San Francisco, unofficially regarded as one of the homeless capitals of the US, counts nearly 6,500 homeless people, with 4,300 living on the street.
Among the many problems that the homeless face is little or no access to showers. San Francisco only has about 16 to 20 shower stations to accommodate them. But Doniece Sandoval has made it her task to change that. “Homelessness is something you can’t really miss,” the 51-year-old woman said. She started Lava Mae, a sort of showers on wheels, a new project that aims to turn old city buses into shower stations for the homeless.
“One day I passed a woman in the street and she was very dirty and basically crying, and I heard her say that she would never be clean. But I was wondering what her opportunities were to actually get clean,” Sandoval said.
Sandoval was inspired to start Lava Mae. The project has already been welcomed with open arms in the city. The Transportation Agency has donated one bus for the cause and is willing to donate three more if the project succeeds. Sandoval hopes the first bus will be able to hit the road in May this year. The Public Commission has also agreed to let the buses plug into fire hydrants(消防龙头)around the city if Lava Mae pays for the water.
One of Lava Mae’s biggest supporters is Bevan Dufty, the director of Housing Opportunity, Partnerships & Engagement under the mayor of San Francisco. “For people who are unhoused, access to showers is very difficult. Shower buses are something that could potentially be deployed (部署)in response to an emergency, so it is relevant to all San Franciscans," Dufty said. “Doniece has done an incredible job as a citizen who cares about helping the poor. We are very excited to see Lava Mae become real soon. ”
Each bus will have two shower stations and Sandoval expects that by 2015, they’ll be able to provide 2000 showers a week. What problem does San Francisco face according to the text?
A. The city has the most homeless people in the USA.
B. There are no shower stations for the homeless in the city.
C. It’s hard for homeless people in the city to take showers.
D. Few citizens in the city care about the homeless.What does the underlined word ''them” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．City problems. | B．Shower stations. |
| C．Old buses. | D．The homeless. |
. Which of the following best describes Doniece Sandoval?
| A．Brave and independent. | B．Caring and responsible. |
| C．Honest and determined. | D．Friendly and humorous. |
What can we learn from Dufty’s words?
| A．All San Franciscans are excited to use Lava Mae. |
| B．Emergencies in San Francisco will be prevented by Lava Mae. |
| C．Dufty thinks highly of Doniece's way of helping the poor. |
| D．The mayor of San Francisco will support Doniece financially. |
What can be a suitable title for the text?
| A．A Newly Invented Way of Shower |
| B．Showers on Wheels for the Homeless |
| C．The Health Problem of the Homeless |
| D．Lave Mae---a new name for old city buses |
The city of Taipei, Taiwan is offering its 2.6 million people a fast, low-cost way to travel around the city. City officials have launched a bicycle rental program called YouBike. Many Taiwanese are now using bicycles to go to work and other places. But the growing popularity of the program has led to new traffic problems.
Five years ago, motor scooters competed with taxis and buses for space on Taipei's narrow streets. Then the city supported a plan to start loaning bicycles to people who pay for their temporary use. Taipei followed the examples of places like Kyoto, Japan; the Chinese city of Hangzhou; and Daejeon in South Korea.
Since then, Taipei has loaned bicycles 11 million times, mostly during the past year. Bikers do not pay for the first half-hour of use. Each 30 minutes after that costs less than half of an American dollar.
Hsu Tsai-tung is a 37-year-old office worker. She rides a rented bicycle to parks, a university and her workplace.
She says one good thing about renting is that the first 30 minutes are free. And, she says biking is good because she does not move around much in her office job during the day. Waiting for a bus would mean spending time, which she saves by riding a bike. She calls biking a natural choice.
Ms. Hsu is not alone. Using the one-speed bicycles works well for many Taiwanese. The bikes can be left at any of more than 100 rental stations. The vehicles could also ease air pollution, which is a health problem in many Asian cities.
In China, for example, the city of Shanghai reported record pollution levels in December. The levels were nearly 20 times above the level considered safe by the World Health Organization.
Shen Shu-hung is with Taiwan's Environmental Protection Agency. He wants to know whether bikes have reduced Taipei's pollution. Bad air has been found to endanger commuters and people living on low building floors.
Mr. Shen says Taiwan is studying whether the rental program has reduced air pollution. He is not discussing its effectiveness at present, in case the study finds that bike renters walked or rode public transportation in the past.
And, it appears that the 5,350 bikes on the streets of Taipei today have begun to cause new problems for city traffic. People who bike through the streets have to worry about cars making illegal sudden stops and fast right turns.
Some bikers have stopped riding on the streets and started riding their bikes on sidewalks. But this has angered or frightened many walkers.
Huang Huang-chia works at the Taipei Department of Transportation. He says no one single kind of incident has happened repeatedly. But he says riders need to be better educated.
He says the city's way of dealing with such incidents will be to educate people about every kind of bicycle safety needed in Taipei.
Taipei plans to complete its program with a total of 162 rental stations by the end of this year.The following cities applied a plan to start loaning bikes to people EXCEPT________.
| A．Taipei | B．Kyoto | C．Daejeon | D．Shanghai |
According to the passage，we know that__________.
| A．If you borrow a bike less than 30 minutes, you needn’t pay for it. |
| B．Each day costs less than half of an American dollar. |
| C．Taipei has a total of 162 rental stations or so now. |
| D．You must return your bike where you borrowed it. |
Which of the following problems is caused by bicycle riders?
| A．Waiting for a bus would mean spending time. |
| B．The rental program has reduced air pollution. |
| C．Some bikers have started riding their bikes on sidewalks. |
| D．Bad air has been found to endanger commuters |
What is the main idea of the passage？
| A．Bicycles riding can reduce air pollution. |
| B．Bicycles solve some problems in Taipei but create others. |
| C．Rental stations appears in Taipei. |
| D．City officials have launched a bicycle rental program. |
Where does this text probably come from ?
| A．A news report | B．Science fiction |
| C．An advertisement | D．A health report |
In the middle of a hot July afternoon, when the stifling air came with rippling waves of heat, I became a thief of some sort—a thief of music.
For the first time, I had created an original piano arrangement of one of my favorite songs. Not once had I looked for the help of premade sheet music or video tutorials on YouTube. Using only my ears and iPod, I had transformed a mix of intermingling sounds and intricate melodies into the tones of a single instrument; I had created complex harmonies and voices into something I could perform with only two hands. No help, no guide: I had done it on my own.
I’ve been a pianist since before my hands were big enough to reach an octave: with a musician and composer for a father, I was all but born on the piano bench. For many years, my musical identity was defined by the notes that others had written in centuries past.
This was why, when I added the finishing touches to my piano version of a modern rock song, I was proud of myself : this arrangement was mine. What I’d done seemed magical: an ability to take what had already existed—to “steal” a song from my favorite band—and to change it into something different and all my own. I was a thief, but I was also an artist.
In music, as in other aspects of life, I believe that trueoriginality rarely exists. Almost everything has, in one form or another, been done before. The most romantic novel may very well be a slightly changed version of a play by Shakespeare, which is likely to be borrowed from the works of Ancient Greece: same themes, different characters, different circumstances. But, the novel is no less deserving of praise just because its uniqueness is compromised. Adaptation is not a symbol for failure.
The gift of creativity is the ability to do what I did on the piano: to find something beautiful, to analyze and twist it and lose yourself in the mystery of its composition, and then to make it new. Such an act is not copying; it is finding inspiration and having the strength and the innovation to use it as fuel for your own masterpiece. The world is nothing more than collections of preexisting parts—scattered and often lost in the chaos of everyday life. I believe it is my job, as an artist, to rearrange this world into what I imagine it to be.
I refuse to live as if I were trapped within the walls of a museum: looking but never touching, afraid to ruin the so-called perfection of the artifacts inside. Therefore, I will embrace my ability to be a thief, because if I don’t steal what the world has to offer, I’ll never have the tools to share with others a creation of my own.
My life is my own arrangement, and because of that, anything is possible.
Which of the following can be the best title ?
| A．The passion to create music |
| B．Changes from a thief to an artist |
| C．A music thief |
| D．My piano arrangement |
According to the passage , which statement is true ?
| A．Actually ,there was originality only in music |
| B．The author created the original piano arrangement all by himself . |
| C．He was born on the piano bench . |
| D．The author was once a thief who stole music from his favorite band. |
Which word has the closest meaning with the underlined word “embrace”?
| A．accept | B． describe | C．adopt | D．quit |
The reason why the author felt proud of himself was that ___.
| A．he became a real artist without others’ help. |
| B．he could play the piano before he was shorter than the piano bench. |
| C．he has a father who was a musician and composer. |
| D．he changed one of his favorite songs into a piano arrangement on his own.. |
From the passage we can learn that the writer______
| A．is more of a follower than a leader. |
| B．likes to recreate songs whenever it is possible . |
| C．would like to lead his life the way he likes |
| D．is a stubborn person . |
By learning each other’s languages, and by showing such curiosity and respect for each other’s cultures, Mr. Schafer and Ms. Zhu and all of you are building bridges of understanding that will lead to so much more. And I’m here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the globe.
That’s why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don’t just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state. We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between nations aren’t just about relationships between governments or leaders -- they’re about relationships between people, particularly young people. So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational opportunity for students, but also as a vital part of America’s foreign policy.
Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a button. Companies can do business and compete with companies across the globe. And we can text, email, Skype with people on every continent.
So studying abroad isn’t just a fun way to spend a semester; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our global economy. Because getting ahead in today’s workplaces isn’t just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important. It’s also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders —— experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own. Or, as the Chinese saying goes: “It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books.”
But let’s be clear, studying abroad is about so much more than improving your own future. It’s also about shaping the future of your countries and of the world we all share. Because when it comes to the defining challenges of our time – whether it’s climate change or economic opportunity or the spread of nuclear weapons -- these are shared challenges. And no one country can confront them alone. The only way forward is together.
That’s why it is so important for young people like you to live and study in each other’s countries, because that’s how you develop that habit of cooperation. You do it by immersing yourself in one another’s culture, by learning each other’s stories, by getting past the stereotypes and misconceptions that too often divide us.
That’s how you come to understand how much we all share. That’s how you realize that we all have a stake in each other’s success -- that cures discovered here in Beijing could save lives in America, that clean energy technologies from Silicon Valley in California could improve the environment here in China, that the architecture of an ancient temple in Xi’an could inspire the design of new buildings in Dallas or Detroit.
And that’s when the connections you make as classmates or labmates can blossom into something more. That’s what happened when Abigail Coplin became an American Fulbright Scholar here at Peking University. She and her colleagues published papers together in top science journals, and they built research partnerships that lasted long after they returned to their home countries. And Professor Niu Ke from Peking University was a Fulbright Scholarship -- Scholar in the U.S. last year, and he reported -- and this is a quote from him -- he said, “The most memorable experiences were with my American friends.”
These lasting bonds represent the true value of studying abroad. And I am thrilled that more and more students are getting this opportunity. As you’ve heard, China is currently the fifth most popular destination for Americans studying abroad, and today, the highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are from China.
But still, too many students never have this chance, and some that do are hesitant to take it. They may feel like studying abroad is only for wealthy students or students from certain kinds of universities. Or they may think to themselves, well, that sounds fun but how will it be useful in my life? And believe me, I understand where these young people are coming from because I felt the same way back when I was in college. （708）
What’s the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A．We often visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of state. |
| B．The relationships between people are very important. |
| C．Study abroad programs is just as an educational opportunity for students. |
| D．Study abroad programs is a vital part of America’s foreign policy. |
The writer uses the Chinese saying to_________.
| A．emphasize that real experience is more important than test scores. |
| B．show us that studying abroad is fun. |
| C．emphasize that getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important. |
| D．show us that studying abroad is the key to success. |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．studying abroad can only improve your own future. |
| B．studying abroad can develop that habit of lifestyle. |
| C．studying abroad can shape the future of your countries and of the world we all share. |
| D．China is currently the first most popular destination for Americans studying abroad. |
According to the last paragraph, what will the writer write in the next paragraph?
| A．The writer will write something about her college life. |
| B．The writer will write the advanges of studying abroad. |
| C．The writer will write that the America will offer more opportunities for foreign students. |
| D．The writer will write that the America will offer more money for the poor students. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Studying abroad is only for wealthy students. |
| B．Studying abroad is very important and she encourages young people to study abroad. |
| C．The highest number of exchange students in the U.S. are from China. |
| D．Building bridges of understanding will lead to bright future. |
About 6 months ago, I joined a gym. Every morning, one personal trainer works out there while my little group does our workout. He follows his routine with such a quiet determination that he makes it look very easy; I know how hard he is working. When I am tempted to whine and quit, I watch him push himself to his own limits, and I find myself motivated to work harder and without complaint.
A couple of weeks ago, I was watching him do chin-ups. He made them look effortless. I broke away from my group and asked him if I could have a chin-up. I had never tried that before, but he just made it look so easy. He eagerly stepped aside and encouraged me to step up to the bar. I pulled myself up without thinking...once...then twice. That was all I had in me — I had no strength left. I told him that was all I had, so he stepped up behind me and pushed me up for a third and fourth pull. It felt so good. I felt strong and I smiled from ear to ear.
The next day when I finished my workout, I asked him to spot me. I did two, again. I thought it was pathetic (可悲的) that I could only do two. But when I came to the gym at the end of the week, he was standing there just shaking his head. When I asked him what was up, he said he was impressed with my chin-ups. He told me that when they were training firefighters, men were required to do 5 chin-ups, and women were required to do 1 or 2. He explained that most people couldn’t do them at all, and that he was impressed that I could. He further told me that if I practiced every day, I would be doing 5 or 6 in no time. At this point I should probably add that I am 50 years old and I am female.
It was because he told me I could that I just jumped in and gave it a try, and I did it! I didn’t see it as a great accomplishment, because I didn’t realize that it was difficult and it became my goal to get stronger. No one told me I couldn’t do it; instead, I was encouraged to try. Now I’ve learned how important it is to support others in our endeavors and to let them know that we believe they can do it.
I personally want to be like my trainer; standing there behind the people that I love, encouraging them, believing in them and being ready to catch them when they get tired. I will be the one that is there on the second and third day making sure they try again, because I know they can.
The writer worked harder probably because .
| A．she had a strong determination |
| B．she wanted to become successful |
| C．she was encouraged by the trainer |
| D．she liked to do chin-ups very much |
The writer was happy when .
| A．she did the first two chin-ups |
| B．she helped the trainer out of trouble |
| C．she saw the trainer doing chin-ups easily |
| D．she did more chin-ups with the trainer’s help |
In the trainer’s opinion, the writer .
| A．didn’t work hard at practice |
| B．could only do 1 or 2 chin-ups |
| C．was too old to do any chin-ups |
| D．could do as many chin-ups as male firefighters |
What did the trainer probably say when the writer tried to have a chin-up?
| A．You can do it! |
| B．It’s nothing for you. |
| C．You’d better give it up. |
| D．I’m afraid you can’t. |
The writer would like to be a person .
| A．who can gain great achievements |
| B．who can encourage and help others |
| C．who probably never feels tired at all |
| D．who enjoys standing behind others |
San Diego resident Rob Greenfield just reached his goal of going a year without showering. And, surprisingly, he says it wasn’t that hard.
The founder of an environmentally friendly marketing company, Greenfield started his project with a bike ride across America.
Greenfield set a few rules for himself on his ride, meant to promote sustainability and eco-friendly living: He could only harvest water from natural sources like rivers and rain, or from wasted sources like leaky faucets. He also had to keep track of exactly how much he used, hoping to show just how little he needed to get by.
Over his 100-day bike trip, Greenfield was able to use less than two gallons of water a day, or eight Nalgene bottles.
After making it through the 100-day bike ride without a shower, Greenfield decided to try to go six months. Once that passed, he figured he might as well go a full year.
All he used was organic soap, toothpaste, and essential oils.“Nobody thought that I smelled at all,” he wrote on his blog. “And I surprised myself at how clean I was, just like everyone else.” Greenfield says he had no lack of friends, and sometimes they’d even join him.
He even had a few romances, which he says were the times he felt the most challenged.
“The hardest part were the times when a beautiful girl wanted me to get in the shower with her and I had to say no,” he told BuzzFeed. “A few times I almost got in and then remembered I was aiming for a year without showers.”
He said it was also difficult when the temperature dropped in San Diego, and he didn’t feel like having to go to the Pacific Ocean for a dip. But he still did it.
“I realized that water doesn’t have to come from a shower head to get me clean,” he wrote.
In Brooklyn, for example, he found a bath in a leaky fire hydrant.
For people who don’t live near bodies of water but want to be more eco-friendly, Greenfield recommends trying to be conscious of water usage, taking shorter or fewer showers, and turning off your faucet.
The world traveler told BuzzFeed his biggest takeaway from the project has been abolishing stereotypes.
“A short time ago I would have thought it crazy to forgo conventional showers,” he said. “Turns out it’s not really a big deal at all. We have a tendency to make instant character judgments based on clothing, style, race, sexual preference, political affiliation, and even bathing habits, and most of the time we’re just absolutely wrong.”
So is he done showering forever? He’s not sure, but it sounds like he’s not ready to throw in the towel (pun intended) just yet.
“Maybe I never will again or maybe I’ll shower tomorrow,” he said. “All I know is that I feel really darn good right now and I’m having a positive impact on our society.”495From the paragraphs， we can infer that__________.
| A．Greenfield had lack of friends because he didn’t showered. |
| B．Rob Greenfield hasn’t bathed in the past year. |
| C．Greenfield was able to use less than two gallons of water a day. |
| D．Greenfield has showered using water from natural sources in the past year. |
Greenfield didn’t get in the shower with a beautiful girl because________.
| A．he didn’t like girls. |
| B．there is no enough water to use. |
| C．he wanted to save some water. |
| D．he meant what he said. |
What does the underlined word “faucet.”mean？
| A．light |
| B．tap |
| C．gas |
| D．water |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Greenfield is the founder of an environmentally friendly marketing company. |
| B．Greenfield has a positive impact on the society. |
| C．Greenfield made a full year plan of no showering at the beginning. |
| D．Over his 100-day bike trip, Greenfield was able to use less than eight Nalgene bottles of water a day. |
The author writes this story to tell us that_________.
| A．Greenfield is a determined man. |
| B．we should save water as much as possible. |
| C．we should mean what we said. |
| D．Greenfield hasn’t showered for a full year. |
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