The United States will introduce a new and comprehensive(综合的) exam for students who seek to study in American and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York.
The exam, which stands for a great change from the current English level test, was disclosed by Theresa Chang Wei Jen, associate director of the International Service of the US College Board, America’s leading educational organization.
The Advanced Placement International English Language (APIEL) will be offered for the first time throughout the world on May 10, 2002, said Jen.
However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language), the GRE(Graduate Record Examination), or the IELTS(International English Language Testing System).
“I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam,” said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL.
Most of Xu’s classmates have never heard of the APIEL. “The APIEL is designed for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia.” said Jen.
The APIEL has been adopted, said Jen, because the TOEFL can no longer accurately reflect the abilities of students of using the English language comprehensively in an academic environment. Xinhua reported that a fairly large number of foreign students who earned high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after admission.
Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student’s ability to read, write, speak and understand English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with accuracy(精确) and resourcefulness, and writing with clarity(清晰) and fluency, Jen said.
1.The United States will introduce a new exam because _______.
A. more and more students want to get further education in the USA
B. the Chinese people pay special attention to English studies with China’s entry into the WTO
C. the already existing exam systems seem to be far from perfect
D. it will bring the US government quite a lot of money
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the selection？
A. It will take quite a period of time for people to accept the APIEL.
B. The TOEFL is more popular with the Chinese than the IELTS.
C. A student will have to take the APIEL if he or she wants to study in English—speaking countries from 2002.
D. Chinese students will prefer the IELTS rather than the APIEL even in the future.
3.The underlined word current in the second paragraph means _______.
A. modern B. present
C. standard D. formal
4.Which is the best title for this news report?
A. The Key to English-speaking Countries
B. The Four Skills in Learning English
C. TOEFL, IELTS and GRE to be Out of Date
D. New Exam Designed for Students
Here’s an idea whose time has come: A flu shot that doesn’t require an actual shot.
For the first time, researchers have tested a flu vaccine patch (疫苗贴) in a human clinical experiment and found that it delivered as much protection as a traditional injection with a needle. Doctors and public health experts have high hopes that it will increase the number of people who get immunized (免疫的) against the flu.
Seasonal flu is responsible for up to half a million deaths around the world each year according to the World Health Organization. A team led by Georgia Tech engineer Mark Prausnitz has come up with an alternative method that uses “microneedles”. These tiny needles are so small that 100 of them, arranged in order on a patch, can fit under your thumb (拇指). Yet they’re big enough to hold vaccine for three types of flu.
None of the study volunteers had serious side effects. The groups that got patches had mild skin reactions that were not seen in the regular needle group, while the volunteers in the regular needle group were more likely to experience pain. Overall, 70 percent of the volunteers who got vaccine patches said they’d rather use them again than get a traditional flu shot. The study authors declared it a success on all fronts.
The biggest beneficiaries could be people in low- and middle-income countries, where flu vaccines are hard to come by. Reducing pain is nice, but other benefits—the patch costs less, is easier to transport, doesn’t require refrigeration, can be self-administered and doesn’t cause waste of needles—are even better.
“Microneedle Patches have the potential to become ideal candidates for vaccination programs,” wrote Katja Hoschler and Maria Zambon of Public Health England.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. A vaccine that cures people of their flu.
B. A team that does research on seasonal flu.
C. A patch that makes flu shots a thing of the past.
D. A method that makes traditional flu shot painless.
2.What do we know about the vaccine patch?
A. It causes slight side effects.
B. It causes serious skin reactions.
C. It delivers vaccine on the head.
D. It works badly on 30% of the volunteers.
3.The new patch has all the following benefits except that .
A. it is provided free of charge
B. it can be used without doctors
C. it can be kept at room temperature
D. it needs less care in transportation
4.What is Katja and Maria’s attitude towards the new shot?
A. Cautious. B. Favorable.
C. Unclear. D. Disapproving.
In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image.
I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit---I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels.
When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness.
Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are.
Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1.What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
A. The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself.
B. The author agrees to spend money on material things.
C. The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels.
D. The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends.
2.Leaf Van Boven’s studies showed that ______.
A. traveling changes a person’s identity greatly
B. people dislike those who love luxuries
C. experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries
D. luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness
3.What is the author’s advice on expressing oneself?
A. Be selective about designer labels.
B. Create your own personal unique style.
C. Choose styles that are simple and comfortable.
D. Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s.
4.The main purpose of the article is to ______.
A. persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries
B. prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life
C. tell how to express yourself through appearances
D. report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness
Monthly Talks at London Canal Museum
Our monthly talks start at 19:30 on the first Thursday of each month except August. Admission is at normal charges and you don’t need to book. They end around 21:00.
November 7th
The Canal Pioneers, by Chris Lewis. James Brindley is recognized as one of the leading early canal engineers. He was also a major player in training others in the art of canal planning and building. Chris Lewis will explain how Brindley made such a positive contribution to the education of that group of early “civil engineers”.
December 5th
Ice for the Metropolis, by Malcolm Tucker. Well before the arrival of freezers, there was a demand for ice for food preservation and catering, Malcolm will explain the history of importing natural ice and the technology of building ice wells, and how London’s ice trade grew.
February 6th
An Update on the Cotswold Canals, by Liz Payne. The Stroudwater Canal is moving towards reopening. The Thames and Severn Canal will take a little longer. We will have a report on the present state of play.
March 6th
Eyots and Aits-Thames Islands, by Miranda Vickers. The Thames had many islands. Miranda has undertaken a review of all of them. She will tell us about those of greatest interest.
Online bookings: www.canalmuseum.org.uk/book
More info: www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson
London Canal Museum
12-13 New Wharf Road, London NI 9RT
www.canalmuseum.org.uk www. canalmuseum.mobi
Tel: 020 7713 0836
1.When is the talk on James Brindley?
A. November 7th. B. March 6th.
C. February 6th. D. December 5th.
2.What is the topic of the talk in February?
A. The Canal Pioneers. B. Ice for the Metropolis.
C. Eyots and Aits-Thames Islands. D. An Update on the Cotswold Canals.
3.Who will give the talk on the islands in the Thames?
A. Chris Lewis. B. Malcolm Tucker.
C. Miranda Vickers. D. Liz Payne
He was in great trouble ,but he behaved as if nothing_____
A. was happening B. has happened
C. happened D. had happened
The child was found ______down the streets alone.
A. wandering B. wondering
C. taking D. stepping
