Marie Curie was a Polish physicist and chemist who lived between 1867-1934. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered two new elements (radium and polonium, two radioactive elements that they extracted chemically from pitchblende ore) and studied the x-rays they emitted. She found that the harmful properties of x-rays were able to kill tumors. By the end of World War I, Marie Curie was probably the most famous woman in the world. She had made a conscious decision, however, not to patent methods of processing radium or its medical applications.
Marie Curie was born November 7, 1867 in Poland and died on July 4, 1934. Her co-discovery with her husband Pierre Curie of the radioactive elements radium and polonium represents one of the best known stories in modern science for which they were recognized in 1901 with the Nobel Prize in Physics. In 1911, Marie Curie was honored with a second Nobel prize, this time in chemistry, to honor her for successfully isolating pure radium and determining radium's atomic weight.
As a child, Marie Curie amazed people with her great memory. She learned to read when she was only four years old. Her father was a professor of science and the instruments that he kept in a glass case fascinated Marie. She dreamed of becoming a scientist, but that would not be easy. Her family became very poor, and at the age of 18, Marie became a governess. She helped pay for her sister to study in Paris. Later, her sister helped Marie with her education. In 1891, Marie attended the Sorbonne University in Paris where she met and married Pierre Curie, a well-known physicist.
Marie Curie contributed greatly to our understanding of radioactivity and the effects of x-rays. She received two Nobel prizes for her brilliant work, but died of leukemia, caused by her repeated exposure to radioactive material.
What is the main idea of the passage?
To give us a general introduction to Madame Curie.
To show us how Madame Curie discovered radium.
To tell us how Madame Curie developed as a scientist.
To tell us how Madame Curie received two Nobel Prizes.
Madame Curie was given the Nobel Prize in chemistry because_________.
she discovered radium
she separated pure radium and calculated its atomic weight
she discovered polonium
she didn’t patent methods of processing radium
Which of the following statements about Madame Curie is Not True?
Madame Curie made great contributions to medical science.
Madame Curie was very smart and ambitious when she was a child.
Madame Curie received two Nobel Prizes in physics.
Madame Curie’s husband helped her a lot in her research.
4. We can infer from the third paragraph that_________.
①Madame Curie got married when she was at college.
②Madam Curie had a great ambition when she was young.
③Madame Curie loved teaching more than anything else.
④Madam Curie must have met a lot of difficulties to get high education.
⑤Her father had a great influence on Madam Curie’s future career.
⑥Madam Curie was very smart when she was a child
A. ①②④⑤⑥ B.②④⑤⑥ C. ②③④⑤⑥ D. ①②③④⑤
5. Which is the right order about Madam Curie according to the passage?
a. married Pierre b. attended University c. discovered radium
d. determined radium’s atomic weight e. won the Nobel Prize in physics
A. b, c, a, d, e B. b, a, c, d, e C. b, a, c, e, d D. b, c, a, e, d
How Room Designs Affect Our Work and Feelings
Architects have long had the feeling that the places we live in can affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. But now scientists are giving this feeling an empirical basis. They are discovering how to design spaces that promote creativity, keep people focused and lead to relaxation.
Researches show that aspects of the physical environment can influence creativity. In 2007, Joan Meyers—Levy at the University of Minnesota, reported that the height of a room’s ceiling affects how people think. Her research indicates that higher ceilings encourage people to think more freely, which may lead them to make more abstract connections. Low ceilings, on the other hand, may inspire a more detailed outlook.
In additions to ceiling height, the view afforded by a building may influence an occupant’s ability to concentrate. Nancy Wells and her colleagues at Cornell University found in their study that kids who experienced the greatest increase in greenness as a result of a family move made the most gains on a standard test of attention.
Using nature to improve focus of attention ought to pay off academically, and it seems to, according to a study led by C. Kenneth Tanner, head of the School Design & Planning Laboratory at the University of Georgia. Tanner and his team found that students in classrooms with unblocked views of at least 50 feet outside the window had higher scores on tests of vocabulary, language arts and maths than did students whose classrooms primarily overlooked roads and parking lots.
Recent study on room lighting design suggests than dim light helps people to loosen up. If that is true generally, keeping the light low during dinner or at parties could increase relaxation. Researchers of Harvard Medical School also discovered that furniture with rounded edges could help visitors relax.
So far scientists have focused mainly on public buildings. “We have a very limited number of studies, so we’re almost looking at the problem through a straw,” architect David Allison says. “How do you take answers to very specific questions and make broad, generalized use of them? That's what we’re all struggling with.”What does Joan Meyers—Levy focus on in her research?
A.Light. | B.Ceilings. |
C.Windows. | D.Furniture. |
The passage tells us that _____.
A.the shape of furniture may affect people’s feelings |
B.lower ceilings may help improve students’ creativity |
C.children in a dim classroom may improve their grades |
D.students in rooms with unblocked views may feel relaxed |
The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that _____.
A.the problem is not approached step by step |
B.the researches so far have faults in themselves |
C.the problem is too difficult for researchers to detect |
D.research in this area is not enough to make generalized patterns |
Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point SP: Sub-point(次要点) C: Conclusion
阅读下列四篇短文,从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
A
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What do we know about 1234 PENS?
A.It has a history of over 30 years. |
B.It has built up a large pen market. |
C.It has its name printed on each pen. |
D.It charges a low price for extra service. |
What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 3?
A.The different types of the products. |
B.The high quality of the products. |
C.The quick service of 1234 PENS. |
D.The trade shows of 1234 PENS. |
What is special about the pens produced in 1234 PENS?
A.They are designed in 16 styles. |
B.They come in 48 different colours. |
C.Their material is less harmful to the earth. |
D.Their price is much lower in the pen market. |
The main purpose of the passage is to _____.
A.persuade people to order the products |
B.explain the process of making logo pens |
C.show people how to choose different pens |
D.introduce the different services of 1234 PENS |
Meeting people from another culture can be difficult.From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal (信号).Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize (强调)the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree.For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust.Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”, usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job.In many European countries — like the UK or France —people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafés rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures.I once made a speech in Thailand.I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead, there was an uncomfortable silence.The people present just stared at me and smiled.After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much.In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems.Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly.We think that they are rude.In fact, this is just because the culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other.However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment (多元文化环境)will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to ______ .
A.develop closer relations | B.share the same culture |
C.get to know each other | D.keep each other company |
The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _____ .
A.the English prefer to make long speeches |
B.too many words are of no use |
C.people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature |
D.even talk and silence can be culturally different |
According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?
A.By sharing different ways of life. |
B.By accepting different habits. |
C.By recognizing different values. |
D.By speaking each other’s languages. |
What would be the best title for the text?
A.Multicultural Environment |
B.Cross-Cultural Differences |
C.How to Understand Each Other |
D.How to Build Up a Relationship |
There is an interesting, but at the same time a sad phenomenon now: there is a rise in the number of singers and bands that have little to do with good music.Many singers or bands know little about what good music means.What is the cause of this rise?
Most of these singers have taken music as a “job” because it is a good source of making money.And if you have a good appearance and also expensive clothes to show off at your concerts or at different appearances in public, then your voice is not as important as it should be.The public will prefer to admire more the most interesting parts of your body, whether you are a girl or a boy.They will even forget about the fact that you are there to show your music skills, not your dancing, which is important too, but not at such a high level.
Therefore, we can see many young girls on TV who look very good but who have nothing to do with music.They choose to wear very provocative(挑逗性的)clothes to catch attention, but when it comes to singing they are a complete mess and one doesn’t need to have an ear for music to notice their lack of talent.But anyway, they have concerts and they enjoy travelling from one place to another.It is the public’s fault because they accept this and are pleased with this commercial music.People who enjoy this kind of music are generally young people while adults prefer listening to old good bands.
However, the young generation should understand while appearance is important, it is less important than talent and a good voice.If somebody has a great voice and wants to become a singer, he should take some special courses in this area, because they will help them improve singing abilities.The passage shows that many singers consider music as _______.
A.an art serving the public | B.a good way of making money |
C.a way of living fully | D.a fashionable lifestyle |
From the passage we can learn that _______.
A.appearance is the most important thing in the world of music |
B.all people who have received training in singing can become famous |
C.adults should help young people improve their abilities |
D.a singer’s talent and voice are the most important factors |
What do you think is the author’s attitude towards the rising number of new singers and bands?
A.Critical. | B.Supportive. | C.Tolerant. | D.Worried. |
What kind of article does this passage belong to?
A.entertainment | B.sport | C.comment | D.Story |
Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather.But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care.Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning.
Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
○Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore.
○Ponds and lakes may hide jagged(锯齿状的)rocks, broken glass, or rubbish.
○Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes.
○Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm.
○Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol(饮酒).Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water.
At the Beach
○Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty.Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides(暗流).Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.
○Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over.
○Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim parallel(顺行地)to the shore or should tread (踩)water and call for a lifeguard's help.
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach?
A.Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty |
B.Go on swimming in a heavy rain |
C.Go off the water before checking the water conditions |
D.Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave |
A child should_________ at a lake.
A.swim on his/her own |
B.be careful about weeds and grass |
C.swim without shoes on |
D.drink only a little wine |
Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because.
A.there are no lifeguards at a beach |
B.there are currents and tides at a beach |
C.the waters of a beach are more calm. |
D.the waters of a pool are warmer |
The passage is probably written for .
A.students at school |
B.kids who want to learn swimming |
C.parents with little children |
D.coaches who teach kids to swim |
In which column(栏目)of a magazine can you find this passage?
A.Education | B.Science | C.Entertainment | D.Sports |