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British science-fiction writer Sir Arthur Charles Clarke has been buried in his adopted country of Sri Lanka.
Music from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was played at the funeral and members of the family cried as his coffin was lowered.
"Here lies Arthur Charles Clarke. He never grew up and did not stop growing, his gravestone in Colombo is to read, in accordance with the author' s wishes.
Sir Arthur died from heart failure and breathing problems at the age of 90.
A nationwide one-minute silence was ordered by the Sri Lankan government to coincide with the ceremony.
Sir Arthur' s brother, Fred Clarke, attended the funeral along with members of the Ekanayake family, with whom the writer had lived in recent years.
Fred Clarke said his elder brother had always loved the warm climate and the friendly people of Sir Lanka.
"He said he had managed to escape 40 British winters and had no regrets," Mr. Clarke told AFP news agency.
Tamara Ekanayake, who grew up at Sir Arthur' s home in Colombo, paid tribute to him, "We feel so proud that you left your mark on us. Your footprint will never fade (褪去).”
Before the funeral, yellow roses were thrown on to Sir Arthur' s body as a final gesture of respect as it lay on a white bed beneath curved elephant tusks.
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke (16 December 1917-19 March 2008) was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, most famous for the novel 2001: A Spare Odyssey, which led to the film of the same name.
Clarke served in the Royal Air Force as a radar instructor and technician from 1941-1946, proposed satellite communication systems in 1945 which won him a nomination ( 提名) in 1994 for a Nobel Prize, and 1999 for literature, and became the chairman of the British Interplanetary Society from 1947-1950 and again in 1953.
Clarke moved to Sri Lanka in 1956 largely to pursue his interest in scuba diving, and lived there until his death.
66.What do you think the underlined phrase "paid tribute to' in paragraph 9 means?
A. Paid money to. B. Paid attention to.
C. Spoke highly of D. Expressed one' s thanks to.
67. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Charles Clarke suffered from breathing problems.
B. Charles Clarke made the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
C. Charles Clarke had served in the Royal Air Force for about 5 years.
D. Charles Clarke won a nomination for a Nobel Prize in 1994.
68.Where do you think the passage is most probably from?
A. A science fiction. B. A fashion magazine.
C. A news website. D. A students' textbook.
69. Which of the following is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce Charles Clarke' s interest.
B. To inform readers about the danger of heart failure.
C. To introduce the books by Charles Clarke.
D. To inform readers of Charles Clarke' s funeral.
What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?
We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop.The second is the application of the special methods of thought and actionthat scientists use in their work.
What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious — he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, andlooks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover,he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective (客观的) and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum (光谱).
He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively.
Furthermore,he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.
Lastly,he is full of imaginationsince he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore,he needs imaginationif he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place.
These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.Which of the following statements about a curious scientist is TRUE?
| A．He doesn’t find confidence and pleasure in work. |
| B．He is interested in problems that are explained. |
| C．He makes efforts to investigate potential connections. |
| D．He looks for new ways of acting. |
Which word can be used to describe the data that a good scientist uses?
| A．Complete | B．Objective | C．Complicated | D．Accurate |
What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．Application of technology. |
| B．Progress in modern society. |
| C．Scientists' ways of thinking and acting. |
| D．How to become a successful scientist. |
Where is it possible to drive from Rome to Moscow, Madrid, Paris, Vienna, and Stockholm without going to Europe? The answer is in the state of Maine!
Throughout the United States there are many towns and cities that have been named after not only European cities but other countries as well, such as China, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Just how many New World place names are recycled from the Old World names has never been tallied, but one researcher found forty-one Londons, fifty-six Berlins, twenty-four Dublins, thirty-two Athenses, and twenty-seven Moscows, among others!
Reasons for European place names differ. Some were in memory of settlers’ former homes, others in honor of historic events. Founded in 1818 by John Coffee, Robert Beaty, John D. Carroll, and John Read, Athens is one of the oldest incorporated cities in the State of Alabama. The town was first called Athenson, and the name was then shortened to Athens, after the ancient city in Greece. More interestingly, some names were given by mistake. For instance, the people of Moscow, Kansas, wanted their city to follow the name of the explorer Moscoso. They shortened his name to Mosco, and an official in Washington, thinking the Kansans couldn't spell, added a ‘W’.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．In the state of Maine there are many different European cities. |
| B．You can drive to many European cities from the state of Maine. |
| C．All the settlers in the state of Maine came from Europe. |
| D．The state of Maine has many cities named after European cities. |
The word “tallied” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ________.
| A．built | B．believed | C．added | D．visited |
What might have made the official in Washington change Mosco into Moscow?
| A．Moscow was a world-famous city name. |
| B．He thought Moscoso would prefer Moscow. |
| C．He believed Moscow was a far better name. |
| D．He thought Kansans couldn't spell very well and made a mistake. |
The best title for the passage is ________.
| A．The Story of Moscow, Kansas |
| B．American Cities and Their Names |
| C．Interesting Names |
| D．Old World Place Names in America |
Crystal Ear
One day a friend asked my wife Jill if I wanted a hearing aid. “He certainly does,”replied Jill. After hearing about a remarkable new product, Jill finally got up the nerve to ask me if I’d ever thought about getting a hearing aid. “No way,”I said. “It would make me look 20 years older.”“No, no”she replied. “This is entirely different. It’s Crystal Ear!”
Jill was right. Crystal Ear is different –––– not the old-styled body worn or over-the-ear aid, but an advanced personal sound system so small it’s like contacts for your ears. And Crystal Ear is super-sensitive and powerful, too. You will hear sounds your ears have been missing for years. Crystal Ear will make speech louder, and the sound is pure and natural.
I couldn’t believe how tiny it is. It is smaller than the tip of my little finger and it’s almost invisible when worn. There are no wires, no behind-the-ear device. Put it in your ear and its-ready-to-wear mold fits comfortable. Since it’s not too loud or too light, you may even forget that you’re wearing it! Use it at work or at play. And if your hearing problem is worse in certain situation, use Crystal Ear only when you need it.
Hearing loss, which is typically prior to teenage years, progresses throughout one’s lifetime. Although hearing loss is now the world’s number-one health problem, nearly 90 percent of people suffering hearing loss choose to leave the problem untreated. For many millions, treating hearing loss in a conventional way can involve numerous office visits, expensive testing and adjustments to fit your ear. Thanks to Crystal Ear, the “sound solution”is now convenient. Almost 90 percent of people with mild hearing loss, and millions more with just a little hearing dropoff, can be dramatically helped with Crystal Ear. Moreover, its superior design is energy-efficient, so batteries can last months. Crystal Ear is now available to help these people treat their hearing loss with a small hearing amplifier(扩音器).Why did the writer refuse to wear a hearing aid at first?
| A．It would make him look like an old man |
| B．He did not get the nerve to wear one |
| C．It looked old-styled. |
| D．It was too costly |
We can infer from the passage that ____
| A．Crystal Ear can signal where it is in case you cannot find it |
| B．you can wear Crystal Ear any time you like |
| C．you can even clean Crystal Ear yourself |
| D．you can even wear while swimming |
What does the writer say about hearing loss?
| A．About 10 percent of people wear hearing aids |
| B．About 90percent of people suffer hearing loss |
| C．It is one of the most painful diseases in the world |
| D．Hearing loss is the world’s most frequent health problem |
When it comes to success in business and success in life, there are few qualities as important as confidence.
People naturally have different levels of confidence. Some have a higher level of confidence than others do, but even those whose confidence is lacking can learn to build their level of confidence and reach their most important goals. Increasing self confidence is one of the most common reasons people give for seeking the help of psychologists and other professionals.
One of the many places where a greater level of confidence is useful is in the workplace. We all know how difficult it can be, for instance, to ask the boss for a raise. This process can be extremely difficult for those who lack confidence in their own abilities. After all, if you are unsure about your own abilities, how will you ever convince your boss that you deserve more money for the work you do?
Even if you are not asking for that big raise, having plenty of confidence in your abilities is important to success. If you are certain of your abilities, chances are that those around you, whether they are your coworkers, your colleagues or your superiors, will see that confidence, and that will help to assure them that you are the best at what you do.
Being thought of as the person to go to, and being seen as an expert in your chosen field, is naturally very important to success on the job. If you can make yourself the person people go to for guidance and advice, you will help to protect yourself from the ever present danger of downsizing. After all, if you are a recognized expert at the office, you will be regarded as an indispensable member of the team.
Having a high level of confidence, after all, does not mean overlooking the places where you could improve. Knowing what you do well and where you need help will help you enjoy increased success and confidence.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The influence of confidence on one’s life. |
| B．The importance of confidence to success. |
| C．The difference of people’s confidence. |
| D．The judgment on one’s confidence. |
Psychologists and other professionals can offer help to those _____.
| A．who think their goals are hard to reach |
| B．who expect to give guidance to others |
| C．who want to ask the boss for a raise |
| D．who dream to be recognized experts |
What does the underlined word indispensable in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
| A．important | B．attractive | C．outgoing | D．energetic |
What message does the author want to convey in the last paragraph?
| A．To overlook one’s disadvantages. |
| B．To make full use of one’s advantages. |
| C．To have great confidence in one’s abilities. |
| D．To make objective evaluations of one’s abilities. |
“Migrant workers”(外来务工人员) is a familiar term for 17-year-old Shi Jian. Her father and uncle often talk about the problems surrounding this group of people. However, Shi cares more about the children of these migrant workers.
Last year Shi’s housekeeper’s daughter had to give up her schooling in Beijing because she would not be allowed to sit the national college entrance exam. She was forced to continue her high school education in her hometown in Sichuan Province.
Shi thinks the current law is unfair for migrant workers’ children, as it prevents them from studying at public schools, unless their parents pay huge sums. So, Shi decided to do a survey of migrant workers so that she could find some solutions to help solve the problem.
In the last six months Shi spoke to 186 migrant workers in Beijing. Her interviewees include babysitters, guards, keepers, supermarket clerks, house cleaners and construction site workers. Shi found out that 55 of them were parents. Among this group, only eight have children who attend schools in Beijing. The other 47 had to leave children with relatives in the countryside. However, 40 of the 47 would like to enroll(使入学) their children in city schools.
From her interviews, Shi found that the workers’ lowest income was 400 yuan each month. Over one-third earn a monthly wage of or below 1000 yuan. “Even schools for migrant workers’ children charge more than public schools. Morever, parents constantly worry about these schools closing or relocating,” she explained.
Shi has recently completed a report about her survey, in which she makes a series of recommendations. “The government can set up public schools for migrants’ children equal to schools for city children. Second, to offset(弥补) migrant workers’ very low pay, public schools should offer them special rates so they can afford their children’s tuition(学费).What drove Shi to do the survey of migrant workers?
| A．Her curiosity about migrant workers’ lives |
| B．She was asked to do a survey of migrant workers as part of a school project. |
| C．Her housekeeper’s daughter was forced to move to her hometown to continue studying. |
| D．She wanted to draw people’s attention and become famous |
According to Shi’s survey, most migrant workers’ kids _____.
| A．don’t live together with their parents |
| B．attend schools near their parents’ working places |
| C．have to help their parents support the family |
| D．always do better in schools than children from the city. |
All of the following prevent migrant worker’s kids from attending schools in cities EXCEPT___
| A．their parents’ low income |
| B．their lack of confidence to face the fierce competitions in city schools |
| C．school’s high tuitions |
| D．that schools for migrant workers’ children may close or relocate |
Shi suggested in her survey that ____
| A．more private schools for migrants’ children should be built |
| B．more money should be collected for migrants’ children |
| C．children’s tuition should be reduced |
| D．students from the city and the countryside should be encouraged to communicate more |