We’ve heard about radiation from the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan reaching American shores. Experts say so far there is no reason to worry, and point out that we meet radiation every day. Where and how? NPR’s Renee Montagne posed that question to Peter Caracappa, a radiation safety officer and professor of nuclear engineering.
MONTAGNE: How many things emit radiation?
Dr CARACAPPA: Well, radiation and radioactive material is a part of nature. So everything that’s living has some amount of radiation coming from it—a very small amout. Plus there’s radiation in the ground and the air.
So the extremes are uranium in the soil to bananas?
Yes.
By the way, why do bananas have radiation?
Bananas have a lot of potassium(钾). And a small amount of potassium naturally is called potassium 40, which is radioactive
What’s the difference between radiation that’s harmful and not harmful?
Well, the term radiation can apply to a lot of different things. But the harmful radiation is ionizing(离子)radiation. It has enough energy that it can make chemical changes in material. We could get ionizing radiation from an X-ray, for example. It’s the kind of radiation that causes cancer.
The broader definition of radiation includes a lot of things that we call non-ionizing radiation. That includes everything like radio waves and visible light and your microwave.
So what then is the largest contributor of ionizing radiation?
For the natural sources of ionizing radiation, actually the biggest chunk of that tends to come from radon(氡), which is a radioactive material that is present in the air. It can become a concern when it builds up in low-lying areas of homes like basements.
Would it be fair to say that most people do not need to worry about the danger of being exposed to radiation?
I would say that the everyday exposure to radioation that we meet contributes an extremely tiny risk to our life or to our health compared to all of the other risks that we meet in our day-to-day life.We can infer from the first paragraph that radiation is______.
| A．rare | B．powerful | C．dangerous | D．common |
The passage may be _______.
| A．an interview | B．an argument | C．a talk show program | D．a science report |
Whether radiation is harmful or not depends on______.
| A．whether it has a small amount of potassium |
| B．whether it changes chemical in materials. |
| C．whether it has energy to change materials |
| D．whether it is visible in life |
The purpose of writing this passage is to _______.
| A．advise on how to protect us from radiation |
| B．analyze what causes radiation in daily life |
| C．warn people of the danger of radiation |
| D．expect people not to fear everyday radiation |
C
No one should be forced to wear a uniform under any circumstance. Uniforms are controlling the human spirit and totally unnecessary in a democratic(民主的) society. Uniforms tell the world that the person who wears one has no value as an individual but only lives to function as a part of the whole. The individual in a uniform loses all self-worth.
There are those who say that wearing a uniform gives a person a sense of identification with a larger, more important concept. What could be more important than the individual himself? If an organization is so weak that it must rely on cloth and buttons to inspire its members, that organization has no right to continue its existence.
Others say that the practice of making persons wear uniforms, say in school, gets rid of all envy and competition in a matter of dress, such that a poor person who cannot afford good-quality clothing is not to be looked down upon by a wealthy person who wears expensive clothing. Those persons ignore the concepts as freedom of choice, motivation, and individuality. If all persons were to wear the same clothing, why would anyone struggle to be better? It is only a short step from forcing everyone to drive the same car, have the same type of food. When this happens, all motivation to improve one’s life is removed. Why would parents bother to work hard so that their children could have a better life than they had when they know that their children are going to be forced to have exactly the same life as they had?
Uniforms also hurt the economy(经济). Right now, billions of dollars are spent on the fashion industry yearly. Thousands of people are employed in designing, creating, and marketing different types of clothing. If everyone were forced to wear uniforms, artistic personnel would be unnecessary. Salesmen would be extra as well. Why bother to sell the only items that are available? The wearing of uniforms would destroy the fashion industry which in turn would have a wave effect on such industries as advertising and sales promotion. Without advertising, newspapers, magazines, and television would not be able to remain in business. Our entire information and entertainment industries would collapse.What is the main idea of the passage？
| A．The advantages of uniforms. |
| B．The disadvantages of uniforms. |
| C．Different opinions of uniforms. |
| D．Measures to forbid uniforms. |
Why does the author discuss forcing everyone to buy the same car or eat the same food?
| A．To show that freedom of choices is absolute in modern society. |
| B．To show that the government has too much control over people’s lives. |
| C．To predict the way the society will be in the next few generations. |
| D．To suggest the result if uniforms became compulsory. |
What does the author talk about in the last paragraph?
| A．The effect uniforms have on personality. |
| B．The effect uniforms have on information industries. |
| C．The effect uniforms have on economy. |
| D．The effect uniforms have on cultural industries. |
What does the underline word “collapse” mean?
| A．Come up. | B．Turn out prosperous. |
| C．Come into being. | D．Come to an end. |
What is the author’s attitude towards uniforms?
| A．Opposed. | B．Favorable. |
| C．Unclear. | D．Doubtful. |
B
One hot afternoon I became a thief of music.
For the first time, I created an original piano arrangement of my favorite song. Using only my ears and iPod, I created complex harmonies and voices into something I could perform with only two hands. No help, no guide: I did it on my own.
I’ve been a pianist since before my hands were big enough to reach an octave: with a musician as a father, I was all but born on the piano bench. For many years, my musical identity was defined by the notes others had written before.
This was why, when I added the finishing touches to my piano version of a modern rock song, I was proud of myself : this arrangement was mine. What I’d done seemed magical: an ability to take what had already existed—to “steal” a song from my favorite band—and to change it into something different and all my own. I was a thief, but I was also an artist.
In music, as in other aspects of life, I believe trueoriginality rarely exists. Almost everything has, in one form or another, been done before. The most romantic novel may well be a slightly changed version of a play by Shakespeare, which is likely to be borrowed from the works of Ancient Greece: same themes, different characters. But, the novel is no less deserving of praise just because its uniqueness is compromised. Adaptation is not a symbol for failure.
The gift of creativity is the ability to do what I did on the piano: to find something beautiful, to analyze and twist it, and then to make it new. Such an act is not copying; it is finding inspiration and having the strength to use it as fuel for your own masterpiece. I believe it is my job, as an artist, to rearrange this world into what I imagine it to be.
I refuse to live as if I were trapped within the walls of a museum: looking but never touching, afraid to ruin the so-called perfection of the artifacts inside. Therefore, I will embrace my ability to be a thief, because if I don’t steal what the world has to offer, I’ll never have the tools to share with others a creation of my own.
My life is my own arrangement, and because of that, anything is possible.Which can be the best title?
| A．The Love for Music. |
| B．Changes from a Thief to an Artist. |
| C．My Stolen Piano Lessons. |
| D．A Man Who Steals Music. |
According to the passage , which statement is true ?
| A．Actually there was originality only in music |
| B．He was born on the piano bench. |
| C．The author created the original piano arrangement all by himself. |
| D．The author was once a thief who stole music from his favorite band. |
Why did the writer feel proud of himself ?
| A．Because he became a real artist without others’ help. |
| B．Because he changed a song into a piano arrangement by himself. |
| C．Because he has a father who was a composer. |
| D．Because he could play the piano at an early age. |
What does the underlined word “embrace” mean?
| A．Hug | B． Explain | C．Adapt | D．Quit |
From the passage we can learn that the writer______
| A．never accept others’ advice. |
| B．likes to recreate songs whenever it is possible. |
| C．would rather not turn to his father for help. |
| D．is more of a leader than a follower. |
A
More than one-third of adults in the United States are obese. In fact, over obesity has reached such proportions that one big-city mayor has gone about banning large-sized, sugary soft drinks and the First Lady has been on a campaign to control the dietary offerings in public schools.
Even many adults who do not fit the clinic definition of obesity are still overweight, and a large percentage are looking for the best ways to lose weight.
Reducing pounds largely comes down to the two-sided factors of diet and exercise. Not carrying out the first one enough, and not getting enough of the second one, ends up giving the individual a recipe for being overweight.
Advising someone to eat less and exercise more might be the easiest advice possible, but it’s also, partially, an oversimplification. Dieting has more to do with the types of food you eat than how much you eat. Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet. If you don’t want to eliminate red meat altogether, choose cuts of meat with less fat content. Limit your intake of salt and starches. If you’ve got to have potato chips alongside your sandwich at lunch, choose the baked potato chips that contain less fat than the deep-fried chips. You might find you’re really not sacrificing that much in terms of taste.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, egg whites, fish and nonfat dairy products will certainly aid in the mission of losing weight. Drink more water and less sugary drinks. If you have to have a soda, a diet soda is a better option, but seltzer is an even better choice than that.
It’s important—if not always easy—to make sure you get at least some physical activity each and every day. If your feet won’t allow for a regular jogging regimen, then make sure you take lots of walks. Next time you need to mail a letter, walk to the mailbox instead of driving. Try to work in a daily walk in your neighborhood.What is the closest meaning of the underlined word “proportions” ?
| A．Shares. | B．Degrees. |
| C．Stages. | D．Height. |
How can you lose weight?
| A．Try some weight-losing products. |
| B．Control your diet strictly. |
| C．Exercise as well as go on a diet. |
| D．Read more articles about losing weight. |
Why did the First Lady start a movement in public schools?
| A．To raise people’s health consciousness. |
| B．To help people realize the importance of dieting. |
| C．To forbid sugary soft drinks. |
| D．To control the dietary supplying. |
What does the fifth paragraph mainly talk about?
| A．What makes the proper diet. |
| B．Vegetables are good for health. |
| C．Drink more water and less sugary drinks. |
| D．Dairy products will helps losing weight. |
According to the last paragraph ,what can you do if you can’t jog to work out?
| A．Exercise | B．Walk | C．Swim | D．Jog |
E
Small endangered animals are often hard to find in their natural habitats, making it difficult for scientists to monitor them and develop conservation plans. But new technologies can help. Australian researchers have equipped flying drones with infrared cameras so they can spot koalas hiding high in trees.
Koalas spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees, whose leaves are their favorite food. Since the leaves are low on calories and nutritional content, koalas are not very active - they sleep up to 20 hours a day. Curled-up in high branches, they are not easy to spot from the ground, and they have few natural predators. The greatest threat to this iconic symbol of Australia is logging.
“Every single tree in Australia right now, needs to be protected and unless that happens I can promise you the koala is going to go to extinction,” said Deborah Tabart, Australian Koala Foundation.
Scientists studying koalas say one of the keys for saving the animals is to know where they live and how many of them are left.
Using drones fitted with infrared cameras to conduct a census was an untested concept. Queensland Institute of Technology technician, Gavin Broadbent, said they were skeptical at first. “But when we saw the images come through, we saw the koalas were very distinct compared to the trees and the environment. So we thought, yes this is absolutely a proof of concept that could work,” he said.
The images beamed back to a computer clearly show the animal’s position, even from a distance far enough away not to disturb its sleep.
“We have tested at 20 meters and 80 meters. At 20 meters we get really good resolution,” stated Felipe Gonzalez, project leader.
The remotely controlled camera pivots and swivels, so scientists can scan the trees from all angles, picking out koalas even in the most dense areas, not visible to researchers on foot.
“So this will drastically reduce the manpower," said Amber Gillett, a veterinarian with the Australia Zoo. "Will greatly increase the area that can be covered to survey koalas and in areas where people may not be able to walk through because of dense undergrowth.”
Scientists say it is now clear that drones with infrared cameras can be used for spotting, and perhaps saving, other animals in the wild.What is an important factor in protecting the animals according to the passage?
| A．To know how they live and how many of them are left. |
| B．To protect the place they live in. |
| C．To learn their positions and their number. |
| D．To stop killing them by educating people. |
What is the meaning of the underlined word “logging”?
| A．cutting | B．hunting | C．killing | D．destroying |
Which is not the advantage of drones with infrared cameras?
| A．They can take photos of animals from a distance far away. |
| B．They can help reduce the manpower. |
| C．They can scan the trees from all angles. |
| D．They can send the images back to a computer. |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Koalas in Australia have been found by drones with infrared cameras. |
| B．New technologies can be used in drones to set up environment suitable for endangered animals. |
| C．Drones with infrared cameras can be used to save small endangered animals. |
| D．The functions of the remotely controlled camera are proved. |
D
“Just take it easy.” “Don’t be nervous.” “You’re more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the airport than you are in a plane crash.” These are just some words given to people with a fear of flying. But as Tom Cruise, playing Lt. Daniel Kaffee in the movie A Few Good Men, said, “I get sick when I fly because I’m afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don’t think Daniel will help.”
But there’s a new application that just may. Today, the VALK Foundation, a Dutch group that’s a partnership between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the University of Leiden, launches the app in the US. The VALK Foundation was one of the first centers for research and fear-of-flying treatment in the world and is the organizer of three world conferences on fear of flying.
The foundation said the app, called Flight App VALK, is the first scientifically-developed, web-based treatment for people who suffer from mild to moderate fear of flying.
“The fear of flying application we have created aims to transfer all of the knowledge we have developed through our program into a mobile application that will help ease travelers’ fears,” said Dr. Lucas van Gerwen, director of the VALK Foundation. Dr. van Gerwen is also a psychologist and professional pilot with more than 30 years experience.
The foundation said up to 30% of adults are fearful fliers. The Flight App is designed to help relax passengers before and during flights by educating users about flight safety and turbulence. It explains the sounds and sensations they can expect during departure, flight and landing. And, if a passenger’s flight stress reaches a panic level, they press a special panic button which provides audio and written information to help decrease stress levels. Most importantly, the Flight App can be used during the flight in the airplane mode. Once downloaded, the program does not require Internet connection in the air.Why are the words at the beginning of the passage given to people?
| A．To ease their doubt about plane. |
| B．To reduce their fear of flying. |
| C．To have fun on their flight journey. |
| D．To use some medicine to cure their fear of flying. |
Which of the following about the VALK Foundation is true according to the passage?
| A．It is a group focusing on psychology on the flight. |
| B．It was the first center to do research into fear of flying. |
| C．It focuses on researching and offering treatment on fear of flying. |
| D．It organizes the world conferences on fear of flying annually. |
What is the purpose of Flight App VALK ?
| A．To help passengers experience the fear of flying. |
| B．To teach people the basic knowledge of taking flight. |
| C．To treat people who suffer from mild fear of flying. |
| D．To help relax passengers before and during flights. |
What’s the main idea of the last paragraph ?
| A．Many adults are suffering from fear of flying. |
| B．Many planes will be installed with the Flight App. |
| C．It’s not comflex for people to use the Flight App. |
| D．The Flight App can decrease stress levels effectively. |