While income worry is a rather common problem of the aged, loneliness is another problem that aged parents may face. Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one. This phenomenon(现象) is commonly known as "Empty Nest Syndrome”（空巢综合症）．
In order to find better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad, leaving their parents behind with no clear idea of when they will return home. Their parents spend countless lonely days and nights, taking care of themselves, in the hope that someday their children will come back to stay with them. The fact that most of these young people have gone to Europeanized or Americanized societies makes it unlikely that they will hold as tightly to the value of duty as they would have if they had not left their countries. Whatever the case, it has been noted that the values they hold do not necessarily match what they actually do. This geographical and cultural distance also prevents the grown-up children from providing response in time for their aged parents living by themselves.
The situation in which grown-up children live far away from their aged parents has been described as "distant parent phenomenon", which is common both in developed countries and in developing countries. Our society has not yet been well prepared for "Empty Nest Syndrome".According to the passage, the loneliness of aged parents is mainly caused by ________.
| A．their earlier experience of living alone |
| B．the poor living conditions in their native countries |
| C．the common worry that they have not saved much money |
| D．the distance between where parents live and where their children live |
Many young people have gone abroad, leaving their aged parents behind, to ______.
| A．realize their dreams in foreign countries |
| B．seek a better place for their aged parents |
| C．live in the countries with more money |
| D．continue their studies abroad |
If young people go abroad, __________.
| A．they do not hold to the value of duty at all |
| B．they can give some help to their parents back home |
| C．they cannot do what they should for their parents |
| D．they believe what they actually do is right |
From the last paragraph, we can infer that __________.
| A．the situations in the developed and developing countries are different |
| B．"Empty Nest Syndrome" has arrived unexpectedly in our society |
| C．children will become independent as soon as they go abroad |
| D．the aged parents are not fully prepared for "Empty Nest Syndrome" |
The society discussed in the passage is most probably __________.
| A．France | B．America | C．China | D．Britain |
Mozilla has shown off a prototype(雏形) for a $25 (£15) smart phone that is aimed at the developing world.
The company, which is famed mostly for its Firefox browser(浏览器), has partnered with the Chinese low-cost chip maker Spreadtrum.
While not as powerful as more expensive models, the phone will run apps and make use of mobile internet.
It would appeal to the sorts of people who currently buy cheap “feature” phones, analysts said.
Feature phones are highly popular in the developing world as a halfway point between “dumb” phones --- just voice calls and other basic functions --- and fully-developed smart phones.
Mozilla hopes that it will take an early lead in a market that is now being targeted by mobile phone producers who see the developing world as the remaining area for massive growth.
It will face fierce competition from bigger, more popular brands, however --- with more announcements of this kind expected over the course of the next couple of days at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
“These solutions expand the global accessibility of open web smart phones to first-time and entry-level smart phone buyers by reducing the time and cost required for handset makers to bring these phones to market,” said Spreadtrum in a press statement.
Mozilla said the phone “redefines”(重新定义) the entry-level phone market.
The concept of a cheap smart phone may seem likely to appeal to consumers in developed countries, particularly those who locked into long contracts in order to pay part of the cost of the likes of the Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy range.
But analyst Carolina Milanesi, from Kantar World panel, said it should not be seen as a competitor.Which of the following is true about the $25 smart phone?
| A．It has all the functions of an iPhone. |
| B．It is specially designed for the developed world. |
| C．It will attract the present “feature” phone users. |
| D．It is made by the Chinese low-cost chip maker Spreadtrum. |
What is the feature of a “feature” phone?
| A．Though cheap, it can completely replace the iPhone. |
| B．It is just used for voice calls and other basic functions. |
| C．It has nearly all the functions of a fully-developed smart phone. |
| D．Its functions are between those of a “dumb” phone and a fully-developed smart phone. |
We can learn from the text that at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona ________.
| A．new cheap smart phones will beat high-end ones |
| B．the $25 smart phone coming from Mozilla will be the best seller |
| C．quite a few companies will announce their new cheap smart phones |
| D．Mozilla will be the only company to announce its new cheap smart phone |
Which of the following held a negative attitude towards the cheap smart phone?
| A．Mozilla. | B．Spreadtrum. |
| C．Samsung. | D．Carolina Milanesi. |
Elephants are able to differentiate between ethnicities(种族) and sexes, and can tell an adult from a child --- all from the sound of a human voice.
This is according to a study in which researchers played voice recordings to wild African elephants.
The animals showed more fear when they heard the voices of adult Masai men.
Livestock-herding Masai people do come into conflict with elephants, and this suggests that animals have adapted to specifically listen for and avoid them.
The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Prof Karen McComb and Dr Graeme Shannon from the University of Sussex led the study. They explained that in previous research they had used similar playback experiments to show that elephants could tell --- from the sound of a lion’s roar --- whether the animal was a female or a more dangerous male.
Prof McComb wanted to find out if the animals used their very sharp sense of hearing to identify a potential danger from humans.
The scientists recorded Masai men, women and children saying, in their own language, “Look, look over there, a group of elephants is coming”.
They also recorded Kamba men saying this phrase.
While cattle-herding Masai people often come across free-ranging elephants, which can result in violent conflict, the Kamba people’s more agricultural lifestyle does not generally bring them into aggressive touch with the animals.
When the team played recordings of these different voices through a hidden loudspeaker, they found that elephant family groups reacted more fearfully in response to the voice of a Masai man, than to a Kamba man’s voice.
And the adult male Masai voices encouraged far more of these defensive reactions than the voices of women or boys.An elephant can tell a man from a woman by sense of ________.
| A．touch | B．sight | C．smell | D．hearing |
How did the researchers get to know the elephants’ special ability of identification?
| A．By observing the elephants in the zoo. |
| B．By playing voice recordings to them. |
| C．By recording the behaviours of elephants. |
| D．By communicating with them in a special way. |
We can learn from the passage that elephants are especially afraid of ________.
| A．Masai men | B．Masai women |
| C．Kamba men | D．Kamba women |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Elephants and human beings |
| B．Differences between human voices |
| C．Elephants recognise human voices |
| D．Elephants conflict with human beings |
Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激),” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
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, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired 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 a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers 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 to the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says. “But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”
“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. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds.”The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to ____.
| A．understand human-animal relationship |
| B．find the causes of old people’s loneliness |
| C．make lonely old people’s life better |
| D．promote 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．analyze the collected information |
| D．record their feelings and activities |
What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
| A．It can watch TV with its owner. |
| B．It can help the disabled people. |
| C．It responds to all the human orders. |
| D．It is easier to keep at home. |
The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may ____.
| A．keep old people active | B．cure certain diseases |
| C．change people's beliefs | D．look more like real dogs |
If a sitcom(情景喜剧)that lasts for l0 years is considered popular，then surely one that still arouses emotions after 20 must be considered a classic．Friends first aired in the US in 1994，featuring a cast of six young men and women in New York．In the time since，it’s become one of the most famous titles in the sitcom style，aired in over 100 countries and regions in the world．
The show is typical among those who grew up in the 1990s because it explores basic yet important themes like friendship，struggling to survive in a big city，and finding independence and identity，all of which are still relevant to young audiences today．
Against the background of the Internet age，IT staff who were once marginalized(排斥)and laughed at have experienced a revival due to the popularity of hit show The Big Bang Theory，in which four talents lacking normal social skills make an attempt at living on a college campus．
At the same time，Gossip Girl，describing a young cast of New Yorkers born with silver spoons in their mouths，demonstrates the difficulties upper-class adolescents experience．The show’s fashion and mature subject matter allowed it to capture the interest of both teenagers and adults．
Although these typical TV shows span a wide timeline and feature a variety of themes，they all have a universal topic．Love，money，friendship，career aspirations and identity are things all young people struggle to understand．Why are they still fascinating? It remains to be found out．Why is the sitcom Friends typical among young people in the 1990s?
| A．Because it is a breakthrough in the producing style． |
| B．Because it is the most influential sitcom of all time． |
| C．Because it addresses the subjects faced by the youth． |
| D．Because it predicts the future of the young at that time． |
What can we learn about The Big Bang Theory?
| A．It arouses people’s enthusiasm for computers． |
| B．There are four talents who are good at everything． |
| C．It is set in the time before the Internet came into being． |
| D．It improves the conditions of the people in technological industry． |
According to the passage，Gossip Girl．
| A．attracts people of all ages |
| B．shows eye-catching style and adult subject |
| C．describes the life of ordinary girl |
| D．describes the hardships of upper-class people |
What will the author most probably talk about next?
| A．The introduction to other hit sitcoms． |
| B．The further information about the plot． |
| C．The emotional response among audience． |
| D．The analysis of the reasons for the appeal． |
Sam Berns wasn’t like any other boy. He was 17 and he had an aging disease known as progeria.
“Even though I have many difficulties in my life, I don’t want people to feel bad for me,” Sam said during a TED talk.
Progeria affects approximately one in every 4 million to 8 million newborns. Right now, there are only about 200 children living with it worldwide. The genetic(基因的) change tied to it causes those with the disease to produce the protein progerin, which blocks normal cell function.
His view on life is extremely inspiring. He had to face challenges no one else could even dream of. As children with progeria age rapidly, they suffer from a loss of body fat and hair and an inability to gain weight. That didn’t keep Sam down, though.
“All in all, I don’t waste energy feeling bad for myself,” Sam said. “I surround myself with people that I want to be with. And I keep moving forward.”
This boy from Boston was so amazing, famous people and athletes wanted to take him under their own. Last Saturday night could have been an amazing moment for Sam. One of his favorite teams, the New England Patriots, wanted to make him their honorary captain during a playoff game.
Instead, it just was’t meant to be. Sam passed away before he had a chance to stand next to his team, so they held a moment of silence before the game for him.
Sam’s unbelievable view on life, and his deep effect on others, is hard to forget. He was presented with so many challenges in life but he wasn’t afraid to face them. Be more like Sam, this wonderful teen. Surround yourself with positive people, love them and move forward.We can infer from the passage that Sam Berns was ________.
| A．very fat | B．very thin |
| C．good-looking | D．young-looking |
According to the passage, Sam Berns was a boy ________.
| A．of great intelligence |
| B．of complete failure |
| C．with an optimistic view on life |
| D．with a passive view on life |
What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 mean?
| A．Cell. | B．Change. | C．Progerin. | D．Progeria. |
What is the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To praise Sam Berns for his hardwork. |
| B．To show how famous Sam Berns was. |
| C．To encourage readers to live a positive life. |
| D．To show how Sam Berns dealt with challenges. |