I have been using the Internet since I was five years old, when my dad first sat me down in front of a computer and connected me to the World Wide Web.
I’ve always felt like a master of the Internet world. MSN, Gmail, Facebook, My space -- I’ve got it all under control. I thought there was nothing more to it besides checking my e-mail and wasting my time, until I was introduced to electronic commerce(e-commerce): business on the Internet.
Some online businesses are run from one-room home offices. Others have hundreds of employees across the world. Have you ever heard of Amazon.com, Yahoo.com?
My friends often said they got cheap textbooks on Amazon.com, or had a good deal (交易) on Steve Madden shoes that were on sale at SteveMaden.com. Unfortunately for me, I continued my “e-commerceless” Web-surfing, not knowing about all the deals I was missing out on.
That is, of course, until my sister finally sold the idea to me.
“Why are all these packages arriving in the mail for you, Katy?”I asked her one day. Strange envelopes (信封) had been put on our doorstep for weeks now, each one always addressed to my sister; and we all know little sisters should never be getting more mail than their elders!
“Oh, it’s the things I ordered online!” she answered. I watched speechlessly as she opened them. There was no way our parents were letting her spend that much money- online or off!
“How much did all of this cost?”
“Oh, only about $15 in all!”She said excitedly.“Everything on eBay is on sale! It’s a way better than going to the store.”
I felt as if there had been a store right in my backyard that I had never walked into! That week, I ordered a used Spanish textbook for my summer course online for 10 percent of the publishing price. A few days later, I bought an iPod protector and a book or two via the wonderful eBay.com.From the first two paragraphs we can conclude that the writer___________.
| A．had no experience using computers |
| B．had no idea of what e-commerce is |
| C．only enjoyed checking e-mail on the Internet |
| D．thought surfing the Internet was a waste of time |
The writer didn’t find out about e-commerce until___________.
| A．he stopped web-surfing |
| B．he visited a store in his backyard |
| C．his sister explained the packages she got by mail |
| D．his friends told him about the online deals they made |
We can infer from the last paragraph that the writer____________________.
| A．never enjoyed shopping that much |
| B．loves the big store in his backyard |
| C．feels he is a true master of the Internet |
| D．has begun to enjoy online shopping |
What’s the purpose of the article?
| A．To tell the readers how he begins online shopping. |
| B．To do business on the Internet. |
| C．To make an online shopping advertisement. |
| D．To advise people not to do online shopping. |
Researchers Jose Cordova and Erich Astudillo have discovered a new molecule(分子) that kills the bacteria Streptococcus Mutans, long known to be responsible for breaking down sugars in food in the mouth, which damages tooth leading to decay(腐烂). The new molecule they call “Keep 32” has been found to kill the bacteria.
The two have applied for a patent(专利) on their discovery and have also begun a marketing strategy aimed at both oral care products and food products. They say either product, if left in the mouth for just 60 seconds ,will kill all the harmful bacteria in the mouth and keep them at bay for several hours. If the new molecule passes health and safety tests, the two believe products using their new molecule should be on the market in as little as a year and a half. They expect the market for such a product to reach $300 million in just the first year.
The two have been working together since 2005 using money from the Founder Institute and say the aim is to approve the process for creating the molecule they’ve discovered for big companies like Procter & Gamble, Colgate even candy companies such as Hershey’s. In interviews, Astudillo has suggested that the two researchers are already heavily into discussion with several companies, some of which are interested in buying the patent once it is approved.
Over the years many products have come on the scene with announcement of reducing tooth decay and even the loss of teeth, but other than the introduction of fluoride(氟化物) into drinking water, not much progress has been made. If the announcement made by this new team proves true however, it could foresee a mark in saving the world of tooth decay as well as helping to improve the health for millions of people as tooth decay has been linked to many other health problems throughout the body including heart attacks.The underlined word “them” in Para. 2 refers to _________.
| A．oral care products | B．food products |
| C．new molecules | D．the harmful bacteria |
The phrase “come on the scene” in Para. 4 is closest in meaning to __________.
| A．performed | B．occurred |
| C．existed | D．arrived |
What has been a way to reduce tooth decay and even the loss of teeth over the years?
| A．Using the molecule “Keep 32”. |
| B．Killing the bacteria Mutans. |
| C．Introducing fluoride into drinking water. |
| D．Cooperating with some big companies. |
This passage mainly tells us that ___________.
| A．many health problems are closely connected to tooth decay |
| B．the discovery of a new molecule will greatly benefit health care |
| C．two researchers are discussing their patent with companies |
| D．researchers discover a molecule that can kill tooth decay-causing bacteria |
That woman carried a new blanket over her arm. Wordlessly, she gave it to me.
“Is it finished?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. It is ready,” she replied. I handed her the money and took the blanket.
“It is beautiful, so skillfully woven(编织），” I said to my mother. “But what did she mean when she said it was not finished? How can it be ready if it is not finished?”
“I will tell you later,” my mother said, “but first I will take you to the Navajo village.”
We went down to the village. A group of young men were making sand pictures. We walked through the whole village, watching the different things the people were doing.
It was not until that evening that my mother finally explained the Navajo woman’s words.
“Did you notice anything about the things the people were making?” my mother asked.
“What should I have noticed?” I looked at her and asked.
“Each thing the Navajo make has one small part that is not complete. The designs in their sand pictures are often not perfectly done, for example---the line of a circle may not quite close. If you look carefully at your blanket, you will probably find a stitch(一针）missing.”
I took the blanket off, but it looked as perfect as any design could be. Then suddenly, I noticed that sure enough a stitch was missing!
“But why do the Navajo intentionally leave some tiny part unfinished?” I asked.
“They believe that when anything is completed or finished, it means the end has come--it will not be perfect until then. Then too, with a circle, they believe that they must leave a pathway for the bad spirits to run away and the good spirits to come in. So, often, they do not make the line close.”The blanket the author received_____ .
| A．was poorly woven. |
| B．made her think a lot. |
| C．cost her a lot of money. |
| D．was finished, but not ready. |
Why was the author shown around the village?
| A．To buy more things made by the Navajo. |
| B．To make friends with some of the Navajo. |
| C．To have a deeper understanding of the Navajo. |
| D．To look for the woman who sold her the blanket. |
Which of the following may the Navajo believe?
| A．A stitch in time is very important. |
| B．Life only becomes perfect when you die. |
| C．He who makes no mistake is a perfect man. |
| D．You must always try to make your life complete. |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．The Navajo are good at making things. |
| B．The Navajo are brave and hard-working. |
| C．A blanket tells a lot about the Navajo culture. |
| D．Skills are needed to do business with the Navajo. |
The first visit to a foreign country that I can remember was when I was about seven years old.We lived about 5 miles away from the Canadian border(边界).My family and I went to Parc Safari, Quebec, a wonderful place that has animals and rides.We drove down a nice long road.My sister and I sat in the back of the car, and it was a hatchback(有仓门式后背的汽车) so we opened it up.I remember feeding the animals snacks we had bought for ourselves.
When we arrived, there were not monkeys because they had escaped and had not been found.I remember thinking to myself, how cool it would be to see a monkey in our backyard.
Even though the monkeys were not there it was still so much fun.When we reached the area that had camels, giraffes and other animals, I remember one of the camels reached into the car to get our snacks.However, we were a little gross out because the camels seemed to froth(吐白沫) at the mouth and we had camel slobber(口水) all over the car and us.
It was one of the best family vacations that I can remember.It was not too far from home, it was in a different country and it was with my family.I cannot remember if we went on the rides or not but seeing many animals was a great time.Now I am grown up and have a son, and I am planning to go there again.He is 7 years old and I think he is at a great age to enjoy a trip like this.I am sure it has changed a lot over the years but it will still be a great family trip.Where did the author live when he was 7 years old?
| A．In Canada |
| B．In the central US |
| C．Near the Canadian border |
| D．In Parc Safari |
During the trip, the author ________.
| A．saw a monkey |
| B．fed some monkeys |
| C．was angry with the giraffes |
| D．had been in close contact with the camels |
What does the underlined part “gross out” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
| A．uncomfortable |
| B．excited |
| C．tired |
| D．surprised |
What does the author intend to do?
| A．To have a holiday abroad with his parents. |
| B．To take his 7-year-old son to a zoo. |
| C．To revisit the place he went to at seven. |
| D．To have a family trip in his own country. |
This March is a busy month in Shanghai.There's a lot to do.Here are the highlights.
Live Music - Late Night Jazz
Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player.He's coming with his new 7-piece band, Herbie’s Heroes.Herbie is known to play well into the early hours, so don't expect to get much sleep.This is Herbie’s third visit to Shanghai.The first two were sold out, so get your tickets quickly.
PLACE: The Jazz Club DATES: 15---23 March
PRICE: ￥80,120 TIME: 10:00p.m.till late!
TEL: 6466—8736
Scottish dancing
Take your partners and get ready to dance till you drop.Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn.Instructors will demonstrate the dances.The live band, Gordon Stroppie and the Weefrees, are also excellent.
PLACE: Jack Stein's DATES: every Monday
PRICE: Y60 including one drink TIME: 7:00 ---0:00 p.m.
TEL: 6402-1877
Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum
There are 120,000 pieces on show here.You can see the whole of Chinese history under one roof.It’s always interesting to visit, but doubly so at the moment with the Egyptian Tombs exhibition.There are lots of mummies and more gold than you've ever seen before.Let us know if you see a mummy move!
PLACE: Shanghai Museum PRICE: ￥30 (￥ 15 for students)
TEL: 6888-6888 DATES: daily
TIME: Monday - Friday 9:00a.m.- 5:00p.m., Weekends 9:00a.m.--- 9:00p.m.
Dining - Sushi chef in town
Sushi is getting really big in Shanghai.In Japan, it’s become an art form.The most famous Sushi 'artist' is Yuki Kamura.She’s also one of the few female chefs in Japan.She’ll be at Sushi Scene all of this month.
PLACE: Sushi Scene in the Shanghai Hotel DATES: all month
PRICE: ￥200 TIME: lunchtime
TEL: 6690-3211
For a full listing of events, see our website.Suppose you are going to attend an activity at 8: 00p.m.on Saturday, which one can you choose?
| A．Live Music - Late Night Jazz |
| B．Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum |
| C．Scottish dancing |
| D．Dining - Sushi chef in town |
Which of the following is true according to the advertisements?
| A．Scottish dancing is so interesting and easy that it never tires you out. |
| B．The performance given by the American jazz band won't last long. |
| C．Sushi is not popular in Shanghai as it is a kind of Japanese traditional food. |
| D．It is more interesting to visit Shanghai Museum for the exhibits from Egypt. |
From the text we may learn that Kamura is _______.
| A．an instructor |
| B．a waitress |
| C．a coo |
| D．an artist |
I have been teaching animal behavior at the Boulder County Prison in Colorado for 10 years. The course is one of the most popular in the prison. Prisoners have to earn the right to attend the course and they work hard to get in.
One reason why the course is so popular is that many prisoners find it easier to connect with animals than with people, because animals don’t judge them. They trust animals in ways they don’t with humans.
Yet, they hold a misunderstanding of how animals treat one another. Many admit that their own “animal behavior” is what got them into trouble in the first place. I teach that though there is competition and aggression in the animal kingdom, there is also a lot of cooperation（合作）and sympathy.
Many of the students want to build healthy relationships, and they find that the class helps them. I use examples of the social behavior of group-living animals such as wolves as a model for developing and maintaining（维持）friendships among people who must work together for their own good and also for the good of the group.
It’s clear that science inspires the students here and it also gives them hope. I know some students have gone back into education after their being set free while others have gone to work for humane（人道）societies or contributed time and money to conservation organizations. One went on to receive a master’s degree in nature writing.
Science and humane education help the prisoners connect with values that they otherwise would not have done. It opens the door to understanding, trust, cooperation and hope. There’s a large population of people to whom science could mean a lot, if only they could have access to it. The class helps me, too. I get as much out of it as the students and it has made me a better teacher.The author’s course is welcomed by the prisoners because ______.
| A．they consider animals their best friends |
| B．they are curious about animal kingdom |
| C．they feel it easier to get along with animals |
| D．they are more familiar with animal behavior |
The author used wolves as an example to ______.
| A．provide the prisoners with more knowledge |
| B．explain the cruel side of group-living animals |
| C．help the prisoners realize the importance of teamwork |
| D．inform the prisoners that animals get people into trouble |
We can infer from the text that some prisoners ______.
| A．have turned over a new leaf |
| B．are required to attend the course |
| C．are willing to learn working skills |
| D．prefer humane education to science |