The library is one of the most popular places at a western university.Students turn to it for research,conversations about class,and many other services.
Compared with Chinese libraries,college libraries in the US and UK tend to offer more resources.A postgraduate at Yale University can borrow as many as 225 books at a time.
In addition to borrowing books,there are online and electronic resources.These include a database search of popular and academic material,such as LexisNexis Academic,which offers items from newspapers and magazines.
Although books and articles are the items that students ask for most frequently,some libraries provide audio and video recordings,maps and sheet music(活页乐谱).At some schools,teachers and tutors put electronic copies of their teaching PPTs on the library web to give easier access for students.
Another useful service in western college libraries is the Interlibrary Loan.This allows a student at one school to borrow books from another school.The loan request is made through the student’s college library,which gets the book,gives it to the user and arranges for its return.
Technology has brought more services to students and has made libraries attractive.Some universities have services for students to send messages through the computer or mobile texts to ask the library staff for information.
Earlier this year,Harvard University introduced a new Scan and Deliver service,allowing students to make requests for parts of books and articles.Requests made through the system are handled by library staff.The student receives an email with an Internet link to the scanned pages.The service is free and all material comes within four days.
It used to be that libraries didn’t allow food or drinks.But that rule is changing and many of them now contain a cafe so students can spend as much time as they want in the library.
Actually,some US university libraries are now allnight affairs,or have at least one study room open all night.In western college libraries a postgraduate can________.
A.have a free drink or a meal |
B.borrow as many books as they want |
C.ask questions and get answers from their tutors |
D.access not only books but other study resources |
LexisNexis Academic is the name of a ________.
A.guide |
B.library |
C.database |
D.university |
Which of the following are mostly needed by students in western libraries?
A.Books and articles. |
B.Audio and video recordings. |
C.Maps and sheet music. |
D.Tutors’ teaching PPTs. |
How can a college student borrow books from other colleges’ libraries?
A.By going to these libraries. |
B.By getting them through the Internet. |
C.By borrowing them through their own library. |
D.By sending messages through the computer or mobile texts. |
Wildlife faces threats ( 威胁 ) from habitat destruction, pollution, and other human actions. Although protecting wildlife may seem too hard at times, even small actions in your own neighborhood can help protect many different animals. Here are some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions.
1.Create wildlife friendly areas in your backyard.
When trying to make your garden more beautiful , you can choose plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife . This will also help cut down on pollution . Add bird or bat houses to your yard or garden to attract and shelter these species.
2. Avoid harming the natural ecosystem ( 生态系统 ) in your area.
Some plants from other places can kill or harm native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife.
3. ________________________________________________.
By using less water and fewer fuels, you will be helping to protect the wildlife around you . Take buses or the subway when you can, turn off electric devices when you’re not using them , take shorter shower, and keep your room temperature at or below 68 degrees during the winter.
4. Buy products that are wildlife friendly
Don’t buy products that are made from endangered animals. Keep in mind that some endangered animals are killed by traps , catches or hunters who are after other wildlife within the same habitat.
5. Donate money or time to organizations that protect wildlife and their habitats.
You can give money to organization or groups that protect wildlife species in your neighborhood.We infer that the purpose of this passage is to ________.
A.tell us why protecting wildlife is extremely important now |
B.suggest that we protect wildlife through actions |
C.give us some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions |
D.explain why protecting wildlife is not as hard as people think. |
Which of the following threats to wildlife is NOT mentioned in the passage ?
A.Loss of habitat | B.Animal diseases |
C.Pollution | D.Hunters |
What’s the best title for the third point ?
A.Use less water and fewer fuels. | B.Have a greener lifestyle. |
C.Take a bus when you go out . | D.Try a new kind of life. |
The writer suggests that we _________.
A.not buy products made from animals |
B.share cars with others when we go out |
C.provide shelters for birds and bats in our gardens or yards |
D.grow as many kinds of plants in our gardens as possible |
Hobbs was an orphan(孤儿). He worked in a factory and every day he got a little money. Hard work made him thin and weak. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to learn to paint pictures, but he did not think he could pay off the debts.
One day a lawyer said to him, “One thousand dollars, and here is the money.” As Hobbs took the package of notes, he was very dumbfounded. He didn’t know where the money came from and how to spend it. He said to himself, “I could go to find a hotel and live like a rich man for a few days; or I give up my work in the factory and do what I’d like to do: painting pictures. I could do that for a few weeks, but what would I do after that? I should have lost my place in the factory and have no money to live on. If it were a little less money, I would buy a new coat, or a radio, or give a dinner to my friends. If it were more, I could give up the work and pay for painting pictures. But it’s too much for one and too little for the other.”
“Here is the reading of your uncle’s will(遗嘱),” said the lawyer, “telling what is to be done with this money after his death. I must ask you to remember one point. Your uncle has said you must bring me a paper showing exactly what you did with his money, as soon as you have spent it.”
“Yes, I see. I’ll do that,” said the young man.Hobbs wanted to borrow money to _______.
A.study abroad | B.work abroad |
C.learn to paint pictures | D.pay off the debts |
What does the underlined word “dumbfounded” (in Paragraph 2) probably mean?
A.Frightened. | B.Surprised. |
C.Satisfied. | D.Excited. |
With the money he got, at first Hobbs _______.
A.planned to have a happy life for a few days |
B.decided to give up his work in the factory |
C.had no idea what to do |
D.was to give a dinner to his friends |
Hobbs was asked to _______.
A.read his uncle’s will |
B.tell the lawyer what he did with the money after spending it |
C.tell the lawyer what was to be done with the money |
D.buy some pictures |
Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours,
Betty Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.
A.ask for some advice | B.tell Betty some good news |
C.answer some questions | D.invite her to dinner |
According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.
A.can only bring some flowers |
B.can’t bring wine |
C.should arrive twenty minutes late |
D.should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late |
Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.
A.relax at the dinner table | B.keep silent at table |
C.ask the person beside him | D.watch the other guests |
How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments-mostly for entertainment purposes-is fair and respectful?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats(栖息地). Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.
Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species(物种), but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range(分布区). The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs.
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusually and self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered.Captive breeding(圈养繁殖) of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild.Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.
In the state of zoochosis, animals _________.
A.remain in cages | B.attack other animals |
C.behave strangely | D.enjoy moving around |
What does the author try to argue in the passage?
A.Zoos fail in their attempt to save animal |
B.Zoos are not worth the public support. |
C.Zoos should treat animals as human beings. |
D.Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment. |
The author tries to persuade readers to accept his argument mainly by _________.
A.using evidence he has collected at zoos |
B.pointing out the faults in what zoos do |
C.questioning the way animals are protected |
D.discussing the advantages of natural habitats |
Although he argues against zoos, the author would still agree that __________.
A.zoos have to keep animals in small cages |
B.most animals in zoos are endangered species |
C.it’s acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats |
D.some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos |
Edward Wilson is America’s, if not the world’s, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world’s natural resources(资源). How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity(生物多样性)of our earth.Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environmental protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today’s Walden Pond with that of Thoreau’s day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Will the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species(物种) are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may well read and act on the ideas in this book.We learn from the text that Wilson cares most about ______
A.the environment for plants |
B.the wastes of natural resources |
C.the biodiversity of our earth |
D.the importance of human values |
How many species are most important to our present food supply?
A.Eighty. | B.Twenty. |
C.One hundred | D.Ten thousand. |
Wilson suggests that one way to keep biodiversity is to _______.
A.learn how to farm scientifically |
B.build homes for some dying species |
C.make it clear what to eat |
D.use more species for food |
We can infer that the text is _______.
A.a description of natural resources |
B.a research report |
C.a book review |
D.an introduction to a scientist. |