Bicycles are a great way to get around. They are 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, 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 can not 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 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 road. 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.
1. 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.
2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. ISEF is an exhibition 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.
3. 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
4. Renato’s special Multibike has all the following functions except ______.
A. making knives sharp
B. mixing any kind of drinks
C. producing electricity
D. operating a machine with its own electricity
5. 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.

Read the following time table and then answer the following questions.

Train Timetable.

Lv. (Leave) Boston   Ar. (Arrive) Midway     Ar. New York

5:10 AM EX. (Except) Sun.  7:00 AM    10:45 AM

7:10 AM Daily    9:00 AM              12:45 PM

9:10 AM Ex, Sat. & Sun.       11:00 AM       2:45 PM

10:00 Am Ex. Hol. (Holiday)  11:45 AM       2:45 PM

1:15 PM Daily    3:15 PM              5:45 PM

3:40 PM Ex. Hol.    5:40 PM            8:15 PM

5:20 PM Daily    7:20 PM             9:55 PM

1..What is the shortest time between Boston and New York by train?

2..How many trains have to spend over five hours on the way from Boston to New York?

3..On Christmas Day, how many trains at least can you take from Boston to New York?

Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.

Introduction

A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.

Basic Security

Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(车座).

Locks

Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.

Marking

Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent(威慑) to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.

Registration

There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.

Finally

Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you.

1.Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?

A. Locks                 B. Marking       C. Registration      D. Basic Security

2.The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle ____________.

A. in the bike shop and your computer

B. in a police station and security company

C. in a security company and your university

D. by yourself and in a security company

3.Which of the following statements is true?

A. More than 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year.

B. Leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places.

C. Taking a photograph of your bike will help prove the bicycle belongs to you.

D. Always lock your bicycle even if you don’t leave.

4.The main purpose of this article is _____________.

A. to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen

B. to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe

C. to give you advice on where to buy a good lock

D. to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place

Rush hour traffic is a problem in many big cities around the world. Commuters(上下班者)rush to and from their jobs in cars, buses, subways, trains, and even on bicycles. Large cities in the United States have two rush hours—one in the morning and one in the evening. But in cities in other parts of the world, there are four rush hours. In Athens and Rome, for example, many workers go home for lunch and a nap. After this midday break, they rush back to their jobs and work for a few more hours.

In Tokyo, there's a big rush hour underground. Most of the people in Tokyo take the subways. The trains are very crowded. Subway employees called packers wear white gloves and help pack the commuters into the trains when the doors close. They make sure that all purses, briefcases, clothes, and hands are inside the trains.

In Seoul, many commuters prefer to take taxis to get to work.. To hail a cab，many people stand at crossroads and raise two fingers. This means they'll pay the cab driver double the usual fare. Some people even raise three fingers! They'll pay three times the normal rate。

Streets in Rome are very crowded with automobiles and mopeds(摩托自行车)during rush hours. The city can't make its streets wider, and it can't build new highways, because it doesn't want to disturb the many historic sites in the city, such as the Forum and the Coliseum. It took the city fifteen years to construct a new subway system. Construction had to stop every time workers found old artifacts and discovered places of interest to archaeologists(考古学家).

In many big cities, there are special lanes on highways for carpools. These are groups of three or more people who drive to and from work together. They share the costs of gas and parking and take turns driving into the city.

Getting to work and getting home can be difficult in many places around the world. Rush hour traffic seems to be a universal problem.

1.Big cities have traffic problems during rush hours because there are _______

2.Most of the commuters in Tokyo _______

3.To “hail a cab” means to _______

4.Commuters in carpools probably_______