In the eyes of dog lovers, the dog is man’s best friend. But for much wildlife, loose dogs may be a dangerous enemy, according to a study by a biologist from Utah State University in the US.
Based on much existing research and their own case studies, Julie Young of Utah State University and four other scientists conclude that loose dogs may represent a huge danger to wildlife, especially endangered species, by hunting down or worrying them and by spreading diseases. They also found that dogs, their worldwide numbers around 500 million, can cause more damage to wildlife and livestock(牲畜) than wolves and other enemies of these animals.
Young gave examples from the US state of Idaho, where research showed the presence of dogs reducing some deer populations. On the Navajo American Indians’ reservation in northeastern Arizona, packs of loose dogs are chasing livestock. They have killed populations of small animals such as rabbits and act as a disease carrier for rabies(狂犬病) among people and other animals, she said. Loose dogs also were to blame for distemper outbreak leading to a die-off of endangered black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming in the 1980s.
The phenomenon is not just limited to US; it’s a global problen. Julie Young once studied three endangered species in central Asia: wild sheep, gazelles and antelope. The rate of injury and death to these animals by loose dogs was very high. In another case, Young found that dogs, not wolves, as originally suspected, were responsible for a large number of livestock killings in the mountainous Basq
ue country between Spain and France.
Authors of the new study said the problem is likely to worsen as communities expand. Then how to deal with it?
Indeed, in many countries, leash(拴狗的皮带) laws permit punishment of dog owners whose pets chase wildlife. But lawbreakers are rarely punished because the police lack both people and money.
Young has low-cost solutions to the problem for dog lovers, though. They include public dog-training programs and vaccinating (预防接种) dogs against rabies and other illnesses.What is the main point of Julie Young’s study?
A. Many species are endangered because they are killed by loose dogs.
B. Wild dogs are immune to many diseases.
C
. Wolves are still the greatest enemy of livestock.
D. Loose dogs pose a great danger to wildlife. Which of the following statements about loose dogs is TRUE according to the research?
| A．There are around 500 million loose dogs around the world. |
| B．The black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming were once the main food source of local loose dogs. |
| C．The problem caused by loose dogs is the most serious in the US. |
| D．People used to think that wolves, rather than loose dogs killed livestock in the Basque country. |
Which of the following is among Julie Young’s solutions to the trouble caused by loose dogs?
| A．More strict leash laws |
| B．Public dog-training programs. |
| C．Vaccinating people against rabies and other illnesses. |
| D．More support from the police. |
What is the main point of the article?
| A．A global disaster caused by loose dogs. |
| B．What makes the dog man’s greatest friend. |
| C．The problem of loose dogs and the possible solutions. |
D．The dan ger of the increasing numbers of dogs. |
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind is situation, for example, family problem, the death of loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most serious. Unlike the second type, chronic (the opposite of “temporary”) usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. However, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person’s social contacts, for example, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease, while temporary and situational loneliness can be a sad, and sometimes dangerous condition. How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage? ________.
| A． Just ignore it |
| B．Talk to friends |
| C．Go to see a doctor |
| D．Ask your teachers for guidance |
Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people? ________
| A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems. |
| B．Chronic loneliness can not be overcome. |
| C．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness. |
| D．Chronic loneliness is incurable. |
Loneliness is divided according to _____.
| A．different seasons when it appears |
| B．different people it happens to |
| C．the time it lasts |
| D．the places where it appears |
What is the best title for the passage? ________
| A． Loneliness and diseases |
| B．Three kinds of loneliness |
| C．Loneliness and social contacts |
| D．Chronic loneliness |
Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather．But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care．Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning．Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
●Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore．
●Ponds and lakes may hide sharp rocks, broken glass, or rubbish．
●Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes．
●Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm．
●Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol．Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water．
At the Beach
●Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty．Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides．Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions．
●Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over．
●Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help．
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning．Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach? ________
| A．Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty. |
| B．Go on swimming in a heavy rain. |
| C．Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave. |
| D．Go off the water before checking the water conditions. |
Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because ________.
| A．there are currents and tides at a beach |
| B．there are no lifeguards at a beach |
| C．the waters of a beach are more calm |
| D．the waters of a pool are warmer |
The passage is probably written for ________.
| A．students at school |
| B．parents with little children |
| C．kids who want to learn swimming |
| D．coaches who teach kids to swim |
In which column of a magazine can you find this passage? ________
| A．Sports | B．Science |
| C．Entertainment | D．Education |
Every morning Grandpa got up early sitting at the table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?” The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.”
The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless !”“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.
“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”What puzzled the grandson most was ________.
| A．what kind of book he could understand |
| B．whether it was useful to read books |
| C．why he forgot what he read soon |
| D．how he could read books like his grandpa |
Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water? _______
| A．To punish him for not reading carefully. |
| B．To train him to run faster. |
| C．To get him to realize the use of reading books. |
| D．To clean the dirty basket in the river. |
What lesson can we learn from the story? ________
| A．It is foolish to carry water with a basket. |
| B．The old are always wiser than the young. |
| C．Reading books can change a person gradually. |
| D．You can’t expect to remember whatever you read. |
What can be the best title for the text? _______
| A．Grandpa and grandson | B．Carrying water in a basket |
| C．Baskets and books | D．Reading for total changing |
Recently, China UnionPay did an experiment in a subway station in Beijing—Are you willing to offer a hand to a stranger who needs help?
The leading role of the experiment was an old man. With a small bag in one hand and a large case in the other， the old man appeared in a cold winter morning in the bustling（繁忙的） subway station. He was so old that he couldn’t carry the heavy case up the stairs. Standing in front of the steps, he looked helpless.
Something good happened finally. At 9 o’clock, a kind man showed up, he offered to carry the case for the old man and walked up the stairs with him, at 9：25, another man helped …
Within six hours，the old man walked up the stairs for 25 times，among which he was helped for 23 times.
What’s more，two ladies tried to help the old man—one in the front and the other in the back. They carried the case up the stairs for him. The most noteworthy thing was that another old man tried to help too.
When these kind people were asked why they helped the stranger，they all said “ It’s just the right thing to do,” “I always help people as long as I can” ,or “it’s not a big thing, and I just want to help”.
We often see negative news about fake falling and blackmailing or scheming (阴谋)and cunning. But this experiment brought sheer warmth into our heart.Why did China UnionPay carry out the experiment?
| A．To find out whether strangers need help when they are in trouble. |
| B．To find out whether someone can help those who want to help others. |
| C．To find out whether strangers can be helped when they are in danger. |
| D．To find out whether someone can help strangers who are in need of help. |
What do we know about the old man?
| A．He lived a hard and miserable life. |
| B．He helped to do the experiment. |
| C．He was too weak to carry the case upstairs. |
| D．He left after being helped by another old man. |
The most moving scene is that______________ .
| A．most of the passers-by helped the old man |
| B．even a disabled girl helped the old man |
| C．another old man also helped the old man |
| D．one lady carried the old man on her back |
What message does the experiment express?
| A．What warms us most is that helping others is grateful in our society. |
| B．What people gain is that they will be rewarded for helping others in China. |
| C．What strikes us is that China UnionPay really did a successful experiment. |
| D．What impresses us is that most people help others really by nature. |
If you have a chance to go to Finland, you will probably be surprised to find how “foolish” the Finnish people are.
Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz with a fare of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to(料理), and then walk off without paying your fare. The driver would not show the least sign of anxiety.
The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration card(住宿登记卡) to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to dine free of charge.
The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss on the rate(价钱). From then on, they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly(相应地).
With so many loopholes(漏洞) in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to take “petty advantages”. But the strange thing is, all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest account of the exact hours they put in. As the Finns always act on good faith in everything they do, living in such a society has turned everyone into a real “gentleman”.
In a society of such high moral practice, what need is there for people to be on guard against others? While taking a taxi in Finland, _____.
| A．a passenger can go anywhere without having to pay the driver |
| B．a passenger pays two US dollars for a taxi ride |
| C．a passenger can never be refused by the taxi driver wherever he wants to go |
| D．a passenger needs to provide good faith demonstration (证明) before leaving without paying |
We know from the passage that big hotels in Finland ________.
| A．are mostly poorly managed |
| B．provide meals for any diners |
| C．provide free wine and charge for food |
| D．provide meal for only those who live in the hotels |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The workers in Finland are paid by the hour. |
| B．The workers are always honest with their working hours. |
| C．The workers and their bosses will make an agreement in advance about the pay. |
| D．The bosses in Finland are too busy to check the working hours of their employees. |
The word “those” in the last but one paragraph probably refers to _____.
| A．people who are dishonest |
| B．people who often have meals in big hotels |
| C．people who often take taxis |
| D．people who are worthy of trust |