Bicycles are a great way to get around. They’re fun to ride, especially down hills. And, as you speed along the road, you might also think of ways in which you could improve your bike— make it safer, more efficient, or more comfortable. In fact, the two-wheeled machines make for some cool science projects.

This year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held last May in Cleveland, featured（had）three bicycle projects from three countries. Like many of the other experiments presented at ISEF, the bike projects showed that some of the most interesting scientific research often begins by taking a closer look at things you care about.

       Renato Angulo Chu had even grander ambitions. The 12th-grader from Lima, Peru, wanted to address some of his country's economic troubles.

"I see a problem in my country," Renato said. "If you go to the forests in Peru, in some places you cannot find electricity. If you go with my bicycle, you can turn on the lights."

Renato, 16, spent 3 years designing his special Multibike. The device looks like a fixed exercise bike. It has wires fixed along the frame and a blender strapped(fastened) to the back. Turning the pedals operates the blender. The same principle can be used to sharpen knives or sweep city streets.

       The Multibike can work either as a fixed bike or as a bicycle able to travel city streets and country roads. It's made from inexpensive materials, and the user gets exercise while pedaling to operate a machine.

"You pedal the bike, and you can mix any drink you want," Renato said. More importantly, he added, the same concept could be used to bring light to houses in remote regions of the rainforest.

19. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

       A. Bicycles are the best way to go about

       B. Bikes should be made more comfortable to ride.

       C. You can improve your bicycle for science research.

       D. Many inventions are connected with the bicycle.

20. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

       A. ISEF is an exhibiton displaying bicycle experiments designed by students.

       B. Looking closely at things you are concerned about can lead to scientific research.

       C. Renato’s improvement of the bicycle has solved the country’s great problem.

       D. Renato’s special bicycle will soon be put into use in remote areas.’

21. The underlined word “address” in the third paragraph probably has the same meaning as _______.

       A. make address written        B. give up             C. work at             D. speak at

22. Renato’s special Multibike has all the following EXCEPT  ________.

       A. making knives sharp                                     B. mixing any kind of drinks

       C. producing electricity                                     D. operating a machine with its own electricity

23. It can be inferred that Renato’s special bicycle is mainly designed for ________.

       A. distant areas in the rainforest without electricity.

       B. the use of his own family to make life easier.

       C. the competition of ISEF to win money to support remote rainforests

       D. enough exercise by pedaling it

To enjoy the scenery, Irene would rather spend long hours on the train _____ travel by air.

1. A.
   as
2. B.
   to
3. C.
   than
4. D.
   while

An epic^① love story, set against the sweeping landscapes of Wyoming and Texas, that tells the story of two young men — a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy — who meet in the summer of 1963 while driving cattle on a mountain range. They unexpectedly develop a lifelong connection, one whose complications^②, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.

Notes:

epic  adj. 英雄的

complication  n. 复杂化

According to the passage, Brokeback Mountain is mainly about ______.

A. language study      B. love     C. violence     D. funny story

The film Brokeback Mountain is mainly from short story by ______.

A. Ang Lee     B. Michelle Williams      C. Diana Ossana     D. E. Annie Proulx

According to the passage, the natural sights in Brokeback Mountain was filmed in ______.

A. America     B. Canada      C. China     D. Mexico

If you live in New York on Jan. 25, you’d better enjoy the film in ______.

A. Loews Dupont Circle 5           B. Pacific’s The Grove Stadium 14

C. Embarcadero                   D. BAM Rose Cinemas

Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interact these days. The  1  is "networked individualism". This concept is not  2  to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals and be networked  3  ? You need other people for  4 .

Here is  5  Professor Wellman means.  6  the invention of the Internet and email, our social networks  7  live interactions with relatives, neighbors and colleagues at work. Some of the  _8  was by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in  9  time.

A recent  10  by the Pew Internet and American Life Project  11  that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the computer has  12  the person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew's study  13  that's a good thing. Why?

In the past , many people were  14  that the Internet isolated (孤立) us and caused us to _15  too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew's study discovered that the _16  is true. The Internet  17  us with more real people than expected --  18  people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet  19  an important role in helping them make major life decisions.

Thanks to the computer, "networked individuals" are able to be  20  and together with other people -- at the same time!

1. A. saying           B. term               C. concept           D. meaning

2. A. difficult          B. different            C. easy                 D. surprising

3. A. at the same time   B. at once                     C. all the time           D. once in a while

4. A. job            B. food                C. help                D. networks

5. A. what             B. how               C. where              D. which

6. A. After            B. With               C. Before             D. As

7. A. included          B. contained           C. formed           D. affected

8. A. appointment       B. interaction          C. invitations          D. doings

9. A. true             B. right             C. wrong            D. real

10. A. experiment      B. study              C. interview           D. work

11. A. showed        B. suggested           C. learned             D. added

12. A. ensured               B. removed            C. replaced            D. exchanged

13. A. say           B. discuss             C. talk              D. speak

14. A. excited        B. surprised           C. shocked            D. worried

15. A. take            B. spend              C. cost              D. stay

16. A. opposite          B. thing               C. outcome            D. effect

17. A. connects       B. offers              C. shares              D. informs

18. A. thankful       B. considerate          C. helpful             D. friendly

19. A. finds           B. plays               C. catches             D. possesses

20. A. united           B. social              C. separated           D. alone