Three astronauts returned to Earth safely on Wednesday after a successful 15-day mission (任务), marking another step forward towards the country’s goal of building a manned space station by 2020.
Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China’s manned space program, said the Shenzhou X mission was a “complete success”.
The Shenzhou X landed safely in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at about 8:07 a.m. on June 26, 2013. All three astronauts were in good physical condition.
Nie Haisheng, commander of the Shenzhou X crew and a second-time space traveler, was the first to get out of the bowl-like module(舱), followed by Wang Yaping, the only female astronaut of the mission, and Zhang Xiaoguang. During a brief welcoming ceremony held at the landing area, the astronauts waved happily to a crowd consisting of officers, the search and recovery team, and health personnel.
“It feels really good to be back home,” said astronaut Nie Haisheng.
“We are dreamers, and we have now realized our dream,” said Zhang Xiaoguang. “Our space dream knows no limit, and our hard work will never stop,” he said.
Compared with its previous mission Shenzhou IX last year, the Shenzhou X is no longer experimental but considered an applicable shuttle(航天飞机)system for sending astronauts and supplies to orbiting modules. The mission aims to further test technologies designed for docking(对接)and supporting astronauts’ stay in space, as well as to use new technologies related to the construction of a space station.
In its 15-day journey in space, Shenzhou X docked with the orbiting space lab Tiangong-1 twice, once through automatic operation and the other manual(手控的).The Tiangong-1 space lab has been in orbit for more than 600 days. It’s designed to work for two years. The module is considered the first step in building a permanent space station in the future. And the astronauts spent 12 days in Tiangong-1, where they conducted space medical experiments, technical tests and gave a science lesson to students on Earth on June 19 about basic physics principles. The lecture was the second video class sent from space, with US astronaut Barbara Morgan’s 25-minute class being the first in 2007.
China is the third country after the United States and Russia to acquire the technologies and skills necessary for space rendezvous(交会)and docking procedures, as well as supply manpower and material for an orbiting module via different docking methods.
Previous docking procedures conducted between Shenzhou-type spacecraft and the orbiting space lab included two automated dockings by the unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2011 and both an automated and manual docking by the manned Shenzhou-9 in 2012.
Since its first manned space space mission in 2003, China has sent ten astronauts and six spacecrafts into the space.According to the passage, the Shenzhou X ________.
A.was sent into space on June 11, 2013 |
B.is still an experimental shuttle system |
C.sent many supplies to the manned space station |
D.returned to Earth safely on the afternoon of June 26 |
China sent the Shenzhou X into space to ________.
A.learn how to make use of a manned space station |
B.prove the importance of the manned space program |
C.experiment on how to make astronauts stay in space safely |
D.test new technologies for the construction of a space station |
We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.Nie Haisheng is the only male astronaut of the mission |
B.The Tiangong-1 space lab was founded in 2012 |
C.China is the second country to give a space class |
D.the Tiangong-1 was mainly designed to serve Shenzhou X |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.China Prepares for Next Manned Mission |
B.Shenzhou X Spacecraft Mission Is a Success |
C.China’s Shenzhou X Is Now in Space |
D.Astronauts of Shenzhou X Mission Are Meeting Media |
While small may be beautiful, tall is just plain uncomfortable it seems, particularly when it comes to staying in hotels and eating in restaurants.
The Tall Persons Club Great Britain (TPCGB), which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall, has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants. Beds that are too small, showe heads that are too low, and restaurant tables with hardly any leg-room all make life difficult for those of above average height, it says.
But it is not just the extra-tall whose needs are not being met. The average night of the population has been increasing ye the standard size of beds, doorways, and chairs has remained unchanged.]
“The bedding industry says a bed should be six inches larger than the person using it, so even a king-size bed at 6′6″(6 feet and 6 inches) is falling short for 25% of men, while the standard 6′3″ bed caters for less than half of the male population.” Said TPCGB president Phil Heinricy, “seven-foot beds would work fine.”
Sililarly, restaurant tables can cause no end of problems. Small tables, which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them, are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere.
Some have already taken note, however. At Queens Moat Houses′Caledoman Hotl in Edinburgh, 6′6″beds are now put in as standard after requests for longer beds from taller visitors, particularly Americans.What is the purpose of the TPCGB campaign?
A.To provide better services. |
B.To rebuild hotels and restaurants. |
C.To draw public attention to the needs of the tall. |
D.To attract more people to become its members. |
Which of the following might be a bed of proper length according to Phil Heinricy?
A.7′2″. | B.7′ | C.6′6″ | D.6′3″ |
What may happen to restaurants with small tables?
A.They may lose some customers. |
B.They may start businesses elsewhere. |
C.They have to find easy chairs to match the tables. |
D.They have to provide enough space for the long-legged. |
What change has already been made in a hotel in Edinburgh?
A.Tall people pay more for larger beds. |
B.6′6″beds have taken the place of 6′3″beds. |
C.Special rooms are kept for Americans. |
D.Guest rooms are standardized. |
Cyberspace,data superhighway,multimedia,for those who have seen the future,and the linking of computers,televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever.Yet for all the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia,little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor.As for all the new high technology,the West concerns itself with the “how”,while the question of “for whom” is put aside once again.
Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communication revolution has affected the world economy.Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries,and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade and exchange, interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods.The electronic economy made by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets — with a destructive impact on the have-nots.
For them the result is unstable. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As “futures” are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies.
So what are the options of regaining control?One alternative for developing countries is to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints on developing countries’ economies.
Communication technology is generally exported from the US, Europe or Japan;the patents, skills and ability remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, therefore imported products and services must be bought on credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain. From the passage we know that the development of high technology is in the interests of________.
A.the rich countries | B.scientific development |
C.the local elites | D.the world economy |
It can be inferred from the passage that________.
A.international trade should be expanded |
B.the interests of the poor countries have not been given enough consideration |
C.the exports of the poor countries should be increased |
D.communication technology in developing countries should be modernized |
Why does the author say that the electronic economy may have a destructive impact on developing countries?
A.Because it enables the developed countries to control the international market. |
B.Because it destroys the economic balance of the poor countries. |
C.Because it violates the national boundaries of the poor countries. |
D.Because it inhibits the industrial growth of developing countries. |
The development of modern communication technology in developing countries may________.
A.hinder their industrial production |
B.cause them to lose control of their trade |
C.force them to reduce their share of exports |
D.cost them their economic independence |
The author’s attitude towards the communication revolution is________.
A.positive | B.critical |
C.indifferent | D.tolerant |
The China Daily newspaper group is looking for English-language senior business editors,senior copy editors,copy editors and graphic designers to strengthen its international team.We offer a competitive salary package,free accommodation with utilities paid for,90 per cent medical reimbursement,a seven-day paid leave,elevenday public holidays and a return ticket to the country of residence.
Senior Business Editor
You must:
assist the business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them;
be an excellent team person who can generate ideas and think creatively and be able to rewrite totally if needed and mentor junior staff;
ideally have been working or have worked in a position of responsibility and understand what leadership entails;
have had at least five years’ editing experience working on editing the Business Desk and be familiar with industry software.
Senior Copy Editor
You must:
work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print;
edit or rewrite copy and give snappy headlines and captions;
have had at least two years’ editing experience working on editing desks and be familiar with industry software.
Copy Editor
You must:
be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing snappy headlines and captions;
be able to work on shifts for different pages,and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print;
have two years of editing experience working on copy desks,and be familiar with industry software.
Graphic Designer
You must:
have excellent skills in information graphics;
be good at illustrations and freehand drawings;
be experienced in newspaper or magazine layouts;
have a good sense of typography;
have good news judgment;
be well-versed with Macintosh software, including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop;
be fluent in English.
For enquiries or to apply,write to job @ chinadaily.com.cn.What is the purpose of this passage?
A.To describe the positions of the China Daily newspaper group. |
B.To describe the working conditions of the China Daily newspaper group. |
C.To advertise for recruiting some good employees. |
D.To tell you how to become part of this group. |
What is not required about Graphic Designer?
A.Be well-versed with Photoshop. |
B.Have excellent skills in information graphics. |
C.Having a good sense of typography. |
D.Writing snappy headlines and captions. |
How many positions need editing experience?
A.2. | B.1. | C.3. | D.4. |
Which can be the title of the advertisement?
A.China Daily:New Employees Wanted |
B.China Daily:Newspaper |
C.China Daily:An International Team |
D.China Daily:The Best Working Condition |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Free accommodations are available to the workers. |
B.The workers there can enjoy a seven-day leave without pay. |
C.The employees have the right to enjoy elevenday public holidays. |
D.The senior business editor’s only job is to help the business editor to set goals. |
One of the worst feelings you have as a professional athlete is the feeling after losing a game to a team that you should have beaten. That happened last night against the lowly Boston Celtics. They had only won 13 games the whole year and were really struggling. We had just come off a very good win against the Orlando Magic on the road and were feeling good about ourselves.
The day did not start out good for us when we learned that T-Mac was going to miss the game with the flu. When you lose your best players (Yao, T-Mac) everyone must play a little harder and do a little bit more on the floor. We inserted Bonzi Wells into the lineup (he was the only one to have a good game for us), in place of T-Mac.
It was a nasty game. We are usually one of the best three point shooting teams in the NBA and we only made 1 of 22 three point shots! I have never seen that happen. Never! Rafer Alston, Luther Head, and me combined to shoot 5 of 33 from the field. Ouch! You aren't going to win too many games like that. Even as poorly as we shot the ball, we STILL had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter but failed to make the winning plays that you must make to leave the floor victorious.
In the locker room after the game, everybody felt terrible. When we play a bad game, we feel that we let our teammates down. There is a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when you leave the gym and you just want to go home and not talk to anyone. It is a terrible feeling, but it is a feeling that makes you want to try harder and do better the next time.
I'll talk to you guys later.
Shane What is the passage mainly about?
A.To blame the team for losing the game. |
B.To tell the readers about the feeling after losing the game |
C.To explain why they played poorly in the game. |
D.To blame Yao Ming and T—Mac for being absent from the game. |
What can the readers learn from the text?
A. The Boston Celtics is one of the top teams in NBA.
B. The Boston Celtics had a big win over the writer’s team.
C. Every one of the team played poorly with no energy.
D. Bonzi Wells starts in the game with T-Mac out. How do you think the writer might describe his performance that night?
A.Tough | B.Relaxing | C.Terrible | D.Efficient |
The text most probably comes from the writer’s _________ .
A.blog | B.telephone message | C.note | D.interview |
Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV, start their chores(杂事),or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions. Before you know it, you’ve started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments, clean their room, or take out the trash. Rather than saying “Do your chores now.” you’ll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed. So instead of arguing about starting chores, just say, “If chores aren’t done by 4 pm, here are the consequences.” Then it’s up to your child to complete the chores. Put the ball back in their court. Don’t argue or fight with them, just say, “That’s the way it’s going to be.” It shouldn’t be punitive(惩罚性的)as much as it should be persuasive. “If your chores aren’t done by 4 pm, then no video game time until chores are done. And if finishing those chores runs into homework time, that’s going to be your loss.” On the other hand, when dealing with homework, keep it very simple. Have a time when homework starts, and at that time, all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done. If your kids say they have no homework, then they should use that time to study or read. Either way, there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off.
When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you’re trying to talk to him, make no bones about it;he is not ignoring you, he is disrespecting you. At that point, everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears. Don’t try to communicate with him when he’s wearing headphones — even if he tells you he can hear you. Wearing them while you’re talking to him is a sign of disrespect. Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing. Remember, mutual respect becomes more important as children mature.According to the passage, it seldom happens that ________.
A.kids turn a deaf ear to their parents’ requests |
B.parents’ directions sound like a broken record |
C.children are ready to follow their parents’ directions |
D.parents are unaware of what they are repeating to their kids |
Parents will be able to deal with their children more effectively if they ________.
A.avoid direct ways of punishment | B.make them do things at their request |
C.argue and fight with their children | D.allow their children to behave in their own way |
When the kid is doing his homework, parents ________.
A.should provide him with a good learning environment |
B.can do whatever they like |
C.can stay aside watching TV |
D.must switch off the power |
It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.parents should take off his headphones when trying to have a talk with their child |
B.it will make no difference that a kid is wearing his earplugs while talking to his parents |
C.parents shouldn’t give in to their kid when he shows no sign of respect |
D.kids’ purposely talking to their parents with iPod gives them a sense of power and |
controlThe main idea of the passage is ________.
A.that respecting each other is more important than anything else |
B.how kids behave to ignore and disrespect their parents |
C.that children should make choices and decisions on their own |
D.how parents can deal with their kids’ behavior effectively |