We all know what a brain is.  A doctor will tell you that the brain is the organ of the body in the head. It controls our body's functions, movements, emotions and thoughts. But a brain can mean so much more.

     A brain can also simply be a smart person,  If a person is called brainy, she is smart and intelligent.  If a family has many children but one of them is super smart, you could say, "She's the brains in the family. " And if you are the brains behind something you are responsible for developing or organizing something.  For example, Bill Gates is the  brains behind Microsoft。

     Brain trust is a group of experts who give advice.  Word experts say the phrase

"brain trust" became popular when Franklin D. Roosevelt first ran for president in

 1932,  Several professors gave him advice on social and political issues facing the U. S.

    These professors were called his "brain trust. "

    These ways we use the word "brain" all make sense. But other ways we use the word are not so easy to understand.  For example, to understand the next brain expression, you first need to know the word “drain." As a verb to drain means to, remove something by letting it flow away. So a brain drain may sound like a disease where the brain flows out the ears.  But, brain drain is when a country's most educated people leave their countries to live in another.  The brains are, sort of, draining out of the country.

       However, if people are responsible for a great idea, you could say they brainstormed it. Here, brainstorm is not an act of weather.  It is a process of thinking creatively about a complex topic. For example, business leaders may use brainstorming to create new products, and government leaders may brainstorm to solve problems.

      If people are brainwashed, it does not mean their brains are nice and clean.  To brainwash means to make someone accept new beliefs by using repeated pressure in a forceful or tricky way. Keep in mind that brainwash is never used in a positive way.

21. According to the text, if you're the CEO of Bai Du you can be called______.

   A. the brains behind Bai Du

   B. Bai Du's brain trust

   C. the brain drain of Bai Du

   D. the organ of Bai Du

22. Why did Roosevelt successfully win the election?

   A. Because he was smart at giving advice.

    B. Because word experts were popular.

   C. Because he got his brain trust.

   D. Because he was the brains behind America.

23. Which of the following expression is always used in a negative way?

   A. Brain trust      B. Brain  drain        C. Brainstorm           D. Brainwash

You may think that sailing is a difficult sport, but it is really not hard to learn. You do not need to be strong. But you need to be quick. And you need to understand a few basic rules about the wind.

     First, you must ask yourself, “Where is the wind coming from? Is it coming from ahead or behind or from the side?” You must think about this all the time on the boat. The wind direction tells you what to do with the sail.

Let's start with the wind blowing from behind. This means the wind and the boat are going in the same direction. Then you must always keep the sail outside the boat. It should be at a 90° angle to the boat. Then it will catch the wind best.

If the wind is blowing from the side, it is blowing across the boat. In this case, you must keep the sail half way outside the boat. It should be at a 45° angle to the boat. It needs to be out far enough to catch the wind, but it shouldn't flap (摆动). It shouldn't look like a flag on a flagpole. If it is flapping, it is probably out too far, and the boat will slow down.

Sailing against the wind is not possible. If you try, the sail will flap and the boat will stop. You may want to go in that direction. It is possible, but you can't go in a straight line. You must go first in one direction and then in another. This is called tacking. When you are tacking, you must always keep the sail inside the boat.

24.What should you consider first while sailing?

A. Sailors' strength.                                                  B.  Wind directions.                       

C. Size of sails.                                                         D. Wave levels. 

25.What does the word “It” underlined in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The sail.                                                             B. The wind.                            

C. The boat.                                                            D. The angle.

26.What do you have to do when sailing against the wind?

A. Move in a straight line.                                      B. Allow the sail to flap.

C. Tack the boat..                                                    D. Lower the sail

27.Where can you probably find the text?

A. In a tourist guidebook                                    

 B. In a physics textbook.

C.  In an official report.                                       

D. .In a popular magazine. 

Ode to Peace, not like the Korean drama Descendants of the Sun, it  is an innovative play performed by nearly 1, 000 students and teachers from an art college in Dalian was staged at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday.

It was loudly applauded by an audience of over 6, 000, including diplomats and overseas students. “We try to advocate the theme of our time while providing more practices to our students and teachers, ”said Wang Xianjun, chairman of the board of Dalian Art College, which organized the performance.

The play showed people’s desire for world peace by reawakening the memories of historical events.

It presented the trips of imperial envoy Zhang Qian to the Western regions that opened up the world-famous Silk Road, the voyage of Zheng He, who led trade expeditions to west Asia and east Africa and memories of World WarⅡ.

The performance combined symphony, Chinese folk music, chorus and recitation, as well as colorful dances featuring Chinese drum and long sleeves, Indian dance, Spanish flamenco dance and Russia folk dance.

“I’m sure that our students and teachers will cherish this performance at the Great Hall. Definitely, they are the biggest beneficiaries, ”Wang said.

The Administrative Committee of Dalian Jinpu New District and the college sponsored the performance with support from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China Friendship Art Exchange Association and the Administrative Committee of Dalian Jinpu New District.

“Art has no nationality. DAC’s practice in advocating Chinese culture through art could be acceptable, ”said Wang Heshan, general  secretary of the art exchange association.

“We hope DAC can contribute more to non-governmental art exchange with people from other countries, ”he said.

28. Which is TRUE about Ode to Peace?

A. It advocated the theme of development.    B. It was a traditional performance.

C. It was highly thought of by the audience.  

D. It was organized by Great Hall of the People.

29. Which is NOT referred to in the performance?

A. The construction of the Great Hall.   

B. Memories of World WarⅡ.

C. Imperial envoy Zhang Qian to the Western regions.

D. The voyage of Zheng He.

30. What can we learn from Wang Heshan’s words?

A. Art plays an important part in cultural communication.

B. Art belongs to a certain nationality.

C. Non-governmental art is developing slowly.

D. DAC should learn from people in other countries.

31. The passage is mainly about　　　.

A. Descendants of the Sun    

B. Ode to Peace

C. Introduction to Dalian Art College

D. New Silk Road

Many Western people are not used to sitting on the floor any more. In Japan, however, sitting upright on the floor is common in different situations. For example, meals are traditionally had when people sit on the tatami (榻榻米) floor around a low table. Also during the tea ceremony and other traditional events, one sits on the floor.

    The formal way of sitting for both men and women is kneeling upright. People who are not used to sitting in this style may feel uncomfortable after a few minutes, and their legs may go numb. However, foreigners are not usually expected to be able to sit in this style for a long time, and an increasing number of Japanese people themselves aren’t able to do so, owing to a more westernized lifestyle.

    In other situations, men usually sit cross-legged, while women sit on their knees laying both legs to one side. The former sitting style is considered wholly male, while the latter is considered completely female.

    The most important guest sits on the honored seat which is set farthest from the entrance. If there is a tokonoma (壁龛) in the room, the guest should be seated in front of it. The host or the least important person is supposed to sit next to the entrance. Of course, there are other things to be considered in each particular case.

32. Which of the following situations is NOT mentioned in the passage?

  A. When traditional events are held.       

  B. When a tea ceremony is held.

  C. When men and women meet.  

  D. When meals are traditionally had.

33. According to the passage we can learn that ______.

  A. more and more Japanese sit in the formal way

  B. foreigners should always sit in the formal style in a Japanese home

  C. men and women in Japan sit in the same informal way

  D. men shouldn’t sit on their knees laying both legs to one side

34. When some guests are in a Japanese home, _______should sit nearest to the entrance.

  A. the most important guest   

  B. both the host and the hostess

  C. the host or the least important person            

  D. the host himself

35. What is the passage mainly about?

  A. How foreigners should sit in Japanese homes.

  B. How and where to sit in Japanese homes.

  C. How foreigners should behave in Japanese homes.

  D. Where to sit in Japanese homes.

how to take notes and organize them

   It’s really important that in school you can review what you’ve learned. Keeping good notes can be a most useful method. But you have to learn how to make your notebook work for you. Here are some tips.

  36   Arrive on time or, better yet, early, with all the books and things you will need. Sit down and immediately take out your notebook, which you should then open up to a blank page for your notes.

Pay attention to the teacher’s cues(暗示) . Chances are good that your teacher will tell you when she’s about to tell you something you should write down.   37  

   38   By titling and dating your notes, it makes it a lot easier to find the notes you need to study for a particular test and to know what you did on a certain day.

Use dividers, numbering, pictures, and symbols. There are many ways to make your notes easier to read. For example, dividers are good if your teacher chooses to jump from topic to topic.   39 Everyone has a different note-taking style, so figure out which works for you.

Use them!  40   When your teacher informs you of an upcoming test or quiz, take out your notes each night before the test and review the material. Even a few minutes of skimming over well-taken, organized note can make a big difference in your understanding and grade.

A. Be prepared at the start of class.

B. Title and date all notes and work.

C. Notes are worthless if you don’t use them.

D. You should take at least a few notes every class.

E. There’s no need to take notes if you can’t read them later.

F. you should pay attention in class and listen to your teacher.

G. Number things that go in order, and use stars to draw the eye to important information.