Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you had a hundred dollars less. Also imagine what it would be like spending the rest of your life with your eyes closed. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your finger-tips.
With existing medical knowledge and skills, two-thirds of the world's 42 million, blind should not have to suffer. Unfortunately, rich countries possess most of this knowledge, while developing countries do not.
ORBIS is an international non-profit organization which operates the world's only flying teaching eye hospital. ORBIS intends to help fight blindness worldwide. Inside a DC-8 aircraft, there is a fully-equipped teaching hospital with television studio and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest techniques of bringing sight back to people there. Project ORBIS also aims at promoting peaceful cooperation among countries.
ORBIS tries to help developing countries by providing training during three-week medical programs. ORBIS has taught sight-saving techniques to over 3,000 doctors and nurses, who continue to cure tens of thousands of blind people every year. ORBIS has conducted 17 plan programs in China so far. For the seven to ten million blind in China ORBIS is planning to do more for them. At the moment an ORBIS is working on a long-term plan to develop a training center and to provide eye care service to Shanxi Province. ORBIS needs your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.
For just US$38, you can help one person see; for $380 you can bring sight to 10 people; $1,300 helps teach a doctor new skills; and for $13,000 you can provide a training program for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your money can open their eyes to the world. Please help ORBIS improve the quality of life for so many people less fortunate than ourselves.
1.The first paragraph is intended to ________.
A.direct the public's attention to the blind
B.advise the public to lead a simple life
C.introduce a new way of reading
D.encourage the public to use imagination
2.What do we learn about existing medical knowledge and skills in the world?
A.They are adequate.
B.They have not been updated.
C.They are not equally distributed.
D.They have benefited most of the blind.
3.ORBIS aims to help the blind by _______.
A.teaching medical students
B.training doctors and nurses
C.running flying hospitals globally
D.setting up non-profit organization
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A.ORBIS Flying Hospital B.Fighting Blindness
C.ORBIS in China D.Sight-seeing Techniques
A new “paparazzi-proof” scarf has got heatedly welcomed since launched. A new “paparazzi-proof” scarf could be a game-changer for celebrities who prefer to shy away from the stage light. The ISHU scarf is the creation of Dutch-born fashion entrepreneur Saif Siddiqui and is designed to “give people their right to privacy back”. A host of celebrities including Cameron Diaz, singer Joe Jonas, Bayern Munich footballer Jerome Boateng and music producer Major Lazer have worn the ISHU after it was spotted at London Fashion Week last year.
It works by reflecting the light back into a camera, effectively becoming “invisibility clothes” for celebrities who don’t want their photos taken. Anyone wearing the scarf is protected from mobile flash photograph, with the fashion accessory’s fabric (附件结构) effectively blocking out any unwanted pictures, although it doesn’t stop no-flash photographs from being taken.
The 28-year-old Siddiqui was inspired while visiting family in Amsterdam in 2009 when his friends attempted to take a photo of him using an iPhone in front of some bikes. “He noticed that the bike’s reflector carried the flash of his mobile camera in a way that confused the faces of his friends in the picture.” the ISHU website explains. “He immediately realized that if developed into the right product, this feature would be an ideal solution for his friends and is now available to the public who want to keep their private moments in public private. “Saif put together a team of experts who dug into the science of light and reflection, and how to blend technology with fashion.”
He told Decoded Magazine: “The ISHU scarf effectively allows an individual to control what pictures and videos are taken of him. “There are no more unwanted pictures and videos on Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook! Everyone carries a phone with them nowadays that has an amazing camera. So, it all made sense to me.” More ISHU products are set to launch in August, with mobile phone cases set to launch in the next few weeks. The ISHU is currently sold out but you can pre-order it online for ￡289.
1.The underlined phrase “shy away” in paragraph 1 means __________.
A.hide B.shame
C.take D.fly
2.Why did Saif design the “paparazzi-proof” scarf?
A.To help protect people’s privacy. B.To make a rich profit from the celebrities.
C.Because the scarf is to get a heated welcome. D.To dig into the science of light and reflection.
3.How did Saif get the creative idea of producing scarves?
A.He was inspired by the photographs of bike.
B.He was inspired when his friends attempted to take a photo of him.
C.He was inspired when finding his friends’ picture was not ideal.
D.He was inspired while cycling with his family members.
4.Which of the following statement might be true?
A.The paparazzi-proof scarf can prevent any unwanted pictures being taken.
B.There might be fewer unwanted pictures and videos on internet.
C.ISHU will be only used to effectively control pictures taken.
D.Customers will mainly buy ISHU products online.
The National Beekeeping Centre Wales is a free attraction in the countryside that teaches children about the importance of honeybees – with the chance to try lots of local honeys.
This friendly visitor centre is a supporter of Welsh honeybees, which are increasingly under threat from climate change and loss of wildflower meadows. It raises visitors’ awareness of environmental issues and shows the 4,000-year history of beekeeping and honey-making from the ancient Egyptians to the Romans. A Hive Aid scheme lets you adopt a beehive (from £50 per person), and regular courses (from £60 per person) train new generations of beekeepers.
Fun fact
Bees pollinate about a third of everything we eat and play an important role in sustaining our ecosystems. In economic terms, honeybee pollination could be worth up to £200m to the UK alone.
What about lunch?
Next door is the Furnace Tearoom, part of the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre, which serves light bites – wraps (卷饼), fruit salads (£7) and coffee. And the nearby Pavilion Restaurant at the National Trust’s Bodnant Garden has cooked food, including baked potatoes (£5) and daily specials such as local casseroles (焙盘) with bread rolls (£6), plus coffee and cakes.
Exit through the gift shop
There is a range of bee-themed gifts in our gift shop, including bee toys (£2), wooden honey candy (£2) and a selection of honeys all made by Welsh producers (£5). The bestselling Bodnant honey (£8) goes fast.
Getting here
We are located just off the A470 on the Bodnant Estate in the Conwy Valley, and 10 minutes from the A55 north Wales coast road. Follow the brown signs just after Bodnant Gardens.
Value for money
Visits and activities for kids are free, though donations are welcome. Taster days (from £60) and the weekend beekeeping course (£80 per person) are held at Abergwyngregyn village, 10 miles west down the A55.
Opening hours
The Visitor Centre opens daily from 10 am --- 4pm but it is volunteer-run, so phone ahead to check. Expect lots of fun activities around the annual Conwy Honey Fair.
1.What do we know about the National Beekeeping Centre Wales?
A.It makes money mainly by selling local honeys.
B.It invites visitors to adopt a beehive for free.
C.It’s an educational center about beekeeping.
D.It shows visitors Wales’ long wildflower meadows history.
2.Where is the National Beekeeping Centre Wales?
A.In the village of Abergwyngregyn.
B.Opposite Bodnant Gardens.
C.Off the A55 Wales coast road.
D.Next to the A470 on the Bodnant Estate.
3.How much would you have to pay for the weekend course and two bee toys?
A.£ 64. B.£ 76. C.£ 84. D.£ 96.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What does the woman want?
A.A less complicated life. B.More crazy things in life. C.A more comfortable car.
2.What does the man say about fisherwomen?
A.They dress up sometimes.
B.They wear ugly shoes.
C.They don’t wear fancy shoes.
3.According to the man, what does the woman like to do?
A.Eat simple food. B.Go to concerts. C.Stay on the beach.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the man asking the woman to do?
A.Visit Florida. B.Move to New York. C.Move to Florida.
2.What is the woman mainly worried about?
A.The heat. B.Too many insects. C.Falling into the ground.
3.Where did the woman hear about the holes?
A.From a newspaper. B.From her daughters. C.From her other grandchildren.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A.A new city library. B.Their math homework. C.Their college library.
2.What did the speakers usually do in the library before?
A.Read novels. B.Read magazines. C.Did their homework.
3.Why does the man probably want to have coffee?
A.He is tired.
B.He misses the old days.
C.He wants to meet the math professor there.
