A machine that takes sweat-laden (浸满汗水的) clothes and turns the sweat into drinking water is in use in Sweden. The machine makes the clothes turn round quickly, heats them to remove the sweat, and then passes the steam through a kind of special material to make purified water.

Since it has been brought into use, its creators say more than 1000 people have drunk others’ “sweat” in Gothenburg. They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water.

The device was built for the United Nations’ child-focused charity UNICEF to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.

The machine was designed and built by the engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show “Mekatronik”. He said the key part of the sweat machine was a new water purification part developed by a company named HVR.

“It uses a technique called membrane distillation (膜蒸馏),” he told the BBC. “We use a special kind of material that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibers and other things out. They have something similar to the International Space Station, but our machine is cheaper to build. The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is, but one person’s T-shirt typically produces 10ml, about a mouthful.”

The device has been put on show at the Gothia Cup-the world’s largest international youth football tournament. Mattias Ronge, chief executive of Stockholm-based advertising agency Deportivo, said the machine had helped raise awareness for UNICEF, but in reality had its limitations.

“People haven’t produced as much sweat as we hoped – right now the weather in Gothenburg is lousy,” Mattias Ronge said. “So we’ve equipped the machine with exercise bikes and volunteers are cycling like crazy. Even so, the demand for sweat is greater than the supply. And the machine will never be produced in large numbers, since there are better solutions out there such as water purifying pills.”

1. Which of the following is the disadvantage of the sweat machine?

A. It takes too long for the machine to produce water.

B. It costs a large amount of money to build the machine.

C. The amount of water the machine produces is rather limited.

D. The water processed by the machine is not clean enough.

2. UNICEF is mentioned in the text to ________.

A. show how the sweat machine works

B. tell us who invented the sweat machine

C. show the importance of the United Nations

D. explain why the sweat machine was invented

3. What did Mattias Ronge think of the sweat machine?

A. It did not work at all.

B. It was not worth popularizing.

C. It could only be used in summer.

D. The water it produced tasted sweet.

4.The text is written mainly to tell us that ______________.

A. a better solution to purifying dirty water is discovered

B. 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water

C. a machine which turns sweat into drinking water is invented

D. the pill which turns dirty water into clean water is produced

I am a music store owner. One day, when I was cleaning the instruments in my store, I saw an old man come in. His short steps dragged on the carpet. “Is 77 too old to learn the banjo (班卓琴)?” he asked.

“You can learn to play it well,” I replied, holding back my doubts. My mind told me I was giving false encouragement. I reached the instructor’s schedule and gave the rates, the available time and the additional information that he would need. To my surprise and delight, the old man, Carl, began banjo lessons three days later with my most patient teacher.

With nothing to do at home but practice, Carl made surprising progress. After breakfast he practiced for his required half hour. While waiting for lunch he picked up his banjo again for just a couple of minutes. Since TV was difficult for him to see and hear, he often played the banjo in the evenings. Carl was always early for lessons so it was a surprise that he didn’t arrive one Tuesday.

The next morning I listened to the answering machine with sadness. “Carl’s in hospital,” the voice recorded.

Two months later, I shared the newspaper obituary with the banjo teacher. We both shed tears for a surprisingly clever banjo student.

Several months later, a woman came into the store carrying a plant. “This is for Carl’s banjo teacher,” she said. “I’m his wife, Mary.”

“Why did Carl want to play the banjo?” I asked. Mary took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Carl was at some show when he was 10 years old. He came close to the stage to watch the performers. When they were packing up their instruments, the banjo player said to Carl, ‘You want to see this up close?’ Carl climbed up on the stage and from then on he wanted to play the banjo.” Carl had waited 67 years to realize a dream! Mary gave the plant to Carl’s banjo teacher. “Thank you for the best six months of his life,” she said.

1.How did Carl learn to play the banjo well?

A. By taking short cuts.

B. By working hard.

C. By asking his wife to help him.

D. By finding the best teacher.

2.From Paragraph 2, we can know the author ______.

A. encouraged Carl though he had doubts

B. was giving true encouragement

C. didn’t want to encourage Carl

D. was unwilling to help Carl

3.The underlined word “obituary” in Para.5 means a notice that _______.

A. announces a good piece of news

B. announces somebody is needed

C. announces somebody has died

D. announces a gift for somebody

4.Why did Carl want to learn banjo?

A. He wanted to become a banjo performer.

B. He wanted to make his dream of his young age come true.

C. His wife encouraged him to learn it.

D. He wanted to spend the last best six months of his life.

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Make sure you go with these guys at Byron Bay. The whole experience was FANTASTIC! The sky was awesome! The staff were tremendous! The view was incredible and the video, something to treasure!—Grace, Australia

1.What is the advantage of Skydive Byron Bay?

A. The safety of skydivers.

B. The success of beginners.

C. Free videos for skydivers.

D. Free skydive courses.

2. What is the purpose of the text?

A. To show the skydive centre’s long history.

B. To show the centre’s achievements.

C. To attract more skydivers to the centre.

D. To convince people of the happiness of skydive.

3. What is true of Ray Palmer?

A. He acted as a skydiver in a movie.

B. He possesses Skydive Byron Bay.

C. He is a world champion in skydive.

D. He skydives at Byron Bay almost every day.

4.It can be inferred that Kylie and Grace .

A. worked at Skydive Byron Bay

B. experienced skydive at Skydive Byron Bay

C. are from European countries

D. are two coaches from the Coca Cola company

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