-
Death of science icon(巨匠)
In modern history, there has perhaps never been a scientist as
well-known as Stephen Hawking. Whether he was educating the world with
his knowledge of the universe（宇宙）, or making fun of himself in TV shows
like The Simpsons, it’s hard to imagine what the world will be like but now
Hawking is no longer in it.
On March 14, the British physicist passed away at his home in Cambridge, England. Since then, many people have expressed their sadness in public, including British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the World Wide Web. “We have lost a great mind and a wonderful spirit,” Berners-Lee wrote.
Hawking was an icon for many reasons, but he will be best remembered for his work in the field of science. Building on German scientist Albert Einstein’s work, Hawking explained his belief that space started with the Big Bang, and will end with Black Holes. This idea kicked off a series of scientific studies including into the origin of the universe itself.
Besides his work in science, he also managed to overcome many difficulties in his personal life. While studying at Cambridge University, he got a serious illness at the age of 21. His illness left him disabled and he was told he only had a short time to live. However, as we all know, he went on to become one of the greatest minds that the world has ever known.
Hawking leaves behind a great legacy(遗产). His book A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes that came out in 1988, became one of the world’s best-sellers. He may no longer be with us, but Hawking will continue to inspire the world for generations to come. As he once said himself, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet.”
根据短文内容，判断句子正(T)、误(F)。
1.Stephen Hawking is one of the best known scientists in the world in modern history.
2.On March 4, the British physicist passed away at his home in London, England.
3.Hawking was remembered as the science icon because of his work in the field of science.
4.In his life Hawking didn’t have difficulties in his personal life though he got a serious illness.
5.Although Hawking is not with us any more, he is still an inspiration us all.
-
This past month saw one of the most devastating storms in history brings death and destruction on the Philippines. The number of lives lost is still being calculated, but it is already sitting above five thousand. In the flurryof news about the storm and its after－math, the cries of “I told you so” from environmentalists rang out loud and clear.
These scientists were especially vocal during the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which just wrapped up in Warsaw, Poland. The timing of the conference and Typhoon Haiyan was an eerie coincidence, but perhaps the concurrence offered a wakeup call for all.
Christiana Figures, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said, “We are witnessing ever more frequent extreme weather events, and the poor and vulnerable are already paying the price.”
Scientists claim that storms like Typhoon Haiyan are an inevitable result of the effect greenhouse gases are having on our environment. Environmental analysts claim that rising temperatures around the globe and changing weather patterns are all part of the same problem.
This isn’t breaking news. We’ve heard the warnings for years. The UN has been hosting the Climate Change Conference since1995.But the changes that need to be made are huge. Added to this, the developed nations and developing countries have competing interests that are difficult to settle. The issue of who takes responsibility becomes difficult to resolve.
We may feel far away from Poland and resolving conflicts between countries, but we mustn’t feel far away from the issue. When we watch neighboring countries suffer in severe weather, when we hear reports of increasing global temperatures, when we walk outside and find it difficult to breathe the Shanghai air, we know we have a very real problem. So what are we going to do about it? Are we making every-day choices that can have a positive impact? Are we reducing our carbon footprint? Are we choosing to walk, ride a bicycle or take public transportation instead of a car? Are we recycling? Are we turning off the lights and electronics whenever possible?
The problem is complex, but saving our earth starts with each of us taking simple steps.
1.What is the most terrible typhoon in 2013? It is _________.
A. Haiyan B. Bebinca C. Danas D.Cimaron
2.Warsaw isn’t in Poland，is it?
A. Yes, it is B. No, it isn’t C. Yes, it isn’t D. No, it is
3.How many years have we heard the warnings? For nearly ______years.
A. 21 B. 18 C. 19 D. 20
4.Which of the following is NOT FALSE?
A. The environment is worse and worse and we have no ideas about it.
B. The environment is worse and we needn’t do anything about it.
C. Saving our environment is not so complex.
D. The environment is a big problem and we must take simple steps
-
In today's world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular-animal friendship.
It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets lowers blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, entertainment and loving friendship.
Here is a case that shows the advantages of animals. John was a six-year-old mute. He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned，had a parrot called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Net used to say, "Hi，John!" We all know parrots copy what they hear. After a few visits, Sally began saying "Hi，John!" when John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied "Hi, Sally !" Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking.
Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, animals are used to help children with physical or personal problems. In other cases, they are used to teach children to get on and share with others, and even to teach them about animals.
If you want to know more about animal helper programmes, you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search under "animal therapy" on the Internet. You don't have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in.
1.Which is NOT mentioned as an illness that animals can help with?
A. Heart disease. B. Blood pressure. C. Fever. D. Cancer.
2.How can animals help schoolchildren according to the passage?
A. They can improve children's memory.
B. They can make children more popular.
C. They can make children's blood pressure higher.
D. They can teach children to share with each other.
3.The underlined word "mute" in Paragraph 3 means .
A. a person who speaks slowly B. a person who does not speak
C. a person who can not hear D. a person who enjoys talking
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A. Be kind to animals B. Talk to animals
C. The most dangerous disease D. Get healthy with animal helpers
-
In today’s world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular---animal friendship.
It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets reduces blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, amusement and caring friendship.
Here is a case that shows the benefits of animals. John was a six-year-old mute. He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned, had a parrot（鹦鹉）called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Ned used to say, ”Hi, John!”We all know parrots copy what they heat. After a few visits, Sally began saying “Hi, John!” when John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied “Hi, Sally!”Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking.
Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, animals are use to help children with physical or personal problems. In other cases, they are used to teach children to get on well and share with others, and even to teach them about animals.
If you want to know more about animal helper programs ,you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search under “animal therapy” on the Internet. You don’t have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in.
1.Which is NOT mentioned as an illness that animals can help with?
A. Fever B. Cancer C. Heart disease D. Blood pressure
2.The underlined word “mute” in Paragraph3 is closest in meaning to “_________”.
A. a person who speaks slowly B. a person who does not speak
C. a person who cannot hear D. a person who enjoys talking
3.How can animals help school children according to the passage?
A. They can make children more popular.
B. They can improve children’s memory.
C. They can increase children’s blood pressure.
D. They can teach children the value of sharing.
4.Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
（①=Para.（自然段）1 ②=para.2 ③=para.3 ④=para.4 ⑤=para.5 ）
A. ①；②；③；④；⑤ B. ①②；③④；⑤
C. ①②；③；④⑤ D. ①；②③；④⑤
-
In today’s world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular-animal friendship.
It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets lowers blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, entertainment and loving friendship.
Here is a case that shows the benefits of animals. John was a six-year-old mute. He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned, had a parrot called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Net used to say, “Hi, John!” We all know parrots copy what they hear. After a few visits, Sally began saying “Hi, John!” when John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied “Hi, Sally!” Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking.
Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, animals are used to help children with physical or personal problems. In other cases, they are used to teach children to get on and share with others, and even to teach them about animals.
If you want to know more about animal helper programs, you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search under “animal therapy” on the Internet. You don’t have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in.
1.Which is NOT mentioned as an illness that animals can help with?
A. Heart disease B. Cancer
C. Fever D. Blood pressure
2.The underlined word “mute” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “_______”.
A. a person who speaks slowly
B. a person who does not speak
C. a person who cannot hear
D. a person who enjoys talking
3.The purpose of paragraph 3 is to _______.
A. show how animals can help with illnesses
B. discuss the problems of keeping pets
C. describe how to train animal helpers
D. introduce some new medical research
4.How can animals help school children according to the passage?
A. They can improve children’s memory.
B. They can make children more popular.
C. They can increase children’s blood pressure.
D. They can teach children to share with each other.
5.What is the best title of this passage?
A. Be kind to animals
B. Talking to animals
C. The most dangerous diseases
D. Get healthy with animal helpers
-
—What do you know about the scientist Qian Xuesen?
—He’s a great in the field of modern science.
A. explorer B. leader C. pioneer D. chairman
-
An unpleasant habit of announcing the death of a celebrity has sprung in recent years, when in fact the subject is alive and well. The latest blatantly false was the supposed death of Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan from a heart attack.
It spread rapidly on the Chinese blogosphere and Twitter in the West, and there was even, supposedly, a message from US President Barack Obama paying homage to the martial arts hero. “Jackie Chan is a man who can talk through talent, he is a constant reminder of the strength of humanity. He will forever be in our hearts, a true inspiration who inspired many generations,”
Cruelly, it was the actor’s son, Jaycee Chan, who had to prove if the news was true, by making a phone call and finding him, fortunately, “busy as hell” organizing, with other Hong Kong celebrities, a charity concert on Friday to raise money for those struck down by the earthquake in Japan. Jaycee Chan described the false news as an “insane joke”, but Jackie Chan was not angry at the news. He said, “ It is not the first time to hear that I was dead.”
The Hong Kong-based The Sun Newspaper reported on Wednesday that a blogger with the handle “SKIPHOPZ” was the source of the false news.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案, 并将其标号填入题前括号内。
1.Announcing the death of a celebrity when in fact the subject is alive and well makes people feel_______
A.happy B. pleasant C. unpleasant D. glad
2.The latest blatantly false was the supposed death of _________
A. Jackie Chan B. Jackie Chan’s son
C. Jaycee Chan D. Jaycee Chan’s son
3.To prove if the news was true, the actor’s son_________.
A. flew to Hong Kong B. wrote to the US President
C. made a call D. sent an e-mail
4.A charity concert on Friday in Hong Kong to raise money for ________
A. Japanese B. Chinese
C. Americans D. people in Hong Kong
5.We can find from the article that____________.
A. It spread slowly on the Chinese blogosphere and Twitter in the West
B. The US President Barack Obama paid homage to the martial arts hero.
C. Jackie Chan was angry at the false news.
D. A blogger with the handle “SKIPHOPZ” was the source of the false news.
-
Cancer is now the leading cause of death in wealthy countries. Researchers say cancer has replaced heart disease as the top killer in the industrial world.
If the trend continues, they predict cancer could become the leading cause of death worldwide later in this century. However, the news is not that deaths from cancer are increasing but that deaths from CVD（心血管疾病）are decreasing.
CVD is a group of medical conditions that include heart failure, heart attack and stroke. It remains the leading cause of death among middle-aged adults worldwide.
But when you only look at deaths in the industrial world - that is not the case. In those countries, the new report shows that cancer now kills two times as many people as CVD.
The findings were published in The Lancet, The research comes from a large, ongoing study called PURE. It is a project of the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada.
The PURE researchers have been collecting information about people from over 20 high-, middle- and low-income countries. The data includes a person's medical history and individual behavior, such as physical activity and diet.
Salim Yusuf is a researcher on the PURE study and a professor of medicine at McMaster University. He also serves as head of the Population Health Research Institute. He explained the study's findings in a statement to the press.
“ The fact that deaths from cancer are now twice as frequent as deaths from CVD in high-income countries, ” Yusuf said,” shows a change in the main cause of death in middle-aged people. ” He added, “ As deaths from CVD decline（减少）in many countries because of prevention and treatment, cancer will likely become the leading cause of death globally in the future.”
1.What does the underlined word “decreasing” mean in Paragraph 2?
A.Falling. B.Lighting. C.Adding. D.Changing.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Cancer has become the leading cause of death around the world.
B.CVD is still the main cause of death among middle-aged adults.
C.Prevention and treatment have helped to make deaths from cancer decline.
D.CVD has replaced cancer as the top killer in the wealthy countries.
3.What can we infer from the last sentence of the passage?
A.There will be no deaths from CVD in the future.
B.Deaths from CVD are the most in high-income countries.
C.Cancer will likely kill more people than CVD will do globally in the future.
D.Most middle-aged people in the world die from CVD.
4.What can we know about PURE from the passage?
A.PURE is a name of a group of researchers from high-income countries.
B.PURE is a project of the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences in Canada.
C.PURE researchers only study a person's individual behavior.
D.PURE researchers have been collecting information about people from middle-income countries.
-
Perhaps you have heard of Peter Dinklage from the roles he has played in popular TV series such as Game of Thrones (《权利的游戏》). But few know of the man behind the character and his story. His life _______ that a little body can have huge energy.
The famous actor, who earned three Emmy awards and a Golden Globe award, is just 135 cm tall. His father, mother and brother look like _______ people. But Dinklage has been different from the others since his childhood. The boy was born with a common form of dwarfism (侏儒症). As a result, Peter’s legs and arms stopped growing, while his head continued becoming bigger.
There’s no doubt that Dinklage’s look was a source of trouble at first. The boy was _______and bullied (欺负) by other kids. He felt lonely but he didn’t look down upon himself. When he was in the sixth grade, he played his first role in a school play. He was pleased by the audience’s _______ to the show. So he decided to become an actor in the future.
After he graduated from high school, Dinklage entered Bennington College, where he studied performing arts. He _______ met several special teachers and friends who managed to help him turn his unusual look into advantage there, which made him unique (独特的). Since then, he has acted in lots of famous films and TV series.
Dinktlage has been looked as a rote model for people with dwarfism. When Dinktage was asked in 2012 whether he saw himself as a spokesman (代言人) for the _______ of little people, he said, “Everyone’s different. Every person’s size has a different life, a different history, and different ways of dealing with it. My size doesn’t define (下定义) me. It’s just part of who I am.”
1.A.notices B.discovers C.reports D.proves
2.A.unusual B.ordinary C.rich D.stupid
3.A.laughed at B.showed off C.picked out D.looked after
4.A.duty B.response C.excuse D.stress
5.A.luckily B.seriously C.quietly D.rarely
6.A.disadvantages B.hobbies C.rights D.challenges
-
In modern times, the development of electronic books has changed the ways of reading. It is very convenient for readers to download（下载） electronic books on the Internet.
However, experts say that readers will not be able to absorb( 吸收) efficiently what they have read, because the information is shown in such a simple form.“Some e-readers（电子阅览器）, such as the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader, show texts clearly to readers. This encourages the brain to be ‘lazy’ and make readers easily forget what they have just read, ”experts say.
A. student by Princeton University finds that many readers can recall more information after reading if they read paper books. Compared with electronic books, paper books are less convenient for readers to read. Such difficulty in reading makes readers cherish（珍惜） the information they are reading and encourage their brain to think. As a result, the efficiency of reading will be improved greatly. Experts say if readers get information actively, that is to say, if they read paper books, they will be able to remember the information longer than those who passively read electronic books.
Others experts say that e-readers and computers may stop us from absorbing information, because the screens may make you feel that the words on the screen are not important. Mr. Lehrer, an expert, said, “E-readers have changed the reading habits of people, but they make people’s ability of reading degenerate（退化）”
1.Now a lot of electronic books have changed .
A.people’s ways of eating
B.people’s ways of speaking
C.p people’s ways of reading
D.people’s ways of learning
2.The Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader .
A.are new kinds of computers
B.can make readers’ brain to be “lazy”
C.are two electronic texts
D.can be used to learn English
3.According to the study, if readers read paper books, they .
A.will forget the information they have just read easily
B.will not think more about what they are reading
C.will fall asleep easily
D.can recall more information after reading
4.The underline word “passively” mean “ ”in Chinese.
A.被动地
B.主动地
C.快捷地
D.茫然地
5.From the passage, we can know .
A.electronic books are less convenient for readers to read
B.the efficiency of reading is higher if people read paper books
C.e-readers don’t change people’s reading habits at all
D.people easily forget what they have read because they read too much