Being able to find high quality healthcare at an affordable price is a problem to be solved in many countries. In the United States, Walmart, a large chain store, is trying to help. It is offering something new to its employees: cutting the cost of a doctor’s appointment(预约) to only $4 instead of the usual $40 for the same service.
Walmart is the latest major business in the United States to push its workers toward a high-tech way to be examined and treated by doctors. Thanks to telemedicine (远程医疗), people can talk with medical experts from the privacy of their own homes, often using a secure video connection.
Supporters say online visits make it easier for patients to see an expert or quickly find help for problems considered non-emergencies. Some healthcare needs are well-suited for telemedicine. It can help people seek treatment for insect bites or skin conditions. Patients who have had medical treatments and cannot move around easily can use telemedicine for their follow-up visits. Also, people seeking help for mental health issues can benefit from the privacy that telemedicine gives.
But still, many people do not use telemedicine, they continue to go to the doctor’s office when they are sick. 80 percent of middle-size and large U.S. companies offered telemedicine services to their workers in 2018. However, only 8 percent of its employees used telemedicine at least once in 2017. Compared with seeing a real doctor in person, some people may think the quality of telemedicine is not as good. Parents, for example, may feel they are not giving their child the best care if they use a virtual doctor appointment. Another reason some adults may not use telemedicine services is trust. Tom Hill, aged 66, says he has no plans to ever use telemedicine. He says, for him, it is important to look at his doctor in the eye and shake hands.
However, for some people, especially young people and busy students, telemedicine might be a good choice. It can cut down on the time away from work. It can also cut down on the cost of doctor visits.
1.What do we know about telemedicine?
A.It is increasingly popular with people in America.
B.It is an online service provided by most companies.
C.It enables the patients to see a doctor at home for free.
D.It makes it easier for people to receive medical treatment.
2.Who is most likely to use “telemedicine”?
A.Robert, a grandfather who fell off a bike and got injured.
B.Katherine, a shy woman who suffers from mental illness.
C.Jackson, a firefighter who got seriously burnt in a big fire.
D.Susan, a mother whose kid is suffering from a strange disease.
3.What is the author’s attitude towards “telemedicine”?
A.Positive. B.Concerned.
C.Uncertain. D.Doubtful.
How cool can libraries be in an era(时代) of iPods and Kindles? More than you think. Only if you now where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime.
Trinity College Library: D.ublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. The Long room houses one of the oldest harps (竖琴) in Ireland. Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library: University of California, San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship. Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels. The library hosts “Dinner in the Library,” which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from well-known authors.
Bishan Public Library: Singapore
Located in the heart of Bishan, the award-winning Bishan Community Library spans 4,000 square meters. It was designed to look like a tree house. The colorful pods (吊舱) that stick out of one side of the building represent books sticking from a bookshelf. Inside the library, these pods offer private spaces for reading. Its ceiling-high glass windows also make it fun to watch people walking and reading from inside the building.
1.If you want to enjoy a movie, you can go to ________.
A.Central Library B.Geisel Library
C.Bishan Public Library D.Trinity College Library
2.What makes Bishan Public Library different from the others?
A.It has very large glass windows. B.It has ever won a prize for its size.
C.Queen Elizabeth I founded the library. D.It is the largest single library in the world.
3.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To encourage readers to visit these libraries.
B.To make an advertisement about these libraries.
C.To offer some information about these libraries.
D.To tell readers the importance of visiting libraries.
Recently, as I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his school team, I was feeling sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity(困境) on the court, trailing for three quarters of the game. As for me, I had just been dismissed from my job.
As I watched what my son was experiencing, I recalled the events earlier in the day—packing up everything in a box and saying goodbye to my colleagues. During the drive home, I kept telling myself that I will find work again—I am confident in my experience and abilities, but self-doubt was still sticking its foot in the door.
The game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his back to not only tie the game, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to tie the game up again. With a tie game and seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball and with skill and confidence, he made the basket with a defender hanging all over him. The other player was called for a foul(犯规).
As Nathan stood preparing for a shot that would put his team up by three points, I saw the focus and determination on his face, with no room for self-doubt. After he made the free throw, his team managed to stop the other team from scoring, winning the game and moving on to the finals.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride, it dawned on me. I had taught him perseverance(毅力) in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He will play in the finals, but it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses. At this moment, we both won.
1.We can learn from the text that ________.
A.I lost my job for lack of experience and abilities.
B.Nathans team won a narrow victory in the basketball game.
C.I was proud of Nathan because he won the game in the finals.
D.Nathan had never doubted himself whenever he was in trouble.
2.The underlined word “trailing” in the first paragraph probably means ________.
A.losing B.falling behind
C.being defeated D.winning
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.My son would win in the finals and I would find a job soon.
B.I had once taught my son face to face that we should never give up.
C.It was my encouragement and help that made my son win the game.
D.I would become more confident about my future after this experience.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.An Inspiring Game B.A Moment of Self-doubt
C.Lesson from My Son D.An Unforgettable Experience
Medical developments and discoveries often provide the best things for controversies (争论).This is because whenever a new discovery or theory is proposed, there is always disagreement. Only via objective scientific evidence can such arguments be cleared. But, as is often the case, a clear solution is not instantly found. However, once the technology catches up with the area of the discovery, it shows exactly how valid the theory is. Since this is a slow process and can take years, the development of controversies is unavoidable.
Over the years, various such controversies have been developed, examined, and either rejected, or proved right for the good of mankind. Now read the following examples.
Firstly, cancer was largely regarded as an incurable disease, since its exact cause was unknown. Later, professors and doctors came up with various theories regarding the cause. Some claimed it was the result of chemical processes, while others believed it was a sort of poison. After a few decades, a doctor proposed that cancer was caused by the inhalation (吸入) of pollutants, in the form of smoke, gas, etc. His claim was rejected by many researchers and doctors. However, due to various scientific studies, this claim is now clearly common knowledge, though there may be other causes.
Many people worry that the use of cell phones can cause cancer. Recent studies suggest that this common threat is actually quite true. Numerous studies indicate that the long usage of cell phones (at least an hour per day) increases the risk of developing brain tumors.
After the discovery of X-rays, they were widely used, from doctors' clinics to shoe stores to see the fit of shoes. People thought they could offer the benefit of visualizing the skeleton (骨骼) of a person without causing any danger to the person. However, in 1956, the National Academy of Science reported the harmful effects of these rays on the human body, and the practice was then given up. Presently, we all know that exposure to X-rays may lead to radiation poisoning, tissue breakdown, and even death.
1.What may stop the scientific evidence of a theory being found quickly?
A.Agreement among scientists. B.The lack of professional researchers.
C.Technological limitations. D.The lack of motivation for investigating.
2.Different scientific studies have proved that _________.
A.cancer is not an incurable disease. B.cancer is caused by chemical processes.
C.air pollution is becoming more serious. D.air pollution is one of the causes of cancer.
3.How is the passage mainly developed?
A.By giving examples. B.By making comparisons.
C.By following time order. D.By making classifications.
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A.To remove people’s misunderstanding of medicine.
B.To report the most recent medical development.
C.To find good solutions to medical problems.
D.To stress the development of controversies.
Christina Horsten and Felix Zeltner tried not to panic when they were hit with a $400 rent increase on their Park Slope apartment in 2016, and realized they would have to move for the second time in two years. Instead of feeling intimidated by the unexpected event, they hit upon an unconventional idea: Why not move to a new neighborhood every month for a year?
At first, things went remarkably well. They found their next apartment, a beautiful apartment in Chinatown. The next months brought stops in Staten Island and Harlem. As September approached, their next place to live proved difficult to find. When their Harlem lease (租约) ended, they took a road trip, then fell for a false advertisement in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, when an apartment they found advertised online wasn't actually available to rent. And eventually they got their money back through Paypal. “That was rock bottom,” Ms. Horsten said.
Over the rest of the year, they spent time in a townhouse in Mott Haven, as well as apartments in Chelsea, the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen, and Williamsburg. “In the end, we were like, ‘Why should we even stop doing this?’ ”Ms. Horsten said. But then a lease takeover on Listings Project caught their attention: a two-bedroom apartment atop an Upper West Side townhouse.
A second daughter, Lily, was born in January. And with a newborn, they have no intention of moving again anytime soon. Still, many aspects of their adventure have remained with them. “In the same way that we’ve tried to keep minimalism (极简主义) in our life, we try to stay in touch with all the people we’ve met,” Ms. Horsten said.“We realized it was a lifelong project to try to get to know NewYork City,” she added. But there is one member of the household eagerly waiting for a repeat: their 4-year-old daughter Emma.“ I think she loved it the most,” Ms. Horsten said.“At all the places we stayed, she found things I never noticed: children’s books, a dollhouse, a drum set. Even now, she’s like,‘When are we moving to a new home?’ And we’re like,‘We kind of like it here.’ ”
1.What does the underlined word “intimidated” in Paragraph1 mean?
A.Frightened. B.Surprised.
C.Embarrassed. D.Confused.
2.While looking for a place to stay, where was the couple nearly cheated?
A.In Chinatown. B.In Sunset Park.
C.In Staten Island. D.In Harlem.
3.What’s the couple’s plan for next month?
A.Buying a townhouse in Brooklyn.
B.Staying in the apartment in the Upper West Side.
C.Donating their daughter’s toys to those living nearby.
D.Looking for a two-bedroom apartment for their newborn.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.East or west, home is best. B.Where to start, where to end.
C.Wherever you are, there is home. D.Another month, another neighborhood.
Home party marketing originated in America in the early twentieth century. At that time, direct selling had become a very common part of American life. Door-to-door salesmen would travel throughout the country selling anything from sewing machines to cure-all medicines. In 1931, a man named Frank Stanley Beveridge who had dug enough gold by doing this selling started a company called Stanley Home Products. The company sold cleaning supplies to housewives.
Soon after Mr. Beveridge began his company, one of his salesmen began selling Stanley products at home parties. The salesman would organize a Stanley Party where he could give a cleaning demonstration (演示) to a room full of guests. It allowed him to sell Stanley products to many different customers at once, and it proved to be much more effective than standard door-to-door sales. The practice quickly became the main marketing strategy (策略) of Stanley Home Products.
Next, during the 1940s, many housewives started selling Stanley products to make extra money for their families. The job was perfect for housewives because Stanley sellers could work from home and set their own schedules. A single mother named Brownie Wise took full advantage of this opportunity and quickly became one of Stanley’s top sellers.
Not long after that, she started her own direct selling business called Tupperware Patio Parties, which focused on selling a new type of plastic food container, Tupperware, using the Stanley home party system. Wise had realized Tupperware was perfect for the home party system. She could show her customers its patented (专利的) airtight seal, and she could also take away their anxiety about the safety of plastics -a fairly new invention at the time. Wise’ s company was very successful, and it was soon selling more Tupperware than department stores.
Today, many other companies have adopted home party marketing plans. So, next time you leave friend’s party with a hundred dollars’ worth of new Tupperware or jewelry, you can thank Frank Stanley Beveridge and Brownie Wise for your unintended purchase.
1.What do we know about Frank Stanley Beveridge?
A.He was an inventor of many home products.
B.He was an experienced door-to-door salesman.
C.He was the president of Tupperware Patio Parties.
D.He was the first person to organize a Stanley Party.
2.Why was being a home party seller a perfect job for housewives?
A.They liked holding parties at their house.
B.They could make some money quickly.
C.They needed hardly any pre-job training.
D.They could work under a flexible schedule.
3.According to Wise, why was Tupperware perfect for the home party system?
A.It was liked by party organizers. B.It required a demonstration.
C.It sold badly in department stores. D.It was especially made for the system.
4.This text is organized in the pattern of ____________.
A.time and events. B.comparison and contrast.
C.cause and effect. D.argument and explanation.
