Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and ,at its best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness, it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively(不引人注目地)and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded lowland Britain. Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner’s permission, except in national parks.
Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modern conveniences. A busy, fully-equipped campsite(野营地)seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access: walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night’s sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees, which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the windward side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made—changing it should be unnecessary.You needn’t ask for permission when camping in.
A.national parks in England | B.most parts of Scotland |
C.crowded lowland Britain | D.most parts of England |
The author thinks that a good campsite is one.
A. with easy access B. used previously
C with modern conveniences D. far away from beachesThe last paragraph mainly deals with
A. protecting animals B. building a campfire
C camping in woodland D. finding a campsite with privacyThe passage is mainly about
A.the protection of campsites | B.the importance of wild camping |
C.the human influence on campsites | D.the dos and don’ts of wild camping |
The biggest danger facing airlines nowadays may not be a terrorist with a gun, but the man with portable computer in business class. In the last 16 years, pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference (电磁干扰). The source of this interference remains not proved, but increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radio and cassette players and mobile telephones.
RTC.A. an organization which advises the aviation (航空 )industry, has suggested that all airlines ban such devices from being used during "critical" stages of flight particularly take-off and landing. Some experts have gone further, calling for a total ban during all flights. Currently , rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although some air- lines prevent passengers from using such equipment during take-off and landing, most are unwilling to carry out a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flight.
The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft's computers. Experts know that portable devices send out radiation which affects those wavelengths which aircraft use for navigation and communication. But, because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory, they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be dangerous or not.
The fact that aircraft may be fragile to interference raises the risk that terrorists may use radio systems in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying,though, is the passenger who can 't hear the instructions to turn off his radio because the music's too loud.What is said about the over 100 aircraft incidents in the past 16 years?
A.They may have been caused by the damage to the radio systems. |
B.They may have taken place during take-off and landing. |
C.They were proved to have been caused by the passengers’ portable computers. |
D.They were suspected to have resulted from electromagnetic interference. |
Why is it difficult to predict the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on an airplane 's computers?
A.Because it is extremely dangerous to conduct such research on an airplane. |
B.Because it remains a mystery what wavelengths are liable to be interfered with. |
C.Because research scientists have not been able to produce the same effects in labs. |
D.Because experts lack adequate equipment to do such research. |
Few airlines want to perform a total ban on their passengers using electronic devices because_______
A.they don't believe there is such a danger as radio interference |
B.the harmful effect of electromagnetic interference is yet to be proved |
C.most passengers refused to take a plane , which bans the use of radio and cassette players |
D.they have other effective safety measures to fall back on |
The passage is mainly about_________.
A.a new rule for all airlines |
B.the disadvantages of electronic devices |
C.a possible cause of aircraft incidents |
D.effective safety measures for air flight |
You may not be aware, but digital currency (货币) is a big part of the Internet world. QQ Coins can buy you accessories (配饰) for your QQ images. More importantly, a new digital currency, Bitcoin, is bringing the world’s commerce online.
If you’re traveling, you can spend Bitcoins at restaurants and hotels listed at BitcoinTravel.com. In China, Bitcoins can be used to buy goods at about 134 online shops on Taobao. And at a café named 2nd Place in Beijing, you can even buy fresh coffee with Bitcoins.
So what makes Bitcoin so attractive to investors?
First of all, the Bitcoin system is not controlled by anyone. One central authority cannot make policies to change the value of Bitcoins. The fixed amount of Bitcoins also means they cannot lose value through inflation(通货膨胀), as all forms of paper money have done over time.
In addition, accounts in the Bitcoin system are anonymous and transparent. Users can set up an account easily and track every Bitcoin. All of these features seem to make Bitcoins immune(有免疫力的) from loss, but that is not entirely true.
“The value of Bitcoins can vary wildly as no central government makes the price of them steady. If the value drops suddenly, investors cannot get any compensation(赔偿),” Zhao Qingming, a senior researcher at China Construction Bank, told China Economic Weekly. And Bitcoins, unlike company shares, are not backed by any tangible funds, which also adds to their risk.
While China will not recognize the digital currency anytime soon, Xinhua said, lawmakers and officials at a hearing on Nov. 18 in the US made positive comments about Bitcoin.
Ben Bernanke, outgoing chairman of the Federal Reserve, told the Washington Post that “these types of creations, such as Bitcoin… may hold long-term promise, particularly if its system promotes a faster, more secure and more efficient payment system.”Bitcoin is ______.
A.actually exactly like QQ Coins |
B.only used online |
C.a new currency used both online and in real life |
D.a country’s new digital currency. |
We can use Bitcoin to buy the following things except ______.
A.online goods |
B.goods at 134 online shops on Taobao |
C.books in physical shops |
D.coffee at a café named 2nd Place |
What is the disadvantage of Bitcoin?
A.the value of it can rise and fall wildly. |
B.It cannot lose value through inflation. |
C.Every bitcoin in your account can be followed. |
D.It can even be used at some specific restaurants and hotels. |
Fumbling with the buttons to find a good song while driving has been linked to increased risk of crashes, but is listening to music risky? “It depends on the music,” says a report published in the October issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention.
The study found teenage drivers who played their own music had significantly more traffic violations(违规)compared with background music designed by the researchers to minimize driving distractions, or no music.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University in Israel recruited(招募) 85 drivers about 18 years old; just over half were male. The subjects were each assigned to drive six challenging road trips that were about 40 minutes long, accompanied by an experienced driving instructor. Music was played on four trips, two with selections from the drivers' playlists, mostly fast-paced vocals, and two with background music, which was a mixture of easy listening, soft rock and light jazz designed to increase driver safety. No music was played on two trips. Subjects rated their mood after each trip and in-car data recorders analyzed driver behavior and errors.
All 85 subjects committed at least three errors in one or more of the six trips; 27 received a warning and 17 required steering or braking by an instructor to prevent an accident. When the music was their own, 98% made errors; without the music, 92% made errors; and while listening to the safe-driving music, 77% made errors. Speeding, following too close, inappropriate lane use, and one-handed driving were the common violations.
The male subjects were more aggressive drivers and made more serious errors than female subjects. The teens played their own music at a very loud volume but significantly decreased the sound level when listening to the safe-driving music, researchers said. Mood ratings were highest on trips with driver-preferred music.What is the key information the author wants to give in Paragraph 1?
A.Many drivers played their favorite music while driving. |
B.Drivers shouldn’t search for the buttons to find a good song. |
C.Song selection has nothing to do with increased risk of crashes. |
D.Listening to certain types of music can increase drivers’ errors. |
What does the underlined word “subjects” refer to in this passage?
A.Something being discussed. |
B.People being written about. |
C.People being tested. |
D.Areas of knowledge or study. |
In the research, soft rock and light jazz are likely to _______.
A.increase drivers’ safety |
B.add to the pleasure of driving |
C.change drivers’ idea of safe driving |
D.lower drivers’ guard against danger |
It can be inferred from the passage that in the research ______.
A.the teens committed the most errors |
B.the male were more skillful in driving |
C.traveling with no music made the least errors |
D.driver-preferred music increased the mood ratings |
Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh in Scotland in 1850. He had to end his college studies because his health was poor. He began to travel, looking for a place that was good for his health. And he wrote about his travels. Inland Voyage(1878) was about journeys by canoe(独木舟) on the rivers and canals of Belgium and France. Travels with a Donkey in the Cevennes followed it in next year.
People loved his travel books, and they also found his poems beautiful. In 1879 he travelled to California in a very uncomfortable ship and then by train across the United States to San Francisco. He married in California, but his poor health made him and his wife travel again.
Readers of his travel books and poetry were surprised when Treasure Island came out in 1883. It was not at all like his earlier writing, but both children and grown-ups loved it.
Treasure Island was finished in Switzerland. Stevenson then continued to travel. He loved the islands of the southern Pacific Ocean, and he found that his health was better there. In the end, he and his wife made their home in Samoa. It was there that he wrote Kidnapped(1886), the story of David Balfour and Alan Breck. It was followed (but not immediately) by Catriona, which continues the story of David Belfour and tells of other exciting adventures of David and Alan, and of David’s love for Catriona Drummond. In between the two stories about David Belfour came another surprising book, the “thriller” called The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Stevenson died in Samoa in 1894, and he is buried there.Which of the following about Stevenson is true?
A.He lived to be 50. |
B.He was also a popular poet. |
C.He was buried in his homeland. |
D.He quit college because he was poor. |
Stevenson settled in Samoa because ______.
A.it was very beautiful |
B.he finished his book Kidnapped there |
C.he was too old to travel on |
D.it was good for his health |
In which order did the following books come out?
a. Travels with a Donkey
b. Treasure Island
c. Kidnapped
d. Catriona
e. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
A.a, b, c, d, e | B.a, b, c, e, d |
C.b, c, a, e, d | D.c, a, b, d, e |
The passage is probably taken from ______.
A.a newspaper |
B.an advertisement |
C.a book introduction |
D.a public speech |
As more and more books become movie adaptations (改编), I can’t help but think how this will affect English classes in America. Thinking back to my years in middle and high school — ten years ago, I would be rewarded if I had read a number of classics. Today, a majority of those books are now also movies Life of Pi, The Great Gatsby, Much Ado About Nothing and Anna Karenina, to name a few.
Even modern books such as The Hunger Games and Harry Potter have been adapted for the big screen. In discussion with my students, I often hear them say they are not going to read books because movies will come out soon, which makes me wonder what effect movie adaptations have on modern-day students. Will the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) encourage them to read books more carefully or to use movies to improve their understanding of the text?
The CCSS requires students to provide text-based evidence when reading and discussing a book. By focusing on such evidence, teachers can pull specific details from a book that may have not made the final cut when the book was adapted for the big screen. For instance, after reading and watching The Hunger Games, there were a number of details from the book that were missing from the film — many people were disappointed with Rue’s meek (温顺的) movie role. A student who failed to read The Hunger Games would not quite understand Rue’s impact on the games in the same way as someone who had read the book and remembered all the details that went into her death.
I am not saying the CCSS will stop students from cutting corners, but I believe if teachers use the support the CCSS provides, it can be a great roadway to ensure all students are digging deep into texts and not just hitting the play button.Ten years ago, students in America were .
A.fond of reading all kinds of novels |
B.forbidden to discuss movies in class |
C.not allowed to watch movies in the cinema |
D.encouraged to read many literature works |
Which of the following might be the effect that movie adaptations have on modern-day students?
A.They spend less time in studying. |
B.They can’t understand English texts. |
C.They discuss movies more frequently. |
D.They spend less time in reading. |
What can we learn from the third paragraph?
A.The Hunger Games is the worst movie adaptation. |
B.It is a waste of time reading and discussing a book in class. |
C. Rue’s impact on the games is perfectly presented in the movie. |
D.Movie adaptations may bring trouble in understanding the books. |
According to the text, it seems that the CCSS .
A.prevents students watching movies |
B.provides students with well-known movies |
C.encourages students to write novels |
D.provides guidance on teaching and learning |