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Have you ever heard of “a ball of energy”? People often use it to describe very active children. But today we tell about the soccket, something that is a real soccer ball of energy. Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews developed the soccket as part of a group project for an engineering class at Harvard University.
There are mechanisms (装置) in a soccket. When you kick, hit or throw it, energy is then kept in it by these mechanisms instead of disappearing into the environment. Then the user can put something directly into the ball, like a lamp, or a mobile phone charger so that they can get energy from it. For every fifteen minutes of the game play, the soccket can provide enough electricity for an LED lamp for three hours, and the ball can store (储藏) up to 24 hour’ electricity.
The International Energy Association reported last year that nearly one and a half billion people in the world had no electricity to use, and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and in India and other countries in Asia.
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews both had experiences in developing countries before they began the project. They knew that power shortages are a serious problem in really areas. There’s an energy crisis in the world. One out of every five people in the world don’t have any electricity. And besides that, there are a lot of health problems because without electricity, people have to use something like kerosene (煤油) lamps, which produce a lot of smoke.
Julia Silverman says the soccket ball is one small solution to a big problem. Jessica Matthews and Julia Silverman hope their soccket ball will shine more light on the problem of power shortages. It offers people a chance to put their energy into the world’s most popular sport and get some energy in return.
1.From the passage, we know the soccket is _____.
A. a game B. an invention C. an energy D. a lamp
2.If you play the soccket for half an hour, it can provide an LED lamp with electricity for _____.
A. fifteen minutes B. half an hour C. six hours D. three hours
3.The underlined word “crisis” in the passage means _____.
A. a time of safety B. a time of difficulty C. a time of success D. a time of illness
4.We can infer (推断) from the passage that _____.
A. Julia Silverman has never been to developing countries before
B. people all over the world will use the sOccket soon
C. kicking a soccket makes the energy disappear into the environment
D. people are expected to get some energy by playing soccket
5.The best title for the passage should be “________”.
A. How to Make Electricity B. How to Deal With Energy Crisis
C. A Soccer Ball That Gives Energy D. An Energy Shortage in the World
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Have you ever heard of "a ball of energy"? People often use it to describe very active children. But today we tell about an invention called the soccket, that is a real soccer ball of energy. Julia Silverman explains that in fact the soccket is a portable generator (便携式发电机).
Julin Silverman and Jessica Matthews developed the soccket as part of a group project for an engineering class at Harvard University.
There are mechanisms (装置) in a soccket. When you kick, hit or throw it, energy is then kept in it by these mechanisms instead of disappearing into the environment.
Then the user can put something directly into the ball, like a lamp, or a mobile phone charger (充电器) so that they can get energy from it.
For every fifteen minutes of the game play, the soccket can provide enough electricity(电) for an LED lamp for three hours, and the ball can store(储藏) up to 24 hours' electricity.
The International Energy Association reported last year that nearly one and a half billion people in the world had no electricity to use, and most of them live in Africa, India and other countries in Asia.
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews both had experiences in developing countries before they began the project. They knew that power shortages are a serious problem in really areas.
There's an energy crisis in the world. One out of every five people in the world don't have any electricity. And besides that, there are a lot of health problems because what people use instead of the electricity are harmful choices like kerosene(煤油) lamps, which produce a lot of smoke.
Julia Silverman says the soccket ball is one small solution to a big problem.
Jessica Matthews and Julia Silverman hope their soccket ball will shine more light on the problem of power shortages. It offers people a chance to put their energy into the world's most popular sport and get some energy in return.
1.From the passage, we know the soccket is ____________.
A.an active child
B.an invention
C.a lamp
D.a mobile phone
2.The underlined word "crisis" in the passage means ____________.
A.a time of safety
B.a time of difficulty
C.a time of success
D.a time of pride
3.We can infer(推断) from the passage that ____________.
A.Julia Silverman has never been to developing countries before
B.Active children like to play soccket
C.kicking a soccket can let the energy disappear into the environment
D.people are expected to get some energy by playing soccket
4.The best title for the passage should be "____________".
A.The only way to produce electricity
B.The best way to solve energy crisis
C.A soccer ball that gives energy
D.An invention changing the world
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Have you ever heard of “a ball of energy”? People often use it to describe very active children. But today we tell about an invention called the socket, that is a real soccer ball of energy. Julia Silverman explains that in fact the socket is a portable generator.
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews developed the socket as part of a group project for an engineering class at Harvard University. There are mechanisms in a socket. When you kick, hit or throw it, energy is then kept in it by these mechanisms instead of disappearing into the environment.
Then the user can put something directly into the ball, like a lamp, or a mobile phone charger so that they can get energy from it. For every fifteen minutes of the game play, the socket can provide enough electricity for an LED lamp for three hours, and the ball can store up to 24 hours’ electricity.
The International Energy Association reported last year that nearly one and a half billion people in the world had no electricity to use, and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and in India and other countries in Asia.
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews both had experiences in developing countries before they began the project. They knew that power shortages are a serious problem in really areas. There’s an energy crisis in the world. One out of every five people in the world don't have any electricity, there are a lot of health problems because what people use instead of any electricity are harmful choices like kerosene lamps, which produce a lot of smoke.
Julia Silverman says the socket ball is one small solution to a big problem. Jessica Matthews and Julia Silverman hope their socket ball will shine more light on the problem of power shortages. It offers people a chance to put their energy into the world’s most popular sport and get some energy in return.
1.From the passage, we know the socket is__________.
A.an active child B.an invention C.a lamp D.a mobile phone
2.The underlined word “crisis” in the passage means a time of__________.
A.difficulty B.safety C.success D.sadness
3.We can infer from the passage that__________.
A.active children care more about playing socket
B.people are expected to get some energy by playing socket
C.Julia Silverman has never been to developing countries before
D.kicking a socket can let the energy disappear into the environment
4.The best title for the passage should be__________.
A.A soccer ball that gives energy B.The way to help save electricity
C.The best way to solve energy problems D.An invention changing the world
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Have you ever heard of ＂a ball of energy＂? People often use it to describe very active children. But today we tell about an invention called the soccket, that is a real soccer ball of energy. Julia Silverman explains that in fact the soccket is a portable generator(便携式发电机).
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews developed the soccket as part of a group project for an engineering class at Harvard University.
There are mechanisms(装置) in a soccket. When you kick, hit or throw it, energy is then kept in it by these mechanisms instead of disappearing into the environment.
Then the user can put something directly into the ball, like a lamp, or a mobile phone charger so that they can get energy from it.
For every fifteen minutes of the game play, the soccket can provide enough electricity(电) for an LED lamp for three hours, and the ball can store(储藏) up to 24 hours’ electricity.
The International Energy Association reported last year that nearly one and a half billion people in the world had no electricity to use, and most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and in India and other countries in Asia.
Julia Silverman and Jessica Matthews both had experiences in developing countries before they began the project. They knew that power shortages are a serious problem in really areas.
There’s an energy crisis in the world. One out of every five people in the world don’t have any electricity. And besides that, there are a lot of health problems because what people use instead of the electricity are harmful choices like kerosene(煤油) lamps, which produce a lot of smoke.
Julia Silverman says the soccket ball is one small solution(解决方法) to a big problem.
Jessica Matthews and Julia Silverman hope their soccket ball will shine more light on the problem of power shortages. It offers people a chance to put their energy into the world’s most popular sport and get some energy in return.
1.From the passage, we know the soccket is ________.
A. an active child B. an invention C. a lamp D. a mobile phone
2.If you play the soccket for half an hour, it can provide an LED lamp with electricity for ________.
A. fifteen minutes B. half an hour C. six hours D. three hours
3.The underlined word ＂crisis＂ in the passage means ________.
A. a time of safety B. a time of difficulty C. a time of success D. a time of pride
4.We can infer(推断) from the passage that ________.
A. Julia Silverman has never been to developing countries before
B. Active children like to play soccket
C. kicking a soccket can let the energy disappear into the environment
D. people are expected to get some energy by playing soccket
5.The best title for the passage should be ＂________＂.
A. The only way to produce electricity B. The best way to solve energy crisis
C. A soccer ball that gives energy D. An invention changing the world
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Have you ever heard of the expression “birdbrain”? People use it to talk about someone who is stupid, but crows(乌鸦) show that this is unfair. Now it has been discovered that crows may understand analogies (类推法).
It was once thought that only humans could understand analogies, which help us to solve problems creatively.
To test this ability in animals, scientists do RMTS tests. If a pair was AA, for example, picking BB to match it would be correct. If the pair was CD, however, then EF would be correct.
Monkeys have learned RMTS, but scientists wanted to know if crows could do it, too. An international team led by Edward Wasserman from the US first trained two crows to match things by color, shape and number in what is called IMTS, then moved onto RMTS.
For the IMTS test, the birds were put in a cage with a plate that had three cards and two cups in it. The card in the middle was the sample (样本), while the other wasn’t. The cup with the card that matched the sample card had some food to eat.
In the second part of the experiment, the birds were tested with RMTS tests. A card with two same-sized circles, for example, meant they should pick the test card with two same-sized squares and not two different-sized circles (圆). The birds did well in the more difficult test and picked the correct card more than three quarters of the time, Science News reports.
Wasserman was surprised that crows were able to solve the problem without any training in RMTS. “What the crows have done is surprising,” he said.
So perhaps it’s time to stop saying “birdbrain” for good.
1.In the opening paragraph, the writer used “birdbrain” to .
A. teach people how to use this expression
B. introduce a famous scientist Edward Wasserman
C. introduce recent findings about crows’ intelligence (智力)
D. get readers interested in the background of the expression
2.The underlined phrase “this ability” in the 3rd paragraph refers to .
A. the ability to play cards
B. the ability to find food to eat
C. the ability to understand analogies
D. the ability to pick the test card
3.In the RMTS test, if the birds were given the sample like this
, which card should they pick?
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
4.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A. Monkeys understand analogies.
B. Crows show how clever they are.
C. Crows did well in RMTS.
D. Monkeys are cleverer than crows.
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Have you ever heard someone use the phrase” once in a blue moon”? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate” once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.”While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase” blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail when we cannot see the moon at all; it is called a new moon.
When we can see the whole moon is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a blue moon”.
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare (稀有的)event. This fact has led people to use the expression” once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.
1.Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase” once in a blue moon”.
A．Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.
B．Tom rarely remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.
C．Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.
D．Cindy hates to stay up, but she stays up every day. Cindy stays up once in a blue moon.
2.When does a blue moon happen in nature?
A．When the moon has a blue moon.
B．When we cannot see the moon at all.
C．When there are two full moons in one month.
D．When we can only see a small part of the color.
3.How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?
A．Once a year. B．Less than once a year.
C．More than once a year. D．At least twice a year.
4.What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to?
A．A blue moon is a very rare event.
B．The moon appears to change shape.
C．The moon itself is never really bluee.
D．A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.
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Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon”? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid（避免） eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate” once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a blue moon.”While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase” blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate(联系) certain names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip（尖端） of a fingernail （手指甲）when we cannot see the moon at all, it is called a new moon. When we can see the whole moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a blue moon”.
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare (稀有的)event. This fact has led people to use the expression” once in a blue moon” to describe other very rare events in their lives.
1.Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase” once in a blue moon”?
A．Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.
B．Tom hardly remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.
C．Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.
D．Cindy hates to do housework, but she does housework every day. Cindy does housework once in a blue moon.
2.When does a blue moon happen in nature? ________________
A．When the moon has a blue moon.
B．When we cannot see the moon at all.
C．When there are two full moons in one month.
D．When we can only see a small part of the color.
3. How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?__________
A．Once a year.
B．Less than once a year.
C．More than once a year.
D．At least twice a year.
4.What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to?___________
A．A blue moon is a very rare event.
B．The moon appears to change shape.
C．The moon itself is never really blue.
D．A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.
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Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “once in a blue moon”？ People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to avoid eating sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate “once in a blue moon”. Or someone who does not usually like to go to the beach might say “I visit the shore once in a moon.” While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.
The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never really blue. This is just an expression. In fact, the phrase “blue moon” has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.
As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We associate names with certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon, it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail. When we cannot see the moon at all, it is called a new moon. When we can see the whole moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a “blue moon”．
Over the next 20 years, there will only be 15 blue moons. As you can see, a blue moon is a very rare event. This_fact has led people to use the expression “once in a blue moon” to other very rare events in their lives.
1. Which of the following would be a good example of using the phrase “once in a blue moon”？
A. Simon often tells jokes. Simon tells jokes once in a blue moon.
B. Tom rarely remembers to do exercise. Tom does exercise once in a blue moon.
C. Mary likes to go shopping every weekend. Mary goes shopping once in a blue moon.
D. Cindy hates to stay up, but she stays up every day. Cindy stays up once in a blue moon.
2.When does a blue moon happen in nature?
A. When the moon has a blue moon.
B. When we cannot see the moon at all.
C. When there are two full moons in one month.
D. When we can only see a small part of the moon.
3. Which of the following is another example of something that has a crescent shape?
A. The letter “O”. B. The letter “M”．
C. The letter “H”. D. The letter “C”．
4.How often will a blue moon happen over the next twenty years?
A. Once a year. B. Less than once a year.
C. More than once a year. D. At least twice a year.
5. What does the underlined part “This fact” in the last paragraph refer to(所指)?
A. A blue moon is a very rare event.
B. The moon appears to change shape.
C. The moon itself is never really blue.
D. A blue moon has to do with the shape of the moon.
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Have you ever heard of “3G”? Third-generation(代) mobile phone, known as 3G are popular recently. Users can surf the Internet and enjoy videos on their phones. Firstly, for some forgetful people, they will get into trouble if they forget some important things. Now you don’t need to (__1.____) it any more. A 3G phone can receive video news programs and messages. Secondly, you are never afraid of losing your way home. 3G phones offer map services so that they can (__2.____) just by pressing(按) a few keys on your phone. The most important part of the 3G technology is video calling. You can (_3.____) your friends and family face to face on your phone.
It’s believed to bring people convenience in their daily lives.
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You have probably heard of tomato throwing and the polar bear swim,but have you ever heard of the sport of cheese rolling?
Cheese rolling is an event that takes place every spring at Cooper's Hill,Gloucestershire(a county in England,west of London). People say that cheese rolling is one of Great Britain's oldest customs. Some say the custom started even before the Romans lived in that country 2000 years ago.Most say cheese rolling has been going on for at least a couple of centuries as a celebration of the onset (beginning)of summer.
Each year, thousands of spectators come to Cooper's Hill to watch people chase ( run after) a three kilogram round of Double Gloucester Cheese down the hillside. There are separate races for men and women, and uphill races for boys and girls too. The winners get to keep the rounds of cheese they have tried so hard to catch. However, no one ever catches the cheese because it runs fast down the slope(斜坡)at nearly 110 kilometers per hour !
It is funny to imagine people chasing a little wheel of cheese as it rolls down a hill, but maybe it is not so funny to see it because Cooper's Hill is very Steep(陡峭的).Every year, several of the cheese chasers tumble down the hill. Often, people have their bones broken, but this has not stopped the event from taking place.
Would you chase cheese down a hill?
1.What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?
A.The place where the event is held.
B.The time when the event is held.
C.The history the event already has.
D.The reason why the event is held.
2.What does the word "spectators" mean in Paragraph 3?
A.People who report the event.
B.People who work for the event.
C.People who take part in the event.
D.People. who are watching the event.
3.Cheese rolling players are grouped according to .
A.Sex and Height. B.Age and weight.
C.Sex and age. D.Height and Weight.
4.What does the writer think of the cheese rolling event?
A.It's funny. B.It's tiring.
C.It's dangerous. D.It's crowded.
, which card should they pick?
B. 
C. 
D. 