The scientific world continues to be amazed by the speed of the development of cloning. Some scientists now suggest that the cloning of humans could occur in the near future. Despite the benefits of cloning, however, certain ethical (道德的) questions concerning the possible abuse (滥用) of cloning have been raised. At the heart of these questions is the idea of humans influencing life in a way that could harm society, either morally or in a real physical sense. Some people object to cloning because it allows scientists to "act like God" in the handling of living organisms.
The cloning of Dolly raised the debate over this practice to a whole new level. It has become obvious that the technology for cloning Dolly could also be used to clone humans. A person could choose to make two or ten or a hundred copies of himself or herself by the same techniques used with Dolly. An active debate about the morality of cloning humans arises. Some people see benefits from the practice, such as providing a way for parents to produce a new child to replace one dying of a fatal disease. Other people worry about humans taking into their own hands the future of the human race.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, many scientists say the controversy over the ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because of the unpredictability (不可预测性) of cloning in general. While scientists have cloned animals such as sheep, mice, cows, pigs, and goats, fewer than 3 percent of all those cloning efforts have succeeded. The animal clones that have been produced often have health problems. Scientists believe the rapid reprogramming in cloning can introduce random (任意的) errors into a clone’s DNA. Those errors have altered individual genes in minor ways, and the genetic defects (缺陷) have led to the development of major medical problems. Some scientists say this should make human cloning out of the question, but others argue that cloning humans may actually be easier and safer than cloning animals. Whatever, I agree that further research in the field of cloning is needed.
Some people are against cloning of humans because they think _________.
| A．the practice takes too much time and money |
B．the cloning technology is still not mature |
C．humans control the future of the human race |
D．the population in the world will be too large |
Some scientists think the debate over ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because ____.
| A．cloning of human beings is completely impossible |
B．the result of cloning can’t be predicted in general |
C．cloning of animals is a failure |
D．there are big errors in a clone’s DNA |
We can learn from the text that _______.
| A．cloning of humans is a very controversial issue |
B．the cloning of Dolly begins to raise the debate over cloning of humans |
C．there are medical problems in cloning animals |
D．cloning humans is easier and safer than cloning animals |
The text is mainly about _______.
| A．the benefits of cloning |
B．the ethics of cloning |
C．the history of cloning |
D．the defects of cloning |
One day，when 12-year-old Sean Redden went to a popular chat room on the Internet, he saw the name of someone he’d never seen there before, Susan Hicks. Her message was “ Would someone help me? I can’t breathe. Help me! I can’t feel my left side.”
At first, Sean thought it was a bad joke and he told his mother Sharon Redden. But she asked, “ It’s not just some game, is it?
The message was not a joke. “ Susan Hicks” was actually 20-year-old Taija Laitinen, a student working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland---almost 7,000 miles away from Sean’s home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was empty and the nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn’t move that far because any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then as the pain became worse, she began typing her message for help in the chat room.
“I don’t think it’s a joke, mom,” Sean said. He typed, “ Where are you? The letters appeared, “Finland.” Sean and Sharon couldn’t believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police and explained the situation to officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl’s phone number and address.
Meanwhile, the Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency(机构) in Finland. The Texas police explained the situation and gave Susan’s address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, “Help is on the way.”
In the few minutes, the library door opened. Doctors and three policemen ran in. Taija turned once more to the computer, “ They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye.”At first when receiving the message for help, Sean__________.
| A．didn’t believe it | B．took no notice of it |
| C．called the police at once | D．had a joke with the person |
What was the problem with the person who asked for help?
| A．She lost her phone. |
| B．She couldn’t finish her work |
| C．She was locked in the library. |
| D．She felt pain and couldn’t move. |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．The policeman Sean’s mother called was in Finland. |
| B．Susan Hicks was a friend of Taija Laitinen. |
| C．Sean and his mother offered help in time. |
| D．Sean had seen Taija Laitinen before. |
4. What does the underlined phrase “ on the way.” refer to?
| A．There is a way | B．to be arriving soon |
| C．have a long way to arrive | D．to have almost finished |
5. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Help yourself | B．A helping hand |
| C．Help is on the way | D．Help on the Internet |
| Paris is a popular tourist attraction. Which has much more to offer than just the well-known Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Let’s experience this amazing city through some of its wonderful places and activities. |
| River Boats Tour the heart of Paris by boat along the Seine River(塞纳河)! Boats offer eight must-see tourist stops along the boat tour path. The cost is 13 euros for a whole day of river boating with stops for tourists to walk through the Parisian sites. Boats come every 15 minutes. It is wonderful to drink in the unique atmosphere of Paris while boating along the Seine River. |
| Children’s Science Museum If you are traveling to Paris with kids, this museum is a perfect place to visit. The museum has many exhibitions for children. The cost is low at only 8 euros per adult and 4.5 euros per child. |
| Medieval tavern(酒馆) In Paris, tourists can enjoy the night at Medieval Tavern from 8pm every Thursday till 2 am. This tavern invites visitors to experience life in the old days. Everyone is dressed in old costumes(服装). The menu includes items that were enjoyed in the old days. The entire experience can be enjoyed for only 15 euros per person. |
| Luxembourg Garden This garden is the second largest public park in Paris. Whether you are interested in walking through the flowers and statues or a pleasant ride on the old carousel(旋转木马), this graden is ideal. Children like its theater and plays while adults enjoy the free musical performances. |
If a couple with two children visits the Children’s Science Museum, they have to pay .
| A．16euros | B．17 euros | C．25 euros | D．20.5 euros |
At Medieval Tavern, visitors .
| A．can enjoy popular French food |
| B．can watch performances while eating and drinking |
| C．can experience life in the old days at night |
| D．will have the chance to put on old costumes to perform |
The passage is likely to be taken from a website about .
| A．history | B．travel |
| C．technology | D．entertainment |
The global population is living longer，and getting older，which presents new challenges. “The question becomes：who will take care of everyone? While people will always be the best caregivers for people，there just aren’t enough people. That’s where robotic technology can really make a difference,” says Professor Maja Mataric at the University of Southern California.
Her group is developing robots to work with stroke (中风) patients and elderly people. The research team has found that people react well to a robot gym instructor，and seem to get less frustrated with it than with instructions given on a computer screen. The robot can act as a perfect trainer，with infinite(极大的) patience.
“People say things like ‘I prefer this robot to my husband！Can I take it home?’” according to Professor Mataric. “In fact there’s a really important point here. As we create these care giving technologies，we’re helping not only the people that need the care，but also the people caring for them. We can give them a break，and help them avoid burnout.”
People are going to have to like，and importantly trust robots before they welcome them into their homes，and several groups around the world are working on making it easier to communicate with them.
Much of human communication takes place through body language. Gestures， eye contact , and concepts of personal space are all things that robots are being taught. In learning about how people interact(互动) with machines，researchers are also discovering new roles for robots in our lives. Robots can communicate with humans in ways that other technologies can not.
“If someone finds the robot to be more persuasive and more reliable，that’s going to affect how they interact with it,” says Dr Cynthia Breazeal, director of the Personal Robots Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We can now start to think about fields where it’s the social interaction，which is the main means by which a robot helps someone.” Dr Breazeal says that means robots could be used in education，learning，and health care，where social support is important.Professor Maja Mataric mainly focused on robots’ function of ________.
| A．teaching | B．exploring |
| C．making things | D．giving care |
Why can robots be wonderful trainers in the gym?
| A．Because they are more clever. |
| B．Because they give correct instructions. |
| C．Because they cost less money. |
| D．Because they are more patient. |
The underlined word “burnout” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”．
| A．feeling tired | B．feeling angry |
| C．getting hurt | D．becoming disappointed |
The scientists are presently working hard to help robots .
| A．to use less electricity | B．to communicate better |
| C．to react more quickly | D．to have more functions |
Once a general manager wanted to test his people, who had come from all over India, about their values of life. He announced that in their folders(文件夹), there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put the seed in a pot with good soil and look after it very well. He would hold a competition at the next year’s seminar and the best plants would be awarded suitably.
Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And the next year in a big hall, what a great scene! There were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants-all except one. In this pot was soil, but no plant! The owner of the pot was standing quietly and feeling ashamed of himself.
The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed, which he was given, and did what was to be done - but nothing happened!
The general manager declared(宣布) him the winner! Everyone was shocked.
It was announced, "Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds. This man was honest to his work and therefore, he did not cheat me or himself!"What’s the general manager’s purpose of giving a seed to each of his employees?
| A．He wanted to get some beautiful plants. |
| B．He wanted to improve his employees’ planting skill |
| C．He wanted to enrich his employees’ life. |
| D．He wanted to know whether his employees are honest. |
The man in the passage failed to get the plant because .
| A．he didn’t take good care of his seed |
| B．he wasn’t good at planting |
| C．his seed wasn’t as good as the other people’s |
| D．the seed had been boiled |
Why was everyone shocked after they heard the general manager’s declaration?
| A．They didn’t understand why the man failed to get the plant. |
| B．They didn’t understand why the man was the winner. |
| C．They didn’t know why the manager gave him the best seed. |
| D．They didn’t know why they couldn’t get the plants. |
The author wanted to tell us the importance of by writing this passage.
| A．being careful |
| B．being honest |
| C．knowing how to plant |
| D．knowing how to please the manager |
One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a good friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?
Listen—Listen when they are talking. Don’t say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it’s not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them—If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don’t do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes in case they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them—Be there for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times. Marilyn Monroe, a famous U.S. actor, once said, “I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control, but if you can’t stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve to be with me at my best.” Always remember this! If you don’t want to stay with your friends when they’re in hard times, then you don’t deserve to be with them when they’re having a good time!
_________—Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you’ll remember these things when you’re all old!While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings, you should __________.
| A．give him or her some advice | B．calm him or her down |
| C．just listen unless asked | D．share your feelings as well |
What can we learn from Marilyn Monroe’s words?
| A．Life without a friend is death. |
| B．A friend is easier lost than found. |
| C．A man is known by his friends. |
| D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
Which of the following can be put in the blank of the last paragraph?
| A．Enjoy yourself | B．Make plans |
| C．Understand your friends | D．Play with your friends |
The passage is mainly about _______.
| A．how to find a good friend |
| B．how to help friends in trouble |
| C．How to be a good friend |
| D．how to make more friends |
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