Pretoria, South Africa – Hundreds of swimmers play in the water along a South Africa beach. Suddenly a huge shark appears off shore and heads for the bathers. Before it can get close to the swimmers, the shark, for some mysterious reason, starts swimming parallel to the beach. Then it turns away from the shore and heads out to sea, leaving the swimmers untouched.
Such a scene will soon become common along shark-in-fasted (鲨鱼成群的) shores. An electrical engineer from the University of Pretoria has developed an electrical system that repels (击退) sharks by controlling their movements. Confused by this action, the sharks end up turning away from the beach.
In this unusual shark-repellent method, an insulated (绝缘的) cable is buried on the bottom of the sea around a beach where people swim. When an electric current is sent through the cable, an electric field is produced in the water above the cable.
When shark swims into the electric field, nerve cells just below the shark' s skin will sense the field. The electricity produces a reflex (反射作用) action in the shark' s muscles, causing the dangerous animal to swim parallel to the cable. Confused by increasing loss of control of its muscles, the shark suddenly changes its direction and heads seaward, away from the electric field.
In a test of the invisible new shark-repellent system, a cable was placed around a beach in St. Lucia, an island around the beach a long time ago to keep sharks away from swimmers, and a net was left in place during the experiment.
When the electric field was left on for more than a year and a half, no sharks were found in the net. However, when the power was turned off,89 sharks ended up in the net.
Using the electric-wall method instead of net to protect bathers would avoid the needless death of many sharks, said biologists. Currently, thousands of sharks die each year when they become trapped in protective nets that surround holiday resorts in Africa and Australia. About 10 to 15 humans are killed by sharks annually.
1．Why doesn' t the shark attack the swimmers according to the passage?
A．Because there are so many swimmers in the water.
B．Because the shark isn’t so hungry as to eat the swimmers.
C．Because of some mysterious power from the heaven.
D．Because there is an invisible electric field confusing the shark.
2．An electrical engineer from the University of Pretoria has developed __ .
A．a protective net
B．a new shark-repellent system
C．the electric field
D．an insulated cable
3．An electric field is produced in the water above the cable .
A．only when a shark swims into the electric field
B．only when an insulated cable is buried on the bottom of the sea around a beach where people swim
C．only when an electric current is sent through the cable
D．only when the sharks are trapped in protective nets
4．Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A．Protective nets had been fixed earlier than the new shark-repellent system.
B．The new shark – repellent system will probably replace the protective nets.
C．Thousands of sharks have died each year since this new system was put into use.
D．Using the electric-wall instead of nets would avoid the needless death of many sharks.
Professor Martin’s report says that children who attend a number of different schools，because their parents have to move around the country，probably make slow progress in their studies. There are also signs，says Professor Martin，that an unusually large number of such children are mentally affected. The professor says，“It’s true，my personal feeling is that children should stay in one school. But our findings are based on research and not on any personal feelings. ” Captain Thomas James，an Army lecturer for the past 20 years and himself a father of two，said，“I’ve never heard of such rubbish. Taking me for example. no harm is done to the education of my children，who change schools regularly—if they keep to the same system，as in our Army schools. In my experience—and I’ve known quite a few of them—Army children are as well adjusted as any others，if not more so. What the professor doesn’t appear to appreciate is the fact that in such situation children will adapt much better than grown-ups.”When this reached Professor Martin，he said that at no time had his team suggested that all children were backward or mentally affected in some way，but simply that in their experience there was a clear tendency.“Our findings show that while the very bright children can deal with regular changes without harming his or her general progress in studies，the majority of children suffer from constantly having to enter a new learning situation.” Professor’s Martin’s report suggests that
| A．it may not be good for children to change schools too often |
B．parents should not move around the country |
C．changing schools is the reason of children making slow progress |
D．more and more children are mentally affected |
According to the passage，Professor Martin's personal feeling.
| A．is the opposite of what his report has shown |
B．is in a way supported by his research |
C．has played a big part in his research |
D．is based on the experience of his own children |
From the passage，we can conclude that Captain James’ children_____.
| A．have been affected by changing schools |
B．go to ordinary state schools |
C．can get used to the Army school education |
D．discuss their education regularly with their father |
About children and grown-ups，Captain James says that children____.
| A．are generally poorly-adjusted | |
| B．are usually less experienced |
C．can adapt much more easily |
| D．can deal with changes quickly |
Many boys love reading about the legends of old pirates (海盗) and dreaming of their own wild adventures. But modern pirates are not a thing of the past. Last month Somali pirates did their boldest hijacking (劫持) to date. They seized the Saudi supertanker (超大型油轮) Sirius Star carrying crude oil worth about $100 million. They demanded $15 million to free the ship and its crew.
The pirates have kept hitting the headlines this year: 92 attacks have been attempted, with 36 successful hijackings and 268 crew members taken hostage (人质). The Chinese fishing ship Tianyu 8, with 17 Chinese and 8 foreigners on board, has been in their hands since November 14.
Of course piracy (海盗行为) is nothing new. Even since there has been water and ships there have been pirates. The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was once kidnapped by pirates.
Piracy reached its peak in the mid-1700s. It was during this time in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa that men like “Blackbeard the Pirate” made this profession attractive. But with the creation of stronger national Navies piracy became less popular around the world.
In the mid-20th century, most pirates were petty (小规模的) thieves. They used hooks to sneak (偷偷摸摸) on board ships at anchor, and grabbed all that they could find. These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if faced by the crew.
However, nowadays piracy has become a multi-million-dollar business at tracting many in poor countries. Pirates are treated like heroes among local fishermen.
They use satellite phones and Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Once they spot their target, they swarm the ship with fast boats and shoot it by firing AK-47s or even rocket-propelled grenades (火箭榴弹炮). Then they hold the ship and its crews for money.
“The world should take forceful actions together to fight piracy,” said leaders at the Asian and Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru.
“However, putting in anti-piracy army can only be half of the solution. We have to protect the fair chance of Somali fishermen to get a good living and keep them from the lure of easy money,” said Peter Lehr, a lecturer in terrorism studies. When did piracy reach its peak?
| A．In the 13th century. | B．In the mid-1700s. |
| C．In the mid-20th century. | D．November 14, 2008. |
What does the underlined sentence probably mean?
| A．Pirates were very bold at first. | B．Pirates were very popular then. |
| C．Pirates were very attractive then. | D．Pirates were not so bold at that time. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The pirates have committed 92 crimes successfully this year. |
| B．Piracy became more and more popular as the national Navies became powerful. |
| C．Nowadays, pirates are learning to use modern weapons to commit crimes at sea. |
| D．On November 18, a Chinese ship was attacked by a suspected pirate ship. |
From the earliest times, man has been interested in art. People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures. Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries. The Louvre has not always been a museum. The first building was a fort(炮台). In 1190, it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat to keep out his enemies.5uOver the years, the number of buildings around the castle grew. By 1350, the castle was no longer needed as a fort. The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens. During times of peace, new treasures were brought in. During days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged. When Francis I became king of France in 1515, he brought in artists from many countries. One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy. Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ is the best known painting in the museum today. In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasures have been saved for everyone to enjoy. On the whole, this passage is mainly about________.
| A．an art museum called the Louvre | B．an Italian artist named Leonardo da Vinci |
C．a king of France named Francis I | D．the best known painting in Louvre |
Which of the following is not true？
| A．The Louvre used to be a fort a very long time ago． |
B．French kings and queens once lived in it． |
C．The Louvre was taken by enemies in 1190． |
D．Many treasures were brought into the Louvre over the years． |
Why is it good for great art to be kept in public museums？
| A．It helps people remember who the King of France is． |
B．It keeps people out of the palaces． |
C．It gives everyone a chance to enjoy good art． |
D．It helps people to know who is the greatest artist． |
From the passage we know that _____．
| A．it is not possible for treasures to be stolen |
B．old forts always make the best museums |
C．great art should be shared with all the people |
D．king Francis I of France brought in artists from an old fort |
My father had returned from his business visit to London when I came in, rather late, to supper. I could tell at once that he and my mother had been discussing something. In that half-playful, half-serious way I knew so well, he said, "How would you like to go to Eton?" "You bet," I cried quickly catching the joke. Everyone knew it was the most expensive, the most famous of schools. Besides, even at 12 or 13, I understood my father. He disliked any form of showing off. He always knew his proper station in life, which was in the middle of the middle class, our house was medium-sized; he had avoided joining Royal Liverpool Golf Club and went to a smaller one instead; though once he had got a second-hand Rolls-Royce at a remarkably low price, he felt embarrassed driving it, and quickly changed it for an Austin 1100. This could only be his delightful way of telling me that the whole boarding school idea was to be dropped. Alas! I should also have remembered that he had a liking for being different from everyone else, if it did not conflict（冲突） with his fear of drawing attention to himself. It seemed that he had happened to be talking to Graham Brown of the London office, a very nice fellow, and Graham had a friend who had just entered his boy at the school, and while he was in that part of the world he thought he might just as well phone them. I remember my eyes stinging（刺痛） and my hands shaking with the puzzlement of my feelings. There was excitement, at the heart of great sadness. "Oh, he doesn't want to go away," said my mother, "You shouldn't go on like this.” “It's up to him," said my father. "He can make up his own mind." His father sold his Rolls-Royce because ________.
| A．it made him feel uneasy | B．it was too old to work well |
C．it was too expensive to possess | D．it was too cheap |
The writer's father enjoyed being different as long as ________.
| A．it drew attention to him | B．it didn't bring him in arguments |
C．it was understood as a joke | D．there was no danger of his showing off K |
What was the writer's reaction to the idea of going to Eton?
| A．He was very unhappy. | B．He didn't believe it. |
C．He was delighted. | D．He had mixed feelings. |
We can know from the passage that ________.
| A．Children who can go to Eton are very famous |
B．Children can go to Eton if they will |
C．It is very difficult for a child to get admitted by Eton |
D．Children don't have the right to decide whether they will go to Eton |
Allen : I’ve never been a big fan of the bears , especially the vacation show . On my last trip to Disneyland (1999) we passed it by , because we didn’t want to spend the time on something we didn’t really enjoy. If we’d known it would be closed by our next visit , I’m sure we would have watched it one more time . I was just making the point that it wasn’t until Disney announced the closing that this feeling suddenly sprang (弹跳) up for the Country Bear show at Disneyland .
But I think the idea of keeping some attractions (胜迹) open forever regardless of (不顾及) the number of visitors it gets is a mistake . We all have great memories of the Bears , but clearly very few kids today (or I should say families today ) are making those same memories from this show . That may be a sad fact , but it’s a fact . For whatever reason , the show doesn’t pull in the numbers . Isn’t it right to use the Country Bear space to bring in a more popular attraction so that more kids today can make those magic memories of an attraction THEY like ? Otherwise aren’t we just telling kids today that they “have to” make great memories of the Bears , when it’s obvious that the kids themselves are not enjoying the Bears like we did ?
Roger : I am very disappointed that they have decided to retire the Country Bear Playhouse . I remember going to the show as a child , and still enjoyed it as a teenager ,
and now young adult . It is true that there aren’t a lot of shows left at DL and with this one closing even less . Being at DL does require a lot of walking , and it is nice to have a few attractions that are a place to sit and enjoy a good show . I understand that DL has to develop , but there has to be some history to the Disneyland that Walt Disney first designed . There should be some parts of DL that just never go away , and this is one of them . By the time I have children it looks like there won’t be any attractions that I can say I went to as a child at the rate they are going .
Now the Bears are leaving . What I want to say is: stop trying to compete with everyone ! DL is the best , because of attractions like the Country Bears . If DL insists on destroying all of its magic to make way for the latest , well , then it might as well be just another theme (主题) park .What news might get people talking about the problem of the Country Bears ?
| A．The Country Bear Playhouse will be closed . |
| B．There will be a new attraction for our guests at Disneyland |
| C．The number of visitors to the Country Bear Playhouse is falling . |
| D．The Bears will retire because of old age and can’t give shows any more . |
Allen spoke mainly to get his point across that .
| A．the Bears will be missed |
| B．we should tell kids today that they “have to” make great memories of the Bears |
| C．the longtime attraction ought to make way for a future attraction |
| D．people never care about what they have until all is lost |
Which is the best choice to complete Roger’s idea : “The Country Bears have been a part of Disneyland for nearly 30 years , .”
| A．and I feel it is time to give our bears a good rest |
| B．but anyway , the attraction has lost interest |
| C．but I know that Disneyland will always be changing , and I accept that |
| D．and I am sad that the Bears will be leaving |
Which of the following is not in the same group as the other three ?
| A．an attraction | B．a theme park | C．the Bears | D．the latest magic |
Where can this passage be found ?
| A．In a Web discussion zone (区). |
| B．In a suggestion book . |
| C．In a report on the popularity of the Country Bears . |
| D．In high school students’ compositions |
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