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 animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, 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. ”

1.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

2.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

3.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 orders.

D. It can watch TV with its owner.

4.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

Robert and Peter study in the same university. They do everything together and help each other. But they often play jokes on each other. The school year was over last month and they decided to travel through the country in America. They drove a car and could stop wherever they were interested in and started whenever they wanted. Of course they enjoyed themselves. It was very hot one day and they were both hungry and thirsty. They stopped in front of a restaurant by the road. They came in, sat down at a table and ordered some dishes. Robert looked around and found there was a small bowl on the table. He thought there was some ice cream in it and took a spoonful of it and put it into his mouth. Immediately he knew it was mustard(芥末),but it was too late. Tears ran down his face, but he pretended nothing had happened. The other young man, seeing his friend crying, asked, “What are you crying about, Robert?” “I’m thinking of my father who was hanged twenty years ago,” was his reply.

After a while, Peter made the same mistake. Tears ran down his cheeks, too. And his friend asked him why.

“I wonder why your father hadn’t been hanged before he got married!”

1.Robert didn’t tell Peter it was some mustard in the bowl because .

A. he wanted his friend to repeat the mistake.

B. he didn’t know his friend hated it.

C. he thought his friend knew what it was.

D. he thought his friend was interested in it.

2.What do Peter’s last words mean?

A. Robert’s father would be hanged earlier.

B. It was wrong to play a joke on a friend.

C. He must give his friend a lesson.

D. His friend wouldn’t be born.

3.The writer mainly wants to tell us________ in this passage.

A. not to trust your friend.

B. a joke

C. not to mistake mustard for Ice cream.

D. it’s wrong to lie to friends

Carnival does not take place only in Louisiana. There are many celebrations around the world.

In Brazil, the celebration is supposed to go on from the Saturday before Mardi Gras(四旬斋前的最后一天)to Mardi Gras Day, but in some Brazilian cities the celebration can last seven or eight days. Just like New Orleans, not many important things are decided in Brazil from New Year’s Day to Mardi Gras Day because everyone is preparing for or celebrating carnival. Most Brazilian parades have a subject, which could be political and historical. The parades had to have a subject related to Brazil until 1996. Some cities in Brazil do not have a street carnival but they might have an indoor ball.

Bolivia has carnival parades for children and then more parades for adults. The children dress up in costumes and march in the streets. The adults make traditional dance groups and dance in the streets. But the main part of Bolivia’s carnival is getting wet. Almost everyone gets wet from water balloons and water buckets. In Oruru, Bolivia, their carnival is held in the last ten days of the carnival season. People there participate in crafts and dancing, but their main carnival event is a ceremonial parade that lasts for twenty hours and parades for four kilometers. Over 20,000 dancers are involved as well as 10,000 musicians. This parade attracts at least 400,000 people.

The carnival in Venice, Italy is often regarded as the most carefully prepared carnival and lasts the ten days before Lent (四旬斋). Many events are held in the canals including shows, concerts, dances, and water processions(队列). The official ending to the celebration is the ball held in St. Mark’s Square.

1.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Carnivals around the world. B. History of carnival.

C. Customs of carnival. D. Carnival parades.

2.From the passage we learn that in Brazil .

A. all urban residents celebrate carnival for a week

B. people prepare for or celebrate carnival after Mardi Gras Day

C. the parades should have a subject related to Brazil

D. not all cities have a street carnival

3. The most important feature of the celebration of carnival in Bolivia is that .

A.children wearing costumes march in the streets

B. adult dance groups dance in the streets

C.people participate in crafts and dancing

D.nearly all people are sprayed with water

4.Which of the following statements shows that the author pays special attention to the carnival in Bolivia?

A. The time of celebrating carnival in Bolivia is mentioned.

B. There are details and numbers about carnival celebrations in Bolivia.

C. Events or performances for carnival celebrations in Bolivia are mentioned.

D. Participants in the carnival celebration in Bolivia are mentioned.

5.Which of the following areas or countries prepares the most carefully for their carnival according to the passage?

A. Louisiana. B. Bolivia.

C. Venice. D. Brazil.

阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的A、B、C、D 四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

A boy was walking home from school when he saw a large, tempting apple on one of the branches of an apple tree hanging out over a tall fence. The boy wasn’t much of a fruit-eater, ____ a bar of chocolate if given the choice, ____ , as they say, the forbidden fruit can be tempting. Seeing the apple, the boy wanted it. The more he looked at it, the ____ he felt and the more he wanted that apple.

He stood on tiptoe, ___ as high as he could, but even at his tallest ____ he was unable to touch it. He began to ____ up and down, as high as he could, at the ___ of each jump stretching his arms to get the apple. Still it remained out of ____.

Not giving up, he thought, if only he had something to ____ on. His school bag wouldn’t give enough height and he didn’t want to ____the things inside, like his lunch box, pencil case, and Game boy. Looking ____ he hoped he might find an old box, a rock, or, ____ luck, even a ladder, but it was a tidy neighborhood and there was nothing he could use.

He had tried everything he could think to do. ____ seeing any other choices, he gave up and started to walk ____ . At first he felt angry and disappointed thinking about how hungry he had become from his ____, and how he really wanted that apple. The more he _ __ like this, the more unhappy he became.

____, the boy of our story was a pretty smart guy, even if he couldn’t always get what he wanted. He started to say to himself. This isn’t ____. I don’t have the apple and I’m feeling miserable as well. There’s ____ more I can do to get the apple. That is unchangeable, but we are supposed to be able to ____ our feelings. If that’s the case, what can I do to feel better.

1.A. receiving B. offering C. preferring D. allowing

2.A. so B.. but C. then D. or

3.A. sadder B. angrier C. tastier D. hungrier

4.A. expanding B. swinging C. stretching D. pulling

5.A. length B. strength C. range D. height

6.A. glance B. look C. walk D. jump

7.A. tip B. top C. stage D. level

8.A. reach B. hand C. sight D. hope

9.A. put B. hold C. get D. stand

10.A. take B. shake C. break D. strike

11.A. around B. forward C. down D. up

12.A. for B. on C. with D. of

13.A. After B. Without C. Through D. Upon

14.A. back B. down C. up D. away

15.A. efforts B. beliefs C. wishes D. goals

16.A. imagined B. thought C. tried D. claimed

17.A. Therefore B. Otherwise C. Moreover D. However

18.A. helpful B. cheerful C. harmful D. skillful

19.A. something B. nothing C. everything D. anything

20.A. forget B. express C. change D. remember

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