Right in front of the Minneapolis Central Library，a row of green bikes sits parked in a special stand．Each bike is designed with the logo“Nice Ride”—the name of the city’s bike-share program.
Nice Ride bikes are a lot like the library books that people come here to borrow．To rent a bike，you simply use your membership card at a Nice Ride bike station．Members can rent one of 1,200 bikes from 138 stations throughout Minnesota's largest city．People use the Nice Ride bikes to go to work，to go out on business，or just to enjoy the city’s many bike paths．
The rise of bike-share programs like Nice Ride is encouraging more people than ever to choose biking over driving．Rising gas prices and concerns about the environment have also gotten people to dust off their bike helmets， pump air into flat tires，and hit the road．
Why ride? Not only is biking good exercise，but switching from a car to a bike also reduces the amount of pollution in the air．Carbon dioxide，a greenhouse gas linked to climate change，is one of the many polluting substances that come out of a car's tallpipe．
Bike-share systems are found around the world in cities like London，Paris，Barcelona，and Melbourne，Australia．The largest program-with 70,000 bikes-is in Wuhan，China.
To make roads friendlier to non-motorists，the U．S．Department of Transportation has invested more than a billion dollars in cycling and pedestrian projects in recent years．The money went toward building thousands of miles of on-street bike lanes and bike-and pedestrian-only passages called green ways．If one wants to use the bike，it's a must to __________．
| A．give away a bicycle | B．know Nice Ride well |
| C．pay the cost in advance | D．get a membership card |
Which of the following can people do with the bikes?
| A．Earn a living． | B．Enjoy bikeways． |
| C．Compete in a race． | D．Rent them out to others． |
Paragraph 4 is mainly about _____________．
| A．benefits of biking | B．pollution caused by cars |
| C．methods to use the bikes | D．ways to reduce pollution |
Which of the following is true of Nice Ride?
| A．It will take the place of taxi companies． |
| B．China has better public bike systems． |
| C．It attracts more people to choose biking． |
| D．The government lacks money to support it. |
The author's purpose in writing this text is to ______________．
| A．spread bike-share programs |
| B．seek advice for Nice Ride |
| C．compare Nice Ride with libraries |
| D．introduce the public bike system |
The day my husband fell to his death，it started to snow，just like any November day．His body，when I found it，was lightly covered with snow．It snowed almost every day for the next four months，while I sat on the couch and watched it pile up．One morning，I shuffled downstairs and was surprised to see a snow remover clearing my driveway and the bent back of a woman shoveling(铲)my walk．I dropped to my knees，crawled through the living room．And back up stairs so those good people would not see me．I was embarrassed．My first thought was，how would I ever repay them? I didn’t have the strength to brush my hair let alone shovel someone’s walk．
Before John’s death，I took pride in the fact that I rarely asked for help or favors，I defined myself by my competence and independence．So who was I if I was no longer capable and busy? How could I respect myself if all I did was sit on the couch every day and watch the snowfall?
Learning how to receive the love and support that came my way wasn't easy．Friends cooked forme and l cried because I couldn't even help them set the table．“I'm not usually this lazy，”I wept．Finally，my friend Kathy sat down with me and said,"Mary，cooking for you is not a burden. I love you and I want to do it．It makes me feel good to be able to do something for you．”
Over and over，I heard similar emotions from the people who supported me during those dark days．One very wise man told me，“You are not doing nothing．Being fully open to your sorrow may be the hardest work you will everdo．”
I am not the person I once was，but in many ways I have changed for the better．My heart is now filled with thanks for people around me．I have been surprised to learn that there is incredible freedom that comes from facing one’s worst fear and walking away whole．I believe there is strength，for sure，in accepting a dark period of our life.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．The writer’s friend was unwilling to cook for her． |
| B．The writer had been busy with her life before． |
| C．The writer recovered from her sorrow quickly with his friend‘s help． |
| D．The day her husband died，it was snowing heavily． |
We can describe the writer before her husband died as the following except ___________．
| A．hard-working | B．independent |
| C．smart | D．capable |
The underlined word“shuffled”in Paragraph 1 probably means ___________．
| A．stepped steadily | B．walked slowly |
| C．ran swiftly | D．fell sadly |
We can infer from the passage that ____________.
| A．the writer found her husband immediately he fell off the roof |
| B．the writer became strong-willed immediately after John's death |
| C．the people around the writer were friendly and supported her |
| D．before John’s death，the writer never asked others for help |
The writer wrote the passage to ___________．
| A．share her sad story with us |
| B．express her guilty conscience to the people who helped her |
| C．show her thanks to the people who love and support her |
| D．tell us the changes she has made because of her husband’s death |
CHICAGO(Reuters)-Smoking not only can wrinkle(皱纹)the face and turn it yellow—it can do the same to the whole body，researchers reported on Monday．
The study，published in the Archives of Dermatology，shows that smoking affects the skin all over the body-even skin protected from the sun．
“We examined non-facial skin that was protected from the sun，and found that the total number of packs，of cigarette smoked per day and the total years a person has smoked were linked with the amount of skin damage a person experienced，”Dr．Yolanda，who led the study，said in a statement.
“In participants older than 65 years，smokers had significantly more fine wrinkling than nonsmokers．Similar fmdings were seen in participants aged 45 to 65 years．” Yolanda’s team added in their report．
The researchers tested 82 people，smokers and nonsmokers，taking pictures of the inner right arms．They ranged，in age from 22 to 91 and half were smokers．In dependent judges decided how wrinkled each person’s skin was.
When skin is exposed to sunlight，especially the face，it becomes coarse(粗糙的)．Wrinkled and discolored with a pale yellow tint，Yolanda's team wrote．
Several previous studies have found that cigarette smoking led to premature(过早的)skin aging asmeasured by facial wrinkles，the study said，but little has been done to measure the aging of skin not exposed to light．
The report did not discuss die mechanism involved but previous research has found that cigarette smoke，among other things，causes blood vessels(血管)beneath the skin to constrict(紧缩)，reducing blood supply to the skin．
Smoking can also damage the connective tissue(组织)that supports both die skin and the internal organs.The best title for this passage would be ______________．
| A．The danger of smoking | B．Smoking causes skin aging |
| C．Quit smoking for health | D．A survey of smokers |
It can be inferred from the study _____________．
| A．smoking won’t affect skin protected from the sun |
| B．smoking will do damage to skin rather than other organs |
| C．smokers over 65 usually won’t worry about their skin |
| D．the age of smokers is not connected，with the result of the test |
When your skin is exposed to sunlight long，it becomes all of the following but _________.
| A．flexible | B．coarse |
| C．rough | D．discolored |
According to the passage，how wrinkled a person’s skin is doesn’t relate to ___________．
| A．the number of cigarettes a person smokes |
| B．the kind and characteristics of skin |
| C．how long a person smokes |
| D．how long skin is under sunlight |
From the passage smoking results in skin aging mainly because ____________．
| A．it will lower blood supply to skin |
| B．it can make you feel tired |
| C．it can make skin come off |
| D．it can make blood run faster |
The main purpose of the passage is to ____________．
| A．inform people about the study of skin． |
| B．advise people how to protect skin |
| C．warn people not to smoke again |
| D．introduce a new way of avoid skin aging |
To win an Oscar is an achievement at any age．To do so at 22，as Jennifer Lawrence has，is just amazing．Recently，the American star won Best Actress at this year’s Academy Awards for her role in the film The Silver Linings Playbook．According to Time magazine’s Richard Corliss，Lawrence is that rare young actress who“lends a mature intelligence to any ro1e”．Though Lawrence has found great success through her big screen work，Lawrence wasn't sure what she really liked doing before the ageof l4．She thought she’d go to college and may be find a career as a doctor or a travel agent．
Lawrence’s two brothers were star athletes and one of them was a straight-A student．Unlike them，she suffered through school，never quite finding where she belonged．However，during a trip to New York，Lawrence suddenly realized that she wanted to be an actress．When she was enjoying the beautiful city，a model seeker asked if he could take her picture，and the next day he called her in for an audition(试镜)．
“I read the script(剧本)and it was the first time I had that feeling like I understand this，”Lawrence said．“Within 20 minutes，in the cab ride from the hotel room，I decided I didn’t want to be a model．In fact， I wanted to be an actress．”Having appreciated this young lady’s performance，the agency was so impressed with her reading that they signed her on the spot．But she insisted on finishing high school so she could give her full attention to her acting career．
Lawrence burst onto the Hollywood scene last year with The Hunger Games，which established her as the highest-grossing(票房最高的)female action hero of all time．Rolling Stone called her “the most talented young actress in America”．
What can we know about Jennifer Lawrence from Paragraph 3？
| A．Her parents were really strict with her． |
| B．She seemed not to fit in with her school days well． |
| C．Her school performance made her today's fame． |
| D．Her two brothers were doing well in all school subjects． |
Lawrence made up her mind to be all actress because of
| A．a model interview |
| B．her brothers’examples |
| C．the taxi-ride to her hotel room |
| D．the beautiful scenery of New York |
From the text we can know that Lawrence is an actress of great ____________．
| A．confidence | B．ambition |
| C．independence | D．talent |
What is the best title of the text?
| A．Choosing Early | B．Acting Wisely |
| C．Winning Young | D．Following Dreams |
There is no denying that for more than a generation college education has been accepted without the slightest doubt. All high school graduates ought to go, says conventional wisdom and statistical evidence, because college will help them earn more money, become “better” people, and learn to be more responsible citizens than those who don’t go.
But college has never been able to work its magic for everyone. And now that close to half our high school graduates are attending, those who don’t fit the pattern are becoming more numerous, and more obvious. College graduates are selling shoes and driving taxis; college students interfere with each other’s experiments and write false letters of recommendation in the fierce competition so as to get admitted into graduate schools. Others find no stimulation (激励) in their studies, and consequently have to drop out, which is often encouraged by college administrators.
Some observers say the fault is with the young people themselves--they are spoiled and they are expecting too much. But that’s a condemnation（谴责）of the students as a whole, and doesn’t explain all campus unhappiness. Others blame the state of the world, and they are partly right. We have been told that young people have to go to college because our economy can’t absorb an army of untrained eighteen-year-olds. But disappointed graduates are learning that it can no longer absorb an army of trained twenty-two-year-olds, either.
Some campus watchers have openly begun to suggest that college may not be the best, the proper, the only place for every young person after the completion of high school. We may have been looking at all those surveys and statistics upside down, it seems, and through the rosy(玫瑰般的) glow of our own remembered college experiences. Perhaps college doesn’t make people intelligent,ambitious, happy,liberal, or quick to learn things—maybe it is just the other way around, and intelligent, ambitious, happy, liberal, quick-learning people are merely the ones who have been attracted to college in the first place. And perhaps all those successful college graduates would have been successful whether they had gone to college or not. This is heresy (异端邪说) to those of us who have been brought up to believe that if a little schooling is good, more has to be much better. But contrary evidence is beginning to come up.According to the first paragraph, ___________________.
| A．people now no longer challenge college education. |
| B．people still have a low opinion of college education. |
| C．the author thinks youngsters should all go to college. |
| D．people have great expectations for college education. |
More young people drop out of college because _________.
| A．they are no longer motivated in their studies. |
| B．they can start selling shoes and driving taxis. |
| C．they compete for admission to graduate schools. |
| D．college administrators encourage them to do so. |
Who does the author think is to blame for campus unhappiness?
| A．young students who are all spoiled and expecting too much. |
| B．our society that can’t offer enough jobs to college graduates. |
| C．our society that has not enough jobs for high school graduates. |
| D．young people as well as our society are to blame for all this. |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE about those surveys and statistics?
| A．They proved wrong as being contradictory to our college experiences. |
| B．They are so convincing that we think of our rosy college experiences. |
| C．They may have been misread because of our rosy college experiences. |
| D．They prove high school graduates are smarter than college gratuates. |
What is the meaning of the underlined sentence in Paragragh 4?
| A．It is a different way | B．It is just the opposite. |
| C．It is the wrong way. | D．There’s no other way. |
What’s the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To inform young people college education is no longer important now. |
| B．To prove college education doesn’t make young people more intelligent. |
| C．To argue against the idea that college is the first choice for all youngsters. |
| D．To tell young people that there’s something wrong with college education. |
From good reading we can get pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction.
With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely. Whether the characters in it are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble (相像) human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances(熟人). Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings. While human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement.
Of all the gifts from reading books, the most valuable one is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of daily routines or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart's desire. Through books we may get the thrill of hazardous adventure without danger. We can climb high mountains, brave the perils (危险) of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mix with the merry crowds of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed, through books the whole world is ours for the asking. The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited. The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read.Why do we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading?
| A．No one is trying to disturb you there. |
| B．All is so quiet and calm around you. |
| C．The book you read is so fascinating. |
| D．Our life is just far from satisfactory. |
What makes people like their acquaintances in books even more?
| A．They are just like our human friends. |
| B．They are unfamiliar types we like. |
| C．They will never ever abandon us. |
| D．They will never hurt our feelings. |
The word “hazardous” means ______.
| A．“unexpected” | B．“dangerous” |
| C．“imaginary” | D．“unusual” |
“... the whole world is ours for the asking” means that we can____________.
| A．experience the whole world just by reading |
| B．get anywhere in the world only by asking |
| C．make a trip around the world free of charge |
| D．actually possess everything in this world |
What is the most suitable title for this passage?
| A．Reading and traveling | B．Experiencing the world |
| C．Traveling with books | D．Gifts from reading |
With their weakening bodies, advanced age or increasing pressure of work or study, people have been advised and usually persuaded to have health care products. Do you remember your first time to take a nutritional supplement(营养补充品)? What was your first impression?
Posted by Amy, Dec.23, 2010 8∶05 P．M.
Madeline on Dec.24, 2010 7∶25 P．M.
Years ago, as a young mom with two small children, I struggled to keep up with the demands of a busy life. One day, I woke up feeling so tired that I knew something had to change! A friend gave me some Royal Jelly—an amazing substance(物质)from the beehive(蜂房).I was doubtful, but desperate...so I tried it! In time, I began to experience renewed energy like never before! Now, over two decades later, I travel all round the country, sharing my lifechanging experience. I’m grateful for the energy to keep up and love to share this wonderful discovery with others.
Blanca on Dec.25, 2010 7∶02 P．M.
Ten years ago, when I was 73, my mind wanted to be busy and useful, but my body didn’t. I became very tired. That’s when my daughter Madeline tried to persuade me to try her special Royal Jelly. It made great difference in her life, so she was sure it could help me too! Hesitating for 2 days, I gave in. She was right! I no longer felt worn out. I had a new, youthful eagerness for life and I’ve been OK—thanks to Royal Jelly!
Lori on Dec.25, 2010 10∶27 P．M.
When my mom Madeline was introduced to Royal Jelly, it affected my life, too! Mom gave me some of her fantastic Royal Jelly. Boy, things did turn around! I had more energy and vitality and was finally able to keep up with high school and, eventually, college activities. Today, I’m a busy mom in my mid thirties with two active boys and a new business! I have enough energy to do it all! I’m glad I took my Mom’s advice.From the text, we learn that ____________.
| A．Madeline was more than willing to take Royal Jelly at the very beginning |
| B．Royal Jelly is a product that can help renew a person’s energy and vitality |
| C．Amy has benefited from Royal Jelly so she posted a topic about the product |
| D．Lori was grateful because Royal Jelly helped him improve his schoolwork |
Which of the following is TRUE of Blanca?
| A．She replied to the topic on Christmas Eve. |
| B．She tried Royal Jelly without hesitation. |
| C．She was the second one to reply to the topic. |
| D．She’s now supposed to be in her seventies. |
The underlined word “vitality” probably refers to the state of feeling ___.
| A．impressive | B．energetic |
| C．relaxed | D．exhausted |
What’s the relationship between the Royal Jelly takers?
| A．Lori and Blanca are Madeline’s grandchildren. |
| B．Blanca is Lori and Madeline’s great grandmother. |
| C．They have no blood relationship but friendship. |
| D．Madeline is Blanca’s daughter and Lori’s mother. |
Where can we most probably read this text?
| A．In a health club. | B．On an Internet page. |
| C．In a book review. | D．In a health report. |
(NEW YORK) A French tourist highly praised for rescuing a two-year-old girl in Manhattan said he didn’t think twice before diving into the freezing East River.
Tuesday’s Daily News said 29-year who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday.
He lifted the little girl out of the water after she fell off the bank at the South Street Scaport museum. He handed the girl to her father, David Anderson, who had dive in after him.
“I didn’t think at all,” Duret told the Daily News. “It happened very fast. I reacted very fast.”
Duret, an engineer on vacation ,was walking with his girlfriend along the pier(码头)when he saw something falling into the water .He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. In an instant, he took off his coat and jumped into the water.
When he reached the girl, she appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when she was out of the water, she opened her eyes.
Anderson said his daughter slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for her, said Duret, who was handed dry clothes from cookers. Duret caught a train with his girlfriend shortly after.
The rescue happened on the day before he left for France. Duret said he didn’t realize his tale of heroism he was leaving the next morning.
“I don’t really think I’m a hero,” said Duret. “Anyone would do the same thing.”Why was Duret in New York?
| A．To meet his girlfriend. | B．To work as an engineer. |
| C．To spend his holiday. | D．To visit the Andersons. |
What did Duret do shortly after the ambulance came?
| A．He was interviewed by a newspaper. |
| B．He asked his girlfriend for his dry clothes. |
| C．He went to the hospital in the ambulance. |
| D．He disappeared from the spot quickly. |
Who dived after Duret into the river to save the little girl?
| A．David Anderson | B．A passer-by |
| C．His girlfriend | D．A taxi driver |
When was Duret most probably found to be the very hero?
| A．The day when he was leaving for home. |
| B．Several days after the girl was rescued. |
| C．The first day when he was in New York. |
| D．The same day when he was interviewed. |
Amazingly, US crime figures have been falling for 20 years now. Of course, the big question is, why? And can any lessons be learnt?
One reason could be the fall in the demand for the drug crack. During the 1980s, drug-related crimes soared, mostly caused by desperate crack users. However, according to professor Blumstein, co-author of The Crime Drop in America, news of the dangers of crack use caused its decrease and led to a fall in the number of drug-related crimes.
Some say that the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy in many cities has helped lead to a fall in crime. In New York City, for example, mayor Rudy Giuliani imposed strict and automatic punishments for all crimes, including minor offences such as graffiti and littering. Many believe this has had a very strong deterrent effect.
Another reason could be smarter policing strategies. Anti-theft measures and educating the community about car theft has helped see a drop in crimes in many areas. Also, the use of crime mapping schemes that can discover identify crime peaks in different parts of the city has helped police target hotspots.
Another reason could be that more criminals are now behind bars. Sociologist John Conklin (from Tufts University) says a significant factor behind the fall in crime in the 1990s is the simple fact that many criminals are in jail. In his book Why Crime Rages Fell, he says sentencing was merciful in the 1960s and 1970s, when crime rose. But then more prisons were built and more offenders were imprisoned.
Some have linked the fall in violent crime to a decline in children’s exposure to lead in petrol. Jessica Wolpaw Reyes says, “Even low to moderate levels of exposure can lead to behavioral problems, reduced IQ, hyperactivity and youth crimes. You can link the decline in lead between 1975 and 1985 to a decline in violent crime 20 years later.”
Others say that the drop in crime has something to do with birth rates. According to statistics, birth rates peaked between 1957 and 1961, and the proportion of men in the US in their late teens and early 20s (the so-called “criminal age”) was highest in the late 70s and early 80s. However, as time went on, the proportion of people in this age group decreased.
Others claim that videogames have helped. A recent study has suggested that these games are keeping young people off the streets and therefore away from crime. Advocates of this argue that any effects the games may have in encouraging violent behavior is offset by the fact that the games keep potential criminals indoors and in front of the television.
Some argue that the widespread use of camera phones makes some criminals think twice before committing a crime and getting filmed doing it. Also, many believe that the mass use of CCTV has also had an effect.
Finally, some say that petty theft just isn’t worth it any more. The resale value of second-hand goods such as televisions, cameras or clothes is now so low (or even non-existent) that most people see no point in stealing.
So, what do you think?“Why Crime Rates Fell” is mentioned in the article to tell readers that ______.
| A．drug crack can be extremely dangerous |
| B．crime mapping schemes help the police discover criminals |
| C．criminals should be strictly sentenced |
| D．children shouldn’t be allowed to contact lead |
The underlined words “deterrent” in paragraph 3 most probably means ______.
| A．ambiguous | B．contradictory |
| C．encouraging | D．frightening |
Which of the following statements can NOT be concluded from the article?
| A．Drug abuse may have something to do with high crime rates. |
| B．The young are more likely to commit crimes than the poor. |
| C．The widespread use of cameras is helpful to reducing crime rates. |
| D．The possible effects of games encouraging violence are partly countered. |
By writing this article, the writer intends to tell us ______.
| A．the amazing fact that US crime figures are going down |
| B．the recent statistics showing that crime rates are falling in the US |
| C．the answers to the question why US crime figures are falling |
| D．the special policies adopted by the US police that help a drop in crime |
Interactive Home-security Systems
Tarik Celebi, who lives in San Francisco suburb, takes his home-security system with him to work, to dinner, just about anywhere．By his cell phone, he "arms" his home-security alarm from his car before he leaves for work．During his workday, he gets e-mail alerts every time his front door opens, even though he's miles away．If the door opens at an unusual time ---say midday when no one should be coming or going --- he can order a 30-second video clip from the camera that watches the door．If it's just his mother-in-law getting a package delivery, no worries．
Celebi is one of the first users of the latest interactive home-security systems．In addition to sounding alarms when the house is broken into and notifying homeowners or police, as traditional systems do, the interactive systems give users new ways to remotely control their systems and their home environment．Different from traditional home-security alarms, which homeowners typically have to press buttons on a keypad to turn on before they leave their homes, the interactive systems enable consumers to arm and disarm systems from smart phones, iPads and PCs, no matter where they are．
Most traditional systems are set up to sound an alarm if doors or windows are opened． The interactive systems give homeowners more options．For example, users can elect when they want to be notified．They might want an e-mail or a text every time a door is opened, or only during the hours of 3 to 4 p．m．, when kids come home from school．Like Celebi, they can add cameras and get video clips when doors open．That could be helpful in making sure kids aren't bringing friends home when they're not supposed to．
Nationwide, about 20% of homes have traditional home-security systems．About half stop using them because they tire of the trouble．Being able to arm systems even while dashing to the subway or while at work will increase their usage of the new interactive systems．Although the new functions add costs to home security, the interactive-systems are believed to push home-security systems' usage rates closer to 30%, which would be a big movement for an industry that's been largely stuck at 20% for the past decade．"We all know it's going to get bigger, though we don't know how long it's going to take," Eric Taylor, an officer from San Francisco Security Department says．What may Celebi first do if his front door opens at a wrong time when he is away?
| A．Inform the police． | B．Call his mother-in-law． |
| C．Arm the security alarm． | D．Observe through video． |
The interactive systems enable the user to ______.
| A．improve his home environment remotely |
| B．lock his house's door while he is miles away |
| C．operate the home-security systems at any place |
| D．stop some friends of kids from entering automatically |
What's the advantage of the interactive systems over the traditional ones?
| A．They are cheaper. |
| B．They have more ways to inform the users. |
| C．They can give quicker reaction． |
| D．They are easier to set up. |
What is the last paragraph mainly about?
| A．The importance of security industry. |
| B．The functions of the interactive alarms. |
| C．The popularity of home-security systems. |
| D．The market potential of the interactive systems. |
One might expect that theever-growing demands of the tourist trade would bring nothing but good for the countries that receive theholiday-makers. Indeed, a rosypicture is painted for the long-term future of the holiday industry. Every month sees the building of a new hotel somewhere,and every month another rock-bound Pacific island is advertised as the 'last paradise(天堂) onearth'.
However, the scale andspeed of this growth seem setto destroy the very things tourists want to enjoy. In those countries where therewas a rush tomake quickmoney out of sea-side holidays, over-crowded beaches and theconcrete jungles ofendless hotels have begun to lose their appeal.
Those countries with little experience of tourism cansuffer most. In recentyears,Nepal set out to attract foreign visitors to fund developments in health andeducation. Its forests , full ofwildlife and rare flowers, wereoffered to tourists as one more untouched paradise. Infact, the nature all toosoon felt the effects of thousands of holiday-makers traveling through the forest land.Ancient tracks became major routesfor thewalkers, with the consequent exploitation ofprecious trees and plants.
Not only the environment of a country can suffer from the sudden growth of tourism. The people as well rapidly feel its effects. Farmland makes way for hotels, roads and airports; the old way of life goes. The one-time farmer is now the servant ofsome multi-national organization; he isno longer his own master. Once it was his back that bore the pain ; now it is his smile that is exploited. No doubt he wonders whether he wasn't happier inhis village working his own land.
Thankfully, the tourist industry is waking up to the responsibilities it has towards those countries that receive its customers. The protection of wildlife and the creation of national parks go hand in hand with tourist development and in fact obtain financial support from tourist companies. At the same time, tourists are being encouraged to respect not only the countryside they visit but also its people.
The way tourism is handled in the next ten years will decide its fate and that of the countries we all want to visit. Their needs and problems are more important than those of the tourist companies. Increased understanding in planning world-wide tourism can preserve the market for these companies. If not, in a few years’ time the very things that attract tourists now may well have been destroyed.The example of Nepal is used to suggest _________ .
| A．its natural resources are untouched. |
| B．its forests are exploited for farmland |
| C．it develops well in health and education. |
| D．it suffers from the heavy flow of tourists. |
What can we learn about the farmers from Paragraph 4 ?
| A．They are happy to work their own lands. |
| B．They have to please the tourists for a living. |
| C．They have to struggle for their independence. |
| D．They are proud of working in multi-national organizations. |
Which of the following determines the future of tourism ?
| A．The number of tourists |
| B．The improvement of services. |
| C．The promotion of new products. |
| D．The management of tourism |
The author’s attitude towards the development of the tourist industry is __________.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful |
| C．objective | D．negative |
Moocs (massive open online courses) are free, but without tutoring, and are open to anyone, anywhere inthe world. The courses are flexible – normally three to five hours of study a week – done at any time, short (5 to 10 weeks) and video-rich. They are also heavily dependent on crowd sourcing: you can discuss a course with fellow students through online forums, discussion boards and peer review. Students don't have to finish the courses, pass assessments or do assignments, but, if they do, they get a certification of participation.
The Open University launched FutureLearn, the UK's answer to US platforms such as Coursera, EdX and Udacity, which have been offering Moocs from top US universities for the past two years. The response has been incredible, with more than three million people registering worldwide. Meanwhile, in 2012, Edinburgh University became the first non-US institution to join Coursera's partnership, comprising 13 universities. “We already run 50 online master's degrees, so this was a logical expansion,” says Professor Jeff Haywood, Edinburgh's vice-principal. “It's an investment in teaching methods research. How am I going to teach introductory philosophy to 100,000 people? That's what I call educational R&D.” He adds “If you look ahead 10 years, you'd expect all students graduating to have taken some online courses, so you've got to research that. Our Moocs are no more in competition with our degrees than a lifelong learning course because they don't carry credits.”
Cooperation is key, Haywood stresses. It is far better to offer 20-30 courses in your own areas of expertise(专门技能) and let other institutions do likewise. Professor Mike Sharples, FutureLearn's academic lead, goes further: “We've tied the elements available before into a package of courses offered by leading universities worldwide on a new software platform, with a new way of promoting it and also a new social-learning teaching method. You won't just receive an exam, but be able to discuss and mark each other's assignments.”
Bath University, one of more than 20 universities working with FutureLearn, launches its first course, Inside Cancer, next January, and regards Moocs as a way of breaking down age barriers. "There's no reason why someone doing GCSEs should not look at our Moocs and get quite a way through them, or someone at PhD level and beyond," says Professor Bernie Morley, expert for learning and teaching.
Moocs have these features EXCEPT that_______.
| A．Moocs are free of charge for anyone |
| B．Moocs can be adjusted according to people’s learning pace |
| C．Moocs provide teachers’ instructions if you have some difficulty |
| D．Moocs have a platform for learns to share their learning experience |
What can be inferred from Professor Bernie Morley in the last paragraph?
| A．People with various learning levels will probably show interest in Moocs. |
| B．People at PhD level have already known everything about Moocs. |
| C．Inside Cancer will be the most popular course for someone doing GCSEs. |
| D．Moocs are not so competitive as lifelong learning courses due to the problems of credits. |
The passage mainly deals with _____.
| A．the various opinions on FutureLearn |
| B．the advantages of online teaching methods |
| C．the popularity of no-credit courses |
| D．the emergence of a new learning platform |
The movies just wouldn’t be the same without the warm buttery taste of popcorn. Amazingly, this delicious treat started its life as a corn kernel (玉米粒) , not just from any corn. Popcorn is a type of sweet corn that was originally grown in Mexico and spread to China, India and elsewhere. It is the only kind of corn that will pop. Today, most of the world’s popcorn is grown in the United States.
Every popcorn kernel contains a tiny drop of water，surrounded by soft starch (淀粉). When the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam. This puts pressure on the surrounding hard kernel, forcing it to explode. The soft starch increases about 40 times in size as the corn kernel turns itself inside out.
In the 1500s popcorn was an important food source for the Aztec Indians of central and southern Mexico. But it wasn’t only food. It was also used in ceremonies or on red dresses and in necklaces. By the time the Europeans arrived in America，popcorn had spread through most of the American Indians.
Some early American settlers ate popcorn with cream and sugar for breakfast. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that popcorn became popular. The demand for popcorn increased and farmers began farming popcorn. The first mobile popping machine was invented in 1885, and popcorn was sold by street sellers much like hot dogs that are sold today.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the popcorn business still thrived as people could still afford it. Then in the 1950s television arrived and popcorn consumption decreased. People stayed home and stopped going to the theatre. But the link between movies and popcorn had already existed. Soon people began making popcorn at home on the stove and, later，microwave popcorn was introduced. Today the movies have regained popularity and popcorn has once again become the favorite.Popcorn was first planted in________.
| A．China | B．America | C．India | D．Mexico |
Why does the corn kernel pop when heated?
| A．Because it is covered with soft starch. |
| B．Because the pressure inside is too big. |
| C．Because the starch becomes bigger in size. |
| D．Because there is water inside the kernel. |
We can know from the passage that________.
| A．popcorn began to be farmed in the late 1800s |
| B．popcorn was only a kind of food in the 1500s |
| C．hot dogs used to be sold by street sellers |
| D．people stop eating popcorn while watching movies now |
The underlined word “thrived” in the fifth paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．started to disappear | B．was seriously affected |
| C．suffered a lot | D．developed very well |
It's not quite a rat. Nor is it a squirrel, or a mouse. It's definitely a rodent (啮齿目动物), and it's also a brand-new family of mammals.
The locals of the Southeast Asian country of Laos call the creature a kha-nyou (ga-nyou). The kha-nyou have long body hair, short legs, and a hairy tail less thick than a squirrel's. They're vegetarians living in the rocky hills of Laos, and they come out at night, but for more information, you'll have to ask the Lao people.
"It was for sale on a table next to some vegetables. I knew immediately it was something I had never seen before," said Robert Timmins, a researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society. Timmins was working in Laos to stop people from selling endangered animals when he spotted the species. Criminals who trade illegal wildlife can make a lot of money, but they also push the animals closer to disappearing from the planet.
The kha-nyou live in karsts, or rough rock. Mark Robinson, a scientist with the World Wildlife Foundation, set out with Lao villagers to find a few more of the rodents for study. They climbed onto a karst, trapped with rice, and caught several.
“To find something so unusual in this day and age is just extraordinary,” said Timmins. “For all we know, this could be the last remaining animal family left to be discovered.”
It’s a big deal to discover an entirely new family of animals. Humans, for instance, belong to the same family as great apes, chimpanzees, and gorillas. So even though kha-nyous look like rats, they’re really very different. The last time scientists discovered a new family of mammals may have been in the 1970s, when they found new bats in Thailand.
Timmins seems to have the gift for finding new animals in Laos—he discovered a new species of rabbit there in 1999.
Scientists call the kha-nyou Laonastes aenigmamus, which means “mysterious mouse that lives among the stones.”But if that's too hard, Timmins and Robinson suggest you call them “rock rats”.Which of the following is not the name for this new creature?
| A．Karsts. | B．Kha-nyou. |
| C．rock rats. | D．Laonastes aenigmamus. |
Which of the following cannot describe the new species of rodent?
| A．They live among the rocky hills of Laos. |
| B．They live on meat of other animals. |
| C．They look like rats but are of different kind. |
| D．They are of the latest discovery of a new species. |
Which of the following is the last discovery of new species of animal except the rodent?
| A．A new kind of bats. | B．Great apes. |
| C．A new kind of squirrel. | D．A new kind of rabbit. |
It implies in the passage that ______.
| A．finding a new animal family in Southeast Asia is easy |
| B．finding a new animal family in modern time is extremely rare |
| C．in Southeast Asia new species of animals are often discovered |
| D．animals that look like the same are of the same family |
SPORTS EVENTS
BASKETBALL:
Central Sports Centre. City Road.
All Stars vs Rockets, Saturday 8: 30 p.m. $12
Northerners vs Tigers, Sunday noon $14
BUSHWALKING (越野走)：
Meet at Wanda Station, Saturday 9:00 a.m. sharp for 3-hour walk to Canary Mountains. $7, ph 341-5432 Meet at Westley Station, Sunday 9:00 a.m. sharp for a full day walk to Wombak Valley. $5, ph 341-8643. Bring your own lunch.
FOOTBALL:
St Martins Sports Centre
St Martins vs Doonsberg, Saturday 2:00 p.m. $8
Eastside Central vs Light Hill, Sunday 2:00 p.m. $8
Neill Park Recreation Centre
Neill Park vs Robinson, Saturday 2:00 p.m. $11
Essen vs Springwood, Sunday 2:00 p.m. $11
LAWN BOWLS(草坪滚木球）：
Tans Town B.C
Tans Town vs White Vale, Saturday 9:00 p.m. $10
Wake Hill B.C.
Wake Hill vs Colls, Saturday 2: 00 p.m. $9According to the passage, the most popular time for the sporting events may be ____.
| A．Sat 8:30 pm | B．Sun noon |
| C．Sun 2:00 pm | D．Sat 2:00 pm |
The purpose of the passage is to let people ____.
| A．compare the prices of the matches |
| B．find the nearest place to watch a match |
| C．know the sport matches and come to watch them |
| D．spend their money on these matches wisely |
You may find the passage most probably in a ____.
| A．handbook | B．newspaper about match reviews |
| C．magazine about ball matches | D．notice |
If you have $18, you can go to watch both ____.
| A．Walk Hill vs Colls and Essen vs Springwood |
| B．All Stars vs Rockets and the bushwalking at Westley Station |
| C．Neill Park vs Robinson and Eastside Central vs Light Hill |
| D．St Matins vs Doonsberg and Northerners vs Tigers |
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