Researchers are placing robotic dogs (机器狗) in the homes of lonely 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 left 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 funny,” 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. 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.
50. 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
Maybe you love them and want to pet every one you see.Or maybe you’re afraid of them and want to move to a dogfree neighborhood.Either way，dogs are a part of life.Millions of people have dogs as pets.You’ll see them all over town，in the city，country，and even when you’re on vacation.
Like many kinds of pets—no matter how small or cute they are—dogs need to be respected as animals that，under certain conditions，could hurt you.Nearly 5 million dog bites happen every year in the United States.No one wants a dog bite，but how do you prevent one?
One dog expert has come up with an easy way for kids to remember some tips to prevent dog bites.It spells “DOG SAFE”．
Don’t tease，please：Teasing a dog can make it angry enough to bite.For instance，if a dog has food or a toy，never try to take it away.You wouldn’t like it if someone took your snack(点心) while you were eating it!
Only pet with permission：Never pet a dog without asking the owner if it’s OK.Some dogs don’t like to be touched by strangers.
Give space：Little kids especially might run right up to a lovely dog and try to pet it or give it a hug.But dogs need space.Crowding a dog can frighten or anger the dog.
Slow down：Some dogs like to chase(追逐) and bite.Of course，you don’t want to be chased or bitten！The way to avoid it is to go slow around dogs.Never run toward them or away from them.If a dog you don’t know runs toward you，freeze.If you need to get away，back up slowly.
Always get help：You may want to bring home a dog that seems lost or injured.But animals who are lost or injured may be very frightened or in pain.Find a grownup instead who can decide how to care for the animal.
Fingers together：When feeding a dog a treat，put the treat in the palm of your hand and keep your fingers and thumb close together.Why？The dog is less likely to get confused about which is the treat—the doggie snack or your finger!
Even good dogs can bite：Some people are very surprised when their dog bites someone，but all dogs can bite.Avoid doing things that make dogs scared or angry，such as backing them into a corner or bothering them when they are sleeping.The purpose of the text is to ________.
| A．help kids avoid being bitten by dogs |
| B．show methods of feeding dogs |
| C．warn dog owners of danger |
| D．warn kids to keep away from dogs |
You won’t make a dog angry if ________.
| A．you let it alone while it is eating |
| B．you pretend to take its food away |
| C．you exchange toys with it |
| D．you play together with it |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．The owner will be angry if you pet his or her dog. |
| B．Dogs don’t like to play with people they are familiar with. |
| C．A dog may rush up to a kid happily when a kid runs straight to it. |
| D．You can’t pet a dog unless its owner allows you to. |
Seeing a dog running after you，you’d better ______.
| A．escape quickly |
| B．hide in a safe place |
| C．slow down or just stop |
| D．turn to the owner |
A professor I have worked pretty closely with has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.It has been devastating for his family and heartbreaking for his students.
What made him extraordinary was not only that he was a rising star.He had only recently collected the highest honors for young researchers at the White House.We truly admired him—as someone put it, “He always has a smile and a kind word for everyone.” It is very hard to find someone who is extremely intelligent should be so nice a human being.
I decided that we needed him to know our_attitude and also how we are all praying for his recovery.I bought him a simple card which read, “Healing thoughts and wishes coming your way.” I met all the students he worked closely with and got them to sign on it.Each student in his laboratory signed and also added a message.“We love you so much”， “We miss you！We need you back here—get well soon”， “Please come back”， “Thank you for being such an inspiring teacher”， “I hope you recover soon”．..These were some of the messages that were written.Most of the students were really glad we were doing this and said it was a very good idea to give it to him.
He is still undergoing(经历) intense treatment，and along with his family is trying his best to stay optimistic and hopeful.I didn’t see a trace of selfpity or sadness when I met him last week.Instead，he paid attention to every word of my presentation and asked me several questions related to my work.I was amazed at how much he gave his 100% on that day in spite of being in pain because of chemotherapy(化疗)．He did not know if he even had another month to live.“I am trying to focus on staying positive，hoping to be back this summer，”he said.
Needless to say，I saw an expression of joy and hope on his face as he opened the card.He said he was truly touched to see the messages from the students he worked closely with.
There is one thing I learnt from last week：It is so important to tell people how much they mean to us and what an inspiration they are before it becomes too late.My professor，in spite of being too sick to teach classes，has managed to continue being a great teacher，introducing his last valuable message to us.The professor was admired because ________.
| A．he was very intelligent |
| B．he had won many honors |
| C．he had noble personalities |
| D．he was very determined |
What do the underlined words “our attitude” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．Our worry about his health. |
| B．Our pray for his health. |
| C．Our admiration for him. |
| D．Our pity for him. |
When the writer visited the professor at hospital，what surprised him was that the professor ________.
| A．was suffering from great pain |
| B．was still very confident |
| C．didn’t know he would die soon |
| D．still cared for others |
Of the following statements，the writer may agree that ________.
| A．the professor loves his job very much |
| B．few students supported the writer’s decision at first |
| C．the professor will go back to teach this summer |
| D．the professor often feels sorry for himself |
While small may be beautiful，tall is just plain uncomfortable it seems，particularly when it comes to staying in hotels and eating in restaurants.
The Tall Persons Club Great Britain (TPCGB)，which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall，has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants.Beds that are too small，shower heads that are too low，and restaurant tables with hardly any legroom all make life difficult for those of above average height，it says.
But it is not just the extratall whose needs are not being met.The average height of the population has been increasing yet the standard size of beds，doorways，and chairs has remained unchanged.
“The bedding industry says a bed should be six inches larger than the person using it，so even a kingsize bed at 6′6″ (6 feet and 6 inches) is falling short for 25% of men，while the standard 6′3″ bed caters for less than half of the male population，” said TPCGB president Phil Heinricy，“Sevenfoot beds would work fine.”
Similarly，restaurant tables can cause no end of problems.Small tables，which mean the longlegged have to sit a foot or so away from them，are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere.
Some have already taken note，however.At Queens Moat Houses’ Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh，6′6″ beds are now put in as standard after requests for longer beds from taller visitors，particularly Americans. (2011·新课标全国，B)What is the purpose of the TPCGB campaign?
| A．To provide better services. |
| B．To rebuild hotels and restaurants. |
| C．To draw public attention to the needs of the tall. |
| D．To attract more people to become its members. |
Which of the following might be a bed of proper length according to Phil Heinricy?
| A．7′2″. | B．7′. | C．6′6″. | D．6′3″. |
What may happen to restaurants with small tables?
| A．They may lose some customers. |
| B．They may start businesses elsewhere. |
| C．They have to find easy chairs to match the tables. |
| D．They have to provide enough space for the longlegged. |
What change has already been made in a hotel in Edinburgh?
| A．Tall people pay more for larger beds. |
| B．6′6″ beds have taken the place of 6′3″ beds. |
| C．Special rooms are kept for Americans. |
| D．Guest rooms are standardized. |
The Best of Alaska
Nothing evokes(唤起) Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river.Combine these images with high mountains，brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska!
Join us for an unforgettable 7day excursion(远足) to the last frontier！Additional highlights include：a scenic flight over Glacier Bay National Park，a rafting trip through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve，historic Skagway，a whale watching cruise and the company of knowledgeable local guides.
HIGHLIGHTS：
JUNEAU：Juneau，the state capital，is rich in culture and scenic beauty.It is here that we start and end our trip.
HAINES：Haines is a small community located along the fiords(峡湾)．The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska.In 2004，Haines was listed by Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure as one of the best places for recreation and living.The activities listed below are located in Haines.
ALASKA INDIAN ARTS：Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes.Alaska Indian Arts is also the headquarters for several of Alaska’s outstanding craftsmen and artisans.We spend a few hours learning carving，native beading(串珠饰) and culture from these master artists.
SKAGWAY：Skagway is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Stampede over 100 years ago.Today，it is a historic yet lively town，which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colourful shops.In Skagway，we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor’s Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway.
GUSTAVUS：Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park.We’ll stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights.This will be the base for both the whalewatching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay.
DATES/PRICES：
May 16，June 20，July 18，August 15.
7 days—$3,500，including lodging，all meals，excursions，guides，park fees，sales taxes，and transportation between Juneau，Skagway，Haines，and Gustavus.Not included：alcohol，personal items，airfare to and from Juneau.
CONTACTS：
Email：info@alaskamountainguides.com
Call：(800)7663396
Write：Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School
P．O.Box 1081，Haines AK 99827You can feel the history of the local place at ______.
| A．Juneau | B．Skagway |
| C．Haines | D．Gustavus |
You can watch a whale exploding out of the water at ________.
| A．the Glacier Bay National Park |
| B．the Klondike Gold Rush National Park |
| C．the White Pass Yukon |
| D．the Northwest Native Tribes |
According to the advertisement，the participants of the excursion ________.
| A．will spend one day experiencing the local culture at Alaska Indian Arts |
| B．can contact Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School by email or fax |
| C．are able to experience some adventurous activities in Haines |
| D．can get lots of traditional native artworks free of charge |
Which of the following requires participants to pay additional fees?
| A．Going from Gustavus to Juneau by train. |
| B．A full day cruise in Glacier Bay. |
| C．Having the last supper at Juneau. |
| D．Flying from Juneau to their hometowns. |
In Asia，there are special competitions where kites have complex designs and are fitted with instruments that make musical sounds as the wind blows through them.Although all kites have a similar structure(结构)，they are widely different in size and shape.Kitefighting competitions are also held，in which competitors use their kites to attack and bring down their opponents’(对手) kites or cut their strings(线)．
For more than 15 years，the Big Wind Kite Factory has been giving kitemaking and kiteflying classes for the children on an island in Hawaii.In its kitemaking lessons，students can make kites in as little as 20 minutes！Children as young as four years old can learn how to fly a kite.Jonathan Socher and his wife Daphne started the kite factory in 1980.Their kites are made of nylon(尼龙)．Their designs are Hawaiian themes created by Daphne.The designs are cut out of the nylon with a hot knife that seals the edges and then fastened directly onto the kite.
The kite that is used to give lessons is a regular diamond kite with a rainbow pattern.The difference between this kite and the ones they make during the lessons is that it is a twostring controllable kite.Big Wind employees fly the kite and for a few minutes show students how pulling on one line and then on the other controls the direction the kite goes in.Then the controls are given to the students.
Jonathan insists that it is not necessary to make a huge impressive kite to have fun making and flying kites.Even the simplest structure can work，and can give hours of fun.Go on，give it a try！
(2012·安徽，D)Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．A hot knife is used to iron the nylon. |
| B．Children never fly kites on their own in flying lessons. |
| C．Kite strings must not be cut in kitefighting competitions. |
| D．Daphne designs kites for the Big Wind Kite Factory. |
What is different about the kite used for flying lessons?
| A．It has two strings. |
| B．It is simple in design. |
| C．It has a rainbow pattern. |
| D．It is shaped like a diamond. |
According to Jonathan，what do you need to have fun with kites?
| A．A large kite. |
| B．Any type of kite. |
| C．A complex structure. |
| D．A kite that impresses others. |
What is mainly described in the text?
| A．A kite factory. |
| B．Kiteflying lessons. |
| C．Special competitions. |
| D．The kitemaking process. |