On March 28th, the New York Times will begin charging all but the most infrequent users to read articles online.
In a letter to readers, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., the publisher of the paper, laid out the details of the paywall, which he said will go into effect immediately in Canada and on March 28th for the rest of the world. He called the move “an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in the Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism to readers around the world and on any platform.”
Sulzberger said that readers will be able to read 20 articles per month at no charge. Once they click on the 21st piece, however, they’ll be presented with three payment options: $ 15 for four weeks of online and mobile application access, $ 20 for access to the site and the iPad application, or $ 35 for access to everything. People who already receive the printed paper through home delivery will enjoy free and unlimited access to the Times on all platforms.
These details largely agree with earlier reports on how the paywall would work. The Times had made it clear that it did not want to imitate the total paywalls put into effect by papers such as The Times of London and Newsday, which block access to all contents unless the reader pays.
The paper also signaled that it wants to stay relevant in the social media world. According to Sulzberger's announcement, people who come to the Times site from Facebook, Twitter or from blogs will be able to read those articles even if they have gone over their monthly limit.
However, Sulzberger said that a limit will be placed on “some search engines”, meaning that after readers have accessed a certain number of articles from search engines, any further articles they access from there will be added to their monthly count. It was reported that the only search engine that will be affected this way is Google, where there will be a five-article limit. This marks a clear attempt by the Times to close what could be a giant loophole （漏洞）, since so much online traffic is directed through Google. But it also presents a risk for the Times for the same reason.
Sulzberger seems well aware of the risk. “The challenge now is to put a price on our work without walling ourselves off from the global network,” he said, adding that the Times must “continue to engage with the widest possible audience.”The author’s main purpose in the text is to _______.
| A．describe research findings | B．report a piece of news |
| C．make advertisements | D．suggest a solution |
Why will the Times charge their online readers?
| A．It wants to stay relevant in the social media world. |
| B．It has too many readers coming from the other sites. |
| C．It is seeking new financial sources for its development. |
| D．It is trying a way to offer better service to its readers. |
Who will be limited to the New York Times articles?
| A．Those subscribing to the printed newspapers |
| B．Readers clicking through from Facebook. |
| C．Those using Google research engine |
| D．Readers paying $ 35 a month. |
What challenge may the paywall bring to the New York Times?
| A．It may bring the Times more competition with the other media |
| B．It may stop the Times connecting to the global network |
| C．It may block the readers from the other websites |
| D．It may result in huge drops in papers' online readership |
第二部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
More and more often we heard of people talking about Karaoke (卡拉OK). But what on earth it is about still remains a question for many people. Karaoke is a sort of acoustic (听觉的) equipment which was invented in Japan around the middle of the 1970's. It means "a band without people" in Japanese. In fact, it is just a music tape without words. This equipment first appeared in some public houses and snack bars, and mainly for the customers to enjoy themselves. Most of the music in Karaoke was popular music. Therefore, at times, when anyone felt like it, he might sing songs to the accompaniment (陪伴) of the music that came from the equipment. Shortly after its invention, Karaoke was spread to the whole world. It was introduced to China and was welcomed by many people. Although you are not a good singer, or even sometimes you may sing out of tune, you can always enjoy yourself by singing Karaoke.
56. In this passage "band" means "group of persons ________."
A. who play games on the sports ground
B. who play music together
C. living in the same neighborhood
D. doing things together under a leader and with a common purpose
57. Karaoke is just a ______.
A. cassette tape with only music B. cassette tape recorder
C. band from JapanD. voice recording equipment
58. People went to public houses and snack bars ______when Karaoke appeared.
A. to have a good timeB. to have something to drink
C. to get something to eat D. to buy the equipment
59. Karaoke was spread to the whole world ________.
A. as soon as it was invented B. long before
C. not long after it was invented D. before long
60. The main idea of this passage is ______.
A. all persons like to play Karaoke
B. to introduce Karaoke to the people
C. Karaoke is a wonderful equipment
D. Karaoke is used everywhere including snack bars
E
Research on the human brain has been attracting more and more scientists in recent years, just like the booming hi-tech industry. One of the latest research topics is how to change the human brain or combine the computer and the human brain, i.e. to transplant a chip into a human brain. This idea may make everyone’s dream come true. If we compare a human brain to a hard disc（硬盘）, what the scientists are doing is to enlarge the capacity of the hard disc. For the time being, there are some difficulties in such transplant experiments, but scientists never give up.
Experiments have started on animals. In 1996, a transplant experiment performed at the Defense and Military Physiology Research Institute in the U.S. turned a bear into a dolphin.
The dolphin was named Ted, and the bear was named Tallin. Using the most advanced technology available, deep and detailed images were made of the memory area in Ted’s brain containing information about swimming by the scientists. They obtained a series of useful information, the signals transferred by the nervous system. Such information was saved into a button-sized chip, which was then transplanted into the action memory area in Tallin’s brain. The information saved on the chip was released by means of electric power.
Recently, another comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research Institute of the University of California. The comprehensive memory transplanted in the experiment included actions, moods, logic, words, images, etc. The experiment involved an entire transplant of the memory area. This was the largest such experiment done so far.
The transplant was performed making a transfer from a dog named “Genius” to a dog named “Idiot”. “Genius” could understand and follow up to 100 gestures and orders made by its master. It was a real genius in memorizing. “Idiot” was the younger brother of “Genius”. It had no contact with people at all since its birth. It became an animal with nothing in its brain, without any memory.
The operation was a complete success. When the two dogs woke up, “Idiot” had grasped all the abilities “Genius” possessed; it was good at memorizing and sensible. It could follow every gesture and any command given by its master. But “Genius” gave no response to its master, and in fact did not recognize him at all.
57. The purpose of the experiment is _____.
A. to combine the computer and the human brain
B. to enlarge the capacity of human brain
C. to make some stupid dog turn clever D. to make bear swim
58. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The scientists transferred a button-sized chip with useful information in Tallin’s brain.
B. The first comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research University.
C. The second experiment wasn’t an entire transplant of the memory area.
D. The Idiot was an animal with memory before brain experiment
59. What does the underlined word “success” refer to?
A. The two dogs woke up.
B. They were both good at memorizing.
C. The Idiot grasped all the abilities of Genius.
D. The Genius grasped all the abilities of Idiot.
60. According to the text, we can infer _____.
A. a person can know more after the experiment
B. a bear can swim after being transferred a chip with related useful information
C. a dog can become clever after entire transplant of the memory area
D. it is really good for animals to have been involved in the transplant experiment
D
It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.
The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries(食品杂货)，saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.
I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before. People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity(人性) as a whole. And it has influenced us to be more mindful. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.
53. How did people get to know the couple’s problem?
A. From radio broadcasts. B. From a newspaper.
C. From TV news. D. From a stranger.
54. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. The author used to get to work by bike.
B. Several strangers offered bikes to them, but they only accepted one of them.
C. The author’s husband often parked the bike outside the back door.
D. Somebody had stolen their bike before, but soon returned it to the author.
55. What do we learn from the couple’s experience?
A. An act of kindness can mean a lot. B. One should take care of their bike.
C. News reports make people famous. D. Strangers are usually of little help.
56. Why was the bike so important to the couple?
A. The man’s job was bike racing. B. It was their only possession.
C. It was a nice Kona 18 speed. D. They used it for work and daily life.
C
New York City was dealing with a growing public health threat Sunday after tests confirmed (证实) that eight students at a private Catholic high school had contracted（感染）the same strain of the AH1N1 flu that has ravaged (重创) Mexico . Some of the school’s students had visited Cancun on a spring break trip two weeks ago .
Officials reported 68 U.S. cases of AH1N1 flu in five states so far , with the latest in Ohio and New York . Unlike in Mexico , cases in the United State have been mild – and U.S. health authorities can’t yet explain why .
In New York City , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that there were 45 cases , Mayor Michael Bloomberg said .
About 100 students at St. Francis Preparatory School complained of flu-like symptoms(症状) ; further tests will determine how many of those cases are AH1N1 flu. St. Francis is the largest private Catholic high school in the nation , with 2, 700 students . The school canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday in response to the outbreak .
Bloomberg stressed that the New York cases were mild and many are recovering , but said that some family members of students also had flu symptoms .
In Mexico , health officials say a strain of AH1N1 flu has killed up to 160 people and sickened over 2, 000 . New York officials said the flu strain discovered in the patients here is the same strain as in Mexico , though all the New York cases are mild .
AH1N1 flu is a respiratory (呼吸道) disease of pigs caused by type A flu viruses . Human cases are uncommon but can occur in people who are around pigs . It also can be spread from person to person . Symptoms include a high fever , body aches , coughing , sore throat and respiratory congestion .
49.The passage seems to suggest that _________ .
New York City hasn’t done enough to prevent the disease
the AH1N1 flu in the U.S. likely came from Mexico
people appear to have immunity (免疫力) to the virus
children are likely to be infected with the AH1N1 flu
50. What did St. Francis do in response to the outbreak ?
A. The school called off courses .
B. The school handed out masks to every student .
C. The school planned another trip to Cancun .
D. The infected students were required to stay at home .
51.Compared with cases in the U.S. cases in Mexico are _________ .
A. milder B. more typical C. more severe D. more gentle
52. Which is the main idea of the article ?
A. AH1N1 flu is spreading quickly globally .
B. Many people died of AH1N1 flu in Mexico
C. How does AH1N1 flu spread ?
D. AH1N1 flu is confirmed in New York City
B
News（March 6, 2008）that Microsoft was making a $44. 6 billion bid to buy Yahoo was greeted with heated discussion by many Internet users on Friday. Here are some responses:
Mark Galeassi of Kansas City, Missouri
This is the best move for both parties. Yahoo has the ideas and Microsoft has the money to finally market these ideas correctly. Microsoft and Yahoo are a perfect fit and the deal will be good for consumers.
Scott G. of New Jersey
I was a Yahoo user for years along with Hotmail from Microsoft. Then Google came along. . . Google Earth, Google Toolbar and Gmail. Google is so innovative（创新的）with everything they do. Yahoo and Microsoft. . . same old story. . . I don’t think the merger（合并）will do anything for either company except improve the Yahoo shareholders’ bank accounts:
Michael Glosser of Estero, Florida
Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users. Microsoft seeks nothing but profit. Undoubtedly, they’ll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo’s formerly non-priced features. Microsoft’s greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is.
Toni Suarez of Hacienda Heights, California
Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet!
Antonio Simmons of Parkville, Maryland
Microsoft purchasing Yahoo would be nothing more than an attempt from Microsoft to further impose upon the users their poor-quality software and obtain more wealth for the company. In my opinion, they will never be able to compete with Google because Yahoo and Microsoft’s current search engines are too inferior（差的）to compete. Even if combined, they still lack.
45. Who is in favor of the merger of Microsoft and Yahoo?
A. Antonio Simmons B. Michael Grosser C. Mark Galeassi D. Scott G
46. In the opinion of Scott G. ,_______________.
A. Yahoo and Microsoft are lacking in innovation
B. the merger will contribute to Microsoft
C. the merger will allow Microsoft to overtake（超越）Google
D. Google is getting short of management experience
47. Michael Glosser is afraid that .
A. the merger will lead to Microsoft’s monopoly（垄断）of the market
B. the merger will cost Yahoo’s free features
C. Internet users will have to buy Microsoft’s costly software
D. the increased competition will force Google out of the game
48. What is Antonio Simmons’ attitude towards Google?
A. Doubtful B. Positive C. Negative D. Disapproval