Four of the World's Best Futurists(未来学家)
Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly is an author. His 1994 publication, Out of Control, discusses a future where machines and systems are so complex as to be indistinguished(难区分的) from living things.
His latest book What Technology Wants suggests that technology is not just a mixture of wires and metals but a living thing that has its own need. The book looks out through the eyes of this global technological system to discover what it wants.
Dr Michio Kaku
Dr Michio Kaku is a professor of theoretical physics at the City of New York and author of The Future of the Mind and Physics of the Future.
In The Future of the Mind , he explores the frontier of neuroscience. He predicts that one day we will be able to upload the human brain into a computer. In Physics of the Future, he predicts that glasses and contact lenses will be connected to the Internet and cars will become driverless with the power of the GPS system.
David Brin
Science fiction author and scientist, David Brin has received awards. In 1998, he won the Freedom of Speech Award for The Transparence Society. The book concerns threats to personal affairs and openness in the information age. In a world where the police monitor public places 24 hours a day with cameras and some credit companies can sell people's financial details to anyone willing to pay, Brin warns that surveillance(监控) technology will be used by too few people in the future. He argues that the tables should be turned and the public should have access to information like who is buying financial details from credit companies.
Dr Ray Kurzweil
Dr Ray Kurzweil is the main inventor of the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind. He is the director of artificial intelligence development at Google.
Over the past 25 years, a number of his predictions have come true. In 1990, he predicted a computer would defeat a human at chess by 1998.He predicts that by the 2020s, most diseases will go away and self-driving cars begin to take over the roads.
1.Whose book is discussing about machines and systems in the future?
A. Kevin Kelly's. B. Dr Michio Kaku's.
C. David Brin's. D. Dr Ray Kurzweil's.
2.Which of the following book won the Freedom of Speech Award?
A. Out of Control. B. The Future of the Mind.
C. Physics of the Future. D. The Transparence Society.
3.What's Dr Kurzweil's attitude towards his prediction of the 2020s?
A. Cautious. B. Optimistic.
C. Doubtful. D. Disapproving.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Dear Graham,
My partner and I have recently lost a pet quite suddenly. Normal life is continuing with so much sadness for my pet meant so much to me. Lots of people won't understand my feeling this way about the death of an animal. This obviously isn't the first time someone in my life has passed away: when I was younger we lost elderly relatives who I loved very much, and naturally much-loved family pets died occasionally too. But this has hit me so much harder. I put so much love into the relationship and I'm just finding it hard to get my head around the fact that it's gone.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
ANON, VIA EMAIL
Dear Anon,
Something you loved deeply has gone from your life, so of course you are sad. We love our pets differently from family members or friends and part of that is because we know they will probably die before us. Our time with our dogs or cats is precious precisely because we understand it is limited.
As humans, we go through most of life understanding we would die one day. But animals don’t. We are the keeper of the secret. Of course, living a life unencumbered(不受妨碍) by thoughts of death means that our pets, in general, lead very simple, happy lives. It’s one of the reasons why they are such a joy to be round. You are, of course, correct when you say that many people don't understand your grief, so don't talk to them. Share your feelings with like-minded souls. I'm sure a simple search online will reveal many practical advice for moving on.
And when you are ready, you can welcome another animal into your life and then you will enjoy happiness again.
GRAHAM, VIA EMAIL
1.What can we learn about Anon?
A. She feels bored with her normal life. B. Her pet's sudden death hits her greatly.
C. Her partner won't understand her feeling. D. She can't get along well with her relatives.
2.Graham thinks that our time with pets is precious because ____.
A. they have no secrets B. they are very simple
C. their life is very short D. they are always happy
3.In Graham's opinion, Anon should ____.
A. tell her pet from family members B. avoid telling others her own secrets
C. adopt another animal as her new pet D. try her best to understand other's grief
4.Who would Graham probably be?
A. One of Anon's family members. B. One of Anon's like-minded friends.
C. A pet lover who provides advice online. D. An expert on dealing with relationship.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The printing press has a long history. It was invented in Germany by Joannes Gutenberg around 1440, and brought to England by William Caxton in the 1470s.Yet the basic technology of printing remained the same up to the end of the 18th century, requiring two men to operate a wooden screw press by hand, producing about 200 impressions an hour. The 19th century was the period in which this process was mechanised, automated, and made many times faster.
A key moment in the development of mass newspapers was the development of the steam-powered printing press, adopted by the times in 1814. The new presses were able to print per hour around five times the number produced by the machines. The editor, John Walter, had the machines fixed secretly at night, so that when his printers reported for duty the next morning the majority of them found that they were out of work. The Times went from a circulation of 5,000 a day in 1815 to around 50,000 in the middle of the century. This was not caused by the steam press, but neither could it have happened without it.
Later developments improved this effect: the Applegath machine achieved 5,000 impressions per hour, and the Hoe press, an import from the United States, reached to 20,000 impressions per hour. Increase in the speed of papermaking in this period brought down the cost of printed materials both for the producer and the customer. In 1896, the Daily Mail was sold at the cost of only half a penny, and by 1900 it was selling nearly 1,000,000 copies a day.
If print production was completely changed in those years, then so was its distribution. The appearance of the steam railway meant that for the first time newspapers could be distributed across the country on a daily basis.
1.What can we learn about the basic technology of printing?
A. It was invented first in the middle of the 15th century.
B. It was brought into England by Joannes Gutenberg.
C. It took over 400 years to change after invention.
D. It took two hours to produce about 200 impressions.
2.How many impressions did the new press produce an hour in 1814?
A. About 20,000. B. About 1,000.
C. About 2,000. D. About 5,000.
3.Increase in the speed of papermaking led to ____.
A. the invention of steam printing press B. the development of the steam railway
C. the appearance of the Daily Mail D. the decline of printing expenses
4.The passage is developed mainly by ____.
A. providing examples B. making comparisons
C. following the order of time D. following the order of space
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
Being a parent is tough. Prejudice against parents in the workplace only makes it harder.
Asking for flexible schedule is not unique to working parents only. I've worked with people in their twenties that requested to work a four-day schedule so they could go back to school part time. I've seen older adults in the workplace change their schedules so that they can spend more time at home. Almost everyone has to cut out of the office every now and again for a doctor's appointment or other personal matters. Flexible schedules seem to be synonymous(代名词) with working parents, but in reality, they are not.
Parents aren't devoted to their jobs. This is really surprising because it's quite the contrary. There is actually strong evidence that parents are more devoted to their jobs than many other employees. They are some of the most focused employees out there. Parents are less likely to change jobs than other employees. Stability(稳定) is key when raising a family.
Parents aren't good team members. Since it is parents that need to leave the office at 5 or aren't able to come in before 9, most people think that the singletons on the team need to make up for it. In today's technology world, this is hardly the case. While many parents do limit their physical "in office" hours, most spend time on weekends, early mornings, and after work working. Besides, parents may be more likely to take vacations during major holidays due to children's school schedules.
Parents are at work only out of financial needs. Why would anyone want to leave their children behind and come to the workplace if they didn't have to? Actually, a lot of people do. Caring for children is a wonderful experience, but everyone needs a break. Many parents may still be interested in their field of work, finding work interesting. Money is nice, but it's certainly not the only reason that parents are there.
1.Why do some young people ask for a four-day work schedule?
A. To see their working parents. B. To return to school part time.
C. To spend more time at home. D. To make an appointment with doctors.
2.What does the author think of parents' attitude towards their work?
A. They are flexible with their work. B. They always show interest in their work.
C. They believe their work is unique. D. They are rather devoted and focused.
3.The word "singletons" in the fourth paragraph can be most suitably replaced by ____.
A. good team members B. parents
C. the unmarried D. hard-working people
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Unreasonable opinions about working parents.
B. Pressure that working parents suffer.
C. The contributions that parents make.
D. The profession parents are interested in.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
How to improve reading efficiency
1. Make sure of your purpose of reading.
Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons: pleasure or knowledge. Being specific and clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to avoid books that you don’t need to read, it also reminds you the book is important to you.1.
2. Read only what you are attracted to.
Whether you are reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may recommend books that they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy. 2.
3. Give up books that you don't enjoy.
You may have selected books that match your purpose. You may have selected books that you are attracted to. But you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading. 3. Remember reading shouldn't make feel annoyed.
4. 4.
Having a reading goal helps you figure out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day.
5. Give yourself a deadline to finish each book.
Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book. What I find interesting is that I tend to read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought. 5. I don't need to return those books. When you don't set a deadline to finish you book, there isn't a sense of urgency. And when something isn't urgent, you tend to slow down.
A. Set a reading goal.
B. Understand each word of the sentence.
C. Read books which you are interested in.
D. Reading is the most important way to get knowledge.
E. The reason is that the books I bought don't have a due date.
F. This encourages you to keep reading and complete the book faster.
G. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
When I was younger, I was very sporty. My dad is a runner who great ____ me. My great hobby between the ages 11 and 14 was cross-country____. However, when my family ____, my new school didn't pay attention to ____, and had no after-school activities like football or running.
Over the next few years, I ____ exercising except during P.E. lessons at school. I was ____ that I could eat what I wanted and didn't put on any weight, so it looked like I was healthy, but in reality I was very ____.
When I started university, I decided that I would try and get fit, but by then I was worried about ____ myself in front of other people. ____, this year, one of my New Year's promises has been to try and get in shape. This ____ came after I was late for a bus, tried to run after it and was very out of ____ in under a minute! I considered ____ running again, yet my housemate tried to practice yoga, so my New Year's ____ was delayed.
Finally, one of my friends ____ a swimming pool close to my house that she had gone to a few times. Now, I love ____, and I find doing laps in the pool very relaxing. Experts say everyone should do 30 minutes of proper ____ every day, so I'm starting with an hour three times a week and ____ every day. I hope that I will soon start to feel the ____ of regular exercise, and will become fitter and ____. In the long term, I know it will be very good for me, and ____ all sorts of health problems that often occur in later life.
1.A. understood B. created C. discouraged D. influenced
2.A. skiing B. jogging C. running D. driving
3.A. collected B. moved C. saved D. travelled
4.A. sports B. lessons C. parents D. seats
5.A. tried B. stopped C. enjoyed D. risked
6.A. obvious B. rich C. lucky D. nervous
7.A. unusual B. unlucky C. unconscious D. unfit
8.A. helping B. introducing C. embarrassing D. teaching
9.A. Even B. However C. Also D. Thus
10.A. decision B. advice C. method D. praise
11.A. control B. order C. date D. breath
12.A. taking in B. holding up C. taking up D. turning out
13.A. resolve B. present C. party D. welcome
14.A. saw B. ran C. met D. recommended
15.A. swimming B. running C. boating D. touring
16.A. place B. way C. exercise D. light
17.A. getting up B. building up C. putting up D. making up
18.A. actions B. hobbies C. glasses D. benefits
19.A. quicker B. stronger C. higher D. braver
20.A. prevent B. suffer C. treat D. show
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Everybody in David’s class packed their bags and got ready 1. (go) home last Saturday. Usually David’s mother would fetch him home but that day she was not there, so he walked home by himself.
When he reached home, he knocked on the door as he didn’t bring his keys. 2. (surprising), no one answered the door. He 3. (knock) again when one of his neighbors 4. (name) John called him. He told David his mother was out and invited him to stay in his house till his mother came back. David knew that if his mother 5. (be) at home, she would have answered the door soon. So David went to John’s house and played with him. 6. (stay) in John’s house for a few 7. (hour), David saw his mother come back. They thanked John and his family. It turned out that David’s mother had 8. serious backache so she had to see the doctor.
9. this experience, David has learnt that neighbors are people 10. help each other. The relationships among neighbors are like building a bridge and they will build a good bridge one day.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
短文改错
Are home visits necessary when they are so many ways to communicate with the students’ parent? Some people are for home visits. They thought home visits will make it easily for parents and teachers to communicate and work more closely to help students learn. Home visits will give teachers a chance to better understanding their students. Besides, others think it is a waste of the time and energy to pay home visits. If they keep on touch with the students’ parents with text messages, QQ or E-mails, it will be more convenient and save a lot of time. Personally, I think home visits is positive, and teachers can educate their students effectively through home visits.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
为了更好地接待前来观光考察的美国朋友，某市旅游局拟招聘一批志愿者，下面是招聘要求．
Volunteers Are Wanted
☆Ready to serve others
☆Healthy and strong for traveling
☆Good English is needed for serving
☆Good knowledge of tourism
假设你是某高中学生李华，发现自己完全符合招聘条件．请你给该旅游局（Travel and Tourism Administration）招聘负责人写一封应聘信，包括如下内容：
1．说明写信的目的；
2．介绍个人信息和优势；
3．询问是否能够被聘用．
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头和结尾已为你写好．
Dear officer，
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking forward to your answer．
Best wishes
Yours，
Li Hua．
难度: 中等查看答案及解析