It's hardly surprising that weather is a favorite topic for so many people around the world—it affects where we choose to live, what we wear, our moods, and perhaps even our national characteristics.Studies have shown that changeable weather can make it difficult to concentrate, cloudy skies slow down reaction, and hot，dry winds make many people badtempered.
If you live in a place like Britain, where the weather seems to change daily if not hourly，you could be forgiven for thinking that the weather is random.In fact the weather is controlled by systems which move around areas of the globe.In the UK the weather depends on depressions (低压气流), often called lows，and anticyclones(反气旋)，also known as highs.These systems start in the Atlantic Ocean, and make their way across the British Isles from the west to the east.Highs bring sunny weather, while lows bring rain and wind.In modern times, human activities seem to be altering weather patterns.Gases produced by heavy industry change the temperature of the earth's surface，and affect cloud formation.Some researchers say that factories in Europe and North America may have been one of the causes of the droughts in Africa in the 1980s.
The human race has always tried to guess the weather，especially in areas of the world where there are frequent changes.Traditional rhymes point to early attempts to identify weather patterns; popular poems include：
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight；red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.
Flies will swarm before a storm.
Rain before 7，clear by 11.
While folk wisdom can provide a guide to help forecast weather, today's methods of prediction increasingly rely on technology.Satellites, balloons，ships, aircrafts and weather centers with sensitive monitoring equipment, send data to computers.The data is then processed, and the weather is predicted.However，even this system cannot predict weather for longer than about a week.When weather keeps changing，________.
| A．people become badtempered |
| B．people's reaction slows down |
| C．people find it hard to focus on their work |
| D．people find it easy to focus on their work |
The weather in Britain is________.
| A．random | B．moist |
| C．depressing | D．satisfying |
According to a traditional rhyme, if there is a red sky at night, the next day will be________.
| A．windy | B．rainy |
| C．fine | D．snowy |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Anticyclones often bring rain and wind. |
| B．Weather forecasting has been done for a long time. |
| C．Weather could never be predicted. |
| D．Modern methods of weather prediction are developed from folk wisdom. |
What is mainly talked about in the second paragraph?
| A．Changes in weather. |
| B．Weather in Britain. |
| C．African droughts. |
| D．Research on weather. |
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an "agricultural revolution". On the farm of today, machines provide all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog(猪) producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real "mechanized hired hand" that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear(修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn(畜棚), then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage?
| A．The first sentence of the first paragraph. |
| B．The first sentence of the second paragraph. |
| C．The first sentence of the third paragraph. |
| D．The last sentence of the second paragraph. |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
| B．Both computers and robots have been in use on today's farms. |
| C．Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
| D．Farmers can do nothing without the help of computers on today's farms. |
According to the engineers,_____________ will be done by robots in the near future.
| A．all farm work | B．milking cows |
| C．most of the farm work | D．some house work |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Computer—Farmers' Best Friend | B．Farmers in the Future |
| C．Robots in the future | D．Revolution on the farm |
Do you know soon eleven biggest food and drink companies of the nations will adopt new rules to limit advertising to children under the age of 12, a move that restricts ads for products such as McDonald’s Happy Meals and the use of popular cartoon characters.
The companies announced their new rules ahead of a Federal Trade Commission hearing on Wednesday that steps up pressure on the companies to help solve the growing child obesity problem through more responsible marketing. The self-given rules include promises by seven companies who will no longer use licensed characters, such as those made popular through movies or TV shows, to advertise online or in print media unless they’re promoting their healthier products. Four other companies said they do not advertise at all to children under 12.
“I think this is a very good step forward. It’s not the end of the journey but it’s a good way down the road,” said Margo Wootan, Nutrition Policy Director at the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Since the FTC first publicly raised the issue in 2005, many of the companies have started selling products with better nutrition in mind. The companies hope their self-regulation efforts — organized through the Council of Better Business Bureaus — will fend off any new and more strict federal regulation.
Parents are happy to see new rules that restrict the use of cartoon characters such as Shrek, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. “It catches their eyes when you’re shopping,” said Josephine Thomas, a mother of three boys who lives in Manhattan. “As soon as they see a Shrek or Mickey Mouse, they automatically look at that and they don’t see what they really need. That’s one of the biggest problems when you go shopping.” That’s one reason the food companies have said they will now only use licensed characters to advertise their “better for you” products. The reason why the food and drink companies will take action is that they want to___________
| A．promote sales across the country |
| B．limit advertising to children under the age of 12 |
| C．meet increasing demands from kids |
| D．adapt to the new federal regulations |
What can we learn from the text that the seven companies ____.
| A．may still use cartoon characters in advertising |
| B．are going to stop advertising to children under 12 |
| C．Would like to continue the cooperation with entertainment media |
| D．will make food and drink specially for fat kids |
What of the following can best describe the underlined words “fend off”?
| A．prevent ... from happening | B．draw up or work out |
| C．pay attention to | D．give a warm welcome to |
What does Josephine Thomas advise in the last paragraph?
| A．kids spend too much on unhealthy food |
| B．parents are strict about their kids’ food choice |
| C．“better for you” products are popular with kids |
| D．ads with cartoon characters mislead kids |
| Madame Tussauds—London Welcome to Madame Tussauds—a 125-year-old museum loved by visitors for its life-like waxworks of famous folk from the past and present, plus interactive exhibits. The following are three ticket options we’d like to recommend to you. Option 1: All Inclusive Open Dated Ticket Why not treat your friends and family to our All Inclusive Tickets? Ticket is valid for one visit with all of the following fantastic features: * Valid for one year from date of purchase—perfect for a gift! * Priority Access admission in true celebrity style. * Your very own hand made of wax (蜡). With your ticket you can enjoy the heroic new experience in three floors of multisensory fun featuring a mix of interactive themed areas, realistic wax figures and an ALL NEW Marvel Super Heroes 4D film adventure.
Option 2: Late Saver 50% off
Option 3: Top 3 London Attractions
Please note: Child ages are 4—15. Under 4s are free. A family ticket consists of 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children. |
With an All Inclusive Ticket, you can do all of the following EXCEPT that ______.
| A．you will have priority access to Madame Tussauds |
| B．you will have a chance of having your hand made in wax |
| C．you can visit Madame Tussauds as many times as you like |
| D．you can see a 4D film in the cinema of Madame Tussauds |
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson want to join in the Top 3 Attractions trip with their children, one is 15and the other 3. How much should they pay if they book the tickets in advance online?
| A．£129.5. | B．£146. | C．£164. | D．£97.82. |
If you book a ticket for Top 3 London Attractions, ______.
| A．you can always enjoy a price 33% off |
| B．a visit to the World famous London Eye will be free |
| C．Madame Tussauds will be included in priority admission |
| D．you will be given priority to enter at least three attractions |
Every day we go to school and listen to the teacher, and the teacher will ask us some questions. Sometimes, the classmates will ask for your opinions of the work of the class. When you are telling others in the class what you have found out about these topics, remember that they must be able to hear what you are saying. You are not taking part in a family conversation or having a chat with friends—you are in a slightly unnatural situation where a large group of people will remain silent, waiting to hear what you have to say. You must speak so that they can hear you—loudly enough and clearly enough but without trying to shout or appearing to force yourself.
Remember, too, that it is the same if you are called to an interview whether it is with a professor of your school or a government official who might meet you. The person you are seeing will try to put you at your ease (not worried) but the situation is somewhat different from that of an ordinary conversation. You must take special care that you can be heard. When you speak to the class, you should speak ________.
| A．as slowly as possible | B．in a low voice |
| C．loudly | D．forcefully |
The situation in the class is _________that in your house.
| A．not very different from | B．sometimes the same as |
| C．sometimes not the same as | D．not the same as |
If you are having a conversation with an official, the most important thing for you is____.
| A．to show your ability | B．to be very gentle |
| C．to make sure that you can be heard | D．to put the official at ease |
The main idea of this passage is _______.
| A．that we should talk in different ways in different situations |
| B．that we must speak loudly |
| C．that we must keep silent at any time |
| D．that we must talk with the class |
Superman, Spider-Man, Batman and Iron Man ... .There is no shortage of superheroes. You find them in comic books, on the TV and the big screen.
In a survey of fans by the sci-fi and fantasy website, SFX.co.uk, Batman, 70 years old this year, was voted Britain's favorite superhero.
Unlike many crime-fighting superheroes Batman has no special powers. He can't fly like Superman or shoot a sticky web like Spider-Man.
Bruce Wayne is born to a wealthy Gotham City business family. However, when his parents are murdered his life changes completely.
Wayne feels anger at their deaths and guilty that he did not prevent them. He travels around the world learning how to fight. Upon returning to Gotham, he creates a disguise (伪装) to enable him to fight crime without being recognized.
A childhood fear of bats leads him to choose to dress as one. His idea is that through the bat person he can prove to himself that he has overcome his childhood fears.
Wayne is the CEO of the company he inherits (继承) from his father. He seems to live the lifestyle of a millionaire playboy. But this is a ruse (计策). He works hard at the image to allow himself the freedom he needs to do his work as a crime fighter. "Bruce Wayne, playboy" is the disguise Batman is the real person.
"Wayne is not a born superhero. Instead, he is a real, complex person," said Dace Golder, editor of the website. "He is the most realistic of all the superheroes. I am particularly interested in the emotional process by which a boy becomes a hero. His superhero qualities come from within."What is the article mainly about?
| A．How Bruce Wayne develops into a superhero. |
| B．How to overcome childhood fears. |
| C．What makes a superhero. |
| D．Why superheroes enjoy great popularity in Britain. |
Bruce Wayne decides to dress like a bat because of ______ .
| A．his curiosity about bats | B．his childhood fear of bats |
| C．his parents' sudden death | D．his unusual travel experiences |
Why does Wayne live like a playboy?
| A．He prefers the lifestyle of a playboy. |
| B．He doesn't know how to run a company. |
| C．He loves freedom more than anything else. |
| D．He needs to disguise his crime fighting activities. |
Which of the following statements is true about Batman?
| A．Batman is a born superhero |
| B．He has special powers |
| C．The turning point of his life is due to his parents' sudden death |
| D．He actually lives the lifestyle of a millionaire playboy |
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