Medical scientists are already putting computer chips（芯片）directly into the brain to help people who have Parkinson’s disease, but in what other ways might computer technology be able to help us? Ray Kurzweil is the author of the successful book The Age Of Intelligent Machines. He is also one of the world’s best computer research scientists. He is researching the possibilities.
Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the virtual hostess of Kurzweil’s website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings.
Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a “seeing machine”. This will be “like a friend that could describe what is going on around,” he explains. Blind people will use a sensor（传感器）which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees.
Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the “listening machine”. This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it.
But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won’t be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever.Ray Kurzweil is .
| A．a famous medical scientist |
| B．a computer research scientist |
| C．a patient with Parkinson’s |
| D．an inventor of computer chips |
What can Ramona do?
| A．She can talk with her visitors. |
| B．She can treat brain diseases. |
| C．She can help deaf people listen. |
| D．She can teach people to sing. |
How can the “seeing machine” help blind people?
| A．It can help to treat their eyes. |
| B．It can translate into other languages. |
| C．It can help them to see the future. |
| D．It can describe to them what it sees. |
The word “virtual” in Paragraph 2 probably means .
| A．虚拟的 | B．友好的 | C．漂亮的 | D．忙碌的 |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．The Seeing Machines |
| B．The Listening Machines |
| C．The Intelligent Machines |
| D．The Translating Machines |
TAIBEI － Increasing numbers of Taiwanese students are joining the island’s “China rush”, seeking education on the Chinese mainland．
According to official Chinese figures, the number of Taiwanese students admitted into college and postgraduate（研究生）programs on the mainland totaled 461 in 1996, 928 in 1997 and 839 in 1998．Although no latest official numbers were available,” Netbig.com Said this number had risen between 30 to 50 percent annually in the past two years with well over 1000 entering mainland campuses last year.
The Internet site, based in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, provides education service and information on Chinese mainland colleges and universities. “Many Taiwanese believe a Chinese education giving more knowledge about the people and culture in the mainland will increase their chances in the Chinese job market, Net.com vice-president Ingrid Huang said．“I believe it will give me hands-on experience in the business field in the Chinese mainland and a better understanding of the Chinese mainland people,” said Lydia Chang, a 19-year-old majoring in journalism at Shih Shin University. Chang plans to go on to get a master’s degree in business administration in Shanghai, which she says offers the best environment for such studies.
A journalism graduate student, surnamed Lin, at the National Taiwan University said he would like to study law on the Chinese mainland since “there will be better career prospects now that more Taiwanese companies are going there”. “They hope the children could build up connections which could later become useful in their business operations,” said Yang Ching-yao, professor of the Chinese mainland studies. A Netbig.com survey showed the campuses favored by Taiwan students included Beijing, Qinghua and Renmin universities in Beijing, and Jinan and Zhongshan universities in Guangzhou. The most popular studies were law, business and Chinese medicine.
At present, Chinese Taibei doesn’t recognize diplomas earned in the Chinese mainland nor help with any inquiries about studying there. But recognizing the trend, education authorities are giving a final form to a policy accepting certificates（证书）from selected universities.More Taiwanese students study on the Chinese mainland because ___________.
| A．Taiwan will reunite with the mainland sooner or later |
| B．the fees asked for are lower than those of Taiwan |
| C．what they have learned on the mainland will bring them a bright future |
| D．there are many famous universities for them to choose |
Some business executives were sending their children to study in the Chinese mainland so that their children ___________.
| A．could receive better education |
| B．could learn more about the policy there |
| C．could do well in the business operations |
| D．could make more friends there |
The underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to __________.
| A．Netbig.com |
| B．Chinese education on the mainland |
| C．the Chinese job market |
| D．the university |
The author wrote the article to tell us ______________.
| A．more Taiwanese students are studying on the mainland |
| B．the number of Taiwanese students going to universities on the mainland had been increasing year after year |
| C．education on the mainland is more attractive compared with that of Taiwan |
| D．Taiwan and the mainland should cooperate with each other in every field. |
Which is true according to the passage?
| A．Chinese Taibei recognizes diplomas earned on the Chinese mainland |
| B．The number of Taiwanese students going to study on the mainland will surely be increasing in the next few years. |
| C．Chinese Taibei doesn’t help with any inquiries about Taiwanese studying in the mainland |
| D．Education of Taiwan is far behind the mainland. |
A couple of years ago, before a trip to China, Nicole Davis and her US women’s volleyball teammates were warned about the prominence (显著、突出) of coach “Jenny” Lang Ping in her native country.
“I was pushed over by Chinese journalists while I was just trying to put my luggage on the bus,” said Davis.
Known as the “Iron Hammer” for her punishing spikes(扣球),Lang made it possible for China to dominate in the sport in the early 1980s. She was a key player on China’s 1984 Olympic gold medal winning team.
When the US team arrived for the Olympics, Lang, 48, who is from Beijing, had to take a different route to avoid a crowd of reporters and fans.
Then came the greatest moment to Lang：While the US team was playing in a packed gym, at least 8,000 Chinese fans unfurled an American flag.
“That really says it all,” Davis said. “They look at her as an icon(偶像). I’m sure it’s hard for them to see her coaching another country, but they love her so dearly that her success is their success.”
The loyalty of the Chinese fans was tested on Friday, when China lost a match to the US.
“It’s a pity that China lost the match, but I’m still glad that Lang Ping’s team won, since she is the pride of China’s volleyball,” said Liu Chengli, a spectator. “We also cheered for Lang’s victory.”
Lang said she just tried to stay professional when the two teams meet. “It doesn’t matter if we play China or any other team. It’s the same.” Lang said.
Davis said she and her teammates could not have imagined the passion for volleyball among Chinese because the sport was lack of popularity in the US. The reception from Chinese fans has touched the US players, said US volleyball player Lindsey Berg.
“It’s such an honor to be here and play for our coach here in China,” she said. “The amount of support that the Chinese give to her and us has been tremendous. The whole event has been unbelievable.”
What’s the passage mainly about?
| A．Staying professional. |
| B．Cheering for the Iron Hammer. |
| C．A match between China and the US. |
| D．Lang Ping’s career as a coach. |
Lang Ping avoided meeting the reporters and fans probably because she ________.
| A．was afraid to be questioned about her strategy |
| B．didn’t want to be paid much attention to |
| C．disliked to be with her fans |
| D．didn’t want to disturb public order |
What does the underlined word “unfurled” exactly mean?
| A．destroyed completely | B．tore into pieces |
| C．spread out to the wind | D．rolled up |
What does Lang Ping mean by saying “It doesn’t matter if we play China or any other team.”?
| A．American Volleyball Team will beat any team. |
| B．Chinese Volleyball Team is the same as other teams. |
| C．She just tried to stay professional. |
| D．The results of each match will be the same. |
Putting in water fountains (饮水器) at schools, and teaching children about the health benefits of water, could reduce their risk of getting extra pounds, reports a new study that is published in the latest issue of the journal Pediatrics.
The findings are based on a survey in 32 elementary schools of two German cities, Dortmund and Essen. The researchers, led by Rebecca Muckelbauer, a nutritionist(营养学家) at the Research Institute of Child Nutrition Dortmund, weighed about 3,000 children, and asked them about their beverage consumption(饮料消费量).
At the beginning of the school year, the experts had water fountains added to 17 of the schools. The scientists also worked with teachers to carry out educational programs that promote the benefits of drinking water. In contrast to schools in the United States, there are very few schools in Germany that have water fountains.
At the beginning of the study, there were no big differences in the number of overweight children in the different groups. But by the end of the school year, children in the schools with water fountains were 31 per cent less likely to gain extra pounds, compared to kids who went to other schools, where water drinking was not encouraged.
Children in the schools with fountains increased their water consumption from about 3 up to 4 glasses a day, while those in the other schools continued to drink an average of 3 glasses. Over the research, the number of overweight kids upped from 384 to 385 out of 1,641 at the schools with water fountains. In comparison, the number of overweight kids at the other schools increased from 339 to 364 out of 1,309, Dr. Muckelbauer said.
The experts cannot make any final conclusions and explain why the students who were encouraged to drink water were less likely to gain extra weight. Dr. Muckelbauer noted that according to a few other studies, drinking of water increases the rate at which calories are burned, while some other research suggested that water may temporarily decrease appetite (食欲).What do we know about the survey from the passage?
| A．The teachers were also encouraged to drink water. |
| B．The students surveyed were all overweight. |
| C．It surveyed children in the countryside. |
| D．It lasted for a whole school year. |
What can be learned from the last paragraph?
| A．Drinking water certainly decreases appetite. |
| B．Further research is needed to confirm the finding. |
| C．The experts will encourage all the students to drink water. |
| D．Why students drinking more get less pounds will be clear soon. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Schools with water fountains |
| B．Drink more water and become thinner |
| C．Water fountains at schools help kids stay thin |
| D．Water consumption at some German schools |
| International Language Center French& Japanese Summer Intensive(速成的) Also commencing(开始) July 2012 * Mandarin * Cantonese * Thai * Vietnamese * Korean * Indonesian * English For further details contact: Admissions & Information Office 5, Bligh Street, Sth. Sydney, 2000 Tel: 295 4561 Fax: 235 4714 |
Global Language Learning Center One of The world’s best Language Schools Is Now In Sydney Learn A New Language In 10-20 Weeks Latest Methods Full-time Courses Business, Hospitality Or Travel Phone for Appointment 938 0977 |
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French SUMMER COURSES Adults Crash Course 9-19 August Intensive 3 or 4 hrs a day, morning or evening, $250(Beginners and Low Intermediate only) Adults Normal Course 9 July- 4 September 10 levels from Beginner to Advanced Once a week, Saturday 9am-1pm 32hrs $278 High School Crash Course 8-15 August Intensive 3 hrs a day, 1pm-4pm Years 8 to 12 24hrs $200 Starts Wednesday 8.8 2012 Club Francais 27 Claire St, Sydney, Phone 227 1746 |
Where can you experience the latest way of teaching languages?
| A．International Language Center. |
| B．TAFE International. |
| C．Club Francais |
| D．Global Language Learning Center. |
The underlined word “picturesque” is closest in meaning to ____.
| A．modern |
| B．traditional |
| C．beautiful |
| D．industrial |
Which of the following is true of Club Francais?
| A．Adults Normal Course lasts about eight weeks. |
| B．Adults Normal Course is intended for beginners. |
| C．Adults Crash Course can be attended in the afternoon. |
| D．You should pay $50 an hour if you attend High School Crash Course. |
In which column of a newspaper can you most probably find this text?
| A．News. | B．Knowledge | C．Advertisement | D．Health. |
Apologizing is both an Art and a Science. The Art lies in the manner in which the apology is delivered while the Science is the recipe that forms the apology itself. A proper apology should always include several ingredients. Now let’s take a closer look at these ingredients.
Give a detailed account of the offense, and make sure both you and the other person are talking about the same thing. Whether you make it in secret or public doesn’t matter, but your apology should be focused on the particular event.
Next, by acknowledging the hurt or damage done, you are making the recipient (接受者) begin to sense that you understand the situation. It is important to rebuild your relationship because it makes them feel their anger is understandable.
Don’t try to defend yourself by offering any excuses, which is important to let them know that you understand the event and you actions do cause them harm. The apology is all about THEM and how they feel. It doesn’t matter if the actions were intentional or not, the end result is the same and that is what needs to be focused on when learning how to say, “I’m sorry”.
Give a sincere statement of regret such as “I apologize” or “I’m sorry”. Above all, tell them it won’t happen again. After all, there is no value in apologizing for something that you will do again and again.
Finally, asking for forgiveness at the end of the apology gives the power back to the recipient. It tells them, that you have done all that you can do by apologizing and providing whatever form of restitution(补偿)you can. The next move is up to them.
By including all these ingredients and applying them to your situation, you will know exactly how to say “I’m sorry” next time you need to.The passage mainly tells readers ____.
| A．the importance of apologizing |
| B．the process of apologizing |
| C．how to apologize effectively |
| D．how to repair a broken friendship |
How will the recipient react when you admit hurting them?
| A．They will be sorry for being angry with you. |
| B．They will treat you differently right away. |
| C．They will understand the situation better. |
| D．They will think their former reaction normal. |
When you make an apology, you should concentrate on ____.
| A．finding out better excuses |
| B．taking responsibility for the event |
| C．defending yourself from more harm |
| D．understanding the current situation |
What is the key to any apology?
| A．A sincere statement of regret. |
| B．Giving the recipient more power. |
| C．A promise that you won’t repeat your wrongdoings. |
| D．Giving the recipient a detailed account of the event. |