My husband Ollie had retired from teaching and we were making plans to travel together to Florida. Then he was terribly ill and became very weak, hardly able to speak. Weeks passed and it became clear that Ollie was near death, but I prayed day and night that he could get better.
One of us was always in Ollie's hospital room--either me, or our grown children, Bruce and Karen. One day, in his broken and weak speech, Ollie told Bruce, “Go home. You should be with Gwen.” Gwen was Bruce's wife. They had been married for six years and lived hundreds of miles away. Gwen was about to have a baby. We felt an extra sadness, knowing Ollie would never see his first grandchild.
“I don't want to leave you, dad, ” Bruce said. Ollie repeated, “You should be with Gwen. ” Reluctantly, Bruce left. “When the baby comes, ”he promised Ollie, “you will be the first to know. ” A few days later, around 2 p. m., Ollie awoke from a sleep. He turned and looked at me. I sat close to hear his weak words. “The baby is coming now. It's a boy, ” he said. For a moment his eyes were filled with tears. Then he went back to sleep again. Not long after that, Karen ran into the room. “Bruce called, ” she said, a smile lighting her face. “Gwen gave birth to a healthy baby boy around two o' clock. ”
Ollie smiled; he had been the first to know. That night, Ollie died in his sleep.
| A．he could hardly be able to speak |
| B．he was too weak to travel |
| C．he could not afford the trip |
| D．he was waiting for his grandchild to be born |
| A．Ollie didn't want his son to be absent when his baby was born. |
| B．Ollie wanted Bruce to bring the baby along as soon as it was born. |
| C．Ollie thought it was too much trouble for Bruce to stay at hospital. |
| D．Ollie couldn't bear his son seeing him dying with a broken heart. |
| A．Disappointedly | B．Immediately |
| C．Excitedly | D．Unwillingly |
| A．Ollie and his wife had planned to settle in Florida. |
| B．Ollie cared for his son more than his daughter. |
| C．Ollie died happy and in peace. |
| D．Ollie was sad about not being able to see his first grandchild. |
Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Florida
People say that it is the home of the “Harry Potter Theme Park”. The Wizarding World is the most popular part of the park. Other popular rides include the Adventures of Spider-Man, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and the Jurassic Park River Adventure.
It is open from Monday to Saturday. $15.95 for children, 3 to 13 years old; $29.95 for ages 14 and over.
PI-O Indoor Theme Park in Longueuil
The PI-O Indoor Theme Park features(以……为特色) 16 rides, a small sea train, a kid-sized bowling alley(保龄球场), a mirror maze(迷宫), theme rooms which include the Christmas room on-the-sea, and a private reception room.
“I wanted to create a safe environment for kids aged 1 to 10,” explains owner Jocelyne Pinard. She noted how many competing amusement parks have sections that can be unsafe for young kids — such as the “ball rooms” full of loose plastic balls. So this is how it is different from other amusement parks.
Open seven days a week. The admission fees are $16.99 for individuals(个人) and $64 for families.
Legoland Windsor Theme Park in London
Legoland Windsor is the best choice for young families. The park is designed for children from 3 to 12. There are over 50 rides as well as live shows, workshops, and other attractions aimed at younger children, and especially those who are already fond of building-block(积木) toys.
The park is open every single day. Adults: $35; Ages 3-15 and 60+: $26. Buy online and save $3 per person.
Wonder La Theme Park in India
Wonder La is a world-class amusement park. It’s modern, clean and green, and has all kinds of attractions. There are over 50 rides, 12 of which are water based and 9 especially for small children. If you love getting wet, don’t miss the Rain Disco — an indoor dance floor with a rain system that provides showers of warm water to the music.
Monday to Friday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Holiday and Festival seasons 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single adult / child — $13.50; Family ticket (for any four people) — $50.00; Children 3 and under — Free.If Jim is free this Sunday, he can choose to visit the following parks EXCEPT________.
| A．Islands of Adventure | B．PI-O |
| C．Legoland Windsor | D．Wonder La |
How is PI-O Indoor Theme Park mainly different from other parks?
| A．It is much safer. | B．It features more rides. |
| C．It is much cheaper. | D．It offers more activities. |
If a couple want to visit Legoland Windsor Theme Park with their 5-year-old son, how much do they need to pay when booking online?
| A．$70. | B．$87. | C．$93. | D．$96. |
Which of the following about Wonder La Theme Park is NOT true?
| A．It is located in India. |
| B．It is free for children of 3 and under. |
| C．There are nine rides especially for small children. |
| D．The Rain Disco lets children enjoy cool showers while dancing. |
Where is the passage most probably taken?
| A．A science magazine. | B．A text book. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A local newspaper. |
Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of imagination, ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about ________.
| A．a strange man |
| B．an unusual party |
| C．how roller skating began |
| D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he ________.
| A．often gave others surprises | B．was a gifted musician |
| C．invented the roller skates | D．was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________.
| A．impress the party guests | B．arrive at the party sooner |
| C．test his invention | D．show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point that the writer tries to convey(表达) in the last paragraph?
| A．The roller skates was dangerous and harmful. |
| B．The party guests thought Merlin was a fool. |
| C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
| D．Merlin should never do that again. |
I got your letter and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again in Tennessee, promising to do better for me than anybody else can.
Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again and see Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this.
I want to know particularly what the good chance is you propose to give me. I am doing tolerably well here in Ohio. I get twenty-five dollars a month, with food and clothing; have a comfortable home for Mandy, the folks call her Mrs. Anderson; and the children—Milly, Jane, and Grundy—go to school and are learning well. The teacher says Grundy has a head for a preacher. We are kindly treated.
Now, if you will write and say what wages you will give me, I will be better able to decide whether it would be to my advantage to move back again. We have concluded to test your sincerity by asking you to send us our wages for the time we served you. This will make us forget and forgive old scores and rely on your justice and friendship in the future. I served you faithfully for thirty-two years, and Mandy twenty years. At twenty-five dollars a month for me, and two dollars a week for Mandy, our earnings would amount to eleven thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. Add to this the interest for the time our wages have been kept back, and deduct（扣除）what you paid for our clothing, and three doctor’s visits to me, and pulling a tooth for Mandy. If you fail to pay us for faithful labors in the past, we can have little faith in your promises in the future.
In answering this letter, please state if there would be any safety for my Milly and Jane, who are now grown up, and both good-looking girls. I would rather stay here and starve—and die, if it should come to that—than have my girls brought to shame by the violence and wickedness of their young Masters. You will also please state if there has been any schools opened for the colored children in your neighborhood. The great desire of my life now is to give my children an education and have them form virtuous habits.
Say howdy to George Carter, and thank him for taking the pistol from you when you were shooting at me.According to the passage, the letter was written by Jourdon to his former _______.
| A．friend | B．master | C．neighbor | D．relative |
Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage?
| A．The family name of this letter writer is Anderson. |
| B．The writer is paid the same as he was in Tennessee. |
| C．The writer will certainly get at least 11,680 dollars. |
| D．Safety rather than education weighs a lot to the writer. |
The writer’s description of his present situation implies that _______.
| A．he shows his intention of going back in Tennessee |
| B．he is somewhat richer and does not need to go back |
| C．his life is relatively good but still needs improvement |
| D．he is not a little satisfied with his present life in Ohio |
The purpose of the writer’s asking for his pay back is _______.
| A．to show he needs that amount of money urgently |
| B．to show he is determined to get what he deserved |
| C．to test whether the letter receiver is worthy of trust |
| D．to tell the letter receiver he still has faith in him |
From the passage, we can see the writer is very _______.
| A．wise | B．stupid | C．greedy | D．generous |
A new report said scientists may not be far from giving apes the ability to think and talk like humans. The report is about experiments which transplant human cells into animals for medical purposes.
It claimed that concerns about the creation of talking apes should be taken seriously. It should also draw people’s attention to the possibility that the medical research about creating “humanised” animals is going to generate monsters.
A regulatory（监管的）body is needed to closely monitor any experiments that many risk creating animals with human-like consciousness or giving them any appearance or behavioural traits that too closely resemble humans, the report said.
Scientists would, for example, be prevented from replacing a large number of an ape’s brain cells with human brain cells until more is known about the potential risks. This has already been done in simpler animals like mice, which is judged to be less risky.
Under the new UK guidelines, the power to regulate tests on animals containing human material would be transferred to a body with wider responsibility for animal testing in the Home Office.
While there is no risk from experiments currently being carried out in Britain, it is possible that ethical (道德的) boundaries could be crossed within the next few years if scientists are not careful, the experts said.
Professor Thomas Baldwin, a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences working group that produced the report, said the possibility of humanised apes should be taken seriously.
He said, “The fear is that if you start putting very large numbers of human brain cells into the brains of primates（灵长类动物）you might transform the primates into something that has some of the abilities that we regard as distinctly human, such as speech, or other ways of being able to manipulate or relate to us.”
Professor Martin Bobrow, chair of the academy working group that produced the report, said, “The very great majority of experiments present no issues beyond the general use of animals in research and these should continue to proceed under the current regulations.”
Lord Willis, chair of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said, “AMRC only supports research that is absolutely necessary and where no suitable alternative methods are available.”What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Ethical rules to limit humanised animals. |
| B．The potential results of humanised apes. |
| C．The possibility of humanised animals. |
| D．The danger of human-like animals. |
The underlined word “manipulate” in the passage probably means “_______”.
| A．appeal | B．possess | C．control | D．associate |
Which of the following statements might Professor Thomas Baldwin agree with?
| A．It is necessary to do some experiments about humanised animals. |
| B．Experiments about humanised animals should be done within the law. |
| C．It would be dangerous to do experiments about humanised animals. |
| D．It is urgent to ban experiment about humanised animals. |
It can be inferred that _______.
| A．people should be careful when creating talking apes |
| B．Thomas Baldwin and Lord Willis are from the same organization |
| C．creating humanised animals is difficult in Britain now |
| D．scientists must be cautious not to cross ethical boundaries |
Researchers at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology say they have found further proof that the wolf ancestors of today’s dogs can be from southern East Asia -- findings that are contrary to theories placing the birth place in the Middle East. Dr Peter Savolainen, KTH researcher in evolutionary genetics, says a new study released Nov. 23 confirms that an Asian region south of the Yangtze River was the principal and probably the only region where wolves were domesticated（驯化）by humans.
Research data show clearly that dogs are descended from wolves, but there’s never been scientific agreement on where in the world the domestication process began. “Our analysis of Y-chromosomal（染色体）DNA now confirms that wolves were first domesticated in Asia south of Yangtze River -- we call it the ASY region -- in southern China or Southeast Asia,” Savolainen says.
The Y data supports previous evidence from mitochondrial（线粒体）DNA. “Taken together, the two studies provide very strong evidence that dogs appeared first in the ASY region,” Savolainen says.
Archaeological data and a genetic study recently published in Nature suggest that dogs originate from the Middle East. But Savolainen rejects that view. “Because none of these studies included samples from the ASY region, evidence from ASY has been overlooked,” he says.
Peter Savolainen and PhD student Mattias Oskarsson worked with Chinese colleagues to analyse DNA from male dogs around the world. Their study was published in the scientific journal Heredity.
Approximately half of the gene pool was universally shared everywhere in the world, while only the ASY region had the entire range of genetic diversity. “This shows that gene pools in all other regions of the world most probably originate from the ASY region,” Savolainen says.
“Our results confirm that Asia south of the Yangtze River was the most important -- and probably the only -- region for wolf domestication, and that a large number of wolves were domesticated,” says Savolainen.
In separate research published recently in Ecology and Evolution, Savolainen, PhD student Arman Ardalan and Iranian and Turkish scientists conducted a comprehensive study of mitochondrial DNA, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Because mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother in most species, it is especially useful in studying evolutionary relationships.
“Since other studies have indicated that wolves were domesticated in the Middle East, we wanted to be sure nothing had been missed. We find no signs whatsoever that dogs originated there,” says Savolainen.
In their studies, the researchers also found minor genetic contributions from crossbreeding between dogs and wolves in other geographic regions, including the Middle East.
“This subsequent dog/wolf hybridisation（混合淡化技术）contributed only modestly to the dog gene pool,” Savolainen explains.What does Dr. Peter Savolainen believe?
A. Dogs’ ancestors came from the Middle East.
B. Wolves were probably first trained to work for humans in the ASY region.
C. Analysis of Y-chromosomal DNA should be combined with mitochondrial DNA.
D. Samples of the previous studies are enough to support the conclusion.We can learn from the passage that _______.
| A．there is a universal agreement on the place of first domestication |
| B．data from ASY may highlight where dogs came from |
| C．Dr. Savolainen’s research mainly focuses on the Middle East |
| D．the dog/wolf hybridization makes up most of the dog gene pool |
What is special about mitochondrial DNA?
| A．It is only used in studying evolutionary relationships. |
| B．It alone can provide hard evidence for Savolainen’s research. |
| C．It is the most useful in finding out the birth place of dogs. |
| D．It comes from the mother of most animals and plants. |
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