Japan is a mysterious land of technological wonders, but the latest is a relatively simple solution to an age-old problem faced by beginners and professional chefs alike.

Grocery stores across the country are about to start stocking onions that won’t make people cry. The new tear-free onion is called the Smile Ball, which is a pretty adorable name for a vegetable, and it’s an onion carefully engineered to not irritate (刺激) the eyes of people who cut into it.

Regular onions release a gas when their cells are damaged and that gas irritates people’s eyes and make them tear up. The Smile Ball onions release no such a gas, so they can be chopped easily. They are also sweet like fruit when eaten raw.

The scientific advancement of the tearless onion is not free, however. Smile Balls, developed by the Japanese producer House Foods, will cost about $4.30 for a pack of just two when they go on sale in supermarkets across Japan. That’s about double the cost of a normal onion, but it might be worth the extra money for those who are particularly sensitive to traditional onion gas. Earlier test sales of the tear-free onions were held in Tokyo, with the onions selling out quickly.

1.What do the people say about tear-free onions?

A. They’re too expensive to afford.

B. They’re sweeter than candies.

C. They're especially suitable for kids.

D. They’re worth buying, though expensive.

2.What can we learn about the Smile Ball?

A. It never gives off a strong gas.

B. It has a pretty look.

C. It belongs to a new kind of fruit.

D. It rarely goes bad.

3.What’s mainly discussed in the last paragraph?

A. How to produce tear-free onions.

B. Tearless onions are more popular.

C. The development of House Foods.

D. People are sensitive to tearless onions.

4.What can be the suitable title of the text?

A. Say Goodbye to Regular Onions

B. Tear-free Onions vs Regular Onions

C. Onions That Don’t Make You Cry

D. The Future of Tear-free Onions

If you’re shopping around for a new laptop to start the year off right, consider one of these following picks for budget-conscious students.

For Chatty Cathys

Sony’s 15.5” VAIO E Series laptop ($399.99) has a second-generation Intel Core i3-2370M processor, 4GB of system memory (RAM) and 500 GB hard drive. Built into the machine is an HD webcam to make it easy to have a video chat with family and friends. And while the camera has a microphone, integrated Bluetooth means you can also wear a headset for even clearer audio. This Windows 7 Home Premium laptop also includes a DVD burner, ACID Music Studio and more.

Math blaster

Students studying math or statistics or business might appreciate a laptop with a dedicated numeric keypad along the right-hand side of the keyboard. That’s what you’ll find in Toshiba’s satin black 15.6-inch Satellite laptop ($399.99). You’ll also find one USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports. This entry-level PC has a second-gen Intel Core i3-2370M processor, 4GB of system memory and 500 GB hard drive.

Personalize that PC

If you’ve got a bit more cash to spend, the newest Dell Inspiron 15R ($499.99) delivers a lot of bang for the buck. You get 6GB of system memory, 500GB hard drive. But students might also like the option to change up its look. While the laptop comes standard in silver, you can personalize it with additional lids for $30 a piece (e.g. red, blue or pink). Other highlights include Bluetooth.

Bigger is better

Especially if it’s going to be used primarily as a desktop replacement, a larger screen laptop is the way to go. For $449.99 you can pick up a 17.3-inch HP Pavilion laptop, with a good-looking LED-backlit high-definition widescreen display (1600 x 900 resolution) ideal for movies, games and photos. This computer houses a second-gen Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of system memory, 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, and more.

1.If you often have video chats with others, you’d better buy ________.

A. Dell Inspiron 15R

B. 17.3-inch HP Pavilion laptop

C. Toshiba’s 15.6-inch Satellite laptop

D. Sony’s 15.5”VAIO E Series laptop

2.Toshiba’s satin black 15.6-inch Satellite laptop is different from others in that ________

A. it has three USB ports

B. its hard drive is 500GB

C. its system memory is 4GB

D. it has a larger keyboard

3.What would be the best title for this passage?

A. The development of technology.

B. Several school laptops for students

C. The changes of the modern computers

D. The future laptops for the young generation

One moment it was quiet and calm in the forest, the next, the air was charge with tension. The elephant had heard the distant alarm calls of animals and her mood suddenly changed. I urged the elephant deeper into the forest. We sounded like a forest fire --- cracking, snapping, trailblazing. But through all the noise came a sharp warning cry. The elephant stopped and we heard it again --- the tell-tale call of a spotted deer.

I looked quickly around the shadows of the forest. Rays of sunlight shone through tree branches, beneath which the patchwork(交错)of green plants and shadows-within-shadows would make tiger stripes(条纹)look more attractive. Apart from an occasional noise from the elephant’s stomach, the forest was silent.

Gradually, the tension slipped from our bodies. The elephant seized a nearby branch and put it into its mouth. I reached forward and gently moved my hand over the elephant’s neck; there was a soft part, free of wrinkles and hairs, behind her ear.

This was my fourth time to sense the aura of the forest in Corbett, although I saw no tigers in the end. Located at the foot of the Himalayan mountains, Corbett is home to about 135 Bengal tigers, but the forest seemed to be guarding their whereabouts(出没处), a silent reminder of their secrecy and rarity. Still, I was happy enough touching the elephant behind the ear. If I had so desperately wanted to see a tiger, I could have gone to a zoo. After all, spotting tigers merely confirms their beauty; tracking them can make you aware of something more.

1.Which of the following was a clear signal of alarm?

A. The elephant stopped.

B. A spotted deer called.

C. The elephant seized a branch.

D. The forest was silent for a while.

2.The author begins his account of the tour in the forest mainly by _______.

A. describing various sounds

B. comparing different animals

C. listing different activities

D. introducing various plants

3.What does the underlined part “to sense the aura” most probably mean?

A. To see the diversity.

B. To enjoy the scenery.

C. To feel the atmosphere.

D. To experience the freedom.

4.How does the author feel after several visits to Corbett?

A. Seeing a Bengal tiger is quite thrilling.

B. It is very time-consuming to travel in Corbett.

C. It is really worthwhile to study the animals in Corbett.

D. The process of finding Bengal tigers is most appealing.

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