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    Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries. These satellite-based systems provide turn-by-turn directions to help people get to where they want to go. But, they can also cause a lot of problems, send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost. Many times, the driver is to blame. Sometimes a GPS error is responsible. Most often, says Barry Brown, it is a combination of the two.

We spoke to Mr. Brown by Skype. He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States. There he borrowed a GPS-equipped car to use during his stay. Barry Brown: “ And they just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination. And, then it wasn’t until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived. They actually put their home address in. So again, the GPS is kind of ‘garbage in garbage out’.”

Mr. Brown says this is a common human error. But, he says, what makes the problem worse has something to do with some of the shortcomings, or failures, of GPS equipment. Barry Brown: “One problem with a lot of the GPS units is that they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn. Because they just give you the next turn, sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it is going to the wrong place.”

Barry Brown formerly served as a professor with the University of California, San Diego. While there, he worked on a project with Eric Laurier from the University of Edinburgh. The two men studied the effects of GPS devices on Driving by placing cameras in people’s cars. They wrote a paper based on their research. It is called “The Normal, Natural Troubles of Driving with GPS.” It lists several areas where GPS systems can cause confusion for drivers. These include maps that are outdated, incorrect or difficult to understand. They also include timing issues related to when GPS commands are given.

Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better, we need a better understanding of how drivers, passengers and GPS systems work together.

1.In Para. 2, Mr. Brown mentioned his friend in the conversation to ______.

A.laugh at his stupid friend B.describe an example of human error

C.build up his own reputation D.prove the GPS system is only garbage

2.Which of the following statement would Barry Brown be most likely to agree with?

A.GPS units are to blame for the most GPS service failure.

B.We should introduce higher standard for the driving license.

C.Cameras are urgently needed to help improve GPS systems.

D.Some shortcomings of GPS equipment are more likely to result in service failure.

3.According to Barry and Eric, which of the following is NOT among the areas of GPS systems that may confuse drivers?

A.Wrong maps. B.Out-dated maps.

C.Difficult instructions. D.Timing of GPS commands.

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A.Driving with GPS Can Be Difficult.

B.Driving Confusions Can Be Caused By Small Screen.

C.Driving without GPS Should Be Much More Convenient.

D.GPS Equipment In Driving: To Be Deserted Or Improved.

    Beginning college is exciting: new ideas to explore, new challenges to meet and many decisions to make．Your future begins here．

However，you will find college life is different from your previous school environment．Many of us can be easily overwhelmed（压垮）by the details of running a well-balanced life．While some of us may have the know-how, I guess there are more of us who can benefit from learning about the experiences of others who have walked the college halls before you．

The following you may find of use about life on campus．

* Plan well．There are so many new things to do at a new college or university．Give yourself time to make new friends and become familiar with the campus, but don’t forget why you are there．Give some time for social activities and manage your time wisely．

* If you don’t have a “system” for planning your time now （like a day timer, a computer data book）, get one．Most of all, don’t depend on your memory．

* Don’t miss the guidelines．The restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook．Consider them well-balanced food for thought．What dates are important? What pieces of paper need to be handed in? What can/ can’t you do in class? What can/ can’t you do in your student residence（住处）? Who has right for what? What do you need to complete to graduate?

* Write the word “STUDY” on the walls of our bedroom and bathroom, and maybe it will help to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the telephone, TV and the kitchen table．Consider this—you are paying thousands of dollars for your courses．You pay every time you have to repeat or replace a course．

* Build your identity．This is the time for you to decide what to do and what not to do．Take as much time as you need to explore new ideas．Do not be afraid of the beyond．This is learning to make good choices．

1.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A.To offer advice on college life．

B.To explain why college life is exciting．

C.To describe the importance of college life．

D.To persuade you to go to college．

2.According to the passage, why is it exciting to begin college life?

A.Because you will have more freedom at college．

B.Because you will no longer be afraid of the beyond．

C.Because you prepare for your future career and life there．

D.Because professors there will provide you with many new ideas．

3.The underlined word “know-how” refers to     ．

A.an understanding of how things are going at college

B.practical knowledge about how to behave and what to do at college

C.college halls where rules and regulations are presented

D.an environment completely different from the one you’re used to

4.According to the passage, college students ________ ．

A.needn’t learn from those who went to college before them

B.spend as much time as possible on social activities

C.should know what they have fought for on campus

D.are supposed to repeat or replace at least one course

During the school year many parents take on the role of driver as they drive their children from one lesson to another .Understandably so. Many of us want our children to have a little taste of everything, from organized sports to music, dance and more. But we can overdo it, leaving our children feeling a little burnt out, and according to parent educator Diane Loisie ,it’s their school work which suffers the most. “After school, if they’re busy in a number of sporting events, besides they need to do their homework, then the time they’ll feel sleepy is in the classroom. Your child needs free time. So if you’re filling up that after school time, then it’s during the day that they’re going to be taking a break.”

Professor Claire McDermott agrees that there’s a lot to be gained from sometimes putting those scheduled lessons and activities away. “Relaxing time is important for children. It’s time just to do the things they want to do. A child can go up to their room, or they can play around. It doesn’t look like productive time; parents certainly wouldn’t be saying ‘Wow, are they ever learning things now?’ But this relaxing time gives both the body and the brain just a wonderful chance to relax after a day. It helps a child prepare for sleep, but it also helps to understand the learning that’s gone on that day.”

It’s hard to prevent signing our kids up for some activities and lessons. After all, many of us want our children to have a head start in life and the chance to join in great activities in the arts or sports is a part of that. However, Loisie feels that in the long run most children feel better with just a few key activities because it gives them an opportunity to master them. “When we get our children in too many activities because we want our children to experience everything, then what we’re doing is setting them up not to be good at one thing or gaining a skill.” So choose your children’s activities wisely. It may be one of the best things you’ve ever done for your kids… and for the family drivers!

1.What is the biggest disadvantage for children to attend too many lessons after school?

A.They can get bored easily about everything.

B.They might have no time to do the homework.

C.They might not pay much attention to learning.

D.They cannot easily focus on learning during the day.

2.What should we think of children’s playing around aimlessly?

A.It is productive. B.It is helpful. C.It is a bad habit. D.It is a waste of time.

3.Why should parents limit the activities our children attend?

A.Because children have no time.

B.Because children cannot learn many things.

C.Because children do not have enough sleep.

D.Because children cannot focus on too many activities.

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.Don’t be children’s drivers after school.

B.Choose activities for your children wisely.

C.Make your children learn as much as possible.

D.Let children learn something from various subjects.

    The United States is well-known for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. Although these wide modern roads are generally ________ and well maintained, with ________ sharp curves and many straight sections, a direct route is not always the most enjoyable one. Large highways often pass ________ scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally ________ large urban centers, which means that they becomes crowded with ________ traffic during rush hours and the “fast, direct” way becomes a very slow route.

However, there is almost always another route to take if you are not in a hurry. Not far from the relatively new “superhighways”, there are often older, _________ heavily travelled roads which go through the countryside. Or of these are good two-lane roads; others are uneven roads curving through the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along high ________ or down frightening hillsides to towns ________ in deep valleys. Through these less direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places ________ the air is clean and the scenery is beautiful, the driver may have a chance to get a fresh, clean ________ of the world.

1.A.stable B.splendid C.smooth D.completed

2.A.little B.few C.much D.many

3.A.to B.into C.over D.by

4.A.lead B.connect C.collect D.communicate

5.A.large B.fast C.light D.heavy

6.A.and B.less C.more D.or

7.A.rocks B.cliffs C.roads D.paths

8.A.lying B.laying C.laid D.lied

9.A.there B.when C.which D.where

10.A.view B.variety C.visit D.virtue

Directions: Read the following two passages. Fill in each blank with one proper word or the proper form of the given word to make the passage coherent. Make sure that your answers are grammatically correct.

Athens----- the name brings to mind buildings with tall, white columns and statues of Greek gods and goddesses. Museums take visitors back to the time of ancient Greece. When 1. (visit) the city, visitors feel like they are in the middle of a history lesson.

The history of Athens is tied to mythology. The god 2. came up with the most valuable legacy for humans was to give the city its name. Poseidon and Athena each wanted the honor. Athena produced 3. olive tree------ the symbol of peace and wealth. Poseidon offered a strong horse needed for war. The gods decided Athena’s gift would better serve the people, and the city became 4. (know) as Athens.

The Acropolis, or “ high city”, stands on a hill overlooking the city. Western civilization’s most important ancient monument was built by Pericles, the leader of Athens from 461-421BC. He spared no expense when he constructed the buildings of the Acropolis. He used only the 5. (good) materials, architects and artists. His artists created huge statues of marble (大理石) and covered them 6. gold and jewels.

More treasure of ancient Greece lies in the National Archeological Museum. Opened in 1874, the museum contains the best collection of Greek art in the world. It is crammed with treasures ------ more 7. visitors can see in a single visit. Visitors can view treasures from all the ancient civilizations that controlled the city 8.history.