With the development of science and technology, most of us will comment：“Life is speeding up．Everyone is getting unwell．”
This may sound like something someone would say today．But in fact, an unknown citizen who lived in Rome in 53 AD wrote it．
We all love new inventions．They are exciting, amazing and can even change our lives．But have all these developments really improve the quality of our lives?
Picture this, you're rushing to finish your homework on the computer．Your mobile phone rings, a QQ message from your friend appears on the screen, and the noise from the television is getting louder and louder．Suddenly the computer goes blank and you lose all your work．Now you have to stay up all night to get it done．How calm and happy do you feel?
Inventions have speeded up our lives so much that they often leave us feeling stressed and tired．Why do you think people who live far away from noisy cities, who have no telephones, no cars, even no electricity often seem to be happier? Perhaps because they lead simpler lives．
One family in the UK went “back in time” to see what life was like without all the inventions we have today．The grandparents, with their daughter, and grandsons Benjamin, 10, and Thomas, 7, spent nine weeks in a 1940s house．They had no washing machine, microwave, computer or mobile phones．
The grandmother, Lynn said, “It was hard physically, but not mentally．” She believed life was less materialistic．“The more things you have the more difficult life becomes．” She said．The boys said they found less to fight over, such as their computer．Benjamin also noticed that his grandmother had changed from being a “trendy, beer- drinking granny to one who cooked things”．
Here are some simple ways to beat the stress often caused by our inventions!
●Don't be available all the time．Turn off your mobile phone at certain times of the day．Don't check your emails every day．
●Make sure you spend some time talking to your family．Set aside one evening a week when you don't turn on the television．Play cards and chat instead．
●Get a low-tech hobby．Every day，do something in the old-fashioned way，such as walking to have a face-to-face meeting instead of using the email or telephone．
●Don't worry too much about life－laugh more!
(1)
The passage is mainly about _______．
[ ]
A．
the important roles technology plays in our everyday life
B．
improvements of our life with technology
C．
problems with technology
D．
major changes are likely to happen to technology
(2)
The writer uses the quote at the beginning of the story to _______．
[ ]
A．
point out that you experience some big problems and they may be the same
B．
tell us what life was like long time ago
C．
make us wonder what causes such a thing to happen
D．
share a truth about life
(3)
Why did the family choose to spend some time in a 1940s house?
[ ]
A．
Because they were curious about how people lived without modern inventions．
B．
Because they liked to live simple lives．
C．
Because they were troubled by modern inventions．
D．
Because living in a different time would be a lot of fun for them．
(4)
What does the underlined word “available” in the first suggestion offered by the writer mean?
[ ]
A．
Busy on line．
B．
Free．
C．
Be able to move．
D．
Be found by others．
(5)
The writer may support that ________
[ ]
A．
you ring back your boss immediately when you get home and see his message to you．
B．
you take your iphone and taptop and power them on all the time while traveling．
C．
you find fun in some exercise like hiking and jogging instead of chatting on the Internet．
D．
you check your mail account as frequently as you can．
World leaders burdened with resolving conflicts(冲突)between nations have my sympathy．When my three children were young, most days it was hard keeping my house from becoming a war zone．And that was before breakfast．
It got worse as they grew older．Three years aw, Zack, then 16, couldn’t make it through a day without playing tricks on his sisters, Alex and Taryn, then 11 and 9．
My husband and I tried to be understanding of his adolescent moodiness(喜怒无常)．We begged, reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how his behavior was hurting our family．His response was a shrug and“I say it because it’s true．”
I even tried telling the girls to fight back．Bad idea．Now I had three kids at war．At wit’s end．I poured my heart out to my sister in an e-mail．She wrote back,“Don’t e-mail me．E-mail him．”
Our son was online every day, mailing and instant messaging his friends．So what if I was within shouting distance?Maybe he would actually hear me this way．There’d be no yelling or door slamming．Zack wouldn’t feel under attack．And with a few simple keystrokes, he could respond．Or not．Zack didn’t reply for days．When he finally did, his entire message was four measly(少得可怜的)words．I expected the worst, but then smiled when I read them：“You’re right．I’m sorry,”The kids still fought, of course, but Zack scaled back the abuse．Best of all, I now have an effective way to communicate with not one but three easily annoyed teens．I like that they don’t tune me out as much．They like not having to listen to me nag(指责，唠叨)．Or as Alex says,“You’re so much nicer online．”
All I know is that the house is quiet, but we’re talking, in fact, Taryn just instant-messaged me from upstairs．It’s time to take her to softball practice．
(1)
The purpose of this passage is to tell us ________．
[ ]
A．
the value of being e-literate
B．
how to solve family problems
C．
the value of understanding between parents and children
D．
how to treat kids in a more sensible
(2)
By the first sentence of the passage, the author really means to be ________．
[ ]
A．
serious
B．
sympathetic
C．
humorous
D．
inspiring
(3)
How did Zack react when the author first tried to stop his bad behavior?
[ ]
A．
He was annoyed and got worse
B．
He talked back to the author
C．
He felt sorry and changed
D．
He felt sorry and changed
(4)
Zack stopped fighting with his sisters because ________．
[ ]
A．
his mother learnt how to e-mail him
B．
his mother had more friendly communications with him online
C．
his mother stopped yelling and nagging
D．
his sisters learned to instant message him
阅读理解
Research on the human brain has been attracting more and more scientists in recent years, just like the booming hi-tech industry．One of the latest research topics is how to change the human brain or combine the computer and the human brain, i．e．to transplant a chip into o human brain．This innovation(改革) may make everyone’s dream come true．If we compare a human brain to a hard disc, what the scientists are doing is to enlarge the applicable capacity of the hard disc．For the time being, there are some difficulties in such transplant experiments, but scientists never give up．
Experiments have started on animals．In 1996, a transplant experiment performed at the Defense and Military Physiology Research Institute in the U．S．turned a bear into a dolphin．
The dolphin was named Ted, and the bear was named Tallin．Using the most advanced technology available, deep and detailed images were made of the memory area in Ted’s brain containing information about swimming by the scientists．They obtained a series of useful information, the signals transferred by the nervous system．Such information was saved into a button-sized chip, which was then transplanted into the action memory area in Tallin’s brain．The information saved on the chip was released by means of electric power．
Recently, another comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Never Research Institute of the University of California．The comprehensive memory transplanted in the experiment included actions, moods, logic, words, images, etc．The experiment involved an entire transplant of the memory area．This was the largest such experiment done so far．
The transplant was performed making a transfer from a dog named“Genius”to a dog named“Idiot”．“Genius”could understand and follow up to 100 gestures and orders made by its master．It was a real genius in memorizing．“Idiot”was the younger brother of“Genius”．It had no contact with people at all since its birth．It became an animal with nothing in its brain, without any memory．
The operation was a complete success．When the two dogs woke up．“Idiot”had grasped all the abilities“Genius”possessed; it was good at memorizing and sensible．It could follow every gesture and any command given by its master．But“Genius”gave no response to its master, and in fact did not recognize him at all．
(1)
The purpose of the experiment is ________．
[ ]
A．
to combine the computer and the human brain
B．
to make bear swim
C．
to make some stupid dog turn clever
D．
to enlarge the applicable capacity of human brain
(2)
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
[ ]
A．
The scientists transferred a button-sized chip wit useful information in Tallin’s brain．
B．
The comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research University．
C．
The second experiment wasn’t an entire transplant of the memory area．
D．
The Idiot was an animal with memory before brain experiment
(3)
What does the underlined word“success”refer to?
[ ]
A．
The two dogs woke up．
B．
They were both good at memorizing．
C．
The Idiot grasped all the abilities of Genius．
D．
The Genius grasped all the abilities of Idiot．
(4)
According to the text, we can infer ________．
[ ]
A．
a person can know more after the experiment
B．
a bear can swim after being transferred a chip with relevant useful information
C．
a dog can become clever after entire transplant of the memory area
D．
it is really good for animals to have been involved in the transplant experiment
阅读理解
Research on the human brain has been attracting more and more scientists in recent years, just like the booming hi-tech industry．One of the latest research topics is how to change the human brain or combine the computer and the human brain, i．e．to transplant a chip into o human brain．This innovation(改革)may make everyone’s dream come true．If we compare a human brain to a hard disc, what the scientists are doing is to enlarge the applicable capacity of the hard disc．For the time being, there are some difficulties in such transplant experiments, but scientists never give up．
Experiments have started on animals．In 1996, a transplant experiment performed at the Defense and Military Physiology Research Institute in the U．S．turned a bear into a dolphin．
The dolphin was named Ted, and the bear was named Tallin．Using the most advanced technology available, deep and detailed images were made of the memory area in Ted’s brain containing information about swimming by the scientists．They obtained a series of useful information, the signals transferred by the nervous system．Such information was saved into a button-sized chip, which was then transplanted into the action memory area in Tallin’s brain．The information saved on the chip was released by means of electric power．
Recently, another comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Never Research Institute of the University of California．The comprehensive memory transplanted in the experiment included actions, moods, logic, words, images, etc．The experiment involved an entire transplant of the memory area．This was the largest such experiment done so far．
The transplant was performed making a transfer from a dog named“Genius”to a dog named“Idiot”．“Genius”could understand and follow up to 100 gestures and orders made by its master．It was a real genius in memorizing．“Idiot”was the younger brother of“Genius”．It had no contact with people at all since its birth．It became an animal with nothing in its brain, without any memory．
The operation was a complete success．When the two dogs woke up．“Idiot”had grasped all the abilities“Genius”possessed; it was good at memorizing and sensible．It could follow every gesture and any command given by its master．But“Genius”gave no response to its master, and in fact did not recognize him at all．
(1)
The purpose of the experiment is ________．
[ ]
A．
to combine the computer and the human brain
B．
to make bear swim
C．
to make some stupid dog turn clever
D．
to enlarge the applicable capacity of human brain
(2)
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
[ ]
A．
The scientists transferred a button-sized chip wit useful information in Tallin’s brain．
B．
The comprehensive memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research University．
C．
The second experiment wasn’t an entire transplant of the memory area．
D．
The Idiot was an animal with memory before brain experiment
(3)
What does the underlined word“success”refer to?
[ ]
A．
The two dogs woke up．
B．
They were both good at memorizing．
C．
The Idiot grasped all the abilities of Genius．
D．
The Genius grasped all the abilities of Idiot．
(4)
According to the text, we can infer ________．
[ ]
A．
a person can know more after the experiment
B．
a bear can swim after being transferred a chip with relevant useful information
C．
a dog can become clever after entire transplant of the memory area
D．
it is really good for animals to have been involved in the transplant experiment
阅读理解
Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives．It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no,” criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face．For some jobs, it’s the only tool that can succeed．It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialogue may start a quarrel．For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other forum．
Humor is often the best way to keep a small misunderstanding from escalating into a big deal．Recently a neighbor of mine had a squabble with his wife as she drove him to the airport．Airborne, he felt miserable, and he knew she did, too．Two hours after she returned home, she received a long-distance phone call．“person-to-person for Mrs．I．A．Pologize,”intoned the operator．“That’s spelled‘P’as in…”．In a twinkling, the whole day changed from grim to lovely at both ends of the wire．
An English hostess with a quick wit was giving a formal dinner for eight distinguished guests whom she hoped to enlist in a major charity drive．Austerity(节俭)was a fashion in England at the time, and she had asked her children to serve the meal．She knew that anything could happen－and it did, just as her son, with the studied concentration of a tightrope walker, brought in a large roast turkey．He successfully elbowed the swinging dining-room door, but the backswing threw the bird onto the dining-room floor．
The boy stood rooted：guests stared at their plates．Moving only her head the hostess smiled at her son, “No harm, Daniel, ” she said．“Just pick him up and take him back to the kitchen”…she enunciated clearly so he would think about what she was saying…“and bring in the other one．”
A wink and a one-liner instantly changed the dinner from a red-faced embarrassment to a conspiracy of fun．
(1)
What is the main idea of the passage?
[ ]
A．
Humor is the key to success in our work and our lives．
B．
Humor enables us to cope with difficult situation effectively．
C．
Humor is the only best way to criticize someone without losing his face．
D．
Humor makes fun of any difficult situations．
(2)
Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage?
[ ]
A．
Comedians on TV are believed to have done a lot in making people more tolerant of racial and religious differences．
B．
To make up differences, humor is a most acceptable as well as a most effective means．
C．
People often turn to humorous ways when meeting with difficult situations because of its effectiveness．
D．
Only by adopting the means of humor can one succeed in some jobs．
(3)
What caused the roast turkey to drop onto the floor?
[ ]
A．
The backward movement of the door．
B．
The son’s hasty behavior．
C．
Someone happened to be at the door．
D．
The bird raised by the family．
(4)
By saying “…and bring in the other one,” the hostess meant that _________．
[ ]
A．
the son had to cook another turkey for the guests
B．
she already had made more than one turkey ready for the dinner．
C．
some other dish would be served instead of a turkey
D．
the son could serve the same turkey after it was cleaned
(5)
What do you think would probably be the result if the hostess got angry and scolded the son?
[ ]
A．
It would make the embarrassing situation worse
B．
The son would refuse to serve the guests any more
C．
The son would talk back and make the mother all the more angry
D．
The guests would leave before the dinner was over
阅读理解
In the 19th century the novel came into its own．Thousands upon thousands of novels were published．Of those novels, very few are remembered today．However, there are exceptions; the works of Jane Austen-Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility-for example．They achieved only modest success at first but grew and grew in fame and reputation．
How did Jane Austen become so popular?
Of course, the novels are romantic．Everyone knows the love story of Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett(in Pride and Prejudice), and how they overcome their own pride and prejudice to live happily ever after．The lovers are almost as famous today as Romeo and Juliet．
But there is more to Austen's popularity than the fact that she wrote about love．The books are very witty and ironic, and show a great understanding of society and of people．Pride and Prejudice opens with what must be the most famous sentence in the English novel："It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife．"
The truth, of course, is the opposite; wealthy, unmarried young men are extremely attractive to young women．And women-specially penniless or near-penniless ones-are the subjects of Austin's tales．
Women nowadays may be more equal to men than they were in Jane Austen's day．However, a sense that women still basically live in a world dominated by men ensures that Austen still has many keen readers．
(1)
What is the point of the passage?
[ ]
A．
To describe the status of women in Jane Austen's time．
B．
To promote Jane Austen's novels among teenagers．
C．
To explore the characteristics of Jane Austen's novels．
D．
To analyze why Jane Austen's novels have such a lasting appeal．
(2)
What can be concluded from the first paragraph?
[ ]
A．
Jane Austen wrote a total of four novels in her lifetime．
B．
Most of the novels written mihe 19th century are romances．
C．
Jane Austen is one of the most successful novelists of the 19th century．
D．
Jane Austen's novels were a hit when they were first published．
(3)
According to the article, most of the female characters in Austen's works ________．
[ ]
A．
are poor and young
B．
are happily married
C．
many old and wealthy men
D．
are penniless but witty
(4)
According to the author, what made Jane Austen's works so popular?
a．They are mostly love stories．
b．Most of them have a happy ending．
c．They are full of wit and irony．
d．People can still relate to them today．
e．They explain how to succeed in a male-dominated society．
