Worried about how many calories you will get in that piece of pizza, chocolate cake or bag of chips? A new iPhone application (应用程序) MealSnap may help. Users just need to take a picture of the meal with the phone, and it will give a calorie read-out almost immediately.
MealSnap was developed by DailyBurn, a health social network that focuses on helping its users lead healthier lifestyles. It has created several other health and diet-related iPhone applications. The application gives users a quick reply. To do that, it matches the taken picture to a databank (数据库) with the calorie information of nearly 500,000 kinds of food. Users then get the range of calories for the meal that is photographed.
We started with something simple—an apple. A couple of minutes later, the application replied that it was an apple and between 64 and 96 calories. More impressive was the reply we received after sending a photo of a mixed salad bowl. MealSnap replied that the bowl contained “yellow rice with corn, boiled eggs and beans” and that the food was between 532 and 789 calories.
Mr. Smith, director of DailyBurn, said that usual calorie counting needed a long time, but that the application made it easier to know the calories in food. That is why it is so popular among those who are trying hard to lose weight.
In addition, MealSnap can act as a food diary. No need to write down what they’ve eaten, the photoes will be stored. The users can keep a visual log (视觉的记录). Mr. Smith said, “it’s like a food journey, but easier. All you do is to take the picture. The simple act of recording something can cause a psychological (心理的) change that can help people on their health journey. Knowing the calorie range makes me think more about what I’m eating.”
1. The purpose of DailyBurn is to________.
A. help people find ways to lose weight B. make iPhone more popular
C. persuade people to buy iPhone products D. help people have a healthy life
2. What can be learned from the third paragraph?
A. MealSnap is only useful for simple things.
B. The result of MealSnap isn’t always right.
C. MealSnap can also tell what the food is.
D. MealSnap needs a long time to show the calorie range.
3. Which of the following statements about MealSnap is TRUE?
A. It has been put into the market.
B. People will have a physical change by using it.
C. It’s popular because it was developed by DailyBurn.
D. People have to link iPhone with the Internet to use it.
The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. “We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
1.The underlined word “Advocates” in the text probably means” .
A. Supporters B. Objectors C. Teachers D. Learners
2. How many languages are mentioned in this passage?
A. Six. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
3.In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.
A. the competition between Latino and Asian students
B. the global economy
C. the interesting way to engage with China
D. the Chinese learning
4. What CANNOT be learned from this passage?
A. Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.
B. Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.
C. French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.
D. Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.
5.Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?
A. The Chinese learning in Chicago.
B. The ways to learn Chinese.
C. McCormick Primary School.
D. Globalization and Chinese learning.
On a hot summer day, a soft drink can really take away your thirst. At home, at school, in the park or at the movies---you can find one almost anywhere.
Carbonated
You can see bubbles(泡沫) in these! Of all soft drinks sold, about 75 percent are carbonated(碳酸的). But be careful, carbonated soft drinks have lots of sugar and caffeine(咖啡因). Caffeine is not very good for you in the summer because it takes water out of your body. And the sugar can make you overweight if you drink too much.
Fruit juice
There are different kinds of juice. One kind is made only from fresh fruit. This kind of fruit juice may not taste sweet enough for some people, but it is nutritious(有营养的). Another kind of fruit juice tastes good but has lots of sugar in it. Many young people buy this kind because the advertisements are good. It is bad for your teeth and bones to drink lots of this.
Energy drinks
These kinds of drinks have caffeine and things that make people get excited in them. They are sometimes called “party drinks”. Doctors say that if you drink too much of this kind, you may have a heart attack.
Bottled water
We have lots of different kinds of bottled water, such as mineral water, purified water and distilled water(蒸馏水). They are clean and easy to drink. But it is best not to drink very cold water. It may make your stomach feel bad.
Sports drinks
Most of these have funny names like “Scream(尖叫)” and “G-Vital(激活)”. They have lots of vitamins and minerals in them. After you play sports, you may want to drink one of these.
But if you just spend your summer holiday sitting around watching TV, you won’t need them at all!
1.Which two types of drinks may make you overweight?
A. Carbonated and fruit juice.
B.Energy drinks and sports drinks.
C. Carbonated and energy drinks.
D. Fruit juice and bottled water.
2. Which one may lead to your heart disease?
A. Carbonated. B. Fruit juice.
C. Energy drinks. D. Sports drinks
3. After sports, you have sports drinks because______.
A. they can take away your thirst
B. they can put back minerals you’ve lost in sweat
C. they have funny names that sound very exciting
D. they have no sugar
4.The writer wrote this passage to______.
A. warn us to keep away from soft drinks
B. teach us some useful ways of keeping healthy
C. tell us how to choose a good one from all kinds of drinks
D. make the advertisements for soft drinks
First Lady Michelle Obama is a big fan of volunteering. Volunteering means working for free to help someone else. Mrs. Obama says volunteering is very important. “It should be part of everyone’s life,” she says.
Many teens agree. They say that helping others feels great and makes a difference. These days, more teens volunteer than work for pay. Teens clean up parks, walk dogs at animal shelters, visit the elderly and more.
Some cities ---- including Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. ----require high school students to volunteer. Students must volunteer in order to graduate. The student volunteers learn new skills and help their communities.
Many parents are in favor of the idea ---- they say volunteering helps teens build job skills. But most teens don’t want to be forced to volunteer. They say they are busy. And they say volunteering is only fun if it’s a choice.
Read both sides of the debate and decide.
YES
Volunteering can help teens get into college or get a job.
Many cities and towns need help. Volunteers can help keep important programs going.
Not all teens will volunteer if it isn’t required. Schools should require students to do all they can to get ready for adult life.
NO
Most teens are already very busy with classes, homework, jobs and sports. Forcing them to do more isn’t fair.
It should be up to each person. Helping out doesn’t feel as good if you have to do it.
Finding a volunteer job isn’t always easy. Students shouldn’t be kept from graduating because of something they can’t control.
1.The writer mentions Michelle Obama in order to___________.
A. show she enjoys volunteering B. explain what volunteering is
C. tell what she does for the US D. introduce the topic of the text
2.According to the text, in Chicago, .
A. finding a volunteer job is quite easy
B. volunteering is a must for high school students
C. more people would rather work for pay
D. college students have to volunteer before graduation
3. Which question does the text mainly discuss?
A. Should students be required to volunteer?
B. Is volunteering good for students?
C. What is the best time to volunteer?
D. Which volunteer jobs should students do?
(2014·南昌市高三第三次模拟测试)
Millions of people are using cell phones today.In many places it is actually considered unusual not to use one.In many countries，cell phones are very popular with young people.They find that the phones are more than a means of communication—having a mobile phone shows that they are cool and connected.
The explosions around the world in mobile phone use make some health professional worried.Some doctors are concerned that in the future many people may suffer health problems from the use of mobile phones.In England，there has been a serious debate about this issue.Mobile phone companies are worried about the negative publicity of such ideas.They say that there is no proof that mobile phones are bad for your health.
On the other hand，why do some medical studies show changes in the brain cells of some people who use mobile phones？Signs of change in the issues of the brain and head can be detected with modern scanning equipment.In one case，a traveling salesman had to retire at a young age because of serious memory loss.He couldn’t remember even simple tasks.He would often forget the name of his own son.This man used to talk on his mobile phone for about six hours a day，every day of his working week，for a couple of years.His family doctor blamed his mobile phone use，but his employer’s doctor didn’t agree.
What is it that makes mobile phones potentially harmful？The answer is radiation.Hightech machines can detect very small amounts of radiation from mobile phones.Mobile phone companies agree that there is some radiation.But they say the amount is too small to worry about.
As the discussion about their safety continues，it appears that it’s best to use mobile phones less often.Use your regular phone if you want to talk for a long time.Use your mobile phone only when you really need it.Mobile phones can be very useful and convenient，especially in emergencies.In the future，mobile phones may have a warning label that says they are bad for your health.So for now，it’s wise not to use your mobile phone too often.
1.People buy cell phones for the following reasons except that________.
A．they’re popular B．they’re convenient
C．they’re useful D．they’re cheap
2.The word “detected” in Paragraph 3 could be best replaced by________.
A．discovered B．removed
C．cured D．caused
3.The salesman retired young because________.
A．he disliked using mobile phones
B．he couldn’t remember simple tasks
C．he was tired of talking on his mobile phone
D．his employer’s doctor persuaded him to
4.On the safety issue of mobile phones，the manufacturing companies________.
A．deny the existence of mobile phone radiation
B．develop new technology to reduce mobile phone radiation
C．hold that the amount of radiation is too small to worry about
D．try to prove that mobile phones are not harmful to health
5.The writer’s purpose of writing this article is to advise people________.
A．to buy mobile phones
B．to use mobile phones less often
C．to update regular phones
D．to stop using mobile phones
(2014·蚌埠市高三第三次教学质量检查考试)
Some years ago when I was in my second year in university，I heard Salome Bey sing for the first time.The moment was exciting.Salome’s ____filled the room and brought the theater to life.I was so____that I decided to write an article about her.
I____Salome Bey，telling her I was from Essence magazine，and that I wanted to meet her to talk about her career.She____and told me to come to her studio next Tuesday.When I hung up，I was scared out of my mind.I___I was lying.I was not a writer at all and hadn’t even written a grocery list.
I interviewed Salome Bey the next Tuesday.I sat there____，taking notes and asking questions that all began with，“Can you tell me...” I soon realized that____Salome Bey was one thing，but writing a story for a national magazine was just impossible.The____was almost unbearable (不可容忍的)．I struggled for days ____draft after draft.Finally I put my manuscript (手稿) into a large envelope and dropped it into a mailbox.
It didn’t take long.My manuscript____.How stupid of me！I thought.How could I____in a world of professional writers？Knowing I couldn’t ____the rejection letter，I threw the unopened envelope into a drawer.
Five years later，I was moving to California.While____my apartment，I came across the unopened envelope.This time I opened it and ____the editor’s letter in disbelief：
Dear Ms Profit，
Your story on Salome Bey is fantastic.Yet we need some ___ materials.Please add those and return the article immediately.We would like to____your story soon.
Shocked，it took me a long time to____.Fear of rejection cost me dearly.I lost at least five hundred dollars and having my article appear in a major magazine.More importantly，I lost years of____writing.Today，I have become a fulltime writer.Looking back on this____，I learned a very important lesson：You can’t____to doubt yourself.
1.A．joy B．voice
C．speech D．smile
2.A.moved B．active
C．satisfied D．proud
3.A.visited B．emailed
C．interviewed D．phoned
4.A.agreed B．refused
C．hesitated D．paused
5.A.replied B．discovered
C．explained D．knew
6.A.seriously B．nervously
C．patiently D．quietly
7.A.blaming B．fooling
C．inviting D．urging
8. A．hardship B．failure
C．comment D．pressure
9.A.on B．by
C．with D．in
10.A.returned B．disappeared
C．spread D．improved
11.A.compare B．compete
C．survive D．struggle
12.A.ignore B．deliver
C．face D．receive
13.A.cleaning B．repairing
C．decorating D．leaving
14.A.saw B．read
C．found D．noticed
15.A.memorial B．relevant
C．private D．reliable
16.A.broadcast B．create
C．publish D．assess
17.A.prepare B．recover
C．escape D．concentrate
18.A.energetic B．enjoyable
C．typical D．endless
19.A.experience B．success
C．benefit D．accident
20.A.attempt B．pretend
C．expect D．afford
