The “swim-with-dolphins” tourist industry is becoming more popular every year. After all, it can cost a large amount of money to have this kind of holiday experience. So tour operators try to place eager swimmers as near as possible to the dolphins by trying to predict where the dolphins will be.
Research has shown that while dolphins can move away if they do not want to interact (交流） with human swimmers, they do not like it at all if the swimmers slip into the water directly on top of them or if humans are in their path of travel. However, if swimmers enter the water to one side of them, the dolphins do not avoid the swimmers to the same extent.
In all cases, the dolphins seem to have become more sensitive to the presence of the swimmers. For dolphins, swimming amongst or with humans is not necessarily a high priority. This research has shown that only 19% of any group of dolphins will participate in interaction. Young dolphins are the most likely to interact; they do seem curious about being with humans. It is believed that they see humans as “entertainment” and that the interaction is a new and unusual experience for them.
It is frequently asked whether “swim-with-dolphins” tourism should be discontinued. The advice is that dolphins should be given enough periods of time throughout the day when they are not exposed to tourism. Permitted interactions should not be to
o disturbing to the dolphins since there could be mothers and calves (幼崽） present in dolphin groups. There should also be educational campaigns about the creatures and what is likely to cause danger to them.
It is not easy to explain to someone that they cannot fulfill their lifelong dreams because the dolphins are resting, or that a mother dolphin and calf are in the area. But if we are to enjoy these remarkable animals and not just use them for our entertainment, then we must carefully monitor the “swim-with-dolphins” industry worldwide.
1.What makes “swim-with-dolphins” tourism popular?
A. The local government’s encouragement.
B. The improvement of people’s living standard.
C. The increasing number of tourists.
D. The high profits of the industry.
2.Why are young dolphins more likely to swim with humans?
A. They do this out of curiosity.
B. They like humans better.
C. They are less sensitive.
D. They prefer new things by nature.
3.What does the author suggest the “ swim-with-dolphins” industry do in Paragraph 4?
A. Avoid interaction with young dolphins.
B. Strictly limit the expansion of the industry.
C. Make people know the hidden threat to dolphins.
D. Expose dolphins to tourists only in the daytime.
4.What can be inferred from the last sentence of the passage?
A. The industry has been a hot topic worldwide.
B. The industry aims to bring happiness to humans.
C. The industry enables humans to swim with dolphins.
Three years ago Jenny Salgado, a Dominican shop assistant, moved to Highlandtown, a neighborhood of Baltimore. When she arrived the shop she works in was one of only a few Spanish businesses. Now there are many more. “It’s good now if you speak Spanish,” she smiles.
Baltimore has been losing people for 60 years. To address this, its former mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, wanted to make it the most immigrant-friendly city in the world. Its libraries provide Spanish-language exercise classes. To help those with no papers, the city is introducing micro-loans (小额贷款）which require no credit checks. City police would no longer routinely check the immigration status of citizens or enforce any federal immigration law unless required to. The then governor, Martin O'Malley made it possible for illegal immigrants to get driving licenses. Such welcoming policies are spreading. Such cities as Cleveland, Dayton and Philadelphia all eagerly try to please immigrants. Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan, has asked the federal government to offer 50,000 visas to people who agree to live in Detroit. His administration has made it easier for skilled migrants to get professional licenses.
When a city’s population falls, both tax receipts and services fall. Half-deserted neighborhoods breed (滋生）crime, driving yet more people to leave.
No city has escaped this without attracting new residents, says Steve Tobocman of Global Detroit. Several studies suggest that when immigrants arrive, crime goes down, schools improve and shops open up. In Detroit, immigrants living near the tiny separate city of Hamtramck have formed local watches to guard against thieves. Their neighborhoods are not just safer; they are also among the only places where it is as easy to buy fresh vegetables as drugs and alcohol.
But attracting new immigrants to the cities which most need them is hard, argues Audrey Singer of the Brookings Institution. They care about the same things as everyone else: safe streets, good schools and jobs. Cities which have lost population for decades struggle with all of these.
1.What does the underlined word “address” mean?
A. Account for. B. Deal with.
C. Get through to. D. Take away from.
2.Which can best describe the situation mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A. A constant matter. B. A dilemma.
C. A classic case. D. A death circle.
3.What is the topic of the last but one paragraph?
A. The positive role immigrants play. B. Problems caused by immigrants.
C. The living conditions of immigrants. D. Difficulties immigrants face in Detroit.
4.Which statement may Audrey Singer agree with?
A. Attracting immigrants to cities losing people is demanding.
B. Immigrants have higher expectations of a city than its locals.
C. There is no need to encourage such immigrant-friendly policies.
D. Attracting immigrants helps prevent a city from losing population.
The Arctic is not a safe place to be by any stretch of the imagination. Essentially a vast, floating block of ice, with only a small area of land, the landscape can be almost totally different from year to year. Even the most experienced explorers are lucky to return with all their fingers and toes, not to mention their lives.
Into this extreme environment stepped Nabil Al Busaidi. In fact, he didn’t just step—he stepped and skied his way across 650km, pulling 50kg of equipment. He also carried the flag of the Sultanate of Oman, which he held in the air at the North Pole, becoming the first Arab to achieve this impressive feat (壮举).
On the way to the North Pole, Nabil was driven by the reward of success and the pain at the thought of failure. “Through the 20-whatever days , every minute there was a different thing that kept me going, either the fear of failure, the fear of dying or the reward of finishing and getting somewhere warm. ”
The ever-present cold, averaging around -40℃ but dropping as low as a recorded -81℃, is his overriding (首要的) memory of the experience. As an Omani, Nabil had an additional 20℃ drop in temperature to get used to, compared to his British teammates. Apart from the extreme cold, polar bears were a common feature of the journey, and Nabil and the team had their fair share of bear encounters. “Polar bears are dangerous, but they are not that threatening because they don’t intend to harm humans. They’re usually either curious or just don’t care. We saw five bears, and none were aggressive,” said Nabil.
One final problem Nabil faced was the stress put on team relations by the severity of the conditions, especially during the first three stages of the journey. However, during the fourth and final leg, the team worked so well together that they travelled 130km in only two and a half days.
1.What does Paragraph 1 show?
A. Nabil’s hard-won success. B. The value of Arctic exploration.
C. Nabil’s good luck. D. The change of the Arctic.
2.Which is the problem Nabil faced on his journey?
A. Gradually rising sea level. B. Frequent polar bear attacks.
C. Constantly changing climate. D. The heavy psychological burden.
3.What can we know about Nabil?
A. He had gone on an Arctic journey before.
B. He explored the Arctic with pretty light packs.
C. He finished the exploration of the Arctic all alone.
D. He suffered more from extreme cold than his teammates.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Life in the Arctic.
B. Climate of the Arctic.
C. The first Arab to step into the Arctic.
D. Achievements scientists made in the Arctic.
Professional development courses in London
●Business writing
Delivery method: Online, Video
Price: ￡49
About the course: Many people get blocked when forced to put their thoughts into words at work. This course gives you the tools and techniques to improve your writing, whether it’s a two-line email or a two-hundred-page report.
●Travel writing courses
Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar
Price: ￡115 (full day); ￡125 (evening classes)
About the course: Do you want to be a travel writer? Then come along to a one-day travel writing workshop or a four-week travel writing evening class. The courses help participants to write travel features and publish them in newspapers, magazines or on websites.
●Pre-sessional programmes in CAP
Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar
Price: Starting from ￡1,250
About the course: Our five pre-sessional programmes in English for academic purposes are intended for international students who plan to study at Aston University. These programmes aim to equip you with the language and academic skills necessary for success in your future chosen subject area.
●Masterclass
Delivery method: Classroom, Seminar
Price: Starting from ￡335
About the course: Whether you write fundraising letters, or for your website(s), this course will help you gain the ideas, knowledge and skills you need to write fundraising copy that produces more impressive and profitable results.
1.How is the business writing course different from the others?
A. It is delivered online. B. It offers evening classes.
C. It focuses on report writing. D. It is hosted by Aston University.
2.What can pre-sessional programmes in CAP help students do?
A. Choose a suitable college subject. B. Prepare themselves for university.
C. Go to world-class universities. D. Only improve their academic skills.
3.Which course fits John if he hopes to write inspiring words for fundraising activities?
A. Pre-sessional programmes in EAP. B. Travel writing courses.
C. Business writing. D. Masterclass.
假如你是李华，目前你们小区里有很多人养宠物，有的人养小猫小狗小鸟之类的小动物i，但也有的人养凶猛(violent)藏獒（Tibetan Mastiff)等危险的动物，因此小区不再安静与安全。
请你写信给某英文报社，反映此问题，信的内容还应包括以下要点：
1.宠物过多，噪音影响人们的正常休息；
2.宠物的排泄物（waste）不及时处理，污染环境；
3.有路人曾被藏獒惊吓（frightened)或咬伤过（bitten）；
4.你对人们养宠物的观点是.....
Dear editor,
Nowadays many people in our community are fond of keeping pets.But there are many problems caused by the situation.I would like to tell you my thoughts about it.
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Yours faithfully
Li Hua
During the last past 15years,the most important lesson I had learned is that being a big brother is not easy for my own brother.My brother is four years old than me.As a child, I often tried to following him and his friends.I was the little sister whom always wanted to be included in everything, even when they were playing the basketball.My brother got angry for me sometimes and left the house without me.Therefore,later he regretted having done that.Now,my brother lives abroad because of his job , he always calls me to ask how everything is going with him.In a word, having a brother is a wonderfully thing.
