Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.

         In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.

         “I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

       “At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people’s minds.”

1.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to _____________.

A. understand human-animal relationship

B. make lonely old people’s life better

C. find the causes of old people’s loneliness

D. improve the animal-assisted research

2. In the research, the old people are asked to _____________.

A. note the activities of AIBOs

B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C. record their feelings and activity

D. study the collected information

3.What does the underlined word “removes” mean?

A. moves again                   B. is movable         C. doesn’t need                      D. need

4.What is the better point of AIBO than live dogs?

A. It is easier to keep at home.

B. It can help the disabled people.

C. It responds to all the human orders.

D. It can watch TV with its owner.

5.The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.

A. cure certain diseases                                                B. keep old people active

C. change people’s ideas                                                        D. look more like real dogs

 

阅读下面短文，在表格内的空白处填入合适的答案(每格限填一词)

The way in which we communicate with others can be greatly improved by building a better vocabulary. In our personal life，we communicate and share experiences with others. However, how well we do it depends on(取决于)our ability to express ourselves through spoken and written language. Luckily，increasing(增加)our word power can make us own the skills we need to communicate better with others and can also help us get better results in our study.

When you see a new word，whether through reading or hearing someone say the word，just be ready to take out your dictionary and look it up-learn about the word and anything that relates(与…相关)to it. If you understand the word, you’ll hopefully remember it well.

Meanwhile, you’d better write down words to learn. You can go through the dictionary，magazine and newspaper or even take down the unknown words you hear. Try to review them every day-look at the words and speak them out loudly. Copy the words over and over again，along with their meanings，and you will surprisingly remember themn in no time.

You can also do word searches，crossword puzzles or other word games. Playing these games，you are more likely to come across new words, and when you are caught in new words, study them. The more words you have in your brain’s word bank，the better you will become at these word games. You will be remembering，learning and having fun，too.

Finally, reading is also believed to be an excellent way to learn new words and build up your vocabulary. Read things you are interested in，because in this way，you are less likely to become bored. But dont skip over(忽略) those words you don’t know. Instead, you should remember and use them in your own daily conversations. Use them more, and you’ll surely have a better chance of remembering them.

Topic：Increasing Your Vocabulary
1.__________ of building up vocabulary	●Improve your ability to express yourselves and communicate better with others. ●Be 2.___________to your study.
Suggestions on remembering new words	1.Remember every new word you meet with by3.__________it. ●Learn about the word and anything that relates to it by looking it up in your dictionary.
2.Make a 4.__________of new words to learn. ●Review the words every day by looking at and speaking them out loudly. ●Copy the words and their meanings over and over again.
3.Do word games. ●Play these games，come across new words and study them with fun.
4.Learn words through reading. ●Read things you5.__________. ●Do not skip over new words，but remember and use them more.

 

阅读短文，根据短文内容回答问题。（共10分，每小题2分）

Do you want to keep your brain active and your memory strong? Here are some useful ways:

Choose the Brain Food

A proper diet will help keep your mind running strong all day long. Make sure to include plenty of fruits and green vegetables. Some of the best foods include: blueberries, blackberries, fish and fish oil, eggs, strawberries and so on.

Exercise

Get your body moving and your memory will soon follow. Exercise improves the heart’s blood flow. This, in turn, helps the brain function better and stay sharper.

Pick up a Book

The key to keeping your memory quick is to continue to challenge it. Try to always have a book in hand. After you’ve done reading a section or two, question and review the material you’ve read. Try to imagine what you’re reading. Discuss what you’ve read, and talk about it with friends or join a book club.

Develop Interest

We remember new things because we enjoy them. Find ways to make a boring subject fun by connecting it to something you already know. You can use your imagination and create a fun story behind a subject to help make it easier to remember.

Repeat after Me

When learning new information, the more you repeat it, the more likely you will be able to remember that information. Practice is the key to lasting memory.

Share with Others

Don’t keep your knowledge stored up. Teaching others is another great way to improve memory skills. Don’t be afraid of taking on new challenges. After learning something, it’s necessary to put the new information to use.

1. What will help keep the mind running strong?

2. What’s the key to keeping your memory quick?

3. Why do you remember new things?

4. How many useful ways are mentioned in the passage?

5. What does the writer tell us in the passage?

 

Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people’s minds.”
【小题1】The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to _____________.

A．understand human-animal relationship

B．make lonely old people’s life better

C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness

D．improve the animal-assisted research

【小题2】 In the research, the old people are asked to _____________.

A．note the activities of AIBOs

B．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

C．record their feelings and activity

D．study the collected information

【小题3】What does the underlined word “removes” mean?

A．moves again

B．is movable

C．doesn’t need

D．need

【小题4】What is the better point of AIBO than live dogs?

A．It is easier to keep at home.

B．It can help the disabled people.

C．It responds to all the human orders.

D．It can watch TV with its owner.

【小题5】The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.

A．cure certain diseases	B．keep old people active
C．change people’s ideas	D．look more like real dogs

Hi, everybody!
Welcome to our newly-opened Richards Cinema Bookstore!
Now let me introduce to you some of the new film books in our store.
Are you Chinese film fans? OK, here comes the latest 25 New Takes about Chinese films. It is a collection of 25 fresh readings of different Chinese films from the 1930s to the present. In recent years, Chinese films are very popular in the States, such as Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon, Hero, and Flowers of Shanghai.
Do you like French films? Well, here is The French Cinema Book. It covers French films from the 1890s to the beginning of the 21st century. It is written for all lovers of French cinema: students and teachers, specialists and fans, and so on.
Maybe you are Indian film fans and star-chasers. Then here is Encyclopedia (百科全书) of Indian Cinema. The book is a complete introduction to all the best Indian films. It also offers a full list of names of the famous and successful film stars in the past ten years. You know, the Indian film industry is the largest in the world after our Hollywood.
If you like British films, we have The British Cinema Book. It is a good review of British cinema. This book contains a good many nice pictures.
In our bookstore, you can also find books about Mexican, Japanese, Australian, German and Italian films.
Well, please help yourselves to some coffee or tea, and have a good time here!
【小题1】The speaker of the passage is most probably _______.

A．the writer of 25 New Takes	B．a tourist in the cinema bookstore
C．the manager of the cinema bookstore	D．a reader of Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema

【小题2】How many Asian countries does the speaker refer to when he talks about the film books?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Nine.

【小题3】Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage？

A．Indian cinema is second only to Hollywood.

B．The British Cinema Book includes a complete list of names of stars.

C．Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon is well received in the States.

D．The French Cinema Book covers over a century's French films.

【小题4】The purpose of the speaker is_______.

A．to satisfy the visitors' various tastes

B．to keep the writers in the cinema bookstore

C．to offer the visitors chances to meet the film stars

D．to have the readers into film producers