As motorways become more and more blocked up with traffic, a new generation on flying cars will be needed to ferry people along skyways. That is the conclusion of engineers from the US space agency and aeronautical firms, who envision future commuters traveling by “skycar”.

These could look much like the concept skycar shown in the picture, designed by Boeing research and development. However, such vehicles could be some 25 years from appearing on the market. Efforts to build flying vehicles in the past have not been very successful. Such vehicles would not only be expensive and require the skills of a trained pilot to fly, but there are significant engineering challenges involved in developing them. “When you try to combine them you get the worst of both worlds: a very heavy, slow, expensive vehicle that’s hard to use,” said Mark Moore, head of the personal air vehicle(PAV) division of the vehicle systems program at Nasa’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, US. But Boeing is also considering how to police the airways-and prevent total pandemonium(吵杂狂乱的喧闹)-if thousands of flying cars enter the skies.

“The neat, gee-whiz part is thinking about what the vehicle itself would look like,” said Dick Paul, a vice president with Phantom Works, Boeing’s research and development arm. “But we’re trying to think through all the consequences of what it would take to deploy(散开) a fleet of these.”

Past proposals to solve this problem have included artificial intelligence systems to prevent collisions between air traffic. Nasa is working on flying vehicles with the initial goal of transforming small plane travel. Small planes are generally costly, loud, and require months of training and lots of money to operate, making flying to work impractical for most people. But within five years, Nasa researchers hope to develop technology for a small plane that can fly out of regional airports, costs less than $100,000(??55,725), is as quiet as a motorcycle and as simple to operate as a car.

Although it would not have any road-driving capabilities, it would bring this form of travel within the grasp of a wider section of people. The new technology would automate many of the pilot’s functions. This Small Aircraft Transportation System(Sats) would divert pressure away from the “hub-and-spoke(中心辐射型)” model of air travel. Hub-and-spoke refers to the typically US model of passengers being processed through large “hub” airports and then on to secondary flights to “spoke” airports near their final destinations.

The best title for this text would be      .

A. Developing Skycars   B. The Traffic Jams in the Sky

C. How to Guide Flying Cars in the Sky  D. What Flying Cars Will Look Like

The underlined word “envision” in Paragraph 1 most probably means “     ”.

A. see  B. expect   C. think    D. announce

When engineers develop the skycars, they have to deal with the following difficulties except      .

A. how to fly out of regional airports

 B. how to prevent the disorder of the airways

C. how to reduce expenses and the vehicle’s weight

D. how to fly the skycars to enter skies

Now Nasa researchers’ aim is to      .

A. make big flying cars

B. work out the plan——how to transform small plane travel

C. develop a new kind of small plane different from the traditional one

D. build a new kind of small plane with road-driving abilities

Do you know that a Mom deserves a special gift this year for Mother’s Day? Sure, flowers can always brighten Mother’s day and a dinner out is always appreciated. However, doesn’t she deserve something more personal or something that lasts longer than an evening?

I’m talking about the gift of fitness. Improved fitness is a gift that is invaluable to everyone. When you give a woman the gift of fitness, you are helping her open a door to better health. I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient(接受者) how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providing them with unlimited health benefits. And, its a gift that you can truly feel proud to give.

Of course, we all know that exercising can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activity reduces stress and can help you sleep better. Fitness has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis(骨质疏松). Not to mention that exercising also improves self-esteem, increases energy and helps you be able to do continuous work for longer.

All Moms would find these fitness benefits extremely invaluable. If they are like most of us, they have probably even mentioned how they would like to drop a few pounds or just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness you are helping provide your mom with extra motivation. She may be more motivated to actually get fit because she doesn’t want to feel guilty about ignoring such a thoughtful gift .

The first paragraph is most likely to tell us that___________.

A. we should invite our mom to a dinner for Mother’s Day

B. it is good to send flowers to moms for Mother’s Day

C. we should give a special gift to our Mom for Mother’s Day

D. moms aren’t worth special gifts for Mother’s Day

You would like to send the gift of fitness to your mother because__________.

A. it is very expensive

B. it doesn’t cost you too much

C. it makes your mother healthy

D. you will be proud of it

You want to keep healthy you should__________.

   A . reduce stress and have a good sleep

   B. try your best to get rid of depression

   C. increase your energy and work longer

   D. take an active part in physical activity

According to this passage the gift of fitness will____________.

A. help moms to lose some more weight

B. encourage moms to do more exercise

C. keep moms having a healthy diet

D. make moms look even more beautiful

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A. This Mother’s Day, Give the gift of Fitness

B. Better Pay Attention to Your Mom’s Health

C. Mom Like to Accept the Gift of Fitness

D. Help Your Mom Keep a Good Shape

If you look up the word “create” in the dictionary , you will find it means “to bring into being, to cause something each of us does daily to exist”.

       We are creative whenever we look at or think about something in a new way. First, this includes an awareness of our surroundings.It means using all of our senses to become aware of our world.This may be as simple as being aware of color and texture(质地), as well as taste, when we plan a meal.Above all, it is the ability to notice things that others might miss.

       A second part of creativity is an ability to see relationships among things.There is nothing new under the sun. The creativity is remaking or recombining(重组) the old in new ways. For example, we might do this by finding a more effective way to study or a better way to arrange our furniture, or we might make a new combination of camera lenses and filters to create an unusual photograph.

       A third part of creativity is the courage and drive to make use of our new ideas, to ask for them to achieve some new results.To think up a new idea is one thing; to put the idea to work is another.

       These three parts of creativity are included in all the great works of geniuses, but they are also included in many of our day-to-day activities.(257 words)

Which of the following activities is NOT a creative one according to the passage?

A. To prepare for a meal.

B. To arrange the furniture in a special way.

C. To buy some books from a bookstore.

D. To “write” a letter with the computer.

“There is nothing new under the sun” really implies that _________.

       A. a new thing can only be created at the basis of earlier things  

       B. a new thing is only a tale

       C. we can seldom create new things            

       D. we can hardly see really new things in the world

What is the relationship between a new thought and its being put into practice?

       A. It’s more difficult to create a new thought than to put it into practice.

       B. To find a new thought will clearly lead to the production of a new thing.

       C. A man with an excellent ability of practice can easily become an inventor.

       D. One may come up with a new thought, but may not put it into practice.

The best title for this passage is__________.

       A. How to Develop One’s Creativity          

       B. What Is Creativity

       C. The Importance of Creativity          

       D. Creativity, a Not Faraway Thing

Several times on my way to work, I passed a gentleman who I supposed homeless. He had a lot of his possessions 36 down to his bike and held a cardboard sign that said he was a 37 who doesn’t drink or do drugs, but would 38 anything that could be given. He usually has 39 on and is listening to the radio. He is always 40 his own business, often reading 41 . I’ve never seen him  42 “begging”.

Several times, while I was 43 him, I realized I had some food with me, so I turned 44 and offered him that food. He took off his headphones, and said, “Umm, blueberry muffins are my 45 !” with a big smile and a gleam in his 46 . He thanked me so 47 .

The graciousness(有礼貌) and humbleness(谦逊) of his  48  makes me want to continue to stop by with “ 49 ” of food, money or other gifts. In the past, I’ve met 50 folks who 51 the food I was offering, saying that they wanted only money instead.

So this wonderful gentleman being so open to receiving has been a 52 .

It also makes me think how 53 I am to receiving in my life --- am I humble and grateful when I am 54 with something? Sometimes yes, sometimes no, but 55 as gracious, humble and sincere as this wonderful man has been in receiving.

A. tied                    B. pulled              C. attached                 D. matched

A. tourist                 B. gentleman        C. beggar                          D. vet

A. take                   B. appreciate       C. refuse                 D. consider

A. lights                    B. headphones        C. cardboards                D. radios            

A. managing                  B. caring               C. minding                   D. inspecting

A. as well               B. in case        C. in vain                            D. underway

A. desperately            B. frequently         C. currently                  D. actively

A. passing                  B. witnessing         C. concerning               D. treating

A. off                        B. down                C. about                       D. around

A. favorites                   B. tastes                C. experiences               D. addiction

A. business              B. eyes                  C. sign                         D. life

A. warmly                 B. specially            C. enthusiastically         D. absolutely

A. protecting              B. receiving           C. offering                   D. demanding

A. love            B. relief           C. contribution              D. surprises

A. familiar                 B. normal                     C. sensitive                   D. homeless

A. turned down          B. threw away        C. fitted in                    D. figured out

A. surprise                 B. blessing             C. disguise                    D. honor

A. dependable            B. critical                     C. typical                            D. open

A. charged                 B. claimed             C. gifted                       D. satisfied

A. permanently           B. commonly         C. rarely                       D. eventually

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