Powered by Microwaves

(微波动力飞机)

Canadian Scientists have successfully tested an unusual airplane. The airplane is not powered by fuels. It is powered by microwaves. Microwaves can be produced by equipment on earth. When the microwaves hit the bottom of the plane’s wings, instruments’ change them into a more usable form of energy—electricity. The electricity powers the plane’s engine.

　　  The plane was developed by the Canadian government and the University of Toronto. The plane is called the Sharpfire. The Sharpfire is much too small to carry people or equipment. It was built only to see if the technology would work. Sharpfire is made of light weight wood．Its wings are about three and one half meters across. In its first public test, the Sharpfire flew eighty meters above the ground for almost four minutes. A future microwave plane will be much larger than the Sharpfire. The main reason for using microwave energy to power an airplane is to end the plane’s need to carry fuel. An American researcher says this technology will be very common in the next century.

1．The Canadian government and University of Toronto developed ________.

A．the old plane

B, the unusual train

C．the microwave

D．the unusual microwave plane

2．The plane Sharpfire was designed ________.

A．to carry people

B．to carry equipment

C．to see if the technology would work

D．to carry people and equipment

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

A．The plane was developed by American government.

B．The unusual plane is called Campfire.

C．The airplane is made of a kind of wood.

D．A future microwave plane will be of the same size as Sharpfire.

4．What is the main reason for using microwave energy to power an airplane?

A．It is to save fuel.

B．It is to enable the plane to carry more fuel.

C．It is to use electricity to power the plane’s engine.

D．It is to end the plane’s need to carry fuel and

    to enable the plane to carry more.

An Unusual Airplane

Powered by Microwaves

(微波动力飞机)

Canadian Scientists have successfully tested an unusual airplane. The airplane is not powered by fuels. It is powered by microwaves. Microwaves can be produced by equipment on earth. When the microwaves hit the bottom of the plane’s wings, instruments’ change them into a more usable form of energy—electricity. The electricity powers the plane’s engine.

　　  The plane was developed by the Canadian government and the University of Toronto. The plane is called the Sharpfire. The Sharpfire is much too small to carry people or equipment. It was built only to see if the technology would work. Sharpfire is made of light weight wood．Its wings are about three and one half meters across. In its first public test, the Sharpfire flew eighty meters above the ground for almost four minutes. A future microwave plane will be much larger than the Sharpfire. The main reason for using microwave energy to power an airplane is to end the plane’s need to carry fuel. An American researcher says this technology will be very common in the next century.

1．The Canadian government and University of Toronto developed ________.

A．the old plane

B, the unusual train

C．the microwave

D．the unusual microwave plane

2．The plane Sharpfire was designed ________.

A．to carry people

B．to carry equipment

C．to see if the technology would work

D．to carry people and equipment

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

A．The plane was developed by American government.

B．The unusual plane is called Campfire.

C．The airplane is made of a kind of wood.

D．A future microwave plane will be of the same size as Sharpfire.

4．What is the main reason for using microwave energy to power an airplane?

A．It is to save fuel.

B．It is to enable the plane to carry more fuel.

C．It is to use electricity to power the plane’s engine.

D．It is to end the plane’s need to carry fuel and

    to enable the plane to carry more.

Michelle Obama made a daring decision to return to the same designer who created her Inaugural (就职）Ball dress four years ago --- and the risk paid off.

The First Lady looked extremely attractive in a thin, sweeping, and ruby-colored dress by designer Jason Wu. She teamed the dramatic dress with heels by Jimmy Choo and a diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald.

She surprised the fashion establishment by returning to a Wu design which had been the custom made for her.

Four years ago at her first Inauguration Ball, Michelle shimmered（熠熠生辉）in an off-white, one-shouldered floor-length dress by the designer.

Wu, who was 26 at the time and had only been working in fashion for three years, saw his career take off after the First Lady's surprise decision to wear one of his dresses.

He said at the time that he was unaware she had chosen the dress and had been watching at home on his couch and eating pizza when she appeared.

After her 2013 decision, Wu told Women's Wear Daily: “Mrs Obama likes to keep her secrets. She fooled me again.”

Wu released a women's clothing and accessories（装饰品）collection at Target last year and continues to be popular with the First Lady for official engagements.

The sleeveless, cross-halter neck dress with low-cut back flattered（突出）49-year-old Michelle's arms and neat waist.

It had been created especially for her by Wu and was a departure from the dark and plain colour tone she stuck to at earlier inauguration events.

Mrs Obama's new hairstyle -- she had bangs（美发沙龙）cut on her birthday last week  had been loosely tousled（蓬松的）for the special night.

Vice-President Joe Biden's wife Jill also looked attractive in a blue silk dress by Vera Wang at the Inauguration Ball.

1.What does the passage mainly talk about？

A．Michelle Obama’s inaugural ball dress.

B．Wu, a great designer.

C．The First Lady’s secrets.

D．Mrs Obama’s 2013 decision.

2.Michelle Obama’s brave decision proved to be a_________.

A．risk                                  B．danger

C． Surprise                             D．success

3. According to the passage, which of the following is correct?

A．Mrs Obama’s inaugural dresses were made by the same designer.

B．Joe Biden’s wife Jill also had her dress created by Wu.

C．The colour tone at Michelle’s earlier inaugural events was not satifactory.

D．Mrs Obama had straight forehead hair as her new hairstyle for the special night.

4. Which of the following best describes Jason Wu?

A．Daring and gifted.

B．Unusual and cautious.

C．Careful and brave.

D．Talented and lucky.

5. From the 6th and 7th paragraphs we know that________.

A．Wu was aware that Mrs Obama had chosen his work again

B．Wu didn’t know Mrs Obama had chosen his creation again.

C．Mrs Obama told Wu to give away her secrets

D．Mrs Obama should have told Wu the truth

Below are same classified ads from an English newspaper.

In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms (症状). While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them. "Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium (铊) poisoning."
"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."
"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."
"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."
Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (杀虫剂) used in Qatar.
【小题1】The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _____.