Will Nanfang University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen announce a new beginning for China’s higher education reform? It’s too early to answer.But its presence is challenging the Ministry of Education.Even without the approval of the ministry it seems that the school is determined to move forward and enroll 50 students, so-called child prodigies(奇才), to begin classes on March l, 2011.On graduating in 2015, these students will receive a diploma unauthorized by the Ministry of Education-unlike the students of their age from the state-run universities.
The school is committed to modeling itself on Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, but if the government will not approve the school, the situation could cause a lot of trouble for those 50 students if they want to do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions.Other schools could turn their applications down for their unauthorized diplomas.
The difficulties, however, have not frightened students and their parents away.On Dec.18, 2010 more than 1,000 students and their parents visited Nanfang University of Science and Technology for interviews.
Private investment marks the school out from other higher learning institutions in the nation.Not a penny comes from the government. So the government will have no voice in how the school will be run.
The Ministry of Education has published a comprehensive plan for educa
tion reform and development between 2011 and 2020.The goal is to make China’s higher education internationally competitive.To accomplish this goal, the government should have the courage to let the educators who have big ideas try them out.The ministry should have applauded the independence the school in Shenzhen has shown and encouraged more to do likewise.
Education reform in China has reached a new and crucial stage.Nanfang University of Science and Technology has a long way to go to prove itself competitive rather than a diploma mill.Over 1,000 students and parents visited the school because .
| A．they believe that the school will have a bright future |
| B．they believe the government is sure to approve the school |
| C．the school models itself on Hong Kong University successfully |
| D．they will never do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions |
The trouble the students in the school may have is that .
| A．the government will have no voice in the school |
| B．they won’t receive any diploma when graduating from the school |
| C．other schools are unlikely to accept their diploma from the school |
| D．they will not learn how to be competitive |
What does the author think of Nanfang University of Science and Technology?
| A．It is another kind of diploma mill. |
| B．It’s impossible for the school to be competitive. |
| C．It will never get the approval from the Ministry of Education. |
| D．Its independence from the government may benefit the education reform. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．University of New Style. | B．China’s Education Reform. |
| C．Modeling Hong Kong University. | D．Authorized or Not? |
Forget counting sleep. Next time you are having trouble going to sleep，try putting on a jazz CD.
Researchers have shown just 45 minutes of relaxing music before bedtime can make for a restful night.
The Taiwanese researchers studied the sleeping patterns of 60 elderly people with sleep problems. They told the Journal of Advanced Nursing how the technique was easy to learn and lacked the side effects of other treatments. The study participants were either given a choice of music to listen to before going to sleep or nothing at all. The music group were able to choose from six tapes that featured soft, slow music—around 60-80 beats per minute—such as jazz, folk or orchestral pieces.
Listening to music caused physical changes that aided restful sleep, including a lower heart and respiratory(呼吸的) rate, the researchers found.
The people in the music group reported a 35% improvement in their sleep, including better and longer night-time sleep and less dysfunction(机能障碍) during the day.
Lead author Professor Hui-Ling Lai, of the Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital and the University of Taiwan, said, “The music group reported a 26% overall improvement in the first week and this figure continued to rise as they mastered the technique of relaxing into sedative(安神的) music.”
Professor Jim Horne, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said, “If anyone is a bit agitated before they go to bed, then anything that can help calm them down and relax is a good thing.”
“Some say making sure older people sleep less in the afternoon and get plenty of exposure to daylight can help them get a better night’s sleep.”Listening to music before going to sleep ________.
| A．is better than other treatments to help you sleep |
| B．can cure some diseases as well as sleeplessness |
| C．is a necessary step for the elder |
| D．can improve one's taste for music |
Listening to music has some help on the elder EXCEPT ________.
| A．sleep well |
| B．lower heart rate |
| C．increase blood cycle |
| D．lower breath rate |
The underlined word “agitated” means “________”．
| A．relaxed |
| B．disappointed |
| C．nervous |
| D．surprised |
What's the best title for the passage?
| A．People will benefit from music |
| B．The relation between sleeplessness and music |
| C．A research shocks the world |
| D．Listen to music to help you sleep |
I have happy memories of trips to Europe, but my trip to Romania (罗马尼亚) was unique. When I was there as recalled, it was like being in a “James Bond” movie. My husband was born there, but his family sent him to study in Italy. Before he left, his mother told him, “As long as I write in pencil, don’t come back. When I write to you in pen, it’s safe to return.” But she never wrote in pen.
My husband lived a poor life in Italy. He applied to go to America, but there was a limit in number and he was rejected. He was accepted by Canada, though, and from Calgary he jumped onto a train to San Francisco. There he stayed —illegally. He became a US citizen when we got married. By then he was a charming European with a Romanian accent and the manners of a prince.
With seven years’ experience in America, a US passport, and two children later, he felt it was safe to visit Romania. He hadn’t seen his mother, two sisters, and two brothers since he was sixteen. We flew to Munich, Germany; picked up the German-made car we had purchased in the States; and drove to Romania via Austria and Hungary. When we reached Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, his family was waiting outside his sister’s house to greet us. After a long time of hugging, kissing, and crying, his family also hugged me, the American wife with two young children. They had great interest in me. Few Americans visited Romania at that time, and most Romanians had little chance to travel. I had brought an English-Romanian dictionary with me and managed to communicate, using only nouns, with no verbs. My Romanian improved, and the family’s stock of English words increased, but mostly I spoke in broken, New York-accented Romanian. The sisters loved their gifts of skirts and purses, the brothers loved the radios, and the children loved the candy. We made side trips to the Black Sea and enjoyed sightseeing in beautiful mountains. Dining at outdoor cafes to the music of violins was fantastic with fancy flavor, but nothing was as special as family dinners.
Romania didn’t have many dry cleaners. Most homes had old-fashioned washing machines but no dryers, and it was a hot summer. My husband’s relatives didn’t want to risk dirtying their clothes. Their solution was as simple as it was shocking: the women only wore their bras(胸罩) and slips (衬裙) at dinner table. The men were eating without shirts. They all had jobs, so time was precious. Having dinner without proper clothes was a small inconvenience compared with the effort of washing clothes —at least in my husband’s home, perhaps all across Romania. I, of course, having just met them, ate fully clothed. I washed my clothes by hand and hung them outdoors to dry.
On the last night of our three-week stay, we had a large family dinner. I was tired of washing my clothes. So I pulled my dress over my head and placed it on the chair behind me. All men and women applauded for my action. Even with my poor Romanian, I understood that they were saying, “She’s part of our family now.”
My children were 4 and 5 at the time, but they still have memories of that trip. They know how to say, “Good morning.” and “There are apricots (杏子) on the tree.” I can still say, “Do you speak Romanian?”and “I swim in the Black Sea.” But most of all, I remember sitting at a long dining-room table in my bra, enjoying meatballs with fresh garlic (大蒜).From Para. 1, we learn that ________.
| A．a trip to Europe would be dangerous |
| B．the mother didn’t want to see her son |
| C．Romania might be unsafe at that time |
| D．the mother didn’t like to write in pen |
The writer’s husband became an American citizen through ________.
| A．experiences | B．application |
| C．illegal stay | D．marriage |
During the writer’s trip in Romania, she ________.
| A．bought a new German-made car |
| B．had little interest in the relatives |
| C．used a new language with effort |
| D．enjoyed the mountain sights best |
What made the writer feel special about the family dinner in Romania?
| A．The way people dressed . |
| B．The way people spoke. |
| C．The fantastic violin music. |
| D．The fancy food flavor. |
The writer was completely accepted by her husband’s family when ________.
| A．she offered gifts to the whole family |
| B．she spoke her husband’s language |
| C．she washed all the clothes by hand |
| D．she had dinner in bra like other ladies |
The writer shared her story to say ________.
| A．“east and west, home is the best” |
| B．“when in Rome do as the Romans do” |
| C．“marry a dog and follow the dog forever” |
| D．“the course of true love never runs smooth” |
The term “Industry 4.0” refers to the fourth industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution was the production of goods with machines like steam engines, which was followed by the second industrial revolution that introduced mass production with the help of electric power, followed by the digital revolution —the use of electronics and IT in production.
Industry 4.0 is a high-tech project, which promotes the computerization of manufacturing (制造业). The basic principle of Industry 4.0 is that by connecting machines, work pieces and systems, we are creating intelligent networks along the entire value chain that can control each other automatically. The goal is the Smart Factory, which adapts well and uses resources efficiently as well as linking customers and business partners with great intelligence. Technological basis are the Internet systems and advanced factories. Experts believe that Industry 4.0 could be a reality in about 10 to 20 years.
So, what effects does this change have on the classic manufacturing? According to an expert, “it is highly likely that the world of production will become more and more networked until everything is connected with everything else.” Networks and processes have so far been limited to one factory. But in the time of Industry 4.0, the boundaries (界限) of individual factories will most likely no longer exist. Instead, they will be lifted in order to inter-connect multiple factories or even geographical regions.
How is an Industry 4.0 factory different from a today’s factory? In current industry environment, providing high-end quality service or product with the least cost is the key to success. Factories are trying to increase their profit as much as possible. In the time of Industry 4.0, various data sources are available to provide worthwhile information about different aspects of the factory. Using data for understanding the current condition and checking faults and failures is a natural thing. The sharing of information around the clock and around the globe will enable these connected systems to manage themselves independently, work more efficiently and identify any errors quickly.
The good news is that Europe is much better prepared for the Industry 4.0 revolution than one might think. Europe will position itself as a pioneer in the fourth revolution. Industry 4.0 is a project in the high-tech strategy of the German government. Meanwhile, in the U.S., some companies are also working hard on it. But the success of industry depends on whether business and politics can work together. It’s not only politics that needs to help open the door for Industry 4.0. Every company is advised to seize the new digital opportunities.What marks the coming of Industry 4.0?
| A．Steam engines. | B．Mass production. |
| C．Use of electronics. | D．Intelligent networks. |
Industry 4.0 will probably result in ________ in the world of manufacturing.
| A．production limited to an individual factory |
| B．everything connected with everything else |
| C．networks and processes no longer existing |
| D．classic factories stopping their competition |
What’s the meaning of the underlined part in Para. 4?
| A．Sharing information of the world time. |
| B．Global news broadcast at any time. |
| C．Instant worldwide information exchange. |
| D．Spreading news widely on the hour. |
According to the last paragraph, who is the most active in pushing Industry 4.0?
| A．The European companies. | B．The American government. |
| C．The American companies. | D．The German government. |
The writer’s attitude toward Industry 4.0 can best be described as ________.
| A．supportive | B．negative |
| C．doubtful | D．cautious |
The current Ebola (埃博拉病毒) outbreak in western and central Africa has infected at least 3,069 people, including 1,552 dead, making it the largest outbreak in history. Ebola is a deadly virus —about 60 percent of people infected with it have died.
How is Ebola doing its harm?
When a person becomes infected with Ebola, the virus damages the body’s immune (免疫的) cells, which defend against infection, said a researcher at Lancaster University. But if a person’s immune system can stand up to this attack, then he is more likely to survive the disease.
The patients that survive it best are those who don’t get such a bad disadvantage in immune system. But if the body isn’t able to get rid of this attack, then the immune system becomes less able to regulate (调节) itself. This means the immune system is more likely to run out of control, leading to a drop in blood pressure, multi-organ failure and eventually death.
What are the common symptoms of the disease?
Fever. Headache. Joint and muscle aches. Weakness. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Stomach pain. Lack of appetite. Chills. Rash. Redness in the eyes. Hiccups. Cough. Sore throat. Chest pain. Difficult breathing or swallowing. Bleeding inside and outside of the body.
How to prevent the spread of Ebola?
Ebola can be spread primarily via direct contact with patients, specifically the blood and fluids of an infected patient.
We should avoid contact with infected patients and objects such as clothing, bedding, and needles used by them. Avoid areas where infections have been reported. For now, the disease has only been confirmed in central and West Africa, four cases in America and Europe. Avoid eating wild-caught bush meat. Researchers have suspected that the disease came to humans via animals, probably through the meat of primates(灵长类). If you’re in an area where the disease has been reported, avoid purchasing, eating, or handling wild game to stay on the safe side.
Wear protective medical clothing if you’re around infected patients. Extreme caution is necessary. Hospital workers must use masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns, which needed to be worn at all times if you’re around infected patients.
How Do People Survive Ebola?
Doctors don’t know for certain who will survive Ebola, and there is no specific treatment or cure for the disease. Although in the minority, some people do recover from infection.
Our suggestions include:
Maintain your electrolytes (电解质) and body liquid. Sports drinks can be used. Monitor your blood pressure and control it if necessary. Dropping blood pressure may be a serious sign of infection. Breathe in an oxygen-rich environment. Quickly address any symptoms of infection. Be honest about when and where you’re feeling pain.Ebola causes the death of a human being by ________.
| A．attacking him with high fever |
| B．regulating his immune system |
| C．damaging his immune cells |
| D．harming all his organs directly |
What is NOT mentioned as the symptom of Ebola?
| A．Fever and chills. | B．Swallowing difficulty. |
| C．Loss of blood. | D．High blood pressure. |
In order not to be infected by Ebola, we should _________.
| A．have the clothing of the infected cleaned |
| B．avoid eating wild animals like monkeys |
| C．not travel to Africa, America or Europe |
| D．stay at home without going anywhere |
It is true that ________.
| A．a certain number of people survive Ebola |
| B．human has found a special cure for Ebola |
| C．oxygen can save infected people’s lives |
| D．low blood pressure is surely caused by Ebola |
Ask anybody out there, what is the most important thing in his life – Fame, Fortune and Money, and there is a chance that he is going to say, money, because with that, fame and fortune comes quite easily. On the other hand, if you add “family” to these three choices given above, there is a chance that 99% of the people are going to put their family first, especially if they happen to be ladies!
The main reason is because nature has created a woman to be the cherisher and the nurturer (哺育者) of the family, while the man is the hunter and protector of his little family. That is the natural rule which has come down through thousands of years. Even if a person happens to be a comparatively worldly-wise person and has no idea of taking on the responsibility of a family, he has a picture of a tight little loving unit in his subconscious (潜意识).
They tell a story about a successful millionaire businessman who died and the whole city came to pay its respects. One of his business competitors, met the son and said, “We are really going to miss your father. You see, I knew your father well.” And the son replied, “You happen to be really lucky there, because I never did.” So, you might be an extremely successful person in your own right upon Wall Street, but if your little child fails to come running out to welcome his daddy at the end of the day to be swung up in his father’s arms and held there lovingly and protectively, you come in the “nothing” category in the business of life.
Many people are under the impression that taking on the responsibility of the family is quite tiresome, but they do not know what it takes to be a parent. It is very easy to be a biological father or a biological mother, but the real mother and the real father is that person who stays awake all night when the baby is teething, teaches him right from wrong, is there to hold him when he takes his first steps, and in every way shows that he is there to cherish (珍惜) and protect the little one from harm.
There was a man who did not believe in family, because of an unhappy childhood. But he found a faithful woman to love him unconditionally. The moment he picked up his little baby, he said, “Well son, welcome to the world! I am here to teach you what your mama has taught me, and we shall both protect you, when you need our help. I will teach you to be a good, just and fair man.”The writer writes Para.1 to _________.
| A．introduce the topic | B．raise a question |
| C．present the survey | D．make a comparison |
What does the underlined expression “loving unit” ( Para.2) most probably refer to ?
| A．Lover. | B．Family. | C．Child. | D．Life. |
In the writer’s view, the millionaire businessman ________.
| A．won respect from the whole city |
| B．was fortunate to have a loving son |
| C．achieved great success in his life |
| D．was a failure in the business of life |
It can be inferred from the passage that _________.
| A．men care little about their families |
| B．a happy childhood shapes a good man |
| C．family responsibility means a great deal |
| D．a faithful wife makes a family complete |
What might be the title for the passage?
| A．What More Could a Family Be About |
| B．How Should We Parent a Child |
| C．How to Take on Your Responsibility |
| D．What Contributes to One’s Success |