A troubled young man in Connecticut laid his hands on the kinds of guns that no civilian should ever have and shot 20 children and 6 adults . It was a tragedy that “ broke the hearts of America ” , as President Barack Obama said . The obvious way to prevent the next such massacre is gun control . And , yes , we need it now . Voters need to be loud , politicians need to be brave , and the gun lobby needs to be defeated . Perhaps Barack Obama , no longer up for election , will no longer be chicken .
But American violence doesn’t just come from the weapons we buy and the gun shows we frequent . It’s much deeper than that . This is also the country that supplies three-quarters of the world’s arms trade . These are weapon sales authorized by our government and by a Democratic President . International weapon sales by America between 2010 and 2011 tripled . The same Democratic President continues a policy of targeted ( often poorly ) assassinations in Pakistan .
This country also supplies most of the world’s violent entertainment . America leads the world in massacres in life , and in film too . The most popular movie this week , “ SKyfall , ” is a load of fun ; but every emotional climax involves a shooting , sometimes with small guns sometimes with large ones . Firearms have long been identified with manliness in popular culture . Ever more they are identified with womanliness , too . The most popular culture . Every more they are identified with womanliness , too . The most popular video game this week is “ Halo 4 ; ” the most popular novel is Tom Clancy’s “ Treat Vector ; ” the second and s\third best-selling works of nonfiction are “ Killing Kennedy ” and “ Killing Lincoln , ” respectively . Every author , and every creator , should have the right to make what they want . Still , every civilian has a right to choose what to see and what to buy .
Violence is sometimes essential to art , and often to foreign policy , too . But the cruel killing in Newtown , the worst single event in this country in eleven years and three months , should lead to a moment of deep reflection . It’s time to talk about guns ; but it’s also time to talk about a lot more .What does the underlined word “ massacre ” in paragraph 1 probably mean ?
| A．Awful accident | B．Serious condition |
| C．Mass killing | D．Great destruction |
The author lists some examples of violent entertainment EXCEPT __________ .
| A．movies | B．books |
| C．songs | D．games |
Which of the following would the author probably agree with ?
| A．Gun control is the only solution to violence in America . |
| B．Arms trade can benefit our society if limited to a certain degree . |
| C．Readers should be given the right to choose what they want . |
| D．Violence in art should share the blame for the killing in America . |
The best title for the passage would probably be __________ .
| A．The Roots of Violent Movies |
| B．America’s Culture of Violence |
| C．Bloody Killing Shocked America |
| D．Divide on Gun Control in America |
CHRONOLOGICA
--The Unbelievable Years that Defined History
DID YOU KNOW…
-
In 105AD paper was invented in China?
When Columbus discovered the New World?
The British Museum opened in 1759?
CHRONOLOGICA is a fascinating journey through time, from the foundation of Rome to the creation of the internet. Along the way are tales of kings and queens, hot air balloons…and monkeys in space.
Travel through 100 of the most unbelievable years in world history and learn why being a Roman Emperor wasn't always as good as it sounds, how the Hundred Years' War didn't actually last for 100 years and why Spencer Perceval holds a rather unfortunate record.
CHRONOLOGICA is an informative and entertaining tour into history, beautifully illustrated and full of unbelievable facts. While CHRONOLOGICA tells the stories of famous people in history such as Thomas Edison and Alexander the Great, this book also gives ab account of the lives of lesser-known individuals including the explorer Mungo Park and sculptor Gutzon Borglum.
This complete but brief historical collection is certain to entertain readers young and old,and guaranteed to present even the biggest history lover with something new!
56.What is CHRONOLOGICA according to the next?
| A． |
A biography. |
B． |
A travel guide. |
| C． |
A history book. |
D． |
A science fiction. |
57.How does the writer recommend CHRONOLOGICA to readers?
| A． |
By giving details of its collection. |
B． |
By introducing some of its contents. |
| C． |
By telling stories at the beginning. |
D． |
By comparing it with other books. |
Hollywood's theory that machines with evil(邪恶) minds will drive armies of killer robots is just silly. The real problem relates to the possibility that artificial intelligence(AI) may become extremely good at achieving something other than what we really want. In 1960 a well-known mathematician Norbert Wiener, who founded the field of cybernetics（控制论）, put it this way "If we use, to achieve our purposes, a mechanical agency with whose operation we cannot effectively interfere(干预), we had better be quite sure that the purpose which we really desire."
A machine with a specific purpose has another quality, one that we usually associate with living things a wish to preserve its own existence. For the machine, this quality is not in-born, nor is it something introduced by humans; it is a logical consequence of the simple fact that the machine cannot achieve its original purpose if it is dead. So if we send out a robot with the single instruction of fetching coffee, it will have a strong desire to secure success by disabling its own off switch or even killing anyone who might interfere with its task. If we are not careful, then, we could face a kind of global chess match against very determined, super intelligent machines whose objectives conflict with our own, with the real world as the chessboard.
The possibility of entering into and losing such a match should concentrating the minds of computer scientists. Some researchers argue that we can seal the machines inside a kind of firewall, using them to answer difficult questions but never allowing them to affect the real world. Unfortunately, that plan seems unlikely to work we have yet to invent a firewall that is secure against ordinary humans, let alone super intelligent machines.
Solving the safety problem well enough to move forward in AI seems to be possible but not easy. There are probably decades in which to plan for the arrival of super intelligent machines. But the problem should not be dismissed out of hand, as it has been by some AI researchers. Some argue that humans and machines can coexist as long as they work in teams-yet that is not possible unless machines share the goals of humans. Others say we can just "switch them off" as if super intelligent machines are too stupid to think of that possibility. Still others think that super intelligent AI will never happen. On September 11, 1933, famous physicist Ernest Rutherford stated, with confidence, "Anyone who expects a source of power in the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine." However, on September 12, 1933, physicist Leo Szilard invented the neutron-induced(中子诱导) nuclear chain reaction.
67.Paragraph 1 mainly tells us that artificial intelligence may .
| A． |
run out of human control |
| B． |
satisfy human's real desires |
| C． |
command armies of killer robots |
| D． |
work faster than a mathematician |
68.Machines with specific purposes are associated with living things partly because they might be able to .
| A． |
prevent themselves from being destroyed |
| B． |
B achieve their original goals independently |
| C． |
do anything successfully with given orders |
| D． |
beat humans in international chess matches |
69.According to some researchers, we can use firewalls to .
| A． |
help super intelligent machines work better |
| B． |
be secure against evil human beings |
| C． |
keep machines from being harmed |
| D． |
avoid robot's affecting the world |
70.What does the author think of the safety problem of super intelligent machines?
A．It will disappear with the development of AI．
B．It will get worse with human interference.
C．It will be solved but with difficulty.
Measles(麻疹), which once killed 450 children each year and disabled even more, was nearly wiped out in the United States 14 years ago by the universal use of the MMR vaccine(疫苗). But the disease is making a comeback, caused by a growing anti-vaccine movement and misinformation that is spreading quickly. Already this year, 115 measles cases have been reported in the USA, compared with 189 for all of last year.
The numbers might sound small, but they are the leading edge of a dangerous trend. When vaccination rates are very high, as they still are in the nation as a whole, everyone is protected. This is called "herd immunity", which protects the people who get hurt easily, including those who can't be vaccinated for medical reasons, babies too young to get vaccinated and people on whom the vaccine doesn't work.
But herd immunity works only when nearly the whole herd joins in. When some refuse vaccination and seek a free ride, immunity breaks down and everyone is in even bigger danger.
That's exactly what is happening in small neighborhoods around the country from Orange County, California, where 22 measles cases were reported this month, to Brooklyn, N.Y., where a 17-year-old caused an outbreak last year.
The resistance to vaccine has continued for decades, and it is driven by a real but very small risk. Those who refuse to take that risk selfishly make others suffer.
Making things worse are state laws that make it too easy to opt out(决定不参加) of what are supposed to be required vaccines for all children entering kindergarten. Seventeen states allow parents to get an exemption（豁免), sometimes just by signing a paper saying they personally object to a vaccine.
Now, several states are moving to tighten laws by adding new regulations for opting out. But no one does enough to limit exemptions.
Parents ought to be able to opt out only for limited medical or religious reasons. But personal opinions? Not good enough. Everyone enjoys the life-saving benefits vaccines provide, but they'll exist only as long as everyone shares in the risks.
63．The first two paragraphs suggest that ____________.
| A． |
a small number of measles cases can start a dangerous trend |
| B． |
the outbreak of measles attracts the public attention |
| C． |
anti-vaccine movement has its medical reasons |
| D． |
information about measles spreads quickly |
64．Herd immunity works well when ____________.
| A． |
exemptions are allowed |
| B． |
several vaccines are used together |
| C． |
the whole neighborhood is involved in |
| D． |
new regulations are added to the state laws |
65．What is the main reason for the comeback of measles?
| A． |
The overuse of vaccine. |
| B． |
The lack of medical care. |
| C． |
The features of measles itself. |
| D． |
The vaccine opt-outs of some people. |
66．What is the purpose of the passage?
| A． |
To introduce the idea of exemption. |
| B． |
To discuss methods to cure measles. |
| C． |
To stress the importance of vaccination. |
| D． |
To appeal for equal rights in medical treatment. |
Inspiring young minds!
TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children's publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month.
Sounds too good to be true?
Take a look online-evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends.
Happy Birthday All Year!
What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month? The first magazine with your gift message will arrive in time for the special day.
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□ Annual Subscription
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Europe £60 Rest of World £70
Refund Policy-the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back.
59. Why is TOKNOW a special magazine?
| A． |
It entertains young parents. |
| B． |
It provides serious sdvertisements. |
| C． |
It publishes popular science fictions. |
| D． |
It combines fun with complex concepts. |
60. What does TOKNOW offer its readers?
| A． |
Online courses. |
| B． |
Articles on new topics. |
| C． |
Lectures on a balanced life. |
| D． |
Reports on scientific discoveries. |
61. How much should you pay if you make a 12-mouth subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China?
| A． |
£55. |
B． |
£60. |
C． |
£65. |
D． |
£70. |
62. Subscribers of TOKNOW would get .
| A． |
free birthday presents |
| B． |
full refund within 28 days |
| C． |
membership of the TOKNOW club |
| D． |
chances to meet the experts in person |
It was a cold March day in High Point, North Carolina. The girls on the Wesleyan Academy softball were waiting for their next turns at bat during practice, stamping their feet to stay warm, Eighth-grader Taylor Bisbee shivered(发抖) a little as she watched her teammate Paris White play. The two didn't know each other well -Taylor had just moved to town a month or so before.
Suddenly, Paris fell to the ground,"Paris's eye rolled back," Taylor says. "She started shaking . I knew it was an emergency."
It certainly was, Paris had suffered a sudden heart failure. Without immediate medical care, Paris would die. "Does anyone know CPR?"
CPR is a life-saving technique. To do CPR, you press on the sick person's chest so that blood moves through the body and takes oxygen to organs. Without oxygen the brain is damaging quickly.
Amazingly, Taylor had just taken a CPR course the day before. Still, she hesitated. She didn't think she knew it well enough. But when no one else came forward, Taylor ran to Paris and began doing CPR, "It was scary. I knew it was the difference between life and death," says Taylor.
Taylor's swift action helped her teammates calm down. One girl called 911. Two more ran to get the school nurse, who brought a defibrillator, an electronic devices(器械) that can shock the heart back into work. Luck stayed with them Paris' heartbeat returned.
"I know I was really lucky," Paris say now. "Most people don't survive this. My team saved my life"
Experts say Paris is right For a sudden heart failure, the single best chance for survival is having someone nearby step in and do CPR quickly.
Today, Paris is back on the softball team. Taylor will apply to college soon. She wants to be a nurse. "I feel more confident in my actions now," Taylor says."I know I can act under pressure in a scary situation."
56.What happened to Paris on a March day?
| A． |
She caught a bad cold. |
| B． |
She had a sudden heart problem. |
| C． |
She was knocked down by a ball. |
| D． |
She shivered terribly during practice |
57.Why does Paris say she was lucky?
| A． |
She made a worthy friend. |
| B． |
She recovered from shock. |
| C． |
She received immediate CPR. |
| D． |
She came back on the softball team. |
58.Which of the following words can best describe Taylor?
| A． |
Enthusiastic and kind. |
| B． |
Courageous and calm. |
| C． |
Cooperative and generous. |
| D． |
Ambitious and professional. |
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