A study by St.Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.

Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. “If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions,” he said.

To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St. Louis.

One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups’ respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits.

After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks.

“He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him,” said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago.

Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights..

“AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him,” said the study’s author, Dr. William Banks, “He’s an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot.”

53.Before the new study, it was known that ____.

A. robots were effective at reducing people’s loneliness

B. robots could build close connection with humans

C. dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness

D. dogs could help get rid of old people’s loneliness

54.Those who had contact with the robotic dog found that ___.

A. they didn’t feel comfortable with it

B. it was hard for them to interact with it

C. the robot’s vocalizing and blinking confused them

D. they weren’t comfortable with it at first

55.The findings of the researchers tell us that___.

A. robots are better at caring for old people than nurses

B .it’s easy for people to become close with robots

C. robots can to some degree replace dogs as companions for old people

D. every home will have a robot assistant one day

56.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly

B. Robots Serve People Better Than Thought

C. No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots

Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch offers a unique outdoor adventure camp for international students.

Students who come to Skinner Creek have the opportunity to learn English in an environment entirely different from a regular school setting. English classes are designed to meet the academic and spoken levels of each student. All English classes will be taught by instructors qualified in teaching English as a second language. All levels of English are available.

After class, students can enjoy many outdoor activities in a controlled and safe environment. Experienced managers and camp teachers will prepare each activity to the level appropriate for each student.

Students’ safety is a priority(优先考虑的事) for the staff of Skinner Creek ESL Guest Ranch. Students are monitored at all times and supervisors are in the cabins with the students at night. Staff members have St. John’s First Aid and Transportation and Wilderness First Aid. An emergency clinic is nearby and accessible 24 hours.

English Classes:

Class hours are from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am—2:00 pm with a one-hour break for lunch.

Students are challenged in reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary building and conversational English.

Fun After-class Activities:

Great after-class activities include: horseback riding lessons, hiking, baseball, volleyball, badminton, mountain hiking, bonfires and much more.

Time to watch videos and TV and play games.

Experience Canadian family life.

Weekends:

Special all-day and overnight weekend activities include: camping, days at the lake(fishing, swimming and boating) and more.

Students will be picked up at Vancouver airport and dropped off again for their individual flights. Transportation to and from the ranch will be provided as well as overnight stays in Vancouver.

Please contact the ranch directly for prices: skinnercreek@telus. net.

50.If you attend Skinner Creek Summer Camp, you will___.

A.sometimes have English Classes outdoors.

B.learn how to deal with dangers in the wild.

C.experience the traditional farmer lifestyle.

D.enjoy different sports activities after class

51.How many hours of English classes do students have every week in Skinner Creek?

A.20 hours　 　 B. 28 hours　　 C. 25 hours　　 D. 35 hours

52.How will most students travel to Skinner Creek if they want to attend the camp?

A.By car　　 　　　 B. By air　　 　　　 C. By boat　　　 D. By train

　　　 Don’t talk to me; I’m busy with my iPhone

Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they’re certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet reflection, nor are they reading a book. New technology has replaced quiet habits. Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book.

Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters(乘车上下班的人). Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000—yes, that’s 40,000—“apps” (programs downloaded for the iPhone) have been designed.

Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers. One “app”, called iShoot, is a game that features tanks. Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination. ISteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone. You can then write in the “ steam” on your phone screen.

For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be another choice. It’s not just teenagers who “plug in” to their music—iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages.

And if games, e-books and music aren’t enough to keep you occupied. then perhaps you would prefer a film. The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV show or film on the way to work. With all this entertainments, it’s amazing that people still remember to get off the train.

46. People in London do not make eye contact on the subway because they are busy___.

A.playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching films.

B.going to work

C.reading books

D.thinking private things

47.Those who like war games can download ___to their iPhones.

A.Tube Exits　　 　 B. iShoot　　 C. ISteam　　　　 　　 D. iPod

48.The underlined word “occupied” in the last paragraph probably means____.

A.delighted　　 　　　　 B. busy　　 　　　　 C. controlled　 　　　　 D. amused

49.The article tells us that___.

A. London commuters are unfriendly to strangers

B. Apple has earned a lot of money from selling 40,000 iPhones

C. with all the new time-fillers, London commuters often forget to get off the train.

D. technology is changing the way London commuters spend their traveling time.

It was a perfect day, just the right kind of day to go fishing.

My 13-year-old son Jonathan and I had been 26 this trip for weeks, and now we were sitting on the shore of a beautiful lake.

　 We 27 and talked, and then, suddenly, I saw small 28 where my float(浮子) had been. I waited, 29 it would pop right back up again, but the 30 stayed underneath the water and my heart started to beat 31 . After a few more seconds, my fishing rod was suddenly pulled off the stick it was leaning on 32 me and it was being dragged towards the water.

　 I firmly caught hold of the fishing rod and lifted it up. This fish was 33 ! Slowly, my son balanced on two rocks and leaned down to get the giant off the fishhook.

　 For just one second, he lost his 34 and reached up with his right hand to steady 35 . At that moment, our huge fish got off the fishing line and started to swim 　36 .

　 I saw tears streaming down Jonathan’s face. “Dad, I’m sorry. I’ll never be able to 37 this up to you.” I reached out and put my hands on his shoulders. I said the following 38 almost without thinking. “Jon, how did you feel 39 I was reeling(往卷轴上绕起) that fish in? Were you excited?” He nodded and said, “ Dad, I’ve never been so 　40 in my whole life!” I replied, “ Jon, wasn’t that about the most fun thing we’ve ever done together?” He nodded his head in 41 . Then I said, “So, why should we let a fish getting away 42 possibly the best experience we’ve ever had? Let’s be happy about the fun we did have.”

　 My son, 43 his arms around me and said, “ Dad, I love you so much!” I 44 him back and said softly into his ear, “I love you too, Jon.”

　 We 45 did catch that big fish. But I’ve known ever since that I didn’t let the most important thing get away that day.

26. A. promoting　 　　 B. setting　 C. appreciating　 D. planning

27. A. ran　　　　 　　 B. fished　　 　　　 C. lay　　　　 　　　　 D. listened

28. A. holes　　　 　　 B. objects　 　　　 C. birds　　　　　 　　 D. waves

29. A. thinking　　 　　 B. watching　 　 C. pointing　　 　　　　　 D. discovering

30. A. pole　 　　　 B. float　 　　　　　　 C. stick　 　　　　　　　　　 D. fishhook

31. A. regularly　 B. quietly　 　 　 C. curiously 　　　　 　　D. heavily

32. A. behind　 　　　　 B. on top of　 　　 C. in front of 　　　　　　 D. against

33. A. huge　 　　　　　　 B. white　 　　　　　 C. alive　 　　　　　　　　　 D. beautiful

34. A. balance 　　　　　 B. temper 　　　　　 C. health 　　　　　　　　　 D. bucket

35. A. him　 　　　　　　 B. it　 　　　　　　　　 C. itself　 　　　　　　　　 D. himself

36. A. up　　 　　　　　　 B. beyond 　　　　 C. along 　　　　　　 　　　　　 D. away

37. A. pick　 　　　　　　 B. make　 　　　　　 　 C. build　 　　　　　　　　　　 D. speed

38. A. comments　 　　 B. apologies 　　　　 C. songs　 　　　　　　　　 D. words

39. A. although　 B. while　 　 　　C. unless　 　　　　　　　　 D. since

40. A. reliable　 B. excited　 　　C. forgetful 　　　　　　　　 D. puzzled

41. A. agreement B. surprise 　　　　 C. guilt 　　　　　　　　　　 　 D. happiness

42. A. bring 　　　 B. ruin 　　　　　　　 C. shake 　　　　　　　　　 　 D. mend

43. A. folding 　　　　　　 B. getting 　　　　　　 C. showing 　　　　　　　　 D. throwing

44. A. held 　　　　　　　 B. followed 　　　　 C. hugged　 　　　　　　　 D. formed

45. A. really 　　　 B. never 　　　　　　 　　C. once　 　　　　　　　　　 D. merely

--- Students should spend most of their time rather than playing computer games.

--- ________. I can’t agree more.

　 A. Exactly　　 B. Obviously　　 C. Actually　　　 D. Probably

 Please don’t be ________ by the text massage saying that you have won a shocking prize.

   A. taken off      B. taken over      C. taken away      D. taken in

 Some fans, _________ money was a big problem, couldn’t afford to go to the concert to see their star play.

   A. for whose     B. for whom       C. with whom     D. with whose

---Why didn’t you go for a picnic with us yesterday?

---Oh, I’m sorry. I__________ all about it.

　 A. forgot　　 B. forget　　　 C. had forgotten　　 D. have forgotten

 ________ was needed at that time, she told me, was some good luck.

   A. That       B. As        C. Which       D. What

 _________ you want to remember its usage, you’d better make a sentence with the new word.

   A. While      B. Now that     C. Even if      D. Unless