Many countries have passed safety laws that require seat belts in vehicles. A modern three-point seat belt, also called a safety belt, is a harness to prevent the driver or a passenger from flying forward and hitting hard against the interior of a vehicle during a collision. A modern seat belt will help to position you properly to gain maximum benefit from your car’s airbags that will inflate（使充气）during a collision. Using a seat belt also prevents you from being ejected (弹出) from a car into the path of oncoming traffic. Research shows that when you wear a modern seat belt, you reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 70% or more during an auto accident.
Seat belts have existed in different forms since the early days of automobiles, and they have changed from a single lap belt to the three-point seat belt we use today. In 1911 the first airplane seat belt was installed. Then, in the 1920’s they were used in racecars. By the 1930s, a group of American physicians created lap belts for their own vehicles and urged vehicle manufacturers to provide seat belts on all vehicles.
Dr. C. Hunter Shelden made a major contribution to our safety with his article in the November 5, 1955 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). He strongly encouraged the manufacture and use of door locks, airbags, and retractable(伸缩式的) seat belts, like the ones we use today. The modern three-point seat belt, including a lap belt and a shoulder belt, was introduced as standard equipment on Volvo cars in 1959.
In 1970, the state of Victoria in Australia made the wearing of a seat belt compulsory for every car driver and front-seat passenger. Today many countries have also mandated(授权) the use of five-point safety harnesses for carefully designed child safety seats that can protect a child during a serious car accident.
An airbag is a Supplemental Restraint System, or SRS, and consists of a rapidly inflatable restraint cushion that works together with a seat belt to protect you during a collision. Modern cars often contain several airbags in various locations. Since airbags can only inflate once and will quickly deflate after the initial impact, they will not provide any protection for you during a secondary collision.
The inflation of airbag can protect or hurt you. The risk zone for a driver’s airbag is the first 8 centimeters from its pre-inflation location. While driving, you should remain about 25 centimeters from the airbag in the center of the wheel. As a driver, wear your seat belt and make sure children correctly use their seat belts. Failure to wear a seat belt properly means the airbags in your car might injure or even kill you during an accident.
An essential part of your safe driving skills is the habit of making sure that you and each of your passengers are always properly positioned and wearing a seat belt. There are many wonderful benefits of being able to drive a car, but there are also severe consequences during an accident for anyone who chooses not to wear a seat belt.
This article mostly deals with .
| A．how to drive safely on the road |
| B．different forms of seat belts |
| C．the history of seat belt development |
| D．the importance of seat belt use |
We can learn from this article that _____.
| A．to reduce your risk of death or serious injury by 70%, you must wear a five-point seat belt while you are driving |
| B．American physicians created lap belts for their own vehicles because they had seen many injuries caused by car accidents |
| C．if two or more collisions occur during a serious car accident, your airbags can help reduce the risk of death by 70% |
| D．the U.S. was the first country to require by law that car drivers and front-seat passengers wear their seat belts |
The author treats the subject of this article with .
| A．good humor | B．admiration |
| C．seriousness | D．disapproval |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．Seat belts were first used in airplanes and then applied to vehicles. |
| B．Airbags, door locks, and seat belts were all designed at the same time. |
| C．The lap belt is more modern than the 3-point safety belt. |
| D．Buying the latest seat belts is an essential driving skill. |
Danielle Steel, America's sweetheart, is one of the hardest working women in the book business. Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time, she can work on up to five. Her research time before writing takes at least three years. Once she has fully studied her subjects, ready to dive into a book, she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.
Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education. After graduation, she worked in the public relations and advertising industries. Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for. Her achievements are unbelievable：390 million copies of books in print, nearly fifty New York Times bestselling novels, and a series of “Max and Martha” picture books for children to help them deal with the real life problems of death, new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times bestselling list as soon as it came out. Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times bestseller for 381 weeks straight.
Not content with a big house, a loving family, and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源)and has kept in touch with them by email. While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公)of her own invention, her life is undoubtedly much quieter. But, if she does have anything in common with them, it is her strength of will and her inimitable(独特的)style. There is only one Danielle Steel.Danielle Steel is different from other writer in that________.
| A．she can write several books at the same time |
| B．she often does some research before writing the book |
| C．she is one of the most popular American women writers |
| D．she can keep writing for quite a long time without a break |
Children who have read “Max and Martha” picture books may know______.
| A．how to deal with affairs at school |
| B．what to do if Max and Martha die |
| C．what to do when new babies are born into their families |
| D．how to solve the difficult problems in their writing classes |
One of Danielle Steel's achievements is that________.
| A．some TV plays were based on her books |
| B．her picture books attracted a lot of young men |
| C．one of her books became a bestseller in 1998 |
| D．she wrote the Guiness Book of World Records |
We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel________.
| A．lives an exciting life |
| B．values her readers a lot |
| C．writers about quiet women |
| D．is pleased with her achievements |
If there is one thing scientists have to hear, it is that game is over. Raised on the belief of an endless voyage of discovery, they recoil(畏缩)from the suggestion that most of the best things have already been located. If they have, today's scientists can hope to contribute no more than a few grace notes to the symphony(交响乐)of science.
A book to be published in Britain this week, The End of Science, argues persuasively that this is the case. Its author, John Horgan, is a senior writer for Scientific American magazine, who has interviewed many of today's leading scientists and science philosophers(哲学家). The shock of realizing that science might be over came to him, he says, when he was talking to Oxford mathematician and physicist Sir Roger Penrose.
The End of Science provoked(激怒)a wave of denunciation(谴责)in the United States last year. “The reaction(反应)has been one of complete shock and disbelief，” Mr. Horgan says.
The real question is whether any remaining unsolved problems, of which there are plenty, lead themselves to universal solutions. If they do not, then the focus of scientific discovery is already narrowing. Since the triumphs(胜利)of the 1960s—the genetic code, plate tectonics(板块构造说), and the microwave background radiation that went a long way towards proving the_Big_Bang—genuine(真正的)scientific revolutions have been scarce. More scientists are now alive, spending more money on research, than ever. Yet most of the great discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries were made before the appearance of state sponsorship, when the scientific enterprise was a fraction(小部分)of its present size.
Were the scientists who made these discoveries brighter than today's? That seems unlikely. A far more reasonable explanation is that fundamental(基础的)science has already entered a period of diminished returns. “Look, don't get me wrong，” says Mr. Horgan, “There are lots of important things still to study, and applied(应用的)science and engineering can go on forever. I hope we get a cure for cancer, and for mental disease, though there are few real signs of progress.”The sentence “most of the best things have already been located” could mean________.
| A．most of the best things have already been changed |
| B．most of the best things remain to be changed |
| C．there have never been so many best things waiting to be discovered |
| D．most secrets of the world have already been discovered |
John Horgan ________.
Ⅰ. has written a book entitled The End of Science
Ⅱ. has been working as an editor of Scientific American
Ⅲ. has been working many years as a literary critic
Ⅳ. is working as a science writer
| A．Ⅰand Ⅱ | B．Ⅰ only |
| C．Ⅰand Ⅳ | D．Ⅰ，Ⅱand Ⅳ |
There have not been many genuine scientific revolutions in the past few decades because________.
| A．there have been decreased returns in the research of fundamental science |
| B．there are too many important things for scientists to study |
| C．applied science and engineering take up too much time and energy |
| D．today's scientists are not as intelligent as those in the past |
The term “the Big Bang” probably refers to________.
| A．the genetic code theory |
| B．a theory of the origin(起源)of the universe |
| C．a geological theory |
| D．the origin and the power of atomic energy |
He lived his whole life as a poor man. His art and talent were recognized by almost no one. He suffered from a mental illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two years later. But in his death, he achieved world fame. Today, Dutch artist Van Gogh is recognized as one of the leading artists of all time.
Now, 150 years after his birth on March 30, 1853, Zundert, the town of his birth, has made 2003“The Van Gogh Year”in his honour. And the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to the biggest collection of his masterpieces, is marking the anniversary with exhibitions through the year. The museum draws around 1.3 million visitors every year. Some people enjoy the art and then learn about his life. Others are first interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of a minister. He left school when he was just 15. By the age of 27, he had already tried many jobs including an art gallery salesman and a French teacher. Finally in 1880, he decided to begin his studies in art.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotions(情感)into his paintings and show his feelings about a scene. His style is marked by short, broad brush strokes(绘画笔法). “Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use colour more freely, in order to express myself more forcibly，”he wrote in a letter to his brother in 1888.
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life. He relied heavily on support from his brother, an art dealer who lived in Paris. But now his works are sold for millions of dollars. His Portrait of Dr Gachet sold for US $ 89.5 million in 1990. It is the powerful and the brilliant colours in them are attractive to people，”said a Van Goah's fan.All through his life Van Gogh________.
| A．depended on his brother |
| B．worked hard on his dream |
| C．was not recognized by people |
| D．expressed himself in paintings |
Van Gogh killed himself because of________.
| A．the poor life |
| B．his illness |
| C．his pain from the left ear |
| D．the refusal by artists of his time |
One of the characteristics of Van Gogh's paintings is________.
| A．the likeness between his paintings and the reality |
| B．the short time for him to complete a painting |
| C．the various styles mixed together |
| D．the special strokes he made |
The selling of his paintings is considered to be the most successful because________.
| A．more and more people like his paintings |
| B．people can understand him through his paintings |
| C．1.3 million people visit his paintings museum every year |
| D．Zundert has made 2003“The Van Gogh Year”in his honour |
B
(2010·江苏卷)Usually，when your teacher asks a question，there is only one correct answer.But there is one question that has millions of correct answers.That question is “What's your name？”Everyone gives a different answer，but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people's names？Where do they come from？What do they mean?
People's first names，or given names，are chosen by their parents.Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used.Some parents choose the name of a wellknown person.A boy could be named George Washington Smith；a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things.Clara means“bright”；Beatrice means“one who gives happiness”；Donald means“world ruler”；Leonard means“as brave as a lion.”
The earliest last names，or surnames，were taken from place names.A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook(小溪)；someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long，paved road.The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people's occupations.The most common occupational name is Smith，which means a person who makes things with fron or other metals.In the past，smiths were very important workers in every town and village.Some other occupational names are：Cartera person who owned or drove a cart；Pottera person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village.The Carpenter's greatgreatgreatgrandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin，or their size，or their special abilities.When there were two men who were named John in the same village，the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray.Or the John who was very tall could call himself John Tallman.John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father's name. Englishspeaking people added s or son.The Johnsons are descendants of John；the Roberts family's ancestor was Robert.Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O'Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?
| A．Places where people lived. |
| B．People's characters. |
| C．Talents that people possessed. |
| D．People's occupations. |
According to the passage，the ancestors of the Potter family most probably________.
| A．owned or drove a cart |
| B．made things with metals |
| C．made kitchen tools or containers |
| D．built houses and furniture |
Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their newborn son to become a world leader，the baby might be named________.
| A．Beatrice Smith |
| B．Leonard Carter |
| C．George Longstreet |
| D．Donald Greenwood |
The underlined word“descendants”in the last paragraph means a person's________.
| A．later generations |
| B．friends and relatives |
| C．colleagues and partners |
| D．later sponsors |
A
“Go for it！”
The expression“Go for it！” is a way of encouraging someone to try something. “Go for it！”means you should
not worry about failure or be too careful. You should take a chance, be brave, and act firmly. “Go for it！”gets name from football. Not football as it is played in most countries such as England, Egypt or Japan, but the kind of football played in the United States and Canada.
One of most exciting times in football comes when a team has failed, after three attempts, to move the ball forward ten yards. The team must make a critical decision.
The conservative(保守)choice is to kick the ball and accept temporary defeat in order to gain a good position for your team the next time it gets the ball. The more exciting choice, however, is to try a fourth and final time to gain the remaining yards needed.
People present are certain to shout their advice. Some will shout：“Kick the ball！”But others will encourage the team to take a chance.“Go for it！”they will scream.
In the nineteen eighties, people began using this expression in many kinds of situations to encourage someone to act bravely.
There is no guarantee(保证)that the action you“Go for it！” they will succeed.
But that is the chance you take when you decide to go for it. You put your fears behind. You choose courage over safety. You hold your breath and go for it.The expression“Go for it！” comes from________.
| A．English football |
| B．Egyptian football |
| C．Japanese football |
| D．American football |
According to the passage, when we decide to go for it, we only consider________.
| A．safety |
| B．action |
| C．result |
| D．situation |
In which of the following situations should we use the expression nowadays?
| A．We decide to avoid trouble or danger for the future. |
| B．We try to improve our English for better education. |
| C．We need to make a quick decision at the last moment. |
| D．We have to make a choice between success and failure. |