Hypnotism (催眠术) is very old. Thousands of years ago people started to use it in Egypt. The use of hypnotism has grown very much since that time. Today, doctors and scientists are in almost every country hypnotize people to help them with their problems. What is hypnotism, and how does it work? Many people think that a hypnotist puts people to sleep. Then he makes the hypnotized people do strange things. This is not what a hypnotist does. Hypnotism is really just a way to relax the mind and body.
What are some of the uses of hypnotism? We go to a hypnotist because we have a problem. The problem makes us unhappy. The hypnotist asks us to think hard about something and relax. When we are relaxed, the hypnotist gives us some ideas to help us with our problems.
Hypnotism can help people to remember things. The police sometimes ask hypnotists to help them. For example, a man sees an accident. He forgets the license number of the car he sees. If he is hypnotized he may remember it. The police can then find the car and catch the driver.
People who are hypnotized can also make mistakes or say something that isn't true. People remember what they think they saw. That may not be what really happened.
The police don't hypnotize people who do something wrong. Why not? People who are hypnotized may say something that isn't true. A person who has done something bad has a good reason to say something that isn't true.
11. Hypnotist helps people by ____. [A] putting them to sleep [B] helping them to get relaxed
[C] offering his ideas about their problems [D] making them forget their problems 【参考答案】：C
12. When hypnotized, some people may say something that is not true, because ____.
[A] they do not remember what has happened [B] they remember what they think has happened [C] they do not know what has happened
[D] they are not interested in what has happened
【参考答案】：B
13. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?____ [A] Hypnotism is very different form what it used to be.
[B] When a person is hypnotized, his body gets relaxed, while his mind works hard.
[C] Hypnotism is much more widely used today than it was thousands of years ago.
[D] When hypnotized, a person will do something strange. 【参考答案】：C
14. The passage mainly talks about ____. [A] how hypnotism works
[B] the development of hypnotism [C] the use of hypnotism [D] the wonder of hypnotism 【参考答案】：C
Even the newest gardener realizes that plants die without water; what is not so well known is that plants die equally decisively, though not so quickly, if they are over watered. Beginners usually decide to play it safe and keep their potted plants thoroughly wet. In consequence, death by drowning is one of the commonest disasters to befall the plants of a new horticulturist. Plants wither away if they don't get enough water, and this draws attention to their problem. A plant that has been slightly under watered so that it droops strikes terror into the heart of its new owner. But it will, in fact, recover completely as long as rescue comes in time and the process is not repeated too often. Over watered plants, unfortunately, do not give any such obvious signal; slowly they cease to thrive and the first visible indication of serious trouble is a yellowing of the lower leaves. Unless the over watered pot soil is given a considerable period without water, during which time the plant will continue to look wretched, it will suddenly collapse in exactly the same way as the under watered plant --- but with no chance of being revived because the roots have rotted away
15. Judging from the text, a horticulturist is one who ____. [A] raises animals [B] grows plants
[C] gives advice to new gardeners [D] studies the watering of plants 【参考答案】：B
16. One of the commonest disasters that happen to plants of a new gardener is ____.
[A] underwatering [B] overwatering [C] lack of fertilizer [D] a withering disease 【参考答案】：B
17. Which of the following plants has more chance of complete recovery? ____
[A] A plant with its leaves drooping. [B] A plant with its lower leaves yellowing. [C] A plant with its roots rotting away. [D] A plant that slowly cease to thrive. 【参考答案】：A
18. The purpose of the writer in writing this passage is ____. [A] to give general instructions for gardening
[B] to give practical instructions for growing potted plants [C] to draw attention to the problem of underwatered plants [D] to draw attention to the problem of overwatered plants 【参考答案】：D
Most Americans find the idea of arranged marriages difficult to understand or accept. They believe that two people should marry for love, after a period of dating or courtship. During that period, the prospective marriage partners are supposed to learn enough about each other to decide whether or not they will be able to build a successful marriage. Today in America, it is common for people to live together as a way of preparing for marriage. The idea of an arranged marriage seems very old-fashioned indeed.
But aren't all marriages arranged in one way or another? In the United States marriages are seldom formally arranged, but quite a lot of informal arranging goes on before two people become husband and wife. People who get married are introduced to each other by friends. These friends have already decided that the two people are right for each other and arrange for them to meet. In the United States this kind of arrangement is very common. Because friends have such great influence, their approval of a dating partner is very important.
Families also exert open and subtle pressures on their children to influence their choices of marriage partners. Parents often arrange dates for their own children. One parent often tells a friend about her beautiful daughter or handsome son. Also, parents can meet the perfect marriage prospect for their son or daughter through business relationships. Since parents often assist their children financially, they feel that they have the right to help the bride and groom select where they will live, what type of furniture they will purchase, and what their life-style will be like
11. Most Americans think that arranged marriages are ____. [A] understandable [B] acceptable [C] unavoidable [D] old fashioned 【参考答案】：D
12. According to this passage, the prospective marriage partners ____. [A] often write to each other
[B] often attend formal parties together [C] often meet each other
[D] often discuss problems together
【参考答案】：C
13. Which of the flowing is TRUE according to this passage?____ [A] Marriages are usually arranged by parents in America. [B] No arranging goes on before two people get married.
[C] Only one formal arrangement takes place before two people get married. [D] There are usually a lot of informal arrangements before two people get married. 【参考答案】：D
14. Which of the following is NOT true?____
[A] Parents often try to influence their children's marriages. [B] Open arranged marriages are unusual in the U.S.
[C] Friends sometimes play some role in getting two people together who may get married later.
[D] Parents never care much about their children's marriages. 【参考答案】：D
15. Which of the following can be inferred from the last paragraph?____ [A] Social class has much influence on marriages. [B] Nationality has much influence on marriages. [C] Knowledge has much influence on marriages. [D] Age has much influence on marriages. 【参考答案】：A
Sleep is part of your daily activity cycle, but there are several different types or stages of sleep, and they too occur in cycles.
If you are an average sleeper, your sleep cycle will go something like this: When you first drift off into sleep your eyes will roll about a bit, your temperature will drop slightly, your muscles will relax, and your breathing will slow and become quite regular. Your brain waves slow down a bit too. This is called Stage 1 sleep.
For the next half hour or so, as you relax more and more, you will drift