When 18th-century scientists first came across Australia’s platypus(鸭嘴兽), they thought it was a trick. It is not surprising that the platypus made people confused. This funny-looking animal has feet and is a kind of warm-blooded mammal.
While other mammals usually keep their blood at around 37 degrees, the platypus has a lower body temperature of 32 degrees. As to its appearance, the platypus’mouth is not really like ducks’at all; its mouth actually looks a bit soft. The platypus closes its eyes when swimming. It uses its mouth to pick up outside information made by the creatures underwater.
Strangest of all, the platypus is a mammal that can lay eggs. And there is only one other kind of mammal that can lay eggs, the echidna (针鼹鼠) of Australia. Both the platy-pus and the echidna lay soft-shelled eggs, and both feed their young with their own milk that comes out of their skin. These animals also walk in a way that is similar to crocodiles(鳄鱼), with legs on the sides of their bodies rather than under them.
Though pretty, in a special way, the platypus is actually one of the few mammals that are poisonous. A male platypus has knife-like bones on its back legs which have enough poison to kill a dog.
The platypus has the honor of being one of the oldest mammals in the world. Until the early 20th century, it was hunted for its fur, but the situation has changed. Although the platypus is easily affected by pollution, it is not under any immediate threat. What can we learn about the platypus according to the text?
| A．It has a lower body temperature than other mammals. |
| B．It only closes its eyes when underwater. |
| C．It’s the only poisonous mammal in the world. |
| D．It feeds its young on wild animal meat. |
Which of the following is NOT used as a comparison with the platypus in the text?
| A．The crocodile. | B．The echidna. |
| C．The duck. | D．The dog. |
The following characteristics of the platypus have been described in the text EXCEPT ________.
| A．its natural enemy | B．its appearance |
| C．its walking pose | D．its daily diet |
We can infer from the last paragraph that the platypus _______.
| A．is hunted for its meat | B．is in danger of extinction |
| C．is endangered by air pollution | D．is well-protected now |
Which of the following would be the best title for this text?
| A．Platypus, a Trick? |
| B．Platypus, the Only Warm-Blooded Mammal |
| C．The Characteristics of Platypus |
| D．The Strange Mammal —Platypus。 |
Some people learn a second language easily. Others have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.
The second step is to practice your English. For example, write a diary every day. You will get used to writing it in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. Several weeks later, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it.
You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confident in yourself.【改编】In which way you can feel positive about learning English？
| A．You must be patient. |
| B．You should keep a record. |
| C．You should believe yourself. |
| D．You should make mistakes. |
【改编】 When you learn English, you need to____ .
| A．be patient |
| B．understand everything all at once |
| C．never write a diary |
| D．feel less confident in yourself |
【改编】 What does the passage want to tell us?
| A．It is very important to learn a second language. |
| B．Some people learn a second language easily while others do not. |
| C．Don’t worry about making mistakes when learning a second language. |
| D．There are some ways to help you learn a second language more easily. |
Johnny Smith was a good math student at a high school. He loved his computer. He came home early every day, then he worked with it till midnight. But Johnny was not a good English student, not good at all. He got an F in his English class. One day after school Johnny joined his computer to the computer in his high school office. The school office computer had the grades of all the students: the math grades, the science grades, the grades in arts and music, and the grades in English. He found his English grade. An F! Johnny changed his English grade from an F to A. Johnny' parents looked at his report card. They were very happy. "An A in English!" said Johnny's Dad. "You're a very clever boy, Johnny."
Johnny is a hacker. Hackers know how to take information from other computers and put new information in. Using a modem(调制解调器), they join their computers to other computers secretly.
School headmasters and teachers are worried about hackers. So are the police, for some people even take money from bank computer account(账户) and put it into their own ones. And they never have to leave home to do it! They are called hackers.
(210w)【改编】What did Johnny change at school？
| A．Math grade . | B．Science grade. |
| C．History grade. | D．English grade. |
【改编】 When Johnny's parents saw the report, they were___ .
| A．sad | B．angry |
| C．upset | D．happy |
【改编】What did school headmasters, teachers and the police worry in the text?
| A．Johnny's parents. | B．Hackers. |
| C．Students. | D．robber. |
A family in Guelph, Ontario is spending a year living “in 1982”. They’re doing it so their kids can see what life was like before technology like iPads, computers and even coffee machines was part of everyday life.
They have stopped using all technology from their home and are relying on the things people would have used back in the 80s. There is a box at the front door where people can put their cell phones in, while they’re visiting the family.
Blair McMillan and his wife Morgan want their kids—Trey, 5, and Denton, 2—to have a year without technology.
Instead of reading e-readers, they are reading books. Instead of using a GPS, they used paper maps. The home the family is living in was built in the 1980s. Even the way they dress and style their hair is from the 80s.
The whole idea started when young Trey was called to come outside. He didn’t because he was busy playing on the ipad. That’s why his dad thought of the idea of living “in 1982” for a year. The family plans to live like “it’s 1982” until April next year. To them, one of the hardest things was giving up their cell phone.【改编】 What will you do when you visit the family?
| A．The way you dress and must be from the 80s. |
| B．You must leave your cell phone at home. |
| C．You will put your cell phone outside before entering the room. |
| D．You can use the phone prepared by the family. |
【改编】How long do they live without technology？
| A．a year. | B．twenty years. |
| C．a month. | D．five years. |
【改编】To them,what is the hardest thing?
| A．Giving up reading e-readers |
| B．Give up GPS |
| C．The way they dress and style their hair is from the 80s |
| D．Give up cell phone |
One day Mr. Brown sees a young woman in the street with children. He is very surprised because all the children are wearing the same clothes. White caps, blue coats and yellow trousers.
“Are all these children yours?” he asks the woman.
“Yes, they are.” she answers.
“Do you always dress them in the same clothes ?” asks Mr. Brown.
“Yes,” answers the mother. “When we have four children, we dress them in the same clothes because we don’t want to lose any of them. It is easy to see our children among other children because they are all wearing the same clothes.
And now we have ten, we dress them like this because we don't want to take other children home by mistake. When there are other children among ours, it is easy to see them because their clothes are different.【改编】 How many children do Mr. Brown have？
| A．twelve | B．eleven | C．four | D．ten |
【改编】 Why are they in the same clothes,when they have four children？
| A．Because they don’t want to lose any of them. |
| B．She has so many children |
| C．They looks beautiful |
| D．It is easy to see their children among other children |
Why are they in the same clothes,when they have four children？
| A．Because she doesn’t want to take other children home by mistake. |
| B．They look clear. |
| C．Because she doesn’t want to lose any of them. |
| D．because she loves her children. |
Leadership is the most significant word in today’s competitive business environment because it directs the manager of a business to focus inward on their personal abilities and style. Experts on leadership will quickly point out that“how things get done”influences the success of the outcomes and indicates a right way and a wrong way to do things. When a noted leader on the art of management, Peter Drucker,coined the phrase“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things, he was seeking to clarify the distinctions he associates with the terms.
When Stephen Covey,founder and director of the Leadership Institute, explored leadership styles in the past decade, he focused on the habits of a great number of higllly effective individuals. His Seven Habits of Highly Effective People became a popular bestseller very quickly. His ideas forced a reexamination of the early leadership example, which centered on the feature that was found in the character ethic(道德)and the personality ethic. The former ethic suggested success was founded on modesty,loyalty,courage, patience, and so on. The personality ethic suggested it was one’s attitude, not behavior,that inspired success, and this ethic was founded on a belief of positive mental attitude. In contrast to each of these ideas, Covey advocates that leaders need to understand universal principles of effectiveness, and he highlights how vital it is for leaders to first personally manage themselves if they are to enjoy any hope of outstanding success in their work environments; To achieve a desired vision for your business, it is essential that you have a personal vision of where you are headed and what you value. Business leadership means that managers need to“put first things first,” which implies that before leading others, you need to be clear on your own values, abilities, and strengths and be seen as trustworthy.【改编】 What does the first passage infer?
| A．Leadership is doing the right thing. |
| B．Leaders should be good at doing things right. |
| C．Leaders should be good at ignoring distinctions. |
| D．Leaders needn't associate with the terms. |
【改编】What does Stephen Covey say?
| A．When people have little determination, they will be successful. |
| B．When people have good behaviour, they will gain success. |
| C．If people have positive mental attitude, they are likely to succeed. |
| D．If people have negative mental attitude, they are certain to succeed. |
【改编】 To be good leaders, what must managers pay close attention to?
| A．Universal principles of effectiveness． |
| B．Values，abilities and strengths． |
| C．Good qualities such as modesty． |
| D．Courage as well as patience． |