When you're surfing the Internet on your laptop from your dorm or home, do you know your personal details are being gathered secretly? And would you be surprised to know the information may be sold cheaply to advertisers and marketers?
According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, all it takes is a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters to record the computer user's age, gender, location, favorite movies and hobbies.
The newspaper reports that Lotame Solutions Inc., a New York company, uses sophisticated (高科技) software called a “ beacon" to capture what people are typing on a website.
Lotame packages that data into profiles (个人资料) about individuals, only without their names, and sells the profiles to companies seeking customers. Batches of such data may be sold for a few dollars.
The Wall Street Journal survey discovered that spying on Internet users is one of the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web.
The "cookie" a tiny text file put on your PC by websites or marketing firms which might be used to remember your preferences for one site, or to track you across many sites is already old news. There are new and more complex tools such as “beacons” which scan in real time what people are doing on a webpage. These beacons instantly assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions.
Millions of Internet users around the world also face unprecedented (空前的) threats. Private, sensitive, personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge.
Companies insist the information they gather is anonymous and the data is used harmlessly. But the technology has grown so powerful that even some of the biggest websites in the US don't know that they were installing intrusive files on visitors' computers. These include MSN. com and Yahoo. com.
Next time you visit a webpage and find an ad banner advertising something you've been planning to buy, don't be amazed that your computer can read your mind.The purpose of the passage is to __________.
| A．introduce a tiny file in a computer-a single code |
| B．show how your individual information was let out when you surf the Internet |
| C．show how to protect your privacy |
| D．introduce a sophisticated software called a “beacon" |
All of the following statements are False except __________.
| A．Lotame sells the profiles about individuals to companies seeking customers with their age, gender, location, hobbies and names |
| B．spying on Internet users is the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web |
| C．some of the biggest websites in the US know they were installing intrusive files on visitors' computers |
| D．a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters can record users' information |
It can be inferred that __________.
| A．because the data is used harmlessly the Internet users around the world will not face threats |
| B．when a person surf the Internet, his personal details may be let out without his knowledge |
| C．your __________ computer can really read your mind |
| D．MSN.com and Yahoo.com. use software to capture what people are typing on a website |
According to the passage, "beacon" __________.
| A．is a tiny text file put on your PC by websites |
| B．is a soft ware that can package that data into profiles about individuals |
| C．can assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions |
| D．is not more complex than the "cookie" |
What's the writer's attitude to this problem?
| A．Neutral | B．Worried | C．Optimistic | D．Indifferent |
BINGHAM REGIONAL COLLEGE
International Students’ Orientation Programme
What is it?
It is a course which will introduce you to the College and to Bingham. It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th-28th September, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22nd or 23rd September.
Why do we think it is important?
We want you to have the best possible start to your studies and you need to find out about all the opportunities that college life offers. It will enable you to get to know the college, its facilities and services. You will also have a chance to meet staff and students.
How much will it cost?
* International students (non-European Union students)
For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the progamme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend. Because of this, the cost of the programme, without accommodation, is built into your tuition fees.
* EU students
EU students are welcome to take part in this programme without accommodation for ￡195.
Accommodation costs (international and EU students)
The cost of accommodation for one week is ￡165
If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the college, you do not have to pay extra for accommodation. You can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you one week only in a hotel with other International students.
What is included during the programme?
Meals: lunch and an evening meal are provided as part of the programme. Please note that breakfast is not available.
Information: including such topics as accommodation, health, religious matters, study skills, and other necessary information.
Social activities: including a welcome party and a half day trip round Bingham.Who is encouraged to attend the course according to the ad?
| A．Those who are less prepared for their examination |
| B．Those who want to improve their social lives |
| C．Those who are not familiar with their future college. |
| D．Those who want to make up their missed lessons. |
It is better for Non-European Union students to take part in the programme because _______
| A．they don’t have to pay for the course |
| B．it offers them opportunities to know more about European culture |
| C．they can save the cost of accommodation while they are studying |
| D．it is difficult for them to be accepted by the natives in Binghama |
If a student plans to take the course, he has to arrive in Bingham at least ___________ days in advance before term starts.
| A．2 | B．4 | C．5 | D．6 |
Which of the following might NOT be included in the programme?
| A．Learning how to study in the college | B．Looking for a part-time job in neighborhood. |
| C．Understanding some taboos(禁忌)in European society． | D．Travelling around Bingham. |
（Reuters）--- A Michigan man credited his dog with saving his life by chewing off his diseased big toe as he lay passed out in a drunken stupor(昏迷)
Jerry Douthett, 48, who woke up on a Saturday night in late July in his Rockford, Michigan home to find his Jack Russell Terrier, Kiko, had gnawed off his right big toe.
“The dog always lies with me on the bed”, said Douthett. “That night, I woke up and looked down at my foot, and it was wet. When I looked, it was blood and there was the dog looking at me with a blood moustache.”
Douthett’s wife, Rosee, rushed him to a hospital where doctors found he was suffering from Type 2 diabetes. His toe was badly infected and surgeons amputated(截)the remainder of the toe.
Douthett’s wife, a registered nurse, had been urging him for weeks to have his infected toe examined by a doctor.
On the night Kiko ate his toe, Douthett said he had been out with his wife and drank about six or seven beers and a pair of giant margaritas—big enough to put goldfish in.
“I was self-medicating at this point,” he said. “The moral of the story is that the dog saved my life, because otherwise I would never have gone to see a doctor.”
The couple said they were amazed that Kiko appeared to know Douthett had an infection that needed treatment.
“He kind of chewed off the infected part and stopped at the good bone,” said Rosee. “We joked that we shouldn’t have had to pay the co-pay because he did half the job by chewing off half of the toe.”What does the underlined phrase “gnawed off” probably mean?
| A．bit away | B．cared for | C．sucked on | D．smelt out |
It can be learned from the text that________________.
| A．Douthett’s wife was a doctor | B．Douthett’s wife felt something about his disease |
| C．Douthett never got that drunk | D．Douthett had seen a doctor for his disease |
From the text we know that Kiko ______________.
| A．is in top physical condition | B．was trained at an early age |
| C．nearly cost Douthett his life | D．saved his master’s life |
Which is NOT true according to the text?
| A．It is hard for the couple to explain the dog’s behaviour |
| B．Jerry Douthett went to see a doctor because of Kiko’s chewing his big toe.. |
| C．The couple shouldn’t have to pay the co-pay because Kiko did half the job. |
| D．Kiko didn’t hurt the good bone of its master. |
Facebook users may feel socially successful in the web world but they are more likely to perform poorly in exams. The majority of students who use Facebook every day are doing badly compared with those who don’t. About 83% of British 16 to 24-year-old people are using social networking site such as Facebook and MySpace, to keep in touch with friends and organize their social activities.
“Our study shows people who spend more time on Facebook spend less time studying,” said Aryn Karpinski, a researcher. “Every generation has its distractions(娱乐), but I think Facebook is a unique phenomenon.” Karpinski and a colleague questioned 219 US undergraduates and graduates about their study and general Internet use, as well as their specific use of Facebook. They found 65% of Facebook users accessed their account daily, checking it several times to see if they had received new messages. The amount of time spent on Facebook at each log-in(登录) varied from just a few minutes to more than an hour.
Some UK students have already realized the potential danger. Daisy Jones, 21, an undergraduate, realized the time she was spending on Facebook was threatening her grades, urging her to deactivate(使无效) her account, “I was in the library and tried to write a 2,000-word essay when I realized my Facebook habit had got out of hand,” she said. “I couldn’t resist going online, when thinking about it. Before you know it , a couple of minutes have turned into a couple of hours and you haven’t written a word.”
Jones is among the few to have realized the risks. 79% of the users, however, believed the time they spent on the site had no impact on their work. The CEO of Facebook said, “There is also academic research that shows the benefits of services like Facebook. It’s in the hands of students to decide how to spend their time.”What can we know from Paragraph 1?
| A．All the students who don’t use Facebook do well in exams. |
| B．Social networking sites have both advantages and disadvantages. |
| C．Facebook is the main site for British people to keep in touch. |
| D．Most of British students use social networking sites daily. |
Facebook users check their account frequently to ____________.
| A．spend less time on study | B．make sure new messages aren’t missed |
| C．practise specific use of Facebook | D．accumulate amount of time spent on Facebook. |
Why did Daisy Jones deactivate her account?
| A．She was warned about the risk of using Facebook. |
| B．Spending much time on Facebook affected her study |
| C．She wanted to write a long article in the library. |
| D．There was something wrong with her eyes. |
What’s the best title of the passage ?
| A．Facebook fans do worse in exams | B．Social networking sites and their fans |
| C．Facebook helps organize social activities | D．How to use social networking sites correctly. |
I made a pledge (发誓) to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving . No ifs, ands or buts.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting (引用) a Biblical (圣经的) passage about husbands being thoughtful（体贴的） of their wives. Then he went on to say," Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love." To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well , for two weeks that would change.
And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said," That new yellow sweater looks great on you."
"Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said, surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all the week and now she wants to stay with me. " We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites.
So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed
and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed, I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love. There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. Last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked her.
“ Tom ,” se said in a voice filled with distress, “ do you know something I don’t?”
"What do you mean?"
"Well...that checkup(体检) I had several weeks ago...our doctor...did he tell you something about me? Tom , you've been so good to me..
. am I dying?"
It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I bur
st out laughing.
"No, honey," I said, wrapping her in my arms. "You're not dying; I'm just staring to
live."In the first paragraph, "No ifs, ands or buts" probably means___.
| A．unnecessarily | B．unexpectedly | C． impossibly | D．unconditionally |
From the story we may infer that Tom went to the beach cottage___.
| A．with his family | B．with Evelyn | C．alone | D．with his children |
During the two weeks on the beach, Tom showed more love to his wife because___.
| A．she looked lovely in her new clothes |
B．he had made a lot of money in Wall Street |
| C．he was determined to be a good husband |
| D．she was seriously ill |
The underlined words "one thing" in the passage refer to the fact that___.
| A．he praised her sweater, which puzzled her |
B．she insisted on visiting a museum, which he  hated |
| C．he knew something about her illness but didn't tell her |
| D．he was so good to her that she thought she must be dying |
By saying "I'm just starting to live", Tom means that___.
| A．he is just beginning to understand the real meaning of life |
| B．he is just beginning to enjoy his life as a loving husband |
| C．he lived an unhappy life before and is now starting to change |
| D．he is beginning to feel regretful for what he did to his wife |
It has always been said that women are not good drivers, because they simply don't have very good driving ability. On the other hand, most car accidents happen to men; very few happen to women.
From this, we can see that women are much more careful while driving. Another very interesting fact that we should point out is that in the past, women preferred to let their husbands be the only driver in the family rather than have a driving license. Som
ehow they were prevented from making this step in their lives, but nowadays there are many women that want to pass their driving tests from an early age.
However, we have to admit that men are more skillful drivers than women, but this does not mean that a woman cannot become a good driver by accumulating (积累) experience. So more and more teenagers and women around the age of thirty now want to pass their driving tests. While taking their driving lessons, they also have a number of special lessons with their parents or somebody in the family that has a driving license, this is just to improve their driving abilities and help them to pass the tests more easily.
To conclude, we can say that women are not such bad drivers. They just need more experience than men in order to be able to drive well. And on the other hand, there are a number of women that show better driving skills than the men around them. Compared with the past, nowadays many women___.
| A．prefer to have a driving license | |
| B．have more accidents while driving | |
C．are somehow prevented from driving |
D．are the only driver in the family |
What advantage do women have over men in driving?
| A．They have more skills. |
| B．They are much more careful |
| C．They know more traffic rules |
| D．They have more driving experience |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Teenage girls cannot take driving tests. |
| B．Men didn't allow women to drive in the past. |
| C．With enough experience, women can become good drivers. |
| D．Women can easily pass their tests by taking driving lessons. |
The passage mainly talks about___.
A．women and their driving ability.  |
| B．men and their driving ability. |
| C．why men are better drivers than women. |
| D．why more women like to have a driving license |