“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?” says Wang Lin,28,a writer in Beijing.
Taobao,China’s largest online shopping site,has become an important part of Wang Lin’s life.She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joys of online shopping .Most online shoppers are students or young workers .More women shop on line than men.Clothes and home-use products are the most popular on line.
It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure”in Chinese.People can find almost everything they need on Taobao,from clothes to books ,from candies to DVD players .
You may question the security of online shopping ,Wang Lin said, “”It’s very safe and convenient .Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them,the shop owner will not get the money .You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.”
What are the most popular on line?
A.Candles and DVD players | B.Clothes and books. |
C.Clothing and home-use products. | D.Toys for children |
Taobao is ____________.
A.a shopping mall | B.an online shopper |
C.an online shopping site | D.a clothes store |
What does the underlined word “security”mean?
A.质量 B安全 C 信誉 D. 数量
.Which is the best title of the passage?
A.Wang Lin’s life. | B.Online shopping in China. |
C.Shopping on line is not safe. | D.Shopping on line is easy |
Three years ago I listened to a lecture on cognition (认知) that changed the way I think about intelligence. There are two types of cognition. The first is normal cognition: the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition is metacognition: the ability to know whether or not you know.
Does this affect intelligence? In traditional education, intelligence is measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades and considered inferior. But does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came up on a task, they could refer to a book or a quick Google search. In reality they’re just as effective as the people that ace a test. They just can’t prove it as easily.
Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognitive ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and take the best course of action. For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognitive ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can’t come up with it, he can always do a bit of research. If he knows for sure that he doesn’t know, then he can start educating himself. Because he’s aware of his ignorance, he doesn’t act with foolish confidence. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things.
However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive ability may be considered excellent at a young age for acing every test and getting great SAT scores. Unfortunately, they’ve been ruined by poor metacognition: they think they know everything but they really don’t. They are overconfident, fail to learn from mistakes, and don’t understand the slight differences of personal relationships, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions.
The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don’t know. The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don’t try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people this is the toughest lesson to learn.
People with great cognitive ability tend to _________.
A.do well in tests | B.be considered inferior |
C.be more effective than others | D.do research when faced with a task |
The underlined phrase “take the best course of action” probably means _________.
A.starting educating himself | B.taking action during the course |
C.making the right decision | D.coming up with many ideas |
People with poor metacognition may not succeed because they_________.
A.lack basic moral values | B.have improper self-evaluation |
C.fail to communicate with others | D.show little respect for others |
The author probably supports the idea that _________.
A.intelligence is measured by cognitive ability |
B.cognition is the most important mental power |
C.the toughest lesson is to distinguish the two types of cognition |
D.the awareness of one’s ignorance contributes to one’s improvement |
The word “conservation” has a thrifty meaning. To conserve is to save and protect, to leave what we ourselves enjoy in such a good condition that others may also share the enjoyment. Our forefathers had no idea that human population would increase faster than the supplies of raw materials: most of them, even until very recently, had the foolish idea that the treasures were “limitless” and could “last forever”. Most of the citizens of earlier generations knew little or nothing about the complicated and delicate system that runs all through nature, and which means that, as in a living body, an unhealthy condition of one part will sooner or later be harmful to all the others.
Fifty years ago, nature study was not part of the school work; scientific forestry was a new idea; wood was still cheap because it could be brought in any quantity from distant woodlands; soil destruction and river floods were not national problems; nobody had yet studied long-term climatic cycles in relation to proper land use; even the word “conservation” had nothing of the meaning that it has for us today.
For the sake of ourselves and those who will come after us, we must now set about correcting the mistakes of our forefathers. Conservation should be made part of everybody’s daily life. To know about the water table in ground is just as important to us as a knowledge of the basic math formulas. We need to know why all watersheds (上游集水区) need the protection of plant life and why the running current of streams and rivers must be made to give their full benefit to the soil before they finally escape to the sea. We need to be taught the duty of planting trees as well as of cutting them. We need to know the importance of big, grown trees, because living space for most of man’s fellow creatures on this planet is figured not only in square measure of surface but also in cubic (立方体的) volume above the earth. In a word, it should be our goal to restore as much of the original beauty of nature as we can.
The author’s attitude towards the use of natural resources is _________.
A.positive | B.uninterested | C.optimistic | D.critical |
According to the author, the greatest mistake of our forefathers was that _________.
A.they had no idea about scientific forestry |
B.they had little or no sense of environmental protection |
C.they were not aware of the importance of nature study |
D.they had no idea of how to make good use of raw materials |
To avoid repeating the mistakes of our forefathers, the author suggests that _________.
A.we plant more trees |
B.natural sciences be taught to everybody |
C.environmental education be directed toward everyone |
D.we return to nature |
How can you understand the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?
A.Our living space on the earth is getting smaller and smaller. |
B.Our living space should be measured in cubic volume. |
C.We need to take some measures to protect space. |
D.We must preserve good living conditions for both birds and animals. |
What will we be eating in the future? Here are the top factors that will be affecting the food that ends up on our tables in the new century.
Genetically engineered food Many crops are already genetically engineered, often to produce more food, fight against pests or improve nutrition. But concern is growing over the lasting effects of changing nature. While existing research has found little harm in genetic engineering, a recent study found the flower powder of a genetically engineered corn can kill the normal butterfly. This finding made many people nervous and brought attention to the topic.
Dining out Americans are increasingly eating meals away from home, both in sit-down restaurants and in fast food outlets. In the last decade alone there was a 14 percent decrease in the number of meals eaten at home. At the same time, restaurants are just beginning to really open their doors on the Internet. Websites exist to make restaurant reservations (预约), view menus, and get tips from your favorite chefs. The dining out trend and the demand for high-quality, chef-prepared food have encouraged chefs to spend time out of the kitchen — teaching classes, appearing on TV, and writing cookbooks.
Eating in Eating in doesn’t always mean cooking. Ready-made meals and frozen food sold in supermarkets taste better all the time. Restaurants are offering neatly packaged “food to go”, and meals can be ordered over the Internet. Cooking is not as much as a necessity, as it is a hobby or a special treat.
Agriculture Although American farmers have been hit hard recently by bad weather, low prices and decreasing government help, they can increase grain production not using old farming methods.
Which of the following is the main reason for genetically engineered crops?
A.To lead to more food and better nutrition. | B.To kill the normal butterfly. |
C.To reduce the harm done by insects. | D.To change the nature of the crops. |
From the passage, we learn that _________.
A.eating out is not popular among the old people in USA |
B.it is now easier for people to get information about eating out |
C.it is popular for restaurants to send out information on the Internet |
D.the trend of eating out is causing many chefs to give up their jobs |
In the future, cooking at home will probably _________.
A.still be the job of most housewives |
B.take up most of people’s free time |
C.bring much joy to more people |
D.lead to many restaurants closing down |
According to the passage, farmers should _________ to get a higher grain production.
A.turn to better farming methods | B.ask for the support of the government |
C.raise the prices of crops | D.not care about the effects of bad weather |
Running like the wind, roaring like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world.But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China.
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China.In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country.But due to the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China.But they are nothing like their wild cousins.They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing.If they were set free they could not look after themselves.
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa.Four of them have already arrived.Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts(本能)and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
" South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild.The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center." We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain(生物链) and there was a lack of space."
The tigers should return to China in 2007 when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
1.What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?
A.Because it has lost its natural instincts. B.Because there is not a complete eco-chain.
C.Because there is no space for it. D.Because uncontrolled hunting has destroyed its natural living conditions.
2.How is the programme of sending several tigers to South Africa getting on?
A.Its effect still remains to be seen.
B.Two tigers can already compete with their wild cousins.
C.Some of the tigers are already on the road to recovering their natural skills.
D.The tigers should be able to recover their instincts completely by 2007.
3.By saying " but they are nothing like their wild cousins", the writer means that ______.
A.they are no longer feared by other wild animals
B.they don't know how to hunt or kill
C.a complete change has resulted in the species because of breeding
D.to reintroduce them into the wild has become an urgent task
4.What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa?
A.To help the tigers recover their ability to live in the wild.
B.To provide them with a better environment.
C.To get the tigers to go on a tour.
D.To find a complete eco-chain for them.
5.Which one is not the reason for South Africa being chosen as the training place?
A.Because the tigers can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
B.Because South Africans are skilled at dealing with the tigers.
C.Because there is a complete eco-chain and enough space there.
D.Because the country has good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in.
It is the first report that home-grown food has been contaminated by radioactivity, largely Iodine(碘)-131, since the ministry ordered radiation( powerful and harmful rays that are sent out from radioactive substances) tests on food and water at the end of March in 14 mainland regions including Beijing, Tianjin, and some coastal provinces.
Sample inspections conducted on Tuesday found low levels of radioactive iodine in spinach( a kind of green vegetables) planted in Beijing, Tianjin and Henan province --- about 1-3 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), the statement said.
"The contamination level detected is too low to be harmful to public health," it said.
According to health experts, radioactive iodine can accumulate in humans once ingested in high concentrations and increases the risk of thyroid cancer. But it decays naturally within weeks.
Leafy vegetables grown in the open like spinach, lettuce and leek are among the first foods to be tainted by radioactive deposits.
Raw milk is also susceptible to radioactive contamination as livestock feed on grass.
Tests carried out in March showed spinach and milk taken from farms near Japan's nuclear-stricken area had exceeded(go beyond) government-set safety limits for radiation.
No cases of tainted water or milk have been reported in China but the ministry vowed to further strengthen monitoring.
Wang Zhongwen, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy's radiation safety department, told China Daily on Wednesday that currently China only had the means to conduct food radiation tests in a few regions.
The statement also said that recent rain in Beijing and Tianjin meant radioactive substances could have fallen on vegetables.
Chen Jicang, a vegetable dealer in Beijing, said on Wednesday that concerns are growing among consumers, businesses and governments across the world.
"We have yet to see any impact on our business from the radiation, but we will keep a close eye on how the issue develops," he said.
He added that most vegetables consumed in Beijing are produced locally, and he might switch to other varieties if spinach sales suffer.
Yang Guoshan, a researcher of radiation medical science at the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, said people could safely eat products that contain low levels of Iodine-131.
"The radiation level is so low that residents don't need to spend any extra effort on cleaning them," he said.
Gao Jie, a 52-year-old resident in Tianjin said she is deeply worried because spinach is a staple part of her family's diet.
"If spinach is radioactive, is there any possibility that other types of vegetables are safe?"
Trace levels of radioactive isotope cesium-137 and -134 were detected in the air in 21 provinces and regions on Wednesday, up from 17 on Tuesday, according to China's National Nuclear Emergency Coordination Committee.
What does the underlined word mean in para 1?
A.protected | B.contained | C.polluted by dangerous substances | D.tested |
Why are the spinach and milk taken from nuclear-stricken area not safe?
A.Because tests have been carried out there. |
B.Raw milk is sensitive to radioactive contamination as livestock(家畜)feed on grass. |
C.The amount of radioactive substances goes beyond the safe limits for radiation. |
D.Japan is a nuclear-stricken area. |
Where do you think this passage comes from?
A.a magazine | B.CCTV news | C.a journal | D.a novel |
What is not mentioned in the passage?
A.Consumers became concerned about the safety of vegetables. |
B.People need to clean vegetables completely before cooking because of radiation. |
C.Food and water have to be tested since the end of March in 14 mainland regions |
D.Low levels of radioactive iodine has been found in spinach in Tianjin |
What do you think is mainly talked about in the passage?
A.How the radioactivity came into being |
B.What we should do in face of radioactivity. |
C.Radioactivity has no side effect on human being. |
D.Home-grown food has been affected by radioactivity. |
Forget Twitter and Facebook, Google and the Kindle. Television is still the most influential medium around. Indeed ,for many of the poorest regions of the world, it remains the next big thing——finally becomes globally available. And that is a good thing, because the TV revolution is changing lives for the better.
Across the developing world, around 45% of families had a TV in 1995; by 2005 the number had climbed above 60%. That is some way behind the U.S. , where are more TVs than people, and where people now easily get access to the Internet. Five million more families in sub-Saharan Africa will get a TV over the next five years. In 2005 , after the fall of the Taliban(塔利班),which had outlawed TV, 1 in 5 Afghans had one. The global total is another 150 million by 2013——pushing the numbers to well beyond two thirds of families.
Television’s most powerful effect will be on the lives of women. In India, researchers Robert Jensen and Emily Oster found that when TVs reached villages, women were more likely to go to the market without their husbands’ approval and less likely to want a boy rather than a girl. They were more likely to make decisions over child health care. TV is also a powerful medium for adult education. In the Indian state of Gujarat, Chitrageet is a popular show that plays Bollywood songs with words in Gujarati on the screen. Within six months, viewers had made a small but significant improvement in their reading skills.
Too much TV has been associated with violence, overweight and loneliness. However, TV is having a positive influence on the lives of billions worldwide.
The underlined word “outlawed” in paragraph 2 probably means “ ”.
A.allowed | B.forbidden | C.offered | D.refused |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Americans used to get access to the Internet easily. |
B.The world’s TV sets will total 150 million by 2013. |
C.45% of families in the developing countries had a TV in 2005. |
D.Over two thirds of families in the world will have a TV by 2013. |
The author intends to .
A.stress the advantages of TV to people’s lives |
B.persuade women to become more independent |
C.encourage people to improve their reading skills |
D.introduce the readers some websites such as Google |
What would be the best title for the passage?
A.TV Will Rule the World | B.TV Will Disturb the World |
C.TV Will Better the World | D.TV Will Remain in World |
From the passage, we know _______________.
A.It is impossible for women in India to get access to TVs now. |
B.Robert Jensen and Emily Oster are Indian women. |
C.Women in India are more likely to want a girl than a boy because of the arrival of TV. |
D.Viewers of a popular TV show can improve their reading skills greatly in half a year. |
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Basic Photography
This is an eight-hour course for beginners who want to learn how to use a 35mm camera. The teacher will cover such areas as kinds of film, light, and lenses(镜头). Bring your own 35mm camera to the class.
Course Charge: $150
Jan. 10, 12, 17, 19, Tues. & Thurs. 6-8p.m.
Marianne Adams is a professional photographer whose photographs appear in many magazines.
Understanding Computers
This twelve-hour course is for people who don’t know very much about computers, but who need to learn about them. You will learn what computers are, what they can and can’t do, and how to use them.
Course Charge: $75
Equipment Charge: $10
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, Sat. 9-12 a.m.
Joseph Saimders is a professor of computer science at New Urban University. He has over twelve years of experience in the computer field.
Stop Smoking
Do you want to stop smoking? Have you already tried to stop and failed? Now it is the time to stop smoking using the latest methods. You can stop smoking, and this twelve-hour course will help you do it.
Course Charge: $30
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25 Mon. 4-7 p.m.
Dr.John Goode is a practicing psychologist(心理学家)who has helped hundreds of people stop smoking.
Typing
This course on weekdays is for those who want to type as well as those who want to improve their typing. You are tested in the first class and practice at one of eight different skill levels. This allows you to learn at your own speed. Each program lasts 20 hours. Bring your own paper.
Course Charge: $125
Materials Charge: $25
Two hours each evening for two weeks.
This course is taught by a number of business education teachers who have successfully taught typing courses before.
The word “professional” in this advertisement most probably means “_____”
A.spiritual | B.journalist | C.professor | D.experienced |
The shortest course is _____.
A.Basic Photography | B.Understanding Computers |
C.Stop Smoking | D.Typing |
A course which can do something good for your health will cost____.
A.$50 | B.$30 | C.$10 | D.$125 |
There are typing courses_____.
A.on Saturdays and Sundays | B.from Monday to Friday |
C.from Monday to Saturday | D.on each day in the week |
When something goes wrong,it can be very satisfying to say,”Well,it’s so-and-so’s fault.”or “I know I’m late,but it’s not my fault;the car broke down.”It is probably not your fault,but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation,you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However,you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner’s key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don’t rely on the person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about—creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don’t have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stop on for success.
According to the passage, winners .
A.deal with problems rather than blame others |
B.meet with fewer difficulties in their lives |
C.have responsible and able colleagues |
D.blame themselves rather that others |
The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .
A.avoid | B.accept | C.improve | D.consider |
When your colleague brings about a problem, you should .
A.find a better way to handle the problem |
B.blame him for his lack of responsibility |
C.tell him to find the cause of the problem |
D.ask a more able colleague for help |
When problems occur, winners take them as
A.excuses for their failures |
B.barriers to greater power |
C.challenges to their colleagues |
D.chances for self-development |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.A Winner’s Secret. | B.A Winner’s Problem. |
C.A Winner’s Opportunity. | D.A Winner’s Achievement. |
A powerful earthquake struck the northeastern coast of Japan at two forty-six p.m. local time on March eleventh.2011. Japan's Meteorological Agency released its first tsunami(海啸) warnings just three minutes later. The country has one of the best earthquake early warning systems in the world.
There are more than four thousand Seismic Intensity Meters in place throughout Japan to measure earthquake activity. These meters provide information within two minutes of an earthquake happening. Information about the strength and the center of the earthquake can be learned within three minutes.
There are also concrete(混凝土) sea walls around much of the Japanese coastline. But these measures proved no match for the powerful earthquake and tsunami.
Costas Synolakis ,a tsunami expert at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles said,"Japan is one of those most well-prepared countries on earth in terms of tsunami warning. They had a warning. I think what went wrong is that they had not expected the size of this event."
He says there are two reasons for this. Japan has not had any event anywhere near as big as this one in the last one hundred fifty years. And scientists had not expected such a large earthquake happening off the coast of Japan.
The nine point zero magnitude earthquake was the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded worldwide. It was also the worst earthquake ever to hit Japan. The tsunami waves that followed were reported to have reached as high as thirteen meters in some areas.
Costas Synolakis says Japan's concrete sea walls were not built to handle such high waves.
Experts say early warning systems will continue to be limited by these facts until earthquakes and tsunamis can be predicted
Where can this passage probably be adapted from?
A.A magazine on science | B.A fairy Tale |
C.A scientific fantasy book | D.A newspaper |
Which of the following statements NOT true ?
A.A terrible earthquake hit the northeastern coast of Japan |
B.It was also the worst earthquake in Japan |
C.The 9.0 earthquake was the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan |
D.Japan's concrete sea walls was unable to handle such high waves. |
According to Costas Synolakis, why did Japan suffer such a loss?
A.The country has never experienced any event as big as this one over the past 150 years |
B.Japan has the best earthquake early warning systems in the world. |
C.There are not concrete sea walls around all of the Japanese coastline |
D.The government didn’t announce its first tsunami warnings three minutes earlier. |
What time is it? Most people are pretty accurate in their answer. And if you don’t know for sure, it’s very likely that you can find out. There may be a watch on your wrist; there may be a clock on the wall, desk, or computer screen; or maybe you’re riding in a car that has a clock in the dashboard(仪表板).
Even if you don’t have a timepiece of some sort nearby, your body keeps its own beat. Humans have an internal clock that regulates(调节) the beating of our heart, the pace of our breathing, the discharge(排出) of chemicals within our bloodstream, and many other bodily functions.
Time is something from which we can’t escape. Even if we ignore it, it’s still going by, ticking away, second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. So the main issue in using your time well is, “Who’s in charge?” We can allow time to slip by and let it be our enemy. Or we can take control of it and make it our ally.
By taking control of how you spend your time, you’ll increase your chances of becoming a more successful student. Perhaps more importantly, the better you are at managing the time you devote to your studies, the more time you will have to spend on your outside interests.
The aim of time management is not to schedule every moment so we become slaves of a timetable that governs every waking moment of the day. Instead, the aim is to permit us to make informed choices as to how we use our time. Rather than letting the day go by, largely without our awareness, what we are going to discuss next can make us better able to control time for our own purposes.
The underlined word “ally” in Para.3 most likely means somebody or something that is ___.
A.your supporter and helps you | B.under your control and obeys you |
C.under your influence and follows you | D.your slave and serves you |
The author intends to tell you that time __________.
A.could be managed by the internal clock of human bodies |
B.should be well managed for our own interest |
C.should be saved for outside interests |
D.could be regulated by a timepiece such as a clock or a watch |
In the next part, the author would most probably discuss with you _________.
A.how to make up for lost time | B.how to have a good time |
C.how to make good use of time | D.how to keep up with the times |
Members of the working class have blue-collar jobs. They are construction workers, truck drivers, mechanican, steel workers, electricians, and the like. What makes this class differ from the lower class is, first, longer periods of employment—and therefore, more fixed incomes—and , second, employment in skilled or semi-skilled occupations, not unskilled ones. Although unemployment hits all levels of the American economy, including those of skilled and semi-skilled workers, it is most common at the bottom of the class structure and increasingly less common at each level upward. They consider themselves to be respectable and hard-working and they look down upon members of the “low” class, whom they often consider to be lazy, dishonest, and too ready to exploit public assistance.
Most people in the working class have at least high school education. Many have some experience of college(especially community college), though few are college graduates. Unionization has helped the working class, but a rapidly changing economy and frequent periods of high unemployment make it difficult for most of its members to be able to increase their savings greatly. Purchasing a house for people in this class is extremely difficult, although a certain percentage may receive houses from their parents. (Home-owning rises with social class.)
A greater number of the members of the working class take relatively little satisfaction in their jobs, because much of their work is ordinary and boring. As a result, many seek their main satisfaction in recreational activities. Many members of this class would like to earn enough money to leave their jobs and start their own businesses, though few make it. Many place their expectations on their children, hoping that they at least will rise in the ladder of success.
Which of the following is true about the working class?
A.They are often offered jobs with high incomes. |
B.They are employed as skilled and semi-skilled workers. |
C.They are often considered lazy and dishonest. |
D.They are often exploited by the public. |
The word “hit” in paragraph one roughly means__________.
A.have bad effects on | B.break up |
C.beat | D.strike with a blow |
Most people in the working class ________.
A.have at least some experience of college |
B.receive houses from their parents |
C.buy houses by themselves |
D.have difficulty increasing their savings greatly |
Many members from the working class are not satisfied with their jobs because _____.
A.they are not interested in their jobs. |
B.they could not earn much money |
C.they are not their own bosses |
D.they could not rise in the ladder of success |
In a few years, you might be able to speak Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, and English
— and all at the same time. This sounds incredible, but Alex Waibel, a computer science professor at US's Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Germany's University of Karlsruhe, announced last week that it may soon be reality. He and his team have invented software and hardware that could make it far easier for people who speak different languages to understand each other.
One application, called Lecture Translation, can easily translate a speech from one language into another. Current translation technologies typically limit speakers to certain topics or a limited vocabulary. Users also have to be trained how to use the programme.
Another prototype(雏形机) can send translations of a speech to different listeners depending on what language they speak. “It is like having a simultaneous translator right next to you but without disturbing the person next to you,” Waibel said.
Prefer to read? So-called Translation Glasses transcribe(转录) the translations on a tiny liquid-crystal(液晶) display(LCD) screen.
Then there’s the Muscle Translator. Electrodes capture the electrical signals from facial muscle movements made naturally when a person is mouthing words. The signals are then translated into speech. The electrodes could be replaced with wireless chips implanted in a person's face, according to researchers.
During a demonstration held last Thursday in CMU's Pittsburgh campus, a Chinese student named Stan Jou had 11 tiny electrodes attached to the muscles of his cheeks, neck and throat. Then he mouthed — without speaking aloud — a few words in Mandarin(普通话) to the audience. A few seconds later, the phrase was displayed on a computer screen and spoken out by the computer in English and Spanish: “Let me introduce our new prototype.”
This particular gadget(器械),when fully developed, might allow anyone to speak in any number of languages or, as Waibel put it, “to switch your mouth to a foreign language”. “The idea behind the university's prototypes is to create ‘good enough’ bridges for cross-cultural exchanges that are becoming more common in the world,” Waibel said.
With spontaneous(自发的) translators, foreign drivers in Germany could listen to traffic warnings on the radio, tourists in China could read all the signs and talk with local people, and leaders of different countries could have secret talks without any interpreters there.
Which of the following statements is not TRUE?
A.A lecture translation can translate what you said into other languages easily. |
B.There is no Muscle Translator in the world now. |
C.Muscle Translators can translate what you think into speech if you just move your mouth. |
D.The spontaneous translators will help us a lot. |
What kind of equipment is NOT mentioned in this passage?
A.Lecture Translation. |
B.Muscle Translator. |
C.Multiple Translator. |
D.Translation Prototype. |
What’s the final destination of inventing the language translators?
A.To make cultural exchanges between different countries easier. |
B.To help students learn foreign languages more easily. |
C.To make people live in foreign countries more comfortably. |
D.To help people learn more foreign languages in the future. |
What can be inferred from the seventh paragraph?
A.The translator is so good that it can translate any language into the very language you need. |
B.The translator is becoming more and more common in the world as a bridge. |
C.With the help of the translator, you only need to open your mouth when you want to say something without saying the exact words at all. |
D.The translator needs to be improved before being put into market. |
Where can this passage probably be excerpted from?
A.A newspaper. |
B.A magazine on science. |
C.A fairy tale. |
D.A scientific fantasy book. |
The way people hold to the belief that a fun-filled, pain free life equals happiness actually reduces their chances of ever attaining real happiness. If fun and pleasure are equal to happiness then pain must be equal to unhappiness. But in fact, the opposite is true: more often than not things that lead to happiness involve some pain.
As a result, many people avoid the very attempts that are the source of true happiness. They fear the pain inevitably brought by such things as marriage, raising children, professional achievement, religious commitment(承担的义务), self - improvement.
Ask a bachelor(单身汉) why he resists marriage even though he finds dating to be less and less satisfying. If he is honest he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment. For commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure, excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three - day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children. But couples who decide not to have children never know the joys of watching a child grow up or of playing with a grandchild.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those who are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.
According to the author, a bachelor resists marriage chiefly because ____________ .
A.he is reluctant to take on family responsibilities |
B.he believes that life will be more cheerful if he remains single |
C.he finds more fun in dating than in marriage |
D.he fears it will put an end to all his fun adventure and excitement |
Raising children, in the author’s opinion is ____________ .
A.a moral duty |
B.a thankless job |
C.a rewarding task |
D.a source of inevitable pain |
From the last paragraph, we learn that envy sometimes stems from ____________ .
A.hatred |
B.misunderstanding |
C.prejudice |
D.ignorance |
To understand what true happiness is one must ____________ .
A.have as much fun as possible during one’s lifetime |
B.make every effort to liberate oneself from pain |
C.put up with pain under all circumstances |
D.be able to distinguish happiness from fun |
What is the author trying to tell us?
A.Happiness often goes hand in hand with pain. |
B.One must know how to attain happiness. |
C.It is important to make commitments. |
D.It is pain that leads to happiness. |
Everywhere man is altering the balance of nature.He is facilitating the spread of plants and animals into new regions, sometimes deliberately, sometimes unconsciously.He is covering huge areas with new kinds of plants, or with houses, factories, slag-heaps and other products of his civilization.He exterminates some species on a large scale, but favors the multiplication of others.In brief, he has done more in five thousand years to alter the biological aspect of the planet than has nature in five million.
Many of these changes which he has brought about have had unforeseen consequences.Who would have thought that the throwing away of a piece of Canadian waterweed would have caused half the waterways of Britain to be blocked for a decade, or that the provision of pot cacti for lonely settlers’ wives would have led to Eastern Australian being overrun with forests of Prickly Pear? Who would have prophesied that the cutting down of forests on the Adriatic coasts, or in parts of Central Africa, could have reduced the land to a semi desert, with the very soil washed away from the bare rock? Who would have thought that improved communications would have changed history by the spreading of disease-sleeping sickness into East Africa, measles into Oceania, very possibly malaria into ancient Greece?
These are spectacular examples; but examples on a smaller scale are everywhere to be found.We make a nature sanctuary for rare birds, prescribing absolute security for all species; and we may find that some common and hardy kind of bird multiplies beyond measure and ousts the rare kinds in which we were particularly interested.We see, owing to some little change brought about by civilization, the starling spread over the English country-side in hordes.We improve the yielding capacities of our cattle; and find that now they exhaust the pastures which sufficed for less exigent stock.
The following examples except _______________ reflect man altering the balance of nature.
A.man is covering huge areas with new kinds of plants |
B.man is facilitating the spread of animals into new regions. |
C.man is killing some species on a large scale |
D.man is getting to know the importance of keeping the balance of nature. |
What had a piece of Canadian waterweed cause?
A.Eastern Australian was overrun with forests. |
B.Half the waterways of Britain blocked for a decade. |
C.In parts of central Africa, the land reduced to a semi desert. |
D.Disease-sleeping has been caused. |
What have spread diseases?
A.Disease-sleeping sickness. | B.Measles. |
C.Improved communications. | D.Malaria. |
We make a nature sanctuary for rare birds but _______________.
A.some common and hardy kind of bird multiplies |
B.rare kinds multiply |
C.all bird multiply |
D.no bird multiply |
The main idea of the passage is ______________.
A.that man is deliberately destroying the balance of nature |
B.that man has foreseen the consequences of altering the balance old nature |
C.that improved communications have changed history |
D.that man is altering the balance of nature |
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