People should be warned against using mobile phones outdoors in stormy weather because they may“be struck by lightning”,according to doctors.
Three experts have described how a teenage girl was struck by lightning while using her phone in a large London park.The girl,aged 15,recovered,but a year later was still wheelchair-bound and found to be suffering complex physical and emotional problems.
The girl also had a perforate eardrum(打孔耳膜)on the side where she had been holding the mobile phone.She was having general recovery in Northwick Park Hospital,Middlesex.
Swinda Esprit,a senior house officer, said that while the brain and muscle damage was similar to that of many lightning victims—who can experience heart attacks on being struck—the ear problems were not.
She said that the damages were particularly relevant for people who might be involved in less serious lightning incidents,who might otherwise recover, but would never get their full hearing back if struck while on the phone.
“We were shocked by the damage,which is why we wanted to draw attention to it,”Dr Esprit said.“A year on and she still was suffering these difficult hearing.”
They added that three other cases had been reported in newspapers in China,South Korea,and Malaysia.In the Malaysian case,a sales executive was killed by lightning while talking on his phone during a thunderstorm near Kuala Lumpur.
“All these events resulted in death,”the doctors wrote.“This rare phenomenon is a public health issue,and education is necessary to stress the risk.”
The Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends that metallic objects,including cordless or mobile phones,should not be carried outdoors during thunderstorms.However, “the United States National Weather Service says on its website that both are safe to use “because there is no direct path between you and the lightening”.
Paul Taylor, of “the Met Office'’,said the ear injuries were a consequence of mobile phones being metal,and not related to radio waves.
Mr. Taylor said that mobile phones should be treated as another piece of metal,similar to carrying coins or wearing rings,and people need to be warned against the possible danger.What do we know about the teenage girl?
A.She was struck by lightning at schoo1. |
B.She completely recovered from being struck. |
C.She still suffered from mental problems. |
D.She had to press her ear all day. |
It can be inferred that damage done by lightening while using mobile phones .
A.is more serious than that when one is not using a mobile phone |
B.can be healed quickly except for heart attacks |
C.is less serious because the victims can usually recover |
D.is mainly in the brain and muscle of the victims |
Why did doctors stress the risk about using phones outside in lightening?
A.Because more people are faced with it. |
B.Because some deaths have been caused. |
C.Because lightning is harmful for the brain. |
D.Because a teenage girl got killed. |
We can infer from the last three paragraphs that .
A.both cordless and mobile phones are safe to use outside in lightning |
B.there is no direct connection between lightning and ear injuries at all |
C.opinions differ as to whether it is safe to use mobiles phones in lightning |
D.ear injuries are the result of carrying coins or wearing rings in lightning |
The purpose in writing this passage is .
A.to draw attention to the risk of using mobile phones in lightening |
B.to focus on various damages done to lightning victims |
C.to tell us the news that a teenage girl was struck by lightning |
D.to stress the danger of making phone calls in lightning |
I still remember my first day at school in London and I was half-excited and half-frightened. On my way to school I wondered what sort of questions the other boys would ask me and practiced all the answers: “I am nine years old. I was born here but I haven’t lived here since I was two. I was living in Farley. It’s about thirty miles away. I came back to London two months ago.” I also wondered if it was the custom for boys to fight strangers like me, but I was tall for my age. I hoped they would decide not to risk it.
No one took any notice of me before school. I stood in the center of the playground, expecting someone to say “hello”, but no one spoke to me. When a teacher called my name and told me where my classroom was, one or two boys looked at me but that was all.
My teacher was called Mr. Jones. There were 42 boys in the class, so I didn’t stand out there, either, until the first lesson of the afternoon. Mr. Jones was very fond of Charles Dickens and he had decided to read aloud to us from David Copperfield, but first he asked several boys if they knew Dickens’ birthplace, but no one guessed right. A boy called Brian, the biggest in the class, said: “Timbuktu”, and Mr. Jones went red in the face. Then he asked me. I said: “Portsmouth”, and everyone stared at me because Mr. Jones said I was right. This didn’t make me very popular, of course.
“He thinks he’s clever,” I heard Brian say.
After that, we went out to the playground to play football. I was in Brian’s team, and he obviously had Dickens in mind because he told me to go in goal. No one ever wanted to be the goalkeeper.
“He’s big enough and useless enough.” Brian said when someone asked him why he had chosen me.
I suppose Mr. Jones, who served as the judge, remembered Dickens, too, because when the game was nearly over, Brian pushed one of the players on the other team, and he gave them a penalty (惩罚). As the boy kicked the ball to my right, I threw myself down instinctively (本能地) and saved it. All my team crowded round me. My bare knees were injured and bleeding. Brian took out a handkerchief and offered it to me.
“Do you want to join my gang (帮派)?” he said.
At the end of the day, I was no longer a stranger.The writer prepared to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT “ ”.
A.How old are you? |
B.Where are you from? |
C.Do you want to join my gang? |
D.When did you come back to London? |
We can learn from the passage that .
A.boys were usually unfriendly to new students |
B.the writer was not greeted as he expected |
C.Brian praised the writer for his cleverness |
D.the writer was glad to be a goalkeeper |
The underlined part “I didn’t stand out” in paragraph 3 means that the writer was not .
A.noticeable | B.welcome | C.important | D.foolish |
The writer was offered a handkerchief because .
A.he threw himself down and saved the goal |
B.he pushed a player on the other team |
C.he was beginning to be accepted |
D.he was no longer a newcomer |
Fun is, in fact , a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past , when “duty”and “responsibility ”were often the words used.Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children.
For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It's great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We're definitely closer."
A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before."
On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of.
But Professor Billingham also sees a downside: Many parents started making decisions based on what their child wanted. "The power shifted to children. Parents said, 'I have to focus on making my child happy', as opposed to 'I have to act as a parent most appropriately'."
Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow. Time-short parents encourage children's independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They'll say, 'We trust you to make the right decisions' (whether they're ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham.
The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics (原动力). Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child's self-esteem.What's the trend in parent-child relationship mentioned in the passage?
A.Parents are chasing after fashion and ignoring the feelings of their children. |
B.More parents and children are sharing the same enthusiasm for a certain sport. |
C.Parents are taking more responsibility and setting more limits for their children. |
D.The generation gap is narrowing and parents are respecting their children's thoughts more. |
Which of the following has NOT contributed to the change in the parent-child relationship?
A.Younger parents. | B.Parent effectiveness training. |
C.More working mothers. | D.The self-esteem movement. |
What's the best title for the text?
A.Parents and Children as Friends. |
B.Parents and Professors as Debaters. |
C.Growing Mutual Understanding. |
D.Disappearing Responsibility. |
RESUME(履历) DOUGLAS V. FERNETTI Address: 636 Rugar StreetJoliet, Illinois60451 Date of Birth: June 5, 1960 Height: 6' Weight: 195 lbs. Health: Excellent Phone: 309 876 –0012 Married: Helen Son: Jim (2) EXPERIENCE 1978 to 1983:Joliet Bridge Company, Joliet, Illinois. Began as an learner and became accomplished journey-man pattern maker. 1983 to Present:Joliet Bridge Company, Joliet, Illinois. Promoted to Forman, Pattern Division. Responsibilities include the supervision of fourteen personnel, maintaining work schedules and making assignments, maintaining stock inventories, and supervising two learners. PERSONAL ACTIVITIES From 1979 to 1983 attended evening school in order to complete high school education. Received H.S. Diploma from the State University of Illinois in 1983. Since 1983 have attended evening classes at Joliet Community College. Have completed eighteen semester hours credit with nine hours in personnel management. Other activities include regular church attendance, member of ELKS, and help with Little League. PERSONAL STATEMENT Although I have been very happy at Joliet Bridge and have had excellent opportunity, it is necessary that I move my family due to my son's allergies (过敏症). In this respect, desire a position in the Southwest United States. Am willing to consider a position as a pattern maker, tool and die maker, or as a supervisor. My major attributes are my reliability and loyalty to my company and my ability to work with others. REFERENCES References are available upon request. |
What does Douglas do at present in Joliet Bridge Company?
A.Pattern maker | B.Leader of Pattern Division |
C.Member of ELKS | D.Learner |
What was Douglas doing in 1982?
A.Working in Joliet Bridge Company |
B.Studying at Joliet Community College |
C.Helping with Little League |
D.A, B and C |
Why does Douglas want to leave Joliet Bridge Company?
A.Because he is not satisfied with his present job. |
B.Because he has not been successful in the company. |
C.Because he does not get along well with his colleagues. |
D.Because his son is not used to the weather in Illinois. |
If you want to know the age of Douglas' son, what can you do?
A.Write to 636 Rugar Street. | B.Telephone 309 876-0012. |
C.Ask his wife Helen. | D.Find it in the resume. |
There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight. Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal(激素的) changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study, researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people. The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night. They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours. And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin. Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry; leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies. They note the combination that sleep limitation is common and food is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised. People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy. But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods, so people gain weight. It seems that, for survival, the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study. They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine . Internet users can read the full study, free of charge, at plos. org.Not enough sleep can cause obesity by ______.
A.burning more of your energy |
B.making you want to eat more food |
C.keeping you from doing exercise |
D.helping you feel great without food |
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night, you will ______ .
A.have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop |
B.have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop |
C.have your ghretin and leptin levels properly balanced |
D.have your hunger increase and your weight decrease |
You can read the findings________
A.Only on the Internet |
B.only in Medicine |
C.Both on the Internet and in Medicine |
D.Neither on the Internet nor in Medicine |
The very first capsule hotel to be opened in Shanghai has attracted many budget travelers with its prices, even though it is not fully operational yet.
The hotel consists of 68 "capsules", each 1.1-meters high, 1.1-meters wide and 2.2-meters long. The basic rate is 28 Yuan ($4.22) per person, plus an additional 4 Yuan an hour. The hotel also offers a package of 68 Yuan for 10 hours and 88 Yuan for 24 hours.
All of the capsules are imported from Japan where capsule hotels originated,and each is equipped with independent sockets, clocks, lights, TV and wireless Internet service. The hotel also has a public lavatory(洗手间),shower room, smoking room and shared guest room.
"This is a huge bargain compared with other budget hotels in Shanghai," said Ta Zan, the owner of the hotel. Ta used to stay at capsule hotels in Tokyo during his undergraduate years and worked at a capsule hotel while he was doing his MBA in Japan in 2005, so he knows how they work and how to make guests feel comfortable.
He based the hotel on capsule hotels in Japan but he has made some special changes based on Chinese guests' habits. "In Japan capsule hotels are usually equipped with bathtubs, but in China people are more willing to take a shower, so we have the shower room," he said. He has also separated the capsules into three snoring (打鼾的) zones so that guests who often snore won't disturb others. Like most of capsule hotels in Japan, the one in Shanghai is for men only.
But the idea of staying in such a compact space is not appealing to everyone. "I feel the idea is like putting a person in a coffin (棺材), and the price is also not that appealing. A bed at a youth hostel in Shanghai costs about 60 Yuan per night," said Wang Lei, a student from Beijing. The first capsule hotels in the world appeared in .
A.Shanghai | B.Japan | C.Beijing | D.America |
If you stay in the capsule hotel in Shanghai for 8 hours, you will have to payyuan.
A.28 | B.60 | C.68 | D.88 |
What does the underlined word "compact" mean?
A.Dear | B.Cheap. | C.Close. | D.Clean. |
The capsule hotel in Shanghai differs from those in Japan in that.
A.it serves men as well as women |
B.its capsule is much larger |
C.it has a shower room |
D.it has no snoring zones |
We can know from the passage that.
A.everybody considers the capsule hotel a nice place to stay |
B.all the capsules of the hotel were made in China |
C.each capsule of the hotel has a private lavatory |
D.no guest has ever stayed in the capsule hotel in Shanghai |