If California were not already so famous for Sillicon Valley(硅谷) and Hollywood, it might be well－known for the groups of water－technology firms in its San Diego County. The reverse－osmosis (RO) spiral module, the technique that supports turning seawater and waste－water into drinkable stuff, began in San Diego in 1964. Today dozens of firms in the area supply many of the world's approximately 13，000 RO plants in places from the Persian Gulf and Israel to Australia and China.
Southern California itself, however, has not so far been a big user of its own technology. This is surprising, given that the whole American south－west faces a water problem. But now as the climate gets warmer and the population increases, there is more agreement that the existing infrastructure, consisting of vast pipes that carry water from the Sacramento Delta in the north and the Colorado River in the east, will not be enough. In places such as San Diego, which has inadequate and salty groundwater and currently imports 90% or its water, the answers must be greater conservation, reusing as much water as possible, and getting most of the rest from the sea.
The first part, conservation, has been widely accepted by the public. San Diego today uses less water with a larger population than it did in 1989, the year water consumption peaked. The second part, water recycling has been a hard sell, because of an unpleasant factor. Americans still use the term “toilet－to－tap” for recycling, even though properly treated waste－water is nowadays completely clean. Singapore made its programme acceptable in part by renaming it as NEWater.
This is where desalination comes in, which means taking the salt out of salt water. A firm called Poseidon Resources is now close to building the biggest desalination plant in America behind a power station by the beach in Carlsbad. The power plant sucks in 304m gallons of seawater a day for cooling, so Poseidon plans to change 104m gallons a day by using the RO spiral module.
Lots of people like the idea. Once fully running in 2015, the plant could produce 10% of the region's water. And there are plans for more desalination plants. Many places would need to take much less water from the endangered Colorado River. But a few people hate it a lot. Joe Geever, an expert in biology, says desalination uses too much energy and that Poseidon plant would kill too much sea life. He understands that there is a role for desalination, he says, but would rather not have it right there, right now, and on this scale.Which of the following is WRONG about the RO spiral module according to the passage?
| A．This technology is not widely used in its birthplace. |
| B．Today there are about 13，000 RO plants in the Persian Gulf, Israel, Australia and China. |
| C．This technology can be used in desalination plants to make sea water drinkable. |
| D．It is a promising water treatment technology welcomed by a lot of people. |
How many solutions to the water problem in San Diego are mentioned in the article?
| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
What can we infer from the article?
| A．The Colorado River is the main water source for California. |
| B．Americans still use the term “toilet－to－tap” for recycling water. |
| C．NEWater serves as a brand for recycled clean water in Singapore. |
| D．Poseidon Resources stands for the power station by the beach in Carlsbad. |
What is Joe Geever's attitude toward building a large desalination plant at present?
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Optimistic. | D．Vague. |
There seems to be a general assumption that brilliant people cannot stand routine ; that they need a varied , exciting life in order to do their best . It is also assumed that dull people are particularly suited for dull work . We are told that the reason the present-day young complain so loudly about the dullness of jobs is that they are better educated and brighter than the young of the past .
Actually , there is no evidence that people who achieve a lot desire , let alone live , colorful lives . The opposite is nearer the truth . Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while serving as a clerk in a Swiss patent office . Immanuel Kant’s（康德）daily life was a dull routine . The housewives of Konigsberg set their clocks when they saw him pass , on his way to the university . He took the same walk each morning , rain or shine . The greatest distance Kant ever traveled was sixty miles from Konigsberg .
It may be true that work on the assembly line（流水线）dulls the abilities and empties the mind , and the cure is only fewer hours of work at higher pay . But during fifty years as a workingman , I have found dull routine coexisting with an active mind . While doing dull , repetitive work by the water , I could talk with my partners and compose sentences in my mind , all at the same time . Chances are that had my work been too interesting I could not have done any thinking and composing at work or even on my own time after returning from work .
People who find dull jobs unbearable are often dull people who do not know what to do with themselves at leisure . Children and mature people will get used to dull routine , while the adolescent , who has lost the child’s ability for concentration and is without the inner resources of the mature , needs excitement and novelty to get rid of boredom . It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that __________ .
| A．great minds hate to live colorful lives |
| B．Einstein worked out his theory in a university |
| C．Kant only took the same walk on rainy and sunny days |
| D．Kant might pass Konigsberg every day at the same time |
How does the author feel about his repetitive work by the water ?
| A．It made his mind empty . |
| B．It was well-paid but too demanding . |
| C．It worked well with his active mind . |
| D．It was too interesting to think of anything else . |
The reasons why youngsters dislike dull work include the following EXCEPT that they __________ .
| A．are not mature enough |
| B．think themselves smart |
| C．often complain about others |
| D．don’t know how to spend spare time |
What is the purpose of the passage ?
| A．To argue for the benefits of dull work . |
| B．To present some facts about dull work . |
| C．To share his own dull working experience . |
| D．To persuade young people to live a dull life . |
Ever wonder why sometimes a hug is all you need ? You can’t explain it , but there’s just something comforting about being in your wife’s arms after a rough day or giving mom a hug after a long time apart .
A new study says the warm feeling in a hug is more than just skin deep . Researchers from the University of California , Berkeley believe that this loving feeling could have anti-aging benefits .
Oxytocin , sometimes referred to as the “ love hormone（荷尔蒙）” or the “ trust hormone , ” is responsible for those indescribable feelings we get when we’re bonding with a lover or a loved one .
Levels of the hormone drop as we age , and evidence suggests that could be a contributing factor to the deterioration of our bodies as we age . Muscle loss in particular is one of the major side effects of aging , with our bodies losing up to 5 percent of our muscle mass each decade past our 30s .
In the study , published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers injected oxytocin into older mice with muscle damage . The older mice had lower levels of the homeone than younger mice initially . But after nine days , the older mice who were given the hormone healed better than those who did not . In fact , their ability to repair muscle damage was up to 80 percent that of the younger mice .
The results were not only fast-acting , but provide hope for future uses of the hormone in a variety of anti-aging capacities . “ This is good because it demonstrates that extra oxytocin improves aged tissue stem cells（组织干细胞）without making muscle stem cells divide uncontrollably , ” study co-author Wendy Cousins said in a statement .
Previous uses of anti-aging molecules have also been associated with higher cancer risk , but researchers are hopeful that oxytocin can be useful in humans without this risk . In the future , researchers of Berkeley say oxytocin could be used to fight other age-related health issues by improving bone health and even being used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy .
Now go out and give someone a hug .According to the passage , oxytocin __________ .
| A．decreases when people get older |
| B．creates loving feeling on the skin |
| C．leads to the great loss of muscles |
| D．can be used in humans without any risk |
The underlined word “ deterioration ” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to the state of __________ .
| A．getting fatter | B．becoming worse or less |
| C．growing stronger | D．dividing uncontrollably |
What can be learned from the research ?
| A．All the older mice healed faster in the research . |
| B．Older mice healed better than younger ones after 9 days . |
| C．Extra oxytocin in older mice controlled muscle cell division . |
| D．Mice with oxytocin injection improved the ability to repair muscle damage . |
What can be a suitable title for the passage ?
| A．When Do We Need A Hug ? |
| B．A New Anti-aging Product |
| C．Hugs Having Healing Power |
| D．How Can We Grow Muscles ? |
Lying in the sun on a rock , the cougar（美洲豹）saw Jeb and his son Tom before they saw it . Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands , making himself look big to the cougar . It worked . The cougar hesitated , ready to attack Jeb , but ready to forget the whole thing , too .
Jeb let go of his jacket , grasped Tom and held him across his body , making a cross . Now the cougar’s enemy looked even bigger , and it rose up , ready to move away , but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb .
“ Tom , no ! ” shouted his father .
But Tom broke and ran and that’s the last thing you do with a cougar . The second Tom broke free , Jeb threw himself on the cougar , just as it jumped from the rock . They hit each other in mid-air and both fell . The cougar was on Jeb in a flash , leaving Tom alone , which was what Jeb wanted .
Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance , even with just his fists . As the cougar’s claws（爪子）got into his left shoulder , Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard . The animal howled（吼叫）and put its head back . Jeb followed up with his other fist . Then out of the corner of his eye , Jeb saw Tom . The boy was running back to help his father .
“ knife , Tom , ” shouted Jeb .
The boy ran to his father’s bag , while Jeb started shouting as well as hitting , to keep the cougar’s attention away from Tom . Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb . The cougar was moving its head in and out , trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms . Tom swung with the knife , into the cougar’s back . It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains .
The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds .Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar ?
| A．To get ready to fight . | B．To protect his son . |
| C．To calm himself down . | D．To frighten it away . |
What can we learn from the passage about cougars ?
| A．They always forget things . |
| B．They dislike loud noises . |
| C．They like to attack running people . |
| D．They hesitate before attack . |
Jeb tried to hold the cougar’s attention by __________ .
| A．making a wall with his arms |
| B．keeping shouting and hitting |
| C．throwing himself on the cougar |
| D．swinging his fists at the cougar’s eyes |
Which of the following words can be used to describe Jeb ?
| A．Smart but bad-tempered . | B．Loving and determined . |
| C．Tough and warm-hearted . | D．Determined but hesitant . |
LONDON---The International Table Tennies Federation(ITTF) plans to work with Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft Corporation, to promote(促进) table tennis in the United States, ITTF President
Adham Sharara said.
The plan was put forward after Gates came to London to watch the game between US teen player Ariel Hsing and Chinese Li Xiaoxia on Sunday, Sharara told Xinhua in an interview.
Sharara didn’t disclose the details, but said that Gates offered to help after watching Hsing’s match, in which the 16-year-old girl nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Olympic table tennis history, pushing No. 2 seed Li to the limit before losing 4-2 in six tight sets.
“Gates was surprised to see the young American girl played so well. He asked me what he can do to help promote table tennis in the United States. I think we’ll work with him. If the United States becomes very strong in table tennis, it’s also good for China,” Sharara said.
Sharara said the case is a “good example” which shows that ITTF’s efforts in promoting the popularity. The ITTF has changed its rules for the London Games, allowing only two players from one nation to enter the singles events. Three players from each National Olympic Committee(NOC) were allowed to enter the singles in previous Games.
“The reason we do this is to help more NOCs to join in our game. If we give more chances to the top countries, someone like Hsing will not come to the Olympic Games. They have no chance. But if we give them the chance, we can see what they can do,” Sharara said.
Sharara said the change increased the pressure on strong teams, like China, Japan, South Korea and Germany. “But they understand now because they saw other NOCs attending. Some countries before had no chance to play in table tennis, but now they are joining in table tennis.”
Other changes made to the Olympic Games include the color of floor (from red to blue) and new table design. “As far as presentation is concerned, we try to change all the time, especially in the Olympic Games. We hope to give audiences something new, exciting and cool.”
Table tennis has long been the strengths of Asia, especially China. Since the sport was introduced into the Olympics in 1988, China has taken 20 of 24 gold medals available. Four years ago in Beijing, it claimed six medals in the men’s and women’s singles.
Talking about the development of table tennis, Sharara said, “China has the responsibility to promote the sport. Of course, China has done a lot.”It is mainly reported in this news that in order to promote table tennis in the United States, _______.
| A．ITTF will cooperate with Gates |
| B．Gates watched Hsing’s match |
| C．some rules have been changed |
| D．Hsing pushed Li Xiaoxia to the limit |
What gave Gates more confidence to promote table tennis in the United States?
| A．The Olympic spirits. |
| B．The popularity of table tennis. |
| C．Sharara’s patient persuasion. |
| D．Ariel Hsing’s wonderful performance. |
Which of the following is ITTF’s purpose of making changes to the London Games?
| A．To attract more local audience to the matches. |
| B．To prevent strong table tennis teams developing. |
| C．To promote the popularity of table tennis. |
| D．To give Asian teams chances to join in the match. |
The following paragraph will most probably talk about_____________.
| A．the table tennis rules | B．Gate’s detailed plan |
| C．what China has done | D．sports in the United States |
With around 40,000 students, the Politecnico di Milano is the largest and most technical university in Italy, offering undergraduate, graduate and other courses in engineering, architecture and design. Founded in 1863, just two years after Italy was united, Milan Polytechnic is international famous. Many of its graduates now work in big companies abroad like M.I.T., Caltech and Oxbridge.
Yet the Politechnic has a problem. As you know, here in Italy people speak Italian. Beautiful though the language may be, it is not a good choice for engineers when they’re building a way in Norway or designing a bridge in Vietnam. For better or worse, the global tongue of engineers is English. Hoping to attract more international students, the Politechnic decided to run its doctor’s courses in English only. Over 100 teachers went to court to block the plan, referring to a 1933 law that makes Italian the official language. For some teachers, all that matters is that they don’t feel comfortable teaching in English. In 2013, the court said they were right. Teaching English was out.
But there was more to come. They then went on a nationwide campaign against their university’s decision. Unwisely, the defenders of the Italian language backed them, saying, “we note with regret and concern the ignorance and abandonment(放弃) of Italian in the university education.”
The leaders at the Politechnic refused to be frightened, and asked for the ruling. Last month the Council of State said, “Art and science are free, and teaching them is free.” The question is whether teaching in English prevents students acquiring knowledge. But one could put it differently, and ask whether universities should be free to teach in whatever way they think best serves their students.
Interestingly, the people one might expect to be most against English-only teaching, the students themselves, have taken it easy. The president, Giovanni Azzone, told me: “Students write to me about everything from the lack of parking spaces to washrooms that don’t work. Not one has ever complained about the courses in English.”The main idea of the passage is that the Politechnic decision to run its doctor’s courses in English only ________.
| A．attracts more international students |
| B．sends more students to work abroad |
| C．makes some teachers out of work |
| D．meets with different responses |
Which statement is NOT the reason why the Politechnic decided to use only English in class?
| A．Many graduates work abroad. |
| B．Italian is widely used. |
| C．English is the global language. |
| D．The Politechnic is an international university. |
Those who agree with the new change in the Politechnic are ________.
| A．the Politechnic leaders | B．over 100 teachers |
| C．the Council of State | D．the defenders of Italian |
The students’ attitude towards English-only teaching in doctor’s courses is _________.
| A．indifferent（漠然的） | B．disapproving |
| C．skeptical | D．approving |