It’s perhaps the world’s most famous underwater attraction that remained in film and in legend: the Titanic. But now experts say the ocean liner, once a wonder of the high seas, is falling to pieces.
Capt. Alfred McLaren, the scientist who in July led the most recent expedition to the ship’s underwater grave, said his team saw clear signs of the accelerating damage of the wreck (残骸). There was damage likely caused by rust and sea life, and the captain’s cabin had collapsed.
“I was absolutely astonished,” McLaren said.
Worse still, the fallen mast (桅杆) that crushed the ship’s deck is believed by many to be the result of an unapproved salvage (打捞) operation. “It was almost depressing to see how quickly she was getting worse,” McLaren says. “I would be really surprised if there’s very much standing up from the bottom, two decades from now.”
Ed Kamuda, who runs the Titanic Historical Society in Springfield, Mass., says adventure tourists — who pay $36,000 each to visit the wreck — are also contributing to the destruction of it.
“This is something I expected. I just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly,” Kamuda said. “People are going down just as an ego trip to say ‘I was there.’ All this takes a fare on the ship.”
The Titanic has sat at the bottom of the Atlantic since it sank after hitting an iceberg on its maiden voyage on April 14, 1912. More than 1,500 people died that night. The ship came to rest at the bottom of the freezing North Atlantic, more than 2 miles beneath the waves. The wreck was discovered in 1985, and since then it has been repeatedly visited by treasure hunters.
But still some scientists say those divers, and other thrill seekers are not necessarily to blame for the Titanic’s current problems.
Capt. Craig McLean of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration went on an expedition to the Titanic in June as part of a government study that is monitoring the condition of the ship. He says it’s unclear what part of the damage is from Mother Nature and which is from human nature.
“It’s too early and there isn’t enough evidence to put our fingers on anything,” McLean said.
Regardless, most agree there’s little that can be done for this most famous of wrecks. And soon, the mighty Titanic could well be lost again.
1. McLaren expected that in twenty years _______.| A．Only a minor part of the wreck would remain as it is |
| B．The wreck would be getting worse at a faster speed |
| C．Only salvage operation with the purpose of research would be approved |
| D．The wreck would be completely destroyed by unapproved treasure hunters |
| A．To contribute to the breaking down of the Titanic. | B．To help finance the preservation of the Titanic. |
| C．To satisfy their curiosity and adventurousness. | D．To better understand the history of the Titanic. |
| A．Visitors should not be prohibited from the Titanic and other famous wrecks |
| B．The influence of the thrill seekers on the wreck will finally be determined |
| C．The government should contribute more to the monitoring of the Titanic |
| D．The damage of the Titanic is not necessarily attributed to the adventure tourists |
| A．promising | B．discouraging | C．controllable | D．vague |
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【推荐1】Welcome to Hawks Cay Resort
Centrally lying between Miami and key west, Hawks Cay Resort offers the perfect union of solitude and convenience. Here you can enjoy the best qualities of the Caribbean-clear green waters, endless sunshine, excellent fishing and diving chances, and fresh seafood.
THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING
Hanks Cay lies in he middle of the Florida Keys on the quiet island of Duck Key. The resort is just over an hour’s drive from Key West attractions, and only minutes from the village of Marathon where you’ll find the Seven-Mile Bridge, the Marathon Turtle Hospital, shopping changes and more.
GETTING TO HAWKS CAY RESORT
By Land
Drive the Overseas Highway, awarded one of America’s most scenic roads, as you travel across historic fishing bridges, and admire the blue and green water of the Atlantic Ocean and Florida Bay. Hawks Cay centrally lies only 90 miles by car from Miami and 130 miles from Fort Lauderdale. Cars can be rented from Marathon Airport, lying just a few miles from the resort.
By Air
Daily flights are offered into nearby Miami, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Key West International airports. Hawks Cay is proud to partner with the Marathon Jet Center, lying just 9 miles from the resort, offering lights and private jet service.
Fly direct to Marathon International Airport from Fort Lauderdle, Miami, Marco Island and Naples for as low as $222 per person one way. Flight time is approximately 38 minutes.
By Sea
Hawks Cay can easily be reached via the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Hawks Cay’s full-service marina features fees for ships up to 110 feet, and all the boating and fishing supplies you’ll need during your stay in the beautiful Florida Keys.
1. If people want to go from Marco Island to Hawks Cay, how will they go?| A．Take a plane and then rent a car. | B．Take a boat and then a taxi. |
| C．Drive a car all the way. | D．Take a plane and then a bus. |
| A．Duck Key. | B．Marathon. |
| C．Miami. | D．Fort Lauderdale. |
| A．To introduce Hawks Cay Resort and the way to it. |
| B．To show the transportation of Hawks Cay is convenient. |
| C．To encourage people to travel more. |
| D．To tell why Hawks Cay Resort is worth visiting. |
【推荐2】Every winter, the coldest places are often the hottest tourist spots. Being the famous ‘Ice City’, Harbin attracts visitors from home and abroad. Here are some places for you.
Ice and Snow World
The famous seasonal attraction is by far the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world. The ice carvings at the Ice and Snow World are regarded some of the world’s finest examples of ice art. One of the highlights for visitors is the popular “super ice slide” attraction extended to 423 meters.
Yabuli International Ski Resort
The ski resort provides great skiing with high mountains and good snow. The period from November to late March of the next year is the best time to ski at Yabuli Ski Resort. Built according to international standard, it provides an excellent environment for professional skiers. There is also a slide where visitors can enjoy sliding down from the top of the snowy mountain. Doing skiing on the slide is easy and safe, bringing visitors a thrilling experience.
China Snow Town
It’s a good place for visitors to view the splendid snowscape. In winter, houses there are covered by snow with an average thickness of 6.6 feet, just like a white fairy wonderland. In addition to the beautiful natural scene, visitors can also enjoy the entertainment activities such as skiing, snowballing, and horse-sledding. At night, it must be an unforgettable experience to sleep on the traditional heated Kang bed piled up with bricks and warmed by fire in northern China.
Zhaolin Park
Located at the bank of Songhua River, it is the first park in Harbin. The ice festival and the ice lantern show renowned at home and abroad are held every winter here. When the night falls, the ice lanterns in the park combine light, sound and action in one, brilliant with a great variety of colors. The charming scenery makes visitors immerse in fantasies and forget to return home.
1. Where should visitors go to experience super ice slide?| A．Ice and Snow World. | B．Yabuli International Ski Resort. |
| C．China Snow Town. | D．Zhaolin Park. |
| A．In April. | B．In October. | C．In December. | D．In September. |
| A．They help you have a good sleep. | B．They hold an ice lantern show. |
| C．They offer entertainment activities. | D．They provide attractive scenery. |
【推荐3】Hipster Greenport: 4 places to eat, shop and visit
Greenport may date back to the 1630s, but it's feeling pretty of-the-moment right now. Here are four places that embody the old-meets-new energy of the village:
Claudio's
If you’ve been to Greenport, you can't miss Claudio's - it's where generations of Long Islanders have made a tradition of eating, whether inside the main restaurant or at the floating dock-bar. The new owners have added fresh elements: Baccano Pizza by Nino, which offers a variety of slices and pies until as late as 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays - is right by the dock entrance.
Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market
It's little spots like this that tell the current Greenport story. There’s no sign or advertising for this tiny bouse changed from the cabin of an old ship that's practically hidden down Bootlegger's
Alley near Mitchell Park. But there they are - streams of people who come to enjoy the fresh oysters while drinking local craft beer, with a waterside view.
Nostalgia (怀旧) for bygone times runs high in this 1909 building, which once served as the base for the Suffolk Times newspaper. These days, this well-designed Shop sells vinyl records and loads of old-fashioned clothing and home decoration items including mid-century highball sets.
Greenport Fire
Heat comes in many form and several are sold here ― hot sauces, cigars and candles, Consult the chalkboard for the current sauce offerings or browse cigars such a hand-rolled Honduran Leaf by Oscar or the Gurkha Cellar Reserve made with 18-year-aged tobacco,
1. What's special about Greenport?| A．It is a place full of energy. | B．It is a famous port in the world. |
| C．It is a combination of new and old. | D．It is a popular place of interest. |
| A．can enjoy delicious oysters. | B．You can buy some old things. |
| C．You can find hand-rolled cigars. | D．You can have Baccano Pizza. |
【推荐1】On May 1, 1926, Ford Motor Company became one of the first American companies to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week. It was something workers and labor unions had been calling for. However, the five-day workweek was to increase productivity. With more time and money, workers were expected to buy and use the products they were making. Manufacturers soon followed Ford’s lead, and the Monday-to-Friday workweek became standard practice.
Since then, everything has changed but the hours. Many people worked longer, which severely influenced health and well-being, as well as the environment. Until the Second World War, it was common for one person in a family, usually the oldest male, to work full-time. Women gradually made up 42 percent of the world’s full-time workforce. Later, technology made lots of work unnecessary, with computers and robots doing many tasks previously performed by humans.
Well into the 21st century, we continue to work the same long hours as 20th century laborers, using up more of Earth’s supply to produce more goods that we must keep working to buy, use and replace in a seemingly endless cycle of hard work and consumption. It’s time to pause and consider better ways to live like shifting from fossil-fueled lifestyles with which our consumer-based workweeks are connected.
The UK New Economics Foundation argues that a standard 21-hour workweek would address a number of interconnected problems: overwork, unemployment, over-consumption, high carbon emissions, low well-being, and the lack of time to live sustainably, to care for each other, and simply to enjoy life. Economic systems that require constant growth on a finite (有限的) planet make no sense. It’s time for a change in our economic thinking.
1. Why did Henry Ford shorten the workweek?| A．To increase efficiency. |
| B．To cut workers’ salaries. |
| C．To end conflicts with workers. |
| D．To create more job opportunities. |
| A．The oldest male had to work longer. |
| B．Technology let people work more flexibly. |
| C．Job positions were created due to technology. |
| D．Full-time vacancies were filled by more women. |
| A．Companies shouldn’t produce more than people can use. |
| B．The 21st century has witnessed the longest working hours. |
| C．The cycle of longer workweek and consumption should be changed. |
| D．Longer workweek definitely leads to stronger consumption capability. |
| A．Companies would be closed down. |
| B．Economic growth would be stopped. |
| C．Economic systems would break down. |
| D．People would be encouraged to enjoy life. |
【推荐2】Years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders. Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience (服从), while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time. Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric (结构) of our society.
One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation. In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.
In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did：to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, the strong wish that parents have for their children is another cause of the disagreement between them. Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.
Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight. The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities. No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature for some time to come. Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．The concept of generation gap. | B．The reasons for generation gap. |
| C．Ways to reduce generation gap. | D．Attitudes towards generation gap. |
| A．They depend on their parents to make a life. |
| B．They live with their parents in the same area. |
| C．They ask their parents for the best advice. |
| D．They have very little in common with their parents. |
| A．Parents should be strict with their children. |
| B．The generation gap is partly caused by the older generation. |
| C．Parents couldn’t do things well themselves. |
| D．The young never want to satisfy their parents. |
| A．Parents are not strict enough with their children. |
| B．The young value the old too much for their wisdom. |
| C．Young people don’t have the knowledge of a lifetime. |
| D．The society develops too fast. |
On Friday, a truck loaded with over 500 dogs were stopped by volunteers from animal protection organization on Jingha expressway Beijing section. Beijing Times reported these dogs were being delivered to slaughter houses in the city of Changchun, northeast Jilin province and would be eventually served on dinner tables.
After negotiations with the truck driver, pet service provider Leepet Holding Corp. and a philanthropic foundation, Shangshan Foundation, purchased these dogs, each paying 50,000 yuan. Dogs were then delivered to the headquarter of China Small Animal Protection Association (CS APA), being taken care of and waiting for adoption.
After the “dog saving mission” was reported, Chinese net users debate over whether saving dogs worth so much efforts and money while there are still many poor and needy people in China lacking assistance.
Some net users argue the dog saving mission is placing over attention to animals while lots of needy people are still left unattended.
A microblogger “Xiaowulaitajie” said on China’s twitter-like website, weibo.com, “Dogs are saved, adopted and they attracted media spotlight. We'd better spend such money and take such efforts in helping the needy people.”
Another microblogger, Liluping, said "We poured such huge sum of money into saving dogs. I would rather the money be spent on disaster relief."
Some applaud volunteers’ actions and show eagerness of offering their helping hands to those saved dogs.
Still many disapprove those "saving dogs" critics, but they argue that such act nonetheless embodies social progress.
A microblogger named "broken bridge" said, saving dogs does not run counter to taking care of people. Such enthusiasm in public affairs will help raise social awareness in helping the needy.
I think people and animals are created equal .Attention should be paid to people as well as animals.
1. Where did the article come from ___________?
| A．newspaper | B．Internet |
| C．a TV programme | D．a magazine |
| A．Some net users' | B．Xiaowulaitajie's |
| C．Liluping's | D．Broken bridge's |
| A．All the people think it right to save these dogs with so much money. |
| B．These dogs were finally saved and sent back to their owners. |
| C．Some volunteers support the actions to save these dogs and the people who offered their helping hands to those saved dogs. |
| D．100,000 yuan was given to the truck driver to purchase these dogs. |
【推荐1】Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?
The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green is a color that represents the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils.
People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions toward them. Each color has its own function (功能). Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.
Blue is a calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some people suggest that eating from blue plates can help. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomachaches.
The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.
1. How is paragraph 2 mainly developed?| A．By listing numbers. | B．By following time order. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By discussing problems. |
| A．To make people eat more. | B．To draw people’s attention. |
| C．To make people calm down. | D．To bring good luck to people. |
| A．Red. | B．Blue. | C．Green. | D．Brown. |
| A．People’s Choice of Colors | B．The Cultural values of Colors |
| C．Colors and Personal Experiences | D．The Meaning and Function of Color |
【推荐2】Mekong fresh water irawaddy dolphin（短吻海豚）is an endangered species（濒危物种）throughout Asia, with reducing numbers inhabiting（栖息）stretches of the Mekong in Cambodia and Laos, and Bangladesh. The dolphins can live up to 30 years, grow up to 2. 5m in length, and can weigh 150kg.
Fortunately for travellers, the dolphins have become a popular tourist attraction in recent years, providing a vital development to the local economy. Kratie, a sleepy provincial capital 7 hours by bus from Phnom Penh, is the best place to see them. The irrawaddy dolphins live in deep Mekong pool all year round and can be found at Kampi village 15km north of Kratie town, which has become a symbol of the town’s rejuvenation after years of war and neglect. The trip to see the dolphins can be started at any time of the day from Kratie town and travel upstream around 30 minutes by car along a quiet paved road to Kampi, a riverside fishing village.
The dolphins can usually be seen right from the river bank, but it’s worthwhile to take a spotting cruise in one of the wooden long-tail boats available for hire. The irrawaddy dolphins won’t come right up to the boat like their gregarious （群居的）saltwater cousins, but they are easy to find, lying lazily on the surface, or breaking water with a distinctive puff of spray while chasing fish.
The boat trip in drive season is only 60 minutes. The boat men will turn off the motor to approach the dolphins and sail with wooden oars, or simply make fast to a clump of brush when dolphins are nearby. In just over an hour on the boat, you will see the dolphins over a hundred times, at a range close enough to distinguish（辨别）between individual animals.
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph？| A．General information of irrawaddy dolphins. |
| B．The protection of irrawaddy dolphins. |
| C．The distribution of irrawaddy dolphins. |
| D．The growth of irrawaddy dolphins. |
| A．destruction | B．reunion |
| C．recovery | D．reform |
| A．Kampi→Phnom Penh→Kratie |
| B．Phnom Penh→Kampi→Kratie |
| C．Kratie→Phnom Penh→Kampi |
| D．Phnom Penh→Kratie→Kampi |
| A．Irrawaddy dolphins can be watched closely. |
| B．Irrawaddy dolphins are not afraid of people. |
| C．Irrawaddy dolphins like to come right up to the boat. |
| D．Irrawaddy dolphins don’t live in groups. |
【推荐3】Customs of the Lantern Festival
Eating yuanxiao
Yuanxiao, also called tangyuan in the south, is the special food for the Lantern Festival. It is believed that yuanxiao is named after a palace maid, Yuanxiao, of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty. Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing (甜馅). And the Lantern Festival is named after the famous dumpling, It is very easy to cook—simply drop them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes—and eaten as a dessert.
Guessing lantern riddles
Guessing lantern riddles (谜语) is also a necessary part of the Festival. Lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns. If visitors have answers to the riddles, they can pull the paper out and go to the lantern owners to check their answers. If they are right, they will get a little gift. The activity during people’s enjoyment of lanterns appeared in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). As riddle guessing is interesting and full of wisdom, it has become popular among all of China.
Watching fireworks
On the night of the Festival, except for great lanterns, fireworks form a beautiful scene. Most families spare some fireworks from the Spring Festival and let them off in the Lantern Festival. Some local governments will even organize a fireworks party. On the night when the first full moon enters the New Year, people are really excited by the fireworks and the bright moon in the sky.
1. What can we know about yuanxiao?| A．It is difficult to cook. | B．It is made with sticky rice flour. |
| C．It is named after a famous poet. | D．It is the special food for the Spring Festival. |
| A．A free meal. | B．A new lantern. | C．A new riddle. | D．A small present. |
| A．Health. | B．Education. | C．Culture. | D．Entertainment. |
