One of the biggest ideas in computer technology is cloud computing. The system is changing the way information is kept. It uses a group of computers or servers to store information instead of one. The data floats around like clouds instead of being saved on any computer. It means computers can be smaller than ever and store practically unlimited amounts of information. No longer are bulky computers needed because all the information is in the clouds.
So when will cloud computing start affecting the way you use computers? You may not have noticed, but it already has. Facebook, Amazon, Twitter and many other sites all run on cloud computing. Cloud computing is really useful. You can use it to access the same file at work at home or in other countries on different computers. There may even be environmental benefits, too. Gmail, which uses cloud computing, says that the system saves a lot of energy.
However, potential problems do exist such as losing information and not being able to access certain files when the internet is down. Also, some companies charge fees for their cloud computing services. Another major problem is security. If all your Information is out there in the cloud and not safely stored on your own computer or laptop, it may be possible for other people to access it. More and more of our personal information is in danger of being stolen. Therefore, it is important to be careful and to find ways of making the information secure.
More and more companies are starting up and offering cloud computing. Will the company be reliable? What will happen to your data if the company goes out of business? There are real worries. Even so, for those interested in computing technology, one thing is for certain ---the future in the clouds is going to be very exciting.
1.How does the author describe the data?
A.It needs only a single server.
B.It is a cloud floating around computers.
C.It makes computers become smaller.
D.It improves the computer’s function.
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Cloud computing will come into use soon.
B.Files will be entered when the Internet is down.
C.Personal information may be lost if not kept properly.
D.Companies will enjoy free cloud computing services.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards cloud computing?
A.Worried. B.Positive.
C.Unclear. D.Cautious.
4.The purpose of the passage is .
A.to introduce cloud computing to us
B.to talk about the way computers change
C.to warn us to be careful to use computers
D.to tell us how to access information on other computers
Are you wondering whether it’s worth going for a little jog? Don’t hesitate, and get your sports shoes on. A new study shows that proper running lowers the risk of death before the normal time.
In an analysis of 14 previous studies from the US and Denmark, the group of researchers from institutes in Australia and Finland concluded that increasing running participation would probably lead to substantial improvements in population health and longevity. The studies involved 232,149 participants over time periods ranging from 5. 5 to 35 years.
On the whole, people running any distance were associated with a 27% lower risk of death from all causes than those who did not, the study shows. Running was also related with a 30% and 23% lower risk of death from cardiovascular(心血管的)disease and cancer, respectively.
Previous studies had concluded “inconsistent findings” about whether running could lower the risk of premature death, according to the researchers. Lead researcher Jim White, a professor at Victoria University in Melbourne, told CNN: “Our recent findings may encourage physically inactive individuals to take up running and those who already run to keep on doing it.”
He added that doctors may be encouraged by our findings to promote running as a part of “lifestyle medicine”. In their paper, which will be published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers say health professionals are sometimes wary of promoting running because vigorous(剧烈的)use of it has been linked with sudden heart death.
Jim and his team deny this by noting that the benefit of running outweighs the risk. However, they did say advice should be given on a case-by-case basis, as running might not be appropriate for everyone. Although running has a clear health benefit, the researchers point out that higher “doses” of running may not reduce the risk of premature death further. According to the WHO’s guidelines, adults aged between 18 and 64 should take 150 minutes of gentle exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week.
1.What did the new study focus on?
A.The benefit of jog. B.People’s lifestyles.
C.People’s living conditions. D.The risk of jog.
2.What may the study contribute to according to Jim?
A.Doctors’ quicker treatment.
B.People’s losing weight.
C.People’s involvement in running.
D.Researchers’ promotion of sport.
3.What does the underlined word “wary” in paragraph 5 mean?
A.Certain. B.Tired.
C.Cautious. D.Confident.
4.What’s the last paragraph mainly about?
A.The risk of exercising vigorously.
B.The reasons why people should keep running.
C.The suggestions on running appropriately.
D.The argument about whether running benefits people.
In the winter of 1910, Dr. Wu Lien-Teh stepped off a train in the northern Chinese city of Harbin. He was there to solve a medical mystery, at great personal risk. Over the past few months, an unknown disease had swept along the railways of northeast China, killing 99.9% of its victims. The Qing Imperial court had sent the Cambridge-educated Dr. Wu north to stop the epidemic.
When Dr Wu arrived in Harbin on Christmas Eve, 1910, he carried little in the way of medical instruments and had only one assistant. One of Wu' s first acts upon arrival was to set up special quarantine(隔离) units and to order lockdowns to stop infected persons from traveling and spreading the disease. He had teams check households for possible cases, and even managed to convince authorities to completely close the railways in the early weeks of 1911. Of particular concern was the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday, which had become a great annual migration of people traveling across the country to see their families.
Thanks to Dr. Wu's efforts, the number of plague victims began to die down, and by March 1, 1911, the epidemic was fully contained. The pneumonic (肺炎的) plague outbreak of 1910-1911 lasted nearly four months, affected five provinces and six major cities, and accounted for over 60,000 deaths. It is clear that without the brave and decisive actions taken by Dr. Wu, it could have been much worse. Had the epidemic gone unchecked, allowing holiday rail passengers to spread the disease to the rest of China could have meant a catastrophic loss of life and possibly a global health crisis.
In April 1911, Dr. Wu chaired an International Plague Conference in Shenyang, attended by scientists from 11 counties including the United States, Great Britain, Russia, Japan and France. They praised Dr. Wu for his handling of the 1910-1911 outbreak. For a time, Dr. Wu was the world's most famous plague fighter, a title be defended in a malaria epidemic in China in 1919, and a return of plague in 1921.
1.What was Dr Wu's mission in 1910?
A.To take personal risk.
B.To end an epidemic.
C.To provide medical education.
D.To investigate the number of victims.
2.Which of Dr Wu's acts stopped the disease from spreading nationwide?
A.Setting up special quarantine units around the country.
B.Treating infected persons with his medical instruments.
C.Checking households himself for possible cases.
D.Convincing authorities to close the railways.
3.What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
A.The disease worsened after Mach 1, 1911.
B.60,000 would have died without Dr Wu's efforts.
C.A global health crisis followed the 1910-1911 outbreak.
D.The plague broke out again about 10 years later.
4.What can be the best title of the text?
A.A Plague Fighter
B.A Global Health Crisis
C.The Beginning of the Chinese Public Health System
D.A Plague Outbreak
Four Useful Products for Your Life
Electric Wine Opener
Cost: $19.89
Once you've tried this tool, you'll never go back to the old fashioned kind. This electric wine opener will remove the cork (瓶塞) easily within seconds, and can open up to 30 bottles with a single charge.
Fantastic Ice Cream Spoon
Cost: $14. 99
It’s always disappointing when you're really in the mood for ice cream, but have to wait forever for the ice cream to get to just the right softness. Well, this heated ice cream spoon exactly conducts heat from your hands, and will help soften the ice cream to make it ready to eat right away.
Express Baker
Cost: $58. 99
Making your own bread seems like a quite difficult job. But this baker makes it easier—within an hour. It has 12 different bread settings, and three different crust settings, so you can make bread, pizza and more. A quick look through the reviews shows that customers are pretty happy with it, too.
Corn Stripper
Cost: $7.99
There's no denying that corn on the cob (棒) is delicious But eating corn on the cob and dealing with all the little bits that get stuck in your teeth afterwards is a painful experience. This little device takes all the corns from the cob, by letting you strip (剥) your corn easily, without making a total mess.
1.What can people do with Express Baker?
A.Make some food. B.Soften food.
C.Classify food. D.Keep food fresh.
2.Which of the following applies the theory of heat conduction?
A.Electric Wine Opener. B.Fantastic Ice Cream Spoon.
C.Express Baker. D.Corn Stripper.
3.What do the four products have in common?
A.They are of the same price.
B.They are difficult to operate.
C.They make food more delicious to eat.
D.They make people's life easier.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.Who is making the announcement?
A.The student government. B.The school newspaper.
C.The football team.
2.How many new teams are added this year?
A.Four. B.Three. C.Two.
3.What do the music club members do?
A.They organize trips. B.They attend concerts.
C.They have dancing nights.
4.Why should a student join a campus group?
A.To have friends. B.To make good grades. C.To keep up with world news.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where does the man most probably work?
A.At an airport. B.At a hotel. C.At a travel agency.
2.Which airport is the best choice for the woman?
A.Reagan National. B.Dulles.
C.BaltimoreWashington Airport.
3.Why is the woman going to Washington DC?
A.To stay in a friend’s house. B.To meet the man.
C.To visit the White House.
