The technology is great. Without it we wouldn’t have been able to put a man on the moon, explore the ocean’s depths or eat microwave sausages. Computers have revolutionized our lives and they have the power to educate and pass on knowledge. But sometimes this power can create more problems than it solves.
Every doctor has had to try their best to calm down patients who’ve come into their surgery waving an Internet print-out, convinced that they have some rare incurable disease, say, throat cancer. The truth is usually far more ordinary, though: they don’t have throat cancer, and it’s just that their throats are swollen. Being a graduate of the Internet “school” of medicine does not guarantee accurate self-health-checks.
One day Mrs. Almond came to my hospital after feeling faint at work. While I took her blood sample and tried to find out what was wrong, she said calmly, “I know what’s wrong; I’ve got throat cancer. I know there’s nothing you doctors can do about it and I’ve just got to wait until the day comes.”
As a matter of routine I ordered a chest X-ray. I looked at it and the blood results an hour later. Something wasn’t right. “Did your local doctor do an X-ray?” I asked. “Oh, I haven’t been to the doctor for years,” she replied. “I read about it on a website and the symptoms fitted, so I knew that’s what I had.”
However, some of her symptoms, like the severe cough and weight loss, didn’t fit with it—but she’d just ignored this.
I looked at the X-ray again, and more tests confirmed it wasn’t the cancer but tuberculosis (肺结核)—something that most certainly did need treating, and could be deadly. She was lucky we caught it when we did.
Mrs. Almond went pale when I explained she would have to be on treatment for the next six months to ensure that she was fully recovered. It was certainly a lesson for her. “I’m so embarrassed,” she said, shaking her head, as I explained that all the people she had come into close contact with would have to be found out and tested. She listed up to about 20, and then I went to my office to type up my notes. Unexpectedly, the computer was not working, so I had to wait until someone from the IT department came to fix it. Typical. Maybe I should have a microwave sausage while I waited?Mrs. Almond talked about her illness calmly because ______.
| A．she had purchased medicine online |
| B．she thought she knew it well |
| C．she graduated from a medical school |
| D．she had been treated by local doctors |
It was lucky for Mrs. Almond ______.
| A．to have contacted many friends |
| B．to have recovered in a short time |
| C．to have her disease identified in time |
| D．to have her assumption confirmed |
Mrs. Almond said “I’m so embarrassed” (Para. 7) because ______.
| A．she had caused unnecessary trouble |
| B．she had to refuse the doctor’s advice |
| C．she had distrusted her close friends |
| D．she had to tell the truth to the doctor |
By mentioning the breakdown of the computer, the author probably wants to prove _____.
| A．it’s a must to take a break at work |
| B．it’s unwise to simply rely on technology |
| C．it’s vital to believe in IT professionals |
| D．it’s a danger to work long hours on computers |
Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every aspect of our life, educated people need at least some idea of its structure and operation. They should also have an understanding of the subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific concepts is easier to obtain if one knows something about the things that excite and frustrate the scientist.
This book is written for the intelligent student or lay (外行) person whose knowledge of science is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty storehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as the production of small devices; and for the person who views the scientists as some sort of magician.
The book can be used to supplement a course in any science, to accompany any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or independently of any course, simply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lead readers to a broader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scientists are, and what they do.
It will give them an awareness and understanding of the relationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in our culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scientific views and some of the values and philosophies that are widespread in our culture.
We have tried to present in this book an accurate and up-to-date picture of the scientific community and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come to consist of more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture is not an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all parts of society as more women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make significant contributions.
In discussing these changes and contribution, however, we are faced with a language that is somewhat sexist, one that uses male nouns or pronouns in referring to unspecified individuals. To balance this built-in bias (倾向), we have adopted the policy of using plural nouns and pronouns whenever possible and , when absolutely necessary, alternating him and her.
This policy is far from being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgement of the inadequacy of our language in treating half of the human race equally.
We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our approach is usually informal. We feel, as many other scientists do, that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a grim and dreary way to earn a living.According to the passage, ‘scientific subculture’ means __________.
| A．cultural groups that are formed by scientists. |
| B．people whose knowledge of science is very limited |
| C．the scientific community |
| D．people who make good contribution to science |
We need to know something about the structure and operation of science because_______.
| A．it is not easy to understand the things that excite and frustrate scientists. |
| B．science affects almost every aspect of our life. |
| C．scientists live in a specific subculture. |
| D．it is easier to understand general characteristics of science. |
The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who __________.
| A．are intelligent college students and lay person who do not know much about science. |
| B．are good at producing various devices |
| C．work in a storehouse of dried facts |
| D．want to have a superficial understanding of science. |
According to this passage, ______________.
| A．English is a language full of sexual discrimination. |
| B．only in the scientific world is the role of women increasing rapidly. |
| C．women are making significant contributions to eliminating the inadequacy of our language. |
| D．male nouns or pronouns should not be used to refer to scientists. |
From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized (被免疫) from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is almost certain hat one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of men, women and children on the roads. Man versus the motorcar! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motorcar often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-years-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.
The surprising thing is that society smiles so kindly on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated (滥用) by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.
It is high time a world code were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which was universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so, the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can weaken a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and drinking laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be enforced on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for manufacturers. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound extremely harsh. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual loss of human life. After all, the world is for human being, not motorcars.The main idea of this passage is that __________ .
| A．traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists. |
| B．thousands of people the world over are killed each year. |
| C．the laws of some countries about driving are too lax. |
| D．only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents. |
What does the author think of society toward motorists?
| A．Society smiles on motorists. |
| B．Huge car parks are built in cities and towns. |
| C．Victims of accidents are nothing. |
| D．Society forgives their rude driving. |
Why does the author say, ‘His car becomes the extension of his personality’.
| A．Driving can show his real self. |
| B．Driving can show the positive part of his personality. |
| C．Driving can bring out his character. |
| D．His can show his temper. |
The attitude of the author is _________.
| A．ironical | B．critical |
| C．appealing | D．aggressive |
The heat was intense as we moved down the long corridor. Not only was it a difficult blaze， but the July heat made things even worse as we struggled to get the best of the flames. As we finally made the turn into the apartment where the fire had started, the words of the young mother outside screamed in my brain, ‘Please help! My baby is in there!’
We moved into the bedroom and I started looking in the usual spots where a child might seek refuge: under the bed, in the corners. As I groped my way through the thick smoke, I suddenly fell forward, tripping over something on the floor. It was the child. Ripping off my mask to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, I grabbed the child and raced for the stairs. When we reached the waiting Rescue Squad members, I collapsed in a heap in the gutter. The ambulance sped off into the night, its siren wailing. Later that evening, we received word that the child had died in the hospital’s emergency room. Another small life lost in the city.
Why do little children such as that one have to pay the price for the neglect of others? During my career as a fire fighter, I have seen this happen many times. You would think that we would become hard and callous, but we don’t. We mourn each person who dies. What bothers me is that many senseless tragedies could have been prevented. An overwhelming number of deaths in fires can be prevented by just one thing – a smoke detector. It is estimated that fewer than 50 percent of all dwellings in the United States are protected by smoke detectors. Why are so many people ignorant about the need for smoke detectors? Smoke detectors save lives. They are easy to install. Their cost is reasonable, and they offer immediate protection.
People must persuade their communities to provide fire education for everyone. The money spent on fire education reaps a reward that cannot be measured. If you do not think so, then consider your reactions if the child I carried out of that flaming apartment had been a member of your own family. You would probably then be willing to do anything at all to undo that tragedy.The author’s main purpose in the passage is to __________.
| A．advertise a new brand of smoke detector. |
| B．persuade readers to become fire fighters. |
| C．plead for donations from the public. |
| D．encourage fire safety measures. |
In the Section About carrying the child from the building, the author is describing
_________.
| A．a scene the author saw in a movie |
| B．a tragedy in a fire fighter’s family |
| C．a personal experience |
| D．a training course in fire education |
According to this reading, which of the following opinions will the author most
agree with?
| A．People have received enough fire education provided by their communities. |
| B．Many deaths in Fires could have been prevented. |
| C．The fires in apartments are always caused by smoking. |
| D．Fire Fighters don’t have sympathy for those who die in fires. |
The author blames the lack of smoke detectors in households on the reason that________.
| A．smoke detectors are too expensive |
| B．smoke detectors often cannot work properly |
| C．smoke detectors are difficult to install |
| D．people are ignorant about the need for smoke detectors. |
You will spend hours at the gym training your body, but do you ever think about training your brain? Here are four ways to keep your brain mentally (脑力上地) active and healthy.
Play games
Your brain is a muscle just like the ones in the rest of your body. If you don’t use it, you will lose it. For example, doing a crossword puzzle (纵横填字游戏) once a day is a good way to give the brain the exercise it needs. This kind of puzzle is good at training different areas of the brain. But remember that when doing this puzzle, you should gradually increase the complexity (复杂度); otherwise, it will become repetitive (重复乏味的) and stop being mentally challenging.
Talk aloud
Although it might sound strange to you, talking aloud is a great way to boost your memory. A good exercise to try is counting to 99 in threes as fast as you can.
Be a team leader
If you find you can do your work very easily, you should find a new task. It is important that your job should be mentally challenging. Complex jobs are often more challenging and make the brain work a little harder.
Learn a language
A study found that, compared with those who could speak only one language, the people who could speak two languages had a slower rate of cognitive (认知能力) decrease. Learning a new language is very challenging and it makes sure that different areas of the brain have their lights on.What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．Why you should train your brain. |
| B．How to be a good team leader. |
| C．Training the brain is more important than training the body. |
| D．How to make your brain healthy and work actively. |
Which word can replace the word "boost" in the third paragraph?
| A．Change. | B．Promote. |
| C．Decrease. | D．Lose. |
We should gradually increase the complexity when doing crossword puzzles because ______.
| A．if we don’t use our brain, we will lose it |
| B．we should make our brain face different challenges |
| C．our brain is a muscle like other parts in our bodies |
| D．these puzzles can work on different areas of the brain. |
UFO stands for "unidentified flying object"(不明飞行物). Many people reported having seen UFOs in the sky. A lot of countries tried to research them and in 1952 they got the name of UFO.
There were several reports published in the 19th century which were related (相关的) to UFOs. Denison Daily News in its report of 25th January, 1878 wrote that a farmer, Martin, saw a flying object in the sky and it was just like a plate. This was the first time that the word plate had been related to the UFOs.
The first reports on UFOs came during World War II. In 1947 pilot Kenneth Arnold said while he was flying near the Mount Rainer he saw a very bright object in the sky. He said that it was like a plate too. The information given by Kenneth got lots of attention from the media and people.
Several research organizations gave their reports on the UFOs. They showed direct or indirect physical evidence of the UFOs, and sometimes UFOs’appearance was found on the radar (雷达) screen. Many people tried to take video tapes or photos of the UFOs as proof. Most UFOs are in saucer shape while many UFOs are like a cigarette or a half ball.
Many films and TV shows are made about UFOs. There are two famous movies which are created on the theme of UFOs and aliens, War of the Worldand Star Wars. UFOs have created a new field in science which is known as Ufology (飞碟学).Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．People named the flying object UFO in the 19th century. |
| B．The UFOs Martin and Kenneth Arnold saw were in different shapes. |
| C．Kenneth Arnold was given little attention for his discovering UFO. |
| D．Martin was the first person that described the flying object as a plate. |
What does the underlined word "proof" in the fourth paragraph mean?
| A．Research. | B．Evidence. |
| C．Appearance. | D．Mystery. |
From the passage, we can infer ______.
| A．most UFOs’shapes are changeable |
| B．the danger of UFOs attracted the media’s attention |
| C．the radar helps people get UFO evidence |
| D．Ufology was developed a hundred years ago |
The next paragraph following the passage might talk about ________.
| A．different UFOs’shapes |
| B．famous movies on the UFOs |
| C．the new science —Ufology |
| D．the effect of UFOs on humans |
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