Research shows that much of  our predisposition (傾向) towards determination, sociability and self­control and sense of purpose is in our genes. In  fact, our DNA plays a bigger role in influencing these traits (characteristics) than our upbringing (兒童期的教養(yǎng)) and the company we keep.  Taken together, these aspects of personality can make the difference between success and failure, say the Edinburgh University researchers.
They questioned more than 800 pairs of twins about  their attitudes to life to tease apart the influences of nature  and nurture. Comparing identical twins, who share all their  DNA and their upbringing, with non­identical twins, who  have a shared background but are no more genetically alike  than other brothers and sisters, is a technique often used  by researchers to quantify the influence of genetics.
The results, published in the Journal of Personality,  showed that genes play a much bigger role than lifestyle,  with self­control particularly etched (銘刻) into our DNA.
Our genes also largely determine how determined and persistent we are. This is important in terms of success, as someone who refuses to give up is more likely to achieve their dreams than someone_who_throws_in_the_towel_at_the_first_hiccough.
Researcher Professor Timothy Bates said, “Ever since the ancient Greeks, people have debated the nature of a good life and the nature of a virtuous life. Why do some people seem to manage their lives, have good relationships and cooperate to achieve their goals while others do not? Previously, the role of family and the environment around the home often controlled people's ideas about what affected psychological well­being. However, this work emphasizes a much more powerful influence from genetics.”
However, those who haven't been dealt a helpful hand of genes shouldn't be too depressed. The professor says a sense of purpose is the key and advises those who are eager for success to focus their thoughts on making a difference.
小題1:What does the result of the research indicate?

A．Our DNA is the only factor to decide our traits.

B．Our DNA plays a decisive role in achieving success.

C．Education plays little part in the formation of our character.

D．Society has little effect on us in our personality.

小題2:The underlined part in Paragraph 4 refers to someone   who ________.

A．is born successful

B．determines to make a difference

C．makes great effort

D．a(chǎn)dmits defeat easily

小題3:Timothy Bates mentions the ancient Greeks in order to   indicate that ________.

A．some people can live a good life because they can manage their lives

B．people haven't made it clear yet what is the key personality trait to be a success

C．in ancient Greece the role of family and the environment was ignored

D．the relationship between personality and success has always been people's concern

小題4:According to the passage, the key personality trait is ________.

A．determination	B．kindness
C．politeness	D．sociability

小題5:What is the best title for the passage?

A．How do people work hard?

B．Why can some people succeed?

C．DNA determines success or failure.

D．Several factors determine personality.

Here I'd like to talk about how to develop your curiosity and make use of it to make discoveries. Asking questions is the first step to make discoveries and find interesting answers when you are curious about something and want to know more about it.
Firstly, write down the subject that you are interested in on a note card or piece of paper. Just put the main idea down, such as “Discover more about dinosaurs.”
Next, think for a moment about what you already know about your subject and list information like the sentences below：
1. Dinosaurs lived long before human beings appeared.
2. Dinosaurs lived on the earth for more than 150 million years.
3. Some dinosaurs fed on plants, some on meat.
Thirdly, ask yourself “What can I do with what I want to learn？” On your paper, start writing down questions about the dinosaurs as you think of them：
1. What's the best weather for dinosaurs to live in?
2. How many kinds of dinosaurs are there?
3. Have dinosaurs really disappeared?
Fourthly, armed_with_your_list_of_questions,_you can now visit the nearest library or turn to computer to begin your research. As you learn more about your subject, you'll probably discover some new questions.
For example, you might discover that dinosaurs disappeared about 65 million years ago. Why? What happened? Asking new questions can help you research your subject more deeply.
The next time you find something interesting to research, take time to organize your thinking by asking good questions. And remember—learning more always bring more questions.
小題1:While doing some research, you should take the following steps________.
①list what you want to know
②choose a research subject
③list what you already know
④discover new problems

A．①④③②	B．①②④③
C．②③①④	D．②①④③

小題2:What does the underlined sentence “armed with your list of questions” mean?

A．Taking your list of questions with you to do more research.

B．Writing down your list of questions before turning to the computer.

C．Discussing your questions with your classmates for solution.

D．Putting your questions aside before going to the library.

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

A．You can find all the answers online.

B．Learn more, and you'll have no questions.

C．Asking questions is the only way for research.

D．During the research, more questions may arise.

小題4:The best title for this passage is________.

A．Discovering Dinosaurs

B．Asking Good Questions

C．Finding Suitable Subjects

D．Having Interesting Answers

Archaeology, like many academic words, comes from Greek and means, more or less, “the study of old things”. So, it is really a part of the study of history. However, most historians use paper evidence, such as letters, paintings and photographs, but archaeologists learn from the objects left behind by the humans of long ago. Normally, these are the hard materials that don't break down or disappear very quickly—things like human bones and objects made from stone and metal.
It is very unusual to find anything more than the hard evidence of history—normally, the bacteria in the air eat away at soft materials, like bodies, clothes and things made of wood. Occasionally, things are different.
In 1984, two men made an amazing discovery while working in a bog called Lindow Moss, in the north of England. A bog is a very wet area of earth, with a lot of plants growing in it. It can be like a very big and very thick vegetable soup—walk in the wrong place and you can sink and disappear forever. The men were working when one of them saw something sticking out—a human foot! Naturally, the men called the police, who then found the rest of the body. Was it a case of murder? Possibly—but it was a death nearly two thousand years old. The two men had found a body from the time of the Roman invasion of Britain. Despite being so old, this body had skin, muscles, hair and internal organs—the scientists who examined him were able to look inside the man's stomach and find the food that he had eaten for his last meal!
Why was this man so well preserved? It was because he was in a very watery environment, safe from the bacteria that need oxygen to live. Also, the water in the bog was very acidic. The acid preserved the man's skin in the way that animal skin is preserved for leather coats and shoes.
How did he die? Understandably, archaeologists and other scientists wanted to know more about the person that they called “Lindow Man”. His hands and fingernails suggested that he hadn't done heavy manual work in his life—he could have been a rich man. They found that he hadn't died by accident. The archaeologists believe that he was sacrificed to three different gods.
小題1:The underlined word “these” in the first paragraph refers to ________.

A．letters	B．photographs
C．paintings	D．objects

小題2:Which of the following helped to preserve “Lindow Man”？

A．Ice and low temperature

B．Acid and water

C．Soil and energy

D．Bacteria and oxygen

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

A．“Lindow Man” was named after the person who first found him.

B．Historians usually use paper evidence, while archaeologists use hard evidence.

C．“Lindow Man” was found by two archaeologists in the south of England.

D．“Lindow Man” was good at work by hand.

小題4:Which is the best title for the passage?

A．An Amazing Archaeological Discovery

B．Archaeology and History

C．What Is Archaeology?

D．The Death of “Lindow Man”

Scientists have been puzzled by the phenomenon that migrating birds fly not just in groups all the time, but in "V" formations and they have tried to figure out what benefit birds get from this particular formation. Now, a research group from University of London may have found the answer ― migrating birds fly in a "V" to save energy, according to a study published in the journal Nature.
When a bird flaps(振翅) its wings, it stirs the air around it and causes it to move indifferent directions. Scientist found in the study that the air creates an upward-moving wave at the tips of the wings, which means that if a bird flies around the wingtips of another bird, it can get a boost（抬高） from the rising air and therefore use less energy to stay in the air.
Apart form the "free ride" strategy, scientists were also surprised to observe that migrating birds timed their wing beats and adjusted their positions in a very precise way to maximize the lifting effect while avoiding areas where the air move downward.
"They're able to sense what's going on from the bird in front, where this 'good air' is coming from and now how to position themselves perfectly in it," lead researcher Steven Portugal told BBC.
In fact, the "V" formation has long thought to help birds fly more efficiently(效率搞地). A previous study showed that birds' heart rates went down when they were flying together in a "V" formation. Jet fighters were also found to be able reduce their energy use by up to 18% by staying near the wingtips of other jet fighters. Both of these findings led scientists to suspect that the "V" formation had an efficiency purpose, but until now they still lack proof.
"For scientists, the new study provides an insight into an interesting natural phenomenon. But it could mean even more for aircraft companies — helping them understand how they can imitate that with their plane formations to save fuel, said Portugal."
小題1:What is the author's purpose in writing this article?

A．To explain how birds benefit from migration.

B．To introduce how migrating birds find their way.

C．To tell some applications of migrating birds' "V" formations.

D．To report new findings about migrating birds' "V" formations.

小題2: According to the recent study, when birds migrate        .

A．they don't change their lead birds during the whole journey

B．they fly in "V" formations to protect themselves against enemies

C．they form the shape of a "V" to make best use of the lifting effect

D．the air they stir around makes it hard for the birds behind to fly fast

小題3:What is the significance of the new study according to this article?

A．It might inspire aircraft companies to think of ways to improve efficiency.

B．It has proved that the "V" formation can improve in efficiency in many fields,

C．It has led scientists to discover that birds' heart rates go down when they fly in a "V".

D．It shows that the best formation of jet fighters in battle should be a "V" formation.

小題4: The underlined word "imitate" in the last paragraph most probably means "        ".

A．use

B．copy

C．change

D．learn

The preventive measures for forest fires include some preemptive(搶先)methods that can help reduce the risks of fires and control their severity and spread，and thus, maintain ecological balance and protect resources．Close monitoring of forest fires caused by natural factors can help prevent their spread to a large extent．To contain forest fires，fire departments usually use water and chemical fire retardants(抑制劑)that can be dropped from planes and helicopters．To control the spread of a wildfire．firefighters usually create a control line by removing all fuel from an area so that the fire cannot travel across it．
Controlled burns are often employed by government authorities to reduce fuel buildup，and clean up the fallen leaves，and thus，prevent the spread of forest fires to a vast area．Regular controlled burns can also help maintain biodiversity(生物多樣性)，as the smoke and heat produced in the process can facilitate(促進(jìn))the growth of seeds of certain plant species．Apart from these，responsible human behavior can help reduce the number of forest fires to a great extent．In fact，we can reduce the number of wildfires dramatically by not leaving behind any source of fire in the forest.
Forest fires can affect climate and weather to a great extent，besides causing severe damage to valuable trees．Wildfires can increase the level of greenhouse gases(water vapor, carbon dioxide，etc)，and therefore increase pollution and global warming．However, they are also an important part of the ecosystem，and many plants depend on the heat and smoke generated by wildfires for their growth and reproduction．But large wildfires can cause extensive damage to the ecosystem，which again highlights the importance of effective control and prevention of forest fires·
小題1:What may be the best title for this passage?

A．Control and Prevention of Forest Fires

B．How to Keep Ecological Balance

C．Effects of Forest Fires

D．Methods of Fire Spread Control

小題2:Firefighters get rid of all fuel in all area in order to ____________．

A．keep close monitoring of forest fires

B．prevent the forest fire from occurring

C．protect the animals there

D．stop the wildfire from spreading

小題3:The government arranges some controlled burns to_______________．

A．burn the rubbish and keep the forest clean

B．help keep ecological balance of nature

C．reduce fuel buildup and limit forest fires spread

D．provide reasonable conditions for some plants’growth

小題4:A controlled forest fire may play a positive role because ________________.

A．a(chǎn) new forest will appear soon

B．it promotes the development of some seeds

C．nature keeps its balance only by wildfires

D．it makes the trees grow faster than before

小題5:The last paragraph tells us that _______________．

A．the greenhouse gases are caused mainly by wildfires

B．wildfires have both positive and negative effects

C．people should be aware of the necessity of wildfires

D．a(chǎn)ll the valuable trees disappear owing to wildfires

     Caffeine not only gives us a daily jump start, but new research suggests it also can strengthen long-term memory.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, nearly 90 percent of people worldwide consume about 200 milligrams of caffeine each day. That' s equivalent to about one strong cup of coffee a day. Writing in " Nature Neuroscience" , Johns Hopkins University researchers say their findings show that caffeine strengthens certain memories for up t0 24 hours after being taken in.
" We've always known that  caffeine has  cognitive-enhancing effects (促智效果) , but its ,particular effects on strengthening memories and making them resistant to forgetting has never been examined in detail in humans, "  said senior author of the paper Michael Yassa. " We re- port for the first time a specific effect of caffeine on reducing forgetting over 24 hours. "      Conducting a double-blind trial, the researchers worked with a test group of people who didn't regularly consume caffeinated products. Five minutes after studying a series of images, the  test subjects were given either a placebo(無效對(duì)照劑)  or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet.
To check the caffeine levels of their test subjects, the research team took saliva samples (唾液樣品)  from them before they took their tablets and again one, three and 24 hours after- wards.
Both groups of test participants ( those who took the placebo and those who took the caffeine tablet) were tested the following day to see if they could recognize the images they' d seen the previous day.
The test included showing the test subjects another series of images that included some new images , those that were shown the previous day, as well as other images that were similar, but not the same as those they had viewed earlier.
The researchers found that more members of the group who were given the caffeine tablets were able to correctly identify some of the new images as " similar" to previously viewed images rather than incorrectly identifying them as the same.
"We also know that caffeine is associated with health and longevity(長(zhǎng)壽) and may havesome protective  effects  from  cognitive  decline  like  Alzheimer' s  disease (阿爾茨海默癥). " said Yassa.
小題1:The purpose of the new research is

A．to survey how much caffeine people consume a day

B．to write the paper " Nature Neuroscience"

C．to prove caffeine has cognitive-enhancing effects

D．to examine caffeine ' s memory-strengthening effects in detail

小題2: During the research ,the researchers did the following things EXCEPT

A．giving the test subjects placebos or caffeine tablets

B．checking the caffeine levels of the test subjects

C．encouraging the test subjects to drink more coffee

D．showing the test subjects series of images

小題3: How did the test subjects show the caffeine ' s memory-strengthening effects?

A．By recognizing images they ' d seen the previous day.

B．By taking the caffeine tablets instead of placebos.

C．By identifying the new images as the same.

D．By telling the differences between new images.

小題4: What will the next part of the text possibly talk about?

A．Ways to achieve health and longevity.

B．The effects caffeine has on health.

C．The treatment for Alzheimer' s disease.

D．The harmful effects of cognitive decline.

      Sometime in the next century, the familiar early-newspaper on the front porch (門廊) will  disappear. And instead of reading your newspaper, it will read to you. You'll get up and turn on  the computer newspaper just like switching on the TV An electronic voice will distribute stories  about the latest events, guided by a program that selects the type of news you want. You'll even get to choose the kind of voice you want to hear. Want more information on this brief story? A simple touch makes the entire text appear. Save it in your own personal computer if you like. These are among the predictions from communication experts working on the newspapers of the future. Pictured as part of broader home-based media and entertainment systems, computer newspapers will unite print and broadcast reporting, and offer news and analysis with video images of news events.
Most of the technology is available now, but convincing more people that they don't need to  read a newspaper is the next step. But resistance to computer newspapers may be stronger from  within journalism. Since it is such a cultural change, it may be that the present generation of  journalists and publishers will have to die off before the next generation realizes that the  newspaper industry is no longer a newspaper industry. Technology is making the end of ' traditional newspapers unavoidable.
Despite technological advances, it could take decades to replace newsprint with computer  screens. It might take 30 t0 40 years to complete the changeover because people need to buy  computers and because newspapers have established financial interests in the paper industry.
小題1: Which of the following is NOT an advantage of computer newspapers?

A．They are cheaper than traditional newspapers.

B．They are more convenient to read.

C．You can choose the kind of voice you want to hear.

D．You can easily save information for future use.

小題2:Which of the  following is a reason why it will take a long time to complete the changeover?

A．The technology is impossible now.

B． Computer newspaper s are too expensive.

C．The popularization of computers needs a long time.

D．Traditional newspapers are easier to read.

小題3: It can be inferred that journalists are against computer newspapers because _______ .

A．they don't know how to use computers

B．they think computer newspapers take too much time to read

C．they think the new technology is bad

D．they have been trained to write For traditional newspapers

小題4: We can infer from the passage that

A．a(chǎn)ll technological changes are good

B．new technologies don't always replace old ones

C．new technologies will eventually replace old ones

D．traditional newspapers are here to stay for another century

小題5: What is the best title of the passage?

A．Computer newspapers are well liked.

B．Newspapers of the future will be on the computer.

C．Newspapers are out of fashion.

D．New communications technology.

Human civilization has truly come a long way．From using animals for transport to the super fast automobiles that we have today．From using flint to making fire to using one touch lighters．But there are some things that we will never let go of．Some ancient traditions that have been brought down through the ages are still followed today．

Groundhog Day(土拔鼠節(jié))，falls on the 2nd of February every year．It is observed in the United States and Canada．While this day may be a public holiday and a bank holiday，it is not a compulsory holiday declared by the government．But this is not so for all the states．State-wise holidays may vary．
Ever heard of Punxsutawney Phil? Groundhog Day is observed because of this groundhog．The day is indeed about a groundhog．Punxsutawney is the name of an apparently weather forecasting groundhog．He lives in his burrow(洞穴)on Gobler’s Knob，Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania，for a short period before the 2nd of February every year．On the 2nd of February，Phil comes out from his burrow and looks for his shadow．If he sees his shadow and goes back into the burrow，then America will have an extended winter of six weeks，But if he cannot see his shadow，and he remains outside．It means winter will soon end and spring will arrive very shortly .Phil has been‘predicting’the length of winter in this manner for almost a century and they have always been almost 100％ accurate．   
Groundhog Day is celebrated in some parts of the USA and Canada．The largest celebration is held at Punxsutawney，Pennsylvania．People come in scores to visit Punxsutawney Phil．They wait eagerly, camping days in advance，to see the small groundhog appear from his burrow，check for his shadow and either go back in or stay out．People cheer when they hear it is time for winter to end and celebrate by eating sweets and singing and dancing．Today．the Groundhog Day is a widespread tradition and an exciting event．
小題1:People celebrate Groundhog Day because ______________.

A．some sweets are provided on Groundhog Day

B．more and more people love groundhogs

C．the groundhog predicts the beginning of spring

D．Punxsutawney Phil is worth respecting

小題2:What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 1？

A．Human civilization has a long history．

B．Some old traditions should be carried on．

C．Human civilization develops very fast．

D．Some old traditions have disappeared．

小題3: We learn from the passage that Punxsutawney Phil ____________．

A．forecasts the weather based on his shadow

B．witnesses the history of human development

C．organizes celebrations on Groundhog Day

D．gives performances on Groundhog Day

小題4:We may infer from the passage that ________________．

A．groundhogs will replace TV weathermen soon

B．groundhogs can forecast the weather accurately

C．Groundhog Day is becoming popular in the US and Canada

D．a(chǎn) longer shadow of a groundhog indicates a longer winter

小題5:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Winter will end if the groundhog goes back into the burrow.

B．Groundhog Day is a compulsory’holiday in the US and Canada．

C．A groundhog will remain outside if he sees his shadows on 2nd，F(xiàn)eb．

D．The celebration in Punxsutawney attracts large numbers of visitors．

It's wonderful to go to another country, complete a volunteer project and feel that you really have a positive influence. But how can you become an international volunteer?
* Plan practically. Contact the organization a few months before leaving and find out if there are materials which are rare and hard to attain for the project. What you often consider plentiful here, such as nails or hammers, is in great need in other parts of the world.
* Do the project together, not on your own. You are a guest in the community. The most successful result is not that you build something and walk away, but that you and the community build something as a team. Share skills and build together.
* Be flexible. Not everything is going to happen as planned. Often the other country doesn't have the right tools, manpower, transportation or funds to get all the needed work done. In a word, they lack infrastructure(基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施).
* Contact with the people in the community. Often you will have "downtime" outside of the range of the project. Rather than retreat to the group with whom you traveled, be sure to spend time with the people of the community. Listen to the things about their lives. If you can't speak the language, smiles work wonders. And you will be surprised ― you will find a way to community.
Volunteering is a special and life-long experience for everyone involved. Be prepared that the person who may be changed most is you. It's a joyful, often careful experience which will encourage you to view yourself, your neighbors and your world quite differently.
小題1: When you volunteer to join in a project, you are advised to          .

A．build something and walk away

B．make good preparation in advance

C．a(chǎn)void involving locals in activities

D．depend on yourself to solve problems

小題2: According to the author, volunteer will          .

A．reduce challenge in the world

B．determine the future of a volunteer

C．change a person's opinion of the world

D．benefit volunteers most in their learning

小題3: What is the passage mainly about?

A．What prepares you to become a volunteer.

B．Where volunteers are needed most in the world.

C．Why volunteering is popular with young people.

D．How volunteers develop a relationship with local people.

What would you do if you were a fifth grader facing a huge homework load every night, and you found out that there was a machine that would do all the work for you? That's the situation presented to Sam, Kelsey, Judy and Brenton in Dan Gutman's entertaining new book for young readers, The Home Machine.
The four children, all fifth graders in Miss Rasmussen's Grand Canyon School, are as different as any other 11-year-old child could be, but they have one thing in common — all are somewhat separated from their classmates. Sam is a newcomer and has had his share of school trouble before; Kelsey quietly carries her pain at losing her father; Judy's sense of justice always annoys others; Brenton is the smartest child in the school, so smart that even his parents and teachers have trouble keeping up with him. When Brenton and his three classmates are put into the same study group by their teacher, the others discover that Brenton has made a time-saving gadget(裝置) to do homework for him. While the boy is perfectly able to do his homework himself, Sam, Kelsey and Judy can use the help.
Having perfect grades is something new for these three, and as they meet every day to "do homework", they find that they're learning a lot about each other. Such a good thing can't last though, and when a secret man starts trying to get in touch with them, they begin to get nervous. Soon there's an even more frightening problem ― why can't the Homework Machine be turned off?
Told in different voices as all the children make statements to the Grand Canyon Police, the story develops in an interesting fashion. Gutman is a gifted writer who has written dozens of children's books, each with a funny and impressing table that should be equally liked by boys and girls.
小題1: What is one common thing that all the four children have to deal with at school?

A．Getting along with their classmates.

B．Doing their homework by themselves.

C．Overcoming difficulties on their own.

D．Catching up with others to get good grades.

小題2: Which of the following words best describe Brenton?

A．Strange and nervous.	B．Quiet and smart.
C．Brave and special.	D．Clever and helpful.

小題3: Why did the children get frightened?

A．They lost touch with each other.

B．They were questioned by a strange man.

C．They had no idea how to stop the machine.

D．They were tracked down by the police.

小題4: This passage most probably comes from            .

A．a(chǎn) student's diary

B．a(chǎn) book review

C．a(chǎn) school report

D．a(chǎn) science story