Brooke Martin’s golden retriever(金毛猎犬) Kayla hated being left alone or separated. She would howl, pace, and chew on things. Brooke learned that other people had the same problem with their pets. She wondered: ―What if you could talk to your dog if you were gone?
Working with her father in their garage, the 16-year-old came up with several ideas. Finally, she invented a device that allowed pet owners to video chat with their pets! She calls the device iCPooch. ―The dog doesn’t have to answer the call,explains Brooke. ―It comes up immediately on the screen on their end. It’s a two-way audio and video—you can see and hear each other.With a click of a button you can even send the dog a treat!
Her invention has earned her a spot competing against nine other finalists in a young scientist competition for middle-school students. These finalists, selected based on their short video presentations, are working with mentors over the summer before heading to the final competition in St. Paul, Minn.
After Martin’s video put her among the 10 finalists in the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, she was paired with Delony Langer-Anderson, a product development scientist in 3M’s consumer health care division. ―I just lead her down the product development path,Langer-Anderson told Live Science. This path includes guidance on how to test the potential product, which combines a video chat device that answers immediately on the dog’s end with a dog treat device the owner can remotely activate.
One thing I have thought about a lot is, what happens if while the device is on the floor, what if your dog knocks it over, or scratches the screen? Martin said. She and Langer-Anderson discussed this, and Martin is now testing materials at a local dog shelter by taping them to the dog house floors to see how well they withstand sharp teeth and claws.
The finalists create models they can test, with the guidance from a mentor. Their projects include a fuel cell that transforms cut grass into electricity and an app that rewards drivers for not texting or calling. Langer-Anderson tries to help the students work through the scientific method, testing their hypothesis, in a determined way, ―so the kids don’t get buried in data.she said.
Which of the following would be the best title of the text?
| A．“iCPooch” wins in a young scientist competition. |
| B．A 16-year-old girl invents a device for dog hunger. |
| C．A man-made device lets people chat with their pets. |
| D．A kid-invented device calm dogs’ separation anxiety. |
“iCPooch”calms pet dogs by ________.
| A．allowing video chat |
| B．making dogs sleep |
| C．answering the call |
| D．giving them food |
What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “mentor”
| A．competitor | B．assistant | C．instructor | D．companion |
What do the inventions of the finalists have in common?
| A．They are all new inventions dealing with pets. |
| B．They are possible solutions to everyday problems. |
| C．They cope with the problems related to computers. |
| D．They are all accomplished through individual work. |
Pocket Money
Most British parents give their teenagers pocket money. Teenagers get between ￡7 and ￡20 a week. They spend it on fast food， designed clothes， the cinema， concert， magazines and mobile phones.
1. Lazy parents？
37% of parents pay teenagers to clean the living room， 66% of parents pay teenagers to take the rubbish out.
2. Lazy teens？
51% of teenagers don’t make their bed
s before they leave home.
Only 13% of teenagers wash the car for money.
Some parents even pay their teenagers to do their homework.
3. Equality？ Not Yet！
Boys get more money than girls for most odd jobs.
For washing the dishes， boys get about ￡ 4 and girls get about ￡1.
4. And if you need some more money？
Teens get an extra ￡250 a year out of their parents on top of pocket money！
About 50% of teens get gifts of money from their grandparents.
Go to Mum if you need extra money！ She gives more than Dad.
5. Where you live makes a difference！
Parents in Scotland and the North of England give most pocket money.
6. Spending
51% spend their money on clothes.
39% buy cosmetics， jewellery and toiletries.
Less than 30% of teenagers save any money.
7. Earnings
Here are some children who tell us about their pocket money：
Emma： I get ￡30 a month， I have to take the rubbish out and tidy my room.
James： I get ￡10 a week. But I have to clean the car， hoover(用真空洗尘器清洗) the house and load and unload the dishwasher. I usually save the money.
Lain： I get ￡7. 50 a week. I have to be “good” but I don’t have to do any jobs for the money.
Richard： I get ￡5 a week. But our neighbors go away a lot and they give me ￡25 a week for looking after their cats.
52. This passage is mainly about .
A. teenagers everywhere get pocket money B. how to spend pocket money
C. some bits about pocket money in Britain D. how to get pocket money
53. According to the passage， which statement is true？
A. Parents are lazy so they let children do housework.
B. Teens are too lazy to do housework unless they are given pocket money.
C. The pocket money boys and girls get is not equal.
D. It is not right for children to ask for pocket money.
54. We can infer from the passage that .
A. boys earn more money at home than girls B. girls earn more money at home than boys
C. only rich parents give children pocket money
D. most children spend their pocket money
55. Who most probably gets the most money for a wh
ole year according to the passage？
A. Emma.B. James.C. Lain.D. Richard.
Everybody likes a winner， and there are always people ready to cheer for a good winner. But who has ever heard a song for the man who comes in second？ So this is in praise of the almost winner， the nearly champion(冠军)， the next to the biggest， the second best. This is the song of Mister Two.
You hear unflattering(不讨好人的) names for Mister Two. “Alsoran”， they call him， and “runnerup”， names that make you think of a fellow who couldn’t quite make it. Don’t let that fool you. Ask the winner of any race how good a man Mister Two is. He will tell you it’s Mister Two who made him run so fast， Mister Two is always threat
ening to overtake and pass him.
Ask the salesman who won the contest and what kept him looking for extra order. Ask the directors of the big company why they keep changing their product， seeking the new equipment， the added advantage. What drives them？ What keeps them going？ It’s the salesman with nearly as many orders. It is the company with the product almost as good. It’s Mister Two.
In this country， we’re proud of the quality of our champions. Our big men come very big. Our fast men run very fast. Our wise men are the wisest and our greatest men are the greatest that a country could hope to be blessed with. And why is that？ It is Mis
ter Two that makes the race always open and everybody can run. So this is for you， Mister Two. This is your song. This is for all the days you tried for first， a
nd came in second. It’s for the nights when you wonder if you ought to go on trying， since nobody seems to notice. . .
We notice， Mister Two. We know the score. Winner or not， you’re a natural champion. There couldn’t be a race without you， Mister Two.
48. People usually call Mister Two unflattering names to him.
A. praiseB. encourageC. laugh at
D. respect
49. According to the author， Mister Two is mentioned in connection with the following except .
A. businessB. sportsC. greatnessD. failure
50. It is implied in this story that .
A. Mister Two is as important as the winner B. every leader needs someone to help him
C. the second today must be the first tomorrow D. second place is always praised
51. The person who wins needs to understand that .
A. winning is everything B. being Mister Two is wonderful
C. without Mister Two he would do better
D. without strong competition he wouldn’t have worked so hard
How do successful people think? What drives them? Interviews and investigations indicate that there are several keys to success that successful people share.
First of all, successful people never blame someone or something outside of themselves for their failure to go ahead. They realize that their failure lies in their own hands. They understand that they cannot control things in life, such as nature, the past and other people. But in the meantime, they are well aware that they can control their own thoughts and actions. They take responsibility for their life and regard this as one of the most empowering(给人以权利的) things they can do. Perhaps what most separate successful people from others is that they live life “on purpose”-they are doing what they believe they are put here to do. In their opinion, having a purpose in their life is the most important element that enables them to become fully functioning people. They hold that when they live their life on purpose, their main concern is to do the job right. They love what they do-and it shows. People want to do business with them because of their commitment(投入、献身). To live their life on purpose, successful people find a cause they believe in and create a business around it. Besides, they never easily give up. Once they have set up goals in their life, they’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Top achievers always bear in mind that they don’t have forever.
Rather than seeing it negative or depressing, they use the knowledge to support themselves and go after what they want energetically and passionately.
56. Successful people owe their failure to ___.
A. others B. the society C. themselves D. their fate
57. Successful people know that they can only control ___ forever.
A. society B. the past C. their thoughts and actions D. other people
58. The biggest difference between successful people and general people is that ___.
A. successful people have a purpose in life B. successful people can work hard
C. successful people have better minds D. successful people can always win support
59. People like to do business with successful people because of their ___.
A. money B. cleverness C. fame D. devotion to work
60. The writer wants to tell us ___.
A.how people live on purpose B. how people can be successful
C. how people make plans D. how people do business
So you have been called for an interview－well done. Your effort has paid off. Now go to get the job. You will feel better at the interview if you show an understanding of the nature of the organization.
Ask someone who already does it or check it out with one of the advisers.
Ask a member of family or a friend to act as the employer and to give you a practice interview. Afterwards discuss how
it went.
Think about how the employer would prefer to see your look. Remember most of the employers are over 30. It is not wise to buy new clothes that will be worn for the first time at the interview. It’s best to wear a familiar dress.
Carelessness in any of these could cost you the job. Arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of time. This will give you a chance to have a look around， read the notice board and get the feel of the place. Being late at interviews produces a bad impression. The first impression the interviewer gets of you is formed as you walk through the door， so take a couple of deep breaths.
Be ready to shake hands if the interviewer offers.
Don’t take a seat until asked. Then sit comfortably.
Remember the interviewer’s name and use it from time to time.
Be ready for the question “Is there anything you want to ask？” Before the interview you should get ready for two or three such questions. Look on these not just as a chance to get information but as a means to leave a better impression. Asking can show knowledge and avoid asking about holidays， pension(养老金)and so on. You can check on these later when the hopedfor job is offered.
And if you fail， look upon the interview as an experience in itself. Learn from it.
We wish you good luck and good job hunting.
44. To make a good impression on the interviewer， it is important for you .
A. to walk through the door quickly B. to be a little late for the interview
C. to wear your new clothes for the first time
D. to remember the interviewer’s name and use it sometimes
45. Which of the following can you do during a job interview？
A. Remain quiet to show your calmness.
B. Discuss the pay， holidays and such things with the interviewer.
C. Ask the interviewer some personal questions such as age， marriage.
D. Be brave enough to say something about your advantage in choosing the job.
46. In which order do people usually do these steps before a job interview？
a. Asking a friend to give you a practice interview.
b. Understanding the nature of the organization.
c. Paying attention to your clothes.
d. Arriving at the place of the interview ahead of time.
e. Getting some information from the advisers.
A. a， e， b， c， dB. d， c， b， a， e
C. b， e， a， c， dD. e， d， a， b， c
47. The underlined sentence “Carelessness in any of these could cost you the job” means .
A. if you are careless， you’re sure to pay some money for the interview
B. carelessness might lead to your failure in the interview
C. to be successful in job hunting， you should pay for it
D. it sometimes needs carelessness to make you feel comfortable
第二部分：阅读理解（共25小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节阅读下面的短文，然后从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C或D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。
Susan Williams went to a boarding(寄膳宿)school. Here is one of the letters she wrote to her parents from the school.
Dear Mom and Dad，
I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school headmaster is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer.
The trouble started last night when I was smoking a cigarette in bed. This is against the rules， of course. We are not supposed to smoke at all.
As I was smoking， I heard footsteps coming towards the room. I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking， so I threw the cigarette away. Unfortunately， the cigarette fell into the wastepaper basket， which caught fire. There was a curtain near the wastepaper basket which caught fire， too. Soon the whole room was burning. The headmaster phoned for the fire department. The school is a long way from the town and by the time the firefighters arrived， the whole school was in flames. Many of the girls are in the hospital.
The headmaster says that the fire was all my fault and you must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars.
I am very sorry about this.
Much love， Susan.
P. S. None of the above is true， but I have failed my exams， I just want you to know how bad things could have been！
41. In this letter Susan wanted .
A. to tell her parents about the fire B. to ask for a million dollars
C. to tell her parents she had failed her exams D. to tell her parents she had to leave school
42. The headmaster might be angry with Susan because .
A. she had failed her exams
B. she had been caught smoking in bed
C. she had not phoned for the fire department in time
D. it was her fault that the school had caught fire
43. Susan told her parents about the fire .
A. to warn them about what the headmaster would do
B. to make them less angry at her real news
C. to make them feel worried
D. to make them laugh