Ears are for hearing — everyone knows that. But for a creature called the Cuvier’s beaked whale, hearing starts in the throat (喉咙), a new study found.
The observation might help explain how all whales hear. The work might also help scientists understand how animals are affected by underwater sonar (声呐). This sonar, used by some ships, sends out sound waves to locate underwater objects.
The Cuvier’s beaked whale is a so-called toothed whale. Toothed whales dive deep into the ocean in search of food. As the whales hunt, they produce sounds that reach objects and then return to the whales. This allows the animals to “see” the shape, size, and location of objects, even when they’re 1,000 meters under the sea, where it is totally dark.
To better understand how the whale hears, researchers from San Diego State University in California took X rays of two Cuvier’s beaked whales. The whales had died and washed up on the beach.
Ted Cranford and his colleagues used the images to make a computer model of a Cuvier’s b
eaked whale’s head. Then, they modeled the process of sound traveling through the head.
The researchers knew that some sounds get to the ears of a toothed whale through a structure (构造) called “the window for sound”. Found on the lower jaw, this structure is very thin on the outside and has a large pad (垫) of fat on the inside.
When the researchers used their computer model to work out how sound waves travel in the whale’s head, they were surprised to find that sounds coming from right in front of the whale actually travel under the animal’s jaw. From there, sound waves move through the throat, into a hole in the back of the jaw, and finally to the pad of fat near the animal’s ears. Toothed whales look for food under the sea by ______.
| A．watching the shape and size of their objects | B．diving deep into the sea |
| C．sending and receiving sounds | D．making lots of noises |
Researchers took X rays of two Cuvier’s beaked whales in order to ______.
| A．find out why they had died and washed up on the beach |
| B．make a computer model of a Cuvier’s beaked whale’s head |
| C．make sure that sound travels through the head |
| D．know more about the way the whale hears |
Which of the following describes the way taken by sound waves through a Cuvier’s beaked whale?
| A．A hole in the back of the jaw → the ears → the jaw → the throat. |
| B．The jaw → the throat → a hole in the back of the jaw → the ears. |
| C．The throat → the jaw → the ears → a hole in the back of the jaw. |
| D．The ears → the throat → a hole in the back of the jaw → the jaw. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?
| A．The throat is important to the Cuvier’s beaked whale’s hearing. |
| B．Ships send out sound waves like a Cuvier’s beaked whale. |
| C．The ears are actually useless to the Cuvier’s beaked whale. |
| D．The researchers haven’t found how the whales hear. |
Choosing the Right Resolution (决定)
Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake.
To reach our goal of losing weight --- the output, we need to control what we eat --- the input ( 输入). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to construce goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: "I'll stop having desert for lunch," or "I'll walk every day for 20 minutes." Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome.
Recently a new science behind incentives (激励) , including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output. Fryer's conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because do not knoe how to do better on exam, aside from general rules like "study harder." Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control.
As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. And it's easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do.
If you want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn't a goal because it's too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don't stop with this general wish. Think bout an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday.
In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.
| 1． |
The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because.
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| 2． |
In Roland Fryer's research, some students did better than the others because.
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| 3． |
According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?
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| 4． |
The writer strongly believes that we should.
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The Brown Bear
My wife Laura and I were on the beach, with three of our children, taking pictures of shore birds near our home in Alaska when we spotted a bear. The bear was thin and small, moving aimlessly.
Just a few minutes later, I heard my daughter shouting, "Dad! The bear is right behind us!" An agreesive bear will usually rush forward to frighten away its enemy but would suddenly stop at the last minute. This one was silent and its ears pinned back---- the sign (迹象) of an animal that is going in for the kill. And it was a cold April day. The bear behaved abnormally, probably because of hunger.
I held my camera tripod (三脚架) in both hands to form a barrier as the bear rushed into me. Its huge head was level with my chest and shoulders, and the tripod stuck across its mouth. It bit down and I found myself supporting its weight. I knew I would not be able to hold it for long.
Even so, this was a fight I had to win: I was all that stood between the bear and my family, who would stand little chance of running faster than a brown bear.
The bear hit at the camera, cutting it off the tripod. I raised my left arm to protect my face; the beast held tightly on the tripod and pressed it into my side. My arm could not move, and I sensed that my bones were going to break.
Drawing back my free hand, I struck the bear as hard as I could for five to six times. The bear opened its mouth and I grasped its fur, trying to push it away. I was actually wrestling (扭打) with the bear at this point. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the fight ended. The bear moved back toward the forest, before returning for another attack----- The first time I felf panic.
Apparently satisfied that we caused no further threat, the bear moved off, destroying a fence as it went. My arm was injured, but the outcome for us could hardly have been better. I'm proud that my family reminded clear-headed when panic could have led to a very different outcome.
| 1． |
The brown bear approached the family in order to.
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| 2． |
The bear finally went away after it.
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| 3． |
The writer and his family survived mainly due to their.
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Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (水族馆)
The all-new Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, situated in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, is one of Victoria’s leading visitor attractions and an unforgettable outing for the whole family. Having 12 amazing zones of discovery, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is the very place that you cannot miss when you visit the city.
* Opening Times
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is open from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm every day of the year, including public holidays. Last admission is at 5:00 pm, one hour before closing.
* Location ( 位置)
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is located on the corner of Flinders Street and King Street, Melbourne. It is siyuated on the Yarra River, opposite Crown Entertainment Complex.
* Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Train
The Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium train stop is located on the free City Circle Tram route (公交线路) and also routes 70 and 75. City Circle trams run every 10 minutes in both directions.
Shuttle Bus
The Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is a free bus service, stopping at key tourist attractions in and around the City. Running daily, every 15 minutes from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Car Parking
While there is no public car parking at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, there are several public car parking lots available only a short walk away.
* Wheelchair Access
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium provides people in wheelchairs with full access to all 12 zones. Each floor also has wheelchair accessible toilets.
* Terms
Tickets will be emailed to you immediately after purchase or you can download and print your ticket once payment has been accepted. Please print out all tickets purchased and present at the front entrance of Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. No ticket, no entry!Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium _________ .
| A．is located at the center of the CBD in the city |
| B．has 12 most attractive places in Melbourne |
| C．admits visitors from 9:30 am untill 6:00 pm |
| D．is beside Crown Entertainment Complex |
Getting to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, visitors can take ________.
| A．trains from southern Cross train station |
| B．shuttle buses around the train station |
| C．boats across the yarra River |
| D．either tram route 70 or 75 |
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium offers visitors ________.
| A．free car parking | B．wheelchair access |
| C．Internet connection | D．transportation service |
Tickets to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium ________ .
| A．are free to all visitors | B．can be pursed by email |
| C．rare checked at the entrance | D．can be printed at the ticket office |
| WATCH CONTROL This is a watch that James Bond would be proud to wear! This is NOT a watch for ordinary people! Your electronic PENGO WATCH CONTROL Ø acts as a remote control for TVs and videos. Ø gives you a daily weather forecast. Ø reminds you when to hand in your homework. Ø sets off a silent warning alarm when parents or teachers are near. Besides, your PENGO WATCH CONTROL will always tell you the time accurately! Originally sold for $199 NOW ONLY $99 For further information, click here. |
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| Personal Robot Make your parents and teachers happy ! Are you having problems finishing your homework on time? Do you avoid tidying your room until your mom shouts at you? You don’t need to worry if you buy a Mr. Helping Hand personal robot.Mr. H can be programmed to organize your homework.Your own personal robot will follow you around, putting away books and objects that you have left on the floor or bed. Mr. H also has these features (特点) ·weighs only 500 grams ·includes long-lasting batteries ·comes with a 5-year guarantee ·remembers simple instructions Originally (最初) sold for $499 NOW ONLY $299
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With help from a Mr.H, you can .
| A．stop using batteries. |
| B．finish your homework on time. |
| C．remember your teacher’s instructions. |
| D．get your room tidied on your way home. |
A PENGO WATCH CONTROL can help you to .
| A．repair your TV | B．organize your homework |
| C．be a James Bond | D．know what the weather is like |
You can get your Mr. H for .
| A．＄499 | B．＄299 | C．＄199 | D．＄99 |
Where would you be most likely to find the two texts?
| A．On a notice board | B．In a company brochure. |
| C．On a teenage website | D．In a college newspaper. |
You may not have heard of Ashoka, but for the past 27 years,this association, founded by Bill Drayton, has fought poverty (贫穷)and sickness, promoted education and encouraged small businesses. To support these worthy causes, Ashoka provides money for the world's most promising "changemakers" seeking to solve (解决) urgent problems and would like to create a world in which every citizen is a changemaker.
Drayton believes that anyone can become an agent for change. The important thing is to simply give yourself permission. If you see a problem that you care about, you can help solve it. The young in particular are willing to accept this concept because at heart every child wants to grow into a happy, healthy, contributing adult. In fact It is many young people's ambition to set up programmes or businesses that improve social conditions. An excellent example is an Ashoka project started in 1995 in Dhaka, which handled the rubbish problem facing the city ,helped local farmers and provided an income for poor people there .
When Masqsood and Iftekhar began to study the problem of all the uncollected rubbish that lay in Dhaka's streets,Attracting tats and disease , they discovered that 80% of it was natural waste . So they educated the poor people in the city to compost (把……制成堆粪)this waste . They knew that they would have a market for the end product because local farmers were struggling with chemical ferntilisers (化肥) which were expensive and had reduced the natural minerals in the soil over the years . At first , they were refused ,but once they were able to persuade them that there was money to be made , the project took off. In 2009 sales were $14,000.
Drayton is optimistic that in ten years Ashoka will be making really serious ,practical progress in bringing about social change by changing the way we look at economic development.
| 1． |
Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?
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| 2． |
The underlined word "them" in Paragraph 3 probably refers to""
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| 3． |
It can be concluded from the passage that anyone can become a changemaker if he.
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| 4． |
The authors attitude towards Ashoka's program can be described as
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