Most British telephone cards are just plain green, but card collecting is becoming a popular hobby in Britain and collectors even have their own magazine, International Telephone Cards. One reason for their interest is that cards from around the world come in a wide variety of different and often very attractive designs. There are 100, 000 different cards in Japan alone, and there you can put your own design onto a blank card simply by using a photograph or a business card.
The first telephone cards, produced in 1976, were Italian. Five years later the first British card appeared, and. now you can buy cards in more than a hundred countries. People usually start collecting cards because they are attractive, small and light , and they do not need much space. It is also a cheap hobby for beginners, although for some people it becomes a serious business. In Paris, for example, there is a market where you can buy only telephone cards, and some French cards cost up to 4, 000 pounds. The first Japanese card has a value of about 28, 000 pounds. Most people only see cards with prices like these in their collectors magazine.
The text is mainly about ________ .
A.the history of phone cards |
B.phone card collecting as a hobby |
C.reason for phone card collecting |
D.the great variety of phone cards |
When did people in Britain begin to use phone cards?
A.In 1971. | B.In 1975. |
C.In 1976. | D.In 1981. |
The main mason for most people to collect phone cards is that ________ .
A.they find the cards beautiful and easy to keep |
B.they like to have something from different countries |
C.they want to make money with cards |
D.they think the cards are convenient to use |
We were on the way from Hutchinson to Chicago for a short spring break. For many years I had wanted to take my family on the train. We all had been to Chicago four years ago, and the kids loved it. Chicago is one of my favorite cities, too, so the thought struck me again last fall to ride the train to Chicago. Of course, flying would have been faster. But I don’t think flying is easier, especially these days, with all the security and waiting in lines at airports.
Though we were tired in the middle of the night, the kids got on the train with the exhilaration of this adventure. “We’re moving,” my son William shouted happily with big eyes as the train began to pull away from the Hutchinson station.
I removed my shoes and lay down to try to finish my night’s sleep. The sleeper car would have better enabled that, but the ordinary train seats were not too bad. An airline flight is a more miserable experience for me: not enough room, two hours of pain with my knees almost touching my chin, the hard seatback in front cracking my kneecaps (膝盖) with every move of the body planted in front of me. On the train I could almost outstretch all of my 6-foot-2-plus body in the generous legroom.
The journey didn’t feel at all as long as it was. We all found the train ride a joy. The car ride would have felt every minute of 13 hours. But on the train you are free to walk around, sit in the observation carriage for a while and enjoy the scenery out the windows, have a nice meal in the dining car, read a book, or play a board game.
In short, the train is all about enjoying the trip, which isn’t something I do so much when traveling by airline or by car, when the trip seems more of a mission (任务) to get there than an experience to enjoy along the way.
Chicago offers much to do for a family. This time, getting there was half the fun.We can learn from the first paragraph that _____.
A.the kids love the train journey |
B.Chicago is one of the kid’s favorite cities |
C.the author didn’t enjoy the long train journey |
D.it was the first time that the kids were taken on the train |
What does the underlined word “exhilaration” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Excitement. | B.Relaxation. | C.Tiredness. | D.Worry. |
In the third paragraph, an airline flight experience is mentioned to show _____.
A.an airline flight is easier | B.a train ride is too long |
C.an airline flight is miserable | D.a train ride is more comfortable |
Which of the following words best describes the whole family’s feeling about the train journey?
A.Moved. | B.Delighted. | C.Disappointed. | D.Nervous. |
The summer of 2012 was full of reports of extreme weather: one of the warmest years on record in the US, the wettest summer in the UK, and the worst drought (旱灾) in East Africa. In short, extreme weather seems to be becoming the new normal. Weather extremes are not that extreme any more. Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires are the new reality of a warming world.
And this should not come as a surprise. Scientists have been warning for years that as the planet heats up, we will have to deal with more dreadful weather. Although not every extreme weather event is the result of climate change, scientists are now much more confident about connecting weather events with climate change. In 2011, the UK had a warm November. Researchers say that it was at least 60 times more likely to happen because of climate change than because of natural changes in the earth’s weather systems.
All the news shows that climate breakdown is occurring faster than most climate scientists had expected. But isn’t it too expensive to stop the climate from changing? Well, yes it costs. So everything is just as usual. It would be wrong to believe that to let things continue as they always do is the cheap choice. Instead, it is very expensive. Just one example: droughts in the US, Russia and the Ukraine sent food prices to a record high. According to the World Bank, the price for corn increased by 113% in some markets in Mozambique and in Sudan. This is the kind of cost that often gets ignored.
I believe intelligent climate action can help create new opportunities for jobs in Europe, for encouraging creativity and competitiveness, for spending less money on energy.According to the passage, in 2012 _____.
A.the UK had a warm November | B.the US had many wildfires |
C.the UK had a dry summer | D.East Africa had little rain |
The author mentions the increase of food prices in Paragraph 3 to _____.
A.show a lot of people are hungry |
B.prove food prices are very changeable |
C.prove we’re paying for extreme weather |
D.show it’s expensive to stop the climate from changing |
Which of the following statements does the author probably agree with?
A.Proper climate action will be useful. |
B.Europe is providing limited job opportunities. |
C.It’s everyone’s duty to protect the environment. |
D.Everyone needs time to get used to extreme weather. |
Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box. According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.
A.being charged | B.being cheated | C.being affected | D.being attracted |
Which of the following is relatively good for only wearing a short time?
A.A 14K necklace. | B.A gold-plated ring. |
C.A vermeil ear ring. | D.A gemstone necklace. |
We call infer from the last paragraph that silver jewelry should be kept ________
A.in a dry place | B.in a cold place | C.in a wet place | D.in a hot place |
The author writes the passage mainly to ________.
A.encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry |
B.tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver |
C.introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver |
D.inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry |
It’s a common belief that over time, pet owners start to look like their animals, and vice versa. Now conies the terrifying news that cats look up to their owners as role models and copy their behavior.
Next time you reach for your fridge, think twice. If Kitty is watching, she is likely to overeat as well.
What is your cat’s IQ?
In a new study from the University of Messina, it turns out that indoor cats who live closely to their owners “mirror” the lives of their caregivers. They sleep at the same time, eat at the same time, and can even become more or less social depending on the behavior of their owners.
“Cats are intelligent animals with a long memory, ”Jane Brunt, the executive director of the CATalyst Council, told Discovery News. “They watch and learn from us, noting the patterns of our actions. as evidenced by knowing where their food is kept and what time to expect to be fed, how to open the cupboard door that’s been improperly closed, and where their feeding and toileting areas fife. ”Because cats copy our habits, if you spend a lot of time raiding(搜刮)the fridge, your cat will return to its food bowl for that midnight snack, too. According to the study, this explains why “human and cat overweight rates often seem to match. ”So. if you felt guilty about leaving your precious kitty at home while you go to work, now you call feel even worse:You fife making your cat fat!
There’s no word if drinking green tea and making sure you go to Yoga will benefit your cat, but based on the study. it sounds like sticking to a healthy eating and sleeping schedule is best for both of you.
There’s a lot we can learn from our cats in return. “When they sit on our laps softly purring with rhythmic breathing and half-closed eyes. the sense of peace and calm that comes over us is like a private 1esson in inner meditation. ”Brant said. Sure. But cats don’t have to sit in rush hour traffic for an hour a day or worry about their in-laws. They’re probably pretty good at remaining calm.
So, according to science。even though we assumed that cats were not close to us all these years, it turns out they fife in fact learning from us and looking up to us. Scary, huh?According to the passage. which of the following is NOT true?
A.Cats can copy humans’ schedule. | B.Humans can learn from cats in some way. |
C.Cats are smart and have fl long memory | D.Green tea and Yoga can benefit cats. |
What does the underlined word “this” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A.Humans’ keeping searching the fridge. |
B.Cats’ going to their owners for food. |
C.Cats’ copying humans’ habit of looking for food. |
D.Humans’ leaving cats home while working. |
What can we learn from our cats?
A.To remain calm. | B.To be able to copy. | C.To stay proud. | D.To look up to friends. |
The best title for the passage could be ________.
A.Your Cat Can Bring You Pleasure | B.You Are Copying Your Cat |
C.You Can Make Your Cat Social | D.Your Cat Is Copying Your Habit |
Plagiarism(剽窃)is the act of taking another person’s writing, conversation, song, or even idea and passing it off as your own. This includes information from web pages, books, songs, television shows. email messages, interviews, articles. artworks or any other medium. Whenever you paraphrase, summarize, or take words, phrases, or sentences from another person’s work, it is necessary to indicate the source of the information within your Paper using ail internal citation(引用). It is not enough to just list t11e source in a bibliography at the end of your paper. Failing to properly cite(引述)or acknowledge someone else’s words or ideas with an internal citation is plagiarism.
Each of the 10 most common types of plagiarism is defined below. The types are ranked in the order of the seriousness of intention. In terms of seriousness, which of the following is the worst?
A.REMIX. | B.MASHUP. | C.CLONE. | D.RECYCLE. |
If an essay contains copied passages, but without citation, it could still be regarded as _______.
A.HYBRID | B.FIND-REPLACE | C.CTRL-C | D.RE-WEET |
The Code “404 ERROR” probably means “________”.
A.No Citation | B.Not Found | C.Some Changes | D.Many Errors |