I log onto a computer at the doctor's office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice calls me into the examination room.
There, a robotic nurse directs me onto a device and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the doctor, who is also a robot. He notes down my symptoms and gives me a prescription (处方). I pay for my visit using a credit card machine and return home without having met another human being.
When I call my dentist's office and actually get a human being on the line, I am thrilled. And when I see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like shouting, "When it comes to cashiers, make mine human, please!"
After all, human cashiers sometimes give you a store coupon (优惠券) for items you are buying. Even more than that, real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can brighten a young mother's day. A cashier may also show compassion (同情)for an elderly person struggling to get that last penny out of her purse.
What technological device would do any of this? I don't want to go back to the Stone Age, but I'm also worried about a world run by machines. Sometimes when you're chatting with someone, you discover things you need to know. Maybe a receptionist needs prayers said for a sick child. Maybe a salesperson can offer a bit of encouragement to a customer who is feeling tired.
Machines can be efficient and cost-effective and they often get the job done just fine. But they lack an element so important to everyday life.
Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is something no machine will ever have. It is being human that prompts us to smile at others, which may be what they need at that moment.What's the author's purpose in writing the first two paragraphs?
| A．To indicate high technology can make our future life very easy. |
| B．To describe a possible future scene where robots take control of our life. |
| C．To warn readers of the possible dangers of robotic nurses and doctors. |
| D．To predict how technology can affect the way we see a doctoring the future. |
Why does the author prefer being served by humans rather than by robots?
| A．Robots are indifferent and emotionless. |
| B．Robots can't provide efficient services. |
| C．Robots don't offer to give store coupons. |
| D．Robots are unable to do a job as well as humans. |
What's the author's attitude towards machines?
| A．He wishes one day they would come to life. |
| B．He is absolutely against their existence in his life. |
| C．He doesn't like they get involved in his life too much. |
| D．He is afraid they would take the place of human beings. |
A new study of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily, it is a bad thing for young people. Puppy love(早恋) may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression(忧郁症). The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys, and younger girls are the worst of all.
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “loss of self". According to the study, even though boys would say "lose themselves in a romantic relationship", this "loss of self" is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls. Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions. They won’t tell that to their parents.
Dr Marianm Kaufman, an expert on young people problems, says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing. Trying romance often causes the depression. She advises kids not to jump into romance too early. During growing up, it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self. She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends, attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family.
Parents should watch for signs of depression--eating or mood changes--and if they see signs from their daughters or sons, they need to give help. The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age. Love will always make us feel young, but only maturity(成熟) gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects.What's the main idea of the passage?
| A．Puppy love may bring young people depression. |
| B．Parents should forbid their children's love. |
| C．Romance is a two-edged sword for adults. |
| D．Romance is good for young people. |
Which of the following is more likely to have depression?
| A．Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness. |
| B．Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior. |
| C．Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions. |
| D．Careless parents whose children are deep in love. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly. |
| B．Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents. |
| C．Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression. |
| D．The older a woman is, the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance. |
What's the author's attitude towards puppy love?
| A．Confused. | B．Disapproving. |
| C．Disinterested. | D．Scared. |
Moral science is taught as a subject in most schools but with little effect. Perhaps part of the problem lies in the fact that morality is not a science, strictly speaking. It is too much of a social phenomenon, and also has too much of the personal and subjective things mixed within. Besides, morality itself changes with generations. So it is impossible to be defined in a textbook.
I remember sitting through forty minutes of moral lessons, which told stories about little children who never told lies and were rewarded for their goodness. It had little effect and left no impression on me, though.
If moral science has to be taught as a subject in schools, it needs a participatory (参与其中的 ) approach. When you tell a child about morals, you also have to deal with social norms(规范) and cultural differences. You have to explain that morality can be subjective, and be able to co-exist in society. You will probably have to refer to the morals of the present time.
The best way to tell a child how to live is to show him what is valued. If a child likes his friend, you have to make the child think about why. Once the child notices and recognizes goodness in others, he or she is likely to develop it as well.
In fact, children learn most of their morals by watching people around them. They absorb behavior patterns from teachers and older students. They watch to see what is rewarded and who is punished. They learn on the sports field and through social work. Moral science lessons should simply consist of letting them live and interact, and watch you support correct values and reward good behavior.Which is NOT the reason that moral science is taught in schools but with little effect?
| A．Morality doesn't strictly belong to a science. |
| B．Morality is more like a social phenomenon. |
| C．Morality can't be written down in textbooks. |
| D．Different generations have different moral ideas, ' |
The author describes his own experience of having moral lessons in order to .
| A．explain telling lies not moral for little children |
| B．advise people should be rewarded for their goodness |
| C．show he has no opinions about moral science |
| D．prove moral lessons in schools have little effect |
When you tell a child about morals, you should .
| A．teach him to share personal moral ideas with others |
| B．tell him about social norms and cultural differences |
| C．explain that nobody can influence his moral ideas |
| D．say that the present morals are likely to be changed |
What is the last paragraph mainly about?
| A．The influence of people's behavior on morals. |
| B．The value of teachers' setting a good example. |
| C．The best way of teaching children about morals. |
| D．The importance of rewarding good behavior. |
Do you sleep well? Some people get off to sleep as soon as the head hits the pillow, but many others are not so lucky．In fact，the lack of quality sleep has become a public health issue around the world．According to the World Association of Sleep Medicine，45 percent of the world’s population suffer from sleep problems．One in eight people don’t sleep well and are easily woken．7．6 percent sleep less than 3 hours each night．Some even can not fall asleep for several days in a row．
As a basic bodily and mental need，sleep is essential for our survival．It helps us to fight diseases，strengthen our memory, perform better in work and school and improve our quality of life．Lack of sleep is known to have a significant negative influence on health，both in the short and long term．Poor sleep has been associated with obesity, weakened immune systems and even some cancers，as well as depression and anxiety．
The World Sleep Day, held on the third Friday of March，is an annual celebration of sleep to lighten the burden of sleep problems through better prevention and management of sleep disorders．
Unhealthy lifestyle may be the first to blame for sleeplessness．More and more people use cellphones and computers in bed，with many staying up until midnight．Modern technology does make our life convenient，but abuse of it ruins our health．Environmental conditions，such as temperature，noise，light，bed comfort also play an important role in one’s ability to get proper sleep．Besides，improper evening diet，like a full or an empty stomach，coffee and alcohol all contribute to sleep problems．Of course，when it comes to causing poor sleep stress from finances，family or work should never be ignored．
However, those who suffer from sleep disorders don’t necessarily have to continue to do so—most sleep problems can be solved．What can be inferred from Paragraph 1 ？
| A．Nobody can stay awake for several days． |
| B．All people are going through sleep problems． |
| C．Sleep problems have become a worldwide concern． |
| D．The majority of the world’s population can’t sleep well． |
What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?
| A．The influences of lack of sleep． |
| B．The possible causes of poor sleep． |
| C．Poor sleep is associated with illness． |
| D．Good sleep helps us to perform better. |
What will be discussed in the paragraph that follows?
| A．The harm of sleep problems． |
| B．Activities on the World Sleep Day． |
| C．Interviews of poor sleep sufferers． |
| D．Measures against sleep problems． |
American cities are similar to other cities around the world．In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture．American cities are changing，just as American society is changing．
After World War II，the population of most large American cities decreased；however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased．In the late 1940s and early 1950s，city residents became wealthier．They had more children so they needed more space．They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes．They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区)．
Now things are changing，the children of the people who left the cities in the 1950s are now adults．Many, unlike their parents，want to live in the cities．They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest．Many young professionals are moving back into the city．They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there；or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers．
This population shift(迁移)is bringing problems as well as benefits．Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent．In the 1950s，many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs；now many of these same people do not have enough money to stay in the cities．
Only a few years ago，people thought that the older American cities were dying．Some city residents now see a bright，new future．Others see only problems and conflicts．One thing is sure：many dying cities in America are alive again．What does the author think of cities all over the world?
| A．They are dying． | B．They are hopeless． |
| C．They are similar． | D．They are different． |
Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II?
| A．Because older American cities were dying． |
| B．Because they were richer and needed more space． |
| C．Because cities contained the worst parts of society． |
| D．Because they could hardly afford to live in the city． |
According to the 4th paragraph，a great many poor people in American cities____．
| A．are faced with housing problems |
| B．are forced to move back to the suburbs |
| C．want to sell their buildings |
| D．need more money for daily expenses |
We can conclude from the text that_________________.
| A．American cities are changing for the worse |
| B．people have different views on American cities |
| C．older people prefer the city to the suburbs in America |
| D．the population is decreasing in older American cities |
Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers．But last summer，Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son：suddenly he seemed to be talking more to his friends than to his parents．“The door to his room is always shut，”Joanna noted．
Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter．“She used to cuddle up(蜷伏)with me on the sofa and talk，”said Mark．“Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something．Sometimes she wants to be treated like a 1ittle girl and sometimes like a young lady．The problem is figuring out which time is which．”
Before age 11，children like to tell their parents what’s on their minds．“In fact，parents are first on the list，”said Michael Riera，author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers．“This completely changes during the teen years，”Riera explained．“They talk to their friends first，then maybe their teachers，and their parents last．”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them．To break down the wall of silence，parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say，and try to find ways to talk and write to them．And they must give their children a mental break，for children also need freedom，though young．Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend，not a manager，with their children is a better way to know them.“The door to his room is always shut”suggests that the son________.
| A．is always busy with his studies |
| B．is angry with his parents |
| C．keeps himself away from his parents |
| D．begins to dislike his parents |
What troubles Tina and Mark most is that_______.
| A．their daughter isn’t as lovely as before |
| B．they can’t read their daughter’s mind exactly |
| C．they don’t know what to say to their daughter |
| D．their daughter has grown up so quickly |
Which of the following best explains“the wall of silence”in the last paragraph?
| A．Teenagers do not talk much with their parents． |
| B．Teenagers do not want to understand their parents． |
| C．Teenagers talk a lot with their friends． |
| D．Teenagers talk much about their own lives． |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Parents are unhappy with their growing children． |
| B．Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers． |
| C．Parents should force their children to talk with them． |
| D．Parents should try to understand their teenagers． |
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