GregWoodburn,astudentattheUniv-优题课

An 18th-century statesman Edmund Burke once said, “All that is needed for the success of a misguided cause is that good people do nothing.” One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights to decide whether to be used in research. Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are puzzling the public and threatening advances in health knowledge and care. Leaders of the animal rights movement attack biomedical research because it depends on public funding, and few people understand the process of health care research. Hearing false reports of cruelty to animals in research settings, many are puzzled that anyone would harm an animal on purpose.
For example, a grandmotherly woman setting up an animal rights booth at a recent street fair was giving out sheets that encouraged readers not to use anything that comes from or is tested in animals－no meat, no fur, no medicines. Asked what will happen when epidemics(传染病) return, she said. “Don’t worry, scientists will find some way of using computers.” Such well-meaning people just don’t understand.
Scientists must communicate their message to the public in an understandable way－in human terms, not in the language of biology. We need to make clear the connection between animal research and a grandmother’s organ replacement, a father’s bypass operation, a baby’s vaccinations(接种疫苗), and even a pet’s shots. To those who know nothing about the animal research that was needed to produce these treatments, as well as new treatments and vaccines, animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst.
Much can be done. Scientists could give middle school lessons and present their own research. They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor, in case animal rights misinformation goes unchallenged and gains a false appearance of truth. Research institutions could be opened to tours, to show that laboratory animals receive humane care. Finally, because there are a lot of patients, the health research community should actively recruit(招募) not only well-known personalities such as Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research, but all who receive medical treatment. If good people do nothing, there is a real possibility that uninformed citizens will wipe out the precious of medical progress.
1. The purpose of the author beginning his article with Edmund Burke’s words is to _____.
A．call on scientists to take some actions
B．argue against the cause of animal rights
C．warn of the failure of biomedical research
D．show the success of the animal rights movement
2. In the second paragraph, the author took a grandmotherly woman as an example to show ____.
A. the way to prevent epidemics B. the innocence of the woman
C. how strong the opposition was D. how important the animal rights were
3. In the eyes of the author, misguided people are likely to think that using an animal in research
is ______.
A．cruel but necessary B．just but unnecessary
C．meaningful and wasteful D．inhuman and unacceptable
4. What can be inferred from the passage?
A．People care very little about returns of epidemics.
B．The public lacks knowledge of biomedical science.
C．Stephen Cooper is very seriously concerned about animal treatment.
D．Scientists should make efforts to develop new cures by means of hi-tech.
5. According to the passage, the author’s attitude toward biomedical research is ________.
A. Disinterested B. Indifferent C. Objective D. Supportive

“How’s the basketball coming on?”
I put down my drink and looked across at the next table. I was curious about that because both the man and the woman were at least 65.
“Oh, I’m not playing much basketball these days,” the woman replied. “But I’m getting much better at golf.”
What’s this, I thought. I opened my packet of crisps, thoughtfully.
“I’m still pretty hopeless at chess, I’m afraid,” the man said. “It beat me on level one this morning.”
The penny dropped. These two were the proud owners of computer games.
It’s very likely that one of the results of the development of the silicon chip (硅片) will be that a lot of people will have more exciting ways to spend their leisure time. It already has. Space invader machines are now a familiar sight everywhere. A lot of people play them, and some, particularly school children, get remarkably high scores. How, one wonders, do they find the time (and money) to become so good?
If you have your own computers, the possibilities are endless. You can play any active sports without stepping out of your living room.
You can become an expert at chess or backgammon (a kind of game) without ever playing with another human being. Indeed, human beings aren’t needed at all.
So, what of the future? Will we see school children stealing or even robbing to feed space invader machines? Will football grounds lie empty as families sit at home playing video football, or watching the national video football championship? Perhaps, it won’t go that far. But we won’t have to wait long for the Video Olympics. I’m sure of that.
Back in the pub, I stood up, took out 20 pence, and went over to the space invader machine. I may not be much good at beating computers at backgammon, but any space invaders who arrive on Earth anywhere near me had better watch out.
1. Why did the dialogue mentioned at the beginning of the passage draw the writer’s attention?
A. Because the speakers were old.
B. Because he wanted to join them.
C. Because the speakers were famous people.
D. Because he was interested in sports.
2. The example of the man and woman is taken at the beginning of the passage to show how ______ the computer games are.
A. convenient B. necessary C. curious D. popular
3. What does the underlined sentence “The penny dropped” most probably mean?
A. It was understood. B. It was strange.
C. It was great. D. It was accepted.
4. According to the writer, development in computer will make people ______.
A. friendlier B. less active C. more athletic D. smarter.
5. From the last paragraph we can see ______.
A. the writer is strongly against video games
B. the writer never plays video games
C. the writer is fond of playing video games
D. the write is better at “backgammon” than “space invader”

PART THREE READING COMPREHENSION
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
Jascha Richter once sang “don't need too much talking without saying anything” to reveal his lonely feeling in a crowd.
Dad always told me never to ever reveal my true opinions towards other people if such opinions are negative. He said this is the “Chu Shi Zhe Xue”, the philosophy of dealing with social network.
It seems that everybody here just follows this philosophy very, very well.
Friends. I would say that if I were given true friendship I would definitely treasure it with my greatest care. If I really regard someone as my close friend, I would never leave her alone whenever she's in need, either financially or mentally. And I always believe, as long as I treat people with whole-hearted honesty, I would have some rewards—at least, just ONE true friend of the same gender（性别）.
Sometimes I just miss my friends in China. Perhaps when we became friends, we were still young, too young to have been polluted by any dirt in the society. But here, it is simply different. It seems that all of us have learnt how to SURVIVE in a foreign land and such an experience actually makes us learn how to extract (榨取) the most benefits from the surroundings in order to survive.
All are friends around me. I've looked through all the dark sides of their personalities and yet I have to pretend that I know nothing. THEY ARE GOOD. THEY ARE GOOD. AND WE ARE FRIENDS. And then I can make myself comfortable enough to talk to people I hate the most. And of course, they don't say any words truly from their hearts. Neither do I.
But, sometimes I just feel unwilling to talk to these people. Sometimes, I just want to be alone, quietly, without being forced to listen to their gossip or other useless words.
“Standing on a mountain high
Looking at the moon through a clear blue sky
I should go and see some friends
But they don't really comprehend”
Jascha Richter expresses my feelings also.
1. What do we know about the writer’s father according to this passage?
A. He is really a good philosopher.
B. He possibly gets on well with others.
C. He told the writer to reveal her true opinions.
D. The passage doesn’t tell us at all.
2. What does the writer mean by saying “All are friends around me” in Paragraph 7?
A. People around her all like her. B. She has a lot of friends.
C. There are no real friends. D. No one is friendly to her.
3. What’s the most probable reason the writer mentions Jascha Richter’s song twice in the passage?
A.She likes Jascha Richter’s song.
B.Jascha Richter is one of her friends.
C The song were expresses her feelings.
D.She uses it to perfects her article.
4. Which of the following statements about the writer is TRUE?
A. She is now living abroad but doesn’t enjoy the life there.
B. She absolutely believes in her father’s philosophy.
C. She shows a positive attitude towards her relationship with others.
D. She thinks highly of her friends by repeating “They are good”.
5. The writer mostly expresses her ______ in this passage.
A. happiness B. homesickness C. sadness D. loneliness

What does an astronaut eat in space? This is a question that will puzzle many, as people rarely think of that. In the early space-travel years, astronauts ate dehydrated (脱水的) foods that were eaten through straws （吸管）. In today’s space-age, the food that they eat is totally different. They eat food in the same way as people do on Earth.
Astronauts are able to prepare and eat a variety of foods in space. Some can be eaten in their natural form, like fruits, while some need to add water, like noodles. However, there are no refrigerators, so the food has to be prepared and eaten without being stored for a long time. When the astronauts are hungry, they simply eat the food by opening the food packages and with a fork, knife, and spoon.
Just like people on Earth, astronauts also eat three meals a day which include breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes they also eat snacks. The US space agency NASA has found out that an astronaut’s diet reduces by about 70% on a space mission, though he has a wide range of foods to choose from like nuts, chicken, beef, seafood, and candies. Drinks in the spaceship include coffee, tea, juices, and lemonade.
Astronauts can also request a particular food that they would like to have in space. Scientists are always experimenting and trying out different space foods that can be offered to astronauts when on space missions.
1. Now astronauts eat ________ in space.
A. dehydrated (脱水的) foods B. food as people do on Earth
C. totally different D. food with a lot of water
2. The food the astronauts prepared ________ .
A. can’t be stored for a long time B. is put into refrigerators
C. can be stored for a long time D. can’t be kept in the food packages
3. In space, astronauts ________ like people on Earth.
A. only have nuts, chicken and beef B. only have lunch for a day
C. only drink coffee, tea and lemonade D. also eat three meals a day
4. What is the text mainly about?
A. Astronauts’ space life B. Astronauts’ space work
C. Astronauts’ space foodD. Astronauts’ space experiments

Singapore’s public transport system is one of the best in the world, so you should have no problem finding your way around like a local. There are three main forms of public transport that you would find in any other major city ---trains, buses and taxis
TRAINS
Trains run from 6:00 am to midnight. Single trip tickets start at 80 cents. If you buy an EZ-Link cars for $15, you can ride the trains and buses as you like.
If you need more information, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.
BUESE
There are several bus services in Singapore and fares start at 80 cents. Be sure always ask the driver the cost of your ticket as he can not give change.
If you need help, just call Transit Link on 1800 767 4333.
TAXIS
There are three main taxi companies –City Cab(6552 2222), Comfort(6552 1111) and Tibs (6552 8888). Booking can also be easily by calling the numbers listed above.
RENTABLE CARS
Driving in Singapore is a pleasure and if you liked to travel at your own pace, renting a car is a good choice. Renting takes away the hassle of getting to places around Singapore. Just sit back and enjoy the city. It also means you’ll get to see a lot more that a trains or a bus won’t let you see.
For car rental, call Avis on + 65 6737 1668.
1. By an EZ-Link card, you can take .
A. both buses and trainsB. only trainsC. both buses and taxis D. only rental cars
2. When you take a bus there, always remember to .
A. take your own license with you B. ask the driver how much your ticket is
C. buy the bus map of Singapore D. book your ticket ahead of time
3. What does the word “hassle” mean in Chinese?
A. 麻烦 B. 乐趣 C. 景点 D. 费用
4. What do you know about traveling in Singapore from the passage?
A. A local has no trouble finding his way around.
B. It’s much cheaper to go around by bus than by train.
C. You can see a lot more in Singapore only by renting a car.
D. It’s very convenient for visitors to travel in Singapore.

A．modest	B．poor
C．naughty	D．aggressive

A．Do-nothing.	B．Hot-headed.
C．Warm-hearted.	D．Self-serving.