Today, roller skating is easy and fun．But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was astonished to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about ________.
| A．a strange man |
| B．an unusual party |
| C．how the roller skating began |
| D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he _________.
| A．often gave others surprises | B．was a gifted musician |
| C．invented the roller skates | D．was full of imagination |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to ________ .
| A．impress the party guests | B．arrive at the party sooner |
| C．test his invention | D．show his skill in walking on wheels |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph?
| A．The roller skates needed further improvement. |
| B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
| C．Merlin succeeded beyond expectation. |
| D．Merlin got himself into trouble. |
I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let's take a look at three types of "waits".
The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink(洗碗池) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it's full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.
A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup required a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. "Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes."I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.
Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.
Turning one's life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn't come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.
We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you're standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you'll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don't be desperate. You're probably just as busy as the next guy.
51. While doing a Watched-Pot Wait, we tend to ___________.
| A． |
keep ourselves busy |
| B． |
get absent-minded |
| C． |
grow anxious |
| D． |
stay focused |
52. What is the difference between the Forced Wait and the Watched-Pot Wait?
| A． |
The Forced Wait requires some self-control. |
| B． |
The Forced Wait makes people passive. |
| C． |
The Watched-Pot Wait needs directions. |
| D． |
The Watched-Pot Wait engages body and brain. |
53. What can we learn about the Lucky-Break Wait?
| A． |
It is less voluntary than the Forced Wait. |
| B． |
It doesn't always bring the desired result. |
| C． |
It is more fruitful than the Forced Wait. |
| D． |
It doesn't give people faith and hope. |
54. What does the author advise us to do the next time we are waiting?
| A． |
Take it seriously. |
| B． |
Don't rely on others. |
| C． |
Do something else. |
| D． |
Don't lose heart. |
55. The author supports his view by _________.
| A． |
exploring various causes of "waits". |
| B． |
describing detailed processes of "waits". |
| C． |
analyzing different categories of "waits" |
| D． |
revealing frustrating consequences of "waits" |
This month, Germany's transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, proposed the first set of rules for autonomous vehicles(自主驾驶车辆). They would define the driver's role in such cars and govern how such cars perform in crashes where lives might be lost.
The proposal attempts to deal with what some call the "death valley" of autonomous vehicles: the grey area between semi-autonomous and fully driverless cars that could delay the driverless future.
Dobrindt wants three things: that a car always chooses property(财产) damage over personal injury; that it never distinguishes between humans based on age or race; and that if a human removes his or her hands from the driving wheel - to check email, say - the car's maker is responsible if there is a crash.
"The change to the road traffic law will permit fully automatic driving," says Dobrindt. It will put fully driverless cars on an equal legal footing to human drivers, he says.
Who is responsible for the operation of such vehicles is not clear among car makers, consumers and lawyers. "The liability(法律责任) issue is the biggest one of them all," says Natasha Merat at the University of Leeds, UK.
An assumption behind UK insurance for driverless cars, introduces earlier this year, insists that a human " be watchful and monitoring the road" at every moment.
But that is not what many people have in mind when thinking of driverless cars. "When you say 'driverless cars', people expect driverless cars."Merat says. "You know - no driver."
Because of the confusion, Merat thinks some car makers will wait until vehicles can be fully automated without operation.
Driverless cars may end up being a form of public transport rather than vehicles you own, says Ryan Calo at Stanford University, California. That is happening in the UK and Singapore, where government-provided driverless vehicles are being launched.
That would go down poorly in the US, however. "The idea that the government would take over driverless cars and treat them as a public good would get absolutely nowhere here," says Calo.
46. What does the phrase "death valley" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A． |
A place where cars often break down. |
| B． |
A case where passing a law is impossible. |
| C． |
An area where no driving is permitted. |
| D． |
A situation where drivers' role is not clear. |
47. The proposal put forward by Dobrindt aims to __________.
| A． |
stop people from breaking traffic rules |
| B． |
help promote fully automatic driving |
| C． |
protect drivers of all ages and races |
| D． |
prevent serious property damage |
48. What do consumers think of the operation of driverless cars?
| A． |
It should get the attention of insurance companies. |
| B． |
It should be the main concern of law makers. |
| C． |
It should not cause deadly traffic accidents. |
| D． |
It should involve no human responsibility. |
49. Driverless vehicles in public transport see no bright future in __________.
| A． |
Singapore |
| B． |
the UK |
| C． |
the US |
| D． |
Germany |
50. What could be the best title for passage?
| A． |
Autonomous Driving: Whose Liability? |
| B． |
Fully Automatic Cars: A New Breakthrough |
| C． |
Autonomous Vehicles: Driver Removed |
| D． |
Driverless Cars: Root of Road Accidents |
Fifteen years ago, I took a summer vacation in Lecce in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic(全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and reviewing the shot I would eventually take, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that.
Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I look at it, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow coms to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured(捕捉) and frozen on some stranger's bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized(使……永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other's space. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.
That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
41. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?
| A． |
Her camera stopped working. |
| B． |
A woman blocked her view. |
| C． |
Someone asked her to leave |
| D． |
A friend approached from behind. |
42. According to the author, the woman was probably_______.
| A． |
enjoying herself |
| B． |
losing her patience |
| C． |
waiting for the sunset |
| D． |
thinking about her past |
43. In the author's opinion, what makes the photo so alive?
| A． |
The rich color of the landscape. |
| B． |
The perfect positioning of the camera. |
| C． |
The woman's existence in the photo. |
| D． |
The soft sunlight that summer day. |
44. The photo on the bedroom wall enables the author to better understand ________.
| A． |
the need to be close to nature |
| B． |
the importance of private space |
| C． |
the joy of the vacation in Italy |
| D． |
the shared passion for beauty |
45. The passage can be seen as the author's reflections upon _______.
| A． |
a particular life experience |
| B． |
the pleasure of traveling |
| C． |
the art of photography |
| D． |
a lost friendship |
Suppose you're in a rush, feeling tired, not paying attention to your screen, and you send an email that could get you in trouble.
Realisation will probably set in seconds after you've clicked "send". You freeze in horrors and burn with shame.
What to do? Here are four common email accidents, and how to recover.
Clicking " send " too soon
Don't waste your time trying to find out if the receivers has read it yet. Write another email as swiftly as you can and send it with a brief explaining that this is the correct version and the previous version should be ignored.
Writing the wrong time
The sooner you notice, the better. Respond quickly and briefly, apologizing for your mistake. Keep the tone measured: don't handle it too lightly, as people can be offered, especially if your error suggests a misunderstanding of their culture(I.e. incorrect ordering of Chinese names).
Clicking " reply all " unintentionally
You accidentally reveal(透露)to entire company what menu choices you would prefer at the staff Christmas dinner, or what holiday you'd like to take. In this instance, the best solution is to send a quick, light-hearted apology to explain your awkwardness. But it can quickly rise to something worse, when everyone starts hitting "reply all" to join in a long and unpleasant conversation. In this instance, step away from your keyboard to allow everyone to calm down.
Sending an offensive message to it ' s subject
The most awkward email mistake is usually committed in anger. You write an unkind message about someone, intending to send it to a friend, but accidentally send it to the person you're discussing. In that case, ask to speak in person as soon as possible and say sorry. Explain your frustrations calmly and sensibly-see it as an opportunity tic hear up any difficulties you may have with this person.
36. After realizing an email accident, you are likely to feel _______.
| A． |
curious |
B． |
tired |
C． |
awful |
D． |
funny |
37. If you have written the wrong name in an email, it is best to ________.
| A． |
apologise in a serious manner |
| B． |
tell the receiver to ignore the error |
| C． |
learn to write the name correctly |
| D． |
send a short notice to everyone |
38. What should you do when an unpleasant conversation is started by your "reply all" email?
| A． |
Try offering other choices. |
| B． |
Avoid further involvement. |
| C． |
Meet other staff members. |
| D． |
Make a light-hearted apology. |
39. How should you deal with the problem caused by an offensive email?
| A． |
By promising not to offend the receiver again. |
| B． |
By seeking support from the receiver's friends. |
| C． |
By asking the receiver to control his anger. |
| D． |
By talking to the receiver face to face. |
40. What is the passage mainly about?
| A． |
Defining email errors. |
| B． |
Reducing email mistakes. |
| C． |
Handling email accidents. |
| D． |
Improving email writing. |
Old Problem, New Approaches
While clean energy is increasingly used in our daily life, global warning will continue for some decades after CO 2emissions（排放）peak. So even if emission were to begin decrease today, we would still face the challenge of adapting to climate. Here I will stress some smarter and more creative examples of climate adaptation.
When it comes to adaptation，it is important to understand that climate change is a process. We are therefore not talking about adapting to a new standard, but to a constantly shifting set of conditions. This is why in part at least, the US National Climate Assessment says that: " there is no 'one-size fit all' adaptation." Nevertheless, there are some actions that offer much and carry little risk or cost.
Around the world people are adapting in surprising ways, especially in some poor countries, Floods have some more damaging in Bangladesh in recent decades. Mohammed Rezwan saw opportunity where others saw only disaster. His not-for-profit organization runs 100 river boats that server as floating libraries, schools, and health clinics, and are equipment with solar panels and other communication facilities. Rezwan is creating floating connecticity（连体） to replace flooded roads and highways. But he is also working at a far more fundamental level: his staff people how to make floating gardens fish ponds prevent starvation during the wet season.
Around the world, people are adapting in surprising ways, especially in some poor countries, Fllods have become more damaging in Bangladesh in recent decades. Mobammed Rezwan saw opportunity where others saw only disaster. His not-for-profit organization runs 100 river boats that serve as floating libraries, schoods, and health clinics, and are equipped with solar panels and other communicating facilities. Rezwan is creating floating conmetivity（连接） to replace flooded roads and highways. But he is also working at a far more fundamental level: his staff show people how to make floating gardens and fish ponds to prevent starvation during the wet season.
Elsewhere in Asia even more astonishing actions are being taken. Chewang. Nophel lives in a mountainous region in India, where he is known as the Ice Man. The loss of glaciers(冰川) there due to global warming represents an enormous threat to agriculture. Without the glaciers, water will arrive in the rivers at times when it can damage crops. Norphel's inspiration come from seeing the waste of water over winter, when it was not needed. He directed the wasted water into shallow basins where it froze, and was stored until the spring. His fields of ice supply perfectly timed irrigation(灌溉) water. Having created nine such ice reserves. Nophel calculates that he has stored about 200, 000m 3 of water. Climate change is a continuing process, so Norhel's ice reserves will not last forever. Warming will overtake them. But he is providing a few years during which the farmers will, perhaps, be able to find other means of adapting.
Increasing Earth's reflectiveness can cool the planet. In southern Spain the sudden increase of greenhouses (which reflect light back to space) has changed the warming trend locally, and actually cooled the region. While Spain as a whole is heating up quickly, temperatures near the greenhouses have decreased. This example should act as an inspiration for all cities. By painting buildings white, cities may slow down the warming process.
In Peni, local farmers around a mountain with a glacier that has already fallen victim to climate change have begun painting the entire mountain peak white in the hope that the added reflectiveness will restore the life-giving ice. The outcome is still far from clear, But the World Bank has included the project on its of '100 ideas to save the planet".
More ordinary forms of adaptation are happening everywhere. A friend of mine owns an area of land in western Victoria. Over five generations the land has been too wet for cropping. But during the past decade declining rainfall has allows him to plant highly profitable crops. Farmers in many countries are also adapting like this-either by growing new produce, or by growing the same things differently. This is common sense, But some suggestions for adapting are not. When the polluting industries argue that we've lost the battle to control carbon pollution and have no choice but to adapt, it's a nonsense designed to make the case for business as usual.
Human beings will continue to adapt to the changing climate in both ordinary and astonishing ways. But the most sensible form of adaptation is surely to adapt our energy systems to emit less carbon pollution. After all, if we adapt in the way, we may avoid the need to change in so many others.
65. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 implies .
| A． |
adaptation is an ever-changing process |
| B． |
the cost of adaptation varies with time |
| C． |
global warming affects adaptation forms |
| D． |
adaptation to climate change is challenging |
66. What is special with regard to Rezwan's project?
| A． |
The project receives government support. |
| B． |
Different organizations work with each other. |
| C． |
His organization makes the best of a bad situation. |
| D． |
The project connects flooded roads and highways. |
67. What did the Ice Man do to reduce the effect of global warming?
| A． |
Storing ice for future use. |
| B． |
Protecting the glaciers from melting. |
| C． |
Changing the irrigation time. |
| D． |
Postponing the melting of the glaciers. |
68. What do we learn from the Peru example?
| A． |
White paint is usually safe for buildings. |
| B． |
The global warming tread cannot be stopped. |
| C． |
This country is heating up too quickly. |
| D． |
Sunlight reflection may relieve global warming. |
69. According to the author, polluting industries should .
| A． |
adapt to carbon pollution |
| B． |
plant highly profitable crops |
| C． |
leave carbon emission alone |
| D． |
fight against carbon pollution |
70. What's the author's preferred solution to global warming?
| A． |
setting up a new standard. |
| B． |
Reducing carbon emission. |
| C． |
Adapting to climate change. |
| D． |
Monitoring polluting industries. |