1 . For people who are interested in sound, the field of sound technology is definitely making noise. In the past, sound engineers worked in the back rooms of recording studios, but many of today’s sound professionals are sharing their knowledge and experience with professionals in other fields to create new products based on the phenomenon we call sound.
Sound can be used as a weapon. Imagine that a police officer is chasing a thief. The thief tries to escape. And the officer can’t let him get away. he pulls out a special device points it at the suspect, and switches it on. The thief drops to the ground. This new weapon is called a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD, 远程定向声波发射器). It produces a deafening sound so painful that it temporarily disables a person. The noise from the LRAD is directed like a ray of light and travels only into the ears of that person, but it is not deadly.
For those who hunger for some peace and quiet, sound can now create silence. Let’s say you are at the airport, and the little boy on the seat next to you is humming（哼唱）a short commercial song. He hums it over and over again, and you are about to go crazy. Thanks to the Silence Machine a British invention, you can get rid of the sound without upsetting the boy or his parents. One may wonder how the Silence Machine works. Well, it functions by analyzing the waves of the incoming sound and creating a second set of outgoing waves. The two sets of waves cancel each other out. Simply turn the machine on, point it at the target, and your peace and quiet comes back.
Directed sound is a new technology that allows companies to use sound in much the same way spotlights（聚光灯） are used in the theater. A spotlight lights up only one section of a stage; similarly, a “spotsound” creates a circle of sound in one targeted area. This can be useful for businesses such as restaurants and stores because it offers a new way to attract customers. Restaurants can offer a choice of music along with the various food choices on the menu, allowing customers more control over the atmosphere in which they are dining. Directed sound is also beginning to appear in shopping centers and even at homes.
1. What could be inferred from Paragraph 2 about the effect of the LRAD?| A．It causes temporary hearing loss | B．It slows down a running man |
| C．It makes it easy to identify a suspect | D．It keeps the suspect from hurting others |
| A．silence the people around you | B．remove the sound of commercials |
| C．block the incoming sound waves | D．stop unwanted sound from affecting you |
| A．They travel in circles | B．They clear the atmosphere. |
| C．They can be transformed into energy | D．They can be directed onto a specific area |
| A．creative designs of restaurant menus | B．ideal sound effects on the theater stage |
| C．different choices of music for businesses | D．strict control over any suspicious customer |
2 . What Theresa Loe is doing proves that a large farm isn't prerequisite for a modern grow-your-own lifestyle. On a mere 1/10 of an acre in Los Angeles, Loe and her family grow, can and preserve much of the food they consume.
Loe is a master food preserver, gardener and canning expert. She also operates a website, where she shares her tips and recipes, with the goal of demonstrating that every has the ability to control what's on their plate.
Loe initially went to school to become an engineer, but she quickly learned that her enthusiasm was mainly about growing and preparing her own food. "I got into cooking my own food and started growing my own herbs and foods for that fresh flavor," she said. Engineer by day, Loe learned cooking at night school. She ultimately purchased a small piece of land with her husband and began growing their own foods.
“I teach people how to live farm-fresh without a farm,” Loe said. Through her website Loe emphasizes that "anybody can do this anywhere." Got an apartment with a balcony? Plant some herbs. A window? Perfect spot for growing. Start with herbs, she recommends, because "they're very forgiving." Just a little of the herbs "can take your regular cooking to a whole new level," she added. "I think it's a great place to start." "Then? Try growing something from a seed, she said, like a tomato or some tea."
Canning is a natural extension of the planting she does. With every planted food, Loe noted, there's a moment when it's bursting with its absolute peak flavor. "I try and keep it in a time capsule in a canning jar," Loe said. "Canning for me is about knowing what's in your food, knowing where it comes from."
In addition to being more in touch with the food she's eating, another joy comes from passing this knowledge and this desire for good food to her children: "Influencing them and telling them your opinion on not only being careful what we eat but understanding the bigger picture," she said, "that if we don't take care of the earth, no will."
1. Why does Loe suggest starting with herbs?| A．They are used daily. | B．They are easy to grow. |
| C．They can grow very tall. | D．They can be eaten uncooked. |
| A．It can preserve their best flavor. | B．It can promote her online sales. |
| C．It can better her cooking skills. | D．It can improve their nutrition. |
| A．The knowledge about good food. |
| B．The way to live a grow-our-own life. |
| C．The joy of getting in touch with foods. |
| D．The responsibility to protect our earth. |
3 . As a first responder you never know what type of situation you might walk into.Of who you will meet along the way. That's definitely been the case for Jeffrey Lanenberg-51-year-old paramedic(急救医务人员) since 1984.
Ten years into the job. Lanenberg received a call that reported that a man in his carty30s had fallen down in the Mall of America. When Lanenberg and his partner arrived at the scene, they found the young male face down on the ground. He had gone unconscious. making weak attempts to breathe. His wife stood beside him holding their small son in horror. They quickly rushed to defibrillate(除颤)and calm the man to keep him under control. After Lanenberg dropped the patient off at the neighboring hospital. he thought about the man and his family for a long time.
Lanenberg thought he had experienced everything under the sun until one random visit to Office Max three years ago, where he met a man repeatedly walk back and forth while staring at him. As it tuned out, the man was the patient he had saved 20 years earlier.
“You gave me 20 years more than l ever thought I’d have,” the man said. He thanked Lanenberg repeatedly and told him he had someone he wanted him to meet. He stepped around the corner and reappeared with a 20-something-year-old man. Lanenberg instantly knew that it was the son he had seen standing by his mother all those years ago.
“That day changed my life,” Lanenberg said. “Before that everything was about work...When I talk to my beginner-training class, I tell them you never know the impact you can have on someone’s life. ”
1. What did Lanenberg do with the young man?| A．He gave the man the first aid | B．He cured the man at the scene. |
| C．He only sent the man to hospital. | D．He took care of the man's wife and son |
| A．It was a dangerous situation. | B．It was a common routine |
| C．It was a matter of course. | D．It was unbelievable |
| A．Lanenberg helped bring up his little son. |
| B．Lanenberg donated to support his family. |
| C．Lanenberg gave him the present happy life. |
| D．Lanenberg taught his son to be a new doctor |
4 . One Mother to Another
On Wednesday evening, our daughter, who was at a boarding school over 200 kilometers away, told us that she had lost her phone when she took part in an activity off campus. We realized that we had little chance of finding it.
The next morning, my phone beeped (哔哔响) loudly. A kind voice announced that she had something that belonged to my daughter. I
After contacting the people I know who lived near the school, I was out of
I gave them directions and they
We had thought that the chance of getting back the phone was
| A．suggested | B．reported | C．explained | D．argued |
| A．date | B．luck | C．work | D．control |
| A．pick up | B．carry out | C．hand in | D．give away |
| A．find | B．show | C．miss | D．take |
| A．regret | B．surprise | C．amusement | D．disappointment |
| A．especially | B．certainly | C．definitely | D．probably |
| A．conducted | B．arranged | C．delivered | D．identified |
| A．doubts | B．interests | C．predicts | D．worries |
| A．free | B．slim | C．hard | D．fair |
| A．tell | B．face | C．mean | D．join |
5 . It was “college colours” day at an elementary school in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on August 30. One of Laura Snyder’s fourth-grade students Billy wore an orange T-shirt
Billy was so excited to show Snyder his shirt. She was
But after lunch, Billy came back to Snyder’s room crying. Some girls at the lunch table next to Billy’s had made fun of the
In an effort to
What happened next completely
“I’m not even sure I can put into words his
But then things got even
The university’s official shop
“When I told him that his design was being made into a real shirt and people wanted to wear it, his jaw
Billy’s mother wrote a letter of
| A．appreciating | B．representing | C．admiring | D．picturing |
| A．reminded | B．convinced | C．impressed | D．satisfied |
| A．attached | B．wore | C．turned | D．printed |
| A．brand | B．sign | C．colour | D．sample |
| A．strange | B．stupid | C．cruel | D．selfish |
| A．sustainable | B．typical | C．available | D．convenient |
| A．cheer | B．trip | C．team | D．pick |
| A．exchange | B．contact | C．suggestion | D．knowledge |
| A．froze | B．posed | C．blinded | D．floored |
| A．acknowledged | B．greeted | C．responded | D．permitted |
| A．reaction | B．improvement | C．behaviour | D．attitude |
| A．email | B．address | C．interview | D．update |
| A．simply | B．personally | C．proudly | D．fortunately |
| A．better | B．more complicated | C．harder | D．more interesting |
| A．advertised | B．explained | C．promised | D．announced |
| A．new | B．expensive | C．popular | D．actual |
| A．changed | B．dropped | C．ached | D．closed |
| A．confidence | B．expectation | C．responsibility | D．reputation |
| A．agreement | B．gratitude | C．congratulations | D．recommendation |
| A．educated | B．helped | C．shocked | D．touched |
6 . 
Enjoy an amazing time in Lake Tahoe, CA with the fantastic show, Magic Fusion! This fantastic display features a variety of talented magicians who each take to the stage with their own flare, tricks, and illusions(视觉幻想) that will have the audiences who witness the show on the edge of their seats.
Presented by the amazing Loft Theatre, this show has seen the likes of famous magicians such as Robert Hall and Chipper Lowell. Each evening stars a different magician as well, so you can enjoy a variety of talented performers all on the same stage. It is great for all ages, so you can bring the entire family along to be excited and entertained during this 75-minute performance. You never know what you may see, so do not miss out!
The Loft Theatre is Lake Tahoe’s premier place for entertainment and delicious food. Not only is it home to amazing shows that will entertain and thrill, but it is also home to a dining experience that serves up some mouthwatering meals. Before your show, be sure to grab a bite to eat before heading over to enjoy the Loft. It is located in the extremely popular Heavenly Village area of Lake Tahoe next to sparkling fountains and the famous Heavenly Toy Shop. It also features a lounge(休息室) and guests who arrive early can enjoy food, fun, and magicians who will wow you with tricks for that extra dose(量) of entertainment!
For an amazing experience that you will not soon forget, be sure to enjoy this fantastic performance at the Loft Theatre!
Enjoy this amazing show that will keep you guessing with tons of great tricks and illusions to keep you and your whole family entertained. You can be on the edge of your seat with this option of regular seating to witness this fantastic show, or experience the Magic Fusion show in the best seats possible. Order your tickets today!
1. What can we learn about Magic Fusion?
| A．It is intended for all the family members. |
| B．The display will last for one and half hours. |
| C．Different performers will be performing together. |
| D．Audiences will be invited onto the stage during the show. |
| A．lies in a famous largely populated area |
| B．is well-known for the surrounding scenery |
| C．serves food before and after the performance |
| D．provides those who come early with extra show |
| A．The performance on Friday finishes earlier. |
| B．The show starts from 9:00 pm every Tuesday. |
| C．There are two performances available every Sunday. |
| D．Regular and VIP seating are offered on different days. |
7 . Hibernation
For people who aren’t fans of winter, animals that hibernate seem to have the right idea: It’s the equivalent of burying your head under the covers until spring comes — isn't it? Not quite.
“Most of the physiological functions are extremely slowed down,” says Marina Blanco, a postdoctoral associate at the Duke Lemur (狐猴) Center in Durham, North Carolina. For example, when lemurs hibernate, they reduce their heart rates from over 300 beats per minute to fewer than six, says Blanco. And instead of breathing about every second, they can go up to 10 minutes without taking a breath. Their brain activity “becomes undetectable.” This is very different from sleep, which is gentle resting state where unconscious functions are still performed.
Put simply: “Hibernation is a means of energy conservation,” says Kelly Drew, a neuropharmacologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who studies the brain chemistry of hibernating Arctic ground squirrels.While hibernation is often seen as a seasonal behavior, it’s not limited to cold-weather animals. There are tropical hibernators that may do so to beat the heat. And “some species hibernate in response to food shortages,” notes Drew. For example, echidnas ( 针 鼹 ) in Australia will hibernate after fires, waiting until food resources rebound to resume normal activities.
To slow their metabolism (新陈代谢), animals cool their bodies by 5 to 10 °C on average. The Arctic ground squirrels Drew works on can take this much further, supercooling to subfreezing temperatures. Drew’s research has shown that cooling is likely regulated by levels of adenosine (腺苷) in the brain. Not only does adenosine increase in winter in ground squirrels, the receptors for the molecule become more sensitive to it.
But species don’t stay in their cold, sleeping state for the duration of their dormant period. About 80 percent of their energy is spent intermittently (间歇地) waking and warming up. Why they do this is “one of the greatest mysteries” of the field, says Thomas Ruf, a professor of animal physiology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. Some think they need to turn back on their immune systems to fight disease, while others think they may simply awaken so they can sleep.
One bird and a variety of amphibians(两栖动物), reptiles and insects also exhibit hibernation-like states. There is even at least one fish — the Antarctic cod — that slows down its metabolism in winter, becoming 20 times less active. And, of course, there are lots of mammals. While bears might be the first that come to mind, most mammalian hibernators are on the smaller side. “The average hibernator weighs only 70 grams,” says Ruf. That’s because little bodies have high surface area to volume ratios, making it more taxing for them to stay warm in cold weather — so they need the seasonal energy savings more than larger animals.
1. How does the author distinguish between hibernation and sleep?| A．By highlighting reasons. | B．By presenting definitions. |
| C．By introducing arguments. | D．By comparing the data. |
| A．animals cool their bodies by 5 to 10°C on average |
| B．tropical hibernators may hibernate to beat the heat |
| C．some species hibernate in response to food shortage |
| D．hibernation is most often seen as a seasonal behavior |
| A．when certain animals hibernate | B．what kinds of animals hibernate |
| C．why some animals hibernate | D．how animals hibernate |
| A．It is harder for smaller animals to keep warm in winter. |
| B．The cooling of bodies may influence the levels of adenosine. |
| C．Scientists don’t agree on the reasons of intermittent hibernation. |
| D．Body functions are still unconsciously performed during hibernation. |
8 . This Too Shall Pass
When my family moved to Ohio over the summer, I feared attending another new school and knowing no one because I was able to expect what was coming. I had bright red hair and enormous glasses. In addition, I was
Boarding the school bus that first day, I felt like all eyes on me. I could hear the
The following day was even
It was then that I sank into myself. I began walking everywhere. I would wander through the woods behind our house. I would also walk to a
One of my newly-found friends also
While I would not want to
| A．outgoing | B．overweight | C．intelligent | D．friendly |
| A．whisper | B．whistle | C．giggle | D．laugh |
| A．drive | B．lift | C．ride | D．travel |
| A．worse | B．longer | C．funnier | D．duller |
| A．throwing | B．losing | C．leaving | D．dropping |
| A．Though | B．While | C．Since | D．Because |
| A．opinions | B．statements | C．comments | D．discussions |
| A．determined | B．attempted | C．pretended | D．managed |
| A．kept away | B．took back | C．put away | D．held back |
| A．garden | B．market | C．church | D．library |
| A．escaping | B．missing | C．delaying | D．stopping |
| A．uninterestedly | B．uncertainly | C．unfortunately | D．unexpectedly |
| A．changes | B．friends | C．efforts | D．decisions |
| A．struggled | B．competed | C．dealt | D．lived |
| A．run | B．play | C．chat | D．walk |
| A．along | B．across | C．by | D．in |
| A．oneself | B．myself | C．herself | D．itself |
| A．relive | B．remind | C．relate | D．rethink |
| A．excited | B．upset | C．proud | D．regretful |
| A．exist | B．stretch | C．lead | D．stay |
9 . John Harrison has an enviable job in most people’s opinion. He’s the official taster for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, one of the best-selling ice-cream brands in the U.S.A. On an average day, Harrison has to sample sixty ice creams at the Dreyer’s headquarters. When he isn’t doing that, he travels all over the country, buying Dreyer’s ice cream in supermarkets so that he can carry out spot checks for appearance and flavor. But, no matter how wonderful this job may sound, it is actually quite tough. It’s difficult work, requiring discipline, selflessness, and thorough preparation.
Before tasting a sample, Harrison uses his eyes first. If the ice cream doesn’t look attractive, he skips it. Then, he uses a gold spoon instead of one made of wood, plastic, or other metals. This is because regular spoons leave an aftertaste that can dull the taste buds(味蕾). In addition, the temperature of the ice cream may also influence the taster’s taste buds.
When Harrison samples ice cream, he first takes only a small bite of the ice cream, swishes it around in his mouth to introduce it to each of his taste buds, lightly licks his lips, and then gently breathes in so as to bring the smell up through the back of his mouth to his nose. With each step, he carefully sizes up whether the ice cream conveys the ideal balance between dairy sweetness and the flavor of the added ingredients. And last of all, no matter what the ice cream tastes like, he spits(吐) it out, since a full stomach makes for a dull palate(迟钝的味觉).
For Harrison, keeping a sharp palate means no onions, garlic, or cayenne pepper. He also doesn’t have any coffee or tea, since these block the taste buds. But to him, this is just a small price to pay for what he calls “the world’s best job” .
Harrison’s family has been in the ice-cream business for four generations, and Harrison himself has spent almost his whole life in it as well. Yet, he has never lost his love of the cold, creamy sweetness. He orders ice cream in restaurants for dessert, even when he’s not at work. On these occasions, he swallows the ice cream, taking in about a liter a week. Though he has gained some weight over the years he’s been with Dreyer’s, he couldn’t care less. “Who would trust a skinny ice-cream taster?” he jokes.
1. What is forbidden in Harrison’s job?| A．Doing shopping. | B．Eating the ice cream. |
| C．Using gold spoons. | D．Skipping the ice scream. |
| A．He learned his work skills from his family. |
| B．His job affects his appetite for the ice cream. |
| C．He is willing to give up something for his job. |
| D．He has to gain some weight to meet the need of work. |
| A．Creative. | B．Ordinary. |
| C．High-paying. | D．Proud. |
| A．To describe Harrison’s job and how he does it. |
| B．To analyze the reasons why Harrison chose his job. |
| C．To make suggestions on how to apply for popular careers. |
| D．To introduce the advantages of working for a best-selling brand. |
10 . “If I only had a little humility, I’d be perfect,” the media giant Ted Turner supposedly said sometime in the 1990s. Why be modest? Aristotle said: “All men by nature desire to know.” Intellectual humility is a particular instance of humility, since you can be down-to-earth about most things but still ignore your mental limitations.
Intellectual humility means recognising that we don’t know everything. Actually, it means we should acknowledge that we're probably biased in our belief about just how much we understand and seek out the sources of wisdom that we lack.
The Internet and digital media have created the impression of limitless knowledge at our fingertips. But, by making us lazy, they have opened up a space that ignorance can fill. The psychologist Tania Lombrozo of the University of California explained how technology enhances our illusions (错觉) of wisdom. She argues that the way we access information is critical to our understanding—and the more easily we can recall an image, word or statement, the more likely we’ll think we’ve successfully learned it, and so withdraw from effortful cognitive processing. Logical puzzles presented in an unfriendly font (字体), for example, can encourage someone to make extra effort to solve them. Yet this approach runs counter to the nice designs of the apps and sites that populate our screens, where our brain processes information in a “smooth” way. What about all the information that presents online? Well, your capacity to learn from it depends on your attitudes. Intellectually humble people don’t hide or ignore their weaknesses. In fact, they see them as sources of personal development, and use arguments as an opportunity to refine their views. People who are humble by nature tend to be more open-minded and quicker to resolve disputes, since they recognise that their own opinions might not be valid.
At the other end of the scale lies intellectual arrogance. Such arrogance almost always originates from the egocentric bias – the tendency to overestimate their own virtue or importance, ignoring the role of chance or the influence of other people’s actions on their lives. This is what makes these people credit success to themselves and failure to circumstance. From an evolutionary perspective, intellectual arrogance can also be seen as a way of achieving dominance through forcing one’s view on others. Intellectually arrogant people hardly invest mental resources in discussion or working towards group consensus, thus making it hard for groups to work successfully.
The Thrive Center for Human Development in California, which seeks to help young people turn into successful adults, is funding a series of major studies about intellectual humility. Their hypothesis is that humility, curiosity and openness are key to a fulfilling life. “Without humility, you are unable to learn,” Laszlo Bock, Google’s Head of People Operations, notes.
1. The passage is mainly about ______.| A．the harm arrogance does to us |
| B．the key elements to a fulfilling life |
| C．the significance of intellectual humility |
| D．the way people access information online |
| A．enables people to think critically |
| B．offers too much unreliable information |
| C．allows easy access to abundant information |
| D．makes it hard for people to recall information |
| A．value others’ opinions more than their own |
| B．use online information to better themselves |
| C．are unwilling to show their strengths |
| D．prefer to solve difficult problems |
| A．intellectual arrogance is the result of evolution |
| B．intellectually arrogant people often lack team spirits |
| C．successful people are often unaware of their limitations |
| D．circumstances don’t favor intellectually arrogant people |
