A Battery’s Nightmare
Portable electronics that can be carried about easily are only as good as their batteries (电池) and, let’s face it, batteries aren’t very good, especially when compared with, say, petrol, which packs 100 times a battery’s energy into an equal space. That’s why a large group of mechanical engineers (centered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but with partners at other universities and companies) are hard at work in an effort to replace batteries with a tiny engine that runs on fuel. Imagine a battery-free life! When the fuel runs out in your mobile phone, you just fill up and go.
The engine---about the size of a ten-cent coin---starts with a combustion chamber (燃烧室) that burns hydrogen. Its tiny parts are etched (蚀刻) onto silicon wafers (硅片) in the same manner that computer parts are etched onto integrated circuits (集成电路). The first engine is made up of five wafers. And since these wafers could be produced in much the same way as computer chips, they could probably be produced quite cheaply.
But the devil in all this nice detail is efficiency. Tiny engine parts don’t always behave like the bigger parts of the first engine. Something between the parts can slow down the works, according to Columbia University Professor LucFrechette, one of the engine’s designers. Extreme heat from the combustion chamber is also a problem, often leaking to other parts of the engine.
The scientists’ goal is to create an engine that will operate 10 times better than batteries operate. Frechette says that a complete system, with all parts in place and working, will be set up in the next couple of years, but commercial models aren’t likely until at least the end of the next ten years.
60. According to the passage, the title suggests that _______ .
A. batteries should be greatly improved
B. petrol will be used instead of batteries
C. the time of batteries will be gone forever
D. pollution problems caused by batteries must be solved
61. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “devil” in paragraph 3?
A. Problem B. Advantage C. Invention D. Technique
62. What can we infer from the passage?
A. The new invention doesn’t need any fuel.
B. The new engine has been produced in large quantities.
C. The new invention is much cheaper than the battery.
D. The new engine needs to be improved before it’s on sale.
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security（安全）. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
| Introduction A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps. Basic Security Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles（车座）. Locks Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shops. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop. Marking Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle. Registration There are a number of companies who will security mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you. Finally Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it. This will prove the bicycle belongs to you. |
1.Which part of the text gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?
A.Locks. B.Marking. C.Registration. D.Basic Security.
2.The underlined phrase “act as a deterrent to a thief” means_____________.
A.help you recognize your bike B.help the police find your bicycle
C.stop someone stealing your bicycle D.stop you worrying about your bike
3.The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle___________
A.in the bike shop and your computer
B.in a police station and a security company
C.in a security company and your university
D.by yourself and in a security company
4.The main purpose of this article is___________.
A.to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen
B.to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe
C.to give you advice on where to buy a good lock
D.to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place
Ⅳ、阅读理解（每小题2分，共30分）
Buster Brown was a thief—and a good one, too, he thought. He’d never been caught by the police because he never took chances. He was always prepared for any unforeseen event or emergency.
Confidently, he stood outside the house of his intended victim（受害者）and read the sign on the front gate of the house. “Don’t worry about the dog—be aware of the owner!” it said. Buster smiled and found his way in.
The house looked quite normal outside, but inside it was very exotic with fascinating objects on display. As he began putting them into his bag, a dog came into the room. It stopped when it saw Buster, then wagged its tail madly and went over to him. Licking his outstretched hand. “Good boy,” Buster whispered. “What a great guard dog you are—trying to lick me to death.”
Satisfied he’d made friends with the dog, Buster began to wander round the house, choosing items to put in his bag. His skilled eye picked out only the best antiques（古董）：a pair of silver candleholders, a silver tea-and-coffee service, etc.. His new friend, the dog, sat and watched, as if wondering what was happening.
“Well, boy,” Buster whispered finally. “That might do. Any more and I won’t be able to carry it!” He swung the heavy bag onto his shoulders, just as the lights came on, nearly blinding him. He shielded his eyes with his hand.
“You’re a very silly person,” the figure in the doorway said, his voice dry as dust. As the man came closer, Buster could see he was well dressed. His face seemed familiar, but Buster couldn’t quite place where he had seen him before.
“You should have taken more notice of the sign outside,” the man resped. “I knew about this attempted robbery last week and I also know you will end up behind bars for 20 years. Fancy trying to rob the house of the world’s greatest fortune-teller!”
1.Why was Buster so confident?
A.He was not afraid of dogs.
B.He knew the owner of the house lived alone.
C.He had never been caught by the police.
D.The house had no security alarm.
2.How did Buster decide which objects to take?
A.He took those that were easy to carry in his bag.
B.He took only the best antiques.
C.He took those that he knew he could sell easily.
D.He looked for silver objects.
3.What punishment waits for Buster Brown?
A.A prison sentence with hard labour.
B.A long prison sentence.
C.A heavy fine.
D.Community service for 20 years.
They travel in groups, noses just inches away form GPS screen. Suddenly a boy shouts “I found it!”, grinning and walking away from the group.
The others focus on their screens. “Me. too!” shouts another a moment later, until all six kids are crowded around a tree, pulling out a plastic bottle painted to look like tree bark. It doesn’t seem like much from the outside, but everyone gathers around, eager to see what’s inside.
This is geocaching, a high-tech game played using coordinates (坐标) and global positioning systems to find hidden “treasures”.
It’s open to anyone—hiders or seekers—with a GPS and access to www.geocaching.com, where more than half a million users download and upload the coordinates of nearly 1 million hidden caches (储藏物) and write about their experiences in this worldwide hunt.
Although some adventures can take hours or even days, the contents inside the actual cache usually aren’t valuable—often just a book or a small trinket (小饰品).
But participants aren’t in it for the treasure. They say it’s a great way to exercise. Or it brings them to remote destinations or historical sites. Some consider it an extreme sport, looking for geocaches hidden in mountains or in other nearly inaccessible locations.
Jeffrey Howe, 41, sees it as an opportunity to take kids on adventures to unfamiliar places. The youths at the shelter mostly come form the city, but geocaching has taken them to parks, the suburbs, and, once, to a 498-meter-high mountain.
“Geocaching is a way to give kids the idea that there’s a whole world out there other than what they know from their home neighborhoods and video games,” he said.
How does it work? Log onto the Website and enter your zip code (邮编), then search for caches near your location. Although posted coordinates will take a GPS within about 4.5 meters of a cache, a good hide will require seekers to do a bit of hunting around. Caches can’t be buried underground, nor can they be hidden on private property (财产), in dangerous locations or in some national parks.
Posts written about the find—whether successful or unsuccessful—are an important part of the game, with users proudly recording the places to which they’ve traveled.
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word geocaching in paragraph 3?
A. A computer game played all over the world.
B. A TV series popular around the world.
C. An outdoor game of hiding and finding things.
D. A name of the latest GPS.
2. In geocaching, which of the following statements about players is NOT TRUE?
A. Players need to have GPS to play the game.
B. Players need to download the coordinates to find the hidden caches.
C. Players need to be young and strong to the play the game.
D. Players are asked to hide things in parks or other places most people can reach.
3. What is Jeffrey Howe’s attitude toward geocaching?
A. Negative. B. Objective. C. Uncertain. D. Supportive.
4. Many people like to play this game because __________.
A. they take pleasure in the process of the game
B. they like to visit historical sites
C. they want to find some treasure
D. they want to change their lives
The British royal family is about to be slimmed down. The Queen plans to reduce the number of real royals, it was recently announced. However, there seems little sign of the monarchy (君主) disappearing completely.
Up till the 17th century, the British king or queen was believed to rule by “divine (神的) right”, which was the idea that God chose the king or queen to rule and that he or she was therefore above the law. However, this idea ended with the English Revolution, in which King Charles I was imprisoned and then beheaded (斩首) in 1649.
So what role does the British royal family have today?
Well, the Queen has important formal duties as Head of State, the Queen represents the UK on v
isits abroad and invites other world leaders to visit the UK. As Head of the Armed Forces: Only the Queen can declare when the UK is at war or when war is over. The Queen also has constitutional duties: She has to sign many government and Commonwealth (英联邦) documents everyday.
In addition, the royal family sends a great deal of its time traveling up and down the country in support of different charity projects.
But republicans in Britain do not believe there should be a royal family. Sometimes, the press and media criticize the royal family as well. One criticism is that British people should have to pay for the royal family through their taxes.
Today, the royal family works hard to be relevant(相关联的) in the modern world. The Queen Speech on television is less formal every Christmas, and is now available as a podcast (播客). In 2005, after graduating from university, Prince William spent time teaching English in Uruguay, the sort of work many young British people do at some time in their lives.
1. What can be concluded from the first two paragraphs?
A. The British King or Queen is now considered above the law.
B. The British King or Queen is no longer believed to rule by divine right.
C. The royal family played a less important role in Britain in the late 17th century than in nowadays.
D. The English Revolution put an end to the British royal family in 1649.
2. Which of the following is NOT among formal duties of the Queen?
A. Traveling around the UK.
B. Declaring when the UK is at war.
C. Inviting other leaders to vis
it the UK.
D. Signing Commonwealth documents every day.
3. With the example of Prince William in the last paragraph, the author intends to show _____.
A. Prince William is very popular in the UK
B. the royal family is trying to connect better with ordinary people
C. Prince William has made an effort to win young people’s admiration
D. many young British people do voluntary work
4. According to the article, British people __________.
A. are all in favor of the royal family
B. can talk to the Queen through a podcast
C. pay for the royal family through the taxes
D. criticize the royal family through media and press
| National Geographic Museum |
The Newseum |
|
| Where: |
At 1145 17th St. NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). |
At 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The nearest Metro stops are Archives (Yellow and Green lines) and Judiciary Square (Red line). |
| When: |
Open from 10 am to 6 pm daily and till 8 pm on Wednesdays. Closed Dec 25. The warriors exhibition is on until March 31. |
Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily but closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. |
| How much: |
Timed tickets are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students and the military; $6 for ages 2 to 12. |
Adults (19 to 64): $19.95 Youth (7 to 18): $12.95 Children (6 and younger): free |
| For more information: |
call 202-857-7700 or visit http://www.warriorsdc.org |
http:// www.newseum.org or 888-639-7386 |
1 Which of the following statements about National Geographic Museum is TRUE?
A. It’s open from 10 am to 6 pm each day.
B. It’s near the Judiciary Square stop on the Yellow line.
C. It is closed o
n Thanksgiving day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
D. You have to go there before April 1 to see the exhibition of warriors.
2 How much should Mr. Brown pay if he takes his 6-year-old son to the Newseum?
A. $18 B. $32.8 C. $19.95 D. $32
3. To get more information about the Newseum, you can ________.
A. call 202-857-7700
B. call 888-639-7386
C. log onto http://www.warriorsdc.org
D. log onto http://www.museum.org