Electrical devices(仪器)could soon use power made by human energy. Scientists say
they have developed an experimental device that produces electricity from the physical movement of a person walking. British scientist Max Donelan and other scientists in Canada and the United States developed the device.
The device connects to a person’s knee. As the person walks, the device captures energy each time the person slows down. To do this, the device helps with the slowing down movement of the leg. The movements of the walking person push parts of a small machine
that produces electricity. Using the device, an adult walking quickly could produce thirteen watts of electricity in just a minute. Donelan says walking at that speed could produce enough power to operate a laptop computer for six minutes.
There are several possible uses for the device. Developers say it could help people who work in areas without electricity to operate small computers. The device could also be used in hospitals to operate heart pacemakers(起搏器). It could even be used to assist in the movement of robotic arms and legs.
The experimental version of the device weighs about one and a half kilograms, but it is too costly for most people to buy. But the researchers hope to make a lighter, less costly version. An improved version shou1d be ready in one year.
The developers hope the device will one day help developing countries. Near1y twenty five percent of people around the world live without electric power.
A similar product was invented in 2005 by Larry Rome of the University of Pennsylvania. He created a bag carried on a person’s back that also produces power from wa1king.
The knee device does not produce as much electricity as the bag. But the bag requires the walker to carry a load of twenty to thirty kilograms.
1.The second paragraph mainly talks about .
A. who developed the device
B. how the device works
C. several possible uses for the devices
D. how much electricity the device can produce
2.What is the disadvantage of the experimental version of the device?
A. It is too heavy for the walker to bear.
B. It is too complex for people to use.
C. It is too expensive for most people to afford.
D. It will slow down one’s walking speed.
3.Compared with the device designed by Larry Rome, this new device .
A. produces power without adding more loads to the walker
B. can produce more power in a much shorter time
C. needs to be equipped with a battery
D. can help the walker wa1k faster
4.From the passage, we can learn that the electrical device can .
A. help housewives operate the washing machine
B. make it much easier for us to go online
C. produce more electricity than that invented by Larry Rome
D. be applied in medicine to operate heart pacemakers
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. First device powered by walking wi1l soon be on the market
B. Advanced technology brings in a new way to operate heart pacemakers
C. Device gives new meaning to the idea of power walking
D. Human energy will become a main source of electricity
While nature lovers across the world wish all humans to realize the significance of their natural surroundings, many Australians are turning caring for the environment into a way of life.
Julie Astonis, an Australian housewife in Brisbane is one such example. Even though autumn is approaching Australia’s Brisbane in April, one can still watch colorful blooming(盛开的)flowers in Julie’s little garden, as she tells that in her community,“Each of us has a beautiful yard. The whole community, from children to elderly people, takes care of the environment as if they are taking care of their own garden.
“Gardening is the most popular club in our community,”she says.“A lot of retired people don’t just regularly organize gardening lectures, but also personally visit families in the community to provide gardening training. So you can see that flowers continue to blossom in our gardens throughout the year.”
Talking about her people’s sense of care for the environment, Julie says when people in the community take along their dog, they always carry a garbage bag to deal with the dog’s waste.“In our community, you will never experience the embarrassment of stepping on the dirty waste while you are walking on the grass,” says Julie with a smile.“Taking care of the dog’s waste can a1so help to develop children’s sense of responsibility!”
As to protecting water resources, the Australian government has rnade strict rules for families. Julie says,“We certainly would not use tap water to water the flowers!”She says almost every family in her community has a huge tank used to store rainwater, which is later used as the resource of all outdoor water use, connect the water tank with their toilets.
1.From the first three paragraphs we learn that .
A. gardening is popular in most part of Australia
B. April is a great time for people to enjoy flowers
C. it’s not easy to keep a garden without proper training
D. Julie’s community has a deep sense of caring for nature
2.What do we know about Julie from this passage?
A. She takes pride in her community.
B. She once stepped on a dog’s waste.
C. She is quite in favor of raising a dog.
D. She finds it embarrassing to walk on the grass.
3.From what Julie says in the last paragraph, we know .
A. rainwater is not the best resource
B. her community owns a public tank
C. her community makes full use of resources
D. it is not necessary to water flowers very often
4.How many examples are given to show the caring for the environment in Australia?
A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Love nature, the Australian way
B. How Australians save resources
C. How Australians lead their life
D. Protect nature, a must of life
Audrey Hepburn (奥黛丽·赫本) won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her first
major American movie, Roman Holiday, which was released in 1953. But she is remembered as much for her aid work as for her acting.
Born in Belgium in 1929, Audrey’s father was British and her mother was Dutch. Audrey was sent to live at a British school for part of her childhood. During World War II, she lived and studied in the Netherlands. Her mother thought it would be safe from Gerrnan attacks. Audrey studied dance as a teenager and during college when she returned to London after the war. But she realized she wasn’t going to be a ballerina(芭蕾舞女演员). So she began taking acting parts in stage shows. Later she began to get small parts in movies.
But it was Audrey Hepburn’s move to America that brought her true fame. In 1951 she played the character“Gigi”in the Broadway play of the same name to great critica1 praise. Two years later, Roman Holiday made her a star at the age of 24.
Audrey made more than 25 movies. Among her most popular roles was Holly Golightly in Breakftist at Tiff any’s in 1961. Three years later she played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
She was married two times and had one son by each husband. In 1989, the UN Chi1dren’s Fund named Audrey a goodwill ambassador. She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF(联合国儿童基金会)projects. The UN agency said she was a tireless worker. She often gave 15 interviews a day to gain money and support for UNICEF projects.
Audrey Hepburn often said her loyalty to UNICEF was the result of her experiences as a child during World War Ⅱ. She said she knew what it was like to be starving and to be saved by international aid. She was a goodwill ambassador until her death in 1993 from colon cancer.
1.In Paragraph 1,“her aid work”means .
A. winning an Academy Award as Best Actress
B. taking acting parts in stage shows
C. making her own movies
D. acting as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF
2.The reason why Audrey lived and studied in the Netherlands was that .
A. she wanted to be a ballerina
B. her parents were from Britain
C. it was safe there
D. the education there was excellent
3.We can infer from the passage that .
A. Audrey’s parents lived in Germany during World War Ⅱ
B. Audrey lived in America in the 1950s
C. Audrey was made to give up dancing
D. the character“Gigi”in the Broadway play was her most popular role
4. is NOT mentioned in the passage about Audrey Hepburn.
A. Marriage B. Identity C. Contribution D. Religion
5. is the right order for Audrey’s life.
①The first time she began to play in movies.
②She returned to London from the Netherlands.
③She won an Academy Award as Best Actress.
④She travelled all over the wor1d in support of UNlCEF projects.
⑤She played a part in My Fair Lady.
A. ②①③⑤④ B. ①②③⑤④ C. ②①⑤③④ D. ①②⑤③④
Linda Evans was my best friend—like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.
When I was 13, my fami1y moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special times—like my wedding and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped“Address Unknown”. I had no idea about how to find Linda.
Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day, I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman—Linda’s married name.“There must be thousands of Wagmans.”I thought, but I still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter.“Mrs. Tobin!”she said excitedly,“Linda Evans Wagman is my mother.”
Minutes later I heard a voice that I recognized at once, even after 40 years. We laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is fil1ed. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again!
1.The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans .
A. at the age of 13
B. before she got married
C. before the writer’s family moved away
D. after they moved to new homes
2.They didn’t often write to each other because they .
A. got married
B. had little time to do so
C. didn’t like writing letters
D. could see each other on special times
3.There was an empty place in the writer’s heart because she .
A. was in trouble
B. didn’t know Linda’s address
C. received the card that she sent
D. didn’t have a friend like Linda
4.The writer was happy when she .
A. read the newspaper
B. heard Linda’s voice on the phone
C. met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda
D. wrote to the woman whose 1ast name was Wagman
5.They haven’t kept in touch .
A. for about 40 years
B. for about 27 years
C. since they got married
D. since the writer’s family moved away
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。
My husband and I arrived in a new country just a month ago. We were sort of about what was waiting for us. However, when we at the airport, a tall man with smiling eyes greeted us. The days and months were made easy for us by this kind man.
He greeted us every day with his smiling face. He us in going to the bank, in buying our groceries, in telling us to buy almost everything. He told us he is our big brother.
, we watched the match in a coffee shop. During the first get-together, he us that we’re lucky—my husband and I are in this foreign land. He said he has been for eight years now because he rarely sees his family, they are in his home country.
During the second get-together, he told us that we are his family. He said that he loves us and that he will us because he has been given a of 45 days to go back to his home country. That night, he spoke these words which a great impact in my life:“You changed my life…”
That night deep in our hearts we were by our friend’s words. We texted him upon reaching home, him for being a Big Brother to us in the foreign land. We told him that we feel safe in going out when we are with him, to which he , “You are my family here.”
On the first week of October, we’re going to him back from his vacation. We’ll watch the football match again in that shop that holds dear memories.
1.A. curious B. worried C. certain D. crazy
2.A. checked B. dropped C. landed D. settled
3.A. therefore B. instead C. anyhow D. otherwise
4.A. expected B. troubled C. comforted D. accompanied
5.A. when B. where C. why D. whether
6.A. Once B. So C. Twice D. Finally
7.A. informed B. warned C. blamed D. convinced
8.A. together B. nearby C. around D. apart
9.A. sick B. lonely C. cheerful D. scared
10.A. if B. unless C. as D. although
11.A. secretly B. jokingly C. proud1y D. sincerely
12.A. remember B. miss C. forget D. respect
13.A. delay B. right C. vacation D. date
14.A. created B. designed C. solved D. received
15.A. puzzled B. touched C. astonished D. flattered
16.A. thanking B. forgiving C. repaying D. punishing
17.A. after all B. as well C. in return D. in advance
18.A. agreed B. objected C. added D. replied
19.A. see B. pick C. call D. force
20.A. book B. grocery C. coffee D. Sports
——Wow! Jane, you’re slim again.
——Yes. I have been on a special these days.
A. trip B. diet C. holiday D. Stage
