Global difference in intelligence is a sensitive topic, long filled with a large number of different opinions. But recent data has indeed shown cognitive (认知的) ability to be higher in some countries than in others. What's more, IQ scores have risen as nations develop --- a phenomenon known as the "Flynn effect". Many causes have been put forward for both the intelligence difference and the Flynn effect, including education, income, and even non-agricultural labor. Now, a new study from researchers at the University of New Mexico offers another interesting theory：intelligence may be linked to infectious-disease rates.

The brain, say author Christopher Eppig and his colleagues, is the "most costly organ in the human body". Brainpower consumes almost up to 90 percent of a newborn's energy. It's clear that if something affects energy intake while the brain is growing, the impact could be long and serious. And for vast parts of the globe, the biggest threat to a child's body -- and therefore brain ---is parasitic (由寄生虫引起的) infection. These illnesses threaten brain development __________. They can directly attack live tissue, which the body must then try every means to replace. They can invade the digestive pipe and block nutritional intake. They can rob the body's cells for their own reproduction. And then there's the energy channeled (输送) to the immune system to fight the infection.

Using data on national "disease burdens" (life years lost due to infectious diseases) and average intelligence scores, the authors found they are closely associated. The countries with the lowest average IQ scores have the highest disease burdens without exception. On the contrary, nations with low disease burdens top the IQ list.

If the study holds water, it could be revolutionary for our understanding of the still-confusing variation in national intelligence scores.

1.What is the main idea of the text? (no more than 10 words)

____________________________________________________________________

2.Complete the following statement with proper words. (no more than 4 words)

Those countries that have the_________ are always at the bottom of the IQ list.

3.Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words. (no more than 5 words)

4.What can cause intelligence difference? (no more than 8 words)

5.What does the word "they" (Line 3, Paragraph 3) probably refer to? (no more

than 8 words.

C

By far the most common difficulty in studying is simple failure to get down to regular concentrated work. This difficulty is much greater for those who do not work to a plan and have no regular routine of study. Many students muddle (胡乱对付) along, doing a bit of this subject or that, as the mood takes them, or letting their set work pile up until the last possible moment.

    Few students work to a set timetable. They say that if they did work out a timetable for themselves they would not keep to it, or would have to change it frequently, since they can never predict from one day to the next what their activities will be.

No doubt some students are more willing to accept a regular routine than others. There are many who shy away from a self-controlled weekly timetable, and dislike being tied down to a fixed program of work. Many able students state that they work in cycles. When they become interested in a topic, they work on it attentively for three or four days at a time. On other days they avoid work completely. It has to be admitted that we do not fully understand the motivation (动机)to work.. Most people over 25 years of age have become used to routine, and the majority of real productive workers set aside regular hours for the more important areas of their work. The “tough-minded” school doesn’t fully accept the idea that good work can only be done naturally, under the influence of inspiration.

Those who believe that they need only work and study as the fit takes them have a mistaken belief either in their own talent or in the value of “freedom”. In fact, freedom from control and discipline（纪律）leads to unhappiness rather than to “self-expression” or “personality development”. Our society insists on regular habits, timekeeping and punctuality (准时), and whether we like it or not, if we mean to make our way in society, we have to meet its demands.

1.The most widespread problem in applying oneself to study is ______.

    A．changing from one subject to another

    B．the failure to keep to a set timetable of work

    C．the unwillingness to follow a systematic plan

    D．working on a subject only when one feels like it

2.Which of the following is true?

    A．Many students are not interested in using self-controlled timetable.

    B．Many students don’t like being told to study to a fixed timetable.

    C．Most people of over 25 years of age don’t work to a set timetable.

    D．Tough-minded people agree that good job is done naturally

3.The underlined part “as the fit takes them” in paragraph 4 probably means ______.

    A．when they have the energy   

    B．when they are in the mood

    C．when they feel fit      

    D．when they find conditions are suitable

4.A suitable title for the passage might be ______.

    A．Attitudes to Study   B．A study Plan

    C．The Difficulties in Studying D．Study and Self-discipline

The air we breathe is freely available, without    1.  we could not survive more than a few minutes. For the most part, air is available to everyone, and everyone needs it. Some people use the air to sustain them while    2.   (sit) around and feel sorry for themselves.    3.   breathe in the air and use the energy it provides to make    4.   magnificent life. Opportunity is    5.   the same way; it is everywhere. It is so freely available that we take it for granted. Yet opportunity alone is not enough to create success; it must   6.  (seize) and acted upon in order to have value.    7.  many people are so anxious to “get in” on a “ground floor opportunity”, as if the opportunity will do all the work that’s   8.  (possible). Just as you need air to breathe, you need opportunity to succeed. However, it takes more than just breathing in the fresh air of opportunity. You must make use of it. That’s not up to the opportunity; that’s up to you.   9.  doesn’t matter what “floor” the opportunity is on, but    10. matters is what you do with it.

Do you find getting up in the morning so difficult that it’s painful? This might be called laziness, but Dr. Kleitman has a new explanation. He has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle.

During the hours when you labor through your work you may say that you’re "hot". That's true. The time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak. For some people the peak comes during the morning. For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so, but it leads to such familiar monologues as “Get up, John! You’ll be late for work again!” The possible explanation to the trouble is that John is at his temperature-and-energy-peak in the evening. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what these energy cycles each member of the family has.

You can’t change your energy cycle, but you can learn to make your life fit it better. Habit can help, Dr. Kleitman believes. Maybe you’re sleepy in the evening but you must stay up late anyway. Counteract your cycle to some extent by habitually staying up later than you want to. If your energy is low in the morning but you have an important job to do early in the day, rise before your usual hour. This won't change your cycle, but you'll get up steam and work better at your low point.

Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a leisurely yawn and stretch. Sit on the edge of the bed a minute before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the trouble of searching for clean clothes by laying them out the night before. When ever possible, do routine work in the afternoon and save tasks requiring more energy or concentration for your sharp hours.

1.What is the best title of the passage?

A．Change Your Habits                      B．Save Your Energy

C．Daily Energy Cycle                       D．Temperature-and-energy Peak

2.If a person finds getting up early a problem, most probably_______.

A．he is a lazy person

B．he refuses to follow his own energy cycle

C．lie is not sure when his energy is low

D．he is at his peak in the afternoon or evening

3.Which of the following may lead to family quarrels according to the passage?

A．Unawareness of energy cycles

B．Familiar monologues.

C．A change in a family member's energy cycle.

D．Attempts to control the energy cycle of other family members.

4.If one wants to work more efficiently at his low point in the morning, he should____________.

A．change his energy cycle                  B．overcome his laziness

C．get up earlier than usual                  D．go to bed earlier

The energy is ________ makes the cells able to do their work.