An earthquake happens when two plates rub (碰撞) together. The earth plates travel in different directions and at different speeds. If one plate is slowly forced underneath the other, pressure builds up until the plates break apart. This process causes the ground to move. It is an earthquake. In other words, earth-quakes are the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by the earth’s rocky outer layer as a result of the energy stored within the earth. The strain within the rocks is suddenly released (释放).
The damage an earthquake causes depends on where it is and the time it is happening. If an unpopulated region is struck, there will be low loss of life or property. If it hits a large city, there may be many in-juries and much destruction. Many of the areas at risk are largely populated now. Major earthquakes hitting those areas today could produce terrible damage.
Actually, there are several million small earth-quakes every year. Large earthquakes such as the 1964 Alaskan quake that measured 9.2 on the Richter scale cause millions of dollars in damage. In the last 500 years, millions of people have been killed by earth-quakes around the world — including 240,000 in the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China.
A 60-second or less earthquake can cause devastation that continues for years after the first tremor (小震). In 1972, a series of severe earthquakes struck Managua, Nicaragua. Fifteen years later, the city still looked the way it had a week after the earthquake hit, because the country did not have the necessary money to rebuild it.
The shaking of the earth is sometimes not the greatest disaster. It is in the ensuing fires and floods that often the greatest damage occurs. In the 1906 earthquake, it was the fires caused after it that did the majority of the damage. An earthquake can also destroy dams high above a city or valleys, causing floods to sweep down and sweep away everything in their path. Which of the following is the main idea of the first paragraph?
| A．An earthquake comes from inside the earth. | B．The earth has great energy in storage. |
| C．How the earth plates move. | D．How an earthquake happens. |
How many examples are used in the passage to show the damage and destruction earthquakes cause?
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
Which of the following is mentioned to show that an earthquake can kill too many people?
| A．The 1976 Tangshan earthquake. | B．The 1964 Alaskan quake. |
| C．The 1972 Managua earthquake. | D．The 1906 earthquake. |
The underlined word “ensuing” in the last paragraph probably means ______.
| A．causing too much heat and great damage | B．causing many injuries and much destruction |
| C．happening as a result of another event | D．happening suddenly and unexpectedly |
The simple exercise of sitting down and standing up again without holding onto anything, could suggest how long you have to live. This is the belief of a group of physicians, who came up with the ‘sitting-rising test’ to measure their patients’ flexibility and strength. They developed a scoring system for the test and found that people who scored three points or less out of 10, were more than five times as likely to die within six years, as those who scored more than eight points.
Claudio Gil Araujo, of Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was among the doctors who originally developed the sitting rising test (SRT) to quickly assess the flexibility of athletes, but he now uses it to persuade his patients that they need to stay active to maintain their muscle and balance, and live longer, Discover Magazine reported.
As we age, our muscles tend to become weaker and a loss of balance means we are increasingly likely to fall. Current ways to test frailty can be time-consuming, impractical and inaccurate for small doctors’ surgeries, but experts are keen to keep older people moving. Dr Araujo says that anyone can take the SRT because no equipment is needed.
In a study, published in the European Journal of Cardiology, the researchers described how 2002 adults aged between 51 and 80 took the SRT at Clinimex Exercise Medicine Clinic in Rio. They found that patients who scored fewer than eight points out of 10 on the test, were twice as likely to die within the next six years, compared with people with more perfect scores.
One point was deducted each time a person used their hand or knee for support to either sit down or stand up, while half a point was deducted for losing their balance. The experts found that people who scored three points or fewer, were more than five times as likely to die within the same period. They wrote in the study: ‘Musculoskeletal fitness, as assessed by SRT, was a significant predictor of mortality in 51–80-year-old subjects.’ The study found that every point increase in the test, was linked to a 21 per cent decrease in mortality from all causes. However, chartered physio-therapist Sammy Margo said that the exercise may be “quite ambitious” for older people in the UK.The sitting-rising test was first designed ______.
| A．to suggest how long you have to live. |
| B．to assess the flexibility of athletes. |
| C．to measure their patients’ flexibility and strength. |
| D．to persuade his patients that they need to stay active to maintain their muscle and balance. |
What does the underlined word “mortality” probably mean in this passage?
| A．body balance | B．muscle strength |
| C．flexibility | D．length of one’s life |
What would the author most likely to talk about in the following paragraph?
| A．The reason why the test may not be accurate to British older people. |
| B．Another test that is more appropriate in some other cultures. |
| C．The different test results among old men and women. |
| D．The limitation and disadvantage of the sitting-rising test. |
Which part of the newspaper will the article probably come from?
| A．Exercise & sports | B．Education |
| C．Entertainment | D．Health |
One morning a few years ago, Harvard President Neil Rudenstine overslept. For this busy man, it was a sort of alarm: after years of non-stop hard work, he might wear himself out and die an early death.
Only after a week’s leave—— during which he read novels, listened to music and walked with his wife on a beach—— was Rudenstine able to return to work.
In our modern life, we have lost the rhythm between action and rest. Amazingly, within this world there is a universal but silly saying: “I am so busy.”
We say this to one another as if our tireless efforts were a talent by nature and an ability to successfully deal with stress. The busier we are, the more important we seem to ourselves and, we imagine, to others. To be unavailable to our friends and family, and to be unable to find time to relax—— this has become the model of a successful life.
Because we do not rest, we lose our way. We miss the guide telling us where to go, the food providing us with strength, the quiet giving us wisdom.
How have we allowed this to happen? I believe it is this: we have forgotten the Sabbath, the day of the week—— for followers of some religions—— for rest and praying. It is a day when we are not supposed to work, a time when we devote ourselves to enjoying and celebrating what is beautiful. It is a good time to bless our children and loved ones, give thanks, share meals, walk and sleep. It is a time for us to take a rest, to put our work aside, trusting that there are larger forces at work taking care of the world.
Rest is a spiritual and biological need; however, in our strong ambition to be successful and care for our many responsibilities, we may feel terribly guilty when we take time to rest. The Sabbath gives us permission to stop work. In fact, “Remember the Sabbath” is more than simply permission to rest; it is a rule to obey and a principle to follow.The “alarm” in the first paragraph refers to “_______”.
| A．a signal of stress | B．a warning of danger |
| C．a sign of age | D．a spread of disease |
According to Paragraph 4, a successful person is one who is believed to _______.
| A．be able to work without stress |
| B．be more talented than other people |
| C．be more important than anyone else |
| D．be busying working without time to rest |
Some people feel guilty when taking time to rest because they _______.
| A．think that taking a rest means lacking ambitions |
| B．fail to realize that rest is an essential part of life |
| C．fail to realize that religions force them to rest |
| D．think that taking a rest means being lazy. |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．We should balance work with rest. |
| B．The Sabbath gives us permission to rest. |
| C．It is silly for anyone to say “I am busy.” |
| D．We should be available to our family and friends. |
Golden sunlight danced in the treetops, and children’s laughter filled the park. The smell of popcorn played on the breeze, and life seemed good. It was one of the happiest Saturday mornings I had spent with my little daughter, Gigi.
That was, until two strangers threw her into their car and sped away. It seemed like a bad dream. I could barely whisper when the police questioned me. For hours we waited, but there wasn’t any news.
“Go home, Ma’am,” the police officer said. “We’ll monitor your telephone. Trust me, we’ll find her.” After what had just happened, it was hard for me to trust anything.
My friend Gloria came over that afternoon. “I heard about Gigi on the radio. Everyone is looking for the car. The interstates are all blocked.” She took my hand and said, “Look here. I want you to have this picture and pray with me.”
It was a picture of a little girl sound asleep in her bed. Standing by the bed was a tall, blond angel. His hand was touching the girl’s shoulder as he smiled down at her.
“I’m too exhausted for any hocus-pocus right now, Gloria! I want my daughter home!” I screamed, and then began sobbing. Gloria placed the photo on our desk and knelt down beside me. “Just pray with me,” she said, holding my hand.
I had no strength left, so we prayed and waited what seemed an eternity. But the phone never rang.
Suddenly, the front door swung open. There stood Gigi. “Gigi! Thank God!” I cried, throwing my arms around her, “Where did those men take you? How did you get home? Did the police find you?”
“No Mommy!” said Gigi. “I was really scared because those men said they were taking me far away. We were going really fast. But then a tall man walked out in front of the car, and they ran off the road and hit a tree.” Then the tall man ran up and opened the car door and pulled me out. He was really nice, and said I would be okay now. He must have brought me home because then I woke up here in front of our house.”
“But who... how did he know... where to bring you?” My voice broke and trailed to a whisper.
“I don’t know, Mommy,” Gigi said.
Just then Gigi noticed Gloria’s picture on the desk. “That’s him!” She gave a loud cry, pointing at the picture. “That’s him! Except he didn’t have wings, and he was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt. But that’s him exactly. I’d remember him anywhere!”
Later that night, the police found the injured kidnappers. When questioned, the driver remembered making a sharp turn to avoid hitting a tall blond man.
Twenty years have gone by. Nobody claims to have rescued Gigi and there have been no logical explanations for Gigi’s miraculous escape.
There have always been things that people can’t explain. But, from that day forward, I believe that all experiences, positive and negative, are given to us for our strengthening and learning.
Gigi keeps Gloria’s picture on her desk, and she remembers her angelic friend. And, like my daughter, I have a faith that has carried me through many trials since that day many years ago.The writer describes a happy scene at the beginning of the passage to ___.
| A．introduce a topic |
| B．attract readers’ attention |
| C．show the beauty of nature |
| D．make a sharp contrast |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the pray together with Gloria?
| A．Curious | B．Grateful |
| C．Doubtful | D．Causal |
The main reason why the kidnappers could be arrested was that _____.
| A．the police followed and caught them |
| B．Gloria’s best friend helped the police to find them |
| C．an angel spotted them and took them to the police station |
| D．they had an accident when a tall man tried to stop their car |
What can be best title for the passage?
| A．picture of an angle | B．power of God |
| C．Gigi’s escape | D．Mommy’s anxiety. |
I travel a lot, and I find out different “styles”（风格）of directions every time I ask “ How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often confused（困惑的）in Japan because most streets there don’t have names. In Japan, people use landmarks（地标）in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “ Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat. In many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “ Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map. They measure distance in time, not miles. “ How far away is the post office?” you ask. “ Oh,” they answer, “ it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “ Yes, but how many miles is it?” They don’t know.
It’s true that a person doesn’t know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, “ Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “ I don’t know”. People in Yucatan believe that “I don’t know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually _______ .
| A．describe the place carefully |
| B．show him a map of the place |
| C．tell him the names of the streets |
| D．refer to recognizable buildings and places |
What is the place where people measure distance in time?
| A．New York. | B．Los Angles |
| C．Kansas | D．Iowa |
People inYucatan may give a tourist a wrong answer ________ .
| A．in order to save time | B．as a test |
| C．so as to be polite | D．for fun |
What can we infer from the text?
| A．It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
| B．It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
| C．People have similar understanding of politeness. |
| D．New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |
iPhone 6, which many people have been thirsty for, will be unveiled(揭幕) on September 9. It could go on sale to the public from Friday, September 19.
Apple has launched a new iPhone every year since it unveiled the range in 2007, selling more than 500 million units since then, and has traditionally launched key products in September.
The iPhone 6, Apple’s ninth iPhone model, is expected to be released in two different sizes:4.7-inches and 5.5-inches. The smaller of the two will be available first. Like iPhone5, the new model will come in silver , gold and space grey.
The iPhone 6 will be powered by new operating system iOS 8. Through iOS8, users will be able to monitor(监控) their health and fitness via HealthKit. HealthKit puts together numerous healthcare and fitness apps, such as blood pressure and heart rate monitors through partners including Nike, and allows them to communicate with each other.
Users will be able to control home appliances and other connected devices through HomeKit, Apple’s connected home framework. Similar to HealthKit, this app will organize your smart devices to control them in one place. One method of control will be via Siri-for example, you could tell Siri you were “going to bed”, and it could dim the lights, lock your doors, close the garage door and set the room temperature.
With the introduction of both of these key features, it’s likely the iPhone 6 will take on even more of a lifestyle device role. It is designed to organize our lives and make everyday tasks easier and more efficiently completed.
Suppliers are believed to be preparing to produce up to 80m of the new handsets by the end of December, according to the Wall Street Journal. In July, Apple announced strong financial results for its third quarter, with significant sales growth in China and profits ahead of expectations at $7.7bn.If you are a customer, when can you buy an iPhone6?
| A．After December 31. |
| B．From September 19. |
| C．After September 9. |
| D．At the moment. |
Who could Siri be according to the passage?
| A．It is a door keeper. |
| B．It is a health kit. |
| C．It is an app of iPhone 6. |
| D．It is an intelligent button on the wall. |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Apple has the most advanced technology in the world. |
| B．iPhones enjoy increasing popularity in China. |
| C．Apple is the third biggest mobile phone producer in the world. |
| D．Chinese people buy more iPhones than people in other countries. |
What is mainly talked about in the passage?
| A．iPhone 6 will make more money than ever. |
| B．iPhone 6 has the most advanced technology. |
| C．iPhone 6 will enjoy great popularity around the world. |
| D．iPhone 6’s new features will make people’s life easier. |