Without most people realizing it, there has been a revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large, rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come onto the market, which are capable of doing the work that used to be done by much larger and expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them

The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors（处理器）, or WPS as they are often called. 60% of British offices are now estimated to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.

There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager’s point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.

But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units（显示器）. The case of a slow loss of sight among people using word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a woman works at a VDU for long hours, the unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.

Whatever the arguments for and against word processor, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.

1.Ten years ago, smaller companies did not use large computers because_________.

A．these companies had not enough money to buy such expensive computers

B．these computers could not do the work that small computers can do today

C．these computers did not come onto the market

D．these companies did not need to use this new technology

2.According to the writer, the main feature of the revolution in office work over the last ten years is __________.

A．the saving of time and money

B．the use of computers in small companies

C．the wide use of word processors

D．the decreasing number of secretaries

3.It is implied in the passage that with the use of word processors _________.

A．some secretaries will lose their jobs

B．daily jobs can be done automatically outside office hours

C．medical problems related to work with a VDU have increased greatly

D．the British companies will make less money

4.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．There are both advantages and disadvantages in using a word processor.

B．The British companies care much for the health of the people using word processors.

C．The technology in the field of computers has been greatly advanced over the last ten years.

D．Using word processors, secretaries can get more time to do more interesting work for their bosses.

5.It can be concluded from the passage that ________.

A．safety screens are of poor quality

B．working at a VDU for a long time is good for one’s health

C．more and more British offices will use word processors

D．British companies will need fewer and fewer managers

下面文章中有5处(第61～65题)需要添加小标题。请从以下选项(A、B、C、D、E和F)中选出符合各段意思的小标题。选项中有一项是多余选项。

A. Control of Respiration

B. Basic tips for preserving cut flowers

C. Role of Respiration

D. Most Important Aspect of Flower Care

E. Need for Clean Water

F. Ways of Stopping Respiration

1. __________

????????????? While everybody enjoys fresh cut flowers around his house, few people know how to keep them for as long as possible. This may be done by keeping in mind a few simple facts. The key to keeping fresh cut flowers for a week or more without floral preservatives (which contain biocides that kill bacteria and fungus) is to keep the water fresh and the stems free of air pockets so they can continue to draw up water.

2.__________

????????????? An important thing to remember about cut flowers is that they are sensitive to temperature. For example, studies have shown that cut carnations(康乃馨) retain their freshness eight times longer when kept at 12℃ than when kept at 26℃. Keeping freshly harvested flowers at the right temperatures is probably the most important aspect of flower care.

3.__________

????????????? Flowers are not intended by nature to live very long. Their biological purpose is simply to attract birds or insects, such as bees, for pollination (授粉). After that, they quickly dry up and die. The process by which flowers consume oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, called respiration (呼吸), generates the energy the flower needs to give the flower its shape and color. The making of seeds also depends on this energy. While all living things respire, flowers have a high level of respiration. A result of all this respiration is heat, and for flowers the level of heat relative to the mass of the flower is very high. Respiration also brings about the eventual death of the flower. Thus the greater the level of respiration, the sooner the flower dies.

4. __________

????????????? How, then, to control the rate at which flowers die? By controlling respiration. How is respiration controlled? By controlling temperature. We know that respiration produces heat, but the reverse is also true. Thus by maintaining low temperatures, respiration is reduced and the cut flower will age more slowly.

5. __________

????????????? Another vital factor in keeping cut flowers is the quality of the water in which they are placed. Flowers find it difficult to “drink” water that is dirty or otherwise polluted. Even when water looks and smells clean, it almost certainly contains harmful substances that can endanger the flowers. To rid the water of these unwanted substances, household chlorine bleach (含氯漂白剂) can be used in small quantities. It is recommended that 15 drops of chlorine bleach (at 4% solution) be added to each liter of water. The water and solution should also be replaced each day.

Teaching kids to fish sometimes puzzles us parents. Now I’d like to give you a few tips.

First of all, start them young.

Get them in a boat, or on a pier(码头), or on the bank at as young an age as you possibly can. Obviously this means being extremely conscious about their safety. Whatever you do, DON’T plan on any fishing yourself. If fishing is going to happen, the fishing will be done by the kids with your help! This lets you pay attention to them and not ignore them while you fish.

Next, make sure you plan the first trips to someplace where you can actually catch a lot of fish. At this point, it doesn’t matter what kind or how big, just make sure they can catch some. A small child’s patience is very short, and waiting 30 minutes for a bite will turn them off in a hurry. You may need to go to a small pond where the fish are dying to eat bread balls. Any type of fish will do. Remember, this is for them, not for you.

As they fish, cheer for every fish they catch. Make a really big deal out of it. Take pictures. And if it’s possible, take some home to clean. Let the child help you clean with a table knife, so he can’t get hurt.

Make sure he makes and sees the connection from catching to cleaning to cooking. As soon as you have the fish cleaned, it’s into the kitchen to start cooking. Make him flour and cornmeal the fish. Let him see the fish cooking, and talk about how good they are. Then when it’s ready, make sure you brag（吹嘘） on the fact that he (or she ) caught these fish, and “aren’t they good?”

In this way, I’m sure your kids will be interested in fishing and good at fishing.

Title: Teach a kid to fish

C
Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have experienced an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock(家畜) to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for pig producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make shocking changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear（修剪） sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete change of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
49. Which sentence carried the main idea of the whole passage?
A. The first sentence of the third paragraph.
B. The first sentence of the second paragraph.
C. The first sentence of the first paragraph.   
D. The last sentence of the second paragraph.
50. According to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _______.
A. how much money they can earn from their products
B. whether to plant a certain kind of crop
C. what livestock to raise       D. when to sell their products
51. Which of the following statements is true?
A. Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers.
B. Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present.   
C.  Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms.
D. Students at agricultural colleges must take computer classes because they can do
nothing without the help of computers on today’s farms.
52. What is the best title for the whole passage?
A. Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend               B. Farmers in The Future
C. The Agricultural Revolution                    D. Computers and Robots

C
The computer is fast, and never makes a mistake, while people are too slow, and full of mistakes sometimes. That’s what people often say when they talk about computers. For over a quarter of a century, scientists have been making better and better computers. Now a computer can do a lot of everyday jobs wonderfully. It is widely used in factories, hospitals, post office and airports. A computer can report, decide and control in almost every field. Many computer scientists are now thinking of making the computer “think” like a man. With the help of a person, a computer can draw pictures, write music, talk with people, play chess, recognize voice, translate languages and so on. Perhaps computer will one day really think and feel. Do you think the people will be afraid when they find that the computer too clever to listen to and serve the people?
63. A computer is clever because people are _____
A. clever    B. not clever   C. slow  D.making mistakes
64. Which of the following can computers not do now?
A. Draw pictures   B. Talk    C. Invent new things    D.Serve the people
65. What will happen in the future?
A. Most work will be done by the computer.     B. People will no longer use computer.
C. Computers will be used only talk with people.   D. All computers will be put into prison.
66. The passage is written to __________.
A. warn people of the danger of the computer
B. tell people about the computer
C. tell people about computer scientists
D. show how to use the computer
67. The best title for this passage is _________.
A. “Computers”        B. “Computer Scientists”
C. “The Future World”   D. “Talk With Computers”