Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills（读写能力）. With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence（自信心）, according to Intermountain Therapy Animals（ITA）in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs （READ）.
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeal it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.
59．What is mainly discussed in the text?
A．Children’s reading difficulties. B．Advantages of raising dogs.
C．Service in public library. D．A special reading program.
60．Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think__________.
A．dogs are young children’s best friends
B．children can play with dogs while reading
C．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children
D．children and dogs understand each other
61．By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library ______________.
A．uses dogs to attract children B．accepts the idea put forward by ITA
C．has opened a children’s department D．has decided to train some dogs
62．A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _________.
A．a book used in Saturday classes B．a book written by the children
C．a prize for the children D．a gift from parents
A well-dressed man entered a famous jewelry shop. He explained that he wished to buy a pearl for his wife’ s birthday. The price didn’t matter, since business had been very good for him that year. After examining a nice black one that costs $5, 000, he paid for the pearl in cash, shook hands with the jeweler, and left.
A few days later the man returned and said that his wife liked the pearl so much that she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality as she wanted a pair of earrings made. "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a pearl?" said the man. The jeweler regretfully replied, "I would say it’s exactly impossible to find one exactly like that pearl."
The rich man insisted that the jeweler advertise in the newspapers, offering $25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the advertisement but nobody had a pearl that was just right.
Just when the jeweler had given up hope, a little old lady came into his store. To his great surprise, she pulled the perfect pearl from her purse." I don’t like to part with it." she said sadly, I got it from my mother, and ,my mother got it from hers. But I really need the money.
The jeweler was quickly to pay her before she changed her mind .Then he called the rich man’s hotel to tell him the good news .The man, however, was nowhere to be found. The man said he wanted to buy a pearl for _____.
| A．his wife | B．his mother-in-law | C．his own mother | D．no one |
Many people answer the advertisement because they wanted______.
| A．to see the perfect pearl | B．to buy some beautiful pearl too |
| C．to get in touch with the rich man | D．to sell their own pearl at a high price |
The jeweler couldn’t find the man anywhere because ______.
| A．he died suddenly |
| B．he happened to be out |
| C．he got $20,000 by cheating and had run away with the money |
| D．he wouldn’t show up until the jeweler called him a second time |
Tens of thousands of smartphone applications are running ads from the overwhelming(势不可挡的) advertising networks that change smartphone settings and copy people’s contact information without permission.
Aggressive ad networks can disguise（假扮） ads as text message notifications (通告), and sometimes change browser settings and bookmarks. Often, the ads will upload your contacts list to the ad network’s servers--- information that the ad network can then sell to marketers.
Sounds scary? It’s not a giant problem yet, but it’s a growing one. As many as 5% of free mobile apps use an “aggressive” ad network to make money, according to Lookout, a San Francisco-based mobile security company. PhoneLiving was one of the most popular app developers to use these kinds of ad networks; their dozens of talking animal apps have been downloaded several million times. Later, PhoneLiving says it has mended its ways. The company admittedusing invasive techniques to make money from its apps, but said it dropped those methods at the start of July because of bad reviews and declining downloads.
The most popular type of apps that use aggressive ad networks are “Personalisation” apps, which include wallpapers. Comic and entertainment apps are also among the most likely to have rogue(凶猛的) ad networks running behind the scenes. Like aggressive pop-ups on PCs, the bad software isn’t easy to get rid of. Though the damage can typically be removed by deleting the app, it can be hard to tell which app is causing the problems.
When developers create free mobile apps, they usually make money through ads displayed within the app. App makers don’t usually tell people which ad network they are using, which makes it hard to avoid the known offenders. The best defense is to read reviews and avoid downloading apps that have attracted many complaints.What is an example of bad behavior by the annoying mobile ads?
| A．They change browser settings and bookmarks. |
| B．They change people’s calendar settings. |
| C．They send scam text messages occasionally. |
| D．They download free versions of games. |
What do we know about PhoneLiving?
| A．Its operation model is against the will of netizens. |
| B．It was forced to admit its bad behavior. |
| C．It has changed its business model rapidly. |
| D．Its relationship with Lookout may break up. |
Why is the bad software hard to get rid of?
| A．The software runs behind the scenes. |
| B．The app is very hard to delete. |
| C．It is difficult to find the problem app. |
| D．The network antivirus is out of date. |
What does the underlined word, “ invasive”, mean in the third paragraph?
| A．innovative | B．positive | C．flexible | D．aggressive |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Mobile ads can attack your phone and steal your contacts. |
| B．Mobile ads have become popular in recent years. |
| C．Smartphones have been damaged by mobile ads. |
| D．You may download some aggressive apps unconsciously. |
Have you heard of snake robots? Scientists and doctors are already using tiny snakes that coil through the human body armed with sharp surgical tools to perform operations on hearts, prostate cancer, and other diseased organs. The snake robots that carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps, and even more advanced sensors are being developed.
The next generation of the robots will be wireless, and will explore inside your body on their own--- not attached to any cables. For now, they are powered by cables that humans control. Experts say the day is coming when some robots will roam around the body on their own. But the experts in robotics say the new creations work best when they are designed for very specific tasks.
Howie Choset has been researching and building robots, particularly snake robots. He believes that his snake robot and others like it can help reduce medical costs by making complex surgery faster and easier. Choset says his new design is smaller and more flexible than earlier models.
The size of surgical robots allows surgeons to operate with far less damage to the body, helping the patient heal faster. Choset has also built larger snake robots designed for search and rescue, or just exploration. They can climb poles and trees and then look around through a camera in the head and slither through places that humans cannot reach.
“ We sent our snake robots into these caves in the Red Sea to look for evidence of ancient Egyptian ships,” he said. “ To me, archeology is like search and rescue, but everyone has been dead for 5,000 years.”
The doctors are very excited about the potential for surgical robots to do things that humans can’t do. The variety of sensors available for surgical robots keeps expanding. As they get smaller, maybe one day they will be able to test chemicals or blood in the body, or even the electrical connections in nerves.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
| A．The doctors carry out surgery using snake robots mainly for heart disease. |
| B．The doctors are very satisfied with the new snake robots during surgery. |
| C．Snake robots are completely free of human control today. |
| D．Other supplementary appliances will be added to snake robots. |
Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
| A．Snake robots are only used in the medical field. |
| B．Snake robots can reduce the patients’ medical costs. |
| C．Scientists are uncertain about the prospects for snake robots. |
| D．Scientists are forced to spend a lot of time researching snake robots. |
How can snake robots work best, according to the passage?
| A．When they carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps. |
| B．When they are operated by experienced doctors. |
| C．When they are given a wireless function. |
| D．When they are designed for particular tasks. |
Why do we know about Howie Choset, according to the passage?
| A．He thought snake robots of different sizes can be used for different types of surgery. |
| B．He thought patients’ pain had been slightly reduced with the help of snake robots. |
| C．He also made snake robots for search, rescue and exploration. |
| D．He is very interested in researching ancient Egyptian ships. |
The writers attitude towards the new technology is ______.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful | C．objective | D．negative |
Artistic Skates
Artistic roller skates are made up of a leather boot, very strong sole plate, and a jump bar that adds extra force. The boot sits a few inches above the ankle, providing more support for the foot.
Jam Skates
Jam skates are the most different roller skates because of their special low-cut design and lack of toe stop. That’s right: there is no brake. But the original jam skate design was different, resembling an artistic skate. Jam skating is more about personal expression rather than speed skating. The free-flowing movements of jam skating have been given many names. But regardless of its name, jam skating has always been about expression and passion.
Speed Skates
A speed skate resembles a shoe. The cut of the boot is lower. Speed skates typically offer lightweight plates to reduce exhaustion for skating long distances. Jam skates have preferred speed skates because they offer a similar design and freedom of movement. The most obvious difference is that a speed skate features a toe stop, unlike a jam skate that uses a toe plug.
Rhythm Skates
Rhythm skates are similar to jam skates. The difference between them lies in the boot design. In fact, the boot design looks very similar to an artistic skate, essentially providing you with the ankle support benefits of an artistic skate, but the freedom of movement of a jam skate. If you want a skate that allows you to move to the beat, which added ankle support, the rhythm skate is the ideal choice.Which of the following is NOT a feature of jam skates?
| A．They have no brake |
| B．They lack a toe stop |
| C．They have no toe plug. |
| D．They have a unique, low-cut design. |
If you want to skate to music, which of the following is the best choice?
| A．Rhythm skates | B．Jam skates | C．Speed skates | D．Artistic skates |
Speed skates are popular with jam skates because _____.
| A．they have a high boot cut |
| B．they allow free-flowing movement. |
| C．they are able to stabilize the foot |
| D．they can help jam skates reduce tiredness. |
What is a common feature of rhythm and jam skates?
| A．They both offer some support for the ankles. |
| B．They both have a similar boot design. |
| C．They are both suitable for free-flowing movement. |
| D．They are both about personal expression and passion. |
What can you learn from the passage about jam skates?
| A．The original jam skate design has hardly changed. |
| B．The original jam skate design was similar to an artistic skate. |
| C．Jam skates have gradually become a type of speed skate. |
| D．Jam skating has many names because it’s about expression and passion. |
We were talking about engagement when my boyfriend, Jack, had to go to war. I was so afraid of losing him; the only way I could stay sane(保持清醒) was to dance. I became very good and critics praised me, but I could feel was the ache in my heart, no knowing whether the love of my life would ever return. And then one day a letter from him came:“I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget me.”
I made my decision there and then I left the city. When I returned I had bought myself a cane(拐杖) and learned to limp convincingly. I told everyone I had been in a car crash and that my leg would never completely heal again. My dancing days were over. No one suspected the story. And I made sure the first person to hear of my accident was a reporter. Then I travelled to the hospital. They had pushed him outside in his wheelchair. I leaned on my cane and limped to him.
I told him he was not the only one who had lost a leg, even if mine were still attached to me. I showed him newspaper clippings of my accident. “ There is a whole life waiting for us out there! And I am not going to carry you—you are going to walk yourself.”
I limped a few steps towards him and showed him what I’d taken out of my pocket.” Now show me you are still a man,” I said. He bent to take his cane and struggled out of that wheelchair. I could see he had not done it before, because he almost fell on his face. But I was not going to help. Finally he managed it on his own and walked to me and never sat in a wheelchair again in his life.
What I showed to him was engagement rings. And I would limp with him for the rest of life.The author felt ache in her heart though critics praised her dancing because_______.
| A．She wasn’t sure if Jack still loved her. |
| B．Jack became handicapped and couldn’t walk |
| C．Jack asked her to forget about him |
| D．She was afraid that Jack might die in the war |
What decision did the author make after she received Jack’s letter?
| A．To see Jack in the battlefield. | B．To leave the city for travel. |
| C．To give up dancing. | D．To see a reporter. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?
| A．She visited a hospital. | B．She broke her leg. |
| C．She helped push Jack’s wheelchair. | D．She had a car crash. |
After they met in the hospital, Jack ______.
| A．gave her the engagement rings | B．got rid of the cane |
| C．picked up the hope of life | D．lived without a wheelchair |
Which of the following words can best describe the author?
| A．Strong and optimistic | B．Clever and faithful |
| C．Timid but faithful | D．Brave and helpful. |