A gadget (器具) which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave.
Using the same technology as a dehumidifier (除湿器), the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water because it can always get it from an unlimited source—the air.
The company behind the machine says not only does it offer an alternative to bottled water in developed countries, but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage.
The machine works by drawing in wet air through a filter (过滤器) and over a cooling instrument which changes it into water drops. It can produce up to 12 liters a day. The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the amount of water which is contained in the air increases. In keeping with its eco-development, the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three lights.
Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said: “The demand for water is off the chart. So people are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable.”
The machine, which is about 3 feet wide, is likely to cost ￡800 when it goes on sale here in the spring. Its maker, Canadian Firm Element Four, roughly (粗略地) calculates that a litre of water cost around 20p to produce.
Environmentalists state that half the world’s population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080. One in five is said to lack access to safe drinking.
The Water Mill is not effective in areas where the amount of water contained in the air is below about 30 percent, but in Britain that won’t be much of a problem.
1.What does the underlined word “it” refer to?
A. Drinking water. B. Invention. C. Microwave. D. Water Mill.
2.What do we learn about the machine?
A. It works in the same way as microwaves.
B. It is very expensive for families to afford.
C. It absorbs steam and turns it into water.
D. It helps to make the water clean to drink.
3.What does the passage lead us to believe?
A. The cost of water will go up. B. Bottled water will disappear sooner.
C. The machine is energy saving. D. The machine will be popular worldwide.
4.What’s the best title for the passage?
A. A New Way to Solve Water Problem. B. A Machine to Make Water out of Air.
C. A Dehumidifier to Produce Water. D. An Absolutely New Invention
Why People Get Tattoos
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repeatedly stabbed (刺) him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour
steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had
recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided
to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression
are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one’s friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand–name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images (人物，图像) show tattoos－people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings－in other words, to show their individuality (个性). A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
1.Jack has got tattoos in order to ______.
A. show his great bravery B. gain a special experience
C. make himself more healthy D. be different from others
2.According to the passage, media images are linked to ______.
A. traditional lifestyle B. social position C. cultural background D. public interest
3.We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. some people get tattoos out of pressure
B. tattoo is related to religious belief
C. getting tattoos costs a lot of money
D. most people with tattoos are artists
4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
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CP: Central Point P: Point Sp: Sub – point (次要点) C: Conclusion
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5: 30．and at 6: 30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club. At last, the traffic was moving. She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door, she nearly fell over Sheba.
“Hey, Sheba,” she said, “I've got no time for you now, but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club.” Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking obviously, she could hardly breathe. Immediately, Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet (兽医). When she got there, the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba, Dr. Sterne brought her quickly into his office.
“Listen, doctor, I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting, can I leave her with you, and go to get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, and then I'll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?”
“Sure.” said the doctor.
Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring.
“This is Dr. Sterne,” said an anxious voice. “I want you to get out of that house immediately,” said the doctor’s voice. “I'm coming round right away, and the police will be there any time now. Wait outside!”
At that moment, a police car screeched to a stop outside the house. Two policemen got out and ran into the house. Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived.
“Where’s Sheba? Is she OK?” shouted Joanne.
“She’s fine, Joanne. I took out the thing which was choking her, and she’s OK now.”
Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white-faced man, who could hardly walk. There was blood all over him.
“My God, ”said Joanne, “how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?”
“I think he must be a burglar.” said the doctor. “I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba’s throat, it turned out to be three human fingers.”
1.What was Joanne supposed to do at 6: 30？
A. To walk her dog.
B. To see her doctor.
C. To attend a club meeting.
D. To play tennis with her friends.
2.Joanne wanted to get back to her home again______.
A. to dress up for the meeting
B. to phone the police station
C. to catch the badly hurt burglar
D. to wait for her dog to be cured
3.From the passage, we can infer that______.
A. Sheba fought against the burglar
B. the police found the burglar had broken in
C. Joanne had planned to take her dog to the meeting
D. the doctor performed a difficult operation on the dog
4.In this passage, the writer intends to tell us that the dog is______.
A. clever B. friendly C. frightening D. devoted
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A father sat at his desk poring over (细读) his monthly bills when his young son rushed in and 1, “Dad, because this is your 2and you’re 55 years old, I’m going to give you 55 3, one for each year!” When the boy 4carrying out his word, the father exclaimed (呼喊), “Oh, Andrew, don’t do it now; I’m too 5!” The youngster immediately fell silent as tears 6in his big blue eyes. Apologetically the father said, “You can finish 7. ”
The boy said nothing 8quietly walked away, 9written over his face. That evening the father said, “Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!” But the boy didn’t 10.
11, a few days later after this 12, the boy had an accident and was drowned. His heartbroken father wrote: “If only I could tell him how much I regret my 13words, and could be assured that he knows how much my heart is 14. ”
Love is a 15street. Any loving act must be warmly 16or it will be taken as rejection and can 17a scar (疤痕). If we are 18busy to give and receive love, we are too busy! Nothing is more important than responding with love to the cry for love from those who are near and 19to us. Because there may be no 20at all as in the case of the little boy.
1.A. questioned B. thought C. announced D. asked
2.A. vocation B. birthday C. workday D. holiday
3.A. kisses B. touches C. shakes D. presents
4.A. enjoyed B. finished C. imagined D. started
5.A. busy B. nervous C. shy D. tired
6.A. fell B. flowed C. gathered D. moved
7.A. recently B. later C. immediately D. quickly
8.A. and B. or C. yet D. but
9.A. excitement B. disappointment C. surprise D. satisfaction
10.A. answer B. reply C. respond D. move
11.A. Unfortunately B. Luckily C. Surprisingly D. Hopefully
12.A. discussion B. incident C. argument D. adventure
13.A. considerable B. powerful C. helpful D. thoughtless
14.A. aching B. beating C. losing D. willing
15.A. two-way B. heart-shaped C. man-made D. one-way
16.A. wanted B. believed C. accompanied D. accepted
17.A. stay B. leave C. remain D. keep
18.A. so B. very C. quite D. too
19.A. rare B. scarce C. precious D. bare
20.A. need B. difficulty C. chance D. risk
It ______ last night ______ Tom saw an interesting film in Dongfeng Cinema.
A. is; that B. was; that C. was; which D. was; who
Only when class began ______that he had left his book at home．
A. will he realize B. he did realize C. did he realize D. had he realized
