The year 2006 was a busy one for space and technology workers. A planet lost its status and space flights caught the imagination of people around the world.
The following is a short list of the major events of the year:____________
IBM has built a chip that runs about 100 times faster than the ones we have now. The development could lead to faster computers. The chip was first made in June. It can run at a speed of 500 gigahertz (千兆赫).
Pluto loses face
The International Astronomical Union created the first scientific definition (定义) of the word "planet" in August. Under the new rules, Pluto is no longer called a planet but a "dwarf planet" (矮行星).
Pluto had been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930. For now, there are only the eight "classical" planets in the solar system (太阳系): They are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Woman space tourist
The first woman space tourist was launched on a Russian rocket from Kazakhstan on September 18. The flight carried a businesswoman, named Anousheh Ansari, along with a fresh crew for the International Space Station (ISS). Ansari is a 40-year-old American. She has paid at least US$20 million for the trip. She returned on September 28 after her eight-day stay at the International Space Station.
Discovery sent up
The US space shuttle Discovery took seven astronauts on a 12-day repair mission (任务) to the International Space Station on December 9. It was the first night launch by NASA in four years. The last one ended in the failure of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003. The sub-title of the second paragraph probably would be _______.
| A．IBM |
| B．The development of computers |
| C．The first chip born |
| D．Faster computer chip |
The US space shuttle Discovery was sent up mainly to ________.
| A．do some research |
| B．do some repairs |
| C．be in memory to Columbia shuttle. |
| D．build a space station. |
Which of the following statements is WRONG?
| A．Pluto is no longer a real planet according to the new theory. |
| B．People have been dreaming about space flight. |
| C．Anousheh Ansari was the first women space tourist. |
| D．The US space shuttle Discovery is the first one launched by NASA at night. |
The passage is written mainly to tell us_______.
| A．exciting new science of the year of 2006. |
| B．space flight full of wonders. |
| C．the major events of the year of 2006. |
| D．science and technology is the first productive. |
We're so well educated—but we're useless students who have lost the ability to do anything practical. The only thing we've mastered is consumption.
Large numbers of students have entered higher education in the past 10 years, but despite being the most educated generation in history, it seems that we've grown increasingly ignorant when it comes to basic life skills.
Looking back on my first couple of weeks of living in student halls, I consider myself lucky to still be alive. Unfamiliar to fresher's, there are many hidden dangers in the dirty corners of students accommodation.
I have survived a couple of serious boiling egg incidents and lots of cases of food-poisoning, probably from dirty kitchen counters. Although some of my clothes have fallen victim to ironing experimentation, I think I have now finally acquired all the domestic (居家的) skills I missed out in my modern education.
In 2006 and 2010, the charming educationist Sir Ken Robinson gave two very amusing talks in which he discussed the importance of creativity in education. Robinson's main viewpoint is that our current education system dislocates people from their natural talents. I would like to go a step further and propose that besides our talents, the system takes away what used to be passed from generation to generation—a working knowledge of basic life skills.
Today's graduates may have earned themselves honor in history, law or economies, but when it comes to simple things like putting up a shelf to hold all their academic books, or fixing a hole in their on-trend clothes, they have to call for help from a professional handyman or tailor.
Since the invention of the Internet, it has never been easier for people to access information, but our highly specialized education has made us more one-sided than ever.
I suggest that we start with the immediate reintroduction of some of the most vital aspects of "domestic science" education, before the current lack leads to serious accidents in student halls.People call us useless students for the reason that __________.
| A．what we've learned is beyond consumption |
| B．we are educated generation |
| C．we've entered higher education |
| D．our living skills are so poor |
Which is NOT the incident the writer had during the first few weeks in student halls?
| A．He was seriously burnt by boiled eggs. |
| B．He was accidentally poisoned by food. |
| C．He damaged his clothes while ironing. |
| D．He was severely beaten by freshers. |
According to Robinson's opinion, our current education __________.
| A．focuses on the importance of creativity |
| B．dislocates people from their natural talents |
| C．has equipped students with basic life skills |
| D．has followed the tradition properly |
Why are the graduates poor at basic life skills?
| A．Because they are not interested in them. |
| B．Because they have little relevant practice. |
| C．Because they are affected by the Internet. |
| D．Because they are easy to be one-sided. |
The main purpose of writing the passage is that __________.
| A．there is no need to introduce "domestic science" |
| B．it's time we did something to current education |
| C．more attention should be paid to natural science |
| D．accidents should be prevented in student halls |
Everyday we talk about and use the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet?
Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer network didn't work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way computer network system would keep on working all the time.
At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made "surfing" in the Internet more convenient.
Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students. The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people's life.The Internet has a history of more than __________ years.
| A．sixty | B．forty | C．fifty | D．twenty |
A new network system was set up to __________.
| A．make computers cheaper |
| B．make itself keep on working all the time |
| C．break down the whole network |
| D．make computers large and expensive |
__________ made "surfing" the Internet more convenient.
| A．Computers | B．Hardware | C．Software | D．Information |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．In the 1960s, computer network worked well. |
| B．in the early 1970s, the Internet was easy to use. |
| C．Today it's still not easy to get on-line. |
| D．Sending e-mail is now more popular among students than before. |
People around the world used their computers to buy goods, communicate with others, listen to music, see pictures and learn about different places and ideas. In 2006, more people around the world used new ways to communicate and connect with each other through the Internet.
The blog is one form of communication that enjoys growing popularity. Blog is a short way of saying Web log. Through these personal websites, people can share their experiences, ideas and opinions with anyone on the Internet.
People of all ages have their own blogs. For young people, they are a way to show their writings and other forms of self-expression.
Many websites offer free services to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures. These sites include "MySpace" used mainly by teenagers and young adults. My Space is an online community that lets people share messages and pictures with an increasing number of friends. It is the most popular social networking site on the Web.
YouTube is another Internet site that became more popular this year. This website lets anyone create, share and watch short videos. People can watch almost anything on YouTube: news, sports and entertainment events. There are music videos, and videos made by people in their own homes. These include videos of people singing or dancing, or animals doing funny things. Three young men created YouTube almost two years ago as a personal video sharing service. They recently sold it to Google for more than one and one half billion dollars.
Games and entertainment also became a larger part of the Internet this year. One Internet social site is called Second Life. It is an online world in which computer users create a new self and live a different life. They get married, build homes, operate businesses, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school.People all around the world use blogs to __________.
| A．buy goods | B．express themselves |
| C．listen to music | D．watch videos |
Blogs are popular with young people because they can __________.
| A．share ideas with their friends there |
| B．download videos or music there |
| C．make lots of money there |
| D．live a new life there |
MySpace is one of the most popular __________ on the Internet.
| A．Web pages | B．blogs |
| C．space stations | D．websites |
People visit YouTube and __________ there.
| A．create and share videos |
| B．sing and dance to music |
| C．get personal information |
| D．raise animals |
In American schools there is something called Homecoming. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a Homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation or commencement (授奖典礼) day. Students plan Homecoming for many weeks in advance.
Several days before Homecoming, students start to decorate the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.
The members of school clubs build booths (摊位) and sell lemonade, apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors. During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.
Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the band comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen or King appears. All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King. It is a great honor to be chosen.
Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the team loses, the students still enjoy Homecoming. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering.The most important event of the year in high schools and colleges is __________.
| A．Homecoming | B．the football game |
| C．graduation | D．winning the game |
Which of the following is NOT done on Homecoming?
| A．To see old friends. |
| B．To call on teachers they remember. |
| C．To watch the football game. |
| D．To go home to see their family. |
The underlined word "vote" in the fifth paragraph means __________.
| A．attend | B．elect or choose |
| C．hold | D．have |
Who can probably become Homecoming Queen or King?
| A．The student who is liked most by the others. |
| B．The guest who is most popular with the students. |
| C．The student who is most liked by the guests. |
| D．The player who plays best in the football game. |
This article can be adapted from __________.
| A．Textbook | B．Entertainment Journal |
| C．Sports Journal | D．Science Report |
There is an English saying that "Laughter is the best medicine. "Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter can really improve people's health.
Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their hearts, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter has similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, makes the heart beat quicker and makes people breathe deeper; it also works on several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial.
Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effects of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated (, 忍耐) the pain for the longest time was the group which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemical in the brain which diminishes both stress and pain.
As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients' condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.According to the passage, which of the following statements is WRONG?
| A．Laughter is good for health. |
| B．Laughter can make you become old quickly. |
| C．Laughter helps to reduce pain. |
| D．Laughter, just like physical exercise, is good for our body. |
The underlined word "diminishes" in the third paragraph means" __________ "
| A．delays | B．prevents |
| C．increases | D．reduces |
Why do some doctors hold laughter clinics?
| A．Because they want to earn more money. |
| B．Because they think they will help the patients recover from illnesses. |
| C．Because they want to improve their patients' condition. |
| D．Because they want their patients to practice how to laugh. |
According to the author, we should __________.
| A．laugh as much as possible |
| B．watch more funny films |
| C．smile all the time |
| D．spend more time in laughter clinics |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Both laughter and physical exercise are good for health |
| B．Laughter clinics help patients improve their condition |
| C．Laughter can reduce the effects of pain |
| D．Laughter is the best medicine |
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