Researchers are placing robotic dogs (机器狗) in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激) ,” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote(使……成为现实)that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady.“When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.
“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”
48. The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to ______
A. understand human-animal relationship B. make lonely old people’s life better
C. find the causes of old people’s loneliness D. promote the animal-assisted research
49. In the research, the old people are asked to ______
A. note the activities of AIBOs B. keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks
C. record their feelings and activity D. analyze the collected information
50. What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
A. It is easier to keep at home. B. It can help the disabled people.
C. It responds to all the human orders. D. It can watch TV with its owner.
51. The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may ______
A. cure certain diseases B. keep old people active
C. change people’s beliefs D. look more like real dogs
Whether you will be a doctor or a police officer in the future, there’s a teacher in your life. They teach you and help you know who you are? Of course, you want to thank them.
Teachers’ Day is the perfect chance for students around the world to thank their teachers. The festival falls on different days in different countries.
In China, Teachers’ Day is on September 10. But in the US, teachers have a whole week to celebrate. Teacher Appreciation Week is in the first full week of May every year. Kids used to bring apples for their teachers because apples are healthy. Now, they bring gifts with pictures of apples, such as cups, picture frames（框架） and teddy bears. Some students also make DIY gifts for their teachers. During the week, school clubs often offer teachers a free breakfast of coffee and pastries.
The South Korean Teachers’ Day is on May 15. Many students offer flowers to their teachers. Another traditional gift is a card. Thousands of students prepare personalized cards and give them to their favorite teachers.
Although different countries have different Teachers’ Days, there’s one day for the whole world to honor teachers. On October 5 of every year, over 100 countries, such as Canada and the Philippines, express their thanks by celebrating World Teachers’ Day. UNESCO started the day in 1994. It wants to remind people of the importance of teaching.
Only you can make a card like this one
A fingerprint (指纹) card is a good gift on Teachers’ Day
You will need:
●Card
●Pen
●Colorful ink
1. Press your ink-covered finger on a clean card.
2. Use a pen to make your fingerprint into an animal or a robot.
3. Write words like “you are a wonderful teacher,” or “thank you for teaching me” on the card.
Some thank-you notes for great teachers
1. I am lucky to have the best teacher in this world. Wherever I may go in my life, I will always remember that I had an excellent guide...You.
2. You are not only my teacher; you are my friend. I will always be grateful to you for your support and kindness.According to the passage, apples used to be a good choice of gifts for Teachers’ Day because.
| A．students want to wish their teacher good health |
| B．apples are in season on Teachers’ Day |
| C．students want to wish their teacher success |
| D．apples are sweet and cheap |
More than 100 countries celebrate World Teacher’s Day on.
| A．October 5 | B．May 15 | C．September 10 | D．May 5 |
During the Teacher Appreciation Week in the US, school clubs often provide teachers with_____________.
| A．a movie ticket | B．a free breakfast | C．a beautiful card | D．a free trip |
The part of “Only you can make a card like this one” is to tell the readers .
| A．where to order a beautiful card |
| B．how to make a meaningful DIY card |
| C．what kind of gift is best for teachers |
| D．how to order a teacher’s card online |
When you want to go shopping, decide how much money you can spend on new clothes．Think about the kind of clothes you really need．Then look for those clothes you really need．Then look for those clothes on sale．
There are labels(标签) inside all new clothes．The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes．The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water．A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water．The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for washing may ruin this coat．If you do as the directions (说明)on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time．
Many clothes today must be dry cleaned．Dry cleaning is expensive．When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned．You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed．
You can save money if you buy clothes that are well made． Well-made clothes last longer．They look good even after they have been washed many times．Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made．They do not always fit better．Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes．If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that __．
| A．don’t fit you | B．don’t last long |
| C．need to be dry cleaned | D．can be washed |
The labels inside the clothes tell you______．
| A．whether they fit you or not |
| B．how to save money |
| C．where to get them dry cleaned |
| D．how to keep them looking their best |
The first thing for you to do before you buy clothes is __.
| A．to look for well-made clothes |
| B．to see how much money you can pay |
| C．to know how to wash them |
| D．to read the labels inside them |
We learn from the passage that cheaper clothes __.
| A．can sometimes fit you better | B．must be dry cleaned |
| C．are always worse made | D．can not be washed |
Briana, a student at John Fenwick School in Salem County, US, has a lot of free time. The 13-year-old girl used to hang out on the streets after school. “I know it wasn’t good, but I really had nothing else to do,” Briana said.
Briana was not alone. Many kids in her city had too much free time and nothing to do. To solve this problem, four school districts in Salem began a program called Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The program helps students make good use of their after-school time. Big Brothers/Big Sisters invites mentors to help students in grades 6 to 8 build healthy relationships and take part in productive activities.
The “Littles” and the “Bigs” are nicknames (昵称) for students and mentors. Most mentors are teachers. The “Bigs” and “Littles” usually meet once a week. They play games, share stories and go on trips.
The program has already helped many Salem students.
Briana’s mentor is the school principal (校长), Syeda Woods. Woods took Briana ice-skating, to pizza parties and for a visit to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. “When I got out, I saw that Salem is a very small place,” Briana said. “The program helps me experience the outside world and see many new things.”
Kathy Jennings, 13, said she was very shy before, but now is much more open.
“In the program, I see my mentor as a big sister, not a teacher. I can tell her anything,” Jennings said. “And she has taught me a lot about making good decisions. I think it will make a big difference in my life.” The program of Big Brothers/Big Sisters is designed for.
| A．students aged 16 to 18 | B．students aged 8 to 16 |
| C．students in senior high school | D．students in grades 6 to 8 |
The underline word “mentors” in the second paragraph most probably means “”.
| A．wise and trusted teachers | B．experienced police |
| C．community volunteers | D．careful parents |
The purpose of the program is to help students.
| A．live a full life after school |
| B．learn tips on shopping |
| C．have more free time |
| D．know more about the streets |
The writer uses the examples of Briana and Kathy to show.
| A．Syeda is an amazing principle |
| B．the success of the program |
| C．the colourful life in Salem |
| D．Briana was once very shy |
Popular music in America is what every student likes． Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch． Students with cars buy large speakers and play music loudly as they drive on the street． Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work． They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people． Most of the radio programmes are music．
Pop or popular music singers make much money． They make CDs or tapes which radio stations in many places broadcast（广播）． Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tapes． Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer． Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her． Now the singer has become a pop star．
There are other kinds of music that are popular among Americans． One is called folk music． It tells stories about the common life of Americans． Another is called western or country music． This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching． Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music．________ kinds of music are mentioned(提到) in this passage．
| A．Two | B．Four． | C．Three | D．Five |
When pop singers ________, they are regarded as pop stars．
| A．become popular with their fans |
| B．make a CD or tape |
| C．make much money |
| D．are wanted to sing on the radio |
From the passage we know that country music is about ________．
| A．the common life of Americans |
| B．the life of cowboys |
| C．the country life and love stories |
| D．the school life in America |
What would be the best title for this passage？
| A．Western Music | B．Popular Music |
| C．History of Music | D．American Music |
Ammie was only 18 months old when she had an accident that scarred her for life. While her mother was away for a moment , the curious baby reached up to a hot kettle in the kitchen and poured boiling water all over her body.
An ambulance was called and rushed the baby to a nearby hospital. About 20 percent of Ammie’s body had been burned and all of her burns were third degree. The doctors could tell immediately that Ammie’s best chance of survival was specialized burns unit some miles away at Glasgow Royal hospital.
There , using tissue taken from unburned areas of Ammie’s body, surgeons performed complex skin grafts（植皮手术）to close her wounds and control her injuries , an operation that took about six hours. Over the next 16 years, Ammie underwent（经历）12 more operations to repair her body.
When she started school at the age of 4, other pupils made cruel comments or simply wouldn’t play with her . “I was the only burned child in the street, the class and the school,” she recalls, “Some children refused to become friends with me because of that.”
Today, age 17, Ammie can only ever remember being a burned person with scars ; pain is a permanent part of her life, she is still awaiting two further operations. Yet she is a confident, outgoing teenager who offers inspiration and hope to other young burnt victims.
Ammie’s parents have been a great support to her. “They told me people had a problem with my burns, the problem with my burns, the problem was theirs not mine,” says Ammie. “They taught me to cope with other people’s reactions and constantly reminded me I was valued and loved.” Ammie’s positive attitude to life means she is often contacted by burns charities（慈善机构）, helping younger patients build their self-respect to live with permanent scars.
Now she is a member the Scottish Burned Children’s Club. “Ammie provides so much encouragement for the younger ones. She is optimistic and outgoing and a perfect role model for them , ” say Donald Todd, chairman of the club.
This month, Ammie will join some younger children on a summer camp. “I’ll show them how to shrug off unkind stares from others , ” she says. Ammie loves wearing fashionable sleeveless tops（无袖上衣）, and she plans to show the children at the summer camp that they can too. “I don’t go to great lengths to hide my scars,” she says. “I gave up wondering how other people would react years ago.”Ammie was taken to Glasgow Royal hospital because.71—75 DDABD
| A．it was the nearest hospital to her home |
| B．it was the only hospital curing her burns |
| C．surgeons there were skilled at performing skin grafts |
| D．it was a local hospital excellent at treating burns |
How many operations will Ammie have to receive altogether?
| A．12 | B．13 | C．14 | D．15 |
The underlined phrase “shrug off” in the last paragraph is closet in meaning to .
| A．ignore | B．avoid | C．accept | D．tolerate |
Which of the following best describes Ammie?
| A．Shy, pessimistic and discouraged. |
| B．Strong-minded, optimistic and helpful. |
| C．Fashionable, sensitive and easygoing. |
| D．Careful, confident and intelligent. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Ammie had an accident and had to do many operations. |
| B．Ammie was a brave girl after the accident. |
| C．Ammie helped many younger patients. |
| D．Ammie has a positive life through many operations. |