Surgeons in Spain have successfully carried out the world’s first organ transplant using new stem cell technology. Some people are calling it the greatest medical breakthrough so far this century.
But what are stem cells? As we know, most cells in our bodies are designed to serve specific purposes – for example, a liver cell develops to work in the liver and cannot become a heart cell. But stem cells are different. They are very young, and in the laboratory scientists can grow them into different types of cell.
Claudia Castillo needed a new windpipe after getting a serious disease. Scientists from the University of Bristol in the UK took a donor windpipe, or trachea, from someone who had recently died. They used strong chemicals to remove the donor’s cells, leaving a tissue scaffold(组织支架). This was refilled with cells from Ms Castillo’s windpipe, and stem cells from her bone. After four days the cells had grown sufficiently for the windpipe to be transplanted into Ms Castillo.
Currently, transplant patients have to take drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent their bodies rejecting the new organs. These drugs can have bad side-effects, and do not always prevent rejection. But by using Ms Castillo’s own cells, doctors were able to trick her body into thinking the new windpipe was her own organ. Five months on, Claudia Castillo is in perfect health.
This ground-breaking procedure could be used in other transplant operations in the future. Scientists also believe stem cells might be used to treat Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, diabetes, burns and so on.
However, stem cell research is extremely controversial. The most effective stem cells do not come from adults but from embryos created in laboratories and which are just a few days old. Many people have religious or ethical objections to growing embryos, even if they can be used to cure diseases.This transplant is considered the greatest medical breakthrough because _________.
| A．this is the first organ transplant in the whole world |
| B．the patient is in perfect health after the operation |
| C．it is the first success with new stem cell technology |
| D．the stem cells are from an embryo developed in a lab |
Stem cells are different from the other ceils in the way that __________.
| A．they are grown in the lab only |
| B．they can grow into different types of cell |
| C．they are designed for a specific purpose |
| D．they can work in the liver not in the heart |
What is the main idea of the third paragraph?
| A．How Claudia survived in the operation |
| B．How to remove the cells from the donor’s organ |
| C．Why stem cells are needed in the transplant |
| D．How the windpipe is transplanted |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Human bodies always reject transplanted organs even with their own cells |
| B．The donor’s cells had to be removed because they were unhealthy |
| C．The transplanted organ was refilled with the stem cells only |
| D．Claudia will not have to take drugs to prevent rejection. |
Which word can best describe the scientists’ attitude towards the stem cell technology?
| A．controversial | B．confident |
| C．conservative (保守的) | D．critical |
Everyone has some opinion about history, no matter how ill-informed. Walking through a parking lot in a university in Miami, I noticed a bumper sticker (车尾贴纸) that said, “Ruin a Liberal’s (自由派) Day—Recite Historical Fact!” But Marwick thinks this sort of opinion is just fine; it is unavoidable(不可避免的) that we all feel a sense of ownership of history.
History never stands still, as Marwick says at the beginning of The Nature of History, “The shape and content of history, too, vary according to the methods and materials available to different generations.” Marwick’s goal is to explain, in plain language, the changes in the way history is done up to the present; one method is to connect history with advances in the physical sciences. Marwick examines a number of case studies toward the end of the book. He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms (格言) about history. History truly belongs to each and every man and we all belong to history; with the proper education, history can be made more accessible to everyone.
Marwick relates（叙述）how inventions and the physical sciences have driven historical changes. Dropping a ball in a vacuum will reveal the same properties (性质) each time the experiment is conducted, providing(如果) the conditions are the same. But historians obviously do not have the luxury of reproducing such conditions; historians view the past through the present which depends on invention and science.
By looking at the changing nature of history, Marwick feels the study progressing. Although Marwick suspects some people would accuse a historian of creating job security with the endless views of the past, he insists it is imperative (必要的) based on the philosophy, science, and new materials of the age. History, according to Marwick, must be for everyone and not remain locked behind the walls of academia.The author mentions the bumper sticker in order to ________.
| A．show his own opinion about history |
| B．introduce the readers to Marwick |
| C．explain the freedom of understanding history |
| D．make the readers know about the argument between historians |
Which of the following best describes the statement “History never stands still”?
| A．Marwick explains the changes in the way history is done up to the present. |
| B．Marwick connects history with advances in the physical sciences. |
| C．He ends the book with a refreshing collection of aphorisms about history. |
| D．The shape and content of history vary according to the methods and materials available. |
In paragraph 3, Marwick gives the example of dropping a ball in a vacuum to prove ________.
| A．the changeable nature of history |
| B．the difficulty of historical study |
| C．changeable ways of historical study |
| D．the difficulty of scientific study |
The text is intended to（目的在于） ________.
| A．state a historian’s ideas |
| B．argue against a historian |
| C．attract readers to study history |
| D．describe the story of a historian |
“Image is everything．” An entire industry has been built upon the assumption that image is everything, but when it comes down to it, an appealing image is not enough．If there is no substance（事实） behind the image, the product, service or person will fail eventually．
First of all, one should consider how important image is in the selling of products and services．Advertising agencies have raised the art of creating an image to a state of near perfection．Public concept of that product or service is certainly managed by the images created by the advertising agencies．But if the product or service does not live up to the image that was created, the customer will be very dissatisfied and possibly ask for their money back．For example, the Arthur Andersen accounting firm had spent decades building up an image of trustworthiness．But the recent scandal （丑闻） showed that behind that image, it cheated in business practices．Despite the previous positive image, the firm is being accused of criminal actions and it will probably not survive as a business unit．Although the image had been nearly perfect, the reality behind the image has led to the downfall of the world famous accounting firm．
Similarly, personal advisers can build up a public image for politicians and movie stars．Putting out positive news releases, making sure that only the best photographs are published, and ensuring that the person is seen in all the right places can build up a very positive image in the view of the general commons．But once again, history is filled with examples of both politicians and movie stars that fell from grace like the story of the Hollywood actor giving in to the pressures of fame and fortune．With people, just as with products and services, image is certainly important, but without positive substance behind the image, failure is close．
To summarize, it is clear that an appealing image is extremely important to success, whether that image is related to selling a product or service or to the “selling” of a person．But image is only half of the equation(等式)．What lies behind that image is every bit as important as the image itself —— the person or product must deliver on that image or there is little chance for long-term success．The downfall of the Arthur Andersen accounting firm is due to ________.
| A．its dishonesty in business | B．its previous images |
| C．its bad management | D．its poor service |
Why did some famous people fall from grace?
| A．Their images were not well built up. |
| B．They paid little attention to fame and fortune. |
| C．They felt much pressure from the public. |
| D．They failed to live up to their images. |
The structure of the passage is_________.
A: Argument P: Point C: Conclusion
The author tries to argue that ____________.
| A．image is the key to success |
| B．image creates everything |
| C．truth and image are equally important |
| D．truth is unlikely ever to be equaled |
Homestay in Sydney，Australia
| Linda： Our large house is in Sydney，about 200 meters from Macquarie University and 400 meters from the train station. The train ride is about 30 minutes to the CBD. Now we only have a small bedroom for a female student. The cost is $260 per week，which includes all meals when at home and laundering (洗烫) of clothes. Email：markalarms@optusnet.com.au |
| John： I have a lovely single room for homestay (male，nonsmokers only)．The apartment is located across the road from a bus station. A sports field is only a twominute walk away. The room is for both short and long stays. The cost is $220 per week，including breakfast and lunch on weekdays. There is no washing machine at home. Do your own laundry in the apartment block’s facilities (设备)． Email：ainsley gilkes@yahoo.com.au |
| Eric： I live in the northern suburbs (郊区) of Sydney—quiet for studying and relaxing，yet close to Macquarie University & NCELTR & SIBT. The subway station is nearby. All facilities of the house including a living room with a TV can be used. Owners are very open and friendly，and treat students as part of the family. The prices include all meals (breakfast，lunch and dinner) and cleaning. The fee is $300 per week. Email：mineanny@hotmail.com |
| Rose： Hi，everyone！I have one room for homestay (girl students only) in a house which is very close to Macquarie University (SIBT) & WSU in the northern district of Sydney. There is a bus station across the road. Travel time to the centre of the city is 40 minutes by train. We only have one homestay at a time. Therefore，our family can take good care of you. The fee is $230 per week. We are looking forward to having you in our home. Email：cliqi9239@hotmail.com |
The four people wrote these passages to________.
| A．find suitable roommates |
| B．advertise rooms for homestay |
| C．find a suitable room in Sydney |
| D．introduce some good hotels |
A person who lives in John’s apartment________.
| A．can smoke in the apartment |
| B．can use John’s washing machine to wash clothes |
| C．is provided with breakfast and lunch on weekdays |
| D．has to walk a long way to get to the sports field |
If Peter wants to find a homestay room near Macquarie University，he should send an email to________.
| A．mineanny@hotmail.com |
| B．markalarms@optusnet.com.au |
| C．cliqi9239@hotmail.com |
| D．ainsley_gilkest@yahoo.com.au |
A girl who wants a room for between $210 and $240 per week would most probably contact________.
| A．Linda | B．John | C．Eric | D．Rose |
A listener from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He's planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we tell about the most popular places to visit in the country, and hear about what makes them so appealing.
Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop at stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.
Trip Advisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. There are also ratings for hotels, restaurants, and places people have visited around the world. Every year, Trip Advisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website.
America's major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. This is because of the good quality of services they provide tourists.
"They do a great job of giving travelers what they want while they're on vacation. They cater to (迎合) every type of traveler need. So whether you're traveling alone, you're traveling for business, you're traveling with your family – whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to (与…一致)delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you're there." said Brooke Ferencsik, a tourist from Germany.The author is most possibly________.
| A．a radio announcer | B．a journalist |
| C．a university professor | D．a tour guide |
According to Brooke Ferencsik, _________ make America’s major cities the most popular
destinations for visitors?
| A．city residents’ kindness and care |
| B．the good service |
| C．great opportunities of jobs |
| D．the varieties(多样性) of cities |
Which of the following is the best place to visit if you want to know about American history?
A. Yellowstone National Park
B. The Grand Canyon
C. Los Angeles, California
D. Washington D.CWhich of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Welcome to Trip Advisor |
| B．America’s Major Tourist Attractions |
| C．The Power of the Internet |
| D．It’s Tourist Who Decide Where to Go |
My father died when I was nine months old, making my mom a single mother. We had little money, but my mom gave me a lot of love. Each night, she sat me on her lap and spoke the words that would change my life, “Kemmons, you are certain to be a great man and you can do anything in life if you work hard enough to get it.”
At fourteen, I was hit by a car and the doctors said I would never walk again. Every day, my mother spoke to me in her gentle, loving voice, telling me that no matter what those doctors said, I could walk again if I wanted to badly enough. She drove that message so deep into my heart that I finally believed her. A year later, I returned to school — walking on my own!
When the Great Depression (大萧条) hit, my mom lost her job. Then I left school to support the family. At that moment, I was determined never to be poor again.
My real turning point occurred on a vacation I took with my wife and five kids in 1951. I was angry that the second-class hotel charged an extra $2 for each child. That was too expensive for the average American family. I decided to open a motel (汽车旅馆) for families that would never charge extra for children. There were plenty of doubters at that time.
Not surprisingly, mom was one of my strongest supporters. We experienced a lot of challenges. But with my mother’s words deeply rooted in my soul, I never doubted we would succeed. Fifteen years later, we had the largest hotel system in the world — Holiday Inn. In 1979 my company had 1,759 inns in more than fifty countries with an income of $ 1 billion a year.
You may not have started out life in the best situation. But if you can find a task in life worth working for and believe in yourself, nothing can stop you.What Kemmons’ mom often told him during his childhood was ______.
| A．caring | B．moving |
| C．encouraging | D．interesting |
According to the author, who played the most important role in making him walk back to school again?
| A．Doctors. | B．Nurses. | C．Friends. | D．Mom. |
What caused Kemmons to start a motel by himself?
| A．His terrible experience in the hotel. |
| B．His previous business success of various levels. |
| C．His mom’s support. |
| D．His wife’s suggestion. |
Which of the following best describes Kemmons’ mother?
| A．Modest, helpful, and hard-working. |
| B．Loving, supportive and strong-willed. |
| C．Careful, helpful and beautiful. |
| D．Strict, sensitive and supportive. |