Nodira, 18, lives in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan. She was born with a rare disease and is now paralyzed(瘫痪) from the waist down. Her life is confined to a wheelchair but her dreams know no such boundaries. Her hopes for the future include attending university, riding in her father’s car and being able to walk like other children.
Nodira, which means ‘unique’ in Uzbek, is one of five children in a poor family. Every morning, after reciting her prayers, Nodira feeds the hens and goats from her wheelchair. The rest of her day is spent knitting for other people and helping her mother with the household chores.
Nodira has never been to school because it is too far from her home and inaccessible for her wheelchair. A local teacher used to come and tutor her at home and, as a result, she was able to finish third grade. After that, her parents moved to another town and the tutor could not visit as much.
Despite the many difficulties in Nodira’s life she is lucky to be living with her family. The stigma(羞辱) attached to the children living with disabilities, combined with the lack of wheelchair access in schools and the economic difficulties faced by many Uzbek families, have led many parents to place children with disabilities in special institutions.
These days, Nodira does homework exercises at home and reads as much as she can. Still, it is unlikely that she will be able to finish her primary education, much less attend university. While missing out on an education is a great disappointment to Nodira, her greatest wish, for a true friend, can still come true. “What I want more than anything is a friend who also has a disability,” she says. “Somebody will not feel sorry for me or make fun of me, and will understand what my life is like.”The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably means “_____”.
| A．her dreams will help her desert her wheel chair |
| B．her dreams are never limited by her disability |
| C．she often dreams of moving freely without a wheel chair |
| D．she never dreams of recovering from her disability |
Nodira does all the following every day EXCEPT _____.
| A．give food to some animals |
| B．to make clothes from woolen or cotton thread |
| C．drive cars designed for the disabled |
| D．help with the housework |
The underlined word “tutor” in the 3rd paragraph can be replaced by “_____”.
| A．educate | B．visit | C．treat | D．comfort |
What Nodira wants most is ______.
| A．to go to university | B．to walk on her own feet |
| C．to finish her primary education | D．to find a true friend |
Many of us enjoy doing it: you turn on the camera on your mobile phone and hold it at a high angle, making your eyes look bigger and your cheekbones more defined. You turn to your best side and click. There it is — your selfie.
Over the past year, “selfie” has become a well-known term across the globe. This August the Oxford dictionary added the word to their online dictionary and defined it as: “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and up-loaded to a social media website.”
Today it’s not difficult to find social networking pages full of photos people have taken of themselves and their friends. And selfie culture has become especially relevant for young people. As many as 91 percent of teenagers have posted photos of themselves online, according to a recent survey by the US Pew Research Center.
So what are the reasons for the rise of selfie culture?
“The cult (狂热) of the selfie celebrates regular people,” Pamela Rutledge, a professor at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, told Vogue magazine. “There are many more photographs available now of real people than models.”
Posting selfies also allows you to control your image online. “I like having the power to choose how I look, even if I’m making a funny face,” Samantha Barks, 19, a high school student in the US, told Vogue.
In addition to self-expression and documentation, selfies “allow of a close friendship for long-distance friends, because you can see each other’s faces every day”, wrote Casey Miller at The Huffmgton Post.
But US psychologist Jill Weber is concerned that selfies might lead to social problems, “There’s a danger that your self-esteem may start to be tied to the comments and ‘likes’ you get when you post a selfie, and they aren’t based on who you are — they’re based on what you look like,” Weber told Vogue. “When you get nothing or a negative response, your confidence can plummet.”Which of the following is NOT the reason why selfie became popular ？
| A．It enables people to choose how they look. |
| B．It helps people improve their self-esteem. |
| C．It is considered a good way to stay connected with friends that are far away. |
| D．It’s a chance for ordinary people to show off themselves. |
What is Jill Weber’s attitude toward the popularity of selfies ?
A. optimistic B. objective
C. supportive D worriedIn the passage, the writer mainly wants to tell us _____
| A．the history of selfie |
| B．the advantages of selfie |
| C．the disadvantages of selfie |
| D．some information about selfie |
According to the passage , selfie culture ____
| A．has a history of several centuries |
| B．can bring people self-confidence |
| C．may ruin people’s friendship |
| D．gains its popularity nowadays |
The underlined word “plummet” in the last paragraph probably means .
| A．quickly decrease | B．greatly strengthen |
| C．become dangerous | D．rapidly develop |
A new study suggests that listening to music in the office improves the speed and accuracy of tasks such as data entry, proof reading and problem solving.
In an office-based experiment, 88 per cent of participants were found to produce their most accurate work when listening to music. The study also found that 81 per cent completed their fastest work when music was played.
And it matters what type of music you listen to. For instance, if you’re doing your tax returns, then classical music is the most effective as it improves maths skills.
Listening to Jessie Jor Justin Bieber could also improve your speed, with 58 per cent of participants completing data entry tasks faster while listening to pop songs.
During proof-reading, dance music, such as David Guetta, had the biggest positive impact with participants increasing their speed by 20 per cent compared to tests undertaken with no music at all. Dance music also had a positive effect on spell-checking with a 75 per cent pass rate compared to 68 per cent when no music was played at all.
The research, undertaken by Brighton-based Mind lab International, suggests that silent offices may be the least productive.
‘The Music Works experiment revealed a positive correlation between music and productivity – overall it showed that when listening to music, nine out of 10 people performed better,’ said Dr David Lewis, chairman of Mind lab International.According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The research was carried out by Brighton-based Mind lab International. |
| B．When listening to music, ninety percent of the people performed better. |
| C．Music has a positive effect on work in the office |
| D．David Guetta is the head of the experiment |
In the experiment when doing proof –reading with dance music on, the participants could increase their speed by _____
| A．75 per cent | B．81 per cent |
| C．88 per cent | D．20 per cent |
Supposing you are an office worker doing tax returns, what kind of music can improve your working efficiency?
| A．pop music | B．dance music |
| C．classical music | D．rock music |
The underlined word “correlation” in the last paragraph refers to ___________
| A．association | B．effect |
| C．accuracy | D．improvement |
The main purpose of the passage is to _____
| A．describe and argue | B．inform and explain |
| C．compare and evaluate | D．discuss and assess |
In recent years, the price of gas has been rising sharply, and people have made many adjustments.
There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However; the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished（兴旺); and many people have found employment there: Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars.
In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust（生锈）in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving.
Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums.
People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather:
These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we were一on wheels. Shall we wish them success or not?The following sentences are the results of the gas price rising EXCEPT____________.
| A．More people prefer to travel on public transportation which costs less than driving cars. |
| B．People return to the traditional exercise of walking, which helps them to look healthier. |
| C．People shop in nearby stores without having to drive, so small businesses are increasing. |
| D．The auto industry has been forced to develop new models which are more expensive. |
Which is NOT the effect the rising oil price have on families ?
| A．Family life has improved a lot. |
| B．Children and parents make acquaintances with more people than before. |
| C．Families now stay at home more to have fun. |
| D．Families develop all kinds of hobbies. |
What’s the writer’s opinion to these adjustment？
| A．Objective | B．Supportive |
| C．Ambiguous | D．Indifferent |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．This passage mainly shows the chain reactions of the rising gas price |
| B．This passage mainly discusses whether it's necessary to work on new fuels |
| C．This passage mainly warns people not to use too much gasoline |
| D．This passage mainly pictures what life will be like if gas runs out |
China will soon put its first domestically（国内地）developed electric aircraft into mass production, and designers expect a huge market at home and abroad.
"The RX1E is scheduled to receive its airworthiness（耐飞性，适航性，适航）certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China before the end of this year, with production expected to start next year," Yang Fengtian, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering told China Daily on Thursday.
"This will be the first electric aircraft to be certified by our civil aviation authority. The success of the plane means China has become a technology leader in this filed," he added.
An electric aircraft runs on electric motors, with electricity coming from fuel cells, solar cells, ultracapacitors, power beaming or batteries.
Most of today's electric aircraft are experimental demonstration models. The first manned, electrically powered flight was made in 1973.
"We plan to reach an annual production of 100 such aircraft within three years, and the construction of a manufacturing plant that can make 100 RX1Es each year has begun in Shenyang," Yang said, adding that the plane, together with a set of batteries, will sell for nearly 1 million yuan ($163,000).
The convenience of use, easy maintenance, low operating costs, high safety levels and eco-friendliness will bring the RX1E many buyers to serve a wide range of purposes, such as police patrols, flight training, entertainment and mapping surveys, he added.
Yang said he expects that the Chinese market will need at least 1,000 RX1Es to meet the demand from general aviation businesses.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 480 kg and a cruise speed of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the RX1E can fly 90 minutes based on a full charging of its batteries.
It is able to carry loads for 230 km and fly at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters.
Yang said, "In addition to the domestic market,_______________________________________."In which section is this article most likely to be found in a newspaper?
| A．Environment | B．Technology |
| C．Military | D．Travelling |
We can learn from the passage EXCEPT_________.
| A．Both the production of RX1E and construction of plant are yet to start. |
| B．The new electric aircraft has at least five advantages over other aircrafts. |
| C．Production of RX1E for domestic air travelling can be met in 3 years. |
| D．Electricity was not a main source of power for aircrafts before 1971. |
Which option is not the advantage of RX1E according to the passage?
| A．RX1E can utilize different energy source to power the engine. |
| B．RX1E has a big size, thus it can serve multiple purposes. |
| C．RX1E does not cause as much harm to the environment. |
| D．RX1E can be operated and maintained easily at an acceptable price. |
What is Yang most likely talking about in the last paragraph?
| A．Electric aircrafts developed by other countries |
| B．Disadvantages of newly developed electric aircraft |
| C．Other aircrafts currently in domestic market |
| D．Prospects of electric aircraft in foreign markets |
What might be the best title of the passage?
| A．Electric aircrafts are welcome in China and abroad. |
| B．Advantages of newly developed electric aircraft |
| C．Aircrafts currently in domestic market |
| D．First electric plane ready for the production line |
We’re unleashing the five most popular songs in the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending November 15, 2014.
We don’t get any new songs this week…but things do get shaken up a bit.
It all starts in fifth place, where Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj dip a notch with “Bang Bang.” Jessie says she wanted to assemble this lineup for a long time - she says she only met the other two after the song went to number one on iTunes. Jessie also says she wanted to use Nicki five years ago on her debut single, “Do It Like A Dude.”
Taking over fourth place is Maroon 5 with “Animals.” This band has been around for 20 years…but not always under this name. The Los Angeles group formed in 1994 as Kara’s Flowers, and released one album under that name in 1997. Four years later the members re-grouped as Maroon 5, and the rest is chart history.
Holding in third place is Tove Lo with “Habits (Stay High).” Where did that name come from? This Swedish artist’s real name is Ebba Tove Elsa Nillson. “Lo” is Swedish for lynx - a species of wildcat that Tove says she fell in love with as a little girl.
After eight weeks, Meghan Trainor falls off the Hot 100 pedestal: “All About That Bass” falls to second place. Last week, she and Miranda Lambert sang this song at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, and Meghan kicks off a headlining North American tour next February in Vancouver, Canada.
Taylor Swift re-takes the Hot 100 title, with "Shake It Off" - giving her three total weeks at the top - but that’s only the beginning of her phenomenal week. Taylor’s 1989 album just opened at number one by selling 1.2 million domestic copies. That’s the largest sales week since The Eminem Show sold 1.3 million copies, way back in 2002.
That’s a wrap for this week, but as you know, the chart is always changing. Come back in seven days for an all-new lineup.What is TRUE according to the passage？
| A．There are many news songs this week. |
| B．The article introduces from the first place song. |
| C．“Do It Like A Dude” is sung by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj. |
| D．“Habits (Stay High)” is sung by a Swedish singer Ebba Tove Elsa Nillson. |
How long has the band Maroon 5 been around under this name?
| A．17. | B．18 | C．20 | D．13 |
We can infer from the passage?
| A．Taylor’s 1989 album created the largest sales. |
| B．The chart is updated every week. |
| C．Meghan kicks off a headlining North American tour next February. |
| D．“All About That Bass” has never taken the Hot 100 title. |