It’s been seven days since a 7. 0-magnitude strong earthquake hit Ya’an, in Sichuan Province. How the earthquake has affected one of Sichuan Province’s special residents—pandas. How are the animals coping? And do they have enough food to eat?
There are more than 80 pandas living here at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Base. 7 baby pandas have just left their mothers and have begun to learn how to fend for themselves.
The quake was felt strongly in Chengdu. Fortunately, all of the pandas here were out on the grounds when the earthquake hit, so they were very safe. Although no deaths or injuries have been reported among the Baoxing panda population so far, they’ve been badly frightened by the earthquake. Several days has passed and the earthquake seems to have made no discernible(可辨别的)negative impact on the pandas. These two baby pandas Chengshuang and Chengdui are play fighting with each other and climbing trees. When they climbed too high, the breeders have to rescue them from the trees.
The visitors are amused by the scenes and think it’s like a fantastic acrobatics show.
The quake zone is not only the home of these pandas, it’s also the source of their food. Fortunately, enough bamboo has been stored away in five bamboo storehouses for the pandas, so there are no worries with regard to food supplies.
Wu Kongju, Breeder, Chengdu Panda Breeding Base, said, “When the Wenchuan earthquake happened in 2008, we were unprepared and had a shortage of bamboo. But we’ve been able to handle this earthquake event more smoothly. There are no problems with the food supply. ”Apart from the pandas’ favorite Baijia Bamboo, breeders also give them bamboo shoots, which are very rich in nutrients.
Wu Kongju said, “Bamboo shoots contain more protein than ordinary bamboo, and they’re also very succulent because they contain more water. ”
The passage mainly tells us that .
| A．a 7. 0-magnitude strong earthquake hit Ya’an |
| B．food supply to pandas is enough |
| C．impact of Ya’an earthquake on China’s pandas |
| D．two baby pandas Chengshuang and Chengdui are in good condition |
When the earthquake hit Ya’an, which of the following statements about the pandas is WRONG?
| A．All of the pandas here were out on the grounds. |
| B．Some pandas are injured but no deaths are made. |
| C．They’ve been badly frightened by the earthquake. |
| D．The earthquake seems to have made no discernible negative impact on the pandas. |
During Ya’an earthquake, there is no need to worry about pandas’ food because .
| A．the pandas eat less food because of frightening |
| B．the Panda Breeding Base was slightly hit by this earthquake |
| C．the Panda Breeding Base received the food supply from foreign countries |
| D．the Panda Breeding Base has stored away enough bamboo in advance |
The underlined word“succulent”in the last paragraph means .
| A．多汁的 | B．高蛋白的 | C．多糖的 | D．有营养的 |
What’s the author’s attitude towards the reaction of Chengdu Panda Breeding Base?
| A．Supportive. | B．Disappointed. | C．Indifferent. | D．Objective. |
Recently, scientists have developed a wireless brainmachine interface that help restore communication to people who can no longer speak by reading brainwaves using electrodes(电极) stuck on their heads. Unfortunately, these have proved very slow, at roughly one word typed per minute, making normal conversations and social interactions virtually impossible.
Scientist Frank Guenther and his colleagues reveal a brainmachine interface that uses electrodes implanted directly into the brain for research into real time speech.
"It should soon be possible for extremely paralysed individuals who are incapable of speaking to produce speech through a laptop computer, " said Guenther.
The scientists worked with a 26-year- old male volunteer who experience near-total paralysis due to a stroke he suffered when he was 16. They implanted an electrode that had two wires into a part of the brain that help plan and execute movements related to speech. The electrode recorded brain signals when the volunteer attempted to talk and the wires spread them across the scalp(头皮)to help drive a speech synthesizer (合成器). The delay between brain activity and sound output was just 50 milliseconds on average, roughly the same with regular speech.
"He was quite excited, particularly on the first few days we used the system, as he got used to its properties, " Guenther recalled." I am sure the work proceeds slowly from his perspective, as it does from ours. Nonetheless, he was very excited about getting real-time audio feedback of his intended speech and happy to work very hard with us throughout the experiments."
"The current system uses data from just two wires. Within a year it will be possible to implant a system with 16 times as many." Guenther said." This will allow us to tap into neurons(神经元)，which in the end means better control over a synthesizer and thus better speech."In the study of Guenther, electrodes are _______.
| A．fixed on the heads | B．put into the heads |
| C．tied to the heads | D．separated from the heads |
The underlined word "them" in Paragraph 4 refers to _______.
| A．movements | B．wires | C．brain signals | D．Scientists |
What might be the best title for the passage?
A. Wireless Device Are Used to Read Words in the Brain.
B. New Equipment Helps you read others’ mind.
C. Virtual tongue can make you speak fluently.
It is no secret what you are thinking in mind.
There are many rights to make sure that people will be treated fairly when they are suspected or accused of a crime. Sometimes these rights are called "due process of law". In using these rights, a person should have the help of a lawyer.
You have a right to protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. The police generally may not search you or your home, or take things you own, without a "warrant". A warrant is a paper which states, very exactly , the place to be searched and the things to be taken. Sometimes, however, the police will not need a warrant to search you or your property. If an officer sees you committing a crime, or if he has a good reason to believe you have committed a serious crime, he may arrest you and search you and the area right around you without a warrant.
If you invite a police without a warrant to come into your house and he finds proof of crime, the evidence may be used against you in court. If you do not want an officer to search you or your home and he does not have a warrant, tell him that you do not give him the right to search. However, if the officer will not listen, do not try to stop him. It is dangerous to resist and it may be illegal to do so. Any evidence which a policeman gets during an unlawful search and seizure cannot be used against you.
Police officers must act reasonably and fairly at all times. They should use physical force only when it is needed to arrest someone to enforce a law. They may not use physical violence to "teach someone a lesson". According to the passage, a "warrant" is______.
| A．an identification card | B．an access card |
| C．an official written order | D．a special license |
In which case can the policeman use the evidence he gets against you in court?
| A．He makes an unreasonable search of your home and gets the evidence. |
| B．He is allowed to search your home with no warrant and finds proof of crime. |
| C．He gets the information you do not want to give him by using physical force. |
| D．He obtains the information from you when you are alone with him. |
The police can use physical force only when____.
| A．they want to teach the habitual thief a lesson |
| B．they catch the criminal on the spot |
| C．the suspect talks back |
| D．the criminal resists arrest |
The passage centers around____.
| A．the rights of citizens | B．the importance of warrants |
| C．the duty of the police | D．criminal cases |
Salvation Army Angel Program
Angel Tree collects gifts for children and families in need. Participate by selecting an angel from any Angel Tree at all Cyprus Credit Union location or any Utah Macy's Department store. Shop for your angel, then return your new, unwrapped gift to the same Angel Tree. Gifts must be returned before December 14. For more information, call (801) 988-5678 in the Salt Lake area,(801) 374-2588 in the Provo area.
Utah Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities Holiday Gift Box Program
The program serves primarily low-income adults with intellectual disabilities who don't qualify for other programs because of age limits, said Joyce Whalen, the association's board president. To donate, visit the association at 1326 S.2100 East from 9am to about 5:30 pm to choose an ornament(装饰物) that provides information about an individual who will benefit from the program. Shop for new items and return them by December 14. Donations of generic items, such as towels, socks and hygiene products also accepted, as are monetary donations. For more information, call 801-440-1674.
Utah Foster Care Foundation's Giving Tree Program
The program seeks new gifts and cash donations to fulfill the holiday wishes of more than 1,000 children in state-licensed foster homes." Many of the children in care have been removed from their biological homes because of neglect or abuse," said Nikki Mackay, the foundation's director. " Christmas can be a difficult time for them." To learn how to support the program, call 877-505-5437.
Utah State Hospital Forgotten Patient Program
The program provides Christmas gifts for hundreds of patients with mental illness. In the history of the program--which may go back as far as 60 years, organizer Shawna Peterson said, "we've never had a forgotten patient." And she doesn't want this year to change that. To support the program, contact Peterson at 801-344-6088.After you buy an angel, you should ________.
| A．post it to where you bought | B．open its package to examine it |
| C．send it to families in need for yourself | D．bring it back in its original form |
If you want to help adults with intellectual disabilities, you should call_____.
| A．801-440-1674 | B．801-988-5678 |
| C．877-505-5437 | D．801-344-6088 |
The underlined phrases "biological homes" in the third program refers to ______.
| A．homes where they are just brought up |
| B．homes where their natural parents live |
| C．homes where they learn biology |
| D．homes where are related to bacteria |
From the last program, we can infer that ______.
A. the patients often forgot to come to the hospital
B. the patients are often forgotten to be looked after
C. the patients are being taken good care of
the patients had a poor memory in the hospital
It was the old lady’s eightieth birthday. She was sure Myra wouldn’t forgot her mother’s birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Myra might come. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child.
Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and a bunch of flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. Johnnie, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a packet of sweets.
“I guess you’ll get lots and lots of presents, ” he said. “I did last week when I was six.”
What would she like? A pair of slippers, perhaps. A blue new cardigan. Or a table lamp. Or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.
“Granny, granny, ” Johnnie returned. “I’ve got your post!”
He gave her four envelopes. Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Myra’s writing.
“No parcel(包裹), Johnnie?”
“No, granny.”
Almost reluctantly, she tore the fourth envelope open. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Myra and Harold.
The six-figure check fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady bent to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits. As can be inferred from the passage, _______.
| A．the old lady lived alone in a flat away from her daughter |
| B．the friends sent the old lady many lovely presents by post |
| C．Myra was stopped by her husband from seeing her mother |
| D．the neighbours cared little about the old lady in daily life |
The old lady felt _______ when she saw no packet came with her daughter’s card.
| A．excited | B．happy | C．disappointed | D．impatient |
Which of the following might serve as the best title for the passage?
| A．The Present | B．The Check | C．The Birthday | D．The Daughter |
The reason why the old lady tore the check into small pieces was that _______.
| A．she was sure her daughter would come, not the check |
| B．she didn’t notice there were six figures on the check |
| C．she didn’t think the check was large enough for a present |
| D．she would prefer a present with love from her daughter |
Germany has a variety of cities each with its own characteristics, from the busy city of Berlin, to the ancient city of Cologne, to the Bavarian capital of Munich. Thankfully, these major German cities offer sightseeing tours that offer the opportunity to better explore the surrounding regions and the country’s most historic sites.
Berlin on Bike
Berlin on Bike takes visitors through the German capital via five bicycle tours, all with guides. Regular tours include the Wall Tour and Berlin’s Best, with stops at some of the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Reichstag explores what life was like in East Berlin under Communist Rule. The cost of the tour includes the bike and helmet rental, and tourists may choose to continue renting their bikes once the tour has ended.
Berlinonbike.de/English/index.php
Munich City Sightseeing Tour
The Munich City Sightseeing Tour transports travelers throughout the city via an open-air, double-decker bus. Passengers can hop on and off at various stops throughout the day. This tour includes stops at such sites as the Munich central train station, the 1972 Olympic Stadium Park, Munich’s opera house and Karlsplatz, the gate to the historic city. The bus features a narrated tour guide and offers an English-language option.
Raileurope.com/activities/munich-city-sightseeing-tour/index.html
Nice City Tours- Cologne
Nice City Tours offers three tours of Cologne, available to private or business groups in a variety of languages. The old Town Tour runs for two hours and includes a guided tour of the Cologne Cathedral and some of the city’s old squares. The Brewery Pub Tour explores some of the city’s most beloved breweries and pubs, and details the history behind Kolsch, Cologne’s resident beer. Finally, the Old Town and Rhine Tour begins by visiting some of old town’s most historic sites and ends with a ride down the Rhine River.
Nicecitytours.con/tours.htm The similarity of the three tours lies in that they all include_____.
| A．bus tours | B．English service | C．three routes | D．guide’s service |
If you take a great interest in beer, which tour might be suitable for you?
| A．The Wall Tour | B．The Brewery Pub Tour |
| C．The Old Town Tour | D．The Munich City Sightseeing Tour |
Where can you probably see this passage?
| A．In a textbook. | B．On a website. |
| C．In an encyclopedia. | D．In a journal. |