People are being lured (引诱) onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they’re paying for it by giving up large amounts of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.
Most Facebook users don’t realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they’re paying for Facebook because people don’t really know what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook — you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things — your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default (默认) to be shared with everyone on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don’t share information, they have a “less satisfying experience”.
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they’re online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April, Senator(议员) Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. “I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them,” Schrage admits.
I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy is only the beginning, which is why I’m considering deactivating(撤销) my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I’m upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don’t know. That’s too high a price to pay.What do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph?
| A．It is a website that sends messages to targeted users. |
| B．It makes money by putting on advertisements. |
| C．It profits by selling its users’ personal data. |
| D．It provides loads of information to its users. |
What does the author say about most Facebook users?
| A．They are reluctant to give up their personal information. |
| B．They don’t know their personal data enriches Facebook. |
| C．They don’t identify themselves when using the website. |
| D．They care very little about their personal information. |
Why does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage?
| A．To provide better service to its users. |
| B．To follow the Federal guidelines. |
| C．To improve its users’ connectivity. |
| D．To expand its scope of business. |
What does Senator Charles Schumer advocate?
| A．Setting guidelines for advertising on websites. |
| B．Banning the sharing of users’ personal information. |
| C．Formulating(制订) regulations for social-networking sites. |
| D．Removing ads from all social-networking sites. |
Why does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account?
| A．He is dissatisfied with its current service. |
| B．He finds many of its users untrustworthy. |
| C．He doesn’t want his personal data abused. |
| D．He is upset by its frequent rule changes. |
Whenever we turn on the TV or radio, read the newspapers, surf the Internet, we'll be surrounded by the word "diet" everywhere. We have so easily been attracted by the promise of diet products that we have stopped thinking about what diet products are doing to us. We are paying for products that harm us psychologically（心理上地）and physically.
It's obvious that diet products weaken us psychologically. They allow us to jump over the thinking stage that our weight problems lie not in actually losing the weight, but in controlling the consumption of fat. All we have to do is to swallow or recognize the word "diet" in food labels.
What's more, diet products have greater psychological effects. Every time we have a zero-calorie drink, we are telling ourselves that we don't have to work to get results．Diet products make people believe that gain comes without pain, and that life can be without resistance and struggle.
As a matter of fact, the danger that diet products bring not only lies in the psychological effects they have on us, but also in the physical harm they cause. Diet foods and diet pills contain zero calorie. oaly because the diet industry has created chemicals to produce these wonder products, And they can indirectly harm our bodies because consuming them instead of healthy foods means we are stopping our bodies having basic nutrients. Diet products may not be nutritional, and the chemicals that go into diet products are potentially dangerous.
Losing weight lies in the power of minds, not in the power of chemicals. Think twice before buying diet products. Once we realize this, we will be much better able to resist diet products, 3rd therefore, prevent the psychological and physical harm that comes from using them.From Paragraph 1，we learn that
| A．diet products are in our daily life |
| B．people have trouble choosfng diet products |
| C．people should put up with diet products |
| D．diet products are misleading people |
The psychological effect of diet products is that people tend to
| A．hesitate before they enjoy diet foods |
| B．pay attention to their daily diet |
| C．watch their weight rather than their diet |
| D．try out varieties of diet foods |
The underlined part in Paragraph 3 probably means
| A．diet products cause no pain |
| B．it costs a lot to.lose weight |
| C．losing weight is effortless |
| D．diet products are free of fat and calories |
Diet products indirectly harm people physically because such products
| A．are over-consumed | B．are short of basic nutrients |
| C．lack chemicals | D．provide too much energy |
Leon, 12, was born without fingers on his left hand.That didn't -stop him from being able to do many tasks. But Leon could not grasp more than one object at a time. So Leon's father, Paul, created a prosthesis(假肢），using a 3D printer. Now Leon has fingers that open and close."It was a do-it-yourself, father and son adventure," says raw.
When Leon was a baby, his doctor advised his parents not to give him a prosthetic hand until he was in his early teens. "The doctor said Leon should first learn to get full use out of the hand he was born with," says Paul. As Leon got older, his father looked into buying a prosthetic hand, which can cost as much as $30,000. Paul found a more affordable solution.
One day, Paul discovered a video on the Internet about Robohand, a prosthesis created with a 3Dprinter. He downloaded the free instructions and called Robohand's creators for advice. They told him all he needed was a 3D printer一which costs around $2,000- and some materials.
Luckily, Leon's school had recently purchased a 3D printer and it offered to help Paul build the hand for Leon.“We used a soccer shin guard（护胫），cardboard, and tape. They cost about＄10," says Paul.
With his new hand, Leon can do things better. "I can help my mom more, because now I can carry two grocery bags,”he says.
Leon's father has already built .several hands for Leon. Leon helps design each one. He says there's one thing in particular that he wants to do with a future prosthesis.“The goal," he tells the
reporter from the local evening paper,“is to be able to tie my shoelaces:'Why did Leon's doctor disapprove of his using a prosthesis in his childhood?
| A．The prosthetic technology was underdeveloped then. |
| B．A prosthesis was very expensive at that time. |
| C．To master the disabled hand was important. |
| D．The original hand could do many tasks. |
Leon's father managed to get Leon a new hand by
| A．collecting money on the Internet. |
| B．buying a prosthetic hand |
| C．purchasing a 3D printer |
| D．printing a hand |
The materials used for Leon's hand can be described as
| A．cheap and common | B．strange and valuable |
| C．personal and lovely | D．basic and solid |
Where can the passage be taken from?
| A．An advertisement | B．A newspaper |
| C．A poster | D．A travel guide |
Class 101
This class is intended for adolescents to learn social skills all of us need. We'll cover everythingfrom how to begin conversations with strangers to ways of calming your nerves when you do. You'lllearn what makes some people more popular than others and simple things you can do to feel morelike you fit it.
Place: Karman Executive Center, Bellevue
Time: From 6:30 PM to 8:30PM, on Saturday in MayFee:＄135.00 includes workbooksClass 102
We design this class to help to get over fears. In this class, we'll cover the basics--- the origins ofshyness, strategies for focusing on the kind of shyness your child experiences, social skills you canteach in your home, and tips for working with teachers to help your child fit in at school.
Place: Karman Executive Center, Bellevue
Time: From 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, on Sunday in May
Fee: $85.00
Class 103
Do you find yourself searching for something to say when you meet someone new in your work?
Then why not ,join us in learning the secret of successful conversation? In this fun-filled evening,
we'll demystify(深入浅出地解释)the art of conversation and practice some easy techniques to put
yourself and others at ease.
Place: North Campus, Bellevue
Time: 6:30PM to 9:30PM on Thursday, May 23rd
hee: $49.00
C1ass 104
If a student wants to be popular with others, he or she should choose ．
| A．Class 101 | B．Class 104 |
| C．Class 102 | D．Class 103 |
The class that can help a child to improve their EQ costs ．
| A．＄135,00 | B．85.00 | C．＄59.00 | D．$ 49.00 |
We can learn from the text that
A，most of the classes are given in the same building
B. all of the classes are given on weekends
C.all the classes are given in May
D. fees for most classes include workbooks
My father and I started our morning by moving quickly into the local store. I waited in the line a the Starbucks counter while he shopped around to pick up a few things.
As I was starting there I become aware of an elderly women, with untidy hair,wearing layers upon layers of old clothing, hunchbacked(弯背的) behind me in line. She had a few things for washing and seemed to want the Starbucks cashier to ring up since that queue was shorter than the queues in the store.
At some point I became aware of her edging (慢慢挪动) closer behind me — closer than I was comfortable with! I instinctively (本能地) placed a hand over my purse and drew it close to me. My fear and imagination raced creating wild stories about this homeless woman who might try to steal from me.
Then it was my turn to order. As the cashier rang Ypsilanti my total, I discovered I was 67 cents short. I called my father but he was hard of hearing. He asked me to repeat what I said but he still couldn’t make me out. At that point, a long, grey arm, with holes in its sleeves, reached over from behind me. She laid 67 cents out on the counter, saying, "Here, we all need some help sometimes. "
I was stunned! Here was a woman who clearly had very little to give and was i n great need herself. I had judged her wrongly and she had offered to reach out to help me!
What an amazing gift and lesson this woman gave me about judging others! Thank you, God!From the passage, we can learn that the elderly women _________.
| A．probably lived a poor life |
| B．tried to steal money from the writer |
| C．always followed close behind the writer |
| D．often went to the store to buy a few things. |
The elderly woman decided to help the writer_____________.
| A．the moment she saw the writer |
| B．when she noticed the writer watching her |
| C．after the writer failed to get help from her father |
| D．when the writer discovered she was 67 cents short |
The underline word "stunned " in paragraph 5 probably means "_________ ".
| A．happy | B．surprised |
| C．angry | D．disappointed |
What lesson does the writer learn from the story?
| A．We should look at things from two sides. |
| B．It’s wise to give help to those in need. |
| C．The world is full of love and surprises. |
| D．Never judge a person from his appearance. |
Many people turn to doctors or self-help books, but they forget a great thing that could help them fight illness: their friends.
Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship in health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the danger for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties(关系) could improve brain health as we age.
"In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’t well realized, " said Rebecca, a professor at the University of North Carolina. "Friendship has a bigger effect on our psychological (心理的) health than family relationships. "
While many friendship studies are about the close relationships of women, some research shows that it can do good to men too. In a six-year study of 736 middle-aged men, having friendships reduces the risk of heart disease. Only smoking was as important a danger factor (因素) as having little social support.
The exact reason why friendship has such a big effect isn’t clear. While friends can send a sick person to the hospital or pick up medicine, the advantages go well beyond physical help. Friendship clearly has a big psychological effect."People with stronger friendships feel like there is someone they can turn to, " said Karen, a doctor. "The message of these studies is that friends make your life better. "The three studies in paragraph 2 show that _____.
| A．old people need friends the most |
| B．friends can help us lose weight |
| C．social ties have something to do with health |
| D．having more friends makes us healthier |
What do Rebecca’s words in paragraph3 mean?
| A．Friendship is more important to women than to men. |
| B．What people need most is a friend’s care. |
| C．Friendship is more important than family relationship |
| D．The value of friendship hasn’t been fully understood. |
The author mentioned smoking in the text to discuss ________.
| A．the cause of heart attack |
| B．the danger of having no friends |
| C．smoking is bad for men |
| D．Friends’ influence on habits |
Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word "obesity "?
| A．fatness | B．unhappiness |
| C．excitement | D．Health |