A machine 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 by getting it from a limitless source－the air． The company behind the machine says not only does it offer all alterative 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 damp air through a filter(过滤器) and over a cooling element which changes it into water droplets．It can produce up to 12 liters a day．The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the humidity（湿度）in the air increases．In keeping with its ecodevelopment，the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three light bulbs．
Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said：“The demand for water is off the chart．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, estimates that a liter of water will cost around 20 pence to produce．
Environmentalists claim half the world’s population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080．One in five humans is said to lack access to safe drinking water．
The Water Mill is not effective in areas with below about 30 percent relative humidity, but with average relative humidity in England of more than 70 percent that won’t be much of an issue here.
1.According to the author, the biggest advantage of the machine is its ______．
A．little power use B．unlimited source C．proper size D．high production
2.We can conclude from the passage that the machine________．
A．can be used everywhere
B．has not been on sale
C．will replace the water distribution system
D．will solve the problem of water shortage
3.The underlined phrase “off the chart” in the passage means ________
A．record-breaking． B．urgent． C．unbelievable．D．amazing．
4.What would be the best title for this passage?________
A．Microwave for Household Use B．Filter to Draw in Damp Air
C．Mode Dehumidifier on Sale D．Machine to Make Water out of Air
Dear Daughter,
As we drove off from Columbia, I wanted to write to tell you all that is on my mind.
First, I want to tell you how proud we are. Getting into Columbia is a real testament(证明) of what a great well-rounded student you are. You should be as proud of yourself as we are.
Your college years will be the most important of your life. It is in college that you will discover what learning is about. This will be the period when you go from teacher taught to master inspired, after which you must become a self-learner. So do take each subject seriously, and even if what you learn is of no practical use in real life, the learning skills you get will be something you will value forever.
Follow your passion in college. Take courses you think you will enjoy. Don’t be bothered by what others think or say, but make up your own mind. Most importantly, make true friends and be happy. Don’t worry abut their hobbies, grades, looks, or even personalities.
Start planning early what you’d like to do. Where would you like to live? What would you like to learn? I think your plan to study fashion is good, and you should decide where you want to be, and get onto the right courses. I will always be there for you, but the time has come for you to be in the driver’s seat--this is your life, and you need to be in control. Being in control feels great. Try it, and you’ll love it!
So please treasure your college years--make the best use of your free time, become an independent thinker in control of your destiny, and learn through your successes and challenges.
May your years at Columbia be the happiest of your life, and may you grow into just what you dream to be.
Love
Dad & Mom
1.We can read between the lines that________.
A. Dad is very strict with his daughter
B. Dad has a strong love for his daughter
C. Dad always worries about his daughter
D. Dad is much concerned about his daughter's health
2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Plan things before you do them.
B. Self-learning is very important in college.
C. Follow your passion and what other people say.
D. Leading a life is just like driving a car.
3. The underlined word “destiny” in the passage is the closest in meaning to____________.
A. weight B. Time C. position D. life
4.The purpose of the author in writing the letter is to tell his daughter to____________.
A．make the most of her college B．fight till she succeeds
C．be confident and happy D．smile to her trouble in 1ife
Hank Viscardi was born without legs. He had—not legs but stumps(残肢) that could be fitted with a kind of special boots, People stared at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him ‘Ape Man’ (猿人) because his arms practically dragged on the ground.
Hank went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve. After graduating from school, he worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, he had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. He would soon have to use a wheel chair.
Hank felt himself get cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial legs(假腿). Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror. For the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be—a full five feet eight inches tall. By this time he was already 26 years old.
Hank had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room , and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.
When World War II came , he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, a man without legs.
1.Children laughed at Hank and called him ‘Ape Man’ because ______.
A. he didn’t talk to them
B. he kept away from them
C. his arms touched the ground when he moved
D. he couldn’t use his arms
2.It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is ______.
A. an average height for a fully grown person
B. too tall for an average person
C. too short for an average person
D. none of the above
3.When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers, he ______.
A. did everything the other soldiers did
B. did nothing the other soldiers did
C. did some of the things the other soldiers did
D. took some special training
4.The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi _______.
A. had no friends
B. never saw himself as different from others
C. was very shy
D. was too proud to accept help from others
People used to say, “The hand that rocks (摇) the cradle (摇篮) rules the world.” and “Behind every successful man there is a woman.”
Both these sayings mean the same thing. Men rule the world, but their mothers and wives rule them.
Most American women wish to make their husbands and sons successful, but some of them want more for themselves. They want good jobs. When they work they want to be better paid. They want to be as successful as men.
The American women’s liberation movement was started by women who didn’t want to stand behind successful men. They wanted to stand beside men, with the same chance for success. They refused to work side by side with men who do the same work for a higher pay.
A liberated woman must be proud of being a woman and have confidence in herself. If somebody says to her, “You have come a long way, baby.” she will smile and answer, “Not nearly as far as I’m going to go, baby!”
This movement is quite new, and many American women don’t agree yet. But it has already made some important changes in women’s lives--- in men’s lives, too.
1.“Behind every successful man there is a woman:” means______.
A．men are always successful but not women
B．women are not willing to stand in front of men
C．women do play an important part in men’s lives and work
D．women can be as successful as men
2.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Some American women want to work side by side with men and get the same pay for the same work.
B. Most American women want to be more successful than men.
C. Not every American woman wants to get a job.
D. The American women’s liberation movement did make some changes in women’s lives.
3. “Not nearly as far as I’m going to go” means ______.
A. I’m still going to work farther away from home
B. I’m not going to work far away from home
C. I’m not satisfied with what I’ve done
D. What I have done is not far from success
4.The American women’s liberation movement ________.
A. have still a long way to go
B. is a failure
C. was started by many successful women
D. is a new thing not accepted by the writer
Beware of those who use the truth to cheat. When someone tells you something that is , but leaves out important information that should be , he can create a false impression.
For example, someone might say, “I just a hundred dollars on the lottery. It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and it for one hundred dollars!”
This guy’s a winner, ? Maybe, maybe not. We then discover that he bought two hundred , and only one was a winner. He’s really a big !
He didn’t say anything that was , but he deliberately left out some important . That’s called a half-truth. Half-truths are not technically , but they are just as not .
Untrustworthy candidates in campaigns often use this strategy. Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and three million jobs. Then she another term. One of her opponents runs an advertisement , “During Governor Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!” That’s true. , an honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state had a net gain of million jobs.”
Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It’s the law to make false claims so they try to mislead you with the . An advertisement might boast (吹嘘), “Nine out of ten doctors recommend Yucky Pills to cure nose pimples.” It to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Corporation.
This kind of cheat happens too often. It’s a sad fact of life: Lies are lies, and sometimes the truth can lie as well.
1.A. false B. true C. interesting D. boring
2.A. included B. contained C. involved D. referred
3.A. lost B. found C. donated D. won
4.A. swapped B. took C. turned D. made
5.A. right B. well C. really D. though
6.A. books B. papers C. tickets D. balls
7.A. winner B. loser C. fighter D. thinker
8.A. true B. real C. doubtful D. false
9.A. details B. information C. mistakes D. errors
10.A. stories B. truth C. facts D. lies
11.A. pleasant B. exciting C. honest D. clever
12.A. political B. commercial C. personal D. public
13.A. stopped B. found C. avoided D. gained
14.A. seeks B. gets C. achieves D. searches
15.A. writing B. reading C. saying D. speaking
16.A. Otherwise B. However C. In fact D. This way
17.A. one B. two C. three D. four
18.A. for B. to C. against D. in
19.A. words B. facts C. data D. truth
20.A. fails B. tries C. manages D. plans
----I wonder if I could make a living by writing.
----________?
A. Who cares B. How dare you C. For what D. Why not take a chance
