Which tablet computer should YOU be buying: They are this year's must have... and there's a style to suit everyone？
| Best for young children LeapPad Explorer 2, ￡68 Aimed at children between three and nine (though a nine-year-old might find it a little simple), it comes in pink or blue and with five built-in education games (you can buy more). Besides, the LeapPad does not allow access to the internet — so it is impossible for your child to meet with anything inappropriate. Pros: The education games are well-designed, the built-in video camera is a fun way to play at being a film director. Cons: Some of the games are shockingly expensive. And the power adaptor is not included. |
Best for teenagers iPad 4th generation, ￡399-￡659 The iPad is still the market leader, and for good reason. If the teenager in your house enjoys playing computer games, the latest offering from Apple is the one to choose. Pros: No other tablet can compete with the near one million ‘apps’ (the name Apple created for specially-designed downloadable programs) available for the iPad. Simple to use, even for those who usually struggle with technology. Cons: Considerably more expensive than most competitors. |
| Best for working parents Microsoft Surface, ￡399-￡559 Tablets are brilliant for leisure — but what if you want to do a bit of work? No tablet can yet compete with a full-size laptop computer, but this is the only tablet that allows you to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint (they are all pre-installed and included in the price) and you can buy a pretty lovely mini- keyboard for typing letters and emails, which also doubles up as the cover. Pros: The Surface is good for watching movies — a bonus when stuck in the airport on a business trip — and surfing the internet. Con: The keyboard is an expensive add-on — costing up to ￡109. It might be cheaper to buy a laptop (though a tablet is much smaller and lighter). |
Best for bookworms Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, ￡109 Nearly all tablets let you download books. It's a great way to take a mountainous pile of hardbacks on holiday without stuffing your suitcase. But most tablets have a shiny screen — which can be very distracting (分心) when you're trying to read. The Paperwhite is different: its matt screen and crisp black lettering imitate the look of words on paper brilliantly. And yet you can still read the words in the dark. Pros: Easy on the eye, excellent battery life, 180,000 free books (if you subscribe to the Amazon Prime customer loyalty service) plus hundreds of thousands more to buy. Cons: No TV, films, games, internet or camera. |
60.With iPad 4th generation, you can ____.
| A．become a film director and have fun |
| B．download more “apps” than any other tablet |
| C．compete with a full-size laptop computer |
| D．read the words clearly in the dark |
Which of the following about LeapPad Explorer 2 is TRUE?
| A．It is designed only for children in the kindergarten. |
| B．The power adaptor I not free of charge. |
| C．You have to pay extra to install Microsoft Word. |
| D．You can surf the internet to find anything interesting. |
You enjoy reading and want to protect your eyesight. You would like to buy_____.
| A．Amazon Kindle Paperwhite |
| B．iPad 4th generation |
| C．Microsoft Surface |
| D．LeapPad Explorer 2 |
If you want to ____, the tablet Microsoft Surface is your best choice.
| A．choose a tablet for your young child |
| B．operate a tablet without any difficulty |
| C．concentrate on what you read without distraction |
| D．add something to your prepared PPT for a presentation |
Starry Night
Have you ever seen a real night sky that looks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night? I hope not! So, why would an artist paint the sky this way? Perhaps I can answer that with another question. When you’re happy, why do you sing instead of speaking? Or when you’re in love, why do you speak of roses and honey? When we do these things, we, too are artists. We’re using something that goes beyond a mere scientific description in order to communicate our feelings more powerfully than straightforward words can. So consider for a moment that Van Gogh might not have been hallucinating (产生幻觉的) on the night he painted this. Maybe he felt something so powerful that he had to go beyond the familiar to express it.
I hope I’m reminding you of something you already know as I describe the experience of being outside at night under a crystal clear sky that makes everything seem clean and refreshing. So you look up. And suddenly you see the sky that you’ve seldom seen before. It’s not just the same old dark night sky tonight. Instead, the blackness is a deep, rich blue that is more bottomless than any ocean. The stars are not spots of light but brilliant, magical diamonds that dance like tiny angels. In just this special moment, the sky is somehow alive, and it seems to speak to you silently about the meaning of infinity (无限).
Now look at the painting again. Can you see something of what makes this such a famous and well-loved image? But there’s more here than that. Van Gogh painted this while he was quite struck down by a mental disease. It is natural to imagine that he frequently battled the fear that he would never escape his prison to true freedom. It is natural for us to imagine this because each of us has faced our own personal prison, whether it be disease, the loss of a loved one, serious financial problems … In such moments it is tempting to give up to despair (绝望) and collapse in hopelessness.
Looking at this painting, I imagine Van Gogh in just such a moment of despair, when he is struck by the memory of one of those amazing night skies. He recalls the sense that he is not alone, that there is a living, infinite world with rich colorful creatures and scenes all around.
And so th
e sky flows across the canvas (画布) full of vitality (活力) and power. The stars don’t just sparkle; they explode. Looking closer, we notice that the earth itself seems to respond to the movement in the sky, forming its own living waves in the mountain and rolling trees. In the sleepy village, the windows of the houses glow (发光) with the same light that brightens the universe. The giant trees at the left seem to capture the joy by stretching upwards toward the sky.
What a tremendous message of hope there is in this masterpiece! Even if our troubles persist, the world around us assures us that life is worth living. That’s what the angels sing about. Doesn’t it make you want to sing, too?Looking at the painting Starry Night, we can see all the following except________.
| A．The singing angels | B．the giant trees |
| C．the sleepy village | D．the sparkling stars |
Van Gogh does NOT describe a feeling of ______ through the Starry Night.
| A．happiness | B．vitality | C．power | D．despair |
The underlined word “prison” in the 3rd paragraph probably means ______.
| A．trouble in one’s life | B．mental illness |
| C．control from the authority | D．a place where criminals are kept |
What is the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To explain how Van Gogh painted the Starry Night. |
| B．To tell us how to appreciate the Starry Night. |
| C．To prove Van Gogh was in a hallucinating state of mind while painting the picture. |
| D．To show us the beauty of the sky on a starry night. |
Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED Preparation
Task:
The Adult Ba sic Education Department serves a huge population of learners. Our task is to teach basic skills and help learners to get more knowledge to function effectively as a family member, citizen, worker, and lifelong learner in a changing world.
Description:
ABE is a non-credit program of self-improvement designed to improve basic skills for students who are of different educational l
evel. Development of reading, writing, and math skills are paid special attention to, as well as life skills, employability, and technology. Students without a high school diploma(文凭)also have 
the opportunity to prepare for the GED exams in the five subject areas writing, social studies, science, literature, and math.
Prerequisites (条件):
ABE classes are open to anyone 18 or over who desires to improv
e basic reading, writing, and math skills at the pre-college level. Students who are 16 or 17 must first obtain an official release( 证书) from high school before attending class.
To be accepted, students must attend an Educational Planning Session. During the Educational Planning Session students will be given an overview of the ABE programs as well as PCC policies, fees, etc. Students will also have their reading, writing, and math abilities assessed (评估) during the Educational Planning Session The results of their assessment will help the teachers develop individual programs of study for students to guide them toward their personal goals. Students needing special help must get in touch with the Office for Students with Disabilities (503-977-4341) at least two weeks before the session is held.
Courses: The ABE Department serves an aim to___________.
| A．provide learners with basic knowledge and skills to fit in with society |
| B．help learners successfully get a job in a changing world |
| C．offer diplomas to those who fail to finish secondary education |
| D．provide students with opportunities to prepare for the GED exams |
A 17-year-old is not accepted to ABE classes only because he_________.
| A．is below 18 |
| B．can't offer a high school diploma |
| C．has left school without official permission |
| D．is assessed as poor in learning performances |
What
is the Educational Planning Session intended for?
| A．Providing special help to disabled students. |
B．Helping students be better at the fo ur basic skills. |
| C．Finding out whether they can be accepted to ABE classes. |
| D．An assessment of students' basic skill levels. |
Different courses are offered to different students according to _____.
| A．their own choices |
| B．the assessments during the Educational Planning Session |
| C．their performances in school |
D．how much they pay for the course s |
It was 3:12 a. m. when nine-year-old Glenn Kreamer awoke to the smell of burning. Except for the crackling（爆裂声）of flames somewhere below there was not a sound in the two-storey house at Baldwin, Long Island. With his father away on night duty at a local factory, Glenn was worried about the safety of his mother, his sister Karen, 14 and his 12-year-old brother Todd. He ran downstairs through the smoke filled house to push and pull at Karen and Todd until they sat up. Then he helped each one through the house to the safety of the garden. There, his sister and brother, taking short and quick breaths and coughing, collapsed on the lawn.
The nine-year-old raced back into the house and upstairs to his mother’s room. He found it impossible to waked her up. Mrs. Kreamer, a victim of the smoke, was unconscious, and there was nobody to help Glenn carry her to the garden. But the boy remained calm and , as a fireman said later, “acted with all the self-control of a trained adult.”
On the bedroom telephone, luckily still working, Glenn called his father and, leaving Mr. Kreamer to telephone the fire brigade and ambulance service, got on with the task of saving his mother.
First he filled a bucket with water from the bathroom and threw water over his mother and her bed. Then, with a wet cloth around his head he went back to the garden.
He
could hear the fire engine coming up, but how would the firemen find his mother in the smoke-filled house where flames had almost swallowed up the ground floor?
Grasping firmly a ball of string（线绳） from the garage, Glenn raced back into the house and dashed upstairs to his mother’s room. Tying one end of the string to her hand， he ran back, laying out the string as he went, through the hall and back out into the garden.
Minutes later he was telling fire chief John Coughlan: “The string will lead you to mother.” Mrs. Kreamer was carried to safety as the flames were breaking through her bedroom floor.Why did Glenn run downstairs first?
| A．He wanted to find out what was happening. |
| B．He was worried about his mother’s safety. |
| C．He wanted to save his sister and brother. |
| D．He went to see if his father had come back from work. |
How did Glenn help the firemen to save his mother?
| A．By throwing water all over her and her bed. |
| B．By carrying her to safety with his brother. |
C．By push ing and pulling at her. |
| D．By tying a string to her hand. |
What did Glenn do to protect himself?
| A．He put a wet cloth around his head. |
| B．He threw water all over himself. |
| C．He hid himself in the bathroom. |
| D．He rushed out to the lawn. |
Glenn saved his family because___________.
| A．his father had taught him to do so on the phone |
| B．he had learned something about first aid |
| C．he had dealt with the emergency calmly and wisely |
| D．he had followed his mother’s instruction |
Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with those in China and other countries. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. She said that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do, such as attending a sleepover, having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.
Many people have criticized Amy Chua. Some say her parenting methods were abusive(辱骂的). She even a
dmits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that it was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. She says she eased
some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted, “I hate my life! I hate you!”
Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughters. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children’s abilities. “One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility(脆弱),” she said.
“The beginning of this intense discussion has to do with what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child,” said Stacy Debroff, who has written four books about parenting.
Ms. Debroff says Amy Chua’s parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants(移民) seeking a better future for their children.
But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey Debroff advises parents to develop their own styles of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.Amy Chua has been criticized mainly because ____.
| A．she looks up to boys and down on girls |
| B．she has already abused her right as a parent |
| C．she hasn’t raised her children like her own parents |
| D．she has fought with her children several times |
Which can best describe Ms. Chua according to the passage?
| A．Uneducated. | B．Cruel. | C．Strict. | D．Strong. |
According to Ms. Debroff, _____.
| A．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be banned(禁止) in China |
| B．Amy Chua’s should stop to adopt American parenting styles |
| C．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be adjusted if possible |
| D．There isn’t any advantages in Amy Chua’s style |
What does the underlined word “retreat” in Paragraph 5
mean?
| A．Give in. | B．Pass away. | C．Cry out. | D．Go ahead. |
What should be the best title of this passage?
| A．Some books on studying styles. |
| B．The disadvantage of Chinese parenting styles |
| C．Differences between western and eastern parenting styles |
| D．The comparison between American and Chinese parenting styles |
A lazy Susan is an addition to a table, which is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is accomplished through the use of a turntable(转盘), which usually moves the food in a circle when pushed by those at table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place as the lazy Susan is turned about.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet. One may spin the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods stored in it. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move an
d the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
Whether the lazy Susan is on a tabletop or within a cabinet, it can be made of a variety of materials. Most commonly, a lazy Susan is made of either plastic, wood or glass. Some people believe that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, though it was referred to as a dumb waiter(上菜升降架) at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Othe
rs believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph(留声机), which later developed into the lazy Susan.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term lazy Susan was created in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain, however, the term dumb waiter is still used rather than the term lazy Susan. The reason for the name lazy Susan remains a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan. According to the passage, a lazy Susan _____.
| A．is a person who serves food at table |
| B．is a waitress who helps move dinner tables |
C．is an additiona l round table in a dining room |
| D．is a turntable that passes food around the table |
Which of the following is NOT true of the lazy Susan?
| A．On a tabletop, it is convenient for people to have dinner. |
| B．Within a cupboard, it is easy for people to see what is inside. |
| C．The turntable was invented in 1917. |
| D．It can be made of many kinds of materials. |
Why did Jefferson’s daughter complain she was served last when having meals?
| A．Because she was too lazy. |
| B．Because she was the youngest. |
| C．Because the table was too tall for her. |
| D．Because the table couldn’t move food for her. |
From the passage, we can know that _____.
| A．the lazy Susan was invented earlier than the phonograph |
| B．Susan was the name of Jefferson’s and Edison’s daughter |
| C．Jefferson and Edison invented the lazy Susan at the same time |
D．When people talk about a lazy waitress they u se the term “Susan” |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．What is a lazy Susan? |
| B．When was the lazy Susan created? |
| C．Why do inventions come from the daily life? |
| D．How was “dumb waiter” replaced by “lazy Susan”? |
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