Wouldn’t it be great if you could just look up at the sky and read the weather forecast right away? Well, you can. The forecast is written in clouds. If you can read that writing, you can tell something about the atmosphere. With some practice, you can become a pretty good weather forecaster. Who knows, you might even do as well as meteorologists(气象学家).
Meteorologists use much more information than just the appearance of the clouds to make their forecast. They collect data(数据)from all over the world. Then they put it into powerful, high speed computers. This does give the meteorologists an advantage, because they can track(追踪)weather patterns as they move from west to east across the country. But you have an advantage, too. You can look at the sky and get your data directly. A meteorologist uses a computer forecast that’s several hours old to make a local forecast.
What are you seeing when you look at a cloud? “A picture of moisture(水汽)is doing in the atmosphere,” says meteorologist Peter Leavitt. There’s moisture throughout the atmosphere. Most of the time you don’t see it, because it’s in the form of an unseeable gas called water vapor. Sometimes, the temperature of the air gets cold enough to cause the waster vapor to change to liquid water. It’s called condensation(凝结), and we see it happen all the time (for example, when humid air from the shower hits the cold glasses of a mirror). When enough water vapor condenses(冷凝), droplets(小滴)come in the air. These droplets scatter(分散) light. A cloud is seen.
Watching clouds over a day or two tells you a lot more than a single cloud about the weather to come. Changes in clouds show changes in the atmosphere. You should begin to notice patterns. Certain clouds, following each other in order, can signal an approaching storm. But don’t take our word for it; see for yourself.According to the passage, an ordinary person might read the weather forecast as well as meteorologists _________.
A.with some simple practice looking up at the sky |
B.with the help of the high-speed computers |
C.through complex (复杂的) instruments |
D.by visiting a weather station |
Meteorologists can make their weather forecast .
A.by using information of the appearance of the clouds only |
B.by collecting data from parts of the world |
C.by collecting and analyzing(分析)the data |
D.by watching the sky |
According to the passage, your advantage in weather forecast is that .
A.you have a high-speed computer |
B.you observe the sky and get your data directly |
C.you have more instruments at home |
D.you can track weather patterns as they move from west to east across the country |
This passage mainly tells us about how to .
A.train ourselves as meteorologists |
B.be an assistant to a meteorologist |
C.forecast the weather by ourselves |
D.broadcast the weather forecast |
There are many dimensions(维) to football's allure(诱惑)and appeal: top-class moves, thrilling goals, majestic star players, thunderous encounters and passionate fans. Football stirs the emotions all over the globe, brings people from contrasting cultures together, and promotes solid virtues such as fairness, team spirit and tolerance. All these facts will emerge in their most intense form at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil next summer.
Millions of people will be transfixed(让…出神)by this unique festival of sport and friendship. We are thoroughly looking forward to football of the highest quality. We're delighted to welcome the biggest names in the sport as well as those nations set to appear at the finals for the first time. And we're looking forward to greeting fans from all over the world as they fill our cities with even more colour and life. A heartfelt welcome to everyone!
Brazil is a cosmopolitan(四海一家的)country with a passion for football. The people will devote themselves to the job of ensuring the 2014 FIFA World Cup is an unforgettable experience, a fact demonstrated by the thousands of ordinary folk who have come forward as volunteers.
Brazil is well prepared to host the FIFA World Cup. We have finished constructing our new, modern stadiums and an outstanding transportation system. The organization is in the enormously capable hands of the Organizing Committee headed by RonaldoLuiz Nazario de Lima. The slogan "A time to make friends" perfectly describes our intention to ensure everyone delighted in a secure and peaceful festival of football.
The FIFA World Cup is a unique opportunity for Brazil to present herself as a hospitable, joyful and modern nation bursting with ideas. I am convinced that the flames of passion and togetherness engendered by the FIFA World Cup in Brazil will spread to the entire world.
I'm personally looking forward to a festival of goals, excitement and fair play. We Brazilians will be right behind our national team, but our aim is to act as welcoming hosts and friends to every team and their fans. Passionate and cosmopolitan Brazil is delighted to welcome visitors to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.The charm of football includes all except .
A.thrilling goals | B.the players |
C.violence | D.the fans |
The underlined word “engendered ” (in Para. 5) is closest in meaning to ______.
A.brought about | B.handed over |
C.turned into | D.passed down |
In order to host the World Cup ,Brazil ____
A.has organized groups of passionate fans |
B.sets up a national team |
C.has constructed new , modern stadiums |
D.tries to take a friendly disguise |
This passage can be classified as ____
A.a news report | B.a feature story |
C.greeting speech | D.an advertisement |
The light from the campfire brightened the darkness, but it could not prevent the damp cold of Dennis’s Swamp (沼泽地) creeping into their bones. It was a strange place. Martin and Tom wished that they had not accepted Jack’s dare. They liked camping, but not near this swamp.
“So,” Martin asked as they sat watching the hot coals. “How did this place get its name ? ”
“Are you sure you want to hear it ? It’s a scary story,” warned Jack.
“Of course!” cried out Tom. “If there were anything to be scared of, you wouldn’t have chosen this place!”
“Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said Jack, and he began this tale.
“Way back in time, a man called Dennis tried to start a farm here. He built that cottage over there to live in . In those days, the area looked quite different ---- it was covered with tall trees and the swamp was a crystal-clear river. After three hard years, Dennis had cleared several fields and planted crops. He was so proud of his success that he refused to listen to advice.
“ ‘You are clearing too much land, ’ warned one old man. ‘ The land is a living thing. It will hit back at you if you abuse it. ’
“ ‘ Silly fool,’ said Dennis to himself. ‘If I clear more land, I can grow more crops. I’ll become wealthier. He’s just jealous!’”
“Dennis continued to chop down trees. Small animals that relied on them for food and shelter were destroyed. He was so eager to expand his farm that he did not notice the river flowing slowly towards his door. He did not notice salt seeping to the surface of the land. He did not notice swamp plants choking all the native plants.”
“What happened? ” Martin asked. It was growing colder. He trembled, twisting his body closer to the fire.
“The land hit back ---- just as the old man warned, ” Jack shrugged. “Dennis disappeared Old folks around here believe that swamp plants moved up from the river and dragged him underwater. His body was never found.”
“What a stupid story, ” laughed Tom. “Plants can’t …” Before he had finished speaking, he screamed and fainted (晕倒). The other two boys jumped up with fright, staring at Tom. Suddenly, they burst out laughing. Some green swamp ivy (常春藤) had covered Tom’s face. It was a while before Tom could appreciate the joke.The underlined word “dare” in Paragraph 1 is closed in meaning to ________.
A.courage | B.assistance | C.instruction | D.challenge |
Why did Jack tell Tom and Martin the story?
A.To frighten them. |
B.To satisfy their curiosity. |
C.To warn them of the danger of the place. |
D.To persuade them to camp in the swamp. |
Why did Dennis ignore the warning of the old man?
A.The old man envied him. |
B.The old man was foolish |
C.He was too busy to listen to others. |
D.He was greedy for more crops. |
Why did Tom scream and faint?
A.He saw Dennis’s shadow |
B.He was scared by a plant |
C.His friends played a joke on him. |
D.The weather became extremely cold. |
What lesson can we learn from the story of Dennis?
A.Grasp all, lose all. |
B.No sweat, no sweet. |
C.It is no use crying over spilt milk. |
D.He who makes no mistakes makes nothing. |
LONDON---A British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake(假冒的)bomb detectors(探测器)to 10 years in prison, saying the man hadn’t cared about potentially deadly consequences.
It is believed that James McCormick got about $ 77.8 million from the sales of his detectors---which were based on a kind of golf ball finder---to countries including Iraq, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.
McCormick, 57, was convicted(判罪)of cheats last month and sentenced Thursday at the Old Bailey court in London.
“Your cheating conduct in selling a great amount of useless equipment simply for huge profit promoted a false sense of security and in all probability materially contributed to causing death and injury to innocent people,” Judge Richard Hone told McCormick. “You have neither regret, nor shame, nor any sense of guilt.”
The detectors, sold for up to $ 42, 000 each, were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air. But in fact they “lacked any grounding in science” and were of no use.
McCormick had told the court that he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand.
“I never had any bad results from customers,” he said.Why was McCormick sentenced to prison?
A.He sold bombs. | B.He caused death of people. |
C.He made detectors. | D.He cheated in business. |
According to the judge, what McCormick had done .
A.increased the cost of safeguarding |
B.lowered people’s guard against danger |
C.changed people’s idea of social security |
D.caused innocent people to commit crimes |
Which of the following is true of the detectors?
A.They have not been sold to Africa |
B.They have caused many serious problems. |
C.They can find dangerous objects in water. |
D.They don’t function on the basis of science. |
It can be inferred from the passage that McCormick .
A.solo the equipment at a low price |
B.was well-known in most countries |
C.did not think he had committed the crime |
D.had not got such huge profit as mentioned in the text |
Fun day
To celebrate the Year of the Snake
Organized by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High school
Date:2 February 2013
Time:10 am – 5 pm
Place:Kwn Tong Playground
Fee: $ 20 (buy three get one free)
Programmes:drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance
Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camer
2) learn to make festival food
John us on the Fun day!
All are welcome!
Note:
★Ticket are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Centre.
★For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before
the activity.What you have just read is a .
A.note | B.report | C.schedule | D.poster |
What is going to take place on 2 February, 2013?
A.A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. |
B.A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. |
C.A party for close friends to meet and have fun. |
D.A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students. |
How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?
A.$ 20. | B.$ 40 | C.$ 60. | D.$ 80 |
Which of the following statements is true?
A.Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School. |
B.It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you. |
C.Free digital cameras are provided for everybody. |
D.Festival food will be served without extra charge. |
According to sociologists, every modern industrial society has some form of social stratification(阶层). Class, power and status are important in deciding people’s rank in society.
Class means a person’s economic position in society. A commonly used classification is lower class, middle class and upper class. While sociologists disagree on how these terms should be exactly defined, they do describe societies like the United States quite well. One study shows that 53% of Americans belong to the lower class, 46% the middle class, and 1% the upper class. Interestingly, a surgeon earning $500,000 a year and a bus driver earning $50,000 a year both regard themselves as the middle class!
Power refers to the amount of control a person has over other people. Obviously, people in positions of great power (such as governors) exercise(行使)big power, but people who take orders from others have less power. Power and class do not always go hand in hand, however. For example, the governor of a state has great power, but he or she may not belong to a corresponding (相应的)economic class. Generally, however, there is a relationship between power and class.
To our knowledge, there aren’t too many people who aren’t millionaires in the U.S. Senate!
Status is the honor or respect attached to a person’s position in society. It can also be affected by power and class, but not necessarily so. For example, a university professor may have a high status but not belong to a high social class or have a lot of power over others.What can we learn about “the middle class” from Paragraph 2?
A.People earning $50,000 a year belong to the middle class. |
B.Nearly half Americans belong to the middle class. |
C.People generally consider bus drivers as the middle class. |
D.Sociologists have a clear definition of the middle class. |
According to the text, we know that _____.
A.power and class do not always correspond with each other |
B.status refers to a person’s economic position in society |
C.people with high status have a lot of control over others |
D.class is less important in deciding a person’s social rank |
Which of the following shows the structure of the whole text?