Every day we are bombarded with images, videos, music and news. In this age of visual and aural hyper-stimulation, the medium of radio is making a phenomenal comeback.
“We're at the dawn of a golden age of audio," said US-based podcaster Alex Blumberg in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. In the last month alone, 15 percent of US adults listened to a radio podcast. These statistics, released by Edison Research, reveal the successful evolution of traditional radio broadcasts to the present day's digital podcast format. The term "podcast," was coined in 2004, but the trend only started gaining mainstream popularity in recent years. Since the leap in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets, podcast subscription rates have only accelerated.
The appeal of the podcast partially resides in its multiplatform delivery and on-demand capabilities. You can tune in during those extra minutes of the day when you're walking to the shops, waiting in a queue or riding the subway. Similar to television shows, podcasts are generally free to download and most offer new content every week.
Donna Jackson, 22, Sydney university media graduate, listens to podcasts two or three times a week, via iTunes .”I listen while I'm pottering around the house doing something else. It makes completing a boring task a lot more enjoyable..... And it's an easy way of keeping in touch with what's going on in the rest of the world," she said.
Unlike television and music, the audio format has the potential to create a deep impression on readers. Blumberg says this comes down to the podcast's ability "to create intimacy and emotional connection." Sydney University undergraduate Hazel Proust, major in social work and arts, agrees. "When you're tuned in, it feels as if the voice of the podcast's narrator is talking directly to you. It's comforting," said Proust.From the passage, we can learn that____.
| A．Radio is developing more quickly than mediums with images, videos, music and news. |
| B．Podcast has its origin in the traditional radio broadcasts. |
| C．In the last month alone, 15 percent of world adults listened to a radio podcast. |
| D．Podcast was becoming popular from 2004. |
By saying "We're at the dawn of a golden age of audio," Alex Blumberg wants to
Tell us that ______
| A．Traditional radio broadcasts will be loved by people again. |
| B．Radio has attracted more people than TV and other forms of media . |
| C．Radio will be more and more popular in the form of podcast. |
| D．The Sydney Morning Herald will help radio become popular again. |
For podcast, which is wrong?
| A．You can listen to it at any time and any place. |
| B．You can download it without pay. |
| C．You can learn new content every week from it. |
| D．You can listen to it according to your own demand. |
From the last paragraph, we can infer
| A．television and music has become less popular . |
| B．Hazel Proust has different opinions with Blumberg |
| C．podcast can build up close relationship with listeners |
| D．using podcast the narrator can talk to listeners directly |
In many businesses, computers have largely replaced paperwork, because they are fast, flexible, and do not make mistakes. As one banker said, "Unlike humans, computers never have a bad day." And they are honest. Many banks advertise that their transactions are "untouched by human hands" and therefore safe from human temptation. Obviously, computers have no reason to steal money. But they also have no conscience, and the growing number of computer crimes shows they can be used to steal.
Computer criminals don't use guns. And even they are caught, it is hard to punish them because there are no witnesses and often no evidence. A computer cannot remember who used it: it simply does what it is told. The head teller at a New York City Bank used a computer to steal more than one and a half billion dollars in just four years. No one noticed this theft because he moved the money from one account to another. Each time a customer he had robbed questioned the balance in his account, the teller claimed a computer error, then replaced the missing money from someone else's account. This man was caught only because he was a gambler. When the police broke up an illegal gambling operation, his name was in the records.
Some employees use the computer's power to get revenge on employers they consider unfair. Recently, a large insurance company fired its computer-tape librarian for reasons that involved her personal rather than her professional life. She was given thirty days' notice. In those thirty days, she erased all the company's computerized records.
Most computer criminals have been minor employees. Now police wonder if this is "the tip of the iceberg". As one official says, "I have the feeling that there is more crime out there than we are catching. What we are seeing now is all so poorly done. I wonder what the real experts are doing—the ones who really know how a computer works."Which feature of computers makes computer theft possible?
| A．They are fast, flexible and accurate. |
| B．They usually function normally. |
| C．They have no sense of what is right or wrong. |
| D．They are honest and have no reason to steal money. |
The author uses the case of the head teller to show_______.
| A．how computer criminals so evil things |
| B．how hard it is to find computer criminals |
| C．computers lack conscience |
| D．computer crime can involve a big sum of money |
The head teller was found guilty of stealing ________.
| A．when he was caught transmitting money from one account to another |
| B．when the police broke up the illegal gambling operation |
| C．afer he was questioned on the abnormal balance of an account |
| D．after the police examined the illegal gambling operation documents |
Why did the computer tape librarian erase all the company’s computerized records?
| A．She thought it was right to revenge any injustice in professional problems. |
| B．She thought the employer was wrong to fire her for personal problems. |
| C．The company carelessly gave her enough time to do the erasing. |
| D．The company always interfered with its employees’ personal life. |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A．Computer criminals are minor employees. |
| B．Of all crimes, computer theft is “the tip of the iceberg”. |
| C．Computer crimes are all poorly done. |
| D．There are more computer crimes committed by computer experts. |
In many parts of the world, cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized. That will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car in the future will drive itself. And it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis, who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air, and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says, cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices(装置) to regulate(调节) the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.
By 2016, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in line, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road-trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.”says Davis. “but all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”We know from the passage that governments and car manufactures____________.
| A．don’t believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020 |
| B．are dedicated to the technological invention in car industry |
| C．consider the prediction made by the researchers seriously |
| D．have put the super-intelligent car into mass production |
Which of the following will be the characteristic of transport in 2020?
| A．The cars will consume no fuels. |
| B．There won’t be any car accidents. |
| C．All cars will be driven at the same speed. |
| D．All car drivers will be trained to be more skillful than today’s. |
Davis believes that the present car culture will change because__________.
| A．cars play an important role in daily life |
| B．many societies would stop working without cars |
| C．cars should not be owned by one individual |
| D．it causes more and more agonies（烦恼） to human society |
Which of the following sentences can explain “better use of roads”by 2020 mentioned in the passage?
| A．Computer-driven cars drive much closer together than cars driven by people. |
| B．Motorists can have a clear view of the road whatever the weather conditions are. |
| C．Cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other by an electronic tow bar. |
| D．Intelligent cruise control devices can regulate the distance between one car and another. |
What will happen if cars are linked to each other electronically in 2020?
| A．Motorists will get a clear view of the road. |
| B．The weather conditions won’t have effect on motorists. |
| C．There will be a great decrease in the pollution caused by cars. |
| D．All trains will burn less fuel than present. |
Providing a highquality education for all children is important to America's economic future.President Obama has decided to provide every child with access to a complete and competitive education，from cradle (摇篮)through career.
The years before a child reaches kindergarten are among the most critical in his or her life to influence learning.The President will urge states to introduce high standards across all publicly funded early learning settings，develop new programs to improve opportunities and outcomes，engage parents in their child's early learning and development，and improve the early education workforce.
President Obama will reform America's public schools to deliver a 21st century education that will prepare all children for success in the new global workplace.He will push to end the use of ineffective，“offtheshelf” tests，and support new，stateoftheart assessment and responsibility systems that provide timely and useful information about the learning and progress of students.
Teachers are the single most important resource to children's learning.President Obama will invest in a national effort to reward outstanding teachers，while enlisting the best and brightest in the field of teaching.And he will challenge State and school districts to remove ineffective teachers from the classroom.
The President believes that investment in education must be accompanied by reform and innovation (创新)．He supports the expansion of highquality charter schools (特许学校)．He has challenged States to lift limits that stop growth among successful charter schools and has encouraged strict responsibility for all charter schools.
President Obama has decided to ensure that America will regain its lost ground and have the highest proportion of students graduating from college in the world by 2020.The President believes that regardless of educational path after high school，all Americans should enroll in at least one year of higher education or job training to better prepare our workforce for the 21st century economy.
To reach these goals，the President has decided to increase higher education access and success by restructuring and greatly expanding college financial aid，while making federal programs simpler，more reliable，and more efficient for students.What's President Obama's idea about education?
| A．To offer all children a full and good education. |
| B．To urge states to introduce high standards. |
| C．To enable every child to succeed in a global economy. |
| D．To increase higher education access. |
What does the underlined word “critical” in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Very formal. | B．Very important. |
| C．Very difficult. | D．Very ordinary. |
Which of the following things is NOT part of President Obama's decision?
| A．Remove ineffective teachers from the classroom. |
| B．Reform America's public schools. |
| C．Enlist some teachers from other countries. |
| D．Expand highquality charter schools. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．America has the largest number of college students. |
| B．All American children will receive higher education for free. |
| C．More and more American people intend to work as a teacher. |
| D．America's college education is worse than before. |
What does President Obama advise all Americans to do after high school?
| A．To stop the use of “offtheshelf” tests. |
| B．To receive higher education or job training. |
| C．To invest in higher education. |
| D．To expand college financial aid. |
A prosperous moneylender bought a house located right next door to the house of a tanner(鞣皮匠)．From morning till evening the tanner change hide(兽皮) into leather by treating it with tannin(单宁)．From day one the moneylender was put off by the unpleasant smells of the tannery.
So，he visited the tanner's house and offered to buy his house.“I would love to sell the house if you buy it，” said the tanner.He didn't want to do any such thing but he liked to play tricks.“Give me a week or so to deal with some things，will you？”The moneylender agreed and went away.
A week later，the overpowering smell coming from the tannery brought the moneylender to the tanner's doorstep again.“I understand sir，” said the tanner with wideeyed sympathy.“But my mother is visiting me this week.I can't sell the house until she goes away.Please wait for a month.”
The moneylender agreed with great reluctance.He began to wait eagerly for the guest's departure.In the beginning he counted each day，impatiently waiting for one to finish and the other to begin.After a while，he found he was no longer so interested in the month coming to an end.He had simply forgotten about it.
He did not ask the tanner to leave when they met next，either.You see，by then the moneylender had become accustomed to the tanyard's smell.“What have you done to drive away that terrible smell？” he asked the tanner.“Have you reduced the solution？”
The tanner smiled and nodded.He had been waiting for the day the moneylender would get used to the smells from the tannery and stop bothering him.That was why he had asked the moneylender to wait in the first place.After a week's waiting，the moneylender's feeling became________.
| A．angry | B．calm |
| C．nervous | D．anxious |
How many times did the moneylender ask the the tanner to leave?
| A．1. | B．2. |
| C．3. | D．4. |
Why did the tanner asked the moneylender to wait? Because________.
| A．he wanted to make some repairs to his house |
| B．he wanted to do some cleaning to his house |
| C．his mother would live in his house for a month |
| D．he wouldn't sell his house from the bottom of his heart |
At last the moneylender________.
| A．moved to another place |
| B．was adapted the smell |
| C．went to quarrel with the tanner |
| D．managed to buy the house |
From the passage we can know the tanner was______.
| A．a funny man | B．a wise man |
| C．an honest man | D．a friendly man |
Nancy Tillman’s wonderful On the Night You Were Born is one of my very favorite books. Its celebration of the uniqueness of each and every child told in lyrical language makes it the gift I choose most often for expectant or adoptive parents. I also read it regularly with my grandchildren and talk with them about how special they are.
Tillman feels that the most important message for children to receive is simply, “You are loved.” And it’s that message that is the focus of this, her newest book, Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You. Once again, it is her turn of phrase that most fascinates me: In the green of the grass ... in the smell of the sea ... in the clouds floating by ... at the top of a tree ... in the sound crickets make at the end of the day ... “You are loved. You are loved. You are loved,” they all say. Phrases encourage children to grow, to try new things, to “march to the front” of their “own parade” and assures them that, no matter how far they go or what they do, they will be loved.
Though the words alone would convince me to buy, share and recommend this book, Tillman is also a gifted artist and her lovely work makes this book a visual treasure as well. Through the pages, a child rides hippos, splashes in the surf with elephants, plays hide and seek with rabbits, shares a trampoline(蹦床) with a kangaroo and enjoys some quiet time with a pair of pandas. My favorite drawing has the child walking away along a wide path that runs between trees covered in mist. In all of the drawings, swirls of sparkling lights wrap around the child--the love that will always be with him/her.
I’ve read On the Night You Were Born dozens of times and with every single reading, I am incredibly touched. Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You creates the same feeling of wonder, peace and happiness in me. It’s a keep-forever book and I’m so happy to have it in my collection to share with the children I love most.The purpose of this passage is to __________.
| A．encourage people to buy Nancy Tillman’s books for their children |
| B．recommend Tillman’s new book--Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You |
| C．advocate the theme of love among family members |
| D．Let children know they are loved and educate them to love others |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Nancy Tillman’s book On the Night You Were Born encourages children to try new things. |
| B．The most important focus of Tillman’s books is for children to know they are loved. |
| C．The writer considers Tillman a gifted artist for her vivid use of words and rich imagination. |
| D．The writer has bought and read both of Tillman’s books mentioned in this passage. |
Pick out the true statements according to the passage.
| A．The words alone makes Tillman’s books the writer’s favorite. |
| B．Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You is published earlier than On the Night You Were Born. |
| C．My favorite drawing shows the feeling of wonder with the child swirling in sparkling lights. |
| D．The drawings in Wherever You Are convey love with pictures involving animals. |
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