It’s the place where smart people make smart machines work even smarter. It’s also in the heart of sunny California, a great place to start a family and raise kids. What could be better?
But something is happening to their children. Up until the age of two they develop normally. But then everything seems to go backwards. The children become locked into their own small world, unable to communicate at all.
They call it the “curse(诅咒) of Silicon Valley,” but the medical name for the condition is autism. It used to be thought that autism was a kind of mental illness. Now doctors are sure that it is a neurological disease passed down genetically. It seems that the people leading the communications revolution are having children who cannot communicate at all.
But even the parents have trouble communicating. Asperger’s Syndrome(综合症) is a mild version of autism（自闭症）. People who have it are highly intelligent and often brilliant with numbers or system but have no social skill. This very combination of symptoms makes Asperger’s sufferers into perfect computer professionals.
The Asperger’s sufferer has always been a well—known figure in popular culture. He or she was the abnormal but devoted scholar or the strange uncle or auntie who never married. But the high numbers of such people in Silicon Valley mean that they can meet others who understand them and share their interests. And while they might not be personally attractive, they can earn truly attractive amounts of money. They can get married and have kids. Unfortunately, many of the children of two Asperger’s parents seem to be developing serious autism.
There is little anyone can do. It takes hours of work just to make autistic child realize that anyone else exists. And there is no cure in sight. Some argue that no cure should be found. “It may be that autistics are essentially different from normal people, but that these differences make them invaluable for the evolution（进化）of the human race,” says Dr. Kirk Whilhelmsen of the University of California. “To get rid of the genes for autism could be extremely bad.”
It seems that the children of Silicon Valley are paying the price of genius.
What can we learn about autism according to the passage?
| A．They do not care about the presence of others. |
| B．People with autism can’t find people sharing their interests. |
| C．It is believed to be a kind of mental illness that can be cured. |
| D．They are a burden for the society. |
Why do people call autism “curse of Silicon Valley”？
| A．Because autistic people live in Silicon Valley. |
| B．Because people with autism will be driven out of Silicon Valley. |
| C．Because many people working in Silicon Valley have autism children. |
| D．Because people with autism are not personally attractive and not liked by others. |
What can we know about Asperger’s Syndrome according to the passage?
| A．Asperger’s sufferers never get married and have children. |
| B．Asperger’s sufferers are perfect computer professionals. |
| C．Asperger’s sufferers are ashamed of themselves and locked into their own world. |
| D．Asperger’s sufferers can be beneficial to society if they are cured. |
What does Dr Kirk Whilhelmsen think of autism?
| A．It is not completely a bad thing. |
| B．It is harmful to society. |
| C．It is a punishment to those working in Silicon Valley. |
| D．People with autism should never marry. |
A father with Parkinson's disease was arrested as he watched the Olympic cycling road race because he failed to smile or look as if he was enjoying himself.
Mark Worsfold, a martial arts trainer and former soldier, claims that he was thrown to the floor and handcuffed just as cyclists passed by. His worried wife Nicola only found out he was being held after she reported him missing when he did not turn up for their daughter's ninth birthday party. The 54yearold man had his fingerprints, DNA and mugshot taken before being questioned about why he did not appear to be enjoying the event on July 28. Police said Mr. Worsfold, who was held for over five hours, was arrested because of his manner，his state of dress and his being too near to the course. A spokesman added that the arrest was necessary to avoid a breach(破坏) of the peace because he was standing near a group of protesters(抗议者)．
But Mr. Worsfold, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2010, said that one of the symptoms of the disease is muscle rigidity, which can cause his face to become expressionless. “I was sitting minding my own business”， he told a local newspaper. “Before I knew anything the police grabbed me off this sevenfoot wall, threw me to the floor and handcuffed me, so all I saw of the cycle race was between the feet of people from the pavement. It could have been done better. I was arrested for not smiling. I have Parkinson's disease.”
Mr. Worsfold has since asked for a letter of not being guilty from police. The officers who made the arrest have apologized to him.Which word can be used to replace the underlined word “mugshot” in the second paragraph?
| A．Clothes. | B．Photos. | C．Measures. | D．Tools. |
Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Worsfold's wife was immediately informed of his being arrested by the police. |
| B．Worsfold was arrested because he was extremely dangerous. |
| C．Worsfold enjoyed the cycle race though he saw it between the feet of people from the pavement. |
| D．Worsfold was arrested because of his clothes as well as his facial expression. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The officers must have been punished for Worsfold's arrest. |
| B．Worsfold has an expressionless face and probably looks strong. |
| C．The officers apologized to Worsfold after one day's arrest. |
| D．Worsfold was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago. |
Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to ____ how much I wanted to see France; evidently, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I ____ that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and ____ friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was ____， nothing about my term in France was what I ____.
The moment I arrived in Paris, I was ____ by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting ____ I received some shocking news from my program coordinator(协调人): there had been a death in my host parents' extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to ____ out of one family's house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I'd have a ____ this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation(诱惑) to ____ my native language, I asked not to be ____ with an Englishspeaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I ____ myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian(巴西人) the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the ____.
I left France with many ____， so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always ____ to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends ____ France we enjoyed together. I love how people ____ seem so different, but end up being so ____. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn't just to respect the French people ____ to respect all people，for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful ____.
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For many of us, a little time with our smartphones or iPads before sleep is the highlight of the night. But would you still think it is relaxing if you knew that it damages or destroys your sleep? Scientists say that's exactly what it does.
In ancient times, when there were no lamps, telephones or smartphones, the sun was the main source of light. When the sun went down, our brains took that as a signal to start producing melatonin(褪黑素), a chemical that helps us sleep.
However, a healthy amount of melatonin can only be produced in complete darkness.Any light in your bedroom—even the one on the alarm clock or the charging indicator on your cellphone—could disturb the process, not to mention something as bright as smartphone and iPad screens. We tend to hold these much closer than a television or laptop, which allows them to shoot far more light straight into our eyes.
“This is particularly worrisome in populations such as young adults and adolescents, who already tend to be night_owls，” said researcher Brittany Wood at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.“Lack of sleep among teens is leading to depression, selfharm, low concentration and poor performance at school，” she added.
While all lights are the enemy of sleep, not all colors of light have the same effect. Our eyes are particularly sensitive to blue light, which is common during the day. Most of the light coming from electronic screens is blue light and it fools our brain into thinking it's still daytime. By contrast, orange or red light has less influence on melatonin production, because our brains recognize it as a signal that the day is ending, according to The Telegraph.
Asking yourself to keep your hands off your smartphone before bedtime might seem unreasonable, but you should at least remember to dim the screen or hold it farther away from your eyes. You could also wear a pair of orange sunglasses that take away the harmful blue light.According to the passage, we can know ________.
| A．it's a good habit to play with smartphones or iPads late into night |
| B．scientists suggest we should avoid using smartphones or iPads |
| C．darkness makes a great impact on the amount of melatonin |
| D．the sun was the only source of light in ancient times |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The darker it is, the more melatonin will be produced. |
| B．The lighter it is, the more melatonin will be produced. |
| C．The more melatonin you have, the worse you'll sleep. |
| D．The more electrical equipment you have, the more melatonin will be produced. |
The underlined part in Paragraph 4 refers to those ________.
| A．who are young adults or adolescents |
| B．who don't perform well in school |
| C．who are addicted to a television or laptop |
| D．who are short of sleep at night and perform poorly in daily life |
In the writer's opinion, which is a correct suggestion?
| A．You should go to bed when the sun goes down. |
| B．You should use an orange or red light electronic screen. |
| C．You should wear a pair of blue sunglasses when sleeping. |
| D．You should avoid blue light as possible as you can before bedtime. |
One might expect that the evergrowing demands of the tourist trade would bring nothing but good for the countries that receive the holidaymakers. Indeed, a rosy picture is painted for the longterm future of the holiday industry. Every month sees the building of a new hotel somewhere. And every month another rockbound Pacific island is advertised as the ‘last paradise(天堂) on earth’．
However, the scale and speed of this growth seem set to destroy the very things tourists want to enjoy. In those countries where there was a rush to make quick money out of seaside holidays, overcrowded beaches and the concrete jungles of endless hotels have begun to lose their appeal.
Those countries with little experience of tourism can suffer most. In recent years, Nepal set out to attract foreign visitors to fund developments in health and education. Its forests, full of wildlife and rare flowers, were offered to tourists as one more untouched paradise. In fact, the nature all too soon felt the effects of thousands of holidaymakers traveling through the forest land. Ancient tracks became major routes for the walkers, with the consequent exploitation of precious trees and plants.
Not only can the environment of a country suffer from the sudden growth of tourism. The people as well rapidly feel its effects. Farmland makes way for hotels, roads and airports; the old way of life goes. The onetime farmer is now the servant of some multinational organization; he is no longer his own master. Once it was his back that bore the pain; now it is his smile that is exploited. No doubt he wonders whether he wasn't happier in his village working his own land.
Thankfully, the tourist industry is waking up to the responsibilities it has towards those countries that receive its customers. The protection of wildlife and the creation of national parks go hand in hand with tourist development and in fact obtain financial support from tourist companies. At the same time, tourists are being encouraged to respect not only the countryside they visit but also its people.
The way tourism is handled in the next ten years will decide its fate and that of the countries we all want to visit. Their needs and problems are more important than those of the tourist companies. Increased understanding in planning worldwide tourism can preserve the market for these companies. If not, in a few years' time the very things that attract tourists now may well have been destroyed.What does the author indicate in the last sentence of Paragraph 1?
| A．The Pacific island is a paradise. |
| B．The Pacific island is worth visiting. |
| C．The advertisement is not convincing. |
| D．The advertisement is not impressive. |
The example of Nepal is used to suggest ________.
| A．its natural resources are untouched |
| B．its forests are exploited for farmland |
| C．it develops well in health and education |
| D．it suffers from the heavy flow of tourists |
What can we learn about the farmers from Paragraph 4?
| A．They are happy to work their own lands. |
| B．They have to please the tourists for a living. |
| C．They have to struggle for their independence. |
| D．They are proud of working in multinational organizations. |
Which of the following determines the future of tourism?
| A．The number of tourists. |
| B．The improvement of services. |
| C．The promotion of new products. |
| D．The management of tourism. |
The author's attitude towards the development of the tourist industry is ________.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful |
| C．objective | D．negative |
This is What a REAL Silver Dollar Looks Like
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You read the headlines.You know that troubled economic times have put global currency on a rollercoaster(过山车) ride.But millions have found a smarter way to build longterm value with highgrade collectable silver.And right now, those people are lining up to secure some of the last 2012 U．S.Mint Silver Eagles, America's Newest Silver Eagle Dollars. Today, you can graduate to the front of that line.Buy now and you can own these brilliant uncirculated Silver Dollars for only $38.95!
You Can't Afford to Lose
Why are we releasing(发行) this silver dollar for such a remarkable price? Because we want to introduce you to what hundreds of thousands of smart collectors and satisfied customers have known since 1984—New York Mint is the place to find the world's finest highgrade coins.That's why we're offering you this Brilliant Uncirculated 2012 U．S.Silver Eagle for as little as $37.45(plus s/h)．
Timing is Everything
Our advice? Keep this to yourself.Because the more people who know about this offer, the worse it is for you.Demand for Silver Eagles in 2011 broke records.Experts predict that 2012 Silver Eagles may break them all over again.Due to rapid changes in the price of silver, prices may be higher or lower and are subject to(受……影响) change without notice.Supplies are limited.Call immediately to add these Silver Eagles to your holdings before it's too late.
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For fastest service, call tollfree 24 hours a day
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| Offer Code(代码) ASE17704 Please mention this code when you call. |
New York Mint
14101 Southcross Drive W．， Dept.ASE17704
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.NewYorkMint.comWhat is stressed in the ad?
| A．The coin is of high quality and worth collecting. |
| B．The coin can be circulated as a currency. |
| C．Limited supplies guarantee a stable price of the coin. |
| D．Demand for the coin is bound to break records. |
If you buy six 2012 U．S.Mint Silver Eagles by post, you should pay at least ________.
| A．$230.7 | B．$233.7 | C．$240.7 | D．$243.7 |
The ad strongly encourages people to purchase the silver coins by ________.
| A．shopping online |
| B．making a phone call |
| C．lining up in front of the stores |
| D．writing to the company |