Believe it or not, optical illusion(视觉错觉)can cut highway accidents.
Japan is a case in point. It has reduced traffic accidents on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent(弯曲的) stripes, called chevrons(人字形),painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.
Now the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the Foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns(样式) of stripes on certain roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway accidents.
Overspeeding plays a major role in as much as one fifth of all fatal(致命的) traffic accidents, according to the Foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the Foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related dangers are the greatest-curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.
Some studies suggest that straight(直的), horizontal(平行的)bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.
Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane(车道) appear to be narrower(狭窄的). The result is a longer lasting reducing in highway speed and the number of traffic accidents.
1. The passage mainly discusses_____.
A. a new way of highway speed control B. a new method of training drivers
C. a new pattern for painting highways D. a new type of optical illusion
2. On roads painted with chevrons, drivers are likely to feel that _________ .
A. they should avoid speed-related dangers
B. they are driving in the wrong lane
C. they should slow down their speed
D. they are reaching the speed limit
3. Compared to horizontal bars, the advantage of chevrons is that _____ .
A. it can keep drivers awake
B. it will have a longer effect on drivers
C. it can cut road accidents in half
D. it will look more attractive
4. The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to .
A. try out the Japanese method in certain areas
B. change the road signs across the country
C. replace straight, horizontal bars with chevrons
D. repeat the Japanese road patterns
5. What does the writer say about straight, horizontal bars painted across roads?
A. The are falling out of use in the United States
B. They are likely to be taken no notice of by drivers in a short time
C. They are suitable only on broad roads.
D. They cannot have a successful effect in traffic circles
Language changes all the time. The words used by young people in the UK can be very different to those used by adults. These extremely informal words and expressions are known as “slang”. Here are a few examples:
·Instead of using different tag question like isn’t it? Can’t you or don’t they? People use “innit”.e.g. It’s hot here, isn’t it?="It’s" hot here, innit!
·Instead of saying very, really or completely, they use “well”. e.g. I’m well tired.
· “Whatever” means “I don’t care”. e.g. A: But the teacher says we can’t leave until we’ve finished. B:Whatever. I’m going.
Nobody uses slang and not everybody likes it. A school in Sheffield, in the north of England, recently instructed its pupils to stop using slang words. The head teacher says that if young people learn to speak ‘correctly’ this will help them get a good job.
When British people use slang, it’s no surprise that some students say they can’t understand native speakers. But perhaps learners don’t need to worry about communicating with native speakers so much. Research shows that most of the English spoken in the world today is spoken between non-native speakers of the language. In fact, when we think about “International English”, there is no such thing as a native or non-native speaker.
How important is it to understand these slang words and expressions? If you watch films or TV, chat online in English, then understanding slang can be very useful. But you probably won’t see much slang in your English exam though. With over seven billion people living on our planet today, it’s easy to think one person’s actions won’t make a difference, however, from personal experience, I can say: each of us is capable of making a difference, however small, to someone’s life.Based on the slang mentioned above, what is the meaning of “I think you got me well wrong.”?
| A．I think you really hurt my feelings |
| B．I think you totally misunderstood me |
| C．I think you found the completely wrong person |
| D．I think you completely brought the wrong thing |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．It is essential to learn all the British slang |
| B．Native English speakers cannot understand each other well |
| C．English is used more between non-native speakers currently |
| D．Young people in Britain often use the same slang words as their parents |
In the author’s opinion, why shouldn’t English learners be concerned about slangs?
| A．British slangs can hardly come across to English learners |
| B．English learners won’t speak with the native speakers |
| C．English learners can make a difference in the world |
| D．There are more people who don’t use native slang to communicate |
The author may agree to the opinion that _______.
| A．individuals can play a part in others’ life |
| B．slang learning is an important part of language learning |
| C．one may express his doubt and disbelief by saying “Whatever” |
| D．English learners may feel difficult to communicate without slang |
At least once each winter I manage to get a good flight in the middle of a snowstorm. Last Sunday was that flight. My gliding(滑翔的) partners had looked at the weather reports of showers and decided to stay at home. People say that you shouldn’t fly by yourself, but on that day I felt the urge to go flying and so headed for my favorite gliding site.
I had the mountain ridge to myself. After a smooth lift-off, I floated stably in the breeze, feeling at peace with myself and the world. I looked across the valley to Bedford and a moment later saw the town disappear in a band of snow that was moving towards me.
The breeze remained strong enough for flying and I knew that as long as the visibility was good, it was OK for me to stay in the air. The snow moved in and swirled around me. It was a light dry snow. The day was already very quiet but, somehow, the light snow made it even more silent. I felt like a snowflake.
Two bald eagles joined me. They didn’t pay me any attention and spent a few minutes flying around the ridge before disappearing. I flew through another band of snow. I had been flying for about 45 minutes when I next looked across the valley. I could see there were more bands of snow to come and the breeze was dying too.
It was time to go home, get in a hot bath and warm up. I couldn’t wait to tell my gliding partners that they had missed out on a perfect flight.Why did the author’s gliding partners refuse to fly on that day?
| A．They preferred to fly alone |
| B．The weather did not permit |
| C．They did not like winter flights |
| D．The equipment was not adequate |
Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “” in Paragraph 3?
| A．Weather |
| B．Skill |
| C．Possibility |
| D．View |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．The bald eagle can cause damage to the author’s flight |
| B．The author will land and go home after the snow stops |
| C．Brand of snow will be a great threat to the author’s flight |
| D．The author will hesitate to share his experience with his partners |
What could be the best title for the article?
| A．The First Flight Alone |
| B．A Narrow-Escape Flight |
| C．One Never-Again Flight |
| D．An Impressive Winter Flight |
Have you ever run into a careless cell phone user on the street? Perhaps they were busy talking, testing or checking updates on WeChat without looking at what was going on around them. As the number of this new “species” of human has kept rising, they have been given a new name — phubbers (低头族).
Recently, a cartoon created by students from China Central Academy of Fine Arts put this group of people under the spotlight. In the short film, phubbers with various social identities bury themselves in their phones. A doctor plays with his cell phone while letting his patient die, a pretty woman takes selfie in front of a car accident siteand a father loses his child without knowing about it while using his mobile phone. A chain of similar events eventually leads to the destruction of the world.
Although the ending sounds overstated, the damage phubbing can bring is real. Your health is the first to bear the effect and result of it. “Constantly bending your head to check your cell phone could damage your neck,” Guangming Daily quoted doctors as saying. “The neck is like a rope that breaks after long-term stretching.” Also, staring at cell phones for long periods of time will damage your eyesight gradually, according to the report.
But that’s not all. Being a phubber could also damage your social skills and drive you away from your friends and family. At reunions with family or friends, many people tend to stick to their cell phones while others are chatting happily with each other and this creates a strange atmosphere, Qilu Evening News reported.
It can also cost you your life. There have been lots of reports on phubbers who fell to their death, suffered accidents, and were robbed of their cell phones in broad daylight.For what purpose does the author give the example of a cartoon in Para. 2?
| A．To inform people of the bad effects of phubbing. |
| B．To advertise the cartoon made by students. |
| C．To indicate the world will finally be destroyed by phubbers. |
| D．To warn doctors against using cell phones while treating patients. |
Which of the following is NOT a risk a phubber may have?
| A．His social skills could be affected. |
| B．His neck and eyesight will be gradually harmed. |
| C．He will cause the destruction of the world. |
| D．He might get separated from his friends and family. |
Which of the following may be the author’s attitude towards phubbing?
| A．Supportive. | B．Opposed. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Objective. |
What may the passage talk about next?
| A．Advice on how to use a cell phone. |
| B．People addicted to phubbing. |
| C．Measures to reduce the risks of phubbing. |
| D．Consequences of phubbing. |
If you had a strange sound in your ear, what would you do? One man in Wales who thought he had a fly in his ear called 999, the emergency services number in Britain. And so did a woman who was worried about her green potatoes. Could she make chips with them? Were they poisonous? She didn’t hesitate about calling the local ambulance service to ask. According to a recent report, more than 31,000 non-urgent calls were made to the Welsh Ambulance Service in the last year.
Inappropriate calls are a headache for health professionals everywhere. In the US, prank calls to 911 happen on a daily basis. Many callers use apps which hide their identity. But those who try to be funny shouldn’t be surprised if the police have the last laugh. One man from Colorado was arrested for making more than 1,200 prank calls, according to a report on the US television station KOAA—TV.
People who take these calls are trained to stay calm and keep a straight face, no matter how strange the call sounds. “There’s no way for us to know whether the call is real, accidental or a prank call,” said a public safety worker interviewed by the American TV channel.
The Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Richard Lee, has a warning for prank callers. He says:“ When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help.” Indeed, these hotlines are supposed to help the seriously ill or those with a life-threatening injury. You never know, one day, the person who needs assistance could be you or someone in your family.How does the author introduce the topic of the text?
| A．By giving examples. | B．By telling a story. |
| C．By listing figures. | D．By making a comparison. |
According to the text, prank calls are usually________.
| A．meant to be helpful | B．dealt with in time |
| C．thought highly of | D．made to play tricks |
What does the underlined phrase “have the last laugh” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
| A．win at last. | B．never find them. |
| C．laugh at them. | D．know nothing. |
What does the author intend to suggest in the text?
| A．Prank calls are usually easy to identify. |
| B．Operators feel annoyed by strange callers. |
| C．Prank calls may cause serious results. |
| D．Prank callers should be punished by law. |
Britons may like to complain a lot, but they rarely do so right now, explains BBC writer Ruth Margolis. They would rather grumble (发牢骚) afterward. This is because Britons hate to put someone out and cause any embarrassment. Margolis writes, “For instance, I’m much more comfortable just leaving that piece of raw chicken on my plate instead of complaining to restaurant staff. But beware: if this kind of thing happens when you’re dining with an American, they will most likely speak up on your behalf and not understand why you find this ashamed.”
In a BBC blog post comparing cultural differences between the UK and the US, Margolis mentions a few other things that Americans like to do that are offensive to Britons.
● Not making introductions
Margolis says most Britons dislike this approach because “talking to strangers without being introduced gives them a stomachache”. Americans rarely introduce a new friend to their friends at parties. Strangers are supposed to introduce themselves.
● “Quite” good
Using “quite” to mean “very” happens a lot in the US. But if you are invited to a dinner party in Britain, don't describe the meal as “quite good” if you want to express high praise. To Britons’ ears, “quite” detracts from the “good”: the meal was OK but could have been better.
● Money Talk
Americans can talk about money subjects for hours without feeling uncomfortable. For Britons, says Margolis, “Talking about how much we make is unthinkable — even 1ess so than discussing our feelings.”
● Over-politeness
“It’s not that I want shop assistants to be actively rude. But neither do I want to expend energy responding to someone who's been paid to ask: ‘How are you today?’” says Margolis. In the US, it is not unusual to be greeted by a perfect stranger as “honey” or “sweetie”. But Margolis says Britons find put-on friendliness, especially in stores, deeply irritating.Margolis’ dining experience in Paragraph 1 shows that_______.
| A．Britons are particular about foods |
| B．Britons are not good at complaining |
| C．Americans usually complain directly |
| D．Americans complain more than Britons |
Which of the following might Margolis agree with?
| A．Britons enjoy talking about their feelings. |
| B．Americans introduce themselves at parties. |
| C．Americans dislike talking to strangers at parties. |
| D．Britons feel happy if treated like close friends. |
The underlined phrase “detracts from” in the text probably means ____.
| A．differs greatly from | B．increases the quality of |
| C．reduces the strength of | D．draws attention away from |
What does the text mainly talk about?
| A．How to get on well with westerners. |
| B．How to start conversations with Britons. |
| C．Ruth Margolis’ tips on public behavior. |
| D．Some American habits that annoy Britons. |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号