1 . “If you could have any three things, what would you want?”
Eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey loves asking that question, but it’s not a game she plays at recess(课间). She asks it at nursing homes in the Harrison, Arkansas, where she lives. Even more amazing, she then sets out to make the residents’ wishes come true.
Ruby Kate often tags along with her mother, Amanda, who works at nursing home in the summer. “I’ve never found them scary at all, so I’m able to just go up to them and ask if they need anything,” she says.
Last May, Ruby K ate noticed a resident named Pearl staring out a window. She seemed sad. “What are you looking at?” Ruby Kate asked. Pearl said she was watching her dog being led away by his new owner after a visit. Pearl didn’t know when she would see her dog again. Pearl was a medicaid recipient, who got only $40 a month to spend on personal items. Ruby Kate and Amanda asked around and discovered that many residents are unable to afford even the smallest luxuries. So Ruby Kate decided to do something about it.
She started by asking residents what three things they wanted most. “That’s a lot simpler than going, ‘Hey, what do you want?’” she explains. “They can understand you better.” Amanda worried that people would ask for things an 11-year-old wouldn’t be able to provide. Instead, they asked for chocolate bars, McDonald’s fries, and even just a prayer.
“It broke me as a human,” Amanda says. “We left the nursing home that day and went straight to a store and bought as many items as we could.”
Using their own money, the Chitseys granted the wishes of about 100 people in three months. Then they started asking for donations. The good people of Harrison responded enthusiastically, and they raised $20,000 in 24 hours and more than $250,000 in five months.
1. Why does Ruby often ask the same question?A.She likes hearing everyone’s stories. |
B.It makes her famous in the community. |
C.She finds it amusing to repeat the question. |
D.She wants to help residents in nursing homes. |
A.Pearl was in good health. | B.Pearl couldn’t afford to keep her dog. |
C.Pearl was too old to raise a dog. | D.Pearl sold her dog for small luxuries. |
A.The residents’ gratitude for Amanda’s assistance. |
B.The popularity Ruby achieved for her good deeds. |
C.The simplicity and sincerity of the residents’ requests. |
D.The residents’ enthusiasm and optimism in difficult times. |
A.Action speak louder than words. | B.A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
C.Kindness is the language of the heart. | D.Nothing is difficult to a willing heart. |
2 . Darrell Blatchley, a marine biologist and environmentalist based in the Philippine city of Davao, received a call from the Philippines, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (渔业与水产资源局) early Friday morning reporting a death of a young whale.
When the necropsy (尸检) was performed, Blatchley told NPR, he was not prepared for the amount of plastic they found in the whale’s stomach. “It was full of plastic nothing but nonstop plastic.” he said “It was filled to the point that its stomach was as hard as a baseball.” That means that this animal has been suffering not for days or weeks but for months or even a year or more,” Blatchley added.
Blatchley is the founder and owner of the D’Bone Collector Museum, a natural history museum in Davao. In the coming days, the museum will display all the items found in the whale’s system. Blatchley and his team work with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and other organizations to assist in rescue and recovery of marine animals.
“Within the last 10 years, we have recovered 61 whales and dolphins just within the Davao Gulf,” he said. “Of them, 57 have died due to man whether they took plastic or fishing nets or other waste, or gotten caught in pollution — and four were pregnant.”
Blatchley said he hoped that the latest incident would launch the issue of plastic pollution in the Philippines and across the globe. “If we keep going this way, it will be more uncommon to see an animal die of natural causes than it is to see an animal die of plastic,” he said.
1. What can be inferred from the second paragraph?A.The whale was starved to death. |
B.Blatchley was shocked at what he found. |
C.The dead whale must have swallowed a baseball. |
D.Blatchley didn’t make preparations for the necropsy. |
A.Waste collected from the ocean. |
B.The whole system of the whale. |
C.Things found in the whale’s body. |
D.Many different tools of whaling. |
A.Uncommon. | B.Worrying. | C.Inspiring. | D.Mild. |
A.A Whale Found Dead of Plastic |
B.Stand Up for Protecting Whales |
C.Plastic Threatening Our Existence |
D.Natural Death or Merciless Murder |
3 . One form of social prejudice (偏见) against older people is the belief that they cannot understand or use modern technology. Activities like playing computer games, going on the Net and downloading MP3s are only for the youngsters. Isn’t it unfair that older people enjoying a computer game should be frowned upon (反对) by their children and grandchildren?
Nowadays older people have more control over their lives and they play a full part in society. Moreover, better health care has let more people in their sixties and seventies feeling fit and active after retirement. Mental activity, as well as physical exercise, can contribute to better health. Playing computer games is a very effective way of exercising the brain. So that’s why grey gamers are often seen now.
When personal computers were first introduced, most older people didn’t believe they would ever get familiar with them. Now computers have been around for a few generations and retired people have gradually become more relaxed about using them for fun. Gamers over 65 prefer playing puzzle games and card games. Kate Stevens, aged 72, says, “I find it very relaxing. It’s not very demanding, but you still need to concentrate.”
Another development that has favored “grey games” is a change in the type of video games available on the market. There’s a greater variety of games to choose from, including more intellectual and complex strategy and simulation (模拟) games. For example, Internet Chess and Train Simulator are among the most popular of these. Train Simulator is based on real — world rail activities. Players can choose from a variety of challengers, such as keeping to a strict timetable and using helper engines during a winter storm.
Some people argue that “grey gamers” simply don’t have the skills required for computer games, and that teenagers are better. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Most computer games require the kind of analytical thinking that improves with practice, which means that the “grey gamers” may well be far better than the young. In games where speed is the main consideration, older people would be at a disadvantage because they may have slower reaction. time. On the other hand, “grey gamers” have a preference for slower — paced, mind challenging games.
1. The second paragraph is intended to___________.A.show the best way to exercise the brain | B.stress the importance of good health |
C.explain why grey gamers exist | D.teach how to play video games |
A.Doubtful. | B.Concerned. | C.Enthusiastic. | D.Supportive. |
A.offering numbers | B.giving examples | C.making comparisons | D.providing details |
A.mind challenging games are not suitable for older people |
B.teenagers should improve their skills with practice |
C.playing computer games requires analytical thinking |
D.older people may perform well in computer games |
4 . The benefits of gratitude have long been championed in religious and philosophical thinking. In recent years, the science has been catching up: it shows that people who feel most grateful generally get a psychological boost as a result. They also have greater life satisfaction, fewer visits to the doctor and better sleep. This has led to gratitude becoming part of our daily routine, starting a trend of gratitude journals, in which you record things you are thankful for, and meditation practices in which you focus thoughts on them. However, the benefits of actually expressing this gratitude have received less attention. Now evidence is stacking up that shows turning our inner gratitude into action can make our lives even better.
For instance, a simple thank you can build relationships, even with strangers. Take people who have received a note of thanks for something they have done from a peer they don’t know. They are more likely to share their contact details with that person in an attempt to continue the relationship than people who receive a note that doesn’t contain thanks. A simple thank you seems to signal interpersonal warmth.
Expressing gratitude to a friend also changes your view of that relationship, making it feel stronger. In 2010, Nathaniel Lambert, at Florida State University, and his colleagues found that people who simply thought grateful thoughts about a friend, or even took part in positive interactions with them, didn’t experience the same effects.
But the benefits go further than just strengthening social bonds, they can have an impact on health, too. A study of more than 200 nurses working in two Italian hospitals found that gratitude expressed by patients could protect nurses from burnout. That was especially so in the emergency room, where personal interactions with patients are typically shorter and less rewarding. This positive feedback from patients reduced feelings of exhaustion among nurses, says Mara Martini at the University of Turin, who carried out the work.
1. What do the underline words “stacking up” in paragraph 1 mean?A.disappearing | B.approaching. | C.ringing. | D.increasing. |
A.Building stronger relationships |
B.Sleeping well during the night. |
C.Getting a psychological boost. |
D.Having attractive body shapes. |
A.Nurses should require positive feedback from patients. |
B.Patients should speak out their appreciation to nurses. |
C.Doctors should improve their interpersonal skills |
D.Hospitals should protect nurses from burnout. |
A.Friendship is worth sparing every effort. |
B.Gratitude journals work for people who act. |
C.Positive feedback helps improve health service |
D.Thankfulness in action has unexpected benefits. |
5 . Genghis Khan(成吉思汗)remains to this day one of the most successful men to have walked the Earth. Rising from an outcast to be the ruler of the largest land empire to have ever existed, he introduced an alphabet and an official form of money, united a kingdom of tribes at war with each other, and conquered most of the known world. His empire spread from Poland to Japan. It is estimated that one in every 200 men on the planet today is related to Genghis Khan. But there are no accounts of the events that surrounded his death and burial; only a mystery focused around an area known as the Forbidden Zone.
From the time of the Khan's death in 1227 up until 1991 the Forbidden Zone was as off-limits as any place in the world. Shortly after he died, the surviving Mongol leaders ordered a group of 50 fierce families, known as the Uryangqai of the Woods, to occupy this land and kill anyone who entered without permission.
They made exceptions only for the funeral processions(队伍)of the Khan's direct descendants, who were also allowed to be buried there. This extreme degree of secrecy has led many to the conclusion that the body of Genghis Khan himself lies in a tomb somewhere in this zone, along with some of the treasures of an empire vaster than those of Napoleon and Alexander the Great combined. When the U.S.S. R.(前苏联)took over Mongolia in 1924; they killed all the Uryangqai of the Woods just as they tried to erase the memory of the great Khan. The Forbidden Zone -still remained off-limits, however. It wasn't until the fall of the U.S.S.R. in 1991 that entering the Forbidden Zone became possible for scientists and historians. Even today, eight centuries after it quietly rested, the Forbidden Zone has been visited by very few.
1. Which of the following statements about Genghis Khan is TRUE?A.He was the ruler of the largest empire in history. |
B.He united and occupied many parts of the world. |
C.An exact number of 200 people are related to him today. |
D.He was buried in what is known as the Forbidden Zone. |
A.They buried Genghis Khan's body in secret. |
B.They were ordered to occupy the Forbidden Zone. |
C.They were killed because they hated Genghis Khan. |
D.They forbade everyone from entering the Forbidden Zone. |
A.Who visited the Forbidden Zone. |
B.When the Forbidden Zone was discovered. |
C.Why the U.S.S.R. killed all the Uryangqai. |
D.How the great Khan conquered the known world. |
A.Genghis Khan, a Great Emperor |
B.The Forbidden Zone, a Remaining Mystery |
C.The Discovery of Genghis Khan's Tomb |
D.The Bravery of the Uryangqai of the Woods |
6 . Welcome to Los Angeles. Here are some best things to do in Los Angeles (LA) with your kids.
Fall at the Beach
Thanks to its almost perfect weather all through the year, a visit to the beach is one of the best things to do when in Los Angeles with kids. While they enjoy themselves nearby, you can simply relax and have a good rest in the sun.
Trip to Disneyland
A trip to the City of Angels with your little angels is incomplete without a visit to the Magic Kingdom. The joy they'll feel from being around all those Disney characters will light up your day, too.
Visit to the museums
If you want to turn your stay in LA into an educational one for your kids, you should visit the museums. Starting with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, or the California Science Center, or even the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena, you have many choices. I'm sure a visit to all these places will make your kids feel smarter.
Visit to the Universal Studios Hollywood
Your kids could get to see interesting things from some of the most popular movies ever. From the theme park of Jurassic Park to Wisteria Lane from the TV play Desperate Housewives, the Universal Studios Hollywood is a place that we all find wonderful.
1. The passage is written for those who ________.A.will go on a business trip to Los Angeles |
B.plan to have a trip to Los Angeles with their kids |
C.want to educate their children by traveling abroad |
D.are interested in the history and culture of Los Angeles |
A.the Universal Studios Hollywood |
B.the Magic Kingdom |
C.the museums |
D.the beach |
A.children can learn a lot there |
B.parents can take a rest there |
C.it provides different sports equipment |
D.it’s the best beach in the world |
7 . I wanted to be a journalist. But my parents
So, I did what any respectable 24-year-old would do and left my
I
I now spend less time online shopping and more time
Maybe I’ll continue to be
A.insisted | B.predicted | C.recalled | D.ordered |
A.commonly | B.consciously | C.conventionally | D.officially |
A.journalist | B.engineer | C.designer | D.manager |
A.laid out | B.set down | C.given out | D.put away |
A.job | B.dream | C.parents | D.life |
A.turned in | B.pulled out | C.took off | D.looked through |
A.made | B.moved | C.threw | D.created |
A.hugged | B.loosened | C.cured | D.bloodied |
A.hiking | B.leaping | C.reading | D.crawling |
A.visit | B.walk | C.drink | D.look |
A.moments | B.conversations | C.problems | D.routines |
A.feelings | B.quarrels | C.landmarks | D.conflicts |
A.wise | B.brave | C.active | D.tough |
A.lying | B.eating | C.running | D.practicing |
A.concern | B.shock | C.treat | D.surprise |
A.organized | B.grateful | C.kind | D.selfish |
A.cheers | B.bothers | C.attracts | D.hurts |
A.Connected | B.Armed | C.Faced | D.Fed |
A.respect | B.surprise | C.confidence | D.confusion |
A.glad | B.good | C.brilliant | D.awake |
8 . Doing one good deed turns into another coming your way. Liz’s life was
After they fought horrible
Touched, the two firefighters
Liz couldn't be too
A.created | B.changed | C.spent | D.disturbed |
A.met | B.ended | C.formed | D.started |
A.fire | B.flood | C.earthquake | D.hurricane |
A.satisfaction | B.reminder | C.surprise | D.inspiration |
A.interrupted | B.ignored | C.joined | D.overheard |
A.changing | B.educating | C.serving | D.attacking |
A.wrote | B.sent | C.introduced | D.shared |
A.make | B.take | C.keep | D.live |
A.Embarrassed | B.Encouraged | C.Determined | D.Threatened |
A.set up | B.take up | C.pick up | D.make up |
A.friendships | B.instructions | C.comments | D.donations |
A.talked | B.heard | C.thought | D.dreamed |
A.accessible | B.sensitive | C.helpful | D.grateful |
A.firefighter | B.community | C.campaign | D.family |
A.hopeless | B.similar | C.dangerous | D.various |
9 . Nao, the first robot able to show feelings, has been created by a European research team. When Nao is sad, he lowers his head and looks down. When he’s happy, he raises his arms for a hug. Nothing is out of the ordinary, except that Nao is a robot.
“We’re modeling the first years of life,” says Lola Canamero, a computer scientist at the University of Hertforshire. “The feelings are shown through physical gestures and body movements rather than facial or verbal(言语的) expressions.”
In the future, says the scientist, robots are likely to act as companions, provide support for old people, and help people shop online. In such uses, the display of feeling will be important in making the interactions(交往) more natural and comfortable.
Nao has been programmed to copy the emotional skills of a one-year-old child. It can memorize faces, and knows the basic rules of good and bad. Based on these it can decide how to react to what is going on. The actions going with each feeling are pre-programmed, but Nao decides for itself when to display them.
Nao is also programmed to have different personalities. A more independent robot is less likely to call for help when exploring a room, while a more fearful robot will show distress if it finds something in the room that may be harmful.
Canamero’s team will take its emotional programming forward into medical applications. Part of the project will look at ways to use robots in hospitals to support the roles of doctors, nurses and parents. Children might find that a small, friendly-looking robot that can understand their emotional states makes them less anxious. “We want to explore different roles—the robots will help the children to understand their treatment and explain what they have to do. We want to help the children to control their anxiety.” she says.
1. According to the text, Nao_______.A.displays different feelings in different situations |
B.is able to imitate adult emotional displays |
C.can remember people’s feelings |
D.learns emotions from facial expressions |
A.Scientists worked on facial and spoken expressions to create Nao’s emotions. |
B.The time when Nao displays feelings has been pre-programmed. |
C.Emotional programming is used in medicine production. |
D.Robots with emotional skills can help children feel more comfortable. |
A.Courage. | B.Anxiety. |
C.Anger. | D.Satisfaction. |
A.The relationship between humans and robots. |
B.The roles that robots play in different fields. |
C.The first robot able to show feelings. |
D.The long history of robots. |
10 . Love your parents
Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling (满意的)part of life. You love them for the fact that they created you, raised you, and are in part a source of who you are. Here are some ways to love your parents.
Respect them more and cherish(珍惜)these moments. You can use these moments to learn from them when you're off on your own. It's OK to get angry but angry actions don't help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, journal about your feelings, or talk to a friend.
Obey their requests. It will make your attitude better and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don't get what you want or you have to clean. However, you had better remember they keep a roof over your head when it's cold, raining, snowing, or too hot. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.
Keep company with them. Do things with your parents like watching TV, or go somewhere with them.
Some people simply may not be able to love their parents. .
A.There can be realistic reasons for this, family violence for example. |
B.Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can. |
C.Tell them you love them every morning. |
D.Forgiveness is the key. |
E.Parents will turn express their love to you. |
F.After this, share your feelings with your parents. |
G.Please remember parents are as important as friends. |