A British train station has put up a no kissing sign to stop lovers going full stream ahead with their over-loving goodbyes. Rail users have been told: if you want to get up to that kind of business, do it in the car park.
The sign has gone up at the drop-off point (下车区) at Warrington Bank Quay station in the town of Warrington, between Liverpool and Manchester in northwest England. A man i
n a hat and a woman with a curly-looking hair show people they must not indulge (沉迷于) in full –on lip- locking.
A similar sign, this time permitting kissing , has been put up elsewhere in a zone where smooching (拥吻) is considered acceptable. “We have not banned kissing in the station,” said a spokesman for operators Virgin Rail. “But we have put the sign at the drop-off point because it is not a very big area and it often gets busy 
with lots of traffic.”
The sign is a light-hearted way of getting people to move on quickly. “If people wish to spend a little more time with their loved ones before they leave, then should park in the short-stay car park nearby.”
The busy station links the town with the major cities London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester.
However, one station is trying to rescue love from the tracks, High Wycombe, northwest of London, is having none of it and is actively urging travelers to enjoy love. “Kissing is welcome here! We would never dream of banning kissing,” says a poster of a cartoon couple embracing, framed by a pink heart.
“Railway stations are romantic places,” insisted Kirsteen Roberston from Chiltern Railways. “So our passengers are more than welcome to share a kiss in our stations.”Why is a no kissing sign put up at the drop-off point?
| A．Because the space is limited and people are often crowded. |
| B．Because the station wants to ban kissing in the area. |
| C．Because people can easily see the sign. |
| D．Because the trains have been put off many times. |
The underlined words “that kind of business” mean “_______”
| A．buying and selling | B．kissing each other |
| C．parking cars | D．buying tickets |
From the passage we know that Chilten Railways _____ .
| A．bans kissing in the station | B．plays films of kissing in the station |
| C．encourages kissing in the station | D．bans travelers to see films of kissing |
Tensions have erupted over some barren rocks in the Pacific that you may never have heard of, but stay tuned—this is a boundary dispute(争端) that could get ugly and some day have far-reaching consequences for China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.
The islands in dispute are called the Senkaku chain by Japan, the Diaoyu islands by China, and the Diaoyutai by Taiwan. All three claim the islands, which are really just five small islands and three barren rocks northeast of Taiwan, 200 miles off the Chinese coast.
The latest conflict occurred when a Chinese fishing boat collided(碰撞) with two Japanese naval ships trying to stop it near the islands. The Japanese prevented the Chinese captain from leaving the place for questioning and the two countries have been exchanging angry protests.
The reason to worry is that nationalists in both China and Taiwan see the islands as unquestionably theirs and think that their government has been weak in claiming this authority.
So far, wiser heads have generally won the argument on each side, but at some point a weakened Chinese leader might try to gain the legal right with the public by pushing the issue and recovering the islands. It would be a dangerous game and would have a disastrous impact on China-Japan relations, but if successful it would raise the popularity of the Chinese government.
In reality, of course, there is zero chance that the U.S. will honor its treaty(条约) with Japan over a few barren rocks. We're not going to risk a nuclear conflict with China over some islands that may well be China's. But if we don't help, our security relationship with Japan will be at the breaking point.
So which country has a better claim to the islands? My feeling is that it's China, although the answer isn't clear-cut. Chinese navigational records show the islands as Chinese for many centuries, and a 1783 Japanese map shows them as Chinese as well. Japan purported to “discover” the islands only in 1884 and took control of them by force only in 1895 when it also grabbed Taiwan.
The best approach would be for China and Japan to agree to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice, but realistically that won't happen. And since some believe that the area is rich with oil and gas reserves, the claims from each side have become more insistent.
As Chinese nationalism grows, as China's navy and ability to project power in the ocean gains, we could see some military conflicts over the islands.
Taken from NewYork TimesThe underlined word “purported” (in Para.7) is closest in meaning to “_____”.
| A．happened | B．claimed | C．pretended | D．intended |
The latest conflict referred to in the passage occurred because _____.
| A．the Japanese government has bought the Diaoyu Islands from the Liyuans |
| B．two Japanese naval ships sailed in the Chinese sea around the Diaoyu Islands |
| C．the Japanese kept the captain of a fishing boat from returning for questioning |
| D．a fishing boat collided with two Japanese naval ships by design in the Japanese sea |
Which of the following is the author's personal idea?
| A．It is the two Japanese naval ships that are to blame for the conflict. |
| B．It is the Chinese captain of a fishing boat that is to blame for the conflict. |
| C．It is the U.S. that will honor its treaty with Japan over a few barren rocks. |
| D．It is China that has a better claim to the islands because of its navigational records. |
What can be inferred according to the passage?
| A．The claim from both sides has become more insistent. |
| B．Japan has navy and ability to power the Diaoyu Islands. |
| C．China is developing so quickly that it will declare a war on Japan. |
| D．The dispute between China and Japan has put the U.S. in a dilemma. |
The past week was possibly the most eventful in the history of customer technology markets,or to be precise, the 7-inch (17.8-cm) tablet (平板电脑)market. Never before have three of thebiggest players in the industry scheduled what could be truly historic productlaunches (上市）so close together.
Despite its name, the 7.9-inch iPad Mini is one of the largest among the mini-tablets. It's gotall the aesthetics of its earlier 9.7-inch iPad and is unbelievably thin-just 7.2 mm, 23 percentthinner than the iPad.
Apple's iPad Mini
Release date: Nov 2,2012 (Wi-Fi version)
Operating system: iOS 6
Size: 19.9 x 13.5 x 0.7 cm
Prices: $329 (16GB Wi-Fi), $429 (32GB Wi-Fi), $519 (64GB Wi-Fi), or $459 (16GB Data)
$559 (32GB Data), $659 (64GB Data)
Google may have been forced to cancel its Android event in New York City on Oct 29 due to the threat of hurricane Sandy, but that isn't stopping it from making same big announcements. For starters, Google has confirmed (证实）that the Nexus 10 will be running Android 4.2 out of the box, so get excited. It will also come equipped with a 10-inch display running at an impressive 2560x1600 resolution. On the inside, it'll have a A15 dual-core (双核）processor running alongside 2GB of RAM(内存)，so expect the Nexus 10 to be a speedy little tablet. Google's Nexus 10 Release date: Nov 13，2012 Operating system: Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Size: 26.4 x 17.8x0.9 cm Prices: $399 (16GB), $449 (32GB)
Microsoft's Surface is a bold product with some great touches. It doesn't feature a camera and focuses on Office software, which suggests Microsoft is focusing this product on an executive toy. There's no 3G connection (only Wi-Fi) so owners won't have to worry about an extra contract.
The real delight, however, is Metro, the impressive navigation interface (导航界面).It is beautifully designed with brightly colored squares for navigation. Pre-orders for Surface in the US sold out over the weekend, so it would seem customers are excited.
Microsoft's Surface
Release date: Oct 26,2012
Operating system: Windows 8 RT
Size: 27.5 x 17.2 x 0.9 cm
Prices: $499 (32GB M-Fi)What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
| A．The three biggest companies made a new product together. |
| B．A technology has been introduced to tablet industry. |
| C．The three companies launched their new products nearly at the same time. |
| D．The tablet market, in October was out of control. |
What is the 7.9-inch iPad Mini's major contribution to the customers?
| A．Wi-Fi version | B．Operating system |
| C．Prices | D．Size |
How many technologies will be introduced to the Nexus 10 according to Google?
| A．6 | B．5 | C．4 | D．3 |
Which tablet with 32GB Wi-Fi is the most expensive?
| A．Microsoft's Surface. | B．Apple's iPad Mini. |
| C．Google's Nexus 10. | D．A15 dual-core processor. |
People are being lured (引诱）onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up their personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.
Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Face book because people don't reallyknow what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook-you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things— your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default(默认)to be shared with every one on the Internet.
According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience".
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the pages totally. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. "I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits.
I think that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning. That is why I'm considering deactivating(撤销）my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't trust. That's too high a price to pay.Why do people give their personal information to Facebook according to Paragraph 1?
| A．Because they can get some money from Facebook. |
| B．Because their information is not important. |
| C．Because they are promised to have a fun and free service. |
| D．Because they can also get other people's information. |
What does the author say about most Facebook users?
| A．They are unwilling to give up their personal information. |
| B．They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook. |
| C．They don't identify themselves when using the website. |
| D．They care very much about their personal information. |
Why does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage?
| A．To give better service to its users. | B．To obey to the Federal guidelines. |
| C．To improve its users' connection. | D．To expand its business. |
Why does Senator Charles Schumer support publicly?
| A．Setting guidelines for advertising on websites. |
| B．Banning the sharing of users' personal information. |
| C．Making regulations for social-networking sites. |
| D．Removing ads from all social-networking sites. |
Agricultural experts met in Ethiopia last week to discuss ways to help sub-Saharan Africa become a major producer of wheat. The area traditionally produced little wheat, while North Africa was the grain basket.
Wheat production fell sharply in sub-Saharan countries during the 1980s. In the 1960s, attempts were made to grow wheat in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa and Zimbabwe. But those countries found it was less costly to import wheat from Europe and the United States. Another problem is that Africa's wheat farms were often far from population centers. There also were transportation issues. And some lowlands were not a good place to grow wheat.
Hans Joachim Braun,one of the experts, says now is a good time to increase wheat production. In the last four years we have seen three major price hikes, where the wheat price and other staple process (主食加工）exploded. And that puts a big, big bill on countries which are depending on wheat imports, and Africa is the biggest wheat importer.
He also says demand for wheat in sub-Saharan Africa is growing faster than for any other crop. With higher income people would like to have more diversified(多样化）food. But that is possible not the most important one. The most important one is that there is a tremendous migration(移民）of in particular male labor to the cities. And wheat products are convenient food because you can easily buy it. It's easy to process and you also can store it for a few days, which is different from some of the maize and rice products.
There are three possible challenges for growing more wheat in Africa： climate change, disease and pests, like insects. Mr. Braun says rising temperatures should not have a major effect on wheat. In fact, he says, it could help wheat grow in areas with high rainfall totals. As for fighting disease and pests, experts suggest growing more resistant crops. In addition, railroads and roads would have to be improved so large amounts of wheat could be moved to large markets.What does the word "hikes" in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?
| A．big changes | B．large increases | C．long trips | D．big bills |
Wheat price exploding indicates_____.
| A．sub-Saharan countries need to increase wheat production badly |
| B．sub-Saharan countries have to issue more money |
| C．sub-Saharan countries should grow more Corn |
| D．importing much wheat is urgent |
Why is there a higher demand for wheat in sub-Saharan Africa？
| A．Because the number ofhungry people there is increasing. |
| B．Because higher income people have the diversified need of food. |
| C．Because male labor are crowding into the cities. |
| D．Because the wheat price is lower. |
According to Mr. Braun the main challenges for growing more wheat in Africa are_____.
| A．climate change and disease |
| B．resistant crops and climate change |
| C．rising temperatures and disease and pests |
| D．disease and pests and inconvenient transportation |
More than a third of the babies born this year could receive a 100th birthday message from whoever happens to be on the throne in the second decade of the 22nd century, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It forecasts that 35% of the 826,000 people born in 2012 will live to become centenarians.
But a long life is not unalloyed good news. David Sinclair, head of policy and research at the International Longevity Centre UK, warned that for many the future may mean social isolation(隔离）as they live longer than friends and members of their families.
"It is of course good news that so many more people are living longer," he said, "but there is a big 'but1. We will be older, but in worse health, and at high risk of living alone. The other problem is that we are very poor at forward planning. We deal with the problems that are under our noses, but even problems two or three years away seem quite distant enough to put off.When you're talking about forecasts for a time half a century away and more, I see no evidence that we are putting in place the measures to deal with it."
This year there will be 14,500 centenarians in the UK, a number which is expected to increase to 110,000 in 2035.
Women have higher life expectancies than men at every age: the likelihood of a girl born this year reaching her century is estimated to be 39%; for boys the figure is 32%.
The estimated number of female centenarians has risen from 500 in 1961 to more than 10,000 in 2010，a figure which is projected to reach 71,000 by 2035 and 276,000 by 2060.
Men are also living far longer, although their numbers are far fewer. There were an estimated 92 male centenarians in 1961 and just below 2,000 in 2010.The underlined word centenarians probably means people who_____.
| A．are born this year | B．live longer than their friends |
| C．are in poor health | D．are a hundred or more years old |
From what David Sinclair said, we can learn_____.
| A．he doesn't believe so many people are living longer |
| B．the older we are, the more likely we are to live alone and in poor health |
| C．the people who are good at forward planning are likely to live longer |
| D．too distant planning is not always necessary for most of us |
Which of the following statement is true?
| A．About 289，100 people born in 2012 will live to 100. |
| B．More men will reach their century than women in the future. |
| C．The number of the female centenarians was 1,000 in 1970s |
| D．More than 600 people reached their century in 1961. |
What does this passage mainly talk about?
| A．A long life is not always good news. |
| B．A long life also means social and physical isolation |
| C．In the future, more people will live to 100 in the UK. |
| D．It is good to live to 100. |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号