The exploration of Mars entered a new phase as Spirit,the first of US twin rovers, landed on the Red Planet later Saturday.
The rover can work as a robotic field geologist and can see sharper images,explore farther and examine rocks better than anything that's ever landed on Mars, scientists at the US space agency NASA said.
Spirit, as big as a mini-car, is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments that will be used to read the geologic record at the landing site, to investigate what role water played there, and to determine how suitable the conditions would have been for life.
It has a panoramic (全景的)camera at human-eye height, and a miniature thermal emission spectrometer with infrared (红外线的)vision that can help scientists identify the most interesting rocks.
The six-wheeled rover can watch for hazards and maneuvers around them and has a deck of solar panels,about the size of a kitchen table, for power. It can drive to the selected rock and extend an arm with tools on the end.
A microscopic imager, like a geologist's hand lens, can give a close-up view of the rock's texture. Two spectrometers can identify the composition of the rock and the fourth tool, which substitutes (代替)for a geologist's hammer, can expose the fresh interior of a rock by scraping away the weathered surface layer.
Spirit will stop at Gusev Crater(坑),a bowl bigger than the US state of Connecticut that appears to have held a lake long ago. Scientists will use the robot's instruments to seek and analyze geological evidence about past environmental conditions in the crater.
If sedimentary (沉积的)rocks lie on the surface,they may yield telltale (泄密的)clues to whether the crater ever did hold a wet environment that might have been suitable for sustaining life, scientists said. Which would be the best title of this passage?
| A.Spirit opens new phase on exploration of Mars. |
| B.Spirit, the first rover on Mars. |
| C.The successful landing of Spirit on Mars. |
| D.Spirit, a new invention for exploration of Mars. |
The chief purpose of Spirit from the passage is to ______.
| A.take clearer pictures of Mars |
| B.examine more rocks on Mars |
| C.search for water at Gusev Crater |
| D.look for past signs of water on Mars |
The author mainly tells us in this passage ______.
| A.what Spirit is like |
| B.how Spirit will deal with difficulties on Mars |
| C.what Spirit will do on Mars |
| D.what Spirit is equipped with |
This passage probably comes from ______ .
| A.a research paper |
| B.a news report |
| C.a new invention introduction |
| D.a science fiction |
When I was growing up, I was ashamed to be seen with my father. He was severely disabled and very short, and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare. If he ever noticed or was bothered, he never let it on.
It was difficult to coordinate(协调)our steps---his slow, mine impatient---and because of that, we didn’t say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, “You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you.”
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, nor did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a “good heart”, and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don’t know accurately what a “good heart” is. But I know the times I don’t have one myself.
Unable to engage in many activities, my father still tried to participate(参加) in some way. I now know he participated in some things indirectly through me, his only son. When I played ball(poorly),he “played” too. When I joined the navy ,he “joined” too. And when I came home on leave ,he saw to it that I visited his office. Introducing me, he was really saying, “This is my son, but it is also me, and I could have done this, too, if things had been different.”Those words were never said aloud.
He has been gone many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my unwillingness to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about small affairs, when I am envious of another’s good fortune, when I don’t have a “good heart”.
At such times I put my hand on his arm to regain my balance, and say, “You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you.”The author felt unhappy walking with his father because___.
| A.he was pitiful for his father’s physical disability |
| B.it was hard for them to walk at the same pace |
| C.he didn’t want others to know he had an ugly father |
| D.it was not easy for his father to keep balance |
In the father’s view, the most important quality a good person should have is___.
| A.beautiful appearance | B.excellent health |
| C.a smart head | D.a good heart |
It can be inferred from the text that_____.
| A.the father was proud of his only son |
| B.the father took part in all his son’s activities |
| C.the author was upset when asked to his father’s office |
| D.the author was a good ball player and outstanding soldier |
According to the last paragraph, by saying “You set the pace, I will try to adjust to you.”, the author means that____.
| A.he is now glad to help his father to walk |
| B.he regrets his unwillingness to walk with his father |
| C.he will follow father’s standards of being a good man |
| D.he will never forget how mentally strong his father was |
A new study shows students who write notes by hand during lectures perform better on exams than those who use laptops(笔记本电脑).
Students are increasingly using laptops for note-taking because of speed and legibility(清晰度).But the research has found laptop users are less able to remember and apply the concepts they have been taught.
Researchers performed experiments that aimed to find out whether using a laptop increased the tendency to make notes “mindlessly” by taking down word for word what the professors said.
In the first experiment, students were given either a laptop or pen and paper. They listened to the same lectures and were told to use their usual note-taking skills. Thirty minutes after the talk, they were examined on their ability to remember facts and on how well they understood concepts.
The researchers found that laptop users took twice as many notes as those who wrote by hand. However, the typists performed worse at remembering and applying the concepts. Both groups scored similarly when it came to memorizing facts.
The researchers’ report said,“ While more notes are beneficial, if the notes are taken mindlessly, as is more likely the case on a laptop ,the benefit disappears.”
In another experiment aimed at testing long-term memory, students took notes as before but were tested a week after the lecture. This time, the students who wrote notes by hand performed significantly better on the exam.
These two experiments suggest that handwritten notes are not only better for immediate learning and understanding, but that they also lead to superior revision in the future.More and more students favor laptops for note-taking because they can .
| A.write more notes | B.digest concepts better |
| C.get higher scores | D.understand lectures better |
While taking notes, laptop users tend to be .
| A.skillful | B.mindless |
| C.thoughtful | D.tireless |
The passage is likely to appear in .
| A.a newspaper advertisement | B.a computer textbook |
| C.a science magazine | D.a finance report |
How fit are your teeth? Are you lazy about brushing them? Never fear: An inventor is on the case. An electric toothbrush senses how long and how well you brush, and it lets you track your performance on your phone.
The Kolibree toothbrush was exhibited at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. It senses how it is moved and can send the information to an Android phone or iPhone via a Bluetooth wireless connection.
The toothbrush will be able to teach you to brush right(don’t forget the insides of the teeth!)and make sure you’re brushing long enough.“It’s kind of like having a dentist actually watch your brushing on a day-to-day basis,” says Thomas Serval, the French inventor.
The toothbrush will also be able to talk to other applications on your phone, so developers could, for instance, create a game controlled by your toothbrush. You could score points for beating monsters among your teeth.“We try to make it smart but also fun,” Serval says.
Serval says he was inspired by his experience as a father. He would come home from work and ask his kids if they had brushed their teeth. They said“yes,” but Serval would find their toothbrush heads dry. He decided he needed a brush that really told him how well his children brushed.
The company says the Kolibree will go on sale this summer, for $99 to $199,depending on features. The U.S.is the first target market.
Serval says that one day, it’ll be possible to replace the brush on the handle with a brushing unit that also has a camera. The camera can even examine holes in your teeth while you brush.Which is one of the features of the Kolibree toothbrush?
| A.It can sense how users brush their teeth. |
| B.It can track users’ school performance. |
| C.It can detect users’ fear of seeing a dentist. |
| D.It can help users find their phones. |
What can we learn from Serval’s words in Paragraph 3?
| A.You will find it enjoyable to see a dentist. |
| B.You should see your dentist on a day-to-day basis. |
| C.You can brush with the Kolibree as if guided by a dentist. |
| D.You’d like a dentist to watch you brush your teeth every day. |
Which of the following might make the Kolibree toothbrush fun?
| A.It can be used to update mobile phones. |
| B.It can be used to play mobile phone games. |
| C.It can send messages to other users. |
| D.It can talk to its developers. |
What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?
| A.How Serval found out his kids lied to him. |
| B.Why Serval thought brushing teeth was necessary. |
| C.How Serval taught his kids to brush their teeth. |
| D.What inspired Serval to invent the toothbrush. |
HOLIDAY FUN AT THE POWERHOUSE
500 HARRIS STREET ULTIMO·TELEPHONE(02)9217 0111
Join in the holiday fun at the Powerhouse this month linked to our new exhibition, Evolution & Revolution: Chinese dress1700s to now. DON’T FORGET our other special event, the Club Med Circus School which is part of the Circus(马戏团)!150years of circus in Australia exhibition experience!
◆Chinese Folk Dancing: Colorful Chinese dance and musical performances by The Chinese Folk Dancing School of Sydney. Dances include: the Golden stick dance and the Chinese drum dance. A feature will be the Qin dynasty Emperor’s count dance .Also included is a show of face painting for Beijing opera performances.
Sunday 29 June and Wednesday 2 July in the Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm.
◆Australian Chinese Children’s Arts Theatre: W ell-known children’s play experts from Shanghai lead this dynamic youth group. Performances include Chinese fairy tales and plays.
Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 July in the Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm.
◆Chinese Youth League: A traditional performing arts group featuring performance highlights such as the Red scarf and Spring flower dances ,and a musician playing Er Hu.
Sunday 6 to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall,11.30 am to 1.30 pm.
◆Kids Activity: Make a Paper Horse :Young children make a paper horse cut-out.(The horse is a frequent theme in Chinese painting, including a kind of advancement.)Suitable for ages 8~12 years.
Saturday 28 June to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall,12.00 pm to 1.00 pm.
◆Club Med Circus School: Learn circus skills, including the trapeze, trampolining and magic.Note only for children over 5.There are 40 places available in each 1 hour session and these must be booked at the front desk,level 4,on the day.
Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 Julyat 11.30 am & 1.00 pm.
Enjoy unlimited free visits and many other benefits by becoming a Family member of the Powerhouse.Our family memberships cover two adults and all children under the age of 16 years at the one address.
Members receive Powerline,our monthly magazine,discounts in the shops and the restaurants,as well as free admission to the Museum.All this for as little as $50.00 a year!Call(02)9217 0600 for more details.When can you watch the Chinese drum dance?
| A.On July 2. | B.On July 3. |
| C.On July 6. | D.On July 8. |
To learn the magic tricks,you can go to .
| A.Kids Activity | B.Chinese Youth League |
| C.Club Med Circus School | D.Children’s Arts Theatre |
What is required if you want to enjoy free visits to the Museum?
| A.Calling(02)9217 0600. |
| B.Gaining family membership. |
| C.Coming for the holiday fun. |
| D.Paying Powerline $50.00 a year. |
What is the main purpose of the text .
| A.To attract visitors. | B.To present schedules. |
| C.To report the performances. | D.To teach kids Chinese arts. |
Larry was on another of his underwater expeditions(探险)but this time, it was different. He decided to take his daughter along with him. She was only ten years old. This would be her first trip with her father on what he had always been famous for.
Larry first began diving when he was his daughter’s age. Similarly, his father had taken him along on one of his expeditions. Since then, he had never looked back. Larry started out by renting diving suits from the small diving shop just along the shore. He had hated them. They were either too big or too small. Then, there was the instructor. He gave him a short lesson before allowing him into the water with his father. He had made an exception. Larry would never have been able to go down without at least five hours of theory and another similar number of hours on practical lessons with a guide. Children his age were not even allowed to dive.
After the first expedition, Larry’s later diving adventures only got better and better. There was never a dull moment. In his black and blue suit and with an oxygen tank fastened on his back, Larry dived from boats into the middle of the ocean. Dangerous areas did not prevent him from continuing his search. Sometimes, he was limited to a cage underwater but that did not bother him. At least, he was still able to take photographs of the underwater creatures
Larry’s first expedition without his father was in the Cayman Islands. There were numerous diving spots in the area and Larry was determined to visit all of them. Fortunately for him, a man offered to take him around the different spots for free. Larry did not even know what the time was, how many spots he dived into or how many photographs he had taken. The diving spots afforded such a wide array of fish and sea creatures that Larry saw more than thirty varieties of creatures.
Larry looked at his daughter. She looked as excited as he had been when he was her age. He hoped she would be able to continue the family tradition. Already, she looked like she was much braver than Larry had been then. This was the key to a successful underwater expedition.In what way was this expedition different for Larry?
| A.His daughter had grown up. |
| B.He had become a famous diver. |
| C.His father would dive with him. |
| D.His daughter would dive with him. |
What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?
| A.Larry had some privileges. |
| B.Larry liked the rented diving suits. |
| C.Divers had to buy diving equipment. |
| D.Ten-year-old children were permitted to dive. |
Why did Larry have to stay in a cage underwater sometimes?
| A.To protect himself from danger. |
| B.To dive into the deep water. |
| C.To admire the underwater view. |
| D.To take photos more conveniently. |
What did Larry expect his daughter to do?
| A.Become a successful diver. |
| B.Make a good diving guide. |
| C.Take a lot of photos underwater. |
| D.Have longer hours of training. |