Starving polar bears are eating one another in the Arctic. Flowers are blooming too soon and die. The ice caps are melting so fast that rising water levels will threaten coastal towns along Florida within several decades. These are just a few examples of the terrible consequences of climate change supported by a new analysis in Nature.
In the past three decades, average global temperatures have risen about 0. 6°C and are projected to jump by about 1. 7°C by the end of the century, says Cynthia Rosenzweig, who leads the Climate Impacts Group at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies at Columbia University in New York. “We’ve already seen that a relatively low amount of warming,” she says, “can lead to a broad range of changes. ”
The unnatural warming caused by man-made greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide produced by cars and coal-powered plants, brings trouble for entire ecosystems. In North America alone, scientists have identified 89 species of plants, such as the American holly that have flowered earlier in the spring. In Spain, apple trees bloom 35 days ahead of schedule in response to the higher temperatures. Other wildlife, like the insects that use certain plants for food and the birds that feed on the insects, must then move forward their seasonal stirrings(萌动) and mating（交配） patterns to survive.
To try to follow this time shift, some birds such as robins, the classic symbol of winter’s thaw(解冻时期), are returning to Colorado from their migrations some two weeks earlier than in years past. All these changes can throw a food chain in disorder. Some bird species that arrive before the insects reappear may starve to death.
“Around the world, plants and animals are waking up to an earlier alarm clock than they used to,” says Terry Root, a biologist from Stanford University. The underlined word “projected”(in Paragraph 2) probably means “____”.
| A．forced | B．presented | C．indicated | D．predicted |
According to the third paragraph, as a result of climate change ____ .
| A．the warm weather wakes animals up earlier |
| B．certain trees bloom a season ahead of time |
| C．the birds need to change patterns of living |
| D．the American holly will flower in late spring |
What can we know about robins according to the passage?
| A．Farmers depend on them to tell the time. |
| B．They used to come back when spring came. |
| C．They used to predict the change of weather. |
| D．They usually migrate when seasons change. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Man is to blame for global warming |
| B．Great changes take place on Earth |
| C．Bird migration and climate change |
| D．Global warming changing nature’s clock |
Why are we addicted to upgrades? According to Donald Norman, American author of the book The Design of Everyday Things, “planned obsolescence”（计划性报废） is the trick behind the upgrading culture of today’s consumer electronics industry.
The New York Times cited Norman last month, saying that electronics manufactures strategically release new upgrades periodically, both for hardware and software, so that customers on every level feel the need to buy the newest version.
“This is an old-time trick– they’re not inventing anything new,” he said.
Thomas Wensma, a Dutch designer, despises the “planned obsolescence” of companies, as recently reported by UK-based The Guardian.
Wensma said this is a wasteful system through which companies – many of them producing personal electronics – release shoddy products simply because “they know that, in six months or a year, they’ll put out a new one”.
But the new psychology of consumers is part of this system, as Wensma said to the newspaper: “We now want something new, something pretty, the next shiny thing.”
____________________
“It’s to the damage of the consumer and the environment,” as the New York Times quoted Norman. “But perhaps to the betterment of the stockholder.”
In its most recent fiscal(财务的) year, Apple’s profit margin was more than 21 percent, reported the Los Angeles Times. At Hewlett-Packard, the world’s biggest PC manufacturer, it was only 7 percent.
“Steven Jobs pushed the principle of ‘planned obsolescence’ to new heights,” the newspaper commented on the company’s profits and marketing strategy. “Apple’s annual upgrades of its products generate sales of millions of units as owners of one year’s MacBook or iPhone line up to buy the newest version, even when the changes are incremental.”
Peer pressure
As to Li Jijia, the need for upgrading his smart phone comes mainly from friends and classmates. When the majority of friends are switching to the latest devices, he worries about feeling left out.
“Some apps and games require better hardware to run,” said Li. “If you don’t join in, you lose part of the connection to your friends.”Donald Norman believes that electronics makers strategically release new upgrades periodically because __________.
| A．customers need the latest version | B．technology is developing so fast |
| C．they want to invent something new | D．they can make a lot of money |
Thomas Wensma’s attitude to the “planned obsolescence” is __________.
| A．positive | B．negative | C．indifferent | D．neutral |
What subtitle can best fit into the blank in the text?
| A．Huge profits | B．Apple’s principle |
| C．Environmental damage | D．Marketing strategy |
The writer takes the example of Li Jijia to show that __________.
| A．the new psychology of consumers is also to blame for the wasteful system |
| B．young people are always fond of something new, pretty and shiny |
| C．if you don’t upgrade your smart phone, you will lose contact with your friends |
| D．needs of consumers help to promote the development of electronics industry |
Women consistently lie on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter to make their lives appear more exciting, a survey has found.
Researchers found that at least one in four women exaggerated or distorted what they are doing on social media once a month. The survey of 2000 women found they mostly pretended to be out on the town, when in fact they are home alone, and embellished about an exotic holiday or their job.
The most common reasons for women to write “fibs” included worrying their lives would seem “boring”, jealousy at seeing other people’s more exciting posts and wanting to impress their friends and acquaintances.
Psychologists suggested that as people attempt to “stay connected” on social media, they can in fact “paradoxically” be left “more isolated”. They also said that the “more we try to make our lives seem perfect, the less perfect we feel”.
According to the OnePoll survey, one third of women surveyed admitted to “dishonesty” on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter at some stage.
Almost one in four admitted to lying or exaggerating about key aspects of their life online between one and three times a month while almost one in 10 said they lied more than once a week.
Nearly 30 percent of women lied about “doing something when I am home alone”, almost a quarter overstated their alcohol consumption while one in five were not truthful about their holiday activities or their jobs. Almost one in five women even lied about their “relationship status”.
“We work very hard presenting ourselves to the world online, pretending and attempting to be happy all the time which is exhausting and ultimately unfulfilling,” said Dr Michael Sinclair, a leading British consultant psychologist.
“Omitting the less desirable imperfections of our lives from the conversations with our `friends` online leads to less opportunity to feel empathized with(与…产生共鸣), resulting in a greater sense of disconnection from others.”
The survey was commissioned by Pencourage, a new anonymous “diary-style” social media website.Which of the words below is closest in meaning to the underlined word “fibs” in Para 3?
| A．life experiences | B．short stories |
| C．careful thoughts | D．insignificant lies |
A woman tends to tell a lie online when she__________.
| A．hopes to make more friends | B．envies other people’s exciting life |
| C．feels lonely at home | D．gets tired of the boring life |
A woman might pretend to be happier online than she actually is by __________.
| A．avoiding conversations with friends |
| B．describing her holiday activities |
| C．leaving out the imperfections in life |
| D．overstating her trouble at work |
According to Dr Michael Sinclair, constantly lying online may __________.
| A．eventually make one’s life more exciting |
| B．actually lead to a sense of isolation |
| C．really improve one’s sense of happiness |
| D．scarcely have any influence on relationships |
Like any awards ceremony of its age, the Oscars, now in its 85th year, has been trying hard to change.
So how did that go this year? When host Seth MacFarlane noted in his opening speech that it was the first time the Academy Awards had a theme, I thought: “well, that’s a good start.”
But when he revealed that the theme was a tribute to(向…致敬) musicals, I was less sure. After all, it’s not the first time that musicals have featured at the Oscars.
In 2007, the cast of Dream-girls gave a special performance directed by movie director and musical veteran(经验丰富的老手) Bill Condon. Then there was the memorable 2009 show hosted by Hugh Jackman, who screams musicals. With Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway, he performed several hit songs from move musical. And in 2010, how did Neil Patrick Harris introduce the hosts? By performing a musical number.
So I guess the Oscars could have done better this year. But I must admit, there were more music performances in the three-and-a –half-hour show than ever before. This suggests the Oscars has dropped some of its arrogance and wants to offer audiences more entertainment.
It’s a timely move as the Golden Globes, also known as the “big party,” has become a threat to the Oscars, stealing viewers and even its reputation. Just look at the Oscars’ winning list this year.
You can’t blame the academy for wanting to stick it to the Golden Globes. While they hired Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the show—certainly more audience-friendly than MacFarlane— and Bill Clinton was invited as a presenter, who did viewers get at the Oscars? The First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.
Way to go, Oscar! We know you’re struggling to look fresh and young, but don’t lose the pride and dignity that made you one biggest honor in the movie industry. Don’t ever let that change.Examples are given in Para.4 to show that__________.
| A．the Oscars has been trying hard to change |
| B．the Oscars’ theme is a tribute to musicals |
| C．it is not the first time that the Oscars has had a theme |
| D．musicals are not a new feature this year |
What disappoints the writer is that__________.
| A．the Oscars didn’t invite Bill Clinton as a presenter |
| B．the show took as long as three and a half hours |
| C．the Oscars has lost some pride and dignity to cater to the audiences |
| D．the Oscars is no longer fresh and young |
Which of the following is true of the Golden Globes?
| A．It gave an award to the First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama. |
| B．Its host and hostess had better reputation. |
| C．It has become highly competitive with the Academy Awards. |
| D．It is more friendly to the audience. |
Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
| A．Nothing new, but well done |
| B．So old, still young |
| C．New start, good change |
| D．Too old to change |
If you watch British television on Friday March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking around. But don’t worry, they’re not mad, it’s all part of a biennial fund-raising event called Red Nose Day.
Organized by the charity Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by two British comedians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa.
Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on comic TV shows broadcast by the BBC. This year, for example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event.
But Britons don’t just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops.
These small, inconspicuous shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop. But there’s one big difference—it’s all secondhand.
There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK, according to the Charity Retail Association. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don’t want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. Most items go back on sale at a small part of their original price and the money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause.
The idea of buying used clothes may sound off-putting, but for shoppers who have less spending money, such as the elderly or those in low-paying jobs, it has been a welcome option for years.
Now, “thrifting”—shopping at charity shops— is also becoming popular with young people looking for alternative fashion.
“I love shopping at thrift stores. You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn’t bother me that other people may have worn them, I simply wash them before I wear them,” said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old Internet user from the US, in a comment on a Yahoo forum.
So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge that your money helped a good cause. What do famous people in Britain do in support of the Red Nose Day event?
| A．Appear on comic TV shows. |
| B．Donate large sums of money. |
| C．Donate expensive clothes to charity shops. |
| D．Play in a music video with the Prime Minister. |
What do we learn from the passage about Comic Relief?
| A．It was founded in 1985 by two British comedians in Africa. |
| B．It organizes the Red Nose Day fund-raising event. |
| C．It runs nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK. |
| D．It is financially supported by the UK government. |
One reason for the popularity of the thrift shops is that __________.
| A．they sell a wide variety of goods |
| B．their business model is simple |
| C．their goods are carefully checked, cleaned and priced |
| D．they provide things, sometimes special, at low prices |
The passage is written mainly to __________.
| A．inspire more people to join in charitable causes in the UK |
| B．introduce the traditions of the Red Nose Day |
| C．analyze why charity shops are popular in the UK |
| D．explain how charity shops work in the UK |
So the evening turned to night, and the night turned to morning. And before I knew it , the SAT was before me. I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but I knew one thing: I wanted to get it over with.
SAT for the students is like tooth pulling. For those smart Asian kiddos, it’s like walking through the park: easy and carefree. For me, a Chinese American, …it’s: walking through the park and then tripping on a stone.
As I arrived outside of the dining hall, already a mob of students were sitting, talking, or standing silently waiting to get in. Jones students are lucky not only to have such a testing center at school, but also the feeling of their home school where it feels comfortable and familiar.
“ID, please,” my former math teacher asked at the door.
“Okay.” She looked over my ID, checked off my name on her list, and pointed towards the dining hall tables inside.
With hesitation, I picked up my feet and was directed to a large round table in the middle of the dinning hall. At least fourteen people could sit at this table but only four were allowed to take their test here.
“I’m glad it’s multiple choices.” I heard one student say. All the questions on the test have five choices except for one math section where they have only four. If you get an answer wrong, you don’t get any point, plus you get a penalty of a 1/4 point. If you don’t answer a question, you don’t get any point, nor penalties.
When everyone had a seat and the actual SAT I booklet in front of them, the proctor of the test called for our attentions. “In front of you, you should have a SAT I test and a scantron（答题卡）. Please do not open the test booklet until I say so.” He then went on to talk about the procedures, the amount of time, signature of honesty, etc. After thirty minutes of instruction reading, he gave us all a solemn expression before saying, “You may begin now. Good luck.”
I could hear a hundred booklets being opened and pencils scratching the surface. I looked to my right, I looked to my left, I did a quick prayer for whoever was in charge up in the heavens, and started my test. At least I wouldn’t know my score until summer time.How did the author feel before the test?
| A．Confident. | B．Carefree. | C．Confused. | D．Nervous. |
Jones students are lucky because __________.
| A．they can take the test in a dining hall |
| B．they can talk during the test |
| C．they can take the test in their home school |
| D．they have their math teacher supervising the test |
By the underlined sentence, the writer intends to say that_________.
| A．the test would be so difficult that she might not pass it |
| B．the test seemed easy but she still needed to be careful with it |
| C．the test would be much easier for her than for the other Asian students |
| D．she found herself not as smart as the other Asian students |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Fourteen students sat around a large round table, taking the test. |
| B．There were four math problems on the test. |
| C．You will lose more points if you get the answer wrong than if you give up the question. |
| D．The proctor announced the instructions as soon as the test began. |
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