How would you like to study at an American university in China? With the news that New York University (NYU) is considering setting up a branch（分校）on Chinese mainland, the possibility of getting an American education becomes a reality. But how will Chinese students deal with a very different style of teaching? One that encourages debate（辩论）, discussion and critical thinking (批判思维)； one which puts little attention on rote learning.

You know how kids ask questions all the time? Asking questions shows they are curious (好奇). So when does that natural curiosity get weak? Not at kindergarten or nursery, nor at primary school. As you grow older perhaps refusing to draw attention to yourself by asking the teacher questions, you grow quiet. If so, that's a pity, because questioning your teachers should be encouraged. After all, they're the ones who've been educated, have a lot more experience than you and perhaps have a little wisdom. When I taught joumalim at college in Scotland I enjoyed answering students' questions. Some of them raised difficult questions. I didn't always know the answers. If I didn't, I'd accept it and try to find out later.

At university we were encouraged to challenge our classmates and teachers. There was often a regular meeting between teachers and some students. A student would prepare a paper on a subject and the other students would criticize it. It could be frightening. But it was a way of developing critical thinking.

We need to differentiate critical thinking with loudmouths. We've all come across loudmouths who speak out quickly as if they knew what they were talking about. I know one loudmouth who is paid a great deal of money by a British tabloid newspaper to entertain readers with his deeply-held prejudices(偏见). You might not agree with columnist(专栏作家) Richard Littlejohn, but you have to say that he is entertaining and there is an internal logic（内在的逻辑）to his statements. Having a logical mind can help develop critical thinking.

My wife doesn't have a logical mind, but she does have emotional intelligence（情商）. I can't say that I have anything like her emotional intelligence. but I'd like to think some of it rubbed off on me. If you can't at least try to put yourself in someone else's shoes, how can you understand their situation, their problems and issues?

So try to develop your powers of critical thinking. Start with books, films, music and newspapers. And don't believe everything you read or see. Think independently.

57. According to the passage, to develop your critical thinking, you can____________.

A. keep curious and follow your heart

B. think logically, not emotionally

C. do more reading and think actively

D. voice your opinion like a loudmouth

58. The underlined words 66rubbed off on mc" in Paragraph 5 probably mean " __________".

A. helped me solve the problem better

B. had some influence on me in a way

C. moved it backwards and forwards

D. advised me to wear others' shoes

59. What can be the best title for the passage?

A. Want to be different? Think critically

B. Want to be critical? Think for yourself

C. Choose NYU, choose critical thinking

D. Importance of improving critical thinking

You are probably familiar with the saying：An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A recent research carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may change the saying:
An apple a day may keep aging away.
The research chose fruit flies(果蝇), as they share many genes(基因)with humans. The fruit flies were either fed normally or had an apple extract(浓缩物) added to their diet.
It turned out that those fruit flies that were given apple extract lived about 55 days—five days longer than the flies that were normally fed. The research group also found it easier for the flies to walk，climb and move about as they aged.
According to the result, the researchers believed that the antioxidants(抗氧化剂) in the apple extract helped clean up dangerous chemicals(化学物质) that cause illnesses，as well as aging.
In another study，researchers examined diets of thousands of women. They discovered that those who regularly ate apples were 20 percent less likely to suffer heart illnesses and stroke.
The apples’ genetic code(遗传密码) was discovered recently. It allows scientists to develop nicer and healthier fruits. Researchers are already using the information to grow a kind of apples full of antioxidants that can keep eyes and joints healthy and protect humans against heart illnesses and cancer.
Apples that kill the desire(欲望) to eat could also be produced, with the first“extra-healthy’’apples on supermarket shelves within just four or five years.
The team that keeps studying apple DNA includes 100 scientists from five countries. Their research also suggests that around 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs began to die off the plant，which would finally become today’s apple tree, experienced a great genetic change. The number of many of its genes doubled. The extra genes allowed the apple to get used to worse conditions and go through a different development from peaches，strawberries and other related fruits.
【小题1】Why were fruit flies used for the research?

A．Because they have a similar diet to humans.

B．Because they have a history as long as apples.

C．Because they share a lot of genes with humans.

D．Because they feed on nothing but apple extract.

【小题2】What result did the researchers find out?

A．Apples produce chemicals that can change human genes.

B．Apples have antioxidants that kill chemicals that cause aging.

C．Apples are rich in vitamins that are needed in humans’bodies.

D．Apples produce chemicals that make apples taste more delicious.

【小题3】What happened to apples around 65 million years ago according to the research?

A．Their genes stopped their development as the environment got worse.

B．Their genes became twice in number but they finally died off like dinosaurs.

C．They experienced a great genetic change making them used to worse conditions.

D．They went through a similar development to peaches, strawberries and other related fruits.

【小题4】What can we infer(推断)from the passage?

A．Eating apples may bring us more advantages than we might believe before.

B．People who have the habit of eating apples don’t need to see a doctor.

C．Apples that kill the desire to eat are already available in supermarkets now.

D．People will eat apples instead of peaches and strawberries from now on.

You are probably familiar with the saying：An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A recent research carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may change the saying:
An apple a day may keep aging away.
The research chose fruit flies(果蝇), as they share many genes(基因)with humans. The fruit flies were either fed normally or had an apple extract(浓缩物) added to their diet.
It turned out that those fruit flies that were given apple extract lived about 55 days—five days longer than the flies that were normally fed. The research group also found it easier for the flies to walk，climb and move about as they aged.
According to the result, the researchers believed that the antioxidants(抗氧化剂) in the apple extract helped clean up dangerous chemicals(化学物质) that cause illnesses，as well as aging.
In another study，researchers examined diets of thousands of women. They discovered that those who regularly ate apples were 20 percent less likely to suffer heart illnesses and stroke.
The apples’ genetic code(遗传密码) was discovered recently. It allows scientists to develop nicer and healthier fruits. Researchers are already using the information to grow a kind of apples full of antioxidants that can keep eyes and joints healthy and protect humans against heart illnesses and cancer.
Apples that kill the desire(欲望) to eat could also be produced, with the first“extra-healthy’’apples on supermarket shelves within just four or five years.
The team that keeps studying apple DNA includes 100 scientists from five countries. Their research also suggests that around 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs began to die off the plant，which would finally become today’s apple tree, experienced a great genetic change. The number of many of its genes doubled. The extra genes allowed the apple to get used to worse conditions and go through a different development from peaches，strawberries and other related fruits.
【小题1】Why were fruit flies used for the research?

A．Because they have a similar diet to humans.

B．Because they have a history as long as apples.

C．Because they share a lot of genes with humans.

D．Because they feed on nothing but apple extract.

【小题2】What result did the researchers find out?

A．Apples produce chemicals that can change human genes.

B．Apples have antioxidants that kill chemicals that cause aging.

C．Apples are rich in vitamins that are needed in humans’bodies.

D．Apples produce chemicals that make apples taste more delicious.

【小题3】What happened to apples around 65 million years ago according to the research?

A．Their genes stopped their development as the environment got worse.

B．Their genes became twice in number but they finally died off like dinosaurs.

C．They experienced a great genetic change making them used to worse conditions.

D．They went through a similar development to peaches, strawberries and other related fruits.

【小题4】What can we infer(推断)from the passage?

A．Eating apples may bring us more advantages than we might believe before.

B．People who have the habit of eating apples don’t need to see a doctor.

C．Apples that kill the desire to eat are already available in supermarkets now.

D．People will eat apples instead of peaches and strawberries from now on.

You are probably familiar with the saying：An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A recent research carried out by the Chinese University of Hong Kong may change the saying:

An apple a day may keep aging away.

The research chose fruit flies(果蝇), as they share many genes(基因)with humans. The fruit flies were either fed normally or had an apple extract(浓缩物) added to their diet.

It turned out that those fruit flies that were given apple extract lived about 55 days—five days longer than the flies that were normally fed. The research group also found it easier for the flies to walk，climb and move about as they aged.

According to the result, the researchers believed that the antioxidants(抗氧化剂) in the apple extract helped clean up dangerous chemicals(化学物质) that cause illnesses，as well as aging.

In another study，researchers examined diets of thousands of women. They discovered that those who regularly ate apples were 20 percent less likely to suffer heart illnesses and stroke.

The apples’ genetic code(遗传密码) was discovered recently. It allows scientists to develop nicer and healthier fruits. Researchers are already using the information to grow a kind of apples full of antioxidants that can keep eyes and joints healthy and protect humans against heart illnesses and cancer.

Apples that kill the desire(欲望) to eat could also be produced, with the first“extra-healthy’’apples on supermarket shelves within just four or five years.

The team that keeps studying apple DNA includes 100 scientists from five countries. Their research also suggests that around 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs began to die off the plant，which would finally become today’s apple tree, experienced a great genetic change. The number of many of its genes doubled. The extra genes allowed the apple to get used to worse conditions and go through a different development from peaches，strawberries and other related fruits.

1.Why were fruit flies used for the research?

A.Because they have a similar diet to humans.

B.Because they have a history as long as apples.

C.Because they share a lot of genes with humans.

D.Because they feed on nothing but apple extract.

2.What result did the researchers find out?

A.Apples produce chemicals that can change human genes.

B.Apples have antioxidants that kill chemicals that cause aging.

C.Apples are rich in vitamins that are needed in humans’bodies.

D.Apples produce chemicals that make apples taste more delicious.

3.What happened to apples around 65 million years ago according to the research?

A.Their genes stopped their development as the environment got worse.

B.Their genes became twice in number but they finally died off like dinosaurs.

C.They experienced a great genetic change making them used to worse conditions.

D.They went through a similar development to peaches, strawberries and other related fruits.

4.What can we infer(推断)from the passage?

A.Eating apples may bring us more advantages than we might believe before.

B.People who have the habit of eating apples don’t need to see a doctor.

C.Apples that kill the desire to eat are already available in supermarkets now.

D.People will eat apples instead of peaches and strawberries from now on.

 

In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair-weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities(品质) of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability(可靠).
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults(过错) in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me.
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experiences and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor, too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!
【小题1】Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?

A．Understanding.	B．Honesty.
C．Reliability.	D．A sense of humor.

【小题2】If you have fair-weather friends, __________.

A．you will become rich

B．you can be sure that you get real friends

C．you will be refused when you get into trouble

D．they will give you all that they have when you need help

【小题3】This passage mainly discusses _________.

A．the qualities of a friend

B．how to get along with friends

C．the importance of having a friend

D．the importance of the qualities of a friend