When was the last time you relied on an old-fashioned map to figure out the route to an unfamiliar place? For many, the GPS has revolutionized navigation, making a paper map almost obsolete? So how has this piece of technology developed over its 26 years of existence? On February 14,1989,the first satellite in the US Global Positioning System was sent into space from Cape Canaveral, beginning the start of one of the wonders of the modern world.

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, which is made of a network of around 30 satellites that move around the earth. The system uses a process called trilateration to find out one’s position. By measuring the time it takes for the signal to reach one satellite, the GPS can determine your distance from the satellite, creating a sphere(范围) of possible locations. Measuring your distance from at least three satellites will narrow your location to the place where the three spheres cross one another, to the accuracy(精确) of about less than 1 meter!

The GPS was first invented during the Cold War by the United States Department of Defense. In 1960, the first system, which was made of just five satellites, was put into place. It was initially created for strictly military(军事的) use; however, in 1983, as a result of faulty navigation technology, a Korean passenger plane mistakenly flew into USSR territory(苏联领土) and was shot down. In order to prevent such bad events, American President Ronald Reagan allowed civilian(民用的) use of the GPS.

Over the next ten years, the system’s accuracy improved as the network was increased to 24 satellites. And during the first Persian Gulf War, the new GPS was finally used by the military. Now scientists use the technology to track animals to better understand their movement and behavior. Parents who may be worried about their children can also use GPS technology to track them.

1.The underlined word “obsolete” in Paragraph 1 can best be replaced by “ ”.

A. priceless B. unusual

C. perfect D. useless

2.The second paragraph is mainly about .

A. how the GPS works B. the history of the GPS

C. the applications of the GPS D. some problems with the GPS

3.According to the text, the GPS .

A. has a history of over 100 years

B. became popular during the Cold War

C. relies on the satellites circling the earth

D. was available first during space exploration

4.What does the author think of the GPS?

A. It is not always reliable

B. It has a lot of uses in many fields

C. It makes our life more peaceful

D. It will soon go out of fashion

Volunteering abroad is a great way to help others, improve your skills and become a more confident, independent person. If you are interested in volunteering abroad, here are some places to go.

Australia

If you seek a life on the beach, in a great climate with friendly people, Australia might be your best bet. With thousands of volunteers already signing up to leave for Australia during the holidays, it will be a very popular option.

Brazil

This vast country has some great opportunities on offer and is especially popular this year. A lot of volunteer work is available in Brazil centers on conservation and ecological projects. With the world’s largest rainforest in Brazil, of which huge part is in danger, there are lots of different jobs you can do.

Kenya

Kenya is the destination for those seeking an African experience. Generally volunteers in Kenya work in orphanages (孤儿院) or with local children living in slums (贫民窟). There is a great demand for volunteers in Africa because many people live in poverty, so if you truly feel like making a difference to a community, Kenya should be at the top of your list.

Costa Rica

Golden sandy beaches, clear coastlines and beautiful cities are what Costa Rica is all about. Because of its small size, you can see a lot of the country in just a short time. You can really make the most of your time as a volunteer. A lot of work is needed with wildlife and ecological work, so if you want to look after turtles on the beach. Costa Rica could be just the place for you

1.If you are interested in protecting the environment, you will probably go to .

A. Australia B. Kenya

C. Brazil D. Costa Rica

2.It can be inferred from the passage that volunteers in Kenya mainly work with .

A. animals B. plants

C. the elderly D. children

3.If you choose to go to Costa Rica, you are supposed to .

A. work with animals on the beach

B. surf with children in the water

C. take care of trees in the forests

D. look after children who have lost their parents

Some Ways to Have an Amazing Day

Here are a few tips for making sure you can answer the pop quiz of life confidently:

Be kind.

1. How often do you stop to talk to the people you encounter every day? Do you know the names of the people at the bank, the grocery store, or restaurant? One great way to get more out of your day is to fill it with people you know. The best way to know more people is to be kind to everyone you meet. Take a moment to learn a little about them.

2.

I avoided saying “Stay Busy” because sometimes we can fill our day with meaningless activities and feel busy but then at the end of the day we look back and realize we accomplished nothing. A great way to stay productive is to look at the things you would like to accomplish today, this week, this month, etc. and then plan some time to work on each of them.

Look for ways to serve.

I truly believe that giving meaningful service to other people is the greatest key to our personal happiness. It may be just a smile and a “hello”. 3. It may be just a phone call to tell them “thank you for being a friend.” When we serve other people, we develop personal joy.

Find a purpose.

The happiest people have one or more big “life goals”. 4. When we have a big goal that we feel passionate about we become more excited to work on that goal every day.

5. When you give yourself the pop quiz at the end of the day, you will be ready to say you did everything you

could.

A. Keep learning new things

B. Make the most of every day

C. Stay productive all the time

D. Try to do more in your everyday life

E. It may be helping them with their work

F. It has been said that you can measure a person by how they treat the people who can do nothing for them

G. It may be to run a marathon, write a book, start a business, develop a product or learn a new hobby or profession.

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