How to apply (申请) for a free mailbox (邮箱)? First you have to connect to the Internet and go to the homepage of the ICP providing free mailboxes. Then you will find an icon (图标), an agreement about the rules for using the free mailbox will appear. If you want to go, click the icon “I agree”. Then you have to fill in a form about your basic personal data, and the name and PIN (密码) of the mailbox. The PIN is the key to the mailbox. After finishing these, you will get a mailbox like this:your name @ mail server (for example:tvguide@mail.cctv.com.cn. “tvguide” is the name of the mailbox, and “mail.cctv.com.cn” is the name of the mail server.). The mailbox is separated (分隔) into two parts by a separator “@”, which is read as “at”. The former part is the name of the mailbox. The latter is the domain name (域名) of the mail server. All mails to you will be received by the server and put into your mailbox. You can read these mails on any computer on the Internet in the world, if you have the name and PIN of the mailbox.

If you want to send or receive an e-mail, you should first ____ .

       A. apply for a mailbox   B. buy a computer

       C. go to the post office  D. fill in a form

When you get a FREE mailbox, you can send an e-mail ____ .

       A. by paying some money     B. to anyone

       C. without paying money     D. anywhere

The mailbox’s name in the e-mail address “editor@ew.com.cn.” is ____ .

       A. ew      B. ew.com.cn  C. com.cn       D. editor

The writer mainly wants to tell us how to ____ in this passage.

       A. send a letter by e-mail      B. read the e-mail on computers in the world

       C. get a free mailbox     D. find out one’s e-mail address

We can find the similar information in the book “____”.

       A. Who Moved My Cheese    B. Surfing on the Internet

       C. Bill Gates’ Story D. Harry Potter

Researchers are placing robotic dogs(机器狗)in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated(刺激),” Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote(使……成为现实)that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV. he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it . A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry, ”Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more-valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure. oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds. ”

48.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to ______.

       A.understand human-animal relationship

       B.make lonely old people’s life better

       C.find the causes of old people’s loneliness

       D.promote the animal-assisted research

49.In the research, the old people are asked to ______.

       A.note the activities of AIBOs

       B.keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks

       C.record their feelings and activity

       D.analyze the collected information

50.What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?

         A.It is easier to keep at home.

         B.It can help the disabled people/

         C.It responds to all the human order.

         D.It can watch TV with its owner.

51.The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may ________.

         A.cure certain diseases

         B.keep old people active

         C.change people’s beliefs

         D.look more like real dogs

 

 


Many Going to College Are Not Ready
Only about half of this year’s high school graduates have the reading skills they need to succeed in college, and even fewer are prepared for college-level science and math courses, according to a yearly report from ACT, which produces one of the nation’s leading college admissions tests.
The report, based on scores of the 2005 high school graduates who took the exam, some 1.2 million students in all, also found that fewer than one in four met the college-readiness benchmarks (基准)in all four subjects tested: reading comprehension, English, math and science.
ACT sets its college-readiness benchmarks — including the reading comprehension benchmark, which is new this year—by correlating(联系)earlier students’ ACT scores with grades they actually received as college freshmen. Based on that data, the benchmarks indicate the skill level at which a student has a 70 percent likelihood(可能性)of earning a C or better, and a 50 percent chance of earning a B or better.
Among those who took the 2005 test, only 51 percent achieved the benchmark in reading, 26 percent in science, and 41 percent in math; the figure for English was 68 percent. Results from the new optional ACT writing test, which was not widely taken this year, were not included in the report.
About 40 percent of the nation’s 2005 high school graduates took the ACT, and the average overall score was unchanged from the year before. Minority students make up 27 percent of all ACT test takers. Besides, there are also other worrying trends in the ACT report as well, including a continuing decline in the percentage of students planning to major in engineering, computer science and education.
50. The report from ACT mainly tells readers the problem that ______.
A. few minority students graduates took ACT
B. many who intend to go to college are not ready
C. the college-readiness benchmarks is high this year
D. the tests for some subjects are too difficult
51. According to the benchmarks in 2005, about how many students will not earn C?
A. 30 percent.      B. 70 percent.      C. 50 percent.       D. 26 percent.
52. Which of the following pictures can correctly show the numbers of the students who achieve the benchmark in different subjects?
A.        B.
C.        D.
53. Which of the followings can be found in the report from ACT in 2005?
A. The report about the writing test is very objective.
B. More boy students are not good at science and math.
C. The percentage of students majoring science declined.
D. The average score of 2005 ACT participants changed greatly.


Japan’s All Nippon Airways, which has asked passengers to visit the toilet before boarding to help the environment, said Tuesday it will fit its jets with a women-only lavatory(厕所).
ANA will introduce one female-only toilet per aircraft on international flights next month after a survey of women fliers identified(确认) it was the second most attractive service they wished for after being offered desserts. The rest of the toilets onboard will be for men and women as usual.
“We received many comments that having a women-only lavatory would be a factor in differentiating our airline from others,” said an NAN spokesman.
“Many women said that they feel uncomfortable taking their time in the lavatory knowing that a male is waiting just behind them in line,” he said. The spokesman denied that the new service was introduced following complaints about men soiling(弄脏) the bathrooms, telling reporters: “Those opinions may exist, but we do not have that data on hand”.
Since 2006 ANA has pursued (开展) a one – month awareness campaign each year in which it asks fliers on 38 domestic flights and four international flights to visit the bathroom before boarding to reduce their body weight and therefore cut he plane’s carbon-dioxide emissions.
The airline is also planning to install “washlets” in it’s aircraft-electric toilet seats with water sprays for washing-a common sight in Japan and generally a source of amusement for first-time visitors and users.
The “washlets” will be installed in the Boeing777-300ER,due to begin operating in April, and the Boeing 787 fleet set to start flying this year.
【小题1】          What is the most attractive service to women passengers according to a survey?

A.women passengers can visit the toilet before boarding.
B.women passengers can get some desserts onboard.
C.women passengers can visit the toilet on boards free of charge.
D.women passengers can use women- only lavatory onboard.
【小题2】          ANA will fit its jets with a women-only bathroom in order to      .
A.cut the plan’s carbon-dioxide emissions and protect our environment
B.show equality between men and women
C.save much time for women passengers
D.make their airline better than other airlines
【小题3】          We can infer the underlined word “domestic” in the fifth paragraph means    .
A.commercialB.militaryC.internalD.economical
【小题4】          According to the passage, which of the following statement is not true?
A.Female- only toilet can only be found on international flights.
B.Women will feel uncomfortable when they know a male is waiting at the toilet door.
C.The rest of the toilets on international flights will be for men only.
D.You will be curious about “washlets” when you first see it.
【小题5】          What would be the best title of the passage?
A.Women and men are equal on ANA’s flights.
B.Women- only lavatories will be installed on ANA’s flights.
C.Visiting the bathroom before boarding to protect environment.
D.ANA has pursued a one- month awareness campaign.

It is widely known that any English conversation begins with The Weather. Such a fixation with the weather finds expression in Dr. Johnson’s famous comment that “When two English meet, their first talk is of weather.” Though Johnson’s observation is as accurate now as it was over two hundred years ago, most commentators fail to come up with a convincing explanation for this English weather-speak.

Bill Bryson, for example, concludes that, as the English weather is not at all exciting, the obsession with it can hardly be understood. He argues that “To an outsider, the most striking thing about the English weather is that there is not very much of it.” Simply, the reason is that the unusual and unpredictable weather is almost unknown in the British Isles.

Jeremy Paxman, however, disagrees with Bryson, arguing that the English weather is by nature attractive. Bryson is wrong, he says, because the English preference for the weather has nothing to do with the natural phenomena. “The interest is less in the phenomena themselves, but in uncertainty.” According to him, the weather in England is very changeable and uncertain and it attracts the English as well as the outsider.

Bryson and Paxman stand for common misconceptions about the weather-speak among the English. Both commentators, somehow, are missing the point. The English weather conversation is not really about the weather at all. English weather-speak is a system of signs, which is developed to help the speakers overcome the natural reserve and actually talk to each other. Everyone knows conversations starting with weather-speak are not requests for weather data. Rather, they are routine greetings, conversation starters or the blank “fillers”. In other words, English weather-speak is a means of social bonding.

1.The author mentions Dr. Johnson’s comment to show that______.

A.most commentators agree with Dr. Johnson

B.Dr. Johnson is famous for his weather observation

C.the comment was accurate two hundred years ago

D.English conversations usually start with the weather

2.What does the underlined word “obsession” most probably refer to?

A.A social trend.

B.An emotional state.

C.A historical concept.

D.An unknown phenomenon.

3.According to the passage, Jeremy Paxman believes that______.

A.Bill Bryson has little knowledge of the weather

B.there is nothing special about the English weather

C.the English weather attracts people to the British Isles

D.English people talk about the weather for its uncertainty

4.What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A.To explain what English weather-speak is about.

B.To analyse misconceptions about the English weather.

C.To find fault with both Bill Bryson and Jeremy Paxman.

D.To convince people that the English weather is changeable.

 

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