Passage OneWhen my daughter first began competing in school chess tournaments, I often chatted with other parents. Sometimes, I'd ask if they played chess themselves. Usually, the reply was no. When I volunteered that I was learning to play, their tone was cheerfully joking: "Good luck with that!" If this game is so good for kids, why are adults ignoring it? Seeing someone playing smart phone games, I wanted to say: "Why are you having your kids do chess while you do that?"Sure, we parents had work to do, work that helped pay for the lessons our kids were enjoying. But I also wondered if we were sending a subtle message: that learning was for the young. During one tournament, I saw a group of parents. They were playing chess! Just then, a group of kids passed me "Why are adults learning chess?" one asked, in a vaguely teasing tone.I was tired of sitting on the sidelines. I wanted in. And that is how I got a membership card and started throwing myself in. Early on, I was nervous, even though I really had nothing to lose, except my pride. "A master can sometimes play badly," as one grandmaster (国际象棋大师) put it, " a fan,never!" And fan I was. It was three hours of concentration and thinking, with my phone turned off. It felt like a gym for the brain.Being a beginner can be hard at any age, but it gets harder as you get older. The phrase "adult beginner" has an air of gentle pity. It implies the learning of something that you should have perhaps already learned.39.What did the writer think of his experience of learning to play chess?

Passage TwoThere's an old fixed understanding about the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs are loving and loyal, while cats are aloof (冷漠离群的) and indifferent. Most cat people, however, probably disagree. Overall, cat research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their owners. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, respond to their owners' voices more than to strangers' and look for comfort when scared.But a new study reveals a more complicated picture of our relationship with cats. Adapting a method previously used to study dogs, the scientists found cats-unlike dogs-don't avoid strangers who refuse to help their owners. This doesn't mean that the cats in this study were selfish, but they simply didn't understand how human beings respond to each other. They weren't aware that some of the strangers were being unhelpful.In an experiment, a cat watched as her owner tried to open a box to get at something inside. Two strangers sat on either side of the owner and the owner turned to one of them and asked for help. In"helper" trials, the stranger helped the owner to open the box. In "non-helper" trials, the stranger refused. The other stranger sat passively, doing nothing. Then, both strangers offered the cat a treat,and the scientists watched to see which stranger the cat approached first. Did she prefer to take food from a helpful stranger over a passive one? Or did she avoid taking food from the non-helper?When this method was used to test dogs, they showed a clear preference. The dogs preferred not to take food from a stranger who refused to help their owner. In contrast, the cats in the study were completely indifferent. They showed no preference for the helpful person and no avoidance(避开) of the unhelpful person. Apparently, as far as cats are concerned, food is food.What should we take from this? An attractive conclusion would be that cats are selfish and don ' t care about how their owners are treated at all. This is an example of human-centered thinking of animals. To really understand cats, we have to get out of this view and think of them as cats.40.What do most cat people probably disagree with, according to Para. 1?

Passage TwoThere's an old fixed understanding about the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs are loving and loyal, while cats are aloof (冷漠离群的) and indifferent. Most cat people, however, probably disagree. Overall, cat research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their owners. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, respond to their owners' voices more than to strangers' and look for comfort when scared.But a new study reveals a more complicated picture of our relationship with cats. Adapting a method previously used to study dogs, the scientists found cats-unlike dogs-don't avoid strangers who refuse to help their owners. This doesn't mean that the cats in this study were selfish, but they simply didn't understand how human beings respond to each other. They weren't aware that some of the strangers were being unhelpful.In an experiment, a cat watched as her owner tried to open a box to get at something inside. Two strangers sat on either side of the owner and the owner turned to one of them and asked for help. In"helper" trials, the stranger helped the owner to open the box. In "non-helper" trials, the stranger refused. The other stranger sat passively, doing nothing. Then, both strangers offered the cat a treat,and the scientists watched to see which stranger the cat approached first. Did she prefer to take food from a helpful stranger over a passive one? Or did she avoid taking food from the non-helper?When this method was used to test dogs, they showed a clear preference. The dogs preferred not to take food from a stranger who refused to help their owner. In contrast, the cats in the study were completely indifferent. They showed no preference for the helpful person and no avoidance(避开) of the unhelpful person. Apparently, as far as cats are concerned, food is food.What should we take from this? An attractive conclusion would be that cats are selfish and don ' t care about how their owners are treated at all. This is an example of human-centered thinking of animals. To really understand cats, we have to get out of this view and think of them as cats.41.What does most research about cats show?

Passage TwoThere's an old fixed understanding about the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs are loving and loyal, while cats are aloof (冷漠离群的) and indifferent. Most cat people, however, probably disagree. Overall, cat research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their owners. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, respond to their owners' voices more than to strangers' and look for comfort when scared.But a new study reveals a more complicated picture of our relationship with cats. Adapting a method previously used to study dogs, the scientists found cats-unlike dogs-don't avoid strangers who refuse to help their owners. This doesn't mean that the cats in this study were selfish, but they simply didn't understand how human beings respond to each other. They weren't aware that some of the strangers were being unhelpful.In an experiment, a cat watched as her owner tried to open a box to get at something inside. Two strangers sat on either side of the owner and the owner turned to one of them and asked for help. In"helper" trials, the stranger helped the owner to open the box. In "non-helper" trials, the stranger refused. The other stranger sat passively, doing nothing. Then, both strangers offered the cat a treat,and the scientists watched to see which stranger the cat approached first. Did she prefer to take food from a helpful stranger over a passive one? Or did she avoid taking food from the non-helper?When this method was used to test dogs, they showed a clear preference. The dogs preferred not to take food from a stranger who refused to help their owner. In contrast, the cats in the study were completely indifferent. They showed no preference for the helpful person and no avoidance(避开) of the unhelpful person. Apparently, as far as cats are concerned, food is food.What should we take from this? An attractive conclusion would be that cats are selfish and don ' t care about how their owners are treated at all. This is an example of human-centered thinking of animals. To really understand cats, we have to get out of this view and think of them as cats.42.What can be learned from the study?

Passage TwoThere's an old fixed understanding about the difference between cats and dogs. Dogs are loving and loyal, while cats are aloof (冷漠离群的) and indifferent. Most cat people, however, probably disagree. Overall, cat research suggests cats do form emotional bonds with their owners. Cats seem to experience separation anxiety, respond to their owners' voices more than to strangers' and look for comfort when scared.But a new study reveals a more complicated picture of our relationship with cats. Adapting a method previously used to study dogs, the scientists found cats-unlike dogs-don't avoid strangers who refuse to help their owners. This doesn't mean that the cats in this study were selfish, but they simply didn't understand how human beings respond to each other. They weren't aware that some of the strangers were being unhelpful.In an experiment, a cat watched as her owner tried to open a box to get at something inside. Two strangers sat on either side of the owner and the owner turned to one of them and asked for help. In"helper" trials, the stranger helped the owner to open the box. In "non-helper" trials, the stranger refused. The other stranger sat passively, doing nothing. Then, both strangers offered the cat a treat,and the scientists watched to see which stranger the cat approached first. Did she prefer to take food from a helpful stranger over a passive one? Or did she avoid taking food from the non-helper?When this method was used to test dogs, they showed a clear preference. The dogs preferred not to take food from a stranger who refused to help their owner. In contrast, the cats in the study were completely indifferent. They showed no preference for the helpful person and no avoidance(避开) of the unhelpful person. Apparently, as far as cats are concerned, food is food.What should we take from this? An attractive conclusion would be that cats are selfish and don ' t care about how their owners are treated at all. This is an example of human-centered thinking of animals. To really understand cats, we have to get out of this view and think of them as cats.43.What should we do to better understand, according to last paragraph?

Passage ThreeScientists have shown that exercise is linked to brain changes throughout all stages of life and can help the brain develop and stay healthy. Babies, for example, need regular exercise to form connections in the brain. In children, research suggests that exercise improves attention, focus and school performance. In the elderly, exercise has been shown to help slow memory loss.Then how does exercise help the brain? Over the last 20 years, scientists have learned that exercise can help keep the mind sharp in a number of ways. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain. The blood carries oxygen, contributing to more efficient connections between brain cells. Increasing blood flow is one way that exercise can improve mental abilities. The positive effects of exercise on the brain can be seen in babies, pre-teenagers and adults.Babies are in near-constant movement, which is extremely important for development. This movement not only strengthens their muscles, but also helps their brains form connections. The process continues throughout life but is most intense in infancy(婴儿期) and toddlerhood(学步期)， when children are mastering brand-new skills like sitting, standing, walking, running and jumping.Exercise is also healthy for pre-teenagers’brains. In fact, some research suggests that regular exercise can improve school performance. A study found that the effects depended on how much kids exercised. The more days the children attended the exercise program, the more their focus improved.Finally, exercise helps keep the mind sharp during adulthood. Research suggests exercise can crease the size of the hippocampus, an important area of the brain, which becomes smaller with age, and can increase levels of a protein (蛋白质) that aids the growth of new brain cells. This can help prevent older adults from losing mental abilities and memory.44.How does exercise help the elderly?

Passage ThreeScientists have shown that exercise is linked to brain changes throughout all stages of life and can help the brain develop and stay healthy. Babies, for example, need regular exercise to form connections in the brain. In children, research suggests that exercise improves attention, focus and school performance. In the elderly, exercise has been shown to help slow memory loss.Then how does exercise help the brain? Over the last 20 years, scientists have learned that exercise can help keep the mind sharp in a number of ways. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain. The blood carries oxygen, contributing to more efficient connections between brain cells. Increasing blood flow is one way that exercise can improve mental abilities. The positive effects of exercise on the brain can be seen in babies, pre-teenagers and adults.Babies are in near-constant movement, which is extremely important for development. This movement not only strengthens their muscles, but also helps their brains form connections. The process continues throughout life but is most intense in infancy(婴儿期) and toddlerhood(学步期)， when children are mastering brand-new skills like sitting, standing, walking, running and jumping.Exercise is also healthy for pre-teenagers’brains. In fact, some research suggests that regular exercise can improve school performance. A study found that the effects depended on how much kids exercised. The more days the children attended the exercise program, the more their focus improved.Finally, exercise helps keep the mind sharp during adulthood. Research suggests exercise can crease the size of the hippocampus, an important area of the brain, which becomes smaller with age, and can increase levels of a protein (蛋白质) that aids the growth of new brain cells. This can help prevent older adults from losing mental abilities and memory.45.How does exercise sharpen the mind according to Para. 2?

Passage ThreeScientists have shown that exercise is linked to brain changes throughout all stages of life and can help the brain develop and stay healthy. Babies, for example, need regular exercise to form connections in the brain. In children, research suggests that exercise improves attention, focus and school performance. In the elderly, exercise has been shown to help slow memory loss.Then how does exercise help the brain? Over the last 20 years, scientists have learned that exercise can help keep the mind sharp in a number of ways. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain. The blood carries oxygen, contributing to more efficient connections between brain cells. Increasing blood flow is one way that exercise can improve mental abilities. The positive effects of exercise on the brain can be seen in babies, pre-teenagers and adults.Babies are in near-constant movement, which is extremely important for development. This movement not only strengthens their muscles, but also helps their brains form connections. The process continues throughout life but is most intense in infancy(婴儿期) and toddlerhood(学步期)， when children are mastering brand-new skills like sitting, standing, walking, running and jumping.Exercise is also healthy for pre-teenagers’brains. In fact, some research suggests that regular exercise can improve school performance. A study found that the effects depended on how much kids exercised. The more days the children attended the exercise program, the more their focus improved.Finally, exercise helps keep the mind sharp during adulthood. Research suggests exercise can crease the size of the hippocampus, an important area of the brain, which becomes smaller with age, and can increase levels of a protein (蛋白质) that aids the growth of new brain cells. This can help prevent older adults from losing mental abilities and memory.46.What is crucial in the development of babies' brains?

Passage ThreeScientists have shown that exercise is linked to brain changes throughout all stages of life and can help the brain develop and stay healthy. Babies, for example, need regular exercise to form connections in the brain. In children, research suggests that exercise improves attention, focus and school performance. In the elderly, exercise has been shown to help slow memory loss.Then how does exercise help the brain? Over the last 20 years, scientists have learned that exercise can help keep the mind sharp in a number of ways. Exercise improves blood flow to the brain. The blood carries oxygen, contributing to more efficient connections between brain cells. Increasing blood flow is one way that exercise can improve mental abilities. The positive effects of exercise on the brain can be seen in babies, pre-teenagers and adults.Babies are in near-constant movement, which is extremely important for development. This movement not only strengthens their muscles, but also helps their brains form connections. The process continues throughout life but is most intense in infancy(婴儿期) and toddlerhood(学步期)， when children are mastering brand-new skills like sitting, standing, walking, running and jumping.Exercise is also healthy for pre-teenagers’brains. In fact, some research suggests that regular exercise can improve school performance. A study found that the effects depended on how much kids exercised. The more days the children attended the exercise program, the more their focus improved.Finally, exercise helps keep the mind sharp during adulthood. Research suggests exercise can crease the size of the hippocampus, an important area of the brain, which becomes smaller with age, and can increase levels of a protein (蛋白质) that aids the growth of new brain cells. This can help prevent older adults from losing mental abilities and memory.47.What is the main idea of the passage?

Passage FourIn 1542, Francisco de Orellana led the first European voyage down the Amazon River. During this voyage the explorers met a lot of resistance (抵抗) from the local Indians. In one particular tribe the women fighters were so fierce that they drove their male fighters in front of them with spears. Thus the river was named after the famous women fighters of the ancient Greek stories, the Amazons.This voyage also started our wonder of the greatest river and the largest area of rainforest in the world. About 20% of all fresh water carried to the oceans is from the Amazon River. The Amazon basin is the world's largest, about the size of Europe. The river is a product of the rainy season , which brings huge rains every summer. This also produces a large area of rainforest, which supports the largest number of diverse plants and animals of any area in the world.The Amazon rainforest is also important when it comes to the future of global warming, as it is a huge natural store of carbon. Up until recently it was thought that the Amazon had fully grown and thus could not take up any more CO2. Experiments have shown this could be wrong and that the Amazon rainforest might be sucking up an additional five tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per hectare (公顷)per year. This is because plants react favorably to increased CO2; because it is the raw material for photosynthesis (光合作用) ， the more of it the better. So having more CO2 in the atmosphere acts like a fertilizer, stimulating plant growth. Because of the size of the Amazon rainforest, it seems that presently it is taking up a large percentage of our CO2 pollution in the atmosphere, about 75% of the world's car pollution.48.After whom was the Amazon River named?