The younger daughter of former New York Mayor Richard White has moved her wedding from New Year’s Eve to this Thursday so her mother, who has been fighting against cancer for 11 years, can take part in the ceremony, a family spokesman said on Wednesday, Oct, 12, 2013. Elizabeth Lally White, who turns 28 on Thursday, will marry Sam Peterson in Spiaggia, a restaurant on North Michigan Avenue. The reception also will be held at the restaurant, which had been previously scheduled to host the couple’s engagement party on Thursday.
Lally White’s mother, Maggie, 68, was reported to have caught breast cancer in 2002. She had an operation in her leg in April and she was hospitalized twice in the weeks following the procedure for treatment of flu-like symptoms that doctors said were not related to the cancer. Maggie, who has used a walker or a wheelchair during most public appearances in recent years, is well beyond the average survival time for someone with breast cancer.
“As the mayor himself has said, she had a pretty difficult summer.” said Jacquelyn Heard, who served Mayor White’s press secretary for years and followed him to the same international law firm that he joined after leaving office in May. “She was not able to get around the way that she normally would do. This year, she has had quite a few setbacks and they’ve been pretty well documented. Lally White decided to reschedule the wedding so that her mom can participate in the festivities (庆祝活动).” Heard said. Lally White is a doctoral candidate at De-Paul University and plans to work with autistic (孤独症) children, and Sam Peterson works in insurance, Heard said.
Richard and Maggie White married in 1972 and had three children in addition to Lally — Nora, Patrick and Kevin. But Kevin was born with a disease and died in 1981 at 33 months.
When was Elizabeth Lally White born?
A.In 1983. | B.In 1987. | C.In 1985. | D.In 1984. |
What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
A.Maggie, 68, is recovering now. |
B.Maggie caught breast cancer in 2002. |
C.The cancer caused some flu-like symptoms on Maggie. |
D.Average breast cancer patients lived a life shorter than Maggie. |
Why did Lally White reschedule her wedding?
A.She was afraid that her mother couldn’t participate her wedding on New Year’s Eve. |
B.She was eager to work with autistic children after wedding. |
C.Her family will move out of New York. |
D.Her mother will accept operation because of her disease. |
How many children did the former mayor and his wife give birth to?
A.3. | B.4. | C.5. | D.6. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.The political life of former Mayor. |
B.The brave wife of former Mayor. |
C.The wedding of former Mayor’s daughter. |
D.The family life of former Mayor. |
It is generally believed that we are getting cleaned when we step under a shower. We are, but we’re also giving a home to lots of tiny little creatures we didn’t even know about. A showerhead carries thousands of bacteria called Mycobacterium.These can cause problems like coughs and tiredness, and a general feeling of poorliness (身体不舒服). When you turn on the water, the bacteria go from the showerhead onto and into your body.
This is a finding of Norman R. Pace and his team at the University of Colorado, in the US. The scientists investigated bacteria in all kinds of human environment, including showers.Pace's team looked at 45 showerheads in nine American cities. They discovered that 30 percent of them had large amounts of flying Mycobacterium.
But Pace said that they pose few threats to the health.Only those with a weak immune system might need to worry.He told the New York Times that the bacteria are not as unpleasant as might be thought.He said that having a shower is no more dangerous than anything else we do in the morning.
But for those who feel sick about the idea of all those microorganisms (微生物), he had some advice. Let the water run for 30 seconds before getting into the shower. Why? The number of bacteria is smaller than that when the water is just turned on. If that seems like a waste of water, he added that you could also change your showerhead every few months.
However, Pace had good news too. He has also been testing the air in US subways. Apart from iron particles (粒子), which are ground off the track by the wheels of trains, subway air is fresh. The reason is that a train’s movement pumps fresh outdoor air into the tunnels.
Pace explained that he wanted to understand the natural microbial environments of public places. This kind of knowledge might help discover the microbes to be used in a bioterrorist (生物恐怖分子) attack.
From the finding of Norman R. Pace, after taking a shower, we might cough or feel tired because .
A.it’s easy to get a cold when taking a bath |
B.the showerhead carries many bacteria causing illness |
C.we don’t get cleaned while showering |
D.we don’t get a weak immune system |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.Hot water could kill most of bacteria in showerheads. |
B.Of 45 showerheads surveyed in nine cities, 30 carried large amounts of Mycobacterium. |
C.Changing showerheads is the only way to avoid microorganisms. |
D.Shower water contains much less bacteria after being left to run for 30 seconds. |
We can learn from the third paragraph that .
A.having a shower in the morning is more dangerous than at other time |
B.the bacteria always threat people’s health |
C.there is no reason to fear microorganisms for people with strong immune system |
D.it is better to do some exercise in the morning than have a shower |
The underlined word “pose” in the third paragraph probably means “______”.
A.cause | B.avoid | C.describe | D.promise |
What contributes to fresh air in US subways?
A.The train’s movement. | B.Iron particles. |
C.Train wheels. | D.Air conditioners on the trains. |
Beijing—(13, July) China sent up a new data relay satellite(数据中继卫星), Tianlian I-02, on Monday at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in South-western Sichuan province.The new satellite will promote the country's satellite communication network for space docking(对接).
The satellite was launched on a Long-March-3C carrier rocket at 11:41 p.m., sources at the centre told Xinhua News Agency.The satellite separated from the rocket 26 minutes after its launch and was then successfully delivered into a geostationary transfer orbit (地球同步转移轨道).
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the satellite is the country's second data relay satellite.The first, Tianlian I-01, was launched on April 25.2008.
The two satellites will form a network to improve communications between China's spacecraft and bases on Earth, according to the centre.They will also be used to help the nation's first space docking, scheduled for the second half of this year.
As planned, China will launch space module Tiangong-I, which was designed as a platform that will dock with an unmanned spaceship, Shenzhou, for the county's first space-docking mission this year.
Two more Shenzhou spaceships will dock with Tiangong-I next year, and one will be manned by two or three astronauts, according to China Manned Space Engineering Office, which was the main user of the Tianlian I series data relay satellites.
“The new satellite can cover a greater area to track and command the country’s space vehicles in low-Earth orbits, such as manned spacecraft and remote sensing satellites, from a higher position in outer space.Only three satellites of this kind are needed to form a global communication network, and China has two now.” Pang Zhihao, a researcher and deputy editor-in-chief of Space International, said.
The satellite could also equip astronauts with real-time communications, which will benefit the country's future manned space flights, he said.
What is the main purpose to send up Tianlian I-02 ?
A.To test the function of a Long-March-SC carrier rocket. |
B.To carry some astronauts into space to do some research. |
C.To send more information and clearer pictures to mobile phones on the earth. |
D.To promote the country's satellite communication network for space docking. |
From the passage we know .
A.one more such satellite is needed to form a global communication network |
B.the satellite was developed by China Manned Space Engineering Office |
C.it was less than three years since China launched its first date relay satellite of this kind |
D.the satellite could help track and command space vehicles in orbits because it's lower in position |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the news report?
A.Shenzhou Ⅷ is a manned spaceship. |
B.Tiangong-I will dock with three Shenzhou spaceships next year. |
C.the satellite is of great importance to China's space exploration. |
D.china’s first space docking will be done in the second half of next year. |
The best title of the passage could be___________.
A.China Launched a New Space Shuttle |
B.China's Plan for Space Exploration |
C.China’s Progress in China's Space Exploration |
D.New Satellite Helps China's Space Exploration |
A father with Parkinson's disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he failed to smile or look as if he was enjoying himself.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by. His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter's ninth birthday party. The 54yearold man had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28. Police said Mr. Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of his manner,his state of dress and his being too near to the course. A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach(破坏) of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters(抗议者).
But Mr. Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless. “I was sitting minding my own business”, he told a local newspaper. “Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this sevenfoot wall, threw me to the floor and handcuffed me, so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement. It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson's disease.”
Mr. Worsfold has since asked for a letter of not being guilty from police. The officers who made the arrest have apologized to him.
Which word can be used to replace the underlined word “mugshot” in the second paragraph?
A.Clothes. | B.Photos. | C.Measures. | D.Tools. |
Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Worsfold's wife was immediately informed of his being arrested by the police. |
B.Worsfold was arrested because he was extremely dangerous. |
C.Worsfold enjoyed the cycle race though he saw it between the feet of people from the pavement. |
D.Worsfold was arrested because of his clothes as well as his facial expression. |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.The officers must have been punished for Worsfold's arrest. |
B.Worsfold has an expressionless face and probably looks strong. |
C.The officers apologized to Worsfold after one day's arrest. |
D.Worsfold was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago. |
STARBUCKS China yesterday renamed a newlyopened outlet near one of Buddhism's most famous temples after a wave of controversy over what critics called a “cultural invasion”.
The coffee shop in Hangzhou had opened as the Lingyin Temple Starbucks, leading some people to believe it was located inside the renowned temple.
However, the company said in a statement yesterday that the coffee shop was actually in the Lingyin scenic area, about 20 minutes' walk from the temple's entrance.It was said the outlet would now be known as the Lingyin Starbucks.
Wang Shan, deputy director of the Lingyin office of the West Lake Administration in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, said, “Actually, the coffee house is a long distance from the temple.It is located in the tourist service area on Lingyin Road outside of the temple, as part of the supporting facilities.”
The temple's administration urged the cafe to change its name to make it clear that it was not located inside the temple.
In a heated online debate, critics said the U.S.chain's commercial style would spoil the serenity that an oriental Buddhism temple should embrace.
Supporters, however, said that the talk of an “invasion” was misplaced as the outlet was not inside the temple but on a nearby commercial street where a KFC restaurant and a shopping mall had been open for more than six months.
The incident follows calls in 2009 to stop an earlier “cultural invasion” when the Seattlebased coffee chain had to move its outlet out of Beijing's Forbidden City seven years after it opened.
Critics urged closure of the outlet, which they said was a “humiliation” for a culture exemplified by the ancient buildings.
Why did the temple's administration urge the cafe to change its name?
A.To attract the tourists. |
B.To tell the public the coffee outlet doesn't lie inside the temple. |
C.To obey the government. |
D.To do something to protect the temple. |
Why did the Seattlebased coffee chain have to move its outlet out of Beijing's Forbidden City?
A.Because the Seattlebased coffee chain was thought as an earlier “cultural invasion”. |
B.Because it changed Chinese culture. |
C.Because the Seattlebased coffee chain earned much more money than the temples. |
D.Because the Seattlebased coffee chain closed the shops by itself. |
What's the best title of this passage?
A.Coffee shop's new outlet deletes the word “temple”. |
B.Cultural invasion. |
C.Starbucks chain invasion. |
D.Seattlebased coffee chain's invasion. |
BEIJING—Family planning officers will handle the illegal birth case of film director Zhang Yimou by following legal procedures, a government spokesman said on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.
When asked to comment on Zhang’s case at a press conference, Yao Hongwen, spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission(NHFPC), said “Every citizen is equal before the law and nobody is allowed to have privileges(特权)to give birth to more children than allowed.”
Yao’s comment came after media stories claimed that Zhang had remarried and fathered a total of seven children: one with his former wife, three with his present wife, Chen Ting, and another three from two lovers.
“The NHFPC’s attitude towards citizens’ birth violations(违法)is consistent and clear…Every Chinese citizen should obey and safeguard the seriousness of laws and regulations.” NHFPC spokesman Yao Hongwen said.
China’s family planning policy, introduced in the late 1970s to slow down the country’s growing population, limits most urban couples to one child and most rural couples to two. The policy was recently relaxed, allowing couples to have two children if one of them is an only child.
Those who break the policy face severe fines. The amount of the fine is generally several times the yearly annual income of the two spouses(配偶). Some media calculations put the fine that Zhang may face at as much as 160 million yuan(over $26 million).
Zhang’s birth case has caused criticism online about famous people who have more children than the policy allows.
In an open letter on December 1, Zhang admitted that the couple has two sons and daughter and they are willing to accept investigation and punishment according to China’s laws and regulations. He apologized to the public.
However, the letter denied that Zhang had lovers and was father to as many as seven children from various mothers.
Zhang, one of the “fifth generation” of Chinese filmmakers, made his first directorial work in 1987 with “Red Sorghum” and has won a number of award worldwide. He was chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games.
The purpose of the news report is to ______________
A.claim that Zhang Yimou remarried and fathered a total of seven children |
B.inform us that Zhang’s illegal birth case will be dealt with by the government |
C.convince us that Zhang is a famous director and his case will be pardoned |
D.confirm that Zhang’s illegal birth case has resulted in lots of criticism online |
According to Yao Hongwen, which of the following statements is true?
A.Every Chinese citizen should obey and safeguard laws and regulations. |
B.Few people have the privileges to give birth to more children than allowed. |
C.China’s family planning policy has never been relaxed since introduced. |
D.Zhang will be fined as much as 160 million yuan for his violations. |
Judging from the recent relaxed policy, a couple_______________
A.can have as many as three children if they live in a rural area |
B.will definitely be fined if they have two children nowadays |
C.can give birth to two children if one of them is an only child |
D.can only give birth to two children if they live in an urban area |
The New York Philharmonic(爱乐乐团) came to an unexpected stop on Tuesday night when an audience member’s cell phone started ringing and wouldn’t stop.
Conductor Alan Gilbert was nearing the end of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony(交响乐) when the interruption began. As eh New York Times writes, the symphony, “contains some of the most spiritual and peaceful music ever written.”
As the cell phone continued to ring, the iPhone’s signature ringtone, Gilbert stopped the entire performance. And yet shockingly the phone continued to ring. “Nothing happened,” Gilbert told the Times, “Nobody was to blame for it. It was unbelievable.”
Gilbert said minor cell phone interruptions have become common and rarely interfere with a live performance. The Philharmonic does what it can to remind to audience to turn off their cell phones before the performance begins. But the audience and performers stood by in astonished silence as Gilbert asked the offender(肇事者) to silence the phone, only to hear it continue.
Mr Gilbert said audience pointed out two people sitting where the sound was coming from. “They were staring at me firmly,” he said of the couple. Eventually, the man put his hand in his pocket and the ringing stopped.
The conductor said he asked the man if he was sure the phone was quieted. “Then he nodded his head,” Mr Gilbert said.
People in the hall had been shouting for the sound to stop. Mr Pelkonen reported that they yelled: “Thousand-dollar fine!” “Kick him out!” “Get out!”
Once the phone was finally silenced, Gilbert apologized to the audience. They responded with cheers and applause(掌声). And the performance continued.
The underlined words “interfere with” in the third paragraph means “ ”.
A.enjoy | B.attend | C.disturb | D.complete |
What do we know about the offender?
A.He silenced the phone the moment he was reminded to. |
B.He enjoyed the ringtone so he kept the phone ringing. |
C.He quieted the phone after hearing people’s angry shouts. |
D.He didn’t like the music so he wouldn’t silence the phone. |
What does the writer of this passage intend to imply?
A.It’s not acceptable to carry an iPhone to a concert. |
B.It’s rude to attend a concert with the phone ringing. |
C.It’s necessary to quiet the phones when the performance is over. |
D.It’s common for a conductor to make an apology to the audience. |
What can be the best title for the passage?
A.iPhone ringtone bring New York Philharmonic to a stop |
B.iPhone signature ringtone defeats New York Philharmonic |
C.New York Philharmonic puts on a successful performance |
D.New York Philharmonic stops the audience using iPhone |
Express delivery: How you can buy your groceries from a virtual supermarket
Aug, 1st, 2011 Daily Mail
A “virtual supermarket” consisting of posters of goods put on platform walls is set to be introduced at London Underground stations. Passengers “shop” by scanning QR—Quick Response—codes of the items they want to buy using their smart phones. These goods are later delivered to their home address. Supermarket giant(巨头) Tesco successfully trialed the hi-tech store in a South Korean underground station and there are now plans to bring the concept to Britain.
NYPD to Scan Facebook, Twitter for Trouble
Aug, 11th, 2011 Forbes
The New York Police Department announced it will form a new unit to search social media as part of its law enforcement(执行) efforts, responding to the criminals’ growing use of these sites to plan and celebrate illegal activities. The NYPD unit created particularly to comb social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and BlackBerry messenger for information on planned crimes and their criminals.
Space Junk(太空垃圾) reaching “tipping point”, report warns
Sep 3rd, 2011 Toronto Sun
The amount of debris(碎片) orbiting the Earth has reached “a tipping point” for crashes, which would produce more debris that may be dangerous to astronauts and satellites, according to a US study. According to the US Space Surveillance Network, the number of orbital debris jumped from 9,949 in December 2006 to 16,094 in July 2011.
The “virtual supermarket” would be introduced to Britain because of .
A. the successful experience of a hi-tech store in South Korea
B. the wide use of smart phones for scanning QR codes
C. the large varieties of goods in the supermarket
D the convenient home delivery system around London
we can learn from the news that .
A.people with mobile phones can shop at London Underground stations |
B.Facebook, Twitter, and BlackBerry messenger are not popular in the US |
C.the amount of space junk has more than doubled in the past few years |
D.more and more criminals are using social media sites for crimes |
what does the underlined word “comb” in the second piece of news mean?
A.Create. | B.Operate. | C.Block. | D.Search. |
The third piece of news will be in the section of the newspaper.
A.sports | B.opinion | C.science | D.business |
Every time Lionel Messi breaks a record, it seems appropriate to compare him to the legends that came before him.
In 2012, he rewrote soccer history on multiple occasions, and his latest record came when he scored his 86th goal of the calendar year, breaking Gerd Muller’s previous mark, before wrapping up the year with 91 goals.
All statistics indicate that Messi is currently the best player in the world, and that he will go down in history as the top footballer of his generation. But when he is judged against all-time greats like Pele and Diego Maradona, he still has work to do.
We don’t know whether the Barcelona striker will have another year in which he records more than 90 goals, but he must still sustain(维持)a similar level of production for the next several seasons.
Messi has already taken part in three of Barcelona’s victorious Champions League(冠军联赛)campaigns, and he played an important role in two of them. In order to firmly establish himself as the greatest club football player in history, he must win the tournament a few more times.
Most importantly, the Argentine(阿根廷人)needs to win on the international stage. Regardless of what Messi does for Barcelona, his legacy will be incomplete if he cannot win the World Cup with Argentina.
Both Pele and Maradona led their countries to the top of international soccer during their careers, and Messi’s performances for his country have been severely disappointing.
While he was still a teenager in 2006-and his lackluster(平淡的)showing is excusable due to his youth-he cannot brush off the disappointment that characterized Argentina’s performance in 2010.
But the 4-0 loss to Germany in the 2010 World Cup Quarter Final seems to have sparked Messi. He scored 12 times for Argentina last year, and the next World Cup could finally be Messi’s breakout performance in blue and white stripes.
Due to all of his accomplishments, it is easy to forget that the extraordinary footballer is just 25 years old. If he can avoid injury or lengthy slumps(低潮状态)until his speed and skills start to decline due to age, he may continue to break records and win trophies.
What will Messi have to do in order to be complete in his soccer career?
A.He must win the World Cup with Argentina. |
B.He must win the tournament a few more times. |
C.He must defeat Pele and Maradona. |
D.He must avoid injury or lengthy slumps. |
How was Messi’s performance in 2010 World Cup?
A.Excellent. |
B.Inspiring. |
C.Disappointing. |
D.Normal. |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.Messi has firmly established himself as the greatest club soccer player in history. |
B.Messi will try his best to win the next World Cup with Argentina. |
C.Messi can avoid injury and lengthy slumps to break records and win trophies. |
D.Pele and Maradona led their countries to the top of international soccer during their careers. |
What is the best title of the passage?
A.Lionel Messi, the Best Soccer Player of All Time |
B.Lionel Messi, the Greatest Soccer Player in History |
C.Barcelona and Lionel Messi |
D.World Cup and Lionel Messi |
Many children would start school hungry without breakfast clubs, teachers have claimed. A new survey suggests these clubs are the only way many students can get a meal before lessons.
About 54% of the 552 school staff questioned by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers(ATL)said their school provides a breakfast club for pupils. The biggest reason for them to attend these clubs is that their parents or carer goes to work early, cited by 76.8% of those questioned.
About 22.6% said children attended due to lack of money at home because parents or carers are unemployed and 15.2% said lack of money at home due to changes or cuts to benefits.
About 17.6% said pupils mainly attend breakfast clubs to socialize.
The survey found that teachers believe that offering breakfast to pupils often helps improve their concentration and ability to learn. One primary school teacher said: “Although there is a charge for our breakfast club, we have accessed funding for those pupils on free school meals and the breakfast club had an effect on their attendance, concentration and being in school for the start of lessons.
ATL general secretary Dr Roper said a nutritious meal at the start of the day has a huge impact on pupils’ ability to learn. “Many schools do everything they can to ensure children eat well during school term-time. But there are many children living in poverty, who we fear won’t be getting a decent meal a day in the holidays and this is something the government needs to address,” she said.
A Department for Education spokesman said: “We know how important it is for children to
have a good breakfast. We want schools and local authorities to use their budgets to best meet the needs of their children. Many provide breakfast clubs which offer a free meal to children from poorer families. The Pupil Premium, which will double to £ 2.5 billion in 2014-2015, targets extra money to help schools to provide support such as this to the most disadvantaged children. The free school meal scheme also ensures that these children have access to a nutritious lunch every day.
How many factors are mentioned which can account for the popularity of breakfast clubs?
A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Five. |
By getting breakfast offered by breakfast clubs, pupils can______.
A.perform better in their study |
B.know how they can save money |
C.eat better for their lunch and supper |
D.make more friends with their classmates |
The pupil Premium and the free school meal scheme are mentioned in order to show_____.
A.every child should get access to a nutritious meal |
B.breakfast clubs play a key role in children’s growth |
C.many efforts are made to provide a good and free meal |
D.many schools can’t offer a good and free meal to children |
In which part of a magazine can we probably read this passage?
A.Entertainment. | B.Education. | C.Culture. | D.Health. |
A woman was walking her dog along a beach in New Zealand in late June when she saw something that looked like a white ball in the sand. It turned out to be a young Emperor penguin that was lost. At his age, he should have been close to Antarctic, swimming for fish and playing on the ice floes(冰川). But this penguin started swimming north and just kept going.
The penguin attracted a lot of attention in New Zealand. It has been 40 years since an Emperor penguin was last seen there. Researchers at the Department of Conservation were called in. They decided to watch the penguin closely, but not to disturb it in any way. Many New Zealanders came to Peka Peka Beach to look at the elegant penguin. They were careful to keep their dogs away from it so it wouldn’t be frightened.
The public nicknamed the animal Happy Feet. Researchers started to notice that Happy Feet didn’t seem well. It turns out that he had been eating the sand from the beach, likely thinking it was snow.
The public raised more than 11,000 pounds for an operation to get the sand out of his stomach. The operation was a success, and Happy Feet was taken to a zoo in Wellington, NZ. A group of experts met to decide how to help Happy Feet return to the wild.
Last Sunday, they put him on a boat called the Tangaroa, in a specially built ice-filled box and took him out into the Southern Ocean, southeast of New Zealand. There, they released him into the ocean, which is his natural habitat. He took one last look at his human helpers and then dived into the ocean.
“Emperor penguins spend their first five years at sea,” said Peter Simpson of New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. “ What happens now is up to the penguin.”
Happy Feet was fitted with a satellite transmitter(发射机)so they can monitor his progress using the Internet. So far, the trackers shows that he swam northeast for a little while before getting his bearings and heading south.
Where is the young penguin supposed to appear?
A.On the sunny beach. | B.Near the Antarctic. |
C.Inside the hole in the ice. | D.In the depths of the ocean. |
The public collected some money to______.
A.build a home for the penguin |
B.get the sand out of the penguin’s belly |
C.do some research on the penguin |
D.return the penguin to his habitat |
What does Peter Simpson mean by saying “ What happens now is up to the penguin.”?
A.The penguin needs no protection from human. |
B.Human beings can do noting to help penguins. |
C.No one knows what will happen to the penguins. |
D.Whether the penguin can survive depends on himself. |
The Healthy Habits Survey(调查)shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1. How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
·Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
·Step: Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2. How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
·Finding:Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend.
·Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
·Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
·Step:Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海绵)that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.
What is found out about American seniors?
A.Most of then have good habits. |
B.Nearly 30% of then bathe three days a week. |
C.About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day |
D.All of them are fighting germs better than expected. |
Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands______.
A.twice a day |
B.three times a day |
C.eight times a day |
D.four times a day |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.We should keep from touching our faces. |
B.A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet. |
C.There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth. |
D.We should wash our hands before touching a door handle. |
The text probably comes from______.
A.a popular magazine |
B.a guide book |
C.a book review |
D.an official document |
Having a teenager at home can be a real headache. Many teenagers smoke, drink and even fight. They often do something dangerous.
Earlier studies have shown that teenagers are more likely (可能) to make irrational decisions than people from any other age group, including children and adults. Is it that teenagers are too young to tell right from wrong? Not really. So what’s the reason?
According to Laurence, a teacher from a US university, the reason is that teenagers care a lot about how their peers (同龄人) view them—that is “peer influence”.
As children enter their teenage years, they spend more time with their friends and classmates, and also they care more about what they think of them. This makes teenagers make decisions without thinking about the costs.
In a test, a group of teenagers were asked to play a video driving game. When they played with their friends watching around them, they took more chances and drove more carelessly because that would increase their possibility of winning. But when they played alone, they drove more safely.
Why do peers have such a big influence on teens’ behavior?
As Laurence sees it, a teenager’s brain is like a car with a good accelerator (油门) but a weak brake (刹车). The “accelerator” is fully developed by teenage years while the “brake” is still not fully developed. When teenagers are watched by their peers, they usually push hard on the accelerator. With their weak brake, it is likely that they are going to end up in an accident.
But the good news is that a violent (暴力的)teenager doesn’t necessarily become a violent adult. About two-thirds to three-quarters of violent youth grow out of it. “They get more self-controlled.”
What does the underlined word “irrational” in the 2nd paragraph mean?
A.Quick. | B.Crazy. | C.Careful. | D.Correct. |
Why are teenagers likely to make wrong decisions according to the text?
A.They like difficult tasks. |
B.They don’t care about costs. |
C.They are too young to tell right from wrong. |
D.They care a lot about what their peers think of them. |
How does Laurence explain the influence of peer pressure on teens’ behavior?
A.By comparing it with how a car works. |
B.By comparing it with an accident. |
C.By showing research findings. |
D.By giving examples. |
According to the text, with peers around them, teenagers are more likely to _______ .
A.use more self-control |
B.perform better than when they are alone |
C.become more careful about what they do |
D.care about winning without thinking about danger |
Everyone has done experiments in high school laboratories, but have you ever thought about designing a satellite to explore space?
On Nov. 19, a team of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in the US awed peers and even scientists by successfully launching a satellite.
The first satellite designed and built by high school students was sent up into space along with a record-setting. 28 other small ones on a rocket were sent from a NASA center in Virginia, CNN reported. It took the students seven years to build.
The students call their tiny satellite TJ3Sat, which is named after their school. It is just 10x10x12 centimeters and weighs only 0.89 kilograms, according to Orbital Sciences, a company which developed the rocket and supported the students’ project. It can be controlled with a smartphone.
Like most satellites, TJ3Sat can send and receive data. The small spacecraft is equipped with a voice synthesizer (合成器), which can switch text to voice and transmit those sounds back to Earth over radio waves, said Orbital officials. In this case, anyone can give it a try via the project’s website (school website) by submitting (提交) a text. The texts that get approved will be sent to the satellite, changed to voice and then broadcast back to Earth via radio waves.
“I can say ‘Go Colonials’ on our ground station and when it is on the other side of the world, in India, someone can hear ‘Go Colonials’over the radio,” the team explains on the website.
The satellite will stay in space for at least three months.
School principal Evan Glazer told The Washington Post that the project started in 2006 as an activity in the spare time. Later it became a research project for a select group of seniors.
At a time when American students are busy with SATs, the launch of the satellite shows what diligent teenagers can achieve when allowed to pursue their own curiosities, Glazer said.
“It used to be that kids growing up wanted to be an astronaut,” Andrew Petro, program executive (主管) for small spacecraft technology at NASA, said in a statement. “I think we might be seeing kids saying what they want to do is build a spacecraft. The idea here is that they really can do that.”
The underlined word “awed” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ___.
A.influenced | B.amazed | C.delighted | D.inspired |
Which of the following statements about TJ3Sat is TRUE according to the article?
A.It took a group of students about a decade to build the satellite. |
B.Besides TJ3Sat, 28 other small satellites were built by the students. |
C.TJ3Sat can receive text messages that the students send into space, which it can change to voice messages and broadcast back to Earth. |
D.TJ3Sat is expected to stay in orbit for the next year, sending out messages together with information about its position in space. |
According to the article, the launch of the satellite _______.
A.is evidence of the advance of spacecraft technology |
B.proves that hard-working teenagers can achieve a lot |
C.shows the importance of extracurricular activities at school |
D.has inspired many people to take an interest in space travel |
For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2-year-old dog, and Winnie, a cute cat, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
As Amy Paul choked(哽住) on a piece of apple at her home, her dog jumped up, landing hard on her chest and forcing the piece in her throat out. When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be killed by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at the wife Cathy’s hair until she woke up and called for help.
No one could explain their timely heroics.
Both pets were rescued by their owners in infancy---Toby as a 4-week-old thrown into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Cathy’s husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.
As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used broke down, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie went to rescue, the couple’s 14-year-old son was already unconscious. “Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry sound,” Cathy Keesling said. The state police responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.
Amy Paul’s husband was at his job when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple. “Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping Magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that’s what caused me to choke,” she recalled. “I couldn’t breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life.”
Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon.
Why did Amy Paul choke on a piece of apple?
A.She was too young to care for herself. |
B.She didn’t peel the skin as usual. |
C.The apple was too hard. |
D.She had a big bite. |
Winnie saved the lives of its owner’s whole family in an accident by __________.
A.jumping onto its owner |
B.calling for help |
C.clawing at Cathy’s hair |
D.making some strange noises |
Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “infancy” in Paragraph 4?
A.middle age | B.youth | C.babyhood | D.agedness |
What caused the carbon monoxide spreading through the house?
A.A pump breaking down. |
B.A driver breaking into the house. |
C.The burning gas. |
D.The poisonous gas. |
What would be the suitable title for the passage?
A.So Smart Animals Are |
B.Great Honors for Cat and Dog |
C.Unforgettable Experiences |
D.Dog and Cat Honored for Saving Their Masters |
试题篮
()