1 . In 1957, Max Vernon Mathews wrote the first computer program called Music, which enabled a computer to create sound and play it back. He was then working as an engineer at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. It enabled a large IBM computer to play a seventeensecond piece of music he had written.
The computer was so slow that it took an hour to play the seventeensecond piece of music. So Mathews moved the work to a tape player to play the music at a normal speed. He later said that the sound quality of the musical notes was not great, but the technical importance of the music was huge.
The science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke visited Bell Laboratories in the 1960s. He heard a computer “sing” the song Daisy Bell on devices (设备) and learned about the programs developed by Mathews and other engineers. Clarke noted this technology in his book 2001: A Space Odyssey, which was later made into a movie.
Mathews continued creating other versions of the Music program. He became interested in how computers could help musicians outside recording studios. The Groove program he developed was the first computer program made for live performances.
He also developed an electronic device he called the Radio Baton, which looks like two drum sticks. It enables the user to control the speed and sound levels of orchestral music (管弦乐) played on a computer by moving the two sticks on a special electronic surface.
Mathews said he believed modern musicians were not making full use of the power of computer music. He said a violin always sounds like a violin. But with his Music, the way a violin sounds is unlimited. He did not want computer sounds to replace live music, but he hoped computers would one day be considered serious instruments.
1. Why did Clarke visit Bell Laboratories?| A．To make his book into a movie. |
| B．To help Mathews develop Music. |
| C．To satisfy his own curiosity about music. |
| D．To gather materials for his literary creation. |
| A．Something used to record live music. |
| B．Something used to create special sound. |
| C．Something used to improve computer music. |
| D．Something used to create computer music. |
| A．It is more pleasant to the ear. |
| B．It can help make more sounds. |
| C．It will finally replace the violin. |
| D．It is more popular than live music. |
| A．He is the father of computer music. |
| B．His creation succeeded on the first try. |
| C．He wrote Music to replace instruments. |
| D．He changed the functions of computers. |
2 . A new study has found no evidence that sunscreen, commonly used to reduce the risk of skin cancer, actually increases the risk.
Researchers from the University of Iowa based their findings on a review of 18 earlier studies that looked at the associstion between sunscreen use and melanoms(黑素瘤). They said that they found flaws in studies that had reported associations between sunscreen use and higher risk of melanoma.
Most health experts believe that by protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, which is increasing in incidence (发生率) faster than any other cancer in the United States.
But questions have been raised about sunscreen and whether it may have the opposite effect, perhaps by allowing people to remain exposed to the sun longer without burning.
The researchers said that among the problems with some earlier studies is that they often failed to take into account that those people most at risk for skin cancer—people with fair skin and freckles（雀斑）, for example—are more likely to use sunscreen. As a result, it may appear that sunscreen users get cancer more often.
The studies, which generally relied on volunteers to recall their sunscreen use, were also unable to prove how well the products had been applied, said the new study.
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word “flaws” in the 2nd paragraph?| A．Evidences | B．Facts | C．Faults | D．Failures |
| A．They seldom use sunscreen. |
| B．They are more in danger of skin cancer. |
| C．They can be free from the harm of the sun. |
| D．They often expose themselves to the sun. |
| A．Sunscreen users get skin cancer more often. |
| B．The volunteers have proved the effect of sunscreen. |
| C．The new study was based on the experiences of volunteers. |
| D．The number of skin cancer patients is increasing in America. |
| A．Sunscreen to Prevent Skin Cancer |
| B．Sunscreen to Increase Skin Cancer |
| C．Skin Cancer Caused by Sunscreen |
| D．Skin Cancer Caused by Freckles |
3 . An Epidemic (流行病) of Depression? Seligman is leading the charge in what might be called Happiness Revolution in psychology.Since World War II, psychologists have focused on fixing what is broken---repairing psycholosis(精神病), and neurosis(神经衰弱).Research has piles up steadily when it comes to looking at patients who are neurotic, while the happy or joyful people among us have received little scientific examination.
When Seligman did a search to find academic articles about such “positive psychology” he found only 800 out of 70,000.“Psychologists tend to be concerned with taking a negative 8 person, and helping him get to negative 2,” said Seligman, a University of Pennsylvania psychology professor.“My aim is to take a plus 2 person and boost him to a plus 6.”
In the last 50 years, statistics have shown that we are less happy as a people.“While our quality of life has increased dramatically over that time, and we’ve become richer, we’re in an epidemic of depression,” Seligman said.“Depression is 10 times more common now, and life satisfaction rates are down as well.” Seligman argues that the new science he writes about is shifting psychology’s model away from its narrow-minded focus on pathology(病理学), victimology, and mental illness towards positive emotion, virtue and strength, and positive institutions that increase people’s happiness.If you want to be happy, forget about winning the lottery, getting a nose job, or securing a raise.In his new book, Authentic Happiness, psychologist Martin Seligman argues that overall lifetime happiness is not the result of good genes, money, or even luck.Instead, he says we can boost our own happiness by making use of the strengths and traits that we already have, including kindness, originality, humor, optimism, and generosity.He has named the discipline “Positive Psychology,” arguing that we would be better off building on our own strengths rather than bemoaning, and hence, trying to repair, our weakness.By frequently calling upon their strengths, people can build up natural barriers against misfortune and negative emotions, he said.
To cultivate happiness, we must first find out our individual strengths and virtues.Next, apply the qualities in such a way as to enhance our happiness-generating system.
1. Why could Seligman’s work be called Happiness Revolution?| A．Because happy or joyful people among us also suffer from illness. |
| B．Because psychology is the emotional characteristic of an individual. |
| C．Because psychology is the science that deals with mental processes and behavior. |
| D．Because traditional research on psychology rarely concerns happy or joyful people. |
| A．We should focus on happy or joyful people. |
| B．The number of happy or joyful people will increase by 4. |
| C．“Positive psychology” articles need to be published more. |
| D．Happy people among us also need improve their mentality. |
| A．encouraging | B．optimistic | C．subjective | D．narrow-minded |
| A．good genes, money or luck |
| B．positive mental status |
| C．contented life. |
| D．a good job. |
| A．promotion leads to true happiness. |
| B．We rely on our strengths for happiness. |
| C．Intelligent people are usually more satisfied. |
| D．Mental illness should be the focus of psychology. |
| A．how we can cultivate our happiness. |
| B．why material goods can’t boost people. |
| C．why we should cultivate our happiness. |
| D．how complicated our happiness-generation system is. |
4 . 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
5 . All you need to know about German Tutor
Do you call yourselves language novices or beginners? Whatever you like to call yourselves, we can enable you to speak a new language.
In order to put our money where our mouth is, we commissioned researchers from two universities in America to conduct a study that tested the effectiveness of our German Tutor app for German beginners in just two months. Then we challenged 15 employees to learn as much German as possible by using the app in just three weeks.
Here are three reasons why you should use German Tutor to learn a new language.
1. You will make great progress.
The study’s findings: 85% of our participants were complete beginners to German.However, they learned the language faster than more advanced learners.
German Tutor challenge’s findings: Although our employees were complete beginners, they made satisfactory progress. Before taking the challenge, they struggled to even comprehend German sentences, but after only three weeks, they could successfully talk with a native.
2. You don’t need to spend a lot of time.
The study’s findings: Our study drew a conclusion that participants only needed to study by using the German Tutor app for about two hours per week to improve their German by at least one college semester level, while the complete German beginners only needed a total time of 15 hours over two months to improve by one college semester level.
German Tutor challenge’s findings: Our employees spent about 15 minutes a day on German Tutor during their three-week challenges.
3.You will enjoy learning with German Tutor.
The study’s findings: An amazing 99% of the participants said that they wouldn’t stop using German Tutor after the study, as it is easy to use and the sense of success can greatly motivate them to continue their learning.
German Tutor challenge’s findings: Most of our employees fell in love with German and many of them promised to continue learning it.
1. Why did German Tutor carry out the study?| A．To show how the app works | B．To see how popular the app is |
| C．To find how often the app is used | D．To prove how effective the app is |
| A．15 hours | B．Three weeks | C．Two months | D．Over two months |
| A．They could teach complete beginners. |
| B．They could talk with native German speakers |
| C．They could only comprehend German sentences. |
| D．They could reach the same level as more advanced learners. |
| A．Personal preference | B．Low cost |
| C．Innovative design | D．The sense of success |
| A．You will make great progress after using German Tutor. |
| B．German Tutor challenge found that 99% of the participants would stop using German Tutor after the study. |
| C．Using German Tutor may save your time in learning German. |
| D．German Tutor is an app for language novice. |
6 . A group of highly established alumni(校友) got together to visit their old university professor.The conversation among them soon turned into
The professor went to his kitchen and
After all the students had a cup of coffee in their hands, the professor said, “Did you
“
“Let’s consider that life is the coffee and the jobs, houses, cars, money and position in
Sometimes we
| A．plans | B．complaints | C．troubles | D．cares |
| A．cooked | B．supplied | C．returned | D．passed |
| A．cups | B．plates | C．bowls | D．tables |
| A．thus | B．while | C．or | D．so |
| A．myself | B．yourself | C．himself | D．themselves |
| A．found | B．fear | C．notice | D．suggest |
| A．picked up | B．got away | C．left behind | D．taken away |
| A．normal | B．clear | C．simple | D．essential |
| A．mystery | B．key | C．effect | D．source |
| A．donates | B．offers | C．provides | D．adds |
| A．times | B．careers | C．houses | D．cases |
| A．When | B．That | C．Which | D．What |
| A．consciously | B．rarely | C．passively | D．surprisingly |
| A．staring | B．measuring | C．eyeing | D．changing |
| A．school | B．dream | C．thought | D．society |
| A．correct | B．bring | C．change | D．record |
| A．accept | B．fail | C．try | D．promise |
| A．perfect | B．natural | C．real | D．important |
| A．across | B．through | C．beyond | D．by |
| A．stays | B．puts | C．gets | D．lies |
7 . No one knows for sure when advertising first started. It is possible that it grew out of the discovery that some people did certain kinds of work better than others did them. That led to the concept of specialization, which means that people would specialize, or focus, on doing one specific job.
Let’s take a man we’ll call Mr. Fielder, for example. He did everything connected with farming. He planted seeds, tended the fields, and harvested and sold his crops. At the same time, he did many other jobs on the farm. However, he didn’t make the bricks for his house, grind the wheat for his flour, or cut his trees into boards. He also did not make the plows (犁), the work boots, or any of the other hundreds of things a farm needs. Instead, he got them from people who specialized in doing each of those things.
Suppose there was another man we shall call Mr. Plowright. Using what he knew about farming and working with iron, Mr. Plowright invented a plow that made farming easier. Mr. Plowright did not really like farming himself and wanted to specialize in making really good plows. Perhaps, he thought, other farmers will trade what they grow for one of my plows.
How did Mr. Plowright let people know what he was doing? Why, he advertised, of course. First he opened a shop and then he put up a sign outside the shop to attract customers. That sign may have been no more than a plow carved into a piece of wood and a simple arrow pointing to the shop door. It was probably all the information people needed to find Mr. Plowright and his really good plows.
Many historians believe that the first outdoor signs were used about five thousand years ago. Even before most people could read, they understood such signs. Shopkeepers would carve into stone, clay, or wood symbols for the products they had for sale.
A medium, in advertising talk, is the way you communicate your message. You might say that the first medium used in advertising was signs with symbols. The second medium was audio, or sound, although that term is not used exactly in the way we use it today. Originally, just the human voice and maybe some kind of simple instrument, such as a bell, were used to get people’s attention.
A crier, in the historical sense, is not someone who weeps easily. It is someone, probably a man, with a voice loud enough to be heard over the other noises of a city. In ancient Egypt, shopkeepers might hire such a person to spread the news about their products. Often this primitive form of advertising involved a newly arrived ship loaded with goods. Perhaps the crier described the goods, explained where they came from, and praised their quality. His job was, in other words, not too different from a TV or radio commercial in today’s world.
1. What probably led to the start of advertisement?| A．The discovery of iron. | B．The appearance of new jobs. |
| C．The specialization of labor. | D．The development of farming techniques. |
| A．predict the future of advertising | B．explain the origin of advertising |
| C．expose problems in advertising | D．provide suggestions for advertising |
| A．functioned like today’s TV or radio commercial | B．had the loudest voice |
| C．ran a shop selling goods to farmers | D．owned a ship |
| A．the history of advertising | B．the benefits of advertising |
| C．the basic design of advertising | D．the early forms of advertising |
8 . Nobody laughed when the UK comedy show Little Britain toured the US. Americans didn’t find the “British stereotypes(刻板印象)”funny. One character was a woman who was sick whenever she saw a foreigner.Another was a loud and rude 15-year-old girl cursing(骂)at her teachers.But back home,British people were laughing,thinking,“Yes!That’s exactly what we’re like!”
A laugh is a laugh in any language,but the reasons for it can be very different.Britons and Americans speak the same language,but humor does not always translate.
Take The Office as an example.This was originally a UK TV series but it was changed for the US.Both the US and UK series are set in a boring workplace in a boring town.But David Brent,the boss of the UK office,is not a nice guy like Michael Scott in the US version. “We had to make Michael Scott a slightly nicer guy,”wrote series creator Ricky Gervais.“He couldn’t be too mean.”
Gervais said British people are different from Americans because“Britons cruelly make fun of people we like or dislike…and of ourselves”. He believes the differences between the American and British senses of humor are because of“our upbringing”.
“Americans are brought up to believe they can be the next president of the United States,”he wrote.“Britons are told,‘It won’t happen for you’.”
Things usually turn out fine at the end of every US Office episode(集). Even if they’re not perfect, the characters “learn a lesson” for the future.
But in David Brent’s office—and in lots of UK comedies—the last scene is often sad. You are often left with the feeling that things just couldn’t get worse. For British people, this seems truer to life and so much funnier.
It’s not just Britain and the US that have comic differences. Few foreigners would understand a Chinese cross-talk show,for example.
Cultural differences are no laughing matter. But comic differences can be a window into a culture.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To show that British humor is not funny at all. |
| B．To show that American people don't understand British people. |
| C．To show that Britain and America have different stereotypes. |
| D．To show how humor may mean different things in different cultures. |
| A．Unkind. | B．Great. | C．Average. | D．Ugly-looking. |
| A．David Brent is quite a nice guy. |
| B．Michael Scott is a rather mean guy. |
| C．Episodes in the UK version often end on a hopeless note. |
| D．Episodes in the US version often end in a boring way. |
| A．Britons do not like to make fun of others. |
| B．British comedy often has a moral message. |
| C．American people are brought up to be more positive. |
| D．Jokes are difficult to translate from one language into another. |
| A．They are slight differences that can be ignored. | B．They can partly show cultural differences. |
| C．They show stereotypes of different cultures. | D．They help people communicate with each other. |
9 . I am writing this story to express the important value of sportsmanship(体育精神)．Some years ago，my traveling
One of my team members
When the team finished dancing and walked off stage，my teammates and I all started to
| A．design | B．football | C．dance | D．drama |
| A．fierce | B．reasonable | C．common | D．serious |
| A．practical | B．heavy | C．tense | D．friendly |
| A．hand | B．look | C．job | D．paper |
| A．politely | B．happily | C．straight | D．funnily |
| A．upset | B．surprised | C．excited | D．disappointed |
| A．decided | B．learned | C．thought | D．suggested |
| A．shocked | B．delighted | C．annoyed | D．puzzled |
| A．praise | B．comfort | C．cheer | D．thank |
| A．surprised | B．embarrassed | C．reluctant | D．disagreed |
| A．anger | B．wish | C．sadness | D．fun |
| A．welcome | B．congratulate | C．receive | D．scold |
| A．smiled | B．fainted | C．cried | D．left |
| A．position | B．future | C．place | D．situation |
| A．team | B．age | C．idea | D．help |
10 . To learn to think is to learn to question. Those who don't question never truly think for themselves. These are simple rules that have governed the advancement of science and human thought since the beginning of time. Advancements are made when thinkers question theories and introduce new ones. Unfortunately, it is often the great and respected thinkers who end up slowing the progress of human thought. Aristotle was a brilliant philosopher whose theories explained much of the natural world, often incorrectly. He was so esteemed by the scientific community that even 1，200 years after his death, scientists were still trying to build upon his mistakes rather than correct them!
Brilliant minds can intimidate upandcoming thinkers who are not confident of their abilities. They often believe they are inferior to the minds of giants such as Aristotle, leading many to accept current paradigms instead of questioning them.
I, like many thinkers of the past, once believed in my mental inferiority. I was certain that my parents, my teachers-adults in general-were always right. They were like a textbook to me; I didn't question what was written on those pages. I respected them, and accepted whatever they told me. But that attitude soon changed. My mind's independence was first stimulated in the classroom.
A stern, 65yearold elementaryschool science teacher once told me that light is a type of wave. I confidently went through years of school believing that light is a wave. One day，however I heard the German exchange student mention that light could be made up of particles. As the others laughed at his statement, I started to question my beliefs.
Maybe the teachers and textbooks hadn't given me the whole story. I went to the library, did some research and learned of the lightasawave versus lightasaparticle debate. I read about Einstein's discovery of the dual nature of light and learned the facts of a paradox(悖论) that puzzles the world's greatest thinkers to this day. Light behaves as both a particle and a wave, it is both at once. I realized I had gone through life accepting only half of the story as the whole truth.
Each new year brought more new facts, and I formulated even more questions. I found myself in the library after school, trying to find my own answers to gain a more complete understanding of what I thought I already knew. I discovered that my parents and teachers are incredible tools in my quest for knowledge, but they are never the final word. Even textbooks can be challenged. I learned to question my sources, I learned to be a thinker. I once believed that everything I learned at home and at school was certain, but I have now discovered to reexamine when necessary.
Questions are said to be the path to knowledge and truth, and I plan to continue questioning. How many things do we know for sure today that we will question in the future? At this moment, I know that our sun will burn for another five billion years, and I know nothing can escape the gravity of a black hole. This knowledge, however, may change in the next 20 years-maybe even in the next two. The one thing we can control now is our openness to discovery. Questions are the tools of open minds, and open minds are the key to intellectual advancement.
1. In the first paragraph, Aristotle is taken as an example to show that ______.| A．he is the greatest and respected philosopher of all time |
| B．huge influence of great thinkers may block human thought |
| C．advancements are made when thinkers question theories |
| D．great thinkers often make mistakes and then correct them |
| A．Frighten. | B．Encourage. | C．Strength. | D．Persuade. |
| A．what he learned from textbooks before turned out to be wrong |
| B．he was inspired by the different ideas from an exchange student |
| C．he was laughed at by other students for his unacceptable statement |
| D．he was not satisfied with his life and desperate to achieve success |
| A．looks down upon great thinkers all the time |
| B．never doubts what he has learned in the textbook |
| C．always throws himself into the laboratory |
| D．determines to be a thinker and questioner |
| A．the author is not quite sure about his future |
| B．we human beings don't dare to predict future |
| C．theory of black holes will change in two years |
| D．questioning is necessary to promote advancement |
| A．Following rules. | B．Challenging yourself. |
| C．Questioning giants. | D．Predicting future. |
