Do dogs understand us?
Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.
A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee(黑猩猩).
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.
The correct object was chosen in seven out of l0 tests, suggesting that the dog had worked out the answer by process of elimination(排除法). A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.
Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed (品种)known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.
It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can't talk back. Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!From paragraph 2 we know that _______ .
A.animals are as clever as human beings |
B.dogs are smarter than parrots and chimpanzees |
C.chimpanzees have very good word-learning skills |
D.dogs have similar learning abilities as 3-year-old children |
Both experiments show that_______ .
A.Rico is smart enough to get all commands right |
B.Rico can recognize different things including toys |
C.Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics |
D.Rico won't forget the names of objects once recognizing them |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie's mental abilities. |
B.Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training. |
C.The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects. |
D.Rico is born to understand its owner's commands. |
What does the writer want to tell us?
A.To train your dog. |
B.To talk to your dog. |
C.To be friendly to your dog. |
D.To be careful with your dog. |
Our “Mommy and Me” time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down. “I wish I could take one of my children out alone,”said Christie.
Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I'll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I'll take someone out.
The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie's daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “she's like a different child when there's no one else around,” Christie shared with me quietly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn't have to make an effort to gain attention.
Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering(口吃的) son, Tom, doesn't stutter once during our activities since he doesn't have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam who's always follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.
The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child--talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves(应得到) to be an only child at least once in a while.
58.What is the text mainly about?
A. The basic needs of children.
B. The advantage of spending time with one child at a time.
C. The happy life of two families.
D. The experience of the only child being with mother.
59.Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were ________.
A. happy B. curious C. regretful D. friendly
60.What is one of the changes the author finds in her children?
A. Tom has less difficulty in speaking. B. Sam holds her hand more often.
C. The boys become better followers. D. The daughter acts like a leader.
61.The author seems to believe that ________
A. having brothers and sisters is fun B. it's tiring to look after three children
C. every child needs parents' full attention D. parents should watch others' children
When I worked as a waitress in Chicago, US, my coworkers and I would groan (叹息) whenever we heard someone with a foreign accent coming into our restaurant. We knew what it meant to serve a non–American: no tip. We would work just as hard as we always did, but we might not get paid
Americans have an unspoken rule about tipping: they give tips to almost everyone who offers them a service of some kind. Americans tip their waiters, barbers and taxi drivers. An appropriate (合适的) tip is between 15 and 20 percent of the amount charged for the service, but the charge for the tip doesn’t appear on the bill. The customer is expected to add it on himself/herself.
So if you order $100 worth of food, you are expected to pay your waiter at least $15, making your total payment $115. Tipping less than this sends a message to your waiter that you think they’ve done a bad job serving you. And to leave no tip at all is simply unacceptable.
It’s not that American waiters are greedy. In many countries, waiters are paid a salary for their work. They’ll earn money even if no one comes into the restaurant. This system offers much more safety for waiters than the American version. In the US, waiters know that a night without customers means a night without pay.
Some countries include a tip for waiters – a “service charge” – on the bill itself. Since the tip is included with the other charges, waiters don’t need to worry about people forgetting to tip. But in the US, waiters do not receive a salary, and service charges only appear on bills when there are six or more customers at the table.
Since almost all American customers are familiar with the system, they know to add a tip without being told. But visitors to the US may expect waiters to be paid a salary, or think that the tip is included on the bill. So as much as we waiters loved hearing stories about other places from our foreign customers, we were always nervous when they got ready to leave the restaurant. We were never sure what to expect.
55. Why would the author and her coworkers groan when they had to serve a non-American?
A. They would have difficulty understanding the customer.
B. They had to work harder to get tips from the customer.
C. They might not get any payment from the customer.
D. They thought a non-American customer would be hard to please.
56. If you order $550 worth of food, you are supposed to pay your waiter at least ______.
A. $55 B. $82.5 C. $100 D.$110
57. Why would it be thought unacceptable not to tip a waiter in the US?
A. They enjoy getting tips from their customers.
B. They work harder than waiters in other countries.
C. They are greedier than waiters in other countries.
D. They earn most of their money from diners’ tips.
第三部分:阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
How to Make a Budget
Most likely, you aren’t the family breadwinner. But doing a small job or getting a weekly allowance (零花钱) would put some money in your pocket. For kids and grown-ups alike, money is easy to spend. If you aren’t careful, it can be gone in no time.
Being responsible with your money is an important skill to learn ----and the sooner you start the better. Whether you are tracking your spending or saving for something special, creating a budget can help you deal with your expenses and plan for the future. All you need are paper and a pencil --- and some self-control.
First, take a look at our sample monthly budget. Then, use a separate sheet of paper to plan your own. In the first two columns (栏), list your sources (来源) of income and how much you expect to earn from them. In the third and fourth columns, list what you expect to spend your money on and the amount.
The left-hand total should be more than or equal to the right-hand total. If it is, you have an effective budget.
Sample Monthly Budget
Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
Allowance |
$20.00 |
Snacks |
$26.00 |
Money earned selling drinks |
$25.00 |
Music downloads |
$12.00 |
Money earned babysitting |
$12.50 |
Movies |
$18.00 |
Money earned delivering newspapers |
$30.00 |
Video rentals |
$10.00 |
Total: |
$87.50 |
Total |
$66.00 |
Budgets are not complex, but sticking to them can be tough. When planning your budget, be realistic about your expenses. If you know that you drop $18 at a movie, don’t write $12 in that space simply because you wish you were spending less
If you are eyeing a big purchase, such as a $150 skateboard, spend less and save more until you have the total amount. No matter how attractive it may be, avoid spending your savings. One day, you will thank yourself!
51. Who is the passage written for?
A. Children. B. Parents. C. Breadwinners. D. Bank managers.
52. The purpose of making a budget is to help people _________.
A. learn to be realistic B. increase their saving
C. manage their money well D. test their power-control
53. What should people do when planning a budget?
A. Fill in the expenses as they really are.
B. Avoid spending money on expensive things.
C. Set aside a fixed amount of money as savings.
D. List income and expenses on two pieces of paper.
54. Which of the following budgets is effective?
A.
Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
Allowance |
$20.00 |
Money earned walking dogs |
$20.00 |
Bus fares |
$40.00 |
Movies |
$28.00 |
Total: |
$60 |
Total |
$48.00 |
B.
Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
Allowance |
$20.00 |
Movies |
$30.00 |
Money earned washing cars |
$10.00 |
Bus fares |
$10.00 |
Total: |
$30.00 |
Total: |
$40.00 |
C.
Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
Allowance |
$27.50 |
Money earned selling drinks |
$22.00 |
Money earned babysitting |
$22.50 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
D.
Monthly Income |
Amount |
Monthly Expenses |
Amount |
Allowance |
$26.00 |
Video rentals |
$22.00 |
Money earned doing yard work |
$24.00 |
Birthday gifts |
$28.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
Total: |
$50.00 |
One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: “Yesterday the person who has been hindering(阻止)your growth in this company passed away . We invite you to join the funeral(葬礼)in the room that has been prepared in the gym . ”
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: “Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he’s no longer here!”
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin(棺材) and when then they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: “There is only one who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.”
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.
53. Who has ever hindered the employees of the large company in St. Louis, Missouri?
A. The boss B. The leader of their group
C. The signD. The employees themselves
54. Who passed away in the large company?
A. No one B. The boss C. One of the employees D. One of the colleagues
55. What’s the best title of this paragraph?
A. Independent B. Hard Working C. Team Work D. Last Respects
Fruit powered digital clock
Fruit’s not only good to eat,but it can also power this Fruit digital Clock. This clock use the scientific rules on which modern electrical storage batteries are based, The acid from the fruit helps transmit(传递)an electrical flow between two metal poles。The clock is priced at US $15.Connecting any fresh fruit or vegetable to the clock will make it work.The fruit is a clean,renewable source of electrical power.
USB vacuum
Do you know the dirtiest pans of your desk are probably your keyboard and mouse? Get a USB Mini Vacuum with retractable(可伸缩的)cable and suck(吸) away all that gunk.The US-made product is priced at US$ 14.
SIM card reader
Making useful USB 2.0 multi—card readers even handier, this card can also read and write data to phone SIM cards. It comes with SIM editing software.Download your phonebook to your computer,.If you lose your cell phone,you can store missing phone numbers in your new one.The US-made IMOMO SIM,card +Multi Card Reader is priced at US $19.
Beer in your ear
The beer barrel(桶)-shaped Nat Naf Hyp MP3 is a musical box that can be used to play radio,CDs and cassettes,It’s got all the standard features of the typical clock-radio,but with the relaxing look of a big beer barrel. The Danish product is priced at about US $130.
49.What is TRUE about Fruit powered digital clock?
A.It gives out the smell of the fruit.
B.It uses the fruit as its power.
C.It also needs batteries.
D.As a limited source,any fruit or vegetable connected to the clock will do.
50.What does “gunk” mean in the second item?
A.dirt B.desk C.keyboard D.USB
51.Which of the following statements is True?
A.If you have US$30,you can buy a USB vacuum or a Nat Naf Hyp MP3.
B.USB vacuum can be used to clean your house and yard
C.With SIM Card reader you may not lose phone numbers.
D.Nat Naf Hyp MP3 can also play radio,CDs and cassettes when used as a beer barrel at the same time.
52.The passage is mostly likely a(n) ______.
A.entertainment information
B.science reports on new high-technology
C.introduction of some kinds of cell phone or computer parts
D.advertisement for new products