Luo Xinlin, 22, experienced her first ride in a self-driving taxi in Changsha, the capital of China's Hunan Province. "I made an
"The taxi drove very smoothly by
The self-driving taxi
"The in-car touch screen can display barriers and dynamic (动态的) predictions within the 360-degree field of vision and
In September 2019, the company launched a trial service for a group of citizens, who had to first complete training and other procedures. The technical personnel started testing self-driving taxis in the second half of last year and they
China allowed local governments to arrange road tests for intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs), which cover different degrees of autonomous driving, in April 2018.
2 . If you followed the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, you may have noticed that several athletes, including US swimmer Michael Phelps, had circular bruises on their bodies. These bruises were the results of “cupping therapy”, a traditional Chinese medical practice that has been around for more than 2,000 years.
Cupping therapy involves attaching circular cups to the skin using suction(吸力). The suction is created either by heating the cup inside or by using a handheld pump. This suction pulls the skin upward into the cup. Sometimes it can leave dark red bruises, other times there is no mark at all.
Many athletes say that they have benefited from the therapy. Phelps used the therapy in the fall of 2014 and has used it about twice a week since, reported ABC News. Another US swimmer, Dana Vollmer, also believes that “it really helps with blood flow, and helps pull swelling out of different areas.”
However, some have said that the supposed health effects result from people feeling that the treatment works, rather than any physical effects of the treatment.
To figure out whether cupping therapy has any physical effects, last year researchers from Germany carried out a test in which a sham(假装的) treatment was provided.
In the study, the same type of cups was used in the real treatment and the sham treatment. But in the sham treatment, the cups had a hole at the top so that they couldn’t create the proper suction.
The tested patients, who suffered from a disorder(疾病) that causes a lot of pain, were told that they would receive either a traditional cupping or “soft cupping”. But they were not informed that the so-called “soft cupping” was a sham treatment.
It turned out that most patients correctly guessed which kind of cupping they had received. In both groups, patients also experienced about the same reductions in pain. The results suggest the effects of cupping therapy might come fro factors that are not necessarily part of the treatment itself, the researchers told the Live Science website.
The question of whether cupping therapy works still needs to be answered. But because the treatment is relatively safe and it could be helpful for some people, “the therapy can be used as a part of a comprehensive treatment program involving other exercises, nutritional choices and lifestyle interventions(干预)”, Dr Brent Bauer, director of the US’ Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program, told Live Science.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE about cupping therapy?A.It leaves bruises every time. | B.Heating is crucial to cupping therapy. |
C.The key to cupping therapy is suction. | D.It has been widely used in Western countries. |
A.prove the health effects of cupping therapy |
B.see whether cupping therapy has a physical effect |
C.compare traditional cupping and the soft cupping |
D.compare cupping therapy’s effects on different groups of people |
A.Different types of cups were used for different cupping therapies. |
B.Patients knew which kind of cupping treatment they would receive before the treatment. |
C.The real treatment and the sham treatment were almost equally effective for patients. |
D.The results show the effects of cupping therapy result from people’s belief in the treatment |
A.easy and convenient to carry out |
B.newly invented and untraditional |
C.requiring a long period of time to take effect |
D.including everything that is important and necessary |
3 . The Choking Dog
Joanne beat impatiently on the steering wheel of her Mercedes sports car. Now she was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30 p.m., and at 6:30 she was expected to hold a meeting of the tennis club.
At last, the traffic was moving, and she switched quickly to the fast lane to get home.After she parked her car, she leapt out of the car and ran for the house. As she opened the door, she almost knocked down Sheba, her dog, who was standing behind it.
She bent down to stroke the large Alsatian dog’s head, “I have to go now.” Sheba was coughing or choking as if she was trying to vomit something. She was obviously in real discomfort, and her sad eyes gazed at Joanne helplessly. Joanne examined the dog closely, and Sheba did look very sick. Joanne realized that it is necessary to take her to the vet immediately. Fortunately, the vet’s surgery is not far. Joanne quickly loaded the coughing and choking dog and took her to the vet.
As soon as she arrived at Dr. Sterne’s place, he brought her immediately into his office.
“Something is stuck in her throat,” said Dr. Sterne.
“Doctor, I have to go back to get changed for an emergent meeting. I’ll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, OK?”
“Sure,” said the doctor.
Joanne hurriedly went back to her home. As she entered the door, the phone rang.
“This is Dr. Sterne. I'm coming with the police. Wait outside for us.” said the doctor with fear in his voice. Joanne was confused and also a little frightened.
When she ran into the street, two policemen were getting out of their car. After briefly checking that she was the owner of the house, they ran into the house, without explaining anything. Joanne was completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived.
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?’’ shouted Joanne.
“She’s fine, Joanne. I extracted the thing which was choking her.”
“Why are the police in my house?”
Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white-faced man who could hardly walk and with blood all over him.
“How did he get in there?”
“I think he must be a burglar,” said the doctor. “I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat, it turned out to be three human fingers. I don’t think he’s a very happy burglar.”
Circle the correct letter of the answer.
1. Why was Joanne impatient at the beginning of the story?
A.She was lost. |
B.She had lost a client at work. |
C.She was stuck in a traffic jam. |
D.Her dog was sick. |
A.It was time for Sheba’s checkup. |
B.The dog couldn’t breathe properly. |
C.She wanted to get her out of the house. |
D.The doctor had asked to see her. |
A.The police arrived. |
B.The phone rang. |
C.The dog died. |
D.A burglar was just escaping. |
A.stared | B.cried | C.barked | D.laughed |
Direct speech and reported speech
Change the following direct speech into reported speech.
5. “Something is stuck in her throat,” said Dr. Sterne.
Answer questions in complete sentences and in your own words.
6. Use two or three sentences to describe what happened between the dog and the burglar.
7. What are the consequences of burgling?
8. Why did the doctor ask Joanne to wait outside her house?
4 . Summer job offers
Red Lemon shop Assistants(售货员)
We are looking for shop assistants for the summer. If you are a social person and good at salesmanship, we want you to join our team. Good conditions. Perfect for students.
Phone 0151-897-6643 for information about how to apply.
Cinerama Cinemas
We need people to work evenings and at the weekend. Responsibilities include checking tickets and selling popcorn and soft drinks. Watch the latest films ... free! Join our young and friendly team!
Phone 0161-754-6022 for more information about wages (工资)and conditions.
US Au Pairs
Ever wanted to visit California? Are you patient, caring and good with kids? Work as an au pair in Los Angeles this summer. Free food and accommodation(食宿).
Phone 0121-077, 2001 for information about how to get application forms(申请表).
Are You Mad About Sport?
Would you like to spend all summer teaching sport to people from around the world? Then come and work at our international sports camp Sports Star Camp!
Phone 0191-121-5533 for information about how to get and where to send application forms, etc.
1. Which number can you call if you want to get a job that provides free films?A.0151-897-6643. | B.0161-754-6022. | C.0121-077-2001. | D.0191-121-5533. |
A.It is a high-paid job. | B.It is perfect for kids. |
C.It offers job-related training. | D.It requires somebody with patience. |
A.Jill, who dreams of being a sports star. |
B.Jack, who wants to become a sports coach. |
C.Joe, who expects to travel around the world. |
D.Jim, who loves to take part in sports competitions. |
1. What did Katie do with her first cabbage?
A.She donated it to the hungry people. |
B.She gave it to the school kitchen. |
C.She ate it with her family. |
A.From her school. | B.From her community. | C.From her parents. |
A.To raise over $200,000. |
B.To get 500 gardens. |
C.To travel across 50 states. |
1. 景点名称
2. 推荐理由
3. 提醒防护措施。
注意:
1. 词数80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
供参考词汇:Yellow Crane Tower ; East Lake; Hubei Provincial Museum ......
Dear Tom,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
(1) women are helped more than men;
(2) men help more than women;
(3) attractive women are helped more than unattractive women.
Other factors relate to the number of people in the area, whether the person is thought to be in trouble through their own fault, and whether a person sees himself as being able to help.
According to Adrian Furnham, Professor of University College, London, there are three reasons why we tend to stand by doing nothing:
(1) “Shifting of responsibility”— the more people there are, the less likely help is to be given. Each person excuses himself by thinking someone else will help, so that the more “other people’ there are, the greater the total shifting of responsibility.
(2) “Fear of making a mistake” — situations are often not clear. People think that those involved in an accident may know each other or it may be a joke, so a fear of embarrassment makes them keep themselves to themselves.
(3) “Fear of the consequences if attention is turned on you, and the person is violent.”
Laurie Taylor, Professor of Sociology at London University, says: “In the experiments I’ve seen on intervention (介入), much depends on the neighborhood or setting. There is a silence on public transport which is hard to break. We are embarrassed to draw attention to something that is happening, while in a football match, people get involved, and a fight would easily follow.”
Psychotherapist Alan Dupuy identifies the importance of the individual: “The British as a whole have some difficulty intervening, but there are exceptional individuals in every group who are prepared to intervene, regardless of their own safety: These would be people with a strong moral code or religious ideals.”
1. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A.Pretty women are more likely to be helped. |
B.People on a bus are more likely to stop a crime. |
C.Religious people are more likely to look on. |
D.Criminals are more likely to harm women. |
A.Sex. | B.Nationality. | C.Profession. | D.Setting. |
A.When one is in trouble, people think it’s his own fault. |
B.In a football match, people get involved in a fight. |
C.Seeing a murder, people feel sorry that it should have happened. |
D.On hearing a cry for help, people keep themselves to themselves. |
A.to explain why bystanders behave as they do |
B.to urge people to stand out when in need |
C.to criticize the selfishness of bystanders |
D.to analyze the weakness of human nature |
Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride,there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation-in another language. It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train. I think it was annoying.
Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two-day trip by train. She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home,although she had no trouble driving. The train ride was the only choice for her. She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.
She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents. That is a very good question. Both of us are old and have children. She asked that same question from time to time.
There are always many people on the train from all walks of life,different countries,and many languages. Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures. If you get hungry,you can buy food in the food car at any time. If you need to use the restroom there is always one available.
It sure beats driving the car,which has to stop for food and restrooms. And it is better than taking the bus.
1. According to the passage,the purpose of the author’s train ride was .
A.to do business | B.to see her children |
C.to visit places of interest | D.to see her old friends |
A.Disappointed. | B.Satisfied. | C.Worried. | D.Pleased. |
A.She is too old to drive now. |
B.She does not like to take trains. |
C.Although she is old,she has a good memory. |
D.Her daughters live far away from her home. |
A.Train ride-a cultural experience | B.A painful experience on the train |
C.The history of Amtrak | D.A wonderful lady |
9 . LONDON — A British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake bomb detectors (探测器) to 10 years in prison, saying the man hadn’t cared about potentially deadly consequences.
It is believed that James McCormick got about $ 77.8 million from the sales of his detectors — which were based on a kind of golf ball finder — to countries including Iraq, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. McCormick, 57, was convicted of cheats last month and sentenced Thursday at the Old Bailey court in London.
“Your cheating conduct in selling a great amount of useless equipment simply for huge profit promoted a false sense of security and in all probability materially contributed to causing death and injury to innocent people,” Judge Richard Hone told McCormick. “You have neither regret, nor shame, nor any sense of guilt.”
The detectors, sold for up to $ 42, 000 each, were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air. But in fact they “lacked any grounding in science” and were of no use.
McCormick had told the court that he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand.
“I never had any bad results from customers,” he said.
1. Why was McCormick sentenced to prison?A.He sold bombs. |
B.He caused death of people. |
C.He made detectors. |
D.He cheated in business. |
A.increased the cost of safeguarding |
B.lowered people’s guard against danger |
C.changed people’s idea of social security |
D.caused innocent people to commit crimes |
A.They have not been sold to Africa |
B.They have caused many serious problems. |
C.They can find dangerous objects in water. |
D.They don’t function on the basis of science. |
A.sold the equipment at a low price |
B.was well-known in most countries |
C.did not think he had committed the crime |
D.had not got such huge profit as mentioned in the text |