UCLA scientists report for the first time on the only known frog species that can communicate using purely ultrasonic(超声）calls, whose frequencies are too high to be heard by humans. Known as Huia cavitympanum, the frog lives only on the Southeast Asian island of Bomeo(婆罗洲）.
Ultrasounds are high-pitched sounds more than 20 kilohertz(kHz) in frequency, which exceeds the upper limit of sounds detectable by humans and is far higher than the 5 to 8 kHz frequencies most amphibians (两栖动物)，reptiles and birds are capable of hearing or producing. Key parts of the ear must be specially adapted to detect ultrasounds.
The frogs can hear sounds up to 38 kilohertz, the highest frequency that any amphibian species has been known to hear, the scientists report. Humans can hear up to about 20 kHz and typically talk at 2 or 3 kHz.
While most of the more than 5，000 frog species worldwide have eardrums that are flat on the side of the head, Huia cavitympanum has eardrums recessed in the side of the skull, similar to mammals.
Peter Narins, UCLA distinguished professor of physiological science and of ecology and evolutionary biology, and Victoria Arch, a UCLA graduate student in ecology and evolutionary biology, spent several nights in the remote area where the frogs live.
" We had very little information suggesting that they would be in this location，" said Arch, lead author of the study. " We found them our first night out. "
The study was published on April 29 in the online journal PLOS ONE, a publication of the Public Library of Science, and is available at
http://dx. plos. org/10. 1371/journal, pone. 05413. Huia cavitympanum mainly live __________.
| A．in all over the world |
| B．in many parts of China |
| C．only on the Southeast Asian island of Borneo |
| D．only on the certain countries' marsh |
This kind of new-found frog can hear each other with up to __________ kHz ultrasounds.
| A．2-3 | B．5 -8 |
| C．more than 20 | D．38 |
If people can hear ultrasounds as frogs do, they should __________.
| A．hear as frogs do carefully |
| B．have a pair of good enough ears like frogs |
| C．concentrate their energy on them |
| D．turn them into common sounds |
According to the passage we can infer that __________.
| A．the result of study is concluded not easily |
| B．some scientists have done a lot of work for the result |
| C．all the frogs have the ability with 38 kHz frequency |
| D．this kind of frogs is as important as animals |
This passage probably appears __________.
| A．on the newspaper | B．on the textbook |
| C．on the website | D．on the report |
The trip to the United Stated opened my eyes to the fact that there are a lot of similarities as well as differences between American youth and French youth.
The first difference is in appearance. Going around in the U.S., I found that American youth do not really care about their appearance. In the morning, they choose something in their closet and wear it with another thing, often of different colors and styles, without wondering whether their choices make them look strange. The reason behind this is that they don’t care what people look like, but are just interested in their ideas. I think it’s great, but it also causes problems. Since they don’t care about their appearance, they don’t really care about their weight. Often they get fat without realizing it.
There are differences in relationships too. When the American youth fall in love, they don’t really think of the future. Also, there are differences in the rules concerning behavior that is allowed. In some respects, the French are more accepting. For example, in America it is generally unacceptable to make physical display of love. Lovers, in theory, can’t kiss or hold each other everywhere they want. People think that not showing love in public places is a way to respect others. On the contrary, the French youth can do almost everything they want.
With regard to other types of relationships, there are also big differences. Americans act differently from French people in front of unknown people. When an American girl, for example, arrives in front of people she has never met before, she will talk with them, trying to create a kind of bond between her and this new circle of people. The French girls will just think about rather than really do this kind of thing because they are too shy and lacking in self-confidence.
To finish, I noticed that in American classes, when pupils want to say or ask something, they just do it. In general, they don’t really care how the others will judge them. In France, it’s not the same case. If somebody wants to ask something, he/she will think about it before speaking up. I appreciate the freedom in Americans’ behavior, ideas, and ways of expressing themselves.American young people _______.
| A．are just interested in people’s clothes |
| B．show more interest in people’s ideas |
| C．care more about their weight |
| D．are more concerned about appearance |
When American youth fall in love with each other, they _________.
| A．will not hold each other |
| B．will always think about their future |
| C．will rarely display their love in public |
| D．will kiss wherever they like |
It can be inferred from the passage that French youth may think more about ______.
| A．their relationship’s future |
| B．their public images |
| C．their physical displays |
| D．their lover’s ideas |
The passage is mainly about the______ between American youth and French youth.
| A．similarities | B．friendship |
| C．differences | D．differences and the similarities |
A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift — $ 7,000, a legacy (遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million — they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived on (喜欢) comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store，checking prices before making a new purchase.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’ t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything.” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.”
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy — a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents —should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors — that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’ s story.According to the text, the Fusses ________.
| A．were employed by a truck company |
| B．were in financial difficulty |
| C．worked in a school cafeteria |
| D．lost their home |
Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?
| A．They decided to open a store. |
| B．They wanted to save money. |
| C．They couldn’t afford expensive things. |
| D．They wanted to buy gifts for local kids. |
According to Sandy Van Weelden, the Hatches were________.
| A．understanding | B．optimistic |
| C．childlike | D．curious |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．The community of Alto was poor. |
| B．The summer camp was attractive to the parents. |
| C．Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy from the Hatches. |
| D．The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example. |
What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?
We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop.The second is the application of the special methods of thought and actionthat scientists use in their work.
What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious — he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, andlooks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover,he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.
He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective (客观的) and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum (光谱).
He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively.
Furthermore,he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.
Lastly,he is full of imaginationsince he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore,he needs imaginationif he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place.
These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.Which of the following statements about a curious scientist is TRUE?
| A．He doesn’t find confidence and pleasure in work. |
| B．He is interested in problems that are explained. |
| C．He makes efforts to investigate potential connections. |
| D．He looks for new ways of acting. |
Which word can be used to describe the data that a good scientist uses?
| A．Complete | B．Objective | C．Complicated | D．Accurate |
What does the passage mainly discuss?
| A．Application of technology. |
| B．Progress in modern society. |
| C．Scientists' ways of thinking and acting. |
| D．How to become a successful scientist. |
Where is it possible to drive from Rome to Moscow, Madrid, Paris, Vienna, and Stockholm without going to Europe? The answer is in the state of Maine!
Throughout the United States there are many towns and cities that have been named after not only European cities but other countries as well, such as China, Poland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Just how many New World place names are recycled from the Old World names has never been tallied, but one researcher found forty-one Londons, fifty-six Berlins, twenty-four Dublins, thirty-two Athenses, and twenty-seven Moscows, among others!
Reasons for European place names differ. Some were in memory of settlers’ former homes, others in honor of historic events. Founded in 1818 by John Coffee, Robert Beaty, John D. Carroll, and John Read, Athens is one of the oldest incorporated cities in the State of Alabama. The town was first called Athenson, and the name was then shortened to Athens, after the ancient city in Greece. More interestingly, some names were given by mistake. For instance, the people of Moscow, Kansas, wanted their city to follow the name of the explorer Moscoso. They shortened his name to Mosco, and an official in Washington, thinking the Kansans couldn't spell, added a ‘W’.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．In the state of Maine there are many different European cities. |
| B．You can drive to many European cities from the state of Maine. |
| C．All the settlers in the state of Maine came from Europe. |
| D．The state of Maine has many cities named after European cities. |
The word “tallied” (Line 4, Paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to ________.
| A．built | B．believed | C．added | D．visited |
What might have made the official in Washington change Mosco into Moscow?
| A．Moscow was a world-famous city name. |
| B．He thought Moscoso would prefer Moscow. |
| C．He believed Moscow was a far better name. |
| D．He thought Kansans couldn't spell very well and made a mistake. |
The best title for the passage is ________.
| A．The Story of Moscow, Kansas |
| B．American Cities and Their Names |
| C．Interesting Names |
| D．Old World Place Names in America |
Crystal Ear
One day a friend asked my wife Jill if I wanted a hearing aid. “He certainly does,”replied Jill. After hearing about a remarkable new product, Jill finally got up the nerve to ask me if I’d ever thought about getting a hearing aid. “No way,”I said. “It would make me look 20 years older.”“No, no”she replied. “This is entirely different. It’s Crystal Ear!”
Jill was right. Crystal Ear is different –––– not the old-styled body worn or over-the-ear aid, but an advanced personal sound system so small it’s like contacts for your ears. And Crystal Ear is super-sensitive and powerful, too. You will hear sounds your ears have been missing for years. Crystal Ear will make speech louder, and the sound is pure and natural.
I couldn’t believe how tiny it is. It is smaller than the tip of my little finger and it’s almost invisible when worn. There are no wires, no behind-the-ear device. Put it in your ear and its-ready-to-wear mold fits comfortable. Since it’s not too loud or too light, you may even forget that you’re wearing it! Use it at work or at play. And if your hearing problem is worse in certain situation, use Crystal Ear only when you need it.
Hearing loss, which is typically prior to teenage years, progresses throughout one’s lifetime. Although hearing loss is now the world’s number-one health problem, nearly 90 percent of people suffering hearing loss choose to leave the problem untreated. For many millions, treating hearing loss in a conventional way can involve numerous office visits, expensive testing and adjustments to fit your ear. Thanks to Crystal Ear, the “sound solution”is now convenient. Almost 90 percent of people with mild hearing loss, and millions more with just a little hearing dropoff, can be dramatically helped with Crystal Ear. Moreover, its superior design is energy-efficient, so batteries can last months. Crystal Ear is now available to help these people treat their hearing loss with a small hearing amplifier(扩音器).Why did the writer refuse to wear a hearing aid at first?
| A．It would make him look like an old man |
| B．He did not get the nerve to wear one |
| C．It looked old-styled. |
| D．It was too costly |
We can infer from the passage that ____
| A．Crystal Ear can signal where it is in case you cannot find it |
| B．you can wear Crystal Ear any time you like |
| C．you can even clean Crystal Ear yourself |
| D．you can even wear while swimming |
What does the writer say about hearing loss?
| A．About 10 percent of people wear hearing aids |
| B．About 90percent of people suffer hearing loss |
| C．It is one of the most painful diseases in the world |
| D．Hearing loss is the world’s most frequent health problem |