Robots make me nervous-especially the ones which seem to think for themselves．I was embarrassed to admit this till I heard that Bill Gates，the founder of Microsoft，felt the same way．Gates said in an interview with the website Reddit：“I am in the camp that is concerned about super intelligence．First the machines will do a lot of jobs for us and not be super intelligent．That should be positive if we manage well．A few decades after that though the intelligence is strong enough to be a concern．”
Well，maybe I don’t have to worry about my laptop and kitchen appliances yet．After I use them I can always pull the plug．But in the future，machines might find a way to prevent us from switching them off．There’s a scary thought!
Professor Stephen Hawking warned a few months ago about the possibility that artificial intelligence could evolve and end up beyond human contro1．He suggested that machines could“spell the end of the human race”．
Maybe the problem with computers too clever for us is not that they are evil or rebellious．What could put us in danger is that they might be too efficient．That’s what philosopher Nick Bostrom from the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University believes．He says that machines are indifferent to humans and in pursuit of their own goals，the destruction of people might be just collateral(附带的)damage．A machine would not take pity on you．
I’m glad my machines at home are“dumb”．All my vacuum cleaner wants to take over is the carpet in my living room．Let’s hope they don’t create an appliance which wants to take over the world!
We can conclude from Gates’statements that ___________．
| A．he is embarrassed that he is afraid of robots |
| B．he doesn’t think machines are intelligent |
| C．machines should be fully employed |
| D．machines’super intelligence should be a concern |
The underlined word“spell”in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____________．
| A．record | B．cause | C．explain | D．develop |
Why are computers dangerous according to Nick Bostrom?
| A．They are too evil and rebellious． |
| B．They are indifferent to humans． |
| C．They show pity on humans． |
| D．They are too clever and efficient． |
What can be inferred about the author?
| A．He doesn’t agree with Bill Gates． |
| B．He is not content with the present kitchen appliances． |
| C．He is scared about the super intelligence of machines． |
| D．He expects that machines will take place of humans． |
In the early part of the twentieth century, racism was widespread in the United States. Many African Americans were not given equal opportunities in education or employment. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was an African American woman who gained fame as a concert singer in this climate of racism. She was born in Philadelphia and sang in church choirs during her childhood. When she applied for admission to a
local music school in 1917, she was turned down because she was black. Unable to attend music school, she began her career as a singer for church gatherings. In 1929, she went to Europe to study voice and spent several years performing there. Her voice was widely praised throughout Europe. Then she returned to the US in 1935 and became a top concert singer after performing at Town Hall in New York City.
Racism again affected Anderson in 1939. When it was arranged for her to sing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the Daughters of the American Revolution opposed it because of her color. She sang instead at the Lincoln Memorial for over 75 000 people. In 1955, Anderson became the first black soloist to sing win the Metropolitan Opera of New York City. The famous conductor Toscanini praised her voice as “heard only once in a hundred years”. She was a US delegate to the United Nations in 1958 and won the UN peace prize in 1977. Anderson eventually triumphed over racism.
According to this passage, what did Marian Anderson do between 1917 and 1929?
| A．She studied at a music school. |
| B．She sang for religious activities. |
| C．She sang at Town Hall in New York. |
| D．She studied voice in Europe. |
Toscanini thought that Marian Anderson .
| A．had a very rare voice |
| B．sang occasionally in public |
| C．sang only once in many years |
| D．was seldom heard by people |
Anderson’s beautiful voice was first recognized .
A．at the Lincoln Memorial
B．in Washington, DC.
C．in Europe
D．at the United Nations
This passage shows that Anderson finally defeated racism in the US by .
| A．protesting to the government |
| B．appealing to the United Nations |
| C．demonstrating in the streets |
| D．working hard to perfect her art |
London Summer School in Classics
Dates
The London Summer School in Classics 2008 will be held at King’s College London. It will run from 8th July until 17th July. Applications close on 2nd June, 2008.
For an application form, please download either the 2-page PDF or the word format document from the foot of the page.
If you have any problems downloading the application form or any questions, please contact: London Summer School in Classics, King’s College London.
Tel: 020 7848 2299
Fax: 020 7848 2545
Organization
The school is organized by the colleges of the University of London. The summer school offers eight days of intensive teaching in Greek and Latin. There are four language classes each day as well as lectures and a debate, between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm. The course is not residential (提供住宿的), and there is no teaching during the weekend of 12th to 13th July.
The fee is £85.00. Travel grants (旅行补助金) are available as a contribution to your travel costs, but may not cover all your expenses. The travel grants are arranged during the summer school.
Teaching is generally in groups of 12-15 people and it, as far as possible, comprises (包含) of students of roughly the same level of experience. The style of teaching is friendly, but demanding: a lot of work is expected from students during the school, but they usually find the whole experience both stimulating and valuable. Some classes concentrate chiefly on reading, while others offer a mixture of grammar and translation practice. Our tutors include some of the most experienced and talented teachers of Classics in the London area and beyond.
The Summer School in Classics caters for a wide range of interests and for both school & university students as well as those who wish to learn Greek or Latin, or to revive their knowledge of the languages. Our principal concern is to provide a thorough program of language learning in a lively university environment.
To join in the school, you have to apply before ________.
| A．8th July, 2008 | B．2nd June, 2008 | C．17th July, 2008 | D．13th July, 2008 |
As a student of the school, you are probably asked to _______.
| A．do a lot of reading in Greek and Latin |
| B．learn the grammar of Greek and Latin only |
| C．do some translation work only |
| D．speak Greek and Latin with experienced teachers |
What is the London Summer School in Classics most concerned about?
| A．Providing a stimulating experience for students. |
| B．Promoting students to develop a wide range of interests. |
| C．Teaching students languages in a lively environment. |
| D．Improving students’ level of debating in the argument. |
Which is one of the teaching ways of the school?
| A．Student groups consist of the same level students strictly. |
| B．Students needn’t do any work in the class. |
| C．Students learn Greek and Latin by listening to teachers all day. |
| D．Students are generally divided into groups of 12-15. |
Which of the following can we know from the passage?
| A．The fee is £85, including the travel costs. |
| B．Students needn’t go to class on 12th and 13th July. |
| C．People should fill in two application forms. |
| D．People can contact the school by phone or email. |
One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St .Louis ,Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering(阻止) your growth in this company passed away .
We invite you to join the funeral(葬礼) in the room that has been prepared in the gym .”
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be .The excitement grew as the employees arrives arrived at the gym to pay their last respects .Everyone wondered: “Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he’s no longer here!”
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when then they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said : “There is only one who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.”
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, you realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.Who has ever resisted the employees of the large company in St .Louis ,Missouri?
| A．The boss | B．The leader of their group |
| C．The sign | D．The employees themselves |
Who passed away in the large company?
| A．No one | B．The boss |
| C．One of the employees | D．One of the colleagues |
What’s the best title of this paragraph?
| A．Independent | B．Hard Working | C．Team Work | D．Last Respects |
Head of Research
Salary：￡55.271
We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre.You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.
The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.
You will need：proven line management skills，especially in managing and motivating a team；good research skills，holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience；a high level of mathematical and calculating skills；the ability to produce high quality work under pressure；a commitment to any knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics；and knowledge and/or experience of the postal and/or telecommunications industry.
To apply，please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu.org or by telephoning HR(Human Resources)on 020 8971 7482.When applying，please stay your source.
Closing Date for Applications：4th August
Anticipated interview date：17th August
No agencies pleaseIn which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?
| A．Arts. | B．Sales. | C．Jobs. | D．News. |
One of the duties of the person to be appointed is________
| A．taking charge of research work |
| B．seeking membership for the trade union |
| C．managing a team of three or four members |
| D．running a telecommunications company |
If you want to apply for this position，you can do all EXCEPT________.
| A．ask an agency for an application form |
| B．dial 020 8971 7482 for more information |
| C．email hr@cwu.org for an application pack |
| D．send in your application before 4th August |
Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?
| A．A school teacher with a master's degree. |
| B．A university graduate majoring in computer science. |
| C．A director from a research centre with a master's degree. |
| D．A clerk from a telecommunications company. |
Food sometimes gets poisoned with harmful things. A person who eats such food can get an illness called food poisoning(中毒). Food poisoning is usually not serious, but some types are deadly. The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within hours of eating the poisoned food. Fever is one of the most common symptoms.
Certain microorganisms（微生物）cause most types of food poisoning. Bacteria and other microorganisms can poison eggs, meat, vegetables, and many other foods. After entering the body, these tiny living things release（释放）poisons that make people sick.
Some chemicals can also cause food poisoning. They are often added to food while it is being grown, processed, or prepared. For example, many farmers spray chemicals on crops to kill weeds and insects. Some people may have a bad reaction to those chemicals when they eat the crops.
Some plants and animals contain natural poisons that are harmful to people. These include certain kinds of seafood, grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and mushrooms.
When people handle food properly, the risk of food poisoning is very small. Microorganisms multiply rapidly in dirty places and in warm temperatures. This means that people should never touch food with dirty hands or put food on unwashed surfaces. Food should be kept in a refrigerator to stop microorganisms from growing. Meat needs to be cooked thoroughly to kill any dangerous microorganisms. People should also wash food covered with chemicals before eating it. Finally, people should not eat wild mushrooms or other foods that grow in the wild. Some of these foods may contain natural materials that are poisonous to humans. In addition, some types of fish can be poisonous.
Most people recover from food poisoning after a few days of resting and drinking extra water. If people eat natural poisons, they must go to the hospital right away to have their stomachs emptied.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Food when poisoned can make people sick. | B．Food poisoning means death. |
| C．Food poisoning comes in varieties. | D．Food poisoning can be serious. |
We know from the passage that the symptoms of food poisoning .
| A．are always accompanied by a fever | B．are too common to be noted |
| C．can be noticed within hours | D．can he ignored |
Food poisoning can be caused by all the following EXCEPT .
| A．some chemicals | B．low temperatures |
| C．some tiny living things | D．certain natural materials |
From Paragraph 5,we can learn that .
| A．mushrooms should not be eaten |
| B．vegetables are safer than meat and seafood |
| C．natural poisons are more dangerous than chemicals |
| D．different types of food should be handled differently |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A．natural materials are safe in food processing |
| B．chemicals are needed in food processing |
| C．food poisoning can be kept under control |
| D．food poisoning is out of control |
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