The Peales were a famous family of American artists.Charles Willson Peale is best remembered for his portraits of leading figures of the American Revolution.He painted portraits of Franklin and Jefferson and over a dozen of George Washington.His life-size portrait of his sons Raphaelle and Titian was so realistic that George Washington reportedly once tipped his hat to the figures in the picture.
Charles Willson Peale gave up painting in his middle age and devoted his life to the Peale museum, which he founded in Philadelphia.The world’s first popular museum of art and natural science mainly covered paintings by Peale and his family as well as displays of animals in their natural settings.Peale found the animals himself and found a method to make the exhibits more lifelike.The museum’s most popular display was the skeleton(骷髅)of a huge, extinct elephant, which Peale unearthed on a New York farm in 1801.
Three of Peale’s seventeen children were also famous artists.Paphaelle Peale often painted still lives of flowers, fruit, and cheese.His brother Rembrandt studied under his father and painted portraits of many noted people, including one of George Washington.Another brother, Rubens Peale, painted mostly landscapes and portraits.
James Peale, the brother of Charles Willson Peale, specialized in miniatures(小画像).His daughter Sarah Miriam Peale was probably the first professional female portrait painter in America.
(1)
What is the main topic of the passage?
[ ]
A.
The life of Charles Willson Peale.
B.
Portraits in the 18th century.
C.
The Peale Museum.
D.
A family of artists.
(2)
The author mentions in Paragraph 1 that Washington tipped his hat to the figures in the painting to show that ________.
[ ]
A.
Charles Willson Peale’s painting was very lifelike
B.
Washington respected Charles Willson Peale’s work
C.
Washington was friendly with Raphaelle and Titian Peale
D.
the painting of the two brothers was very large
(3)
The underlined word “unearthed” is closest in meaning to“________”.
[ ]
A.
showed
B.
dug up
C.
invented
D.
looked over
(4)
Which of the following is NOT the child of Charles Willson Peale?
[ ]
A.
Titian Peale.
B.
Rubens Peale.
C.
Raphaelle Peale.
D.
Sarah Miriam Peale.
(5)
The author’s attitude toward the Peales is in general ________.
Television has changed our lives in many ways.Many people now spend more time watching TV than doing anything else.Researchers in the USA has estimated(估计)that when most students leave school they have spent 11000 hours in the classroom and 22000 hours watching television.But what effect does this have?
Benefits(好处)of television:
Television helps us to learn more about the world and to know and see many new things.Television can offer present information to us in a more effective way than books.It can also make things more memorable.
It entertains(使欢乐)us.It is an enjoyable way to relax.For millions of people around the world, television is a source of companionship and helps them to cope with everyday life.
It has increased the popularity of sports and arts.
It has made us aware of our global responsibilities.In 2000, for example, 1.5 billion people in 147 countries watched a TV pop concert and helped to collect more than $100 million for people in Africa.
Dangers:
Television can make us passive(消极的).We don’t have to think and our brains become lazy.
It encourages us to buy things that we don’t need, and can make us unhappy with our own life.
It takes time away from activities such as reading, conversation, and games.
It gives a false picture of society.A study in 2003 showed that people who watch a lot of TV are more afraid of crime.They also think that there is a lot more crime than there really is.
Some critics(批评家)say that television make people violent.A ten-year study in the United States showed that children who watch violent television programmes are more likely to be violent themselves.
(1)
What’s the proper description of the time American students spend on TV and study?
[ ]
A.
They spend twice as much time on TV as in the classroom.
B.
They spend twice as much time in the classroom as on TV.
C.
They spend as much time on TV as in the classroom.
D.
They spend less time on TV than in the classroom.
(2)
The underlined word “memorable” is closed in meaning to ________.
[ ]
A.
easy to be remembered
B.
remembered forever
C.
interesting
D.
knowledgeable
(3)
Which of the following number in NOT true of the pop concert mentioned in the passage?
[ ]
A.
People in more than 140 countries watched it on TV.
B.
It helped to collect more than $100 million.
C.
It was held in 2000.
D.
1.5 million people watched it on TV.
(4)
According to the passage, the dangers of watching TV too much included all the following except that ________.
[ ]
A.
television can make us active
B.
television encourages us to buy things that we don’t need.
C.
television gives us a worse picture of society
D.
television takes tie away from a lot of activities.
(5)
Why does the author say that watching TV too much gives a false picture of society?
[ ]
A.
A study showed that people who watch a lot of television think there is more crime than there really is.
B.
A study showed that people who watched a lot of television are less afraid of crime.
C.
A study showed that children who watch violent television programmes are more likely to be violent themselves.
D.
Because many critics also say it.
阅渎理解
Just seven years ago, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart was being cheered as the model of human creativeness.The sight of Barney Clark-alive and conscious after trading his diseased heart for a metal-and-plastic pump-convinced the press, the public and many doctors that the future had arrived.It hadn't.After monitoring production of the Jarvik-7, and reviewing its effects on the 150 or so patients(most of whom got the device as a temporary measure)the U.S.Food and Drug Administration concluded that the machine was doing more to endanger lives than to save them.Last week the agency cancelled its earlier approval, effectively banning(禁止)the device.
The recall may hurt Symbion Inc., maker of the Jarvik-7, but it won't end the request for an artificial heart.One problem with the banned mode is that the tubes connecting it to an external power source created a passage for infection.Inventors are now working on new devices that would be fully placed, along with a tiny power pack, in the patient's chest.The first sample products aren't expected for another 10 or 20 years.But some people are already worrying that they'll work-and that America's overextended health-care programs will lose a precious $2.5 billion to $5 billion a year providing them for a relatively few dying patients.If such expenditures(开支)cut into funding for more basic care, the net effect could actually be a decline in the nation's health.
(1)
According to the passage, the Jarvik-7 artificial heart proved to be ________.
[ ]
A.
a technical failure
B.
a technical wonder
C.
a good life-saver
D.
an effective means to treat heart disease
(2)
From the passage we know that Symbion Inc.________.
[ ]
A.
has been banned by the government from producing artificial hearts
B.
will review the effects of artificial hearts before designing new models
C.
may continue to work on new models of reliable artificial hearts
D.
can make new models of artificial hearts available on the market in 10 to 20 years
(3)
The new models of artificial hearts are expected ________.
[ ]
A.
to have a working life of 10 or 20 years
B.
to be set fully in the patient's chest
C.
to be equipped with an external power source
D.
to create a new passage for infection
(4)
The word “them” in Line 7, Para.2 refers to ________.
[ ]
A.
doctors who treat heart diseases
B.
makers of artificial hearts
C.
America's health-care programs
D.
new models of artificial hearts
(5)
Some people feel that ________.
[ ]
A.
artificial hearts are seldom effective
B.
the country should not spend so much money on artificial hearts
C.
the country is not spending enough money on artificial hearts
D.
America's health-care programs are not doing enough for the nation's health
阅渎理解
Batteries can power anything from small sensors to large systems.While scientists are finding ways to make them smaller but even more powerful, problems can arise when these batteries are much larger and heavier than the devices themselves.University of Missouri(MU)researchers are developing a nuclear energy source that is smaller, lighter and more efficient.
“To provide enough power, we need certain methods with high energy density”,said Jae Kwon, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at MU.“The radioisotope(放射性同位素)battery can provide power density that is much higher than chemical batteries.”
Kwon and his research team have been working on building a small nuclear battery, presently the size and thickness of a penny, intended to power various micro / nanoelectromechanical systems(M/NEMS).Although nuclear batteries can cause concerns, Kwon said they are safe.
“People hear the word ‘nuclear’ and think of something very dangerous,” he said, “However, nuclear power sources have already been safely powering a variety of devices, such as pace-makers, space satellites and underwater systems.”
His new idea is not only in the battery’s size, but also in its semiconductor(半导体).Kwon’s battery uses a liquid semiconductor rather than a solid semiconductor.
“The key part of using a radioactive battery is that when you harvest the energy, part of the radiation energy can damage the lattice structure of the solid semiconductor,” Kwon said, “By using a liquid semiconductor, we believe we can minimize that problem.”
Together with J.David Robertson, chemistry professor and associate director of the MU Research Reactor, Kwon is working to build and test the battery.In the future, they hope to increase the battery’s power, shrink its size and try with various other materials.Kwon said that battery could be thinner than the thickness of human hair.
(1)
Which of the following is true of Jae Kwon?
[ ]
A.
He teaches chemistry at MU.
B.
He developed a chemical battery.
C.
He is working on a nuclear energy source.
D.
He made a breakthrough in computer engineering.
(2)
Jae Kwon gave examples in Paragraph 4 ________.
[ ]
A.
to show chemical batteries are widely applied.
B.
to introduce nuclear batteries can be safely used.
C.
to describe a nuclear-powered system.
D.
to introduce various energy sources.
(3)
Liquid semiconductor is used to ________.
[ ]
A.
get rid of the radioactive waste
B.
test the power of nuclear batteries.
C.
decrease the size of nuclear batteries
D.
reduce the damage to lattice structure.
(4)
According to Jae Kwon, his nuclear battery ________.
[ ]
A.
uses a solid semiconductor
B.
will soon replace the present ones.
C.
could be extremely thin
D.
has passed the final test.
(5)
The text is most probably a ________.
[ ]
A.
science news report
B.
book review
C.
newspaper ad
D.
science fiction story
阅渎理解
Perhaps you have heard a lot about the Internet, but what is it, do you know? The Internet is a network.It uses the telephone to join millions of computers together around the world.
Maybe that doesn’t sound very interesting.But when you’ve joined to the Internet, there are lots and lots of things you can do.You can send E-mails to your friends, and they can get them in a few seconds.You can also do with all kinds of information on the World Wide Web(WWW).
There are many different kinds of computers now.They all can be joined to the Internet.Most of then are small machines sitting on people's desks at home, but there are still many others in schools, offices or large companies.These computers are owned by people and companies, but no one really owns the Internet itself.
There are lots of places for you to go into the Internet.For example, your school may have the Internet.You can use it during lessons or free time.Libraries often have computers joined to the Internet.You are welcome to use it at only time.
Thanks to the Internet, the world is becoming smaller and smaller.It is possible for you to work at home with a computer in front, getting and sending the information you need.You can buy or sell whatever you want by the Internet.But do you know 98% of the information on the Internet is in English? So what will English be like tomorrow?
(1)
What is the passage mainly about?
[ ]
A.
Internet.
B.
Information.
C.
Computers.
D.
E-mails.
(2)
Which is the quickest and cheapest way to send messages to your friends?
[ ]
A.
By post.
B.
By E-mail.
C.
By telephone.
D.
By satellite.
(3)
Which may be the most possible place for people to work in tomorrow?
[ ]
A.
In the office.
B.
At school.
C.
At home.
D.
In the company.
(4)
Who is the owner of the Internet?
[ ]
A.
The headmaster.
B.
The officer.
C.
The user.
D.
No one.
(5)
What does the writer try to tell us with the last two sentences?