A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine the two to do something for your local environment? As early as next year it may well be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone you will be able to bury it in a garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower.
A biodegradable(生物所能分解的)mobile phone was, this month, introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage consumers to recycle.
Scientists have come up with a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic and can be hard or soft, and is able to change shape. Over time it can also break down into the soil without giving out any poisonous chemicals. British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover that contains a sunflower seed. When this new type of cover turns into waste, it forms fertilizers. These feed the seed and help the flower grow.
Engineers have designed a small transparent(透明的)window to hold the seed. They have made sure it only grows when the phone is thrown away. “We’ve only put sunflower seeds into the covers so far. But we are working with plant experts to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time,” said one scientist.
As phone technology is developing so quickly, people are constantly throwing their mobiles away. This means manufacturers are under pressure to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can offer some relief for nature, according to the scientists.
“The seed comes out and the flower grows in the pot so you don’t have to concern yourself with the phone when you have finished using it,” said Kerry Kirwan. She leads the research team, which is based at the University of Warwick in Britain.
1.What is the purpose of this passage?
A. To tell the popularity of biodegradable cell phones.
B. To persuade the reader to buy the biodegradable cell phone.
C. To discuss the development of phone technology.
D. To introduce an environmental-friendly cell phone to readers.
2.People throw away their cell phones most probably because .
A. there is something wrong with them
B. no sunflowers can grow out of them
C. they are out of fashion
D. they are becoming cheaper and cheaper
3.It could be learned from the passage that .
A. developing the new type of phone is mainly to protect the environment
B. phone-makers will benefit much more from the new type of phone
C. the new type of phone will certainly be popular with users all over the world
D. the phones that can be recycled are available only in Britain now
4.What might be the most suitable title for this passage?
A. Sunflower and Phone. B. Plant Your Phone.
C. Protect Our Environment. D. No Worry about Phone.
(part of Yanglan’s speech in Beijing’s bid for the 2008 Olympic games)
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good afternoon!
Before I introduce our cultural programs, I want to tell you one thing first about 2008. You're going to have a great time in Beijing.
Many people are fascinated by China’s sport legends(传奇)in history. For example, back to Song Dynasty, about the 11th century, people started to play a game called Cuju, which is regarded as the origin of ancient football. The game was very popular and women were also participating. Now, you will understand why our women football team is so good today.
With a concept inspired by the famed Silk Road, our Torch Relay will break new ground, traveling from Olympia through some of the oldest civilizations known to man-Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Byzantine, Mesopotamian, Persian, Arabian, Indian and Chinese. Carrying the message "Share the Peace, Share the Olympics," the eternal flame will reach new heights as it crosses the Himalayas over the world's highest summit - Mount Qomolangma, which is known to many of you as Mt. Everest. In China, the flame will pass through Tibet, cross the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, travel the Great Wall and visit Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the 56 ethnic communities who make up our society. On its journey, the flame will be seen by and inspire more human beings than any previous relay.
I am afraid I can not present the whole picture of our cultural programs within such a short period of time. Before I end, let me share with you one story. Seven hundred years ago, amazed by his incredible editions of a far away land of great beauty, people asked Marco Polo whether his stories about China were true. He answered: What I have told you was not even half of what I saw. Actually, what we have shown you here today is only a fraction of Beijing that awaits you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that Beijing will prove to be a land of wonders to athletes, spectators(观众) and the worldwide television audience alike. Come and join us.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you all.
1.In Yanglan’s speech, she mentioned a game called Cuju, she implied that _____
A. China is the original country of football.
B. China is a country with a long history in sports.
C. People in China used to play football well.
D. Women in China are good at football.
2.Mt. Everest refers to _____.
A. a person who is known to many people in the world
B. Himalayas
C. Mount Qomolangma
D. the Olympic Torch
3.Which of the following is not the promise that China will keep to the world?
A. Whoever takes part in the Beijing Olympic Games will have a great time in Beijing.
B. The flame will be seen by and inspire more human beings than any previous relay.
C. The Olympic Torch will reach the world's highest summit - Mount Qomolangma.
D. Marco Polo’s stories will await athletes, spectators and the worldwide television audience.
4.Marco Polo ‘s answer meant that ______
A. what he wrote was half better than what he saw.
B. he was interested in half of what he had seen.
C. he was not able to describe the beauty of the faraway land.
D. there were so many true stories that he could only tell part of them.
Every day, life is made and lost. Every day, life goes on. Every day we experience some of the most important parts of life and may not even realize it: love, generosity, and perseverance. These values aren't just important to us; they make the world what it is.
Scientists say that gravitational(重力的)force makes the world turn, but some people say that love makes it go round. Love can be found anywhere: in families, friends, even complete strangers. Even if you can’t see it, you know it's there.
Love may connect people all over the world, but what would the world be without generosity? Whether after a national disaster, or a school fund-raiser, one thing is certain--it is better to give than to receive. Generosity is found everywhere and whether it's a large or small act, it makes a difference. Most of all, being generous is not something you need any qualifications for, but no matter what you do, it can make a difference, Sometimes, though, it takes effort to be generous, which leads us to perseverance.
Founding a country, riding a bike, or finishing an essay, these are all finished with perseverance. Perseverance is the one thing that can help us achieve whatever we want. It is what helps scientists to discover cures for diseases, and athletes to become champions. You may fail, but every time you make a mistake, that's one less to make the next time.
There is an infinite(无穷的)number of things we value, but without love, generosity and perseverance, we just don't think that our life or the world would be the way it is.
1.The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to “ ______ ”.
A. the world B. gravitational force
C. value D. experience
2.To be generous, the author thinks _____.
A. you needn't make efforts
B. you should be qualified
C. you should give all you have
D. you will find it good to give
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Perseverance is the only thing that can help us to achieve success.
B. People don't understand the life they are experiencing at all.
C. We can find love in complete strangers sometimes,
D. What the world is like depends on gravity and love.
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Success and Failure. B. Three Values.
C. Endless Love. D. Life full of Hope.
National Forecast
Fri, Aug 24,
LONDON —This Evening and Tonight:
Rain, locally heavy across northwest Scotland. Mostly cloudy but dry in other northern and western areas. Dry with clear spells(持续时间)in more central and eastern parts, but some low cloud and fog will develop. Generally mild with light winds.
Saturday:
Cloud and rain over western Scotland at the beginning will gradually push down over N.Ireland and northwest England. Largely dry, warm with sunny spells elsewhere, once early fog and low cloud clears.
http ://www. times online. co. uk/tol/news/weather/
The Nation's Weather
Fri, Aug 24,
NEW YORK—Heavy rain was forecast throughout Friday in parts of the Midwest. The heaviest rainfall was over northern Illinois, with more than 4 inches possible around Chicago.
Wet weather was also expected in the Plains as the same storm system tracks through the region.
Periods of heavy rain were also forecast for the Northeast as the remnant(剩余部分)of tropical storm Erin moves into the Canadian Maritimes.
Hot weather was expected to continue in the South and West.
http ://www. wunderground. com
Death toll rises to 36 in China typhoon
Wed, Aug 22,
BEIJING— At least 36 people were killed by Typhoon Sepat in four provinces in eastern and central China in widespread destruction that also forced the evacuation (撤退)of l.37 million people.
More than 60,000 homes in the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Hunan also were destroyed or damaged, Xinhua News Agency said.
Total economic losses in the provinces have reached $ 663 million.
Fujian was the worst-hit province, with 18 people killed, Xinhua said.
Earlier, the storm, named after a Malaysian fish, killed at least one person in Taiwan, and left three dead in the Philippines.
http ://news. yahoo. com/s/ap
1.On August 25, in N. Ireland and northwest England, there will be _____.
A. low cloud and fog B. typhoon and flood
C. cloud and rain D. sunshine and mild wind
2.What was the weather like in the south and west of the USA on Friday?
A. It was hot. B. It was rainy.
C. It was foggy. D. It was warm.
3.The storm named Sepat _____.
A. caused one death in the Philippines
B. killed 18 people in Taiwan
C. destroyed about 60,000 homes in Fujian
D. caused great economic losses
4.The name of Typhoon Sepat comes from _____.
A. a tropical storm B. a Malaysian fish
C. a place D. a person
I Online shopping started not so long ago. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1990. The first online bank opened in 1994. In 1995, Amazon started operating and is not one of the largest online shopping malls. Then in 1996, eBay started its online shopping site.
By sitting at home you can now buy anything from knives to cars. The worry you may have about traveling and parking can be avoided while you shop online. With online shopping, you need not worry about the weather. Online shops have no holidays, closing times or any other problem. You can shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Some online shops also keep customers' opinions about each product, so you can easily find out what other customers think about the product before buying it.
When you go for real-world shopping, you can actually touch and feel it, but in online shopping you can only see the pictures. Also if you are shopping online, you have to be careful with your credit cards.
The first step in online shopping is to search for what you want to buy. Once you find the required product, put it in a “shopping cart” and continue shopping. After you have got enough in your “shopping cart”, check out the product. You can add or take out the products in your shopping cart. The next step is to log in using a username and a password. Enter the address where you want the product to be sent. Some sites even ask for your email, phone numbers, etc.
Then wait for the confirmation of your order. You can also cancel the order if needed. Online shopping is a different experience and you can make shopping online easy when you get used to it.
1.I When shopping online, you can .
A. park your car where you want to
B. buy anything wherever you go
C. touch anything you want to buy
D. know what others think of the product
2.The second paragraph mainly tells us .
A. people can do online shopping at their own homes
B. the things people can buy in online shops
C. the advantages people can have through online shopping
D. people can know different opinions of customers
3.From the text, we can know that .
A. once customers put the products in their “shopping carts”, they can't change them
B. customers should be careful with their credit cards when shopping online
C. customers must give their e-mails as well as their phone numbers
D. people can know different opinions of all customers
4.If you want to buy a cup online, what is the right order of the following things you can do?_________
a. Put the cup into your “shopping cart”.
b. Wait for the confirmation of the order.
c. Search for a right cup.
d. Enter the address.
A.dcba B.cadb C.cabd D.dcab
In high school I had a math teacher, Mrs. Davies, who took her job seriously and expected her students to put forth the same degree of commitment. Strict but fair, she held our attention with her time-proven approach. One of her was for students who were more advanced academically. I chose to it and soon realized that the course was a bit over my head. I with the complex problems that others seemed to learn without much effort.
One Friday we were tested our ability to use a theorem（定理）that no one in the class thoroughly understood. The teacher would our papers based on our ability to progress through the problem which easily filled two pages of formulaic notations（公式符号）. I was absolutely . Finally, I didn't use the required theorem. Instead, I decided to use more familiar theorems to arrive at an . I knew I had failed because I hadn't done the assignment. I became resigned to my fate．
Our test papers were back the following Monday. Everyone received a "C" except for me. To my surprise, I received an "A". I that there must be a mistake. I watched as the teacher approached my desk, smiled, and asked for my test back．She then went back to copy my work onto the blackboard, the class how I had arrived at the correct answer．"Mathematics is meant to be a creative tool, pushing our minds to a rewarding answer," she said with confidence. I didn't use the required theorem, she seemed genuinely proud of how I'd worked through the problem. The class saw her fold my test paper and put it into her textbook. She announced that it would be with future classes.
My teacher would have been justified in giving me a grade. Instead, she used the to deeply influence a student who often struggled. And after forty years, I still cherish the ．It helped change my self-image. I up to a broad boundary of possibilities which has made my life an adventure. She understood that teaching went beyond strict demands and could be used to . Thank you, Mrs. Davies．
1.A. ways B. tasks C. tests D. classes
2.A. run B. take C. teach D. like
3.A. compared B. struggled C. connected D. argued
4.A. on B. at C. of D. for
5.A. explain B. collect C. print D. grade
6.A. tired B. curious C. lost D. content
7.A. effect B. end C. answer D. interest
8.A. completed B. proved C. fixed D. required
9.A. handed B. held C. thrown D. dated
10.A. hoped B. assumed C. declared D. dreamed
11.A. angrily B. regretfully C. Disappoint D. nervously
12.A. paper B. score C. question D. method
13.A. helping B. following C. showing D. praising
14.A. Since B. Unless C. Though D. Because
15.A. shared B. exchanged C. practiced D. checked
16.A. friendly B. failing C. corrected D. wrong
17.A. Possibility B. creation C. intention D. opportunity
18.A. change B. memory C. school D. life
19.A. opened B. kept C. made D. looked
20.A. learn B. survive C. inspire D. manage
