1 . This month, Germany’s transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt , proposed the first set of rules for autonomous vehicles(自主驾驶车辆）.They would define the driver’s role in such cars and govern how such cars perform in crashes where lives might be lost.
The proposal attempts to deal with what some call the “death valley” of autonomous vehicles: the grey area between semi-autonomous and fully driverless cars that could delay the driverless future.
Dobrindt wants three things: that a car always chooses property(财产）damage over personal injury; that it never distinguishes between humans based on age or race; and that if a human removes his or her hands from the driving wheel — to check email, say — the car’s maker is responsible if there is a crash.
“The change to the road traffic law will permit fully automatic driving,” says Dobrindt. It will put fully driverless cars on an equal legal footing to human drivers, he says.
Who is responsible for the operation of such vehicles is not clear among car makers, consumers and lawyers. “The liability(法律责任）issue is the biggest one of them all,” says Natasha Merat at the University of Leeds, UK.
An assumption behind UK insurance for driverless cars, introduced earlier this year, insists that a human “ be watchful and monitoring the road” at every moment.
But that is not what many people have in mind when thinking of driverless cars. “When you say ‘driverless cars”, people expect driverless cars.” Merat says “You know — no driver.”
Because of the confusion, Merat thinks some car makers will wait until vehicles can be fully automated without operation.
Driverless cars may end up being a form of public transport rather than vehicles you own, says Ryan Calo at Stanford University, California. That is happening in the UK and Singapore, where government-provided driverless vehicles are being launched.
That would go down poorly in the US, however. “The idea that the government would take over driverless cars and treat them as a public good would get absolutely nowhere here,” says Calo.
1. What does the phrase “death valley” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．A place where cars often break down. | B．A case where passing a law is impossible. |
| C．An area where no driving is permitted. | D．A situation where drivers’ role is not clear. |
| A．stop people from breaking traffic rules. | B．help promote fully automatic driving. |
| C．protect drivers of all ages and races. | D．prevent serious property damage. |
| A．It should get the attention of insurance companies. |
| B．It should be the main concern of law makers. |
| C．It should not cause deadly traffic accidents. |
| D．It should involve no human responsibility. |
| A．Singapore | B．the UK | C．the US | D．Germany |
2 . While many people dream of mermaids（美人鱼），few people actually try to become one.How can someone become a mermaid if they don’t exist?Just ask Dana Richardson,who is a professional mermaid in Hawaii!
“As a child,I always felt very connected to the ocean and played mermaids in the water,”says Dana.“My love of the ocean took me to different types of work such as a lifeguard,swim instructor,boat crew member,underwater photographer,boat captain and surfer.I just decided to take it to the next level and grow a tail.”
Dana doesn’t mean literally（照字面地）.In 2008 she began making mermaid tails from materials including shiny fabric（织物）that she wears while free-diving in the waters around Kona,Hawaii.Free-diving means diving without any protective equipment.It requires you to hold your breath while swimming deep underwater.As she dives in,Dana not only like a mermaid;she experiences what it is like to swim like one too.
The waters around Dana’s home in Kona are filled with wildlife,including dolphins and whales.Kona is by a sheltered sea where the waters are calm for swimming.For ten years Dana has been swimming with the creatures of Kona.Some of them have even learned to recognize her.
Dana knows how to swim with sea life because she is a trained marine(海洋的)naturalist.She understands the behavior of sea life and knows how to safely interact with it.Every morning when she swims with sea life she gets to experience her other“home”.“The ocean beneath the depths really is another world.Watching how the world works so gracefully in the circle of life underwater is a beautiful thing.”
For Dana Richardson being a mermaid just makes sense.“I always felt more comfortable underwater than on land,”she says.
Would you like to follow your dream,even if it seems impossible？Dana Richardson reminds everyone,“One person can truly make a difference.By following your heart and offering the world your unique gifts,you will inspire others to do so.The world needs you!”
1. What has been influencing Dana’s work experience most?| A．Her hobby | B．Her family |
| C．Her science teacher | D．Her swim instructor |
| A．She needs them to protect her. |
| B．She wants to swim like a mermaid. |
| C．She needs to make money with them. |
| D．She wants to take photos of mermaids. |
| A．get along well with sea life | B．discover her outstanding gifts |
| C．appreciate the beauty of other people | D．feel comfortable both underwater and on land |
| A．help those in need | B．love marine animals |
| C．try to realize their dreams | D．protect the marine environment |
3 . The Best and Worst Things to Buy in March
Frozen food
Grocery store ads aren’t the only places to find deals on freezer-section treats. To take advantage of the deepest discounts, combine coupons (优惠券) from sponsoring brands, such as Dole, Green Giant and Tyson Foods, with grocery store sales. Plus, look for printable savings on Coupons. com and EasyHomeMeals.com. Brands participating in National Frozen Food Month will offer more than 180, 000 coupons that make frozen food among the best things to buy in March.
Boxed chocolates
If you desire to give a gift to a friend in March, consider chocolate. Two minor holidays in March provide the perfect excuse: National Chocolate Caramel Day on March 19 and National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day on March 24. You can discover chocolate deals online as well as in stores. Head to sites like RetailMeNot.com to find discount coupons for boxed chocolate savings of 10 percent or more.
New cars
With the latest car models filling dealers’ lots, you’ll have a hard time finding discounted models from the year before. Car dealerships are less motivated to offer steep discounts from March through May. Instead, plan to buy your car during the fall or winter. You should also research the auto you want at TrueCar before heading for the dealership. The site offers information on what people in your area paid for vehicles equipped with the options you want.
Spring clothing
When warm weather makes you want to head outdoors, resist the urge to do so wearing the latest fashions. You won’t find March deals on swimsuits, Easter dresses or other spring items. To find discounts on clothes of this spring, hold off until Memorial Day weekend. You can also look for online and in- store savings at Amazon, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and other retailers.
1. Which things offer discounts in March according to the text?| A．Frozen food and new cars. |
| B．Boxed chocolates and new cars. |
| C．Frozen food and boxed chocolates. |
| D．Boxed chocolates and spring clothing. |
| A．Register on a site. |
| B．Attend a holiday event. |
| C．Consult people in our areas, |
| D．Look for discount information online. |
| A．Memorial Day. |
| B．National Frozen Food Month. |
| C．National Chocolate Caramel Day. |
| D．National Chocolate-Covered Raisin Day. |
4 . A farmer had a cow. He took very good care of this cow and one day when it was ill, he was very worried. He telephoned the vet.
“What’s the problem?” The vet asked him when he arrived.
“My cow’s ill,” the farmer said. “I don’t know what’s the matter with her. She’s lying down and won’t eat. She’s making a strange noise.”
The vet looked over the cow. “She’s certainly ill,” he said, “and she needs to take some very strong medicine.”
He took a bottle out of his box, put two pills into his hand and said, “Give her these. The pills should make her better.”
“How should I give them to her?” the farmer asked.
The vet gave him a tube (管子)and said, “Put this tube in her mouth, then put the pills in the tube and blow. That’ ll make it.”
The next day the vet came to the farm again. The farmer was sitting outside his house and looked more worried.
“How’s your cow?” the vet asked.
“No change,” the farmer said, “and I’m feeling very strange myself.”
“Oh?” the vet said, “Why?”
“I did what you said,” the farmer answered. “I put the tube in the cow’s mouth and then put two pills down it.”
“And?” the vet asked.
“The cow blew first,” the farmer said.
1. In the story, the vet must be _________.| A．the farmer’s friend | B．a milk factory |
| C．a hospital for cows | D．a doctor for animals |
| A．couldn’t lie down | B．didn’t eat the pills |
| C．couldn’t make any noise | D．was ill |
| A．The farmer ate the pills himself. |
| B．The cow got better after taking the medicine. |
| C．The vet came to help farmer change the cow the next day. |
| D．The farmer waited for the vet outside his house the next day. |
5 . Most of us celebrate our birthday with birthday cakes. We probably sing a song, play some fun games, and maybe even open a few presents. Have you ever wondered exactly why we do these things, though?
Most scholars point to the Bible as the earliest known reference to a birthday celebration.
It wasn’t until the time of ancient Rome that birthdays were celebrated for common people.
Our modern birthday celebrations with a party and cake didn't come around until the late 18th century in Germany. In fact, Germany is usually considered the birthplace of the modern birthday cake.
If you’re curious about when we started singing “Happy Birthday to You”,that didn’t happen until the 1920s.
| A．It mentions Pharaoh's birthday. |
| B．What is the most common birthday? |
| C．The song got its start as “Good Morning to All.” |
| D．When did birthday celebrations begin anyway? |
| E．Even then, these celebrations were limited to men. |
| F．So we were born on this day a certain number of years ago. |
| G．Early on, birthday cakes were usually only available to the wealthy. |
6 . Indian officials recently suggested weight guidelines (指南) for children’s school bags.The central government said the weight of the bag should depend on the age of the child. It advised all Indian states to set limits to meet the new guidance.
Indian officials have criticized (责备) schools for making students carry heavy school bags and giving young children homework.
Under the guidelines, no homework would be given to children in grades 1 and 2. This will make sure that the youngest students have no books to carry home. For students in grades 3 to 5, the weight of a school bag would never be more than three kilograms. And bags would never weigh more than five kilograms for students in grade 10.
The Indian government noted studies that showed how a heavy school bag could affect students’ soft and developing spines (脊柱). One study found that 68 percent of young children suffered from mild back pain. The mild pain can develop into long-term back pain and affect bones of the spinal column.
The study included more than 2,500 children between the ages of 7 and 13. It found that more than 88 percent of children carried more than 45 percent of their body weight on their backs.
Mumbai is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The state requires that a schoolbag’s weight should be not more than 10 percent of a child’s body weight. Many schools there have started using white boards and projectors in classes, which have reduced the number of books to be carried to school.
But in large parts of rural (乡村的) India, children still have to walk great distances, weighed down by heavy school bags. Some have to bring about 4-5 kilograms of books in their school bags and also carry lunch boxes and water bottles in other bags.
1. Who are responsible for children’s heavy schoolbags according to Indian government?| A．Parents. | B．Schools. | C．Children. | D．Lawmakers. |
| A．Students’ school bags weighed half of their body weight. |
| B．88 percent of children suffered from back pain. |
| C．45 percent of children damaged their bones. |
| D．Heavy bags harmed most children. |
| A．10 kg. | B．15 kg. | C．Less than 3 kg. | D．Less than 5 kg. |
| A．They have fewer books to carry. | B．They have to carry extra weight. |
| C．They have heavier homework. | D．They have busier school life. |
7 . A few years ago, I took a trip to New York City with my mom and my cousin. It was a girls’ weekend to celebrate my cousin’s upcoming wedding. We spent the morning shopping and stopped in a family-owned Italian restaurant. The woman who greeted us was the cook, and her elderly mother who'd started the restaurant was behind the counter (柜台). There were only five tables in the whole restaurant and we were the only customers.
We were chatting about what we wanted to do that night when my cousin suddenly stood up and pointed behind my mom and me. Black smoke started pouring from a staircase (楼梯) in the hallway that led to the businesses above that one. Thinking the floor above us must be on fire, my mom ran to the back to tell the cook, while we tried to convince the elderly Italian woman, who actually couldn’t speak English, to come outside. She couldn’t see the smoke from her place behind the counter and just scolded (训斥) us in Italian.
Finally, my cousin physically picked the lady up. Thankfully, she was a tiny lady and my cousin was strong. We got her outside and she finally saw the smoke. My mom took her phone out to call the firemen, but someone else must have already done that because we heard the sirens (警报声) coming. The firetruck rounded the corner, nearly hitting the front end of a cab. The passengers in the back of the cab started screaming, but the driver looked calm.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. We didn’t find out what had caused the fire, but at least it didn’t spread beyond the second floor. The cook thanked us for helping them, and her mother kept hugging my cousin. The rest days were peaceful compared to that day, and I’ve always wanted to go back and see if that restaurant was still there.
1. Where did the fire probably break out?| A．From the kitchen. | B．From the hallway. |
| C．From a staircase. | D．From the second floor. |
| A．She was easy to become angry. | B．She mistook them for trouble makers. |
| C．She thought they were making noises. | D．She didn’t need help from other people. |
| A．The fire truck hit the cab at last. | B．The cab driver called the firemen. |
| C．The fire truck arrived just in time. | D．The passengers in the cab were injured. |
| A．I spent a weekend in New York City. | B．What an unforgettable day it was. |
| C．A big fire destroyed a restaurant. | D．How special a restaurant it was |
8 . Pumpkins (南瓜) have all shapes and sizes, and have colors of golden orange, white and green. Cooked in a pie, they are symbols of autumn that are grown in every county of Washington.
U.S. farmers grow more than a billion pounds of pumpkins every year, and many farmers use sheets (膜) of plastic blocking the grass and preventing water loss to make their plants grow well. In the country, farmers use about a billion pounds of plastic every year. Unfortunately, that plastic is thrown away finally, and in some areas, burned in the fields.
For several years, Carol Miles has studied a new product the soil-biodegradable (土壤生物降解的) plastic cover that can be left in the ground after harvest, then broken down by things in the soil. “You don’t need to pull it out of the field and throw it away every autumn, saving time and money,” Miles said.
Most pumpkins grow along vines (藤蔓) that spread through the grass-blocking cover, and Miles wanted to see how pumpkin fruit performed over the plastic cover. That brought a challenge: the soil-biodegradable cover stuck to the bottom of the fruit.
“We have a lot of dew (露水) in the morning, and we found that if we let the fruit dry after harvest, the cover would stick more strongly to the pumpkins,” Miles said. “Nobody wants plastic stuck to pumpkins, even if it's biodegradable. But if you wipe the fruit before the dew dries, the plastic comes right off.”
Farmers who grow plants that don’t set fruit on plastic covers won’t meet this challenge. For those who do, it means an extra step that they”ll have to weigh against advantages and disadvantages for the development.
“Challenges aside, working with this crop can bring on a happy picture,” the farmer Tymon said. “Pumpkins are great. They have bright colors, and are really fun to work with.”
1. What’s the biggest problem of the old pumpkin growing skill?| A．Pumpkins have simple types. | B．Pumpkins have a low output. |
| C．Farmers waste a lot of plastic. | D．Farmers can’t avoid the water loss. |
| A．It’s easy to use. | B．It’s cheap to buy. |
| C．It’s environment-friendly. | D．It’s good for most plants. |
| A．Wait till the plastic is broken down. | B．Wipe the dew from the plastic cover. |
| C．Replace the plastic with other sheets. | D．Clean the pumpkins when they’re wet. |
| A．New growing skills will be created. | B．A new kind of plastic was invented. |
| C．Plastic influences the growth of pumpkins. | D．U.S. farmers develop their favorite pumpkins. |
Each summer, almost 140,000 people visit the park to watch one of the four yearly plays. The schedule includes J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies this year.
With the stage and seating both completely open, the actors and the audience are unable to do anything to escape the British weather. However, it hasn’t prevented stars such as Zoë Wanamaker, Jeremy Irons and Benedict Cumberbatch from performing here.
Brownsea Open Air Theatre, Dorset
The only way to this theatre is by boat. Plays are shown on Brownsea Island off the coast of Dorset every year, and volunteers travel there each June to begin building the stage. The island is much loved by locals, who are determined to make sure it thrives (兴盛). Denise Mallender, the director of the theatre, says, “We re an official charity, and we help the work on the island by holding a regular Shakespeare’s play.”
Scarborough Open Air Theatre, Scarborough
Enjoy the sea air and sights of Europe’s largest open-air playhouse. The stage and seating are separated by a lake. “It’s a unique place,” says JanetDeacon, area director of Welcome to Yorkshire. ''The theatre now plays host to concerts by famous artists such as Elaine Page and Tom Jones, who are both performing this month.''
Rutland Open Air Theatre, Rutland
This theatre is home to the Stamford Shakespeare Company, who this year celebrates its 39th year of outdoor plays with performances of Romeo and Juliet and Henry V. In all its years, the Rutland theatre has never canceled a performance because of rain and although the stage and actors are left open to bad weather, the audience can shelter in the covered hall.
1. What do we know about Regent's Park Open Air Theatre?| A．It presents four plays every year | B．It shows the same plays every year. |
| C．It puts on no performance on rainy days. | D．It attracts 140,000 people all year around. |
| A．Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. | B．Brownsea Open Air Theatre. |
| C．Scarborough Open Air Theatre. | D．Rutland Open Air Theatre. |
| A．They both show Shakespeare’s plays. |
| B．They both offer shelter to the audience. |
| C．They both depend on money from charities. |
| D．They both rely on volunteers to build stages. |
10 . Some places in the world have strange laws. It’s important for you to know about them before going there.
Whoever likes to chew gum(口香糖) may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum.
Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you’d better make sure you aren’t visiting during Ramadan(斋月). During that time you aren’t allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public.
Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law—no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations – is rather old, and isn’t in use today in France.
In Thailand it’s against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke ---the local police will stop you.
Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100.
Do you often buy things using coins? Don’t do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn’t allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited (受限制的). The shop owner has the right to choose whether to take your coins or not.
Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry.
1. What is mainly talked about in the text?| A．How to make your trip around the world safe. |
| B．Why there are strange laws in the world. |
| C．Interesting places you can go to around the world. |
| D．Some strange laws you should know about for your trip. |
| A．you should wear your shirt even though it’s hot |
| B．the police will play a joke on you |
| C．the police will give you tickets costing about $10 |
| D．you should always keep your headlights on |
| A．Kissing goodbye at train stations isn’t allowed in France today. |
| B．The Singaporean government cares a lot about its environment. |
| C．Tourists in the United Arab Emirates shouldn’t eat in public. |
| D．You can turn your headlights off in daytime in Denmark. |
