1 . As data and identity theft becomes more and more common, the market is growing for biometric(生物测量) technologies—like fingerprint scans—to keep others out of private e-spaces. At present, these technologies are still expensive, though.

Researchers from Georgia Tech say that they have come up with a low-cost device(装置) that gets around this problem: a smart keyboard. This smart keyboard precisely measures the cadence(节奏) with which one types and the pressure fingers apply to each key. The keyboard could offer a strong layer of security by analyzing things like the force of a user’s typing and the time between key presses. These patterns are unique to each person. Thus, the keyboard can determine people’s identities, and by extension, whether they should be given access to the computer it’s connected to—regardless of whether someone gets the password right.

It also doesn’t require a new type of technology that people aren’t already familiar with. Everybody uses a keyboard and everybody types differently.

In a study describing the technology, the researchers had 100 volunteers type the word “touch” four times using the smart keyboard. Data collected from the device could be used to recognize different participants based on how they typed, with very low error rates. The researchers say that the keyboard should be pretty straightforward to commercialize and is mostly made of inexpensive, plastic-like parts. The team hopes to make it to market in the near future.

1. Why do the researchers develop the smart keyboard?

A．To reduce pressure on keys.	B．To improve accuracy in typing.
C．To replace the password system.	D．To cut the cost of e-space protection.

2. What makes the invention of the smart keyboard possible?

A．Computers are much easier to operate.

B．Fingerprint scanning techniques develop fast.

C．Typing patterns vary from person to person.

D．Data security measures are guaranteed.

3. What do the researchers expect of the smart keyboard?

A．It’ll be environment-friendly.	B．It’ll reach consumers soon.
C．It’ll be made of plastics.	D．It’ll help speed up typing.

4. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A diary.

B．A guidebook

C．A novel.

D．A magazine.

2 . Need a Job This Summer?

The provincial government and its partners offer many programs to help students find summer jobs. The deadlines and what you need to apply depend on the program.

Not a student? Go to the government website to learn about programs and online tools available to help people under 30 build skills, find a job or start businesses all year round.

Jobs for Youth

If you are a teenager living in certain parts of the province, you could be eligible(符合条件) for this program, which provides eight weeks of paid employment along with training.

Who is eligible: Youth 15-18 years old in select communities(社区).

Summer Company

Summer Company provides students with hands-on business training and awards of up to $3,000 to start and run their own summer businesses.

Who is eligible: Students aged 15-29, returning to school in the fall.

Stewardship Youth Ranger Program

You could apply to be a Stewardship Youth Ranger and work on local natural resource management projects for eight weeks this summer.

Who is eligible: Students aged 16 or 17 at time of hire, but not turning 18 before December 31 this year.

Summer Employment Opportunities(机会)

Through the Summer Employment Opportunities program, students are hired each year in a variety of summer positions across the Provincial Public Service, its related agencies and community groups.

Who is eligible: Students aged 15 or older. Some positions require students to be 15 to 24 or up to 29 for persons with a disability.

1. What is special about Summer Company?

A．It requires no training before employment.

B．It provides awards for running new businesses.

C．It allows one to work in the natural environment.

D．It offers more summer job opportunities.

2. What is the age range required by Stewardship Youth Ranger Program?

A．15-18.

B．15-24.

C．15-29.

D．16-17.

3. Which program favors the disabled?

A．Jobs for Youth.	B．Summer Company.
C．Stewardship Youth Ranger Program.	D．Summer Employment Opportunities.

3 . Bacteria are an annoying problem for astronauts. The microorganisms(微生物) from our bodies grow uncontrollably on surfaces of the International Space Station, so astronauts spend hours cleaning them up each week. How is NASA overcoming this very tiny big problem? It’s turning to a bunch of high school kids. But not just any kids. It is depending on NASA HUNCH high school classrooms, like the one science teachers Gene Gordon and Donna Himmelberg lead at Fairport High School in Fairport, New York.

HUNCH is designed to connect high school classrooms with NASA engineers. For the past two years, Gordon’s students have been studying ways to kill bacteria in zero gravity, and they think they’re close to a solution(解决方案). “We don’t give the students any breaks. They have to do it just like NASA engineers,” says Florence Gold, a project manager.

“There are no tests,” Gordon says. “There is no graded homework. There almost are no grades, other than ‘Are you working towards your goal?’ Basically, it’s ‘I’ve got to produce this product and then, at the end of year, present it to NASA.’ Engineers come and really do an in-person review, and...it’s not a very nice thing at times. It’s a hard business review of your product.”

Gordon says the HUNCH program has an impact(影响) on college admissions and practical life skills. “These kids are so absorbed in their studies that I just sit back. I don’t teach.” And that annoying bacteria? Gordon says his students are emailing daily with NASA engineers about the problem, readying a workable solution to test in space.

1. What do we know about the bacteria in the International Space Station?

A．They are hard to get rid of.	B．They lead to air pollution.
C．They appear in different forms.	D．They damage the instruments.

2. What is the purpose of the HUNCH program?

A．To strengthen teacher-student relationships.

B．To sharpen students’ communication skills.

C．To allow students to experience zero gravity.

D．To link space technology with school education.

3. What do the NASA engineers do for the students in the program?

A．Check their product.	B．Guide project designs.
C．Adjust work schedules.	D．Grade their homework.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．NASA: The Home of Astronauts

B．Space: The Final Homework Frontier

C．Nature: An Outdoor Classroom

D．HUNCH: A College Admission Reform

4 . “You can use me as a last resort(选择), and if nobody else volunteers, then I will do it.” This was an actual reply from a parent after I put out a request for volunteers for my kids’ lacrosse(长曲棍球) club.

I guess that there’s probably some demanding work schedule, or social anxiety around stepping up to help for an unknown sport. She may just need a little persuading. So I try again and tug at the heartstrings. I mention the single parent with four kids running the show and I talk about the dad coaching a team that his kids aren’t even on … At this point the unwilling parent speaks up, “Alright. Yes, I’ll do it.”

I’m secretly relieved because I know there’s real power in sharing volunteer responsibilities among many. The unwilling parent organizes the meal schedule, sends out emails, and collects money for end-of-season gifts. Somewhere along the way, the same parent ends up becoming an invaluable member of the team. The coach is able to focus on the kids while the other parents are relieved to be off the hook for another season. Handing out sliced oranges to bloodthirsty kids can be as exciting as watching your own kid score a goal.

Still, most of us volunteers breathe a sigh of relief when the season comes to a close. That relief is coupled with a deep understanding of why the same people keep coming back for more: Connecting to the community(社区) as you freely give your time, money, skills, or services provides a real joy. Volunteering just feels so good.

In that sense, I’m pretty sure volunteering is more of a selfish act than I’d freely like to admit. However, if others benefit in the process, and I get some reward too, does it really matter where my motivation lies?

1. What can we infer about the parent from her reply in paragraph l？

A．She knows little about the club.

B．She isn’t good at sports.

C．She just doesn’t want to volunteer.

D．She’s unable to meet her schedule.

2. What does the underlined phrase “tug at the heartstrings” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Encourage teamwork.

B．Appeal to feelings.

C．Promote good deeds.

D．Provide advice.

3. What can we learn about the parent from paragraph 3?

A．She gets interested in lacrosse.

B．She is proud of her kids.

C．She’ll work for another season.

D．She becomes a good helper.

4. Why does the author like doing volunteer work?

A．It gives her a sense of duty.

B．It makes her very happy.

C．It enables her to work hard.

D．It brings her material rewards.

5 . My Favourite Books

Jo Usmar is a writer for Cosmopolitan and co-author of the This Book Will series(系列) of lifestyle books. Here she picks her top reads.

Matilda
Roald Dahl

I once wrote a paper on the influence of fairy tales on Roald Dahl’s writing and it gave me a new appreciation for his strange and delightful words. Matilda’s battles with her cruel parents and the bossy headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, are equally funny and frightening, but they’re also aspirational.

After Dark
Haruki Murakami

It’s about two sisters—Eri, a model who either won’t or can’t stop sleeping, and Mari, a young student. In trying to connect to her sister, Mari starts changing her life and discovers a world of diverse “night people” who are hiding secrets.

Gone Girl
Gillian Fynn

There was a bit of me that didn’t want to love this when everyone else on the planet did, but the horror story is brilliant. There’s tension and anxiety from the beginning as Nick and Amy battle for your trust. It’s a real whodunit and the frustration when you realise what’s going on is horribly enjoyable.

The Stand
Stephen King

This is an excellent fantasy novel from one of the best storytellers around. After a serious flu outbreak wipes out 99.4% of the world’s population, a battle unfolds between good and evil among those left. Randall Flagg is one of the scariest characters ever.

1. Who does “I” refer to in the text?

A．Stephen King.	B．Gillian Flynn.
C．Jo Usmar.	D．Roald Dahl.

2. Which of the following tells about Mari and Eri?

A．Cosmopolitan.	B．Matilda.
C．After Dark.	D．The Stand.

3. What kind of book is Gone Girl?

A．A folk tale.	B．A biography.
C．A love story.	D．A horror story.

6 . Why people collect art

Many people through history have gone to great lengths to collect art. But what motivates these collectors?

One popular explanation for collecting is that they can have financial gain. Some resell works, earning enormous profit.     1    . Immorally, some ‘collectors’ buy art as a form of money laundering(洗钱), since it is far easier to move art than cash between countries without examination.

    2    . For them, art is important for other reasons. The best way to understand the underlying drive of art collecting is as a means to create and strengthen social bonds, and as a way for collectors to communicate within these new networks.

Collectors are not only interested in creating social links; they are also motivated by the messages they can send once these social networks are created. We all know art is a powerful way for the artist to express thoughts and feelings.     3    . Displaying art can send a message about who the collector really is — at least who she sees herself as.

    4    . Through the collections, collectors convey messages not just about themselves, but about the world as a whole. For example, the kid with the shoebox of bird feathers might show others her collection not just to make friends, but also to convince them about the importance of protecting endangered species.

People collect art for various reasons.     5    .

A．Some gain art works in an illegal way

B．But most collectors think little of profit

C．Artworks preserve the qualities of their makers

D．No doubt art collection is a hard addiction to overcome

E．Some get large tax reductions for donating art to museums

F．It also serves as an effective way to express collectors

G．Other art collectors see their collections as having a broader power

7 . Eating is best when it’s a social activity. Think of the meal a family enjoys in the evening when everyone’s together after work or school, or the big get-togethers over food at Spring Festival. But now, in the age of the Internet and social media, anyone with an Internet connection can enjoy a social eating event.

Mukbang—a South Korean phrase meaning “eating broadcast”—is an unusual food fanaticism that’s sweeping the country. This is a meal where only one person gets to eat, while many viewers watch live shows of hosts eating large quantities of food. They leave comments on the dishes the host is taking, and the host responds to them live.

So why have people taken to this unusual new food trend(趋势)? Jeff Yang, an Asian-American cultural critic, thinks that it’s down to “the loneliness of unmarried or uncoupled South Koreans”. He believes that eating on your own can be hard in a country like South Korea, where social eating is such a long tradition. However, Mukbang gives people the feeling that they are part of something larger, it seems.

Millions of people have trouble with food. Either they eat too much of it, or too little. Some say that the popularity of Mukbang helps people with these disorders. Those who always eat too much and put on weight can watch Mukbang live shows to satisfy their appetite (胃口). And those who don’t eat enough can build their appetite by watching delicious food being eaten.

Even though Mukbang is a South Korean phenomenon, it’s also taken off in the US. But unlike South Koreans who sit down to enjoy noodles and kimchi (泡菜), Americans enjoy their own native dishes. This means that viewers of US Mukbang live shows will see locals stuffing themselves with hamburgers, fries and ice cream.

1. The underlined word “fanaticism” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.

A．disappointment

B．enthusiasm

C．dislike

D．imagination

2. According to Jeff Yang, Mukbang is becoming popular in South Korea mainly because ________.

A．people are used to eating alone

B．it’s good for those who have eating disorders

C．it helps to comfort the lonely people

D．it assists people to build their appetite

3. What is the article mainly about?

A．A traditional Korean eating habit.

B．A new food trend from South Korea.

C．How Koreans communicate through eating.

D．How the Internet affects the way we eat.

8 . Have you ever wondered how the trainers at Sea World get the 19,000-pound whale to jump 22 feet out of water and perform tricks? They get that whale to go over a rope farther out of the water than most of us can imagine.     1    .

So how do the trainers at Sea World do it? The first thing they do is reinforce(强化) the behavior that they want repeated --- in this case, to get the whale to go over the rope.    2    , in a position where the whale can’t help but do what’s expected of it. Every time the whale goes over the rope, it’s given positive reinforcement and gets fed with fish. But what happened when the whale goes under the rope? Nothing — no criticism, no warning and no feedback.     3    .

Positive reinforcement is the key of that simple principle that produces such splendid results. And as the whale begins to go over the rope more often than under, the trainers begin to raise the rope. It must be raised slowly enough so that the whale doesn’t starve.

    4    . Make a big deal out of the good and little stuff that we want consistently. Secondly, under-criticize. People know they need help when they mess up.     5    , people will not forget the event and usually will not repeat it.

So we need to set up the circumstances so that people can’t fail. Over-celebrate, under-criticize…and know how far to raise the rope.

A．This is a great challenge

B．And the whale stays right where it is

C．If we figure out a way to motivate the whale

D．They start with the rope below the surface of the water

E．If we under-criticize, punish and discipline less than expected

F．Whales are taught that their negative behavior won’t be acknowledged

G．The simple lesson to be learned from the whale trainers is to over-celebrate

9 . Some people are so rude. Who sends an e-mail or a text message that just says “Thank you?” Who leaves a voice mail message rather than texts you? Who asks for a fact easily found on the Internet?     1    

Maybe I’m the rude one for not appreciating life’s little courtesies(礼节). But many social norms(规范) just don’t make sense to people drowning in digital communication.

Take the thank-you note. Daniel Post Senning, a coauthor of Emily Post’s Etiquette，asked, “At what point does showing appreciation outweigh the cost?”

    2     Think of how long it takes to listen to one of those messages. In texts, you don’t have to declare who you are or even say hello. E-mail, too, is slower than a text. The worst are those who leave a voice mail and then send an e-mail message to tell you they left a voice mail.

This isn’t the first time technology has changed our manners,     3     Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor, suggested that people say, " Ahoy! "Finally, hello won out, and the victory sped up the greeting's use in face-to-face communications.

In the age of the smart phone, there is no reason to ask once-acceptable questions about:the weather forecast, a business’s phone number, or directions to a house, a restaurant, or an office, which can be easily found on a digital map.     4     And when you answer, they respond with a thank-you e-mail.

How to handle these differing standards? Easy: Consider your audience. Some people,especially older ones, appreciate a thank-you message.     5     In traditional societies, the young learn from the old. But in modern societies, the old can also learn from the young. Here's hoping that politeness never goes out of fashion but that time-wasting forms of communication do.

A. Then there is voice mail.
B. Others, like me, want no reply.
C. But people still ask these things.
D. Don’t these people realize that they’re wasting your time?
E. Won't new technology bring about changes in our daily life?
F. Face-to-face communication makes comprehension much easier.
G. When the telephone was invented, people didn't know how to greet a caller.

10 . A bicycle may be seen by most people as just another vehicle(交通工具), but for many Londoners, cycling is a way of life. According to an official UK government survey in 2017, about 570,000 bike journeys are made every day in London. In fact, almost half of the vehicles that pass over London Bridge each day are bikes.

London introduced a public bike-sharing system in 2010. “There can be no doubt that our trusty bicycles have changed the way people get around our great city,” Johnson told The Guardian in 2015.

In London, bikes are used for more than just taking short trips to and from the subway. No matter where you want to go in the city, taking a bike is usually the quickest and easiest choice.

And it’s not just shared bikes that the government is encouraging people to ride. In many companies across the UK, the UK government’s Cycle to Work scheme(骑行倡议) allows employees to buy a brand new bike without having to pay any tax(税). This means that it’s common to see many people cycling to and from work, and some employers even provide workplace showers and lockers(储物柜) for their workers. More importantly, a cycle-friendly boss may let you off for being late if you rode a bike to work.

Not only is it great for the environment and our body, cycling is also good for the mind. According to National Geographic Magazine, “Bike riding can improve people’s happiness.”

1. How does the author show the popularity of cycling in London?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By giving examples.
C．By using numbers.	D．By using famous sayings.

2. What’s Johnson’s attitude toward the bike-sharing system in London?

A．Supportive.	B．Doubtful.
C．Disappointed.	D．Uninterested.

3. What can employees get from the government under the “Cycle to Work” scheme?

A．Free bike-sharing services.	B．A tax-free bike.
C．Shorter working hours.	D．Workplace showers and lockers.

4. What’s the article mainly about?

A．Cycling as a healthy way of life.

B．London’s public bike-sharing system.

C．Why Londoners are encouraged to ride bikes.

D．How cycling has become popular in London.