1 . Improve Cloud Security
Sensitive customer data has constantly been found exposed on cloud servers without password protection. To ease the problem, database software makers have been trying to make security easier for cloud database managers. At the Enigma Conference in San Francisco, Kenn White, a security manager at database software maker MongoDB, will describe a new technique, called field level encryption, to make data safer on the cloud.
Field level encryption works by scrambling data before it’s sent to a cloud database and rearranging it in order when the data is needed for use. The promise of the product is to protect the contents of a cloud database, even if bad guys access it.
MongoDB’s new feature comes as more and more companies move user data to cloud servers, rather than run their own costly data centers. It was predicted that cloud computing would be a $214 billion industry by the end of 2019. That would be up more than 17% from 2018, when it was $182 billion.
Companies have rushed to the cloud without understanding all of the possible security consequences. Many companies have left countless databases exposed, revealing personal data. A database containing details about who lives in 80 million US households was left unprotected in 2019, just like the data on Facebook users.
Database managers want to store their data in an unreadable form, but they also want to be able to find specific pieces of information in the database with a simple search term. For example, someone might want to look up health care patients by their Social Security numbers, even if those numbers are stored as random characters. To make this possible, field level encryption lets database managers encrypt a search term on their machine and send it to the database as a query. The database matches the encrypted version of the search term with the record it’s storing and then sends it back to you.
This approach only works with specific kinds of data. For example, field level encryption isn’t useful for long text entries, like notes in a patient’s medical chart, because you can’t search for individual words.
Still, for data like account numbers, passwords and government ID numbers, field level encryption protects data and maintains a usable database.
Most importantly, White said, it’s simple to set up. Database managers turn it on with a one-time configuration change when they set up the database. “That’s really powerful,” he said in an interview.
1. The underlined word “scrambling” in paragraph 2 probably means________.| A．mixing | B．collecting | C．hiding | D．storing |
| A．Secure the safety of Internet pages. | B．Protect files with a unique style of storage. |
| C．Stop bad guys from accessing the database. | D．Enable companies to store files on the cloud. |
| A．Companies should move user data to cloud servers. |
| B．Cloud computing achieved a 17% increase in 2019. |
| C．Companies may be unaware of the risks of the cloud. |
| D．No companies were willing to run their own data centers. |
| A．present some facts | B．offer security advice |
| C．introduce a technique | D．recommend a product |
Times Higher Education (THE) has released its World University Rankings 2021, with Tsinghua University in Beijing
3 . With over 250 registered art institutions，London is one of the world's greatest cultural capitals. The city's museums are a huge draw — especially for first-time visitors.
British Museum
PHONE +44 20 7323 8299
If there's one museum to see in London, this is it. From Egyptian mummies and pieces of the Parthenon to the game﹣changing Rosetta Stone and an enormous Easter Island figure, the British Museum — covering 18.5 acres — is not just one oi London's best museums, but one of the world's. Organized by geographic territories, modern-day Indiana Joneses could spend weeks exploring these halls, which back to 1753. Plan your visit in advance by mapping out the highlights.
Victoria and Albert Museum
PHONE +44 20 7942 2000
The V&A knows how to make a good first impression. Hanging in its entrance hall is a blue -and-green Dale Chihuly blown glass chandelier, and that's just the beginning. Established in 1857, the museum's collection is spread over seven floors and consists of decorative arts and design from every time period. Highlights include the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, arts by Picasso, a copy of the first edition of the collected works of Shakespeare, art treasures from Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and one of the most comprehensive jewelry collections in the world.
Tate Modern
PHONE +44 20 7887 8888
Housed in a former industrial power station at the foot of the River Thames,the Tate Modern is one of the world's largest and most modern art museums. Exhibiting British and international works dating from 1900 to today, the Tate Modern displays the works of masters like Rothko, Matisse, Picasso, and Dali, alongside Yayoi Kusama, Tracey Emin, and Marina Abramovic.
Tate Britain
PHONE +44 20 7887 8881
The sister gallery to the Tate Modem is the Tate Britain. With its old-world marble floors, spiral staircases, and Grecian columns, the Tate Britain is a veritable temple of British art from 1500 to today.
1. If you are interested in Egyptian mummies you should visit________.| A．V&A Museum |
| B．British Museum |
| C．Tate Modern |
| D．Tate Britain |
| A．44 20 73238299. |
| B．44 20 78878888. |
| C．44 20 79422000. |
| D．44 20 78878881. |
| A．Health. |
| B．Sports. |
| C．Business. |
| D．Tourism. |
4 . Huang Danian, the well-known Chinese geophysicist, was born in 1958 in Guangxi, China. As a keen and able student, Huang went to the UK in 1993 to further his studies.
By the time Huang moved back to China in 2008, he had been living and working in the UK for 15 years. He had a good job and a life there, but he gave it all up to return to home driven by the idea that he needed to contribute to his country. As one of the world’s leading experts in deep earth exploration technology, Huang was invited to participate in the “Thousand Talent” programme. He took up a position at Jilin University, Changchun.
Huang was named lead scientist on China’s deep earth exploration programme, developing advanced cameras that can see through the Earth’s crust(外壳) so that it can be analysed without having to dig into it. He set up an advanced lab, sometimes paying for equipment with his own money. Some described him as a “lunatic” (a “madman”), but this passion and drive enabled Huang to push forwards China’s deep earth exploration technology into a world-leading position. Huang’s devotion contributed to China’s lunar probe(月球探测器) Yutu being landed on the moon in 2013 and the launch of the spacecrafts Shenzhou-11 and Tiangong-2 in 2016.
Huang's health also paid the price for his commitment to his work. He began having fainting fits(昏厥) in 2012, but paid them little attention, stating he did not have time to go to see a doctor— his work always came first. In November 2016, Huang fainted and was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with cancer. The disease was so advanced that he had just a couple of months to live.
Like the true scientist he was, Huang never gave up, but always tried to push forwards. Even from his hospital bed, he continued his work, writing letters of reference for his colleagues and replying to questions from his students. Huang died in January 2017, aged just 58. More than 800 people attended his funeral to celebrate a life that burned so bright, but was so short.
1. Huang returned to China in 2008 because________.| A．he desired to devote himself to his motherland |
| B．the “Thousand Talent” program attracted him |
| C．Jilin University offered him a top position |
| D．he wasn’t satisfied with the life in the UK |
| A．China’s aerospace development. |
| B．Huang’s working attitude and style. |
| C．Huang’s great contributions to China. |
| D．China’s deep earth exploration technology. |
| A．The working environment caused Huang’s disease. |
| B．Huang worked continuously despite his poor health. |
| C．Huang was taken to hospital after he fainted in 2012. |
| D．A large sum of money was paid to treat Huang’s illness. |
| A．Generous and honest. |
| B．Passionate and patient. |
| C．Modest and courageous. |
| D．Patriotic and committed. |
5 . Do you know you can learn to program computers at any age？ People might think you need a special mentality to learn computer programming， but anyone can learn. There are even programming languages created for kids. Scratch is a visual programming language developed by MIT. It is designed to teach kids aged 8 and up how to write code. They use easily combined block commands and start programming right away!
Today， even small computers can do complex calculations quickly， but they need clear commands in binary（二进制. form. A programming language is a series of commands with special syntax that is converted into binary， the machine language. Different programming languages are used to convert code into binary for different applications， like creating websites or controlling the brakes in your car.
There are many different ways to write code， but they all share some basic principles. Once you understand those principles， the sky is the limit. Bill Gates， the founder of Microsoft， started coding when he was 13. He created a simple program to play tic﹣tac﹣toe. According to Gates， all you really need to get started is a basic comprehension of addition and subtraction.
Programming is now used for everything from creating apps to running household appliances.
The demand for programmers is growing. To help people to create their own code， nonprofits like code.org and major companies like Google have created free resources to help teach basic programming. Using the popular game Minecraft or characters from Star Wars， anyone， even kindergarteners， can start learning how code works. But these resources aren't just for kids， people can start at any age.
Maybe you are thinking to yourself，"I'll never get a job as a programmer. Why should I learn to code？" There are a number of answers to that question. Above all， as technology becomes more and more prevalent， reading and writing code will be a way to understand how the world around you works.
Just like reading and writing in any language， the first things you learn will be simple and even crude. But stay diligent， learn a little every day， and soon you will find yourself programming a computer to do things you would never do by hand. Then you might just become a programming convert.
1. Even small computers can do complex calculations if they have________.| A．clear commands in the machine language |
| B．special syntaxes |
| C．a series of commands |
| D．different applications |
| A．ways of coding |
| B．success of Bill Gates |
| C．key to writing code |
| D．content of basic rules |
| A．Those who want to learn to program should have professional knowledge. |
| B．People can learn basic programming with some free resources. |
| C．Reading and writing code is a way to show how you understand the world. |
| D．Learning how to program computers will cost a lot of money. |
| A．To promote Scratch to kids. |
| B．To discuss the importance of programming. |
| C．To explain how to program a computer. |
| D．To encourage people to learn programming. |
In ancient times，people held nature in awe（敬畏）.For example，the American Indians
7 . That summer, I went to a small and rather remote village of Manitoba’s as a substitute for a sick teacher. It was a very poor village with a few humble wooden houses. There was nothing but the spruce around me. Could I leave a deep impression on the children in just a month? Is a month really worth the effort? I was really doubtful about these two questions.
Maybe the children had the same ideas, because I had never seen so depressing, sad, and even bitter facial expressions. I had little experience in teaching, and my age was like that of those children.
Most of them had thin eyes, dark skin, and shiny black hair, which indicated they were mixed blood children of French and Indian.
At nine o’ clock, the classroom was already as hot as a stove. I didn’t know where I should start. Then I called from a list of names, expecting the response. They stood up, and gave me the reply. However, when Yolanda was called, there was no response …Still no response …About 15 seconds later, a voice came from the back of the classroom with the buzzing of flies. “She’s dead. She died last night.”
The tone of the child’ s voice was astonishing but plain, and perhaps nothing could be more painful than to narrate in that tone. “Ah!” I cried out, not knowing what to say. The children and I looked at each other for a long time and we were silent. I understood that what I had seen from the children’s eyes and faces, which I had thought was the expression of indifference, turned out to be a great pain.
“Since Yolanda was your classmate, would you like to see her at four o’ clock after school?” There was a smile on the children’s serious little faces. It was a smile, though formal and sad.
After four o'clock, I saw that many children were waiting for me at the school gate. There were more than 20 children in total. Some of them walked in front to guide me. The others held me tightly, which almost made me unable to walk. Five or six younger children took my hand and gently led me forward, just like leading a blind guy. I unconsciously remembered those names, and they are still fresh in my memory, including Yolanda.
1. The author went to a small remote village to________.| A．have a summer trip |
| B．teach for a short time |
| C．have a good time with children |
| D．achieve more teaching experience |
| A．Unconcern. |
| B．Dissatisfaction. |
| C．Disagreement. |
| D．Friendliness. |
| A．The children were unwilling to see Yolanda after school. |
| B．The children were upset about their mixed blood identity. |
| C．The author was moved by the love of the poor children. |
| D．The author was confident about his teaching at first. |
It was a summer day. We，three former classmates were fishing by the river. We sat at the bank quietly，watching our plastic floats on the surface of the water. Suddenly，
Face it
In much of the western world, governments now require people to wear masks when they are in crowded public spaces. That is good news, for masks could both save lives and allow people to get back to work. And to help economies restart safely, government should require people to wear face coverings in crowded public spaces.
People think of masks as something protecting them from dirty things in the air. But in the case of COVID-19, their more important job is to protect others from an infected wearer. That is because of one of the unusual characteristics of this disease: it seems likely that infection by people who have not, or not yet, developed symptoms(症状) makes up about a third to a half of the cases. So even if everybody with symptoms stays at home, the virus will still spread. Masks block the respiratory droplets(呼吸道飞沫) that carry the virus, so make risky situations safer.
There are signs that masking is useful. Even home-made face coverings can block droplets.
Experiments show that a piece of cloth over the mouth and face can block 60% of droplets—not as good as a medical mask, but much better than nothing.
East Asian countries’ success in controlling the disease argues in favour of masks. Wearing masks to protect against pollution or disease is common there, so people covered their faces as soon as they were informed of COVID-19. In the West, mask-wearing is alien. And in all of the countries where mask-wearing is common practice, the epidemic (流行病) was quickly controlled. This is not unquestionable evidence in favour of masks. Other factors distinguish those mask-wearing countries from bare-faced Western nations: some, such as China and South Korea, have strict track-and-trace systems and carry out mass coronavirus testing.
Yet the combination of this natural global experiment, laboratory studies and asymptomatic transmission(无症状传播) suggests that masks can help keep people safe. Lockdown destroys economies. Social distancing damages them. Masks cost next to nothing. They will not by themselves stop an epidemic. Hand-washing, track-and-trace systems and widespread testing are all crucial, too. But masks can do their bit to protect people and rebuild economies.
1. What is the key job of masks in COVID-19 epidemic according to the writer?2. Please paraphrase the underlined sentence in your own words.
3. Please underline the inappropriate part in the following statement and explain why.
Wearing masks is important and is considered the determining factor in the fight against the epidemic.
4. Please briefly present what can be done to fight against COVID-19. (about 40 words)
A Talented Dancer and Actor
Jamie Bell was 13 when he won the starring role of Billy Eliot in the movie. He was chosen from a talent search of over 2，000 children.
Jamie began dancing at the age of six after watching his older sister dance and accompanying her to competitions all over England. Once， while he was waiting for his sister to come on stage， he saw a gid dancing out of step. "I could do better than that，" he told his mother. So his mother bought him tap shoes and sent him off to classes.
Jamie grew up in a small town in northern England. Many people in Billingham，where Jamie grew up， did not think ballet was a manly thing to do，so Jamie didn't tell anyone about it. When his friends asked him out and he had a ballet lesson，he used to say he was going to see his grandmother or he had to go to the doctors. After they found out about his dancing，his close friends accepted it，but some of the other boys at his school teased him and called him names like "ballerina boy" and "girlie boy". "But most of that gave me more determination to do it，because I wanted to prove to them that ballet wasn't just for girls； it was for boys as well，" said Jamie who is now 15.
Since making Billy Eliot，Jamie has starred in another movie "Who goes there and has made guest appearances in several television shows." He has also acted in pantomimes. For the time being， however， his schoolwork is the most important thing in his life and he is busy studying for several important examinations.
1. When did Jamie start dancing？2. What did the people in Billingham think of ballet？
3. Please decide which part of the following statement is false, then underline it and explain why. After finding out about Jamie's dancing, his friends laughed at him.
4. Do you know a person who has a strong will to achieve his/her aim？ Please give an example.（about 40 words）
