Every day it seems that people are coming up with new and innovative ways to use mobile devices like cellphones and smart phones. Researchers at Princeton University are looking for new ways to measure a person’s sense of wellbeing with mobile devices.
To gain a better understanding of how cellphones and other mobile devices can measure our sense of happiness, the research team conducted a study that was published recently in the journal Demography. To gather data for their study, the team created an application for mobile devices using the Android operating system.
Once the app was developed, the researchers invited people to download it and take part in their study. Over a three-week period, the research team was able to collect data from some 270 participants living in 13 countries.
Participants came not only from the United States, but also from other nations like Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Over the course of the study, participants received occasional text questions from the researchers that asked “How happy are you?”. Along with recording their response, the app used the mobile device’s built-in GPS to keep track of the participant’s location.
The study participants were asked to rate their current state of happiness on a scale of zero to five. As they gathered data from the information collected through the application, the researchers then were able to create new methods that could help provide a better understanding of how our surroundings can influence our emotional well-being.
The researchers learned that mobile devices can provide an effective way to quickly grab information that, because of today’s active lifestyle, can be difficult to record. Being able to quickly grab this information was something the researchers felt was important. They said feelings and emotions that were recorded as they were happening were most likely to be more honest and precise than using other methods like writing down how they felt on a piece of paper after the fact.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．The study the team conducted has not been published yet. |
| B．About 270 people from 13 countries participated in the study. |
| C．The participants didn’t need to download the app to participate. |
| D．None of the participants came from the United Kingdom. |
What did the researchers find vital as to rate people’s sense of happiness from the passage?
| A．Recording people’s feelings and emotions quickly. |
| B．Writing down how they felt on a piece of paper. |
| C．Answering the text question “How happy are you?” |
| D．Knowing how the surroundings affect people’s happiness. |
The underlined word in the first paragraph probably refers to ______.
| A．emotion | B．wealth |
| C．happiness | D．technology |
The best title of the passage is most likely to be “_______”.
| A．People’s Sense of Happiness Related to Mobile Phones |
| B．Scientists Track Happiness with Cellphones |
| C．Methods to Rate People’s Happiness |
| D．A Better Understanding of People’s Sense of Happiness |
There is plenty for kids and teens to do in the Syracuse area during the summer, including some great educational opportunities. Here are the top four.
Rosamond Gifford Zoo Camp
The zoo offers separate camps for kids. The camps for kindergarteners run from 9 am to 12:30 pm, and cost $115 for zoo members and $135 for non-members. Kids entering 7th and 8th grades will have half a day from 1 pm to 4:30 pm. The cost is $149 for members and $160 for non-members. All camps feature numerous educational activities and animal encounters. The camps run from August 14 to August 19. Registration starts from July 10 for members and July 15 for non-members.
Active Learning Services at Christian Brothers Academy
From August 1 to August 5, Christian Brothers Academy will host Active Learning Services from USA Chess. Topics of learning will include Chess Camp (age 5-15), and Video Game Creation Program (age 8-15). Chess Camp promises improved chess skills through chess instructors utilizing demo(演示) boards and historic games. Half day sessions will cost $280 for the Computer Camps. A full day of Chess costs $400, and a half day of Chess followed by a half day of Computer Camps cost $430.
Syracuse University Summer College
From July 5th to August 12th , Syracuse University will host pre-college programs for high school students. The Summer College will offer a wide variety of programs including architecture, engineering and computer science, public communications, and eco-fashion. The programs are taught by the teachers of Syracuse University and include hands-on activities. The costs range from $2325 to $7642.
The Sheldon Institute at SUNY Oswego
The State University of New York will hold two-week educational enrichment programs for students entering grades2-4 from July 25 to August 5. Children will have a set program featuring art, science, technology, cultural appreciation and writing. Tuition for the programs is only $320 and a downloadable application is available.If a preschool boy and his 8th-grade brother attend the Zoo Camps, they should
pay___________
| A．$264 | B．$275 | C．$295 | D．It depends. |
When should a child start to attend the Zoo Camps?
| A．On July 10 | B．On July 15. | C．On August 14. | D．On August 19 |
What do we know about the Chess Camp from the passage?
| A．Children can learn improved chess skills through it. |
| B．Only children aged 8-15 can attend it. |
| C．Whole day sessions will cost $250 for it. |
| D．It will last for two weeks. |
Where can children attend the largest number of programs with low cost?
| A．Christian Brothers Academy | B．The Sheldon Institute |
| C．Rosamond Gifford Zoo | D．Syracuse University |
I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand．All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap．They did not make me happy, however, as tins was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time．I tried in vain lo convince him that I did nothing wrong all the way, but it didn’t help．
When we．arrived at the sate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls．I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him．"Be a man, "he said．"today you truly begin your life．You will find me waiting for you when it’s time to leave．"
I took a few steps．Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view．I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me．I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way．But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one of them came over and asked, " Who brought you? "
"My father," I whispered．
’’My father’s dead, " he said simply．
I did not know what to say．The gate was now closed．Some of the children burst into tears．The bell rang．A lady came along, followed by a group of men．The men began soiling us into ranks．We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings．
Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis．From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls．I had never imagined school would have this rich variety of experiences．
We played all sorts, of games．In the music room we sang our first songs．We also had our first introduction to language．We saw a globe of Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries．We started lean-line numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe．We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning．
Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded．We had to be observant and patient．It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around． Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting．And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold．Even more frequently
she would resort to physical punishment．
The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work．The children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again．I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate．I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there．I stepped aside to wait.The writer hesitated and clung to his father’s hand when they got to the school gate because ____．
| A．he loved his father and didn’t want to leave his father |
| B．he had thought attending school meant being punished |
| C．he was afraid of the punishment given by teachers |
| D．he did not want to leave his mother and his rather alone at home |
What happened to him first during his first day at school?
| A．He was moved to tears by a sad story told by a girl． |
| B．He together without other students was grouped． |
| C．He learnt music and other courses and had a good time． |
| D．He got punished by die woman teacher because of his impatience． |
Which of the following subjects did he not probably have?
| A．Cooking． | B．Math． | C．Music． | D．Geography． |
From the last but one paragraph we can learn that ______.
| A．they got on well with one another all the time |
| B．they had a good time at school without being scolded |
| C．their teacher was more kind to them than strict with them |
| D．more often than not they experienced physical punishment |
The writer stepped aside after he got out of the school gate because .
| A．he was polite to let other students go before him |
| B．he left something behind in his classroom |
| C．he wanted to say goodbye to his teacher |
| D．his father has promised to wait for him |
“Everybody loves a bargain.” Is a well-known saying. One person’s useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person’s bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away. They put them outside their house. They put on a "For Sale" sign. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper. It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn.
Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight -- like tired guests at a party -- waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables, and chairs. Then there are objects called "white elephants." A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or paintings of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special. They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating over prices, even if they really do not need the object. Later, they may hold their own yard sale to sell all the things they have bought.What kind of things will go to a yard sale?
| A．Cheap and ugly things． | B．Things people no longer use． |
| C．Things out of season． | D．Things of great value． |
A white elephant refers to ______ ．
| A．something that can cause n feeling of pain |
| B．something disliked by the owners while appreciated by others |
| C．something sold at the lowest price |
| D．a toy shaped like a fish |
Most people go to yard sales to ______ ．
| A．find Valuable paintings | B．look for something special |
| C．find a bargain | D．kill their time |
Which of the following is NOT true about a yard sale?
| A．It may not be held when the weather is very cold． |
| B．It can last for a whole day． |
| C．It is usually held with a party． |
| D．It is held outdoors． |
We can infer from the last paragraph that ______ ．
| A．people may find something of great value on a yard sale |
| B．yard sales only attract those who have a low income |
| C．things on a yard sale can cost people a lot |
| D．most people who go to yard sales want to make money |
If your cellphone suddenly stops working, don’t blame the service provider．The malfunction（故障） might well have been caused by something bigger -- a solar storm．Experts expect that Earth will see more solar activity in the near future．The malfunction of electronic devices will just one of the effects．
Sunspots（太阳黑子） serve as an indicator of the sun’s activity．For the past two years, sunspots have mostly been missing．Their absence, the most prolonged in nearly 100 years, has taken even seasoned sun watchers by surprise．
When the number of sunspots drops at the end of each 11-year cycle, solar storms die down and all become much calmer. This “solar minimum” doesn’t last long. Within a year, sunspots and solar storms begin to build toward a new crescendo, the next solar maximum.
What’s special about this latest cycle is that the sun is having trouble starting the next solar cycle. The sun began to calm down in late 2007, so no one expected many sunspots in 2008. They should return in 2010. Scientists have predicted that the next solar cycle could be the most active on record: more sunspots and more solar storms. However, sunspots are mostly missing now.
Since the earth is in close contact with the sun, strong solar activities can bring trouble to our life. People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Air travel and radio communications can be affected by strong solar activities. A big solar storm could cause 20 times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.
What the sun will do next is beyond our ability to predict. Most astronomers think that the solar cycle will go on but at low level. However, there is also evidence that the sun is losing its ability to produce sunspots. By 2015, they could be gone altogether.The sun watcher feel surprised at .
| A．the longest sunspots’ absence | B．the largest sunspot number |
| C．the malfunction of electronic devices | D．the serious damage by sunspots |
What does the underlined word “crescendo” in paragraph 3 most probably mean?
| A．small number | B．high level |
| C．usual cycle | D．fresh start |
We can infer that in the past two years .
| A．solar activities have brought much trouble to our life |
| B．the number of sunspots has increased to a large extent |
| C．the solar minimum took the place of the solar maximum |
| D．our cellphones have seldom been interrupted by the solar storm |
Which statement does the text lead you to believe?
| A．Solar activities do no harm to our daily life. |
| B．Hurricane Katrina is also a type of solar storms. |
| C．It’s difficult to predict sunspots. |
| D．From now on there’ re no sunspots. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The earth is in close contact with the sun. |
| B．Sunspots can cause trouble to our life. |
| C．Introduction of sunspots. |
| D．Introduction of the solar storm． |
When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob（烤肉串）hit the senses, you are incapable of calling it anything else．
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack．
The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming．
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customers, especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking．
A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, and reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plate piled with food．
The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large．Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10, so not only is it affordable but practical as well．
The food especially appeals to health-conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill （烤肉架）．
The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat．
One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grilled chicken pieces served with either rice or bread．Another great kabob is the Chelo Kabob, a kabob consisting of grilled beef．
Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious．It is a place that should not be overlooked．When first entering the restaurant, one can find that it ________．
| A．is splendidly decorated | B．has pleasant smells of kabobs |
| C．is crowded with dining tables | D．looks like a common restaurant |
What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?
| A．Watching news events on TV． | B．Drinking a kind of black coffee． |
| C．Reading local English newspapers． | D．Discussing world topics in low voices． |
The food of the restaurant ________．
| A．is served in small amounts | B．is rather expensive |
| C．is rich in variety | D．is very healthy |
What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of?
| A．Rice | B．Chicken | C．Bread | D．Beef |
It can be inferred from the passage that the restaurant ________．
| A．occupies a large space | B．owns a favorable location |
| C．is popular for its special food | D．has a quiet environment inside |