The NSA(美国国家安全局) and GCHQ(英国政府通讯总部) are tapping popular smart phone apps such as Angry Birds to gather the enormous amounts of very personal data those bits of software collect—including age, gender, marital status, income, education level and more, according to new reports from the New York Times and The Guardian.
Citing secret documents provided by Edward Snowden, former NSA staff, the reports detail efforts to gain data collection from cell phone carriers and smart phones by tapping into “leaky”(有漏洞的) apps themselves.
Both spy agencies showed a particular interest in Google Maps, which is accurate to within a few yards or better in some locations and would clearly pass along data about the area where phone owner is.
“It effectively means that anyone using Google Maps on a smartphone is working in support of a GCHQ system,” reads a secret 2008 report by the NSA's sister spy agency, according to the New York Times.
More surprising is the wide range of apps that the agencies search for data, including innocent-seeming apps such as Angry Birds. One document in particular from GCHQ listed what information can be found from which apps, mentioning Android apps but suggesting the same data was available from the iPhone platform.
Angry Birds maker Rovio Entertainment of Finland said it had no knowledge of any NSA or GCHQ programs for tapping into its users’ data.
"Rovio doesn't have any previous knowledge of this matter, and have not been aware of such activity in 3rd party advertising networks," said Saara Bergstrom. "Nor do we have any involvement with the organizations you mentioned."
Mobile photos uploaded to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter appear to be a particularly rich source of information for the spy agencies as well. Metadata in the photos is briefly available. The NSA and GCHQ are able to tap into that metadata to collect a wealth of key data points about a person’s life.
“NSA does not profile everyday Americans as it carries out its foreign intelligence mission,” the agency told the Times in response to questions about the program.
During a Monday press conference, White House press secretary Jay Carney stressed that same position. "As the president said in his Jan. 17 speech, to the extent data is collected by the NSA, through whatever means, we are not interested in the communications of people who are not valid foreign intelligence targets（情报目标） and we are not after the information of ordinary Americans," he said.American and British spy agencies were both particularly interested in the information gathered from_________.
| A．Google Maps | B．Twitter | C．Angry Birds | D．Facebook |
According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The iPhone platform is more reliable than that of Android. |
| B．The New York Times interviewed Edward Snowden secretly. |
| C．It is difficult for common users to protect their personal information. |
| D．A document from NSA listed what information can be found from which apps. |
What did Jay Carney’s words imply?
| A．NSA didn’t gather any worthy information from Americans. |
| B．NSA would stop its foreign intelligence mission in the future. |
| C．NSA and White House shared different attitude towards the affair. |
| D．NSA collected information with the permission of White House |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Angry Birds Give You Away |
| B．NSA Gather Information from Apps |
| C．Reports from the New York Times |
| D．Documents from Edward Snowden |
YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.
Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child’s birthday.
But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.
Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering (妨碍) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie — only prettier.
According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone — it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of 
“she got the bigger piece!”
Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self- determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite.
In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was electe
d president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.
Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to think about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________.
| A．the family holds a party for children on their birthday |
| B．a mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday |
C．a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birt hday and brings it to the classroom |
| D．parents go travelling with their children on their birthday |
Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcakes on children’s birthday?
| A．Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes. |
| B．Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious. |
| C．Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “She got the bigger piece”. |
| D．Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat. |
What cannot be inferred according to Marion Nestle?
| A．The cupcake is more democratic than any other desserts in the US. |
| B．The cupcake is too small to share with others. |
| C．The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone. |
| D．Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned. |
The underlined word “trendy” in paragraph 7 probably means ________.
| A．popular | B．gentle | C．delicious | D．different |
Why did the writer mention Hillary Clinton and Ruth Reichl?
| A．To arouse the readers’ attention to banning the tradition of making cupcakes. |
| B．To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular way to show kindness and comfort. |
| C．To make a comparison between them in order for readers to remember them. |
| D．To give readers some idea of cupcakes so as to better understand the American culture |
A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess Julia to come into my study.
“Be seated, Julia,” I said. “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”
“Forty.”
“No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, hmm, you’ve been here two months, so...”
“Two months and five days.”
“Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... You know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays. You only took walks. And three holidays...”
Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but—not a word.
“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven—nineteen. Take nineteen off...that leaves...hmm...forty one dollars. Correct?”
Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled；she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but—still not a word.
“Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer: take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but—forget it. When didn’t I take a loss?! Then, due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave you ten dollars.”
“You didn’t,” sobbed Julia.
“But I made a note of it.”
“Well...if you say so.”
“Take twenty seven from forty one—that leaves fourteen. ”
Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!
“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”
“Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen...leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is!”
I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.
“Merci(法语，谢谢),” she whispered.
I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger.
“For what, this ‘merci’?”I asked.
“For the money.”
“But you know I’ve cheated you—robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this ‘Merci’?”
“In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all. ”
“They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you...I’m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you...Is it really possible to be so spineless（懦弱）? Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws（爪）—to be such a fool?”
Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression: “It is possible.”
I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little “merci” several times and went out. I looked after her and thought: “How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”While talking to Julia, the writer expected ____________ from her.
| A．protest | B．gratitude | C．obedience | D．an explanation |
What shocked the writer was Juila’s ____________.
| A．nervousness in front of her boss | B．acceptance of injustice |
| C．shyness when talking about money | D．unwillingness to express herself |
The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess _______.
| A．to be more aggressive | B．to be more careful in her work |
| C．to protect her own right | D．to live independently |
At the end of the story, the writer said “How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!” to show __________.
| A．his understanding of Julia’s anxiety |
| B．his worry about Julia’s future |
| C．his concern on the living conditions of working-class people |
| D．his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited(被剥削的) |
From the story, we can tell that Julia’s employer was ____________.
| A．greedy but honest | B．ill-tempered but warm-hearted |
| C．strict but forgiving | D．honest, kind and worried |
In many societies, there is often greater acceptance of light skin than dark skin. Light skin may be seen as a mark of beauty, intelligence and success. These beliefs can lead to social pressures even within the same racial or ethnic group, if some members are darker skinned than others.
The result is that skin lightening has become a common activity across Africa, Asia and other areas of the world. More and more people with dark s
kin are using skin-lightening products, even if it means they may face health risks.
They believe that having whiter skin will improve their lives. Many people think they will have a better chance of getting a job or marrying into a better family. Or they want to look like what their society generally considers beautiful.
Some beauty care products and soaps contain chemicals that make skin lighter. This is also called bleaching. But some of the chemicals are extremely dangerous. One of the most dangerous is hydroquinone(对苯二酚).
Hydroquinone has been banned in several countries. This chemical has been connected to kidney damage and some kinds of cancer. It also causes low birth weight in babies when mothers –to-be use it during pregnancy.
At first, bleaching products make the skin color lighter. But after long-term use they can cause problems. They could even make some skin darker.
The chemicals in the products block and break down the natural process that gives color to skin. The skin loses its natural barrier（障碍）to protect against sunlight. Then the skin can become thick and discolored. Usually the person will use more of the product in an effort to correct the problem, but this only makes it worse.
Fatimata Ly treats skin conditions in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Doctor Ly says skin bleaching has become a problem throughout Senegal. She says the chemicals are now more dangerous because they are stronger. Some cases have resulted in blackened fingernails, infections and permanent（永久的）skin damage.
And these are not the only risks. Experts say some people who change their skin color suffer emotional damage. They feel regret and sadness. They feel that instead of risking their health, they should have learned to love and accept their skin color as it was.What is the text mainly about?
| A．The advantages of light skin | B．Introducing skin lightening products |
| C．The harmfulness of Hydroquinone | D．The health risks of bleaching |
What does the underlined word “bleaching” refer to?
| A．The process of removing the color |
| B．The process of making the skin whiter |
| C．The chemicals that make things white |
| D．The chemicals that protect skin against sunlight |
Why do people want to make their skin lighter?
| A．Because they all want to look more beautiful. |
| B．Because they all want to marry into better families. |
| C．Because they want to find better jobs. |
| D．Because they want to improve their lives. |
Skin bleaching may cause the problem of ______.
| A．emotional problems | B．kidney cancer | C．lighter skin |
D．low birth rate |
The author holds a/ an ______ attitude towards skin lightening.
| A．positive | B．negative | C．supportive | D．optimistic |
DNA is one of the most important discoveries in science. DNA is the plan for the human being, as a blueprint is the plan for a building. DNA makes a person look the way he does. A person’s DNA comes from a mixing of his parents’ DNA. That’s why a child looks like his parents. But, besides controlling things such as height and hair color, DNA can also give people diseases. Scientists are now studying DNA to cure diseases.
In the seventies, scientists developed a process called recombinant or RDNA. Although it sounds difficult to understand, RDNA simply means taking DNA from one animal or plant and putting it into another. By doing so, scientists can create new beings. In doing so, scientists can better understand DNA, especially what parts of DNA do what. After they understand DNA, scientists can begin to cure diseases. Often, the new being created will itself be the cure.Besides curing diseases, RDNA research can also do other things. For example, scientists in Japan have already created “super-trees”. Trees help humans, because they take CO2, which poisons humans, from the air and turns it into oxygen, which lets humans breathe. “Super-trees” do this too, but do it much faster. As things such as cars and factories have already put much CO2 in the area, “super-trees” are badly needed.
Unfortunately, there is a serious danger in RDNA research. Scientists want to create animals to cure old diseases, but these new animals may also create new diseases. It will be a serious problem if the animals escape from the science laboratory and into nature. As these animals are not natural, they may let loose many new powerful diseases.
As a result, RDNA research will create many solutions, but it will also create many problems. From the passage, we can know that a boy looks like his parents because______.
| A．he is son of his parents. |
| B．his parents’ DNA decides his appearance. |
| C．he has received DNA from his father or his mother. |
| D．scientists have put some of his parents’ DNA into him. |
What does the underlined expression “let loose” probably mean?
| A．let … go free | B．get rid of |
| C．absorb | D．survive |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．The DNA Research in Japan |
| B．A New Way of DNA Research in Japan. |
| C．The Causes and Effects of DNA Research |
| D．The Advantages And Disadvantages of RDNA |
The following statements are true about RDNA research EXCEPT ______.
| A．the research has been stopped because the created animals carry viruses |
| B．“super-trees” might be widely planted around the world |
| C．scientists have not completely understood DNA |
| D．RDNA research will benefit human beings a lot |
You might find this passage in / on a ________.
| A．fashion magazine | B．novel | C．scientific newspaper | D．sports newspaper |
Life gets noisier every day and very few people can be free from noise of some sort or another. It doesn’t matter where you live-in the middle of a modern city, or a faraway village-the chances that you will be disturbed by jet aeroplanes, transistor radios, oil-powered engines, etc. are almost everywhere .We seem to be getting used to noise, too. Some people feel quite lonely without background music while they are working.
Scientific tests have shown that total silence can be very frightening experience for human beings. However, some people enjoy listening to pop music which is very loud, and this can do harm to their eardrums(耳鼓).The noise level in some disco is far above the usual safety level for heavy industrial areas.
A recent report about noise and concentration(专心) suggested that although a lot of people say that any noise disturbs their concentration, what really affects their ability to concentrate is a change in the level of noise. It goes on to say that a background noise, which doesn’t change too much (music, for example) may even help people to concentrate.The best title for this passage is _______________.
| A．Noisy Life | B．Background Noise |
| C．Disturbed Concentration | D．Changeable Noise |
From this passage, the pollution of noise _______________.
| A．doesn’t matter much | B．has become worse everywhere |
| C．has become better in big cities | D．has become better in villages |
“Background music” in the passage means _______________.
| A．music played in the concert | B．a kind of noise coming into your ears |
| C．music helps people to concentrate | D．music played while people are working |
Some people may have their hearing hurt _______________.
| A．while they are in completely silence | B．while they are dancing violently |
| C．while they are listening to loud pop music | D．while they are listening to soft music |
Scientists have discovered that what prevents people from concentrating is _____.
| A．any kind of noise | B．great changes in level of noise |
| C．background noise | D．various background music |