Previous research has focused on how a male or female voice sounds. Men with deeper voices and women with slightly higher voices were thought to sound more attractive, because they suggest a bigger or a smaller body.

But the new study, published by a linguistics expert in Canada, suggests there is a more complex mechanism(機制)at play. Dr Molly Babel, from the University of British Columbia in Canada, said, “The voice is an amazingly flexible tool that we use to construct our identity. Very few things in our voices are changeless, so we felt that our preferences had to be about more than a person’ s shape and size.’’

She recorded 30 volunteers’ voices and asked each to rate the others’ attractiveness on a scale of one to nine. Each participant was from western America, with similar accents. The people we assessed were all in the same dialect group, but they showed that dialect to different degrees.

“We seem to like people who sound like we sound, we like people who fit within what we know, ”Dr Babel said. She also found that breathy voices in women－typified by the famous American actress Marilyn Monroe－were seen as more attractive.

The breathy tone, caused by younger and thinner vocal cords(聲帶), implied youthfulness and health. A creaky (咯吱作響的)voice, suggesting a person has a cold, is tired or smokes, was seen as unattractive. The participants preferred men who spoke with a shorter average word length and deeper voices.

【1】The main purpose of the text is to ___________.

A. inform readers of the new findings of voices

B. compare male voices with female voices

C. argue against women’s voices of speaking

D. encourage men to use deeper voices to speak

【2】Dr. Molly Babel mentions Marilyn Monroe in order to________.

A. introduce a creaky voice B. explain a breathy voice

C. challenge previous research D. promote her reputation

【3】In terms of voice preferences, the new findings stress ________.

A. body size and shape

B. shorter word length

C. thicker vocal cords

D. the same social groups

【4】Whose voice may be unattractive according to the text?

A. A young lady with a thin voice

B. An old lady with a silvery voice

C. A deep-voiced man with a dry throat

D. A little man with a quiet and gentle voice

Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-winter swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body’s temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter.

The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system (循環(huán)系統(tǒng)) because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming.

The main benefits (or advantages) of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim all year round. They find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-year-old woman says. “When I go into water, I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away.”

【1】The members of the Polar Bear Club must meet the following requirements EXCEPT that .

A. they must reach the age of 60

B. they should be easy to make friends with

C. they must swim outdoors at least 8 times in the four cold months

D. they must agree to swim outdoors from November through February

【2】According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that .

A. you are healthy if cold-water swimming turns your skin color blue

B. cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter

C. cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high

D. Polar Bears are bears swimming in freezing water

【3】The Polar Bears like to swim all the year round, for .

A. they can remain young

B. it is an easy way to keep the body warm in winter

C. they find it enjoyable and interesting

D. they might meet fewer troubles in life

Broken bones: Take away clothing from the wound. Use an ice pack. Don’t move the hurt body part while waiting for the doctor to arrive.

Animal bites: Wash the bite area with soap and water. Pack the wound with a clean cloth if it is bleeding. If the bleeding has stopped, cover the area with a bandage and take the person to the hospital. Make sure you remember what kind of animal it is so the doctor can find the right way to treat him or her at once.

Fainting (昏厥): Have him or her lie with Feet lifted a little. Don’t move the body if you think there might be wounds from the fall. Make sure he or she can breathe and let in fresh air. Clean the person’s face with a cool cloth.

Nosebleeds: Have the person sit up with his or her head tilted (傾斜) forward a little. Do not have the person tilt his or her head back because this may cause heavy breathing or coughing. Pinch (捏) the lower part of the nose for at least 10 minutes.

【1】What should we do first when an animal bite happens?

A. Put an ice pack on the wound.

B. Wash the bite area with soap and water.

C. Try to stop the bleeding with a clean cloth.

D. Take the hurt person to the hospital.

【2】Which of the following is NOT right when a boy’s nose bleeds?

A. Let his head not tilt back.

B. Let his head tilt forward a little.

C. Let him sit up.

D. Pinch his nose for less than l0minutes.

【3】Which part of a magazine may the passage come from?

A. Lifestyle. B. Health.

C. Sports. D. Education.

【4】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. First aid for some accidental wounds.

B. Steps of looking for medical care.

C. Advice on ways not to get hurt.

D. Ways to ask for help in getting hurt.

●Go mobile.

They're not quite as addictive as Candy Crush, but language learning apps are a perfect, productive way to kill time. 【2】You can try Duolingo, which takes an entertaining and comprehensive approach to learning a language; it teaches not only reading and writing but listening and speaking.

●【3】

Join a local group to connect and chat with fellow students of your desired language, Or, find a virtual partner on a site like Conversation Exchange; native speakers of other languages who want to practice their English will be happy to trade small talk with you over Skype.

●Read, watch, listen.

If you’re reasonably literate in your language of choice, consider picking up a favorite children's book (or audio book) in translation. 【4】Or you can try to watch foreign films with English subtitles.

●Take the traditional approach.

Language classes are an investment in terms of both time and money, but they remain an effective way to learn. 【5】They include ones with a fun focus on literature, film, or even food.

A. Find a conversation partner or several

B. Get in some regular conversational practice

C. Community colleges offer a variety of language classes.

D. Harry Potter, for example, is available in 68 different languages.

E. You may be able to link up with a center like the French Institute.

F. Fortunately, you can stay literate in your language of choice with a little effort.

G. You can shop around to find one that copes best with your preferred learning style.

【1】Ms Shen’s ______(方法) of teaching is nothing like that of the teachers at my Junior High school.

【2】He is ______(熱心的) about singing.

【3】My first ______(印象) of Mrs Li was that she was nervous and shy.

【4】The system will have to be tested before it goes into ______(生產(chǎn)).

【5】In 1984, the US National Science Foundation started the NSFNET ______(網(wǎng)絡(luò))

【6】Don’t ______(打擾) me with such stupid questions.

【7】How did he ______(反應(yīng)) to your answer?

【8】I bought the ______(設(shè)備) with the purpose of doing many experiments.

【9】Please observe the ______(混合) and write down what you will have seen.

【10】A CD-ROM is a separate disk that ______(包含) lots of information.

1．一些人認(rèn)為吸煙有好處，如：能讓自己放松；帶給自己靈感；是瀟灑和成熟的標(biāo)志；

2．另一些人認(rèn)為吸煙有害健康，如：對自己的身體有害；使別人吸二手煙，對他們的身體也有害；污染環(huán)境；

3．你的看法和理由。

參考詞匯：靈感inspiration；瀟灑smartness；成熟maturity；二手煙secondhand smoke

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注意：1.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫；

2．詞數(shù)：100左右。開頭已給出，不計入總詞數(shù)。

參考詞匯：電動自行車electric bike。

Last week our class had a discussion about whether middle school students should go to school by electric bike. Opinions are divided among us.

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One farmer never bothered to sort the potatoes at all. Yet he made the most money. A 【5】(puzzle) neighbor finally asked him, “【6】 is your secret？” He said, “It's simple. I just load up the wagon with 【7】 and take the roughest road to town. During the eight－mile trip, the little potatoes always fall to the 【8】. The medium potatoes land in the middle, 【9】 the big potatoes rise to the top.” That's not only true 【10】 potatoes. It is a law of life. Big potatoes rise to the top on rough roads, and tough people rise to the top in rough times.

The children were selected to represent the range of social economic backgrounds in Britain at that time, with the assumption that each child’s social class predetermines their future. Every seven years, the director, Michael Apted, films material from those of the fourteen who choose to participate. The aim of the series is stated at the beginning of 7 Up, as, "Why do we bring these children together? Because we want to get a glimpse of England in the year 2000. The shop assistant and the manager of the year 2000 are now seven years old."

The subjects are first seen on a group visit to London Zoo, where the narrator announces “We brought these 20 children together for the very first time.” The series, however, only follows fourteen. Because the show was not originally intended to become a repeating series, no long-term contract was signed with the participants. The interviews since 7 Up have been voluntary, although the participants have been paid an unknown sum for their appearance in each film.

Although the series began as a political documentary, it has become a film of human nature. In the director’s commentary for 42 Up, Apted comments that he did not realize the series had changed tone from political to personal until 21 Up. He also comments that this realization was a relief to him and allowed the films to breathe a little more.

【1】When was the fourth episode of the series made?

A. 1985. B. 1992. C. 2000. D. 2005.

【2】What was the goal of the Up Series at the beginning?

A. To research human nature.

B. To predict the future job changes.

C. To gather the 20 children together.

D. To foresee England in the year 2000.

【3】What can we learn about the participants in the documentary?

A. They joined in it for free.

B. They were not on good terms.

C. They did not expect a repeating series.

D. They were praised for their appearance.

【4】Why did Apted think the realization was a relief?

A. He could breathe a little more.

B. He could direct the films more freely.

C. He had finished the whole series finally.

D. He changed his idea about human nature.