You are watching a film in which two men are having a fight. They hit one another hard. At the start they only fight with their fists. But soon they begin hitting one another over the heads with chairs. And so it goes on until one of the men crashes through a window and falls thirty feet to the ground below. He is dead!Of course he isn't really dead. With any luck he isn't even hurt. Why? Because the men who fall out of high windows or jump from fast moving trains are professionals. They do this for a living. These men are called stuntmen. That is to say, they perform tricks. There are two sides to their work. They actually do most of the things you see on the screen. For example, they fall from a high building. However, they do not fall on to hard ground but on to empty cardboard boxes covered with a mattress (床垫). Again, when they hit one another with chairs, the chairs are made of soft wood and when they crash through windows, the glass is made of sugar! But although their work depends on trick of this sort, it also requires a high degree of skill and training. Often a stuntman' s success depends on careful timing. For example, when he is "blown up" in a battle scene, he has to jump out of the way of the explosion just at the right moment.
Naturally stuntmen are well paid for their work, but they lead dangerous lives. They often get seriously injured, and sometimes killed. A Norwegian stuntman, for example, skied over the edge of a cliff (悬崖) a thousand feet high. His parachute (降落伞) failed to open, and he was killed. In spite of all the risks, this is no longer a profession for men only. Men no longer dress up as women when actresses have to perform some dangerous action. For nowadays there are stuntgirls tool.
61. Stuntmen are those who ______.
A. often dress up as actors
B. prefer to lead dangerous lives
C. often perform seemingly dangerous actions
D. often fight each other for their lives
62. Stuntmen earn their living by ______.
A. playing their dirty tricks
B. selling their special skills
C. jumping out of high windows
D. jumping from fast moving trains
63. When a stuntman falls from a high building, ______.
A. he needs little protection
B. he will be covered with a mattress
C. his life is unprotected
D. his safety is generally all right
64. Which of the following is the main factor (因素) of a successful performance?
A. Strength. B. Exactness. C. Speed. D. Carefulness.
65. What can be inferred from the author' s example of the Norwegian stuntman?
A. Sometimes an accident can occur to a stuntman.
B. The percentage of serious accidents is high.
C. Parachutes must be of good quality.
D. The cliff is too high.
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farmers have undergone an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog(猪) producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear(修剪) sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the special barn(畜棚), then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.Which sentence carries the main idea of the whole passage?
A.The first sentence of the first paragraph. |
B.The first sentence of the second paragraph. |
C.The first sentence of the third paragraph. |
D.The last sentence of the second paragraph. |
According to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _____________.
A.how much money they can earn from their products |
B.whether to plant a certain kind of crop |
C.whom to sell their livestock to |
D.when to sell their products |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers. |
B.Both computers and robots have been in use on today's farms. |
C.Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present. |
D.Farmers can do nothing without the help of computers on today's farms. |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Computer—Farmers' Best Friend |
B.Farmers in the Future |
C.Robots in the future |
D.Revolution on the farm |
BLOOD DRIVE & MARROW(骨髓) REGISTRATION
“These patients deserve a chance at a normal, happy future and they rely on the kindness of strangers to make that happen.”
—Daisy, Isabelle's Mother
Isabelle is the daughter of Daisy and Saman Mirzaei. In January 2008 Isabelle was diagnosed with a genetic blood disorder, beta thalassemia. Isabelle's body is unable to produce healthy red blood cells. As a result, Isabelle has been receiving blood transfusions(输血) every 4~6 weeks since she was 11 months old. A lifetime of regular transfusions can lead to serious medical problems. Her only chance at a normal, healthy life is to have a marrow transplant. Isabelle is an only child, so doctors have started a search for an unrelated marrow donor through the Be The Match Registry. The Mirzaei family asks that you consider helping patients like Isabelle by registering to be a marrow donor and give the gift of life, the gift of blood.
Held at Wiley Hall
Wednesday,_March_26,_2014
Behind Heathman Dormitory/Butterfield Rd.
12:00_PM—6_:00_PM
Don't forget to bring your driver's licence or
another form of identification when you donate.
Visit www.ribc.org to make an appointment,
Sponsor Code 3390.
FREE Kingston Pizza!!!
Marrow Donors: BE THE MATCH
be 18 to 44 years old bethematch.org
in good health
give a swab(化验标本) of your cheek cells for marrow typing
FREE—sponsored by Michael's Fund
www.ribc.org 8002838385
The Rhode Island Blood Centre distributes
blood products to hospitals in Rhode Island and
Southern New England.We can learn from the passage that________.
A.the blood drive is organized by Isabelle's mother |
B.Isabelle receives blood transfusions regularly |
C.Isabelle has been ill for 11 months |
D.doctors will sponsor Isabelle's family |
To be a marrow donor, you must________.
A.be a relative of the patient |
B.carry a driver's licence |
C.be at least 18 years old |
D.apply to Michael's Fund |
Those who want to help patients like Isabelle can ________.
A.come to Wiley Hall every Wednesday |
B.visit www.ribc.org for an appointment |
C.contact their parents at 8002838385 |
D.call at hospitals in Rhode Island |
A new study shows students who write notes by hand during lectures perform better on exams than those who use laptops.
Students are increasingly using laptops for notetaking because of speed and legibility(清晰度). But the research has found laptop users are less able to remember and apply the concepts they have been taught.
Researchers performed experiments that aimed to find out whether using a laptop increased the tendency to make notes “mindlessly” by taking down word for word what the professors said.
In the first experiment,students were given either a laptop or pen and paper. They listened to the same lectures and were told to use their usual notetaking skills. Thirty minutes after the talk,they were examined on their ability to remember facts and on how well they understood concepts.
The researchers found that laptop users took twice as many notes as those who wrote by hand. However, the typists performed worse at remembering and applying the concepts. Both groups scored similarly when it came to memorizing facts.
The researchers' report said, “While more notes are beneficial,if the notes are taken mindlessly, as is more likely the case on a laptop, the benefit disappears.”
In another experiment aimed at testing longterm memory,students took notes as before but were tested a week after the lecture. This time, the students who wrote notes by hand performed significantly better on the exam.
These two experiments suggest that handwritten notes are not only better for immediate learning and understanding, but that they also lead to superior revision in the future.More and more students favor laptops for notetaking because they can ________.
A.write more notes | B.digest concepts better |
C.get higher scores | D.understand lectures better |
While taking notes, laptop users tend to be ________.
A.skilful | B.mindless |
C.thoughtful | D.tireless |
The author of the passage aims to ________.
A.examine the importance of longterm memory |
B.stress the benefit of taking notes by hand |
C.explain the process of taking notes |
D.promote the use of laptops |
Moral(道德的)science is taught as a subject in most schools but with little effect. Perhaps part of the problem lies in the fact that morality is not a science, strictly speaking. It is too much of a social phenomenon, and also has too much of the personal and subjective things mixed within. Besides, morality itself changes with generations. So it is impossible to be defined in a textbook.
I remember sitting through forty minutes of moral lessons, which told stories about little children who never told lies and were rewarded for their goodness. It had little effect and left no impression on me, though.
If moral science has to be taught as a subject in schools, it needs a participatory(参与其中的) approach. When you tell a child about morals, you also have to deal with social norms(规范)and cultural differences. You have to explain that morality can be subjective, and be able to co-exist in society. You will probably have to refer to the morals of the present time.
The best way to tell a child how to live is to show him what is valued. If a child likes his friend, you have to make the child think about why. Once the child notices and recognizes goodness in others, he or she is likely to develop it as well.
In fact, children learn most of their morals by watching people around them. They absorb behavior patterns from teachers and older students. They watch to see what is rewarded and who is punished. They learn on the sports field and through social work. Moral science lessons should simply consist of letting them live and interact, and watch you support correct values and reward good behavior. Which is NOT the reason that moral science is taught in schools but with little effect?
A.Morality doesn’t strictly belong to a science. |
B.Morality is more like a social phenomenon. |
C.Different generations have different moral ideas. |
D.Morality can’t be written down in textbooks. |
The author describes his own experience of having moral lessons in order to _____.
A.explain telling lies is not moral for little children. |
B.advise people should be rewarded for their goodness. |
C.show he has no opinions about moral science. |
D.prove moral lessons in schools have little effect. |
When you tell a child about morals, you should________.
A.tell him about social norms and cultural differences. |
B.teach him to share personal moral ideas with others. |
C.explain that nobody can influence his moral ideas. |
D.say that the present morals are likely to be changed. |
What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The value of teachers’ setting a good example. |
B.The best way of teaching children about morals. |
C.The influence of people’s behavior on morals. |
D.The importance of rewarding good behavior. |
It’s great fun to explore new places—it feels like an adventure,even when you know you’re not the first to have been there. But make sure not to get lost or waste time going round in circles.
● Do the map reading if you’re being driven somewhere. It’ll be easier if you keep turning the map so it follows the direction you’re traveling in. Keep looking ahead so that you can give the driver lots of warning before having to make a turn or you’ll have to move to the back seat.
● Get a group of friends together and go exploring. You'll need a good map, a compass , a raincoat, a cell phone to call for help in case you get lost, and a bit of spare cash for emergencies . Tell someone where you’re going before you set out and let them know what time you expect to be back. The test is in not getting lost, not in seeing how fast you can go, so always stick together, waiting for slower friends to catch up.
● See if your school or a club organizes orienteering activities, in which you need a map and a compass to find your way. This can be done as a sport, with teams trying to find the way from A to B (and B to C, etc.)in the fastest time, or simply as a spare-time activity. Either way, its not only good fun, but a great way to keep fit. Sitting beside the driver, you should___________.
A.look ahead to see where there’s a turn |
B.direct the driver when necessary |
C.move to the back seat if feeling uncomfortable |
D.keep looking at the map to find a place to go to |
Why do you need to tell someone your exploration plan before setting out?
A.To be saved in case of an accident. |
B.To get information when in danger. |
C.To share the fun with him/her in exploration. |
D.To tell him/her what’s going on with the group members. |
Orienteering activities can______________.
A.make people work fast |
B.help people organize other activities |
C.help people stay healthy |
D.make people get prepared for sports |
The text mainly talks about____________.
A.the fun of exploration |
B.what to bring for exploration |
C.the way to use a map in exploration |
D.how to prevent getting lost in exploration |