选择知识点

It is one of the clear downsides of having friends or relatives who jet off to foreign countries． Not only is there a chance that you will have to sit through a session of boring photos displaying a holiday that you were not part of - there is also a real risk that your "loved ones" will return from their break offering a gift you really don't want．
According to a new study， most of us fear receiving a gift - brought back from abroad by those whose intentions are entirely good， but whose taste in presents is rather more lacking． A survey conducted by travel search website Skyscanner saw over two thirds of those questioned （69 percent） admit that they would rather not receive souvenirs from other people's holidays． Just four per cent of the 2，000 respondents said they find holiday gifts of use．
The presents most likely to make us say an unconvincing thank you are ornaments， with 14 percent of the survey's respondents listing said items - cheap pottery statues - as the most disappointing travel present you can receive． Also high on the name-and-shame list are comedy T-shirts （described as "most disappointing" by nine per cent）， bargain jewellery （also nine per cent）， key rings and fridge magnets （seven per cent） and food products and snow globes （both four per cent）．
Fifteen per cent find an instant new home for these undesired presents - the bin． Others stop short of immediately getting rid of their unrequested new possessions - but plenty of us also decline to put them on display． Six per cent said they share the burden by re-gifting the items to others， while three per cent are even more impolite and put the souvenirs up for sale on sites such as e-Bay．
But apparently， the problem of gifts no one likes is widespread． According to figures from the World Tourism Organisation， an estimated 5billion is wasted on unnecessary ornaments by holidaymakers in Europe every year．



What will happen after your "loved ones" return home from abroad？ ______

A. They probably will bring the useless presents to you．
B. They may try their best to learn to improve their taste in presents．
C. They will discuss the photos taken to make you part of the holiday．
D. They will ask you about everything that happened during their absence．

Which is the least disappointing travel present？ ______

A. Cheap pottery statues．
B. Comedy T-shirts．
C. Key rings．
D. Food products．

What will more people do with those undesired presents？ ______

A. Throw them away in the bin．
B. Put them in the display case．
C. Present them to other friends．
D. Sell them on the second-hand market．

The main purpose of the passage is to ______ ．

A. inform people of the result of a new study
B. encourage people to make plans before traveling
C. tell people about the rules for holiday gift giving
D. show the importance and future trend of gift giving

阅读理解
It has been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.
Ever since the “Back to the Future” movies lit up our screens in the 1980s，designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button．And now pilots can order their own “roadable” plane for just £ 127,000.
The plane, which has fold-out wings that span(翼展)17.5ft，has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph．Back on the land，it can also travel at“highway speeds”in car mode(模式)．
Fueling the 19ft. long plane couldn't be simpler----you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up．
A spokeswoman said, “You can keep you ‘light-sport airplane' in your garage.But because it needs a short runway to take to the air, you will have to drive to your local airport，fly up to 460 miles, land，and drive directly to your destination．You will always be ready to drive or fly．"
The spokeswoman added,“Never let bad weather change your trip.You call simply divert(改道)and continue on the ground until the weather clears.”
There is no risk to you—This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future．
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
（1）According to the text, the“roadable”plane________.
A.can fly at “highway speeds” in car mode
B.is 19ft long and 17.5ft wide inside
C.is a kind of car with fold-out wings
D.can only travel on the highway
（2）We can infer that in the“Back to the Future”movies_________. ‘'
A.cars can fly in the sky
B.pilots have no cars to drive
C.pilots can't afford a“roadable”plane
D.there are some skillful pilots 
（3）The last sentence of the text aims to__________．
A.ask people to unfold their wings and fly into the future
B.show people the use of the“roadable”plane
C.tell people only the“roadable”plane can fly in the future
D.call on people to buy the“roadable”plane
（4）If you meet with a thunderstorm in your“roadable”plane in the skies，you can ________ ．
A.land in a nearby airport until it clears
B.1and and drive on the ground
C.turn back home until it clears
D.fly high up to 460 miles

阅读理解
The weather is getting hotter. You are thirsty playing basketball or riding home from school. A cold drink may be just the thing. But be careful what you are drinking. Something that looks cool may not be good for your health.
There are plenty of “energy drinks” on the market. Most of them have beautiful colors and cool names. The lists on them tell you they are helpful to your health. Sounds great!
But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine(咖啡碱)in them. These drinks are especially aimed at young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake. But be careful not to drink too much. Caffeine makes your heart beat fast. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) has limited(限制) its use. Caffeine in most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea.
Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can even cause heart problems. Scientists say that teenagers should be discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
（1）Many people like drinking energy drinks because of the following EXCEPT that ______.
A.they have beautiful colors and cool names
B.they can keep them awake and better at sports
C.they have lots of caffeine
D.they are said to be helpful to health
（2）The underlined word “discouraged” can be replaced(替换) with ______.
A.encouraged
B.disliked
C.helped
D.stopped
（3）Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? ______
A.What's the Use of Energy Drinks?
B.What's That in Energy Drinks?
C.Who Can Drink Energy Drinks?
D.Why Can't We Buy Energy Drinks?

阅读理解
A new camera made by a company named Netatmo has facial recognition software(识别系统)that can tell parents at work that their children have returned from school, or that a package has been taken to their home. It can also tell them if a stranger has entered their home.
Janina Mattausch is a product marketing manager for Netatmo.
“The common security(安全)cameras at present are not that smart. So, they can tell you if something is moving but they don't necessarily know if it's a human being or, ah, if it's your kids—they don't' know the difference, so they will warn you all the time.”
When family members enter a home, the new camera "recognizes" (识别 ) them and sends information to the owner's smartphone. The owner can choose to see the video then or later. But if an unknown person enters a home, the camera will send the owner a warning that will cause an alarm to sound on the owner's smartphone.
That is what happened recently to a smart home camera owner named Darrmen. He lives in Paris.
"On a Friday I was at work, attending a big monthly meeting when my phone warned. At first I told myself 'Oh, it must be a mistake, maybe I have to set the system again. “But the notice on my phone was telling me that there was a movement in my flat and also a face that the software did not recognize.”
He watched the video and was very surprised by what he saw.
"I saw a person I did not know with his shoes on. I was watching it live on video. So I felt totally unbelievable, frozen. I asked a workmate to take me back home as fast as possible and I called the police on the way. "
With the help of the video, the police found the intruder (闯入者) later that day.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
（1）The new camera made by Netatmo can ______ .
A.warn the strangers
B.recognize the comers
C.stop the visitors
D.welcome the children
（2）The fourth paragraph mainly tells us ______ .
A.where the new camera is placed
B.what the new camera looks like
C.when the new camera is used
D.how the new camera works
（3）We can learn from the passage that Damien ______ .
A.found the warning was a mistake
B.was too busy to notice the warning
C.felt shocked to see a stranger in his flat
D.caught the intruder by himself that day
（4）The writer proves(证明) the new camera works well by ______ .
A.giving an example
B.making a survey
C.doing an experiment
D.having a speech

阅读理解
Our room was on the second floor but you could still hear the roar of the ocean and see the stars at night. I used to take long walks along the water. The food in town was wonderful and the people were very friendly. The area was very quiet and peaceful, and fairly deserted.
The last evening of our vacation, however, we all heard strange footsteps following closely behind us as we were walking up to our room in the holiday centre. We turned around and noticed a fairly young man moving very rapidly across the beach and getting closer to us. He was tall and wore a baseball cap. We couldn't see his face and he was approaching us very rapidly. The man's actions made my dad very nervous. Dad warned us that we'd better try to make it to our hotel room as quickly as possible. I didn't like my dad's voice; I could hear fear in it. It was late and we were all alone. We didn't have any cell phones on us. I never saw Dad as worried as he was then and I knew that something was terribly wrong. The sense of fear started to overwhelm Mom and me. We had had such a good time in town. Now, the night was rapidly turning into a dangerous situation.
We could hear the man's footsteps getting closer. Dad's face was almost pale. The so-called intruder (侵入者) had moved nearer and nearer when all of a sudden, the nearby vending (自动贩卖) machine started going crazy and spitting out cans of soda! The noise actually scared the intruder and he ran out of sight. My parents were shaking, but we all turned around to see who had put money into the vending machine downstairs, and actually saved us, but no one was around at all. Not a soul.
It's one vacation I will never forget.
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
（1）Where did the author spend her vacation?
A.Near a lake.
B.At the seaside.
C.In a village.
D.In a mountain.
（2）What does the underlined word “overwhelm” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A.move.
B.impress.
C.control.
D.excite.
（3）What helped them get out of the trouble?
A.Their quick action.
B.Other people's kind help.
C.The young man's warning.
D.The noise from the vending machine.

阅读理解
According to a recent study out of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, men with shaved heads are considered to be more manly, powerful, and successful than those with longer hair or thinning(稀少的) hair. Besides, in some cases, they are considered to have greater leadership potential (潜力). That may explain why the power-buzz look has become popular among business leaders in recent years.
Albert Mannes, Wharton management lecturer, said he was encouraged to do the research after noticing that he was treated with more respect when he shaved off his thinning hair.
Mannes did three experiments to test people's impression of men with shaved heads. In one of the experiments, he showed 344 subject photos of the same men in two versions: one showing the men with hair and the other showing them with their hair digitally removed, so their heads appear shaved. In all three tests, the subject report found the men with shaved heads are more dominant(占优势的) than their hairy counterparts(对应的人).
The study found that men with thinning hair were viewed as the least attractive and powerful. For those men, the solution could be as cheap and simple as a shave.
New York image consultant Julie Rath advised her clients to get closely cropped when they start thinning up top. “There is something really strong, powerful and confident about laying it all bare(光秃的),” she said, describing the thinning look as kind of raunchy(不修边幅的).
Not everyone needs a bare head. Rick Devine, 55, the CEO of Devine Capital Partners, advised executive candidates attracted by their clippers to keep their hair closely cropped, rather than completely shaved. “It is way too much image risk,” he said, “The best thing you can do in a business meeting is to make your look not an issue.”
根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。
（1）We can learn from paragraph 1 that men with shaved heads have more chances to ________.
A.be liked by their leader
B.become business leaders
C.be laughed at by their leaders
D.feel stressed from their work
（2）When did Albert Mannes decide to do the research?
A.Long before he shaved his own thinning hair.
B.When he was looked down upon because of his thinning hair.
C.When people treated him more respectfully after he shaved his thinning hair.
D.When he noticed that others began to shave their thinning hair.
（3）The underlined part in Paragraph 4 probably means that the solution is to _______.
A.buy a pair of cheap scissors.
B.have a cheap shave
C.keep their thinning hair
D.shave their own thinning hair
（4）What's the author's attitude toward men's bear heads?
A.Objective
B.Negative
C.Positive
D.Doubtful

根据短文理解，选择正确答案。
Terrible disasters in the last 50 or 100 years have become increasingly common. Over the last 30 years, the number of weather-related disasters has increased quickly, and the disasters have also affected more people and caused more economic loss. However, much of this could be avoided through disaster risk reduction(DRR降低灾难风险).
A meeting, held in Sendai, Japan last month, opened one day after Cyclone Pam（飓风Pam）hit Vanuatu, which struck the islands with winds of up to 340km/h and destroyed the island nation. The speech by the President of Vanuatu was given shortly after that. He begged the international community for support and stronger commitment (承诺)to helping them manage climate and disaster risks. In the face of disasters, it is always the developing countries that suffer most. Damage in these countries is often worse and unluckily, there is limited money and technique to prevent these disasters.
In fact, we have seen Asian countries-especially those that have suffered a lot in disasters can't pay the price. Great loss Asia has suffered comes to a total of almost $ 53 billon yearly over the past 20 years.
At the same time, studies have shown once again that proper prevention saves lives and damage. With this in mind, people at the Sendai meeting were able to come up with new agreements that effective ways of disaster risk reduction will be carried out in the coming years for those who easily get damaged in disasters.
（1）According to the first paragraph, disasters ________.
A.can all be prevented
B.have become more frequent
C.are all weather-related ones
D.affect fewer people than before
（2）We can know from the passage that_______.
A.The Sendai meeting was held one day after a cyclone hit Vanuatu
B.Vanuatu was terribly destroyed by an earthquake
C.The president of Vanuatu begged his country to prevent the disaster
D.Vanuatu is a small island in Japan
（3）Which of the following can be the title of this news report?
A.Proper ways that save lives and damage have come up.
B.The Sendai meeting has made new commitments.
C.Natural disasters have become more common.
D.Some natural disasters can be reduced and avoided.

根据短文理解，选择正确答案。
In addition to seeing wonderful films, one of the joys of coming to the Quad Cinema is to hang out in the area. The Quad Cinema is located right in the heart of Greenwich Village, perhaps the most charming and interesting neighborhood in the city. Here are some attractions we recommend, all within a comfortable walk from the Quad Cinema:
Washington Square Park
As one of the best－known of New York City's 1,900 public parks, it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity. Come on a Sunday when it's most lively and festive.
New York University
It surrounds Washington Square. See the wonderful Bobst Library and visit the amazing bookstores. NYU is now considered one of the most powerful universities in the world.
Judson Memorial Church
Located in the south of Washington Square between Thompson Street and Sullivan Street, opposite Washington Square Park, this beautiful church was completed in 1892. The Judson Memorial Church is most famous for its vocal participation in social events.
Washington Mews
It is a hidden, private street in New York City between Fifth Avenue and University Place, just north of Washington Square Park. It was first developed as a mews(马厩街) that serviced horses from homes in the area. Since the 1950s the former stables have served as housing, offices and other facilities for New York University.
Jefferson Market Courthouse
Built in 1833 as a market, it was later changed to a courthouse, and in the 1950s it was emptied and close to being destroyed. It was saved and turned into a library. Many consider it to be the most beautiful building in the village.
（1）What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?
A.To suggest the Quad Cinema is the best place.
B.To introduce some attractions around the Quad Cinema.
C.To show the Quad Cinema attracts a lot of customers.
D.To tell readers to enjoy their life fully.
（2）Where is the Judson Memorial Church?
A.In the south of Washington Square.
B.Behind Washington Square Park.
C.Opposite Thompson Street.
D.Close to New York University.
（3）When Washington Mews came into being, ________.
A.it was designed for a university
B.it was intended for keeping horses
C.it was used as a park for horses
D.it was filled with free facilities

An artist in Oakland， California is using his skills to help the homeless． Greg Kloehn builds very small shelters that make life on the streets a little more comfortable． The structures offer the homeless some safety and protection from bad weather． Each little house also has wheels on the bottom so it can go wherever its owner goes．
Greg Kloehn has given away at least 20 tiny houses． Several are on the roadside near an active railroad． On a recent day， Mr． Kloehn stops at one to visit Oscar Young． The two men hug． Inside his little shelter Mr． Young gets relief from cold nights on the streets． Mr． Kloehn also visits Sweet-Pea， another friend who also lives in one of the little homes the artist built． She says it keeps her safe and protects her belongings．
In the mornings， Mr． Kloehn searches the streets for building materials． He gathers what he can and takes it to his studio． There， he puts the houses together． Empty coffee bags become roof material． A washing machine door and refrigerator part become windows． Nails， screws and the sticky glue hold all the pieces together． The artist also attaches a small electrical device to the house． The device is powered by the sun．
Some of the people living on the streets once had normal houses of their own． But some of the people say they have learned to live with less and they are thankful to that man．
Mr． Kloehn says his work is not a social project． He says he is just someone using his skills to help his homeless neighbors．



The following are the advantages of the small shelters EXCEPT ______ ．

A. saving power and energy
B. decorating the streets where they are
C. protecting possessions of the homeless
D. keeping the homeless safe and comfortable

We can learn from the passage that ______ ．

A. An act of kindness has made people simple and grateful
B. Greg Kloehn has sold at least 20 tiny houses
C. The shelters are immovable
D. The government has got involved in the action

What's the main idea of the passage？ ______

A. A more comfortable shelter on the streets．
B. An artist creates homes for the homeless．
C. A successful social project in Oakland．
D. An artist makes a living by designing small shelters．

If you like texting and are trying to lose weight， a new study found that using texting to track diet and exercise habits may help you lose weight．
Previous research has shown that keeping food and exercise diaries improves the likelihood of success when you are using it to lose weight． Using a computer or a pen and paper to record information， however， can be a burden and cause some people to give up．
Duke University researchers said using text messages to track eating and exercise habits can save time， and increase the chances that people will stick with their weight-loss rules．
The study included 26 obese/fat women with an average age of 38． The women used daily texting as part of their weight-loss program． The text messages focused on tracking personalized goals， such as avoiding sugary drinks or walking 10，000 steps a day． Messages also provided brief feedback （反馈） and tips．
Every morning， the women received a text from an automated system that said， "Please text yesterday's personal information of steps you walked and how many sugary drinks you had．" Based on the women's responses to the text message， the system sent another text with personalized feedback and tips．
After six months， the women who used daily texting lost an average of nearly 3pounds， while another group of women who used traditional methods to keep food and exercise diaries gained an average of 2.5pounds， according to the study， which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research．
"Text messaging has become popular and may be an effective method to simplify tracking of diet and exercise behavior，" Dori Steinberg， who was responsible for this research， said．
Steinberg said，"Text messaging offers several advantages compared to other self-monitoring methods． Unlike web-based diet and exercise diaries， data in a text message can be entered quickly on nearly all cell phone platforms so it is very convenient to receive feedback． Besides， because of the limited number of words used in text messages， it saves time．"



Which is NOT true about text messaging according to Steinberg？ ______

A. It saves time．
B. It saves money．
C. It can be entered quickly．
D. It is easy to receive feedback．

What's the best title for the text？ ______

A. Texting helps keep healthy．
B. Texting saves time and money．
C. Texting provides brief feedback and tips．
D. Texting can help you lose weight．

What's Dori Steinberg's attitude towards text messaging？ ______

A. Unknown．
B. Negative．
C. Positive．
D. Unconcerned．