1 . Auckland University Online Education-What to Expect
Most Auckland University (AU) online programs are 100 percent online so that students do not come to the school campus. Instead, AU has designed a media-rich, easy-to-use learning environment through a Learning Management System (LMS)
Discipline (纪律)
With disciplined work habits, you are likely to succeed as an online student. It is up to you to log on to your course and meet your own deadlines.
Time Management
In order to earn competitive grades, plan on spending a minimum of 20-25 hours a week on each course. AU courses operate on a seven-week schedule, with start dates in January, March, May, July, September and November. Students are able to complete two courses per semester by taking one seven-week course at a time
Professional Connections
Many of the AU faculty (教员) who teach online have connections to industry, so the online learning environment ensures access to diverse expertise and practice. It includes an extensive network of professionals in a variety of industries.
“I work as an IT manager: And right from the very beginning, every class I took was relevant to what I was doing at work. The wide range of courses gave me a strong foundation for my career development.”
——Jim Heilman, Computer Information System graduate
Technology
It goes without saying that technology plays a vital role in online learning. You will need a high-speed Internet connection and basic computer skills. For specifics, please click here to visit our Technology page.
1. How long does it take to complete one course?| A．One semester. | B．Seven weeks. |
| C．Several mouth. | D．At least 20-25 hours. |
| A．To set a good example. |
| B．To recognize an excellent graduate. |
| C．To prove benefits of professional connections. |
| D．To show effective methods of online learning. |
| A．A college website. | B．An academic magazine. |
| C．A course brochure. | D．An online advertisement. |
2 . Rainbow-coloured rubbish is the colourful waste created by a Swedish city with a unique recycling system. Like many cities in Sweden, Eskilstuna has an impressive recycling record. It met the EU's 2020 target of recycling 50% of waste many years ago.
Almost everyone who lives here follows a strict recycling policy at home. People are expected to sort their household waste into seven separate categories, including food, textiles, cartons and metal. But what really makes the system stand out is the bright colour code.
The reason for this becomes clear at the city's recycling plant. The bags arrive all jumbled up（被混在一 起）because they're collected altogether, once a fortnight from outside people's houses.
But thanks to those bright colours, scanners can select the bags and separate them efficiently. The food waste in green bags is processed on site into slurry to make biogas, which powers the city's buses. One of the benefits of this method of recycling is that there is less cross-contamination, so more of the recycled waste can actually be used to make new things.
Like the rest of Sweden, Eskilstuna is committed to sending zero waste from its citizens to landfill. Waste that cannot be recycled is incinerated（焚化）at a local plant to generate electricity. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels, but does create greenhouse gases.
As countries around the world try to improve their recycling rates, some may think of Eskilstuna as an example to follow, as long as they think they can persuade their citizens to get busy sorting at home.
1. What can we say about the recycling system used in Eskilstuna?| A．It is a colorful policy. | B．It is a temporary success. |
| C．It is an ordinary recycling system. | D．It is a practical method of recycling. |
| A．The strict recycling policy. | B．The self-discipline of citizens. |
| C．The bright colour. | D．The eco-friendly code. |
| A．To send zero waste to landfill. | B．To make electricity. |
| C．To reduce dependence on fossil fuels. | D．To decrease greenhouse gases |
| A．Some countries set a good example to Eskilstuna. |
| B．Eskilstuna follows in the footsteps of other countries. |
| C．Some countries may adopt the system of rainbow-colored recycling. |
| D．Eskilstuna may force its citizens to get busy sorting at home. |
3 . International Students House
International Students House （ISH）, a unique club and accommodation center founded in 1965, offers a range of services to aid students while they are studying in London. It is located in the heart of London's West End and is close to all public transport facilities.
Accommodation
♦Comfortable accommodation for up to 450 people in single, twin, 3/4 bedded and multi-bedded rooms
♦44 self-contained flats for married students and families
♦ Long and short stays welcomed
Membership
Club membership is open to all full-time students. Membership costs are kept to an absolute minimum to enable the widest possible access. You can join for as short as one month and for up to one year at a time. Membership entitles you to use the various facilities of the House. It has:
• Restaurants
• Clubs and societies
• Study rooms
• Dance, music and films
• Fitness training
• Student bars and coffee shops
• Travel and much more!
The best way to check out all we have on offer is to drop in any Tuesday evening between 7.15 pm and 8:30 pm for Open House in the Club Room. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other club members, enjoy a free cup of coffee and find out all about what's going on. You can take advantage of special membership offers. (Useful tip: Bring along 3 passport-size photographs if you wish to take out membership.)
The Students Adviser
Thanks to the support of STA Travel and in association with the London Conference on Overseas Students (LCOS), ISH now provides the service of the Students Adviser. This new welfare service is open to all students at London's academic institutions. It aims to provide welfare support to help students overcome any personal or practical difficulties they may be experiencing while studying in Britain. One of the key features of the service is that the Students Adviser can be seen during the evenings until about 8:00 pm, Monday to Thursday.
1. What can be learned about ISH?| A．It has a history of almost 50 years. | B．It is designed for married students. |
| C．It offers flexible accommodation options. | D．It is far away from public transport facilities. |
| A．Make acquaintance with the staff | B．Obtain special membership offers. |
| C．Study or work in London. | D．Come with the required photos. |
| A．Its service is free for students in Britain. | B．It is accessible on weekdays. |
| C．Its purpose is to raise academic standards. | D．It gets aid from STA Travel. |
4 . It was the Olympic final day earlier this month, but this was an Olympics with a difference. Over the last five months, local and regional competitions have been held across Kenya for Maasai men of "warrior" age as part of the Maasai Olympics 2018. December 15 marked the final round with crowds gathering in Kimana, near the Amboseli National Park, about 200 km south of Narobi. Cash prizes and medals are in store for the winning individuals and communities.
International Charity Born Free Foundation is a main sponsor of the event which has been held every two years since 2012 to offer Maasai and warriors an alternative to(作为......
的替代)killing lions as part of their traditional ceremony. It was the idea of the Wildlife Charity Big Life Foundation and eight Maasai elders who wanted to "stop lion hunting by our warriors once and for all, making it a cultural taboo(禁忌)”.
"As soon as we understood the idea for the Maasai Olympics, we were attracted by the excitement, and inspired by the complete sense of this great plan," said Born Free Foundation's CEO Howard Jones. "As human populations grow and our wants seem to increase, with little sympathy for those other species with whom we share the planet, the pressing needed for coexistence is urgent. And examples of how this may be achieved are few and far between."
"About 2,000 lions remain in Kenya, and Born Free works to monitor the population, ease human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence. "added Jones. “The Maasai live and work alongside lions and other wildlife, so they play a key role in their protection and conservation. However, the Maasai also have a 500-year-old tradition of hunting lions when men reach warrior age."
The Maasai Olympics were developed to encourage young men to compete in an organized sports competition based on their traditional warrior skills. They compete in six events (5,000 m, 800m, 200m, high jump, etc.) and there are also two events (1,500m and 100m) for women. As well as the competitive element, the event also aims to educate local people about conserving lions and other wildlife, and the importance of human-wildlife coexistence and tolerance.
1. What do we know about the Maasai Olympics according to the text?| A．They are only accessible to men. |
| B．They had been held four times by 2018. |
| C．They are held in the Amboseli National Park. |
| D．They honour winners with the title of hero. |
| A．It is primitive and unacceptable. |
| B．It is a proof of their being sympathetic. |
| C．It is the result of human-wildlife conflict. |
| D．It is highly regarded by Born Free Foundation. |
| A．To change the lifestyle of lions in Kenya. |
| B．To ease human-wildlife conflict in Kenya. |
| C．To monitor the population of lions in Kenya. |
| D．To promote coexistence of humans and lions in Kenya. |
| A．Humans and wildlife cannot benefit each other. |
| B．The Maasai should not interfere with wildlife. |
| C．Humans should live in harmony with wildlife. |
| D．The Masssai should not give up their old tradition. |
5 . Modem agriculture and its ability to feed billions of people may be one of humanity's greatest achievements. However it comes with hidden costs. For example, have you ever considered how much water is needed to provide you with a steak or a salad? It may surprise you.
In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization(CSIRO). Australia's national science organization, took a close look at the diets of 9,341 adult Australians — specifically, their "water-scarcity footprints(水消耗足迹)". It turns out that a sweet tooth not only adds to our waistlines but also stresses our water resources.
The water-scarcity footprint is a widely recognized measurement of water consumption. First, it counts the liters of water you used. Then, it looks at the place where the water was used. Using a liter of water in the desert is not the same as using a liter of water in a tropical rainforest. The more scarce water is in your area, the larger your water-scarcity footprint.
The scientists found that the average Australian's diet had a water-scarcity footprint of 362 liters per day. Snacks and beverages — cookies, cakes, sodas and alcohol — accounted for 25 percent of the water-scarcity footprint. The research also included a glass of wine (41 liters), a single serving of potato chips (23 liters), and a small bar of milk chocolate (21 liters).
Not surprisingly, cutting down on snacks would be the top priority if we wanted to lower our own water-scarcity footprint.
Earth's surface is 70 percent water, but only 2.5 percent of that can be used for drinking or farming. While humanity faces an uphill battle to feed its growing population, climate change is causing droughts and extreme weather in agricultural centers like California and eastern Australia. Cities aren't safe, either. In 2018, Cape Town, South Africa, nearly ran out of water due to a drought. Its freshwater reservoir(储藏)stayed at just above 13.5 percent of full capacity. By 2030, a world of about 8.6 billion people will need 35 percent more water, 40 percent more energy, and 50 percent more food, according to the United States National Intelligence Council.
So, we need to watch what we eat, not just for our personal health but for the health of our societies.
1. Scientists find from their studies that .| A．Modem agriculture has the ability to feed billions of people |
| B．A steak or a salad consumes much water |
| C．A sweet tooth puts pressure on water resources |
| D．Snacks consume 85 liters of water per day |
| A．Doubtful | B．Approving |
| C．Negative | D．Indifferent |
| A．by explaining an experiment | B．by analyzing a problem |
| C．by making comparisons | D．by listing numbers |
| A．Water-scarcity footprint is measured | B．Water waste starts with snacks |
| C．Water resources are reduced | D．Water consumption faces an uphill battle |
6 . Even if you don't know much about Russian author Maxim Gorky (1868-1936), you may be familiar with his famous poem The Song of the Stormy Petrel since its ending note “Let it break in all its fury!" has been encouraging generations of people for years now.
Gorky was a highly influential author. More than any other writer, he laid the foundations for the famous literary style known as socialist realism. In this kind of writing, the author uses literary techniques to create the impression of reality in his or her writings.
March 16 this year marked the 152th anniversary of Gorky's birth.
He was born into an ordinary life but soon became an orphan, before being raised by his grandmother in poverty. As he grew older, he would take a job and then quickly move on to another. He tried many jobs, but the one that he seemed to love the most was being a journalist.
It was in this job that he gained a particular impression of the world — that it was horriblyinequitablein its treatment of the poor. It was a world, therefore, that had to go. Gorky was naturally attracted to the political movement of Marxian social democracy.He knew many revolutionaries including the most important one of all, Vladimir Lenin(1870-1924). The two became friends in 1903 and The Song of the Stormy Petrel was one of Lenin's favorite works by Gorky.
Asa writer, Gorky naturally valued literature. But lie also valued life experience, of which he had plenty. The key to being a modern person, he thought, was to acquire a critical attitude: “Keep reading books, but remember that a book's only a book, and you should learn to think for yourself,” he once said.
1. What can we learn about Gorky's childhood?| A．He lived an extraordinary life. | B．He tried few jobs. |
| C．He led a hard life. | D．He grew up by himself |
| A．Unconditional. | B．Unfair. |
| C．Unreal. | D．Unfriendly. |
| A．He valued critical thinking. | B．He was of little influence. |
| C．He was easy to bow before difficulties. | D．He discounted life experience. |
| A．Gorky and his family. | B．The hardship Gorky experienced. |
| C．Gorky's famous works. | D．Gorky's influence in literature and his life. |
7 . UW’s Jason Shogren and Linda Thunstrom, along with Jonas Nordstrom of the Lund University School of Economics and Management, have documented that two-adult households with children emit over 25 percent more carbon dioxide than two-adult households without children.
The study involved an analysis of expenditures on goods and services by households in Sweden. The researchers found that parents with children at home consume goods and services that emit CO2 in the areas of food, such as meat, and transportation, such as gasoline, at higher rates than childless households.
The economists note that time constraints (约束) become more demanding, and convenience may become more important, when people have children.
“Parents may need to be in more places in one day,” resulting in people driving themselves instead of using public transportation or bicycling, the researchers wrote. “They also need to feed more people. Eating more pre-prepared, red meat carbon-intensive meals may add convenience and save time.”
The distinction in the carbon footprints of Swedish households with and without children is particularly striking, as concerns about climate change are more pronounced in Sweden than most other developed counties. Most Swedes believe climate change is real and have accepted sizable CO2 taxes, and households with children are given financial aid, which helps to alleviate some of the time shortage for parents to a certain extent.
“If we’re finding these results in Sweden, it’s pretty safe to assume that the distinction in carbon footprints between parents and nonparents is even bigger in most other Western countries,” Thunstrom says.
“Becoming a parent can transform a person, he or she thinks more about the future and worries about future risks imposed on their children and of spring,” Shogren says. “But, while having children might be transformational, our results suggest that parents’ concerns about climate change do not cause them to be ‘greener’ than non-parent adults.”
1. According to the study, compared with the households without children, the households with children __________.| A．emit more carbon dioxide |
| B．consume more goods and services |
| C．attach more importance to the quality of goods and services |
| D．are less concerned about carbon footprints |
| A．They prefer to eat red meat prepared in advance. |
| B．They aren’t concerned about climate change. |
| C．They drive cars more as a consequence of time pressure. |
| D．They need to purchase more goods and services. |
| A．solve | B．heighten | C．worsen | D．ease |
| A．Being a parent will cause a person to be more concerned about carbon emission. |
| B．Carbon footprints grow with parenthood because of increased time constraints and the need for convenience. |
| C．The increasing expenditures on goods and services by households help raise the awareness of carbon footprints. |
| D．The difference in carbon footprints between parents and nonparents is much severer in other western countries than in Sweden. |
8 . Being able to tell human faces apart is a skill that almost every person has, although some are far better at it than others. But a new study out from the journal Scientific Reports says that this is not just a skill that humans possess. Even fish can do it.
Following up on research studying different species’ abilities to recognize human faces (sheep, dogs, cows, horses, and-birds have all been tried), the researchers from the University of Oxford and the University of Queensland decided to pick an animal that does not have an evolved neocortex, the part of the brain that processes sight and sounds, and does not have a close relationship with humans. That way, there would be no reason why these test subjects would have a past history of identifying human faces. So they picked the archerfish, a reef fish variety that shoots water into the air to knock its prey out of the sky. They used this adaptation to have the fish spray water at a face on a monitor hanging over their tanks for a reward. Most of the fish were able to pick out their learned face, even when colors were taken away or methods were used to make the face shapes unclear.
This study gives more backing to the hypothesis that differentiating between faces is not just a skill that big -brained organisms are born with. It is possible that a good portion of recognizing faces is learned over time. The development of the neocortex may contribute only to quickly process a large number of faces in varying situations. But more work needs to be conducted to find a deeper link to this possible learned behavior. The sample size of this study was very small—only eight fish were used altogether. Also, the faces displayed on the monitor were only white, female faces from a German database, shown in a frontal view, with no expressions. Other animal trials have shown that some species, like pigeons, respond more to differing angles and varied expressions.
1. What is the purpose of this passage?| A．To improve a scientific experiment design. | B．To present the differences between species. |
| C．To clarify how animals tell human faces apart. | D．To show animals can recognize human faces. |
| A．They are cleverer than other species. | B．They have sharp vision and hearing. |
| C．They aren’t closely related to humans. | D．They have a past history of identifying human faces. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Negative. |
| C．Consistent. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．Including more test subjects. | B．Enlarging the human faces. |
| C．Employing more male researchers. | D．Using black-and-white pictures. |
9 . Researchers in Japan have installed (安装) on a train a speaker that barks like a dog and snorts like a deer in order to prevent collisions with animals on the tracks.
The country has been troubled by a problem with trains colliding with deer on its railways. According to Japan’s transport ministry, there were 613 cases of train services delayed for at least 30 minutes resulting from collisions with deer and other wild animals in 2018-19.
Deer are attracted to railway lines because of a need for iron in their diets. They lick (舔) the rails to pick up iron filings caused by the action of wheels against tracks. This dietary need has led to a constant battle to keep the deer separate from the danger of a fast-moving train. In the past, flashing red lights and even lion faces have been unsuccessfully trialed in an attempt to keep deer off the tracks.
This new device has been invented by a team at the country’s Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRD). RTRI officials explain that deer have a habit of repeatedly snorting short, shrill sounds to warn other deer when they sense danger. The barking of the hunting dog, which drives deer to panic, strengthens the effect of the warning noise, according to the RTRI. When the deer hear a combination of a 3-second-long recording of a deer’s snort and 20 seconds of a barking dog, they panic and flee rapidly.
RTRI researchers say late-night tests, at times when deer are most frequently seen by railway tracks, have resulted in a 45 percent reduction of deer sighting. Future plans include still barking sites where deer are commonly seen, but the unpleasant noises will not be so loud in areas where people live beside the tracks.
1. Why are deer attracted to train tracks?| A．To get close to the passing trail. | B．To get nutrition from train tracks. |
| C．To hunt for food near the train tracks. | D．To gather together at night near railways. |
| A．Robots. | B．Hunting dogs. |
| C．Lion face paintings. | D．Specially designed tracks. |
| A．Its inventors drew inspiration from deer’s habit. |
| B．It will be put to use in areas where deer appear. |
| C．It will affect people who live beside the track. |
| D．It has decreased more than half of deer sighting. |
| A．A dietary habit of deer. |
| B．A traffic problem caused by deer. |
| C．A battle between human and animals. |
| D．An invention designed to keep deer off the tracks. |
10 . Anyone who knew Jack knew him well. He was the first to hide under the bed covers every time the sky grew grey and thunder was heard in the distance. He was in great fear of storms. However, that day changed it all.
With dark clouds in the morning, Jack was in the car with his sister, Emily, who was driving them home. Jack was holding the sides of his seat tightly. As a result, his knuckles (指关节) turned white. Suddenly, the treacherous road conditions sent the car into a slide. The vehicle went off the wet and slippery road, rolled several times and finally rest upside down. Fortunately, both of them were wearing seat belts. Head bleeding heavily, Emily was conscious but unable to move. Thankfully Jack was unhurt.
Water poured through the broken windows of the car. Suddenly, Jack recalled something. He quickly unfastened the seat belt and moved out of the passenger window. With rain beating against his face and arms, Jack made his way to the driver’s side with great difficulty. He managed to pull her through the window. Suddenly, he felt a strong pain on his arms. It was only later that Jack realized the broken pieces of the window had cut them while he was pulling his sister through the window. Finally Jack dragged Emily up to the road. They were soon rescued.
Emily later recalled her terrifying experience and was truly amazed by his courage. Jack’s act of courage was motivated by his favourite book: The Little Engine That Could. In it, when everyone had given up hope, the Little Engine carried the heavy toys and candies over the hill to the children waiting on the other side. The Little Engine had shown courage and taken action.
Obviously, we cannot attribute Jack’s bravery to that one story but without doubt, the book had left a deep impression on him and inspired him to respond positively in a difficult situation.
1. What made it difficult for Jack to go over to the driver’s side?| A．His fear. | B．The heavy rain. |
| C．His injuries. | D．The bad road condition. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Strange. |
| C．Special. | D．Fantastic. |
| A．Annoyed. | B．Embarrassed. |
| C．Surprised | D．Puzzled. |
| A．It was once a bestseller. | B．It once inspired Emily. |
| C．It was intended for kid. | D．It was a horror story. |
