It is official: Jim Parsons is the new poster child for geekdom.
The actor, who recently won his first Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for his portrayal of Sheldon Cooper on the hit television show The Big Bang Theory, is the hotness right now.
Parsons is a big hit on the Web as a trending topic on Twitter and has a devoted fan base who spread their adoration via Facebook and fan sites.
Parsons is considered by many to be a central part of the sleeper success that has been The Big Bang Theory. The sitcom about two brilliant physicists and their group of friends started out slowly building buzz when it first appeared on CBS in 2007.
Since then, the show has grown into a big success for the network, even raking in fans abroad with its international distribution. In May, The New York Times reported that Warner Bros., which produces and distributes the show, had entered into “what is believed to be one of the most profitable TV deals ever” with TBS and local Fox stations.
Audiences just can’t seem to get enough of the character of Sheldon Cooper, who is as socially dysfunctional as he is bright. Admirers take to Facebook fan pages to post their favorite Sheldon quotes, including: “I’m not insane (crazy), my mother had me tested!” and “They were threatened by my intelligence and too stupid to know that’s why they hated me.”
Fans can visit Jim Parsons Online, and there is even a site, SheldonShirts.com, dedicated to the many shirts worn by the character, complete with links to where to buy them. Mary Waring created the site because of her husband’s interest in Sheldon Cooper’s shirts. And with his character’s nerdy character and addiction to all things “Star Trek,” Parsons is also a hit with  fan boys and fan girls.
【小题1】The underlined phrase “raking in” means ___________.

He wasn’t sick. He wasn’t old. And he wasn’t losing. He had a very good final season and won his last game in 2008. And then he walked away.

Lloyd Carr was 62. That’s a few years earlier than retirement(退休) age in America and many years earlier than some college football coaches say goodbye. How was Carr, who coached University of Michigan, able to leave so easily?

“ It can be intoxicating,” Carr admits. “The Saturday afternoons and the crowds. And when you win, there’s nothing like it.”

But the job needs hard work. The pressure to win. The endless training. The hours are so long that sleeping at the office is a normal thing. I reported Carr’s career at Michigan from 1995 to 2007. I saw him run onto the field before 100,000 cheering fans, saw him enjoy a share of a national championship with a 12-0 season.

And when I visited him recently in retirement, the difference was noticeable. He seems much calmer, relaxed, more at peace. He says, “As much fun as it is, there’s a period when you have other things to deal with.”

Carr knew he wanted to travel, see the world, read more, do other work. He is now connected with a children’s hospital, does some speaking, plays golf, and enjoys relaxing with his wife, Laurie, and their many grandchildren.

Several of today’s big-name coaches are all about Carr’s retirement age. Nick Saban turns 59 this month. Jim Tressel is 57. Frank Beamer is already 63. None of them seems to be slowing down.

So when, I ask Carr, is the right moment to leave such a great job?

He thinks. Finally, he says, “When you love it and can still walk away from it. That’s the right moment.”

1.Lloyd Carr stopped working as a coach because he _______.

A．was too old                            B．was injured seriously

C．had other things to experience             D．followed others’ examples

2.The underlined word “intoxicating” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______.

A．exciting           B．disappointing       C．surprising         D．puzzling

3.It can be inferred from the text that Lloyd Carr ________.

A．was always free after retirement

B．was a failure as a football coach

C．missed the time when he coached

D．enjoyed his retirement life very much

4.The author is most probably ________.

A．a football player                        B．Lloyd Carr’s assistant

C．a retired coach                         D．a sports reporter

Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando in Florida

People say that it is the home of the “Harry Potter Theme Park”. The Wizarding World is the most popular part of the park. Other popular rides include the Adventures of Spider-Man, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges and the Jurassic Park River Adventure.

It is open from Monday to Saturday. $15.95 for children, 3 to 13 years old; $29.95 for ages 14 and over.

PI-O Indoor Theme Park in Longueuil

The PI-O Indoor Theme Park features(以……为特色) 16 rides, a small sea train, a kid-sized bowling alley(保龄球场), a mirror maze(迷宫), theme rooms which include the Christmas room on-the-sea, and a private reception room.

“I wanted to create a safe environment for kids aged 1 to 10,” explains owner Jocelyne Pinard. She noted how many competing amusement parks have sections that can be unsafe for young kids — such as the “ball rooms” full of loose plastic balls. So this is how it is different from other amusement parks.

Open seven days a week. The admission fees are $16.99 for individuals(个人) and $64 for families.

Legoland Windsor Theme Park in London

Legoland Windsor is the best choice for young families. The park is designed for children from 3 to 12. There are over 50 rides as well as live shows, workshops, and other attractions aimed at younger children, and especially those who are already fond of building-block(积木) toys.

The park is open every single day. Adults: $35; Ages 3-15 and 60+: $26. Buy online and save $3 per person.

Wonder La Theme Park in India

Wonder La is a world-class amusement park. It’s modern, clean and green, and has all kinds of attractions. There are over 50 rides, 12 of which are water based and 9 especially for small children. If you love getting wet, don’t miss the Rain Disco — an indoor dance floor with a rain system that provides showers of warm water to the music.

Monday to Friday 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Holiday and Festival seasons 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Single adult / child — $13.50; Family ticket (for any four people) — $50.00; Children 3 and under — Free.

1.If Jim is free this Sunday, he can choose to visit the following parks EXCEPT________.

A．Islands of Adventure                     B．PI-O

C．Legoland Windsor                       D．Wonder La

2.How is PI-O Indoor Theme Park mainly different from other parks?

A．It is much safer.                         B．It features more rides.

C．It is much cheaper.                      D．It offers more activities.

3.If a couple want to visit Legoland Windsor Theme Park with their 5-year-old son, how much do they need to pay when booking online?

A．$70.             B．$87.              C．$93.             D．$96.

4.Which of the following about Wonder La Theme Park is NOT true?

A．It is located in India.

B．It is free for children of 3 and under.

C．There are nine rides especially for small children.

D．The Rain Disco lets children enjoy cool showers while dancing.

5.Where is the passage most probably taken?

A．A science magazine.                     B．A text book.

C．A travel guide.                          D．A local newspaper.

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号∧,并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线/ 划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不记分。
Jim is one of my closely friends. Two months ago，his mother bought a computer
to him as a birthday present. She hoped Jim will study hard with the help of the
computer. To his surprise，Jim just wasted plenty of time play computer games every
day. Now she regrets buying the computer. As matter of fact，a computer can do a lot of
everyday jobs for us. It is wide used in factories，hospitals，banks and so on. Many
computers scientists are now trying to make the computer to “think” like a man. In my
opinion，the key is what we should use it wisely.

Jim is determined to get a seat for the concert ________ it means standing in a queue all night.

A. now that      B. even if  C. as if     D. so that