When 18thcentury scientists first came across Australia’s platypus (鸭嘴兽)，they thought it was a trick.It is not surprising that the platypus made people confused.This funnylooking animal has feet and is a kind of warmblooded mammal(哺乳动物)．
While other mammals usually keep their blood at around 37 degrees，the platypus has a lower body temperature of 32 degrees.As to its appearance，the platypus’ mouth is not really like the duck’s; its mouth actually looks a bit softer.The platypus closes its eyes when swimming instead of watching its hunters.It uses its mouth to pick up outside information made by the creatures underwater.
Strangest of all，the platypus is a mammal that can lay eggs.And there is only one other kind of mammal that can lay eggs，the echidna(针鼹鼠) of Australia.Both the platypus and the echidna lay soft shelled eggs，and both feed their young with their own milk that comes out of their skin.These animals also walk in a way that is similar to crocodiles (鳄鱼)，with legs on the sides of their bodies rather than under them.
Though pretty in a special way，the platypus is actually one of the few mammals that are poisonous.A male platypus has knifelike bones on its back legs which have enough poison to kill a dog.
The platypus has the honor of being one of the oldest mammals in the world.Until the early 20thcentury，it was hunted for its fur，but it is now protected.Although the platypus is easily influenced by pollution，it is not under any immediate threat.What can we learn about the platypus?
| A．It has a lower body temperature than other mammals. |
| B．It only closes its eyes when underwater. |
| C．It’s the only poisonous mammal in the world. |
| D．It feeds its young on wild animal meat. |
Which of the following is NOT used as a comparison in the passage?
| A．The crocodile. |
| B．The echidna. |
| C．The duck. |
| D．The dog. |
The characteristics of the platypus that have been described in the passage include________．
a．the color of its skin
b．the way it gets information
c．its walking pose
d．its strange appearance
| A．b－c－d |
| B．a－b－c |
| C．a－c－d |
| D．a－b－d |
We can learn from the last paragraph that the platypus is________．
| A．hunted for its meat |
| B．in danger of extinction |
| C．endangered because of air pollution |
| D．wellprotected now |
When asked about happiness, we usually think of something extraordinary, an absolute delight, which seems to get rarer the older we get.
For kids, happiness has a magical quality. Their delight at winning a race or getting a new bike is unreserved (毫无掩饰的).
In the teenage years the concept of happiness changes. Suddenly it’s conditional on such things as excitement, love and popularity. I can still recall the excitement of being invited to dance with the most attractive boy at the school party.
In adulthood the things that bring deep joy — love, marriage, birth — also bring responsibility and the risk of loss. For adults, happiness is complicated.
My definition of happiness is “the capacity for enjoyment”. The more we can enjoy what we have, the happier we are. It’s easy to overlook the pleasure we get from the company of friends, the freedom to live where we please, and even good health.
I experienced my little moments of pleasure yesterday. First I was overjoyed when I shut the last lunch-box and had the house to myself. Then I spent an uninterrupted morning writing, which I love. When the kids and my husband came home, I enjoyed their noise after the quiet of the day.
Psychologists tell us that to be happy we need a mix of enjoyable leisure time and satisfying work. I don’t think that my grandmother, who raised 14 children, had much of either. She did have a network of close friends and family, and maybe this is what satisfied her.
We, however, with so many choices and such pressure to succeed in every area, have turned happiness into one more thing we’ve got to have. We’re so self-conscious about our “right” to it that it’s making us miserable. So we chase it and equal it with wealth and success, without noticing that the people who have those things aren’t necessarily happier.
Happiness isn’t about what happens to us — it’s about how we see what happens to us. It’s the skillful way of finding a positive for every negative. It’s not wishing for what we don’t have, but enjoying what we do possess.As people grow older, they ___________________.
| A．feel it harder to experience happiness |
| B．associate their happiness less with others |
| C．will take fewer risks in pursuing happiness |
| D．tend to believe responsibility means happiness |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraphs 5 and 6?
| A．She cares little about her own health. |
| B．She enjoys the freedom of traveling. |
| C．She is easily pleased by things in daily life. |
| D．She prefers getting pleasure from housework. |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 7?
| A．Psychologists think satisfying work is key to happiness. |
| B．Psychologist’ opinion is well proved by Grandma’s case. |
| C．Grandma often found time for social gatherings. |
| D．Grandma’s happiness came from modest expectations of life. |
People who equal happiness with wealth and success______.
| A．consider pressure something blocking their way. |
| B．stress their right to happiness too much. |
| C．are at a loss to make correct choices. |
| D．are more likely to be happy. |
What can be concluded from the passage?
| A．Happiness lies between the positive and the negative. |
| B．Each man is the master of his own fate. |
| C．Success leads to happiness. |
| D．Happy is he who is content. |
The United States government wants to know what the public think about its findings on the safety of cloned animals.
The Food and Drug Administration says meat and milk from clones of adult cattle, pigs and goats are safe to eat. An F.D.A. official called them "as safe to eat as the food we eat every day." And when those clones reproduce sexually (有性繁殖), the agency says, their offspring (后代) are safe to eat as well. But research on cloned sheep is limited. So the F.D.A. suggests that sheep clones not be used for human food.
The United States this year could become the first country to approve the sale of foods from cloned animals. First, however, the public will have ninety days to discuss three proposed documents. On December 28th the F.D.A. released a long report, called a draft risk assessment, along with two policy documents.
The agency says it must receive the public’s opinion by April second. The F.D.A. seemed ready to act several years ago, but an advisory committee called for more research. For now, the government will continue to ask producers to honor a request that they not sell foods from cloned animals.
Clones are still rare. They cost a lot and are difficult to produce.
The F.D.A. says most food from cloning is expected to come not from clones themselves, but from their sexually reproduced offspring. It says clones are expected to be used mostly as breeding animals to spread good qualities.
Public opinion studies show most Americans do not like the idea of food from cloned animals. But this research also shows the public knows little about cloning.
Cloning differs from genetic engineering. A cell taken from a so-called donor animal is grown into an embryo in the laboratory. Next, the embryo is placed into the uterus (子宫) of a female animal. If the process is successful, the pregnancy reaches full term and a genetic copy of the donor animal is born.The main purpose of the text is to __________.
| A．tell an interesting story |
| B．give some advice on foods |
| C．give a report |
| D．compare different opinions |
From the passage we know that ___________.
A. foods from cloned animals are popular in America
B. according to F.D.A., some cloned adult animals are safe to eat
C. cloned animals will be easy to produce
D. most foods from cloning is expected to take place of other foodsWho believe that foods from cloning are safe to eat?
A. Most Americans B. An advisory committee
C. Critics D. The F.D.A.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that __________.
| A．cloning has much in common with genetic engineering |
| B．not every cell taken from a donor animal can grow into a genetic copy |
| C．the donor animal should be a female one |
| D．cloned animals grow faster than normal ones |
Which of the following is TRUE about foods from cloning?
A. They come from the sexually reproduced offspring of cloned animals.
B. The government is in favor of foods from cloning now.
C. Only F.D.A. has the right to sell the food.
D. Many countries have sold foods from cloned animals.
BAD weather, bad food and grumpy people – that’s what some people think of first when they think about Britain. Many online commentators even joke that Britons are so grumpy precisely because it constantly rains and they are always hungry.
In fact, many believe that Britons are inherently negative, in contrast to their neighbors across the Atlantic Ocean.
“Americans are more optimistic, due to the fact that they are told they can become the next president of the United States,” Ricky Gervais, a British comedian, told online forum Big Think. “British people are told, it won’t happen to you. And they carry that. They carry that with them. We champion the underdog .”
It’s no wonder that Britons hold the reputation of having a “stiff upper lip” – being cold and not showing any emotion.
Britain’s reputation as a grumpy country may, however, simply be the result of a cultural misunderstanding. According to the BBC, British actor Michael Caine once said: “I think what is British about me is my feelings and awareness of others and their situations. English people are always known to be well-mannered and cold, but we are not cold – we don’t interfere in your situation. If we are heartbroken, we don’t scream in your face with tears – we go home and cry on our own. It’s completely to do with your comfort – we don’t intrude on your space. That’s very English.”
A BBC reader noted that the perceived coldness of British people is actually their way of dealing with hardship. Remembering the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005, Stuart Colley, who lived in the capital at the time, said: “It seemed to me that most people’s response was a ‘cruel’ determination to carry on and not to ‘fall’ into an over-emotional outpouring of grief or anger – despite what many of us felt inside. Our stiff upper lip seems to be something that gives us strength as a society when we most need it.”What is the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
| A．To list common stereotypes about the UK. |
| B．To fight common misunderstandings about the UK. |
| C．To analyze what makes British people grumpy and negative. |
| D．To list some differences between Americans and British people. |
Which of the following statements might Ricky Gervais agree with?
| A．Britons like challenging the underdog more than Americans do. |
| B．Americans are more optimistic and realistic than British people. |
| C．Britons are more comfortable with life’s losers than Americans. |
| D．Bad weather in the UK is the main thing that makes Britons grumpy. |
The underlined phrase “interfere in” in the second-to-last paragraph is closest in meaning to ______.
| A．think about | B．benefit from |
| C．get in the way of | D．have a positive effect on |
Why does Michael Caine think British people are not cold?
| A．They can be heartbroken, and they cry too. |
| B．They are well-mannered and unwilling to disturb others. |
| C．They care a lot about what other people think of them. |
| D．They are taught to face hardships by themselves. |
With the example of the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005, the author intends to ____.
| A．explain why British people tend to be cold |
| B．reveal that Britons don’t intrude on others’ space |
| C．present an example in which British people hide their emotions and feelings |
| D．show how not giving in to emotions can help one to get through a tough time |
Babysitter Wanted
I am seeking a babysitter for my 6-month-old son. A few hours on Saturdays and Sundays to help me and then additional times as needed. Applicant should be over 18, responsible, loving, warm, drug-free, and have experience caring for babies. A college student looking for a part-time job is also OK. The pay is $ 10 an hour.
If this sounds like a good fit for you, please reply to: rebecharv @ aol.com or call 800-4964. It is urgent!
Office Manager wanted
A company is looking for a full-time manager to be in charge of the business aspects. Strong skills are needed in organization and business management. The office manager is responsible for keeping financial records, so he/she should be familiar with computer.
Please send your resume to jim @ californiaaquatics. com or call 800-6978.
Waiter/ Waitress wanted
Specialty Restaurant is looking for an experienced and well seasoned waiter/ waitress. A knowledge of wines and fine dining experience are necessary. Must work well under pressure and understand the basics of fine dining and customer service.
If you're interested, please reply to job-tkupe 1329358152 @ craigslist. org.
This is a part-time job. Please, no phone calls about this job!
Office Cleaner Wanted
Looking for Part-time work?
Position available in the Mississauga area!
Part-time 4 hours per day from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Duties include:
--Clean Washrooms
--Dust Furniture
-- Mopping floors
--Other general cleaning
Some experience is necessary
Pay: $ 15 per hour
Reply to: job-p3b7u-1365632206 @ craigslist.org or call 800-8197The position of a(n) ___________ is full-time job.
| A．babysitter | B．office manager |
| C．waiter/ waitress | D．office cleaner |
Where can you send e-mail as a college girl?
| A．job-p3b7u-1365632206 @ craigslist.org |
| B．job-tkupe 1329358152 @ craigslist. org. |
| C．jim @ californiaaquatics. Com |
| D．rebecharv @ aol.com |
Which of the following is the most important for waiter/ waitress job?
| A．Being familiar with computers. |
| B．Having a knowledge of wines. |
| C．Knowing more about menus. |
| D．Working well under pressure. |
Group–buying in China
Modeled after US hot website Groupon.com, group buying websites are now popular in China. These websites use the power of group buying to get competitive discounts （打折）for a daily deal on some best stuff to do, see, eat and buy in the cities across China. Discounts are available within just one click. Zhao lei, a software engineer in Beijing, loves the one-hour lunch break at noon, as it is the best time for him to check “today’s special” at his favorite group buying websites . Sometimes he searches for great deals at directory sites devoted to the new shopping space. Zhao spends around 800 yuan ($117.65) on group buying every month, mostly to buy food coupons （优惠劵）for eating at some nice restaurants and occasionally to find something fun to do. ‘‘I love group buying. In addition to the competitive discounts it offers, it helps me get something fun, exciting and new, and such surprises give me a reason to try something new,” he said. When he finds a really good bargain, he will send the link to friends or colleagues through MSN,QQ, or e-mail, or share the information at some social networking websites. In doing so, he often gets a certain cut off the price. At some sites, buyers are invited to leave notes about what they want to buy and the website will consider it if similar applications（申请）reach a certain number. That is how Zuo got her digital camera after waiting for two months. “It is cool. I want to buy a new digital camera for my trip to Switzerland this winter, but I never expected such cheap prices!” Zuo said.We can learn from the passage that________.
| A．China is the first country to start group buying |
| B．the price of group buying depends on the market |
| C．you can’t get the best you need through group buying |
| D．group buying is becoming popular in China |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Zhao Lei has to spend about 800 yuan on group buying per month. |
| B．Zhao Lei never surfs at other directory sites for group buying. |
| C．Zhao Lei finds it easy to do group buying. |
| D．Zhao Lei can’t buy food coupons to eat at a nice restaurant. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Zhao Lei’s online purchasing life. |
| B．Group buying |
| C．The US hot websites |
| D．A new digital camera |
Zhao Lei succeeded in getting a certain cut off the price by__________.
| A．bargaining face to face |
| B．discussing with the sellers |
| C．providing the link to others |
| D．inviting others to talk about the price |
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