While astronauts in space get to do many exciting things, they miss out on ordinary things that we will take for granted—being able to walk on firm ground, hanging out with family and digging into a slice of hot steaming pizza. Though not much can be done about the first two things, there may soon be a solution to the third one, thanks to this cool 3-D pizza printer.

About a year ago, NASA offered $125,000 to Anjan Contractor, a 3-D technology expert, to build a device that would allow astronauts to make pizza on demand. The mechanical engineer promised that his invention would produce pies in large quantities that looked, tasted and even smelled like pizza made in common ovens.

Late last year, the engineer presented a video of his first prototype(原型) that begins by creating a single slice of dough that is cooked and printed at the same time. Then comes the tomato sauce--a mix of tomato powder, oil and water and finally, a protein slice that resembles cheese. While the video doesn't show the baking process, the inventor says that once the pizza is printed, it can be ready to be consumed in 7 seconds.

While the pie in the video looks delicious enough to attract any pizza lover, Anjan Contractor is far from ready for astronauts. That's because he still has to find a solution to make the food container in the printer last for 30 years. Though that may sound unrealistic ,actually it is not.

Anjan Contractor believes that the only way that is possible is that the water is removed from all the ingredients and then they are reduced to the powder form. This, as you can imagine, will not be so easy. But, while the printer may not be ready for space, it certainly looks ready enough for people on earth. Hopefully, NASA and Contractor will consider selling it to those not fortunate enough to go to Mars !

1.NASA offered $125,000 to Anjan Contractor mainly to ____.

A. create some new type of 3-D printer

B. attract more companies to work for NASA

C. help astronauts in space enjoy fresh pizza one day

D. produce pizza in large quantities to earn great profits

2.The biggest challenge that Anjan Contractor is faced with now is probably that ____

A. he has no money left to go on with his research

B. the pizza doesn't seem appetizing to pizza lovers

C. he has no way to make pizza that can last for thirty years

D. he cannot make the food container last for decades

3.What's the best title of the passage?

A. NASA is trying its best to help astronauts eat better

B. Astronauts may soon be able to enjoy steaming hot pizza

C. NASA is working on making pizza for common people

D. A 3-D pizza printer has been used to make pizza

For more and more young Chinese professionals, the first day back at work after the Lunar New Year holiday is the day they quit.

The period after the Lunar New Year holiday, also known as Spring Festival, often sees Chinese workers on the move. This year, the number looking for new opportunities is supposed to be especially high.

Mr. Zhu, a 27-year-old Beijing native, is one of the young workers looking for a better deal. “Salary is a big concern for me and I need a job that pays more, and my department can’t provide good career development for me,” he said.

An online survey by Zhaopin.com, a leading job-hunting website, provides further details on why China’s young white-collar workers are so keen to move on.

Low salaries are the biggest concern for 62% of the job-hunters, and overtime and a wide mismatch between low salaries and high housing costs are also the complaints. Two-thirds of them said they had to work at home after office hours, and a full 95% said they felt they were under heavy pressure because of the housing payment or rent.

The survey also found that what was seen as a “good job” has changed. For the generation born in the 1970s, high salary and status is the key. For the generation born after 1980, work-life balance and respect in the office are also important.

Zhao Bin, a 28-year-old woman who earns over 7,000 yuan a month working at a public relations company in Shanghai, said she would wait until the Lunar New Year to change her job. “My salary is OK for me, but I am working like crazy. So I want to find something comfortable, like being an English teacher in training schools.”

1.Mr. Zhu is looking for a new job because ________.

A. he was fired before the Lunar New Year holiday

B. he was promised a better job

C. he wants a job better in salary and in development

D. he was advised to do so

2.Which of the following can best take the place of the underlined words “a wide mismatch”?

A. a big gap B. a lost game

C. a hot debate D. a failed marriage

3.The writer uses the example of Zhao Bin to prove that ________.

A. salary is the first concern for people who change jobs

B. young people are under pressure of high housing prices

C. young people tend to value work-life balance

D. teacher has become a good job for Chinese youth

4.The article is intended to ________.

A. encourage Chinese white-collar workers to change jobs

B. present a social phenomenon and explain its causes

C. carry out an online survey to readers

D. compare different reasons why people quit jobs

If you are hungry, what will you do? Grab a piece of your favorite meal and stay quiet after that? Just like stomach, even your mind will be hungry. But it never lets you know, because you keep it busy thinking about your dream lover, favorite star and many such absurd things. So it silently begins to hide your needs and never lets itself grow. When mind loses its freedom to grow, creativity gets its full stop. This might be the reason why we all sometimes think “What happens next?”, “Why can't I think?”, “Why am I always given the difficult problems?” Well, this is the after?effect of using our brain for thinking of not?so?worthy things.

Hunger of the mind can be actually satisfied through extensive reading. But why is it reading but not watching TV? Because reading has been the most educational tool used by us right from the childhood. Just like that to develop other aspects of our life, we have to turn to reading for help. You have a number of books in the world which will answer all your “how?to” questions. Once you read a book, you just don't run your eyes through the lines, but your mind decodes (译解) it and explains it to you. The interesting part of the book is stored in your mind as a seed. Now this seed is unknowingly used by you in your future to develop new ideas. The same seed, if used many times, can help you link and relate a lot of things, which you would never think of in your wildest dreams!This is nothing but creativity. The more books you read, the wider your mind will become. Also this improves your oratorical (speech?making) skills to a large extent and also makes a significant contribution to your vocabulary. When you start speaking English or any other language fluently with your friends or other people, you never seem to run out of the right words at the right time.

Actually, I had a problem in speaking English fluently,but as I read, I could improve significantly. So guys, do join me and give food for your thoughts by reading, reading and more reading. Now what are you waiting for? Go, grab a book and let me know!

1.What's the best title of the passage?

A. Hunger of the mind

B. Stomach and Mind

C. Feed your Mind by reading

D. Reading or Watching TV

2.You don't know your mind is in hunger because ________.

A. you are not hungry

B. you keep it thinking of silly things

C. your creativity gets a full stop

D. you always meet with difficult problems

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the advantage of reading?

A. Reading can make your dream come true.

B. Reading can contribute to your vocabulary.

C. Reading can improve your spoken ability.

D. Reading can make people creative.

4.The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to ________.

A. comment and blame B. introduce and describe

C. explain and persuade D. advise and inform

Once you open the book, you will become a good speaker. Susan Weinschenk’s excellent ideas on how to make a perfect speech (演说) are very helpful to you. With the help of the book, you will be confident to know how to give your speech. Also, you will learn how to catch people’s attention (注意) during the speech.

Car and Driver is the world’s most popular car magazine. People who like cars can get information from it. It offers the best car tests in the business. The magazine also covers the latest (最新的) developments in car technology (技术).

There are four parts in IELTS: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Listening is very important. Are you confident? Have you made good preparation? The book IELTS Listening is helpful for your preparation for IELTS.

The book offers healthy and delicious food. These dishes can all be completed in less than half an hour, and in many cases, in just a few minutes. Sisson and Meier show you how to delight your family or guests every time with quick, delicious meals using local materials: meats, healthy fats (yes, and real butter) and vegetables.

1.If you are going to join in an English talk show, which of the books can you read?

A. Designing Effective Speech Interfaces B. Car and Driver

C. IELTS Listening D. Quick & Easy Meals

2.We can find the latest developments in car technology in the ________ of Car and Driver.

A. newspaper B. magazine

C. picture D. poster

3.What’s the meaning of the word “delight” in Quick & Easy Meals?

A. To cook the food well. B. To invite people to dinner.

C. To make people happy. D. To show people how to cook.

Perhaps you have heard a lot about the Internet,but what is it,do you know?The Internet is a network.It uses the telephone to join millions of computers together around the world.

Maybe that doesn’t sound very interesting.But when you’ve joined to the Internet,there are lots and lots of things you can do.You can do with all kinds of information on the World Wide Web (WWW).You can use QQ to chat with your friends,and they will make responses in a few seconds.You can send E-mails to your friends,and they can get them in a few seconds.You can also go shopping by the Internet without going out.

There are many different kinds of computers now.They all can be joined to the Internet.Most of them are small machines sitting on people’s desks at home,but there are still many others in schools,offices or large companies. These computers are owned by people and companies,but no one really owns the Internet itself.

There are lots of places for you to go into the Internet.For example,your school may have the Internet.You can use it during lessons or free time.Libraries often have computers joined to the Internet.You are welcome to use it at your spare time.

Thanks to the Internet,the world is becoming smaller and smaller.It is possible for you to work at home with a computer in front,getting and sending the information you need.It is also possible for you to discuss some projects or assign the work on the Internet instead of at a meeting.In addition,you can buy or sell whatever you want by the Internet.But do you know 98% of the information on the Internet is in English?So what will English be like tomorrow?

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Internet. B. Information.

C. Computers. D. E-mails.

2.Who is the owner of the Internet?

A. The headmaster. B. The officer.

C. The manager. D. No one.

3.Which may be the most possible place for people to work in the future?

A. In the office. B. At school.

C. At home. D. In the company.

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