Culture helps human societies survive in changing natural environment．For example, the end of the last Ice Age, beginning about 15,000 years ago, brought a big challenge to which humans had to adapt．Before this time, large parts of the northern hemisphere were covered in great sheets of ice that contained much of the earth' s water．In North America, large animals that wandered the vast tundra （冰原） provided people with food and materials for clothing and simple shelters．When the earth became warm, large Ice Age animals disappeared, and many land areas were covered by rising sea levels from melting ice．But people survived, they developed new technologies and learned how to survive on new plant and animal species． Finally some people settled into permanent villages, durable houses and farms．
Cultural adaptation has made humans one of the most successful species on the planet． Through history, major developments in technology, medicine, and nutrition have allowed people to reproduce and survive in ever-increasing numbers．The global population has risen from 8 million during the Ice Age to about 6 billion today．
However, the successes of culture adaptation can also create problems in the long run．Over the last 200 years, people have begun to use large quantities of natural resources and energy and to produce a great amount of material and chemical wastes．The global population now consumes some important natural resources—such as petroleum, wood, and minerals—faster than nature can produce them．Many scientists believe that in the process of burning fuels and producing wastes, people may be changing the global climate in unpredictable and possibly harmful ways．Thus, the adaptive success of the present-day global culture of production and trade may be temporary．What is the first paragraph mainly talking about?
| A．How the human beings survived in the Ice Age． |
| B．What the situation was like during the Ice Age． |
| C．What caused the Ice Age to come to an end． |
| D．Why the Ice Age was very important． |
To deal with the problems, human beings should ______according to the passage．
| A．stop developing any longer |
| B．reduce the overuse of natural resources |
| C．stop the global warming and using natural resources |
| D．save more animals in case they all die out |
Which of the following is the problem caused by cultural adaptation according to the passage?
| A．A very developed culture came into being． |
| B．New technologies have been developed． |
| C．Natural resources have been used up． |
| D．Human activities have done damage to the balance of nature． |
Which of the following can be the best tide of the passage?
| A．Natural Environment Should Be Protected． |
| B．The Success of Cultural Adaptation Is Not Permanent． |
| C．The Global Population Is Increasing Since Ice Age． |
| D．Human Beings Are Capable of Surviving on Earth. |
You've heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit；now meet AGNES—the old person suit．
AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy(换位体验) System” and was designed by researchers at MIT's AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old．“The business of old age demands new tools，”said Joseph Coughlin，director of the AgeLab．“While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants，young marketers never get that‘Ah ha!’moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car．That’s what AGNES provides．”
Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise．Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance，while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility．Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists，and earplugs make it difficult to hear high—pitched sounds and soft tones．A helmet with straps(带)attached to it presses the spine(脊柱)，and more straps attached to the shoes decrease hamstring flexibility, and shortens the wearer's step．
AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker．By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person．Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies，car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer．
“AGNES is not the destiny of everybody,” he said．“She is a badly behaved lady who didn't eat and exercise very well．A secondary benefit we’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health．”AGNES has been developed to．
| A．make the users more comfortable |
| B．1et us understand old people better |
| C．help old people move more quickly |
| D．produce new tools for the old-age business |
“An updated walker”(underlined)most likely refers to．
| A．someone who travels a lot |
| B．a physically limited old person |
| C．some equipment that helps old people walk |
| D．a company whose service involves old people |
Which may be a fact resulting from the “secondary benefit” of AGNES?
| A．Young people respect old people． |
| B．Old-age business improves their service |
| C．Old people eat and exercise well． |
| D．Young people eat and exercise well． |
Sports Tickets
| Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles |
$20~$850 |
| Mon., Nov. 1st, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets |
$35~$1000 |
| Mon., Nov. 8th, 2011 4:15 P.M. |
Sam Diego Chargers vs. New York Giants |
$40~$1500 |
| Mon., Nov. 15th, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
Jacksonville Kaguars vs. New York Jets |
$21~$6100 |
| Mon., Nov. 22nd, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Giants |
$40~$19500 |
| Mon., Nov. 29th, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets |
$10~$12000 |
| Mon., Dec. 3rd, 2011 8:20 P.M. |
New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills |
$97~$800 |
Volunteers Wanted!
We conduct studies to evaluate new medications for sleep disorder．Both healthy adults and patients suffering from insomnia are sought to participate in these studies．
You may be qualified to take part as a healthy adult volunteer if you are aged 18 or over and are willing to have your sleep patterns recorded．Further, if you meet these standards and also suffer from a little sleep disorder you may be able to sign our register of patients．
Warnings:
☆ Always control your child when he is first learning to skateboard．To best assist a beginner, hold one of the child’s hands and guide him along a smooth and level surface．
☆ A safety helmet and elbow, wrist and knee pads must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．
☆ Sneakers must always be worn while your child is skateboarding．Don’t let your child skate in bare feet, sandals or any other open-toed shoes．
☆ Never let your child skateboard in the street．
☆ Never tow skateboarders with a bicycle or a car．
☆ Skateboard only in daylight．
Parents, there is a Tropical Paradise for kids too!
The Pacific Islands Club knows something others don’t．Kids are on holiday and they want to be pampered （纵容）, too．Our kids’ Club of PIC Guam is free of charge and has both indoor and outdoor activities ensuring a really great time to children aged 4 to 12．Open daily from 09: 00 a．m．．Clubmates will accompany children to all of the exciting play areas．They will also love to join the other children for the special meals we have prepared just for them．If you want to watch a play by New York Jets but pay the least money, you should go _____．
| A．Mon., Nov.15th, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
| B．Mon., Nov.1st, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
| C．Mon., Nov.29th, 2011 1:00 P.M. |
| D．Fri., Dec.3rd, 2011 8:20 P.M. |
While your child is skateboarding, you should_____．
| A．lead him by the hand all the time． |
| B．let him put on open-toed shoes |
| C．require him to skateboard at night |
| D．forbid him to skateboard at night． |
We know from the text that PIC Guam______．
| A．charges children the least money． |
| B．offers meals especially to children． |
| C．only has indoor activities． |
| D．gets children alone to go to all the play areas． |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．New York Giants participates in four matches in November, 2011． |
| B．You can be a volunteer if you suffer diet disorder． |
| C．Skateboarding without helmet and knee pads is unwise． |
| D．There are no meals provided in Pacific Islands Club． |
After spending a year in Brazil on a student exchange program, her mother recalled, Marie Colvin returned home to find that her classmates had narrowed down their college choices. “Everyone else was already admitted to college,” her mother, Rosemarie Colvin, said from the family home. “So she took our car and drove up to Yale and said, ‘You have to let me in.’”
Impressed—she was a National Merit(全国英才) finalist who had picked up Portuguese in Brazil—Yaledid, admitting her to the class of 1978, where she started writing for The Yale Daily News “and decided to be a journalist,” her mother said.
On Wednesday, Marie Colvin, 56, an experienced journalist for The Sunday Times of London, was killed as Syrian forces shelled the city of Homs. She was working in a temporary media center that was destroyed in the attack.
“She was supposed to leave Syria on Wednesday”, Ms. Colvin said. “Her editor told me he called her yesterday and said it was getting too dangerous and they wanted to take her out. She said she was doing a story and she wanted to finish it. ”
Ms. Colvin said it was pointless to try to prevent her daughter from going to conflict zones. “If you knew my daughter,” she said, “it would have been such a waste of words. She was determined, she was enthusiastic about what she did, it was her life. There was no saying ‘Don’t do this.’ This is who she was, absolutely who she was and what she believed in: cover the story, not just have pictures of it, but bring it to life in the deepest way you could.” So it was not a surprise when she took an interest in journalism, her mother said. From the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 we can infer that .
| A．Yale University was her last choice |
| B．Yale must keep its promise to Marie |
| C．Marie Colvin was confident of herself |
| D．Marie Colvin was good at persuading |
Marie Colvin’s story suggests some of the best qualities of being a journalist are .
| A．patience and confidence |
| B．honesty and curiosity |
| C．flexibility and creativity |
| D．determination and courage |
Which of the following is the correct order to describe Marie Colvin’s life?
a. She was doing a story in Syria and got killed.
b. She was admitted to Yale University.
c. She studied in Brazil as an exchange student.
d. She was hired by The Sunday Times of London.
e. She began to take an interest in journalism.
| A．d→e→c→a→b | B．c→b→e→d→a |
| C．e→d→c→b→a | D．b→c→d→e→a |
What can be the best title of the text?
| A．Covering Stories in a Dangerous Conflict Area |
| B．Applying for Top Universities, a Successful Case |
| C．Recalling Her Daughter, a Journalist Killed in Syria |
| D．Choosing Lifelong Careers Based on Your Own Interest |
TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TEENSGIVING?
TEENSGIVING is an exciting yearly event where hundreds of New York City teens gather together annually for a remarkable day of community service. This year, TEENSGIVING in SRING 2010 participants will once again better New York City and impact thousands of lives!
When is TEENSGIVING in SPRING2010?
SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2010
Where is TEENSGIVING?
All over New York City. Everyone will meet at the 92nd Street Y (92nd and Lexington) at 9:00 AM for the event kick-off. Then, all TEENSGIVING volunteers will disperse across the city to work with our partnering agencies where they will make a HUGE difference and have fun!
Who participates in TEENSGIVING?
Hundreds of teenagers from around the city. Teens come from the 92nd Street Y, various city schools, youth groups, and organizations in the area. In addition, many adult volunteers (aged 21 and older) will donate their time to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010.
What projects do participants do at the agencies?
Sample projects include painting park benches, plantinggardens,visitingand playing with underprivileged children, assembling craft kits for children in hospitals, assisting at animal shelters, working at soup kitchens, delivering meals and celebrating with families at homeless shelters.
Do I get anything for participating in TEENSGIVING?
Yes! Everybody benefits! Teen volunteers willreceive*6hours*ofcommunity service credit, goodtowardshonorsociety,highschoolgraduationandcollege application requirements. Adult volunteers will be “thanked” with a light breakfast, a gift certificatefor their troubles, and the satisfactionofhelping our city’s youth contribute to their community. In addition, all teen and adult volunteers will receive a cool TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2010 T-shirt.
This sounds awesome! How do I register for TEENSGIVING in SPRING2010? Interested teens and/or adults should e-mail the TEENSGIVING Coordinator Josh Hyman at jhyman@92Y.org(subjet:TEENSGIVING) to receive more information and to register for this fantastic event!
**Teenscanalsocontacttheirschool’sCommunityServiceAdvisor**
TEENSGIVINGissponsoredbythe92ndStreetY.TEENSGIVINGisaneventwhichisheld______.
| A．fromtimetotime | B．onceeveryyear |
| C．everytwoyears | D．twiceayear |
TeenagersmaydoallthefollowingintheeventEXCEPT____
| A．wateringflowers |
| B．cooking |
| C．cleaningstreets |
| D．takingcareofanimals |
Anadultvolunteermayget____forhistimedevotedtoTEENSGIVINGinSPRING2010.
| A．communityservicecreditandaT-shirt |
| B．ahighschoolcertificateandalightbreakfast |
| C．aT-shirtandagiftcertificate |
| D．agiftcertificateandcommunityservicecredit |
Thewriter’spurposeinwritingthispassageisto_______.
| A．informreadersofsomefrequentlyaskedquestions |
| B．introduceTEENSGIVINGinSPRING2010toreaders |
| C．encouragereaderstoaskmorequestionsaboutTEENSGIVING |
| D．callonreaderstoparticipateinTEENSGIVINGinSPRING2010 |
A few days ago I got a call from my old college friend whom I haven’t seen for a very long time. The topic, which was about all the good old times that we had changed to a touching story when he started talking about his father.
His father’s declining health made him stay at the hospital. Because of his illness, his father suffered from insomnia (失眠) and often talked to himself. My friend, who had not been able to sleep for a few days as he had to keep watching his father’s condition, became irritated and told his father to keep silent and try to get some sleep. His father said that he really wanted to sleep well because he was very tired and told my friend to leave him alone in the hospital if he did not want to keep him company.
After his father finished talking, he fell unconscious (失去知觉). My friend was very sorry for speaking the ill words towards his father. My friend, whom I knew as a tough person, cried as a baby on the other end of the telephone. He said that from that moment on, he prayed every day, asking God to let his father wake up from his coma. He promised himself that whatever words came out from his father’s mouth after he regained his consciousness, he would gladly take them. His only hope for God was to give him a chance to rectify his past mistake.
Often, we complain when we have to accompany or watch over our parents for years, months, days, hours or even minutes. But do we realize that our parents keep us company and watch over us for as long as we (or they) live? From the day we were born to our adulthood, and even when deaths come to us, they are always at our side.
Imagine how sad our parents will be when they hear a seemingly innocent word of “no” come out from our mouths. We can make promises to ourselves that from now on there will be no more complaints that come out from our mouths when we have to watch over or accompany our parents. No more complaints come out from our mouths when we feel that our parents have treated us like little children. There are so many unlucky ones who have neither fathers nor mothers. They long to have the things that we most complain about, but never have them.
Actually, it takes only a second to think and light the lamp that will bring us to a place where peace is dwelling.Which of the following word can be used to describe the writer’s friend?
| A．Sad | B．Sorry | C．Regretful | D．Pitiful |
What does the underlined word “rectify” mean in Para. 3?
| A．put…right | B．recite…by heart | C．realize | D．recognize |
What does the writer want to tell us in the passage?
| A．Your parents will keep talking to themselves when they are old. |
| B．Be good to your parents when you still have the chance. |
| C．You will regret in your life if you don’t show your kindness to your parents. |
| D．It is not easy to take good care of sick old parents. |