What would the world be like if cars could drive themselves? Imagine seeing an empty car passing by on its way to pick up its owner, or a car full of passengers who are reading, listening to music or even sleeping. But none of them are worried about the road ahead.
Well, all of this could be the future of driving. There are several companies, including Google, working on driverless cars. So far, no Google self-driven cars have gotten a traffic ticket (罚单), but some of them have been in accidents when other cars hit them.
These cars are now still in the testing stages (阶段). But, if the tests are successful, these electric self-driven cars could be put into use very soon.
The cars are so special that they can take the place of drivers during certain situations. They are able to park themselves, or slow down when they notice objects close by. They can also control the speed if there is danger.
Scientists and engineers believe, with the help of wireless signals (无线信号) , cameras and GPS, creating a safe self-driven car might be possible. The cause of deadly (致死的) road accidents is usually careless drivers or bad conditions. The self-driven car may be able to prevent these. However, some people don’t like the idea. American lawyer Whit Drake does not believe these cars are safe. He thinks that technologies can also be mistakes.
Complete the chart according to the passage with only one word for each blank.
Self-driven cars | |
The future of driving | An empty car can drive 1. on the road. Or none of the passengers in it are worried about the road ahead. |
The situation | They are in the 2. stages. Probably these electric cars made by some companies will be used soon. |
The 3. | They can park themselves, slow down and control the speed. |
Different ideas about them | Scientists think they can prevent road 4.. However, someone thinks they are 5. because technologies can also be mistakes. |
Do you often use plastic straws (吸管)? You probably use them to drink lots of things, such as cola or milk tea 1. They are made in 10 minutes, used in 20 minutes and remain on the earth for over 100 years since they can't be broken down (分解) easily.
But how do plastic straws get into the ocean? Through human mistakes, they are often thrown everywhere. The waste management in some areas is so poor. All gutters (排水沟) lead to our ocean 2. Once a turtle was found bleeding because a 12-centimeter-long plastic straw was pushed into its nose. How terrible!
3. That is enough to circle nearly two-and-a-half times around our planet! If we didn't act now, there would be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.
Luckily, more and more people around the world have realized this problem. They begin to consider if they really need to use plastic straws when drinking drinks.
So what can we do to reduce (减少) plastic pollution? 4. For example, next time you go to a restaurant, make sure you order your drink without a straw. What if people need to use a straw? There are reusable straws that can be cleaned and reused instead.
Starbucks (星巴克) has started to offer straw less lids (盖子) and paper straws instead of plastic straws in almost 1,000 stores in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Starbucks is not alone. 5. It is hoped that more businesses and customers will play a part in protecting our environment.
Choose five sentences out of the six in the box to complete the passage. Each choice should be used only once.
A.Even worse, plastic straws kill ocean life.
B.So plastic straws mustn't be thrown into the ocean.
C.Plastic straws are small but they are a big problem.
D.The simplest way is to say "No" to single-use plastic, like straws.
E.McDonald's has also taken action to reduce the use of plastic straws.
F.In fact, around 500 million plastic straws are used every day in the US alone.
A long time ago, there was an old man. He had two sons, Qing Shan and Hong Shan. The old man gave East Mountain to Qing Shan and West Mountain to Hong Shan.
There were many trees in West Mountain. Hong Shan worked hard all day to cut down trees for firewood. Five years later, there were not many trees in the mountain, so he started to plant crops (庄稼). Unluckily, a heavy rain washed away all the crops. He had nothing to eat and had to go to his brother in East Mountain.
There were only a few trees in East Mountain at first, but Qing Shan had a plan. He first cut down the trees with poor quality and then planted some trees. He planted crops and fed cows and horses, too. Five years later, there were many trees, crops, cows, sheep and horses in the mountain. The heavy rain couldn't wash away the crops because of the trees in the mountain.
Later people praised Qing Shan, saying, “As long as the green mountain are there, there is no need to worry about firewood.”
Choose the best choice from A、B or C according to the passage.
1.Qing Shan and Hong Shan were given ________ each.
A.a mountain B.many crops C.a few trees
2.Qing Shan and Hong Shan were both ____________ according to the passage.
A.hard-working B.intelligent C.lucky
3.Why did they have different endings when the heavy rain came?
A.Qing Shan didn't cut down any trees.
B.Hong Shan didn't think more about the future.
C.There were more trees in East Mountain at first.
4.The underlined word "quality" means _______ according to the passage.
A.人品 B.数量 C.质量
5.The story teaches us a lesson that ______.
A.where there is life, there is hope
B.planting trees is the most important
C.we shouldn't make changes for the future
It was raining hard and nearing dark. I was late for an appointment (预约) in a nearby city that I know only by GPS. And now my phone has died. The usual exits (出口) were closed. I didn't know how to get where I was going or how to let my appointment know I might not make it there.
I stopped at a KFC in a poor part of town and walked up to a mother and her teen daughter.
“I'm sorry, but is it possible for me to look up a number on your phone and then call the place and let them know I'm lost?” She handed me her phone and then told me I was lucky she had her phone, for it was getting ready to be turned off because she didn't have enough money to pay the phone bill.
The young girl and the mother didn't pay me much attention when I made a call. The appointment told me how to get there by another road.
Before I left. suddenly, I reached into my wallet where I don't usually have cash (现金) and pulled out all I had, a $20 bill. I gave it into the mother's hand and then turned to leave quickly. I heard her daughter calling after me, “Thanks, sir. You have no idea how you just helped us.” And yet, they really helped me.
Judge the following sentences true (T) or false (F) according to the passage.
1.The writer asked the mother and her daughter for help because his phone didn't work.
2.The woman said the writer was lucky because he had enough money to pay the phone bill.
3.From the passage we know the mother and her daughter were also in great need of help.
4.The writer paid the mother $20 as the cost of using the phone.
5.When the writer got help from others, he also passed on his kindness at the same time.
1.Mary likes to be quiet. She wants to keep a nice pet at home. She hopes it can decorate (装饰) her room. But she doesn't want to spend too much money on it.
2.Kim, a college student, knows little about animals. He only wants to play with the pet. But his room isn't big enough.
3.Eric likes to play with the pet. If it can follow his instructions, he must be very happy. He hopes they can be good friends.
4.Mr. Brown is a businessman. He is busy with his work every day. He wants to choose a clever pet for his daughter who is only 4 years old. He doesn't care how much it costs.
5.Mrs. Miller is a housewife. She feels lonely at home. She wants a pet that can talk. She hopes it can make her life lively. But she is afraid of getting hurt.
A.Birds are colorful and nice to look at. Some birds can even say hello to the masters. They are safe and stay in their cages. However, training a bird takes time.
B.If you love to be silent, a fish is one of the best pets for you. It can add beauty to your home as well. But you must make sure fish eat the right kind of food. Cleaning their home needs much time.
C.Hamsters (仓鼠) don't need a large place to live and can be easily taken care of. You can play with them. If you touch them with your fingers, they may hurt you.
D.Keeping a turtle (乌龟) as a pet is fun. Turtles are the quietest pets. If you are less than five years old, you'd better not keep turtles because they can spread salmonella (沙氏门菌).
E.Many families keep dogs because they are smart. They can even understand what you say. They like to play with their masters. But you need to spend time walking them.
F.Cats may be many children's best choice. They are beautiful and cute. However, keeping cats may cost much money because you need to buy some toys for them.
Sometimes I doubt the love between my parents. They don't________in the romantic (浪漫的) ways that I read in books. In their opinion, "I love you" is too luxurious (奢侈的) for them to say. Sending flowers to each other is even more________. And my father is really a man________has a bad temper (脾气).
One day, while my mother was sewing (缝) a quilt, I asked her, “Is there love between you and Dad?” My mother stopped her________and raised her head with surprise. She looked at me________. I thought I had hurt her. After a while, she said, “Look at this thread (线). Sometimes it appears, ________most of it disappears in the quilt. It makes the quilt strong and warm. If life is a quilt, love________be a thread. It can________be seen anywhere or anytime. Love is inside.”
At that time I couldn't understand her until the next spring. My father suddenly got sick________. My mother had to spend a month looking after him in the hospital.________they were back, my mother helped him walk slowly on the country road every day. My father had never been so gentle (温柔点). The sun gently shone________the leaves. All of these________the most beautiful picture in the world.
The doctor said my father________well in two months. But after two months he still couldn't walk by himself. We were________him. But he told me that he just liked walking with my mother. Reading his eyes, I knew he loves my mother deeply.
Once I thought love meant flowers and gifts. From this________, I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life. It makes life strong and warm.
1.A.perform B.act C.share
2.A.necessary B.important C.impossible
3.A.who B.whom C.which
4.A.business B.work C.study
5.A.in silence B.in agreement C.in excitement
6.A.and B.or C.but
7.A.can B.need C.should
8.A.always B.usually C.hardly
9.A.easily B.seriously C.clearly
10.A.After B.Before C.While
11.A.over B.across C.through
12.A.used up B.made up C.showed up
13.A.got B.will get C.would get
14.A.worried about B.afraid of C.bored with
15.A.story B.experience C.conversation
