It is generally believed that we are getting cleaned when we step under a shower. We are, but we’re also giving a home to lots of tiny little creatures we didn’t even know about. A showerhead carries thousands of bacteria called Mycobacterium.These can cause problems like coughs and tiredness, and a general feeling of poorliness (身体不舒服). When you turn on the water, the bacteria go from the showerhead onto and into your body.
This is a finding of Norman R. Pace and his team at the University of Colorado, in the US. The scientists investigated bacteria in all kinds of human environment, including showers.Pace's team looked at 45 showerheads in nine American cities. They discovered that 30 percent of them had large amounts of flying Mycobacterium.
But Pace said that they pose few threats to the health.Only those with a weak immune system might need to worry.He told the New York Times that the bacteria are not as unpleasant as might be thought.He said that having a shower is no more dangerous than anything else we do in the morning.
But for those who feel sick about the idea of all those microorganisms (微生物), he had some advice. Let the water run for 30 seconds before getting into the shower. Why? The number of bacteria is smaller than that when the water is just turned on. If that seems like a waste of water, he added that you could also change your showerhead every few months.
However, Pace had good news too. He has also been testing the air in US subways. Apart from iron particles (粒子), which are ground off the track by the wheels of trains, subway air is fresh. The reason is that a train’s movement pumps fresh outdoor air into the tunnels.
Pace explained that he wanted to understand the natural microbial environments of public places. This kind of knowledge might help discover the microbes to be used in a bioterrorist (生物恐怖分子) attack.From the finding of Norman R. Pace, after taking a shower, we might cough or feel tired because .
A.it’s easy to get a cold when taking a bath |
B.the showerhead carries many bacteria causing illness |
C.we don’t get cleaned while showering |
D.we don’t get a weak immune system |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A.Hot water could kill most of bacteria in showerheads. |
B.Of 45 showerheads surveyed in nine cities, 30 carried large amounts of Mycobacterium. |
C.Changing showerheads is the only way to avoid microorganisms. |
D.Shower water contains much less bacteria after being left to run for 30 seconds. |
We can learn from the third paragraph that .
A.having a shower in the morning is more dangerous than at other time |
B.the bacteria always threat people’s health |
C.there is no reason to fear microorganisms for people with strong immune system |
D.it is better to do some exercise in the morning than have a shower |
The underlined word “pose” in the third paragraph probably means “______”.
A.cause | B.avoid | C.describe | D.promise |
What contributes to fresh air in US subways?
A.The train’s movement. | B.Iron particles. |
C.Train wheels. | D.Air conditioners on the trains. |
He pretended to be a pilot and got free rides on international airlines to countries around the world. He wrote fake checks and stole several millions of dollars from banks, hotels, and airlines. He lied and got jobs by impersonating a doctor, a lawyer, and a university professor, all before he was twenty-one years old. Does this sound like the story to movie? It is. But it is also tree. This is the story of Frank Abagnale’s life of crime told in Abagnale’s book Catch Me if You Can and in the movie by the’ same name. Although the movie is based on the book, there are several important differences between the two.
Probably the one thing that really sets apart the book from the movie is the point-of-view of the story. The book, co-written by Abagnale and a professional writer, is told in Abagnale’s own words. In the book, he tells the reader, “I did this. This is how and this is why.” But in the movie, the story is told from a third person’s point-of-view. This point-of-view limits the details available to viewers of the movie.
Because the writer of the movie could not include many of the details about Abagnale’s crimes and motives, the writer had to change things to make the story understandable for viewers. For example, Agagnale explains in the book how he used his knowledge of the banking system’s number codes to commit fraud (诈骗). In the movie, Abagnale has detailed knowledge of printing and check design, like a kind of criminal genius. The movie’s writer never tells the audience how Abagnale got all of this knowledge.
Another key difference between the book and movie has to do with the people trying to catch Abagnale. In the book, there are only a few references to an FBI agent named O’Really, the man in charge of Abagnale’s ease. However, the movie gives viewers a lot more information about how an FBI agent, renamed Hanratty, cracks down Abagnale and finally catches him.
There are a number of other major differences between the book and the movie about Abagnale’s life, some of which seem to make the book more interesting while others make the movie more interesting. In the end, it all comes down to the question, “Which is better?” Like many other books that have been made into movies, the book is better in this case. The fictional parts of the movie may help create dramatic scenes for the movie and help viewers understand the story quickly, but they are fictional. There is an old saying, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” And in this case, the truth is both stranger and more interesting.
1. Why is Frank Abagnale most famous?
A. He directed a movie about his life.
B. He stole a lot of money from the FBI.
C. He talked his way into many different jobs.
D. He was trained as a pilot, a lawyer and a professor.
2. Which is true about the book and the movie?
A. Both were not use. B. Neither was very popular.
C. There are several major differences. D. They were written by the same person.
3. What did Abagnale know about in-real life? He knew ____________.
A. how to fly a plane B. the number system used by banks
C. how to direct movies D. the working system of the FBI
In Japan, “what’s your type?” is much more than small talk; it can be a more important question in everything from matchmaking to getting a job. By type, the Japanese mean blood type, and no amount of scientific debunking (揭穿) can kill a widely held belief that blood tells all.
In the year that just ended, four of Japan’s top 10 best-sellers were about how blood type determines personality, according to Japan’s largest book distributor, Tohan Co. Taku Kabeya, chief editor at Bungeisha, thinks the appeal comes from having one’s self-image confirmed; readers discover the definition of their blood type and “It’s like ‘Yes, that’s me!’“
As defined by the books, type As are sensitive perfectionists but overanxious; type Bs am cheerful but weird and selfish; Os are curious, generous but stubborn; and Abs are arty but mysterious and unpredictable. All that may sound like a horoscope(占星), but the public doesn’t seem to care. Nowadays matchmaking agencies provide blood-type compatibility (兼容性) tests, and some companies make decisions about assignments based on employees’ blood types. Children at some kindergartens are divided up by blood type, and the women’s softball team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics used the theory to customize each player’s training.
Blood types, determined by the proteins in the blood, have nothing to do with personality, said Satoru Kikuchi, associate professor of psychology at Shinshu University. “It’s simply false science, “he said, “The idea encourages people to judge others by the blood types, without trying to understand them as human beings. It’s like racism.” This use of blood-typing has disreputable (名声不好的) roots. The theory was imported from Nazi race ideologues (空谈家) and adopted by Japan’s militarist government in the 1930s to breed better soldiers. The idea was abandoned years later and the craze faded. It resurfaced in the 1970s, however, as Masahiko Nomi, a supporter with no medical background, gave the theory mass appeal. His son, Toshitaka now promotes it through a private group, the Human Science ABO Center, saying it’s not intended to rank or judge people but to smooth relationships and help make the best of one’s talents.
1. That many Japan’s best-sellers were about blood type implies ____________.
A. this topic is used by many people in small talks
B. Japanese attach great importance to blood type
C. people don’t want to have confirmed self-image
D. the definition of blood type leads to arguments
2. According to the passage, ________ may face more pressure while performing a task.
A. type As B. type Bs C. type Os D. type ABs
3. Kikuchi compared blood type determinism to racism because ______________.
A. both blood type and race are determined by the proteins in the blood
B. neither blood type nor race is related to our character and personality
C. both of them judge people without considering their individualities
D. blood type determinism believes human abilities are decided by race
4. Who introduced the blood type theory to Japan?
A. Nazis from Germany. B. Japan’s militarist government.
C. A supporter called Masahiko Nomi. D. Human Science ABO Center.
Priscilla Ouchida’s “energy-efficient” house turned out to be a horrible dream. When she and her engineer husband married a few years ago, they built a $100,000 three-bedroom home in California. Tightly sealed to prevent air leaks, the house was equipped with small double-paned (双层玻璃的) windows and several other energy-saving features. Problems began as soon as the couple moved in, however. Priscilla’s eyes burned. Her throat was constantly dry. She suffered from headaches and could hardly sleep. It was as though she had suddenly developed a strange illness.
Experts finally traced the cause of her illness. The level of formaldehyde (甲醛) gas in her kitchen was twice the maximum allowed by federal standards for chemical workers. The source of the gas? Her new kitchen cabinets and wall-to-wall carpeting.
The Ouchidas are victims of indoor air pollution, which is net given sufficient attention partly because of the nation’s drive to save energy. The problem itself isn’t new. “The indoor environment was dirty long before energy conservation came along,” says Moschandreas a pollution scientist at Geomet Technologies in Maryland. “Energy conservation has tended to accentuate the situation in some cases.”
The problem appears to be more troublesome in newly constructed homes rather than old ones. Back in the days when energy was cheap, home builders didn’t worry much about unsealed cracks. Because of such leaks, the air in an average home was replaced by fresh outdoor air about once an hour. As a result, the pollutants produced in most households seldom build up to dangerous levels.
1. It can be learned from the passage that the Ouchidas’ house __________
A. is well worth the money spent on its construction
B. is almost faultless from the point of energy conservation
C. failed to meet energy conservation standards
D. was designed and constructed in a scientific way
2. What made the Ouchidas’ new house a horrible dream?
A. Lack of fresh air. B. Poor quality of building materials.
C. Gas leak in the kitchen. D. The newly painted walls.
3. The underlined word “accentuate” in the third paragraph most probably means ___________.
A. control B. worsen C. relieve D. improve
4. This passage is most probably taken from an article entitled “_________”.
A. Energy Conservation B. Houses Building Crisis
C. Air Pollution Indoors D. Traps in Building Construction
第三部分阅读理解 (共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
请认真阅读下列短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Picking a Christmas tree takes most people a few minutes, a couple of hours if they head to the woods. Dave Murbach needs 11 months.
Almost every day of every year, Murbach’s thoughts turn to vision of a perfectly shaped evergreen tree that will take everyone’s breath away.
“The tree,” he says wearily. “Always the tree.”
Murbach is the man responsible for finding the towering tree that graces Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center each Christmas season.
“I’m always looking for a tree,” the center’s chief gardener says. “I look for it even when I go to the beach in the summer. It’s like a homework assignment hanging over your head.”
And if he gets it wrong, there’s nothing hiding it.
“Every day it’s up, 400,000 people go by, and 2.5 million people watch the lighting celebration on television,” he says.
This year’s tree, a 74-foot Norway spruce (云杉) from Richfield, Ohio, flown to New York on the world’s largest cargo plane, was lighted on December 2.
The arrival of the tree leads in the Christmas season in New York - a tradition dating to 1931, when the workers building Rockefeller Centre put up a small tree with decorations.
The search for the next year’s tree starts soon after the old tree is chopped up for wood chips and horse-jumping logs.
That’s not as simple as it sounds. Though forests are full of evergreens, few get enough sunlight or space to fill out. And branches in snowy regions often break under the weight, making flees uneven.
Back at the office, he sorts through hundreds of letters from people offering their trees, many addressed simply to “Mr. Christmas Tree Man.”
Despite the occasional anxiety attack and sleepless night, Murbach knows the together people you love. That’s what I hope it sets off.”
But Murbach says he’s always too worn out to celebrate Christmas.
“No card, no lights, nothing,” he says.
“No tree?”
“No tree.”
1. Murbach takes his job seriously because he most likely wants _____________.
A. everyone to be happy with his work
B. to make everyone surprised at his choice
C. everyone to know his care for their happiness
D. to attract people’s attention to his special ability
2. Which is the correct order of the events in the passage?
a. Murbach’s thoughts turn to a perfectly shaped tree.
b. 2.5 million people watch the Christmas tree.
c. The tree is flown to New York.
d. it was lighted on December 2.
e. The tree is chopped up.
f. Murbach searches for the tree.
A. a, b, c, d, e, f B. a, f, c, d, b, e C. c, d, e, b, a, f D. c, d, b, f, e, a
3. According to Murbach’s standard of trees, the best tree must _________.
A. be evergreen B. have no space between branches
C. be thick enough D. be equally balanced in shape
4. Which is tree about Murbach?
A. He is most devoted to his work. B. He is now quite tired of his work.
C. He has no loved family members. D. He never wants to celebrate Christmas.
第四部分任务型阅读 (共10小题;每小题1分, 满分10分)
请认真阅读下列短文, 并根据所读内容在文章后表格的空格处里填人最恰当的单词。注意:每个空格填1个单词。
Host family accommodation means that hosts treat the student as a full member of the household, eating together with the student and sharing the common living areas with him/her. No more than three adult students or four junior students will be accommodated in host family accommodation at one time.
Host family accommodation remains popular among international students. It is the most economical and beneficial accommodation for any student. It is also the best way to practice English and learn new cultures. As a result, it is often seen as the number-one choice for its advantages in language study, cultural communication and cost of living. Staying alongside host family enables students to get enough practice during the short time of their study so that their language acquisition is likely to become faster. Living in host families, students are able to spend a lot of time communicating with their "host parents", who are often very hospitable and friendly, and get to know the local way of life, people and culture. Most host families are always ready to help students out in any situation. Often the bonds that are made between international students and their host families endure many years, and are maintained through letters and e-mails. Another advantage is that host family accommodation can sometimes be the least expensive. It attracts students as it ensures them a family type of living at a low cost.
The advantages, however, have not prevented host families from worrying. On the one hand, some host families are losing their unique selling point. One problem is that the majority of hosts in big cities, now generally single and young, have less time available for international students, but the selling point for host family accommodation is communication practice. On the other hand, students' expectations have risen. They are becoming more demanding and asking for more than ever from their accommodation, as they come mainly from high socio-economic groups in their own countries.
To get out of the difficult situation, host families are now making efforts to improve the quality of service. They are trying to make living conditions better, including broadband Internet service, private bathroom, and access to plenty of hot water for long showers. They are also providing students with structured family activities.
It is believed that host family accommodation will keep the popularity vote with international students.
Title: Host Family Accommodation |
||
Definition |
Host family accommodation refers to a kind of accommodation in which the student is treated as a (71) ▲ member of the host family, eating together and sharing the living areas with the hosts. |
|
(72) ▲ |
Language study |
Students learn the language faster because they (73) ▲ frequently enough. |
Cultural communication |
It is more convenient for students to communicate and get to know the local (74) ▲ , people and culture. |
|
Cost of (75) ▲ |
Sometimes it is the least expensive and enables students to live at a low cost. |
|
Problems |
Loss of the selling point |
Hosts (76) ▲ enough time to communicate with students. |
Rise in (77) ▲ |
Students are demanding more from their host families. |
|
(78) ▲ taken |
Improvement of service quality |
Hosts are (79) ▲ living conditions. They are offering students structured (80) ▲ activities. |
Conclusion |
Host family accommodation will keep the popularity vote with international students. |