Old Cremona Violins
Most musicians(音乐家) agree that the best violins(小提琴) were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments(乐器) like the Italian violins. But they aren’t the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones.
Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special(特殊的). So age cannot be the answer.
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees.
But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape(形状). The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.
Size and shape may not be the answer, either. Scientists can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish. Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish.The passage is about .
| A．making violins | B．musical instruments |
| C．scientific ideas | D．the old Italian violins |
Other people think the Italian violin makers .
| A．did not know much about violins | B．were lucky |
| C．used many kinds of wood | D．knew something special |
Violins made today .
| A．have the same size and shape as the old ones |
| B．sound the same as the old ones |
| C．are better than the old ones |
| D．have the same varnish as the old ones |
Some scientists believe that the secret of the old violins was .
| A．their sound | B．their colour | C．their varnish | D．the music |
Study Books
| Learning How to Learn $24.99 Children who read this book show great interest in study. The pictures will help them understand it easily and quickly. |
| Basic Study Manual $38.50 Read this book and learn: What the three barriers （障碍）to study are and what to do about them. What to do if you are fed up with a subject. Children read it to improve the ability to study. |
| How to Use a Dictionary for Children $35.00 Read this book and learn: How to find words in a dictionary. What the different marks in a dictionary mean. How to use a dictionary to pronounce words correctly. Buy this book and help children unlock their education. What’s more, you’ll just pay (支付)50% for it before July 1, 2014. |
According to the ads, these three books are for ___________.
| A．men | B．parents | C．children | D．women |
The pictures in the book Learning How to Learn can_________.
| A．make the book beautiful |
| B．make the children draw beautifully |
| C．make the book sell well |
| D．make the children understand the book easily |
_______ can tell you the meaning of the different marks in a dictionary.
A. Learning How to Learn
B. Study skills for Life
C Basic Study Manual
D.How to Use a Dictionary for ChildrenIf you buy the three books on June 18,2014, you will have to pay______for them.
| A．$98.49 | B．$49.25 | C．$80.99 | D．$79.24 |
The purpose（目的）of the passage is to _______.
| A．sell the three books to children |
| B．help children learn English |
| C．help children learn about nature |
| D．use a dictionary to pronounce correctly |
Be proud of what you do”(对你所做的感到骄傲)，my father always told me, “whether you are a boss （老板）or a cleaner”, When I was 15, I got a summer job in a hospital, I was told that my duties would include sweeping floors. I smiled and remembered Dad’s words. Even though my job was the lowest，it made me feel excited. I saw it as a challenge because it was my first job. I learned to be on time and tried to do everything well. In return(作为回报)，I was treated with respect（尊重） by doctors, nurses and patients. Each morning I imagined that the dirty dishes would make patients more sick if I were not there to wash them clean. After breakfast was done, I started sweeping the floors of all patient rooms and cleaning toilets. Though I was tired, I wanted the job to be done well, people would say, “That young boy really does a good job.” That gave me a pride. Working in the hospital taught me that being proud of one’s job is important. It does not matter whether the job is sweeping floors or managing a large business. Though every job I have ever had，my father’s words have always stayed with me, I have swept floors, and I have been a manager（经理）. I think Dad would be proud of me!
阅读短文，判断正(A)误(B)。The writer’s first job was a doctor.
When the writer was in the hospital, he worked hard.
The writer looked after patients in the hospital..
From the passage we know that the father’s words encouraged the writer to do everything well
The best title of the passage is “My first job”.
Scientists are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to test whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert(专家) in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study on the effect of robotic dogs on old people’s depression (沮丧) , physical activity, and life satisfaction.
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, scientists will collect baseline data(数据) for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the scientists will review the data to test if it has produced any changes in the life of its owner.
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has his own mind.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The scientists say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate(与……相关) to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says. “Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels or heart rhythms(心律). AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate(刺激) older people’s minds.”The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to _____________.
| A．understand human-animal relationship |
| B．make lonely old people’s life better |
| C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness |
| D．improve the animal-assisted research |
In the research, the old people are asked to _____________.
| A．note the activities of AIBOs |
| B．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks |
| C．record their feelings and activity |
| D．study the collected information |
What does the underlined word “removes” mean?
| A．moves again | B．is movable |
| C．doesn’t need | D．need |
The writer seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may__________.
| A．cure certain diseases | B．keep old people active |
| C．change people’s ideas | D．look more like real dogs |
When Christie Andrews was born, she weighed less that half of one kilogram. Her heart was the size of a large coin. Her mother said Christie was so small that she could hold her in the palm of one hand.
Christie couldn’t breathe without a machine to give her oxygen. If she had been born 20 years earlier, she would probably have died at once. She needed two operations, but she survived without serious damage.
Twenty years ago , 90% of all premature(早产) babies died. Today, doctors manage to save four out of every five, because they have better machines for breathing and better ways to feed the babies.
But saving Christie’s life cost more than $ 400,000. In some cases, doctors spend 1 million dollars saving a single child. The parents usually don’t have enough money to pay. The government, an insurance company or the hospital picks up the bill. Even after a baby goes home from the hospital, it may require medical care.
Some people think it makes more sense to spend money saving 10 adults who have cancer or other diseases than saving one small baby. But nobody wants to be the doctor who has to tell parents to their faces, “Sorry, I won’t save your new child.”Parents don’t pay their babies’ hospital bills because .
| A．they don’t have enough money |
| B．they would rather save cancer patients |
| C．doctors don’t care if the babies die |
| D．it makes more sense to have a bigger baby |
The true cost of saving a baby may be even more than 1 million because .
| A．oxygen machine are expensive |
| B．the baby may require medical care after it leaves the hospital |
| C．doctors always charge more than they should |
| D．four out of five premature babies can now be saved |
From the story we know that saving a cancer patient .
| A．is easier than saving a baby |
| B．is harder than saving a baby |
| C．is cheaper than saving a baby |
| D．is more common than saving a baby |
The main idea of the article is .
| A．doctors must never decide whether to save babies or cancer patients |
| B．doctors are able to save premature babies, but the cost is very high |
| C．having a premature baby was cheaper and safer 20 years ago |
| D．Christie survived because the hospital paid her bills |
On the way back from work every evening, more often than not（往往） there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway (快车道). He looked to be in his late 40s but was probably a lot younger. He had shoulder length straight black hair and a short beard.
Every day after work I would remember to gather any spare change, and put it aside to give him if I saw him. A feeling of joy would come over me every time I saw him, while coming off the ramp(坡道). So did he. Sometimes the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His answer would always be the same, “I’m blessed!”
Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid off(解雇). For the rest of that day all I could think of was “how am I going to provide for my kids as a mother, how am I going to pay rent?”
It is clear that on my way home that day I was very sad and upset. I didn’t remember to look for my spare change and keep it ready like I usually did. Yet there he was as always, as I turned the ramp. He set his eyes on me, while still smiling and waving at others as usual.
While I was waiting for the red light to turn, he strolled (闲逛) over to my car. He had a big smile. He looked at me straight in the eyes and said, “Today I will give you a dollar.” He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a dollar bill.
You see that day he taught me a valuable lesson more than a dollar bill. No matter what material things are taken from you, no one can take away your choice to be joyful. Every time I’m faced with challenges, I think of the homeless man’s valuable lesson and remember that I am blessed.Why did the writer feel sad and upset after out of the boss’s office?
| A．Because she was criticized by the boss. |
| B．Because a new job was offered to her. |
| C．Because she was laid off by the boss. |
| D．Because there was something wrong with her job. |
What is NOT true about the homeless man from the passage?
| A．He would be seen at the exit of the freeway. |
| B．He usually smiled and waved at others. |
| C．He had a deep impression on the writer. |
| D．He felt joyful only when money was offered to him. |
The homeless man gave the writer a dollar because .
| A．he had collected a lot of money | B．he wanted to pay her back |
| C．he knew what she experienced | D．he wanted her to be happy |
The writer learned from the story that .
| A．a dollar bill will be enough to make you happy |
| B．each of us has been blessed all the time |
| C．whenever it is, we should choose to help others |
| D．it is more than material things that bring us happiness |