The only way to travel is on foot
The past ages of man have all been carefully labeled by anthropologists.
escriptions like 'Paleolithic Man', 'Neolithic Man', etc., neatly sum up whole periods. When the time comes for anthropologists to turn their attention to the twentieth century, they will surely choose the label 'Legless Man'. Histories of the time will go something like this: 'in the twentieth century, people forgot how to use their legs.
Men and women moved about in cars, buses and trains from a very early age. There were lifts and escalators in all large buildings to prevent people from walking. This situation was forced upon earth dwellers of that time because of miles each day.
But the surprising thing is that they didn't use their legs even when they went on holiday. They built cable railways, ski-lifts and roads to the top of every huge mountain. All the beauty spots on earth were mangled by the presence of large car parks. '
The future history books might also record that we were deprived of the use of our eyes. In our hurry to get from one place to another, we failed to see anything on the way. Air travel gives you a bird's-eye view of the world - or even less if the wing of the aircraft happens to get in your way.
When you travel by car or train a blurred image of the countryside constantly smears the windows. Car drivers, in particular, are forever obsessed with the urge to go on and on: they never want to stop. Is it the lure of the great motorways, or what? And as for sea travel, it hardly deserves mention.
It is perfectly summed up in the words of the old song: 'I joined the navy to see the world, and what did I see? I saw the sea.' The typical twentieth-century traveler is the man who always says 'I've been there. ' You mention the remotest, most evocative place-names in the world like El Dorado, Kabul, Irkutsk and someone is bound to say 'I've been there' - meaning, 'I drove through it at 100 miles an hour on the way to somewhere else. '
When you travel at high speeds, the present means nothing: you live mainly in the future because you spend most of your time looking forward to arriving at some other place. But actual arrival, when it is achieved, is meaningless. You want to move on again.
By traveling like this, you suspend all experience; the present ceases to be a reality: you might just as well be dead. The traveler on foot, on the other hand, lives constantly in the present.
For him traveling and arriving is one and the same thing: he arrives somewhere with every step he makes. He experiences the present moment with his eyes, his ears and the whole of his body. At the end of his journey he feels a delicious physical weariness. He knows that sound. Satisfying sleep will be his: the just reward of all true travelers.
Anthropologists label nowadays men 'Legless' because .
A people forget how to use his legs.
B people prefer cars, buses and trains.
C lifts and escalators prevent people from walking.
D there are a lot of transportation devices.
Traveling at high speed means .
A people's focus on the future.
B a pleasure.
C satisfying drivers' great thrill.
D a necessity of life.
Why does the author say 'we are deprived of the use of our eyes' ?
A People won't use their eyes.
B In traveling at high speed, eyes become useless.
C People can't see anything on his way of travel.
D People want to sleep during traveling.
What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?
A Legs become weaker.
B Modern means of transportation make the world a small place.
C There is no need to use eyes.
D The best way to travel is on foot.
What does 'a bird's-eye view' mean?
A See view with bird's eyes.
B A bird looks at a beautiful view.
C It is a general view from a high position looking down.
D A scenic place.
MOSCOW(Reuters) – Russia hopes the United States will extend the deadline to retire its space shuttles beyond 2011 and has heard unofficially it is possible, the head of Russia"s space agency was quoted as saying on Friday.
The U.S. space agency NASA(美国宇航局) plans six more missions by its fleet of aging space shuttles by late next year or early 2011 after the construction of the $100 billion International Space Station (ISS) is completed. The shuttles will then be retired. But the head of Roscosmos, Russia"s space agency, said he would prefer to see further shuttle missions to the Space Station, now in orbit 360 km (225 miles) above Earth. "From some sources we have learned that it is possible to extend the life of the shuttle beyond 2011," Roscosmos chief Anatoly Perminov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying. Reuters was not invited to the briefing(简报会). "Then the situation would change substantially and it would be possible to work jointly with the Americans, unlike now, when the main burden (for the ISS) lies with the Russian side," Perminov was quoted as saying by Interfax. Perminov said he had not been told this through official channels, Interfax news agency reported. He added that NASA"s new chief and former astronaut Charles Bolden would visit Russia"s Baikonur cosmodrome on September 30 in his first foreign trip.
NASA"s future strategy is currently under review with the main focus on possible flights to Mars. It is also encouraging a private space taxi project to the ISS. NASA"s current plan, conceived under former President George Bush after the Columbia accident, is to complete the space station, retire the shuttles and build new spaceships. A new rocket and capsule to transport astronauts to the ISS is also being developed but will not be operational until about 2015. Until then, NASA will rely on Roscosmos and must pay $50 million per seat for flights to the ISS by Soyuz capsules.
The U.S., Russian and Chinese governments are the only entities currently capable of human orbital space flight, although several U.S. companies are developing vehicles and support services to do so.What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.NASA agrees to extend the life of the shuttles beyond 2011. |
B.Reuters was not invited to the briefing. |
C.The US would work jointly with Russia. |
D.NASA’s new chief would visit Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome. |
NASA’s current plan includes all the following EXCEPT .
A.completing International Space Station |
B.flights to Mars |
C.retiring the current space shuttles |
D.building new spaceships |
If the US doesn’t extend the life of the shuttles beyond 2011, .
A.International Space Station will be quit |
B.Roscosmos will have to build more spaceships |
C.NASA will have to quicken the development of the new rocket and capsule |
D.Roscosmos will be burdened with the transportation to ISS |
We can infer from the passage that .
A.China has already been involved in the project of flights to Mars |
B.it is certain the NASA will retire the current space shuttles as planned |
C.NASA is considering Russia’s suggestion |
D.NASA will be able to provide a private space taxi project to the ISS by 2015. |
We are seeking for qualified and experienced candidates to join our fast growing team for the following positions at Ratchathewi (Head Office), Pracha – Uthit (site), Pantai Norasing (site), Thepharak (site), and a few other incoming projects in Bangkok.
●Project Managers
-Degree in Civil / Structural Engineering
-Minimum 7 years’ working experience in similar capacity, preferably in building construction.
-Ability to plan and execute works, keep deadlines, control cost and implement continual quality improvement
-Possess leadership attributes, good interpersonal and follow-up skill to motivate subordinates and develop team spirit
-Possess a valid driving license
●Accounting Officer
—Degree in Accounting
—Minimum 1~2 years accounting experience
—Knowledge of accounting packages & spreadsheets
●Account Executive / Finance Executive
—Degree in Accounting
—Preferably 3 years’ accounting experience VAT, Withholding tax compliance & submission
—Knowledge of accounting packages & spreadsheets
—Expert at English and Thai (泰国语) spoken or written
—Ability to handle full set accounts
●Senior Admin. Asst.
—Minimum 5 years experience in Building Construction company is preferable.
—Computer literate with knowledge in Microsoft Office
—Good command of both written and oral English compulsory.
—Female preferred
●Site Supervisor
—Diploma / Certificate in Building or Civil Engineering
—Minimum 5 years’ working experience in building construction or precast (预制的) concrete manufacturing
—Able to work independently and co – ordinate work effectively
All positions mention above requires candidates with good command of both written and oral English. Interested candidate, please send your application stating full qualification, work experience and expected salary together with a copy of transcript and a recent photograph to the address below:
ASCE Construction Limited.
503/19E K.S.L. Tower (11TH Floor), Sri-Ayudthaya Rd., Thanon Phayathai,
Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
TEL: - 02642-6272 , 02642-6120
FAX: - 02642-6273
E-MAIL: asce_construction@hotmail.comIf you want to apply for the position
of a project manager, you must have .
A.the ability to work independently | B.a degree in accounting |
C.six years of experience at least | D.the qualification to drive |
Most of the positions require the following EXCEPT .
A.a suitable degree | B.certain working experience |
C.professional computer knowledge | D.a good command of English |
Which position prefers a woman candidate?
A.A ccounting Officer. | B.Senior Admin. Asst. |
C.professional computer knowledge | D.a good command of English |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.Candidates can only apply by mail. |
B.More companies will be founded in Bangkok. |
C.Candidates must be able to speak both English and Thai. |
D.You will benefit from your work experience. |
Hikosaburo Yasuda of Nakano, Japan, plans to buy an iPad to keep up with junior members in his computer club."It's important to always try new things, otherwise you get left behind," he says.
Yasuda is 95 years old.He and his colleagues, looking for easier ways to search the Web and send e-mail, represent a potential market for Apple (AAPL)'s iPad.The company has sold 3.27 million iPads since its launch in April, but doesn't break down sales figures by customer age, making it impossible to know with certainty how many seniors are buying them.However, anecdotal evidence suggests it's a hit with the elderly.
The iPad's intuitive interface (直观界面) makes it appealing to senior citizens around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyo: "The iPad is a good tool for the elderly because it's very forgiving of mistakes." Miura's team uses computers to help train senior citizens to rejoin the workforce."Unlike the PC, it doesn't require previous knowledge," he says.
James Cordwell, a technology analyst at Atlantic-Equities in London, says the iPad's popularity with the elderly is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of younger customer. “The world’s population, especially in developed markets, is getting older, and it’s probably a market where Apple has least entered,” Cordwell says. Elderly users are “a key source of growth for them in the future.”
The elderly in Japan, who make up an estimated 22 percent of the population, may prove particularly receptive to the iPad. They spend more than any other group in the country except for those under 30, according to a report by Japan's Cabinet Office. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman, bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and stave off dementia. "Trying new things like that is a good mental exercise," he says. The underlined part “a hit” in Paragraph 2 may probably mean “”.
A.a hard strike | B.a heavy burden | C.quite popular | D.very familiar |
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the iPad over the PC?
A.It has intuitive interface. | B.It is easier to operate. |
C.It is more accessible to beginners. | D.It is a good mental exercise. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A.The people under thirty are the largest consumers in Japan except for the elderly. |
B.The traditional customers of AAPL’s products are usually the yong. |
C.The elderly will soon grow into the largest customer group in place of the young. |
D.The elderly in Japan have great enthusiasm for latest hi – tech products. |
What could be the best title for the passage?
A.The iPad leads Apple to the elderly |
B.Ipad hits Japan’s store shelves |
C.Ipad’s arrival in Tokyo causes Uapanese to reflect |
D.AAPL attempts to balance the old and the yong |
It s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree.It has been there for the past 10 years or so.It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas—the commercial aspects of Christmas-overspending.Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to avoid the usual presents.The idea came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a match against a team sponsored by a church.These youngsters, dressed in ragged clothes, presenting a sharp contrast to our boys in their beautiful dresses and shoes.As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.It was a luxury that the poor team obviously could not afford.Well, we ended up defeating them.Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said."They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." That's when the idea for his present came.That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought wrestling headgear and shoes for the youngsters and sent them anonymously (匿名地) to the church.On Christmas Eve? I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me.His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in the following years.
For each Christmas, I followed the tradition.The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas.It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed expectation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to show its contents.As the children grew, they joined.
May we all remember the reason for Christmas, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.God bless梡ass this along to your friends and loved ones.The author avoids usual Christmas presents because her husband _____.
A.likes cheap Christmas presents |
B.likes expensive Christmas presents |
C.dislikes spending much on large Christmas presents |
D.dislikes spending much on unmeaningful Christmas gifts |
The underlined word "luxury" in Paragraph 2 means "_____".
A.something of poor quality | B.something abundant |
C.something strange | D.something expensive |
From the passage we can infer that in character the husband is _____.
A.modest and mature | B.kind and practical |
C.strong-willed and vain | D.optimistic and outgoing |
What is the most exciting thing for the family at Christmas?
A.Preparing gifts. | B.Exchanging gifts. |
C.Opening the envelope. | D.Writing Christmas cards. |
Family quarrels and lack of free time can promote headaches in children. This is what Jennifer Gassmann and her partners have concluded in a study that appears in the current issue of the Deutsches Arzteblatt International. This study was a component of a large-scale study entitled “Children, Adolescents, and Headaches”, in which data were collected in four annual “waves” from 2003 to 2006.
Up to 30% of children around the world complain of headaches at least once a week. Out of a variety of possible factors tested in a larger study, the authors chose to look at the ones related to the children’s family and leisure time.
According to the study, boys who experience more than one family quarrel per week have a 1.8 times higher risk of developing headaches. The amount of free time available to them seems to be even more important: boys who seldom have time to themselves have a 2.1 times higher risk of developing headaches.
The behavior of parents when children complain of headaches also seems to play a major role. Both positive and negative responses from parents teach children that they can gain advantages from headaches. These responses have a particularly strong effect on the frequency of symptoms in girls, with supportive responses raising the risk of recurrent(周期性的) headaches by 25%.
The genders also differed with respect to headache frequency. Twice as many girls as boys had their symptoms at least once a week. The ages of the children, however, seemed to have no more than a minor effect on their headaches.
The study may become a reminder for parents, especially for those unpeaceful families.
68. What is the passage mainly about?
A. How family quarrels and lack of free time can promote headaches in children.
B. A new study on the frequency of headaches in children.
C. Factors which lead to children’s having headaches.
D. Advice for parents wanting to keep their children from having headaches.
69. We learn from the study that ______________.
A. most children have headaches at least once a week
B. the way a family behaves is the chief factor for the headaches of children
C. parents are to blame for the increase in headaches in children
D. girls are more likely to get headache symptoms than boys
70. Parents should learn from the passage that ______________.
A. they should spend more time with their children
B. they should avoid quarreling
C. they shouldn’t care when their children have headaches
D. they should treat boys and girls differently