According to a team of researchers, an animals’ ability to perceive(感知)time is linked to their pace of life.
“Our results lend support to the importance of time perception in animals where the ability to perceive time in a very short time may be the difference between life and death for fast moving creatures.” commented lead author Kevin Healy from Trinity College Dublin.
The study was done with a variety of animals using a phenomenon based on the maximum speed of flashes of light an individual can see before the light source is seen as constant. Dogs, for example, have eyes with a refresh rate higher than humans.
One example of this phenomenon at work, the authors say, is the housefly and its ability to avoid being hit. The research showed flies “observe motion in a shorter time than our own eyes can achieve,” which allows them to avoid being hit.
Professor Graeme Ruxton of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, who worked jointly on the research project, said in a statement, “Having eyes that send updates to the brain at much higher frequencies than our eyes do is of no value if the brain cannot process that information equally quickly. Thus, this work highlights the impressive abilities of even the smallest animal brains. Flies might not be deep thinkers, but they can make good decisions very quickly. ”
In comparison, the tiger beetle (虎甲虫）runs faster than its eyes can keep up, basically becoming blind, which requires it to stop periodically to re-evaluate its prey’s (猎物)position.
Our results suggest that time perception offers an as yet unstudied dimension along which animals can specialize and there is considerable range to study this system in more detail.
1.What is the research mentioned in the passage mainly about?
A. Pace of life of animals. B. Time perception of animals.
C. Lifetime of small animals. D. Impressive abilities of animals.
2.What does Kevin Healy’s comment mean in Para. 2?
A. The ability of animals to perceive time depends on their high moving speed.
B. The survival of fast moving animals relies on their ability to perceive time.
C. Animals with quicker pace of life have better perception of time.
D. Animals with poor ability of time perception have a shorter life.
3.Why can houseflies avoid being hit?
A. They can think very deeply before they act.
B. They can fly much faster than their eyes can keep up.
C. They can process the information as quickly as they receive it.
D. They can send information to brain more quickly than to their eyes.
4.What will a tiger beetle have to do to catch a moving prey?
A. Try to run as fast as it can.
B. Prevent itself from becoming blind.
C. Slow down to gain its time perception.
D. Stop occasionally to spot the prey again.
Booking a trip on an online travel site is convenient, but comes with its own set of problems.
◆They know who’s gone to spend more.
Last year, U. S travel research company Orbitz tracked people’s online activities to test out whether Mac users spend more on travel than PC users. Turns out that on average, Mac users lay out US $ 20~30 more per night on hotels. As a result, online travel sites show these users more expensive travel options first. To avoid paying more, sort results by price.
◆Their software doesn’t always link to the hotel’s system.
A guaranteed reservation is almost impossible to come by anywhere — but the risk of your flight or hotel being overbooked increases with third-party providers. The middleman’s software isn’t immune(防护作用的) to system errors, so always call the hotel or airline to make sure your booking was processed.
◆You could miss out on loyalty (积分) points.
Third party providers can get between you and frequent flyer miles or points. Many hotel loyalty programs don’t recognize external sites, others award only minimum points without special offers, like double points on hotel stays.
◆Don’t be fooled by packages: Often, they’re low-end items grouped together.
Ever notice how travel sites recommend a hotel, a rental car, and tour package all in one click. These deals usually feature travel that no one wants, like flights with multiple layovers(中途停留). Check the fine print.
◆Once your trip is purchased, you’re on your own.
An online travel agency can’t provide assistance the same way an agent can if a flight is cancelled or a room is substandard. Basically, when you arrive at the airport or hotel, you’re just another customer who booked at the lowest rate.
1.What does the writer mainly intend to tell readers?
A. Tips of how to reserve flights on line.
B. Problems of reserving a hotel on line.
C. Notices about reserving a trip on line.
D. Traps in reserving hotels and flights on line.
2.Why do people probably spend more on their online reservation for trips?
A. They book at prices offered first by travel sites.
B. They are shown less expensive travel options first.
C. Some of the travel expenses are earned by Mac users.
D. Their flights or hotels are overbooked by tourist agencies.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined “fine print”？
A. Detailed items. B. Discounted prices.
C. Good deals. D. Special services.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. The third parties will provide good travel services on line.
B. Few people book trips on line because of possible troubles.
C. Travelers’ interests may not be guaranteed with booking on line.
D. Those booking trips on line will benefit much from loyalty points
What is TrackR?
TrackR is the simplest way to find lost or misplaced items. Join the millions of people who are connected to their most important items.
Order a TrackR today and never lose anything again.
1.What do you think is the passage?
A. Descriptions of several products. B. An advertisement of a product.
C. An introduction to lost items. D. Directions of a new item.
2.How many functions does a TrackR have?
A. Three. B. Four. C. Five. D. Six.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined “a snap” in the passage?
A. An easy job. B. A necessary task.
C. An available method D. A quiet action.
Aerial(空中的)performer Jennifer Bricker was born without legs, but she never let it stop her.
Wrapped in a loop(圈)of red silk hung from the ceiling Jennifer Bricker climbs and twists to the music. Her head hangs down and her strong arms let go as she balances on her back, high above the ground a move that’s all the more daring because she has no legs.
Jennifer was a few months old when she was adopted by Sharon and Gerald Bricker. She had big brown eyes, a bright smile, and huge amounts of energy. When a doctor advised her adoptive parents to carry her around in a kind of bucket(桶), they refused.
Jennifer soon learned to walk — and run — on her hands and bottom, and grew up fearlessly climbing trees and bouncing on the trampoline (蹦床）with her three older brothers. “ My parents didn’t treat me differently so I didn’t grasp the concept that I was different. I knew I didn’t have legs but that wasn’t stopping me from doing the things I wanted to do. "
At the age of three she was fitted with artificial legs, but she never really took to them — she moved more freely without.
In 1996 the Olympic Games took place in Atlanta. Jennifer loved to watch the women’s gymnastics team, and especially adored the 14-year-old Dominique Moceanu who competed for the US. When Moceanu and the women’s team won gold, Jennifer decided she was going to be a gymnast, too. She took up power tumbling, which involves performing floor exercises down a runway. But Jennifer did not want any allowances to be made for her disability.
At the age of 10 she took part in the Junior Olympics and by age 11 she was tumbling champion for the state of Illinois.
Jennifer now travels the world as an inspirational speaker and acts as an aerial performer.
1.What do we know about Jennifer Bricker?
A. She felt embarrassed without legs.
B. She was brought up as a normal child.
C. She was carried in a bucket as a baby.
D. She lost her legs when she was adopted.
2.Why did Jennifer determine to be a gymnast ?
A. She knew that she was different from others.
B. She wanted to make allowances for her disability
C. She was eager to participate in the Junior Olympics.
D. She was greatly influenced by Dominique Moceanu.
3.Which of the following can best describe Jennifer Bricker?
A. Self-respected. B. Cautious. C. Sensitive. D. Clever.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The sufferings of a gymnast.
B. The memory of an aerial performer.
C. The experiences of an adoptive family.
D. The growing process of a disabled person.
假定你是李华， 给你在美国孔子学院任教的英语老师――――刘老师写封邮件，内容包括：
1．询问她在美国的生活和工作情况；
2．告诉她你的学习情况；
3．希望她来信介绍美国学生的生活。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
孔子学院 the Confucius Institute
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
The biggest challenge I have overcome is stepping out of my comfort zone. In the year of 2013 which I was 15, I joined an exchange student program. I sent to Germany alone and lived with the host family.
At first it was a huge failure for me. Thanks for my host mom, she helped me a lot. She told me some tips to make friends, such as joining a sports club and invited my classmates to watch a movie. Surprising, all of the tips she gave me work out! She also suggested that I can introduce my culture to my classmates. To my astonish, they were both interested in Chinese culture.
Gradually, my discomfort zone became a part of my comfort zone.
