When an ant dies, other ants take it out of the nest, often within an hour after its death. This behavior interests scientists and they wonder how ants know for sure—and so soon—that another ant is dead.
One scientist recently came up with a way to explain this ant behavior. Dong-Hwan Choe is a biologist, a scientist who studies animals and plants. He found that ants have a chemical on the outside of their bodies that signals to other ants, “I'm dead—take me away” when it is dead.
But there's a question to answer: As we know, if an ant is dead, it stops moving. But when an ant is sleeping or knocked unconscious, it is also not moving. However, other ants don't move the living ant out of the nest. How do they know this ant is not dead? Choe found that ants have another chemical on their bodies, which tells nearby ants something like, “Wait—I'm not dead yet” when it is not dead. Choe suspects that when an ant dies, the chemical that says, “Wait— I'm not dead yet” quickly goes away. When other ants detect the “dead” chemical without the “not dead yet” chemical, they move away the body.
To test his theory, Choe and his team put different chemicals on ants. When the scientists used the “I'm dead” chemical, other ants quickly moved the treated ant away. When the scientists used the “Wait—I'm not dead yet” chemical, other ants left the treated ant alone. Choe believes this behavior shows that the “not dead yet” chemical is stronger than the “dead” chemical when picked up by other ants. And that when an ant dies, the “not dead yet” chemical fades away. Other nearby ants then detect the remaining “dead” chemical and remove the body from the nest.
Understanding this behavior can help scientists figure out how to stop ants from invading new places and causing problems.
1.What is the function of the first paragraph?
A. Leading the following paragraphs.
B. Showing the main idea of the passage.
C. Introducing the background of the passage.
D. Giving a summary of the passage.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Living ants can also be taken away when they are not moving.
B. When an ant dies, it can tell others using a certain chemical.
C. A living ant can pretend to be dead using a special chemical.
D. Ants often use chemicals to communicate with each other.
3.Which of the following descriptions about Dong-Hwan Choe is right?
A. Choe did this study in order to stop ants from invading new places.
B. Choe is a biologist who is only interested in animals, especially in ants.
C. Choe first came up with an idea to explain this ant behavior, and then did some tests to prove his theory.
D. Choe did the research on this ant behavior on his own.
4.What is mainly discussed in the passage?
A. experiments about how ants manage to keep their nests clean.
B. experiments about why ants have special chemicals on their bodies.
C. experiments about why ants can have this removal behavior
D. experiments about how to decide whether an ant is dead or not.
I must have been about fourteen then, and I put away the incident from my mind with the easy carelessness of youth. But the words, Carl Walter spoke that day, came back to me years later, and ever since have been of great value to me.
Carl Walter was my piano teacher. During one of my lessons he asked how much practicing I was doing. I said three or four hours a day.
“Do you practice in long stretches, an hour at a time?”
“I try to.”
“Well, don’t, ” he said loudly. “When you grow up, time won’t come in long stretches. Practice in minutes, whenever you can find them five or ten before school, after lunch, between household tasks. Spread the practice through the day, and piano-playing will become a part of your life.”
When I was teaching at Columbia, I wanted to write, but class periods, theme-reading, and committee meetings filled my days and evenings. For two years I got practically nothing down on paper, and my excuse was that I had no time. Then I remembered what Carl Walter had said. During the next week I conducted an experiment. Whenever I had five minutes unoccupied, I sat down and wrote a hundred words or so. To my astonishment, at the end of the week I had a rather large manuscript(手稿) ready for revision. Later on I wrote novels by the same piecemeal （零碎的）method. Though my teaching schedule had become heavier than ever, in every day there were moments which could be caught and put to use.
There is an important trick in this time-using principle: you must get into your work quickly. If you have but five minutes for writing, you can’t afford to waste it in chewing your pencil. You must make your mental preparations beforehand, and concentrate on your task almost instantly when the time comes. Fortunately, rapid concentration is easier than most of us realize.
I admit I have never learnt how to let go easily at the end of the five or ten minutes. But life can be counted on to supply interruptions. Carl Walter has had a significant influence on my life. To him I owe the discovery that even very short periods of time add up to all useful hours I need, if I throw myself into it without delay.
1.The meaning of “stretch” in the underlined part is the same as that in the sentence “_______”
A. The dog woke up, had a good stretch and wandered off.
B. Bob worked as a government official for a stretch of over twenty years.
C. My family wasn’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination.
D. This material has a lot of stretch in it.
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. The author didn’t take the teacher’s words to heart at first.
B. Rapid concentration is more difficult than people imagine.
C. The author thanked his teacher for teaching him to work in long stretches.
D. Carl Walter has influenced the writer greatly since he was a student.
3.We can infer that the author______.
A. had new books published each year however busy his teaching is
B. is tired of interruptions in life because he always has much work
C. has formed a bad habit of chewing a pencil while writing his novels
D. makes mental preparations beforehand so as to focus on work quickly
4.What is probably the best title for this text?
A. Concentrate on Your Work B. A Little at a Time
C. How I Became a Writer D. Good Advice
Luo Gaoqi hopes to join the increasing number of Chinese students in the United States because he wants the experience of studying in a foreign land as it will help his future job at home. “I want to try Western education because people there think differently,” said the 21-year-old who is in his final year of undergraduate studies. “I also hope to meet friends from different cultures. The social connections may help in the future.”
The latest report from the US-based institute of International Education said China, for the first time, has become the top country of origin for international students in the United States.
For Yang Fan, a journalism student, said studying in the United States is a way to escape the competition for places in China’s top universities. “Due to limited education resources, only about 60 percent of high school graduates in China enter college, and a much lower rate enters the top-level ones. “A foreign degree will definitely help when I seek a job in China,” Yang said.
Both Yang’s and Luo’s parents are supportive of them studying abroad. Neither of them is thinking of settling down in the United States after graduation.
“It is not realistic to do so. As a journalism student, there would be no advantage for me to work in the United States,” Yang said. “But in China, with a US degree and good English, I may stand out against other students who have only studied in China.”
China still needs to improve its environment for scientists and high-level talents, said Xiao Mingzheng, director of the Center for Human Resource Development and Management Research of Peking University, adding that, in particular, the country needs to improve its policies relating to research environments.
In June, the Chinese government published a plan concerning talent development for the next 10 years. In it, it has improved policies and increased budgets to attract talented students back home.
1.Why does Luo Gaoqi wants to study in a foreign land according to his words?
A. Because the people there are more intelligent.
B. Because the foreign countries are more developed.
C. Because he can make more friends there.
D. Because the culture there is different from that in China.
2.What do Guo Gaoqi and Yang Fan have in common?
A. Their major is the same, which is journalism.
B. Both of them want to go back to China after graduation.
C. Their parents are against their decision.
D. They are forced to study in a foreign land by their parents.
3.From the passage, we can infer that _______.
A. scientists and high-level talents need a better environment in China
B. the students abroad are unwilling to go back to China
C. China doesn’t need those people to come back to our country at all
D. we all need to go abroad to study and then serve our own country
Manchester is the “capital” of the northwest of England. Situated on the east bank of the River Irwell, it is a lively busy city with a large student population. Although it was once seen as only a dull industrial place, in recent years Manchester has become the “in” place. It is well-known for its clubs, its fashion and its music, not to mention its world -famous football team, Manchester United.
There is plenty to see in Manchester and something to suit all taste. For example, you have a taste of the Orient in Chinatown, home to Manchester’s large Chinese population. Another place to visit is the historical Eastlefield area, which contains the first urban heritage park in Britain. Here you can walk around the museums and experience the atmosphere of the 19th century Manchester.
Football fans need not feel left out; they can always make a trip to the Old Trafford Manchester United Museum which also contains a coffee shop and a souvenir shop
It’s easy to find your way around the city center and you’re never too far away from a bus, which will take you wherever you want to go. However, many people prefer walking in a city where there’s so much to see, and much of it is off the main travel lines.
If you get tired with all that walking, you can refresh yourself at one of the many café bars in the city. There’s a wide variety of homely and old-fashioned ones
Whatever you do, you won’t have a dull moment in the place which was awarded the title of “most interesting city in Europe “. Despite its unpopular industrial image in the past, Manchester is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination nowadays.
1.According to the passage, Manchester is _________.
A. a big city in the southwest of England
B. only known for its heavy industry
C. interesting only if you like football
D. a very popular place now
2.If you are interested in history, _____ in Manchester.
A. you will see the 18th century center building
B. you can go to Chinatown
C. you don’t have a big choice
D.you can visit the Eastlefield
3.What was Manchester like in the past?
A. A small and dull city. B. A city full of factories
C. An exciting city to visit D. A popular destination
4.What does the underlined word “its” in the last paragraph refer to?
A. Europe’s B. Tourism’s C. Manchester’s D. Industry’s
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和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
Half a year before graduation from college, my son began to seek a job. the financial crisis, fewer companies would like to new staff. My son targeted a company that was to employ only one person there were more than 20 people filing their resumes.
After the interview, there would only be 3 who could enter the final round, which would later one person to be employed. Everything seemed to go quite and my son passed the first round and entered the final round in a week.
On the day of the final interview, my son and other two arrived at the interview place on time, the test. The interview was unbelievably . The interviewer only said to them, “All of you are very super. Please go home and wait for our . We will tell you the in 3 days. Good luck to all of you！” On the morning of the third day, my son received a text from the company shortly after breakfast that he was not employed. We all felt very .
In nightfall that day, my son suddenly told me on phone, “Dad, I have been employed!” Greatly surprised, I could not wait to ask him, “ What’s the whole ?” My son told me that he received another text saying that he was employed. Actually the first text sent to my son was also of the test in the interview. Three men received the same text this morning and only my son ’s was “ Thank you” while the others said “Goodbye”.
Only then did I know that my son ’s hope in that way. That is, when you feel disappointed, do not to say “Thank you ” to the one who disappoints you. Saying “Thank you” shows respect for others’ work and shows your grand . Therefore, while under the same condition, you will get the upper hand in terms of compared with others!
1.A. Due to B. As to C. By way of D. Contrary to
2.A. promote B. train C. discover D. employ
3.A. encouraged B. allowed C. intended D. supposed
4.A. since B. while C. because D. if
5.A. decide B. attract C. meet D. represent
6.A. slowly B. secretly C. smoothly D. silently
7.A. candidates B. students C. friends D. members
8.A. watching over B. waiting for C. thinking about D. looking into
9.A. formal B. funny C. simple D. strange
10.A. information B. order C. notice D. message
11.A. choice B. result C. mark D. idea
12.A. annoyed B. puzzled C. shocked D. disappointed
13.A. doubtfully B. calmly C. excitedly D. worriedly
14.A. cause B. matter C. conclusion D. interview
15.A. middle B. ending C. course D. part
16.A. reply B. way C. problem D. question
17.A. came B. grew C. changed D. developed
18.A. expect B. regret C. dislike D. forget
19.A. curiosity B. generosity C. dignity D. personality
20.A. abilities B. opportunities C. challenges D. strengths
Someone called me up in the middle of the night, but they hang up ____ I could answer the phone.
A. since B. after C. until D. before
