Thousands of villages in the developing world have no telephones. They have no money to build telephone systems. A new kind of technology may help change this situation. I t reduces the cost of building and using telephone systems.
Traditional systems use wires to carry electrical signals from one telephone to another. The wires often cost much more than telephones. The new system is based on radio communication. Each telephone sends and receives signals through the air, but not through the wires. This reduces the cost greatly. The radio telephone gets their power from the sun.
Each is connected to a solar equipment that changes the sun’s energy into electricity. A battery stores the electricity until someone needs to make or receive a call. The telephone turns off by itself if the level of power in the battery falls too low. This prevents damage to the system. Each radio telephone is connected to a computer microprocessor. It rewards how many calls are sent and received. It controls the power supply.
The technology needs more study, but its new use of radio equipment sun power and computers may help start telephone ringing in the other parts of the world.
68. The radio telephone gets their power from_____.
A. the sun B. electricity C. battery D. a special equipment
69. Each telephone is connected to_____.
A. a solar equipment B. a radio machine
C. a computer microprocessor D. Both A and C
70. From the passage we can infer that_____.
A. the new telephone system costs less than before
B. we can not use the radio as before
C. the new telephone system will take the place of the old one
D. it will be much easier to radio from now on
71. The main idea of the passage is_____.
A. a simple telephone system has been invented and costs less money
B. thousands of villages will use the new telephone system very soon
C. traditional telephone system will become useless
D. the new system will be too good to use
Mother’s Day is coming. It is a time to let Mom know she’s special to you. Finding the right for Mom on that day is not always easy. We often want something personal and thoughtful. But how can we make it? These following ideas may help you.
Gift of Time
Moms just want to spend time with their children so make it a Mother-Daughter/Son day. Spend the whole day with her. Do the things she likes doing with her.
Home Video
Take your family videos and make them a short home video. She can enjoy it whenever she misses you. Although it may take a lot of time, the process(过程) can be great fun and the result is often priceless(无价).
Mom Mix
Make a CD for her. It’s a collection of all the songs that remindher of you and your growing up.
Write a Letter
Write a letter instead of a simple card. Write about all the good memories you have with her and all the things she has done for you.
Flowers
People send carnations(康乃馨) on Mother’s Day. You can easily spend a lot of money on them. If you have flowers in your garden, or can handpick them, it can be a great gift.
Dinner
Make a dinner and invite her over. You can also take it over to her house and surprise her. Just don’t’ forget to wash the dishes after the dinner.Why is it not easy to find a right gift on Mother’s day?
A.Because we want to save money |
B.Because mothers don’t like gifts. |
C.Because we always want to get something special |
D.Because mothers are very difficult to deal with |
Making a home video may be _______.
A.fun | B.boring | C.easy | D.nothing |
What does the underlined word “remind” mean in Chinese?
A.使……防范 | B.使……想起 | C.使……经过 | D.使….. 痛苦 |
How many kinds of ideas have been mentioned here for Mother’s Day?
A.4 | B.5 | C.6 | D.7 |
From the passage we know _________.
A.you can buy a big cake for your mom on Mother’s day |
B.writing a letter is better than sending a simple card to your mom on Mother’s Day. |
C.inviting your mom to eat in a restaurant is a good gift for her. |
D.buying carnations for her is a good way. |
International experts meeting in Australia say global carbon emissions (排放) can be reduced by more than 50 percent through simple energy saving measures. People at a conference in Australia, which increasingly relies on coal for power, say that reducing power consumption is an affordable way to both cut energy costs and reduce pollution.
While many nations turn to cheap and dirty energy sources, such as coal, to meet their increasing energy needs, analysts in Australia say the best way to meet those needs is to improve energy efficiency.
A range of simple solutions include using energy-efficient homes, household appliances and lighting, and driving electric cars. Encouraging homeowners and office workers to switch off their televisions and computers at the end of the day is also seen as an effective way to save electricity.
Grayson Heffner, from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, says reducing consumption could greatly cut global carbon emissions. He calls efficiency strategies (策略) the “soft giant” of clean energy.
“We forecast that energy efficiency will deliver something like three-quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the next 20 years. So in the short term energy efficiency is the main way that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions but oftentimes it is not so importantly stressed in the discussions,” said Heffner.
Energy experts working in China say the government is making significant cuts in power usage.
Wan Xingwang, a Beijing-based representative of the Energy Foundation, a U.S. non-government organization, says the results have been impressive.
“In the past five years China achieved about 19.1 percent of energy reduction of its GDP. That translates to something like more than 600 million tons of coal savings,” said Wan Xingwang.
While most nations have some sort of government-sponsored energy efficiency programs, energy analysts say initiatives (主动性) by individuals and companies can also help cut demand.
Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, a non-profit group based in Washington, says other developing nations are recognizing the benefits of cutting power consumption and taking action.To increase their energy supplies, many nations _____________________.
A.turn to new energy | B.turn to cheap energy |
C.develop solar energy | D.introduce clean energy |
Which of the following cannot help to reduce energy consumption effectively?
A.Using electronic products in small size. |
B.Using more electric cars. |
C.Turning off computers after work. |
D.Building energy-efficient houses. |
What can we learn from what Grayson Heffner said?
A.75% of the greenhouse gas emissions can easily be cut in the next 20 years. |
B.Ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be discussed. |
C.Using clean energy is the strategy to cut global carbon emissions. |
D.The key to reducing greenhouse gases in the short term is to improve energy efficiency. |
According to the last two paragraphs, which of the following statements is true?
A.The programs reducing energy consumption shouldn’t be sponsored by individuals and companies. |
B.All nations have government-sponsored energy efficiency programs. |
C.It is time that all nations should combine their efforts to save energy. |
D.Some developing nations are taking action to cut power consumption. |
I was in a strange city I didn’t know at all, and what’s more, I could not speak a word of the language. On my second day I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops, then got off and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough, then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived, and even that I pronounced badly. I stopped to ask a newspaper-seller. He handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person.I asked was a policeman. He listened to me carefully, nodded and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I nodded politely and began walking in the direction he pointed.
About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside. The only thing left for me to do was find the nearest railway station.The writer preferred to walk back to his hotel because.
A.he had no money to buy a ticket |
B.he wanted to lose himself in the city |
C.he tried to know the city in this way |
D.it was late and there were no buses passing by |
From the story we know that the policeman______.
A.was kind but didn’t understand the writer |
B.told the writer where to take a train |
C.knew what the writer really meant |
D.was cold-hearted and didn’t help the writer |
What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.The writer got close to the hotel where he stayed. |
B.The writer got to the hotel with the policeman’s help. |
C.The writer found he was much farther away from the hotel. |
D.The writer found the hotel in the direction the policeman pointed. |
In your opinion, what was the writer’s real trouble?
A.He didn’t know the city at all. | B.He couldn’t speak the language. |
C.He went too far in the wrong bus. | D.He followed the policeman’s direction. |
The French Revolution broke out in 1789. At the time France was in a crisis. The government was badly run and people's lives were miserable. King Louis XIV tried to control the national parliament and raise more taxes. But his effort failed. He ordered his troops to Versailles. The people thought that Louis intended to put down the Revolution by force. On July 14, 1789, they stormed and took the Bastille, where political prisoners were kept. Ever since that day, July 14 has been the French National Day. Louis tried to flee the country in 1792, to get support from Austria and Prussia. However, he was caught and put in prison. In September 1792, the monarchy(君主制) was abolished_. In the same year, Louis was executed. A few months later his wife, Marie also had her head cut off. The Revolution of France had frightened the other kings of Europe. Armies from Austria and Prussia began to march against France. The French raised republican armies to defend the nation. The Revolution went through a period of terror. Thousands of people lost their lives. In the end, power passed to Napoleon Bonaparte.What's this passage about?
A.France. | B.King Louis. |
C.The French Revolution. | D.Europe. |
Which did not happen in 1789?
A.The French Revolution broke out. |
B.The national economy was developing rapidly. |
C.The government wasn't well run. |
D.King Louis XIV was in power. |
What does the underlined word "abolished" mean?
A.Put off. |
B.Established. |
C.United. |
D.Ended. |
What was NOT the effect of the Revolution?
A.July 14 has become the French National Day. |
B.It brought some impact on the other European kings. |
C.Louis's wife, Marie was killed. |
D.The king tried to control the national parliament. |
Background music may seem harmless, but it can have a powerful effect on those who hear it. Recorded background music first found its way into factories, shops and restaurants in the USA. Very soon it spread to other parts of the world. Now it is becoming difficult to go shopping or eat a meal without listening to background music.
To begin with, background music was intended simply to create a soothing (舒适的) atmosphere. Recently, however, it's becoming a big business. An American marketing expert has shown that music can boost(提升) sales or increase factory production by as much as a third.
But it has to be the light music. Lively music has no effect at all on sales. Slow music can increase receipts(收入) by 34%. This is probably because shoppers slow down and have more opportunity to spot items they would like to buy. Yet, slow music isn't always the answer. The expert found that in restaurants slow music meant customers took longer to eat their meals, which reduced overall sales. So restaurant owners might be well advised to play faster music to keep the customers moving-unless, of course, the resulting indigestion(消化不良) leads to complaints.Background music was first used ________.
A.in the cinemas and theatres in the USA |
B.in the offices and hospitals in the USA |
C.in the schools and churches in the USA |
D.in the factories, shops and restaurants in the USA |
An American marketing expert has found background music can __________.
A.increase sales or factory production |
B.create a soothing atmosphere |
C.make people slow down |
D.make people forget their worries |
Slow music is useless in ________ in increasing sales.
A.shops |
B.restaurants |
C.factories |
D.cinemas |
Restaurant owners are advised to play ________ to increase overall sales.
A.lively music |
B.loud music |
C.slower music |
D.faster music |