To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a shade against the sun!
Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese, back in the eleventh century B.C.
We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office.
In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in common used in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans.
During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it was considered as a symbol of power. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in France, and later on in England.
By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe. Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that women’s umbrellas began to be made, in a whole variety of colours.
45. According to this passage, the umbrella was probably first invented in ancient _______.
A. China B. Egypt C. Greece D. Rome
46. Which of the following statements is not true about the umbrella?
A. No one exactly knows who was the inventor of the umbrella.
B. The umbrella was first invented to be used as protection against the sun.
C. The umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century.
D. In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade.
47. A strange feature(特征) of the umbrella’s use is that it was used as _______.
A. protection against rain B. a shade against the sun
C. a symbol of honour and power D. women’s decoration
48. In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain ___________.
A. during the Middle Ages B. by the eighteenth century C. in Rome D. in Greece
¤ While the 2008 Olympics were the first to be broadcast entirely in HD, the 2012 Olympics are the first to broadcast in HD as well as 3D. Sean Taylor, a spokesperson for Panasonic – provider of some of the technologies – said it effectively, “Each Games, from a technology perspective, tries to have a first. London will be the first HD and 3D Games.” The games were first televised in Berlin in 1936 and played on big screens about the city. Then came the first games to enter households (strictly in London that is) in 1948, followed by the first internationally televised games during the 1960 Olympics in Rome. And ever since, that feeling of physically standing in the crowd and watching these mighty contestants has only gotten clearer, more defined. Now, they more literally than ever actually compete in your living room.
§ A paradox is presented as the London games celebrate both the Industrial Revolution (a.k.a. the birth of pollution) and a spirit of committed environmentalism; London will be the first to actively measure its own carbon footprint during these games, designing a stadium and accommodations that cut-back on negative emissions when at all possible. They are also shooting for a world record via the “Javelin,” designed specifically to keep as many exhaust pipes at bay as humanly possible.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. The Industrial Revolution first happened in England.
B. 2012 London Olympics is the first to broadcast in HD.
C. People couldn’t see the Olympic Games on TV 80 years ago.
D. 2012 London Olympics is more environmentally friendly than before. What does the underlined word “paradox” probably mean in the text?
| A．solid evidence | B．advanced thought |
| C．perfect opinion | D．contradictory view |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．a novel | B．a report | C．a diary | D．an essay |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．The History of Olympic Games. |
| B．Two Firsts about 2012 London Olympics |
| C．2012 London Olympics --- Eco-Conscious Games |
| D．2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics |
A four-year study of 200 college students found that those who drink heavily and started drinking at an early age demonstrate poor decision-making skills, just like long-term, chronic(长期的) alcoholics. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia believe early onset binge drinking negatively affects psychological development.
The researches examined college students between the ages of 18 and 22. After three years, they tested them using the Iowa Gambling Test, which measures the tendency to make immediate (disadvantageous) or long-term (advantageous) choices.
Based on the students’ reported drinking habits, they were grouped into four categories: low binge drinkers, moderate binge drinkers, increasing binge drinkers and stable or high binge drinkers.
“Students in the stable or high alcohol use category, who had longer histories of binge drinking, made riskier and less advantageous choices, which reflect problems associated with planning for the future,” the researchers reported.
The study also found that only students who started binge drinking when they were younger showed impairment on the task.
“There is reason to think that heavy binge drinking during adolescence, when the brain is still rapidly developing, may have some negative legacy (遗传) on psychological development,” said Kenneth J. Sher of MU’s Midwest Alcoholism Research Center in a news release. “The interesting thing is that if we were to just look at binge drinkers and how impaired they are in the decision-making process as juniors, we’d really be obscuring(使模糊) the important issue, which is how long they’ve been binge drinkers and / or how early they started.”What does the passage mainly tell us?
| A．Four categories of heavy drinkers. |
| B．Heavy drinking affects college students. |
| C．Early onset binge drinkers are poor at decision-making. |
| D．People drinking at an early age will develop into binge drinkers. |
Which category would make the most disadvantageous choice?
| A．Low binge drinkers | B．moderate binge drinkers |
| C．Increasing binge drinkers | D．Stable binge drinkers |
Early onset binge drinking negatively affects psychological development because _______.
| A．adolescent students were not suitable for drinking |
| B．drinking too much will slow the growth of the brain |
| C．the brain has not fully developed during adolescence |
| D．drinking will make the students make dangerous choices |
What Kenneth J. Sher says suggests that _______.
| A．he is quite clear about what the important issue is |
| B．if binger drinkers started late, there would be no bad effect |
| C．the important issue is how impaired the students are in decision-making |
| D．only early binge drinkers will have their decision-making ability affected |
| The Wimpole Estate The Wimpole Estate, which now belongs to the National Trust, was built in 1640. Along with Wimpole Hall, the location offers 60 acres of formal and informal gardens, a working kitchen garden and a home farm featuring rare breed animals. Perfect for autumnal walks! Please note: The members are free all the year. Getting there: The Wimpole Estate is 8 miles southwest of Cambridge. Park open: All year, dawn till dusk. Admission: (non-members) ￡4.90 for adults and ￡2.80 for children. |
| Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve Experience a unique fragment of the wilderness this autumn, which once covered much of East Anglia. Wicken Fen is the oldest nature reserve in the country, and is famous for its rich plant, insect and bird life --- a delight for naturalists and strollers alike! Please note: The members are free all the year. Getting there: Wicken Fen is 17 miles northeast of Cambridge. Open: All year, dawn till dusk (except Christmas Day) Admission: (non-member) Adults ￡3.80; children ￡1.20. |
| The Peterborough Ghost Walk Or perhaps a night time walk in Peterborough is more up your street? In this case why not try the Peterborough Ghost Walk? The guided walking tour stars at the Museum and Art Gallery in Priestgate and winds its way through the city, lasting about one and a half hours. Please note: The walk is not recommended for young children or those of a nervous disposition. Getting tickets: Visit the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery or the Tourist Information Center or telephone 01733-343329. Tour dates: Please telephone the above number. Ticket prices: Adults ￡4.00 and ￡2.00 for children. |
Who would be most interested in Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve?
| A．A historian. | B．A naturalist. | C．A farmer. | D．An artist. |
How much would a member pay if he goes to the Wimpole Estate with his two children?
| A．￡5.60. | B．￡7.70. | C．￡8.90. | D．￡10.50. |
The Peterborough Ghost Walk might give people a feeling of _______.
| A．joy | B．release | C．fear | D．shame |
Which of the following is TRUE about the Wimpole Fstate?
| A．It is an old private farm. |
| B．People can have a walk in it at any time. |
| C．People can see some endangered animals there. |
| D．The best time to go there for a walk is in the fall. |
When I was eight years old, I had a big accident. I get scared even now when I think about that time. There were many people skating near my house, and seeing them skate so wonderfully, I couldn’t wait to have a try, just a piece of cake, I thought .
I went with a friend who was very skillful. He spent a long time teaching me how to skate , but I still didn’t learn much , which made him very angry. Finally , he left me and skated all around. I skated alone and soon got bored because I kept falling down so I took off my skates and just walked around on the ice in my shoes. It was cold and my feet were frozen.
Suddenly, I stepped on something that was not hard. What was it ? It was a weak place in the ice . When I stepped there, I sank under the ice. I thought that I was going to die, but I did my best to grab something to get out from under the ice. I would have climbed out myself by grabbing the edge of the ice, but at that time I was only a child of eight . I cried out.
Fortunately, someone helped me. He grabbed my arms and pulled me up. Those several minutes seemed a year to me. I thanked him. At that time, my friend came back. I was annoyed at him because he was supposed to take care of me, but he didn’t. He was embarrassed. When I took a taxi home, the taxi driver was surprised and asked what had happened. I didn’t want to say anything because I was tired and scared. Since then, I have never touched skating.At first the writer thought that skating _________________.
| A．was hard to learn |
| B．was only suitable to watch |
| C．was easy to learn |
| D．can only be done with support |
Why did the writer’s friend leave and skate alone? ___________
| A．He wanted to show off his skating skill before the writer. |
| B．He was disappointed at the writer’s performance. |
| C．He was too tired to go on teaching the writer. |
| D．He found he had no gift for teaching others to skate. |
According to the writer, if an adult sank under the ice, he would _____________.
| A．grab the edge of the ice and get out. |
| B．have courage to call for help |
| C．wait until people came to help |
| D．not like to accept others’ help |
What effect did the accident have on the writer?
| A．He broke away from his irresponsible friend. |
| B．He didn’t dare to skate any longer |
| C．He fell ill because of staying under ice too longer. |
| D．He lost interest in all kinds of sports. |
Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly. If metal is heated and then cooled very quickly , for example by dipping it in water , it will be very hard but also very brittle(脆)---that is , It will break easily. Metal that has been annealed is soft but does not break as easily . It is possible to make metal as hard or as soft as is wished, by annealing it. The metal is heated, and allowed to cool slowly , for a certain length of time. The longer the heated metal takes to cool slowly , the softer it becomes . Annealing can also be used on other materials, such as glass. Annealing can make metal _______________.
| A．hard and tough (韧) | B．hard but brittle |
| C．soft but tough | D．soft and brittle |
Why do people put hot metal in water ? ____________
| A．To make it hard | B．To make it soft |
| C．To make it cool | D．To make it brittle |
As suggested by the text , how can glass be made less brittle ?____________
| A．It can be heated and then cooled quickly |
| B．It can be cooled and then heated slowly |
| C．It can be heated and then cooled slowly |
| D．It can be cooled and then heated quickly |