Scientists at Royal Holloway, University of London and Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that bees learn to fly the shortest possible route between flowers even if they discover the flowers in a different order. Bees are effectively solving the “traveling salesman problem”, and they are the first creatures found to do this.
The traveling salesman must find the shortest route that allows him to visit all locations on his route. Computers solve it by comparing the length of all possible routes and choosing the shortest, and it can keep computers busy for days. However, bees solve it without computer assistance using a brain the size of grass seed. Dr. Nigel Raine, from the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway explains, “Bees solve traveling salesman problems every day. They visit flowers at multiple locations and because bees use lots of energy to fly, they find a route which keeps flying to a minimum. ”
The team used the computer to control artificial flowers to test whether bees would follow a route defined by the order in which they discovered the flowers or if they would find the shortest route. After exploring the location of the flowers, bees quickly learned to fly the shortest route.
As well as improving our understanding of how bees move around the landscape pollinating(授粉)crops and wild flowers, this research, which is due to be published in The American Naturalist, has other applications. Our lifestyle relies on networks such as traffic on the roads, information flow on the Web and business supply chains. By understanding how bees can solve their problems with such a tiny brain, we can improve our management of these everyday networks without needing lots of computer time. Dr. Raine adds, “Despite their tiny brains, bees are capable of extraordinary feats of behavior. We need to understand how they can solve the traveling salesman problem without a computer. ” What would be the best title of the passage?
A.Bees help salesmen travel |
B.Tiny-brained bees solve a complex mathematical problem |
C.How bees discover the flowers |
D.How to solve the “traveling salesman problem” |
We may infer from the second paragraph that the “traveling salesman problem” .
A.can be solved by a computer easily |
B.can’t even be solved by a computer |
C.can puzzle both people and computers |
D.remains to be solved by scientists |
The main purpose of the last paragraph is to .
A.provide further proof for the research |
B.tell us how bees can fly the shortest route between flowers |
C.tell us how the research about bees’ flying route was conducted |
D.explain the importance of the research |
It can be concluded from the passage that .
A.all creatures are smarter than computers |
B.the research about bees’ flying route can be applied to many fields |
C.our networks are more complex than bees’ ones |
D.with the help of the computer we can find out how bees can solve the “traveling salesman problem” |
B
Live the ‘American Dream’
What is it: Work & Travel USA
Who are qualified: Full-time college students, above 18 years old
About the program: Application for the 2009 Work & Travel USA program has just started. It's an 8~16 weeks' summer program for college students to work and travel in the US. Employers include Boeing, Hilton Hotel and 7-Eleven. For next summer, about 3,500 positions are open to Chinese students. Applicants must pass a language test and sometimes an interview, and pay a registration fee to join the program.
source: www. Cultureexchange. org)
Hundreds needed by Volkswagen
What is it: Shanghai Volkswagen jobs
Who are qualified: College students graduating in 2009
About it: Shanghai VW offers over 300 positions from engineering to marketing to college students graduating in 2009. Applicants should have an excellent academic record, CET-6 or the same level language certificate in German, and good computer skills. Campustalks will take place in Shanghai, Changchun, Harbin, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanjing, Beijing and Xi’ an from October.
(source: campus, chinahr. com/2009/pages/csvw)
Xiaonei looking for graduates
What is it: Oak Pacific Interactive (OPI) internships(实习)
Who are qualified: College juniors and first-year post graduate students
About it: OPI is now offering internship positions for test-engineer, development-engineer and assistant to the director of corporate culture. For engineering positions, candidates should major in computer science or a related field, have communication ability and be familiar with various development languages. For assistant to the director positions, candidates should be adept in document writing, activities organizing and office software.
(source: campus. xiaonei. com)
60. These advertisements are most probably advertisements .
A. on the Internet intended for the general public to read
B. in a newspaper intended for large companies to read
C. on the Internet intended for college students to read
D. in a newspaper intended for college students to read
61. The opportunity of______is offered only to college students graduating in 2009.
A. working in America B. traveling in America
C. positions in VW D. OPI internship
62. If you want to apply for assistant to the director positions, you must__________
A. be good at document writing B. study computer science
C. have communication ability D. be familiar with various languages
第三部分: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、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
A
Sri Lankan police made an appeal for the public to donate their pet dogs to help the fight against terrorism and crime on the war – torn island.
“Make your pet a hero-to detect terrorism and make our motherland Sri Lanka a country with a new facelift,” the police department said in a public notice carried by the state-run Daily News.
It said that donated dogs should be between six months and two years old and must have an impressive pedigree(血统). German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, Dalmatians, Cocker Spaniels and Doberman Pinschers are preferred.
Chief Inspector Lal Senavirathne said 25 people donated their pets, but only 18 dogs could be enlisted as the others did not meet the recruitment. He said the dogs would be trained to identify explosives, search for buried mines, sniff down drugs, deal with criminals and even perform tricks for the public. The dogs will retire after serving a maximum period of eight years and will be returned to their original owners.
“We already have 170 dogs deployed in 30 units, including the operational area or conflict areas in the island’s north and east”, Senavirathne told AFP by telephone from his headquarters in the central town of Kandy.
He said it was the first time they were making a public appeal because of pressure on the police kennels(养狗场), which usually import about half of their annual requirement.
“This time, we hope to enlist about 50 dogs. They will be given six months extensive training and another six months on the job,” he said. “Thereafter they will be officially called Police Dogs.”
Sri Lanka’s dog population is about 2.3 million while it has 19.5 million people, and about 20,000 to 30,000 people are annually treated for homeless dog bites.
56. What did the police mainly want people to do?
A. Offer their dogs to be Police Dogs. B. Stop their dogs from biting people.
C. Take care not to lost their dogs. D. Give their dogs good training.
57. To meet the requirements, .
A. the dog’s age must be within a certain range
B. the dogs must be ready for a lifelong job
C. the dogs must be of the same type
D. the dogs must be experienced
58. What can we infer from the passage?
A. The number of dogs in the country is reasonable.
B. Dogs will begin working immediately chosen.
C. Many dogs in the country are left uncared for.
D. The country’s public order is very satisfying.
59. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Pet Dogs Want Training B. The Shortage of Pet Dogs
C. Pet Dogs Can Help People D. Pet Dogs Needed by the Country
信息匹配(共5小题;每小题2分,满分10分)
请阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。
首先,请阅读下列不同类型汽车的信息:
A.Toyota Electron - 2006 (new): Toyota's new car is both powerful and economical. Using a combination of fuel and electricity this car will not only save money on petrol bills, but it will also save the environment. Has air conditioner and leather seats. Price: $17,500 |
B.BMW Series 7 - 2006 (new): Judged the "Car of Year" by Wheels Magazine this is the best high-class car on the market. It is big enough for 5 people but is smooth and fast. Has all the latest safety equipment and computer mapping system. Price: $84,900 |
C.Porsche 911 - 2006 (new): This newest Porsche is packed with the latest safety equipment and engine technology. It can hold 2 people and the roof can come down automatically for you to enjoy the fresh air. Has DVD entertainment system and computer mapping system. Price: $72,000 |
D.Chrysler Minibus - 2005 (second-hand): With its unique seating design, this vehicle can hold up to 14 people. Silver outside with black leather inside and in excellent condition. |
Has 2 automatic sliding doors plus DVD entertainment system. Price: $19,200
E.Ford Fairlane - 1998 (second-hand): With a traditional Ford design, this car is dark blue and is an ideal second car for the family. Mechanically in good condition. Has air-conditioner and CD player. Price: $6,900
F.Honda Civic - 1996 (second-hand): This small, white, two-door car is easy to park and cheap to run. Inside and outside both in excellent condition. It uses very little fuel and is the perfect car for city driving. Has CD player. Price: $2,500
请阅读下列购车者的信息,然后匹配购车者与拟购买的汽车:
Robert Anderson. Robert has just been appointed the manager of a large international company. He wants to get a car that will impress his business colleagues yet is also suitable for transporting his wife and three children.
Julie Sunderland. Julie has recently moved into the city where she is studying. She needs a car that is cheap to buy and run so she can get to university and to her part-time job.
Bill Woodward. Bill is the coach of the local football team and needs a car that can take the players and equipment to and from their games.
Mary Alderson. Mary's rich dad promised he would buy her a new car for graduating from university. She wants something that is safe, that will allow her to enjoy listening to music and show off to her friends.
Kate Power. Kate needs to get a car to travel to her new job. But she feels guilty about the pollution she will cause so she wants a car that will do the least amount of harm to the environment.
(C)
Most American students said goodbye to expensive fruits these days. In school canteens across the country, cheaper fruits like apples and oranges heave replaced them. “People are afraid to spend now” said Linda Morrow, who owns a shoe and handbag store. “They basically don’t know what the future will bring and keep waiting till after the Presidential Election.”
The current financial crisis(金融危机), during which several of the country’s biggest banks have been forced to sell or close, has made lots of Americans unwilling to buy expensive goods.
Samira Martino, a restaurant owner in Miami, found everyone is ordering water instead of juice and more people are sharing meals. In more than two dozen interviews with the Associated Press across the country last month, American talked about their concerns, from worries about small businesses to doubts about simply making ends meet.
The crisis began last year. Experts blame it on U.S. banks lending money too easily. A lot of people and companies, who borrowed money, have found themselves unable to pay it back. This left the banks, as well as the people who put their money in the banks, without money. Since the banks borrowed money between themselves and even across borders, the whole world’s financial markets were involved.
This month the U.S. government agreed on a $ 700 billion plan to try to save the financial market. But a turn-around(转机) is not sure. President George W. Bush has warned it will take some time for the full effects of the plan to take hold in an economy that has had a world of trouble.
Last week top finance officials from 20 major economies promised to work together to find a way out of the money trouble. They believe the current crisis is the worst since the Great Depression in 1929. And they all think international cooperation is the key to solve it.
51. From the first paragraph, we can infer that______
A. apples and oranges become more expensive
B. people are worrying about the Election
C. people are expecting a turn-around after the Election
D. expensive fruits are in short supply in American markets
52. Samira Martino’s restaurant is mentioned in the passage in order to ______
A. show that people cut down their expenses.
B. attract more people to come to his restaurant
C. show how hard he is trying to run his business
D. encourage people to start businesses like him
53. What is the cause of the current financial crisis of America?
A. The Presidential Election
B. U.S. banks lending money too easily.
C. The decreasing economy.
D. America’s rapid development.
54. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Many students can not eat expensive fruits in school canteens.
B. Americans are very worried about their lives.
C. The international cooperation is most needed.
D. The current financial crisis is the worst in American history.
55. This passage mainly talks about______
A. the terrible life of Americans
B. the situation of the financial crisis
C. the way to go through the crisis
D. the world financial market
(B)
Last week, while visiting my dad with my daughter, we went to a restaurant for dinner. When we were seated, my dad asked the waitress if there were any soldiers eating at the restaurant. Then waitress said there was a soldier having dinner with his friend. My dad told the waitress to tell the soldier and his friend that their dinner was paid for! He also said that he did not want to be known as the benefactor(施主).
Then waitress later commented on my dad’s thoughtful behavior saying that she had never seen anything like this before. At a local college, she had studied opera and so she used this to thank my dad by performing a piece from The Pearl Fisherman. Her voice brought me to tears because it sounded perfect!
After a while, the soldier appeared at our table (I don’t know how he knew my dad paid the bill for him.) and said that he would be sent to the front the next morning and that he could not leave this country without saying “thanks” to my dad. My dad replied that it was he who wanted to say “thanks”. They shook hands as the soldier left.
Before we left, the waitress came by again. She did a magic show as another way to show her “thanks” to my dad. Her show was really great. My dad left her a note with email address asking for her next performance time in addition to a $ 50 tip.
Everyone witnessed something exemplary in the human spirit that night. I can only hope to see more of this in the future.
46. My dad offered help to the soldier and his friend in the restaurant probably because________.
A. he wanted to thank them for all they had done
B. he wanted to know more about then
C. he wanted the waitress to thank him
D. he wanted the soldiers to know his kindness
47. The waitress performed The Pearl Fisherman in the restaurant because____.
A. she was asked to perform to the guests
B. she wanted to show off her wonderful skills
C. she wanted to show her respect and thanks to the author’s dad
D. she wanted to attract more and more guests
48. What did the soldier do in response to the author’s father’s kindness?
A. He gave something to author’s dad.
B. He gave a big tip to the waitress.
C. He said thanks to the author’s dad in person.
D. He did a magic show for the author and her father.
49. The author considered her father’s action to be ____.
A. funny B. understandable C. worthless D. honorable
50. The passage mainly tells us that we should ____.
A. learn to be grateful to others B. find ways to thank others
C. try to learn from each other D. respect soldiers and waitresses