Some people in Manchester, Britain, will soon be paying for goods and services with so-called “smart” credit cards. These cards are more secure than the traditional magnetic-strip version and can be used to travel on buses, check bank accounts and do shopping.
The Manchester project is one of the biggest smart card schemes in the world. Every time people use the cards on a bus or train, the fare is deducted (reduced) from the value of the card. When they have no credit left, the cards can be recharged at a local shop.
A smart card looks just like a normal plastic card but it has a silicon chip in it. It is possible for the same silicon chip to perform a number of different functions, so one plastic card in your pocket could do a large number of different jobs. The card has much more memory space than a magnetic-strip card, so many more things can be recorded on it.There are two types of smart cards. One is the contact card which is used in the same way as a magnetic-strip card.
Information is transferred by running the card through a narrow opening in an electronic reader. In the slot, electronic probes make contact with the magnetic-strip or silicon ship and read the information. The other type is the contactless smart card where the electronic reader communicates with the card by short-range radio waves. This makes the card quicker and more convenient to use because it does not have to leave your wallet. It is also more reliable as it is not easily influenced by scratches or dirt. However, the biggest advantage that smart cards have over magnetic-strip cards is that they are more secure. They are much more difficult to make than conventional cards and they have to be made by specially trained manufacturers. In addition, they have a large number of extra security features on them and if a smart card gets lost or stolen a quick phone-call to the distributor ensures that its individual number is made invalid and unreadable. This can be done more quickly than with a magnetic-strip card.A smart credit card can do many kinds of jobs because ____ .
| A．it is smart | B．it is a plastic card |
| C．it has a silicon chip in it | D．it can be recharged |
“ The cards can be recharged” means that ____ .
| A．the card can be put into a new charge of electricity |
| B．the cards can be changed into new ones |
| C．the cards can be put to use again |
| D．the cards can be recycled |
What are the advantages of smart credit cards over traditional ones?
| A．they can store more information | B．they are more secure |
| C．they are more convenient to use | D．all of the above |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Contactless cards are more convenient to use than contact ones |
| B．Smart cards are more expensive to manufacturer |
| C．By means of long-range radio waves contactless cards can communicate with the electronic reader |
| D．A smart credit card and a normal plastic card are the same thing |
Public transportation is a great method of decreasing(减少)pollution and traffic within an urban setting. However, as with any public setting, it is important to take safety measures to avoid any unpleasant situations.
Tips for staying safe on the bus, train or subway:
Report any unusual activities.
Report any broken or missing equipment.
Report any strange noises or smells.
If you see an unattended(无人看管的)package, do not touch it, and immediately report it to the nearest employee.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. This will decrease your chance of getting sick or spreading germs(细菌).
While on public transportation the most important safety measure to take is simply paying attention to your surroundings. By taking these steps you can have a better and more enjoyable experience while using the public bus, train or subway.
Safety measures and regulations(规章制度)
Sometimes stories of tragic public transportation are released(发布) through the media（媒体）. When this happens it is natural to question the safety of using public transportation. When the driving itself is out of your control, it is important to know what measures and regulations are put into place to keep you safe.
One of the greatest concerns for public transportation safety is the lack of safety belts. While accidents involving buses or trains is not common, when they do occur they are highly dangerous due to the lack of safety belts. Passengers are likely to be injured simply from being hit by another passenger.
Good drivers make safe passengers
With hundreds of thousands of public bus passengers every day, it is important that the drivers of these vehicles(车辆)are trained and experienced enough to manage the dangerous situations that can happen on the road. Bus and train drivers must meet the standards set by their state.
1. One advantage of public transportation is that __________________________.
A. it’s cheaper B. it saves more time
C. it has more safety measures D. it helps protect the environment
2. To keep safe on public transportation, you are advised to _____________.
A. repair any broken equipment if necessary
B. cover your nose with your hand to keep germs away
C. pay attention to any unusual activities and report them in time
D. take the package which nobody takes care of to the employee
3. We can know from the passage that ___________________________.
A. few reports are about public transportation accidents
B. passengers seldom get hurt in public transportation accidents
C. safety belts are useless for passengers on public transportation
D. it is important to know some safety measures for public transportation
4. What is important to make a good public transportation drivers?
A. Skills at handling traffic accidents
B. Higher standards and shorter working hours.
C. Polite service and clean working environment.
D. Proper training and rich driving experience.
Once a year we show our love for our fathers by celebrating(庆祝) Father’s Day. This is the time when you have the chance to show your dad how much you love him. On Father’s Day, children usually give gifts to their fathers and take them out for a nice meal. But when and how did Father’s Day get started?
Father’s Day was introduced in the early part of the 20th century. It was to show love for our fathers in the same way that people did to mothers on Mother’s Day. This tradition began in Spokane, Washington, from an idea of a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd.
Mrs Dodd was raised by her father after her mother died. Looking back on all the things that he did for the family made Mrs Dodd realize just how special her father was. She realized that her father was a very loving man who should be honored and praised for all the things that he did for his family. Since her father was born in the month of June, Mrs Dodd decided to celebrate Father’s Day on June 19th, so the first Father’s Day was held in June, 1910.
By the year 1926, a committee (委员会) was formed in New York City to honor Father’s Day, and in 1956, it was recognized as a day of celebration. President Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday in the year 1972.This is when it was decided that it would always be celebrated on the third Sunday of every June.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
A. The history of Father’s Day. B. The story of Sonora Smart Dodd.
C. Something about Mother’s Day. D. How to show your love for your father.
2. According to Paragraph 1, what do children usually do on Father’s Day?
A. Spend the whole day with their fathers.
B. Say aloud that they love their fathers.
C. Cook something nice for their fathers.
D. Prepare gifts for their fathers.
3. We learn that Father’s Day _______.
A. started from a story made up by a woman
B. is celebrated on the first Sunday of every June
C. is surely only celebrated by children in America
D. started from a woman’s wish to honor and praise her father
4. Americans have been celebrating Father’s Day as a national holiday since_____.
A. 1910 B. 1926 C. 1956 D. 1972
第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In the days when an ice cream sundae(圣代冰淇淋)cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress came to his table and put a glass of water in front of him. “Miss, how much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and counted(数) the coins in it.
“Okay then, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he asked. By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she replied rudely. The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream sundae, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and left.
When the waitress came back to that table, she began to cry as she wiped(擦) it with the wash cloth. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish were fifteen cents.
You see, the little boy couldn’t have the sundae because he wanted to have enough coins to leave her a tip. The waitress regretted having treated the little boy like that. And from that, she learned that she should treat all her customers well.
1. Why didn’t the little boy have an ice cream sundae?
A. Because he didn’t have enough money for one.
B. Because he liked a plain dish of ice cream better.
C. Because he wanted to have enough coins to leave a tip.
D. Because he was told not to have such an expensive ice cream.
2. When the little boy ordered a plain dish of ice cream, the waitress looked ______.
A. happy B. surprised C. impatient D. ashamed
3. We infer that the waitress cried most probably because_____.
A. she had never received a tip before
B. she was touched by the little boy’s deed
C. she knew the little boy wouldn’t come back again
D. the boy was too generous
4. According to the last paragraph, what did the waitress regret?
A. Not having offered the little boy an ice cream sundae.
B. Not having asked the little boy for more money.
C. Not having treated everybody the same.
D. Not having treated the little boy well.
Cafe Hub
Near the Castle is The Hub, home of the Edinburgh International Festival and one of the most talked about spots in town. Our café is open every day for mouth-watering lunches, snacks and fine dining. Come in and enjoy the atmosphere of The Hub or watch the world go by from our beautiful house.
The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh.
Open every day from 9:30 a.m. till late.
Tel:0131173 2067 www.thehub-edinburgh.com
Farm World
Enjoy being“A Farmer for a Day”. Join in delivering and feeding our spring babies—bottle feeding sessions twice daily. Fun for all family. Horse Rides, BMX Bikes Cross Country Course. Tractor Ride through 600 acres, New Adventure Playground, Nature Trails. Full details on website.
Open: May—Oct Wednesdays to Saturdays and daily during school holidays 11 a.m.—5 p.m.
Tel:01797 260256/260321 www.farmworldrye.co.uk
Enter the Europe-wide student competition!
Are you curious, creative and energetic? Are you interested in the new media? Are you between 12 and 9 years of age? Then Join Multimedia 2006 is for you!
Your challenge will be to build a team and develop a multimedia presentation in English-based on one of three different topics. You can register (报名) between May 1 and June 15, 2006 and will have to turn in your entry before September 15, 2006.
The rewards are wonderful: £ 150,000 in prize for schools and teams and the chance to attend a European student camp—plus new experiences, an opportunity to make friends throughout Europe!
For further information and registration forms go to: www.siemens.com/join. multimedia.
1.You’ll have to register first if you want____________.
A. to enjoy delicious food
B. to try Tractor Ride through 600 acres
C. to enter the Europe-wide student competition
D. to watch the world go by from the beautiful house
2.According to the passage, there will be_________rewards for the Europe-wide student competition.
A. only one B. two C. three D. four
3.You can visit Farm World_________.
A. on Monday in May B. any day in October
C. at 2 p.m. at Christmas D. at 10:30 a.m. during school holidays
4.From the advertisements above, we can learn that_________.
A. Cafe Hub is a popular place in the local area
B. families can enjoy Horse Rides on New Adventure Playground
C. Farm World provides lunches, snacks and fine dining
D. the Europe-wide student competition will be held on June 15,2006
I know what you’re thinking: pizza（比萨饼）? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the a.m. if you want to.
I know lots of women who skip breakfast（不吃早餐）, and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time; others think they’re “saving” calories（卡路里）；still others just don’t like breakfast food . But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. “Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all,” says Katherine Brooking R.D., who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year’s “SELF CHALLENGE”. And even pizza can be healthy if it’s loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece. Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal. So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers—it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow,” I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it. You may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.
1. The word “leftovers” in Paragraph 1 probably means_______. A. food remaining after a meal B. things left undone C. meals made of vegetables D. pizza topped with fruit
2. What can we infer from the text?
A. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry. B. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast. C. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal. D. Eating vegetables helps save energy.
3. According to the last paragraph, it is important to________.
A. eat something for breakfast B. be careful about what you eat C. heat up food before eating it D. eat calorie-controlled food
4. The text is written mainly for those________. A. who go to work early B. who want to lose weight C. who stay up late D. who eat before sleep
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