Ⅳ. Reading Comprehension (60 points)

　　Directions: There are five reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by four questions. For each question there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose one best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

　　Passage One

　　If you want to stay young, sit down and have a good think. This is the research result of professor Faulkner, who says that most of our brains are not getting enough exercise and as a result, we are ageing unnecessarily soon.

　　Professor Faulkner wanted to find out why healthy farmers in northern Japan appeared to be losing their ability to think and to reason at a relatively early age, and how the process of ageing could be slowed down.

　　He set about measuring brain volumes of a thousand people of different ages and occupations.

　　Computer technology enabled him to obtain precise measurements of the volume of the front and side sections of the brain, which relate to intelligence and emotion, and determine the human character.

　　Contraction of front and side parts--as cells die off--was observed in some subjects in their thirties, but it was still not evident in some sixty- and seventy-year-olds.

　　Faulkner concluded from his tests that there is a simple way to slow the contraction—using the head.

　　The findings show that contraction of the brain begins sooner in people in the country than in the towns. Those least at risk, says Faulkner, are lawyers, followed by university professors and doctors. White--collar workers doing routine work are, however, as likely to have shrinking brains as the farm worker, bus driver and shop assistant.

　　Faulkner's findings show that thinking can prevent the brain from shrinking. Blood must circulate properly in the head to supply the fresh oxygen the brain cells need. "The best way to maintain good blood circulation is through using the brain," he says. "Think hard and engage in conversation. Don't rely on pocket calculators."

　　36. Professor Faulkner wanted to find out__.

　　A. how people's brains shrink

　　B. the way of making people live longer

　　C. the size of certain people's brains

　　D. why certain people aged sooner than others

　　參考答案：D

　　37. Faulkner's research findings are based on __.

　　A. a survey of farmers in northern Japan

　　B. tests performed on a thousand old people

　　C. the study of brain volumes of different people

　　D. the latest development of computer technology

　　參考答案：C

　　38. The professor's tests show that __.

　　A. our brains shrink as we grow old

　　B. the front section of the brain does not shrink

　　C. seventy-year-olds have better brains than sixty-year-olds

　　D. brain contraction may vary among people of the same age

　　參考答案：D

　　39. According to the passage, which group of people seem to age slower than the others?

　　A. Farmers.

　　B. Lawyers.

　　C. Clerks.

　　D. Shop assistants.

　　參考答案：B

　　Passage Two

　　Online distance learning is an instructional system which connects learners with educational resources. Students work on their own at home, at work, or at school and communicate with faculty and other students by means of e-mail, electronic meetings, videoconferencing, chat rooms, instant messaging and other forms of computer-based communication. There are both advantages and disadvantages to online distance learning.

　　There are many benefits to using online distance learning environments. Online education is available all the time, anywhere and to all people. However, there are weaknesses for some learners. The online learner only has the written text and no other face-to-face hints. This may confuse the learner and cause misunderstanding. While distance learning allows for an openness, it is also difficult because it is done by e-mail messages and writing, and therefore may take more time than face-to-face learning. Sometimes the messages can be overwhelming for many online students.

　　Universities, colleges and schools use online distance learning environments. These are important for students who may be unable to attend classes for various reasons like illnesses or busy everyday schedules. Some learners just want to further their studies at home. They enjoy the convenience of home learning as they take regular programs or enrichment classes.

　　Online courses keep learners very occupied at all hours of the day. There are a great many messages and other online resources to read and respond to. Most learners have regular jobs or attend regular school classes on ground as well. However, the benefits are clear. Online distance learning is becoming very popular. Some online classes have become a profitable business as they replace regular traditional means of learning.

　　40. Which of the following is TRUE of the passage about online distance learning?

　　A. It has more disadvantages than advantages.

　　B. It is a learning form based on internet.

　　C. It is not available for some students.

　　D. It has only enrichment classes.

　　參考答案：B

　　41. Sometimes online distance learning can be a problem because __.

　　A. learners can't afford it

　　B. learners get too many hints

　　C. it involves excessive writing

　　D. it is not available at the weekend

　　參考答案：C

　　42. One of the good aspects of online distance learning is __.

　　A. speed

　　B. convenience

　　C. easy operation

　　D. variety of instruction

　　參考答案：B

　　43. With regular means of learning, the learners have to study __.

　　A. at school

　　B. on their own

　　C. at all hours of the day

　　D. by means of reading and writing

　　參考答案： A

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