many early habits, like sucking out thumb, are broken when we are very young. we are either told to stop doing it by our parents, or we consciously or subconsciously observe that others do not have the same habit, and we gradually grow out of it. it is when we intentionally or unintentionally pick up new habits in our later childhood or early adulthood that it becomes a problem. unless we can break that habit early on, it becomes a part of out life, and becomes “programmed” into our brain.

　　a recent study of human memory suggests that no matter how hard we try to change out habits, it is the old ways that tend to win, especially in situations where we are rushed, stressed or overworked. habits that we thought we had got rid of can suddenly come back. during the study program, the researchers showed a group of volunteers several pictures, and gave them words to associate with them. they then showed the volunteers the same picture again, and gave them new words to associate with them,

　　a few days later, the volunteers were given a test. the researchers showed them the pictures, and told them to respond with one of the words they had been given for each one. it came as no surprise that their answers were split between the first set of words and second. two weeks later, they were given the same test again. this time, most of them only gave the first set of words. they appeared to have completely forgotten the second set.

　　the study confirms that the responses we learn first are those that remain strongest over time. we may try to change out ways, but after a while, the response that comes to mind first is usually the first one we learned. the more that response is used, the more automatic it becomes and the harder it becomes to respond in any other way.

　　the study therefore suggests that over time, our bad habits also become automatic, learned behavior. this is not good news for people who pick up bad habits early in life and now want to change or break them. even when we try to put new, good intentions into practice, those previous learned habits remain stronger in more automatic, unconscious forms of memory.

　　16. boys usually develop bad habits when they are very young.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　17. we can only break bad habits if others tell us to do.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　18. bad habits may return when we are under pressure.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　19. researchers were surprised by the answer that the volunteers gave in the first test.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　20. the volunteers found the test more difficult when they did it the second time.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　21. the study suggests that it is more difficult to respond what to get rid of.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　22. if we develop bad habits early in life , they are harder to get rid of.

　　a. right b. wrong c. not mentioned

　　参考答案：c、b、a、b、c 、b、a

第3部分：概括大意与完成句子(第23~30题，每题1分，共8分)

　　下面的短文后有2项测试任务：(1)第23~26题要求从所给的6个选项中为指定段落每段选择1个小标题;(2)第27~30题要求从所给的6个选项中为每个句子确定一个最佳选项。

　　traffic jams—no end in sight

　　1 traffic congestion(拥堵)affects people throughout the world.traffic jams cause smog in dozens of cities across both the developed and developing world. in the u.s., commuters (通勤人员) spend an average of a full working week each year sitting in traffic jams, according to the texas transportation institute. while alternative ways of getting around are available, most people still choose their cars because they are looking for convenience, comfort and privacy.

　　2 the most promising technique for reducing city traffic is called congestion pricing，whereby cities charge a toll to enter certain parts of town at certain times of day.in theory, if the toll is high enough，some drivers will cancel{heir trips or go by bus or train.and in practice it seems to work：singapore，london and stockholm have reduced traffic and pollution in city centres thanks to congestion pricing.

　　3 another way to reduce rush—hour traffic is for employers to implement flextime，which lets employees travel to and from work at off-peak traffic times to avoid the rush hour.those who have to travel during busy times can do their part by sharing cars.employers can also allow more staff to telecommute(work from home)so as to keep more cars off the road altogether.

　　4 some urban planners still believe that the best way to ease traffic congestion is to build more roads，especially roads that can take drivers around or over crowded city streets.but such techniques do not really keep cars off the road;they only accommodate more of them.

　　5 other, more forward—thinking，planners know that more and more drivers and cars are taking to the roads every day，and they are unwilling to encourage more private automobiles when public transport is so much better both for people and the environment.for this reason, the american government has decided to spend some$7 billion on helping to increase capacity on public-transport systems and upgrade them with more efficient technologies.but environmentalists complain that such funding is tiny compared with the$50 billion being spent on roads and bridges.

　　23.paragraph 1____

　　24.paragraph 2____

　　25.paragraph 3 ____

　　26.paragraph 4____

　　参考答案：23-26: a、 e、 c 、d

　　a.not doing enough

　　b.a global problem

　　c.changing work practice

　　d.a solution which is no solution

　　e.paying to get in

　　f.closing city centres to traffic

　　27. most american drivers think it convenient to______

　　28. if charged high enough, some drivers may______ to enter certain parts of town.

　　29. building more roads is not an effective way to______

　　30. the u. s. government has planned to ______ updating public-transport systems.

　　参考答案：27—30: c 、a 、e 、d

　　a.go by bus

　　b.encourage more private cars

　　c.drive around

　　d.spend more money

　　e.reduce traffic jams

　　f.travel regularly