1 . One of the most important creations of science is the invention of the lighthouses. Lighthouses help in a number of activities such as marking of the dangerous coastlines and directing safe entries to the harbours. The following are some famous lighthouses.
The Jeddah Light
It is located in Saudi Arabia. This lighthouse has been constructed very beautifully and adorns a beautiful structure. The Jeddah Light was built in 1990. This lighthouse is considered as the tallest of the world reaching a fine height of around 436 feet.
The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
It is addressed as the “lighthouse at the end of the world”. The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is located on a small island east of Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the world. This lighthouse was built in 1920 and today it has become a very famous tourist attraction in Argentina. However, visits to this lighthouse can be made only by boat.
The Peggys Point Lighthouse
Lit in 1915, it is an icon and a popular monument of Canada. The Peggys Point Lighthouse has become a major tourist sight and is considered as one of the busiest attractions in the area of Nova Scotia. This lighthouse also fetches you a wonderful scenic drive and visiting here, you can indulge yourself in the beauty of nature.
The Slettnes Lighthouse
It is the northernmost lighthouse that is located on the mainland of Europe and is considered as one of the most famous lighthouses of the world. This lighthouse is mostly considered as the North Cape Light and is the top lighthouse of Europe. The Slettnes Lighthouse firstly began to light in 1905. Though it was highly damaged during the World War Ⅱ by the Germans, yet it was restored and lit again. This lighthouse is very classic as to its looks.
1. Which lighthouse is only accessible by sea?| A．The Peggys Point Lighthouse. | B．The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. |
| C．The Jeddah Light. | D．The Slettnes Lighthouse. |
| A．The lighthouse has a very classic appearance. | B．It was lit again after the restoration in 1905. |
| C．It is the best-known lighthouse in the world. | D．Visiting the lighthouse draws you close to nature. |
| A．A scientific journal. | B．A history textbook. | C．A travel magazine. | D．A design handbook. |
2 . It has a kind of a magical, gravity-defying (失重) feeling about it. You can fly much lower — near the ground. And you can even talk to people on the ground, and you're going slow enough to appreciate what is floating past you. I’m Don Cameron, and we’re in the balloon factory here in Bristol — Cameron Balloons.
We do special-shaped balloons, and we can make almost any shape. Animals are most fun I suppose. We built all sorts of animals — dinosaurs and squirrels, almost everything.
It was a group of us from the gliding (滑翔) club who decided to build our own balloon. And we built the first modern hot-air balloon this side of the Atlantic. It was called the Bristol Belle. We started work in 1966 and didn’t finish it until the summer of 1967.
Building balloons over the years hasn't changed a great deal. It's still done with sewing machines. It s still done with a light fabric. Here you see people packing a balloon into a bag. They're having to work quite hard to get it in there. Now, that looks like a big one 一 it’s quite heavy. Anything that has a bit of bulk to it, a bit of shape, a bit of volume, we wouldn't admit defeat on.
It’s totally different from being in an aeroplane. Flying a hot-air balloon is a kind of magical experience, but it s hard to explain. You really have to try it.
1. What is the Bristol Belle?| A．A factory. | B．A hot-air balloon. |
| C．An aeroplane. | D．A gliding club. |
| A．By mixing cloths. | B．By using animal skin. |
| C．With silk. | D．With a sewing machine. |
| A．A TV show. | B．A scientific report. |
| C．A health magazine. | D．A book review. |
| A．To stress the role of hot-air balloon in history. |
| B．To share with readers the story of hot-air balloon. |
| C．To inspire more people to build their own balloons |
| D．To attract more tourists to the hot-air balloon factory. |
3 . Faced with a declining population and workforce, Japan has been increasingly turning to robots for help. Over the years, the robots have carried out a large number of human tasks, including building products and providing care for the elderly.
However, the robots currently being used by companies, like Walmart and Amazon, are only able to perform single, repetitive tasks, such as stacking boxes. Model-T, on the other hand, has a wider range of movement and is able to hold, pick and place objects of several different shapes and sizes into different locations, making it ideal for convenience and grocery stores, which sell a large variety of items.
Model-T robots are operated from a distant location by human “pilots” wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset and special gloves, which allow them to feel the product the robot is holding in their hands and guide it to the right shelf.
The VR-controlled robots are ten times cheaper than automated robots, because they don’t require advanced programming and are easier to develop and maintain. And their easy-to-use controls require little training. Tomohiro Kano, a general manager in charge of development at FamilyMart, believes this will enable the chain to recruit workers who would typically not work in stores.
Though Model-T appears to be getting rapidly through the experiments, it is not quite ready to enter the workforce. Besides being a lot slower than humans, it is also only able to lift packaged items, and cannot get hold of things such as fruits and vegetables. The company is working to improve the weaknesses and hopes to introduce a faster, more skillful Model-T within the next two years. They believe that in addition to the stores, the robots could also be useful in hospitals, allowing doctors to do operations from remote locations.
1. What is one of the features of Model-T according to the text?| A．It works much faster than humans. | B．It can easily hold all kinds of objects. |
| C．It can be operated from a distance away. | D．It is harder to produce than an automated robot. |
| A．The low price of Model-T. | B．The easiness to operate Model-T. |
| C．The low-level programming of Model-T. | D．The strict training for maintaining Model-T. |
| A．Model-T is now being massively produced. |
| B．Japan’s workforce will be reduced by Model-T. |
| C．The weaknesses of Model-T have been overcome. |
| D．Model-T may be used in wider fields in the future. |
| A．Technology. | B．Economy. | C．Lifestyle. | D．Environment. |
4 . How do you like your milk: cooked or raw? It may sound a strange question, but it’s being asked more often at kitchen tables, grocery stores and farmers’ markets across the US.
The vast majority of milk we drink is heat-treated to kill off harmful bacteria (细菌). Raw milk, on the other hand, goes straight to bottle. Fans call it milk as nature intended: nutrient-rich and full of a good kind of bacteria. Some fans go further, calling it a super food that aids digestion (消化), benefits the immune system and treats some diseases.
An increasing number of people agree. For health-conscious, organic-loving shoppers, raw milk is a growing food trend. They feel uneasy at the thought of heated milk sitting under supermarket lighting. But despite the enthusiasm, it’s a trend with a terrible side.
Pasteurization (加热杀菌) is a reason—it’s highly effective at killing some harmful things that can hang around in the body of even healthy cows. Raw milk, on the other hand, relies heavily on the skill of the farmer to avoid them.
Raw milk illnesses have increased as more people drink it. Between 2010 and 2019, raw milk and raw milk cheese caused the vast majority (96%) of all illnesses linked to dairy products. Considering far fewer people consume it, that makes unpasteurized dairy 840 times more risky than pasteurized. The recent deaths of two people who ate raw milk cheese made in New York underscored the sometimes deadly consequences. And for young children, whose underdeveloped immune systems make them more vulnerable (易受伤害的), the dangers of raw milk make it hard to recommend.
1. Why does most milk that people drink is heat-treated?| A．To add some useful bacteria. |
| B．To make it taste more delicious. |
| C．To make it safer for people to drink. |
| D．To make it have a better appearance. |
| A．It’s not good for people’s health. |
| B．It may contain something harmful. |
| C．It’s often put under market lighting. |
| D．It comes from unhealthy cows. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. |
| C．Education. | D．Politics. |
| A．Benefits of Raw Milk |
| B．How to Tell the Quality of Milk |
| C．Reasons for Choosing Heated Milk |
| D．Raw Milk: a Super Food or Super Risk? |
5 . Every time we get on a plane, we’re asked to either turn off our phones or change them to flight mode — it’s for “security reasons”. But according to The Conversation website, having to turn our phones off on a plane is “a service issue, not a safety one”.
When we speak on our phones in the air, they can cause interference to the aircraft’s radios and pilots can hear this interference in their headphones. “It’s the same noise you’ll be familiar with, if you put your mobile too close to a speaker,” the Mirror noted. “It is not safety-critical, but is annoying for sure.” Though speaking on a phone during a flight isn’t dangerous, from the viewpoint of service, it isn’t still a good idea. When we make or receive a call on the ground, we connect to a cell tower that deals with all calls within an 80-kilometer radius (半径). As we move from place to place we are “handed on” to different cell towers. As US scientist Sven Bilen explains, for this system to work, there are “built-in” expectations: There shouldn’t be too many “handoffs” and people shouldn’t be traveling faster than car speeds. “Of course, phone users should be close to the ground.” he added. If we were to make phone calls while we flew, however, none of these expectations would be met. And even worse, our cellphones would stop working.
But now things are beginning to change. If we still can’t speak during a flight, we can use other phone functions. For example, Airbus A330 of Emirates Airlines has inflight WiFi to make passengers send and receive short messages in the air. In the future, as Bilen points out, it may be possible for air travelers to make and receive calls freely. The breakthrough could be “pico cells”, which are small cell towers on the plane itself. There would no longer be connections made between phones and the ground and therefore there would be no danger of disturbance of phone service.
One day, perhaps, we will be chatting in the air as much as we chat on the ground.
1. Why is making a phone call NOT allowed on a plane?| A．Because it will pose a threat to their safety. |
| B．Because it can guarantee a better service. |
| C．Because it fails to be connected to the cell tower. |
| D．Because it may cause annoying noise to pilots. |
| A．One. |
| B．Two. |
| C．Three. |
| D．Four. |
| A．People need to travel slower than airplane speeds while phoning. |
| B．Pico cells may contribute to free phone calls on a plane. |
| C．Undisturbed phone service has been provided by airlines. |
| D．Passengers can receive calls on Airbus A330 through inflight WiFi. |
| A．A newspaper. |
| B．An official document. |
| C．A guidebook. |
| D．A science fiction story. |
6 . BIG BUS TOURS-HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS
Big Bus Welcome Center 7127th Ave. Between 47th & 48th St.
TELEPHONE
212-685-8687
FREE ENTRY WITH THE NEW YORK PASS **SAVE﹩59.00
Normal Entry Price: Adult﹩59.00
Normal Entry Price: Child﹩49.00
The open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most enjoyable and convenient way to see New York! You’ll see famous landmarks such as the iconic Empire State Building to the new One World Trade Center. Throughout the tour, you can learn about the city’s history from our entertaining and informative live guides and recorded commentary. You can hop-on and hop-off at any of the Big Bus stops to explore and visit NYC’s tourist attractions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The New York Pass grants you a free Classic Ticket valid (有效) for 1 day on the Uptown, Downtown & Midtown Loops. Tickets must be collected from one of the Big Bus Centers, and tickets cannot be issued on the bus. All tickets redeemed (补换) or purchased after 3 pm are extended into the next day.
TOUR HOURS：
Downtown Loop has daily departures from 8 am to 5 pm from November to March and 8 am to 6 pm from April to October.
Uptown Loop has daily departures from 9 am to 5 pm from November to March and 9 am to 6 pm from April to October.
Get the Big Bus Hop on Hop off Route Map — CLICK HERE
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It really is that easy — See for yourself how this works.
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1. Who helps tourists with the city’s history during the trip?| A．Bus drivers. | B．Policemen. | C．Volunteers. | D．Live guides. |
| A．tourists can get on and off the bus with ease |
| B．the open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most expensive way to see New York |
| C．Big Bus Welcome Center is Between 37th & 38th St. |
| D．free Classic Ticket can be issued on the bus |
| A．Staying wherever the tourist likes. |
| B．Choosing different restaurants to eat. |
| C．Getting a free Classic Ticket. |
| D．Saving much time for buying stuff. |
| A．an application form | B．a history book |
| C．a newspaper | D．a website |
7 . US private rocket company SpaceX has announced that two private citizens have paid to be sent around the Moon. The mission (任务) is planned for late 2018. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said, "This presents an opportunity for humans to return to deep space for the first time in 45 years."
The two unnamed people will fly aboard a spaceship which is set for its first unmanned test flight later this year. The co-operation of America's NASA space agency had made the plan possible. Mr. Musk said, "The two passengers will travel faster and further into the solar system than any before them." Like the Apollo astronauts before them, these individuals will travel into space carrying the hopes and dreams of all humankind, driven by the universal human spirit of exploration.
"We expect to conduct health and fitness tests, as well as begin initial training later this year. The first mission would be unmanned, and the next one―with crew―was expected in the second quarter of 2018," the rich businessman and inventor said, "The first passengers are entering this with their eyes open, knowing that there is some risk here. They're certainly not childish, and we'll do everything we can to reduce that risk, but it's not zero."
The space tourists would make a circle around the Moon, scanning the lunar surface and then going well beyond. However, the mission will not involve a lunar landing. "If NASA decided to take part in a lunar fly-by mission, then the agency would have privilege," Mr. Musk said. The US has not sent astronauts to the Moon since the early 1970s.
1. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?| A．The two tourists can't afford to fly around the moon. |
| B．Space travels are rooted in the spirit of human exploration. |
| C．Initial training is expected to be conducted at the beginning of 2018. |
| D．The two tourists are expected to fly at a slow speed. |
| A．it needs co-operation with Mr. Musk |
| B．it has previous technical skills |
| C．it will be able to remove all the risks |
| D．it has to make money for research |
| A．In a textbook. | B．In a science fiction. |
| C．In a travel brochure. | D．On a news website. |
| A．T he Coming Moon Trip of Two Private Citizens |
| B．An Opportunity to Explore Space for the First Time |
| C．A Paid Trip Planned by SpaceX to 'Land on the Moon |
| D．Two Unmanned Missions of Circling around the Moon |
8 . In recent years, Boston Dynamics has become known for two things. One, creating robots whose movements mimic (模仿) humans and animals. Many find their accuracy surprising and concerning. The second reason is posting mysterious videos of these robots online without warning. The videos quickly go popular and spread a mixture of excitement and terror over the rapid rise of self-operating machines.
The company has made four-legged robots in recent years, with names like Spot, Wildcat and BigDog. These robots can do tasks such as open doors, carry heavy loads and run nearly 20 miles per hour. The company's most popular product appears to be Atlas, the robotic athlete. It calls Atlas "the world's most dynamic humanlike robot."
The robot is guided by 3-D vision. It also uses LiDAR, short for Light Detection And Ranging, a sensor (传感器) that uses a laser (激光) to measure the distance between objects. With this technology, the small robot can pull nearly 25 pounds. The company says Atlas can also handle objects in its environment, cross rough land, keep its balance when pushed and get back up when knocked down.
Three years ago, Atlas was recorded clumsily walking through the snow at a slow speed. Curiosity about Atlas increased last year when Boston Dynamics posted a video clip on YouTube. In it, the previously awkward robot goes for a jog in a grassy area. The video seemed to surprise many viewers, including the newspaper called the Daily Mail. The newspaper was reporting on Atlas's physical accomplishment at the time.
The paper wrote, "If you thought you'd be able to run away from the terrifying new robots, bad news."
1. What is the main idea of the passage?| A．Robots mimicking humans and animals go popular. |
| B．Boston Dynamic is likely to create more new robots. |
| C．Humanlike robots are developing at a surprising speed. |
| D．A new video of the latest robots make people amused. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Unskillful. |
| C．Graceful. | D．Convenient. |
| A．It’s bad that we can run away from the new robots. |
| B．People are happy about the improvements to new robots. |
| C．Human’s power over machines and robots has come to an end. |
| D．Improvements to robots raised concern among us human. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．An advertisement. |
| C．Children’s literature. | D．A fantasy novel. |
9 . Job Chances in Top Schools
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Native speaker of English
BA Degree or higher (English and Education major preferred)
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Pay to be offered
From ＄1,800 to ＄2,300 a month depending on conditions and experience
Pays differ depending on schools. Benefits differ between employers, but the following benefits must be offered:
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Round-trip ticket
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To apply, only send us the following information:
Resume/Date of Birth/Recent picture
Once we receive your information, we will get you into our job matching lists, when a match is recorded, we will get in touch with you for an interview. Click on the following apply.
Now button to offer your resume and required documentation.
Any questions send us an e-mail at primejobs@teachers.com.
1. One who gets the job will teach ______.| A．French | B．English |
| C．Chinese | D．German |
| A．can’t apply the job |
| B．can apply the job at any time |
| C．can get more benefits from the job |
| D．can get more medical insurance from the job |
| A．be fined | B．not get paid |
| C．be paid as usual | D．be paid with overtime pay |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A dictionary. | D．The Internet. |
10 . In the near future, we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets, even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja(水果忍者).
The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlling computer technology for nearly 20 years. But those devices(设备) have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities, and are very expensive.
“After a while, we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way,” says Gaze’s Sune Alstrup Johansen. “where everybody would have this available.”
Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company, the Eye Tribe, which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level.
The technology works when combined with the computing device toward the user’s face. After making sure of the user’s eye movements, the technology is then able to easily find where a person’s eyes are moving, and then allow the eyes to control a cursor (光标).
“Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you’re looking on the screen to make sure what you’re looking at,” reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site.
There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming(电玩游戏) world. Recently Xbox released the Kinect device, which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands, legs and voices. But still, most of these devices have been more of a trick than a practical way to use one’s hands to control a mobile device. Johansen said a replaceable filter (滤光器) would be a cheap, convenient way for most consumers.
And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlling technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users.
For more articles on modern science, please CLICK here.
1. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?| A．An introduction of a new product. |
| B．An introduction of smartphones and tablets. |
| C．An introduction of a new technology for the disabled. |
| D．An introduction of eye-controlling technology. |
| A．the eye-controlling technology |
| B．the Gaze Group |
| C．the mobile device |
| D．the mass-market way |
| A．the eye-controlling technology was first developed for the blind |
| B．there is no such phone as we can use only with our eyes at present |
| C．the present development of the technology will bring no good |
| D．the eye-controlling technology is only intended for the disabled people |
| A．an experiment report |
| B．a science fiction |
| C．a science website |
| D．a school textbook |
