Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end with commercials （商业广告） thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. "Buy Super Clean Toothpaste. ""Drink Good Wet Root Beer." "Fill up with Pacific Gas." Only if you sleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, are you spared the unending cry of "You Need It! Buy It Now!"
The beginning of the ride is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ve traveled that way before. Usually some things have changed—new houses, new buildings, sometimes even a new road. The bus driver has a style of driving and it’s fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless （鲁莽的） or daring, the ride can be as thrilling （惊心动魄的） as a suspense story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the rightor the lefthand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.
The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know it will soon be over and there’s a kind of expectation and excitement in that. The seat of course, has become harder as the hours have passed. By now you’ve sat with your legs crossed, with your hands in your lap, with your hands on the armrests even with your hands crossed behind your head. The end comes just at no more ways to sit.According to the passage, what do the passengers usually see when they are on a long bus trip?
| A．Buses on the road. | B．Films on television. |
| C．Advertisements on the billboards. | D．Gas stations. |
What is the purpose of this passage?
| A．To give the writer’s opinion about long bus trips. |
| B．To persuade you to take a long bus trip. |
| C．To explain how bus trips and television shows differ. |
| D．To describe the billboards along the road. |
The writer feels long bus rides are like TV shows because____ .
| A．the commercials both on TV shows and on billboards along the road are fun |
| B．they both have a beginning, a middle, and an end, with commercials in between |
| C．the drivers are always reckless on TV shows just as they are on buses |
| D．both traveling and watching TV are not exciting. |
The writer thinks the end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning because both are____ .
| A．exciting | B．comfortable | C．tiring | D．boring |
Tens of thousands of smartphone applications are running ads from the overwhelming(势不可挡的) advertising networks that change smartphone settings and copy people’s contact information without permission.
Aggressive ad networks can disguise（假扮） ads as text message notifications (通告), and sometimes change browser settings and bookmarks. Often, the ads will upload your contacts list to the ad network’s servers--- information that the ad network can then sell to marketers.
Sounds scary? It’s not a giant problem yet, but it’s a growing one. As many as 5% of free mobile apps use an “aggressive” ad network to make money, according to Lookout, a San Francisco-based mobile security company. PhoneLiving was one of the most popular app developers to use these kinds of ad networks; their dozens of talking animal apps have been downloaded several million times. Later, PhoneLiving says it has mended its ways. The company admittedusing invasive techniques to make money from its apps, but said it dropped those methods at the start of July because of bad reviews and declining downloads.
The most popular type of apps that use aggressive ad networks are “Personalisation” apps, which include wallpapers. Comic and entertainment apps are also among the most likely to have rogue(凶猛的) ad networks running behind the scenes. Like aggressive pop-ups on PCs, the bad software isn’t easy to get rid of. Though the damage can typically be removed by deleting the app, it can be hard to tell which app is causing the problems.
When developers create free mobile apps, they usually make money through ads displayed within the app. App makers don’t usually tell people which ad network they are using, which makes it hard to avoid the known offenders. The best defense is to read reviews and avoid downloading apps that have attracted many complaints.What is an example of bad behavior by the annoying mobile ads?
| A．They change browser settings and bookmarks. |
| B．They change people’s calendar settings. |
| C．They send scam text messages occasionally. |
| D．They download free versions of games. |
What do we know about PhoneLiving?
| A．Its operation model is against the will of netizens. |
| B．It was forced to admit its bad behavior. |
| C．It has changed its business model rapidly. |
| D．Its relationship with Lookout may break up. |
Why is the bad software hard to get rid of?
| A．The software runs behind the scenes. |
| B．The app is very hard to delete. |
| C．It is difficult to find the problem app. |
| D．The network antivirus is out of date. |
What does the underlined word, “ invasive”, mean in the third paragraph?
| A．innovative | B．positive | C．flexible | D．aggressive |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Mobile ads can attack your phone and steal your contacts. |
| B．Mobile ads have become popular in recent years. |
| C．Smartphones have been damaged by mobile ads. |
| D．You may download some aggressive apps unconsciously. |
Have you heard of snake robots? Scientists and doctors are already using tiny snakes that coil through the human body armed with sharp surgical tools to perform operations on hearts, prostate cancer, and other diseased organs. The snake robots that carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps, and even more advanced sensors are being developed.
The next generation of the robots will be wireless, and will explore inside your body on their own--- not attached to any cables. For now, they are powered by cables that humans control. Experts say the day is coming when some robots will roam around the body on their own. But the experts in robotics say the new creations work best when they are designed for very specific tasks.
Howie Choset has been researching and building robots, particularly snake robots. He believes that his snake robot and others like it can help reduce medical costs by making complex surgery faster and easier. Choset says his new design is smaller and more flexible than earlier models.
The size of surgical robots allows surgeons to operate with far less damage to the body, helping the patient heal faster. Choset has also built larger snake robots designed for search and rescue, or just exploration. They can climb poles and trees and then look around through a camera in the head and slither through places that humans cannot reach.
“ We sent our snake robots into these caves in the Red Sea to look for evidence of ancient Egyptian ships,” he said. “ To me, archeology is like search and rescue, but everyone has been dead for 5,000 years.”
The doctors are very excited about the potential for surgical robots to do things that humans can’t do. The variety of sensors available for surgical robots keeps expanding. As they get smaller, maybe one day they will be able to test chemicals or blood in the body, or even the electrical connections in nerves.What can we learn from the first paragraph?
| A．The doctors carry out surgery using snake robots mainly for heart disease. |
| B．The doctors are very satisfied with the new snake robots during surgery. |
| C．Snake robots are completely free of human control today. |
| D．Other supplementary appliances will be added to snake robots. |
Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
| A．Snake robots are only used in the medical field. |
| B．Snake robots can reduce the patients’ medical costs. |
| C．Scientists are uncertain about the prospects for snake robots. |
| D．Scientists are forced to spend a lot of time researching snake robots. |
How can snake robots work best, according to the passage?
| A．When they carry tiny cameras, scissors and forceps. |
| B．When they are operated by experienced doctors. |
| C．When they are given a wireless function. |
| D．When they are designed for particular tasks. |
Why do we know about Howie Choset, according to the passage?
| A．He thought snake robots of different sizes can be used for different types of surgery. |
| B．He thought patients’ pain had been slightly reduced with the help of snake robots. |
| C．He also made snake robots for search, rescue and exploration. |
| D．He is very interested in researching ancient Egyptian ships. |
The writers attitude towards the new technology is ______.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful | C．objective | D．negative |
Artistic Skates
Artistic roller skates are made up of a leather boot, very strong sole plate, and a jump bar that adds extra force. The boot sits a few inches above the ankle, providing more support for the foot.
Jam Skates
Jam skates are the most different roller skates because of their special low-cut design and lack of toe stop. That’s right: there is no brake. But the original jam skate design was different, resembling an artistic skate. Jam skating is more about personal expression rather than speed skating. The free-flowing movements of jam skating have been given many names. But regardless of its name, jam skating has always been about expression and passion.
Speed Skates
A speed skate resembles a shoe. The cut of the boot is lower. Speed skates typically offer lightweight plates to reduce exhaustion for skating long distances. Jam skates have preferred speed skates because they offer a similar design and freedom of movement. The most obvious difference is that a speed skate features a toe stop, unlike a jam skate that uses a toe plug.
Rhythm Skates
Rhythm skates are similar to jam skates. The difference between them lies in the boot design. In fact, the boot design looks very similar to an artistic skate, essentially providing you with the ankle support benefits of an artistic skate, but the freedom of movement of a jam skate. If you want a skate that allows you to move to the beat, which added ankle support, the rhythm skate is the ideal choice.Which of the following is NOT a feature of jam skates?
| A．They have no brake |
| B．They lack a toe stop |
| C．They have no toe plug. |
| D．They have a unique, low-cut design. |
If you want to skate to music, which of the following is the best choice?
| A．Rhythm skates | B．Jam skates | C．Speed skates | D．Artistic skates |
Speed skates are popular with jam skates because _____.
| A．they have a high boot cut |
| B．they allow free-flowing movement. |
| C．they are able to stabilize the foot |
| D．they can help jam skates reduce tiredness. |
What is a common feature of rhythm and jam skates?
| A．They both offer some support for the ankles. |
| B．They both have a similar boot design. |
| C．They are both suitable for free-flowing movement. |
| D．They are both about personal expression and passion. |
What can you learn from the passage about jam skates?
| A．The original jam skate design has hardly changed. |
| B．The original jam skate design was similar to an artistic skate. |
| C．Jam skates have gradually become a type of speed skate. |
| D．Jam skating has many names because it’s about expression and passion. |
We were talking about engagement when my boyfriend, Jack, had to go to war. I was so afraid of losing him; the only way I could stay sane(保持清醒) was to dance. I became very good and critics praised me, but I could feel was the ache in my heart, no knowing whether the love of my life would ever return. And then one day a letter from him came:“I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget me.”
I made my decision there and then I left the city. When I returned I had bought myself a cane(拐杖) and learned to limp convincingly. I told everyone I had been in a car crash and that my leg would never completely heal again. My dancing days were over. No one suspected the story. And I made sure the first person to hear of my accident was a reporter. Then I travelled to the hospital. They had pushed him outside in his wheelchair. I leaned on my cane and limped to him.
I told him he was not the only one who had lost a leg, even if mine were still attached to me. I showed him newspaper clippings of my accident. “ There is a whole life waiting for us out there! And I am not going to carry you—you are going to walk yourself.”
I limped a few steps towards him and showed him what I’d taken out of my pocket.” Now show me you are still a man,” I said. He bent to take his cane and struggled out of that wheelchair. I could see he had not done it before, because he almost fell on his face. But I was not going to help. Finally he managed it on his own and walked to me and never sat in a wheelchair again in his life.
What I showed to him was engagement rings. And I would limp with him for the rest of life.The author felt ache in her heart though critics praised her dancing because_______.
| A．She wasn’t sure if Jack still loved her. |
| B．Jack became handicapped and couldn’t walk |
| C．Jack asked her to forget about him |
| D．She was afraid that Jack might die in the war |
What decision did the author make after she received Jack’s letter?
| A．To see Jack in the battlefield. | B．To leave the city for travel. |
| C．To give up dancing. | D．To see a reporter. |
What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 2?
| A．She visited a hospital. | B．She broke her leg. |
| C．She helped push Jack’s wheelchair. | D．She had a car crash. |
After they met in the hospital, Jack ______.
| A．gave her the engagement rings | B．got rid of the cane |
| C．picked up the hope of life | D．lived without a wheelchair |
Which of the following words can best describe the author?
| A．Strong and optimistic | B．Clever and faithful |
| C．Timid but faithful | D．Brave and helpful. |
Spring is coming, and it is time for those about to graduate to look for jobs. Competition is tough, so job seekers must carefully consider their personal choices. Whatever we are wearing, our family and friends may accept us, but the workplace may not.
A high school newspaper editor said it is unfair for companies to discourage visible tattoos (纹身）nose rings, or certain dress styles. It is true you can’t judge a book by its cover, yet people do “cover” themselves in order to convey (传递)certain messages．What we wear, including tattoos and nose rings, is an expression of who we are．Just as people convey messages about themselves with their appearances, so do companies．Dress standards exist in the business world for a number of reasons, but the main concern is often about what customers accept.
Others may say how to dress is a matter of personal freedom, but for businesses it is more about whether to make or lose money. Most employers do care about the personal appearances of their employees (雇员), because those people represent the companies to their customers.
As a hiring manager I am paid to choose the people who would make the best impression on our customers. There are plenty of well-qualified candidates, so it is not wrong to reject someone who might disappoint my customers．Even though I am open-minded, I can’t expect all our customers are.
There is nobody to blame but yourself if your set of choices does not match that of your preferred employer. No company should have to change to satisfy a candidate simply because he or she is unwilling to respect its standards, as long as its standards are legal.Which of the following is the newspaper editor’ opinion according to Paragraph 2?
| A．People’s appearances carry messages about themselves. |
| B．Candidates with tattoos or nose rings should be fairly treated. |
| C．Customers’ choices influence dress standards in companies. |
| D．Strange dress styles should not be encouraged in the workplace. |
What can be inferred from the text?
| A．Candidates have to wear what companies prefer for an interview. |
| B．Hiring managers make the best impression on their candidates. |
| C．Companies sometimes have to change to respect their candidates. |
| D．What to wear is not a matter of personal choice for companies. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Appearances Matter | B．Personal Choices Matter |
| C．Employees Matter | D．Hiring Managers Matter |
The author’s attitude towards strange dress styles in the workplace may best be described as_____.
| A．enthusiastic | B．positive | C．negative | D．sympathetic |