Bicycles are a great way to get around. They are fun to ride, especially down hills. And, as you speed along the road, you might also think of ways in which you could improve your bike – make it safer, more efficient, or more comfortable. In fact, the two-wheeled machines make for some cool science projects.
This year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held last May in Cleveland, had three bicycle projects from three countries. Like many of the other experiments presented at ISEF, the bike projects showed that some of the most interesting scientific research often begins by taking a closer look at things you care about.
Renato Angulo Chu had even grander ambitions. The 12th-grader from Lima, Peru, wanted to address some of his country’s economic troubles.
“I see a problem in my country,” Renato said, “If you go to the forests in Peru, in some places you can not find electricity. If you go with my bicycle, you can turn on the lights.”
Renato, 16, spent 3 years designing his special Multibike. The device looks like a fixed exercise bike. It has wires fixed along the frame and a blender fastened to the back. Turning the pedals operates the blender. The same principle can be used to sharpen knives or sweep city streets.
The Multibike can work either as a fixed bike or as a bicycle able to travel city streets and country road. It’s made from inexpensive materials, and the user gets exercise while pedaling to operate a machine.
“You pedal the bike, and you can mix any drink you want,” Renato said. More importantly, he added, the same concept could be used to bring light to houses in remote regions of the rainforest.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?
A. Bicycles are the best way to go about.
B. Bikes should be made more comfortable to ride
C. You can improve your bicycle for science research.
D. Many inventions are connected with the bicycle.
2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. ISEF is an exhibition displaying bicycle experiments designed by students.
B. Looking closely at things you are concerned about can lead to scientific research
C. Renato’s improvement of the bicycle has solved the country’s great problem.
D. Renato’s special bicycle will soon be put into use in remote areas.
3. The underlined word “address” in the third paragraph probably has the same meaning as _______.
A. make address written B. give up C. work at D. speak at
4. Renato’s special Multibike has all the following functions except ______.
A. making knives sharp
B. mixing any kind of drinks
C. producing electricity
D. operating a machine with its own electricity
5. It can be inferred that Renato’s special bicycle is mainly designed for ______.
A. distant areas in the rainforest without electricity
B. the use of his own family to make life easier
C. the competition of ISEF to win money to support remote rainforests
D. enough exercise by pedaling it.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00. Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theater. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold, so don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8 at Rose Hall, City College.
1. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arabian food at_______.
A. the front entrance of City Hall
B. the City Theatre
C. Rose Hall
D. Central Park on Saturday
2. You can see movies at the_______.
A. City College
B. Museum Theater
C. City Theater
D. Central Park
3. If you are going on the Walking Tour, don’t forget to______.
A. take some food
B. tell interesting stories
C. learn about local history
D. wear your comfortable shoes
4. The Redbirds ballgame ______.
A. is held in the afternoon B. might be held outside
C. is held at the gate D. might need sweaters and jackets
5. “The Zoo” is ______.
A. a park with lots of animals there
B. a US concert
C. a music group
D. going to give the concert at 8 am. tomorrow
第二部分：阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2.5分，满分50分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Do you know about a series of books that say they are "for dummies"? These American self-help books have been translated into more than thirty-nine languages, including Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, German, Greek and Spanish.
"Dummy" is a word for a stupid person. The dummies books are not really for stupid people. They are designed to show people how to do something they may never have tried before, like painting a house or learning a language. The books all say in a funny way that they are for dummies, such as World History for Dummies, Rabbits for Dummies, Chinese Cooking for Dummies, and Wedding Planning for Dummies. The first such book, DOS for Dummies, was published in 1991. it helped people learn how to use the DOS operating system for computers. Since then, more than one hundred fifty million dummies books have been sold.
The dummies.com website explains the idea behind the books. It says that they show that people can be taught to do anything. First they can make fun of ideas that are difficult to understand. Then they show how the information can be interesting and easy. The publishers say that the books do not provide more information than necessary. They give readers just enough information to do what they want. They say that the dummies books give the best and easiest way to do something. And the books use simple and easy language.
There are more than one thousand different dummies books. A report in New York Times says that the top-selling dummies books are those that explain technology and personal finance.
The publishers say that the best-selling dummies books are those providing information many people need —like information about diseases, education and cooking. People interested in opera, car repair and wine can also find dummies books to help them. And there are even more dummies books to come. The publishers say that they publish about two hundred new dummies books every year.
1. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A. Books for “Dummies”
B. The Easiest, the Best
C. Self-Help Books
D. New Ideas behind the Books
2. According to the dummies.com website, people can ______ with the help of dummies books.
A. simplify some personal things
B. do anything they want
C. become expert in any field
D. learn any foreign language
3. The dummies books have been popular because ______.
A. they provide just what is needed and are easy to understand
B. they provide abundant information on the concerning subject
C. people can learn to do anything with just one copy
D. people can save lots of money through self-teaching
4. According to New York Times, we know that books on ______ sell best.
A. technology and personal finance
B. opera and car repairing
C. diseases and education
D. cooking and world history
5. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The first dummies book was on Chinese cooking.
B. The dummies books will continue to be popular.
C. Fifty million different dummies books have been published.
D. The simple language was intended for child readers.
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
It was 4 o’clock in the morning, when I received the phone call.
“This is the emergency room calling and your son was just 16 in with severe burns on his face, neck and arms. We have called for a(n) 17 and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle.” Seattle was 350 miles from his college, so we knew immediately this was 18 .
The doctor described the 19 , which caused the burns. At 6 a.m, our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers in the courtyard of their apartment. When they 20 the charcoal(木炭), it burst into flames because they had sprayed too much gasoline(petrol). The flames 21 my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to well over his head.
22 , one of the boys was quick-minded, grasped my son, and 23 him on the grass. While it saved his life, it was not in 24 to save him from severe burns and the terrible scars(伤疤).
After he 25 from the treatments, the doctors told him they would not do plastic surgery(整容)for 6 months 26 it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling. So, he had to return to college with scars typical of severe burns.
When I was a child, my mother told my sister, who had a 10-inch very 27 scar on her arm, “Nancy, if you ignore the scar, other people will ignore it. It does not mean they will not 28 it, but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you.”
I 29 this wisdom on to my son. He took my advice to 30 and returned to school with his head held high--- glad he was alive.
By the end of the six-month waiting period, he decided that the scars did not 31 , so he made the 32 to give up any plastic surgery we all have “scars” that we believe 33 people to keep away from us. And we spend a lot of time thinking that if only we looked differently, or dressed differently, people would like us better.
But you see, people will only judge you by your looks, or your clothes, if you are judging yourself by these same 34 standards. Put your imperfections out of your mind and concentrate on what you value 35 yourself, and your beauty will shine through.
16. A. brought B. given C. turned D. showed
17. A. doctor B. hospital C. aircraft D. ambulance
18. A. serious B. terrible C. dangerous D. important
19. A. event B. process C. reason D. accident
20. A. got B. lit C. burned D. moved
21. A. took B. held C. caught D. attracted
22. A. Fortunately B. Surprisingly C. Happily D. Slowly
23. A. pushed B. threw C. dropped D. rolled
24. A. shape B. place C. fact D. time
25. A. benefited B. recovered C. suffered D. relaxed
26. A. if B. while C. because D. although
27. A. normal B. violent C. obvious D. popular
28. A. mention B notice C. 1augh D. hide
29. A. sent B. kept C. handed D. passed
30. A. heart B. life C. practice D. considerate
31. A. grow B. matter C. exist D. appear
32. A. mistake B. effort C. decision D. request
33. A. invite B. cause C. allow D. remind
34. A. false B. strict C. moral D. general
35. A by B. over C. beyond D. within
--- Will you be paying_____cheque?
--- No. Cash.
A．for B．on C．by D．in
_____ in 2006, the Street Games Festival gives city people a chance to take part in a variety of different games.
A. Opened B. To be opened C. Having opened D. Opening
