A volunteering vacation can be a meaningful way to spend your time off, but to make the trip satisfying both for you and the cause you are supporting, several factors need to be considered. Here is some advice on planning the satisfactory vacation:
1. There are hundreds of causes to volunteer for, and finding one close to your heart will lead to a more worthwhile trip. Possibilities include wildlife conservation, education, environmental protection, health and nutrition. Also, consider any personal and professional skills that you can contribute. 2.
Choose your destination and setting. Your volunteering trip will be more enjoyable if you use it to reach a favorite destination. Southeast Asia is on your mind, helping with treeplanting programs in Bali would benefit the environment and let you appreciate the scenic island. 3. Is volunteering outdoors in a hot or snowy climate attractive, or do you prefer being in an airconditioned office?
Ask the right questions. 4. Be aware that most volunteering programs require a week-long stay. Ask other questions like: How many hours of work per day is required? Are there days off? Will you be working individually or as part of a team? And what are the goals of your efforts? 5. Ask if the cost includes only accommodations or meals and transportation too.
A. Figure out your cause.
B. Find a wellrespected organization.
C. And think about the surroundings you want.
D. Your duty there is to rest and play.
E. The more you know about your trip, the more successful it will be.
F. Despite the word “volunteer”, these vacations usually cost you some money.
G. If you’re a doctor, for example, working at a health clinic could be an ideal fit.
Senses That Work Together
When we think about how our senses work, we usually imagine them operating separately: you sniff a flower, and the smell is delivered uninterrupted from nose to brain. However, it's more complex than that. Most evidence for cross modal perception (知觉) comes from studies into sound and vision (视觉). But research that shows other senses crossing over is coming out all the time, and it seems that even sound and smell sometimes form an unlikely pairing.
When New York researchers, Daniel Wesson and Donald Wilson, tried to find out the truth about a "mysterious” area of the brain called the olfactory tubercle, they had to deal with this fact. Originally, they only intended to measure how olfactory tubercle cells in mice responded to smell. But during testing, Wesson noticed that every time he put his coffee cup down, the mouse cells jumped in activity. In fact, the olfactory tubercle is well-placed to receive both smell and sound information from the outside world. Later they found that among separate cells, most responded to a smell but a significant number were also active when a sound was made. Some cells even behaved differently when smell and sound were presented together, by increasing or decreasing their activity.
Of course, mice aren't people, so research team has been carrying out further experiments. They pulled together a group of people and gave them various drinks to smell. Participants were asked to sniff the drinks, and then match them to appropriate musical instruments and produce the notes at different levels. The results were interesting: piano was regularly paired with fruity fragrances; strong smells sounded like the instruments that are made of metal.
Further research found that listening to different sounds can change your perceptions. Studying taste this time, the team ordered some special toffee (太妃糖) and put together “soundscapes” corresponding to bitterness and sweetness. Participants tasted similar pieces of toffee while listening to each soundscape, and found the toffee more bitter or sweeter, depending on which soundrack they were listening to.
Studies like this are helping scientists correctly describe our understanding of the senses, and how the brain combines them with its advantage. The consequences are worth considering. Could we see musicians work together with chefs to produce sound-improved food and drink? Will you be ordering a coffee with a soundrack to bring out your favorite smell? Come to think of it, that could be one thing you hope coffee shop chains don’t get round to.
1.What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.A lot of research focuses on the senses.
B.There can be a link between sound and smell.
C.Sound and vision are relatively easy to study.
D.Evidence about the way senses work is hard to obtain.
2.In Wesson and Wilson's research,__________.
A.the mice were affected more significantly by sound
B.the result confirmed what the researchers had suspected
C.the connection between sound and smell was found by chance
D.the mice seemed to be afraid of certain sounds or smells
3.What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A.Participants took an active part in the experiments.
B.The purpose of the further experiments was totally different.
C.The result failed to support what was found in previous experiments.
D.Experiments showed that links between sound and smell were consistent.
4.How does the author feel about the effect of the research?
A.She is surprised at the recent developments.
B.She is excited about the creative chances.
C.She is convinced that the findings will be used soon.
D.She is worried about how the knowledge can be applied.
A small insect is gettinga lot of attention in the United States. The rusty patched bumblebee (大黄蜂) is the first of its species to be declared endangered in the lower 48 states — meaning every state except Alaska and Hawaii. The rusty patched bumblebee is named for a rust-colored line on its back.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced this month it was adding the bee to its endangered species list. The insects are "on the brink of extinction, " according to the service. It said the bees were once found in 28 states. But there now are only small populations remaining in 13 states. The government agency will make a plan to help the dying bees recover. The agency said that such a plan might help other insects,like butterflies.
U.S. officials think land owners can take small steps to help the rusty patched bumblebee. They say land owners can be friendlier towards bees by using native plants in their gardens. The insects directly fertilize many kinds of fruit and vegetable crops. And they fertilize grain crops used to feed cattle and milk cows. It costs billions of dollars to duplicate the job the bees do for free. Land owners are also being urged to cut back on their use of pesticide products. The officials also suggest that gardeners leave their plants alone at the end of the summer instead of cutting them. That way, the bees will have a place to live over the winter.
The Fish and Wildlife Service says the rusty patched bumblebee was added to the endangered species list partly because of habitat loss. Other reasons were disease, pesticides and climate change. Officials are worried that other bees will suffer, too. Another species of bees in Hawaii is also endangered.
1.How many states declared the rusty patched bumblebee endangered?
A.13. B.28. C.48. D.50.
2.Which one is harmful to the rusty patched bumblebee?
A.Planting native plants. B.Reducing the use of pesticide products.
C.Leaving plants alone. D.Cutting out plants regularly.
3.What can we know about the rusty patched bumblebee according to the text?
A.All the states declared it as endangered species.
B.It is named for a rust-colored line on its belly.
C.It is beneficial to land owners.
D.It is endangered mainly because of habitat loss.
4.What's the best title for the passage?
A.Bumblebee added to U.S. endangered species list
B.Why is bumblebee on the brink of extinction
C.Take steps to help bumblebee
D.The benefits of protecting bumblebee
Can you imagine being able to remember every single experience of your life and every word in your favorite book? That’s what Becky’s life is like, and as wonderful as it sounds, it can also be quite terrifying at times.
Three years ago, Becky was reading a newspaper article which mentioned that it was impossible for people to remember the details of their life in the first three years. “What nonsense (胡说八道)!” she thought, because she could clearly remember her life all the way back to when she was just 12 days old. Her parents had carried her to the driver’s seat of their car and laid her down for a photo. But it wasn’t nonsense. She was just one of only 80 known people who have a condition called HSAM(Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory).
Becky’s unusual condition was recently shown on a program called 60 minutes, where reporter Allison tested her ability by asking her questions about her favorite book series, Harry Potter. Allison would pick up a book and open a page and read her a line. Immediately Becky would name the book, chapter number, chapter name and could recite every word until Allison told her to stop.
Being able to remember every little detail is a great ability, but as every person with HSAM will tell you, it can be very hard to deal with. Forgetting is one of the things we use to get over sad experiences in our lives, but it’s something that people like Becky are unable to do. Even walking on the street and lightly bumping(撞) into somebody brings back memories from Becky’s childhood, when a boy knocked her over. She’s taken right back to that time, living the experience all over again. Also, like Becky, people with HSAM never do well in school, because they have problems filtering(过滤) through all the information, remembering only the important bits.
Becky’s special brain could help scientists find a way to treat people with terrible illnesses like Alzheimer’s. Her condition could hold the secret to treating or even preventing Alzheimer’s.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A. What people with HSAM feel like.
B. Why HSAM is unfamiliar to people.
C. How Becky knew she was different.
D. How Becky spent her early childhood.
2.Why was Becky asked questions on 60 minutes?
A. To help treat her illness.
B. To advertise Harry Potter.
C. To test her ability to remember.
D. To encourage other kids to read.
3.Which of the following troubles Becky?
A. She can’t forget her painful experience.
B. She feels tired remembering everything.
C. She can’t get along well with other kids.
D. She is different from other kids of her age.
4.Why does Becky do poorly at school?
A. She feels sad every time she studies.
B. She remembers too much information.
C. She can’t deal with difficult problems.
D. She can’t understand the teacher in class.
Are you interested in hi-tech products? Here are some that you might find at the market now.
CX-1
Tired of dragging your bag through busy airports? Then you might want to consider CX-1. The smart suitcase uses facial recognizing software to follow its owner as he/she is checking in or heading to the gate. Though CX-1 can only move at a speed of up to seven miles per hour, a tiny tool enables owners to keep track of the suitcase’s location. Happily, it has been sold on the market.
Aibo
Sony’s latest version of the Aibo robotic dog is almost as fun as the real thing — but much less work. The pet dog can recognize its owner, obey several commands, and even recall the behavior that pleases its master the most. Aibo can also learn new tricks, take photographs, and over time, develop its own unique personality.
Forpheus
Forpheus, an “athletic” robot developed by Japanese technology company Omron. It teaches users how to play ping-pong. The 10-feet-tall machine uses a camera and artificial intelligence to track the ball’s speed and can predict the ball’s direction correctly. The smart Forpheus can also quickly test its player’s abilities and adjust the playing level, making the game fun.
Black Box VR
Though many people determine to go to the gym once a week, few reach their goal. Black Box VR wants to change that by turning hard exercise into fun video games. Using it, gym users will find themselves fighting enemies, including big creatures — all while getting exercise.
1.What is the feature of CX-1?
A.It can be opened by facial expressions.
B.It can recognize and follow its owner.
C.It can move very fast in busy places.
D.It can sense its owner’s location.
2.Who would most probably want an Aibo?
A.People who want to walk a dog.
B.People who often play tricks on others.
C.People who want to take high-quality photographs.
D.People who want a dog but can’t look after a real one.
3.Which product can help people do physical exercise regularly?
A.CX-1. B.Aibo. C.Forpheus. D.Black Box VR.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How can you get ready for dancing?
A.Have enough food.
B.Stretch your body.
C.Have a good rest.
2.What does the speaker say about ballet?
A.It’s very hard to learn. B.It’s very relaxing. C.It’s much free.
3.How many kinds of dances are mentioned?
A.Three B.Four C.Five
4.Which is the most favorable dance?
A.Ballet B.Jazz C.Hip-hop
