Mr. Reese was born in a big city. His father had several companies and got a lot of money. He could give his son all the young man wanted. He was busy with his business and never asked him how he got along with his studies. So the boy spent most time in the restaurants or cinemas. Of course he was weak at his lessons and learned nothing at school. He made many friends but none of them was good and when they knew he came from a rich family, they began to teach him to gamble(赌博). Of course he lost much money.
Now Mr. Reese was twenty and finished middle school. He could not do anything. But his father didn't mind it until one day he found the young man had sold one of his companies. He became so angry that he made him leave his house. The young man couldn't gamble any longer. His friends made him pay his debt. He had to ask his mother to help him and the woman often gave him some money. But one evening his father happened to find it. The old man stopped his wife from doing so. They began to fight in the room. The young man brought out a knife and killed his father. His mother helped him to run away, but soon after that he was caught and sentenced(判刑)to death.
It was a cold and wet day. Suddenly it began to rain hard when Mr. Reese was being sent to the execution ground(刑场). Soon both he and the soldiers were wet through. He said angrily,“Bad luck! I shall be shot in such bad weather!”
“Don't complain(抱怨), brothers” said one of the soldiers. “You're luckier than us all. We'll have to go back to the city after that!”Old Reese never wanted to know about his son's studies because _________.
| A．he was sure his son was good at his lessons |
| B．he spent all his energies on his business |
| C．he knew nothing about the education |
| D．his wife looked after their children |
The bad young men taught Young Reese to gamble in order _________.
| A．to play with him |
| B．to spend spare time |
| C．that the could get much money from him |
| D．that they could find jobs in his father's companies |
Old Reese became angry because _________.
| A．him son had learned nothing at school |
| B．his son was weak at all his lessons |
| C．his son couldn't do anything in the companies |
| D．his son had lost one of his companies |
Mr. Reese complained _________.
| A．he was sentenced to death |
| B．he would be shot |
| C．he went to the execution ground on foot |
| D．he would be shot in bad weather |
Water is of vital importance in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water .It helps get toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients .In fact, nearly every system in our bodies depends on water for proper functioning .But how can we tell whether the water we’re drinking is healthy?
As to tap water, it’s relatively easy .If your water comes from a governmental source , the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports .If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water .It may cost $100 or more, but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind .
When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you’re getting .Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a governmental source or “community water system”, which means tap water .If the label doesn’t give any information, you can call the bottler and ask .But don’t be surprised if you get the runaround and are transferred to several different departments .Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the water as well as other information .
Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business .Thousands of companies are competing for your hard earned cash , and some are not always honest about what their products offer .The initial investment in a home drinking water filtration (过滤)system can seem expensive at first , but over time , it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water .And with a water filter , you at least know where the water you drink comes from and how it is treated .
Before going out and spending your hard earned money on bottled drinking water , it’s a good idea to do some research .You’re likely to find that a drinking water filtration system or purifier is a healthier choice and provides the best value as well .According to the second paragraph, we can know tap water _____
| A．costs us a large amount of money to test |
| B．is very hard to judge its safety |
| C．is reliable if it comes from a government approved source |
| D．needs to be tested every month |
By using a water filter, people_____
| A．can drink water without fearing that the water isn’t treated |
| B．will have to pay more money eventually than if they just drink bottled water |
| C．will know if the water company is honest or not |
| D．can check the quality of the water by themselves. |
What’s the author’s attitude towards drinking bottled water?
| A．Concerned | B．Indifferent |
| C．Positive | D．Opposed |
What is the meaning of the underlined word “toxins” in the first paragraph?
| A．extra blood | B．harmful material |
| C．useless tissue | D．polluted chemicals |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A．The disadvantages of bottled water |
| B．The benefits of drinking water |
| C．The difference between tap water and bottled water |
| D．The ways to ensure the safety of your drinking water |
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 |