Easy Ways to Keep Your Brain Sharp
    Everyone is forgetful, but as we age, we start to feel like our brains are slowing down a bit-and that
can be a very annoying thing.   1    Read on for some techniques worth trying.
    1.    2  
    People who regularly made plans and looked forward to upcoming events had a 50 percent reduced
chance of Alzheimer's disease (老年性癡呆癥), according to a recent study.   3    Something as simple
as setting a goal to have a weekly coffee date with a friend will do. There's evidence that people who
have a purpose in life or who are working on long or short-term goals appear to do better. In other
words, keep your brain looking forward.
    2. Go for a walk.
    Mildly raised glucose(葡萄糖)levels can harm the area of the brain that helps you form memories
and physical activity can help get blood glucose down to normal levels. In fact, exercise produces
chemicals that are good for your brain.      4      
     3. Learn something new.
    Take a Spanish class online, join a drawing club, or learn to play cards. A study found that mental
stimulation limits the weakening effects of aging on memory and the mind. But the best thing for your
brain is when you learn something new and are physically active at the same time.    5   Or you can just
go dancing with your friends.
A. Focus on the future.
B. This can be especially harmful to the aged.
C. It should be something like learning gardening.
D. So take a few minutes each day to do some reading.
E. But don't worry if our schedule isn't filled with life-changing events.
F. Luckily, research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those moments.
G. In other words, when you take care of your body, you take care of your brain.

     Each new school year brings fresh reminders of what educators call the summer learning gap.
Some call it the summer learning setback. Simply speaking,it means the longer kids are out of 'school,
the more they forget. The only thing they might gain is weight.
     Most American schools follow a traditional nine-month calendar with winter and spring breaks
and about ten weeks of summer vacation. Some schools follow a year-round calendar. They hold
classes for about eight weeks at a time,with a few weeks off in between. The National Association
for Year-Round Education says there were fewer than 3,000 such schools at last count. They were
spread among forty-six of the fifty states.
     But many experts point out that the number of class days in a year-round school is generally the
same as in a traditional school. Lead researcher Paul von Hippel said,"Year-round schools don't
really solve the problem of the summer learning setback. They simply spread it out across the year.
     Across the country,research shows that students from poor families fall farther behind over the
summer than other students. Experts say this can be prevented. They note that many schools and
local governments offer programs that can help.
     But calling them "summer school" could be a problem. The director of the summer learning center
at Johns Hopkins,Ron Fairchild,said research with groups of different parents in Chicago and Baltimore
found that almost all strongly disliked the term "summer school". In American culture,the idea of summer
vacation is connected to beliefs about freedom and the joys of childhood. The parents welcomed
other terms like "summer camp," "extra time" and "hands-on learning."

1. According to the first paragraph,the summer learning gap ____

A. helps children to gain weight        
B. leads children to work harder
C. improves children's memories      
D. affects children's regular studies

2. Compared to traditional schools,students in the year-round ones _____

A. perform better and have more learning gains
B. have much less time for relaxation every year
C. have generally the same number of class days                      
D. hold more classes with more free weeks off

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A. Students from poor families often fall behind after the vocation.
B. Year-round schools can solve the problem of the learning gap.
C. There are schools in each state following a year-round calendar.      
D. Nothing can help the students who fall behind after the vocation.

4. Why did almost all parents dislike the term "summer school"?

A. They cherish the children's rights of freedom very much.
B. They are worried about the quality of the "summer school".    
C. They want their children to be forced to make up the gap.
D. They can't afford to the further study during the vacation.

5. What would be the best title of this passage?    

A. Opening Summer Camps
B. Forbidding Summer Schools
C. Spreading Year-Round Education
D. Minding the Summer Learning Cap  

      Have you ever been to a wedding and simply loved the bride's bouquet (花束)? More than
likely some part of it was the Hawaiian Wedding Plant. This exotic(外國的) houseplant can be
enjoyed by anyone, not just brides. With a little proper attention and carefully planning on location,
this foreign houseplant, native to Madagascar, can be brought into the home where it can become
an interesting focus.
     Caring for the Hawaiian Wedding Plant is not much different than that of any other houseplants
being in your home. The basic requirements of water, soil, light and a good fertilizer are required for
this beautiful, exotic houseplant. The only difference between this type of houseplant and others is the
amount of the basic requirements that it needs to survive and perform beautifully. During the growing
season, it requires its soil moist(潮濕的), but when winter rolls around, it needs its soil to be kept drier.
     Hawaiian Wedding Plants should also be potted in welldrained soil and placed in a location that
receives full sun to bright shade. Mist the foliage(葉子) daily and feed this plant every two to three
weeks with a slowrelease fertilizer for acidloving plants. Prune(修剪) in early spring, even as early as
February.
     The most special feature of it is its long lasting blooms combined with fabulous fragrance(奇妙的
芳香). The Hawaiian Wedding Plant blooms the heaviest in the spring months, but has been known
to bloom in any warm months, so do not be surprised to find blooms most anytime of the year except
maybe in the dead of winter. When they do bloom, seedpods(豆莢) will often form and should
be allowed to dry while on the vine(藤). Do not pick these seedpods too early and expect to use the
seeds for propagation(繁殖). After the seedpods have been allowed to dry on the vine, the seeds can
be planted in welldraining soil and kept moist until new Hawaiian Wedding Plants begin to grow.
     Everyone can enjoy the Hawaiian Wedding Plant, no matter what of green thumb the gardener may
be lucky enough to have. With a little attention, this beautiful, fragrant flowering exotic houseplant will be
enjoyable for many years to come, not just when attending a wedding.

1. Why does the author mention wedding and bouquet in the first paragraph? 

A. To introduce a Hawaiian wedding.
B. To attract the readers' interest.
C. To show the beauty of the flower.
D. To teach the readers to choose proper bouquets.

2. The Hawaiian Wedding Plant comes from ________. 

A. Hawaii                            
B. China
C. Madagascar                        
D. Alaska

3. Which of the following are the growing conditions of Hawaiian Wedding Plant?
a. Wet soil.    
b. Lots of fertilizer.  
c. Proper sunshine.    
d. Much room.

A. a, c                                  
B.  a, b
C. b, c                                  
D. a, d

4. What does the underlined phrase "in the dead of winter" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A. At the end of winter.                                
B. At the beginning of winter.
C. In the whole winter.                                
D. In the coldest part of winter.

     San  Francisco is a spectacular city. It is famous for its steep hills, its earthquakes and the prison island of Alcatraz, but its most famous landmark is the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of the most beautiful
bridges in the world. It has a simple, graceful shape, and is painted in an attractive orange.
     Work on the Golden Gate Bridge started in 1933 and continued for the next four years. The total cost of the bridge was US$35 million. At that time, its span of 1,200 meters made the Golden Gate Bridge the
longest suspension(懸浮) bridge in the world. The bridge is 2.7 kilometers long and, at the middle point,
70 meters above the water of San Francisco Bay. The main cables that hold the bridge are one meter in
diameter. The bridge can safely withstand(抵擋) winds of up to 160 kilometers an hour, and it can sway(搖擺) as much as 8 meters in strong winds.
     On Thursday, May 27, 1937, 200,000 people walked across the bridge to mark its opening. People
are still allowed to walk across: it takes about half an hour each way. It is worth the effort. As you cross,
you understand the engineering skill that went into the construction of the bridge. You also get wonderful
views of San Francisco and the Bay Area.
      The Golden Gate Bridge has been the scene of many events since it was completed. It was shaken by
the earthquake of 1989. Daredevil(喜歡冒險(xiǎn)的) pilots have flown their planes under it. Sadly, too, some people have taken their own lives by jumping from the bridge. But throughout its history, the Golden Gate Bridge has been the symbol of San Francisco, like the Temple of Heaven symbolizes Beijing and the
Eiffel Tower symbolizes Paris

1. How many things make San Francisco famous?

A. Two (its history and its present).
B. Three (steep hills, earthquakes, the prison island of Alcatraz).
C. Four (Golden Gate Bridge, steep hills, earthquakes, the prison island of Alcatraz).
D. Five (the orange color of the bridge, the shape of the bridge, steep hills, earthquakes, the prison island
of Alcatraz).

2. The Golden Gate Bridge has been there for ______ years.

A. less than 70      
B. more than 70  
C. about 15  
D. about 50

3. What is TRUE about the bridge?

A. It was greatly damaged by the earthquake in 1989.
B. It can fight back strong winds of up to 180 kilometers an hour.
C. It has caused many deaths since its opening.
D. It is the symbol of the history of San Francisco.  

     Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance. But in fact,  a lot
of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. They care just as much as girls do about their body
image.
     Body image is a person's opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical
appearance.    1   You appreciate your body for its capabilities and accept its imperfections.
        2   Here are some ideas.
     Recognize your strengths.  Different body types are good for different things. What does your body
do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination makes you better than others at a certain sport.
That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running.  Or perhaps you have
nonsports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting.    3  
     Exercise regularly. Exercise can help you look well and feel good about yourself. Good physiques
(體形) don't just happen.    4   A healthy habit can be as simple as exercising 20 minutes to 1 hour three
days a week. Working out can also lift your spirits.
     Respect your body! Practicing good habits-regular showering; taking care of your teeth, hair, and
skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on-can help you build a positive body image.
       5   Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy  a quick wit (智慧), and all
the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.
A. Use this as an opportunity to discover what you're good at.
B. Be yourself.
C. Having a positive body image means feeling satisfied with the way you look.
D. Just explore talents that you feel good about.
E. They take hard work, regular workouts, and a healthy diet.
F. The good news is that selfimage and body image can be  changed.
G. So, what can you do to develop a positive body image?

     Normally a student must attend a number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he
attends gives him a grade which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total
work for a degree is made up of thirty-six courses each lasting for one term. Generally, a course is made
up of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend
four or five courses during each term. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two
terms each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also
possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not done as a regular practice.  
     For every course that follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the student can get it to show his future employers. All this sets a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some
students still find time for great activities in student affairs. They show much interest in elections to positions in student organizations performed by students who advise the academic authorities (權(quán)威人士). Any
student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example, by cheating is to appear before a student
court. With the large numbers of students, the operation of the system has something to do with a certain
amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career (生涯).