In many parts of the world cars play an essential role in daily life and many societies would stop to function without them. So the claim that in 20 years’ time no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously not only by governments but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean extremely large fuel savings, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself and it will not be owned by on individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis, who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture ,which had blocked up our cities, polluted our air and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says cars will be fitted with intelligent cruise control devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. Brakes and accelerators (加速器) will become redundant（多余的） because the car will automatically speed up or slow down to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.
By 2010 Dr. David Davis believes car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road whatever the weather conditions by projecting an image of the road ahead onto the car’s windscreen. And by 2020 cars will travel in convoy linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow(牵引) bar to the car in front to form “road-trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the ordinary fuel” says Davis. “But all the 
others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.We know from the passage that governments and car manufactures ________.
| A．don’t believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020. |
| B．are devoted to the technological innovation (创新) in car industry. |
| C．consider the predictions made by the researchers seriously. |
D．have put the super-intelligent car into mass production. |
Which of the following will NOT be the characteristics of the cars of 2020 ?
| A．There will be no brake and accelerator in cars. |
| B．We will own as many cars as we want . |
| C．All cars will be driven by computers. |
| D．Car accident will no longer happen. |
The expression closest in meaning to the underlined phrase “ in convoy”(Para 5) is ______.
| A．in line | B．sidelong | C．side by side | D．next to one another |
What will happen if cars are linked to each other electronically in 2020 ?
| A．Motorists will get a clear view of the road. |
| B．The weather conditions won’t have effect on motorists. |
| C．There will be a decrease in the pollution caused by car . |
| D．All trains will burn less fuel than present. |
The Basics of Math—Made Clear
Basic Math introduces students to the basic concepts of mathematics, as well as the fundamentals of more tricky areas. These 30 fantastic lectures are designed to provide students with an understanding of arithmetic and to prepare them for Algebra(代数) and beyond.
The lessons in Basic Math cover every basic aspect of arithmetic. They also look into exponents(指数), the order of operations, and square roots. In addition to learning how to perform various mathematical operations, students discover why these operations work, how a particular mathematical topic relates to other branches of mathematics, and how these operations can be used practically.
Basic Math starts from the relatively easier concepts and gradually moves on to the more troublesome ones, so as to allow for steady and sure understanding of the material by students. The lectures offer students the chance to “make sense” of mathematical knowledge that may have seemed so frightening. They also help students prepare for college mathematics and overcome their anxiety about this amazing—and completely understandable—field of study.
By the conclusion of the course, students will have improved their understanding of basic math. They will be able to clear away the mystery(神秘性) of mathematics and face their studies with more confidence than they ever imagined. In addition, they will strengthen their ability to accept new and exciting mathematical challenges.
Professor H. Siegel, honored by Kentucky Educational Television as “the best math teacher in America,” is a devoted teacher and has a gift for explaining mathematical concepts in ways that make them seem clear and obvious. From the basic concrete ideas to the more abstract problems, he is master in making math lectures learner-friendlier and less scary.
With a PhD in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University, Dr. Siegel teaches mathematics at Central Arizona College. His courses include various make-up classes and a number of lectures for future primary school teachers.
If the course fails to provide complete satisfaction to you, you can easily exchange it for any other course that we offer. Or you can get your money back.What does the course Basic Math mainly cover?
| A．Algebra. |
| B．College Mathematics. |
| C．Arithmetic. |
| D．Mathematics Education. |
What benefits can students expect from Basic Math?
| A．Stronger imaginative ability. |
| B．Additional presentation skills. |
| C．More mathematical confidence. |
| D．Greater chances of becoming teachers. |
What can we learn about Professor H. Siegel?
| A．He is a guest lecturer at Kentucky Educational Television. |
| B．He is to deliver 30 lectures in Basic Math. |
| C．He works in Georgia State University. |
| D．He specializes in training teachers. |
Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
| A．A news report. |
| B．A book review |
| C．A lesson plan. |
| D．An advertisement |
Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids (孩子) to? Try some of these places
·Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making land-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children's favorite writer, and even musical performances and other arts.
·Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur(恐龙) models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.
·Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. Puppet(木偶)making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.
·Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit
| A．a Youtheater |
| B．an art museum |
| C．a natural history museum |
| D．a hands-on science museum |
What can kids do at a Youtheater?
| A．Look at rock collections. |
| B．See dinosaur models. |
| C．Watch puppet making. |
| D．Give performances. |
What does "hands-on science" mean in the last paragraph?
| A．Science games designed by kids. |
| B．Learning science by doing things. |
| C．A show of kids' science work. |
| D．Reading science books. |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A science textbook. |
| B．A tourist map. |
| C．A museum guide. |
| D．A news report. |
They say there are three ways to experience the Grand Canyon; on foot, on mules(骡子) or by air. We chose the first. Up early; my husband and I and our three children couldn’t wait to get started. We decided to walk along a lovely path named Bright Angel Trail.
As we set out, I was shocked at how narrow the path was. And I couldn’t help noticing that the other tourists weren’t like us. They had heavy backpacks, water bottles, and hats. But as usual we were dressed, As the sun rose higher, Arizona’s famous heat seemed to roast(烘烤) us. There was no shade and our legs were aching. We decided to go back, with the girl on my back and the boys far behind. By the time we finally got back, our legs were like jelly.
The next day, after we’d had a long rest and a good breakfast, we were ready for another view of the Canyon by air. After our last walk, this would be the easiest thing in the world.
We called to each other excitedly as the plane took off and circled around the Canyon. But the smiles on our faces disappeared as the pilot tossed(翻转) the plane around, pretending he was going to hit the ground. I shouted, “STOP, TAKE US BACK!” When we finally arrived back on land, once again our legs were like jelly. We hardly spoke as we drove back.
As I said, there are three ways to view the Grand Canyon. We never tried the mules, but personally I’d suggest a fourth: buy yourself a good magazine like National Geographic. That way, you can see the Canyon, without fear or tiredness. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?
| A．They made a careful preparation before the trip |
| B．They children were more joyful than their parents. |
| C．Bright Angel Trail was not as lovely as they expected. |
| D．The summer heat prevented them from enjoying the view. |
The underlined expression “Our legs were like jelly” probably means.
we were weak
B. we were unhappy
C. we were dissatisfied
D. we were disappointed Which of the following best describes their Canyon trip by air?
| A．It proved to be frightening. |
| B．It was more comfortable |
| C．It turned out to be exciting |
| D．It made each of them tired. |
We can infer from the passage that .
| A．experiencing the Canyon on mules would be the best way |
| B．one needs to dress less when visiting the Grand Canyon. |
| C．the writer was not serious when she made the suggestion. |
| D．the whole family narrowly escaped from the air accident. |
When I first entered university, my aunt, who is an English professor, gave me a new English dictionary. I was _____to see that it was an English English dictionary, also known as a monolingual dictionary.
_it was a dictionary intended for non—native learners, none of my classmates had one __
__, to be honest, I found it extremely
_ to use at first. I would look up words in the dictionary and _
_ not fully understand the meaning. I was used to the _
__ bilingual dictionaries, in which the words are _
_ both in English and Chinese. I really wondered why my aunt __
_ to make things so difficult for me. Now, after studying English at university for three years, I _
__ that monolingual dictionaries are __
_ in learning a foreign language
As I found out, there is ___ often no perfect equivalence(对应)between two _
___ in two language. My aunt even goes so far as to
___ that a Chinese “equivalent” can never give you the __
__ meaning of a word in English! ___
, she insisted that I read the definition(定义) of a world in a monolingual dictionary __
___ I wanted to get a better understanding of its meaning. ____
_, I have come to see what she meant.
Using a monolingual dictionary for learners has helped me in another important way. This dictionary uses a(n)number of words, around 2, 000, in its definitions. When I read these definitions, I am
exposed to（接触）the basic words and learn how they are used to explain objects and ideas.
this, I can express myself more easily in English.
A．worried B．sad C．surprised D．nervous
A．Because B．Although C．Unless D．If
A．but B．so C．or D．and
A．difficult B．interesting C．ambiguous D．practical
A．thus B．even C．still D．again
A．newB．familiar C．earlier D．ordinary
A．explained B．expressed C．described D．created
A．offered B．agreed C．decided D．happened
A．imagine B．recommend C．predict D．understand
A．natural B．better C．easier D．convenient
A．at best B．in fact C．at times D．in case
A．words B．names C．ideas D．characters
A．hope B．declare C．doubt D．tell
A．exact B．basic C．translated D．expected
A．Rather B．However C．Therefore D．Instead
A．when B．before C．until D．while
A．Largely B．Generally C．Gradually D．Probably
A．extra B．average C．total D．limited
A．repeatedly B．nearly C．immediately D．anxiously
A．According to B．In relation to C．In addition to D．Because of
E
The CEO of Apple,Steve Jobs’story about death
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?"
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choice in life.
I was diagnosed with cancer.The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months.My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors' code for preparing yourself to die.
I lived with that diagnosis all day.I was completely in despair.Later that evening, I had another biopsy (活组织检查) and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery.I had the surgery and I'm fine now. This was the closest I've been to facing death.
To tell the truth, no one wants to die.And yet death is the destination we all share.No one has ever escaped it.It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.
Your time is so limited that you shouldn't waste it repeating someone else's life.Don't be trapped by dogma (教条)-which is living with the results of other people's thinking.Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become.Everything else is secondary. The doctor advised the author to go home and get his affairs in order because________.
| A．he had to rest at home |
| B．his disease was not serious at all |
| C．his disease couldn't be cured |
| D．he had to wait for the result of the test |
How did the author feel after the diagnosis?
| A．Angry. |
| B．Excited. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Hopeless. |
What does the author think of death?
| A．He thinks it is nothing to be scared of. |
| B．He thinks it is not the end of life. |
| C．He thinks it is impossible to avoid. |
| D．He thinks it is the beginning of a new life. |
In Steve Jobs' opinion, we should ________.
| A．follow others' advice |
| B．take no notice of diseases |
| C．take exercise and keep healthy |
| D．have the courage to follow our heart |