In the computer age, most of us take a broadband Internet connection for granted. Whether cable or mobile broadband, today’s connections are many times faster than those in the early days. Videos play smoothly, complex websites load quickly, and files download much faster than ten years ago. And the files are much bigger too.
There’s a catch, of course. You have to live near enough to a major city to get broadband Internet. If you don’t, it’s slow dial-up access for you. And for those living really far out, there may be no Internet access at all.
Technology experts often talk about the “last mile” problem, which refers to the difficulty of bringing Internet access to remote locations. In cities and suburbs, it’s relatively easy to provide access for everyone. It is much more difficult to deliver access to those living far from cities, especially in developing countries. Internet service providers, for their part, have been reluctant to provide access to sparsely(稀疏地) populated areas. The handful of Internet users they would reach wouldn’t cover the expense.
But every year, technological advancements allow of more and more Internet users. Most broadband connections today run over existing cable TV and telephone lines although these technologies aren’t available everywhere. Some companies have delivered the Internet over standard power lines. Advancements in cheaper, more efficient fiber optics cables(光纤电缆) promise to bring extremely fast Internet connections to more users.
Still, the “last mile” problem remains hard to deal with. There will always be somewhere that doesn’t have an affordable broadband connection. But someday that might not matter. If the rapid progress in cell phone technology is any indication(迹象), it may not be too long before an Internet connection simply follows you wherever you go.
【小题1】The underlined part “ a catch” (in Paragraph 2) probably means “________”.

A.a rare challengeB.a desirable plan
C.an efficient deviceD.a hidden problem
【小题2】What can we know from the third paragraph?
A.Internet connection has not been popular in most cities.
B.Internet service providers care about rural customers.
C.Computer is popular in developing countries.
D.It is hard to bring Internet access to users in remote areas.
【小题3】 Paragraph 4 mainly tells us that technological advancements ________.
A.make TV and telephone available everywhere
B.bring great change to people’s everyday life
C.make it possible for more people to use the Internet
D.bring faster Internet connections to users
【小题4】What may eventually settle the “last mile” problem?
A.The broadband connection’s getting faster.
B.More and more Internet users.
C.More and more Internet connections.
D.The rapid progress in cell phone technology.

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.

English expressions with “pants”

People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.”

When people want to say something about money

Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.”

    I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” -- immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” -- you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.

English expressions with “shoes”

Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that!

    Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective.

English expressions with “shirt”

My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” -- he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on” -- he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.    

1.. What is this passage mainly about? 

A. How to say English correctly and properly.

B. Why English expressions include words about clothes.

C. Which words can be used to describe my father.

D. What people mean when they use some proverbs.

2.. Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?

A. tighten one’s belt                            B. burn a hole in one’s pocket

C. get caught with their pants down             D. take one’s hat off to them

3.. Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world, which is far from the truth. We may say __________.

A. he is “too big for their boots”.                           B. he “bet his boots on that”.

C. he “fill their shoes”.                                             D. he “wears his heart on his sleeve”.

4. If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger, you may say__________.

A. “You really fill your shoes.”                      

B. “Awesome! You wear your heart on your sleeve!”

C. “Amazing! How can you keep your shirt on at that time!”  

D. “Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”.

 

Your living room

Feng shui is all about balance. Try to arrange sofas and chairs in a square around a circular table. Avoid an L-shaped arrangement as this leaves a missing corner. The centre of the living room should be left clear. Make sure there is a lot of light, which will promote good energy.

Put plants in the corners of the room, as they attract good energy and will energize your health, but not ones with sharp leaves such as yuccas or cactus. Fresh flowers also bring good energy, but throw them away as soon as they begin to die, and don’t have dried flowers.

Mirrors are vital because they reflect energy. Round or oval ones are best, but they should not be opposite each other, nor should they reflect a door, otherwise your good fortune will go out of it.

To promote harmony between the members of your family, have photos of them around the room, preferably smiling. If you want to find a partner, energize the south-west corner of your living room or bedroom by placing a floor light at least 1.75m high there, and turn it on every evening. Surround yourself with decorations and objects in pairs, such as ducks or birds.

To avoid blocking the positive energy in the room, keep everything tidy. Don’t accumulate too many unnecessary things. Take a look at every object, and ask yourself, “Do I really need it? Do I really like it?” If the answer is no, get rid of it.

Your bedroom

You should have the head of your bed placed against a wall, as this gives you a sense of security. Avoid having a bed under a window, as you are exposed to danger and bad energy from outside. If this is impossible, use blinds or heavy curtains to cover the window. Never sleep in a place where you can’t see the door—you should always be able to see someone who’s coming in.

Avoid hanging pictures or lights above your bed, as this leads to a subconscious feeling of threat. Don’t put mirrors opposite the bed either, as they “break up” the image, and therefore the relationship reflected in them.

Keep lighting low and soft, and decorate preferably with dark colors. Do not hang paintings of fierce animals, abstract subjects, or water in the bedroom. Water is very good elsewhere, but in the bedroom it suggests financial loss. Make sure you never put plants in the bedroom, and don’t have a TV facing the bed, or at least cover it when it is not in use.

Your study

Don’t use the same room for your bedroom and your study, as the different energies will be in conflict. If you have to do this, try to separate the areas either symbolically with plants, or with a screen. Put away piles of files or unfinished work—don’t leave them on your desk. Being tidy promotes positive energy. Wherever you study make sure your desk is in the north-east corner, especially if you are preparing for exams, as this area symbolizes education.

A bookcase is bad feng shui, as its sharp corners generate negative “arrows”, and if you have one you ought to put a climbing plant on it to avoid this effect. Cupboards are better than open shelves.

1. As for lights, which of the following statements is false?

A.A partner may come with a tall burning floor light in the south-west corner of your room.

B.Good energy can be promoted if there is a lot of light in the living room.

C.Bright lighting in the bedroom can light your mood.

D.It is not a good idea to hang lights above your bed.

2.A bed should be put according to the following rules EXCEPT         .

A.the head of your bed should be placed against a wall

B.having a bed under a window should be avoided

C.mirrors should not be opposite the bed

D.your bed can’t face the door for the sake of privacy

3.To avoid bad luck, the author will probably agree with the statement that         .

A.it is economical to sleep and study in the same room

B.fresh flowers ought to be put on the bookcase with sharp corners

C.blinds or heavy curtains can be used to cover the window if your bed is under a window

D.you can accumulate items as you please

4. Which do you think is the best title for the passage?

A.Feng shui—a magical power.

B.How does positive and negative energy come to you?

C.Change your room to change your life.

D.How to reorganize your furniture.

 

B

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s have a look.

People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies.We sometimes say that people who are nervous have ants in their pants.Sometimes,people may get caught with their pants down.They are found doing something they should not be doing.And,in every family,one person takes contro1.Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do.Then we say she wears the pants in the family.

Pants usually have pockets to hold things.Money that is likely to be spent quickly can bum a hole in your pocket.Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants.If you have less money than usual,you may have to tighten your belt.

I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. l really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat, which means I immediately spend it.

Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people.

My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him will think he is too serious and never shows his feelings openly. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve.                                                                                                                               

1.What is this passage mainly about?  

A.What pants mean in English.

B.Some special English expressions.

C.Some funny English expressions.

D.Some expressions related to clothes.

2.Which of the following expressions can show someone is nervous?

A.Get caught with one's pants down.

B.Have ants in one's pants.

C.Wear the pants in the family.

D.Bum a hole in one's pocket.

3. If we say someone has to tighten his belt, we probably mean he        

A.has done something wrong

B.used to live a rich life

C.has put on the wrong pants

D.doesn’t have enough money

4.Someone who spends his money at the drop of a hat most probably_           

A.doesn’t save money

B.earns much money

C.never wastes his money

D.spends more than he earns

 

Most children now chat daily either online or through their mobile phones. They are connecting to a huge number of other children all over the world. Some are shy “in real life” but are confident to communicate with others online; others find support from people of their own age on relationship issues, or problems at home.

Sometimes the online world, just like the real world, can introduce problems, such as bullying or arguments. Going online is great fun, but there are also a few people who use the Internet for offensive(冒犯性的)or illegal aims. Children must be made aware(意识到的) of both the good things and the dangers.

To keep children safe your management must cover the family computer. Just as you decide which TV programs are suitable, you need to do the same for the websites and chat rooms your children visit. Remind your children that online friends are still strangers. Reminding them of the risks will keep them alert(警惕).

Computer studies are part of schoolwork now, so it’s likely that your children may know more than you do. We get left behind when it comes to the latest gadgets(小玩意)and the interactive areas of websites, like chat rooms and message boards, which are especially strange. The language of chat is strange to many parents, too. Chatters love to use abbreviations(缩写)such as: atb-all the best, bbfn-bye bye for now, cul8er-see you later, gr8-great, Idk-I don’t know, imbl-it must be love, kit-keep in touch, paw-parents are watching, lol-laugh out loud, xlnt-excellent!

It seems like another language, and it is!

1.The passage is meant for         .

A.children

B.parents

C.teachers

D.net bar owners

2.Which of the following will the author probably agree with?

A.The Internet is no good for children.

B.The chat language is strange to adults.

C.Children shouldn’t chat so much online.

D.The Internet is a good place for children.

3.In order to keep children safe online, you’d better         .

A.choose suitable websites and chat rooms for them

B.teach them to use correct net words

C.surf the Internet together with them

D.forbid them to use the Internet

4.If you stand beside him when your son is chatting about something secret online, he may use         .

A.bbfn

B.lol

C.paw

D.cul8er

 

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