InDecember,2010,manyAmericanne-优题课

Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time – about eight hours after you wake up – your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern. They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps(小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates(气候), where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional (传统的), people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease.
Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap – even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful.
Why do people feel sleepy in the early afternoon according to the text?

A．Their body temperature becomes lower.

B．They sleep too little at night.

C．They eat too much for lunch.

D．The weather becomes a lot warmer.

If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?

A．About 12:30 pm.	B．About 2:30 pm
C．About 1:30 pm.	D．About 3:30 pm

What advice does the writer give on taking a nap?

A．You’d better take a nap about an hour after you have lunch.

B．You can sleep

as long as you like so that you will not feel tied or sleepy.

C．Only people in warmer climate need to take a nap.

D．If your time is limited, a short nap can also help.

Naps are good for everyone in any climate because ______________ .

A．a nap makes both your body and mind have a good rest.

B．a daily nap benefits your health.

C．people who often take naps suffer less from problems such as heart disease than those who don’t.

D．All the above.

What would be the best title for the text?

A．Just for a Rest	B．All for a Nap
C．A Special Sleep Pattern.	D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate.

One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently, they are there to file a divorce. Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story.
This couple had been quarreling all their 40 years of marriage nothing ever seems to go right.
They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce.
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. “I really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry.”
"It's OK, I understand." said the husband.
Little did she know that, over the years, the husband has been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks were the husband's favorite.
Little did he know that she never thought he understands her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wants to tell her, "I love you."
He picked up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stops dialing.
On the other side, she was sad, she couldn't understand how come after all these years, he still doesn't understand her at all, she loves him a lot, but she just can't take it any more. Phone's ringing, she refuses to answer knowing that it's him. "I want to keep it this way, if not I will lose face. "She thought. Phone is still ringing. She has decided to pull out the cord.
Little did she remember, he had heart problems.
The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get through (接通) her phone line.
The old couple wanted to file a divorce because __________.

A．they had no child.	B．their children didn’t like them.
C．they didn’t understand each other actually.	D．the old man didn’t love the old woman.

Why didn’t they file a divorce before they were at the age of 70?

A．Because they were loving each other then.

B．Because they had no time to lawyer’s office.

C．Because they wanted to make their divorce open.

D．Because they didn’t wish to affect their children’s up-bringing.

According to the passage we can know that ______.

A．the old man still loved his wife really.	B．the wife didn’t love her husband at all.
C．their children still lived with old couple.	D．they were in harmony over 40 years.

After the last paragraph the old woman would be _______.

A．wild with joy

B．wild with grief(悲伤)

C．unconcern about it

D．angry at that

Located in Florence, Oregon is “Sea Lion Caves”, the only known western, coastal, mainland habitat of Stellar Sea Lions. It is also the world’s largest sea cave in existence today and a perfect place to get up close and personal with nature. The sea caves are said to be the home of an estimated 200 sea lions and that at any given time visitors can expect to see at least 150 sea lions going about their daily business.
The most immense(巨大的) of all sea lions, the Stellar males are known to grow up to 12 feet in length and weight an incredulous 1,500 pounds. The females, on the other hand, tend to be a bit smaller and average 9 feet in length with an average weight of 700 pounds.
They tend to breed and give birth during the spring and summer months. The breeding and birthing process takes place on the steep cliff ledges that surround the sea cave. Therefore the best time to view this ritual is during those select months from the outside viewing platform.
In addition to the sea lions, visitors can expect to catch a glimpse of the rare Pigeon Guillemont. These unusual sea birds tend to nest in seaweed along the cliff ledges in early April. And ever the graceful Gray Whales are expected to be seen. Each year, travelling in pods, these sea creatures migrate around “ Cape Blance” on their way to and from their native Alaska waters.
As of 2010 “ Sea Lion Caves” is open daily year round except for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The ticket box office is open from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm. Visitor have a choice of two different ticket options; platform view or cave view. And admission into the cave itself is $13.00 for adults and $ 8.00 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under the age of 2 are admitted for free and there is a discount ticket price available for senior citizens . It currently costs $3.50 per person to access the topside wildlife viewing platform. While on the platform visitor can pay an additional fee to use the on-site telescope or opt (选择) to bring their own such equipment.
The last paragraph is mainly talking about the ______ of the 2010 “Sea Lion Caves”.

A．admission and hours of operation	B．wildlife and best viewing times
C．summer hot spots and activities	D．additional information and fees

Which of the following statement about the “Sea Lion Caves” is true?

A．It is located in the center of Florence.	B．It’s a good place for visitors to approach the nature.
C．Visitors may see 150 sea lions there at any time.	D．It’s the world’ only habitat of Stellar Sea Lions

The passage suggests that Stellar Sea Lions usually breed and give birth________.

A．in the entrance to the sea cave	B．on the smooth cliff cave walls
C．in the warmer season months	D．out of the vision of the tourists

What does the underlined word “ migrate” in the fourth paragraph mean?

A．Chase one after another	B．Flash from time to time
C．Grow little by little	D．Move from place to place

When you visit the Sea Lion Caves of Forence, Oregon, you are likely to see ________.
a. the Stellar males b. the Stellar females c. a rare sea bird d. a Great Sharks
e. beautiful Gray Whales

A．a, b, c, d

B．a, b, c, e

C．a, b, d, e

D．a, c ,d,

Nick Santonastasso has one arm equipped with one finger. He has no legs. He also has no limitations(局限).
“ I know anything’s possible ,” the 12-year-old told TODAY ’s Ann Curry.
He can play baseball and football, play the keyboard and drums, and play video games with his brothers.
When Nick was born, he suffered a disease only found in 11 other people. The Santonastassos had three other children, and they decided to treat Nick the same as others, with love but without excuse
“ We’re supposed to be heroes to our children, but Nick is a hero to us,” his father Michael said. But heroes have heroes, too, and Nick’s is Tiki Barber, the former football superstar who retired last year and became a reporter for TODAY. Curry told Nick that for his birthday, the show wanted to give him a new skateboard. The person who presented it to him was Barber.
“ You’re an inspiration,” Barber said. “ There are a lot of kids who might be at a disadvantage.
You give them strength.”
Curry observed that most parents try to protect their kids from failure, but the Santonastassos didn’t do that with Nick.
“Absolutely not, “Nick’s mother Stacey said. “ If you do have a small failure, it just makes you stronger to succeed at the next stop.”
“ It builds self-confidence in yourself to try it again,” Nick added.
Recently, Nick entered a drawing in a statewide contest in New Jersey. His drawing was a tree with a spreading canopy (树冠) and deep toots. Above the tree were the words, “The roots of a family are…” Below the ground, the roots spelled out the final word for the message: “ Love.”
It won the contest. The judges didn’t know Nick’ physical condition. He won on merit (成绩), the same way he does everything else in life.
How did the Santonastassos treat Nick?

A．They gave him much more care	B．They treated him as a normal boy
C．They made excuse for his failure	D．They protected him from failure.

In the opinion of Barber, Nick__________.

A．would learn a lot from his failure.	B．would become a star in playing skateboard.
C．set a good example to other disabled kids	D．proved a real hero to other heroes

What message did Nick’s drawing express?

A．Love is the “root” of a family.	B．Each family has its own value among its members.
C．Trees without deep roots can’t grow tall and strong	D．Roots are the most important of a tree.

According to the passage, ______ other people have the same disease as Nick’s.

A．two

B．three

C．eleven

D．twelve

What might be the most suitable title for the passage?

A．Nothing Is Impossible

B．Keep Trying Forever

C．The roots

D．Nick and his Skateboard

Scientists have created a “ human-like robot” that can dance and do the housework.
“ Mahru” has been developed to imitate humans and can move its lips, eyebrows and pupils(瞳孔). The machine can also move its upper and lower body freely and automatically stop itself when walking.
In addition, it has been programmed to give out two kinds of pleasant smells to match its emotions.
The 1.5 tall robot was produced by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and is the first South Korean- developed machine of its kind.
“‘Mahru’ will open the way for the commercial use of humanoid robots doing housework,” You Bum-Jae, leader of the development research team ,said. “‘Mahru’ can dance while walking on its legs and is able to work in place of a human.”
Through an advanced motion capture (捕获) system, “Mahru” can follow a variety of human movements and move its hands freely enough to deal with any obstacles that may get in its way when walking.
State-funded KIST showed the robot during a presentation at its head office in Seoul.
People here were treated to an entertaining demonstration which saw the robot show off the full range of its skills, most notably s series of dance moves.
The research team added that they had designed another “ Mahru”, this time with sensors(传感器) allowing it to distinguish(分辨) between faces and objects.
The showing of “ Mahru” came a week after researcher in Japan said they had created the “most human-like” robot in the world. A team at robotics department of Osaka University in Japan claimed that “ robogirl”, Repliee R-1, “ looks, moves and interacts (相互作用) like a human, and has silicone(硅胶) skin that feels almost human to the touch.”
“Mahru” made by KIST can do the following things EXCEPT____________

A．dance with other human –like robots	B．move its body freely
C．stop automatically when walking	D．express certain feelings through smells

According to what You Bum- Jae said in Paragraph 5, his research team wants to ________.

A．help robots with doing housework	B．show its scientific power
C．make Mahru offer more fun	D．explore Mahru’s commercial use

When Mahru” meets something in its way, it will be likely to________.

A．go around it	B．turn back quickly
C．deal with it using its hands	D．ask humans for help

According to the last paragraph, Repliee R-1 __________.

A．is another Mahru	B．was made by KIST
C．has skin feeling similar to humans’	D．looks like a boy

A．The Imperfectionists	B．A Visit from the Goon Squad
C．Just Kids	D．Life

A．Life	B．Cleopatra: A Life
C．Freedom	D．A Visit from the Goon Squad