Here are four pieces of news from China Daily.
United Nations
Picture of your world
A prize of US$5,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Youth category (aged 15 to 24), in the fourth International Photographic Competition on the Environment.
The competition, titled “Focus on Your World”, is being run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP,联合国环境规划署) from July till December. Both amateur (业余的) and professional photographers of all nationalities and ages are welcome to enter. For more information, go to www.unep-photo.com .
Australia
Goodbye to the bears
Koalas, a symbol of Australia, may die out within 15 years as the growth of towns along the east coast destroys their fragile (易毁坏的) habitats.
A survey of the koala habitats found that about 30 percent were no longer home, while 60 percent had suffered much destruction. The Australian Koala Foundation has written to the government urging it to declare the koala an endangered species. At present, there are about 100,000 koalas in Australia.
Iraq
Rebel attacks worsen
More than 100 people, including three US soldiers, were killed in bloody attacks in five Iraqi cities last Thursday. At least 300 people were wounded.
The violence was part of efforts made by Iraqi rebels (反抗者) and foreign militants to ruin the formal handover to Iraqi rule in six days’ time. A group headed by al-Qaida-linked (和基地组织有联系的) terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said they were responsible for the attacks.
Shenzhen’s salaries are the best
A survey showed average annual income in Shenzhen last year reaching 25,500 yuan, the highest in the country, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. Shenzhen plans to issue a salary guidebook listing average salaries in different occupations, so people working there can better understand their career situation — or perhaps even argue with the boss.
1. According to the passage, the fourth International Photographic Competition on the Environment will last _______.
A. seven months B. six months
C. six days D. seven weeks
2. According to the survey, in Australia there were about _______ koalas that were no longer home.
A. 1,000 B. 30,000 C. 60,000 D. 100,000
3. According to the passage, over 100 people were killed in bloody attacks by _______.
A. US soldiers B. al-Qaida
C. Iraqi policemen D. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
The Asuncion zoo is looking for a mate for Coco, an endangered hyacinth macaw （蓝紫金刚鹦鹉），and it is the last known male of his species left in Paraguay.
Coco was sent to the zoo eight years ago. A recent DNA test showed that he is male. Zoo worker Celia said To avoid mixing species, the zoo has had to keep him apart from the other macaws, which has left him lonely and bored. "He is quite sociable, although he has only learned to say 'Hello', but when he hears music, he dances" Celia said
He has a yellow circle around his eyes that set off the rest of his blue feathers. He is more or less a cousin to Blu , he macaw that starts in the movie, Rio.That species, cyanopsitta-spixii（小蓝金刚鹦鹉），is all blue and even more endangered than the hyacinth macaw.
Like the bird in the movie, scientists hope to find Coco a mate to- rebuild the species. Because international laws against animal training are now so strict, nobody is willing to lend the zoo a female. "The best solution is to find a female hyacinth macaw in our country. " Celia said, "there are at least two other known hyacinth-macaws but without DNA test, it is impossible to know if they are female, and the owners are not willing to help,because the mating process can take some time and be a little hard on females.“From the text we know that Coco____
| A． is the last known hyacinth macaw |
| B． lives apart from the other macaws |
| C． has adapted to being left alone |
| D． can say "Hello" when he hears music |
Why is it difficult to find a mate for Coco?
A. Because there is no known female macaw in Paraguay.
B. Because the international laws are against Coco mating.
C, Because the DNA test on female Coco takes time.
D. Because nobody is willing to hunt for a female.It can be inferred from the text that______.
| A． Coco stars Rio in a movie |
| B． Coco has only blue feathers on his body |
| C． Coco is the most endangered macaw |
| D． rebuilding the Coco's species will take time |
Which of the following would be the best title?
| A． Coco, a Rare Macaw-in Asuncion Zoo |
| B． Asuncion Zoo Is Seeking a Mate for Coco |
| C． Hyacinth Macaws Are Endangered in Paraguay |
| D． Coco, the Only Known Male Macaw in Paraguay |
Welcome to the 2015 Winter Camp
The 2015 Winter Camp opens between 9: 30 a m and 11:30 a. m .from Feb.5th to Feb. 15th. A11 children aged 8-14 are welcome. Each child can take part in only one of the following activities and needs to pay,￥150 for it
1. Sports (basketball, football, table tennis, etc )
2. Internet Groups (painting online, piano-learning, computer study, etc. )
3. English World (English songs/games/plays, English speaking contest etc.)
Some American children are coming to the camp. If you really want to spend an interesting winter holiday, please join us for learning with fun. Act now! Book your seat as soon as possible either by phone or by e-mail Pay before Jan. 25th, then you can have a Mickey T-shirt as a member of the camp,
Beijing Children's Palace
No. 23, Fu Xing Road, Beijing City
Tel: 010-888093445
E-mail: Children's Palace@163. comThis Winter Camp is intended for
| A．parents |
| B．teachers |
| C．students |
| D．English learners |
The participants can do the following things except _____;
| A． making friends with American children |
| B． playing computer games |
| C． learning English songs |
| D． having basketball matches |
What should you do if you want to get a T-shirt?
| A． Book the seats as soon as possible. |
| B． Phone the Palace in advance. |
| C． Pay money before Jan. 25th |
| D． Ask some others to join in, |
A third of 15 to 18-year-olds in the UK have met someone in person they originally met through social media.
The figure comes from an exclusive online Newsbeat poll（投票） of 1,015 British teenagers, put together by Comres. The survey also indicates that a quarter feel happier online than they do in real life.
But overall, real-life relationships are still considered far more important than online ones, according to the findings. Sixty-six per cent polled last month said the number of friends they knew in person was more important to them, compared to 28% who said the same of the number of friends and followers they had online.
The survey also suggests what lots of people know already, that social media is now an integral part of teenagers’ lives. Only one per cent of respondents said they never checked in online for social reasons. Facebook is the most popular social network (89% have an account), followed by Twitter (62%) and Snapchat (58%).
Dr Emma Short, a psychologist at the University of Bedfordshire, said, “The number of teenagers meeting up with people they first befriended online is worrying. Even very sophisticated security experts find it very hard to verify the identity of accounts. When you’re 15 and you’re very effective at identifying friends and risk, it’s easy to assume you can do that online. It’s not safe in that they may not be who they say they are and you know nothing about them apart from the conversation you’ve had online – which is a very small part of their lives and the person they may be.”
The survey also indicated:
• 25% of teenagers admitted they were addicted to social media.
• 25% wished they could give up social media.
“I can’t do without my phone.” says 17-year-old Aisha from Clapton, north London. “I can’t do without checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat.”
When we ask Aisha about the prospect of taking her social networks away, the consequences, genuinely, are too hard to bear.
Jealousy, loneliness, happiness and stress are all emotions felt by teenagers.From the first two paragraphs we get to know that __________.
| A．the majority of the teenagers polled met their net friends |
| B．more and more British adolescents feel happier online |
| C．a third of 15 to 18-year-olds in the UK make net friends online |
| D．a little more than 300 adolescents surveyed met net friends |
According to the survey, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Sixty-six per cent polled think it important to meet net friends in person. |
| B．More British adolescents consider friends in real life are more important. |
| C．28% polled said they had the same number of online friends as other 66%. |
| D．28% polled have the same number of real life friends and net friends. |
What does the underlined word “respondents” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
| A．researchers | B．people |
| C．reporters | D．teenagers |
Which of the following best conveys Dr Emma Short’s view ?
| A．The online friends teenagers meet in person are worrying. |
| B．It’s easy for 15-year-olds to make online friends. |
| C．It’s difficult for adolescents to identify online friends and risk. |
| D．The conversation with your virtual friends is helpful. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards teenagers meeting up with online friends?
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Neutral. | D．Tolerant. |
People with mentally taxing jobs, including lawyers and graphic designers, may end up having better memory in old age, research suggests.
A study of more than 1,000 Scottish 70-year-olds found that those who had had complex jobs scored better on memory and thinking tests.
One theory is that a more stimulating environment helps build up a “cognitive reserve” to help buffer the brain against age-related decline. The research was reported in Neurology.
The team, from Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, is now planning more work to look at how lifestyle and work interact to affect memory loss. Those taking part in the study took tests designed to assess memory, processing speed and general thinking ability, as well as filling in a questionnaire about their working life.
The analysis showed that those whose jobs had required complex skills in dealing with data or people, such as management and teaching, had better scores on memory and thinking tests than those who had done less mentally intense jobs such as factory workers, bookbinders, or carpet layers.
While the study did not look at biological reasons for the protective effect of certain jobs, potential explanations include that structural changes within the brain mean less damage is accumulated over time.
Study leader Dr Alan Gow said: “Our findings have helped to identify the kinds of job demands that preserve memory and thinking later on.” “However,” He added, “while it is true that people who have higher cognitive abilities are more likely to get more complex jobs, there still seems to be a small advantage gained from these complex jobs for later thinking skills.”
Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said the study added to the growing evidence about factors that affected brain health as we aged.
“Keeping the brain active throughout life could be helpful and different types of work may play a role. However, it’s important to note that this study points to a small and subtle association between occupation and later-life cognition rather than offering proof that people’s occupation has a direct influence.”According to the research, who may have the best memory in old age?
| A．Taxi drivers. | B．Computer programmers. |
| C．Supermarket cashiers. | D．Motor mechanics. |
Which of the following about the research work is TRUE?
| A．The research team studied both environmental and biological factors. |
| B．The researchers filled in a questionnaire about their working life. |
| C．The research objects included people from various jobs and of different ages. |
| D．The research is helpful to the study of brain health and is still under way. |
What Dr Alan Gow said implies that __________.
| A．their findings are helpful to identifying the kinds of job demands |
| B．people who do more complex jobs may benefit later thinking skills greatly |
| C．there exist links between job demands and preservation of memory |
| D．he didn’t confirm the links between complex jobs and later thinking skills |
We can learn from Dr Simon Ridley that __________.
| A．different occupations may make a difference in keeping the brain active |
| B．people’s occupation has a direct influence on later-life cognition |
| C．the study added more evidence about the factors affecting aging |
| D．the study denied the association between jobs and later-life memory |
What is the best title of the passage？
| A．Aging affects brain health |
| B．Complex jobs may protect memory |
| C．Occupations influence aging |
| D．Complex jobs demand complex skills |
The best selling children’s book, Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives, has been adapted into a homonymous play that will be put on for the first time next March and tour around 50 cities in China.
The book was adapted by the Hangzhou based Star Dream Factory.
“We don’t want to descend to the average children’s dramas that are overly eager to please the kids,” said Huang Qin, director of Star Dream Factory. “We want to provide something practically useful and mystically entertaining.”
The original book by Chinese children’s book writer Zheng Yuanjie focuses on safety tips for kids. With Zheng’s usual candor and simplicity, the book avoids sugar-coating reality. Instead, it illustrates the potential dangers in everyday life and provides possible solutions.
Zheng recalled that when he saw his new-born baby in the hospital, the first thought that hit him was to do his utmost to guarantee his son’s safety.
“Safety is of the greatest importance to a human being,” said Zheng. “If the person is gone, nothing else will matter.”
According to Zheng, there is no preaching or soapboxing in his book. He said that he just wanted to talk and tell the plain truth to the children in an easily understandable way.
This line of thought will be echoed in the theatrical reproduction, said director Guo Yan. She also said that the play will place emphasis on multimedia effects and the interaction with the families.
“Theatre may not ensure the children a path to professional esteem and better jobs in society, but it does have the power to give them strength (at heart),” said Huang Qin.
Huang also calls for consistent attention to child safety, pointing out the lack of universal education and effective legal channels.
The show is expecting an estimated audience of more than 100,000 people during its domestic tour in the upcoming year.Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives has been adapted into a play by ____.
| A．Huang Qin . | B．Zheng Yuanjie. |
| C．Guo Yan. | D．Star Dream Factory |
Which of the following words has the closest meaning to the underlined wordcandorin paragraph 4?
| A．difficulty. | B．safety |
| C．responsibility | D．honesty |
The book Pipilu Sending You 100 Lives is trying to tell the readers __________.
| A．how Pipilu give you 100 lives in a clear way |
| B．how Pipilu can live a more interesting life in a simple way |
| C．how we can live a safer life in an understandable way |
| D．how we can have 100 lives in a pleasing way |
According to Zheng,safety __________.
| A．is more important to people than any other things |
| B．is an essential part only to all the children |
| C．is more important to the old than the young |
| D．is more important to the young than the old |
The purpose of the passage is to______？
| A．introduce a play to remind children of the importance of safety |
| B．introduce a book and its homonymous play to the readers |
| C．tell the readers how to keep safe |
| D．tell the readers how important safety is |