You may have never heard of Ladislao Biro, but you have certainly heard of the pen he invented—the ballpoint pen, or biro. Before Biro invented his pen, people wrote with fountain pens. The ink smudged(弄脏) and blotted and the pens sometimes leaked. In the 1930s Biro was a magazine editor in Budapest in Hungary. He noticed that the inks which the magazine’s printers used dried very quickly. Biro wondered if quick-drying inks could be used in pens. He came up with the idea of a tube of ink with a free-moving ball on the end. As a person wrote, the ball collected ink from the tube and rolled it on to the paper. The pen would be cheap and could be thrown away when the ink ran out.
Biro began to work on his invention, but before he could patent it the Second World War broke out. Biro left war-torn Europe and fled to Buenos Aires in Argentina. There, he and his brother Georg, who was a chemist, began to improve the pen. In the early 1940s Biro began to manufacture his new pen, the biro. In 1944, he sold his invention to another company, who began to mass-produce the pen for the British and American armed forces.
Biro was pleased that his pen was popular, but he did not gain much from his invention. The biro was later sold to the French firm, Bic, who now sell twelve million pens a day. Biro sank into obscurity in South America. His name, however, has become a household word.
48. The reasons for the popularity of ballpoint pens are these EXCEPT that_______.
A. the inks dried very quickly B. they were cheap
C. they were easy to carry around D. they were mass-produced
49. Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Biro?
a. applied for patent for first ballpoint pen
b. began to manufacture pens
c. fled from Hungary to escape Nazis
d. sold his invention
A. a c d b B. c d a b C. a c b d D. c a b d
50. The underlined part “sank into obscurity”(last paragraph) is closest in meaning to“_______”.
A. became unknown to many people B. became popular with people
C. lost interest in business D. lost a lot of money
51. What does the passage mainly tell us about Biro?
A. He is successful in business. B. He is an important inventor.
C. He is a famous magazine editor. D. He is a popular writer.
This brief book is aimed at high school students, but speaks to anyone learning at any stage of life．
Its formal, serious style closely matches its content, a school-masterly book on schooling．The author, W．H．Armstrong, starts with the basics: reading and writing．In his opinion, reading doesn’t just mean recognizing each word on the page; it means taking in the information, digesting it and incorporating it into oneself just as one digests a sandwich and makes it a part of himself．The goal is to bring the information back to life, not just to treat it as dead facts on paper from dead trees．Reading and writing cannot be completely separated from each other; in fact, the aim of reading is to express the information you have got from the text．I’ve seen it again and again：some-one who can’t express an idea after reading a text is just as ineffective as someone who hasn’t read it at all．
Only a third of the book remains after that discussion, which Armstrong devotes to specific tips for studying languages, math, science and history．He generally handles these topics thoroughly and equally, except for some weakness in the science and math sections and a bit too much passion regarding history to his students, that was a hundred times more than my history teachers ever got across．To my disappointment, in this part of the book he ignores the arts．As a matter of fact, they demand all the concentration and study that math and science do, though the study differs slightly in kind．Although it’s commonly believed that the arts can only be naturally acquired, actually, learning the arts is no more natural than learning French or mathematics．
My other comment is that the text aged．The first edition apparently dates to the 1960s—none of the references seem newer than the late 1950s．As a result, the discussion misses the entire computer age．
These are small points, though, and don’t affect the main discussion．I recommend it to any student and any teacher, including the self-taught student．According to Armstrong, the goal of reading is to________
| A．gain knowledge and expand one’s view |
| B．understand the meaning between the lines |
| C．express ideas based on what one has read |
| D．get information and keep it alive in memory |
What is a shortcoming of Armstrong’s work according to the author?
| A．Some ideas are slightly contradictory |
| B．There is too much discussion on studying science |
| C．The style is too serious |
| D．It lacks new information |
This Passage can be classified as________．
| A．an advertisement | B．a book review |
| C．a feature story | D．A news report |
Which of the following words can best describe the author’s attitude towards the book________
| A．positive | B．neutral | C．negative | D．objective |
Based on new analysis, we are rapidly approaching major climate change and the effects on society and the environment could be quite severe. Geographers predict that within the next eighty years, current world climate zones could shift and some could completely disappear. Polar regions will get colder while tropical regions will get even hotter, forcing animals to migrate (迁徙) north.
Climate changes like these could lead to the spread of diseases. Tropical storms and hurricanes will not only increase but may also become more intense. If the changes come too quickly, animal and plant species may not be able to adapt fast enough and could disappear.
According to Science Daily, a new study predicts that by the year 2100, many of today’s familiar climates will be replaced by climates unknown in today’s world. It is urgent that we reduce the risks of these far-reaching consequences for the whole world. The planet itself has been showing signs of change. In 2004, a serious tsunami created by a major earthquake killed thousands in Sumatra and in 2008, thousands died in China because of another severe earthquake. Egypt was hit in 2009 with a major earthquake and Haiti was devastated in 2010 by yet another massive earthquake.
Within just the last few months, new reports from around the world have been coming in and most agree that our climate situation is much worse than previously thought. At this point, it doesn’t matter what is causing it, but rather, what can be done about it. What’s more, our world is getting more and more unstable every year. There is war and threat of war everywhere. Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and serious.
However, other planets are experiencing global warming as well as our own and some scientists believe there may be some connection between this. No one knows anything for sure at this point because there is simply not enough data. Which of the following would be the best title for the Passage ?
| A．Ways to protect our planet. | B．Solutions to climate change. |
| C．Be prepared for climate change. | D．Climate change and its effects. |
What is the author’s purpose in using the examples of earthquakes?
| A．To show the damage earthquakes caused. |
| B．To remind people to prevent future earthquakes. |
| C．To show major changes are taking place on the planet. |
| D．To tell us more earthquakes will happen in the future. |
What does the underlined word “devastated” in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．Separated. | B．Destroyed. | C．Removed. | D．Affected. |
What can be inferred from the Passage?
| A．Animals and plants won’t die out as long as climate changes slowly. |
| B．There’s enough data for us to predict the future of climate change. |
| C．The world is getting more unstable because of animal migration. |
| D．The earth is not the only planet that is experiencing climate change. |
For most of my 15 years, my father usually said very little to my mother and me. He preferred reading the newspaper or watching football matches on television to talking to his family.
Everything changed one morning. As soon as I came downstairs to breakfast, I could see that he wasn’t his usual reserved (缄默的) self. “Can’t wait! FIFA World Cup! Big match! Must see!” I quickly figured out what all the excitement was about: Dad is a big football fan.
I had never been interested in football, but Dad’s excitement that morning made me more and more curious. I had to find out why this sport was making my normally reserved father act like a five-year-old on his first trip to Disneyland.
Dad decided that we should all eat at a little German restaurant so that we could watch the World Cup while eating. Secretly, I think he was hoping to turn Mum and me into football fans.
The match started a few minutes after we entered the restaurant. As I was eating my meal, a loud noise came from the television. Surprised, I looked up at the TV: “Why is that man jumping up and down?” Dad patiently explained: “That’s Papa Bouba Diop, my son. It’s normal for them to jump up and down after they’ve scored.”
Dad explained almost everything to me. His monosyllabic (单音节的) answers were a thing of the past. I loved the new Dad! I watched the rest of the match, becoming more and more interested. When I told my father that I planned to watch more matches with him, he smiled and gave me a wink (眨眼). At long last we had something in common.
Football has really helped Dad and me get closer and form a stronger relationship with each other. Who says football is only about 22 men running after a silly ball? Which of the following words can best describe the author’s father?
| A．A talkative football player. | B．A parent busy at work. |
| C．An encouraging father. | D．A man of few words. |
What made the author curious about his father one morning?
| A．His unusual excitement. |
| B．His unexpressed eagerness. |
| C．His great interest in the newspaper. |
| D．His high expectation of the winner. |
The author’s growing interest in watching the match mainly came from________.
| A．his and his father’s common love of German food |
| B．watching a top level performance of the players |
| C．his father’s love of football and his explanation |
| D．eating in a restaurant with the excited fans |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Sharing is the foundation of good relationship. |
| B．Family members should be fans together. |
| C．Interest is the mother of success. |
| D．Personality decides everything. |
Bicycle Safety
Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus. Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions.
Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack—even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It’s fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen.
Equipment
Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly.
Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fits properly.
Lights Always have a front headlight—visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea.
Rules of the Road
Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15 mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of way to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go.
Bicycle Parking
Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such spots can result in a fine.
If Things Go Wrong
If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for:
×No bicycle registration…$25 ×Bicycle parking banned…$30
×Blocking path with bicycle…$40 ×Violation of bicycle equipment requirement…$35Registration of your bicycle may help you .
| A．find your stolen bicycle | B．get your serial number |
| C．receive free repair services | D．settle conflicts with walkers |
According to the passage, what bike equipment is a free choice for bicycle riders?
| A．Brakes. | B．A helmet. | C．A headlight. | D．A taillight. |
If you lock your bicycle to a tree on the campus, you could be fined .
| A．$25 | B．$30 | C．$35 | D．$40 |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．A guide for safe bicycling on campus |
| B．Directions for bicycle tour on campus |
| C．Regulations of bicycle race on campus |
| D．Rules for riding motor vehicles on campus |
It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple’s case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo.
Senator(参议员) Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday.
“We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information,” Mr. Schumer said. “They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed.”
On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further.
“It worries people to think that one’s personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission,” Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. “If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion（入侵）, then surely technology exists to close it, and that’s exactly what must happen.”
Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further.
He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. “I’m optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation,” he said. “If it’s not changed, then we’ll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn’t work then we’llconsider legislative approach.”
The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant(警醒的) in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy.The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and Google___________.
| A．to discuss whether it is illegal to have access to private information. |
| B．to urge them not to invade consumers’ privacy. |
| C．to stop them from developing the technology of taking photos. |
| D．to keep them from obtaining the location information for each photo. |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．Privacy invasion from Apple has existed for a long time. |
| B．Privacy invasion from Google has existed for a long time. |
| C．Mr. Schumer takes the privacy concerns caused by Apple and Google seriously. |
| D．Apple and Google have decided to make a change. |
Mr. Schumer’s letter to the F.T.C. mainly shows that the technology to open the door to privacy invasion___________.
A. causes privacy invasion to happen frequently.
B. can be used if permitted.
C.causes personal information to be posted online without permission.
D.causes people to worry about the safety of their personal information . If the privacy concerns can’t be solved with the help of the F.T.C., ___________.
A.The senators will turn to legislation.
B. The companies will be closed.
C.The companies will be fined.
D. The senators will force the companies not to invade privacy.Where can we read about the passage?
| A．In a science report. | B．In a magazine |
| C．In a newspaper. | D．In a textbook. |
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