This is VOA. The National Cryptologic Museum is on Fort George G. Meade, a military base near Washington, DC. The method of hiding exact meanings is called coding. People have used secret codes throughout history to protect important information. The National Cryptologic Museum celebrated 60 years of cryptologic excellence in 2012. One event there marked the sixtieth anniversary of the National Security Agency. Two former NSA workers shared their memories of operating a code machine called Sigaba.
In 1940, an American woman named Genevieve Grotjan found some information being repeated in Japanese coded messages. Her discovery helped the United States understand secret Japanese diplomatic messages. After the United States understood the code, it was possible to study messages from the Japanese ambassador to Germany and to his supervisors in Japan.
Understanding these messages helped the United States prepare for a possible war in the Pacific with Japan. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, an American Naval officer named Joseph Rochefort struggled to understand the Japanese navy code. He worked on the American base at Pearl Harbor. It was early in 1942. The American naval commander in the Pacific Ocean was Chester Nimitz. His forces were much smaller than the Japanese Naval forces. And the Japanese had been winning many victories. Joseph Rochefort had worked for several months to read the secret Japanese Naval code called JN-25. If he could understand enough of the code, he would be able to give Admiral Nimitz very valuable information.
From the beginning of 1942, the Japanese code discussed a place called "AF." Joseph Rochefort felt the Japanese were planning an important battle aimed at "AF." After several weeks, he and other naval experts told Admiral Nimitz that their best idea was that the "AF" in the Japanese code was the American-held island of Midway. Admiral Nimitz said he must have more information to prepare for such an attack.
The Navy experts decided to trick Japan. They told the American military force on Midway to broadcast a false message. The message would say the island was having problems with its water-processing equipment. The message asked that fresh water be sent to the island immediately. This message was not sent in code.
Several days later, a Japanese radio broadcast in the JN-25 code said that "AF" had little water. Joseph Rochefort had the evidence he needed. "AF" was now known to be the island of Midway. He also told Admiral Nimitz the Japanese would attack Midway on June 13.The battle that followed was a huge American victory. That victory was possible because Joseph Rochefort learned to read enough of the Japanese code to discover the meaning of the letters "AF."
One American code has never been broken. Perhaps it never will. It was used in the Pacific during World War Two. For many years the government would not discuss this secret code. Listen for a moment to this very unusual code. Then you may understand why the Japanese military forces were never able to understand any of it.
The code is in the voice of a Native American. The man you just heard is singing a simple song in the Navajo language. Very few people outside the Navajo nation are able to speak any of their very difficult language.
At the beginning of World War Two, the United States Marine Corps asked members of the Navajo tribe to train as Code Talkers.
The Cryptologic Museum says the Marine Corps Code Talkers could take a sentence in English and change it into their language in about 20 seconds. A code machine needed about 30 minutes to do the same work.
The Navajo Code Talkers took part in every battle the Marines entered in the Pacific during World War Two. The Japanese were very skilled at breaking codes. But they were never able to understand any of what they called "The Marine Code."
The Cryptologic Museum has many pieces of mechanical and electric equipment used to change words into code. It also has almost as many examples of machines used to try to change code back into useful words.The NSA was founded__________.
A.in 1940 | B.1942 | C.in 1952 | D.in 2012 |
According to the passage, which one is not right?
A.“Cryptologic” implies containing some hidden information |
B.The US decoded “AF” and won the victory in Midway Islands |
C.Both Rchefort and Nimitz were American navy commanders |
D.The US Marine Corps was fallen for in Midway Islands battle |
The Americans used the Navajo language in their coding system during the Second World War for the reason that .
A. unusual language was successfully used for codes |
B.it was commonly used in coding system worldwide |
C.the United States Marine Corps invented it then |
D.it was the most beautiful language in the world |
This passage is probably adapted from ____________.
A.an evening paper | B.a science fiction |
C.a broadcasting program | D.a travel guidebook |
Charles Dickens (1812-1870), the great nineteenth century English novelist, was born near Portsmouth. His father ran heavily into debt and when he was twelve, he had to go and work in a factory for making boot polish. The only formal education he received was a two-year schooling at a school for poor children. In fact, he had to teach himself all he knew. He worked for a time as junior clerk in a lawyer’s office. After that, he worked as a reporter in the law courts, and later in parliament, for London newspapers. His career as a writer of fiction began in 1833 with short stories and essays in periodicals, and in 1837 his comic novel The Pickwick Papers made him the most popular author at his time in England.
He was a great observer of people and their places because he was attracted by life and conditions in mid-nineteenth century London. He wrote 19 novels all his life and in many of them, Dickens gave a realistic picture of all classes of England society, showing deep sympathy for the poor and unfortunate, exposing the injustice and inhumanity of the bourgeoisie.
Many of his novels like Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and so on drew attention to the unsatisfactory social conditions that existed in England over a hundred years ago.
Dickens criticized capitalist society from the point of view of bourgeois humanism. He wished to see improvement in the living conditions of the poor, but failed to find any effective means to achieve that end.Dickens only received a little formal education because______.
A.he wanted to teach himself |
B.he wanted to work and made a lot of money |
C.he was too poor to afford any more formal education |
D.he wanted some working experiences to be a novelist |
According to Dickens, the society at his time in England was________.
A.just | B.poor |
C.comfortable | D.unsatisfying |
Which of the following novel made Dickens the most popular writer at his time in England?
A.Oliver Twist | B.The Pickwick Papers |
C.A Tale of Two Cities | D.Great Expectations |
According to the passage, which of the following about Dickens is true?
A.He didn’t go to school at all. |
B.He only wrote about poor people and showed deep sympathy for them. |
C.He began to write fictions when he was 21 years old. |
D.He found some effective ways to improve the living conditions of the poor. |
It’s not uncommon in America for a person to belong to some kind of volunteer group. Donating one’s time and services is very much a part of the American way of life. Most charitable(慈善的) activities are organized by churches and groups around the nation and even encouraged by the government. The helping hand is extended to the poor, the homeless and the disabled. Some people work to teach youngsters how to read. Others open up soup kitchens to feed the homeless. Volunteers also take care of the disabled by making reading tapes for the blind and working in orphanages(孤儿院)to help children without parents.
High school students are often encouraged to become volunteers and many school club activities center around volunteer services. Students may work with disabled children during a summer program, or participate in a club activity which helps to bring meal to senior citizens who are shut-ins. With their sense of idealism(理想主义)students are often eager to donate their spare time. They see such activities as a way of participating in the community and the adult-world. Social action for them becomes as important as their academic studies.
In a like manner,throughout the year,fund raising drives are also conducted by schools and community groups to raise money for a worthy cause. They may respond to a recent earthquake in a foreign country, a flood somewhere within their own, or another natural disaster which has left people destitute and homeless. They may organize drives to collect food, clothing and medicines to serve an immediate need. Today even the Halloween custom of ‘trick or treat’ has become an occasion to collect money for a charitable cause.
This call to help those less fortunate than themselves arises from the humble(谦卑的) origins of the American nation. Those immigrants(移民)who were poor and downtrodden(受压迫的)became dependent on the kindness of their neighbors to make a new life for themselves.
American volunteers work throughout the world in less developed countries. They volunteer by serving as a champion of goodwill(声誉)both at home and abroad, which no doubt enriches both his life and those whom he serves.Which of the following charitable activities is not mentioned in the passage?
A.Some people open up soup kitchens to feed homeless people. |
B.Some students bring meals to old people who can’t go out easily. |
C.Some people collect money to help a foreign country with a recent earthquake. |
D.Some students donate books to children in mountainous areas. |
Why are American high school students eager to do voluntary work?
A.Because they want to participate in some social activities. |
B.Because they want to go to better universities. |
C.Because they can get higher scores at school. |
D.Because they can realize their dream sooner. |
The underlined word “destitute”in Paragraph 4 probably means .
A.lifeless | B.penniless |
C.useless | D.valueless |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A.The Call from the Poor |
B.Voluntary Work in the US |
C.Ways to help the Poor |
D.American Volunteers Around the World |
How can you help kids deal with stress(压力)? Proper rest and good nutrition can improve coping skills, so can good parenting. Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk with you or just be in the same room with you, make yourself available.
Even as kids get older, quality time is important. It’s really hard for some people to come home after a tiring day of work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day -- especially if they’ve had a stressful day themselves. But expressing interest in your kids shows that they’ re important to you.
Help your child deal with stress by talking about what may be causing it. Together, you can come up with a few solutions. For example, he should cut back on after-school activities, spending more time talking with his parents or teachers, developing an exercise plan or keeping a journal.
You can also help by predicting potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them. For example, let a child know ahead of time, but not too far ahead of time, that a doctor’s appointment is coming up and talk about what will happen there. Keep in mind, though, that younger kids probably won’t need too much advance preparation. Too much information can cause more stress.
Remember that some level of stress is normal, Let kids know that it’s OK to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and that other people share those feelings, too.
When kids can’t or won’t discuss these problems, try talking about your own concerns. This shows that you’re willing to handle tough topics and are available to talk with when they’re ready. If a child shows symptoms that concern you and is unwilling to talk, consult a counselor (顾问)or other mental health experts.
Most parents have the skills to deal with their children’s stress. The time to seek professional attention is when any change in behavior continues to exist, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or when the behavior is causing significant problems in functioning at school or at home.What is the purpose of the text?
A.To share the author’s ideas on proper parenting. |
B.To persuade parents to spend more time with their kids. |
C.To advise parents how to help their kids deal with stress. |
D.To seek different ways to help solve kids’ problems. |
Why do some parents feel it difficult to spare quality time for their kids?
A.Their kids are growing so fast. |
B.They have too much housework. |
C.Their kids are losing interest in them. |
D.They are tired out after work. |
What can we learn from the text?
A.Normal people share the same feelings. |
B.It is normal for kids to have some stress. |
C.Kids should get rid of the negative feelings. |
D.Everybody feels angry, scared, lonely or anxious. |
There are some new drivers going back to school. Teens who have recently gotten their driver's licenses may be taking the wheel to drive to school this fall. However, parents fear when their teen starts driving. And it turns out that such parental fears are justified—so it's worth reviewing how to keep your teen safe while he or she is behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in US teens. Drivers 16 to 19 years old are at the greatest risk for crashes. In fact, their risk is 4 times greater than for older drivers. The teens at the greatest risk are those who are male, those carrying other teenage passengers in the car, and those still in their first year of driving. Nearly 50 percent of teen deaths related to automobile crashes happen on Fridays ’ Saturdays ’ or Sundays between the hours of 3 p. m. and midnight.
Why are teens at higher risk for motor vehicle crashes?
Development. Teens haven’t completely matured mentally and have greater risk-taking behaviors, possibly because they tend to underestimate(低估)the risk associated with a particular behavior. Teens also have a greater tendency to speed and to drive too close to the cars in front of them.
No seatbelts. Teens have the lowest rate of seatbelt use among all driving groups.
Alcohol. At least 25 percent of motor vehicle deaths in teens are related to alcohol use.
Technological distractions (分散注意力).Cell phones, texting,MP3 players, and the like can all distract drivers greatly.
Be aware of your teen ’ s driving practices and discuss safe driving habits when opportunities present themselves. Check out the applications and devices now available for restricting your teen’s use of technology while driving. Some applications alert you to when your teen is texting while the vehicle is moving. Another device blocks incoming and outgoing texts when the car is running—incoming messages get an automatic reply ( e. g, " I ’ m driving right now"),and phone calls go directly to voicemail. You can also get notifications if your teen tries to shut off the program. There are also GPS programs that let you know your new driver' s whereabouts(下落) at all times. All in all, you can't be too cautious when teaching your teen how to be safe on the road.What factor is least related to the teen drivers’ high risks of crashes?
A.Driver age | B.Passenger gender(性别) |
C.Driving experience | D.Driving time |
Teens probably turn away their attention from driving when they are_____.
A.using no seatbelts | B.drinking water |
C.carrying passengers | D.answering cell phones |
According to the passage, which should be prevented during teens' driving?
A.Texting | B.GPS programs |
C.Automated replies | D.Voicemail |
The author writes the last paragraph in order to_____.
A.offer parents practical suggestions |
B.summarize teen' s driving practices |
C.advocate different driving habits |
D.establish examples for the future |
People and the sources of air pollution are found in the same places. This means that cities with large populations have the biggest problem of dirty air. Air pollution is caused by many different things. A major source of air pollution is the gas fumes from cars. Statistics show that 93 percent of all auto trips are within cities. Another major source of dirty air is the burning of coal and oil for energy. This energy is needed to make electricity. Of course, much more electricity is used in the city than in the country.
On the average, we throw away more trash and garbage than the year before. The burning of garbage contributes to air pollution. Many major industries are also responsible for the dirty air in the around cities. The fumes from iron, steel, chemical, and petroleum production add particles to the air.
The effects of air pollution range from mild headaches to death. The levels of pollution found in heavy for traffic may cause headaches for loss of clear vision. Wherever coal and oil are used for fuel, fumes(气体)may kill trees and plants and cause metal to corrode. In some of the larger cities, these fumes endanger the live of human beings by contributing to lung diseases and causing early death.The main idea of the passage is that _________.
A.the cause of air pollution is people |
B.the causes and the effects of air pollution are found in cities |
C.the effects of air pollution range from headaches to death |
D.air pollution is caused by dirty air |
What is the purpose of this passage?
A.to persuade people to stop polluting the air |
B.to tell the causes of air pollution |
C.to tell why cities are bad places to live |
D.to describe why cities are bad places to live |
Why is air pollution more serious in the city than in the country?
A.Because there are larger populations in cities. |
B.Because the air in the city is dirty. |
C.Because there are more cars in the city. |
D.Because there are much more gas fumes, burning of coal and oil |
for energy.In larger cities, the fumes from coal and oil may contribute to ___________.
A.heart disease | B.lung diseases |
C.loss of clear vision | D.serious headache |