Men and women who serve in the United States armed forces are proud of the names like
doughboy and GI Joe.The names have come from the American Civil War.
After the American Civil War in the eighteen sixties,a writer in a publication called Beadle’s Monthly used the word doughboy to describe Civil War soldiers.But word expert Charles Funk says that early writer could not explain where the name started.
About twenty years later,someone did explain.She was the wife of the famous American general George Custer.Elizabeth Custer wrote that a doughboy was a sweet food served to Navy men on ships.She also said the name was given to the large buttons on the clothes of soldiers.For example,the soldiers enjoyed their new GI very much.They looked smart and felt comfortable.Elizabeth Custer believed the name changed over time to mean the soldiers themselves.
By World War Two,soldiers were called other names.The one most often heard was GI, or GI Joe.Most people say the letters GI were a short way to say general issue or government issue.The name came to mean several things.It could mean the soldier himself.It could mean things given to soldiers when they joined the military such as weapons,equipment or clothes.And,for some reason,it could mean to organize,or clean.Soldiers often say,“We GI’d the place.”And when an area looks good.soldiers may say the area is“GI.”Strangely,though,GI can also mean poor work,a job badly done.
Some students of military words have another explanation of GI.They say that instead of government issue or general issue,GI came from the words galvanized iron.The American soldier was said to be like galvanized iron,a material produced for special strength.The Dictionary of Soldier Talk says GI was used for the words galvanized iron in a publication about the vehicles of the early twentieth century.
Today,a doughboy or GI may be called a grunt(咕哝声).Nobody is sure of the exact beginning of the word.But,the best idea probably is that the name comes from the sound that troops make when ordered to march long distances carrying heavy equipment.
68.Originally the word“doughboy”referred to .
A.the American Civil War B.a word expert in the 1860s
C.the American Civil War writers D.a sweet food and the buttons
69.It was who found how the name doughboy came about.
A.Elizabeth Custer B.George Custer
C.Charles Funk D.Beadle's Monthly
70.What does GI mean in the example in Paragraph 4 ?
A.Clothes. B.Weapons.
C.Government issues. D.Vehicles.
71.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Navy soldiers used to 1ike sweet food a lot in the wars.
B.Much noise was made when soldiers carried equipment.
C.Galvanized iron was a symbol of the soldiers.
D.A US soldier can be called a doughboy,a GI or a grunt.
Below is a page adapted from an English dictionary.
Important words to learn:E Essential I improver A Advanced
Pumpnoun [C] DEVICE1 A a piece of equipment which is
used to cause liquid, air or gas to move from one place
gas pump SHOE2[USUALLY PLURAL]US (UK COURT SHOE)
8 type of plain shoe with a raised HEEL and no way of
fastening it to the foot which is worn by women
3 [USUALLY PLURAL] type of flat shoe, like a BALIET dancer's shoe when is worn by women 4 [USUALLY PLURAL]UK a flat·shoe made of heavy cloth, which is worn by children for doing sports.
verb LIQUID/GAS1 [T USUALLY·ADV/PREP] to force
liquid or gas to move somewhere:our latest machine can
pump a hundred gallors a minute , o The new wine is
pumped into stirage tanks.o The heart pumos blood
through the arteries/round the body. INFORMATION2[T]
INFORMAL to keep asking someone for information, especially in a way that is not direce:She was pumping mefor details of the new projece.
Idioms pump sb's hand to SHAKE someone's hand(="hold" their hand and move it up and down, especiallyIn order to greet them)·pump lron INFORMAL to lift
Heavy weights for exercise: These days both men andWomen pump iron far fitnets.
Pharsal verbs pump sth into sth to spend
Money trying to make something operate succesfully:
They had been pumpinh money into the business for someYears without seeing any results.
Pump sth out(M)REMOVE1 to remove water or other liquid from something using a pump:We took turnspumping out the boat.PRODUCE
2 INFORMAL DISAPPROVINGto produce words or loud music in a way that is repeated,forceful and continuous: The government keeps pumpingout the same old propaganda.O The car radio waspumping out music with a heacy beat.
Pump out sth someone's stomach is pumped out, aPoisonous substance is removed from it by being-sucked
Through a tube. She had to go to hospital Stomach pumped out.
Pump sth up [M] INFORMAL to make someone feel morecontident or excited: He was offering them advince andtrying to pump them up.O[R]The players were pumpingthemselves up by singing the national anthem, before thegame.
Pump sth up[M]1 to fill something with air using a pump: Have you pumped up the balloons yet?O I mustpump the tyres up on my bike.2 INFORMAL to increase
something by a large amount:The US was able to pumpup exports.O Let's pump up the tolume a bit!
Pump-action /pamp ek/ n/adjective describes a device which operates by forcing song especially air ,in or out of a closed space or container, a pump-action shotgun , a pump action
Pump priming noun specialized the activity of helping a business ,programm ,economy etc to develop by giving it money. The government is carding small,pump-priming grants to single moter who are starting their own businesses.
Punnoun a humorous use of a word or phrase which has several meanings or which sound like another word:she made a couple of dreadful puns. This is a well-known joke based on a pun "What's black and white and red all over A newspaper
Verb to make a pun
Punch
Noun (c)a forceful hit with a fist (="closed" hand) she gave him a punch lik on us in the nose effect
2 U the power to be interesting and have a strong effect on people ,I felt the performance speech presntation lacked punch DRnk 3 a cold or hot drink made by mixing fruit juices pieces of frut and often wine or other alcoholic drinks tool 4 a piece of equoce which cuts boles in a maena by pushing a piece of met through it a ticket punch have you seen the hole puneh anywhere?
Verb(t) hit 1 to hit someone or something with your FIST (="closed" hand);He punched him in the stomach.2 MALY US to hit with your fingers the bugins on a telephone or the kdys on a keys on a keyboard USE TOCL make a hole in something with a special piece of equipment:I was just punching holes in some sheets of paper .This belt's too big .I'll have to punch an extra hole in it.
Idioms punch sb's lights out informal to hit someone repeatedly very hard punch the clock us to put a card into a special machine to record the times you amive at and leave work:After 17 years of punching the clock,he just disappeared one morning and was mever heard from again.
1. |
What does the word"pump"mean in "He ran in every five minutes to pump me about the case"?
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2. |
When Sally says"The TV propram kept pumping out commercials",she may be.
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3. |
What will the government most probably provide if it is engaged in a pump-priming program?
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4. |
When Sylvia says"His speech was OK but it had no real punch",she thinks it was not.
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One evening in February 2007 . a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote in Wales . She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path . That's when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train.Her Renault Clio parked across a railway line. Second later,she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks.
Ceely'snear miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS device(导航仪).She had never driven the route before .It was dark and raining heavily . Ceely was relying on her GPS. But it made no mention of the crossing ."I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train ,"she told the BBC.
W ho is to blame here ? Rick Stevenson ,who tells Ceely's story in his book When Machines Fail US, finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says,
but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. They are filled with small problems. And it's not just GPS devices: Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless key boards.
The problem with his argument in the book is that it's not clear why he only focuses digital technology,while there may be a number of other possible causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention. perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signaling system. Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the CPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn't say.
It's a problem that runs through the book. In a section on cars, Stevenson gives an accout of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country. He says that once once again not all new locks have proved reliable. Perhaps, but maybe it's also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets. Or changing social circumstances. Or some combination of these factors .
The game between humans and their smart devices is complex. It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be way a wiser use of technology.
If there is such a way, it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines. After all, we have lived with them for thousands of years. They have probably been fooling us for just as long .
1. |
WhatdidPaulaCeelythinkwasthecauseofheraccident?
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2. |
Thephrase"nearmiss"(paragraph2)canbestbereplacedby.
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3. |
WhichofthefollowingwouldRickStevensonmostprobablyagreewith?
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4. |
In the writer's opinion, Stevenson's argument is.
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5. |
What is the real concern of the writer of this article?
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Shay asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?” Shay’s father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son, mentally and physically disabled, were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence.
Shay’s father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around and said, “We’re losing by six runs (分) and the game is in the eighth inning (局).I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the final inning.
Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the final inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously joyful just to be in the game and on the field. In the bottom of the final inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. Would they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was almost impossible. The first pitch (投) came and Shay missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to throw the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The pitcher could have easily thrown he ball to the first baseman and Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game .Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, beyond the reach of all teammates, The audience and the players from both teams started screaming, “Shay, run to first! ” Never in his life had Shay ever run that far but made it to first base, wide-eyed and shocked..
Everyone should, “Run to second!” Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time, could have thrown the ball to the second baseman, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head.
All were screaming,“Shay,Shay,Shay,all the way Shay.” Shay reached third base when one opposing player ran to help him and shouted, “Shay, run to third.” As Shay rounded third, all were on their feet, crying,“Shay, run home!”Shay ran to home, stepped on the home base and was cheered as the hero who the who won the game for his team.
That day, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece true love and humanity into this world. Shay didn’t make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully hug her little hero of the day!Not expecting much, Shay’s father still asked the boy if Shay could play, mainly because the father _________.
A.noticed some of the boys on the field were heisting |
B.guessed his presence would affect the boy’s decision |
C.learned some of the boys on the field knew Shay well |
D.understood Shay did need a feeling of being accepted |
In the bottom of the final inning Shay was given the bat because the boys _________.
A.believed they were sure to win the game |
B.would like to help Shay enjoy the game |
C.found Shay was so eager to be a winner |
D.fell forced to give Shay another chance |
The smallest boy threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head, probably because that boy ________.
A.was obviously aware of the pitcher’s purpose |
B.looked forward to winning the game for his team |
C.failed to throw the ball to the second baseman |
D.saw that Shay already reached second base |
Which of the following has nothing to do with Shay’s becoming the hero for his team?
A.The pitcher did not throw the ball to the first baseman. |
B.The audience and the players from both teams cheered for him. |
C.The opposing players failed to stop his running to home. |
D.One of the opposing players ran to help him. |
What to you think is the theme of the story?
A.True human nature could be realized in the way we treat each other. |
B.Everyone has his own strength even if mentally or physically disabled. |
C.Everyone can develop his team spirit in sports and please his parents. |
D.The results of the game should not be the only concern of the players. |
According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gig watts of electricity every year. Unfortunately, the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills(see picture)to touch bottom. An experiment under way off the coast of Norway, however, could help put them anywhere.
The project, called Hywind, is the world’s first large-scale deepwater wind turbine(涡轮发电机).Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton,2.3-megawatt turbine, Hywind represents totally new technology. The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar(see picture),a technology Hywind’s creator, the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, has developed recently. The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cable(缆索);these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves. Hywind’s stability(稳定性)in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power. If all goes according to plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September.
To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger turbines than Hywind does, but it’s difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean. To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar’s to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox(变速箱) sits at sea level rather than behind the blades (see picture )
Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large. Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing offshore windmills are planted. Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection. If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet’s surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available.The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of _______.
A.the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor |
B.the spar which is floating in deep-sea water |
C.the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind |
D.the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface |
To balance a bigger turbine high on a flatting spar, a new type of turbine is to be designed with its gearbox sitting ____________.
A.on the sea floor | B.on the spar top |
C.at sea level | D.behind the blades |
Wide applications of deepwater wind power technology can ____________.
A.solve the technical problems of deepwater windmills |
B.make financial profits by producing more turbines |
C.settle the arguments about environmental problems |
D.explore low-carbon power resources available at sea |
1. |
Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?
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2. |
One of the benefits for members of Friends is to.
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3. |
The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to.
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