Passage 1

　　Analytical skills are our ability to understand and solve problems using Information we have available. These skills are extremely important for our professional, social, and intellectual lives.

　　What are the best ways to improve them? One way is to expand your world view. Unfortunately, this takes time. Ultimately, it will help you better evaluate information and analyze different ideas and outcomes. Traveling is a great way to expand your world view, although it can be expensive

　　An entertaining way of enhancing your analytical skills is to engage them by playing brain games. These are games that challenge you to think deeply and to develop your analytical skills. These games will get you used to thinking in a certain way. As a result, they will help improve your ability to think. However, opinions vary on whether video games are effective. The general consensus is that the best ones avoid mindless violence, and instead focus on strategy and challenge us to solve problems and achieve broad goals.

　　Joining a debate or reading club or group is also a good idea. This provides people with the opportunity to come together and discuss ideas, literature and problems. Groups like these will help you refine your analytical skills and enable you to express yourself better. Any social group that encourages free exchange of ideas and pursuit of knowledge is beneficial. It helps you to actively develop your analytical skills.

　　Q16. What kind of ability do analytical skills refer to in the passage?

　　【答案】Using information to understand and solve problems

　　【解析】本题考查文章开头术语概念。原文开头说Analytical skills are our ability to understand and solve problems using Information we have available.分析能力是一种可以帮助我们使用已有的信息来理解和解决问题的能力。总结后即可选出正确答案

　　Q17. What does the passage say is an entertaining way of enhancing ones analytical skills?

　　【答案】Playing games that challenge one’s mind

　　【解析】本题考查具体提升分析能力的方式，原文中讲到An entertaining way of enhancing your analytical skills is to engage them by playing brain games. 提升分析能力的一个有趣的方式是玩一些大脑游戏，engage和challenge进行同意替换。

　　Q18. What else does the speaker advise people to do to improve their analytical skills?

　　【答案】Participate in debates or discussions

　　【解析】本题考查具体的动作细节，一般为具体的建议。原文中说Joining a debate or reading club or group is also a good idea. 参加辩论小组或读书会是个好主意，participate和原文中的join进行同意替换。

　　Passage 2

　　There's an endless amount of scientific data proving that dogs can develop strong bonds with their owners. People aren't kidding when they say they love their dog or their dog loves them, but were rather ignorant about the nature of the relationships that form between dogs.

　　In an effort to understand the matter further, I spoke with doctors Mark Beckhoff a researcher and former professor of animal behavior. The-doctors response to the question of whether or not dogs can fall in love like humans do was a straight “Of course!” He went on to say that if love is defined as a long term commitment meaning dogs seek one another out when they’re apart, they're happy when they're reunited, they protect one another, they feed one another, they raise their children together. Then, of course, dogs love each other.

　　Now our furry friends don't really experience romantic love, like in the movies, but they can form deep and lasting bands with their fellow dogs as well as humans.

　　In fact, evidence shows almost dogs stay with one partner their whole lives. In actuality, love between dogs can be even more intimate than human relationships. When they interact, they aren’t afraid to smell each other and will express themselves clearly and honestly, Once again, it seems we have a lot to learn from dogs.