1 . Feel the Music

We’ve all heard of smart phones, but how about smart clothing?The CuteCircuit company has stepped up the technology beat and invented the SoundShirt, which was designed specifically for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.How does this incredible shirt work?

First, let’s talk about a little science.People who have either all or some hearing loss don’t actually listen to music the way that hearing people do, but they can feel it.Sound is made up of vibrations, called sound waves, which hearing people can hear through their ears with the help of the brain.What’s really cool is that deaf people sense vibrations in the part of the brain that others use for hearing!

So how is this remarkable technology able to function? First, CuteCircuit had to figure out a way to send signals to the body, kind of like how you can feel when your phone vibrates in silent mode.Those connections the body can feel are called haptics, a use of technology that simulates the senses of touch and motion.The SoundShirt has tiny sensors woven into the shirt to pick up sound and transfer signals to the brain and body.

To test this music-to-shirt-to-wearer’s brain connection, CuteCircuit set microphones around the stage of a symphony orchestra.The shirt’s computer system digitally received the sounds coming from the instruments.Then the sensors, working like little motors, changed the signals into vibrations and the shirt wearer’s brain did the rest.

The SoundShirt lets people who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy music in a unique way.The very deep musical sound, or pitch, of instruments like drums and basses vibrates in the lower part of the shirt.Higher pitched sounds from instruments like the flute or violin vibrate higher, around the neck and arms.As the music plays, the sensations combine while the brain gets to work putting together all the different vibrations, allowing the wearer to “hear” the concert.

You might think this innovation(创新)would look like something out of a science fiction movie, but in fact, these shirts are wireless! And the decorative laser-lined design on the shirt looks like an image of sound waves.

Technology’s purpose is to help people and make life better.Think of all the amazing things designers, engineers, and producers of wearable tech will be able to do for humankind.

1. What’s the passage mainly about?

A．Deep musical sounds from drums vibrate in the lower part of the SoundShirt.

B．The SoundShirt lets people who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy music.

C．Wearable technology like the SoundShirt is the wave of the future.

D．CuteCircut tested the SoundShirt with a symphony orchestra.

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The SoundShirt is made without any wires.

B．Deaf people are unable to sense sound vibrations

C．The shirt wearer’s brain change sound signals into vibrations

D．The sounds from the flute vibrate in the lower part of the SoundShirt

3. What can be inferred about the SoundShirt described in the passage?

A．The SoundShirt works when the wearer is listening to a symphony orchestra.

B．CuteCircuit is giving away its SoundShirts to those deaf or hard of hearing.

C．The SoundShirt doesn’t work without the power of the human brain.

D．Before the SoundShirt, deaf people had no way of feeling sound.

4. The author probably wrote this passage to ___________.

A．advise that companies should focus on applying wearable technology

B．advocate that technology can be used to create products that help others

C．prove that the design of wearable technology is a rewarding industry in future

D．exemplify that musical instruments can be used to change technology for the better

2 . I can still remember when I met my best friend. She had just moved into the neighborhood and her grandmother brought her down to ___me. I hid behind my mother and she hid behind her grandmother,____to look at each other. Soon we lost the____and started playing with each other.

In the 7^th grade, I first lost touch with her. She was___ family problems and I deserted her to be with the____people. None of my new friends liked her as much as I did because they knew she had____. However, every summer we____always sit at each other’s house, watch soap operas, and talk about all the boys we liked.

It was last year when I noticed the problem. I guess I was____devoted in high school to ___she needed someone there. Anyway, she made a new best friend and so did I. Then I didn’t know why, ___she started cutting herself!

She then was diagnosed with clinical depression(抑郁症). At first, I was very ___, but we still stayed in_____I wanted to be there with her since her new best friend basically ___her and people were calling her_____

Yesterday she came to me and said, “I never knew what a best friend was ___you, the only person, would stop me cutting. I ___your help so much, and you didn’t even know you were ___me.”

We both cried. And I guess a kind of____from my life is never to give up on your friends. Even if they aren’t as cool as others, or people think they are crazy, they need____there. ___you desert them, you will only be guilty yourself.

1.

A．follow

B．meet

C．join

D．support

2.

A．scared

B．annoyed

C．worried

D．excited

3.

A．temper

B．trait

C．confidence

D．shyness

4.

A．taking up

B．getting through

C．going through

D．making up

5.

A．happier

B．cooler

C．individual

D．cleverer

6.

A．problems

B．shortcomings

C．partners

D．disabilities

7.

A．should

B．could

C．would

D．might

8.

A．much

B．too

C．only

D．just

9.

A．admit

B．rebel

C．consider

D．realize

10.

A．but

B．for

C．or

D．so

11.

A．calm

B．considerate

C．upset

D．helpful

12.

A．place

B．touch

C．control

D．mood

13.

A．confused

B．bothered

C．reminded

D．deserted

14.

A．crazy

B．bitter

C．amazing

D．sincere

15.

A．unless

B．as

C．until

D．that

16.

A．grieve

B．appreciate

C．influence

D．demand

17.

A．urging

B．blaming

C．helping

D．hurting

18.

A．honor

B．favor

C．submission

D．lesson

19.

A．someone

B．something

C．anyone

D．everything

20.

A．As if

B．Although

C．If

D．Unless

3 . When you choose a friend, you should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability (可靠).

Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.

At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults (过错) in others. He notices their good points. In short, good friends will be honest to each other and accept each other.

Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.

There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor , too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.

When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I've found a friend!

1. If you have fair weather friends, ______ .

A．you will become rich

B．you can be sure that you get real friends

C．they will give you all that they have when you need help

D．you will be refused when you get into trouble

2. Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?

A．honesty	B．reliability
C．understanding	D．a sense of humor

3. Good friends need to ______.

A．understand each other's feelings

B．be helped with money

C．always point out each other's mistakes

D．have money or luck

4. This passage mainly discuss ______ .

A．the qualities of a friend

B．where to choose friends

C．how to get along with friends

D．the importance of having a friend

4 . Backpacking through Africa, I always carried some food with me_______I couldn’t find something to eat.

I was______through a local market one day when I chanced upon a jar of_______jam. I could find tins of apple and strawberry in every corner store but this was the ______time I had seen peach. I took it.

For the next few weeks, when I was feeling the need for a little_______, I would carefully_______the lid and spoon a bit on to a biscuit. Mmm, delicious. I didn’t______it with anybody. It sat safely in my_____, taken out on only special_______.

One cold and cloudy afternoon, while I was waiting for a local bus, it started to rain. Everybody scattered for_____and so did I. But I was already wet through so I quickly searched through my pack for some______clothes.

In my hurry to________further discomfort, I forgot that the jar of jam was_______in my clothing. One forceful yank(猛拉) and my_______jar of jam crashed to the concrete ground, smashing into pieces.

I was so sad that I almost cried. And then, in the corner of my eye, I noticed an old woman in rags________.Without hesitating, she bent down and picked up the half of the jar that still looked ________.

Still________,she stuck two fingers into the jar, scooped(舀) out the________jam and placed it into her toothless mouth. Carefully, like fish bones, she_______the pieces of glass. She studied the broken container_____she was certain that there was nothing left. Then she left.

My bus arrived shortly after and, as we drove off, I wondered if the jam would taste the same to me.

1.

A．in order that

B．if

C．in case

D．unless

2.

A．looking

B．buying

C．getting

D．running

3.

A．apple

B．peach

C．orange

D．strawberry

4.

A．last

B．best

C．other

D．first

5.

A．meal

B．treat

C．rest

D．drink

6.

A．remove

B．move

C．discover

D．uncover

7.

A．divide

B．eat

C．share

D．separate

8.

A．pocket

B．pack

C．corner

D．store

9.

A．situations

B．conditions

C．atmosphere

D．occasion

10.

A．protection

B．shelter

C．cover

D．warmth

11.

A．beautiful

B．rain

C．warm

D．dry

12.

A．avoid

B．get into

C．defeat

D．overcome

13.

A．hidden

B．buried

C．covered

D．locked

14.

A．expensive

B．valuable

C．precious

D．priceless

15.

A．disappearing

B．appearing

C．running

D．approaching

16.

A．all right

B．nice

C．broken

D．damaged

17.

A．standing up

B．looked down upon

C．bent over

D．watching out

18.

A．rest

B．remaining

C．extra

D．spare

19.

A．swallowed

B．brought out

C．ate up

D．spat out

20.

A．until

B．unless

C．after

D．since

5 . Different things usually stand for different feelings.Red，for example，is the color of fire，heat，blood and life.People say red is an exciting and active color.They associate red with a strong feeling like_______．Red is used for signs of_______，such as STOP signs and fire engines.Orange is the bright，warm colors of_______in autumn.People say orange is a_______color.They associate orange with happiness.Yellow is the color of_______.People say it is a cheerful color.They associate yellow too，with happiness.Green is the cool color of grass in_______．People say it is a refreshing color.

In general，people_______two groups of colors：warm colors and cool colors.The warm colors are red，orange and_______.Where there are warm colors and a lot of light，people usually want to be_______．Those who like to be with________like red.The cool colors are________and blue.Where are these colors，people are usually worried.Some scientists say that time seems to________more slowly in a room with warm colors.They suggest that a warm color is a good________for a living room or a________.People who are having a rest or are eating do not want time to pass quickly.________colors are better for some offices if the people working there want time to pass quickly.

1.

A．sadness

B．anger

C．.administration

D．smile

2.

A．roads

B．ways

C．danger

D．places

3.

A．land

B．leaves

C．grass

D．mountains

4.

A．lively

B．dark

C．noisy

D．frightening

5.

A．moonlight

B．light

C．sunlight

D．stars

6.

A．summer

B．spring

C．autumn

D．winter

7.

A．speak

B．say

C．talk about

D．tell

8.

A．green

B．yellow

C．white

D．gray

9.

A．calm

B．sleepy

C．active

D．helpful

10.

A．the other

B．another.

C．other one

D．others

11.

A．black

B．red

C．golden

D．yellow

12.

A．go round

B．go by

C．go off

D．go along

13.

A．one

B．way

C．fact

D．matter

14.

A．factory

B．classroom

C．restaurant

D．hospital

15.

A．Different

B．Cool

C．Warm

D．All

6 . Mr. Peter Johnson, aged twenty-three, battled for half an hour to escape from his trapped car yesterday when it landed upside down in three feet of water. Mr. Johnson took the only escape route—through the boot(行李箱).

Mr. Johnson’s car had finished up in a ditch(沟渠) at Romney Marsin, Kent after skidding on ice and hitting a bank. “Fortunately, the water began to come in only slowly,” Mr. Johnson said. “I couldn’t force the doors because they were jammed against the walls of the ditch and dared not open the windows because I knew water would come flooding in.”

Mr. Johnson, a sweet salesman of Sitting Home, Kent, first tried to attract the attention of other motorists by sounding the horn and hammering on the roof and boot. Then he began his struggle to escape.

Later he said, “It was really a half penny that saved my life. It was the only coin I had in my pocket and I used it to unscrew the back seat to get into the boot. I hammered desperately with a hammer trying to make someone hear, but no help came.”

It took ten minutes to unscrew the seat, and a further five minutes to clear the sweet samples from the boot. Then Mr. Johnson found a wrench and began to work on the boot lock. Fifteen minutes passed by. “It was the only chance I had. Finally it gave, but as soon as I moved the boot lid, the water and mud poured in. I forced the lid down into the mud and scrambled clear as the car filled up.”

His hands and arms cut and bruised(擦伤), Mr. Johnson got to Beckett Farm nearby, where he was looked after by the farmer’s wife, Mrs. Lucy Bates. Huddled in a blanket, he said, “That thirty minutes seemed like hours.” Only the tips of the car wheels were visible, police said last night. The vehicle had sunk into two feet of mud at the bottom of the ditch.

1. What is the best title for this newspaper article?

A．The Story of Mr. Johnson, A Sweet Salesman

B．Car Boot Can Serve As The Best Escape Route

C．Driver Escapes Through Car Boot

D．The Driver Survived A Terrible Car Accident

2. Which of the following objects is the most important to Mr. Johnson?

A．The hammer.

B．The coin.

C．The screw.

D．The horn.

3. Which statement is true according to the passage?

A．Mr. Johnson’s car stood on its boot as it fell down.

B．Mr. Johnson could not escape from the door because it was full of sweet jam.

C．Mr. Johnson’s car accident was partly due to the slippery road.

D．Mr. Johnson struggled in the pouring mud as he unscrewed the back seat.

4. “Finally it gave” (Paragraph 5) means that _______.

A．Luckily the door was torn away in the end	B．At last the wrench went broken
C．The lock came open after all his efforts	D．The chance was lost at the last minute

5. It may be inferred from the passage that _______.

A．the ditch was along a quiet country road	B．the accident happened on a clear warm day
C．the police helped Mr. Johnson get out of the ditch	D．Mr. Johnson had a tender wife and was well attended

7 . One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?

Listen - Listen when they are talking. Don’t say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it’s not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.

Help them - If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don’t do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra (额外的) pencil or pen with you to classes in case (以防) they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.

Be there for them - Try to make something for your friend to help make them feel better in hard times. Making cards and encouraging them are among the nicest things you can do for a friend. Marilyn Monroe, a famous U.S. actor, once said, “I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control. But if you can’t stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve (值得) to be with me at my best.” Always remember this! If you don’t want to stay with your friends when they’re in hard times, then you don’t deserve to be with them when they’re having a good time!

______   Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you’ll remember these things when you’re all old!

1. While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings, you should _____.

A．give him or her some advice	B．just listen unless asked
C．calm him or her down	D．share your feelings as well

2. When we provide help for our friends, we should _____.

A．try to do everything for them	B．ignore their faults
C．change their bad habits first	D．put them before ourselves

3. What can we learn from Marilyn Monroe’s words?

A．Life without a friend is death.	B．A friend is easier lost than found.
C．A friend in need is a friend indeed.	D．A man is known by his friends.

4. Which of the following can be put in the blank of the last paragraph?

A．Make plans.	B．Enjoy yourself.
C．Understand your friends.	D．Play with your friends.

5. What is the passage mainly about?

A．How to find a good friend.	B．How to help friends in trouble.
C．How to be a good friend.	D．How to make more friends.

8 . After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.

Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) count for much more that ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”

Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don’t have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them.

“The great man,” said Mencius (孟子), “is he who does not lose his child’s heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied.

Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.

How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn’t arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it. How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.

One way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven’t any special ability? Most people don’t; there are only a few geniuses. You haven’t any time? That’s good, because it’s always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts ofUncle Tom’s Cabinwhile cooking. You’re too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.

However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you’ll never be more alive than you are at this moment.

1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.

A．propose a definition

B．make a comparison

C．reach a conclusion

D．present an argument

2. What does the example of Galileo tell us?

A．Trial and error leads to the finding of truth.

B．Scientists tend to be curious and ambitious.

C．Creativity results from challenging authority.

D．Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore.

3. What can you do to recapture curiosity and discontent?

A．Observe the unknown around you.

B．Develop a questioning mind.

C．Lead a life of adventure.

D．Follow the fashion.

4. What can we learn from Paragraphs 6 and 7?

A．Gaining success helps you become an expert.

B．The genius tends to get things done creatively.

C．Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.

D．You should remain modest when approaching perfection.

5. What could be the best title or the passage?

A．Curious Minds Never Feel Contented

B．Reflections on Human Nature

C．The Keys to Achievement

D．Never Too Late to Learn

9 . 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 or 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, “spotsound” creates a circle of sound in on 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.

2. The Silence Machine is a device specially designed to ________.

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

3. What feature do spotsounds and spotlights share?

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.

4. Directed sound can be used for ________.

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

5. What does the passage focus on?

A．How professionals invented sound products.

B．Inventions in the field of sound technology.

C．The growing interest in the study of sound.

D．How sound engineers work in their studios.

10 . Detective Ashley Jones works at a police department in England. He has recently made a significant_______- -loneliness is a serious social problem that can contribute to depression and even crimes, but it can be_______in a clever way. The_______? Chat benches.

Jones got the idea after he had talked with an elderly lady who had been cheated of her_______. The lady would get a call from a stranger every morning who _______made her believe that he was her friend, and then she lent him about “f 31,000 . Jones was_______ when she said that she didn’t actually_______ being cheated. “Otherwise, 1would never speak to another person for weeks on end,” she said.

This led Jones to the conclusion that there are too many extremely _______ people in his community, who are easy targets of cheating. So he_______ to do something about it. He__________ the police department to allow him to __________   a couple of “chat benches” in two of their local parks. Then he hung a colorful sign on each of the benches that__________:”HAPPY TO CHAT. “Just a few days after the signs went up, he found people sitting there and engaging in active and__________ conversations.

The idea is catching on__________There are now over 40 chat benches throughout England. More new chat benches have sprung up across the UK and beyond. All who participated have gained a(n)__________ outcome from getting involved. Jones’ idea has been fully __________-the “HAPPY TO CHAT” benches help__________ the invisible social barrier that keeps people from saying hello.

This effort is not just a(n) __________ at being community minded- -it’s also a __________ measure. It prevents people who are cut off from society falling victim to cheaters.

The Chat Bench is a fantastic new project that__________ those of all ages to interact and get to know each other in the future.

1.

A．choice

B．discovery

C．visit

D．promise

2.

A．experienced

B．suffered

C．prevented

D．felt

3.

A．solution

B．puzzle

C．excuse

D．intention

4.

A．pleasure

B．prize

C．credit

D．money

5.

A．eventually

B．frequently

C．previously

D．occasionally

6.

A．ashamed

B．shocked

C．excited

D．amused

7.

A．mind

B．forgive

C．risk

D．enjoy

8.

A．active

B．lonely

C．cautious

D．stubborn

9.

A．learned

B．refused

C．pretended

D．decided

10.

A．forced

B．ordered

C．convinced

D．taught

11.

A．put away

B．make out

C．tear apart

D．set up

12.

A．read

B．claimed

C．meant

D．implied

13.

A．formal

B．joyful

C．awkward

D．crazy

14.

A．randomly

B．slowly

C．quickly

D．purposefully

15.

A．positive

B．disappointing

C．correct

D．embarrassing

16.

A．realized

B．examined

C．discussed

D．formed

17.

A．break down

B．put up

C．keep off

D．take out

18.

A．glance

B．attempt

C．knock

D．attack

19.

A．heart-breaking

B．risk-taking

C．face-saving

D．crime-cutting

20.

A．forbids

B．appoints

C．encourages

D．troubles