A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.
The system, called driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20%--40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.
Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel(方向盘). A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound and the driver’s response.
Tiredness is directly related to a driver’s response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.
In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver’s response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warms that the driver must stop as soon as possible.
The device has been delivered to the department’s laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months’ time, are successful, the markers will bring the product to market within about a year.
1. According to the text, Driver Alert ______.
A. aims to reduce tiredness-related accidents
B. has gone through testing at laboratories
C. aims to prevent drivers from sleeping
D. has been on sale for 12 months
2.How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?
A. By sounding a warning. B. By touching the wristband.
C. By checking the driving time. D. By pressing the steering wheel.
3.We can learn from the text that the driver needs to stop for a break when his response time is ________
A. About 400 milliseconds B. below 500 milliseconds
C. over 500 milliseconds D. about 4 minutes
4. When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert ______.
A. moves more regularly B. stops working properly
C. opens the window for the driver D. sounds more frequently and loudl
A student and his teacher were walking through the forest. The student was disturbed(扰乱) by the fact that his mind was in constant unrest（不安）. He asked his teacher, “Why most people’s minds are restless, and only a few have a calm mind? What can one do to still the mind ?”
The teacher looked at him, smiled and said, “I will tell you a story. An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away with his long ears. Then the fly came again, and the elephant waved it away denovo”. This was repeated several times. Then the elephant asked the fly, “Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can't you stay for a while in one place?" The fly answered, "I am attracted to whatever I see, hear or smell. My five senses pull me constantly in all directions and I cannot resist them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still?" The elephant stopped eating and said, “My five senses do not rule my attention. Whatever I do, I get immersed(沉湎于) in it. Now that I am eating, I am completely immersed in eating. In this way I can enjoy my food and chew（咀嚼）it better. I rule and control my attention, and not the other way around."
The student's eyes opened wide and smile rose on his face. "I understand! If my five senses are in control of my mind and attention, then my mind is in constant unrest. If I am in charge of my five senses and attention, then my mind becomes calm".
"Yes, that's right", answered the teacher, "The mind is restless and goes wherever the attention is. Control your attention, and you control your mind".
1. How did the elephant drive the fly away?
A. With its long tail. B. With its long ears.
C. With its strong legs D. With its long trunk.
2.The reason why the elephant stayed calm and still was that _______.
A. it didn’t have a sense of direction
B. it was too heavy to move around like the fly
C. it paid much attention to things around it
D. it concentrated (集中) on what it was doing
3.The underlined word “denovo” in the second paragraph probably means _______.
A. in total B. in common C. once again D. as usual
4. The main purpose of the passage is to tell the readers _______
A. the relationship between the mind and attention
B. how to make use of the five senses
C. people should stay calm and still
D. only the elephant can control the mind and attention
阅读下面短文，掌握大意，然后从36－55各小题所给四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
After spending a weekend away with my adult son, I was so impressed by his 36 heart that I sent him this letter.
Dear son,
I want to thank you for teaching me a very valuable lesson in life by the great example you 37 . When we were eating at that cafe in Boston and a person who had 38 his hamburger didn’t have enough money to pay for it, without 39 , you went over and 40 the extra $2 into his hand.
When we were leaving, you 41 threw a five-cent coin onto the pavement and said 42 like, “Some kid will really enjoy 43 this.”
Last week, a young man 44 me in the line at a petrol station didn’t have 45 money to pay for his petrol. I asked the money collector, “How much 46 is he?” She told me he had meant to put $15 of petrol in his car 47 he had been looking at the wrong gauge (计量表) and had put in 15 48 , which came to a little 49 $20. That is an easy mistake 50 both gauges run fast.
Something made me think of you and 51 you did that night at the cafe in Boston. I handed the man $6. He was so 52 and said, “But why would you do this for me?” I just smiled as I thought of you.
Thank you, son, for teaching me that “it’s 53 to give than to receive”. Now when I see a five-cent coin on the 54 and want to pick it up, I think of you and leave it there, just in case some kid will get a 55 out of finding it.
Love always, Mum.
1.A. humorous B. optimistic C. cold D. generous
2. A. followed B. gave C. set D. took
3. A. ordered B. booked C. offered D. bought
4. A. hesitation B. doubt C. permission D. difficulty
5. A. spread B. threw C. put D. loaded
6.A. again B. already C. only D. also
7.A. nothing B. everything C. anything D．something
8.A．finding B．accepting C．looking for D．pointing at
9. A．behind B．beyond C．ahead of D．next to
10. A．much B．some C．any D．enough
11. A．far B．1ong C．short D．high
12.A．and B．but C．so D．while
13. A．1itres B．kilograms C．pounds D．kilometers
14. A．up B．over C．below D．down
15. A．until B．as C．although D．unless
16.A．what B．which C．how D．that
17. A．excited B．surprised C．interested D．encouraged
18.A．easier B．better C．faster D．worse
19. A．comer B．mud C．ground D．carpet
20. A．kick B．fun C．fare D．pick
---Do you want another drink?
---_________.
A. I don’t think so B. No way C. Not at all D. I wouldn’t say no
My uncle’s house in the downtown area is much smaller than ours, but it is twice ______ expensive.
A. as B. so C. too D. rather
Please do me a favor--- _____ my friend Stacy to Wanda Cinema at 6:00 tonight.
A. invite B. inviting C. to invite D. invited
