're more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve.
But Carstensen thinks that with times running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make
them happy and let go of those that don't.
     "People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever," she says. "A
goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional
responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20."

1. According to the passage, the feeling of happiness _______. 

A. is determined partly by genes
B. increases gradually with age
C. has little to do with wealth
D. is measured by desires

2. Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs _______.

A. make them feel much better
B. provide chances to make friends
C. improve their social position
D. satisfy their professional interests

3. Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more _______.

A. optimistic
B. successful
C. practical
D. emotional

4. Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if _______.

A. the gap between reality and desire is bigger
B. they have a stronger desire for friendship
C. their income is below their expectation
D. the hope for good health is greater

     Modern inventions have speeded up people's loves amazingly. Motor-cars cover a hundred miles in little
more than an hour, aircraft cross the world inside a day, while computers operate at lightning speed. Indeed,
this love of speed seems never-ending. Every year motor-cars are produced which go even faster and each
new computer boats (吹噓) of saving precious seconds in handling tasks.
     All this saves time, but at a price. When we lose or gain half a day in speeding across the world in an
airplane, our bodies tell us so. We get the uncomfortable feeling known as jet-lag; our bodies feel that they
have been left behind on another time zone. Again, spending too long at computers results in painful wrists
and fingers. Mobile phones also have their dangers, according to some scientist; too much use may transmit
harmful radiation into our brains, a consequence we do not like to think about.
     However, what do we do with the time we have saved? Certainly not relax, or so it seems. We are so
accustomed constant activity that we find it difficult to sit and do nothing or even just one thing at a time.
Perhaps the days are long gone when we might listen quietly to a story on the radio, letting imagination take
us into another world.
     There was a time when some people's lives were devoted simply to the cultivation of the land or the care
of cattle. No multi-tasking there; their lives went on at a much gentler pace, and in a familiar pattern. There
is much that we might envy about a way of life like this. Yet before we do so, we must think of the hard tasks
our ancestor faced: they farmed with bare hands, often lived close to hunger, and had to fashion tools from
wood and stone. Modern machinery has freed people from that primitive existence.

1. The new products become more and more time-saving because _____.

A. our love of speed seems never-ending
B. time is limited
C. the prices are increasingly high
D. the manufactures boast a lot

2. What does "the days" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Imaginary life.
B. Simple life in the past.
C. Times of inventions.
D. Time for constant activity.

3. What is the author's attitude towards the modern technology?

A. Critical.
B. Objective.
C. Optimistic.
D. Negative.

4. What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. The present and past times.
B. Machinery and human beings.
C. Imaginations and inventions.
D. Modern technology and its influence.

     Imagine you're at a party full of strangers. You're nervous. Who are these people? How do you start
a conversation? Fortunately, you've get a thing that sends out energy at tiny chips in everyone's name tag
(標(biāo)簽). The chips send back name, job, hobbies, and the time available for meeting-whatever. Making
new friends becomes simple.
     This hasn't quite happened in real life. But the world is already experiencing a revolution using RFID
technology.
     An RFID tag with a tiny chip can be fixed in a product, under your pet's skin, even under your own
skin. Passive RFID tags have no energy source - batteries because they do not need it. The energy comes
from the reader, a scanning device (裝置), that sends out energy (for example, radio waves) that starts
up the tag immediately.
     Such a tag carries information specific to that object, and the data can be updated. Already, RFID
technology is used for recognizing each car or truck on the road and it might appear in your passport.
Doctors can put a tiny chip under the skin that will help locate and obtain a patient's medical records. At
a nightclub in Paris or in New York the same chip gets you into the VIP (very important person ) section
and pays for the bill with the wave of an arm.
     Take a step back: 10 or 12 years ago, you would have heard about the coming age of computing. One
example always seemed to surface: Your refrigerator would know when you needed to buy more milk. The
concept was that computer chips could he put every where and send information in smart network that
would make ordinary life simpler.
     RFID tags are a small part of this phenomenon. "The world is going to he a loosely coupled set of
individual small devices, connected wirelessly." Predicts Dr. J. Reich. Human right supporters are nervous
about the possibilities of such technology. It goes too far tracking school kids through RFID tags, they say.
We imagine a world in which a beer company could find out not only when you bought a beer but also
when you drank it. And how many beers, Accompanied by how many biscuits.
     When Marconi invented radio, he thought it would be used for ship-to-shore communication, not for
pop music. Who knows how RFID and related technologies will be used in the future. Here's a wild guess:
Not for buying milk.

1. The article is intended to _____.

A. warn people of the possible risks in adopting RFID technology
B. explain the benefits brought about by RFID technology
C. convince people of the uses of RFID technology
D. predict the applications of RFID technology

2. We know from the passage that with the help of RFID tags, people _____.

A. will have no trouble getting date about others
B. will have more energy for conversation
C. will have more time to make friends
D. won't feel shy at parties any longer

3. Passive RFID tags chiefly consist of _____.

A. scanning devices
B. radio waves
C. batteries
D. chips

4. Why are some people worried about RFID technology?

A. Because children will be tracked by strangers.
B. Because market competition will become more fierce.
C. Because their private lives will be greatly affected.
D. Because customers will be forced to buy more products.

5. The last paragraph implies that RFID technology _____.

A. will not be used for such matters as buying milk
B. will be widely used, including for buying milk
C. will be limited to communication uses
D. will probably be used for pop music

     Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the
way many North Americans interact (互動) these days. The term is "networked individualism". This
concept is not easy to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be
individuals (個體) and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks.
     Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and e-mail, our social
networks included live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some of the interaction was
by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in real time.
     A recent research study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project showed that for a lot of people,
electronic interaction through the computer has replaced this person-to- person interaction. However, a lot
of people interviewed for the Pew study say that's a good thing. Why?
      In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated (孤立) us and caused us to spend too
much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true.
The Internet connects us with more real people than expected - helpful people who can give advice on
careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans
told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions.
     Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone and together with other people-at the same time!

1. The underlined phrase"networked individualism" probably means that by using computers people ____.

A. stick to their own ways no matter what other people say
B. have the rights and freedom to do things of their own interest
C. do things in their own ways and express opinions different from other people
D. are able to keep to themselves but at the same time reach out to other people

2. According to the Pew study, what do many people rely on to make major life decisions?

A. Networks.
B. Friends.
C. Phones.
D. Parents.

3. It can be inferred from the Pew study that ______.

A. people have been separated from each other by using computers
B. the Internet makes people waste a lot of time and feel very lonely
C. the Internet has become a tool for a new kind of social communication
D. a lot of people regard the person-to-person communication as a good thing

4. Which would be the best title for this passage?

A. We're Alone on the Internet.
B. We're Communicating on the Internet.
C. We're Alone Together on the Internet.
D. We're in the Imaginary World of the Internet.

                                                                Thinking
     Some scientists claim that we humans are the only living things that are conscious (有意識的)-we alone
are aware that we are thinking.
     No one knows how consciousness works-it is one of science's last great mysteries.
     All your thoughts take place in the cerebrum (大腦皮質(zhì)), which is at the top of your brain, and different
kinds of thought are linked to different areas, called association areas.
     Each half of the cerebrum has four rounded ends called lobes (腦葉)-two at the front (frontal and
temporal lobes) and two at the back (occipital and parietal lobes).
     The frontal lobe is linked to your personality and it is where you have your bright ideas. 
      The temporal lobe is where you hear and understand what people say to you.
     The occipital lobe is where you work out what your eyes see. 
      The parietal lobe is where you record touch, heat and cold, and pain.
     The left half of the brain controls the right side of the body. The right half controls the left side. 
     One half of the brain is always dominant (in charge). Usually, the left brain is dominant, which is why
90% of people are right-handed.

1. Which part of your cerebrum is most active when you are making a telephone call?

A. The frontal lobe.
B. The temporal lobe.
C. The occipital lobe.
D. The parietal lobe.

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A. One's personality has something to do with the frontal lobe.
B. Bright ideas come from the parietal lobe.
C. The occipital and temporal lobes are at the back of the cerebrum.
D. The occipital lobe is in charge of sound.

3. From the passage, we know the reason why around 10% of people are left-handed is that ______.

A. their frontal lobe is usually dominant
B. their temporal lobe is usually dominant
C. their right brain is usually dominant
D. their left brain is usually dominant

                                                               The Book Of Life
     So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species (物種), and that's just a small number of
what probably exists on Earth. With so many plants, animal, and other living things covering the planet, it
can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by.
     A soon-to-be-started Web site might help. An international term of researchers has announced the creation
of Web-based Encyclopedia (百科全書) of Life (EoL). The project aims to list every species on Earth in a
single, easy-to-use reference guide.
     To get the encyclopedia started, the creators will use information from scientific databases (數(shù)據(jù)庫) that
already exist. And eventually, in special sections of the site, non-scientists with specialized knowledge will
come to help. Bird-watchers, for example, will be able to input what birds they've seen and where. To make
sure the encyclopedia is accurate, scientists will review much of the information added to it.
     As the EoL develops, you might find it useful for school projects. The site will feature (以…為特色)
special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods. Another convenient feature of
the EoL is that you'll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests, age, and
knowledge.
     It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describes and analyze species. The
creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new fool will speed up that process.

1. The Web based EoL aims to _____.

A. fine out what covers the earth
B. list all living things on Earth
C. work out the number of birds
D. save the existing plants

2. One characteristic of the EoL is that _____.

A. it is run by school students
B. it focuses on different types of grass
C. it provides different levels of information
D. it allows non-scientists to review its data

3. In the last paragraph, "that process" means _____.

A. analyzing species
B. creating a new tool
C. collecting data
D. describing species

     In June, 2007, a group of students from eight high schools in Winnipeg, the capital of Canada's Manitoba
province, will begin test-launching (試發(fā)射) a satellite the size of a Rubik's cube.
     The one-kilogram Win-Cub satellite, named for its home city and its shape, will be put into low orbit. Once
in space, it can perform for a few months or up to several years, communicating information that could help
find the signs of earthquakes.
     There are 80 similar satellite projects worldwide, but this is the first high-school based program of its kind
in Canada. 30 Manitoba high school students are having a hand in designing and building the satellite, in
cooperation with aerospace (航空航天的) experts and 10 students from the University of Manitoba, and with
support from two other organizations.
     The Win-Cube project is not something that goes on a piece of paper; it is real-world engineering, allowing
high school students to have an opportunity to learn more about the exciting world of engineering through their
participation in this challenging program. It is also taken as a wonderful example of the unique partnerships
within Manitoba. Designing, building and launching a satellite with high-school participation will bring this world-
class educational project into reality and Manitoba closer to space.
     "These Manitoba high school students deserve congratulations for their enthusiasm, innovation (創(chuàng)新), and
a strong love for discovery," said Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjomson. "We want to make
science more relevant (相關(guān)的), interesting and attractive to high school students by showing them how
classroom studies can relate to practical experience in the workplace or, in this case, in space," Bjomson added.
     The Win-Cube program is mainly named at inspiring a strong desire for discovery on the part of the students.
It also shows Manitoba's devotion to research and innovation and the development of a skilled workforce-all
important drivers of knowledge-based economic growth.

1. According to the passage, the Win-Cube satellite is _____.

A. named after Manitoba and its shape
B. intended for international communication
C. designed like a Rubik's cube both in shape and size
D. challenged by university students around the world

2. According to Mr. Bjomson, _____.

A. those Manitoba high school students are worth praising
B. the study of space can be practically made in classrooms
C. Manitoba high schools are famous for the study of space
D. scientific research is too far away from high school students

3. The primary purpose of the project is to _____.

A. find the early signs of earthquakes
B. relate studies to practical
C. help high school students study real-world engineering
D. inspire a strong desire for discovery among the students

4. The best title for this passage may be _____.

A. Manitoba School
B. Win-Cube Program
C. Space Co-operation
D. Satellite Launching

     One of our biggest fears nowadays is that our kids might some day get lost in a "sea of technology"
rather than experiencing the natural world. Fear-producing TV and computer games are leading to a
serious disconnect between kids and the great outdoors, which will changes the wild places of the world,
its creatures and human health for the worse, unless adults get working on child's play.
     Each of us has a place in nature we go sometimes, even if it was torn down. We cannot be the last
generation to have that place. At this rate, kids who miss the sense of wonder outdoors will not grow up
to be protectors of natural landscapes. "If the decline in parks use continues across North America, who
will defend parks against encroachment (蠶食)?" asks Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods.
     Without having a nature experience, kids, can turn out just fine, but they are missing out a huge
enrichment of their lives. That applies to everything from their physical health and mental health, to stress
levels, creativity and cognitive (認(rèn)知的) skills. Experts predict modern kids will have poorer health than
their parents-and they say a lack of outside play is surely part of it; research suggests that kids do better
academically in schools with a nature component and that play in nature fosters (培養(yǎng)) leadership by the
smartest, not by the toughest. Even a tiny outdoor experience can create wonder in a child. The three-year-
old turning over his first rock realizes he is not alone in the world. A clump of trees on the roadside can be
the whole universe in his eyes. We really need to value that more.
     Kids are not to blame. They are over-protected and frightened. It is dangerous out there from time to
time, but repetitive stress from computers is replacing breaking an arm as a childhood rite (儀式) of passage.
     Everyone, from developers, to schools and outdoorsy citizens, should help regain for our kids some of
the freedom and joy of exploring, taking friendship in fields and woods that cement (增強(qiáng)) love, respect and
need for landscape. As parents, we should devote some of our energies to taking our kids into nature. This
could yet be our greatest cause.