题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
A
Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping. Or is it?
Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (浏览) various websites. The claim made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim of fraud (诈骗) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation.
Another problem is the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue. Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items where design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.
Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large vans pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated (使烦恼) by the fact that the delivery is late and you have wasted the leave from work you have taken to receive it!
Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
A new U．S．government report says more than two million Americans fall ill each year with
drug—resistant bacterial infections(感染)，and 23，000 of them are dying as a result．The head of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[CDC]said that the number probably will grow．Officials warn that steps must be taken now to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotic(抗生素)drugs．
Without urgent action to stop that trend，warned Tom Frieden whose agency wrote the report，the miracle drugs to fight them won’t be available in the future．
“If we are not careful，the medicine chest will be empty when we go there to look for a lifesaving antibiotic for someone with a deadly infection．But if we act now，we can preserve these medications while we continue to work on development of new medicines．”The report names a drug—resistant abuse of gonorrhea(淋病)，which causes about one quarter of a million hospitalizations in the United States annually．Of the number at least 1 4，000 result in death．
Drug resistance develops through the overuse and inappropriate use of anti—bacterial agents．These can be：doctors prescribing(开药) them to patients who have viral infections that are not affected by medicine meant to fight bacteria；patients not taking all of their medicine as prescribed，so the bacteria making them sick are only weakened，not killed；antibiotic use in healthy farm animals to prevent illness and promote growth．Antibiotic remainders left in meat and animal products can then lead to drug resistance in humans．
To limit the spread of resistant infections，experts recommend wider use of routine
immunizations(预防)，as well as hand—washing in hospitals and other health care facilities．Also，the report urges hand—washing by food handlers．
Michael Bell，deputy director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at CDC，said
Patients also can play a role in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics by asking health care providers a few simple questions．
antibiotics，or_____.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
A
The city of Rome has passed a new law to prevent cruelty to animals. All goldfish bowls are no longer allowed and dog owners must walk their dogs.
This comes after a national law was passed to give prison sentences to people who desert （抛弃）cats or dogs.
“The civilization of a city can be measured by this,” said Monica Carina, the councilor behind the new law.
The newspaper reported that round bowls don’t give enough oxygen for fish and may make them go blind.
“Rome has tried to protect fish more than anywhere else in the world. It stands out for recognizing that fish are interesting animals that deserve over respect and pity every bit as much as dogs and cats and other animals,” said Karin Robertson, director of the People for the Ethical treatment of Animals.
Last year a law was passed in Italy that gives people who desert pets big fines and prison sentences. Since then local governments have added their own animal protection rules.
The northern city of Turin passed a law in April to give pet owners fines of up to $598 if they do not walk their dogs three times a day.
The new law in Rome also says that owners mustn’t leave their dogs in hot cars or cut their dogs’ tail to make them look lovelier. The law also gives legal recognition to the “cat ladies” who feed homeless cats. The cats live all over the city from ancient ruins to modern office car parks.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
B
Taking the dog to the beach on a hot summerˈs day is a great way to relax. But not all beaches are dog friendly. So if youˈre looking to take your dog to the coast this summer, hereˈs a few of the countryˈs most dog-friendly beaches.
Sunshine Beach Where: Noosa , Queensland Only a 10-minute drive from Noosa, Sunshine Beach also welcomes dogs with open paws. Once known as Golden Beach , its long white beaches make it a paradise for anyone who loves fishing, boating, surfing or just relaxing on the beach with family and friends. Restrictions (限定): Dogs can freely explore the shoreline from Noosa National Park to the path leading from Seaview Terrace. |
Tallow Beach Where: Byron Bay , New South Wales With white sand that stretches (延伸) for miles, and clean, clear waters washing its shores, Byron certainly doesnˈt want for beautiful beaches — and Tallow Beach is no exception. This seven-kilometer-long beach stretches all the way to Broken Head Reserve. Restrictions: The beachˈs dog-friendly area starts near Jarman Street and stretches north to the outside of Arakwal National Park . |
Muirs Beach Where: Coles Bay , Tasmania One of the few beaches that falls outside of Freycinet National Park , Muirs, is a great family beach that welcomes dogs, too. Compared to famous sheltered beaches of Freycinet, it is more open to the waves from the Tasman Sea , making it ideal for windsurfing. The beach itself is very long, so there is plenty of space to let your dog run free. Restrictions: Dog owners must respect the environment and use the poop bags provided at the entrance to the beach to get rid of any dog waste. Fines apply (运用). |
Yorkeys Knob Beach Where: Queensland Located just 15 minutes from Cairns , Yorkeys Knob Beach is a great spot to relax with your dog. Named after a local fisherman called "Yorkey" who lived on the rocky hill (“knob”), this wonderful little beach is one of the best-kept secrets in Tropical North Queensland. It is ideal for swimming and snorkelling in the summer season. Restrictions: The southern end of the beach is the "dog off-chain" end where your dog is allowed to run free; dogs must be on a chain in all other areas of the beach. |
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
London Underground
The world’s first subway was built in London in 1863. At the time，the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work， they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease(减轻) the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems，the idea of the London Underground，the first subway system，was born.
The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays，but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3. 7 miles) long. About 30，000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed)， and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However， the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot(煤灰)， as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems，riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in its first year.
C. Overcrowding and traffic jams.
D. The poverty and subway problems.
C. keep up with D. seize
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
D
In the hit film The Bucket List, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman meet in hospital in California after they have been diagnosed with cancer. Between them they cook up a “bucket list”—a todo list of all they want to do before they kick_the_bucket. The movie makes you wonder what would be on your bucket list. So letˈs pack up some and see what it would cost to go out and have a little fun.
THE PYRAMIDS, GIZA, EGYPT
On to the pyramids, surely on anyoneˈs bucket list. Exotik Tours can take you there on a variety of trips, including their popular Egypt Express which includes three nights in Cairo and a threenight Nile Cruise (乘船游览). From $1,384, including fourand fivestar accommodation, 12 meals and a ton of sightseeing.
www.exotiktours.com 416－646－3347
TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA
One of the worldˈs most fascinating images, Indiaˈs Taj Mahal makes even Nicholson and Freeman look calm. Torontoˈs Goway Travel has many suggestions for India, including a threeday independent visit to Agra. Stay at the attractive Oberoi AmarVilas overlooking the Taj.Include two breakfasts, touring and airport transfer from $1,420.
www.gowaytravel.com 416－322－1034
THE GREAT WALL, CHINA
If the Great Wall of China is on your bucket list, check into Tour East Holidayˈs fourday Amazing Beijing Tour for $580 per person, fourstar accommodation, sightseeing including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, breakfasts and two lunches, transportation and guide.
www.toureastholidays.com 416－929－0888
THE HIMALAYAS, NEPAL
And on to the Himalayas. Talk about something truly majestic (壮丽的). See the top of the world on GAP Adventuresˈ Everest Adventure tour, a 15day exploration including Everest Base Camp, teahouse lodge stays, and walking through Sherpa villages. Incredibly affordable at just $665 plus local payment of $250. GAP Adventures warns that this is a physically demanding trip.
www.gapadventures.com 416－260－0999
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
D
A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic(乐观的) about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists(悲观者)who expected their future to be worse.
The paper, published this March in Psychology and Aging, examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40,000 Germans between ages 18 and 96. The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003. Survey respondents (受访者) were asked to estimate(估计) their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, among other questions.
The researchers found that young adults (age 18 to 39) routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction, while middle-aged adults (age 40 to 64) more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future. Adults of 65 and older, however, were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction. Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would, the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio (比率) of disability and death for the study period.
“We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade,” wrote Frieder R. Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future.
“Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking improved precautions (预防措施),” the authors wrote. Surprisingly, compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes, respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline(下降). Also, the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability.
The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions. Illness, medical treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes. However, the researchers said a pattern was clear. “We found that from early to late adulthood, individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic, to accurate, to pessimistic,” the authors concluded.
C. to take measures against potential risks D. to value health more highly than wealth
C. They will suffer mental illness. D. They will have less time to enjoy life.
B. Good financial condition leads to good health.
C. Medical treatment determines health outcomes.
D. Expectations of future life satisfaction decline with age.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
“Primary school students are abandoning books for computer games as parents struggle to find the right balance between play, homework, reading and electronic entertainment at home.” Ed Balls, the Education Secretary, said yesterday.
Mr. Balls called on parents to cut down on the amount of time they let their children play computer games and urged them to spend at least ten minutes a night reading bedtime stories.
He added that a recent consultation by his department had found a huge groundswell of concern among parents about how best to regulate their children’s computer play.
“Across the country we should be getting our kinds to play computer games a bit less and to read a bit more, he said.
His comments followed the publication of a major international comparison of reading among 10-year-old which showed that England had fallen from third to fifteenth position in the past five years. Scotland fell from fourteenth to twenty-first place in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, run by Boston College in Massachusetts. Russian children came top in the study.
The literacy report England, produced for the Government by the National Foundation for Education; Research(NFER),found that 22 percent of English children spent five hours or more playing computer or video games on a normal school day, with 37 percent spending more than three hours. This was exceeded only by the US and seven other countries.
The report also found a clear association between the number of looks at home and reading attainment. The 23 percent of children with 200 or more books at home had significantly higher reading scores than the 10 percent with ten or fewer books.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
C
Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason why people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a_residential_area nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice house and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.
But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.
题型：阅读理解 题类：期中考试 难易度：难
年份：2016
“How to Train Your Dragon” by British author Cressida Cowell is one of the best pieces of children’s literature. A child can make a whole new universe with a vivid imagination and Toothless, the hero’s hunting dragon, thus turning a rainy day into an adventure of a lifetime. However, if you have never read the book but instead choose to see the film version(版本), you might think you were seeing a new-age war movie meant for adults rather than children.
Let’s look at “Where the Wild Things Are” for further discussion. The story centers around a lonely eight-year-old boy named Max, who sails away to an island. Creatures living there declare Max their king. What an amazing piece of children’s literature! A treasure for every child’s library. Yet, children were crying in the movie theatre. Owls(猫头鹰) were falling from the sky, chicken’s arms were being torn off, and a child was running around a dark abandoned world fighting evil (恶魔) as the only human. It was almost as if Hollywood could not imagine children enjoying a movie for its basic literature content. Hollywood might be right. But more and more its audiences are complaining (抱怨) that there is an increased amount of violence in children’s stories today than in the past.
While there appears to be a trend in our society to make more violence more accessible to younger children, books and literature are generally an exception(例外). I truly believe that children’s literature has become more vivid, and more colorful. This is a great treasure for the children, and is certainly not violent. What has changed the children’s stories of today is not the writers, but the film industry. In some way, children’s literature is just being strangely twisted（扭曲）. I wonder how much influence the author have over this.
