Many of us believe that a person’s mind becomes less active as he grows older. But this is not true, according to Dr Jarvik, professor of psychiatry at the University of California. She has studied the mental functioning of aging persons for several years. For example, one of her studies concerns 136 pairs of twins (双胞胎), who were first examined when they were already 60 years old. As Dr Jarvik continued the study of the twins into their 70s and 80s, their minds did not generally decline (衰弱) as was expected.
However, there was some decline in their psycho-motor speed. This means that it took them longer to finish mental tasks than it used to. But when speed was not a factor, they lost very little intellectual (智力的) ability over the years. In general, Dr Jarvik’s studies have shown that there is no decline in knowledge or reasoning ability. This is true not only with those in their 30s and 40s, but with those in their 60s and 70s as well.
It is true that older people themselves often complain that their memory is not as good as it once was. However, much of what we call “loss of memory” is not that at all. There usually was incomplete learning in the first place. For example, the older person perhaps had trouble hearing, or poor vision, or was trying to learn the new thing at too fast a speed. In the cases where the older person’s mind really seems to get worse, it is not necessarily a sign of decline due to old age. Often it is simply a sign of a sad emotional state.
1. This passage is mainly about _______.
A. what caused mental decline
B. a new discovery about mental decline
C. the difference between middle-aged and older persons
D. how Dr Jarvik studied mental functioning of the twins
2.The word “psychiatry” in paragraph 1 most probably means _______.
A. the study of diseases of the mind
B. the study of physical diseases
C. the study of twins’ growth
D. the study of human behavior
3.More often than not, what we call mental decline is actually a sign of _______.
A. a worsening state of health B. old age
C. nervous tension D. a state of unhappiness
I made a pledge(发誓) to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical (圣经的) passage about husbands being thoughtful of their wives. Then he went on to say, “Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love.” To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, “That new yellow sweater looks great on you.”
“Oh, Tom, you noticed,” she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, “Evelyn’s been alone here with kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me.” We walked on the beach while the children flew the kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that’s how the whole vacation passed. I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love.
There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression. “What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“Tom, ” she said in a voice filled with sadness, “do you know something I don’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…..that checkup(体检) I had several weeks ago….. our doctor ….. did he tell you something about me? Tom, you’ve been so good to me….. am I dying ?”
It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.
“No, honey,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “You’re not dying; I’m just start to live.”
1.The writer thought he was a _______ husband in the past.
A. lovely B. loyal C. strict D. selfish
2. From the story we may infer that Tom drove to the beach cottage _______.
A. with his family B. with Evelyn C. alone D. with his children
3. The underlined words “one thing” in the text refer to the fact that _______.
A. he praised her sweater, which puzzled her
B. she insisted on visiting a museum, which he hated
C. he knew something about her illness but didn’t tell her
D. he was so good to her that she thought she must be dying
When an NBA player is young, he thinks he can win the championship by himself. It is only later ______ he has aged and been through many battles that he learns an important lesson: there is no “I” in “team”.
There is no better example of the value of ______ than the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were all superstars on three different teams. ______, none of them had any titles（头衔） to show for it. Then, last season, they decided to play together, caring little ______ money and fame. Garnett and Allen ______ Pierce on the Celtics and changed the NBA in the process.
It started in simple ways. Garnett and Allen are two of the best athletes in the world. They treat every second of every ______ as it is the NBA championship. If you want to play alongside them then you will have to do the same. Therefore, the young guys on the Celtics started giving their ______ effort too.
Pierce had been the star of the Celtics for many years. He used to shoot the ball many times a game. But with the addition of Allen and Garnett he shot less and ______ defense（防卫）. His selflessness showed the young players that doing what made the team better was the only thing that _______. When the Celtics were winning and the game was almost ______, Garnett, Pierce and Allen would come out of the game. But they wouldn’t just sit on the bench. ______, they stood and cheered and screamed for their teammates. They wanted to ______ their friends and teammates.
Now, the guys who don’t play know they can still affect the game by cheering, so they scream and cheer when Garnett, Allen and Pierce are playing. The Celtics have ______ a strong relationship. They are ______ just teammates. They are brothers.
The result: the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA championship and are considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship again this year. There is a saying that goes, “A successful team beats with one ______.” If that is the case, the Celtics may have the biggest heart in the NBA.
1.A. which B. that C. when D. where
2.A. determination B. chance C. teamwork D. advantage
3.A. Or B. Though C. And D. Yet
4.A. of B. for C. to D. about
5.A. joined B. noticed C. persuaded D. encouraged
6.A. detail B. practice C. partner D. request
7.A. full B. proud C. happy D. confident
8.A. gave in B. waited for C. ended up D. centered on
9.A. helped B. decided C. cared D. mattered
10.A. on B. over C. off D. in
11.A. Instead B. Finally C. Then D. Besides
12.A. calm B. support C. organize D. advise
13.A. understood B. accepted C. enjoyed D. developed
14.A. rather than B. other than C. less than D. more than
15.A. heart B. person C. attitude D. tip
_______ an important decision more on emotion（情感）than on reason, you will regret it sooner or later.
A. Basing B. Based C. To base D. Base
When deeply lost in thought, _______ he often was, he would forget all about eating or sleeping.
A. that B. where C. which D. when
Ever since Daming graduated from the university, he _______ in the present company for 15 years and he is now chief engineer of the company.
A. worked B. has been working C. is working D. works
