Tiredness, coughing, a runny nose and a sore throat—among all sicknesses there is probably none more common than the flu (流感), which we all get now and then. However, bird flu is a completely different story.
In 2003, the H5N1 bird flu swept across 15 countries, including China, with sufferers reporting chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever and severe coughing. More than 600 people were infected, and about 60 percent died. Now, another type of bird flu hit Shanghai and three neighboring provinces, and this time the virus is called H7N9. By the afternoon of April 11, the new virus had taken nine lives out of 35 infected, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The “H” and “N” in the virus’ name refer to two kinds of proteins (蛋白质) on the surface of the virus. Any change of the numbers of the two proteins indicates a new mutation(变异). Most of the mutations only affect birds, such as chickens and pigeons, and don’t normally spread to humans. But once they do, the results can be disastrous.
“Any time an animal influenza virus crosses to humans, it is a cause for concern, ” Malik Peiris, virologist (病毒学家) at the University of Hong Kong, told Nature magazine. Take the SARS epidemic (传染病) in 2003 as an example. The virus behind the disease is thought to have jumped to humans from animals. The virus was a complete “stranger” to human bodies, which hadn’t developed an immunity (免疫力) against it.
But there is something more about the new H7N9 bird flu. Unlike the H5N1 bird flu, which causes severe sickness in birds, the H7N9 has been evolving under the radar(悄悄地) since it travels between birds without causing noticeable illness. That makes it difficult to keep track of the disease.
The good news is that there’s so far no sign that the virus is spreading from person to person. But since there is no vaccine (疫苗) for the disease yet, the World Health Organization recommends that you wash your hands after meeting with sick people and before and after you eat or prepare food, and they also suggest avoiding contact with birds or their eggs.
1.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A. The H5N1 bird flu turned out to have something to do with the SARS epidemic.
B. More than 600 people across the world died from the H5N1 bird flu in 2003.
C. Most of the mutations of the proteins in the bird flu virus are harmful to both birds and humans.
D. The name, H7N9 bird flu, shows that there have been new mutations of the proteins in the virus.
2.With the example of the SARS epidemic in Paragraph 5, the author intends to .
A. introduce where the SARS virus came from
B. inform us of the harmful effects of the SARS epidemic ten years ago
C. show the horrible effects an animal influenza virus can have once it spreads to humans
D. compare the differences between the SARS epidemic and the H7N9 bird flu
3.What makes the H7N9 bird flu more frightening than the H5N1 bird flu according to the text?
A. It can cause severe sickness in birds.
B. It can spread from person to person.
C. It affects a greater number of birds.
D. It doesn’t sicken birds and thus can spread unnoticed.
4.What are people advised to do to protect themselves against the H7N9 bird flu?
a. To get vaccinated for the disease. b. To keep away from birds and their eggs.
c. To stop eating chickens and ducks. d. To avoid meeting with sick people.
e. To wash hands thoroughly and regularly.
A. a, b B. c, d C. b, e D. a, e
George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America’s greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.
Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.
In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.
In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It sill remains one of his most famous works.
George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.
1.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were ________.
A. written about New Yorkers B. composed for Paul Whiteman
C. played mainly in the countryside D. performed in various ways
2.What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?
A. He created one of his best works. B. He studied with Nadia Boulanger.
C. He argued with French critics. D. He changed his music style.
3.What do we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.
B. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.
C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.
D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.
4.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?
A. Talented and productive. B. Serious and boring.
C. Popular and unhappy. D. Friendly and honest.
Welcome to your future life!
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people at your age could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging(抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change clothes’ color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says,” You shouldn't drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk, and it Knows the milk is old. In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.
It’s time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology” is all around you.
So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed,” says scientist Andrew Zolli,” it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example what will be the next.
1.We can learn from the text that in the future__________.
A. people will never get old B. everyone will look the same
C. red will be the most popular color D. clothes will be able to change their pattern
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A. Milk will be harmful to health.
B. More drinks will be available for sale.
C. Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information.
D. Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer.
3.Which of the following is mentioned in the text?
A. Nothing can replace the Internet. B. Fridges will Know what people need.
C. Jacket sleeves can be used as a guide. D. Cars will be able to drive automatically.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. Food and clothing in 2035. B. Future technology in everyday life.
C. Medical treatments of the future. D. The reason for the success of new technology.
Choose Your One-Day-Tours!
Tour A - Bath &Stonehenge including entrance fees to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge -￡37 until 26 March and ￡39 thereafter. Visit the city with over 2,000 years of history and Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum, Stonehenge is one of the world's most famous prehistoric monuments dating back over 5,000 years.
Tour B - Oxford & Stratford including entrance fees to the University St Mary's Church Tower and Anne Hathaway's -￡32 until 12 March and ￡36 thereafter. Oxford: Includes a guided tour of England's oldest university city and colleges. Look over the "city of dreaming spires(尖顶）"from St Mary’s Church Tower. Stratford: Includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.
Tour C - Windsor Castle &Hampton Court: including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace -￡34 until 11 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court, Henry VILL's favorite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle(entrance fees not included).With 500 years of history, Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens, which include the famous maze(迷宫)where it is easy to get lost!
Tour D –Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great -￡33 until 18 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Cambridge, the famous university town, and the gardens of the 18th century.
1.Which tour will you choose if you want to see England’s oldest university city?
A. Tour A B. Tour B
C. Tour C D. Tour D
2.Which of the following tours charges the lowest fee on 17 March?
A. Windsor Castle & Hampton Court B. Oxford & Stratford
C. Bath & Stonehenge D. Cambridge
3.Why is Hampton Court a major tourist attraction?
A. It used to be the home of royal families B. It used to be a well-known maze
C. It is the oldest palace in Britain D. It is a world-famous castle
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What’s the winners’ key to success?
A. Stopping blaming others.
B. Working very hard.
C. Being happy.
2.What will the winners do if their cars broke down?
A. Call for help. B. Be angry at the car. C. Have a rest.
3.What should you do to deal with an irresponsible colleague?
A. Shout at him. B. Work with others. C. Tell him to be responsible.
4.What do the winners take problems as?
A. Blocks on the way.
B. Excuses for their failures.
C. Chances for self-development.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where did the man go yesterday?
A. The National Zoo. B. The Beihai Park. C. The Forbidden City.
2.What did the man do yesterday afternoon?
A. He went for a walk. B. He rode a horse. C. He took some photos.
3.What did the man do in that bar?
A. He sang a song. B. He had a dance. C. He made some friends.
4.Why did the woman call the man?
A. To borrow his bike.
B. To give his book back.
C. To have some coffee with him.
