What will power your house in the future？Nuclear, wind or solar power？According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves — but artificial (人造的) ones.
Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.
The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化剂). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell，which uses those two materials to produce electricity，located either on top of a house or beside the house.
Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.
The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.
The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful, new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have access to pure water.
With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”，scientists believe that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries，especially in India and rural China.Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?
a. artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen
b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell
c. the artificial leaves are put in water
d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity
| A．c, a, b, d | B． c, b, a, d |
| C．b, c, a, d | D． c, a, d, b |
The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to ________.
| A．build up more power stations in the world |
| B．provide cheaper energy for developing countries |
| C．offer people in developing countries access to pure water |
| D．gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process |
The main idea of this passage is ________.
| A．an introduction to the history of artificial leaves |
| B．a mixture of water power and solar energy |
| C．giving energy to the poor |
| D．an invention copying photosynthesis |
Why Melbourne? Having long lived in the shadow of Sydney, Melbourne has become a mecca(理想之地) for fashion and design and the cultural centre of Australia, with an enjoyable programme fo festivals.
______ The city centre’s grid（格子）system of streets conceals a maze of lanes and turn-of-the-century arcades where you will find the best cafes, bars and boutique shopping. The Hidden Secrets Tour(00 613 9329 9665, hiddensecretstours.com) guides will make sure you find what you’re after, whether it’s fashion, art and design or wine. From ￡34 per person.
Where to eat Melbourne is a paradise for gourmands(美食者), and its top chefs use fresh produce and have a talent for the experimental. But for comething differen, indulge your culinary senses with an Australian Wine Tour Company trip. Departing from the city centre daily, you’ll taste wines at four of the region’s best vineyards. It costs ￡48 per person, including all wine tasting, lunch and a visit to Domaine Chandon(00613 9419 4444, austwinetourco.com.au).
Where to stay The Nunery is an old convent（女修道院）on the edge of the city. It has double rooms with breakfast from ￡54 per night (00 613 9419 8637, nunnery.com.au).
How to get there Qantas (0846 7747 767. qantas.com.au) flies from Heathrow to Melbourne twice daily from ￡766 return, including taxes.
More information Contact the official tourism site for Melbourne at visitmelbourne.com/uk.
Use the links below for more on.
Destination guide: Melbourne.
Click here for our Melbourne page.
48 hours in Melbourne.
1.Which of the following can be a subtitle (副标题) for the second paragraph?
A.When to come. B.How to book. C.What to see. D.What price to pay.
2.To get more information about Hidden Secrets Tour, you should call ______.
A.00 613 9329 9665 B.00 613 9419 4444
C.00 613 9419 8637 D.0845 7747 767
3.If you are interested in tasting Australian wines, you have to pay .
A.￡34 B.￡48 C.￡54 D.￡766
4.The passage is written to ______.
A.tell readers how to travel in Australia
B.inform readers about what to see in Melbourne
C.introduce the history and culture about Australia
D.offer tourists some information about Melbourne
“She was born for the camera,” said a photographer who shot Liu Yifei’s picture when she was only eight.
Over the past year, Liu, an 18-year-old Chinese American, has shot to fame while playing Wang Yuyan in Jin Yong’s Eightfold Path of the Heavenly Dragon(《天龙八部》). Millions of teenagers have been drawn in by her light smile and beautiful long hair. Many magzines have described her as one of the most charming young actresses of 2004. People say that Liu will be even bigger this year.
“ She is so beautiful on TV. She has the special character to give flesh and blood to the fairy-like and beautiful Wang Yuyan,” said Yang Mingwei, a Senior 2 boy and Liu’s fan from Wuyi High School in Fujian.
Currently Liu filmed the TV series The return of the Condor Heroes(《神雕侠侣》), another Jin Yong novel. In the show aired this year, Liu played the Little Dragon female.
Liu is now a grade three student at the Beijing Film Academy, the star factory of China. But some people say that her success is only down to her beauty. When she returned to China with her mother at the age of 14, she did original work as a model. It was when a director saw her picture on an advertisement board on the street that her opportunity to work in TV arose.
“A pretty face does not last forever. To be a good actress you must work hard and have a professional attitude,” Liu said. Every day she spends hours practising all the kungfu kicks and punches for the show.
“There have been times during filming when I have remained hanging in the air on wires for half a day as the director keeps trying to get the perfect take,” said Liu recenly.
1.In the first paragraph, the photographer commented on Liu’s .
A.beauty B.talent as an actress
C.promising future D.special character
2.What does the underlined word “aired” probably mean?
A.Flown. B.Broadcast. C.Published. D.Recorded.
3.From Yang Mingwei, we learned that he meant Liu Yifei ______.
A.worked hard when playing Wang Yuyan
B.is more beautiful than Wang Yuyan
C.did a good job in the playing Wang Yuyan
D.was very lucky to play Wang Yuyan
4.In which part of a newspaper can you read the above passage?
A.National news. B.Business. C.Advertisement. D.Famous people.
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。
The 2009 outbreak of HINI is a new kind of influenza virus, commonly referred to as “swine flu”. It is thought to be a break of four known kinds of influenza. A virus subtype H1N1: one endedmic(流行病) in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in pigs (swine). The source of the outbreak in humans is still unknown, but cases were first discovered in the U.S. and soon after in Mexico.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)，it is not yet clear how serious this new virus actually is compared with other influenza viruses, although on May 26 they stated that new cases in the U.S. have probably reached the hightest point, and most cases have so far been mild relative to “seasonal flus”. But because this is a new virus, most people will not have immunity(免疫性) to it, and illness may eventually become more severe and widspread. The H1N1 flu mainly spreads in the same way that regular “seasonal influenza” spreads through the air from coughs and sneezes or touching those infected. It cannot be transmitted from eating cooked pork or by being in close contact with pigs.
As yet there is no vaccine(疫苗) available to prevent infection although companies are in the planning stages for having one available later this year. But there is concern that the virus could vary again over the coming months, leading to a new and potentially more dangerous flu outbreak later in the year, and a vaccine that will be less effective in preventing its spread.
As of May 27, the virus had spread to more than 50 countries; however, over 80% of reported deaths have taken place in Mexico. According to the CDC, the fact that the flu’s infection activity is now monitored more closely may help explain why more flu cases than normal are being recorded in Mexico, the United States and other countries.
1. The 2009 outbreak of H1N1 is thought to .
A.be concerned with four endmics
B.have come from the virus from pigs
C.occur because of unknown virus in Mexico
D.be caused because of people without immunity
2.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ______.
A.most people won’t be infected with the flu
B.the H1N1 will not be too mild to cause many deaths in the world
C.the present situation allows of no optimist
D.H1N1 can be transmitted by touching pigs
3.To make people worried more is that .
A.no effective vaccine can prevent the virus from spreading
B.the virus will mutate in the following months
C.a seasonal influenza will break out
D.the newly-developed vaccine will lose effectiveness
4.From the passage we can learn that .
A.every country is watching closely the spreading of the H1N1
B.more than one-fourth of the deaths from the H1N1 are in Mexico
C.only the United States and Mexico recorded the cased of influenza
D.effective medicine has been produced to cure the H1N1
Win a trip to the OREGON COAST-Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean. Build the biggest sand castle on the beach. Search tide pools for sea life. Watch the bright orange sunset over the ocean. Whether you’ve been to the Pacific Ocean before or have only closed your eyes and imagined it, we want to know how you would explore the Oregon Coast if you had the chance to go this summer.
JUDGING
1. Clear relationship between the Essay and the Drawing 40%
2. Creativity and skill in design and form of the Drawing 40%
3. Expression of the passion to draw and explore 10%
4. Journalistic quality, tidy nature and overall quality of the Essay 10%
PRIZE
By entering, you will have the chance to win an all expense paid trip to the ORECON COAST. Activities will include: kite flying, studying beautiful sea creatures, searching for sea life in a boat, science exploration at a science center and roasting over a beach campfire.
Who may enter: The competition is 0pen to kids aged 6 - 14.
TERM : Entries(参赛作品) must be postmarked no later than July 31 ,2009.
How to enter
Surf travelogue. com/kids to download and print out an entry form.
Be sure to mark whether you have or have not been to the Pacific Ocean in山e form. Create a drawing of the Pacific Ocean on a piece of paper using a pen or paints.
Write an article of 100 words or less to explain why you want to go, what you think you would see and what you would explore if you have never been to the Pacific Ocean, or describe your favorite memories from your last visit.
Send to Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean. NG1145 14th street NW. Washington D. C. 20036
1. What is the most important for the judging?
A. Whether your article is written in a neat way.
B. The article and the drawing should be closely related.
C.Whether you show your passion to draw and explore
D. The skill in your drawing the map of the AtlanticOcean.
2. If you win the competition, you may____
A. search the beach for sea plants
B. fly a kite on the beach
C. roast the sea creatures over a beach campfire
D. win an all expense paid trip to Washington D. C.
3. What information can you get from the passage?
A. Your article should be 8t least 100 words.
B. Every kid can rake part in the competition.
C. You must send the drawing before June 31, 2009.
D. Your entry form should be downloaded and printed out.
4. You can most probably read the passage in ________.
A．a textbook B．a travel guide C．a newspaper D．a research book
People have been painting pictures for at least 30,000 years. The earliest pictures were painted by people who hunted animals.They used to paint pictures of the animals they wanted to catch and kill.Pictures of this kind have been found on the walls of caves in France and Spain.No one knows why they were painted there.Perhaps the painters thought that their pictures would help them to catch these animals.Or perhaps human beings have always wanted to tell stories in pictures.
About 5,000 years ago,the Egyptians and other people in the Near East began to use pictures as kind of writing. They drew simple pictures or signs to represent things and ideas, and also to represrnt the sounds of their language. The signs these people used became a kind of alphabet.
Th
e Egyptians used to record information and to tell stories by putting picture-writing and pictures together. When an important person died ,scenes and stories from his life were painted and carved on the walls of the place where he was buried. Some of these pictures are like modern comic strip stories.It has been said that Egypt is the home of the comic strip .But , for the Egyptians, pictures still had magic power. So they did not try to make their way of writing simple.The ordinary people could not understand it.
By the year 1,000 BC,people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea had developed a simpler system of writing . The signs they used were very easy to write, and there were fewer of them than in the Egyptian system . This was because each sign , or letter, represented only one sound in their language.The Greeks developed this system and formed the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Romans copied the idea, and the Roman alphabet is now used all over the world.
These days ,we can write down a story ,or record information, without using pictures.But we still need pictures of all kinds: drawing , photographs, signs and diagrams. We find them everywhere: in books and newspapers, in the street, and on the walls of the places where we live and work. Pictures help us to understand and remember things more easily ,and they can make a story much more interesting.
1.Pictures of animals were painted on the walls of caves in France and Spain because_________.
A. the hunters wanted to see the pictures
B. the painters were animal lovers
C. the painters wanted to show imagination
D. the pictures were thought to be helpful
2. The Greek alphabed was simpler than the Egyptian system for all the following reasons EXCEPT that__________.
A. the former was easy to write
B. there were fewer signs in the former
C. the former was easy to pronounce
D.each sign stood for only one sound
3. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The Egyptian signs later became a particular alphabet.
B. The Egyptians liked to write comic-strip stories.
C. The Roman alphabet was developed from the Egyptian one.
D. The Greeks copied their writing system from the Egyptians.
4. In the last paragraph, the author thinks that pictures_______.
A. should be made comprehensible.
B. should be made interesting.
C. are of much use in our life.
D. have disappeared from our life.
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