Liverpool city council want to clear the city of fat pigeons. They say that people are feeding the birds, which makes them fat. The pigeons get bigger because their normal diet would consist of seeds and insects, not high-fat junk food they are eating in the city centre.
The council want people to know that everyone who feeds the pigeons is responsible for the streets being so crowded with these birds. They hope to encourage the birds to move away from the city centre and into parks and open spaces.
Ten robotic birds have been brought into the city centre to scare the pigeons away and visitors are asked not to give the pigeons any food. The mechanical birds - known as “robops” - will sit on the roofs of buildings. They can be moved around to different locations. They look like a peregrine falcon, which is a bird that kills pigeons. They even make noises and flap their wings to scare the pigeons. They hope that the pigeons will go away before the city becomes the European Capital of Culture in two years.What do Liverpool city council try to do?
A.They want people to feed the pigeons with healthy food. |
B.They want the pigeons to move out of the city centre. |
C.They want people to keep the pigeons at home. |
D.They want to keep robotic birds instead of pigeons. |
The robotic birds are used to _________.
A.help feed the pigeons | B.make the city colorful |
C.drive away the pigeons | D.show people directions |
This passage is most probably a(n) __________.
A.news report | B.notice |
C.short story | D.Advertisement |
Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically much smaller, in both actual size and aggregate file size. Microblogs “allow users to exchange small elements of content such as short sentences, individual images, or video links”.
As with traditional blogging, microbloggers post about topics ranging from the simple, such as "what I'm doing right now," to the thematic(主题的), such as "sports cars.” Commercial microblogs also exist, to promote (促进) websites, services and/or products, and to promote collaboration within an organization.
Some microblogging services offer features such as privacy settings, which allow users to control who can read their microblogs, or other ways of publishing rights besides entering the web-based interface.(界面) These may include text messaging, instant messaging, E-mail, or digital audio.
The first microblogs were known as tumblelogs. The term was invented in a blog post on April 12, 2005. However, by 2006 and 2007, the term microblog came into greater usage for such services provided by Tumblr and Twitter. Other leading social networking websites Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and XING also have their own microblogging features, better known as status updates.
Several studies, especially by Harvard Business School have tried to analyze the usage behavior of Microblogging services. Many of these studies show that for services such as Twitter, there is a small group of active users contributing to most of the activity.
Twitter, Facebook and other microblogging services are also becoming a platform for marketing and public relations, with a sharp growth in the number of social media marketers. The Sysomos study shows that this specific group of marketers on Twitter is much more active than general user population, with 15% following more than 2,000 people. Why is a microblog different from a traditional blog?
A.Because a microblog doesn’t include pictures, but a traditional blog does. |
B.Because a microblog doesn’t include videos, but a traditional blog does. |
C.Because a microblog has smaller contents than a traditional blog in actual and total file size. |
D.Because a microblog can only be written on the cell-phones. |
What is the meaning of the underlined word “collaboration” in the second paragraph?
A.Competition. | B.Discussion. | C.Tradition. | D.Cooperation |
Microblogging can protect the following privacy EXCEPT_______.
A.deciding the readers of the microblogs |
B.allowing readers to publish their views |
C.readers’ deleting what a microblog says |
D.deciding whether readers can enter it |
We can infer from the passage that______.
A.microbloggers always post about the thematic topics instead of the simple ones |
B.microblogging has developed so quickly and brought the owners more and more benefits. |
C.microblogging protects both the owners’ and the readers’ privacy |
D.the studies by Harward Business School have analyzed the usage of microblogging services |
This advertisement is designed especially for those who __________.
A.like eating in restaurants | B.have little time |
C.prefer home-cooked meals | D.want to save money |
What information CAN’T we get from the advertisement about Quickeats?
A.Different kinds. | B.High quality. | C.Exact prices. | D.Good taste. |
Which of the following can be cooled in a refrigerator before eating according to the ads?
A.Pasta Salad. | B.Dried Fruit. | C.Noodles. | D.Nuts. |
What can we learn from the advertisement?
A.Get one Quickeats container and you’ll have four Quickeats to eat. |
B.Take one coupon and you can eat freely in a participating store. |
C.Buy one coupon and you’ll get a free Quickeats. |
D.Buy one Quickeats and you’ll get a container. |
The prestigious (久负盛名) Peking University and Tsinghua University held graduation ceremonies on the same day this year. The presidents of the two universities delivered excellent speeches at the ceremonies as they used words, phrases or ways of expression that are very popular on the Internet currently. At the same time, graduation speeches by other university presidents were also under the spotlight for the same reason. Their speeches were warmly welcomed by students as they contained many fashionable words today, such as "floating clouds" ( meaning "too small and of little importance to mention") and "gelivable" (meaning " very helpful") . In the speeches , these university presidents recalled campus life together with students and finally moved all the audiences. They were very different from the usual run of lectures.
Many university presidents have changed their regular manner of addressing graduation ceremonies from an advising and preaching (说教) mode to a more fashionable and funny approach. They try to use those words popular among young people in their speeches.
In the past, university presidents' speeches were criticized for being too standard and lacking sentiment. Now , they quote fashionable words in their addresses, reflecting they are starting to adopt more everyday attitudes to students. The use of these new expressions has triggered a heated discussion. It focuses on the question of whether university presidents should speak in an informal way at graduation ceremonies.
Supporters agree with the new approach. They consider it good to build close ties with students by using the youth's own words. Opponents argue the new ways have no practical value or significance for education but are merely to please those leaving university.What would be the best title for this passage?
A.Should University Heads Use Terms of Youth |
B.Must University Presidents Learn to Please Students |
C.Must University Presidents Meet Students' Needs |
D.Should University Heads Use Newly-created Words |
What can we infer from the passage?
A.University presidents consider it good to build close ties with students. |
B.More and more students are eager to make speeches in public. |
C.The new ways of making speeches are popular with the young. |
D.University presidents have special opinions about the world. |
What dose the underlined word "triggered " in Paragraph 3 probably mean ?
A.Break off | B.Set off | C.Sum up | D.Focus on |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Many people are likely to be influenced by the Internet. |
B.The writer thinks it necessary for us to follow the traditional customs. |
C.More and more words are changing with the development of technology. |
D.People argue about whether to use fashionable words on formal occasions. |
Save the Animals
Animals are natural resources(资源) that people have wasted all through our history.
Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers(羽毛), for food, for sport, and simply because they were in the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the earth forever. Hundreds more are on the danger list today. About 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in danger.
Why should people care? Because we need animals. And because once they are gone, there will never be any more.
Animals are more than just beautiful or interesting. They are more than just a source of food. Every animal has its place in the balance (平衡) of nature. Destroying one kind of animal can create many problems.
For example, when farmers killed large numbers of hawks(鹰), the farmers’ stores of corn and grain were destroyed by rats and mice. Why? Because hawks eat rats and mice. With no hawks to keep down their numbers, the rats and mice multiplied(繁殖) quickly.
Luckily, some people are working to help save the animals. Some groups raise money to let people know about the problem. And they try to get the governments to pass laws protecting animals in danger.
Quite a few countries have passed laws. These laws forbid(禁止) the killing of any animal or plant on the danger list. Slowly, the number of some animals in danger is growing.Animals are important to us mainly because __________.
A.they give us a source of food |
B.they are beautiful and lovely |
C.they keep the balance of nature |
D.they give us a lot of pleasure |
What has happened to the animals on the earth?
A.About 170 kinds of animals have disappeared forever. |
B.Thousands of kinds of animals are gone forever. |
C.A few kinds of animals have died out. |
D.All kinds of animals are in danger. |
Why do people kill animals?
A.They kill animals for something they need. |
B.They kill animals to raise some money. |
C.Animals destroy their natural resources. |
D.Animals create many problems. |
What can we conclude from the fact that quite a few countries have passed laws protecting animals in danger?
A.Animals in danger will be kept away from people. |
B.Animals in danger will not be killed any more. |
C.The number of some animals in danger will increase. |
D.Every person will know the importance of protecting wild animals. |
New Arrivals
I Love You, Sweetheart Author(s): Elm Hill Books Publisher: Elm Hill Books Format: Hardcover List price: $9.99 Our price: $4.99 Category: Self-Help Subject: Motivational & Inspirational ISBN-10: 1404185526 Language: English Pages: 24 Overview: A great gift for your sweetheart. This book contains 24 pages full of pictures and thoughts to remember. This perfect gift also contains a CD with 3 all-time favorite love songs and a place to write your own note of romance and love. The Girls Author(s): McLellan, Diana Publisher: LA Weekly Books Format: Paperback List price: $16.95 Our price: $5.99 Category: Performing Arts Subject: Film ISBN-10: 0312283202 Language: English Pages: 440 Overview: In The Girls, Diana McLellan shows the complex(复杂的) and close connections that lay behind the public personae(表面形象) of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and the women who loved them. |
Eat Right for Your Metabolism Author(s): Kliment, Felicia Drury Publisher: McGraw—Hill Companies Format: Paperback List price: $16.95 Our price: $4.99 Category: Health & Fitness Subject: Diets ISBN-10: 0071460152 Language: English Pages: 312 Overview: Offer an eating plan. Help you keep your ideal weight without dieting or drugs. The Twelve Dogs of Christmas Gift Set Author(s): Tommy Nelson Publisher: Tommy Nelson Format: Boxed Set List price: $14.99 Our price: $6.99 Category: Children Fiction(小说) Subject: Holidays & Festivals — Christmas ISBN-10: 140039404X Language: English Pages: 104 Overview: This delightful take(诠释) on the traditional song “Twelve Days of Christmas” is the funniest and freshest way to laugh through the holidays. |
If Michelle, ten, wants some books to read, she may choose the work by _________.
A.Elm Hill Books | B.Kliment, Felicia Drury |
C.McLellan, Diana | D.Tommy Nelson |
If John wants to build up his body, the book number he may choose is __________.
A.1404185526 | B.0071460152 |
C.0312283202 | D.140039404X |
The Girls is probably meant for those who are interested in _________.
A.fiction | B.pop songs | C.acting arts | D.health |
Which will save the most money for you?
A.I Love You, Sweetheart | B.The Girls |
C.Eat Right for Your Metabolism | D.The Twelve Dogs of Christmas Gift Set |