Armed only with iPhones, the inventive rock band Atomic Tom has gone viral（广为流传） by way of the New York subway． The band has scored an Internet hit with the video to the song “Take Me Out．”
Singer Luke White says the production was a top-secret operation．
“We didn't tell anyone about this． It was completely top-secret from our family, from our friends, from our label, our management, everybody． So the first time that people saw this video was last Friday when we put it on YouTube,” explained White．
Since uploading the video to YouTube, band members have spent several days refreshing the page to watch the number of hits rise．
The video has also made its way around Twitter as many people have shared it with their friends．
“I mean, it still hasn't quite hit． It's just kind of blowing our minds right now that we're getting this: many people are fond of it, and they're sharing it with their friends． We don't know what it's like really to have something that's viral, so all of this is very new to us．” said Eric Espiritu, the lead guitarist of the band．
White explains how the video came together:
“We did our research with the applications（ 应用程序） and found applications that worked out really well with the instruments and then we plugged them all into, plugged our phones into mini-battery powered amplifiers（扩音器） that we put underneath our seats, and we did a lot of, you know, practices, in terms of figuring out what the balance of the sound and like who was overpowering, who was too loud or who was too soft．”
The idea for the video came from Espiritu's younger brother Benjamin． The yo
unger Espiritu directed the video from his initial concept through the final edit and upload to the Internet．
“I've seen a lot of the music applications come out, and I've never actually had the chance to play with them," says Ben Espiritu． "When I started hearing about how they sound and everything, I thought it might be unique to take it one step further and then create an entire band just performing solely（单曲） on the iPhones, and I thought it would be a pretty cool idea．”
Ben says the success of the band’s music video is a credit to the talent and ability of the musicians, but it's also a sign of the times．
“It really comes down to seeing something different, seeing something unique, and I think that that's always, in any type of art form, what will speak to people, and I think it does reflect the times that we live in, taking a smart phone and then being able to turn it into an instrument, not only just an instrument, but making it sound really good．” Who first saw the video of the song “Take Me Out”?
| A．Their friends | B．The people on line |
| C．Their family | D．Their management |
What is the band members’ attitude towards the sudden fame?
| A．They are thrilled． |
| B．They are quite used to it． |
| C．They are kind of confused． |
| D．They are so excited as to tell everyone they know． |
How did the video come into being?
| A．The band copied from it other musicians． |
| B．It had already existed in the iPhones before they bought them． |
| C．The band created it with the help of the applications in the iPhones． |
| D．The band made full use of the traditional instruments to make the song． |
What is the significance of the success of the band's music video?
| A．It has introduced us several talented musicians． |
| B．It has made the musicians into millionaires． |
| C．It teaches the young a big lesson． |
| D．It reflects the talent and ability of the musicians and the times that we live in． |
Of all the animals in the animal kingdom, which one (aside from man) is the cleverest?
There are several ways of measuring the intelligence of animals. In one test a scientist sets three same cans on a table. While the animal watches, he puts food under one of the cans. Then he leads the animal away. Some time later, he brings it back to see if it remembers which can has the food. No smelling is allowed; the animal must go directly to the correct can or it fails.
This is called a delayed- response text. The idea is to find out how long an animal’s memory can keep information. The scientists would try showing the cans to the animal one hour later, or two hours later, or even a full day later. They discovered that chimpanzees and elephants had the best memory, and were able to remember the correct can for at least twenty hours. No other animal is close. Dogs came next, but they only remembered for nine hours.
To settle the matter, the scientists designed a huge maze (迷宫) and ran the chimps and elephants through it. The maze was very difficult, with many blind paths and dead ends. It took the chimps (chimpanzees) ten minutes to find their way out. The elephants needed half an hour. Even allowing for the elephants’ slower rate of speed, the test shows that chimpanzees are the cleverest animals.
From this and other tests, the scientists drew the following conclusion: an animal’s intelligence depends on the size of its brain in proportion (比例) to the size of its body. The elephant’s brain weighs ten pounds. But this is only 1/600th of its 6,000 pounds body. A chimp’s brain weighs about one pound, or 1/120th of its total body weight. So in proportion to its body size, the chimp has four times as much brain as the elephant----more brain for less body. The chimp is the champ!Which is the best title ?
| A．The Elephant’s Memory | B．The Cleverest Animal |
| C．Judging Intelligence | D．The Chimp’s Brain |
The main idea of this passage is that ________.
| A．there are several ways of measuring the intelligence of animals |
| B．chimps and elephants have the best memory |
| C．intelligence tests show that the chimp is the cleverest animal |
| D．the scientists designed a huge maze and ran the chimps and elephants through it |
The delayed-response test is designed to test an animal’s________.
| A．eyesight | B．intelligence | C．learning ability | D．memory |
The passage tells that elephants ________.
| A．never forget things | B．are more clever than chimps |
| C．are slower-moving than chimps | D．have better memories than chimps |
According to the passage, a rhinoceros (犀牛) that weighs 2100 pounds, and has a 3-pound brain is
________.
| A．as clever as a chimp | B．more clever than an elephant |
| C．less clever than an elephant | D．as clever as an elephant |
In the past, people who graduated from college felt proud of their academic achievement and confident that their degree would help them find a good job.
However, in the past four years the job market has changed dramatically. This year’s college graduates are facing one of the worst job markets in years. For example, Ryan Stewart, a graduate of San Jose University, got a degree in religious studies, but no job prospects. He points out that many people already working are getting laid off and don’t have jobs, so it’s even harder for new college graduates to find jobs.
Four years ago, the future looked bright for the class of 2003. There were many high-tech job opportunities. Graduates received many job offers, and they were able to get jobs with high salaries and benefits such as insurance and paid vacations. However, “Times have changed and it’s a new market,” according to Cheryl Allmen- Vinnidge of the San Jose State Career Center.
Allmen-Vinniage says students who do find jobs started preparing two years ago. They worked during summer vacations, they have had several internships（实习）, and they’ve majored in one of the few fields that are still hot, like chemical engineering, accounting, or nursing, where average starting salaries have actually increased over last year. Other popular fields (like information system management, computer science, and political science) have seen big declines in starting salaries.
Ryan Stewart (he had hoped to become a teacher) may just end up going back to school. “I’d like to teach college some day and that requires more schooling, which would be great in bad economy.” he said.
In conclusion, these days, to some students a degree may not be a ticket to instant wealth. For now, they can only hope its value will increase over time.The word in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.
| A．skill | B．interests | C．opportunities | D．applications |
Which of the following majors can get a job easily?
| A．teaching | B．accounting | C．political science | D．computer science |
The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means ________.
| A．the best way to get rich is not to get a college degree |
| B．most students with degrees will not be able to find jobs |
| C．having a college degree does not qualify one for travel discounts |
| D．a college degree does not mean that one will find a well-paid job |
Ryan Stewart will have to ________.
| A．change his major | B．get a job teaching |
| C．go back to school | D．become a religious leader |
The main idea of this passage is that ________.
| A．a lot of graduates are losing their jobs |
| B．Ryan Stewart has not been able to find a job |
| C．salaries in some fields have increased in the past year |
| D．the job market has changed dramatically over the past 4 years |
When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I could make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have three-day passes (通行证) posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers.
It was Christmas Eve when I arrived, and a light snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (装饰物) shining against the green of a pine.
“Where did it come from？” I asked.
“I asked the Gates boy to cut it,” my mother said. “I wouldn’t have had one just for myself, but when you called--- oh, such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon…”
The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Krystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached about a little awkwardly (不够美观地) at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with pleasant smell of Christmas.
“It’s not like the ones you used to find,” my mother went on. “Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn’t know where to look. But I couldn’t be picky.”
“Don’t worry, ” I told her. “It’s perfect.”
It wasn’t, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: all Christmas trees are perfect.From the passage, we can infer that ________.
| A．the writer spent his Christmas during the war |
| B．soldiers did not all go home for Christmas during the war |
| C．all the soldiers had three-day passes |
| D．the writer could not go home for Christmas |
When the writer got home, ________.
| A．it was December 23 |
| B．it was snowing heavily |
| C．he found a Christmas tree in the living room |
| D．the Gates boy was cutting a Christmas tree for his mother |
From the passage, we can conclude that ________.
| A．the writer used to cut very beautiful Christmas trees |
| B．his mother didn’t like perfect trees |
| C．his mother didn’t want to have a tree |
| D．the writer wouldn’t have a tree cut by someone else |
“All Christmas trees are perfect”, because they can remind you of ________.
| A．the wartime | B．the green of a pine | C．the pleasant smell | D．the sweet home |
The best title for this passage would be “________”.
| A．How to Choose a Christmas Tree | B．How Soldiers Spent Christmas |
| C．The Perfect Christmas Tree | D．The Christmas Without a Tree |
Are you tired of looking for love in all the usual places? Nowadays, millions of lonely singles are now going online instead. The World Wide Web is quickly becoming the world’s most popular matchmaker. With so many singles online, dozens of dating sites like Yahoo Personals and Match.com are helping singles find that special someone. Around the world , from America to China , love is now very much online.
Singles are flocking to the Internet mainly because their busy lifestyles leave them little time to look for a significant other. Using dating sites is quick and convenient They can “meet ”a lot more people online than they could by hanging out at a club. Besides , many singles say the regular dating scene has just led them from one bad experience to another and are ready to try something else . They also appreciate the first distance of online dating, which allows them to hide themselves until they are ready to meet someone face to face. Dating sites also make it easy to avoid someone you are not interested in. In the real world , however , ignoring someone you don’t like can be awkward.
Despite all the advantages , online dating also presents its own set of problems . People aren’t always who they claim to be in their online profiles. For instance , someone who tells you he is “ handsome , successful and single ” might turn out to be homely, unemployed and married . Safety is another concern . You are just as likely to find a criminal online as you are Mr. or Miss Right.
Even so , Supporters of online dating see things in a positive way. In their opinion , singles can safely play the online dating game with a little common sense. Online dating experts recommend following a few safety tips:
Guard your personal information. Never give out your personal information online. This includes your last name, phone number, home address and place of work.
Watch for red flags. Do any of the people you are chatting with make disrespectful comments ? Do they try to control you ? Do they give false information about themselves? If so , forget them!
Meet in a safe place. when meeting someone in person , choose a public location with other people around .
Following these tips and you might be able to find the person of your dreams.
71. According to the passage, many lonely singles don’t appreciate the regular dating scene because it is _______.
A. unpopular B. troublesome C. convenient D. forgettable
72．This passage is mainly about _______.
A. getting tired of falling in love in a usual way
B. people with false information on the Internet
C. new technology to find love through the Internet
D. web sites such as Yahoo Personals and Match.com
73．The underlined words in the second paragraph “a significant other” means“_____”.
A. a true friend B. a matchmaker
C. a marriage partner D. a happy family
74．Which of the following is NOT a suitable place for meeting someone you get to know through the Internet for the first time according to the text?
A. At his / her house B. At the museum
C. At McDonald’s D. At the bookstore
75．From this passage , we can infer that ________.
A. there are mostly homely and unemployed people online
B. the police had better find criminals online
C. we can find love only through the dating sites
D. following safety tips ensures a safe online dating experience
Leo married my mother when I was 1l, two years later we moved into a house in a new suburban development. At first our lawn (草坪) was just a mud pile with a few untidy clumps of grass, but Leo saw bright possibilities. "Your mother wants flowers; she can plant them here, where there's lots of sun," he said, "We'll plant trees over there, to give us shade. And in the backyard, I'd like a barbecue.” Then he smiled. "After so many years of apartment living, now we can have cookouts (野餐)!”
Weekday mornings when the weather was bad, Leo often drove me to school. Having a father drop you off may have been taken for granted, but I always thought it was wonderful. During dinner, Leo would tell my brother and me stories about his job and we'd talk about our friendship and school-work.. "If you need any help, just ask me," he would say. "But I doubt that you need it. You two are so clever."
Some people might think that doing errands (差事) and eating meals together are nothing special, but , I , who had spent my childhood watching other families do these everyday activities before, enjoyed them now with great delight. Looking back, I realize that Leo gave me what I needed most--the experience of doing ordinary things together as a family.
One day, we learned that my "real" father -- who hadn't seen or supported my brother or me for more than five years --- wanted to see us again, on a regular basis. We remembered too well the early years we had spent with him. He had been angry and cruel, violent and unloving. Since my brother was then 17 years old, he didn't have to follow family-court rules. But because I was still a "minor", I had to meet with the judge.
When Leo, my mother, and I entered the courtroom, my "real" father was already present. I avoided his look and told the judge I was one of a new family now, and that Leo taught me how to make things, that he always listened to me and never raised his voice. I said I didn't want to see my "real" father any more because he had never shown any love for me or even much attention.
The judge looked at Leo. "How are things going?" he asked.
"They couldn't be better," Leo answered. "I'm a lucky man to have such a family."
Aren’t the best parents also good friends to their children, accepting them without reservation and telling them they can be counted on? Step families aren't bound by traditional ties, so the love and friendship they develop is extremely precious. Was Leo "perfect''? He'd deny it if I said so. And that's one reason why he was so "perfect" to me.
Soon after we moved to the suburb, one of our new neighbors introduced herself to me. She had already met my mother and Leo. "You know," she remarked, "you look just like your father."
I knew she was just making conversation---- but even so...
"Thank you," I said.
Why tell her anything different?
67. What is the best title for the story?
A. My childhood B. My “Real father”, My Enemy
C. My Stepfather, My Friend D. Precious Friendship
68. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Leo had lived in a large house alone in the country before he married my mother.
B. Thanks to Leo, our lawn took on a new look.
C. Before Leo came. I was always picked up by my "real" father when the weather was bad.
D. Leo wouldn’t like to help my brother and me because we were very clever.
69. What was very important to step families according to the writer?
A. Love and friendship B. Care and respect
C. Wealth and understanding D. Politeness and kindness
70. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.
A. My "real" father’s request was refused and he was out of my life.
B. My mother and "real" father didn’t separate until my brother was 17.
C. Leo was no one special in my life.
D. Leo and I were so alike that my neighbors couldn’t tell us apart.
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