Are we getting more stupid? According to Gerald Crabtree, a scientist at Stanford University in the US, we are. You may not want to hear this, but Crabtree believes that human intelligence reached its peak more than 2,000 years ago and ever since then has been going downhill. "If an average Greek from 1,000 BC were transported to modern times, he or she would be one of the brightest among us," Crabtree told The Guardian. At the heart of Crabtree's thinking is a simple idea. In the past, intelligence was critical for survival when our ancestors had to avoid dangerous animals and hunt for food. The difference of being smart or stupid is often life or death. However, after the spread of agriculture, when our ancestors began to live in dense farming communities, the need to keep their intelligence in peak condition gradually reduced. This is not hard to understand. Most of the time, pressure is what keeps us going - you need the pressure from your teachers to finish your homework; the pressure of looking pretty prompts you to lose weight when summer comes. And the same is also true of our intelligence - if we think less, we become less smart. These mutations are harmful to our intelligence and they were all developed in the past 3,000 years. The other evidence that Crabtree holds is in our genes. He found that among the 2,000 to 5,000 genes that we have that determine human intelligence , there are two or more mutations in each of us. However, Crabtree's theory has been criticized by some who say that early humans may have better hunting and surviving abilities, but people today have developed a more diverse intelligence. For example, spearing a tiger doesn't necessarily require more brainpower than playing chess or writing a poem. Moreover, the power of modern education means a lot more people have the opportunity to learn nowadays. "You wouldn't get Stephen Hawking 2,000 years ago. He just wouldn't exist," Thomas Hills of the University of Warwick, UK, told Live Science. "But now we have people of his... Some argue that Crabtree's theory is false because they think _ . A) people today are under much more pressure than early humans B) it's ridiculous to compare a hunter's and a poet's intelligence C) modern education is far more advanced than ancient education D) human intelligence nowadays is different from that of the distant past
D
Who give us life,raise us and are our constant support and wellwishers?Our mothers.That's why millions of people across the world take Mother's Day as an opportunity to express thanks and send best wishes to their moms. However,the celebration of Mother's Day is not the recent thing that many believe it to be.It was the ancient Greeks who started the tradition by celebrating their annual spring festival in honor of Rhea,the mother of many gods and goddesses. Later,in the 1600s,Mothering Sunday came to be celebrated in England.On the fourth Sunday of Lent ,children brought flowers and special fruitcakes to show their respect for their mothers.It may be the root of the modern Mother's Day. Thanks to the great efforts of Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis,Mother's Day became an official festival in the US.It is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.Later,many countries began to celebrate this day as Mother's Day. Today,Mother's Day is an international festival honoring mothers.It is celebrated all over the world in different ways.In Western countries,the most common way is to treat mothers with breakfast in bed.Kids often allow their mothers to sleep till late in the morning while they prepare her favorite breakfast with their fathers.Some also make handmade gifts or buy beautiful carnations .It is the day when you acknowledge your mothers contribution in your life and pay a tribute to her,often with flowers and gifts.It complements Father's Day,the celebration honoring fathers. Today,Mother's Day is a day celebrated on various days in many places around the world. The passage mainly wants to tell us _ . A) how to celebrate Mother's day B) what to do on Mother's day C) the historical change of Mother's day D) the meaning of Mother's day
C
Q: Our culture is the system we use to build our identity. All living creatures are part of a culture. Even animals have a culture! So what is culture? It's the way we behave in a group. It begins with each individual family. Within our families we do things to build relationships with each other. This can include routines for doing things. It also includes traditions. Traditions are activities that are repeated on a regular basis. Culture is not limited to individual family groups. The real strength of culture is in larger community groups. These larger groups are called societies. Every society makes rules for itself. It decides how people should act in different situations. Some of these rules are written down. Some are just things that are automatically expected of all members of that society. Often, cultures can be identified by what the people believe. Cultures are also known by what they choose to include in their art. Sometimes a society forms around people who speak the same language. Cultures may also be known for their customs, including the foods they make and the things they do. Our cultures help us understand who we are and what we believe. There are very strong emotions connecting us to our own society. Two different cultures may disagree on something, especially if they both feel strongly about it. When that happens, war is a common result. People are learning better ways to communicate with each other. The more we learn, the more we appreciate the differences in cultures. Which of the following has nothing to do with culture according to the passage? A) A religion that a certain people practice B) Greetings sent to people we love during spring festival C) Face-changing in Sichuan Opera D) Someone's personal habit of staying up very late
A: D
*Question*
EF (English First) is the world's leading privately owned education company. Founded in 1965, EF operates in over 50 countries around the world. We have vacancies for teaching positions across China so if you prefer the fast-paced city life like Shanghai, we probably have the position for you. We have both Kids&Teens schools and Adult schools in over 60 cities in China. Teaching at English First At English First, you'll be provided the resources to become the best teacher you can be. Our new and color1ful classrooms offer state-of-the-art technology including Internet-connected computers, interactive whiteboards and iPads. We also offer a world-class teacher development program with certification courses to our teachers to help them move into more senior positions within EF. Join the EF Teacher Network today Join a supportive community of EF staff and teachers from day one. We're here to provide the support you need every step of the way, from preparing your legal work visa to airport pickup. Learn how to order food in Chinese with our free language classes or attend a weekly teacher social sponsored by the company. There's so much to experience living abroad and you'll experience it to the fullest with EF. Requirements A bachelor's degree A TEFL Certificate (EF TEFL sponsorship available) Passport holders from the UK, the USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand The ability to obtain a clear background check The ability to live abroad for at least one year Your benefits package 12,000-13,500 RMB monthly, based on qualifications 10 paid annual leave days plus 11 national holidays Airport pickup upon arrival Free hotel accommodation during your first two weeks at EF Free Mandarin Chinese lessons What can be learned about EF? A) It only operates in China. B) It was founded in the 19th century. C) It targets at kids and teens. D) It aims to offer English lessons.
**Answer**
D