Do you scream on a roller coaster ride? You slowly climb up a steep slope until an almost vertical(垂直的) drop, and then... Ahhhhhhhh! Thrill-seekers like me are in luck because theme parks are pushing the boundaries of technology to create the fastest, tallest, scariest roller coasters the world has ever known.
Alton Towers in Britain opened the world's first 14-1oop roller coaster a few months ago, called The Smiler. Over in Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World claims to have the world's fastest one. Ferrari World's Formula Rossa ride sends out passengers from 0-240km/h in just 4. 9 seconds. During this rapid acceleration they experience G-forces only fighter pilots usually feel: Up to 4. 8G. The designer of several rides at Alton Towers, said: "While we can stand 6-8Gs for very short periods of time, ff we experience 5G for more than five seconds we're likely to "black out."
On modern roller coasters passengers experience about 3G in tight turns and loops. But while we may have reached the limit in terms of G-forces, there is no technological limit to how fast or how high roller coasters can go---it's all down to money. Alton Towers' The Smiler cost ~18m to build.
Some companies are finding other ways to keep us amused. There's a move towards indoor rides where the experience is improved by audio-visual technologies. For example, a company called Dynamic Structures is currently developing a "coal-mine-themed" ride for a client in Dubai that will combine speed and G-forces with 3D projection effects and robotics, which will trick your brain into thinking you're really falling.
I can't wait to enjoy this one. What about you: Do you like being upside down?The underlined phrase "black out" in the second paragraph probably means .... .
A.stop breathing | B.lose consciousness for a short time |
C.lose memory forever | D.bleed to death |
We can learn from the passage that __
A.all the theme parks are creating the fast roller coasters |
B.the Smiler sends out passengers from 0-240km/h in just 4.9 seconds |
C.it is unusual for fighter pilots to feel up to 4.8G |
D.the more the money is spent, the faster the roller coaster can go |
The feature of the "coal-mine-themed" ride is
A.3Dtechnologies | B.indoor rides | C.G-forces | D.dynamic structures |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.The Fastest Roller Coaster | B.The Smiler and G-forces |
C.Screaming for Fun | D.The New Technology |
C
In many businesses, computers have largely replaced paperwork, because they are fast, effective(高效的), and do not make mistakes.As one banker said, “Unlike humans, computers never have a bad day.” And they are honest.
Many banks advertise that their work is “untouched by human hands” and therefore safe from human attack. Computers have no reason to steal money. But they also have no sense, and the growing number of computer crimes (犯罪) shows they can be used to steal.
Computer criminals don’t use guns. And even if they are caught, it is hard to punish them because there are no witness (证人) and often no proof (证据). A computer cannot remember who used it and simply does what it is told. The head teller(出纳) at a New York City bank used a computer to steal more than one and a half billion dollars in just four years. No one noticed this because he moved the money from someone else’s account (帐目).This man was caught only because he was a gambler (赌徒). When the police broke up a gambling group, his name was in the records.
Some workers use the computer’s power to get revenge(报复)on bosses they consider unfair. Recently, a large company fired its computer assistant (助手) for reasons that were connected with her personal rather than her professional(职业的)life. She was given thirty days’ notice. In those thirty days, she got rid of all the company’s computerized records.
Most computer criminals have been workers in low position. Now police wonder if this is “the tip of the iceberg(冰山)”. As one of the officials says, “I have a feeling that there are more crimes out there than we are catching. What we are seeing now is all so poorly done. I wonder what the real experts are doing — the ones who really know how a computer works.”
69. Which character of computers makes computer crimes possible﹖
A. Computers are fast, effective and exactly correct.
B. Computers always feel good.
C. Computers have no sense.
D. Computers are honest.
70. It is hard to catch computer criminals because_________.
A. computers forget who used them
B. computer criminals seldom bear witness or leave proof
C. computer criminals don’t use guns
D. computers simply do what they are told
71. A certain head teller(出纳) at a New York bank was caught when _________.
A. his name was found in gambling records
B. he was replacing the missing money from someone else’s account
C. a customer (顾客) questioned the balance in his account
D. a customer asked the police for help
72. Which is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Computers can be used to steal.
B. Sometimes, computers can be used to punish somebody.
C. We need someone who knows computer very well.
D. Computers can do the things it is told.
B
In 1943, during the Second World War the body of an English man, William Martin, was discovered off the Spanish coast. The papers he has been carrying were returned to England, where they were carefully examined. They had clearly been changed and that was exactly what the British had hoped would happen, for Martin was a trick designed to fool the Germans.
Martin did not exist. The body was that of a sailor who looked as though he had died when his boat sank, but in fact he had been ill and died. Leaving the boat to go down, his parents allowed the dead body to be put into the sea near Spain. It was hoped that the Germans would find it and read the fake(假的)papers he carried.
The papers said that the British would attack the island of Sardinia, when in fact they planned to attack the island of Sicity. The trick was successful. When the British landed on Sicity, most of the heavy German guns had been moved to defend(保卫) Sardinia.
65._______ put the papers on the dead man.
A. The British B. German spies C. Spanish soldiers D. William Martin
66. When the Germans found William Martin they probably thought he _________.
A. was a British spy with important information about the war
B. was killed by the British soldiers
C. died of an illness
D. had the fake papers of the British Army
67. When the British found out the papers were changed they concluded _________.
A. Martin did exist B. Martin was a German spy
C. the Germans had read the papers D. They should attack Sardinia
68. Which of the order is right according to this passage? __________.
a. The Germans found the dead at sea.
b. The British decided to use the dead body to fool the Germans.
c. The British planned to attack Sicily.
d. The papers on Martin was brought to London to be examined.
e. The Germans found the fake papers on the dead body.
f. The Germans decided to defend Sardinia.
g. The Germans believed the papers.
A. c.b.a.e.g.f.d. B.c.a.b.d.g.f.e. C. a.c.b.g.f.e.d. D.b.c.a.g.e.f.d.
Ⅳ、阅读理解(满分30分)
A
A diner in a very splendid restaurant started to take off his jacket, seeing this, the head waiter dashed over to his table and said, “I’m afraid I must ask you to keep your jacket on, sir, for it is not good manners to do it in such a smart restaurant.”
“Now listen”, said the diner. “I’ll let you know that the Queen of England gave me permission to remove my jacket here.”
“The Queen of England ?” said the waiter in great surprise.
“Sure”, replied the diner, “when I was in England last month, a friend of mine who had a very important position in high society took me to see the Queen. It was rather hot so I started taking my coat off. The Queen looked over and said, “you may do that in the United State, but you may not do it here.” So I got the Queen’s permission, right?”
61.It can be sure that the story happened ____.
A.in England B.in the Queen’s palace.
C.in America D.in an ordinary restaurant
62.The diner thought he could take off his jacket because ___.
A.he was permitted by the Queen of England to do so in the U. S.
B.the weather was so hot that no one could stand it.
C.He had the freedom of taking off his clothes anywhere.
D.He was in such a shabby(破旧的) restaurant.
63.What the Queen really meant was that _____.
A.people in the U. S. were less polite.
B.he shouldn’t take off his coat in such a formal occasion in England.
C.she permitted him to take off his jacket in America.
D.the English and the Americans enjoyed different ways of life.
64.What do you think of the diner? I think he was ____.
A.a person who had excellent understanding.
B.One who didn’t have good understanding.
C.Such a man as used to make trouble.
D.Always ready to do what the Queen told him to.
Elizabeth Blackwell was born in England in 1821, and moved to New York City when she was ten years old. One day she decided that she wanted to become a doctor. That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. After writing many letters asking for admission(录取) to medical schools, she was finally accepted by a doctor in Philadelphia. She was so determined that she taught school and gave music lessons to get money for the cost of schooling.
In 1849, after graduation from medical school. she decided to further her education in Paris. She wanted to be a surgeon(外科医师) , but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea.
Upon returning to the United States, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. By 1857 Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children Besides being the first woman physician and founding her own hospital , she also set up the first medical school for women.
66. Why couldn’t Elizabeth Blackwell realize her dream of becoming a surgeon?
A. She couldn’t get admitted to medical school
B. She decided to further her education in Paris
C. A serious eye problem stopped her
D. It was difficult for her to start a practice in the United States
67. What main obstacle(障碍) almost destroyed Elizabeth’s chances for becoming for a doctor?
A. She was a woman.
B. She wrote too many letters.
C. She couldn’t graduate from medical school.
D. She couldn’t set up her hospital.
68. How many years passed between her graduation from medical school and the opening of her hospital?
A. Eight years B. Ten years C. Nineteen years D. Thirty-six years
69. According to the passage, all of the following are “firsts” in the life of Elizabeth Blacekwell except that she ______.
A. became the first woman physician
B. was the first woman doctor
C. and several other women founded the first hospital for women and children
D. set up the first medical school for women
70. Eilzabeth Blackwell spent most of her lift in _______.
A. England B. Paris C. the United States D. New York City
A young British sailor was missing at sea yesterday in similar circumstances(情况)to the way his father died five years ago.
The dinghy(救生橡皮船),used to take Richard Smith,21,to his yacht(快艇),was discovered empty, floating in seas off the Caribbean island.An air and sea search was carried out but he has still not been discovered.
Richard’s mother, Bicknell,said from her home in Hampshire,“It’s so much coincidence.Richard always carried a photograph of his father attached to a poem,which included the date of his disappearance.”
“Now, it’s very strange because all they have found is Richard’s dinghy.We need to know this time what has happened one way or another.If you know at least you can go through the grieving process(悲痛的过程).”
In November 1996,Mr. Smith’s father, Charlie,was sailing in the Tasmen sea between the Australian mainland and the island of Tasmen with his new wife.They lost radio contact with the shore and they, together with their yacht were never seen again,and their disappearance remains a mystery.
Richard is described a talented(有才能的)and experienced sailor who has crewed for the champion ocean racer.He had sailed to the。Caribbean in November to crew ocean racing yachts for entertainment.He ended the evening drinking in the Abracbabra bar but left after local police closed it for being too noisy.
About 2 am the following day Richard headed back for his dinghy.He started its outboard motor before giving all elderly woman a lift to her yacht after her dinghy had gone missing.It was the last time he was seen.
61.Riehard Smith was in 2000.
A.ten B.fifteen C.twenty D.eighteen
62.People searched for Richard using.
A.ship only B.ship and radio C.ship and plane D.yacht and car
63.According to the passage,we know Richard died because.
A.he was a green hand in sailing
B.some unknown animal attacked him
C.that was a maze in the area he was sailing
D.of something we don’t know
64.Which statement is NOT true according to this passage?
A.Young Smith had lost radio contact with the shore before he died.
B.Richard’s father had married two women at least.
C.Richard didn’t drink on the evening before he was lost because the
policeman closed the bar.
D.Richard was seen at about 2 am the day he disappeared.
65.The writer tells us.
A.a story about two heroes B.a piece of news about a merchant ship
C.a coincidenceD.the dying process of Richard