Suppose we built a robot to explore the planet Mars. We provide the robot with seeing detectors(探测器) to keep it away from danger. It is powered entirely by the sun. Should we program the robot to be equally active at all times? No, the robot would be using up energy at a time when it was not receiving any. So we would probably program it to stop its activity at night and to wake up at dawn the next morning.
According to evolutionary(进化的) theory of sleep, evolution equipped us with a regular pattern of sleeping and waking for the same reason. The theory does not deny that sleep provides some important restorative functions. It merely says that evolution has programmed us to perform those functions at a time when activity would be inefficient and possibly dangerous. However, sleep protects us only from the sort of trouble we might walk into; it does not protect us from trouble that comes looking for us. So we sleep well when we are in a familiar, safe place, but we sleep lightly, if at all, when we fear that bears will nose into the tent.
The evolutionary theory explain the differences in sleep among creatures. Why do cats, for instance, sleep so much, while horses sleep so little? Surely cats do not need five times as much repair and restoration as horses do. But cats can afford to have long periods of inactivity because they spend little time eating and are unlikely to be attacked while they sleep. Horses must spend almost all their waking hours eating, because what they eat is very low in energy value. Moreover, they cannot afford to sleep too long or too deeply, because their survival depends on their ability to run away from attackers. The author uses the example of the robot in space exploration to tell us _______.
| A．the differences between robots and men |
| B．the reason why men need to sleep |
| C．about the need for robots to save power |
| D．about the danger of men working at night |
Evolution has programmed man to sleep at night chiefly to help him ______.
| A．keep up a regular pattern of life |
| B．prevent trouble that comes looking for him |
| C．avoid danger and inefficient labor |
| D．restore his bodily functions |
Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Evolution has equipped all creatures with a regular pattern of sleeping and waking. |
| B．The study of sleep is an important art of the evolutionary theory. |
| C．Sleeping patterns must be taken into consideration in the designing of robots. |
| D．The sleeping pattern of a living creature is determined by the food it eats. |
Dear Mr. Plant,
I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended（冒犯）for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees.
Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked（漏）the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund(退款) and no satisfaction.
A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction.
To my misfortune, my latest purchase(购买), of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane (丙烷) camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores?
Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store?
You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store.
Sincerely ,
Ima KumpaneeWhat was Ima' s proposed solution for the problem with the tent?
| A．To have it replaced. |
| B．To have it repaired. |
| C．To get a refund for it. |
| D．To get their apology. |
The clerk didn' t want to exchange the stove for Ima because_____.
| A．the clerk was offended |
| B．Ima destroyed it herself |
| C． Ima didn' t have the receipt |
| D．the clerk had given Ima the refund |
What was Ima' s attitude towards the purchase?
| A．Doubtful. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Dissatisfied. | D．Uninterested |
The letter is organized in order of ______.
| A．complexity | B．importance |
| C．space | D．time |
The letter was written to______.
| A．apply for a job in the store |
| B．complain about poor service |
| C．introduce some camping equipment |
| D．provide someone with information |
News 1
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday delivered a speech at a gathering marking the 15th anniversary of Macao’s return to China. He stressed the importance to strengthen the future-oriented education and upbringing of the young people in Macao, which was striving to address the shortage of human resources.
“We need to strengthen the education and upbringing of young people to ensure that fine tradition of loving the motherland and loving Macao will be carried forward from one generation to another and that the cause of ‘one country, two systems’ will be continuously advanced,” he said.
News 2
China has already built the largest high-speed rail network in the world, and leads especially in making high-speed trains, most of the rail makers are focusing more on enhancing innovation with a view to develop “China-designed” high-speed trains and to transfer technology to overseas countries.
China’s railway investment during the first 10 months of this year rose 37 percent from a year ago to 590 billion yuan, according to the country’s top economic planner.
News 3
Halloween is becoming the third-biggest imported festival after Christmas and Valentine’s Day in China.
As the festival approaches, lots of malls and theme parks have taken the card of “ghost”. All kinds of scary designs and various pumpkin shapes have pushed the festival atmosphere to its prime.
Many themes parks have planned “Halloween night”. In recent years, these kinds of activities have attracted more and more young people.
News 4
Li Yifeng is probably the most sought-after celebrity right now. Since the actor shot to fame with TV series Legend of the Ancient Sword （《古剑奇谭》）, he has been offered the opportunity to participate in a variety of movies and programs. And as the New Year is approaching, Hunan TV, Dragon TV, Zhejiang TV and Jiangsu TV are all fighting to get Li at their New Year gala. However, Li’s representative revealed that Li is sure to appear in Hunan TV’s gala. No plan has been made for Li to take the stage on Dragon TV.In President Xi’s speech, he mainly talked about ________.
| A．the shortage of human resources |
| B．the cause of “one country, two systems” |
| C．the tradition of loving the motherland |
| D．the education of the young people in Macao |
News 2 is likely to be about ________.
| A．politics | B．economy | C．culture | D．entertainment |
Which is the best title for News 3?
| A．The Activities of Halloween |
| B．The Designs of Halloween |
| C．Halloween Night in Theme Parks |
| D．Halloween Gains Popularity in China |
What can we learn from News 4?
| A．Li Yifeng is famous for acting in a TV series. |
| B．Li Yifeng has played leading roles in many films. |
| C．Dragon TV got the chance to interview Li Yifeng. |
| D．Li Yifeng is likely to appear in Zhejiang TV’s gala. |
This might not sound so extraordinary, but I didn’t just read a book in print, on an e-reader or even on a mobile phone. Instead, I read a book on dozens of devices(设备). I was not trying to set a Guinness world record. I wanted to answer a question I often hear: which e-reader or tablet（平板）is the best for reading books? So I set out to try them all, reading a chapter on each: the Amazon Kindle, the first and second generation Apple iPads and mobile phones. To be fair, I also read a chapter in that old-fashioned form — an old print paperback.
The book I chose was The Alienist. For the first chapter, I turned to an Amazon Kindle. Shopping on Amazon for the Kindle is simple; you go to Amazon’s Web site and buy the book, which is then sent to any devices with Kindle software installed(安装). Reading on the Amazon Kindle is a joy in many aspects. The Kindle is light．Its six-inch screen is the perfect size for reading, and reading on its black and white E Ink display doesn’t harm your eyes. Battery life is outstanding; on average you charge the device only once a month. My only complaint with the Kindle design is the placement of the keyboard at the bottom of the device. Amazon’s CEO has noted during past product announcements that the keyboard is there to help people take notes or search. But to me，it seems like a waste of space.
Despite the small screen on a mobile phone, I find reading on one to be simple and satisfactory. All of the mobile phones on which I read chapters felt somewhat similar; although screen brightness and the size of the phone’s screen did vary.
If I had wanted to, I could have bought my book through dozens of e-book apps (应用程序) in the Apple App Store. Most are free and offer access to thousands of free e-books or paid versions. But the big downside for many is that you can read them only on Apple devices. Both iPads 1＆2 offer an immersive（沉浸式）reading experience. I found myself jumping back and forth between my book and the Web, looking up old facts and pictures of New York City. I also found myself being sucked into the wormhole of the Internet and a few games of Angry Birds rather than reading my book. For the last chapters of the book, I read the paperback, which is still my favourite choice.
Since we are comparing devices so I guess I need to choose one. In the end it might come down to Kindle. But if money is tight, go for print. My used paperback cost only＄4 from Amazon.If the writer were short of money, he would prefer ______.
| A．a print paperback | B．an Apple iPad |
| C．a mobile phone | D．an Amazon Kindle |
According to the passage, which of the following statements on the Amazon Kindle is NOT TRUE?
| A．Its battery can last for a long time. |
| B．Its keyboard is kept in the proper position. |
| C．It is easy to carry and the screen size is proper. |
| D．It is comfortable for eyes because of its E Ink display. |
A possible customer would not buy iPads 1 & 2 for reading because ______.
| A．most e-book apps must be downloaded first |
| B．only paid-version e-books can be read on it |
| C．much information is lost at times when reading |
| D．attention is easily taken away when reading on it |
The passage is developed in the form of ______.
If your family is thinking of getting a pet, consider adopting from an animal shelter. Animal shelters are full of dogs, cats, rabbits, and more animals, all in need of loving homes. Some may come with emotional or behavioral issues, but most are happy, healthy, and ready for a loving home. Here are some tips for you to find great animals.
Make some decision.
Think about what you want in a pet and remember that all pets have different personalities. Cats tend to be more independent and need less affection, but kittens need lots of attention. Cats don’t need to be walked, but you need to clip their nails and play with them. Dogs need to be walked at the very least twice a day. However, they are usually great companions and love to spend time with their family.
Visit the shelter.
Set aside at least a few hours to visit shelters in your area—remember that you may need to visit more than one visit. Try to bring along everyone who will be living with a new pet. Ask the shelter staff lots of questions. And never adopt an animal because you feel sorry for it—be patient so you find a pet who is truly a good match for your family.
Get everything ready.
Buy all necessary supplies and food well before the animal comes home. Make sure that the entire household is in agreement about rules and responsibilities—will the dog be allowed on the couch? Who will clean the litter box? Put it in writing before the pet arrives.
Bring your new friend home!
You’ll probably be excited when your new pet arrives, but be sure to give them space and time to get adjusted to a new home and a new family. The pet may act differently once they leave the shelter. Interact（交流）with your pet a lot and get them used to a routine, and soon you’ll be one big happy family !Which of the following is the first important factor should be considered when adopting a pet?
| A．Think twice about the adoption. |
| B．Get detailed information about the pets. |
| C．Make full preparations for the coming pet. |
| D．Try to make the pet your family member. |
According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Both cats and dogs need walking and attention. |
| B．Both cats and dogs are human’s good partners. |
| C．All the animals in the shelter are in good condition. |
| D．It’s necessary to talk a lot with your new pets every day. |
Before a new pet comes home, we’d better ______.
| A．show concern for the animals |
| B．set down an agreement on paper |
| C．bring all the members to visit the shelter |
| D．get it adjusted to a new environment immediately |
The article is most likely intended for ______.
| A．animal shelters | B．shelter staff |
| C．pet lovers | D．pet protectors |
A well-developed class website can save teachers a lot of time in the long run, improving both student-teacher and parent-teacher communication while providing a repository(储藏室) of all classroom documents for future use. Although some extra time during the school year is required, once the site is up it needs just minor adjustments each new year. Have a question? Get an answer from online technology support now.
Decide which type of software you will use to create a class website. Microsoft has many applications that can be used to create websites, such as Publisher, Word and Expression Web. Some web hosting sites also have simple editing tools you can use instead of a formal program.
Find a place to host your class website. Your Internet provider often provides about some small space for a personal website for free, and many other free website hosting companies are on the Internet.
Consider using a template（模版）for your first attempt at website design. Most templates also come with a selection of color and graphics already in place so you can concentrate on content instead of design. It will contain basic sections with your specific class information.
Add content to your website. You need to have announcement sections for both parents and students, a syllabus or class rules area, homework assignments or a calendar, and maybe a links section for learning more about in-class topics and playing educational games.
Decorate your website with graphics, clip art, background, cool fonts（字体）and other decorative items. It’s best to find a theme you like, such as ducks or fire hydrants, and make your design elements all stick with your theme. If you think that is too attractive, go for an abstract look. Remember to keep it simple since too much color and graphics make a site look busy and detract from its usability.According to the article, a class website is of great help in ______.
| A．playing computer games |
| B．storing class documents |
| C．communicating between students and teachers |
| D．reducing the teachers’ time to run the website |
When you first create your class website, you are advised to ______.
| A．buy a small space for the website |
| B．put all the class information on it |
| C．make it as appealing and colorful as possible |
| D．focus more on some details rather than design |
The best title could be ______.
| A．Advantages on Setting up A Class Website |
| B．Reasons for Setting up A Class Website |
| C．How to Decorate A Class Website |
| D．How to Create A Class Website |
The article is probably taken from a ______.
| A．novel | B．poster | C．magazine | D．guidebook |
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