3D comes home
Have you had this experience? You are watching a movie. A man is shooting on the screen. The picture is so real that you think he is shooting at you. Or a car is speeding on the screen and at one point you are afraid it will hit you.
Three-dimensional (3D)films use special technology to make pictures seem more real and exciting than two-dimensional ones. Two popular movies in the cinema this year, UP and Ice Age; Dawn of the Dinosaurs both use 3D technology.
So far we can only see 3D films in the cinema with a special screen and projector. But soon, we will be able to watch them in our living rooms. Last month, the Japanese company Sony told reporters that it plans to bring 3D televisions to homes in 2010. The company is also hoping to make other products with 3D, like laptops and PS3.
“ The 3D train is on the track, and we are ready to drive it home,” said Sony President Sir Howard Stringer.
How 3D technology works
Three dimensional movies and TV programs are fun to watch, but do you know how they are made? It is much easier to understand if we do an experiment.
Hold one of your fingers up at arms length and close one eye. Then try closing the other eye. As you switch between open eyes you should see your finger “jumping” left and right against the background.
This happens because our two eyes are about 4 cm away from each other. The separation causes each eye to see the world from a different angle. The brain puts these two views together. What you see becomes three-dimensional.
Three dimensional movies are made using two video cameras at the same time, which creates two different images. When the movie plays in a cinema, two projectors put the two images on the screen. With a pair of 3D glasses, the two images are separated and each image only enters one eye. Your brain puts the two pictures back together, and the pictures on the screen become three-dimensional.
72. What does the sentence “The 3D train is on the track, and we are ready to drive it home” mean? .
A. They’ve got a train to take 3D films back home
B. They are ready to bring 3D technology to homes
C. They have no more work to do on 3D technology
D. They are not sure about the future of 3D films
73. According to the text, 3D films .
A. use advanced technology to make special sound effects.
B. are less real than ordinary films, but more exciting.
C. can only be seen in the cinema at the moment.
D. will take the place of 2D films in the near future.
74. From the text, we know that 3D technology .
A. works in a similar way to how our eyes see things.
B. is too expensive to be used in ordinary homes.
C. uses special video cameras and light effects
D. can be easy to experiment with
75. The passage is mainly about .
A. how 3D films will develop in the future.
B. what makes 3D films so enjoyable
C. how 3D technology works and its future
D. what 3D technology needs and its future
Are you stuck in a rut（车辙）and looking for a change? Fed up of seeing hungry, poor faces on your TV screen and want to do something to help? Perhaps you’ve considered volunteering overseas but ruled it out because you thought you were too old, couldn’t commit enough time, or have a family. If so, think again.
“Over the past five years it has become far safer --- and more professionally acceptable --- to take up a job volunteering overseas,” says David Stitt, managing director of Gap Year for Grown Ups, a company catering for volunteers in their late 20s and upwards. “While 10 years ago intrepid souls took financial and personal risks in volunteering abroad, now several organizations exist to make the experience safe and well-organized.
Nowadays, universities and business encourage overseas volunteering among students and employees. Entire families can volunteer abroad, and agencies are employing more disabled and retired people. A prosperous “humanitarian tourism” industry has sprung up; thousands of UK citizens will do some form of overseas volunteering this year.
“Some volunteering jobs are easier to find than others,” explains Kevin Cusack, from a volunteer advice agency. “If you can speak English, it’s not too hard to land a job teaching English, even without a qualification, and those who enjoy working with children should be able to find child care work.”
Whether your interest is rainforests or women’s rights, you can find a volunteer position to suit you. But be warned: unless you have relevant skills or existing overseas development experience, it’s going to cost. Just how much depends on the location and length of the position, but you should budget for somewhere between £1,500 and £6,000.
“Having to pay to volunteer may sound paradoxical (矛盾的), but it’s the best way to ensure you get a position that benefits the local community while matching your interests and skills,” explains Cusack. “You can also discuss the time you want to commit to a project --- many positions can fit into a holiday or even a weekend.”
The underlined words “intrepid souls” in Paragraph 2 most probably refers to ___________.
| A．companies | B．volunteers | C．fighters | D．students |
In Kevin Cusack’s opinion, paying to volunteer overseas ___________.
| A．must be incredible and unrealistic |
| B．can help volunteers learn more about another culture |
| C．may benefit both volunteers and the community they work in |
| D．needs confidence, courage and determination |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．Disabled people can also take up a job volunteering overseas. |
| B．In the past no one could take up a job volunteering overseas. |
| C．“Humanitarian tourism” industry is in its beginning stage. |
| D．Taking up a job volunteering overseas needs at least £1,500. |
Where can we most probably read this article?
| A．In a job guidebook. |
| B．In a celebrity biography. |
| C．In a guidebook to work overseas. |
| D．In a report on volunteer work. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards volunteer work?
| A．Critical. | B．Unfavorable. | C．Supportive. | D．Disagreeable. |
I recently ran into a friend I hadn’t seen for a long while．Our conversation was lively and full of news from both sides．Before we parted she said，“You'll have to drop in sometime.” I immediately sensed that if I simply “dropped in’’ I would take my friend by surprise，and I would be discouraged by the image of her standing in her doorway，staring at me，and asking，“Oh，err …what brings you here?”
Whatever happened to the unannounced drop-in visit? When I was growing up in the 1960s, it seemed that people - mostly relatives, but also friends - were always popping in. My parents would put coffee on，and my mom would find something in the kitchen to serve along with it．Then the conversation would begin…The neighbor lady，a worrier，was unloading her sadness while my mom quietly listened．The Irish man next door had such an accent that I remember asking what language he spoke．My Polish relatives arrived in packs…But I never heard my parents say anything like “We weren’t expecting you’’ or “This isn’t a good time．”Drop-in visitors had a certain right of way and became No．1．
What happened to such visits? Actually I know the answer．Times have changed．Everybody gets busy with work．There is no longer a stay-at-home mom keeping a pot of hot coffee or tea ready throughout the day for a surprise guest．Exploding malls and stores are now replacing homes as a central form of entertainment．
Just the other day a former student of mine showed up．“I'm sorry for the surprise visit．”my student began．“I just wanted to see if you still lived here．I'll only stay a minute．”My response was immediate.“ No, you won’t,” I said.“Just come in, sit, have coffee, and we’ll talk.’’
I had nothing in the kitchen but we ordered pizza．And we had a lovely time．I have tried to keep the drop-in tradition alive though it takes some effort．The author thought of his friend’s invitation --- “You’ll have to drop in sometime”--- as _______.
| A．a nice way of refusal |
| B．an excuse of leaving |
| C．a kind of politeness |
| D．an expression of surprise |
The underlined phrase “ pop in” in the second paragraph means _________.
| A．make many friends |
| B．make a special date |
| C．have a good time |
| D．pay a sudden visit |
The woman from the neighborhood used to visit the author’s home to ________.
| A．seek comfort from my parents |
| B．make new friends |
| C．1isten to my parents’ story |
| D．taste nice dishes |
From the third paragraph of the passage，we can infer that __________．
| A．the author misses the lost good days |
| B．unexpected visitors are still welcome now |
| C．modern people prefer outdoor activities |
| D．there are more jobs for the housewives now |
The author writes the passage intending to __________.
| A．encourage people to be drop-in visitors |
| B．explain how to deal with unexpected visitors |
| C．share his feelings about the drop-in tradition |
| D．show the importance of making friends |
Lots of folks don't think about what they eat over the holiday season until January, when they stare sadly at the number on the scale and then hurry off to hit the gym, join Weight Watchers or pick up the latest diet book.
It doesn't have to be that way. Health experts say you can still enjoy the holidays.
"It's OK to indulge（沉溺）, but it doesn't mean you have to gain weight," said Karen Ansel, a New York-based registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian from Denver who's also an ADA spokeswoman, added that gaining weight during the holidays and then working hard to lose it again is not good for a person's body.
For starters, people interested in maintaining their weight during the holidays should keep eating on a regular schedule, the two dietitians said. Research has shown that people who skip meals -- particularly breakfast -- end up eating more throughout the day. "Try and stick to consistent meal times so you can avoid being overly hungry," Crandall said. "When you're overly hungry, you can make some bad decisions regarding what you eat. Don't starve yourself during the day waiting for that party at night -- because you'll eat too much or overeat."
Ansel suggests that you think now about the foods you really enjoy and plan to focus on those while eating less of more common fare.
Be careful, too, about alcohol intake, for a couple of reasons. Alcoholic drinks, particularly the fancy ones handed out at holiday time, tend to come loaded with calories. "It's usually what you're adding to a drink that contains the calories," Crandall said. Also, if you're drunk, you might forget to watch what you're eating. "It totally lowers your inhibitions（压抑）," Ansel said.
Other holiday eating tips, suggested by Crandall and Ansel, include:
•Eat lots of vegetables, and eat them first before moving on to the other items on your plate.
•Recognize that many holiday extras, like cheese or cranberry sauce, come loaded with calories. "If those aren't your favorite foods, don't put them on your plate," Crandall said.
•If your favorite food has a lot of calories, be sure to minimize your portion. "Two bites cure the craving," Crandall said. "After that, you're just really feeding your old habits.
•After a big holiday meal, don't sink into a chair or couch. Go for a walk outdoors or participate in some other activities that help burn off some of the calories you've just eaten.Both Karen Ansel and Jessica Crandall ________.
| A．think highly of the latest popular diet book |
| B．like going to the gym often |
| C．think trying to lose weight isn’t good for a person’s body |
| D．are registered dietitians and work for ADA |
Ansel asks people wishing to keep slim not to skip meals because _________.
| A．it will do harm to their stomachs. |
| B．being overly hungry will make them feel not well |
| C．it may make them eat more |
| D．it might let them make bad decisions on important occasion |
Why does Crandall advise people wanting to lose weight not to drink wine?
| A．Because if they’re drunk, they can watch what they eat. |
| B．Because it will make it hard for their body to burn calories. |
| C．Because wine itself contains many calories. |
| D．Because it will make them feel more stressed. |
Which of the following is the proper way to keep slim according to the passage?
| A．Eating more vegetables than rice and other food. |
| B．Eating more cheese or cranberry sauce. |
| C．Never eat food with a lot of calories. |
| D．Sitting less and walking more after meals. |
The passage mainly talks about __________.
| A．some advice on holiday eating | B．how to keep slim |
| C．the problems of fat people | D．what to do in holidays |
Jean is a bright young lady who comes from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has everything that money can buy. Well, almost everything is good. But the problem is that Jean’s family are so busy that they can hardly find time to be with her. So Jean spends a lot of time on her QQ. She likes being anonymous(匿名), talking to people who do not know about her famous family and her rich life. She uses the name Linda on QQ and has made a lot of friends who she keeps in touch with quite often.
Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had a common interest in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot their time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself: He was a tall, good looking young man with big, happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other.
When Jean’s father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him so that she could give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of their favorite rock singer. But when she knocked on David’s door in San Francisco, she found that her special friend was a twelve-year-old boy named Jim!Jean spends a lot of her time on QQ because she is _________.
| A．rich | B．young | C．lonely | D．talkative |
The reason why they even forgot their time is that they _________.
| A．talked in delight on QQ |
| B．hated study |
| C．fell in love with each other |
| D．had similar hobbies |
Why did Jean leave her home for San Francisco?
| A．To amaze David. |
| B．To be on a business trip. |
| C．To be invited to Jim's birthday party. |
| D．To send some gifts to Jim. |
The following states are true about Jean EXCEPT that _________ according to the passage.
| A．she is a university student |
| B．she was born in a wealthy family |
| C．she made a friend named Jim younger than her |
| D．she uses her family name on her QQ |
We could believe that Jean was _________ when seeing Jim himself instead of David at his door.
| A．delighted | B．disappointed | C．regretful | D．confused |
Short and shy, Ben Saunders was the last kid in his class picked for any sports team. "Football, tennis,cricket — anything with a round ball, I was useless." he says now with a laugh. But back then he was the object of jokes in school gym classes in England's rural Devonshire.
It was a mountain bike he received for his 15th birthday that changed him. At first the teen went biking alone in a nearby forest. Then he began to cycle along with a runner friend. Gradually, Saunders set his mind building up his body, increasing his speed, strength and endurance. At age 18, he ran his first marathon.
The following year, he met John Ridgway, who became famous in the 1960s for rowing an open boat across the Atlantic Ocean. Saunders was hired as an instructor at Ridgway's school of Adventure in Scotland, where he learned about the older man's cold-water exploits (成就). Intrigued, Saunders read all he could about Arctic explorers and North Pole expeditions, then decided that this would be his future.
Journeys to the Pole aren't the usual holidays for British country boys, and many people dismissed his dream as fantasy. "John Ridgway was one of the few who didn't say, 'You are completely crazy,'" Saunders says.
In 2001, after becoming a skilled skier, Saunders started his first long-distance expedition toward the North Pole. He suffered frostbite, had a closer encounter (遭遇) with a polar bear and pushed his body to the limit.
Saunders has since become the youngest person to ski alone to the North Pole, and he's skied more of the Arctic by himself than any other Briton. His old playmates would not believe the transformation.
This October, Saunders, 27, heads south to explore from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, an 1800-mile journey that has never been completed on skis.The turning point in Saunders'life came when ________.
| A．he started to play ball games |
| B．he got a mountain bike at age 15 |
| C．he ran his first marathon at age 18 |
| D．he started to receive Ridgway's training |
We can learn from the text that Ridgway ________.
| A．dismissed Saunders' dream as fantasy |
| B．built up his body together with Saunders |
| C．hired Saunders for his cold-water experience |
| D．won his fame for his voyage across the Atlantic |
What do we know about Saunders?
| A．He once worked at a school in Scotland. |
| B．He followed Ridgway to explore the North Pole. |
| C．He was chosen for the school sports team as a kid. |
| D．He was the first Briton to ski alone to the North Pole. |
The underlined word "Intrigued" in the third paragraph probably means ________.
| A．Excited | B．Convinced | C．Delighted | D．Fascinated |
It can be inferred that Saunders' journey to the North Pole ________.
| A．was accompanied by his old playmates |
| B．set a record in the North Pole expedition |
| C．was supported by other Arctic explorers |
| D．made him well-known in the 1960s |
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