Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experience? Strangely enough, the answer to these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. While the limits of a person’s intelligence are fixed at birth, whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random(随机地) from population, it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If, on the other hand, we take two identical twins, they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.
【小题1】Which best describes the writer’s point in Para.1?

A．Intelligence is given at birth.

B．Intelligence is developed by the environment.

C．Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.

D．Some people are born clever and others born stupid.

【小题2】It is suggested in this passage that __________.

A．close relations usually have similar intelligence

B．unrelated people are not likely to have similar intelligence

C．the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence

D．people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence

【小题3】The example of the twins going to a university and to a factory separately shows_________.

A．the importance of their intelligence

B．the effect of environment on intelligence

C．the importance of their positions

D．the part that birth plays

【小题4】The best title for this article would be “_____________”.

A．On Intelligence

B．What Intelligence Means

C．Born with Intelligence

D．Environment Decides Intelligence

   Experts believe that the best time to teach kids language skills is when they are babies. Most times the task is easily accomplished with parents reading or talking to their babies. However，in some cases that is not possible due to parents' busy work schedules or when kids are born deaf. Now，a blue-eyed robot，a human image，and some high-tech neuroscience may be able to assist parents with this important developmental task.

The Robot AVatar thermal-Enhanced system，or RAVE，is the brainchild of a team of researchers led by Laura-Ann Petitto，an educational neuroscientist. The learning process begins when the robot's camera，which is focused on the baby's face，notices tiny changes in his/her body temperature. This，combined with the baby's facial expression，causes the robot to turn its head and guide the baby's attention to a computer screen，on which a human image starts to communicate with the baby. For example，if the baby points towards the screen，the image might respond，“Are you pointing to me？”and follow that up with a nursery rhyme or fairy tale，all in American Sign Language（ASL）. The“conversation”continues until the kid loses interest.

The researchers found that babies as young as 6 to 8 months old began to move their hands in a rhythm similar to ASL after communicating with RAVE for just a few minutes. Petitto says natural language，whether communicated through speech or sign，activates（激活）the same parts of the brain and believes the rhythmic motion proves the babies are learning the essential elements of communication.

What sets this technique apart from other methods，such as showing educational videos or television shows，is its interactive（互动的）nature and real-time response to the baby's actions. The researchers say that while it is too early to determine the system's long-term influence on baby communication, the initial response has been very encouraging. Next, they plan to introduce a robot that can both sign and speak to babies.

【小题1】What can the RAVE system help parents do?

A．Improve babies' health condition.

B．Take good care of babies.

C．Develop babies' language skills.

D．Keep company with babies.

【小题2】What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．How babies learn ASL effectively.

B．How parents educate their babies.

C．How robots talk and read to babies.

D．How the RAVE system works.

【小题3】What indicates babies are learning with the help of the RAVE system?

A．Interest in videos and TV shows.

B．Changes in their body temperature.

C．Improvement in their natural language

D．Hand movements in a rhythm like ASL.

【小题4】What do the researchers think of the RAVE system?

A．Promising.	B．Impractical.
C．Satisfactory.	D．Disappointing.

   We live in a world where we want everything instantly. In this instant world it is hard to succeed in anything. To achieve your goal you first have to change your life from instantly to persistently(坚持地).
Persistence is the course you need to set. When you change your expectancy from instantly to persistently you will gain an advantage of time that many do not have. Time works against those who live instantly. Opportunities are never seen because when something doesn't happen instantly people move on to the next thing on their list and consider the current goal a failure.
Persistent people have the advantage of time. It allows them to step back, observe and assess the progress of the goal they are pursuing(追求). Some things take longer to develop; some just need to be left there for a while to find their own way.
When you live instantly you gain and lose instantly. Many times you do not know how you got there or how to get back because it is not repeatable.
When you live persistently you learn how things work, how to correct a plan and how to guide it to make it successful. You do not panic because you know you have more than enough time.
Slow down and take time to enjoy the journey. If what you are doing is not fun then stop doing it and do something else.
Everything you do should be in pursuit of a better tomorrow than you had yesterday. You should take time to develop your abilities to reach your goals. Do not get discouraged just because your success is not instant.
Celebrate each step along the way. People who live instantly don't take time to appreciate what they have accomplished. They are just looking for the next thing that they can get instantly.
You must be grateful for the time it takes to reach your goal. Persistence will get you there if you really want to get there.
【小题1】People who want things instantly will fail in many things because _______.

A．they want greater efficiency

B．they don't stick to their goal

C．they often change their lifestyle

D．they tend to pursue a higher target

【小题2】The main advantage persistent people have over instant people is ______.

A．the willpower	B．a target
C．a plan	D．an opportunity

【小题3】According to the text, persistent people ______.

A．focus more on the result

B．work slower than instant people

C．will get rewarded for their efforts

D．look for the next thing to do immediately when finishing one target

【小题4】The writer's main purpose of writing the text is _______.

A．to blame those who live instantly

B．to persuade people to live happily

C．to praise those who have succeeded.

D．to suggest learning the art of persistence

   Cellphones, tablets, and computers are keeping children and teenagers awake at night-even when they' re not in use, according to new research. A study published on Monday in JAMA Pediatrics says that media devices are causing kids to sleep less and reducing the quality of sleep that they get. This leads to trouble of staying awake the next day.

Researchers analyzed hundreds of studies of children and teens aged 6-19. The scientists found a strong and consistent association between the use of technology at bedtime and poor sleeping. The reason is not just that kids are staying up too late with their devices. Using a computer can overstimulate the mind and emotions, the researchers say. A smartphone or tablet also gives off a light that affects the body's natural timing. These factors contribute to poor quality sleep. And many kids could be at risk. According to the study,72% of all children and 89% of adolescents have at least one device in their sleep environment. Most of these devices are used near bedtime.

"The harmful association between screen-based devices and kids' sleep is a major public health concern," the study concludes. In their conclusion, the researchers urge parents to understand the damaging influence of device use before sleep.

【小题1】What do the researchers disagree with?

A．Children even in dreams can be influenced by media devices.

B．Most adolescents like to play media devices before sleep.

C．Using media devices on bed makes kids sleep difficultly.

D．Using media devices can not excite the mind and emotions.

【小题2】How does a smartphone affect a child's sleep?

A．By making noises.

B．By giving off a light.

C．By attracting a kid's attention.

D．By sending out electronic waves.

【小题3】What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A．Media devices anytime put kids in danger.

B．Adolescents are more easily affected than children by phones.

C．Using technology at bedtime causes poor sleeping.

D．Media devices affect kid's performance at school.

【小题4】Whom does this article most probably writes to？

A．Scientists.	B．Parents.
C．Children.	D．Producers.

   A newly-published study has shown that loneliness can spread from one person to another，like a disease. Researchers used information from the Framingham Heart Study，which began in 1948. The Framingham Heart Study gathers information about physical and mental health，personal behavior and diet. At first，the study involved（使参加）about 5,000 people in the American state of Massachusetts. Now more than 12,000 individuals（个人）are taking part.

Information from the Framingham Heart Study showed earlier that happiness can spread from person to person. So can behavior like littering and the ability to stop smoking.

Psychologist John Cacioppo，at the University of Chicago，led the recent study. He and other researchers tried to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.

Having a social connection with a lonely person increased the chances that another individual would feel lonely. In fact，a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. A friend of that person was 25%more likely. The researchers said this shows that a person could indirectly be affected by someone’s loneliness.

The effect was the strongest among friends. Neighbors were the second most affected group. The effect was weaker on husbands and wives，and brothers and sisters. The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.

The New York Times newspaper reported that，on average，people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional（额外的）friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent，or two and a half fewer lonely days.

Loneliness has been linked to health problems like depression（抑郁症）and sleeping difficulties. The researchers believe that knowing the causes of loneliness could help reduce it.

The study suggested that people can take steps to stop the spread of loneliness. They can do this by helping individuals they know who may be experiencing loneliness. The result can be helpful to the whole social group.

【小题1】As for the Framingham Heart Study we can learn that __________.

A．it was only conducted in 1948	B．it involves more than 12, 000 people
C．it was founded by John Cacioppo	D．it showed that any behavior could spread

【小题2】From the passage, we can learn that __________.

A．the behavior of littering doesn’t spread

B．a lonely person won’t have friends

C．everyone may be affected by others’ loneliness

D．lonely people don’t know the causes of their loneliness

【小题3】Which statement about the spread of loneliness is TRUE?

A．The spreading effect is the second strongest among friends.

B．No spreading effect is found on husbands and wives.

C．Women are more likely to be affected than men.

D．Brothers are more easily to be affected than neighbors.

【小题4】What is the main idea of the passage？

A．Action should be taken to help lonely people.	B．People feel lonely for many reasons.
C．Ways to fight against loneliness.	D．Lonely people can affect others.