Back those photos up
The images were striking. Homes on the East Coast were washed away by Superstorm Sandy. People were in tears, picking up faded photographs, among their only remaining possessions.
If that doesn’t move you to get serious about safekeeping your lifetime of memories, what will? The digital age offers tools never imaginable before—including one-click access to a lifetime of family photos.
Here is a brochure on how to back up (存) your photos and save them online, where they can live forever and be accessible in good times and bad.
Scanning
The first step for those old photos is to scan them and save them to a digital format. Most printers come with scanners these days, so that’s an easy but extremely time-consuming step.
Storing the photos
With your scans in place, import the photos into your computer, and back them up.
You could make multiple copies of the disks and spread them to loved ones. Or you could choose external(外接的) hard drives or USB thumb drive, and add your photo and video collection from your computer.
Online backup
If you need lots of space, look at a pure online backup service, Caronite.
Caronite backs up 300 million files daily. Once you sign up, it starts to pick up everything you have on your hard drive. But photo collection on your computer’s main hard drive charges for $59 a year.
Cloud Storage
For folks who don’t need automatic backup, but instead want to take a more active approach, Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft’s SkyDrive let you store files online by yourself, share and instantly access them. All offer free options—2GB of free storage for Dropbox, 5GB for Google and 7GB for SkyDrive. But if you want more, you need to pay.
Bottom Line
The hard drive or flash drive is the cheapest and easiest. But drives can fail. Online services are more expensive, but more secure. With more of us switching back and forth between our computers, such services are the best way to get access to our data from wherever we are. Why does the author mention Superstorm Sandy?
A.To tell the background of the scanning photos. |
B.To attract the readers’ interest in the backups. |
C.describe a severe natural disaster. |
D.To win the readers’ sympathy. |
What can we know from the passage?
A.Scanning photos takes little time but costs a lot. |
B.Caronite charges for backing up photos from hard drive. |
C.Google Drive offers unlimited free photo storage on line. |
D.The hard drive or flash drive is the cheapest and safest. |
Which of the following allows storing files automatically?
A.Caronite. | B.Dropbox. | C.SkyDrive. | D.Flash drive. |
What’s the passage mainly about ?
A.tell real stories about storage services |
B.introduce some of the storage services |
C.describe the functions of storage services |
D.argue about the advantage of storage services |
III. 阅读理解
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D选项中,选出最佳选项。
I’ve written 14 movies. My characters smoke in many of them, and they look cool and glamorous doing it. Smoking was an integral(必需的) part of many of my screenplays because I was a heavy smoker. It was part of a bad-boy image I’d cultivated for a long time— smoking, drinking, partying, rock ’n’ roll.
Smoking, I once believed, was every person’s right. The second-hand smoke was non-existent problem invented by professional do-gooders. I put all these views into my plays.
Remembering all this, I find it hard to forgive myself. I have been an accomplice (帮凶) to the murders of untold numbers of human beings. I am admitting this only because I have made a deal with God. Spare me, I said, and I will try to stop others from committing the same crimes I did.
Eighteen months ago I was diagnosed with throat cancer, the result of a lifetime of smoking. I am alive but disabled. Much of my larynx (喉) is gone. I have some difficulty speaking; others have some difficulty understanding me.
I haven’t smoked or drunk for 18 months now, though I still take it day by day and pray for help. I believe in prayer and exercise. I have walked five miles a day for a year, without missing even one day. Quitting smoking and drinking has taught me the hardest lesson I’ve ever learned about my own weakness; it has also given me the greatest affection and empathy(同感) for those still addicted.
I don’t think smoking is every person’s right anymore. I think smoking should be as illegal as heroin. I’m no longer such a bad boy. I go to church on Sunday. I’m desperate to see my four boys grow up. I want to do everything I can to undo the damage I have done with my own big-screen words and images.
Screen writers know, too, that some movie stars are more likely to play a part if they can smoke —because they are so addicted to smoking that they have difficulty stopping even during the shooting of a scene.
My hands are bloody; so are Hollywood’s. My cancer has caused me to attempt to cleanse me. I don’t wish my fate upon anyone in Hollywood, but I beg that Hollywood should stop putting it upon millions of others.
1. The main idea of this passage probably is _________.
A. the writer is ashamed of the bad effects his screenplays have had on human beings
B. the writer’s smoking experience nearly killed himself
C. the bad effects that Hollywood screenplay have brought to children
D. the determination of the writer to overcome his illness
2. How do you think the writer has realized his mistake?
A. So many people have found the habit of smoking due to his plays.
B. His plays have brought great harm to teenagers.
C. He himself suffered greatly from smoking.
D. His screenplays have been doing more and more harm to human beings.
3. What is the writer determined to do in future?
A. He has made up his mind to give up smoking forever.
B. He will try his best to prevent others from writing screen plays encouraging smoking.
C. He will try his best to bring up his four children.
D. He has decided to write his screenplays without smoking scenes.
4. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A. the writer will soon be recovered from his illness thanks to his exercise
B. the writer will soon die because of his deadly disease
C. smoking will be got rid of in all Hollywood films
D. smoking in Hollywood films is still doing great harm to human beings
SHE dresses in saggy (宽松的) pants and is crazy about the pop star, Rain. Bin Xue is in love with South Korean culture. The 19-year-old from Sichuan Province feels a strong connection with the neighboring country.
"The two nations have a long history of friendship and there are many similarities between them," she said. "But Koreans are iron-willed, and we could learn this quality from them."
Bin is not the only Chinese deeply affected by Korean culture. A recent survey shows that most Chinese teenagers think highly of their eastern neighbor.
However, Koreans do not view the Chinese in the same good light. In a recent survey, only 5.5 per cent of Korean teens thought the Chinese people friendly.
The survey among high school students in China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, was conducted in 156 high schools. More than 7,000 teenagers were questioned on success, family, their self-identity (自我意识), as well as their opinions about the world at large.
Results showed that most Korean teens gave a low score to the Chinese for patriotism (爱国心), responsibility and honesty. In their eyes, Chinese people are not hard-working and don't obey the rules.
"The result is surprising, but it does reflect a real information gap between teenagers in the two countries," said Lei Li, a psychology professor from the Capital Normal University.
Experts say that Chinese students' positive feelings about South Korea were a result of the booming (繁荣) popularity of Korean pop music. Korean movies and TV series have flooded China. And 73 per cent of the Chinese respondents said they watched Korean TV serials and cartoons.
On the other hand, Lei added, Korean teenagers don't have much access to China. The survey found that only 6.7 per cent of Korean students have ever read Chinese books or news magazines or watch Chinese TV programmes.1
Professor Lei thinks that Chinese teens should give themselves a better basis for appreciating the cultures of their neighbors. It's not enough to simply enjoy their music, TV and fashion sense. "The survey shows that Chinese teens should make friends with their foreign peers . They shouldn't judge other countries by their media alone," said Lei.
Luo Xi'er, 17, from Hunan Province, hopes Chinese people can improve their image. "In my opinion, it is the bad behavior of Chinese tourists which has destroyed our image abroad," she said.
The girl has read several online articles in which Koreans put Chinese tourists' bad manners under the spotlight. "I would like to go to South Korea some day and show them that most Chinese are good-mannered."
1. Most Chinese teenagers think highly of South Korea because _____.
A. they are crazy about pop stars in South Korea
B. Korean people have certain qualities they respect
C. there are many similarities between China and South Korea
D. all of the above
2. Korean teens probably have low opinions of Chinese because ______.
A. they are friendly and iron-willed B. they don't know much about China
C. they hate Chinese because of historical conflicts
D. they only watch Korean TV serials and cartoons
3. According to professor Lei, ______.
A. Chinese teens should not enjoy the pop music of South Korea
B. Chinese teens should help Korean peers learn more about China
C. we should prevent Korean movies and TV series from flooding in China
D. we should have a better understanding of Korean peers
4. We can infer from the survey _________.
A. Chinese teenagers think highly of South Koreans
B. most Korean teens gave a low score to the Chinese
C. it is necessary to strengthen cultural communications
D. bad behavior of Chinese tourists destroyed our image abroad
Beverley had been feeling dull, bored and a bit out of it. He mentioned his mood (state of mind) when going to Andrew for a sports massage. He wondered whether he should take up Tai Chi. But Andrew didn’t think so.
“Tai Chi is great for people who want to feel grounded, but that isn’t your problem,” he said. “What you need is something more exciting, like dancing.”
In future, therapists (理疗专家) may well suggest that you fight your sadness with a course in kickboxing, and family doctors might suggest that you take a rest in the mountains instead.
We’ve long been aware that exercise has benefits beyond the physical ones; that activity can relax you, and help psychological well-being by reducing stress, anxiety and sadness.
Now some trainers and sports psychologists are going further and examining how to identify the correct exercise for a client’s (当事人) specific state of mind and personality.
Professor Stuart Biddle, an exercise and sports psychologist based at Loughborough University, England, has researched the effects of exercise on moods.
One of his findings was that, if your problem is low self-esteem, weight training should be your bag. “Working with weights builds strength,” he says, “and creates a stronger body image.”
Anger management, meanwhile, demands bursts of explosive (爆发性的) activity, from sports such as boxing or tennis.
This is because anger makes the body release(释放)adrenaline (肾上腺素), which causes heart rate and blood pressure to rise and muscles to become tighter —— the physiological changes required if you are to defend yourself.
Research shows that the “punch-bag (用拳头击打沙袋)” method of releasing disappointment and anger through hitting a boxing opponent (对手) or tennis ball, can help with fighting issues.
They have also found that teamwork is good for self-esteem and that those who are brought together to work in a social setting become more lively.
Which type of exercise will best help is, of course, down to the individual. Clearly, before you can find the best physical activity for yourself, you have to know your needs.
Ask yourself a few questions such as: What do I need in my life? Which issues are difficult for me? Am I sad or troubled? Only then can you decide whether you need taking up, or taking down.
1. Why did Andrew think Beverley shouldn’t take up Tai Chi?
A. Because Beverley was too weak. B. Because Beverley was too foolish.
C. Because Beverley’s mind was out of control. D. Because Beverley lacked activity.
2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Psychologists haven’t realized the relationship between exercise and health.
B. People have already realized the relationship between exercise and spirits.
C. Boxing and tennis are the best ways to increase one’s self-esteem.
D. Trainers and psychologists don’t agree with each other on exercise.
3. Professor Stuart Biddle thinks that ____ .
A. anger should be examined by doctors B. anger should be taken away by medicine
C. anger should be given off by activities D. anger should be held back by oneself
4 The main idea of this passage may be ____ .
A. sports build up your body B. sports are helpful to your mind
C. heart trouble is due to anger D. anxiety and sadness are harmful to you
Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a ‘territory’ is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting(筑巢)season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.
You can see that birds have a language all their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.
1. Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually________.
A. an expression of happiness B. a way of warning
C. an expression of anger D. a way of greeting
2. What is a bird’s ‘territory’?
A. A place where families of other species are not accepted.
B. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.
C. An area for which birds fight against each other.
D. An area which a bird considers to be its own.
3. Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?
A. Because they want to invite more friends.
B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.
C. Because they want to find outsiders around.
D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.
4. How does the writer explain bird’s singing?
A. By comparing birds with human beings. B. By reporting experiment results.
C. By describing birds’ daily life. D. By telling a bird’s story.
Think about it
Escaping a fire is a serious matter. Knowing what to do before a fire breaks out can save a life. For example, people should know the safety measures to take before opening a hall door during a fire. Also, make sure everyone knows how to unlock doors that may be in the escape path. At times, a key is needed to unlock a door from the inside. So, keep the key in the lock. Or, you can put the key on a key ring and put it where it can be found easily.
If you live in a flat, know the ways you can use to get out. Show everyone in the family these paths. Remind everyone of the importance of using stairways or fire escapes, not lifts.
From most homes and lower floors of a block of flats, escape through windows is possible. Learn the best way of leaving by a window with the least chance of serious injury.
In a home fire, windows are often theonly means of escape. The second floor window sill is usually not more than 13 feet from the ground. An average person, hanging by the finger tips, will have a drop of about six feet to the ground. Of course, it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building. Roll away from the building when you land.
Windows are also useful when you’re waiting for help. Often you’ll be able to stay in the room for several minutes if you keep the door closed and the window open. Keep your head low in the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may have leaked into the room.
On a second or third floor, the best windows for escape are those which open onto a roof. From the roof, a person can either drop to the ground or await rescue. Dropping onto sidewalk or pavement might end in injury. Bushes, soft earth, and grass can help to break a fall. A rope ladder should be considered when the drop is too great.
In a town where the fire department acts quickly, it may be best to wait for rescue. Close the doors and wait by an open window for help. Shout for help. Be sure to close the door before opening a window. Otherwise, smoke and fire may be drawn into the room.
1. We can learn from the passage that windows are __________.
A. easily brokenB. easy to catch fire C. good escape paths D. useful to put out a fire
2. If you happen to be in a room during a fire, it’s a good idea to ________.
A. open a window B. use the lifts C. stand quite stillD. put out the fire
3. We can learn from the article that in a home fire______.
A. people should close the window and open the door
B. soft earth can reduce the chance of being injured
C.it’s always safer to jump out than to stay
D.rope ladders should not be used
4. What is the main idea of this article?
A.We can turn to the firemen during a fire.
B. We should keep in mind the escape paths.
C.People should know what to do before a fire breaks out.
D.People should find help as soon as possible during a fire.