题目内容

Unlike most other holidays,the history of April Fools’ Day.Sometimes called All Fools’ Day,is not totally clear.The only point in time that can be agreed on as the beginning of this tradition was 1582,in France.Before that year,the New Year was celebrated for eight days,beginning on March 25.The celebration reached the highest point on April 1.With the reform of the calendar under Charles 1X,the the Gregorian calendar(公历,阳历)was introduced,and New Year’s Day was moved to January 1.

However,because in those days communications were not as developed as they are today,many people did not receive the news for several years.Some people refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1.These backward people were considered”fools” by other people.They were often sent on “fools” errands(徒劳无益的工作)or were made the targets of jokes.

This developed,over time,into a tradition of playing a trick on someone on the first day of April.The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century.It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the Britain and France.April Fools’ Day thus developed into an international fun feast,so to speak,with different nationalities specializing in their own kind of humor at the expense of their friends and families.

1.According to an earlier calendar,New Year’s Day in France was .

A. March25 B. January 1 C. April 1 D. April3

2.Which of the following first had the tradition of celebrating the April Fools’ Day?

A. France. B. England. C. Scotland. D. America.

3.What was people’s attitude towards the new calendar?

A. They accepted it happily. B. They refused it immediately. C. Some recognized it. D. Some laughed at it.

4.The passage mainly tells us .

A. what the French did on April Fools’ Day B. How April Fools’ Day come into being

C. when was the new calendar introduced D. why some people were fooled in France

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Scientists in Argentina have created the world’s first cow with two human genes that will enable it to produce human-like milk.

Genetic engineering was used to introduce the "mothers’milk" genes into the animal before birth, according to the National Institute of Agribusiness Technology in Buenos Aires.
As an adult, the cloned cow "will produce milk that is similar to that of humans", which will prove "a development of great importance for the nutrition of infants(婴儿)", said the institute. "The cloned cow, named Rosita ISA, is the first in the world with two human genes that contain the proteins present in human milk," said the statement.
In April, scientists in China published details of research showing that they had created dairy cows which produced milk containing proteins found in human breast milk. But the Argentine team said the Chinese only introduced one human gene, while their research involved two, meaning the milk will more closely resemble that of humans.
“Our goal was to raise the nutrition value of cows’milk by adding two human genes, which do good to the immune system of infants,” said Adrian Mutto, from the National University of San Martin which worked with the institute.

Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina, said that the scientific institute made all Argentines proud. She also said that she had rejected the "honor" of having the cow named after her. "They came to tell me that the name is Cristina, but what woman would like to have a cow named after her? It appeared to me to be more proper to call it Rosita.”

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. The importance of genetic engineering.

B. Ways to improve mothers’ milk.

C. A cloned cow to produce human-like milk.

D. Advanced agricultural technology in Argentina.

2.Which of the following can best replace “more closely resemble” in Paragraph 4?

A. have more varieties than

B. be more similar to

C. have more nutrition than

D. be more different from

3.What can be inferred from Cristina Kirchner’s statements?

A. She was quite satisfied with the research done by the institute.

B. She considered it an honor to name the special cow.

C. She felt it improper to be named after the cow.

D. She refused to give a name to the cow out of self-respect.

As Artificial Intelligence (A) becomes increasingly sophisticated,there are growing concerns that robots could become a threat.This danger can be avoided,according to computer science professor Stuart Russell,if we figure out how to turn human values into a programmable code.

Russell argues that as robots take on more complicated tasks,it’s necessary to translate our morals into AI language.

For example,if a robot does chores around the house,you wouldn't want it to put the pet cat in the oven to make dinner for the hungry children. "You would want that robot preloaded with a good set of values," said Russell.

Some robots are already programmed with basic human values.For example,mobile robots have been programmed to keep a comfortable distance from humans.Obviously there are cultural differences,but if you were talking to another person and they came up close in your personal space,you wouldn't think that's the kind of thing a properly brought-up person would do.

It will be possible to create more sophisticated moral machines,if only we can find a way to set out human values as clear rules.

Robots could also learn values from drawing patterns from large sets of data on human behavior.They are dangerous only if programmers are careless.

The biggest concern with robots going against human values is that human beings fail to do sufficient testing and they've produced a system that will break some kind of taboo(禁忌).

One simple check would be to program a robot to check the correct course of action with a human when presented with an unusual situation.

If the robot is unsure whether an animal is suitable for the microwave,it has the opportunity to stop,send out beeps,and ask for directions from a human.If we humans aren't quite sure about a decision,we go and ask somebody else.

The most difficult step in programming values will be deciding exactly what we believe in moral,and how to create a set of ethical rules.But if we come up with an answer,robots could be good for humanity.

1.What does the author say about the threat of robots?

A. It may be a challenge to computer programmers.

B. It accompanies all machinery involving high technology.

C. It can be avoided if human values are translated into their language.

D. It has become an inevitable danger as technology gets more sophisticated.

2.How do robots learn human values?

A. By interacting with humans in everyday life situations.

B. By following the daily routines of civilized human beings.

C. By picking up patterns from massive data on human behavior.

D. By imitating the behavior of properly brought-up human beings.

3.What will a well-programmed robot do when facing an unusual situation?

A. Keep a distance from possible dangers.

B. Do sufficient testing before taking action.

C. Set off its built-in alarm system at once.

D. Stop to seek advice from a human being.

4.What is most difficult to do when we turn human values into a programmable code?

A. Determine what is moral and ethical.

B. Design some large-scale experiments.

C. Set rules for man-machine interaction.

D. Develop a more sophisticated program.

Every living thing has genes. Genes carry information. 1. They make sure that humans give birth to humans and cows give birth to cows. They also make sure that a dog doesn’t give birth to a frog, or an elephant to a horse. However, genetic engineers take genes from one species-for example, a snake, and transfer them to another-for example, corn. 2. Such new life forms have been described, by some scientists as a real-life Frankenstein(科幻怪人).

Genetic engineers put duck genes into chicken to make the chickens bigger. They put hormones(激素) into cows to make them produce more milk. They put genes from flowers into beans and from fish into tomatoes. 3. It just makes them easier and faster for the farmer to grow.

The effects of genetic engineering on the natural world may be disastrous. The engineers may create strange life beings, or monsters. that we cannot control. 4. They’ll have to find one, fight for one-or kill for one. It may be your land they fight for-or you that they kill. Moreover, the effects of these experiments can often be cruel. In America, pigs were given human genes to make them bigger and less fatty. The experiment failed. The pigs became very ill and began to lose their eyesight. We would all like a better, healthier and longer life, and genetic engineering might give us this. On the other hand, it may be a dangerous experiment with nature. In the story of Frankenstein, the doctor created such a terrible and dangerous monster that he had to destroy it. 5.

A. The information tells us what to do or what not to do

B. We must make sure that this tale remains a story-and no more than that

C. This doesn’t make them cheaper, tastier, or healthier

D. The new life forms have no natural habitat or home

E. Then they feed the tomatoes to the fish

F. In this way a new life form is created

G. They are passed on from generation to generation

This was my first Thanksgiving Day in Birmingham. I wanted to express my _______ to a lot of people. They helped me a lot during my stay in this completely strange foreign country. What _______ me most was an Indian girl, Denise.

The day I was on Bus 35 from the city centre, and I _______ at Shanno Road. But I realized it was not my bus stop. It was nearly 9 o’clock in the evening so there was no one _______ I walked on and was lost at a very strange spot. _______, before my strength ran out, a bus finally arrived. I hurriedly got onto it without _______, explaining that I was lost and asked _______ who could help me. From the puzzled look on their faces, I felt _______. Just then, an Indian girl stopped calling, telling me she knew my _______. We left that bus and had a pleasant ________ on our way and I also learned from her the ________ for other passengers “puzzled” looks. It took her nearly an hour to ________ me to my house.

I would return to my country after Thanksgiving Day, so I prepared a beautiful Chinese knot for Denise and telephoned her many times, but I just didn’t ________ to her. On the morning of Thanksgiving Day, I had a very ________ breakfast because I couldn’t wait any longer to find Denise. I intended to take Bus 27, the one I took ________I was lost. While waiting for the bus, I heard someone ________ me. I turned around; it was Denise! What a(n) ________! I immediately presented her with the gift. When we waved goodbye to each other, tears ran down my cheeks, and I ________ we would meet again in the near future.

I learned a(n) ________ lesson from her —help others in need. Now, every Thanksgiving Day, I ________ my house with some Chinese knots. For the reason I know so does Denise.

1.A. concerns B. opinions C. appreciation D. sympathy

2.A. benefited B. influenced C. touched D. changed

3.A. went up B. went off C. went around D. went on

4.A. in place B. in charge C. in need D. in sight

5.A. Luckily B. Astonishingly C. Naturally D. Suddenly

6.A. purpose B. doubt C. hesitation D. ticket

7.A. happily B. anxiously C. clumsily D. cautiously

8.A. curious B. nervous C. desperate D. lonely

9.A. identity B. address C. school D. position

10.A. walk B. view C. break D. conversation

11.A. excuse B. preference C. desire D. reason

12.A. accompany B. drive C. abandon D. introduce

13.A. run into B. get across C. set aside D. get through

14.A. delicious B. hurried C. wonderful D. unforgettable

15.A. before B. after C. since D. until

16.A. greeting B. discussing C. phoning D. praising

17.A. pity B. opportunity C. coincidence D. mystery

18.A. obeyed B. prayed C. declared D. guessed

19.A. valuable B. accessible C. thoughtful D. simple

20.A. fill B. paint C. furnish D. decorate

Courage is a personality quality that everyone possesses, but it sometimes fades because of bad experiences or memories.1..By identifying the source of any lack of courage and actively changing your behavior, you can build courage.

Determine your specific fears. People are often reluctant to admit that they are afraid of something and this may be weakening their confidence and courage. In order to begin building courage, you need to determine your specific fear.2..This may help you to develop a plan to overcome them and build your courage.

Recognize your courage. Just as it's important to identify your fears, you should also recognize that you also possess courage in many situations.3..It can help you to figure out how to apply this quality to situations in your life that cause timidity(胆怯). It can also help you to develop your behavior and begin building courage in every aspect of your life.

Develop a concrete plan to build your courage. Once you've identified your specific fears and recognized situations where you exhibit courage, write out your plan to build your courage and update it when necessary.4., for it helps you stay on track if you have setbacks and see your progress over time.

Avoid comparing yourself to others. Every person is different and comparing yourself to other people can minimize your self-confidence. Focusing on yourself and not comparing yourself to others is essential to building your confidence and courage.

5.. Two characteristics of a courageous person are that they not only have confidence, but also they believe in their ability to succeed and overcome fears. By cultivating and projecting confidence in yourself, you set yourself on the path to build and maintain courage.

A. Part of building your courage is taking risks

B. Embrace the positive and avoid the negative

C. Write a list of your fears as you figure them out

D. Having a clear strategy you can follow is important

E. Take the time to acknowledge that you are courageous

F. Have confidence and believe in your ability to be courageous

G. Having courage is necessary to succeed in many situations in life

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