Art museums are places where people can learn about various cultures. The increasingly popular "design museums" that are opening today, however, perform quite a different role. Unlike most art museums, the design museum shows objects that are easily found by the general public These museums sometimes even place things like fridges and washing machines in the center of the hall
Pele have argued that design museums are often made use of as advertisements for new industrial technology. But their role is not simply a matter of sales-it is the honoring of excellently invented products. The difference between the window of a department store and the showcase in a design museum is that the first tries to sell you something, while the second tells you the success of a sale.
One advantage of design museums is that they are places where people feel familiar with the exhihits. Unlike the average art museum visitors, design museum visitors seldom feel frightened or puzzled. This is partly because design museums clearly show how and why mass-produced products work and look as they do, and how design has improved the quality of our lives. Art museum exhibits, on the other hand, would most probably fill visitors with a feeling that there is something between their understanding.
In recent years, several new design museums have opened their door. Each of these museums has tried to satisfy the public’s growing interest in the field with new ideas. London's Design Museum, for example, shows a collection of mass-produced objects from Zippo lighters to electric typewriters to a group of Italian fish-tins. The choices open to design museums seem far less strict than those to art museums, and visitors may also sense the humorous part of our society while walking around such exhibits as interesting and unusually attractive toys collected in our everyday life.Showcases in design museums are different from store windows because they_.
A.show more technologically advanced products |
B.help increase the sales of products |
C.show why the products have sold well |
D.attract more people than store windows do |
The author believes that most design museum visitors_.
A.do not admire mass-produced products |
B.are puzzled with technological exhibits |
C.dislike exhibits in art museums |
D.know the exhibits very well |
The choices open to design museums_
A. are not as strict as those to art museums
B, are not aimed to interest the public
C. may fail to bring some pleasure to visitors
D. often contain precious exhibitsThe best title for this passage is“_”
A.The Forms of Design Museums |
B.The Exhibits of Design Museums |
C.The Nature of Design Museums |
D.The Choices Open to Design Museums |
London has a new magazine. But it’s not printed on paper. Everyone who has a television can receive it because it is on TV.
In order to read this magazine you have to have a decoder. Each page of it is numbered, so you only have to dial the number to choose which subject you want to read about. There’s a wide choice--- everything is included from cooking to the latest sports news.
If you want to read the news, the first thing you have to do is to turn to the index page which has an easy-to-remember page number, 100 for example. Then you start choosing what you want to read. The news is on pages 101 to 109, so you push out the numbers and the news appears written across your screen. Perhaps you want to go out in the afternoon, so you press 181, and a brightly colored weather map appears on the screen. But the weather is terrible so you decide to go shopping and dial 162 for a list of the week’s best bargains. But should you drive or take the train ? To answer the question you only have to press 189 for the traffic report. It’s very simple to use. But probably the best thing about the service is that it’s being updated all the time. Journalists type new material directly onto the screen and whole pages of the magazine can be replaced in minutes.
London has already had three services. One, transmitted(传输)by ITV, is called ORACLE, while the other two, on BBC, are called CEEFAX, because they let you see facts. Although CEEFAX and ORACLE have been operating for some time, they have not been well publicized. BBC engineers do not think that their idea will ever replace books and newspapers because they can be taken with you everywhere. But many people agree that this is a breakthrough as great as the invention of printing, which could change not just our reading habits but our whole way of life.What is unusual about the mew magazine in London?
A.You can find any subject you want in it. |
B.No paper is used to print the magazine. |
C.There 1,000 page numbers in the index. |
D.The speed of transmitting is astonishing. |
It’s clearly seen from the passage that ________.
A.it takes long for the service of the magazine to be updated |
B.most of the postmen will be out of work someday |
C.the readers can get all kinds of information without leaving home |
D.everyone can read the magazine if there is a television at hand |
According to the passage, the “decoder” is used to help people to ________.
A.read the information transmitted by TV signals |
B.broadcast special TV programs at home and abroad |
C.dial the number to choose which subject you want to read about |
D.find the exact page in which you can get information you need |
The passage is mainly about.
A.a new magazine printed in London |
B.a popular TV program with three services |
C.a great breakthrough in printing |
D.an up-to-date way of keeping up to date |
Research has shown that music has an important effect on one’s body and psyche (心灵). In fact, there is a growing field of health care known as music therapy, which uses music to treat diseases. Even hospitals are beginning to use music therapy. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways.
Research has shown that quick music can make a person feel more alert, while slow music can produce a calm, deep thinking state. Also, research has found that music can change brainwave activity levels. This can help the brain to change speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.
Breathing and heart rates can also be influenced by music. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate. This is why music and music therapy can help reduce the damaging effects of long-term stress, greatly promoting (促进) not only relaxation, but health.
Music can also be used to bring about a more positive state of mind by helping to keep worries away. Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes. It is no surprise that so many people are considering music as an important tool to help the body become or stay healthy.What can we infer about music therapy?
A.It is a type of music. |
B.It is a research about music. |
C.It is a kind of musical effect on diseases. |
D.It is the use of music method to help treat diseases. |
According to the second paragraph, we can know that ________.
A.music with different speeds has different effects |
B.quick music is not good for one’s health |
C.slow music can help one to think more calmly and slowly |
D.music will have less benefit after one stops listening |
The reason why music can help deal with stress is that ________.
A.it is used by many hospitals |
B.it can help change brainwaves |
C.it does good to breathing and heart rates |
D.it can bring a more positive state of mind |
According to the passage, music can help deal with all the following EXCEPT ________.
A.nervousness | B.mind illnesses |
C.strokes | D.high blood pressure |
信息匹配
首先,请阅读下面有关国外大学的介绍:
A. Lowton College
Situated in a pleasant area of the city close to river. Convenient for North Wales and the English Lake District.
● Courses in English run all year.
● Part-time courses available in the evenings / days.
● We will arrange accommodation with an English family.
B. Bristow College
The college is in the centre of Bristow.
● Full-time courses at all levels, beginners to advanced, from September to June.
● Visits arranged to places of interest.
● Excellent range of sports offered.
● Students arrange their own accommodation in flats and houses.
C. Shepton College
Situated in the centre of London close to underground and buses.
● Classes are offered all through the year.
● Daytime English courses up to ten hours per week. Evening classes of four
hours per week.
● Extra classes offered in English for Business.
● Accommodation in the college.
D. Howe College
The college is in the city centre, but near the North Yorkshire countryside and the sea.
● Classes run from September to June.
● Part-time and full-time courses from beginners to advanced (daytime only).
● Full-time courses in English with Business Studies.
● Trips arranged to places of interest.
● Help in finding a flat or room by the sea.
E. Daunston College
Daunston is a small town in the Midlands near pleasant countryside.
● Part-time and full-time classes available from September to June.
● Full-time summer school in August.
● Complete beginners (part-time only).
● Trips and other social events arranged regularly.
● Accommodation in the college or with families.
F. Exford College
Exford is beside the sea and surrounded by beautiful countryside.
● Courses at all levels, September to June (full-time).
● Summer schools (mornings only) during August.
● Full social programme including sports and hobby clubs provided by the
college.
● Students live in college rooms or with families.
请阅读以下求学者的信息,然后匹配求学者和他/她理想的大学:Marta wants a course in Business Studies and English, starting in September. She would prefer to be in a city, but wants a college which will organize visits, so she can see something of Britain.
John is a complete beginner. He wants to have plenty of free time to visit the countryside. He wants to live with a family.
Laura is looking for a full-time beginners’ course. She is fond of sports and wants to stay with a family.
Marek likes big cities. He hopes to find work during the day, so he is looking for an evening class. He also wants to have classes for business. He wants to live in the college.
Birgit knows some English already and wants a full-time course. She doesn’t want to live in the school and she wants to rent a flat.
Kenya is losing an average of 100 of its 2,000 lions each year because of growing human settlements, increasing farming, climate change and diseases, according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“Lions have a special place in Kenyans’ life,” said Paul Udoto, a spokesman for the organization. “Other than being the symbol of national strength, they are among the Big Five, a main attraction for visitors to Kenya.”
There were 2,749 lions in Kenya in 2002 and their population dropped to 2,280 by 2004 and to about 2,000 today, according to KWS figures.
“The fall of the lion population is worrying and every effort needs to be made to make sure that Kenya either protects its population of 2,000 lions at present or increases the numbers to an ecologically (生态上地) acceptable level,” said Mr. Udoto.
“There is no doubt that the numbers are in free fall. I’d be surprised if they even last as long as 20 years,” said Laurence Frank, project director of Living With Lions, a Kenya-based animal protection organization. “When I first came here 30 years ago, I would always hear lions roaring across the land at night and see their tracks in the morning. Now that is very rare.”
“The reason is simple. As the numbers of people grow and the numbers of cows increase, they take up much of the lion’s space. Alongside that there are other ways, including poisoning, to kill lions.”
Animal lovers are making a new strategy to save the animals. Part of the measures will include tracking lions fitted with radio collars (无线电项圈) in the Amboseli area in southern Kenya, close to the border with Tanzania.
Wildlife officials in Tanzania face similar challenges in protecting their lions, but there is far less human encroachment(侵犯) on the animals’ homeland there than in Kenya.The lion population is falling in Kenya for the following reasons EXCEPT __________.
A.climate change | B.too many visitors | C.disease | D.human activities |
In Paragraph 2, Paul Udoto wants to show __________.
A.the importance of lions in Kenya |
B.the tourist attractions in Kenya |
C.Kenyan’s special lifestyle |
D.Kenya’s national symbol |
We know from Laurence Frank’s words that __________.
A.lions are losing their attraction for visitors to Kenya |
B.the lion population will be controlled from now on |
C.lions will disappear within twenty years in Kenya if not protected |
D.more cows are needed to feed lions in Kenya |
What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Kenya is losing its Big Five. |
B.Kenyan wildlife is in danger. |
C.Lions face extinction in Kenya. |
D.Lions’ place in Kenyans’ life is falling. |
What will the following passage most probably talk about?
A.Lions’ past living condition in Kenya. |
B.Ways of improving lions’ condition. |
C.Radio collars tracing lions. |
D.Lions’ present living condition in Tanzania |
In many parts of the world, cars play an important role in daily life and many societies would not exist without them. So the idea that in 20 years’ time, no one will own cars may be hard to believe. But this is the prediction made by a team of transport researchers who are taken seriously, not only by government but also by car manufacturers.
The Human Science and Advanced Technology Institute at Loughborough in the UK is part of an international research program. The team there believes that by 2020 all cars will be computerized, which will mean much saving, no accidents and better use of roads. The super-intelligent car of the 21st century will drive itself, and it will not be owned by one individual. Instead, we will have a choice of cars and change them as frequently as we change our clothing.
According to Dr. David Davis , who leads the research team, these predictions are based on the rising cost of the car culture, which has blocked up our cities, polluted our air , and caused more deaths than both world wars put together.
Davis says, cars will be fitted with some intelligent devices to regulate the distance between one car and another. The car will automatically speed up, or slow down, to match the speed of the car in front. Computers are much safer drivers than people, so cars in a road train will be able to drive much closer together than cars driven by people.
By 2010, Dr. David Davis believes, car technology will give motorists a clear view of the road, whatever the weather conditions, by projecting an image of the road ahead on to the car’s windscreen. And by 2020, cars will travel in convoy, linked to each other electronically. Cars will be connected by an electronic tow bar to the car in front to form “road–trains”. “The front vehicle in such a train burns the normal amount.” says Davis. “But all the others in the train would burn about ten percent of the normal amount, and so produce about ten percent of the pollution.”We know from the passage that governments and car manufacturers _______
A.do not believe the prediction that no one will own cars by 2020 |
B.are devoted to the technological revolution in car industry |
C.consider the predictions seriously |
D.have put the super-intelligent car into mass production |
Which of the following will be the characteristic of the cars of 2020?
A.in line | B.sidelong | C.side by side | D.shoulder to shoulder |
What will happen if cars are joined to each other electronically in 2020?