One of the world's richest men has taken a close interest in one of man's most basic functions: visiting the toilet.Bill Gates’ charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is looking for inventors to design the loo of the future, which, they hope, would improve sanitation for millions of people around the world.
So, what's wrong with the traditional flush toilet? Firstly, it wastes a huge amount of potential drinking water.Secondly, they are more likely to cause pollution.This is a real problem in many areas of the developing world, where, according to United Nations’ estimates, unsafe sanitation causes half of all hospitalizations.Younger people are particularly at risk.Illnesses which cause diarrhea are responsible for the deaths of about 1.5 million children a year.Finally, standard lavatories simply aren't practical in remote areas.
The challenge set by Bill Gates was to come up with a latrine which works without running water, electricity or aseptic tank.It also needed to operate for less than 5 cents.28 designs were displayed at the recent event of the Toilet Fair in Seattle, USA.Among them was one which turned human waste into electricity using microwaves, another which converted human waste into charcoal, and yet another which used urine for flushing.
But the winner was a solar-powered design which generated hydrogen gas and electricity.The team from the California Institute of Technology(CIT)picked up a prize of $ 100,000.
But clearly Bill Gates doesn't feel he's flushing money down the toilet.After the Seattle event he said, "We couldn't be happier with the response we've gotten," Gates has even promised $370 million more to the future toilet project.They hope to field test more prototypes over the next three years.
Why is Bill Gates paying people to invent new toilets?
A.Because he wants to test people's sense of creativity. |
B.Because he wants to improve sanitation for many people. |
C.Because he thinks the traditional ones are out of fashion. |
D.Because he can't design this kind of things himself. |
Which of the following is NOT a problem with the traditional flush toilet?
A.They waste too much water. | B.They might cause diseases. |
C.They are not always practical. | D.They are too complicated to use. |
The underlined word "latrine" in the third paragraph might have similar meanings to the word "__ " in the text.
A.loo | B.sanitation | C.diarrhea | D.prototype |
The team from CIT won the prize because their design .
A.can change human waste into electricity |
B.can turn human waste into charcoal |
C.can produce power with solar energy |
D.can use urine for flushing |
If people "flush money down the toilet", they are .
A.showing off their wealth | B.angry with their working conditions |
C.wasting money for nothing | D.expressing their great determination |
A woman decorating her Christmas tree Monday was shot in her left arm when a bullet went through her living room window.Police said the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. A .22 caliber shell(口径的弹壳) casing was found across the street from the victim's home.Police did not find a weapon in the neighborhood.
Mrs.Wilma Johnson was treated at a local hospital and allowed to go home.A hospital spokesman said she should recover nicely.She is in her late 50s, divorced, and living with Bob, the older of her two adult sons.Bob wasn’t home at the time of the shooting.
Police will patrol the area more frequently as a result of this shooting.They don't know if the shooting was intentional or accidental.They are asking the public to help if they know anything.They interviewed the neighbors.One neighbor said he heard a gunshot, but in this neighborhood, he said, he was used to hearing gunshots.
The police also questioned Mrs.Johnson’s ex-husband, Joe, who lives three blocks away.Joe said if he was going to shoot at his ex-wife, he’d make sure he shot her in her butt(头).“That’s a target you could hit from a mile away as she is like a Tele-tubby.” he laughed.Despite such remarks, the police spokesperson said Joe is not a suspect at this time.
What was the woman doing when she was shot?
A.She was decorating her room. | B.She was cooking dinner. |
C.She was sleeping in her room. | D.She was decorating her Christmas tree. |
Where is Mrs. Wilma Johnson now ?
A.She is in hospital. | B.She is at home. |
C.She is in another world. | D.She is in a funeral. |
Which of the following is true according to the third paragraph?
A.Some neighbors saw the gunman by accident. |
B.The police found the gunman soon after the gunshot. |
C.There used to be gunshots in the area. |
D.The gunshot happened by intention. |
What was her ex-husband’s words “That’s a target you could hit from a mile away”?
A.His ex-wife was too fat | B.He still loved his ex-wife. |
C.She was sensitive to anything. | D.He hated his ex-wife. |
It doesn’t matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That’s what all doctors thought, until they heard about Herpin. Herpin, it was said, never slept, Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.
Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised . Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping , In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.
The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure.
Herpin died at the age of 94.
The main idea of this passage is that _______.
A.a person was found who actually didn’t need any sleep |
B.large numbers of people do not need sleep |
C.everyone needs some sleep to stay alive |
D.people can live longer by trying not to sleep |
The doctors came to visit Herpin , expecting to ______.
A.cure him of his sleeplessness |
B.find that his sleeplessness was not really true |
C.find a way to free people from the need of sleeping |
D.find out why some old people didn’t need any sleep |
After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Herpin ________.
A.was too old to need any sleep | B.often slept in a chair |
C.needed no sleep at all | D.needed some kind of sleep |
One reason that might explain Herpin’s sleeplessness was ________.
A.that he hadn’t got a bed |
B.that he had gradually got rid of the sleeping habit |
C.his mother’s injury before he was born |
D.his magnificent physical condition |
We often hear the phrase: "You've a greater chance of being struck by lightning." It is used to describe something that hasn't got much chance of happening. However, the common saying undermines(掩盖) the very real dangers of lightning.
Last Friday, at least 5 people were killed by lightning in Nepal(尼泊尔).
Lightning strikes are the second most common cause of deaths during natural disasters in the US. The first is floods. Around 400 people nationwide are struck by lightning each year, and of those, 73 people die. There are more people killed by lightning than by tornadoes and hurricanes.
Because lightning kills only one or two people at a time, its danger does not receive as much attention as other disasters.
So to raise awareness, the US has made June 22-28 National Lightning Safety Week. It aims to warn the public of the dangers of lightning and provide safety tips during thunderstorms.
"If you hear thunder, you are in danger of lightning," said Rocky Lopes, a disaster educator at the American Red Cross.
"Thunder means that lightning is close enough to hit you at any minute, so you should move indoors immediately and stay there until after the storm has ended. The single most important thing to remember is to seek a hiding place," Lopes said.
Summer is the high time for lightning storms, so when lightning strikes across the sky, remember these safety tips:
Stop working, fishing, swimming or playing in open fields.
If you can count less than ten seconds between a thunder and a lightning flash, take cover inside the nearest building.
Do not stand under a tree.
Get off bicycles or motorcycles.
Crouch down(蹲下)if there is no hiding place.
Avoid open spaces, wire fences, metal objects and electrical objects such as hair driers.
The popular opinion about being struck by lightening is that ______.
A.there’s a greater chance for being killed by lightening than any other natural disaster |
B.it is the most dangerous among all the natural disasters |
C.the chance for a person to be struck by lightening is very small |
D.it is impossible for people to be killed by lightening |
The average death rate of being struck by lightening in US is about _______.
A.18% | B.50% | C.30% | D.73% |
thunder in the open air______.
A.just stand by your bicycles and motorcycles |
B.quickly find a place to go inside |
C.count ten seconds between a thunder and a lightening |
D.don’t have a hair drier in your hand |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.There are more people killed by tornadoes and hurricanes than by lightening in US each year. |
B.There are on average 5 persons killed by lightening in Nepal each day. |
C.The death rate of being stuck by lightening is much higher than by other natural disasters. |
D.The National Lightening Safety Week is made to warn the public against the lightening. |
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants – those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.
Farmland in Africa ________.
A.is often small in size |
B.can produce more than enough crops for Africans |
C.is short of important nutrients |
D.has got the attention of scientists around the world |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that ________.
A.Africa was going through a food crisis |
B.most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small |
C.there are not enough farmlands |
D.farmers may grow additional crops on farmland |
The word“perennation”mentioned in this passage ________.
A.is a farming method of planting food crops with trees |
B.is a new farming method |
C.can help African people produce more food than they need |
D.is gaining widespread use around the world |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
A.perennation will be widely used by farmers in Africa |
B.American government will help African countries increase food production |
C.African countries is short of farmland |
D.some farmers are destroying their farmland in Africa on purpose |
This report is mostly likely to be a journal of ________.
A.food | B.environment | C.agriculture | D.gardening |
Starting from April, 2010, you won’t be hearing the word “NBA” on sports programs on CCTV. Instead, sport host will give the full Chinese name when they refer to the NBA – National Basketball Association. You also won’t hear any other English abbreviations (缩略词) on CCTV’s Chinese programs, such as GDP (gross domestic product), or WTO (World Trade Organization). You will hear their Chinese translations.
CCTV received a notice from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television telling it to avoid using English-language abbreviations in their reports to protect the “purity” of the Chinese language. A few other TV stations also received the notice.
Fu Zhenguo, an editor of People’s Daily, is one of the people who suggested the change. “Firstly, using English in a Chinese-speaking environment is against Chinese law,” he said. “Then, using English on Chinese TV programs is unfair to people who don’t understand English. What’s worse, it will have a bad language influence on kids and teenagers.”
A lot of netizens have criticized the move, saying that it will cause problems for them.
“I understand what CD, VCD and DVD mean when I hear them. But I won’t know what the TV programs are talking about if I hear those products’ full Chinese names,” a netizen wrote in a BBS post. Following the same post, another netizen wrote jokingly: “I’m not listening to my MP3 now. I’m listening to my Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (动态影像专家压缩标准音频第三层面).”
What does the underlined word “purity” in the second paragraph mean?
A.纯正 | B.高贵 | C.时髦 | D.潮流 |
How many reasons did Fu Zhenguo list to show his support for the change?
A.1 | B.2 | C.3 | D.4 |
Some netizens went against the change because_______________.
A.the application of abbreviations will make Chinese popular. |
B.the application of abbreviations will attract the youth. |
C.the application of abbreviations will not simplify the understanding. |
D.the application of abbreviations will not bring Chinese to an end. |
What can be the full name of CCTV mentioned in the text?
A.Close Closet Top Video | B.China Central Television |
C.China Common Time Voice | D.Closed-Circuit Television |
The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to install (安装) video cameras in all 100 police cars.They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits (法律诉讼).In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about 40 lawsuits.
The chief said, "If cameras had been in those cars.we wouldn't have had to pay one cent. We're always pulling over drunks or drug users who try to fight the police or shoot them.Then they always claim (声称) that the police start beating them first or start shooting at them first."
The cost of installing cameras will be about $500 each.The city council (委员会) will vote on the proposal (提议) next Monday.Ten of the 13 council members said that they like the idea. One member said that it makes good sense.
The police officers enthusiastically support camera use.One officer said that too many people think the police often lie; cameras would show citizens that police tell the truth."The money that we've been spending on lawsuits will be better spent on more cameras," said one officer.
Citizen opinions to the idea of police car cameras are mixed.One person, said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented.But an elderly man strongly objected.'These police are trying to stick their nose into everything," he said.He was going to attend the council meeting to condemn the proposal.He hoped that other citizens would join him.
We can learn from what the chief said that with cameras on ___.
A.the police will not be treated unjustly |
B.the police will be free from any lawsuits |
C.the police can beat the law-breakers first |
D.the police can monitor everything around |
What's the purpose of installing video cameras in police cars?
A.To pay less money on lawsuits. |
B.To cut the number of lawsuits. |
C.To prevent lawsuits from happening. |
D.To stop being beaten by law-breakers. |
Which group of people support camera use most?
A.Council members, | B.Police officers. |
C.Local people. | D.Drug users. |
What can be learned from the last paragraph?
A.Most citizens support camera use in police cars, |
B.The police are trying to take control of everything. |
C.The man showed great disagreement on camera use in police cars. |
D.Other citizens will join the man to object to camera use in police cars. |
The creation of a Chinese Green Card in 2004 was a milestone in the country’s immigration law. Five years on, the card is an increasingly sought-after document. On August 15, 2004, the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence
oAliens in China created a Green Card system granting qualified foreigners the right to live in
China permanently.
Liu Lili, who works in the Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, has watched the Green Card system develop since its inception. She said nearly all applications received by the Bureau are approved. So far, 323 people have been granted a “Green Card” qualifying them for permanent residence in Beijing. Another 15 are awaiting final approval. It takes around 6 months to process each application.
Of the 323 Green Card holders, 94 are wives or husbands of Chinese citizens; 50 are minors dependent on their parents; 20 are senior citizens returning to live with relatives; 114 are individuals who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China (another 7 are their family members); and 23 are high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses (another 15 are their family members).
Liu said the authorities had been granting residence to returning senior citizens for some time before the Green Card system was formally launched .The government has approved permanent residence for over 3,000 foreigners since the implementation of the Law on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in November 1985.
Four groups of people are eligible for permanent residence: high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses that promote China’s economic, scientific and technological development or social progress; foreign citizens who make large direct investments in China; persons who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China; and people who come to China to be with family, such as husbands and wives, minors dependent on their parents, and senior citizens dependent on their relatives.
Liu said that most applications she dealt with were from American citizens.
Why do overseas citizens apply for permanent residence status in China? The main concern, aid Liu, is the political factor. Once people have a “Green Card”, they feel they are accepted and trusted by the Chinese government. The “Green Card” also facilitates entry and exit. With permanent residence status, visas are no longer needed and people can enter and leave the country using only a valid passport. China offers outstanding career opportunities and is seen by many as safer and more secure than many other countries, said Liu.
Liu said that Green Card holders have the same rights and responsibilities as Chinese citizens. However the card is not equivalent to Chinese nationality and holders are not allowed to vote in elections, hold political office, or serve in the military.
Obtaining a Green Card is not easy. The qualifying conditions are tough. Unless you are a close relative of a Chinese citizen,you will either have to invest a substantial amount of money in the country or make a genuinely outstanding contribution to the country’s development.
To meet increasing demand, he authorities are considering making the Green Card more available by broadening the range of applicants without lowering the requirements, aid Liu, but she gave no further details.
Which of the following can’t get a green card?
A.A foreigner whose wife of husband is of Chinese nationality. |
B.A foreign child whose parents are Chinese citizens. |
C.A foreigner who invests large sum of money in China. |
D.A foreigner who works in China for a long time. |
If a foreign gets a Green Card in China, he /she_________.
A.has the right to vote in China. | B.can be a high official in China |
C.can enter or leave China without a visa | D.becomes a citizen of Chinese nationality |
From the article we can see foreigners apply for Green Cards mainly to ________.
A.show that they are important | B.be accepted and trusted by the Chinese |
C.make entry and exit easier | D.make more money. |
Which of the following is not the reason for foreigners to work or live permanently in China?
A.They can find satisfactory jobs. |
B.China is more secure country than many. |
C.They have their professions, families and investments in China. |
D.The weather, working conditions are better than better than their own countries. |
Research at the University of Liverpool, UK, has found that Shakespeare’s language stimulates positive brain activity.
Shakespeare uses a linguistic(语言的)technique known as functional change that involves, for example, using a noun to serve as a verb.Researchers found that this technique allows the brain to understand what a word means before it understands the function of the word within a sentence.This process causes a sudden peak in brain activity and forces the brain to work backwards in order to fully understand what Shakespeare is trying to say.
Professor Philip Davis, from the university’s School of English, said: “The brain reacts to reading a phrase such as ‘he godded me’ from the tragedy of Coriolanus, in a similar way to putting a jigsaw puzzle(拼图玩具)together.If it is easy to see which pieces fit together you become bored of the game.But if the pieces don’t appear to fit, when we know they should, the brain becomes excited.By throwing irregular words into seemingly normal sentences, Shakespeare surprises the brain in a manner that produces a sudden burst of activity — a sense of drama created out of the simplest of things.”
Experts believe that this heightened brain activity may be one of the reasons why Shakespeare’s plays have such a dramatic impact on their readers.
Professor Neil Roberts, from the university’s Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Center, and Professor Davis, together with Dr Guillaune Thierry, from the University of Wales, UK, monitored 20 participants using an electroencephalogram (EEG) as they read selected lines from Shakespeare’s plays.
“The brain signal is relatively stable when we understand the meaning of a word but when the word changes the grammar of the whole sentence, brain readings suddenly peak.The brain is then forced to retrace its thinking process in order to understand what it is supposed to make of this unusual word,” explains Professor Roberts.
The research conducted by the professors has showed that ___________.
A.Shakespeare uses functional change to mislead readers |
B.Shakespeare’s language excites positive brain activity. |
C.Shakespeare’s plays have a dramatic effect on their readers. |
D.Shakespeare’s language makes the brain signal relatively stable |
Which of the following words can replace the underlined pronoun “it” in the 2nd paragraph?
A.technique B.word C.brain C.sentence
In the 3rd paragraph, the example of a jigsaw puzzle is used here to state___________.
A.the function of Shakespeare’s linguistic technique |
B.a sense of drama created by playing the game |
C.the Shakespeare’s thinking process |
D.the brain’s reaction to reading a book |
Based on the research, Shakespeare’s plays have a great effect on their reader lies in_______.
A.language used in plays |
B.characters showed in works |
C.brain activity increased in reading |
D.thinking process when writing |
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 |
Tokyo - Drivers in China are no longer in a hurry to own Toyota Motor Corp's cars.
Neil Hu, a sales manager at a Toyota dealership in Beijing, said he has stopped charging a 5,000 yuan ($732) premium to customers who want to skip the waiting list for RAV4 sport- utility vehicles. He took the initiative after the Japanese carmaker recalled 75,552 of the SUVs in China last month to fix gas pedals that may stick.
"I heard the situation in the US is pretty bad for Toyota," Hu said. "The recall has impacted us as well."
Toyota, which grew more slowly than competitors in China in 2009, will likely lose more market share and see a decline in local profit margin this year, analysts say. The carmaker has relied on a reputation for quality and safety to sell high margin, mid- to large-size models even as the world's biggest auto market shifts to cheaper, smaller cars, encouraged by government incentives.
With Toyota's brand damaged by global recalls of millions of vehicles, profit margins for its SUVs and Camry and Crown sedans may shrink, said Ashvin Chotai, London-based managing director of Intelligence Automotive Asia Ltd, an industry consultant.
"With this recall saga, Toyota's premium pricing power in China is gone," Chotai said. "Toyota's cars don't have enough good value for money."
Toyota has lost $24.5 billion in market capitalization this year as it recalled over 8 million cars globally to fix defects linked to unintended acceleration. The company faces at least 118 class actions in the US and at least 36 individual lawsuits claiming deaths and injuries caused by sudden acceleration of Toyota or Lexus vehicles.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda flew directly to Beijing on March 2 to apologize for the vehicle defects, after attending US Congressional hearings about the recalls in Washington. He skipped Europe's Geneva auto show, underscoring the growing importance of the Chinese market.
Toyota rose for a fifth straight day in Tokyo, advancing 0.9 percent to 3,580 yen as of 9:44 am local time. The carmaker's shares have fallen 7.7 percent this year.
The company's February China sales rose 30 percent to 45,400 vehicles, underperforming the overall passenger-car.
According to the passage, why did Toyota carmaker recall their cars in China last month? _____________
A.Because it faced law suits in the US |
B.Because there were problems with the cars. |
C.Because of the importance of the Chinese market |
D.Because the customers are not satisfied with the charging of a 5,000 Yuan premium. |
What does the underlined phrase“take the initiative” mean?
A.took the advice | B.changed his mind | C.took the action | D.made the decision |
Why did Toyota president Akio Toyota skip Europe’s Geneva auto show?
A.Because he did not think it important |
B.Because he was not satisfied with the hearing in the US |
C.Because he attached importance to the Chinese Market |
D.Because he needed to make an apology to Chinese |
After the global recalls of millions vehicles, Toyota will be impacted in the following aspects, EXCEPT_________.
A.Its brand will be damaged |
B.Its profit margins will shrink |
C.It will have to face law suits |
D.The president will be fired |
Where can read the passage? __________
A.newspaper |
B.magazine |
C.encyclopedia |
D.a school book |
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