Liu Qian, a magician from Taiwan, cast his spell (魔法) over an audience of thousands on the CCTV Spring Festival Show. Die-hard fans are still trying to work out the secrets behind many of the tricks he performed.
But Liu, 32, when asked, laughed off the idea that there might be an "answer" to his magic. "The most fascinating thing is the puzzling process. People enjoy how magicians make the impossible come true, " said Liu.
Few people today believe in the possibility of real magic. They also often fail to consider magicians' devotion to their art. It can take a magician years' of practice to perfect a trick before he performs it on stage.
Part of Liu's star appeal is his astonishing skill. However, when he began in the industry, he was all embarrassingly clumsy. "I could practice thousands of times for one single act. It wasn't much fun, " he said.
No magician's supernatural powers on stage extend to their life off stage. Liu says his life was no easier or funnier because he was a magician.
He developed an interest in magic at a young age, but didn't consider making a living out of it until he graduated from university. He had studied Japanese and found himself unable to find a job. "My parents never considered being a magician as a proper job. To begin with, I had little confidence I would be doing this in the long term, " he said.
Yet Liu felt a powerful calling to become a magician. "For many people, magic somehow means a miracle, which is something we all secretly wish for no matter how hard-bitten we become, " he said
Liu may be right. A popular modern dream is of the fairy godmother, who waves her magic wand (魔杖) and makes our dreams come true. But according to Liu, we all have the power to create magic in our lives. As Liu puts it: it's not the magic that makes it work; it's the way we work that makes it magic. According to the passage, we can tell that __________.
| A．being a famous magician, Liu Qian leads a comfortable life |
| B．it is a hard job for magicians to perform magic tricks well |
| C．Liu Qian's parents supported his wish to be a magician |
| D．Liu Qian showed great talents for magic tricks when he first took it up |
Talking of whether there's real magic, Liu Qian believes __________.
| A．there is no real magic and what counts in our life is the way we work |
| B．if we secretly wish for something, magic will turn out to be a miracle |
| C．the puzzling process of performing magic tricks is the answer to magic |
| D．there exists a fairy godmother waving her magic wand to make our dreams come true |
Which of the following is similar to the underlined sentence in meaning?
| A．All roads lead to Rome. |
| B．A miss is as good as a mile. |
| C．Every dog has his day. |
| D．No pains, no gains. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Magic Power by Liu Qian |
| B．The Magic Skill |
| C．A Popular Magician—Liu Qian |
| D．How to Be a Successful Magician |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Liu Qian is a born magician. |
| B．Liu Qian studied magic at university. |
| C．Liu Qian became successful mainly because he was hardworking. |
| D．Godmother helped him. |
Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send orders to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, showed a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the wheelchair and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells(神经细胞). These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓)to the muscles(肌肉) to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outside world and also to control the machine.”
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp(头皮)and sends them to a computer. The computer understands the signals and directs the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that recognize objects in its path. They help the computer react to orders from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that understands brain signals and turns them into simple orders. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be divided into two kinds: communication, and controlling the machine. One example is this wheelchair.”
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from. And the other is to ensure that they can use the technology over long periods of time.How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
| A．By controlling his muscles. |
| B．By talking to the machine. |
| C．By moving his hand. |
| D．By using his mind. |
Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
| A．scalp → computer → cap →wheelchair |
| B．computer → cap → scalp →wheelchair |
| C．scalp → cap → computer →wheelchair |
| D．cap → computer → scalp →wheelchair |
The team will test with real patients to ______.
| A．make profits from them |
| B．prove the technology useful to them |
| C．make them live longer |
| D．learn about their physical condition |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Switzerland, the BCI Research Center |
| B．New Findings About How the Human Brain Works |
| C．BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled |
| D．Computer Technology Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries |
If you are in a crowd, a first and most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings(周围的事物) and mentally notice alternate exits. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out.
Make sure you know the type of ground you are standing on. For example, in a crowd of moving people wet ground can be dangerous, causing you to fall. You should know the general atmosphere of the event, as panic situations can often be predicted. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference, giving you the possibility of taking advantage of your escape route. Always stay closer to the escape route
If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down, because you could easily get injured or even be killed by being stepped on by other people. Instead, move in the same direction of the crowd; take advantage of any space that may open up to move sideways to the crowd movement where the flow is weaker. Keep your hands up by your chest, which will protect your chest during the movement.
If you fall, get up quickly. If you can’t get up because you are injured, get someone to pull you back up. If you fall and can not get up, keep moving by crawling(爬行)in the same direction of the crowd. Do not lie on your stomach or back, as this is dangerous for your body.
The worst situation is to be pushed by the crowd against an immovable object. Try to shun
High walls, as the crowd pressure can build up rapidly. After you’re pushed forward, the way you move is on a diagonal(斜线). There’s always space between people. You work your way out that way till you get out of the crowd. When you are in a crowd the first thing you do is ____.
| A．fight against the pressure |
| B．stay closer to an immovable object |
| C．move in the same direction of the crowd |
| D．be familiar with the surroundings |
When you are in the middle of a moving crowd, ____.
| A．you must go to the exit quickly |
| B．you must not stand still or sit down |
| C．you’d better stop moving forward |
| D．you should push your way out |
The underlined word “shun” in the last paragraph probably means ____.
| A．leave for | B．keep off |
| C．jump on | D．break down |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．How to survive the rush crowd |
| B．How to enjoy yourself in a crowd |
| C．How to protect yourself outside |
| D．How to run away from people |
In American schools there is something called Homecoming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation or commencement (毕业典礼)Day. Students plan Homecoming Day many weeks in advance.
Several days before Homecoming, students start to decorate the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.
The members of school clubs build booths(售货棚) and sell lemonade(柠檬汽水)，apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors.
During the day alumni and their wives will gather at the school. They like to look for teachers that they remember. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.
Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the band comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen or King appears. All the students vote the most popular student Homecoming Queen or King. It is a great honor to be chosen.
Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the game loses, the students still enjoy Homecoming. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering. The best title of this passage is ________.
| A．American School | B．Homecoming Day |
| C．Homecoming Queen or King | D．Homecoming Game |
Which of the following is NOT done on Homecoming?
| A．To see old friends. |
| B．To call on teachers they remember. |
| C．To watch the football game. |
| D．To organize clubs. |
The underlined word “ alumni” refers to ________.
| A．male former students of a school or college |
| B．female former students of a school or college |
| C．grandfathers of the students in a school or college |
| D．grandmothers of the students in a school or college |
It was 6 p. m. on 24 January 2001, the first day of Chinese New Year. As I drove along the road, a small car flew across the centre double amber lines(双黄线) from the ____ direction and crashed into my car head-on. I was ____ and was awakened by the ringing of my mobile phone. It was a travel agent, asking me ____ I had arrived at the Mandarin Oriental for my work.
I was ____ to Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. But the hospital staff was too ____to attend to me, so I called a friend and told him about the ____. Some friends arrived very soon after and sent me to a private hospital nearby.
I was given ten months’ medical leave and then I was ____. My heart ____, knowing that it meant I couldn’t work. As a tour guide and tour leader, I only got paid if I took on more work. I felt completely ____, but a lot of unexpected blessings came my way. Friends and relatives ____ me with my banking, insurance or simply came to cheer me up.
But I was only 30, and wanted to see the world. When the casts were removed, I did not let the sight of my weak legs ____ me. I worked hard at my physiotherapy(物理疗法) with only one aim: I must ____ again. ____five months of tiring therapy up to three sessions a week, I was back on my feet. After eight months, I was walking ____ the aid of walking stick. By February the following year, I ____ my job again.
The accident made me____ how lives can change in a split second. I recall the Chinese family drove me to the hospital ____ my bloodied condition on Chinese New Year. The kindness I’ve experienced taught me never to ____ hope. I value life ____ , not only my own but also everyone I know, and will always try to help when I know of someone ____.
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I was never neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her projects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both get tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “ take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “thanks.”
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together; giving in, cleaning up and holding on.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?
| A．By listing facts. | B．By doing comparison |
| C．By giving examples | D．By drawing a conclusion |
What made Kate so angry that evening?
| A．She got the news that her grandmother was ill. |
| B．She couldn’t find her shoes. |
| C．She heard the author shouting loud. |
| D．She saw the author’s shoes under her bed. |
What was the author’s attitude to Kate but for the call?
| A．Annoyed | B．Envious |
| C．tolerant | D．Sympathetic |
What might be the best title for the story?
| A．How to be organized | B．My Friend Kate |
| C．Learning to Be Roommates | D．Hard Work Pays Off. |