Cities in Europe and around the world may be growing “bike trees” in the near future
. Invented by Japan’s JFE Engineering Corp, the invention proved useful in the busiest parts of this nation’s crowded cities.
Local governments of Japan have struggled for ways to encourage people to park their bikes considerably, particularly close to big stations, but that may block some roads and entrances to homes and businesses. “Our cities do not have a lot of space for any kind of parking, including bicycles.” said Mitsuharu Oshima, a spokesman for JFE Engineering. The bike tree comes in two types: one in a tower that is above ground and on the contrary, the other in an underground structure.
A cyclist registers with the operator of the equipment, pays a monthly fee and pushes the wheels of his bicycle into restraints(管理处) at the base of the bike tree. Each bicycle 
is fitted with an electronic card with the owner’s details. A mechanical arm then pulls the bike into the base of the tower and moves it to a free location inside. To collect the bike later, the cyclist puts his card through a reader and his bike is automatically returned to him in seconds. “The science of the equipment has been difficult —— even though they may look quite simple —— because bikes come in many different shapes and sizes.” said Oshima.
As well as clearing away the road, bicycles cannot be stolen from a bike tree. There are presently versions at seven sites in Japan and two others are under construction, while work is under way on an even larger version —— with room for 9400 bicycles —— in Thailand. And Oshima believes that the idea could catch on in Europe, particularly in countries such as France, Holland and Denmark , where cycling is so popular. Cities build this kind of “bike trees” so that they can _______.
| A．ask more people to ride bikes | B．provide more jobs for people |
| C．make more money than before | D．save more room for people |
Which is the right order of the following things when you use the bike tree?
① the wheels of the bicycle are put into restraints at the base .
② the card is read and the bike is automatically returned .
③ an electronic card with the owner’s details is given
④ the bike is pulled and moved to a free location inside .
| A．③②①④ | B．③①④② | C．②①④③ | D．②④③① |
What made it difficult to design “bike trees”?
| A．The location of “bike trees”. | B．The method of finding enough bikes. |
| C．The differences of the bikes. | D．The importance of traffic safety |
From the passage, we can know that _______.
| A．countries with many cyclists in Europe will like the idea of “bike trees” |
| B．there are seven “bike trees” used for holding bikes in Japan |
C．local government of Japa n encourage people to ride bikes |
| D．cyclists can use “bike trees” for free in Japan. |
The music of your teenage years probably will stay with you for the rest of your life.I think music is deeply connected with memory because of the emotions it awakens.Music also helps to mark time because of the way the fashions and stars of pop culture come and go.I often connect some summers with particular records (唱片 ) that came out while I was on holiday.But what's really the best way to record your youth? Is it your favorite song, or a picture of the singer?
In my teenage years, one of the special things about Britain was the huge amount of information about music.There were 3 weekly newspapers about music：Sounds, Melody Maker and the New Musical Express.Buying records was expensive and it also meant making a choice.So it was wise to read about music instead, and in some ways, it was actually better as well.It was possible for a group to get onto the front cover of one of the music papers without even having made any records—but they needed things to say for the reporters to write about.In fact, the best pop stars of the 1980s were people whose main talent was exactly that.They weren' t great musicians or singers and they weren't especially goodlooking, but they had some unusual acts or habits and a nice way with clever phrases.They were ideal for filling music papers.
When The Face magazine first came out in May, 1980, it was meant to be a rock magazine.I have given away or sold all the records I bought as a teenager, but I think my old copies of The Face will stay with me for ever.Although it started out as a source of information about music, the writers quickly realized that it wasn't really the music that was important—it was the way people spoke and acted, and, above all, the way they looked.According to the author，music can NOT ________.
| A．improve memory | B．awaken emotions |
| C．mark time | D．stay in the mind |
We can infer that during the author's teenage years，________.
| A．there were few records for customers to buy |
| B．some songs he heard while on holiday impressed him |
| C．he spent most of his holiday time on music |
| D．he loved one pop song the most |
According to Paragraph 2，during the author's teenage years，________.
| A．people had few chances to buy records |
| B．it was hard to judge whether records were good or not |
| C．it was not an easy thing for teenagers to get records |
| D．the choice of buying records only depended on newspapers |
The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 means that ________.
| A．people could get onto the music papers without having made any records |
| B．people's talent was not what reporters needed to write about |
| C．reporters wrote about the talents of pop stars |
| D．people read about music |
Depressed people can be very difficult to be around，and yet they need more than the usual amount of support and understanding from their friends and family.
The anger and lack of concern that a depressed person may have for people close to him or her can be very disturbing to someone who's trying to help.At such times，the sincerity of a friend or a family member is questioned when the depressed person doesn't feel worthy of someone's friendship.Withdrawal from others can make it nearly impossible to encourage a depressed person to enter into activities that may help pull him or her out of the depression.
It is frequently difficult for a depressed person to carry on a conversation.Attempts to help may be met with defensiveness and verbal attacks.While being supportive and understanding，the friend of a family member must be careful not to do too many things for the depressed person.There is a very thin line between being supportive and being overly protective.Too much“doing for” can be a disservice(帮倒忙)．
You can best help a friend or relative who is depressed by considering the following points：
◆Do not moralize.Don't pressure him or her to “put on a happy face，” or to “snap out of it.” Often the person will feel even worse after hearing such words.
◆When you are alone with your depressed friend，you might say something like，“I've noticed lately that you seem down.I care about you and would like to listen to what you're thinking about.” Then be a good listener.
◆Don't say，“I know exactly how you feel.” You probably don't.But if you've had similar experiences，sharing those may help.Say things like，“This happened to me.It might help you.” Or “I know some of what you must be feeling.”
◆Urge him or her to get professional help if necessary.Offer to accompany your friend on the first visit if it will be easier for the person.．The above passage is mainly intended for ________.
| A．a doctor who works with a depressed person |
| B．a depressed person |
| C．one who lives with a depressed person |
| D．an expert who gives advice to a depressed person |
Too much “doing for” can ________.
| A．cause more severe depression |
| B．give the depressed person courage |
| C．result in defensiveness from the depressed person |
| D．be of no help to the depressed person |
What are you advised to say to a depressed person?
| A．Try to look happy and you'll be better. |
| B．I know exactly how you feel. |
| C．I had a similar experience.And it might help you. |
| D．Cheer up and get rid of your depression. |
We can infer from the second paragraph that a depressed person ________.
| A．is willing to appreciate the sincerity of a friend or a family member |
| B．has a sense of pride of his own |
| C．may do something unreasonable to your friendship |
| D．is likely to doubt the purpose of a friend or family member |
One of the biggest new bands in the UK is Arctic Monkeys.Their first two singles(单曲唱片)went straight to Number One in the charts(排行榜)and their first album “Whatever People Say I Am，That's what I'm No” has become a recordbreaking album.It's the fastest selling debut album(首张专辑)in UK chart history.
Arctic Monkeys are famous because of their great success.They achieved their success thanks to the Internet.Usually a new band signs to a record company and then it is through marketing that people buy their singles.The single sales then get the band into the charts and they become popular that way.
However，Arctic Monkeys became wellknown in a slightly different way.Back in 2003 when the band first started，they handed out CDs at their performing concert.Certain fans liked the music so much that they put the music up on the Web.The general public had access to this music because it was on the Internet and，because people liked the music，the band's popularity increased.The band's popularity was starting to get noticed by major radio stations in the UK.
Arctic Monkeys released(发行)their first single in October 2005.Before that，their music had only been available to download on the Internet.When they did finally release a single and an album，they both rose to the top of the charts.
Music fans welcome the use of the Internet this way—Arctic Monkeys became popular simply because people liked their music when they heard it.There were no ads.As music downloads continue to increase in popularity，we can expect to see more and more bands make it big in this way.Arctic Monkeys gained popularity through __________.
| A．giving away their CDs |
| B．the Internet |
| C．singing to a record company |
| D．marketing and advertisement |
．Before 2005，how can you get Arctic Monkeys' music?
| A．Going to their live music party. |
| B．Download their music from the Internet. |
| C．Buying their singles and albums in a shop. |
| D．Listen to it on the radio in the UK. |
Why did Arctic Monkeys become popular?
| A．People could hear their music often. |
| B．They didn't advertise their music. |
| C．People liked their music. |
| D．The marketing company did well. |
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth.Finances were a constant concern for his family.The expenses of having a large family were too much for his father's salary.In fact, when Charles was just four months old, the family moved to a smaller home to cut expenses.
At a very young age, despite his family's financial situation, Charles dreamed of becoming a gentleman.However, when he was 12, it seemed his dream would never come true.He suffered a lot.Charles' education was unplanned, but he supplemented it with constant reading, particularly of the eighteenthcentury novels in his father's small library.He was poorly clothed, ill fed, forced to live in the cheapest place.
Also,12yearold Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a factory to help support the family.Charles was deeply marked by these experiences.This childhood poverty, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction.He knew those kinds of feelings.He was lost at that time when he worked hopelessly in the factory.That period was so bitter to the sensitive boy.When he was a successful, happy man, he could not look back upon it without tears in his eyes.
Luckily the situation improved within a year.Charles was released from his duties at the factory.As a boy, Charles Dickens' dream was __________.
| A．to be a writer | B．to be a gentleman |
| C．to work in a factory | D．to support his family |
Charles Dickens was removed from school because __________.
| A．he didn't like to go to school at all |
| B．he caused much trouble at school |
| C．he had to make money to support the family |
| D．he liked reading in his father's small library |
What greatly affected Charles Dickens when he was young?
| A．His constant reading. |
| B．His family's frequent move. |
| C．His leaving school to work. |
| D．His father's salary. |
What can we know about Charles Dickens?
| A．He received a good education when young. |
| B．He felt confused when working in the factory. |
| C．He worked in the factory for many years. |
| D．He started to work in the factory in 1826. |
With petroleum reserves (石油储量) decreasing，the search is on to replace gas with a cleaner，greener alternative.Though much eco－talk has centered on biofuels from corn and soybeans，the biofuel that looks more likely to replace petroleum comes from a most unlikely source：algae (藻类)．
Algae，like corn，soybeans，and other crops，grow via photosynthesis (光合作用) and can be processed into fuel oil.However，they yield 30 times more energy than land crops such as soybeans，according to the U．S.Department of Energy.Many algae species also can grow in saltwater and polluted water－while corn and soy require arable land and fresh water that will be in short supply as the world's population balloons.
“If you replaced all the diesel (柴油) in the U．S.with soy biodiesel，it would take half the land mass of the U．S.to grow those soybeans，”says Matt Caspari，chief executive of Aurora Biofuels，a Berkeley，Calif.－based private firm that specializes in algae oil technology.On the other hand，the Energy Department says that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States，it would require 15,000 square miles，which is a few thousand miles larger that Maryland (12,407 square miles)，the 42nd state in land area.
Another bonus：Because algae can be grown just about anywhere in a closed space，they 're being tested at several power plants across the nation as a carbon absorber.Smokestack emissions (烟囱排放物) can be pumped directly into the ponds，feeding the algae while keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
Although processing technology for algae fuel—also known as “oilgae” in some environmentalist circles—is improving，it's still years away from reaching your local gas pump.“It's just a question of cost，because no large－scale facilities have been built yet，” Caspari says.The underlined word “yield” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “________”．
| A．control | B．require |
| C．produce | D．grow |
Compared with corn and soybeans，algae ________.
| A．may pollute water and soil |
| B．can grow in poor conditions |
| C．provide much less energy |
| D．need more special care |
According to Paragraph 3，one of the advantages of algae fuel is that ________.
| A．it can be used more widely |
| B．it is more easy to produce |
| C．it needs much less land |
| D．it costs much less money |
What do we learn about algae from Paragraph 4?
| A．Algae help protect the environment. |
| B．People can grow algae anywhere. |
| C．Fish can get more oxygen from algae. |
| D．Algae produce less waste. |
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