The Americans have been voted the world’s “funniest nationality” ---the one “best at making people laugh” ---in a global poll (民意调查), which also names the Germans the “least funny” nationality and the British “not as funny as they think”.
30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the “funniest” and “least funny” nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world’s largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide.
The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh.
The voting for the “least funny” nationality confirmed the view of America’s Mark Twain that “a German joke is no laughing matter”. The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to derive from their reputation for efficiency, punctuality and rationality(理性). Examples of German jokes include: “Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He’d swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn’t hurt but he’s always thirsty.”
“When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh”, says Lloyd Price, Badoo’s Marketing Director. “America is a worthy poll winner”, says Price. “It’s the world’s only comedy superpower.”
The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they’re not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans.According to the poll, which is the right order from the funniest nationality to the least funny one?
| A．Spanish, Americans, French, Mexicans, British |
| B．Americans, Spanish, Italians, Brazilians, French |
| C．British, Mexicans, Brazilians, Spanish, Americans |
| D．Italians, French, British, Mexicans, Brazilians |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．The poll was conducted among 119 million people by Badoo. com. |
| B．Spanish are the funniest nationality in Europe. |
| C．That Germans are named the “least funny” nationality is because of Mark Twain. |
| D．Some people think that British are funny while others think the opposite in the poll. |
Which can be the substitute of the word “derive” in the fourth paragraph?
| A．acquire | B．suffer | C．translate | D．accomplish |
What is the author’s purpose of telling us a German joke?
| A．The author wants to show that Germans are good at telling jokes. |
| B．The author wants to confirm what Mark Twain said. |
| C．The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all. |
| D．The author just wants to say that swallowing a sponge is no harm. |
It seems that the best title for this passage is ______.
| A．The Funniest Nationality |
| B．A Global Poll Conducted by Badoo.Com |
| C．Americans Won the Funniest Nationality |
| D．Americans Voted “Funniest Nation”, Germans “Least Funny” |
National Forecast
Fri, Aug 24,
LONDON —This Evening and Tonight:
Rain, locally heavy across northwest Scotland. Mostly cloudy but dry in other northern and western areas. Dry with clear spells(持续时间)in more central and eastern parts, but some low cloud and fog will develop. Generally mild with light winds.
Saturday:
Cloud and rain over western Scotland at the beginning will gradually push down over N.Ireland and northwest England. Largely dry, warm with sunny spells elsewhere, once early fog and low cloud clears.
http ://www. times online. co. uk/tol/news/weather/
The Nation's Weather
Fri, Aug 24,
NEW YORK—Heavy rain was forecast throughout Friday in parts of the Midwest. The heaviest rainfall was over northern Illinois, with more than 4 inches possible around Chicago.
Wet weather was also expected in the Plains as the same storm system tracks through the region.
Periods of heavy rain were also forecast for the Northeast as the remnant(剩余部分)of tropical storm Erin moves into the Canadian Maritimes.
Hot weather was expected to continue in the South and West.
http ://www. wunderground. com
Death toll rises to 36 in China typhoon
Wed, Aug 22,
BEIJING— At least 36 people were killed by Typhoon Sepat in four provinces in eastern and central China in widespread destruction that also forced the evacuation (撤退)of l.37 million people.
More than 60,000 homes in the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Hunan also were destroyed or damaged, Xinhua News Agency said.
Total economic losses in the provinces have reached $ 663 million.
Fujian was the worst-hit province, with 18 people killed, Xinhua said.
Earlier, the storm, named after a Malaysian fish, killed at least one person in Taiwan, and left three dead in the Philippines.
http ://news. yahoo. com/s/apOn August 25, in N. Ireland and northwest England, there will be _____.
| A．low cloud and fog | B．typhoon and flood |
| C．cloud and rain | D．sunshine and mild wind |
What was the weather like in the south and west of the USA on Friday?
| A．It was hot. | B．It was rainy. |
| C．It was foggy. | D．It was warm. |
The storm named Sepat _____.
| A．caused one death in the Philippines |
| B．killed 18 people in Taiwan |
| C．destroyed about 60,000 homes in Fujian |
| D．caused great economic losses |
The name of Typhoon Sepat comes from _____.
| A．a tropical storm | B．a Malaysian fish |
| C．a place | D．a person |
"Hitler and the Germans," an exhibition in Berlin's German Historical Museum which aims to investigate the society that created Hitler, has seen more than 10,000 visitors walk through its doors since opening on Friday.
Rudolf Trabold, a spokesman for the museum, said there were 4,000 visitors to the exhibition on the first day alone. People visiting the exhibition said they had waited as long as one and a half hours to get in. Ravi Nair, a 73-year-old Indian visitor, said: "I had to queue for about an hour but it was worth it. The exhibition should help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable."
Trabold said “Hitler and the Germans” was so popular because it was the first exhibition to explain how a man who lived on the margins of society for 30 years, in Vienna's men's hostels, could become an almost mythical（神话的）leader of the German people. "We are all affected by Hitler, so it speaks to all of us and helps Germans and foreigners to come to terms with the past." Inge Lonning, a 72-year-old tourist from Norway said: "I thought the exhibition was very impressive. I wanted to see it because I experienced the German occupation of Norway as a small child, so it's not just history for me." But not everyone was convinced there was something new to be learned from the exhibition. "So much has been done about this period over the years, it was like, I knew this and I knew that," said Canadian Julien Cayer, aged 28. "I thought I'd find something new but I didn't."
There has been widespread concern in the German media that the exhibition could become a magnet for neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler, but Trabold said that although there had been some right-wing extremist visitors, they had not caused any problems.What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．People have different attitudes to “Hitler and the Germans”. |
| B．“Hitler and the Germans” attracts plenty of people. |
| C．What effect “Hitler and the Germans” has on history. |
| D．What people should learn from “Hitler and the Germans”. |
“Hitler and the Germans” is open to ________.
| A．remind people not to forget history. | B．show how Hitler was hated by people |
| C．study the society that created Hitler | D．save money for economy growth |
Trabold thought “Hitler and the Germans” was so popular because ________.
| A．help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable |
| B．it was the first exhibition to explain how a man from the bottom of society becomes a leader |
| C．people can learn a lot from the exhibition |
| D．people have been affected by Hitler |
Who experienced the German occupation according to the passage?
| A．Inge Lonning. | B．Ravi Nair. | C．Rudolf Trabold. | D．Julien Cayer |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The visitors coming to “Hitler and the Germans” are all old people. |
| B．“Hitler and the Germans” has made an impression on every visitor. |
| C．Some neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler have caused a lot of trouble. |
| D．People visit “Hitler and the Germans” with variety of purposes. |
Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of Ph. D. s. Some have placed the dropouts loss as high as 50 percent. The extent of the loss was, however, largely a matter of expert guessing. Last week a well-rounded study was published. It was published. It was based on 22,000 questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless.
The dropouts rate was found to be 31 per cent, and in most cases the dropouts, while not completing the Ph. D. requirement, went on to productive work. They are not only doing well financially, but, according to the report, are not far below the income levels of those who went on to complete their doctorates.
Discussing the study last week, Dr. Tucker said the project was initiated ‘because of the concern frequently expressed by graduate faculties and administrators that some of the individuals who dropped out of Ph. D. programs were capable of competing the requirement for the degree. Attrition at the Ph. D. level is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity. Some people expressed the opinion that the shortage of highly trained specialists and college teachers could be reduced by persuading the dropouts to return to graduate schools to complete the Ph. D.’
“The results of our research” Dr. Tucker concluded, “did not support these opinions.”
Lack of motivation was the principal reason for dropping out.
Most dropouts went as far in their doctoral program as was consistent with their levels of ability or their specialities.
Most dropouts are now engaged in work consistent with their education and motivation.
Nearly 75 per cent of the dropouts said there was no academic reason for their decision, but those who mentioned academic reason cited failure to pass the qualifying examination, uncompleted research and failure to pass language exams. Among the single most important personal reasons identified by dropouts for non-completion of their Ph. D. program, lack of finances was marked by 19 per cent.
As an indication of how well the dropouts were doing, a chart showed 2% in humanities were receiving $ 20,000 and more annually while none of the Ph. D. ‘s with that background reached this figure. The Ph. D. ‘s shone in the $ 7,500 to $ 15,000 bracket with 78% at that level against 50% for the dropouts. This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where Ph. D. ‘s tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields.
As to the possibility of getting dropouts back on campus, the outlook was glum. The main condition which would have to prevail for at least 25 % of the dropouts who might consider returning to graduate school would be to guarantee that they would retain their present level of income and in some cases their present job.The author states that many educators feel that
[A] steps should be taken to get the dropouts back to campus.
the fropouts should return to a lower quality school to continue their study.
[C] the Ph. D. holder is generally a better adjusted person than the dropout.
[D] The high dropouts rate is largely attributable to the lack of stimulation on the part of faculty members.Research has shown that
[A] Dropouts are substantially below Ph. D. ‘s in financial attainment.
the incentive factor is a minor one in regard to pursuing Ph. D. studies.
[C] The Ph. D. candidate is likely to change his field of specialization if he drops out.
[D] about one-third of those who start Ph. D. work do not complete the work to earn the degree.Meeting foreign language requirements for the Ph. D.
[A] is the most frequent reason for dropping out.
is more difficult for the science candidate than for the humanities candidate.
[C] is an essential part of many Ph. D. programs.
[D] does not vary in difficulty among universities.After reading the article, one would refrain from concluding that
[A] optimism reigns in regard to getting Ph. D. dropouts to return to their pursuit of the degree.
a Ph. D. dropout, by and large, does not have what it takes to learn the degree.
[C] colleges and universities employ a substantial number of Ph. D. dropouts.
[D] Ph. D. ‘s are not earning what they deserve in nonacademic positions.It can be inferred that the high rate of dropouts lies in
[A] salary for Ph. D. too low.
academic requirement too high.
[C] salary for dropouts too high.
[D] 1000 positions.
Vocabulary
dropout 辍学者，中途退学
well-rounded 全面的
attrition 缩/减员，磨损
drain 枯竭
bracket 一类人，（尤指按收入分类的）阶层
lagging behind other fields 落后于其它领域
glum 阴郁的
难句译注
Educators are seriously concerned about the high rate of dropouts among the doctor of philosophy candidates and the consequent loss of talent to a nation in need of Ph. D. s.
【参考译文】教育工作者严重关注博士生辍学的高比率；这对迫切需要博士生的国家是一个人才方面的严重损失。
It was base on 22,000questionnaires sent to former graduate students who were enrolled in 24 universities and it seemed to show many past fears to be groundless.
【结构分析】sent过去分词，修饰questionnaires。Who定语从句修饰students。
【参考译文】这份全面调查报告是以22000份调查表分送给以前在24所大学就读的博士生为基础的。这份全面调查报告似乎说明过去许多担心害怕是没有根据的。
Attrition at the Ph. D. lever is also thought to be a waste of precious faculty time and a drain on university resources already being used to capacity.
【结构分析】被动句。To capacity满额，全力。
【参考译文】博士水平的人员的缩减被认为是宝贵的教授时间的浪费和已经被使用到极限的大学资源的枯竭。
This may also be an indication of the fact that top salaries in the academic fields, where Ph. D. ‘s tend to rise to the highest salaries, are still lagging behind other fields.
【结构分析】the fact的同位语that从句中的where是定语从句，修饰academic fields。
【参考译文】这也可能表明这样一个事实：在博士能挣到最高工资的学术领域中，高工资仍然落后于其它领域。
写作方法与文章大意
这是一篇论及“博士生辍学”的文章。采用对比和因果手法。文章一开始就提出教育工作者严重关注博士生辍学达50％的问题。而调查报告证明，只有31％。辍学造成不良后果，有人建议中途退学者回炉再念博士学位学业。研究表明不行。列出理由并加以分析。
Clyde, a small-clawed otter, was moved from Auckland Zoo to Wellington Zoo two months ago. The zookeepers hoped he and the other otter Bonnie might start a family together.
But only two days after he arrived, Clyde went missing. He had dug his way under one of the walls and was nowhere to be seen.
The zookeepers set up cages inside the zoo, with plates of Clyde’s favorite fish in them, hoping to catch him.
Two days went by and still there was no sign of Clyde.
At last a couple saw Clyde at their house --- a whole kilometer away in Newtown. Clyde was hiding in an out-of-reach hole outside their laundry.
The zookeepers arrived and set up some more traps to try to catch him. But Clyde is a pretty smart otter. Twice he managed to get the fish out of a trap without being caught.
Five days after he’d escaped, Clyde’s days on the run came to an end when he was finally caught in one of the traps.
It was no good putting Clyde back in his old home---he’d only dig his way out again. So he and Bonnie were put into the zoo hospital. There was no chance of their escaping from there.
Meanwhile, the zookeepers were working hard to make Clyde’s old home safer. They put an iron barrier underground to stop him digging their way out. Then Bonnie and Clyde went home again.
But a month after his first escape, Clyde was out again. Once more the zookeepers came
hurrying to catch Clyde. They found him by following the bubbles he made in the river nearby.
Nobody knew how Clyde had escaped. But this time he was only out for an hour. So---back he went to the hospital again.
Poor Clyde. It seemed that he wasn’t happy at Wellington Zoo, even though he and Bonnie were getting on well together. The keepers didn’t like seeing him unhappy, so they planned to look for a home for him somewhere else. Where was Clyde found after his first escape?
| A．Back in Auckland Zoo. | B．In a river nearby. |
| C．At a house a kilometer away. | D．In the zoo hospital. |
How did zookeepers catch Clyde after his second escape?
| A．They set up cages in the zoo. |
| B．They attracted Clyde with fish. |
| C．They dug a hole outside his home. |
| D．They followed the bubbles in the water. |
What do we know about Clyde?
| A．He often gets ill. |
| B．He is good at digging. |
| C．He likes hiding in a hole. |
| D．He escaped to meet Bonnie. |
Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
| A．A news report. | B．An advertisement. |
| C．A book review. | D．A research paper. |
The National Geographic Channel has unearthed a time capsule (时光宝盒) buried by late Apple chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs thirty years ago.
The time capsule was buried in Aspen .Colorado .in 1983, shortly after Jobs attended the International Design Conference being held in that city. Organizers called the device the Aspen Time Tube and contributed items like Rubik's cubes(魔方) and some iconic music. Jobs added his own items to the capsule ,including the " Lisa" ( also known as an "Apple" )"mouse he used for his presentation at the conference. '
Younger readers may not recognize the name but the Lisa Apple mouse was one of the first commercial mice released to consumers. The mouse was specially designed for the Apple Lisa computer. It's also the first personal computer to offer users a graphical user interface(图形用户界面)
Initially ,the plan was to dig up the time capsule in the year2000,but organizers forgot its exact location. Recently .they brought in researchers working with the National Geographic Channel show Diggers to find the device. Eventually they came across the 13-foot-long.1. 5-foot-diameter tube. inside they found a lot of 1980s artifacts(人工制品）that are still being catalogued.
“When the end came off .literally things just poured out .”noted Diggers host Tim Saylor "There must be literally thousands of things in there.”
“They had the foresight to put a bunch of stuff in plastic bags." Saylor said .“I could see at least a dozen plastic bags and other items. But I know for sure there got to be photographs in there. People had hand-written things on the back of the photographs ,so there will be some really interesting things inside.”
Among the artifacts researchers expect to discover inside :a Steve Jobs speech in which the Apple visionary outlines his predictions for future technologies. We should know more about the researchers ,discoveries once the Diggers program airs this fall.Which of the following is true about the Lisa mouse?
| A．The mouse was the first commercial one for consumers |
| B．The mouse was created only for the Apple Lisa computer |
| C．The mouse was buried in Aspen ,Colotado for two decades. |
| D．The mouse was invented after the International Design Conference |
Why wasn't the time capsule dug up in 2000?
| A．Because it was not the time set by Steve Jobs. |
| B．Because it could not be accurately located. |
| C．Because organizers forgot its precise shape . |
| D．Because the local government didn't approve. |
From the passage we can infer that_______.
| A．there were some special photographs found-inside the time capsule |
| B．a Steve Jobs speech with future predictions was found inside the cap |
| C．Steve Jobs predictions for future technologies have come true |
| D．more about the capsule will be discovered in the Diggers program |
The best title for the passage might be _______.
| A．The "Lost" Steve Jobs Time Capsule |
| B．The Mystery of Steve Jobs Speech Solved |
| C．Steve Jobs' 1983 Time Capsule Recovered |
| D．Co-founder & Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs |
As has been all too apparent in recent days at Balcombe, few issues cause greater concern than energy policy. Many village communities feel their countryside is being ruined by the power-producing machines of wind farms; yet they never take "direct action", even though the planning laws put them at a severe disadvantage. And the generous subsidies (财政补贴) , which encourage the expansion of wind power, are not favorable to the village communities and set landowners in conflict with other residents (居民) .
Those who disagree with the rapid expansion of wind farms state that the damage they cause is out of proportion(比例) to the benefits they bring, because their energy output cannot match that of the carbon-based power stations they are supposed to replace. Supporters insist that wind must be part of a mix of renewables, nuclear and carbon, and that the country is committed to meeting EU ( European Union) targets for non-carbon energy generation.
Against this background, the fact that there is an argument within the Government over whether to publish an official report on wind farms' impact on the countryside becomes even more extraordinary. The two parties in the coalition (联合) government are in disagreement over what it should say.
We have some advice for the two parties: publish the report, and let the country be the judge. Even if it contains evidence that wind farms are harmful, it will hardly be a pleasant surprise to people who do not like them. Equally, supporters must argue their case by acknowledging the concerns and explaining why they are either misplaced or worthy of much attention.
The suggestion that further negotiations are to take place to produce an "acceptable" report suggests that the politics of coalition government are doing the country harm in a certain way. Given the sensitivities involved, all the information should be available so that people can reach their own conclusions, rather than being left with the suspicion（猜疑）that facts are being replaced by political beliefs.We can learn from the first paragraph that__________.
| A．energy policy catches much attention of the public |
| B．the residents are in favor of the expansion of wind farms |
| C．many village communities are satisfied with the subsidies |
| D．the planning laws offer great benefits to the residents |
Supporters think that the expansion of wind power____.
| A．is more rapid than that of carbon-based power |
| B．guarantees an increase in energy output |
| C．is expected to be much better than that of nuclear power |
| D．agrees with EU targets for non-carbon energy generation |
It can be inferred from the passage that____.
| A．an official report will settle the energy problem |
| B．the two parties are divided over the issue of wind farms |
| C．the two parties have agreed on a further negotiation |
| D．political beliefs concerning energy issue go against facts |
Which of the following reflects the author's opinion?
| A．Increase political impact on energy policy. |
| B．Release a statement of supporters on wind farms. |
| C．Let the nation judge the facts about wind power. |
| D．Leave the two parties to reach their own conclusions. |
A middle school student ,who jumped into the hot seat when his school bus driver passed out on the way to class this morning is being praised as a "quick thinker" for leading the bus. and 15 other students .to safety. Seventh grader Jeremy Wuitschick is being praised by the local police chief for his actions.
Wuitschick hopped out of his seat and grabbed the steering wheel(方向盘) . pulling the bus over to the side of the road before pulling the keys from the ignition(点火开关）“I'll give the kid credit for fast thinking. He did the right thing and we're going to do something for him. The kid definitely deserves credit." Milton Police Chief Bill Rhodes cold ABC News.
Police officers were informed of a school bus driving irregularly through town around 8 a.m. today .but by the time an officer arrived at the scene ,Wuitschick had had it under control. He had pulled the bus over in front of Discovery Primary School . which is near to the school where the students were headed .Surprise Lake Middle School. "I knew something was wrong." Wuitschick told ABC. " it was pretty scary. I was just acting on instinct .It was all happening really quickly."
Jeff Short .assistant dean for the Fife school district . said the students had been trained in emergency situations on the school bus .including how to shut down ,the bus in an emergency. A staff member at the school .John McCrossin . happened to be driving behind the bus when the driver lost consciousness(知觉) . and rushed onto the bus to administer CPR(心肺复苏 ) once Wuitschick had pulled over to the side of the road .Rhodes said.
The kids told McCrossin they had already called 911. The bus driver . whose name has not been released . was taken to the hospital. Emergency service personnel told school administrators he was suffering from a problem related to the heart. Short said his condition was severe. Rhodes said that there were no traffic accidents or other injuries. Bill Rhodes praised Wuitschick because
A. he drove the school bus to campus
B he did bring the school bus to safety
C. he helped the police in public affairs
D. he successfully saved the bus driverWhen the police reached the spot._______.
A. the bus driver had already recovered
B. the bus had just arrived at its destination
C. the bus had already been under control
D the bus was running crazily on the roadFrom the passage we can learn that_______.
| A．Bill Rhodes gave Wuitschick a credit card for his deed |
| B．McCtossin offered to call 911 when the event happened |
| C．Jeff Short happened to be driving behind the school bus |
| D．Wuitschick had been well trained in dealing with emergencies |
The passage is probably taken from______.
| A．a personal diary | B．a news report |
| C．an accident record | D．a research paper |
XI’AN – China has introduced various emergency responses and long-term measures against air pollution in the central and eastern regions.
The air quality index (AQI) for Xi’an reached 500 on Wednesday afternoon, at the top of the AQI scale, according to the national air quality monitoring website. Xi’an weather forecasters predict the smog (雾霾) will continue for the next week and air pollution may worsen.
“I have to keep buying masks for my family,” said Liu, buying masks at a pharmacy (药店) near her home in downtown Xi’an. “This is the only thing we can do to protect ourselves.”
On Wednesday, a city government emergency response plan was put into action, suspending all construction and taking at least 50 percent of government vehicles off the road. Power plants must limit their output and reduce emissions.
Nearly half the country, more than 100 cities in 20 provinces, has suffered from smog since last December. Many have taken action, including experimenting with artificial methods to reduce smog, limiting vehicle use and fining polluters.
Assessments based on GDP alone were abandoned last month and more emphasis has been put on public well-being and the environment. Whether the move will be effective in forcing local governments consider environmental issues over economic growth remains to be seen. Environmental protection professionals are doubtful about the immediacy of the effects of these measures.
Xiao Hang, an urban researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it took London 50 years to lose the moniker (绰号) “foggy London town”, and Los Angeles still struggles to control its photochemical (光化学) smog. “We can’t ignore environmental problems during the development process and China has a long way to go,” he said.What would be the best title for the article?
| A．AQI for Xi’an reached 500 |
| B．Smog crisis tries the limits of people’s patience |
| C．Smoggy Chinese cities to clear the air |
| D．Dust masks become hot sellers |
The underlined word “suspending” in Paragraph 4 can be replaced by ________.
| A．encouraging | B．stopping | C．continuing | D．expanding |
We can infer from the article that _________.
| A．China is the only country suffering from smog |
| B．environmental professionals believe the air quality will soon be improved with these measures |
| C．assessments based on GDP alone were harmful to environmental protection |
| D．Xi’an was the most polluted city in China |
What Xiao Hang said indicates _____________.
| A．London still has serious air pollution after 50 years of effort |
| B．the development of China is more important |
| C．solving environmental problems requires great effort |
| D．it’s normal for China to have environmental problems |
Celebrity TV presenter Ju Ping has been a host on China Central Television for 30 years, but her recent experience hosting a charity event was one of the most special moments in her career.
On April 2, World Autism (自闭症) Day, Ju partnered with Xia Junqi, a 17-year-old autistic teenager, to host a charity gala at the Beijing National Aquatics Center, otherwise known as the Water Cube.
The event was organized by One Foundation, which aims to increase public awareness of autistic people and their needs.
Autism is a neural disorder that can impair sufferers’ communication skills and social interactions. Sufferers have restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. It affects about 1.6 million people in China, with medical studies suggesting autism may affect one in every 166 children.
Autism has no cure. For many years it went largely undiagnosed in China but early intervention (干预，治疗) and continuous education may help to teach the autistic self-help skills and lessen their problematic behavior.
The gala(晚会) featured autistic children singing, dancing and performing, and was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Cai Chunzhu, a celebrity playwright, recalled feeling heartbroken when his son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. He says his family struggled to accept the reality but finally made peace with the diagnoses in the past four years. He says the boy lives in his own world and is trained in an intervention facility. Sun Zhongkai, executive director of the Beijing Stars and Rain Institute for Autism, one of the earliest intervention facilities for autistic children in China, shared with audience his deep sorrow for parents who often broke down with desperation when he told them there was no cure for their autistic children.
Over the years, Chinese society has become more supportive of autistic people and their families, but there are still challenges in terms of getting autistic people employed and looking after them when their parents pass away.
Actor Zhou Xun also called on society to show greater understanding and support toward autistic children and their families.
The underlined word “impair” in Paragraph 4 most probably mean?
| A．cause | B．improve | C．increase | D．damage |
Which of the following statements about Autism is FALSE?
| A．It is a kind of illness that cannot be cured. |
| B．Nothing can be done about it. |
| C．People in China were not well aware of it in the past. |
| D．A lot of children suffer from it in China. |
What can we know from Paragraph 7?
| A．It is quite difficult for parents to accept that their children have autism. |
| B．Training in an intervention facility can stop children with autism living in their own world. |
| C．There is only one intervention facility for autistic children in China. |
| D．Doctors often break down when they tell parents their children have autism. |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A TV interview. | B．A medicine magazine. |
| C．A newspaper. | D．A book review. |
The average British 22 year-old has more than 1,000 online friends on sites like Facebook, compared to those in their fifties who have fewer than 20, according to a new study.
The “Facebookgeneration gap” has been highlighted in a new piece of research which shows that the average 22 year-old claims to have 1,000 or more friends on sites like Facebook.
People in their twenties have more than 50 times as many digital friends as those who are over 50 years old, despite the popularity of sites like Facebook with the older generations, says a study conducted by consumer research group Intersperience.
The news comes during the same week Facebook's second-in command, Sheryl Sandberg, is visiting the UK to deliver a speech at the London School of Economics.
Facebook's chief operating officer is going to speak about how the social web has transformed people's friendships and relationships.
The survey found that there was a clear link between people's age and the number of online friends they have．The researchers found that those aged 13 to 16, have an average of 450 friends on social networks, with girls having slightly more friends that boys．People in their thirties tend to have between 100 and 200 friends, while those in their forties have between 50 and 100.
However, those using sites such as Facebook over the age of 50, tended to have 20 or less friends．The oldest person surveyed was 70 years old.
Paul Hudson, Intersperience's chief executive, said: "Our research underlines fundamental （根本的）changes taking place in British society as a result of finally entering the digital age．Half of the UK population are on Facebook now．In a social media context, a 'friend' means something different to a 20 year old than to a 50 year old."
He added: “Social networking activity is just one example of how different groups are adapting to the digital age at different paces．In this case, age is the determining factor - however in other instances it is not.”Which is the determining factor in social networking activity?
| A．Gender | B．Age | C．Relationship | D．Pace |
What can we learn from the survey?
| A．The older a person is, the less online friends he may have |
| B．Girls have remarkably more friends than boys |
| C．People in their thirties tend to have between 50 and 100 friends |
| D．The link between people’s age and the number of online friends they have is not clear |
According to the passage, the following statements are True except .
| A．The oldest people surveyed is 70 |
| B．Paul Hudson will deliver a speech at the London School of Economics |
| C．Different groups are adapting to the digital age at different paces |
| D．Facebook is popular in UK now |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Social networking activity |
| B．The digital age |
| C．“Facebook generation gap”—Facebook generation has more than 1,000 friends |
| D．Changes taking place in British society |
You are the collector in the gallery of your life. You collect. You might not mean to but you do. One out of three people collects tangible（有形的）things such as cats, photos and noisy toys.
There are among some 40 collections that are being shown at “The Museum Of”—the first of several new museums which, over the next two years, will exhibit the objects accumulated by unknown collectors. In doing so, they will promote a popular culture of museums, not what museums normally represent.
Some of the collections are fairly common—records, model houses. Others are strangely beautiful—branches that have fallen from tree, for example. But they all reveal （显露）a lot of things: ask someone what they collect and their answers will tell you who they are.
Other on the way include “The museum of Collectors” and “The Museum of Me.”These new ones, it is hoped, will build on the success of “The Museum Of.” The thinkers behind the project want to explore why people collect, and what it means to do so. They hope that visitors who may not have considered themselves collectors will begin to see they, too, collect.
Some collectors say they started or stopped making collections at important point: the beginning or end of adolescence—“it’s a growing-up thing; you stop when you grow up,”says one. Other painful times are mentioned, such as the end of a relationship. For time and life can seem so uncontrollable that a steady serial（顺序排列的）arrangement is comforting.How will the new museums promote a popular culture of museums?
| A．By collecting more tangible things. |
| B．By showing what ordinary people have collected. |
| C．By correcting what museums normally represent. |
| D．By accumulating 40 collections two years from now. |
What can be learned about collectors from their collections?
| A．Who they are. |
| B．How old they are. |
| C．Where they were born. |
| D．Why they might not mean to collect. |
Which of the following is an aim of the new museums?
| A．To help people sell their collections. |
| B．To encourage more people to collect. |
| C．To study the significance of collecting. |
| D．To find out why people visit museums. |
According to the last paragraph, people may stop collecting when they
| A．become adults |
| B．feel happy with life |
| C．are ready for a relationship |
| D．feel time to he uncontrollable |
QINGDAO--Water and power supplies have been restored in the East Chinese city of Qingdao, the site of an oil pipeline explosion on Friday, the local government said on Monday.
Crude oil began leaking（泄漏）from the pipeline at 3:00 an Friday in Qingdao in Shandong province. The valves（阀门）of the Huangdao oil warehouse were shut about 15 minutes later.
The oil spill（泄漏的石油）then flowed into the city’s rainwater pipe network, which empties into Jiaozhou Bay. Explosions occurred at two locations around 10:30 am Friday when workers were clearing the spill.
According to the local government, about 85 percent of public heating and 90 percent of the gas supply were also brought back to normal as of Monday.
Residents who have been taken to the temporary settlements are receiving bottled water and bread.
Many schools and kindergartens have reopened classes after Friday’s oil pipeline explosion. No injures and deaths of students or teachers have been reported following the explosions at an underground pipeline operated by Sinopec. The school buildings of one middle school in the district were seriously damaged during the explosions. Education authorities have arranged psychological help for students and teaching staff. All other 18 schools and kindergartens in the district reopened classes on Monday.
As of Monday noon, the death toll from the explosion had risen to 55, with 9 people still missing and 136 hospitalized. According to local police, 49 bodied have been identified so far, and 42 of them were male victims. As of Monday morning, the blood supply in Qingdao was enough for the injured after more than 950 people in the city donated more than 340,000 ml of blood in the wake of the incident.The underlined word “restored” in the first paragraph probable means “ ”.
| A．cut | B．destroyed | C．recovered | D．repaired |
Explosions happened when .
| A．workers were cleaning the spill |
| B．valves of the oil warehouse were shut |
| C．the oil spill flowed into the city’s water network |
| D．crude oil began to leak from an underground pipeline |
We can learn that by Monday noon the deaths in the explosion reached at least .
| A．64 | B．49 | C．55 | D．42 |
We can learn from the passage that .
| A．everything was brought back to normal right after the explosion |
| B．no measures were taken to help the suffering people out of trouble |
| C．no more dead body was found after Monday noon |
| D．all the 19 schools in the district were affected by the explosion |
The Galapagos Islands are in the Pacific Ocean, off the western coast of South America They are a rocky, lonely spot, but they are also one of the most unusual places in the world. One reason is that they are the home of some of the last giant tortoises（乌龟）left on earth.
Weighing hundreds of pounds, these tortoises go slowly around the rocks and sand of the islands. Strangely, each of these islands has its own particular kinds of tortoises. There are seven different kinds of tortoises on the eight islands, and each kind is slightly different from the other.
Hundreds of years ago, thousands of tortoises were around these islands. However, all that changed when people started landing there. When people first arrived in 1535, crews would seize as many tortoises as they could. They would roll the tortoises onto their backs when they were brought onto the ships. The tortoises were completely helpless once on their backs, so they could only lie there until used for soups and stews. Almost 100,000 tortoises were carried off in this way.
The tortoises faced other problems, too. Soon after the first ships, settlers arrived, bringing pigs, goats, donkeys, dogs and cats. A11 0f these animals ruined life for the tortoises. Donkeys and goats ate all the plants that the tortoises usually fed on, while the pigs, dogs and cats ate thousands of baby tortoises each year. Within a few years, it was hard to find any tortoise eggs-or even any baby tortoises.
Finally, in the 1950s, scientists decided that something must be done. The first part of their plan was to remove as many cats, dogs and other animals as they could from the islands. Next, they tried to make sure that more baby tortoises would be born; This slow, hard work continues today, and, thanks to it, the number of tortoises is now increasing every year. Perhaps these wonderful animals will not disappear after allWhat can we learn from Paragraph i?
| A．The Galapagos Islands are the biggest islands in the Pacific Ocean |
| B． The giant tortoises have all left the Galapagos Islands already. |
| C．The giant tortoises made the Galapagos Islands unusual places. |
| D．People have built many homes for the giant tortoises on the islands. |
What is special about the tortoises according to Paragraph 2?
| A．They weigh hundreds of pounds. |
| B．They move around very slowly. |
| C．There are different kinds of tortoises. |
| D．They are larger than the ones in other places. |
What happened first?
| A．Sailors took tortoises aboard the ships. |
| B．Scientists decided to take measures to protect the tortoises. |
| C．Pigs, dogs and cats ate many baby tortoises. |
| D．Settlers brought other as to the islands. |
What happened soon after people brought animals to the islands?
| A．Tortoise eggs were kept in safe containers. |
| B．The animals ate the tortoises' food and eggs. |
| C．The tortoises continued to wander freely. |
| D．The tortoises fought against the other animals. |
What's the result of the scientists' effort?
| A．The tortoises began to disappear gradually. |
| B．The number of tortoises began to decrease |
| C．Scientists took away other animals off the islands. |
| D．There are more and more giant tortoises on the islands. |
In the early hours of March 8, a Boeing 777 took off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its destination was Beijing. But for unknown reasons, it never arrived there.
There were 239 people on the Malaysia Airlines flight, including 154 Chinese. As of March 13, 12 different countries, including Malaysia, China, Vietnam and the US, were searching for the plane.
The disappearance is an “aviation (航空) mystery”, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the head of Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority, said on March 10.There was no clear sign of a crash by March 13.
Between 1-2 hours after takeoff, the plane suddenly lost contact with people on the ground. The weather was clear, and the pilots didn’t make any calls . No evidence was found in the area where the flight last made contact. People are also talking about a possible hijacking (劫机).
International police agency Interpol confirmed on March 9 that at least two passengers on the flight had used stolen passports to get on board. “We are looking at all possibilities,” said Malaysian Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein. The incident is now being called simply a “plane disappearance”.
So, what are some possible causes of a plane disappearance? An AP story provided a summary.
1. A failure of the plane’s body or its engines. However, even if both engines stopped working, the plane could still glide (滑翔) for up to 20 minutes, giving pilots time to make an emergency call.
2. Bad weather. Planes are designed to fly through most severe storms. However, in June 2009, an Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed during a bad storm over the Atlantic Ocean.
3. A bomb. Throughout history, several planes have been brought down by bombs.
4. An accidental shoot-down by some country’s military. In July 1988, the US Navy accidentally shot down an Iran Air flight. In September 1983, a Korean Air Lines flight was shot down by a Russian fighter jet.
No matter how unlikely a situation, it’s too early to determine what really happened to MH370. It could take months, if not years, to rule out any possibilities, say experts.. How many cities are mentioned in this passage?
| A．Four cities. | B．five cities. | C．Six cities. | D．Seven cities. |
What could the underlined phrase “rule out” in the last paragraph mean?
| A．cross out | B．get rid of | C．take out | D．take the place of |
What could be the best title of the passage?
| A．An Air Crash | B．The Causes of the Disappearance |
| C．The Disappearance of MH 370 | D．An Aviation Mystery |
试题篮
()
粤公网安备 44130202000953号
