It is often said that you cannot “teach an old dog new tricks”, but three New Zealand dogs have decided to prove otherwise by learning a skill --- driving a car!
What's even more impressive is that the three who have become skilled in just eight weeks are not special dogs that belong to some rich owners, but abandoned ones at New Zealand's SPCA.
To get their training started, 10-month old Porter, 18-month-old Monty and one-year-old Ginny were selected from a pool of seven potential candidates and moved to Animal Q, a talent agency that teaches animals tricks for movies and television shows.
The driving classes began with teaching the dogs some basic driving techniques like turning the steering wheels（方向盘）and applying the brakes. After that the dogs practiced everything they had learnt behind the wheels of a motorized（装上发动机的）car. Then finally, it was time for the big test--- driving a real car!
Human cars are not really built for four-legged animals, so the car they drove was adjusted so that the dogs could sit comfortably and easily reach the steering wheel with their paws.
Though they all seemed to do very well, the real test came on Monday night when Monty, the best driver of the three, showed his great driving skill on live television.
Why would the SPCA go through so much trouble to highlight the skills of homeless dogs? The reason is to show that adopting a dog from a shelter does not mean owners are getting a pet that is worse than one purchased from a keeper. The CEO of the SPCA is hoping that this unusual event will be enough to convince the residents of New Zealand to consider them, when searching for a pet.
We surely hope so, meanwhile we are almost certain that these three pioneers have at least landed their names in the Guinness World Records, creating a category that probably does not even exist today! Who do the three dogs belong to?
| A．Some rich owners. | B．Animal Q. | C．A shelter. | D．A zoo. |
The car the dogs drove was adjusted ______.
| A．because is was too big for the dogs to drive |
| B．because it had no steering wheels and brakes |
| C．to ensure the dogs could sit comfortably and drive easily |
| D．to motorize the car and turn it to be a real one |
Which is the right order of the following events?
a. Teaching the dogs some basic driving techniques.
b. Selecting three dogs and moving them to Animal Q.
c. The dogs practiced everything they had learnt in a motorized car.
d. Choosing the best driver to show his great driving skill on live television.
e. Driving a real car.
| A．a-b-c- d-e | B．b-a-c-e-d | C． b- d- a-c-e | D．a- e- c-b-d |
Why does the SPCA decide to teach the three dogs to learn to drive a car?
| A．To prove old dogs can learn new tricks. |
| B．To teach them performing tricks for movies and television shows. |
| C．To provide amusing performances for homeless children |
| D．To encourage people to adopt the abandoned dogs. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．A new Guinness category for driving dogs will probably be created. |
| B．Abandoned dogs are much cleverer than house-kept ones. |
| C．All the dogs at New Zealand’s SPCA will soon be adopted. |
| D．New Zealand has the most homeless dogs among all countries |
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict(迷),” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled(皱的).” Today David wears casual clothes — khaki pants and a sports shirt — to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the changes from formal to casual office wear have been slow. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their workers to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday).This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for workers has really become an everyday thing,” said business adviser Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their workers to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new workers if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study made by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that casual dress has a side effect on work. Supporters of casual office wear also say that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
31. David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because ______________.
A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt
B. he couldn't stand a clean appearance
C. he wanted his clothes to look tidy and clean all the time
D. he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes
32. David Smith wears casual clothes now, because ______________.
A. they make him feel at ease when working
B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes
C. he looks handsome in casual clothes
D. he no longer works for any company
33. According to this passage, which of the following is FALSE?
A. Many workers don’t like a conservative dress code.
B. Comfortable clothes make workers more productive.
C. A casual clothes code is welcomed by young workers.
D. All the employers in the U.S. are for casual office wear.
34. According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago.
B. Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.
C. “Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.
D. Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.
35. In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT ______________.
A. saving worker’s money
B. making workers more attractive
C. improving worker’s feeling
D. making workers happier
Ⅱ阅读(共两节，满分50分)
第一节：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A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Everyone has got two personalities — the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real．You don’t show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control your behavior，but when you're asleep， your sleeping position shows the real you．In a normal night，of course，people frequently change their position．The important position is the one that you go to sleep in．
If you go to sleep on your back，you’re a very open person．You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas．You don’t like to upset people，so you never express your real feelings．You’re quite shy and you aren't very confident．
If you sleep on your stomach，you are a rather secretive（不坦率的）person．You worry a lot and you're always easily upset．You’re very stubborn（顽固的），but you aren't very ambitious．You usually live for today not for tomorrow．This means that you enjoy having a good time．
If you sleep curled up（卷曲），you are probably a very nervous person．You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive．You're shy and you don't normally like meeting people．You prefer to be on your own．You're easily hurt．
If you sleep on your side，you have usually got a well-balanced personality．You know your strengths and weaknesses．You’re usually careful． You have a confident personality．You sometimes feel anxious，but you don't often get depressed．You always say what you think even if it annoys people．
26．According to the writer，you naturally show your secret and real personality __________.
A．only in a normal night
B．only when you go to sleep
C．only when you refuse to show yourself to the world
D．only when you change sleeping position
27．Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person's personality？
A．He or she is always open with others．
B．He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others．
C．He or she is always easily upset．
D．He or she tends to believe in others．
28．Point out which sentence is used to show the personality of a person who is used to sleeping
on his or her stomach？
A．He or she is careful not to offend others．
B．He or she doesn’t want to stick to his or her opinion．
C．He or she can't be successful in any business．
D．He or she likes to bring others happiness．
29．Maybe you don’t want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up．Why？
A．He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you．
B．He or she is rarely ready to help you．
C．He or she prefers staying at home to going out．
D．He or she wouldn’t like to get help from you．
30．It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because ________________．
A. he or she always shows sympathy for people
B. he or she is confident，but not stubborn
C. he or she has more strengths than weaknesses
D. he or she often considers annoying people
London--A morning train rides away, across the channel. English kids discuss the Liverpool's football team in a Paris pub.
Some Parisians have started to travel to work in London.
In the 19th century, Charles Dickens compared the two cities, London and Paris, in A Tale of Two Cities. These days, it might be A tale of One City.
As there are few jobs at home over recent years, perhaps 250,000 Frenchmen moved across the channel. With an undersea tunnel, they could travel between cities in three hours. The European Union freed them from immigration and customs.
Paris, rich in beauty, is more stylish. But London feels more full of life, and more fun until the pubs shut down.
“For me, the difference is that London is real, alive,” said Trevor Wheeler, a financial expert.
Chantal Jaouen, a professional designer, agrees. “I am French, but I’ll stay in London,” she said.
There is, of course, the other view. Julie Lenoux is a student who moved to London two years ago. “I think people laugh more in Paris,” she said.
“Both cities have changed beyond recognition,” said Larry Collins, an author and sometimes a Londoner. Like most people who know both cities well, he finds the two now fit together comfortably. “I first fell in love with Paris in the 1950s. Things are so much more ordered, and life is better.”
But certainly not cheaper. In some parts of London, rents can be twice those on Avenue Foch in Paris.
Deciding between London and Paris requires a lifestyle choice. Like Daphne Benoit, a French journalism student with perfect English, many young people are happy to be close enough so they don’t have to choose. “I love Paris, my little neighborhood, the way I can walk around a centre, but life is too organized,” she said. “In London, you can be whoever you want. No one cares.”
72.．It can be inferred that ___________.
A．Paris and London are the two biggest cities in the world
B．In the 19th century, Dickens told his stories in the two cities
C．London and Paris used to be separated
D．Liverpool is a big city in France
73．According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A．People feel it difficult to find a job in Paris.
B．People can't travel to London without a passport.
C．Living in France is more expensive than in London.
D．People can find any job in London.
74．The underlined phrase in Para9 most probably means “_____________”
A. beyond one’s imagination
B. so much that people don’t know them well again
C. so little that people still know them well
D. to people’s satisfaction
75．What’s the meaning of the last two sentences?
A．People can do everything in London.
B．People will feel lonely in London.
C．People in London enjoy living in different ways.
D．People in London enjoy a lawless life.
Researchers are placing robotic dogs（机器狗）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 ,”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 activity 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.”
68．The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to .
A．understand human-animal relationship
B．make lonely old people’s life better
C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness
D．promote the animal-assisted research
69．In the research, the old people are asked to .
A．note the activities of AIBOs B．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks
C．record their feelings and activity D．analyze the collected information
70．What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
A．It is easier to keep at home. B．It can help the disabled people.
C． It responds to all the human orders. D．It can watch TV with its owner.
71．The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may .
A．cure certain diseases B．keep old people active
C． change people’s beliefs D．look more like real dogs
Nanjing and Hangzhou summer camps offered
We are looking for hard-working and open-minded English teachers to join the Nanjing (Jiangsu Province) and Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province) summer camps!
Both of the summer camps will run from the beginning of July to the end of August. You will be expected to teach spoken English to Chinese students of different ages. We encourage you to bring your own culture to the classes to make things more interesting.
The information of the Nanjing camp:
● Working hours: 40 hours per week, 5 working days per week.
● Salary: about 7,000 RMB per month.
● Accommodation : free (single room).
The information of the Hangzhou camp:
● Working hours: 5 hours per day (=" 50" min. / class × 6 classes), one day rest per week.
● Salary: 20,160 RMB in total (420 RMB per day =" 70" RMB / class × 6 classes).
● Accommodation: free (shared room).
The requirements of the summer camps:
● Native English speakers (US, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand).
● A university degree.
● Teaching experience.
Please send us your resume (简历), copies of certificates and passport if you are interested in the camps.
E-mail: teacher1324@sina.com.cn
For more information you can visit our website at http://www.Englishsummercamps.com.cn
Look forward to hearing from you soon!
64. What kind of people is the passage mainly written for?
A. Chinese English teachers. B. Foreign English teachers.
C. Chinese-speaking students. D. English-learning students.
65. How long will a teacher work for the summer camps?
A. Less than one month. B. About five weeks.
C. About eight weeks. D. More than two months.
66. Which of the following people might be accepted as a teacher at the summer camps?
A. Wang Li, an excellent teacher from China.
B. Robert, a high school student from the USA.
C. Linda, an experienced university teacher from Canada.
D. Jerry, a university student from Australia.
67. Compared with the Nanjing camp, the Hangzhou camp ______.
A. has longer working hours B. has fewer students to teach
C. provides better accommodation D. pays a higher salary