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Cheaters called “pirates” often use camcorders(便携式摄像机) and cell phones to make illegal copies of blockbusters in the local theater. These pirates then sell those recordings on the street or over the Internet for very low prices. Some share them for free.
“It’s unfair for people to pirate movies,” says 15-year-old Hadaia Azad Ezzulddin. Movie piracy “takes money out of the pockets of thousands of people in the movie industry,” she notes. Victims include famous actors and directors as well as local theater owners and their employees.
Hadaia came up with an idea that could help stop movie piracy. Hadaia’s idea uses infrared(红外线的) light. This range of light is invisible to the human eye. It is visible, however, to many types of cameras. Theater owners could place small infrared lights on their movie screens. The lights would not disturb people watching the movie. It would, however, distort the recordings made by many types of cameras.
To test her idea, Hadaia built a box with a movie screen inside. Then, she projected images on that screen through a hole in the box. She took recordings of those images, using nine different types of cameras. These included the types found in cell phones as well as camcorders. During some tests, she also turned on light emitting diodes(发光二极管), or LEDs. The LEDs were embedded（植入的）in a certain place behind the movie screen. They gave out infrared light.
Sure enough, she showed, a pirated movie included odd stripes or spots if it had been recorded while the LEDs were on. It might be possible to use the LEDs to flash the date and time on the movie screen. The information would then appear in the illegal recordings. Theater owners or police might use the information to track down the pirates.
Cutting down on piracy might get more people into theaters to watch the real movie instead of an illegal copy. Six out of every ten films now produced aren’t profitable. They don’t make enough money to recover how much was spent to make and market them. Such a poor payback can discourage filmmakers from producing anything but the types expected to become blockbuster hits. It might also keep smaller theaters from showing a wider variety of movie types.From what Hadaia says in Paragraph 2, we can infer that _______.
| A．most people spend less money on pirates moves |
| B．the pirates don’t have to pay for the movie tickets |
| C．theater owners will increase the price of movie tickets |
| D．she strongly criticizes those who video movies in the theater |
Infrared lights are put on the movie screens to _______.
| A．adjust the brightness of the movie screens |
| B．make sure the images of movies are dark |
| C．make illegal copies of movies unpleasant to see |
| D．protect the eyesight of viewers in the darkness |
What is the correct order of the steps in Hadaia’s test?
a. She projected pictures on the screen.
b. She used cameras to record the pictures.
c. She turned on the LEDs placed behind the screen.
d. She made a special box with a movie screen inside.
| A．d c a b | B．d b a c |
| C．b a c d | D．b c a d |
According to the last paragraph, we can know that _______.
| A．forty percent of movies now are profitable |
| B．small theaters often choose to show low-cost movies |
| C．more and more people go to theaters to fight movie piracy |
| D．filmmakers prefer to produce ordinary movies than blockbusters |
Fans of the British royal family around the world are making plans for April 29th, 2011. That’s the date that Prince William and Catherine Middleton are to tie the knot at Westminster Abbey in London.
A royal wedding is a rare and unique event in Britain so for many it’s something worth celebrating, particularly if you are in the business of making memorabilia (收藏品).
Producers of these souvenirs are wasting no time in manufacturing key rings, mugs, teapots and tea towels, mostly with the faces of the happy couple emblazoned on the front. These are the must buy items that royal followers want to get their hands on.
Some people may argue the royal wedding is a huge public cost but production and sale of memorabilia is good for business. Former politician, Lord Archer, has commented that, “In this age when we are trying to balance the books, the royal family are a great benefit to Great Britain Limited.”
A porcelain-making company, called Royal Crown Derby, is already manufacturing souvenir pottery. Louise Adams from the company says “we started designing, truly, about two years ago.” It is big business for China too, where much of the merchandise that marks the big event is made.
But why are people so keen to get their hands on a commemorative mug, so much so that one British supermarket has already seen them flying off the shelves?
Obviously, we like to remember an event like this and maybe it makes us feel as though we are part of the occasion. However their monetary value is likely to be low. Eric Knowles from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow claims, “The vast majority of it will be worthless.”
Modern day souvenirs tend to be mass-produced making them cheap and easy to find. However limited edition or high-end items tend to keep their value and could be a better investment for the future.
But there is one thing we can guarantee that won’t be mass-produced and cheap. That’s the wedding dress for Princess Catherine, as Catherine Middleton will be known.
( ) . From the first three paragraphs we can learn that .
| A．many fans of the British royal family will be invited to London on April 29th, 2011 |
| B．Prince William and Catherine Middleton are getting married at Westminster Abbey on April 29th, 2011 |
| C．many fans of the royal family will tie the knot on the same day in London |
| D．fans of the royal family will join in making souvenirs |
( ) . The obvious feature of the souvenirs mentioned in the passage is that .
| A．they are all tiny and easy to carry |
| B．some of them are linked with tea |
| C．all of them are marked with dates and pictures |
| D．most of them display the pictures of the couple |
( ) . It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A．the production of souvenirs has begun long before the big event |
| B．the sale of souvenirs has not begun yet |
| C．people buy souvenirs mainly for their monetary value |
| D．production of souvenirs has little profit |
( ) . Which of the following is a better investment according to the passage?
| A．Souvenirs that fly off the shelves. | B．Best-selling souvenirs |
| C．Mass-produced souvenirs. | D．Souvenirs released limitedly. |
( ) . What’s the writer’s attitude towards producing and selling souvenirs?
| A．Supportive. | B．Negative. | C．Uninterested. | D．Indifferent. |
Dear Students,
Thank you for your interest in helping with the investigation into mumps(腮腺炎) at University of East Anglia(UEA).
Part 1: What will the oral fluid/saliva sample be tested for?
The oral fluid sample you provide will be tested for mumps antibodies and mumps virus. We will not be reporting results back to individual students. The information gathered will be used to guide public health control of mumps. We will update you via emailing the final outcome to acknowledge your contribution. If you think you have mumps, you will still need to see your GP as per routine.
Part 2: What is involved in the investigation?
(1) We will be contacting you by post to request two oral fluid/saliva samples a few weeks apart and possibly a third sample.
(2) We will contact your GP to collect information on your vaccination records.
What if you change your mind and what safeguards are in place?
Participation is voluntary.
You can withdraw anytime without having to give a reason. Withdrawal will not affect your routine care.
As a public health body, the HPA data collection role is strictly governed. All data will be collected and handled in accordance with strict medical confidences.
Part 3: What to do next if you would like to enroll?
All you have to do now is:
(1)Follow the instructions on the box with regards to taking an oral fluid/saliva swab(棉签).
(2)Complete the request form. If you are unable to complete the vaccination history section, you can leave it blank.
(3)Confirm your consent by signing below.
(4)Send everything (sample form, signed consent and swab sample) back in the prepaid envelope —a stamp is not required.
If you have any queries, please contact Dr. Chee Yung on 0208 327 7603.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
| I consent to take part in the oral fluid/saliva investigation of mumps at UEA by the HPA. Signature: Full name: Date: |
( ) .This passage is written mainly to .
| A．find the virus that leads to mumps | B．raise funds for HPA |
| C．guide public health control of mumps | D．encourage students to help investigate mumps |
( ) .It can be inferred from the passage that GP refers to .
| A．parent | B．doctor | C．colleague | D．classmate |
( ).Accordin
g to the passage, the following statements are true EXCEPT that .
| A．all the students at University of East Anglia have to take part in the investigation |
| B．you don’t need to explain why you want to withdraw from the investigation |
| C．individual students will not be informed of the test results |
| D．your routine care will not be affected if you withdraw from the investigation |
( ) .. The data of the investigation will be .
| A．sent to the GP by the HPA | B．collected by individual students |
| C．managed according to strict medical confidences | D．strictly secret to the HPA |
( ).To enroll the investigation, you have to .
| A．complete the vaccination history section of the request form |
| B．send the sample form, the signed consent and the swab sample back at your own expense |
| C．do as the instructions on the box about how to take an oral fluid/saliva swab |
| D．contact Dr. Chee Yung on 0208 327 7603 |
The iPhone, the iPad: each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad(一时的风尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” —and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer —which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet —adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear —popular in the US and UK—that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”.
A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper was launched last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes(前缀) have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came to use..
Most “i” products are targeted at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it’s no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i”. Why not use “a”, “b”, or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College. London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines.” Even when Apple created the iPod, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition,” he says.
“However, thanks
to Apple, the term is now associated with portability(轻便),” adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “blog”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, people grow tired of fads. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably disappeared.
( ) .People use iPlayer to .
| A．listen to music | B．make a call |
| C．watch TV programs online | D．read newspapers |
( ) . We can infer that the Independent’s “i” is aimed at .
| A．young readers | B．old readers | C．fashionable women | D．engineers |
( ) .The underlined word “ambiguous” means .
| A．popular | B．uncertain | C．definite | D．unique |
( ).Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products which are .
| A．portable | B．environmentally friendly | C．advanced | D．recyclable |
( ) .. The writer suggests that .
| A．“i” products are often of a high quality |
B．the popularity of “i” products may not last long |
| C．the letter “b” replaces letter “i” to name the products |
| D．iTeddy is a live bear |
Just 25 years ago, the top three career hopes for young people in Britain were teacher, banker and doctor. Now, they want to be sports star, pop star and actor, according to a survey by the Guardian newspaper.
Rachel, a character in the popular TV show Glee, may be said to speak for British teenagers. “Nowa
days being nobody is worse than being poor.” He said.
Emma Brockes, a reporter with the Guardian, believes it is “the bad influence of celebrity(名人) culture” that is to blame. “When children wanted to be doctor, it wasn’t because they were really more interested in the functions of human organs than they are now; you go where the respect is.” She wrote.
It could explain why there has been such an increase in levels of anxiety and depression. Dr Carlo Stranger, of Tel Aviv University, studied the sense of self for his new book The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the 21st Century. He told the Daily Mail that young people now are “affected by the close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and rating people according to wealth and celebrity into an obsession(痴迷).”
“As humans, we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village. We are comparing ourselves with the most ‘important’ people in the world and finding ourselves wanting…” he said. Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media.
The way out? Simply stop measuring your achievement through a fantasy of wealth and celebrity. Dr Strenger said that it is a process called “active self-acceptance through a constant search for self-knowledge through life.”
“The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement,” he said..Nowadays, young people in Britain want to.
| A．choose jobs based on interests | B．become famous |
| C．be teacher, banker and doctor | D．earn more money |
.．According to Emma Brockes, what causes the increasing level of anxiety?
| A．Choices of future careers. | B．Access to the global network. |
| C．Bad influences of celebrities. | D．Endless comparison with others. |
.．Which of the following is true of Dr Carlo Strenger?
| A．He is a newspaper reporter. | B．He is the spokesman of teenagers. |
| C．He tells success stories on TV. | D．He is against ranking people with wealth. |
.．Dr Carlo Strenger suggests that young people should.
| A．seek active self-acceptance | B．stick to their own dreams |
| C．make great achievements | D．search for the secret of wealth |
.The text is mainly written to.
| A．talk about job choices | B．analyse a social phenomenon |
| C．encourage celebrity culture | D．introduce three famous people |
When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses. This phenomenon is referred to as the bystander （旁观者）effect．
The bystander effect is also called the Genovese effect, which is named after Catherine “Kitty" Genovese, a young woman who was cruelly murdered on March 13, 1964. Early in the morning, 28-year-old Genovese was returning home from work. As she approached her apartment entrance, she was attacked and stabbed（刺）by a man later identified as Winston Moseley. Despite Genovese's repeated cries for help, none of people in the nearby apartment building who heard her cries called police for help. The attack first began at 3:20, but it was not until 3:50 that someone first contacted police．
Many psychologists were set thinking by the incident, as well as most Americans. As the conclusion, the bystander effect came out and later proved by a series of studies and experiments.
There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the presence of other people creates a division of responsibility. Because there are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action, since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among all of those present. The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways. When other observers fail to react, individuals often take this as a signal that a response is not needed or not appropriate.
Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to take action if the situation is ambiguous. In the case of Kitty Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed that they were witnessing a "lovers' quarrel", and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered．. The bystander effect is also called the Genovese effect becausea woman surnamed Genovese．
| A．it somehow caused the murder of |
| B．its discovery resulted from the murder of |
C．it was actually disc overed by |
| D．it always makes people think of |
. Genovese was murdered .．
| A．while she was going out |
B．in her apartment |
| C．halfway home | D．near her apartment |
. Which can NOT have been a possible reason for the neighbors NOT offering Genovese help?
| A．They believed in the bystander effect． |
| B．They thought someone else might help her． |
| C．They didn't think they should help． |
| D．They didn't think she needed help． |
. Before deciding to offer help, observers may , according to the psychologists．
| A．wait for sort of a signal |
| B．hesitate and estimate the risk of getting hurt |
| C．want to be sure it's appropriate to react |
| D．wonder if the victim is worth helping |
. The article seems to suggest that, if there had been observers, Genovese might not have been murdered．
| A．no | B．fewer | C．more | D．braver |