Franklin’s Experiment: How Much Is True?
Benjamin Franklin’s famous lightning experiment has introduced generations of children to science. 1.
The well-known story is that Franklin flew a kite during a storm in 1752. At that time, there was much interest in electricity. People wanted to know if lightning was really produced by electricity. 2. He raised the kite with a piece of string tied to it. A metal key was attached to the string. A flash of lightning hit the kite, and electricity was conducted through the string to the key. 3. This, he said, proved that lightning was a form of electricity.
For years, schools have taught this story and it has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important to establish the truth and to contribute towards later scientific discoveries and inventions.
However, neither the story nor the details of the experiment are entirely true. Although it has been proved that Franklin’s experiment took place, more than one scientist has questioned what really happened. 4. But scientists all agree that if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from the electric shock.
Scientists often question accepted ideas because they want to establish the facts. Some have even questioned the story about the apple that fell on Newton’s head and led him to come up with his theory of gravity.
5. But in science, facts should be proved by experiments and research, and we should not always believe everything we read or hear — even if it is a great story.
A.Franklin was one of them.
B.The detail about the string and the key is true.
C.It’s true that many discoveries start with an experiment.
D.Admittedly, fiction is often more interesting than the truth.
E.Franklin then touched the key with his finger and got an electric shock.
F.However, new research suggests that the story may be fiction instead of fact.
G.This experiment proves beyond any doubt that lightning is an electric phenomenon.
[1] I was interested in different science fiction ideas and technologies. But there is one theme in science fiction that has always troubled me: when technology subverts (颠覆) its creators.
[2] I’ve been involved in dozens of technology projects. I have to admit that seldom in our design or business discussions have we spent much time on the possible negative impact of our work on the world. Instead, in most cases we just create technology because we see a need, or to solve a problem.
[3] Technology has been responsible for an age of distraction. Recently while driving from northern New York City to the Elmira area, I saw signs saying, “Next texting stop is three miles ahead. Don’t text and drive.” Most states have already outlawed texting while driving, and yet we hear almost weekly of traffic accidents caused by drivers tapping on smartphones. I don’t believe Steve Jobs and Apple dreamed that the iPhone, or smartphones in general, would give rise to this level of distraction.
[4] In a recent Harvard Business Review piece entitled “Liberal Arts (人文科学) in the Data Age,” the author writes about the importance of reconnecting humanism with engineering approach. Many of today’s engineers have been so focused on creating new technologies that their short term goals risk covering up unintended long-term outcomes. A few companies, such as Intel, are forward-thinking enough to include ethics (伦理学) professionals on their staff. At this point all tech companies should start getting serious about the need to hire people with backgrounds in areas such as psychology and philosophy (哲学).
[5] My hope is that we can all move a little more in creating technology that is both impactful and thoughtful in its engagement with our lives and the world.
1.What inspires people to create technologies according to the writer?
A.A desire to think and create. B.An interest in technology.
C.A need to settle a problem. D.An idea from science fiction.
2.Why is the example of “texting” mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A.To tell the arrival of a new age. B.To criticize wrong driving behaviors.
C.To stress Steve Jobs’ contributions. D.To show negative impact of technology.
3.Which of the following can best replace “give rise to” in Paragraph 3?
A.Cause. B.Resolve.
C.Confirm. D.Permit.
4.According to the writer, forward-thinking tech companies should ________.
A.value liberal arts professionals B.put huge profits first
C.focus on creating new technologies D.hire bookish engineers
5.What does the writer want to get across to readers?
A.The significance of Liberal Arts. B.Less dependence on technology.
C.The importance of humanism in technology. D.Diverse views on science fiction.
[1] In 1856, a British survey team measured the height of Qomolangma with the result of 8,840 meters above sea level. However, the exact measurement has never been settled. In 1955, the figure was adjusted by an Indian survey team to 8,848 meters, and later to 8,850 meters according to a US team in 1999. And in 2005, a Chinese team gained a height of 8,844 meters, but that result wasn't widely accepted either.
[2] On May 6, 2020, a 30-member Chinese survey team, equipped with the latest technology, including a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver and a radar to measure the mountain's snow cap, is determined to settle the dispute (争议).
[3] But measuring Qomolangma is no easy task. The average air temperature there is -29℃ and hurricane-like winds blow all the time. According to Li Guopeng, leader of the No.1 Geodetic Survey Team of China's Ministry of Natural Resources, despite advanced technologies we now have — the likes of robots and drones — it’s uncertain that they can operate smoothly under extreme conditions, which is why sending human experts to the peak is still necessary to ensure a precise reading.
[4] But ______
[5] The truth is that measuring the height of Qomolangma is much more than just getting that one particular number. Mount Qomolangma is the perfect window for observing crustal (地壳的) movements. Tiny changes to the peak's height can indicate whether the two plates, the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate, are heading toward or away from each other. The survey team will also get firsthand information about the condition of the snow and other natural materials at the top, which could be an indicator of climate change on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau.
[6] It might be true that settling a dispute was the driving force for continued exploration, but the good thing is that we always end up discovering so much more.
1.What is Paragraph 1 mainly about?
A.The importance of Qomolangma. B.The dispute of Qomolangma’s height.
C.The difficulty in measuring Qomolangma. D.The change of Qomolangma’s height.
2.What does Li Guopeng think of the new devices they carried?
A.They can read and deal with the results precisely.
B.They might break down under unusual conditions.
C.They are the latest advanced technology in the world.
D.They will work properly without human’s instructions.
3.Which of the following is best for the blank in the text?
A.what is the process of China’s measurement?
B.how is the latest technology used for the research?
C.does a tiny difference really matter for a huge mountain?
D.do extreme conditions actually affect the measurement?
4.What is to be discovered through the exact height of Qomolangma?
A.The depth of snowcap. B.The diversity of natural materials.
C.The state of crustal movements. D.The change of worldwide climate.
5.What is the writer’s purpose in writing the text?
A.To recommend a good way to settle a dispute.
B.To show the history of measuring Qomolangma.
C.To advertise China’s latest advanced technology.
D.To stress the value of China’s latest exploration in Qomolangma.
[1] It happens countless times a day. A flower’s bright color and the smell of sweet nectar (花蜜) attract a bee. The bee stops by for a quick taste and small grains of pollen (the powder produced by a flower) stick to its body. The bee then travels to another flower of the same type and leaves the pollen as it has another meal. This is an example of animal pollination (授粉) — a process extremely important to plant reproduction.
[2] It’s not only plants that depend on animal pollination — humans do, too. Worldwide, nearly a thousand plants that we grow for food, spices, clothing fibers, and medicine depend on it. If pollination suddenly stopped, we would have no apples, tomatoes, coffee, and many other goods.
[3] This important process is carried out by more than 200,000 different animal species known as pollinators. Flies and beetles - the original pollinators - date back 130 million years to the first flowering plants. Birds, butterflies, and ants also do their part. Even nonflying mammals help out: monkeys tear open flowers with their hands, accidentally spreading pollen into the air and onto their fur.
[4] Pollinators are therefore important, but they are also at risk. Climate change, habitat loss, and invasive predators (入侵捕食者) all threaten them. The United States, for example, has lost over 50 percent of its honeybees over the past ten years. A serious threat facing bees is colony collapse disorder, when worker bees mysteriously disappear from their colony. Scientists are still trying to identify its cause.
[5] There is a quote attributed to Einstein that if bees ever disappeared, man would only have four years left to live. Whether that’s true or not does not really matter, says wildlife photographer Louie Schwartzberg: the key point is that there is a real danger. “The healthiest food we need to eat,” he says, “would disappear without pollinating plants. It’s pretty serious.”
1.What might be left on flower B, as is shown in the picture?
A.Nectar.
B.Pollen.
C.Leaves.
D.Fur.
2.What can be inferred from the text?
A.Pollination means a lot to fruits and grains.
B.Nearly a thousand plants depend on pollination.
C.Monkeys are the only nonflying mammal pollinators.
D.There are more than 20,000 different species of pollinators.
3.What threat are honeybees faced with?
A.Climate change. B.Habitat loss.
C.Invasive predators. D.Colony collapse disorder.
4.What does the underlined “a real danger” in the last paragraph refer to?
A.Bees are disappearing. B.Humans can only survive 4 years.
C.Food shortage is serious. D.No pollinating plants, no healthy food.
5.Which might be the best title?
A.The Importance of Pollinators B.The Creator of Nature
C.The Wonder of Reproduction D.The Secret Life of Bees
阅读下面材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
It was almost dark and some streets were already lighted. Everyone seemed to go home in a hurry. Passing a well-dressed man, little ragged Rafiq called again, holding a paper high up with one hand," Daily Star, Sir, only eight cents..."But the man went on without a word. Rafiq had been up and down the street the whole day crying but there were still twenty papers under his arms.
The shops would soon close and he would have to go home too, carrying papers instead of money. He had longed to have more money tonight to buy a cake for his mother and some bird-seed for his favourite pet Bulbul which was a gift from his father before he died. He had spent all the money both he and his mother possessed to buy papers. It was heartbreaking and more than he could bear to think about that.
"An unlucky day!" sighed Rafiq and his eyes fell on the last page of Daily Star.
An honest boy wanted ---Truefulness and honesty is what he owns.
(Public, 425 Lafayette St.212-967-7555, Mr.Iskandar)
"Honesty?" Rafiq breathed deeply.
"Hello, Rafiq. Haven’t you sold your papers yet? I sold mine 2 hours ago." Rafiq looked up and saw Sardul, another news boy.
"Why? That’s more than 160 copies."
"Rafiq," said Sardul as he drew near to him so that no one would hear what he was going to say. "You must run quickly up the street and shout ‘Hot news！Bomb bursting at local school. Many died’."
"But it’s not in the paper!"
"Nobody will catch you. Just run away quickly before they have time to see, and you’ll sell out and get your money."
Paragraph 1：
Rafiq dipped his hand into his pocket, feeling the few notes and coins there, lost in thought.
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Paragraph 2：
The next day at the newspaper office, Rafiq heard Sardul laughing at his failure, and then spotted a gentleman listening patiently outdoors.
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假如你是李华，你的新西兰笔友Pal想学做一道中国传统美食，参加学校即将举办的美食节（Food Fair）。请你就此回复邮件，内容包括名称及做法等。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 不得透露学校、姓名等任何个人信息。
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