Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills （读写能力）With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence （自信心） , according to Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ).
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25 children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeat it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager. What is mainly discussed in the text?
| A．Children’s reading difficulties. | B．Advantages of raising dogs. |
| C．Service in a public library. | D．A special reading program. |
Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think _______.
| A．dogs are young children’s best friends |
| B．children can play with dogs while reading |
| C．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children |
| D．children and dogs understand each other |
By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library_______.
| A．uses dogs to attract children |
| B．accepts the idea put forward by ITA |
| C．has opened a children's department |
| D．has decided to train some dogs |
A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _______.
| A．a book used in Saturday classes | B．a book written by the children |
| C．a prize for the children | D．a gift from parent |
The motor vehicle has killed and disabled more people in its brief history than any bomb or weapon ever invented. Much of the blood on the street flows essentially from uncivil behavior of drivers who refuse to respect the legal and moral rights of others. So the massacre (大屠杀) on the road may be regarded as a social problem .
In fact, the enemies of society on wheels are rather harmless people just ordinary people acting carelessly, you might say. But it is a principle both of law and common morality that carelessness is no excuse when one’s actions could bring death or damage to others. A minority of the killers go even beyond carelessness to total negligence (疏忽).
Researchers have pointed out that as many as 80 percent of all automobile accidents can result from the psychological condition of the driver. Emotional upsets can affect drivers’ reactions, slow their judgment, and blind them to dangers that might otherwise be clear. The experts warn that it is important for every driver to make a conscious effort to keep one’s emotion under control.
Yet the irresponsibility that accounts for much of the problem is not only caused by drivers. Street walkers regularly go against traffic rules, they are to blame in most vehicle walker accidents , and many cyclists even believe that they don’t obey the basic rules of the road.
Significant legal advances have been made towards safer driving in the past few years. Safety standards for vehicle have been raised both at the point of manufacture (制造业) and through regular road-worthiness inspections (车辆上路安检). In addition, speed limits have been lowered. Due to these measures, the accident rate has decreased. But the accident experts still worry because there has been little or no improvement in the way drivers behave. The only real and lasting solution, say the experts, is to convince people that driving is a skilled task requiring constant care and concentration. Those who fail to do all these things present a threat to those with whom they share the road.The following is mentioned as being responsible for the road accidents except .
| A．careless bicycle riders | B．people walking in the street |
| C．irresponsible drivers | D．irresponsible manufacturers of automobiles |
Why does the author mention the psychological condition of the driver in Paragraph 3?
| A．To give an example of the various reasons for road accidents. |
| B．To show how important it is for drivers to be emotionally healthy. |
| C．To show some of the inaccurate statements by researchers. |
| D．To show the hidden tensions in the course of driving |
What is the author’s main purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To show that the motor vehicle is a very dangerous invention. |
| B．To promote understanding between careless drivers and street walkers. |
| C．To discuss traffic problems and suggest possible solutions. |
| D．To warn drivers of the importance of safe driving. |
Which of the following best reflects the author’s attitude toward a future without traffic accident problems?
| A．Doubtful yet still longing for. | B．Happy and rather confident. |
| C．Surprised and very pleased. | D．Disappointed and not concerned. |
We let ourselves believe that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another. Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and that all will be well when they are older. Then we are frustrated because they reach teenage years and we must deal with them. Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.
We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse (配偶) gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.
For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start—real life.
But there were always some obstacles along the way, an ordeal (苦难) to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start. I finally realized that those obstacles were part of life. Little by little, that point of view also helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness.
Happiness is the road. So, enjoy every moment. And keep in mind that __________. So stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage(借款) to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn… before deciding to be happy.
Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than… NOW! Live and enjoy the moment.The most proper title for the passage should be______.
| A．Happiness Is a Frustration | B．Happiness Is a Destination |
| C．Happiness Is a Dream | D．Happiness is a Process |
The first two paragraphs mainly tell us_______.
| A．life is a worthwhile but challenging voyage |
| B．so long as you believe you can, you can |
| C．people tend to think the future will be brighter than now |
| D．people feel confused about their life |
The writer thinks _______is a real happiness
| A．setting our imagination free | B．enjoying our present life |
| C．finding our own shortcut to success | D．facing obstacles and challenges bravely |
Which of the sayings can fill in the blank in the fourth paragraph?
| A．time waits for no one |
| B．time is money |
| C．tomorrow is another day |
| D．time can work wonders |
From school to band Practice, the Venturi Eclectic is an Earth-friendly way to get where you want to go. This battery-powered, zero-emission (meaning it doesn't pollute the air) vehicle runs mainly on renewable energy. Solar panels on the Eclectic's roof absorb sun rays when you're driving. On windy days, you can connect a machine to the car's roof that collects energy from the wind while you're parked. The Eclectic's top speed is 28 miles an hour; the battery lasts for 31 miles before it needs to be recharged. Zipping (迅速行进) around the neighborhood has never been better.
Here's an eco-friendly way to tell time: Simply fill the Bedol Water-powered Clock's tank (箱) with water, add some lemon juice, and the clock will display the time without the need for environmentally harmful batteries. There are two sets of metal electrodes (电极) inside the water tank. Water contains ions (离子) that carry negative and positive charges. These ions complete a charge between the electrodes, creating enough energy to power the clock. Just refill the tank every few weeks, and this clock will keep on ticking.
Bloodhound SuperSonic Car (SSC) will be the first car to attempt to break the l,000-mile-an-hour barrier. (The current record is 763 miles an hour.) A concept for now, the rocket-shaped car gets its original push to 350 miles an hour from a jet engine. Then a rocket fires up, pushing the SSC past 1,000 miles an hour. In order to keep the car streamlined (流线型的), the driver lies back at a 45-degree angle (角度).
You’re having a blast at your friend’s birthday party. But when it's time to bring out the cake, everyone crowds around, blocking your view. No worries. Throw the Triops into the air, and this clever camera captures the view from above. The Triops can take three pictures at once, each from different angles. You can also record sounds and command the Triops to start shooting whenever it hears that noise. That's one smart camera.What is the common characteristic of the Venturi Eclectic and the Bedol Water-powered Clock?
| A．They don't need batteries. | B．They are difficult to operate. |
| C．They can be powered by water. | D．They are environmentally friendly. |
According to the passage, the Venturi Eclectic .
| A．is popular with businessmen | B．is suitable for a long trip |
| C．can turn wind into energy | D．has only a little gas emission |
The underlined phrase “having a blast” in the last paragraph probably means .
| A．looking at a picture | B．enjoying yourself |
| C．blowing out a candle | D．recording sounds |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The Triops is sensitive to sounds. |
| B．The driver of the SSC must be of great size. |
| C．The color of the Bedol Water-powered Clock is like that of lemon. |
| D．The SSC doesn’t have anything to do with a rocket actually. |
NewYork Tuesday April 12—Dustin Hoffman fan Pamela Crack got the shock of her life when the movie star telephoned her as she was doing her housework.. Crack, 58, said she was “flabbergasted” when she picked up the phone and heard the star at the other end.
“It’s not every day you get a Hollywood superstar phoning you when you’re doing the housework,” Crack told The Sun, “It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Hoffman was in the back of a London taxi driven by Crack’s husband, Dave, when he made the call after being told Pamela was a fan. Dave Crack later became the star of Hoffman’s speech at the Bafta award ceremony Sunday, where the 62-year-old American actor presented the Best Film award.
“He said to give him a mention,” Hoffman told the audience to a burst of laughter. “Cheers Dave.” Taxi driver Crack said the Hollywood star was a joy to drive from the moment he got into the taxi eating a cheese and tomato sandwich.
“I said ‘You’re that Dustin Hoffman, aren’t you?’ and he said, ‘Yes I am—would you like a sandwich?’ I was a bit surprised but I took a sandwich from him and ate it hungrily.”How did Dustin Hoffman learn that Pamela was a fan?
| A．He learned it at a dinner party. |
| B．He learned it from Dave Crack. |
| C．He learned it when he was at the Bafta ceremony. |
| D．He learned it when he was watching a Hollywood movie. |
What does the underlined word “flabbergasted” in the first paragraph probably mean?
| A．pleased. | B．honored. | C．frightened. | D．surprised. |
What was Hoffman doing when he talked about Dave Crack?
| A．He was riding in a taxi. |
| B．He was presenting the Best Film award. |
| C．He was talking to Pamela on the phone. |
| D．He was eating a cheese and tomato sandwich. |
Which of the following is the correct order of events mentioned in the article?
a. Hoffman mentioned Dave’s name in his speech at the ceremony.
b. He got into Dave Crack’s taxi in London.
c. He telephoned Pamela Crack.
d. He talked to Dave Crack.
| A．bdca | B．bdac | C．cbda | D．cdba |
Some people can stay up all night and still get work done the next day. I’m not one of them. After a night without enough sleep, I feel bad-tempered. I have trouble remembering things. And all I want to do is go to bed.
How do you feel after you’ve stayed up late to finish schoolwork or the day after an overnight party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes.
New research suggests that a gene called “period 3” influences how well you function without sleep. The “period 3” gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you.
Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of “period 3”. Study participants (参与者) had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed (闪过) on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers.
Results showed that the people with the short form of “period 3” performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning.
After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests (those with the short form of “period 3”) took about 18 minutes to nod off.
While people with the long “period 3” gene fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time on deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working in top form.
I think I must have the long form of “period 3”. What about you?The purpose of this passage might be ___________
| A． to tell us the importance of plenty of sleep. |
| B． to tell the result of a research on sleepy gene. |
| C． to inform the harm of lacking sleep. |
| D． to announce the sleeping rules of humans. |
What kind of people need less sleep according to the research?
| A． Those with two short copies of the gene. |
| B．Those with two long copies of the gene. |
| C．Those with one short and one long copy of the gene. |
| D．Those with three short copies of the gene. |
If one lacks enough sleep, one should avoid doing impo
rtant or dangerous things ___________.
| A．at noon | B．at night |
| C．in the afternoon | D．at dawn |
Why did the writer think he or she had the long form of “period 3”?
| A． Because the writer could remain energetic without enough sleep. |
| B．Because the writer could do things correctly at dawn. |
| C．Because the writer needed more sleep to keep energetic. |
| D．Because the writer recovered quickly after sleep. |