The hottest show this summer-the “Voice” just finished on Sunday at the Shanghai Stadium.But the show that had a good start didn't end to everyone's satisfaction.The two and a half hour show dragged on for more than four hours because of the huge amount of advertising, which the audience and residents(居民) living nearby could hardly bear.
This summer, something hotter than the weather came to Shanghai. That is the Voice of China.The show soon became a cash cow for the organizer as the advertisement prices reached 1.16 million yuan for 15 seconds. And the show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now in ad income only. But the organizers’ bliss(快乐) was audiences’ melancholy(悲哀).
In the final live show on Sunday, about 14 rounds of advertisements were aired, each of which came at a crucial result-announcing moment.
Frequently interrupted by advertisements, some audience complained that the show wasn’t worth its ticket prices of 180 to 1680 yuan.
The planned two and a half hour show went two hours overtime because of the advertising. This annoyed audience members, and touched the nerves(神经) of residents living near the site.
Someone called the police, and the show is now facing punishment for going over-time and disturbing residents late at night.
Why didn’t “the Voice” make audience satisfied?
A.It failed to attract audience attention in the end. |
B.It failed to make audience satisfied. |
C.It increased by one and a half hours and audience couldn’t bear it. |
D.It was full of so many advertisements that audience can’t tolerate them. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The show lasted for two and a half hours. |
B.Someone called the police because they can’t bear the noises late at night. |
C.The show was worth its ticket prices because the audience watched many advertisements. |
D.The show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now totally. |
Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?
A.The Voice of China—the most popular TV show of last summer. |
B.The Voice of China—I want you. |
C.The Voice of China—hard to say I love you. |
D.The Voice of China—the noises of China. |
This passage is organized in the pattern of____.
A.time and event | B.comparison and contrast |
C.cause and effect | D.definition and classification |
1. TODAY, Friday, November 12
JAZZ with the Mike Thomas Jazz Band at The Derby Arms. Upper Richmond Road West, Sheen.
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco. Free at The Lord Napier, Mort lake High St., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tel: 652 - 1158.
2. SATURDAY, November 13
JAZZ Lysis at The Bulls Head, Barnes. Admission 60p.
MUSICAL HALL at The Star and Garter, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, provided by the Aba Daba Music Hall company. Good food and entertainment fair price. Tel: 789 – 6749 .
FAMILY night out? Join the sing-along at The Black Horse. Sheen Road, Richmond.
JAZZ The John Bennett Big Band at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 80p.
THE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion(手风琴). Tel: 789—4536
3. SUNDAY, November 14
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco, free at The Lord Napier, Mort Lake High Street, from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m.
FOLK MUSIC at The Derby Arms. The Short Stuff and residents the Norman Chop Trio. Non-remembers 70p. Tel: 688-4626.
HEAVY MUSIC with Tony Simon at The Bull, Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen.
THE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion.
Where and when can you hear the Norman Chop Trio?
A.At the Bull’s Head on Sunday. | B.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
C.At the Bull on Saturday. | D.At the Black Horse on Saturday. |
Where and when can you hear the Mike Thomas Jazz Band?
A.At the Derby Arms on Friday. | B.At the Black Horse on Friday. |
C.At the Star and Garter on Saturday. | D.At the Derby Arms on Sunday. |
You want to enjoy the electric accordion on Saturday. Which telephone number do you have to ring to find out what time it starts?
A.789—6749. | B.789—4536. | C.682—1158. | D.688—4626. |
You want to spend the Saturday by joining the entertainment with your family. Where should you go?
A.Disco at The Lord Napier. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse. |
C.The electric accordion at The Derby Arms. |
D.Jazz at The Bull's Head. |
You want to spend the same day at two different places and don't want to cross any street.Which or the following is your best choice?
A.The sing-along at the Black Horse and Jazz at The Bull's Head. |
B.The sing-along at The Black Horse and Folk Music at The Derby Arms. |
C.Folk Music at The Derby Arms and Heavy Music with Tony Simon at The Bull. |
D.Musical Hall at The Star & Garter and Disco at The Lord Napier. |
A newly-published study has shown that loneliness can spread from one person to another, like a disease. Researchers used information from the Framingham Study, which began in 1948. The Framingham Study gathers information about physical and mental health, personal behavior and diet. At first, the study involved about 5,000 people in the American state of Massachusetts. Now, more than 12,000 individuals are taking part.
Information from the Framingham Study showed earlier that happiness can spread from person to person. So can behaviors like littering and the ability to stop smoking.
University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo led the recent study. He and other researchers attempted to show how often people felt lonely. They found that the feeling of loneliness spread through social groups.
Having a social connection with a lonely person increased the chances that another individual would feel lonely. In fact, a friend of a lonely person was 52% more likely to develop feelings of loneliness. A friend of that person was 25% more likely. The researchers say this shows that a person could indirectly be affected by someone’s loneliness.
The effect was strongest among friends. Neighbors were the second most affected group. The effect was weaker on husbands and wives, and brothers and sisters. The researchers also found that loneliness spread more easily among women than men.
The New York Times newspaper reports that, on average, people experience feelings of loneliness about 48 days a year. It also found that every additional friend can decrease loneliness by about five percent, or two and a half fewer lonely days.
Loneliness has been linked to health problems like depression and sleeping difficulties. The researchers believe that knowing the causes of loneliness could help in reducing it.
The study suggests that people can take steps to stop the spread of loneliness. They can do this by helping individuals they know who may be experiencing loneliness. The result can be helpful to the whole social group.
What is TRUE about the Framingham Study?
A.It was only conducted in 1948. |
B.It involves more than 12,000 participants. |
C.It was led by John Cacioppo. |
D.It showed that any behavior could spread. |
Which statement about the spread of loneliness is true?
A.The spreading effect was the second strongest among friends. |
B.No spreading effect was found on husbands and wives. |
C.Women are more likely to be affected than men. |
D.Brothers are more easily affected than neighbors. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Actions should be taken to help lonely people. |
B.People feel lonely for many reasons. |
C.Ways to fight against loneliness. |
D.Lonely people can affect others. |
China’s second manned(人造的) space flight will be done by two astronauts(宇航员) over five days in 2005. “Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space sometime in 2005,” said Zuo Saichun, a spokesperson of the China Aerospace Science and Technology (CAST). “The spacecraft(宇宙飞船) will make new breakthroughs(突破性进展) in China’s manned space technology.”
Unlike Shenzhou-V, a little more than a year ago (in October, 2003), the next flight will see two astronauts fly in space for five days. Their capsule (太空舱) is designed to be capable(能够)of orbiting(绕轨道运行) for a whole week, the spokesperson said. “For the first time, astronauts will enter and live in the orbital module(舱) of the spacecraft to do scientific experiments,” said a statement from CAST. CAST did not say what those experiments will be.
In Shenzhou-VI, scientists have changed the spacecraft’s configuration (构形) to reduce its weight, and tried to improve the performance of on-board equipment. They have also worked to make sure of the energy supply of the spacecraft and further improve its safety. So far, scientists have worked out ways to solve problems on environmental control and life support. Shenzhou-VI will be sent into orbit atop(在……顶上) a Long March 2F rocket.
Meanwhile, a model of the Chang’e-1 satellite is expected to be sent to orbit the moon in two years. The satellite, part of the three-stage programme, would be followed by the landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon in the second stage by 2010 and collecting samples(样品) of lunar soil by 2020 in the final stage, according to Sun Laiyan, director of the China National Space Administration.
. Which of the following about Shenzhou-VI is NOT true?
A.It will be sent into space in 2005. |
B.It is capable of orbiting for two weeks. |
C.It will be sent into orbit atop a Long March 2F rocket. |
D.It will be sent into space with two astronauts. |
. According to the passage, the following problems should be solved before Shenzhou-VI is sent into space EXCEPT ______.
A.environmental control | B.energy supply |
C.life support | D.lunar soil collecting |
. Which of the following does NOT belong to the three-stage programme?
A.Shenzhou-VI’s being sent into space. |
B.A model of the Chang’e-1 satellite will be sent to orbit the moon. |
C.The landing of an unmanned vehicle on the moon. |
D.Collecting samples of lunar soil. |
. The passage mainly tells us ______.
A.some problems need solving before Shenzhou-VI is sent into space |
B.Shenzhou-VI will be sent into space in 2005 |
C.what China’s space programme is |
D.how China’s three-stage programme is carried out |
Twenty-three-year old Rio Safiyanto sells face masks, or coverings, for about 30 cents each in central Jakarta, Indonesia. He makes enough money to buy a cell phone that permits him to visit websites. He says every average person has a cellphone. He likes having one because he can talk to his family when he is away from home. And, he is especially pleased that he can use it to listen to music. It is known as a feature phone 。That is because it is cheaper and cannot perform as many actions as more advanced phones like the Apple iPhone.
These devices make up the majority of cell phones sold around the world. They have proven more successful in places like Indonesia, where some smartphones cost 700 dollars or more. Although many lower-income users are new to smartphones, they are quickly learning to use the technology.
Cell manufacturer Nokia offers a service called Life Tools. For a small monthly payment, the company sends text messages to farmers. The messages tell of weather conditions, crop prices, agricultural news and give other advice.
Local businessman Aldi Haryopratomo has developed a way for small store owners to sell things like prepaid cellphone minutes and life insurance through text messages. Ruma is the company that developed the technology. The company is working on a system that will notify people about jobs in their area.
At a recent digital technology show in Jakarta, banks offered no-interest financing for credit card purchases. Marina Luthfiani manages a mobile shop in the area. She said almost everyone can buy a smartphone because of competitive financing and credit choices. She says Indonesians like to buy the latest devices.
A report last June by Semiocast, a French internet research company, said Jakarta was the world's top tweeting(发微博)city, ahead of Tokyo and London.
Why are feature phones popular in Indonesia?
A.It has fewer functions. |
B.It can be used to enjoy music. |
C.It is less expensive. |
D.It is more attractive. |
What is true of the service Life Tools?
A.It can sell agricultural products |
B.It provides useful information to farmers |
C.It is free of charge mainly for farmers. |
D.It helps farmers to make production plan. |
What does the underlined word “notify’ in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. Inform | B.Ask | C.Direct. | D.Help. |
What is the main idea of the text?
A.Indonesians like services on the Internet |
B.The Internet is widely used in Indonesia. |
C.Feature phones are the only choices in Indonesia. |
D.More and more Indonesians use smartphones. |
OPEC Decides not to Increase Production
Vienna-In spite of Iraq’s decision to stop oil deliveries ,the 11-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) will not increase production to make up the shortfall , ministers decided Tuesday in Vienna .
The 11 oil ministers decided to meet again on July 3 to discuss the effects of the Iraq temporary stop .The organization’s president ,Chakib Khelil of Algeria ,said after the meeting that stocks were high and prices were stable ,so quota(配额) increases were not necessary .
The E.U. Commission has expressed concern about Iraq’s output stop .A speaker said OPEC had to take all possible measures to keep or lower the oil price .
Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali Al-Nuaimi had earlier said there would not be any shortage of oil in the market .The organization had already taken steps to fill the gap .he said .OPEC Secretary General Ali Rodriguez added that the period of the Iraq stopping exports was not known ,so other exporters were not going to lift quotas yet .If the market was destabilized (动摇的),a suitable response could be made .
Iraq on Monday stopped shipments of crude oil to protest against the U.N. Security Council’s decision to extend the oil-for–food program by only a month , instead of the normal six-month renewal(延期).
Just before the Vienna meeting , oil prices had gone up ,with a barrel of OPEC crude selling for 27.05 dollars ,up from 26.81 dollars last Friday .North sea oil was at 29.26 dollars Monday evening .
OPEC wants the oil price to stay within a margin of 22 to 28 dollars and achieved that with cuts in January and March that reduced 2.5 million barrels per day off quotas .
(Reports from SOHU English News HOMEPAGE (CHINESE) June 6 ,2001)
.Iraq made the decision to stop oil deliveries because ____ .
A oil price is too low in the international market
B the U.N.Security Council has decided to shorten the time for the oil-for-food programme
C many oil wells were destroyed during the war in the late 1980s
D it couldn’t get enough money to develop its economy
.The attitude the E.U. Commission took towards Iraq’s output stop is ___ .
A active B concerned C cold D surprising
“The organization ”here refers to _____ .
A OPEC B the E.U. Commission C the U.N. Security D WHO
.The main idea of the passage is ____ .
A the oil prices in the world were stable though Iraq had stopped oil deliveries
B OPEC wants the oil price to stay within a margin of 22 to 28 dollars
C OPEC will not increase oil production to make up the shortfall that is caused by Iraq .
D oil is connected with people’s daily life
.The 11 oil ministers decided to meet on July 3 so that ____ .
A they can persuade Iraq to continue oil production
B they can have a discussion about the effects of Iraq’s temporary oil stop
C they can have a talk with the U.N. Security Council
D they can make up their minds to increase oil production
OLYMPIA, March 24—Luo Xuejuan, a swimming gold medalist at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, became the first Chinese person to relay the Olympic Flame in Greece on Monday, receiving the flame from the first Olympic torchbearer(火炬手), Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis.
Despite her previous experience as a torchbearer in the Beijing leg of the Athens 2004 torch relay, Luo felt honored and proud of being chosen as the first Chinese torchbearer, the Xihua News Agency reported Luo as saying in an interview.
She talked about the great responsibility that she felt, as she believed she was representing every Chinese athlete and even Chinese person by running her leg of the relay.
Regarding missing the torch lighting ceremony because she had to be in an assigned location to wait for the flame, Luo felt no regret. “Even though I couldn’t see it, I was able to feel the flame light and knew that it was happening at a place nearby,” she said.
Luo expressed her belief that even if people couldn’t communicate with words, the Olympic Flame enables the transmission of the Olympic spirit and brings smiles wherever it might go. In Luo’s mind, the Olympic spirit represents purity, competition, friendship, enthusiasm, peace and harmony.
Why didn’t Luo see the torch lighting ceremony?
A. She was late for the ceremony. |
B. She was not allowed to go there. |
C. She waited for the flame as the next torchbearer. |
D. The ceremony took place at a place far away. |
Choose the best explanation for the underlined word “leg” in Paragraph Three.
A. One of the long parts that connect the feet to the rest of the body. |
B. The part of a pair of trousers. |
C. One of the long thin parts on the bottom of a table. |
D. One part of a journey or race. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Luo Xuejuan was the first Olympic torchbearer in Greece. |
B. Luo had never been selected as a torchbearer before. |
C. Luo believed that the Olympic flame helped communication among people. |
D. Luo felt regretful because she missed the torch lighting ceremony. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Luo Xuejuan: A Swimming Gold Medalist. |
B. The Torch Lighting Ceremony |
C. The Torch Relay Had Begun |
D. Luo Xuejuan: the First Chinese Torchbearer of Athens Torch Relay |
This passage is most likely to be seen in a .
A. novel |
B. newspaper |
C. magazine |
D. textbook |
When many people are worried that there are no more heroes(英雄) in the modern society(当今社会) ,two university(大学) students who lost their lives to rescue(营救)drowning(溺水的)children have shown that heroes still exist(存在).
According to(根据) the Inner Mongolia Morning Post(内蒙古晨报), the tragedy(悲剧)occurred on the afternoon of December 14,2002 when three school students skating on a frozen (结冰的) lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot(呼和浩特)fell through the ice into the freezing water.
More than 20 university students who happen to be near the spot(地点) immediately went to the rescue of the children,
Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child’s body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao ,also died of cold and exhaustion(筋疲力尽).
The body of Hao who took the lead( 带领)in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day.A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children’s cries for help,, they went to the ice hole hand in hand (手拉手)to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water,
Local residents(居民) held mourning ceremonies(祭奠仪式)at the lake.
Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation(进一步观察), but their lives were no longer in danger.
. The underlined word “occurred” here means
A.employed | B.mixed | C.guided | D.happened |
.. When the three school students fell into water, the university students were
A.skating on the ice | B.taking photos at the lake |
C.having a picnic | D.walking along the lake |
.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Three students died on the same day in all. |
B.Hao Longbiao’s body was found on December 14,2002. |
C.The university students didn’t think it dangerous to save the drowning children in the lake. |
D.Local residents were not brave in face of danger. |
. It can be inferred(推知) that ______________
A.people think little of (对----评价低)the two university students’ death |
B.the ice on the lake wasn’t strong enough to skate on |
C.some students regrets(后悔) for what they had done |
D.heroes don’t agree with(与-----一致) the steps(步调) of modern times |
JINTAN, JIANGSU: The 20 students — 18 boys and 2 girls —had a thousand reasons to be proud of themselves. They had just climbed their way to the top rung(阶梯)out of 4 million students taking part in the Fifth National Hua Luogeng Gold Cup Mathematics Contest(竞赛)on Tuesday evening. The 20 gold medal winners are all primary and middle school students under the age of 14. ‘Many of the problems are of college level and these pupils can figure them out. It is just unbelievable!’said a teacher from Guangdong province. Named after China's most famous mathematician, Hua Luogeng, the contest started in 1986,one year after his death. In less than 10 years, it has been recognized by the State Education Commission(国家教委) as the country's biggest and best contest of its kind.
This news story is mainly about________ .
A.when the contest started |
B.how the contest got its name |
C.the 20 pupils who have won gold medals in the contest |
D.the 5th National Hua Luogeng Gold Cup Mathematics Contest |
This news story most probably appeared in a newspaper in ________.
A.1986 | B.1987 | C.1995 | D.1997 |
It can be inferred from the text that the teacher from Guangdong province ________.
A.felt proud of the gold medal winners |
B.wondered if the students were honest |
C.thought that the problems were too difficult for the students |
D.believed that the twenty winners could go to study at university |
The underlined phrase ‘figure out’ in the text means_________.
A.work out | B.add up | C.guess | D.study |
The 47-year-old singer talks about the new album Symphony(交响乐) that came out of a “very dark time”, including her decision to give up trying to have children. “People have suggested I could adopt,” Brightman says. “But work is central to my life now. And so I am going to put it to one side. After a while not having children becomes the norm and perhaps that might sound alarming, to parents especially, but I have never known anything different. I’m not hurt by not having children. My life and career are incredibly rich.”
Talking about growing up in a large family in Berkhamsted (father a property developer who later committed suicide), she says: “I was gifted as a child, and very musical. I seemed to be good at anything to do with the arts. At 5,I understood the music I was dancing to and had an eye for costume.” She first appeared in a West End musical at 11 and hated boarding school.
Brightman led the saucy dance troupe(辣妹三人舞) Hot Gossip and had her first hit with I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper in 1978. At 18 she married a music manager called Andrew Graham Stewart. “I was probably in love but I can’t remember. Girls change such a lot between 18 and 22. It didn’t really work out.” In 1981 she was spotted by Lloyd Webber. She became his leading lady in Song and Dance, Requiem and Phantom of the Opera. They married in 1984.
Brightman says she felt hostility(敌意) “from the beginning. I haven’t tried to understand it. I’ve done very well everywhere else, especially the US, where I now live, I just accept it for what it is. The more you are away from Britain, the more you appreciate it. But I don’t miss it, although I miss my family. Our profession can be uncomfortable but I enjoy what I do. I get on with it.”
The first paragraph tells us that _____.
A.Brightman is very popular around the world except in America |
B.Brightman’s musical style is a mixture of opera, pop and jazz |
C.the British people don’t like her for her style of music |
D.Brightman is much older than Andrew Lloyd Webber |
Brightman decided to give up having children because _____.
A.she could adopt one |
B.her life and career were unbelievably rich without children |
C.she felt it normal not to have children |
D.she was too busy |
The following statements are true except ______.
A.Brightman first appeared in a West End musical at 5 |
B.Brightman disliked life on the campus |
C.Brightman was very gifted when she was young |
D.The saucy dance troupe made Brightman famous |
The underlined word in the fourth paragraph probably means _____.
A.located | B.admired | C.followed | D.found |
What does the author try to say in the last paragraph by quoting Brightman’s words?
A.Brightman has to accept the fact that she is not liked in Britain |
B.Brightman lives in America but she loves her own country |
C.The British coldness towards Brightman led to her hatred to her homeland |
D.Brightman was at a loss why she was not welcome in Britain |
News that Microsoft made a $44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo resulted in heated discussions made by many Internet users. Here are some responses:
Diane Burke of Weeks bury, Kentucky
I think it would definitely be an interesting combination. Everyone recognizes the names Yahoo and Microsoft, but everyone also says, “Did you Google it?” Such a catchphrase (时髦话) is going to be hard to beat.
Shaun Carney of Laurelville, Ohio
I think the merger (合并) will provide more competitions for Google. I don’t think the merger will allow Microsoft to develop faster than Google, though. I believe the increased competition this merger brings will force Google to stay on top of its game by offering more fresh and original Internet tools and expanding on the tools it already offers.
Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California
I view the merger as a necessary element in preventing a monopolization (垄断). Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet!
Rick R. of Edgewater, Florida
It sounds like a disaster to me. If this were to happen, I would stop using my Yahoo e-mail account because I don’t like the feeling of Microsoft spying upon my business. I will sign up for Google.
Antonio Glosser of Kansas City, Missouri
Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users. Microsoft seeks nothing but profit. Undoubtedly, they’ll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo’s formerly non-priced features. Microsoft’s greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is.
How many companies are mentioned in the passage?
A.One. | B.Two. | C.Three. | D.Four. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A.Shaun’s attitude towards Google is passive. |
B.Toni believes the Internet will have a promising future. |
C.Rick will support Google after the merger. |
D.Antonio is afraid that the merger will cost Yahoo’s free features. |
The passage is mainly about ______.
A.the future of Yahoo and Microsoft |
B.the strengths of Yahoo and Microsoft |
C.the strengths and weaknesses of large companies |
D.opinions on the merger of Yahoo and Microsoft. |
Every day we are bombarded with images, videos, music and news. In this age of visual and aural hyper-stimulation, the medium of radio is making a phenomenal comeback.
“We're at the dawn of a golden age of audio," said US-based podcaster Alex Blumberg in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. In the last month alone, 15 percent of US adults listened to a radio podcast. These statistics, released by Edison Research, reveal the successful evolution of traditional radio broadcasts to the present day's digital podcast format. The term "podcast," was coined in 2004, but the trend only started gaining mainstream popularity in recent years. Since the leap in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets, podcast subscription rates have only accelerated.
The appeal of the podcast partially resides in its multiplatform delivery and on-demand capabilities. You can tune in during those extra minutes of the day when you're walking to the shops, waiting in a queue or riding the subway. Similar to television shows, podcasts are generally free to download and most offer new content every week.
Donna Jackson, 22, Sydney university media graduate, listens to podcasts two or three times a week, via iTunes .”I listen while I'm pottering around the house doing something else. It makes completing a boring task a lot more enjoyable..... And it's an easy way of keeping in touch with what's going on in the rest of the world," she said.
Unlike television and music, the audio format has the potential to create a deep impression on readers. Blumberg says this comes down to the podcast's ability "to create intimacy and emotional connection." Sydney University undergraduate Hazel Proust, major in social work and arts, agrees. "When you're tuned in, it feels as if the voice of the podcast's narrator is talking directly to you. It's comforting," said Proust.
From the passage, we can learn that____.
A.Radio is developing more quickly than mediums with images, videos, music and news. |
B.Podcast has its origin in the traditional radio broadcasts. |
C.In the last month alone, 15 percent of world adults listened to a radio podcast. |
D.Podcast was becoming popular from 2004. |
By saying "We're at the dawn of a golden age of audio," Alex Blumberg wants to
Tell us that ______
A.Traditional radio broadcasts will be loved by people again. |
B.Radio has attracted more people than TV and other forms of media . |
C.Radio will be more and more popular in the form of podcast. |
D.The Sydney Morning Herald will help radio become popular again. |
For podcast, which is wrong?
A.You can listen to it at any time and any place. |
B.You can download it without pay. |
C.You can learn new content every week from it. |
D.You can listen to it according to your own demand. |
From the last paragraph, we can infer
A.television and music has become less popular . |
B.Hazel Proust has different opinions with Blumberg |
C.podcast can build up close relationship with listeners |
D.using podcast the narrator can talk to listeners directly |
Global financial big dogs are no match for China's "Da Ma", or housewives, who have crowded into gold stores across China, buying up 300 tons of gold over the past two weeks. No wonder gold prices have steadied after taking a dive.
During the May Day holiday, gold stores were crowded with mostly female customers. Most of them are middle-aged "Chinese housewives". This group of buyers has risen to fame recently. They are big spenders and are desperate to get their hands on a bargain. "I bought some gold jewellery and kept them as a gift for my son when he gets married," said a buyer from Shanghai.
The gold business is skyrocketing. "Our sales are growing by the day. Yesterday we sold more than ten million yuan of gold products," a gold store salesperson said. The gold rush in China started about two weeks ago thanks to a decline in global gold prices. Media reports suggest that Chinese housewives have spent about 100 billion yuan, or about 16 billion US dollars, purchasing 300 tons of gold since mid-April. That has helped support gold prices.
"Gold prices depressed since the middle of last month but have risen gradually. That is mainly due to the strong demand from Asian markets," said foreign trader Zhang Chen from Industrial & Commercial Bank of China. "Some people even joked that Chinese housewives have beaten Wall Street analysts." For Chinese people, with limited investment options, the only thing better than buying gold is buying gold at discount prices.
What does the author mean by the underlined sentence of the first paragraph?
A.The global big dogs can’t match with Chinese housewives. |
B.China's "Da Ma" help a lot to support the global economic crisis. |
C.Chinese housewives spend a great deal of money on gold. |
D.Chinese housewives have a better consumption idea than global financial big dogs. |
The whole passage mainly developed_______ ?
A.by comparison | B.by contrast | C.by quotation | D.by time order |
We can infer about the gold rush in China from the passage?
A.The Chinese housewives are most willing to spend money in buying gold. |
B.China's "Da Ma" crowded into stores to get gold as the best gifts for sons when they get married. |
C.China's "Da Ma" are bigger spenders and cleverer than global financial big dogs. |
D.China’s "Da Ma" become the largest gold buyers due to a decline in global gold prices. |
The author’s description about the passage is ______.
A.negative | B.subjective | C.doubtful | D.objective |
Worried about how many calories you will get in that piece of pizza, chocolate cake or bag of chips? A new iphone application Mealsnap may help. Users just need to take a picture of the meal with the phone, and it will give a calorie read-out almost immediately.
Mealsnap was developed by DailyBurn, a health social network that focuses on helping its users lead healthier lifestyles. It has created several other health and diet-related iphone applications. The applications gives users a quick reply. To do that, it matches the taken picture to a databank containing the calorie information of nearly 500,000 kinds of food. Users then get the range of calories for the meal that is photographed.
We started with something simple — an apple. A couple of minutes later the application replied that it was an apple and between 64 and 96 calories. More impressive was the reply we received after sending a photo of mixed salad bowl. Mealsnap replied that the bowl contained “yellow rice with corn, boiled eggs and beans” and that the food was between 532 and 798 calories.
Mr. Smith, director of DailyBurn, said that usual calorie counting needed a long time, but that the application made it easier to know the calories in food. That’s why it is so popular among those who are trying hard to lose weight.
In addition, Mealsnap can serve as a food diary. No need to write down what they’ve eaten, the photos will be stored. Then users can keep a visual log (记录). Mr. Smith said: “It’s like a food journal, but easier. All you do is to take the picture. The simple act of recording something can cause a psychological change that can help people on their health journey. Knowing the calorie range makes me think more about what I’m eating.
60. The purpose of DailyBurn is to _______.
A.help people have a healthy life |
B.make iphone more popular |
C.help people find ways to lose weight |
D.persuade people to buy iphone products |
61. We can know from the passage that Mealsnap is ________.
A.a camera | B.a phone | C.a calculator | D.an application |
62. What can be learned from the third paragraph?
A.Mealsnap can also tell what the food is. |
B.Mealsnap is only useful for simple things. |
C.The result of Mealsnap isn’t always right. |
D.Mealsnap needs a long time to show the calorie range. |
63. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A.Mealsnap iphones work as a health signal |
B.Mealsnap iphones offer you a health signal |
C.Mealsnap iphones — the best-selling phones |
D.Mealsnap iphones count your calories |
Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21-year-old twin sons: a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband lost his job, and the plan fell apart.
"I have two kids in college, and I want to say come home. ' but at the same time I want to provide them with a good education," says Jacobs.
The Jacobs family, did work out a solution: They asked and received more aid from the schools, and each son increased his' borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan (贷款) program. They will each graduate with $ 20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school.
With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear from more families like the Jacobses. More students are applying for aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around.
At the same time, tuition (学费) continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family income rose just 147% . Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade.
"If we go on this way for another 25 years, we won't have an affordable system of higher education," says Patrick M. Calan, president of the center. "The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt."
Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted.
According to Paragraph 1. why did the plan of the Jacobs family fail?
A.The twins wasted too much money. | B.The father was out of work. |
C.Their saving ran out. | D.The family fell apart. |
How did the Jacobses manage to solve their problem?
A.They asked their kids to come home. |
B.They borrowed $20, 000 from the schools. |
C.They encouraged their twin sons to do part-time jobs. |
D.They got help from the schools and the federal government. |
Financial aid administrators believe that________.
A.more families will face the same problem as the Jacobses |
B.the government will receive more letters of complaint |
C.college tuition fees will double soon |
D.America's unemployment will fall |
What can we learn about the middle class families from they text?
A.They blamed the government for the tuition increase. |
B.Their income increased steady in the last decade. |
C.They will try their best to send kids to college. |
D.Their debts will be paid off within 25 years. |
According to the last paragraph the government will________.
A.provide most students with scholarships |
B.dismiss some financial aid administrators |
C.stop the companies from making student loans |
D.go on providing financial support for college students |
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