How to Beat On-line Credit-card Thieves
The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal web site.
Web sites offering cheap services should be regarded with care. On-line shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought.
The thieves then go shopping with your card number--- or sell the information over internet.
Computers hackers（黑客） have broken down security（安全） systems raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD Universe, and on-line music retailer（批发商）, were not lucky. Their name, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157,828 to get back the information.
Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud. Master-card is working on plans for Web-only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.
Ask about your credit-firm’s on-line rules. Under British law, cardholders are responsible for the first US $78 of any fraudulent spending.
And shop only at secure sites: Send your credit-card information only if the web site offers advanced secure system. If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The web site address may also start the extra “s” stands for secure.
If you still have any doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.
Keep your password safe: Most on-line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your password with care. What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?
| A．fraud on the Internet | B．computer hackers |
| C．illegal web site | D．shopping on line |
How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?
| A．1 | B．2 | C．3 | D．4 |
You are shopping on the web and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest doing?
| A．You can go to the website and buy it without doubt. |
| B．Send your credit card information as soon as the web asks you to do so. |
| C．Give your credit card information over telephone if you have doubt. |
| D．Don’t pay money until your TV set is sent to you. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Computer hackers sold the retailer’s information to a web site to get money. |
| B．A reliable website offers you an advanced secure system. |
| C．You can depend on the password to protect your information. |
| D．The on-line credit-card thieves stole your credit-card and paid with it. |
Today is my first day at Merchiston Castle School,and I was really nervous about it, because I have never visited the school before and didn’t take any summer course. Despite my anxiety,I soon relaxed once I arrived; the staff were so nice that I felt my spoken English was better than it actually was! As soon as I walked into the dayroom of my boarding house,I was absolutely(完全地) amazed by the friendly atmosphere; everyone was so friendly that a boy as shy as I had no difficulty in setting in,and I made many new friends on my very first day,although I was struggling to remember all the names.
Also I realized there were other international students in the house from all over the world,such as South Korea,Japan and Russia.Although their English was not so fluent,it didn’t take long for us to understand each other at all.In some ways,it was even better to practice Enlgish by speaking to the international students,because we were both learning.
As a boarder,the quality of food is something I consider very important,and Merchiston has not let me down.The school kitchens are run by a professional catering company,and the quality of food is excellent,also they take the issue of a healthy diet really seriously.I remember once I was asked to take more salad for my meal by a member of the kitchen staff for I did not have enough vegetables.This brings to another point of being a boarder:you need to learn how to look after yourself and be responsible for yourself.One of the huge advantages of being a boarder is that we can have breakfast in the school,which means we don’t have to pull ourselves out of the bed as early as the daypupils!Why was the writer nervous when he was at Merchiston Castle School on the first day?
| A．Because he had no friends and relatives there. |
| B．Because he didn’t know the school well. |
| C．Because he was not good at English. |
| D．Because he was shy. |
On the first day, .
| A．though the writer was anxious,he soon relaxed |
| B．he found the dayroom of his boarding house terrible |
| C．he made many new friends,but he didn’t remember any of their names |
| D．he thought he spoke English better than the staff in the school |
Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?
| A．In the boarding house,there are only students from South Korea,Japan and Russia. |
| B．The international students in the boarding house don’t speak Englsih very fluently. |
| C．The food in Merchiston doesn’t make the writer disappiointed. |
| D．The professional catering company thinks the issue of a healthy diet is very important. |
The underlined word“boarder”in the first paragraph means“ ”.
| A．a student who is from abroad | B．a student who lives at school |
| C．a student who is good at English | D．a student who used to be shy |
Many scientists are now exploring the idea of going to live on Mars. Some other scientists from the MASA AMES Center(美国宇航局) have already started the creation of a “Mars town” and many others are in fact already experimenting with it. Of course, these experiments are done on Earth itself but this “Mars town” has an environment practically like that of Mars.
The astronauts working in these towns wear their space suit and also do everything they would really have to carry out if they ever go to Mars in the future.
But Mars would be like Earth, a temporary（临时的） place for humans. When the Sun starts swallowing up(吞掉) the planets, Mars will disappear only hours after Earth. So Mars only seems to be the ideal place to spread the human beings. It is also a good location to send humans if ever there is a disaster on Earth. By saying disaster, I mean asteroids(小行星) hitting and things like that.
If we humans do not want to disappear when Earth or Mars gets swallowed up, we will have to go and live beyond the solar system. But are there any planets outside our solar system prepared to support life? Astronomers’ answer is:
“If Earth can support life, why can’t other planets do the same too? Astronomers have already discovered a Jupiter(木星)- like planet orbiting a Sun-like star, so why not an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star?
To achieve this goal though, many other problems have to be taken into consideration. How do we transform(改造) a dusty planet like Mars into one more or less like our Earth? How should we go on? There is still a long way to go. The “Mars town” mentioned in the passage is ___________
| A．a research base on Mars. |
| B．an experimental lab built on Earth. |
| C．a strange place on Mars . |
| D．a town existing in scientists’ imagination |
We can know from the passage that astronomers probably think ____________
| A．it is impossible to transport humans to other planets. |
| B．there may be an Earth-like planet outside the solar system |
| C．humans will move to the new-found Jupiter-like planet |
| D．there’s no need for humans to move beyond the solar system. |
Why would Mars only be a temporary(临时) place for humans?
| A．The conditions there would be too hard for the human beings |
| B．There would be more disasters like asteroids hitting. |
| C．It would disappear when Earth disappeared. |
| D．It would be too hot to live on. |
The underlined word “orbiting” in the fifth paragraph is closest in meaning to “________”
| A．moving around | B．getting close to |
| C．passing by quickly | D．going through |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Mars Town | B．Living on Mars |
| C．The Future of Earth | D．Where to live in the Future |
If there is one thing I am sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The nature of what is news may change. What basically makes news is what affects our lives- the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic(基因) engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do --- as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted(传送) electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact, I am pretty sure that it will happen in the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read- sports and international news, etc.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media(煤体). They actually feed off each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet, it is never really pleasant to read something just on a screen. What is the best title for the text?
| A．The Best Way to Get News | B．The Changes of Media |
| C．Make Your Own Newspaper | D．The Future of Newspapers |
In the writer’s opinion, in the future, ___________.
| A．more big political affairs, wars and disasters will make news |
| B．newspapers will not be printed in publishing houses any longer. |
| C．newspapers will cover more scientific research |
| D．more and more people will watch TV. |
What will probably be on in the newspaper made by yourself?
| A．Sports and international news. | B．A menu of important news |
| C．The most important news. | D．What you are interested in |
From the text, we can infer that _____________.
| A．newspapers will win the competition among the different media |
| B．newspapers will stay with us together with other media |
| C．television will take the place of newspapers. |
| D．some media will die out |
The underlined phrase “feed off” in the last paragraph means ___________.
| A．depend on | B．compete with | C．fight with | D．kill of |
Inventor, physicist, surveyor, astronomer, biologist, artist… Robert Hooke was all there and more. Some say he was the greatest experimental scientist of the 17th century. In the course of his work, he cooperated with famous men of science like Isaac Newton, and the great architect, Christopher Wren.
Hooke’s early education began at home, under the guidance of his father. He entered Westminster School at the age of 13, and from there went to Oxford, where he came in contact with some of the best scientists in England. Hooke impressed them with his skills at designing experiments and inventing instruments. In 1662, at he age of 28, he was named Curator of Experiments at the newly formed Royal Society of London- meaning that he was responsible for demonstrating(展示) new experiments at the society’s weekly meeting. Hooke accepted the job, even though he knew that the society had no money to pay him!
Watching living things through a microscope was one of his favourite pastimes(消遣). He invented a compound microscope(显微镜) for this purpose. One day while observing a cork(软木塞) under a microscope, he saw honeycomb-like structures. There were cells –the smallest units of life. In fact, it was Hooke who invented the term “cell” as the boxlike cells of the cork reminded him of the cells of a monastery(修道院).
Another achievement of Hooke’s was his book Micrographia, which introduced the enormous potential(潜力) of the microscope. It contains fascinating drawings of the thing he saw under the microscope. The book also includes, among other things, ideas on gravity, light and combustion(燃烧) that may have helped scientists like Newton when they were developing their own theories on these phenomena(现象).
Hooke made valuable contributions to astronomy too. A crater(火山口) on the moon is named after him in honour of his services to this branch of science. We can infer from paragraph 2 that Hooke is ____________.
| A．friendly | B．sociable | C．creative | D．helpful |
Which is the possible reason why Hooke accepted the job as Curator of Experiments?
| A．He liked designing experiments. |
| B．His family needed his support. |
| C．He wanted to please the famous scientists in England. |
| D．His parents couldn’t afford his education. |
The cell got its name because of __________.
| A．its use | B．its shape | C．Hooke’s favourites | D．Hooke’s experiences |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．Hooke went to Oxford in 1645. |
| B．Hooke was well paid in the Royal Society of London. |
| C．Hooke made a contribution to medicine. |
| D．Hooke’s book Micrographia may have helped Newton. |
The last paragraph is to prove that _____________.
| A．Hooke was the greatest experimental scientist of the 17th century |
| B．Hooke was good at making discoveries |
| C．Hooke’s contributions were not limited to one field |
| D．Hooke was one of the greatest astronomers |
London has more than nine million visitors every year. They come and visit some of the most famous places in England: Big Ben, the Tower of London and the River Thames.
You can see some of the most interesting places in London by getting on the tour buses. Or you can take a ride on the London Eye. This large wheel slowly takes you 135m above the River Thames.
The River Thames is London’s main waterway. It has shaped the capital’s landscape, history and geography. So one of the best ways of knowing more about the city is to take a trip along the river.
The clock tower of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, has become one of the main symbols of London. The sound of the bell, which you can hear at the beginning of many television and radio programmes, has become well-known throughout the nation.
No visit to London is complete without a look at the Tower of London, in the eastern part of the city. After Big Ben, the Tower may be London’s most visited tourist spot. Directly south is Tower Bridge, which is more than100 years old.
Along all the palaces in London, Buckingham Palace is the most famous. It has been the main London home of the royal family since Queen Victoria moved there in 1873. You can visit some of the rooms in August and September. And most mornings of the year you can watch the soldiers
outside changing the guard.
About one hour by train out of London is the Tower of Windsor. Here you can visit another of the Queen’s homes-Windsor Castle. There was a fire in 1992 and many of the rooms were badly burned. But now they are full of beautiful pictures, tables and chairs again.
Sightseeing in London is great, but it can get very tiring. So, the best way to start the day is to fill up with an English breakfast.
You can buy an English breakfast in nearly every hotel, and at many restaurants and cafes. An English pub is a good place to stop for lunch and a drink. You can get hot or cold food and try one of England’s many ales(浓啤酒). Fish and chips are also a traditional English meal. So look out for fish and chip shops in cities as well as by the sea.
Or you can sit outside one of the many roadside pubs and cafes in London, and simply watch the busy world go by.We can learn from the text that ____________.
| A．Windsor Castle has been rebuilt |
| B．the Big Ben can be heard everywhere in London |
| C．only some of the hotels in England serve breakfast. |
| D．the London Eye can carry you where you like to go |
Which place may be London’s most visited tourist spot?
| A．Buckingham Palace | B．The Tower of London |
| C．Big Ben | D．The River Thames |
If you go to London in December, you will not be able to ___________
| A．visit Windsor Castle |
| B．tour the Buckingham Palace |
| C．tour the city along the River Thames |
| D．watch the soldiers outside the Buckingham Palace changing guards. |
The underlined word “landscape” (paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to _________.
| A．sights | B．interests | C．characteristics | D．culture |
The whole passage mainly introduces the ________________.
A. tourism in London B. tourists in London
B. history in London D. sightseeing in London
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