Big data（数据） is a lot of sets of information that are put together so they can be used by a computer program． The computer program looks for different kinds of answers or patterns in the data． Big data can have different kinds of information from many sources， such as information that comes from schools，social media sites， companies， and governments． One set of data can have people's names and addresses． Another set can have what they like， where they go to school， and how much time they spend on the computer．
Big data can be used in many ways． The government uses it to understand how many people travel on buses or trains． This information is then used to make bus or train systems better． Some schools use big data to understand which children may need extra help in class． The teacher can then give certain students more help or support so those students can succeed in school． Companies use big data， too．It helps them understand who buys their products． For example， one company uses weather data to see when people eat the most ice cream．
Big data can be used for good reasons． Some hospitals use big data to predict if a baby who is born too early will get sick． The hospital can then take extra steps to take care of that baby so he or she does not get sick． Big data can also be used for bad reasons． It can be used to predict which kinds of people are likely to break the law or hurt others， even if they have not done anything wrong．
How can big data be used for good and bad things？ It is because the computer programs used to look at big data and understand it are written by people． People think a certain way． Because they think a certain way， they build a model of those ideas． These ideas are then used to look at the data．Sometimes，these ideas are helpful for people or businesses． Other times， bad ideas can cause problems for certain groups of people．
（1）This reading is about ．
A．what big data is and how it is used
B．what schools and hospitals people like
C．where important data is collected and stored
D．how big data is controlled by governments and companies
（2）One company uses weather information to ．
A．help children in need
B．know when people will visit the hospital
C．find out who rides the bus or train
D．understand when people will need ice cream
（3）The main idea of Paragraph 3 is ．
A．big data can be used for good reasons
B．we can use big data in a number of ways
C．big data can be used for both good and bad reasons
D．we can use big data to prevent babies from getting sick
（4）The overall tone（总基调） of this reading is ．
A．sad and personal
B．personal and scientific
C．informative but silly
D．scientific and informative
Rice is one of the most commonly eaten basic foods around the world.Buying it and cooking it is a daily matter.Yet for many，its presence has been a matter of life and death.It is a main food because it is easy to grow，besides low cost and convenience.A poor community in the developing world may find it difficult to bring in foreign fruits or raise cattle for meat，but it can almost certainly use the land it has in order to grow plenty of rice.
This was the great achievement of Yuan Longping，who passed away on May 22 this year.A great Chinese scientist，Yuan successfully developed what is known as "hybrid rice" which can produce up a 30% higher output.Yuan Longping was born in the year 1930，a time when China was very different.It was a nation，without modern industry，depending on the rice which they grew.The first few decades （十年） of his life were met with major social events，and a rapidly growing population that made food supply not last all the time.This experience left its mark on Yuan Longping，which made him focus on （关注） farming science and work on his research of hybrid rice.
His achievement would see the rice supply in China increasing from 56.9 million tons in 1950 to 194.7 million tons by 2017.By 1991，20% of the world's rice output came from hybrid rice，even if only being planted in 10% of fields.
Always remember，human development begins first with the most basic and sample things，such as developing rice.We should be thankful for scientific thinkers like Yuan.
（1）Why is rice a main food around the world？
（2）What did Yuan develop successfully？
（3）When was Yuan Longping born？
（4）What made Yuan focus on farming science？
（5）How many tons was the rice supply in China by 2017？
5 ways to train your brain for better sleep
The days are longer，full of sunshine and bright with the promise of enjoying a more relaxing spring and summer with your loved ones.But if you want to enjoy your daytime，it's time to improve your sleep during the night﹣time. "Sleep problems endanger health and quality （质量） of life for up to 45% of the world's population，" according to the World Sleep Society.
Sleep is one of the three keys to a healthier，longer life （the others are diet and exercise）. （1） .Here are the top five ways to improve your sleep and get some zz's：
Create a sleep nest
（2） .Science tells us that we sleep better in cooler temperatures of about 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit（15℃to 20℃）.
Develop a routine
Set up a bedtime ritual by taking a warm bath or shower，reading a book or listening to soft music.You're teaching your mind to relax.And stick to it.Go to bed and get up at the same time each day，even on weekends or your days off. （3） .
Cut the lights
Production of the sleep hormone melatonin （荷尔蒙褪黑激素） begins at dark.Research has found that the body will slow or stop it with light on，to get away from any light，even the blue light from your charging smart phone.
Refuse the wine
Don't turn to wine to make you calm or help you sleep.（4） .Your body needs to experience all three steps of sleep—light sleep，dream，and deep sleep—to fully repair itself.
（5） .
Heavy and spicy foods may give you heartburn or other digestive problems，thus influencing your ability to get and stay asleep.
If you try these tips and can't seem to relax，or your sleep continues to worsen，be sure to reach out to your doctor or a mental health professional.
A.The body like routine B.Avoid heavy or hot foods C.Refuse coffee later in the day D.One of the first tasks is to set up your sleep environment E.Wine may help you fall asleep，but it holds you in the lighter sleep F.Many of the ways to increase the quality of your sleep are easy to follow |
What do you do with your rubbish？Throw it out？You don't know what you're missing!Look closely at the two figures on your left.They were made from things most people throw away.The figures were made from used bottle caps.Those two bottle﹣cap figures were exhibited （展示） in a museum.
Folk art is art made by common people who have not been trained as artists.Their work is often based on traditions in their culture.Fine art，on the other hand，is usually made by people who have had training in art.Works of fine art are valued for their artistic beauty.They are supposed to be looked at but not used.Works of folk art，however，are often made for everyday use.
There were more than 800 pieces of folk art from nearly 50 countries in the exhibition.All of the pieces were made from used metal，wood，cloth，and plastic.The artists come from many different cultures.Still，they all share one thing.They take objects that are normally thrown away and change them into objects that are beautiful，useful，and fun.The artists may not think of what they do as recycling，but that's exactly what it is.Fine artists might work with expensive materials.They might use expensive tools to shape these materials into works of art.On the other hand，in poor countries rubbish might be the only material folk artists and toy makers can afford.The exhibition shows that a rich imagination is very important when there are only poor materials.Recycled art began long before people began to think about recycling.Some of the objects in the exhibition date from the 1930s.
Even if you don't create art out of rubbish，it's good to save our natural resources.Remember the three rules：reduce，reuse，recycle.If you reduce waste，true things instead of throwing them out，and recycle materials such as paper，plastic，and glass，you will protect the environment.
（1）Which idea belongs in the empty box？
Conclusion （结论） |
Details |
Art based on cultural traditions |
|
Art made for everyday use |
|
Art made with used materials |
A.Folk art is made by people who are not trained artists.
B.The artists come from many different cultures.
C.Recycled art began long before people started recycling.
（2）What can we learn from Paragraph 3？
A.There was more than 800 pieces of fine art.
B.Folk artists can't shape expensive materials into works of art.
C.Poor materials also can be made into works of art.
（3）What is the same thing of the pieces in the exhibition share？
A.They are all woks of fine art.
B.They are all made from used materials.
C.They are all made by the trained artists.
（4）What can we do to protect our environment？
A.Throw away used materials.
B.Only use expensive materials.
C.Recycle materials.
（5）Which of the following would be the best title for the passage？
A.Used Bottle Caps
B.The Art of Recycling
C.A Museum Exhibition
Dogs might have the latest tools in the fight against cancer （癌症）：their noses!Researchers at California's Pine Street Foundation （PSF） say they have trained five dogs to smell cancer on a prison's breath.This could be exciting news.
A dog's sense of smell may be 10，000 to 100，000 times stronger than ours.But can dogs really smell illness？PSF researcher Michael McCulloch says yes. "We were very surprised by how exact they were，" he said. "They were telling who had cancer，and they were also saying who didn't."
McCulloch and his team asked four healthy people and one with cancer to blow into plastic tubes （塑料管）.Special materials in the tubes kept the things of each breath.The tubes were then placed one yard apart.Finally the dogs were allowed to smell the tubes.Each dog had been trained for three weeks to sit when it smelled cancer.Ninety﹣nine percent of the time，the dog sat next to the tubes blown into by patients with lung cancer.The dogs were right 88 percent of the time about breast cancer.
Dogs in the Pine Street Foundation test were trained to sit when they smelled cancer.How well did they perform？Take a look at this chart to find out. |
||
Breath Sample |
Number of Times the Dogs Sat Down |
Number of Times the Dogs Kept Standing |
Breath from lung cancer patients |
564 |
10 |
Breath from healthy persons |
4 |
720 |
No lab test for cancer has given more correct results than this test.The results are so amazing that many experts question the dogs' smelling power.They wonder if there were other reasons why the dogs did so well.For example，they thought the way the dog trainers behaved could have influenced how the dogs acted.However，most experts agree that this study is important.The information could help scientists create a simple breath test for cancer in the future.Once again humans may be getting a helping paw or nose﹣from their best animal friends.
（1）What's the latest tool a dog might have in the fight against cancer？
A.Tooth.
B.Nose.
C.Ear.
（2）What happened first in the Pine Street Foundation test？
A.The dogs were trained.
B.The tubes were placed one yard apart.
C.The dogs smelled the tubes.
（3）What was a dog supposed to do when it smelled cancer？
A.Smell again.
B.Turn around.
C.Sit down.
（4）Look at the chart.How many times did the dogs keep standing when they smelled the breath from healthy persons？
A.Less than 10 times.
B.Almost 600 times.
C.About 700 times.
（5）Why do many experts question the dog's smelling power？
A.Because no lab test for cancer has given more correct results.
B.Because the dog trainers influenced how the dogs acted.
C.Because they don't think this study is important.
Can a green machine help the world's poorest kids learn better？Nicholas Negroponte thinks so.He and his team of scientists have invented a new type of computer.As a result，many children who live in poverty （贫穷） will have their own laptop computers!
Negroponte works at a university.He started a group called One Laptop Per Child （OLPC）.The people at OLPC don't work for money.They work to help children learn.OLPC makes computers that don't cost a lot.Then they sell the machines to governments of countries that have many people live in poverty.The governments then give the computes to kids for free.
The XO Laptop computers are made for school﹣aged children in developing nations.Many of these children live in faraway areas and go to schools with classrooms.In order to work，the laptops have to be lasting and student﹣friendly.
The machines have many fun characters like a built﹣in video camera，voice recording，and games.The WiFi lets students share information on the Web and read e﹣books.They also can make music and chat with friends.
Another great character is that it can last for a long time.It can be hand charged and also can be recharged by connecting to a solar panel.Because of these characters the XO laptops make learning fun while helping the environment.
The computers have a colorful name﹣"the green machine".Negroponte thinks they could make a difference in the lives of millions of kids.He says， "Every problem you can think of﹣poverty，peace，the environment﹣is solved with education."
OLPC plans to give out over ten million computers in the next few years.Kids in Thailand，Nigeria，Brazil，and Argentina will get most of them.China and Egypt also want to take part in the program.After that，Negroponte hopes to sell computers to other countries with high poverty.
（1）Negroponte thinks his laptop computers will help the world's poorest kids to .
A.work at home
B.go to school on time
C.learn better
（2）What can we know about the people at OLPC according to Paragraph 2？
A.They work for money.
B.They give computers to kids for free.
C.They sell computers to governments with many people living in poverty.
（3）Why do XO laptops make learning fun while helping the environment？
A.Because they are lasting and student﹣friendly.
B.Because they are made for school﹣aged children.
C.Because they have a colorful name.
（4）What does the underlined word " charged" mean in Chinese？
A.携带.
B.充电.
C.使用.
（5）Who will get most of the computers in the next few years？
A.Kids in Thailand.
B.Kids in China.
C.Kids in Egypt.
粤公网安备 44130202000953号