1 . Many of us think, wrongly, that the moon doesn’t change. For example, the Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ruoxu once wrote that “Generations have come and passed away; From year to year the moons took alike, old and new.”

However, a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience shows that the moon is in fact slowly shrinking over time. For the study, a group of US scientists examined and analyzed thousands of photographs taken by the NASA orbiter Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (月球勘测轨道飞行器照相机) . They found that there were lots of faults (断层) on the surface of the moon. These faults were formed by recent movement on the moon.

According to NASA, the moon is made up of pieces of rocks with a hot core (核) .The moon continued to expand as it was born. But in this process, it released energy and cooled down. Then it began to shrink, in a way comparable to the shrinking of a grape into a raisin (葡萄干) . Over the past several hundred million years, it has become 46 meters “skinnier”. But due to its hard and rocky crust (外壳) . the moon’s surface continues to push up, “Some of these quakes can be fairly strong around five on the Richter scale (里氏震级 ) ,” said Thomas Watters, a senior scientist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in the US.

But does that mean the moon is a dangerous place that human shouldn’t try to explore and live on in the future? Maybe not, reported the Telegraph, “This isn’t anything to worry about. The moon may be shrinking, but not by much. It’s not going anywhere,” Watters comforted us.

The new discovery proves that the idea that the moon is a dead, boring place is wrong. “We have been to the moon and we’ve done some great science, but there is still a lot we don’t know. The moon is shrinking — we didn’t really realize that until recently. It’s a much more active and interesting place than we thought and we should explore that,” NASA scientist Nathan Williams said.

1. Which point of view about the moon may the writer agree to?

A．It stays the same as before.	B．It is becoming lightly smaller.
C．It is getting older and older.	D．It has passed away.

2. What can we learn about the moon from the third paragraph?

A．It has become 46 meters fatter due to expanding.

B．It has changed from a grape into a raisin in recent years.

C．It quakes even at seven on the Richter scale.

D．It has a hot core and releases energy during expanding.

3. Who thinks that we needn’t worry about the moon?

A．Zhang Ruoxu.	B．Thomas Watters.
C．Nathan Williams.	D．The journalist.

4. What does Nathan Williams think of the moon?

A．It is a dead and boring place.	B．It has lots of faults on the surface.
C．It is valuable to do more science.	D．It isn’t a place where we can live.

2 . Theme Park Tourist is your essential source for news, reviews and park guides for theme parks in Orlando, Florida and beyond. We offer a special perspective (观点) on all the latest news from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and other parks and resorts, and are proud to deliver some of the most in-depth, well-researched articles about theme parks available anywhere on the web. Here are a few of the features we have to offer:

● Latest news — regular updates from theme parks around the world, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and many more.

● In-depth features — fascinating articles about almost every aspect of theme parks- behind the scenes information and more.

● Park reviews and guides — all of the key information for over 90 theme parks, including reviews of attractions, restaurants and hotels.

● Rehab schedules — listings of temporary attraction closures that could affect your theme park visit.

Contact us

We are always keen to receive details of upcoming new attractions, ride repair news, special offers and any other theme park news—click here to get in touch by e-mail.

Learn more

Advertise with us — information for companies interested in advertising on Theme Park Tourist.

Donate (捐赠) to us — Are you interested in donating to Theme Park Tourist? Click here to learn more.

1. Theme Park Tourist is probably a(n) ________.

A．person guiding people to theme parks

B．website offering information about theme parks

C．organization providing service for theme parks

D．magazine collecting pictures of theme parks

2. Which of the following can you refer to if you want to know whether a theme park is available?

A．Latest news.	B．In-depth features.
C．Park reviews and guides.	D．Rehab schedules.

3. Which can not be found on Theme Park Tourist?

A．People’s donation to theme parks.

B．Up-to-date news about Walt Disney World.

C．Tourists’ comments on restaurants of Universal Orlando.

D．Newly-opened attractions of theme parks.

3 . What makes a building ugly? Everyone's got their own opinion, so it's hard to say. Now, let's take a look at some of the world's worst buildings.

The Torre Velasca

The Torre Velasca in Milan is in the centre of Milan(Italy). The tower, which went up in the 1950s, is about 100 metres tall. Its design is actually a modern representation(代表) of a traditional Lombard castle, where the lower parts were narrower than the upper parts.

The Mirador Building

The Mirador Building in Madrid(Spain)was created by Dutch studio MVRDV and the Spanish architect(建筑师)Blanca Lleó.The building, which is a block of flats, opened in 2005. There is a large rectangular(矩形的)hole in the upper part of it, which is used by the neighbourhood as a meeting area and playground.

The Prague TV Tower

The Prague TV Tower is in Prague(the capital of the Czech Republic). It stands 216 metres high and looks a bit like a tall, thin space ship. Prague is famous for its architectural beauty, so when the tower was put up in 1985 by architect Vaclav Aulicky and engineer Jiri Kozak, many felt it didn't fit in.

The Longaberger Basket Company

The Longaberger Basket Company building is in Newark, Ohio(USA). The office block was opened in 1997 and looks like a very large basket. It's got seven floors and two handles(把手)at the top. The handles weigh about 150 tons. It may not be the ugliest building in the world but it's certainly one of the most unusual.

1. According to the text, the Torre Velasca________.

A．was created by Blanca Lleó	B．is similar to a Lombard castle
C．has a history of over 100 years	D．is taller than the Prague TV Tower

2. Which of the following buildings might be the Mirador Building?

A．	B．
C．	D．

3. When the Prague TV tower was put up，many people________.

A．thought little of it	B．liked it very much
C．felt that it might fall down easily	D．thought that it was totally useless

4 . With the average American going through more than 700 pounds of paper per year, many firms are looking for ways to discourage their employees from over-using the office printer.

Toshiba America Business Solutions has come up with an alternative idea. It has introduced the e-STUDI04508LP, a printer that gives users the option to print with erasable toner (墨粉) — allowing a single piece of paper to be reused several times.

To reuse a piece of paper, the printer basically uses the same process as a normal printer, but in reverse (反过来), said Bill Melo, chief marketing executive for Toshiba America Business Solutions. Paper printed with the erasable toner is fed back into the printer, superheated, and the toner gets removed and put in a discard tank.

There are a couple of catches. All of the printouts using the erasable toner have to be in blue ink, which is the only color in which erasable toner is now available. And the company said that people may want to stop reusing the printouts after five times through the eraser because small traces of erased text will build up over time.

The $15,420 printer is aimed at offices and   schools, where there are often large numbers of printouts that outlive their usefulness quickly. With the erasable toner, it' s possible to load any short-lived handouts back onto the printer to be erased and then reused.

Still, convincing customers to commit to erasable toner isn't always easy. Melo said not all its customers were happy about only having the erasable option.

The model, Melo said, should better serve the needs of those who want to be environmentally conscious but also may need something more permanent on occasion.

1. What' s special about Toshiba' s printer?

A．It' s low-priced.	B．It' s fashionable.
C．It' s lightweight.	D．It' s eco-friendly.

2. What' s the key to making the printer work?

A．A discard tank.	B．Light colored ink.
C．Special writing paper.	D．A high enough temperature.

3. What does the underlined word "catches" in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Theories.	B．Differences.
C．Problems.	D．Characteristics.

4. How did the public respond to the printer?

A．They asked for more patterns.

B．Some expressed dissatisfaction.

C．They considered it hard to operate.

D．Some worried about its recycling.

5 . How to Find Something You Like to Do

Finding something you enjoy doing can improve the quality of your life and reduce your stress levels.    1     It can also help you make friends or even provide a purpose in your life. Then how can you find something you like to do?

    2    Some hobbies, such as albums and gardening, can take up a lot of time. Other hobbies, such as video games or reading, can be done at your own pace and do not require any extended time.

Research the hobby or activity you would like to get involved in. Find out how much time and money you will need to devote to starting and continuing the activity. For example, some sports—related interests might require special equipment.    3    Your local library or phone book should also have information on hobbies and activities in your area.

Talk with other people who are involved in some of the activities you are interested in.    4     Ask if you could tag along(跟随) to a meeting or spend some time with this person while he is involved in his hobby to see if it is something you would enjoy.

    5    Challenge yourself to try a new activity you are interested in for a week or so. Allow yourself to learn about the hobby and determine whether you will enjoy the activity or not.

A．Think about how a hobby benefits you.

B．A hobby can connect you with other people.

C．Take a chance on a hobby and see how it turns out.

D．Think about how much free time you can devote to a hobby.

E．You can find information about hobbies and interests on Find My Hobby’s website.

F．You can get first—hand knowledge by interviewing someone about a particular hobby.

G．It takes a long time and energy to decide whether a particular hobby is right for you.

6 . Seal Island is a 200-meter long island off the coast of South Africa, which is surrounded by 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit waters and covered with over 60,000 seals and some birds. This island has been home to many birds and seals. You may think this island is a paradise. In fact, the island is not famous for the seals or birds. However, the real stars are the great white sharks that leap out of the water to catch the seals they are hunting.

You may think that there is no way for a 15-foot long, 3000-pound shark to hurl its body out of the water and catch a seal in midair. Actually, these sharks are called “Air Jaws”.

Over the years, the seals have gotten smarter. Now, they go out in groups of seven and eight to feed. They swim down on the sea floor, which gives them extra cover. When they have to swim near the surface of water, they swim in a zigzag pattern(Z字形). But with all these tricks, they can still be cleverly beaten by the sharks. Usually, the sharks will take one seal away from its group and force it to swim on the surface, where it is easy to hunt. Sometimes, the seal is fortunate and gets away, but most of them die in the process of trying to survive.

Every year, tourists go to see these amazing animals leap out of the water, sometimes flinging their whole bodies into the air when they want to catch the seals. This is the reason why this island attracts thousands of tourists from around the world every year.

1. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Seal Island is covered with only 6000 seals.

B．Great white sharks always catch seals under the water.

C．The way the great white sharks hunt makes Seal Island famous.

D．Seal Island is a 200-meter-long island in North Africa.

2. Why do the seals swim in a zigzag pattern?

A．To prove they are smart.

B．To play in groups.

C．To search for food.

D．To avoid the white sharks.

3. According to Paragraph 3, we can know_______.

A．the seals have learned how to escape.

B．the seals usually swim near the water surface.

C．the sharks are often successful in hunting the seals.

D．the sharks are less intelligent than the seals.

7 . 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

2. What can we learn from the text?

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.

3. What does the underlined word “distress” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．Courage.	B．Anxiety.
C．Anger.	D．Satisfaction.

4. What is the text mainly about?

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.

8 . In 2009, Dan Black was hit by a car in his hometown of Chepstow, Wales, as he was biking to his job at a grocery store. The accident left him unable to move from the chest down. During his recovery, he suffered a stroke that made his right arm useless. Once a promising guitarist, Dan, now 25, lives with his parents and requires around-the-clock care that costs nearly $ 300,000 a year. After the accident, a friend of his started the Help Dan Black Fund to cover some of Dan’s medical expenses. Dan learned about an experimental stem cell(干细胞) treatment in China that could enable him to walk again. After four years, donations to help Dan Black totaled nearly $ 30,000.

One day, in 2013, a news story caught the eye of Dan’s mother, Michacla, who then shared the story with her son. The story featured a five-year-old boy named Brecon Vaughan. He had a rare form of disease and never walked by himself. The boy’s family had created a website with which to raise nearly $ 100,000 needed for a trip to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where treatment was offered that could help Brecon walk. Only half the amount had been raised, said the report.

Dan deliberated. Then, after considering that his own dream of walking could be years away, he donated his $30,000 to Brecon’s cause. “I know how it feels to walk. Brecon doesn’t. He needs it much more than I do.” Dan told a newspaper.

Dan’s generosity received a great deal of attention, and contributions started pouring in to the Vaughan website. The family soon exceeded their fund-raising goal. They’ve promised to give the extra funds, about $17,000, to the Tree of Hope charity, which helps sick children in the United Kingdom find specialized medical help. In October, Brecon and his family travelled to St. Louis to begin treatment. “What Dan did is great.” Brecon’s mother said, “It is an extraordinary gift.”

1. What do we know about Dan Black?

A．He promised to be a guitarist.

B．He donated his money from his need.

C．He created a website to collect money.

D．He lost his right arm in an accident.

2. What does the underlined word “exceeded ” mean?

A．Achieved.	B．Brought up.
C．Went beyond.	D．Set.

3. What helped the donation flood into the Vaughan website?

A．Dan Black’s example.	B．Brecon’s story
C．Michaela’s suggestion.	D．The Vaughans’promise

4. How will Vaughan’s family deal with the extra funds?

A．Support Dan Black’s treatment.	B．Fund Brecon’s trip to St. Louis.
C．Help sick children in the UK.	D．Give away to the Tree of Hope charity.

9 . We know that choosing a college major can be very hard. But have no fear! Your choice of major will not lock you into a specific career for the rest of your life. Here's what you need to know about college majors before you commit.

What is a major?

    1    Beyond general college requirements， you'll also take a group of courses in a subject of your choosing such as Chemistry， Literature， or Political Science.

How important is my major?

The major you choose will neither predict nor guarantee your future. Many graduates find jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied in college. If you intend to earn a professional degree after college， you will probably need certain courses.     2    

When do I declare a major?

This varies widely across schools and programs.    3    Others require that you declare upon a major by the time that you set foot inside your first class.

    4    

Definitely. One of the most exciting aspects of college life is that it introduces you to new subjects and arouses new passions. However， keep this in mind. Every major has necessary coursework. If you change your major late in the game， it may take more than the traditional four years to earn a degree.

What are minors and double majors?

If one field of study doesn’t satisfy your intellectual appetite， consider a minor. A minor is similar to a major in that it’s an area of academic concentration.    5    A double major provides you with an understanding of two academic fields. It allows you to become familiar with two sets of values and views while it also requires you to fulfill two sets of requirements.

A．Can I change my mind?

B．Is my major time-consuming?

C．It's your specialized area of study in college.

D．Most students find one major is more than enough.

E．Some schools may give you one year or more to decide.

F．But many future doctors major in non-science related fields.

G．The only difference is that it doesn’t require as many classes.

10 . As a senior year student, you may have so many pressures coming from so many directions that you can’t figure out what to do first.

    1    

When you have many things to do and a lot of demands on your time, you can lose sight of what’s important. One of the best ways to see the big picture – what you want out of life – is to lay out your goals.

Pressure Points and How to Deal With Them

Confused or overwhelmed --     2    . Discuss your concerns with a friend, parent or teacher. They may help you find solutions to your problems and worries.

Being too hard on yourself – ease up, take a break and do something you enjoy. Daydream, read a book, go out with friends – anything that helps you relax.

Problems, problems, problems – recognize your limits. It’s too stressful to try to   deal with all your problems at once.     3    

Goal-Setting Tips

It’s important to remember that goals belong to you – not to your parents, your teachers, or your friends. After you’ve set your goals, identify the skills you have to achieve those goals.     4    , do some research. Try the library, your guidance adviser and teachers, and other people who could help you.

    5    . If your goal is something you no longer want, change it. Identify the barriers to getting your goals. Consider ways to overcome them. Don’t get depressed by a big, long-term goal – see what steps you can take to achieve it and set those steps down as short-term, “do-able” goals.

A．Too much to do

B．If you’re not sure what skills you’ll need

C．talk to someone you trust

D．Goals exist to serve you

E．Balancing goals in life

F．Choose what’s most urgent and set aside the rest until later

G．As long as you know what skill is important and what isn’t