Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the Website you've visited,Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phone bills to find out your shopping preferences or calling habits.
In fact, it's likely that some of these things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without your permission? It might be a spouse, a girl friend, a marketing company, a boss, a cop or a criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen ---- the 21st century replacement of being caught naked.
Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it's important to reveal yourself to friends, family and lovers in stages, at appropriate times. But few boundaries remain. The digital bread crumbs(碎屑) you leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct who you are, where you are and what you like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or not, increasingly we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret.
The key question is: Does that matter?
For many Americans, the answer apparently is "no."
When opinion polls ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. A survey found a strong bad feeling about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying they feel their privacy is "slipping away, and that bothers me."
But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny part of Americans change any behaviors in an effort to preserve their privacy. Few people turn down a discount at tollbooths(收费站) to avoid using the EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarket loyalty cards. Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give away personal information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-off coupon(优惠卷)。
But privacy does matter ---- at least sometimes. It's like health: When you have it, you don't notice it. Only when it's gone do you wish you'd done more to protect it.
51. What does the author mean by saying "the 21st century replacement of being caught naked"?
A. People's personal information is easily accessed without their knowledge.
B. In the 21st century people try every means to look into others' secrets.
C. People tend to be more frank with each other in the information age.
D. Criminals are easily caught on the spot with advanced technology.
52.What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?
A. Friends should open their hearts to each other.
B. Friends should always be faithful to each other.
C. There should be a distance even between friends.
D. There should be fewer arguments between friends.
53. Why does the author say "we live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret"?
A. Modern society has finally developed into an open society.
B. People leave traces around when using modern technology.
C. There are always people who are curious about others' affairs.
D. Many search engines benefit from giving away people's identities.
54. What do most Americans do as for privacy protection?
A. They change behaviors that might disclose their identity.
B. They use various loyalty cards for business transactions(交易)..
C. They rely most and more on electronic devices.
D. They talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.
55. According to the passage, privacy is like health because ___.
A. people will make every effort to keep it.
B. its importance is rarely understood
C. it is something that can easily be lost
D. people don't treasure it until they lose it
Facing fear is one of the most important things you can do. Some people have a fear of failure and others a fear of success. It may seem strange but neither one is a good fear. You might think the fear of failure could be a good thing but it’s not, particularly if the fear of failure keeps you from accomplishing anything.
For myself, I have a huge fear of failure but I am good at facing that fear and overcoming it. I don’t let my fear of failure cause me to delay(延误) my decision or get me off the track. I use the fear to make sure I’m doing my absolute best at all times because I know if I don’t do my best I will fail. That frightens me. I’m not afraid of trying at all.
I started a business when I was married to my first wife. The business became successful and I was getting ready to make some huge money. However, my wife just wanted us to stay small because she was comfortable there. She feared what success might bring and did every little thing she could to make sure we didn’t grow any bigger. I’m sure you can see the problem. I had a fear of failure and she had an even bigger fear of success. Finally I couldn’t stand any more of her fear and we got a divorce.
Facing fear and overcoming fear is very important. People even have a fear of fear. I’m sure that it is normal. People fear change more than anything else and fight that change with fear. They fear what they don’t know or understand. They fear anything new to them. But we need to keep in mind that the world is changing all the time and that change is inevitable (不可避免的). You can live a life free of fear by learning to face your fears.From the first paragraph, we can learn that the fear of failure________.
| A.is better than the fear of success |
| B.is a good thing to most of us |
| C.is more common than the fear of success |
| D.may stop us from getting successful |
It can be inferred that when the writer’s small business became successful, _____.
| A.he feared to grow bigger |
| B.he feared to lose his money |
| C.something went wrong with their marriage |
| D.he was as comfortable as his wife |
What’s the writer’s purpose of telling his own experience with his first wife?
| A.To explain two kinds of fears. |
| B.To tell his problem in his early career. |
| C.To explain the bad effects of different fears. |
| D.To show the fear of failure is a good thing. |
People who have a fear of fear___________.
| A.often fail to understand something new to them |
| B.just want to live an unchangeable life |
| C.believe that change is inevitable |
| D.fear that they can’t change |
Mark felt that it was time for him to take part in his community activities, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The city councilman(议员) was leading a discussion about the decreasing life quality. The neighborhood faced many problems.
Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for crime, parking problems, and for problems in vacant(空置的)buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilman.
It was too much for Mark. “The problems are too big,” he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, “I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here.”
Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. “People should just take care of themselves,” he decided. “That’s enough to do. I can’t take on all the problems of the world.”
As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn’t have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly darted into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy’s arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. “Thanks!” she said. “You have got great timing!”
“Just being neighborly,” Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was “Small acts of kindness add up.” Mark smiled and thought, “ Maybe that’s a good place to start.”We learn from the passage that_____.
| A.Mark always played an active part in community activities |
| B.the city councilman was responsible for the decreasing of life quality |
| C.the seriousness of problems is made known to people in the community |
| D.many people were discouraged by the many problems facing them |
The underlined word “darted” in Paragraph 5 means______.
| A.walked | B.looked | C.fell | D.ran |
The words on the bus wall imply that______.
| A.if you are kind to others, you will be treated the same way |
| B.everyone can play his own part to make things better |
| C.all small acts will add up to kindness |
| D.it is a small act to help a person in need |
This passage mainly wants to tell us______.
| A.how each of us can help make a difference |
| B.how a neighborhood meeting can solve its problems |
| C.how citizens react to the problems they face |
| D.how problems are solved through group action |
George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America’s greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were ________ .
| A.composed for Paul Whiteman |
| B.performed in various ways |
| C.played mainly in the countryside |
| D.written about New Yorkers |
What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman?
| A.It attracted more people to theatres. |
| B.It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra. |
| C.It caused a debate among jazz musicians. |
| D.It proved jazz could be serious music. |
What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?
| A.He argued with French critics. |
| B.He studied with Nadia Boulanger. |
| C.He changed his music style. |
| D.He created one of his best works. |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A.Many of Gershwin’s works were lost. |
| B.Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death. |
| C.A concert was held in memory of Gershwin. |
| D.The death of Gershwin was widely reported. |
Which of the following best describes Gershwin?
| A.Serious and boring | B.Talented and productive |
| C.Popular and unhappy | D.Friendly and honest |
Your dog is as smart as any two year old, according to a new study. Dogs bring much happiness to their owners, and even improve human health. Most two year olds keep us busy in life — an important part of living a long and happy life. According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D.of the University of British Columbia, our dogs are smarter than we thought.
Dr.Coren reviewed many studies to find out that dogs are as smart as 2 to 2.5 year olds. Forget about one word orders — according to Coren, the smartest dogs can learn up to 250 words. Most dogs understand an average of 165 words. “The upper limit of dogs” ability to learn language is partly based on a study of a Border Collie (博得牧羊犬) named Rico who showed knowledge of 200 spoken words, and ‘fast-track learning’, which scientists believed to be found only in humans and language-learning apes(猿)。
Dogs are also great at tricking. During play, they have the ability to trick humans and other dogs in order to get treats. “And they are nearly as successful in tricking humans as humans are in tricking dogs, saysCoren.
Dogs can also count to four or five, which might explain how they know when their toys are missing. Coren explains,“Their astonishing flashes of smartness and creativity are reminders that they may not be Ensteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought.”
Animals can do much to keep us happy, health, and protect us from harm. Stories of dog heroes can be found using a simple Internet search. Pets teach us sense of duty, keep us from loneliness, and can help with treatment of the disabled. Dogs are smarter than we thought — as smart as a two year old.How do dogs bring happiness and health to humans according to the author?
| A.By doing funny tricks. |
| B.By keeping humans busy. |
| C.By serving their owners. |
| D.By playing with their owners. |
What makes Rico special?
| A.He seldom uses one word orders. |
| B.He uses words like a 2.5 year old. |
| C.He is Corn’s favorite subject for study. |
| D.He shows a high level of language ability. |
What does Dr. Coren say about a dog’s counting ability?
| A.It is as good as an ape’s. |
| B.It is close to human’s. |
| C.It leaves a lot to be studied. |
| D.It helps them keep their toys. |
For someone interested in knowing more stories about dogs, the author suggests that he.
| A.train a dog |
| B.search the Internet |
| C.watch a two year old |
| D.visit a hospital for the disabled |
While car sharing is a concept that’s catching on, old-fashioned carpooling where a group of people take turns driving each other to work has always faced a resistance (抗拒). In a study on traffic problems by ABC News, 84% of those who drive to work say that they still do it alone. More than half those lone riders insist that carpooling is just too inconvenient, and 18% say they simple don’t know anyone to share a ride with.
Now technology makes carpooling easier and more fun. NuRide, a company provided an online carpooling service last year, offers daily travelers in the Washington area not just a web-based list of would-be carpoolers but also a way to arrange a trip online. Here’s how it works: rider seekers enter the positions where their trip will begin and end, the time they want to leave and if they’re willing to drive or just ride in someone else’s car. The website’s search engine then looks for matches and makes lists of the names of traveling companions, along with the car model and the exact time and place to meet for each trip. People who want to share the ride can show their interest in joining in online and then meet their car mates when it’s time to go.
NuRide users aren’t riding with total strangers. They are required to provide the name of their employer and a work e-mail address, both of which need to be checked before being listed on the website.
To attract users, NuRide offers a frequent rider prize: anyone who shares a ride gets a $1 credit. So far, 2,300 people have signed up. NuRide CEO Rick Steele said that more than 50,000 rides have been arranged on the website, resulting in 1.4 million fewer miles driven and 650 fewer tons of automobile emissions (机动车排放).What has the study found about people’s opinion on carpooling?
| A.Most people think it is inconvenient. |
| B.Only 18% can find their road mates. |
| C.Some people consider it dangerous. |
| D.Half of the people accept the idea.. |
What can NuRide do for you when you use the service?
| A.Decide a car model for you to drive. |
| B.Help you arrange a shared car trip. |
| C.Find your car matestrue names. |
| D.Give you a list of car owners. |
One who wants to share a ride with NuRide users must.
| A.give information about his interest |
| B.meet his car mates before the trip |
| C.offer the name of his employer |
| D.provide his home address |
We may infer that NuRide has helped in.
| A.improving air quality |
| B.reducing driving speed |
| C.promoting safety of driving |
| D.increasing job opportunities |