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Zoos divide opinion: there are those who think it is cruel to keep animals locked up while others believe zoos are essential for the survival of endangered species.
To argue that zoos imprison animals is to misunderstand what zoos are about. Without zoos many of the creatures we love and admire would no longer exist. Every single day, over one hundred animal species vanish. Scientists predict that as early as 2050 one quarter of the Earth’s species will become extinct.
Some animals are in danger because they are hunted. Alarmingly the population of tigers has already fallen by ninety-five percent. Other species are in danger because of a lack of food. For example, there are fewer than 1300 giant pandas left in the wild.
Zoos have special breeding programmes to help those animals at risk. These breeding programmes are proving extremely successful. As Irene Shapiro from Zoo and Wildlife Support says, “the Puerto Rican Parrot has grown in numbers from just thirteen to about eighty-five and the Golden Lion Tamarin Monkey, which has almost ceased to exist twenty years ago, has been reintroduced back into the wild.”
Unfortunately not everyone understands this important role zoos play. For example, Brian Featherstone from the Anti-Zoo Forum says, “I can’t believe we take animals from the wild and put them in cages for the entertainment of the public! We should view them on film or TV in their natural environment.”
However, this misses the point. A zoo does more than display animals to the public. It ensures their survival. Without zoos you would not be able to see many of these animals on TV or anywhere else!
1.What’s the writer’s attitude towards zoos?
A. He shows no opinion either for or against them.
B. He thinks that they are unnecessary and cruel.
C. He believes they play an important environmental role.
D. He expresses a desire that more of them be built.
2.The underlined word “vanish” in Paragraph 2 most probably means _____.
A. remain B. disappear
C. become rarer D. get killed
3.According to the passage the world’s tiger population _____.
A. will rise by 5% next year
B. is relatively stable
C. is 95% smaller than in the past
D. has fallen to 95%
4.According to the passage some people do not agree with zoos because they _____.
A. are too expensive to run B. put animals in danger
C. do not provide enough food D. keep animals locked up
5.According to the writer, the most important function of the zoo is to _____.
A. make a lot of money B. entertain visitors
C. ensure animals’ survival D. educate the public
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Researchers at the University of Bedforshire have developed a new technique for powering electronic device（装置）. The system, developed by Professor Ben Allen at the Centre for Wireless Research, uses radio waves as power.
Believed to be a world first, the team claims it could eventually get rid of the need for conventional batteries. The university has now applied for a patent(专利) application to secure the only rights to the technique.
Professor Allen and his team have created a system to use medium wave frequencies to replace batteries in small everyday devices like clocks and remote controls.
The new technique uses the “waste” energy of radio waves and has been developed as part of the university’s research into “power harvesting”. Professor Allen said that as radio waves have energy---like light waves, sound waves or wind waves---in theory, these waves could be used to create power.
“The new area of power harvesting technology promises to reduce our reliance on conventional batteries,” he said. “It’s really exciting way of taking power from sources other than what we would normally think of.”
The team is now waiting for the results of the patent application to secure recognition of the technique. Professor Allen said that the team’s achievements had all been done in their “spare time”. “Our next stage is to try and raise some real funds so that we can take this work forward and make a working pattern and maybe partner up with the right people and take this to a full product in due course,” he said.
“Power harvesting has a really important part in our future, because, just in this country, we leave somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of batteries in landfill（垃圾填埋）sites every single year－that is poisonous chemicals going into the ground.”
He added that development of the product could also be “commercially（商业） beneficial”. “The market for this is several billion pounds. We’ve seen market predictions for 2020 which have these kinds of figures, so there’s a lot of commercial potential in this area,” he said.
Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Bedfordshire, Professor Carsten Maple said, “This type of work is a reflection of the university’s growing reputation and experience in carrying out creating research.”
1.From the text we know the new technique for powering electronic devices_____.
A. can be applied to all electronic devices.
B. uses radio waves to create power.
C. has replaced conventional batteries.
D. produces many poisonous chemicals.
2.According to Professor Allen, power harvesting technology______.
A. makes every use of radio waves.
B. takes power from usual sources.
C. reduces our dependency on conventional batteries.
D. aims at huge commercial benefits.
3.What can we learn about Professor Allen and his team from the text?
A. They have made use of radio waves in their daily life.
B. They have raised a big fund to support their research.
C. They have gained a patent for their new technology.
D. They mainly did their research in their spare time.
4.What is Professor Carsten Maple’s attitude toward the new technique?
A. Critical. B. Favorable.
C. Disapproving. D. Negative.
5.What is the text mainly about?
A. A new technique to create power.
B. A big problem concerning conventional batteries.
C. Some special sources of power.
D. The development of power harvesting.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Since the end of World War I in 1918, Canadians, and millions of others around the world have paused at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to honour the sacrifices our soldiers have made in different wars, fighting for the freedoms that we all enjoy today.
Known as Remembrance Day, the day originated as a tribute to the soldiers of WWI, a dark period for our young country, which claimed the lives of over 60,000 military personnel and civilians and over 16 million dead worldwide.
As there are no more surviving soldiers of WWI, today we rely on the wisdom and words of those soldiers who fought in the wars that followed, and this day now also recognizes their heroic contribution.
They tell us to always remember what those brave souls fought for, and all they ask in return is that we never forget.
That's why we wear the red poppy (罂粟花); that's why when we see a soldier in uniform we should stop him or her and say "Thank you"; that's why we take a pause from our busy lives for two short minutes today to honor that request.
Yet this message is fading away, year after year.
Take for example the terrible decision to allow parents to excuse students from Remembrance Day ceremonies at school.
Not only is this disrespectful, but it distances the student from his or her classmates.
It is difficult to understand why any Canadian parent would want to remove their child from the time-honored tradition of reading the poem In Flanders Fields, while a wreath of poppies is laid.
It is more important than ever to teach school-aged children about our history, no matter how violent it was. Preventing them from knowing about the realities of war is a great disservice.
Understanding why conflicts(冲突）happened, or happen today, can help shape choices and decisions they make as adults.
Of course, because we live in a free society, we cannot force an individual to do something.
It is unfortunate, but some parents now have their child "opt-out" of the services. These people should be reminded they are free to make such choices only because of the men and women the rest of us are remembering.
1.Which of the following is true about Remembrance Day?
A. It's only held in Canada.
B. Its ceremony lasts 11 hours.
C. It falls on November 11th each year.
D. It's to celebrate the country's independence.
2.Which of the following is Not mentioned as a Remembrance Day activity today?
A. Stopping at 11 a.m. to remember the war dead.
B. Listening to stories told by WWI soldiers.
C. Wearing a red poppy to show respect.
D. Showing gratitude to soldiers in uniform.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. War history is too violent for school children.
B. The writer was once a soldier in the Canadian army.
C. Few students are willing to take part in Remembrance Day ceremonies.
D. More parents are keeping their children away from frightening war stories.
4.The underlined word "It" in the last paragraph probably refers to ______.
A. the death of so many soldiers in wars
B. the fact that there were so many wars after WWI
C. people's ungratefulness for the freedom they have
D. removing children from Remembrance Day events.
5.The writer believes that ______.
A. the sacrifice of the soldiers should always be remembered
B. Remembrance Day is becoming less important for soldiers
C. schools no longer think Remembrance Day is necessary
D. people should be forced to learn about the realities of war
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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Maurice Sendak’s children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year.
The book’s main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper. Before long, Max’s room magically becomes a forest, and he sails away to a land where monsters(怪物，怪兽) live. Max isn’t scared, though, and becomes king of the wild things, but after a while, he begins feeling homesick. Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom.
Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis, an education professor, said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. “This allows children to shape the story themselves,” she said.
The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children, but experts say those words help improve children’s reading skills and challenge them.
Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. “The book talks about what all children go through, like ‘I was naughty but my mommy still loves me’,” Davis said.
The book also encourages children to face their fears. “I think it’s really good to show that Max makes friends with the monsters,” Davis said. “Kids can find out monsters aren’t always the thing under the bed that’s going to scare them. I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience.”
Since the book has been successful throughout the years, a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it. Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children. “You don’t want bad dreams over a book that’s extremely wonderful,” Davis said.
1.Teachers and professors like the book because it helps children ______.
A. understand pictures B. improve reading skills
C. face their fear bravely D. become more imaginative
2.Why does the book contain some larger words?
A. To make the story more formal.
B. To help challenge the children’s reading skills
C. To encourage children to learn more new words.
D. To help children better understand the story.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The character Max is brave enough in the story.
B. Max was sent to the forest as punishment.
C. People of all ages are in favor of the book.
D. The movie based on the book proves to be a great success.
4.What does Davis think of the movie?
A. She thinks children of all ages will love it.
B. She encourages children to see it to fight against their fear.
C. She worries that it might be too frightening for some children.
D. She believes it will be a better choice for children than the book.
5.What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A. To advise parents to help children to improve their reading skills.
B. To comment on a famous children’s book.
C. To encourage children to face their fear and become more imaginative.
D. To introduce a movie based on a children’s book.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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信息匹配 (共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分)
请阅读下列应用文和相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。首先请阅读下列书籍的封面及基本信息：
A. How to do just about anything on a computer
Make the most of your computer with this easy-to-follow guide packed with hundreds of valuable tips, practical projects, and problem-solving pointers. Organized in four sections, the book takes you from your initial computer set-up to creating your own iTunes account. Each chapter follows a similar step-by-step illustrated format so you will always feel as if you have an instructor at your side.
B. A Gate at the Stairs
"A Gate at the Stairs" is writer Lorrie Moore's first book in over ten years. It takes place in 2001 shortly after the terrorist attacks on America. It tells about a young girl named Tassie who attends college in the Midwest. She takes a job as a babysitter for a woman and her husband who have adopted a child of mixed race. It is a funny, sad and emotional story about marriage, race, family, terrorism and war.
C. The Magicians and The Magic King
Take one part Harry Potter, another part The Chronicles of Narnia, plus some new parts all the author’s own, season them liberally with adult themes — these are definitely not books for children — and you have this most readable, imaginative pair from author Grossman. Quentin Coldwater passes the entrance exam for Brakebills magic college and learns to master the art thereof, while also learning that “Fillory,” the fantasy world of his favorite book series as a child, is real. But there are demons within and without, and the life of magic and adventure isn’t always a happy one.
D. Bear
Few animals are as closely associated with humans as bears. Tracing the evolution of the bear family, the author discusses extinct types, such as the cave bear and the giant short-faced bear, as well as describing the eight species that exist. It explores the bear-human relationship and how human perceptions of bears have changed over time. Drawing from cultures around the world, it discusses the various legends and myths, including the ceremonies and taboos that surround hunting, killing and eating bears. "Bear" will appeal to all those interested in the past, present and future of these extraordinary creatures.
E. Cutting for Stone
"Cutting for Stone" was written by the medical doctor and writer Abraham Verghese. It is a powerful story about twin brothers born in a Catholic hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Their mother, an Indian nurse at the hospital, dies in childbirth. Their father, a British doctor, flees as soon as they are born. The brothers are raised by two Indian doctors who live at the hospital. One brother later moves to the United States. This is a story about the extremes of love, family, and medicine.
F. You Can't Teach Until Everyone is Listening
This book offers six simple, practical, and doable steps for managing your classroom! This concise guide shows teachers how to prevent misbehaviors—rather than react to them—and emphasizes the importance of: Establishing your role as a proactive classroom facilitator; creating a safe environment for learning; and, establishing a relationship of trust with your students. "You Can't Teach Until Everyone is Listening" is meant to strengthen every teacher's confidence and effectiveness in creating positive and productive classrooms and helping students to grow and learn to their greatest potential.
下面是一些读者的基本情况,请把相关读者和他们需要的书籍匹配起来。
1.Zhang Ying is preparing for further study in the USA. Therefore, he is interested in reading some books about American life, including college life, family, cultural diversity and even terrorist attacks.
2.Charlie, who attends college in the Midwest, majors in medicine. He is fond of reading stories about family and love, especially those related to his future career.
3.Kate, who teaches children of mixed race in a primary school in the Midwest, finds it difficult to manage her class effectively. Now she is eager to find a book which helps improve her teaching.
4.Daisy is a nurse in an Indian hospital. She is an experienced nurse, but she is not skilled at using the computer. She wants to learn how to set up her computer, send and receive e-mail securely, share files, and scan documents.
5.Tired of reading magic novels like Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia, Henry’s interest turns to animals that have a close relationship with humans, such as dogs, cats and even fierce animals.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析