It is well known to car drivers that red means “stop”, green means “go” and yellow means “hurry up and make that damn light”. Why those colors, though? The answer lies in the fact that the earliest traffic signals were designed for trains, not cars. They were red and green, gas-powered, and more than a little dangerous in the event of a leak.
Red is an inherited (继承的) symbol from railroads, which symbolizes danger in many cultures. As red has a longer wavelength than any other color on the visible spectrum (光谱), it can be seen from a greater distance than other colors. Red has meant “stop” since long before cars existed, with train signals’ use of red dating back to the days when mechanical arms lifted and lowered to indicate whether the rail ahead was clear.
Green’s wavelength is next to (and shorter than) yellow’s on the visible spectrum, meaning it’s still easier to see than any color other than red and yellow. Back in the early days of railway lights, green meant “caution”, while the “all-clear” light was, well, clear or white. It is said that several disastrous collisions happened after an engineer mistook stars in the night for an all-clear. Thus, green became “go”, and for a long time, railways used only green and red to signal trains.
From the earliest days of motoring up until mid-1900s, not all stop signs were red-many were yellow, because at night it was all but impossible to see a red stop sign in a poorly lit area. In 1950 the yellow stop-sign craze began in Detroit, a city that five years later installed its first electric traffic signal, which happened to include the very first yellow traffic light.
But what of those mysterious yellow stop-signs? As materials and technologies evolved, the ability to produce highly reflective signs meant that red could resume its natural spot in the sign hierarchy (层次体系，等级体系), leaving the still-highly-visible yellow to the domain (领域) of “caution”. That’s why school zones and buses, crosswalks, and other important warnings are yellow today.
1.What’s the main reason for the color red’s long being used to mean “stop”?
A.It has the longest wavelength on the visible spectrum.
B.It represents danger in many cultures.
C.It can be seen even in the dark area.
D.People prefer red to other colors.
2.Which of the following may the author agree with?
A.The meaning of red is culture–specific.
B.Yellow functioned as stop signs in the 1900s.
C.Green’s wavelength is just second to that of red.
D.Green’s role in traffic lights has changed over time.
3.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.The significance of road traffic signs.
B.The history of railroad transportation.
C.The symbolic meaning of different colors.
D.The origin and development of traffic lights.
After shopping for deals in stores on “Black Friday”, or online on “Cyber Monday”, Americans and people worldwide are preparing for newly popular “Giving Tuesday”. Starting in 2012, now the global event that is celebrated annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is the brainchild of 92nd Street Y, a cultural center in New York City and the United Nations Foundation.
As the name indicates, “Giving Tuesday” is meant to restart the charitable season and therefore observed by raising funds for local nonprofits and schools, organizing food and clothing drives, and conducting random acts of kindness. In 2015, 700,000 people from 71 countries came together to donate $116.7 million in cash. An additional $1.08 million was spent on gifts.
While the easiest way to participate is by donating to your favorite charity, this day can be celebrated in many other ways too. You can give back by volunteering at your local shelter or food bank, or even by donating blood. If all else fails, a purchase from the growing number of organizations that give a portion of their sales to charity will do the trick.
But perhaps the best way to celebrate the day is by helping those nearest and dearest to you. Assist a family member with a simple chore like folding laundry, cooking dinner, or even reading to a younger sibling. No matter what you do, be sure to share your good deed on social media and inspire others to celebrate “Giving Tuesday” as well!
1.What’s the main purpose of “Giving Tuesday”?
A.To persuade more people to shop online.
B.To make Thanksgiving Day enjoyable.
C.To encourage more people to do charity.
D.To get voluntary work better known.
2.Why does the author advise sharing good deeds on social media?
A.To donate money to local schools.
B.To keep a record of one’s experience.
C.To help people make new friends.
D.To make “Giving Tuesday” more popular.
3.Which section of a website does the text probably come from?
A.Business. B.Culture. C.Education. D.Lifestyle.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the purpose of the talk?
A.To present a disagreement. B.To introduce a lecturer. C.To recommend a book.
2.Where is Russel working currently?
A.In Oxford. B.In Chicago. C.In Virginia.
3.What does Russel think of sleep?
A.It’s rarely researched. B.It’s rather inconvenient. C.It’s of great significance.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the man doing?
A.Placing an order. B.Selling insurance. C.Conducting an interview.
2.What did Leaney study for a degree?
A.Finance. B.Education. C.Public Relations.
3.What is an advantage of a smaller business according to Leaney?
A.Greater contributions to the neighborhood.
B.Closer employer-employee relationship.
C.More flexibility in providing services.
4.What is Leaney’s plan for the next two weeks?
A.To visit her parents. B.To call her relatives. C.To finish her work.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Who is Jason?
A.The woman’s husband. B.The guide of the tour. C.A travel agent.
2.What may attract the woman on the island of Bali?
A.Good restaurants and shops.
B.Nice hotels and water sports.
C.The weather and the sea view.
3.When should the woman pay for her vacation?
A.When the vacation ends.
B.When she makes a reservation.
C.When she arrives at the destination.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the woman do?
A.She’s a secretary. B.She’s a hotel maid. C.She’s a salesperson.
2.What is the man going to do?
A.Change the sheets. B.Have breakfast. C.Meet his friends.
3.What does the man ask the woman to do at the end of the conversation?
A.Take the plate away. B.Bring some towels. C.Leave the light on.
