“ON a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?”
Baymax, the plus-sized white robot, asks the question each time he detects (探测到) his patient’s pain. Considering that he is hardly like a typical Marvel superhero, how could this robotic caregiver from Big Hero 6 have stolen viewers’ hearts and taken home this year’s best animation Oscar?
Set in fictional San Fransokyo, the film follows Hiro, a 14-year-old robotics genius (天才). After his brother dies, he goes on a journey to save his city from an evil masked man with his brother’s invention, Baymax.
Baymax was named “Disney’s most straightforwardly adorable (萌的) character” in years by The Telegraph. He has a pure white pear-shaped body and stumpy elephant legs. And his eyes –just two black dots with a line through them – can blink (眨眼) quickly or slowly. Baymax’s physical appearance “works with his personality because he’s purely good and naive (天真的),” co-director Don Hall told The Hollywood Reporter.
Sometimes Baymax is awkward. Moving in tight spaces gets challenging with his potbelly (大肚子). And when his batteries run low, he behaves like an amusing drunk. “This means that he is not at all intimidating (令人生畏的) and is easy to like,” commented The Straits Times in Singapore.
Baymax is a comforting friend, the kind that perhaps everyone needs.
After he diagnoses (诊断) Hiro with feeling sorrow, he says: “Physical comfort helps too,” and pulls Hiro into a hug. He pats his head, saying: “There, there.”
The team’s car crashes into the water at one point, and they have to walk shivering (颤抖) back home. Baymax notices that everyone’s body temperatures are low, so he turns on his internal heaters. Everyone cuddles (依偎) up with him. “This is like spooning (拥抱) with a warm marshmallow (棉花糖),” says Fred, one of the characters.
One minute, he is used as a bouncy castle (充气城堡), and the next he transforms into a superhero.
To fight against the villain, Hiro upgrades Baymax so that the robot can attack and fly. The robot has a hard time figuring out these new skills, but after he realizes that Hiro is happy with his improvement, he immediately becomes an expert. “The treatment is working,” he says.
Tencent Entertainment calls the amazing Baymax a “perfect companion”. “He is quiet, clumsy, and adorable. But at important times, he steps up and stops at nothing to protect his friends from harm, even if it means that he has to sacrifice his life. This is an idealized (理想化的) relationship in harsh reality,” the site commented.What does Baymax do when he discovers Hiro is sad?
| A．He tries to amuse him by behaving awkwardly. |
| B．He leaves him alone. |
| C．He comforts him with a hug. |
| D．He advises him to go for a walk. |
Which of the following adjectives best describe Baymax?
| A．Considerate and selfless. |
| B．Adorable and humorous. |
| C．Clumsy and cautious. |
| D．Brave and proud. |
What is the article mainly about?
| A．The plot and background of the movie Big Hero 6. |
| B．The friendship between Hiro and Baymax in Big Hero 6. |
| C．The reasons for the popularity of Baymax from Big Hero 6. |
| D．What sets Big Hero 6 apart from other animation movies. |
Which of the following is TRUE about Baymax?
| A．Baymax’s awkwardness actually makes him more adorable and popular. |
| B．Baymax was invented by Hiro, a robotics genius. |
| C．Baymax’s physical appearance doesn’t quite match his personality. |
| D．Baymax looks like a typical Marvel superhero. |
Thirteen vehicles lined up last March to race across the Mojave Desert，seeking a million in prize money. To win，they had to finish the 142mile's race in less than 10 hours.
Teams and watchers knew there might be no winners at all，because these vehicles were missing a key part—drivers.
DARPA，the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency，organized the race as part of a push to develop robotic vehicles for future battlefields. But the Grand Challenge，as it was called，just proved how difficult it is to get a car to speed across an unfamiliar desert without human guidance. One had its brake lock up in the starting area. Another began by throwing itself onto a wall. Another got tied up by bushes near the road after 1.9 miles.
One turned upside down. One took off in entirely the wrong direction and had to be disabled by remote(远距离的) control. One went a little more than a mile and rushed into a fence；another managed to go for six miles but stuck on a rock. The “winner，” if there was any，reached 7.8 miles before it ran into a long，narrow hole，and the front wheels caught on fire.
“You get a lot of respect for natural abilities of the living things，” says Reinhold Behringer，who helped design two of the car size vehicles for a company called SciAutonics. “Even ants(蚂蚁) can do all these tasks effortlessly. It's very hard for us to put these abilities into our machines.”
The robotic vehicles，though with necessary modern equipment such as advanced computers and GPS guidance，had trouble figuring out fast enough the blocks ahead that a two-year-old human recognizes immediately. Sure，that very young child，who has just only learned to walk，may not think to wipe apple juice off her face，but she already knows that when there's a cookie in the kitchen she has to climb up the table，and that when she gets to the cookie it will taste good. She is more advanced，even months old，than any machine humans have designed.
48.Watchers doubted if any of the vehicles could finish the race because ______.
A．they did not have any human guidance
B．the road was not familiar to the drivers
C．the distance was too long for the vehicles
D．the prize money was unattractive to the drivers
49.DARPA organized the race in order to ______.
A．raise money for producing more robotic vehicles
B．push the development of vehicle industry
C．train more people to drive in the desert
D．improve the vehicles for future wars
50.From the passage we know “robotic vehicles” are a kind of machines that ______.
A．can do effortlessly whatever tasks living things can
B．can take part in a race across 142 miles with a time limit
C．can show off their ability to turn themselves upside down
D．can move from place to place without being driven by human beings
14 days for just ￡2090 pp
Fully inclusive from the UK
Price covers：International airfares，departure taxes，fuel charges，local transportation，accommodation，all meals，entrance fees，guides，daily tours and visas for UK citizens.
◆Days 1-3：UK—Shanghai
Fly to the great city of Shanghai and in the evening, sample traditional Shanghai food. Visit the beautiful Yu Gardens，Old Town，Shanghai Museum，cross the Great Nanpu Bridge and tour the Pudong area .Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920's style Shikumen buildings and end your stay in Shanghai with an amazing Huangpu River evening tour.
◆Days 4-7：Shanghai—Yangtze River Tour
Fly to Yichang and change (approx.one hour)to board your Yangtze River ship for the next four nights. Enjoy a tour of the Three Gorges Dam(三峡大坝)before sailing on the grand Yangtze River，passing through the impressive Three Gorges. We take a side trip to the Lesser Three Gorges or travel up the Shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way.
◆Day 8：Chongqing—Chengdu
Get off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay.
◆Days 9-10：Chengdu—Xi'an
Visit the famous Panda Reserve to see the lovely animals. We then fly to the historic city of Xi'an for two nights' stay and enjoy traditional Shuijiao. Next day explore one of the most important discoveries of the 20th Century—the Terracotta Warriors(兵马俑)，followed by the ancient City Wall and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.
◆Days 11-13：Xi'an—Beijing
Visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda and see the ancient objects at the well-known Shaanxi Provincial Museum before walking through the lively Muslim Quarter to see the Great Mosque. Later fly to Beijing for three nights' stay and try Peking Duck.During our stay in Beijing，we stroll through Tian'anmen Square to the Forbidden City，the largest and best preserved collection of ancient buildings in China，and visit the Summer Palace. Next day we take a walk on the Great Wall，tour the unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive Chinese Acrobatic Show.（杂技）
◆Day 14：Beijing—UK
Fly back to the UK，arriving home later the same day filled with happy memories.
44.The underlined word “sample” in the passage probably means “______”．
A．buy B．reserve C．taste D．make
45.The first and last scenic spots to be visited in Xi'an are______.
A．the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Mosque
B．the Terracotta Warriors and Shaanxi Provincial Museum
C．Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the Great Mosque
D．Little Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter
46.Which of the following is TRUE according to the ad?
A．The tourists will have to pay extra for fuel and meals.
B．The tourists will visit the 1920's Shikumen buildings in Beijing.
C．The tourists will take a side trip to the Three Gorges Dam during the tour.
D．The tourists will stay in Beijing for three nights before leaving for the UK.
47.The ad is mainly intended to______.
A．encourage the British to travel in China
B．attract the British to traditional Chinese food
C．offer services of booking air tickets to tourists
D．provide the British with a better understanding of China
Making an advertisement for television often costs more than a movie. For example, a two-hour movie costs $6 million to make. A TV commercial （商业广告）can cost more than $6000 a second. And that does not include cost of paying for air time(电视节目开始的时间). Which is more valuable, the program or the ad? In terms of money – and making money is what television is all about– the commercial is by far the more important.
Research, market testing, talent, time and money—all come together to make us want to buy a product. No matter how bad we think a commercial is, it works. The sales of Charm went up once the ads began. TV commercials actually buy their way into our head. We, in turn, buy the product.
And the ads work because so much time and attention are given to them. Here are some rules of commercial ad making. If you want to get the low middle-class buyer, make sure the announcer has a tough, manly voice. Put some people in the ad who work with their hands. If you want to sell to upper-class audience, make sure that the house, the furniture, and the hair style are the types that the group identifies(识别) with. If you want the buyer feel superior to the character selling the product, then make that person so stupid or silly that everyone will feel great about himself or herself.
We laugh at commercials. We don’t think we pay that much attention to them. But facts show we are kidding（哄骗，嘲弄）ourselves. The making of a commercial that costs so much money is not kid stuff. It’s big, big business. And it’s telling us what to think, what we need, and what to buy. To put it simply, the TV commercial is a form of brainwashing.
40. TV commercials are more important than other programs to television because _______.
A. they bring in great profits(利润)
B. they require a lot of money to make
C. they are not difficult to produce
D. they attract more viewers than other programs
41. The purpose of all the efforts made in turning out TV commercials is _______.
A. to persuade people to buy the product
B. to show how valuable the product is
C. to test the market value of the product
D. to make them as interesting as TV movies
42. From the rules set for making commercial ads, we can see that_______.
A. the lower-middle-class buyer likes to work with his hand
B. the more stupid the characters, the more buyers of the product
C. ad designers attract different people with different skills
D. an upper-class buyer is more interested in houses and furniture than a lower-middle-class buyer
43. It is believed by the writer that_______.
A. few people like to watch TV commercials
B. TV commercials are a good guide to buyers
C. TV commercials often make people laugh
D. people do not think highly of TV commercials
Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is, we can try to do it ourselves.
How is it done? Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they’ll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.
First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says, “At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It’s a common question, but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.
Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn’t. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of person you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.
Real listening at least means some things. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he’s really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it’s time for you to change the subject.
Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you’re saying good-bye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again, don’t keep it a secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they’ve known you half their life.
36. Asking questions might be a quite good and suitable way _______.
A. for you to make more and more new friends
B. to begin your business talks
C. to get the conversation going smoothly
D. for you to make a deep and lasting impression on others
37. After having asked somebody a question, it’ll be polite of you to _______.
A. make clear what kind of person he is
B. listen to his reply attentively
C. wait quietly and patiently for his answer
D. go on asking him more questions
38. Generally speaking, good talkers are persons who _______.
A. are good at making any topic interesting
B. never talk too much or too little
C. always speak in a gentle way
D. know how and when they should change the topic of the talk
39. If you really take delight in meeting someone again, _______.
A. you may take him as your lifelong trustworthy friend
B. it seems necessary for you to let him know it
C. it’s proper for you to give him a second handshake
D. it’ll be helpful for you to have further understanding of him
When I was a child ,I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm and, in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital . However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage is money----it costs so much to go out ,not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma（哮喘）,and at times the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides,there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally,if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising----and, what is more ,shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens or twenties, However,as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.
1. What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
A. Staying on the farm B. Moving to the countryside
C. Leaving home for the city D. Running away from the school
2. Which of the following is true about the writer?
A. He is very old now B. He is in good health
C. He prefers driving a car D. He lives in the city now
3. In the passage ,the writer tries to ___________.
A. express his opinions about way of life
B. describe his life in the countryside
C. show an interest in the outside world
D. persuade the reader to live in the city
4. How is the passage mainly developed?
A. By inferringB. By comparing
C. By listing examples D. By giving explanations