1 . “Walkability” linked to reduced hospital costs and admissions

​Neighborhoods designed to encourage people to walk to and from the shops and public transport will help reduce hospital costs and admissions linked to residents, new Canberra research shows.

The research project, from the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute, has revealed a relationship between a suburb’s “walkability score” and a reduction in both hospital costs and admissions and added to the growing debate surrounding the role of “social determinants” in health outcomes.

Coauthors Dr. Yan Yu and Vincent Learnihan studied ACT Health data from 30,690 hospital admissions across 88 of the ACT’s suburbs, and then matched them against each suburb’s “walkability score”. That score is a measure of how easy it is to get around a particular suburb, including the number of interconnected streets, footpaths and the presence of shops, public transport stops, restaurants and services within walking distance of each other.

Dr. Yu said the study showed that those suburbs rated as “walkable”—with a walkability score of 20 units or more—were linked to a 12.1 per cent lower hospital cost for those residents and a 12.5 per cent lower rate of hospital admissions.

She said the admissions data they focused on included cancers, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and diabetes.

But the research also showed that in Canberra, some 80 per cent of all the city’s suburbs were still “car-dependent”, which Mr. Learnihan said showed more needed to be done to help encourage Canberrans to walk, ride and use public transport.

While Mr. Learnihan commended the ACT government’s existing “active travel” programs, he said the study showed that wider and better funded initiatives to improve the “walkability” of new and existing suburbs could help save on health costs and improve Canberrans’ quality of life.

Dr. Yu said such changes could be as simple as improving footpaths and bike paths, increasing public transport access and improving local shops.

1. The suburb’s “walkability score” depends on the following factors within the walking distance of each other EXCEPT ______.

A．the presence of shops	B．the presence of taxi stands
C．the number of interconnected streets	D．the number of interconnected footpaths

2. The underlined word “commended” in Paragraph 7 probably means ______.

A．praised	B．abandoned
C．transformed	D．conducted

3. We can learn from the passage that ______.

A．the suburb with a walkability score of 12.5 units can be rated as “walkable”

B．a majority of Canberrans walk, ride and use public transport to and from work

C．admissions data researchers focused on included different kinds of disease

D．footpaths and bike paths in the suburbs of Canberra are far from satisfactory

4. What will probably happen in the future？

A．There will be fewer cars in Canberra.

B．Canberrans will have easier access to public hospitals.

C．The word “walkability” will be included in the authoritative dictionary.

D．“Walkability” of new and existing suburbs in Canberra will be improved.

2 .    

About Old Faithful —The Most Famous Geyser (间歇性喷泉) in the World Discovered in 1870 by the Washburn Expedition, Old Faithful geyser was named for its frequent eruptions (喷发) — which number more than a million since Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. When does Old Faithful erupt? Basic prediction of Old Faithful is dependent upon the duration of the previous eruption. During visitor center hours, geyser statistics and predictions are maintained by the naturalist staff. People speak of the average time between eruptions. This is misleading. The mathematical average between eruptions of Old Faithful is currently 74 minutes, but it doesn’t like to act average! Intervals can range from 60-110 minutes. Visitors can check for posted prediction times in most buildings in the Old Faithful area. How high does Old Faithful erupt and how long will it last? Old Faithful can vary in height from 100–180 feet with an average near 130–140 feet. This has been the historical range of its recorded height. Eruptions normally last between 1.5 to 5 minutes. I heard Old Faithful isn’t as faithful as it used to be. Is it slowing down? It depends on what you call faithful. The famous geyser currently erupts around 20 times a day and can be predicted with a 90 percent confidence rate within a 10 minute variation. Prior to the 1959 earthquake, Old Faithful erupted 21 times per day. That’s a significant decrease in activity for geologists tracking each eruption, but to visitors seeing one or two eruptions…it looks just fine. How many gallons of water are expelled during an eruption? It depends on the duration of the eruption. Scientists estimate that the amount ranges from 3,700 gallons (for a short duration of 1.5 minutes) to 8,400 gallons (for a longer duration of 4.5 minutes). How hot is the water in Old Faithful? During an eruption, the water temperature at the vent has been measured at 204°F (95.6°C). The steam temperature has been measured above 350°F!

1. You and your friend just watched the eruption of Old Faithful at 12:26 p.m., at what time is it possible for you to enjoy the next one?

A．13:06

B．14:06

C．15:06

D．16:06

2. Which one of the following statement about Old Faithful is true?

A．The geyser’s name indicates that it always erupts regularly, 20 times a day, once every 74 minutes.

B．When it is erupting, people should keep a safe distance due to its freezing coldness.

C．Old Faithful is a well-known geyser which can expel at least 3700 gallons water each time.

D．To check the eruption time, visitors may refer to predictions on the posted timetables.

3. Where does the article most probably appear?

A．The Yellowstone official website.

B．Local travel pamphlets introducing Yellowstone.

C．A recently-issued guide book on Yellowstone.

D．A travel magazine column about Yellowstone.

3 . How does a word get into a Merriam-Webster dictionary? This is one of the questions editors are frequently asked. The answer is simple: usage.

Each day most Merriam-Webster editors devote an hour or two to reading a wide collection of_________ material, including books, newspapers, magazines and electronic publications. In our office this activity is called “reading and marking.” The editors read the texts _________ new words, new usages of existing words, different spellings, and inflected forms—_________, anything that might help in deciding if a word belongs in the dictionary, understanding what it means, and _________ typical usage. Any word of interest is marked, _________ surrounding context that offers insight into its form and use.

The marked passages are then input into a computer system and stored both in machine-readable form and on 3"×5" slips of paper to create citations. Each citation has the following elements: the word itself, an example of the word used in context, and bibliographic information about the _________ from which the word and example were taken.

Merriam-Webster’s citation files, which can be _________ the 1880s, now contain 15.7 million examples of words used in context and cover all aspects of the English vocabulary. Citations are also available to editors in a searchable text database — what _________ call a corpus — that includes more than 70 million words drawn from a great variety of sources.

Before a new word can be added to the dictionary, it must have enough citations to show that it is _________ used. But having a lot of citations is not enough. A word may be __________ for entry into a general dictionary if all of its citations come from a single source or if they are all from highly specialized publications that __________ the jargon of experts within a single field.

The number and range of citations needed for a word’s __________ in the dictionary vary. In __________ cases, a word jumps onto the scene and is both instantly popular and likely to last, as was the __________ in the 1980s with AIDS. In such a situation, the editors determine that the word has become firmly established in a relatively short time and should be entered in the dictionary, __________ its citations may not span the wide range of years exhibited by other words.

1.

A．published

B．digitized

C．related

D．selected

2.

A．in line of

B．in terms of

C．in search of

D．in view of

3.

A．in short

B．but for

C．in addition

D．for instance

4.

A．locating

B．applying

C．entering

D．determining

5.

A．according to

B．along with

C．except for

D．based on

6.

A．Origin

B．basis

C．resource

D．source

7.

A．traced back to

B．originated from

C．begun with

D．introduced in

8.

A．dialectics

B．linguistics

C．gymnastics

D．statistics

9.

A．widely

B．frequently

C．often

D．greatly

10.

A．accepted

B．received

C．rejected

D．neglected

11.

A．reform

B．inform

C．reflect

D．inflect

12.

A．recognition

B．composition

C．revision

D．inclusion

13.

A．common

B．popular

C．rare

D．major

14.

A．time

B．matter

C．case

D．type

15.

A．even though

B．as though

C．so that

D．in case

4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Loving Legacy

Magic wands, flying broomsticks, terrifying monsters... these are the features of the fantasy genre. And over the last few decades, Harry Potter has remained at the top of the list for     1     looking to journey into a magical world. Where many authors have tried, J. K. Rowling—with the help of numerous fans—has succeeded in bringing her characters to life     2     books, movies, theaters, theme parks and so much more.

Harry Potter might have started off as     3     book meant for young children to read and perhaps forget a few years down the line. Few expected that the young boy with messy jet-black hair, green eyes and a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead     4     (manage) to take us all along on an unforgettable journey. Critics of the series claim that certain characters do not have enough depth, or the writing cannot compare with the likes of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. However, they     5     hardly deny the massive impact of Harry Potter on the literary world.

I grew up reading Harry Potter. Like millions of other children, I waited on my eleventh birthday for an owl carrying a letter to inform me that I     6     (accept) into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For the younger me, the wizarding world was so fantastic and attractive that I always wanted more. As a new book was only released every year or two, I had plenty of time     7     (explore) other worlds of fantasy. And I loved every moment of it.     8     I have not picked up a Harry Potter book in about a decade, I still make a beeline for (直奔) the fantasy section each time I am in a bookstore. Most importantly, I came to love the simple act of reading.

Some may think that fantasy or science fiction has no place in literature, as they corrupt the mind and provide no useful lessons. These people are wrong. Characters in popular fantasy or science fiction novels are not much different from those in classic literature novels. Each embodies the emotion, character and thought     9     the author is trying to convey. So,     10     unrealistic the plot may seem, good novels teach, and keen readers learn.

5 . Beyond the Terracotta Army

ON MY FIRST TRIP to Xi’an in 2002, I came to see what everyone comes here to see: the Terracotta Army. But like many group tours to China, the trip had an itinerary (行程) that was perfunctory — a checklist of must-sees that frequently left me wondering whether there was more to see. With this goal, I flew to China again in November.

The weather was mild when I arrived, ideal for surveying Xi’an from the beautifully restored City Wall. I rented a bike and spent more than an hour covering the nearly flat nine-mile circle, eye-to-eye with rooftops on one side and modern towers on the other.

I spent the late afternoon riding the city’s modern subway to other sites: the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. A block away, the Drum Tower is a kind of gateway to the Muslim Quarter. This marketplace is lined with restaurants and vendors selling mouthwatering snacks — skewers (串) of lamb cooked over coals, chewy persimmon (柿子) doughnuts, and roujiamo.

The next morning, a local driver picked me up and took me to Hua Shan, about 120 kilometers east of Xi’an. I checked the trail map I had just picked up at a gift shop, looking for the Plank Walk (长空栈道), my hoped-for destination. By the time we reached a cable car station for the ride to the top, the rocky walls surrounding the building were displaying a dusting of snow, Hua Shan’s first of the season.

I learned about the Plank Walk on my previous visit. Tourists climbed along the cliffs, tightly holding onto heavy metal chains that lined the riskier sections.

I didn’t have time on my previous trip. On this visit, the long West Peak cable car route rose into morning clouds, down into a valley and back up, eventually arriving at a station covered in snow and ice. Lacking gloves, the hat or the scarf, I made my way into a frozen wonderland.

I covered a good bit of Hua Shan’s trails this time, ascending three of the five peaks. But when I arrived at the Plank Walk, it was closed for the day. Still, the long day here was rewarding, with smiling faces spotted everywhere of people happy to be exploring China’s magnificent scenery on a more micro level.

And the Plank Walk? It just might be reason enough to return again.

1. The underlined word “perfunctory” in the first paragraph could probably be replaced by “________”.

A．hurried	B．particular
C．selective	D．unique

2. We can learn from the article that the tourist attractions the author visited during his second trip to Xi’an included ________.
① the Terracotta Army
② the City Wall
③ the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower
④ the Muslim Quarter
⑤ Hua Shan

A．①②③④⑤

B．②③④⑤

C．①②③⑤

D．①③④⑤

3. According to the article, why did the author return to Xi’an?

A．To revisit the Terracotta Army.	B．To further explore the city of Xi’an.
C．To cover a famous hiking trail.	D．To have a taste of the local snacks.

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The Plank Walk is open to visitors every day.

B．When the writer visited Xi’an, it happened to be snowing heavily there.

C．If a visitor wants to have snacks, he has only one choice — the Muslim Quarter.

D．You can enjoy historic sites and natural scenery in Xi’an as well as its modernity.

6 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. economical	B. explore	C. experience	D. formal	E. former	F. found
G. opportunity	H. replaced	I. respect	J. share	K. spread

The idea of the youth hostel started with one man: Richard Schirrmann (1874~1961), a German school teacher, who felt that there was a need for overnight accommodation (住宿) for his students in order that they could     1     new things and have new experiences outside the classroom.

He felt that one learns by observing, and tried to make his dream come true in the year 1909, when he started providing accommodation for his students in inns, farmhouses and the like.

The first youth hostel was opened in Schirrmann’s own school in Altena, after which it was     2     by a permanent hostel in Altena Castle. Schirrmann went on to     3     the German Youth Hostel Association in the year 1919. By this time, the idea of the youth hostel had     4     far and wide, all over the lands of Europe and further.

And then, in the year 1932, a(n)     5     organization called the International Youth Hostel was founded in Amsterdam, which was made up of youth hostels from Switzerland, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Britain, Ireland, France, Czechoslovakia, Denmark and Belgium. Richard Schirrmann became its chairman in 1933.

The idea of the youth hostel is for young people who are on nature trips to get     6     accommodation in exchange for some money and a helping hand with domestic chores (家务活). These hostels were said to build character and a sense of independence, as the youth who stayed in them got the     7     to see how other people lived as well as to help to do work.

Youth hostels are also places to meet and make new friends. They have no class divisions and everyone has to do their     8    . Here, wealth and position does not help you gain     9    , but friendliness does. The friendlier you are, the more you learn from the     10     of staying in a youth hostel.

7 .

To: "The Shoe People" <inquiries@shoepeople.com> From: "John Trimbald" jtconstruction@img.com To Whom it May Concern, I have trusted the Shoe People to protect the feet of my employees for over then years now. I recently purchased a few pairs of boots from your company for my crew. Though my men were initially satisfied with the boots, the soles（鞋底）began to fall apart on them after just twelve weeks. This was extremely surprising considering they came with a six year warranty（担保）. The boots are unsafe to wear because my men are pouring hot concrete（混凝土）. Please respond as soon as possible with instructions on how I can return the boots and receive a refund（退款）. Thank you, John Trimbald, Foreman, JT Construction

To: John Trimbald" <jtconstruction@img.com> From: "The Shoe People" <inquiries@shoepeople.com>" Dear Mr. Trimbald, Thank you for your e-mail concerning the poor quality of our rubber soled black work-boots. A representative will be by your office next week to pick up the damaged boots. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and your crew. Along with five new pairs of work-boots for your crew (we included one extra pair), we have enclosed a free year's supply of spray（喷雾）. In our retail stores, this spray is always recommended to buyers who work on heated floors. This should have been brought to your attention at the time of your initial order (received by telephone on October 12, 2007). Please excuse our oversight. To date we have had no complaints about these work-boots from customers who have used the protector spray. However, should you use the spray and find that you are still unsatisfied with the boots, please return the boots and spray for a full refund. Thank you for supporting The Shoe People. Have a Happy New Year. Sincerely, Stan Mason, President

1. According to the passage, John Trimbald is holding a(n) ________ attitude.

A．apologetic

B．sympathetic

C．appreciating

D．complaining

2. Both sides are communicating with each other through ________.

A．social media

B．text messages

C．e-mail

D．letters

3. What is the "spray" used for according to the passage?

A．To repair the damaged boots.	B．To protect the soles from heat
C．To prevent the crew from danger.	D．To protect the boots from concrete.

4. According to the president of The Shoe People, John Trimbald ________.

A．can exchange the damaged boots with new ones at any time

B．must return the damaged boots to any of the retail stores

C．will get new pairs of boots and a free year's supply of spray

D．can return the damaged boots and spray for a full refund now

8 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. idea       B. understanding       C. learning       D. surrounding       E. design       F. develop G. creative       H. solutions       I. technology       J. relatively        K. rethink

Technology in higher education: learning with it instead of from it.

Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that activity - based learning, rather than lecture - based, imporves student creativity and learning by allowing students to use technology to     1     their own original ideas.

Isa Jahnke, associate professor in the MU College of Education's school of Information Science and Learning Technologies, collaborated with former doctoral student Julia Liebscher to study how higher education professors in Europe use mobile     2     in their classes. She found that student creativity was most enhanced by professors who allowed their students to use technology in a team setting to come up with an unusual product or     3    .

For example, one group of students in a history class developed an app that virtually teaches users about the history     4     the Berlin Wall. Rather than simply lecturing the material to the students, Jahnke found that allowing them to use technology in a collaborative way enhanced the students' creativity and     5     of the content.

"This research is useful for professors to rethink how they     6     their existing courses," Jahnke said. "We need to shift away from purely lecture-based learning where students are just consumers of information toward a more meaningful     7     approach with technology where students are able to come up with creative and new solutions in a team setting."

Jahnke added that there are resources at MU, such as the Teaching For Learning Center, to help professors     8     their course designs in the ever-changing educational landscape.

"If we have universities that are producing more creative-thinking students, then we have more people who can help come up with     9     for all of society's grand challenges," Jahnke said. "Creativity will lead to better inventors, managers and business owners, but first we need to ask ourselves as educators if we are using technology to put our students in positions to be     10     in the first place."

9 . Directions: Fill in each blank with the missing words according to the text.

● As one of China's great former capitals, Xi' an     1         2         3     the largest city in the world during the Tang Dynasty,     4         5         6     of art and poetry. Chang' an, as it was known at the time, was the starting point of     7         8         9    , which connected China to the world.

10 . Directions: Fill in each blank with the missing words according to the text.

● Florence     1         2         3     art, science and history museums and ancient buildings, as well as historic universities. You can visit many of these places to     4         5         6     the amazing work and discoveries that happened during the Renaissance period. An example is Michelangelo's famous statue David, which he completed between 1501 and 1504.     7         8     is the University of Florence. It was started in 1321 and many famous people studied there in the Renaissance period, including Leonardo da Vinci.