【广东省广州市2014综合测试】
No one knows why people dream, but some dreams might be connected to the mental processes that help us learn. In a recent study, scientists found a connection between nap-time (午睡时间) dreams and better memory in people who were learning a new skill. So perhaps one way to learn something new is to practice, practise, practise---and then sleep on it.
“I was surprised by this finding,” Robert Stickgold, a Harvard University scientist who led the study.
In the study, 100 college students each spent an hour on a computer, trying to get through a virtual maze (虚拟迷宫). The maze was difficult, and the study participants had to start in a different place each time they tried---making it even more difficult. Then, for the first 90 minutes of a five-hour break, half of the participants were required to stay awake while half were told to sleep. Participants who stayed awake were asked to describe their thoughts. Participants who slept were asked to describe any dream they had.
Stickgold and his colleagues wanted to know about NREM, or non-REM sleep. REM stands for “rapid eye movement”, which is what happens during REM sleep. This period of sleep often brings strange dreams to a sleeper, although dreams can happen in both kinds of sleep. Stickgold wanted to know what people were dreaming about when their eyes weren’t moving, during NREM sleep. Other studies have found a connection between NREM bring activity and learning ability.
Four of the 50 people who slept said their dreams were about the maze. Later, when these four people tried the computer maze again, they were able to complete it faster. Stickgold believes the dream itself doesn;t help a person learn---it’s the other way around. He suspects that such dreams are caused by the brain processes associated with learning.
All the maze-dreamers had done the task poorly the first time, which makes Stickgold wonder if the NREM dreams show up when a person finds a new task particularly difficult. People who had other dreams, or people didn't sleep, didn't show the same improvement. 36. In the first stage of the study, the participants were asked to A. design a maze on computer B. find their way out of a maze C. decide where to begin a maze D. remember a location in a maze
37. What happened to the participants during the break? A. Half of them were woken up when they started to dream. B. Half of them were asked to dram about the maze. C. All of them were asked to describe their thoughts. D. Half of them were asked to sleep for 90 minutes. 38. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Everyone will dream about a new skill after learning it. B. Stickgold was the first to study dreams and learning. C. During NREM sleep, people usually don’t dream. D. Unusual dreams often occur during REM sleep.
39. In the first stage of the study, the participants were asked to A. design a maze on computer B. find their way out of a maze C. decide where to begin a maze D. remember a location in a maze
40. Which of the following statement best summarizes the study’s conclusion? A. Dreams have a role in learning. B. Dreams have no basis in reality. C. Dreams are important for health. D. Dreams are the best way to study. 【参考答案】36-40 BDDAA
阅读理解--------C
It was a hot summer day． My dad and I were getting ready to go out for a ride on the boat with my friend Katie and the dog when the phone call came, the call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, gloomy one．
I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top, and packed my bag with sunscreen and everything else I would need for the day． I ran into my parents' room to find Dad． When I saw him on the phone, he was crying． I'd never seen my dad cry before． My heart sank． What possibly could have happened?
\"Max, I'm so sorry,\" I heard him say． That's when it hit me． I knew that Suzie had died． Max has been my dad's best friend for years． Suzie, his daughter, had a rare disease that mainly affected her body． Her brain was OK． She knew what was going on; she knew that she had problems and was different from other kids． Once she told her dad that she wished she could die and be born in a different body． Yet although she couldn't live a normal life ，she was still happy．
When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together． As we grew up, we grew apart． She lived in New York, and I lived in the Midwest． When Suzie was ten she had to live in a hospital in Virginia． About eight months before she died, Max gave us her number at the hospital and we talked at least twice a week until the end． Suzie was always so excited to talk to us and wanted to know every detail about my life． She wanted to know everything I did and every thing I ate． In a way, she lived through me．
After we found out about her death, we made our plans to go to New York for the funeral． When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she sent one back to me． I had bought her another one but never had the chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket（棺材）．
Her funeral was very different from any funeral I'd ever been to． After they lowered her casket, each one of us put a shovelful of dirt over her． I remember crying so
hard, I felt weak． My cheeks burned from the tears． My whole body was shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I'm glad I did it．
When Suzie and I first started calling one another, I thought it would be more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong． I learned so much from her． She gave me more than I could ever give to her． I will never forget her or the talks we had． I now know that I must never take anything for granted especially my health and the gift of life．
9．What does the underlined part “In a way, she lived through me．” mean? A．Suzie got to know what life outside hospital was like by sharing my experience． B．Suzie was financially dependent of me．
C．Suzie managed to pull through her illness with the help of my family． D．Suzie was too weak to live her own life．
10．Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A．Suzie was the only person helping the author with difficulties．
B．The author feared that she might also get the same disease as Suzie． C．The author benefited a lot from talking on the phone with Suzie．
D．The author didn't understand Suzie was her true friend until Suzie's death． 11．What is the most important lesson the author learned from Suzie's death? A．Never let go of a friend even if you are apart． B．Be thankful for what we have in our life． C．Talking with a friend can cure your illness．
D．We can learn more from our friends than they do from us． 【参考答案】9—11、ACB
阅读理解-----------D
The future of agriculture must achieve several goals at the same time．
First, it now appears that we will have to double world food production in the next 40 years due to population growth, increasing meat consumption and pressure from biofuels （生物燃料）． We will also have to reduce the environmental impacts from our farming practices, which have caused widespread damage to soils, ecosystems, waters and even the atmosphere． In fact, agriculture’s impacts are as bad as climate change as an environmental concern． Besides, we will have to improve food security for the world’s poor． While the Green Revolution of the 1960s made it possible to feed hundreds of millions more people than in earlier eras, the number of the under-nourished in the world has started to rise again． Finally, we will have to increase the recovering ability of agriculture from shocks． Today, our high-efficiency, globalized world has many benefits, but it is vulnerable （易受伤的） to destruction, whether from droughts, diseases or sudden price rises． We must start building better food systems to better keep us away from future shocks． Currently, there are two models of agriculture: local and organic agriculture vs． globalized and industrialized agriculture． Each has been strongly supported and severely criticized, but neither of these models, standing alone, can fully meet
our needs．
Organic agriculture teaches us important lessons about soils, nutrition and pest management． Unfortunately, organic food provides less than 1% of the world’s calories, mostly to the wealthy． It is hard to imagine organic farming developing to feed 9 billion． Globalized and industrialized agriculture has benefits of high output and low labor demands． Without it, billions of people would have starved． However, it has come with enormous environmental and social costs, which cannot be sustained．
Rather than voting for just one solution, we need a third way to solve the crisis． Let’s take ideas from both sides, creating new, hybrid solutions that increase production, save resources and build a more sustainable agriculture． There are many promising avenues to pursue． A new “third way” for agriculture is not only possible but also necessary． Our problems are huge, and they will require everyone at the table, working together toward solutions．
12． How many goals of agriculture are mentioned in the passage? A． Three B． Four C． Five D． Six 13． Which is true according to the passage?
A． Organic agriculture can feed most people in the world now． B． Industrialized agriculture does no harm to our environment． C． Modern farming is criticized while organic farming is not．
D． The future agriculture can’t only depend on organic agriculture． 14． We can learn from the passage that _______．
A． everyone can afford to enjoy organic food at will B． we will vote to decide which farming system to take C． the writer is quite optimistic about future agriculture D． only experts can find a better agricultural solution 15． What’s the best title for the passage?
A． Organic Agriculture Vs． Industrialized Agriculture． B． The Goals of Future Agriculture and Its Way Out． C． A Third Possible and Necessary Way for Agriculture． D． Modern Globalized and Industrialized Agriculture．
【参考答案】12—15、BDCB
【江西省上饶市2014高考英语二模试题】B
Olympic medalist Dara Torres, the 41-year-old swimmer, is more than a feel-good story． Torres is as determined and driven in her daily life as she is in the pool． She is dedicated to pursuing her passions and following her dreams-something she hopes to instill（灌输）in her 2-year-old daughter and women and girls everywhere． After all, her dreams took her to Beijing．
Upon her return after the Olympics, SUCCESS writer Don Yaeger, caught up with Torres, who shared her insights．
What insights can you offer others （ non-athletes, too） about setting and staying on track to reach goals?
Everyone has his highs and lows when doing things, but you have to remember what the end result is when you're having those tough times． I think about the end and about my feelings of success, and that keeps me going． I definitely set goals for myself and try not to get too distracted trying to reach them． And always remember to have fun !
Any strategies or tips for overcoming mental obstacles to be your very best? Mental obstacles are tough． For my personally, if I was having mental obstacles, I would talk to my coach, who was the most important person to me during this comeback． It's so important to have that person in your life, a trusted advisor． Communication is very important, and I’ve learned it's OK to turn to others if you're having a tough time． When I was younger, I would internalize（使…内化） things． Not any more． It's a great relief to be able to share．
61．When saying“ more than a feel-good story\" ,the writer means that ． A． Torres is good at telling stories C． Torres is a 41-year-old swimmer B． Torres is feeling good
D． Torres is not only a feel-good story
62．In Dara’s opinion, when one is having his tough times, he ． A． must turn to his coaches for help
B． had better communicate with friends through the Internet C． should think about the successful en D． ought to adjust his goal
63．According to the passage, communication is very important in ． A．overcoming mental obstacles
C． winning others' support and aid B． building good relations with others
D． preventing one's imagination running away
64．Which of the following words can best describe Torres? A．Negative B．Subjective C．Objective D． Positive 65．The writer mainly wants to tell us ． A． Don Yaeger’s most successful interview
B． Dara Torres pursues her passions in the pool and in life C． how athletes overcome mental obstacles in competitions D． everyone has his highs and lows when doing things 【参考答案】61-65 DCADB
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