搜题
共用题干
Eastern Quakes can Trigger Big Shakes
In the first week of November 2011,people in central Oklahoma experienced more than two dozen
earthquakes.The largest,a magnitude 5.6 quake,shook thousands of fans in a college football itadium,
caused cracks in a few buildings and rattled the nerves of many people who had never felt a quake before.
Oklahoma is not an area of the country famous for its quakes.If you watch the news on TV,you will see
reports about all sorts of natural disasters一hurricanes,tornadoes,flooding and wildfires,to name a few.But
the most dangerous type of natural disaster,and also the most unpredictable,is the earthquake.
Researchers at the U.S.Geological Survey estimate that several million earthquakes rattle the globe each
year. That mnay sound scary,but people don'I feel many of the tremors because they happen in remote and
unpopulated regions.Many quakes happen under the ocean,and othlers have a very small magnitude,or
shaking intensity..
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck central Virginia the afternoon of August 23,2011,was felt
from central Georgia to southeastern Canada.In iilany urbanl areas,including Washington,D.C.,dnd New
York City(Wall Street shown),people crowded the streets while engineer inspected buildings.Credit:
Wikimnedia/Alex Tahak.
Scientists know about small,remote quakes only because of very sensitive electronic devices called seis-
mometers.These devices detect and measure the size of ground vibrations produced by earthquakes.
Altogether,USGS researchers use seismornetero to identify and locate about 20,000 earthquaks
each year.
Although earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world,really big quakeg occur only in。erttiin areas.
The largest ones register a magnitude S or higher and happen, on average,only once each year. Such big
ones typically occur along the edges of Earth’s tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates are huge pieces of Earth’s crust,sornetinies many kilometers thick.These plates cover
our planet's
surface ike a jigsaw puzzle.Often,jagged edges of these plates temporarily lock together. When
riates jostle and serape past each other earthquakes occur. On。、crage,tectonic plates move very slowly一
about the same speed as sour fingernails grow.
But sometimes earthquakes rumble through portions of the landscape far from a plate'S edges.Although
less cxpcctcd,these"mid-plate"tremors can do substontaI damage,Some of the biggest known examples
rattled the eastern haif of the United States two centuries ago.Today,scientists are still puzzling over why the
quakes occurred and when similar ones nught occur.
The earthquake that hit the eastern half of the United States two centuries ago is the biggest"mid-plate"one in history.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
Eastern Quakes can Trigger Big Shakes
In the first week of November 2011,people in central Oklahoma experienced more than two dozen
earthquakes.The largest,a magnitude 5.6 quake,shook thousands of fans in a college football itadium,
caused cracks in a few buildings and rattled the nerves of many people who had never felt a quake before.
Oklahoma is not an area of the country famous for its quakes.If you watch the news on TV,you will see
reports about all sorts of natural disasters一hurricanes,tornadoes,flooding and wildfires,to name a few.But
the most dangerous type of natural disaster,and also the most unpredictable,is the earthquake.
Researchers at the U.S.Geological Survey estimate that several million earthquakes rattle the globe each
year. That mnay sound scary,but people don'I feel many of the tremors because they happen in remote and
unpopulated regions.Many quakes happen under the ocean,and othlers have a very small magnitude,or
shaking intensity..
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck central Virginia the afternoon of August 23,2011,was felt
from central Georgia to southeastern Canada.In iilany urbanl areas,including Washington,D.C.,dnd New
York City(Wall Street shown),people crowded the streets while engineer inspected buildings.Credit:
Wikimnedia/Alex Tahak.
Scientists know about small,remote quakes only because of very sensitive electronic devices called seis-
mometers.These devices detect and measure the size of ground vibrations produced by earthquakes.
Altogether,USGS researchers use seismornetero to identify and locate about 20,000 earthquaks
each year.
Although earthquakes can happen anywhere in the world,really big quakeg occur only in。erttiin areas.
The largest ones register a magnitude S or higher and happen, on average,only once each year. Such big
ones typically occur along the edges of Earth’s tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates are huge pieces of Earth’s crust,sornetinies many kilometers thick.These plates cover
our planet's
surface ike a jigsaw puzzle.Often,jagged edges of these plates temporarily lock together. When
riates jostle and serape past each other earthquakes occur. On。、crage,tectonic plates move very slowly一
about the same speed as sour fingernails grow.
But sometimes earthquakes rumble through portions of the landscape far from a plate'S edges.Although
less cxpcctcd,these"mid-plate"tremors can do substontaI damage,Some of the biggest known examples
rattled the eastern haif of the United States two centuries ago.Today,scientists are still puzzling over why the
quakes occurred and when similar ones nught occur.
The earthquake that hit the eastern half of the United States two centuries ago is the biggest"mid-plate"one in history.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
共用题干
Study Helps Predict Big Mediterranean Quake
1.Scientists have found evidence that an overlooked fault in the eastern Mediterranean is likely to produce an earthquake and tsunami every 800 years as powerful as the one that destroyed Alexandria in AD 365.
2.Using radiocarbon dating techniques,simulations and computer models,the researchers recreated the ancient disaster in order to identify the responsible fault."We are saying there is probably a repeat time of 800 years for this kind of earthquake,"said Ms Beth Shaw,an earthquake scientist at the University of Cambridge,who led the study. Scientists study past earthquakes in order to deter-mine the future possibility of similar large shocks.
3.Identifying the fault for the AD 365 earthquake and tsunami is important for the tens of millions of people in the region,Ms.Shaw said.The fault close to the southwest coast of Crete last produced a big enough quake to generate a tsunami about 1300,which means the next powerful one could come in the next 100 years,she added in a telephone interview.
4.Ms.Shaw and her colleagues calculate the likely intervals by measuring the motion of either side of the fault to find how often such large earthquakes would have to occur to account for that level of motion,she said.Their computer model suggested an 8 magnitude quake on the fault would pro-duce a tsunami that floods the coastal regions of Alexandria and North Africa,the southern coast of Greece and Sicily all the way up the Adriati to Dubrovnik.This would be similar to the ancient quake in AD 365 that caused widespread destruction in much of Greece and unleashed a tsunami that flooded Alexandria and the Nile Delta likely killing tens of thousands of people,she said.
Ms.Shaw measured the movement of either side of the fault to identify the magnitude of the earthquake taking place in AD 365.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
Study Helps Predict Big Mediterranean Quake
1.Scientists have found evidence that an overlooked fault in the eastern Mediterranean is likely to produce an earthquake and tsunami every 800 years as powerful as the one that destroyed Alexandria in AD 365.
2.Using radiocarbon dating techniques,simulations and computer models,the researchers recreated the ancient disaster in order to identify the responsible fault."We are saying there is probably a repeat time of 800 years for this kind of earthquake,"said Ms Beth Shaw,an earthquake scientist at the University of Cambridge,who led the study. Scientists study past earthquakes in order to deter-mine the future possibility of similar large shocks.
3.Identifying the fault for the AD 365 earthquake and tsunami is important for the tens of millions of people in the region,Ms.Shaw said.The fault close to the southwest coast of Crete last produced a big enough quake to generate a tsunami about 1300,which means the next powerful one could come in the next 100 years,she added in a telephone interview.
4.Ms.Shaw and her colleagues calculate the likely intervals by measuring the motion of either side of the fault to find how often such large earthquakes would have to occur to account for that level of motion,she said.Their computer model suggested an 8 magnitude quake on the fault would pro-duce a tsunami that floods the coastal regions of Alexandria and North Africa,the southern coast of Greece and Sicily all the way up the Adriati to Dubrovnik.This would be similar to the ancient quake in AD 365 that caused widespread destruction in much of Greece and unleashed a tsunami that flooded Alexandria and the Nile Delta likely killing tens of thousands of people,she said.
Ms.Shaw measured the movement of either side of the fault to identify the magnitude of the earthquake taking place in AD 365.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
共用题干
The Forbidden Apple
New York used to be the city that never sleeps. These days it's the city that never smokes,drinks or does anything naughty(at least,not in public).The Big Apple is quickly turning into the Forbidden Apple.
If you wanted a glass of wine with your picnic in Central Park,could you have one?No chance. Drinking alcohol in public isn't allowed. If you decided to feed the birds with the last crumbs（碎屑）of your sandwich, you could be arrested. It's illegal. If you went to a bar for a drink and a cigarette,that would be OK,wouldn't it?Er…no.You can't smoke in public in New York City.
What's going on?Why is the city that used to be so open-minded becoming like this?
The mayor of New York is behind it all. He has brought in a whole lot of new laws to stop citizens from doing what they want,when they want.
The press are shocked. Even the New York police have joined the argument. They re- cently spent$100,000 ona“Don't blame the cop”campaign. One New York police officer said,”We raise money for the city by giving people fines for breaking some very stupid laws. It's all about money.”
The result is lot of fines for minor offences. Yoav Kashida,and Israeli tourist,fell asleep on the subway. When he woke up,two police officers fined him because he had fallen asleep on two seats(you mustn't use two seats in the subway).Elle and Serge Schroitman were fined for blocking a driveway with their car. It was their own driveway.
The angry editor of Vanity Fair magazine,Graydon Carter,says.”Under New York City law it is acceptable to keep a gun in your place of work,but not an empty ashtray.”He should know. The police came to his office and took away his ashtray（烟灰缸）.
But not all of New York's inhabitants are complaining. Marcia Dugarry,72,said,”The city has changed for the better. If more cities had these laws,America would be a better place to live.”Nixon Patotkis,38,a barman,said,”I like the new laws. If people smoked in here, we'd go home smelling of cigarettes.”
Recent figures show that New York now has fewer crimes per 100,000 people than 193 other US cities.And it's true一It's safer,cleaner and more healthy than before. But let'sbe honest一who goes to New York for its clean streets?
The editor of Vanity Fair magazine thinks some of the new laws are stupid.
A: Right
B: Wrong
C: Not mentioned
The Forbidden Apple
New York used to be the city that never sleeps. These days it's the city that never smokes,drinks or does anything naughty(at least,not in public).The Big Apple is quickly turning into the Forbidden Apple.
If you wanted a glass of wine with your picnic in Central Park,could you have one?No chance. Drinking alcohol in public isn't allowed. If you decided to feed the birds with the last crumbs（碎屑）of your sandwich, you could be arrested. It's illegal. If you went to a bar for a drink and a cigarette,that would be OK,wouldn't it?Er…no.You can't smoke in public in New York City.
What's going on?Why is the city that used to be so open-minded becoming like this?
The mayor of New York is behind it all. He has brought in a whole lot of new laws to stop citizens from doing what they want,when they want.
The press are shocked. Even the New York police have joined the argument. They re- cently spent$100,000 ona“Don't blame the cop”campaign. One New York police officer said,”We raise money for the city by giving people fines for breaking some very stupid laws. It's all about money.”
The result is lot of fines for minor offences. Yoav Kashida,and Israeli tourist,fell asleep on the subway. When he woke up,two police officers fined him because he had fallen asleep on two seats(you mustn't use two seats in the subway).Elle and Serge Schroitman were fined for blocking a driveway with their car. It was their own driveway.
The angry editor of Vanity Fair magazine,Graydon Carter,says.”Under New York City law it is acceptable to keep a gun in your place of work,but not an empty ashtray.”He should know. The police came to his office and took away his ashtray（烟灰缸）.
But not all of New York's inhabitants are complaining. Marcia Dugarry,72,said,”The city has changed for the better. If more cities had these laws,America would be a better place to live.”Nixon Patotkis,38,a barman,said,”I like the new laws. If people smoked in here, we'd go home smelling of cigarettes.”
Recent figures show that New York now has fewer crimes per 100,000 people than 193 other US cities.And it's true一It's safer,cleaner and more healthy than before. But let'sbe honest一who goes to New York for its clean streets?
The editor of Vanity Fair magazine thinks some of the new laws are stupid.
A: Right
B: Wrong
C: Not mentioned
共用题干
Walk a Quarter-Mile or Diem
If you can walk a quarter-mile,odds（可能性）are you have at least six years of life left
in you,scientists say.And the faster you can_______(1)it,the longer you might
live.
While walking is no guarantee of_______(2) or longevity（长寿）,a new study
found that the ability of elderly people to do the quarter-mile was an"important determinant
（决定因素）"in whether or not they'd be_____(3) six years later and how much
illness and disability they would endure.
"The_______(4)to complete this walk was a powerful predictor of health
outcomes,"said study leader Anne Newman of the University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine."In fact,we_______(5)that the people who could not complete the walk
were_____(6)an extremely high risk of later disability and death."
Newman and colleagues recruited nearly 2,700 white and African-American men and
women aged 70 to 79 to_______(7)the walk.All the participants were screened and
determined to be in relatively_______(8)health,and they had all said they had
previously walked that far with no_______(9).Only 86 percent of them finished,
_______(10)
The scientists then monitored the health and mortality of all_______(11)for the
next six years,"There was a big gap in health outcomes_______(12)people who
could complete the longer walk and people who could not,with the latter being at an
extremely high_______(13)of becoming disabled or dying,"Newman said."What
was really surprising is that these people were not_______(14)of how weak they
actually were."
Finishing times were found to be crucial,too.Those who completed the walk but were
among the slowest 25 percent_______(15)three times greater risk of death than the
speedier folks.
_________(15)
A:increased
B:faced
C:carried
D:avoided
Walk a Quarter-Mile or Diem
If you can walk a quarter-mile,odds（可能性）are you have at least six years of life left
in you,scientists say.And the faster you can_______(1)it,the longer you might
live.
While walking is no guarantee of_______(2) or longevity（长寿）,a new study
found that the ability of elderly people to do the quarter-mile was an"important determinant
（决定因素）"in whether or not they'd be_____(3) six years later and how much
illness and disability they would endure.
"The_______(4)to complete this walk was a powerful predictor of health
outcomes,"said study leader Anne Newman of the University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine."In fact,we_______(5)that the people who could not complete the walk
were_____(6)an extremely high risk of later disability and death."
Newman and colleagues recruited nearly 2,700 white and African-American men and
women aged 70 to 79 to_______(7)the walk.All the participants were screened and
determined to be in relatively_______(8)health,and they had all said they had
previously walked that far with no_______(9).Only 86 percent of them finished,
_______(10)
The scientists then monitored the health and mortality of all_______(11)for the
next six years,"There was a big gap in health outcomes_______(12)people who
could complete the longer walk and people who could not,with the latter being at an
extremely high_______(13)of becoming disabled or dying,"Newman said."What
was really surprising is that these people were not_______(14)of how weak they
actually were."
Finishing times were found to be crucial,too.Those who completed the walk but were
among the slowest 25 percent_______(15)three times greater risk of death than the
speedier folks.
_________(15)
A:increased
B:faced
C:carried
D:avoided
共用题干
第三篇
Archive Gallery: The Best of Bionics（仿生学）
Humans might be the most highly-evolved species on the planet,but most animals possess skills we can
only dream of having.Imagine how much electricity we could save if we could see in the dark the way cats
do. Imagine leaping from tree to tree like a monkey.Giraffes（长颈鹿）,which are otherwise calm and good-
natured,sleep only 4.6 hours a day.
We realized a long,long time ago that nature provides the best blueprint（蓝图）for invention.We've
borrowed canals from beavers（河狸）and reflectors from cat's eyes.Although the words "bionics" became
popular only after the 1960s,history shows that nature has always provided ideas on solving everyday prob-
lems. Our archives（档案）don't go back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and his bird-like flying machines,
but we can take you to the late 19th century,where we applied those same principles for building our first
practical airplanes.
To prepare for their flight at Kitty Hawk,the Wright brothers studied the movements of pigeons to figure
out how they stayed high up when they were heavier than air. Their success inspired scores of successors to
improve on the airplane by studying various aspects of nature,One of Orville Wright’、pupils caught and
stuffed seagulls to examine their wingspan.Meanwhile,two French inventors examined spinning sycamore（美
国梧桐）seeds in an effort to apply those same motions,reversed,to a helicopter.
Some examples are more obvious than others.The outside of the airplane designed by the Wright
brothers looks like a minimalistic（简单抽象艺术）structure. On the other hand , Barney Connett ' s fish
submarine（潜水艇）actually looks like a fish.
Some bio-inspired concepts have yet to be invented.In the 1960s，the US Army commissioned several
university professors to conduct research on the motor skills of animals in hope of applying those same abili-
ties to tanks. Tanks that run like horses or jump like grasshoppers（蚂昨）一sounds shocking,doesn't it?
But imagine how life would change if we could achieve that.
What happened after the Wright brothers' success?
A:People carried out a systematic study on pigeons.
B:People could fly their airplanes for fun.
C:People kept their airplanes at a French gallery.
D:People studied more animals and plants to develop the airplane.
第三篇
Archive Gallery: The Best of Bionics（仿生学）
Humans might be the most highly-evolved species on the planet,but most animals possess skills we can
only dream of having.Imagine how much electricity we could save if we could see in the dark the way cats
do. Imagine leaping from tree to tree like a monkey.Giraffes（长颈鹿）,which are otherwise calm and good-
natured,sleep only 4.6 hours a day.
We realized a long,long time ago that nature provides the best blueprint（蓝图）for invention.We've
borrowed canals from beavers（河狸）and reflectors from cat's eyes.Although the words "bionics" became
popular only after the 1960s,history shows that nature has always provided ideas on solving everyday prob-
lems. Our archives（档案）don't go back to the time of Leonardo da Vinci and his bird-like flying machines,
but we can take you to the late 19th century,where we applied those same principles for building our first
practical airplanes.
To prepare for their flight at Kitty Hawk,the Wright brothers studied the movements of pigeons to figure
out how they stayed high up when they were heavier than air. Their success inspired scores of successors to
improve on the airplane by studying various aspects of nature,One of Orville Wright’、pupils caught and
stuffed seagulls to examine their wingspan.Meanwhile,two French inventors examined spinning sycamore（美
国梧桐）seeds in an effort to apply those same motions,reversed,to a helicopter.
Some examples are more obvious than others.The outside of the airplane designed by the Wright
brothers looks like a minimalistic（简单抽象艺术）structure. On the other hand , Barney Connett ' s fish
submarine（潜水艇）actually looks like a fish.
Some bio-inspired concepts have yet to be invented.In the 1960s，the US Army commissioned several
university professors to conduct research on the motor skills of animals in hope of applying those same abili-
ties to tanks. Tanks that run like horses or jump like grasshoppers（蚂昨）一sounds shocking,doesn't it?
But imagine how life would change if we could achieve that.
What happened after the Wright brothers' success?
A:People carried out a systematic study on pigeons.
B:People could fly their airplanes for fun.
C:People kept their airplanes at a French gallery.
D:People studied more animals and plants to develop the airplane.
On the table was a vase filled with artificial flowers.
A:wild
B:fresh
C:lovely
D:false
A:wild
B:fresh
C:lovely
D:false
共用题干
Irish Dolphins May Have a Unique Dialect
Irish scientists monitoring dolphins living in a river estuary in the southwest of the country believe they
may have developed a unique dialect to communicate with each other.
The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation(SDWF)has been studying a group of up to 120 bottle-
nose dolphins in the River Shannon using vocalizations（发声）collected on a computer in a cow shed near the
River Shannon.
As part of a research project,student Ronan Hickey digitized and analyzed a total of 1,882 whistles from
the Irish dolphins and those from the Welsh dolphins on a computer and separated theni into six fundamental
whistle types and 32 different categories.Of the categories,he found most were used by both sets of dol-
phins一but eight were only heard from the Irish dolphins.
"We are building up a catalogue of the different whistle types they use and trying to associate them with
behavior like foraging（觅食）,resting, socializing and the communications of grown.ups with calves (幼
仔）,"project leader Simon Berrow said.“Essentially we are building up what is like a dictionary of words
they use or sounds they mnake."
Berrow,a marine biologist,said the dolphins'clicks are used to find their way around and locate prey.
The whistles are communications."They do a whole range 0f other sounds like barks．groans and a kind of
gunshot," he said. "The gunshot is an intense pulse（脉冲）of sound. Sperm whales use it to stun（击昏）
their prey.”
"When I first heard it I was surprised as I thought sperm whales were the onlyh species who used it. We
can speculate the dolphins are using it for the same reason as the sperm whales,"Berrow said.
References in local legend indicate there have been dolphins in the Shannon estuary for generations and
they may even have been residents there as far back as the 6th century.
They are regularly seen by passengers on the Shannon ferry and an estimated 25.000 tourists every year
take special sightseeing tours on local boats to visit them.
As early as the 6th century,Irish fishermen started raising dolphins in the Shannon estuary.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
Irish Dolphins May Have a Unique Dialect
Irish scientists monitoring dolphins living in a river estuary in the southwest of the country believe they
may have developed a unique dialect to communicate with each other.
The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation(SDWF)has been studying a group of up to 120 bottle-
nose dolphins in the River Shannon using vocalizations（发声）collected on a computer in a cow shed near the
River Shannon.
As part of a research project,student Ronan Hickey digitized and analyzed a total of 1,882 whistles from
the Irish dolphins and those from the Welsh dolphins on a computer and separated theni into six fundamental
whistle types and 32 different categories.Of the categories,he found most were used by both sets of dol-
phins一but eight were only heard from the Irish dolphins.
"We are building up a catalogue of the different whistle types they use and trying to associate them with
behavior like foraging（觅食）,resting, socializing and the communications of grown.ups with calves (幼
仔）,"project leader Simon Berrow said.“Essentially we are building up what is like a dictionary of words
they use or sounds they mnake."
Berrow,a marine biologist,said the dolphins'clicks are used to find their way around and locate prey.
The whistles are communications."They do a whole range 0f other sounds like barks．groans and a kind of
gunshot," he said. "The gunshot is an intense pulse（脉冲）of sound. Sperm whales use it to stun（击昏）
their prey.”
"When I first heard it I was surprised as I thought sperm whales were the onlyh species who used it. We
can speculate the dolphins are using it for the same reason as the sperm whales,"Berrow said.
References in local legend indicate there have been dolphins in the Shannon estuary for generations and
they may even have been residents there as far back as the 6th century.
They are regularly seen by passengers on the Shannon ferry and an estimated 25.000 tourists every year
take special sightseeing tours on local boats to visit them.
As early as the 6th century,Irish fishermen started raising dolphins in the Shannon estuary.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
共用题干
Mother Nature Shows Her Strength
Tornadoes（龙卷风）and heavy thunderstorms moved across the Great Lakes and into Trumbull County
on Saturday evening.The storms were dramatic and dangerous.
George Snyder was driving the fire truck down Route 88 when he first noticed that a funnel（漏斗状的）
cloud was behind him."I stopped the truck and watched the funnel cloud.It was about 100 feet off the
ground and I saw it go up and down for a while.It was moving toward Bradley Road and then suddenly it
disappeared,"Snyder said.
Snyder only saw one of the funnel clouds that passed through northeastern Ohio on Saturday.In
Trumbull County,a tornado turned trees onto their sides.Some trees fell onto houses and cars.Other trees fell
onto telephone and electrical wires as thev went down.
Amanda Symcheck was having a party when the storm began."I knew something was wrong,"she said.
"I saw the sky go green and pink.Then it sounded like a train rushing toward the house.I started crying and
told everyone to go to the basement for protection."
The tornado caused a lot of damage to cars and houses in the area. It will take a long time and much
money to repair everything.There was also serious water damage from the thunderstorms.The heavy rains and
high wind caused the power to go out in many homes.
The storms caused serious flooding in areas near the river. More than four inches of rain fell in parts of
Trumbull County.The river was so high that the water ran into streets and houses.Many streets had to be
closed to cars and trucks because of the high water. This made it difficult for fire trucks,police cars,and
other rescue vehicles to help people who were in trouble.
Many people who live near the river had to leave their homes for their own safety.Some people reported
five feet of water in their homes.Local and state officials opened emergency shelters for the people who were
evacuated（撤走）.The Red Cross served meals to them.
"This was a really intense storm,"said Snyder,"People were afraid.Mother Nature can be fierce.We
were lucky this time.No one was killed."
Amanda Symcheck was having a party in the basement when the storm began.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
Mother Nature Shows Her Strength
Tornadoes（龙卷风）and heavy thunderstorms moved across the Great Lakes and into Trumbull County
on Saturday evening.The storms were dramatic and dangerous.
George Snyder was driving the fire truck down Route 88 when he first noticed that a funnel（漏斗状的）
cloud was behind him."I stopped the truck and watched the funnel cloud.It was about 100 feet off the
ground and I saw it go up and down for a while.It was moving toward Bradley Road and then suddenly it
disappeared,"Snyder said.
Snyder only saw one of the funnel clouds that passed through northeastern Ohio on Saturday.In
Trumbull County,a tornado turned trees onto their sides.Some trees fell onto houses and cars.Other trees fell
onto telephone and electrical wires as thev went down.
Amanda Symcheck was having a party when the storm began."I knew something was wrong,"she said.
"I saw the sky go green and pink.Then it sounded like a train rushing toward the house.I started crying and
told everyone to go to the basement for protection."
The tornado caused a lot of damage to cars and houses in the area. It will take a long time and much
money to repair everything.There was also serious water damage from the thunderstorms.The heavy rains and
high wind caused the power to go out in many homes.
The storms caused serious flooding in areas near the river. More than four inches of rain fell in parts of
Trumbull County.The river was so high that the water ran into streets and houses.Many streets had to be
closed to cars and trucks because of the high water. This made it difficult for fire trucks,police cars,and
other rescue vehicles to help people who were in trouble.
Many people who live near the river had to leave their homes for their own safety.Some people reported
five feet of water in their homes.Local and state officials opened emergency shelters for the people who were
evacuated（撤走）.The Red Cross served meals to them.
"This was a really intense storm,"said Snyder,"People were afraid.Mother Nature can be fierce.We
were lucky this time.No one was killed."
Amanda Symcheck was having a party in the basement when the storm began.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
共用题干
第一篇
Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious life long consequences.There are no reliable global estimates for the prevalence of child maltreatment. Data for many countries,especially low and middle income countries,are lacking.
Child maltreatment is complex and difficult to study. Current estimates vary widely depending on the country and the method of research used.Nonetheless,international studies reveal that approximately 20% of women and 5%一10% of men report being sexually abused as children.While 25%一50%of all children report being physically abused. Additionally,many children are subject to emotional abuse(sometimes referred to as psychological abuse).
Every year,there are an estimated 31 ,000 homicide（他杀）deaths in children under 15. This number underestimates the true extent of the problem,as a significant proportion of deaths due to child maltreatment are incorrectly attributed to（归因于）falls, burns and drowning.
Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences.Maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems.Consequently,as adults,maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioural,physical and mental health problems.Via the behavioural and mental health consequences,maltreatment can contribute to heart disease,cancer,suicide and sexually transmitted infections.
Beyond the health consequences of child maltreatment,there is an economic impact,including :ost of hospitalization,mental health treatment,child welfare,and longer-term health cost.
A number of risk factor for child maltreatment has been identified.These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural contexts,but provide an overview when attempting to understand the causes of child maltreatment.
It is important to emphasize that children are the victims and are never to blame（责怪）for maltreatment.A number of characteristics of an individual child may increase the likelihood of being maltreated,such as being either under four years old or an adolescent,being unwanted,or failing to fulfill the expectations of parents and having special need,crying persistently or having abnormal physical features.
Many homicide deaths in children under 15 are wrongly categorized into the following types except_______according to the passage.
A:drowning in swimming
B:diarrhea
C:burns
D:falls
第一篇
Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious life long consequences.There are no reliable global estimates for the prevalence of child maltreatment. Data for many countries,especially low and middle income countries,are lacking.
Child maltreatment is complex and difficult to study. Current estimates vary widely depending on the country and the method of research used.Nonetheless,international studies reveal that approximately 20% of women and 5%一10% of men report being sexually abused as children.While 25%一50%of all children report being physically abused. Additionally,many children are subject to emotional abuse(sometimes referred to as psychological abuse).
Every year,there are an estimated 31 ,000 homicide（他杀）deaths in children under 15. This number underestimates the true extent of the problem,as a significant proportion of deaths due to child maltreatment are incorrectly attributed to（归因于）falls, burns and drowning.
Child maltreatment causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term consequences.Maltreatment causes stress that is associated with disruption in early brain development. Extreme stress can impair the development of the nervous and immune systems.Consequently,as adults,maltreated children are at increased risk for behavioural,physical and mental health problems.Via the behavioural and mental health consequences,maltreatment can contribute to heart disease,cancer,suicide and sexually transmitted infections.
Beyond the health consequences of child maltreatment,there is an economic impact,including :ost of hospitalization,mental health treatment,child welfare,and longer-term health cost.
A number of risk factor for child maltreatment has been identified.These risk factors are not present in all social and cultural contexts,but provide an overview when attempting to understand the causes of child maltreatment.
It is important to emphasize that children are the victims and are never to blame（责怪）for maltreatment.A number of characteristics of an individual child may increase the likelihood of being maltreated,such as being either under four years old or an adolescent,being unwanted,or failing to fulfill the expectations of parents and having special need,crying persistently or having abnormal physical features.
Many homicide deaths in children under 15 are wrongly categorized into the following types except_______according to the passage.
A:drowning in swimming
B:diarrhea
C:burns
D:falls
共用题干
第二篇
Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as "Ecosystem Engineers"
Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local environment
as a result of their activity as"ecosystem engineers"and predators.The study,published in the Journal of
Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving the soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of
nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups,from decomposers
to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be attacked by
vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation,said,
"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers.They're also very territorial and very
aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators.All of this means they have a strong
influence on their surrounding area."
"In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it.What we
found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of
other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,having a big influence on the
grassland food web,"Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and
densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both of which can be found across Europe,including the
UK. It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the
local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the
opposite effect,the predation counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil
nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their
predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Ants are important components of the ecosystem not only because they constitute a great part of the
animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant biodiversity is incredibly high,and
these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness.However,it is
not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important
in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their
effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.
Dirk Sanders' study centered on how ants_______________.
A:can manage to thrive in huge numbers
B:defend their resources and territory against other predators
C:attack those invading animals for survival
D:produce such a big impact on the environment
第二篇
Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as "Ecosystem Engineers"
Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local environment
as a result of their activity as"ecosystem engineers"and predators.The study,published in the Journal of
Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving the soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of
nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups,from decomposers
to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be attacked by
vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation,said,
"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers.They're also very territorial and very
aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators.All of this means they have a strong
influence on their surrounding area."
"In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it.What we
found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of
other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,having a big influence on the
grassland food web,"Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and
densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both of which can be found across Europe,including the
UK. It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the
local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the
opposite effect,the predation counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil
nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their
predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Ants are important components of the ecosystem not only because they constitute a great part of the
animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant biodiversity is incredibly high,and
these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness.However,it is
not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important
in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their
effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.
Dirk Sanders' study centered on how ants_______________.
A:can manage to thrive in huge numbers
B:defend their resources and territory against other predators
C:attack those invading animals for survival
D:produce such a big impact on the environment
共用题干
Psychologically Unhealthy Internet
Internet is used widely in our daily life.It brings us convenience as well as some troubles.Internet use appears to cause a decline in psychological well一being,according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.
_______(46)Though actually,even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Inter-net experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently,the two-year study showed.And it wasn't that people who were already feeling bad spent more time on the Internet,_______(47)
Researchers are confused about the results,which were completely contrary to their expectations_______（48)
The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well-being,researchers hypothesized._______(49),and the relationships formed through it may be shallower. Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.
"_______(50);it's about how it is used,"says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel,one of the study's sponsors."It really points to the need for considering social factors in terms of how you design applications and services for technology."
_________（46）
A:Faceless,bodiless"virtual"communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation
B:Generally,people may assume only those who stick to the computer screen suffer from that.
C:but that using the Net actually appeared to cause the bad feelings.
D:They expected that the Net would prove socially healthier than television,since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others.
E:But it's important to remember this is not about the technology
F:The researchers' expectation is that television would prove more attractive to the audience than the Net.
Psychologically Unhealthy Internet
Internet is used widely in our daily life.It brings us convenience as well as some troubles.Internet use appears to cause a decline in psychological well一being,according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.
_______(46)Though actually,even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Inter-net experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently,the two-year study showed.And it wasn't that people who were already feeling bad spent more time on the Internet,_______(47)
Researchers are confused about the results,which were completely contrary to their expectations_______（48)
The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well-being,researchers hypothesized._______(49),and the relationships formed through it may be shallower. Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.
"_______(50);it's about how it is used,"says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel,one of the study's sponsors."It really points to the need for considering social factors in terms of how you design applications and services for technology."
_________（46）
A:Faceless,bodiless"virtual"communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation
B:Generally,people may assume only those who stick to the computer screen suffer from that.
C:but that using the Net actually appeared to cause the bad feelings.
D:They expected that the Net would prove socially healthier than television,since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others.
E:But it's important to remember this is not about the technology
F:The researchers' expectation is that television would prove more attractive to the audience than the Net.
共用题干
Artificial Speech
Because speech is the most convenient form of communication,in the future we want essentially natural conversations with computers.The primary point of contact will be a simple device that will act as our window into the world. It will have to be small enough to slip into our pocket,so there will be a screen but no keyboard:you will simply talk to it. The device will be permanently connected to the Internet and will keep relevant information up to you as it comes in. Such devices will evolve naturally in the next five to ten years.
Just how quickly people will adapt to a voice-based Internet world is uncertain.Many believe that,initially at least,we will need similar conventions for the voice to those we use at present on screen:click,back,forward,and so on.But soon you will undoubtedly be able to interact by voice with all those IT-based services you currently connect with over the Internet by means of a keyboard. This will help the Internet serve the entire population.
Changes like this will encompass（围绕，包围）the whole world. Because English is the language of science,it will probably remain the language in which the technology is most advanced,but most speech-recognition techniques are transferable to other languages provided（假如）there is sufficient motivation to undertake the work.
Of course,in any language there are still huge problems for us to solve.Carefully dictated, clear speech can now be understood by computers with only a 4-5 percent error rate,but even the most advanced technology still records 30-40 percent errors with spontaneous speech.Within ten years we will have computers that respond to goal-directed conversation,but for a computer to have a conversation that takes into account human social behaviors is probably 50 years off. We are not going to be chatting to the big screen in the living room just yet.
In the past,insufficient speed and memory have held us back,but these days they are less of an issue.However,there are those in the IT community who believe that current techniques will eventually hit a brick wall. Personally, I believe that incremental（不断增长的）developments in performance are more likely. But it is true that by about 2040 or so,computer architectures will need to become highly parallel（并行的）if performance is to keep increasing. Perhaps that will inspire some radically new approaches to speech understanding that will replace the methods we are developing now.
Within ten years,computers can make conversations which take human social behaviors into account.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
Artificial Speech
Because speech is the most convenient form of communication,in the future we want essentially natural conversations with computers.The primary point of contact will be a simple device that will act as our window into the world. It will have to be small enough to slip into our pocket,so there will be a screen but no keyboard:you will simply talk to it. The device will be permanently connected to the Internet and will keep relevant information up to you as it comes in. Such devices will evolve naturally in the next five to ten years.
Just how quickly people will adapt to a voice-based Internet world is uncertain.Many believe that,initially at least,we will need similar conventions for the voice to those we use at present on screen:click,back,forward,and so on.But soon you will undoubtedly be able to interact by voice with all those IT-based services you currently connect with over the Internet by means of a keyboard. This will help the Internet serve the entire population.
Changes like this will encompass（围绕，包围）the whole world. Because English is the language of science,it will probably remain the language in which the technology is most advanced,but most speech-recognition techniques are transferable to other languages provided（假如）there is sufficient motivation to undertake the work.
Of course,in any language there are still huge problems for us to solve.Carefully dictated, clear speech can now be understood by computers with only a 4-5 percent error rate,but even the most advanced technology still records 30-40 percent errors with spontaneous speech.Within ten years we will have computers that respond to goal-directed conversation,but for a computer to have a conversation that takes into account human social behaviors is probably 50 years off. We are not going to be chatting to the big screen in the living room just yet.
In the past,insufficient speed and memory have held us back,but these days they are less of an issue.However,there are those in the IT community who believe that current techniques will eventually hit a brick wall. Personally, I believe that incremental（不断增长的）developments in performance are more likely. But it is true that by about 2040 or so,computer architectures will need to become highly parallel（并行的）if performance is to keep increasing. Perhaps that will inspire some radically new approaches to speech understanding that will replace the methods we are developing now.
Within ten years,computers can make conversations which take human social behaviors into account.
A:Right
B:Wrong
C:Not mentioned
共用题干
Vibrating Rubber Celiphones
Vibrating rubber celiphones could be the next big thing in mobile communications.They allow people to press the phone to transmit vibrations along with their______(51)words.According to a research team at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge,Massachusetts,the idea will make______ (52)more fun.
Many mobile phones can already vibrate instead of ringing______(53)you do not want people to know you are getting a call. "But these______ (54) are too simple for subtle（敏感的） communication".______(55)Angela Chang of the lab's Tangible Media Group."They're either on or off,"she says.
But when you hold Chang's rubber cellphone your fingers and thumb wrap around five ______(56)speakers. They vibrate______(57)your skin around 250 times per second.Beneath these speakers sit pressure sensors（传感器）,so you can transmit vibration as well as ______(58)it. When you squeeze with a finger,a vibration signal is transmitted______(59) your caller's corresponding finger,its speed______(60)on how hard you squeeze.
Chang says that within a few minutes of being given the phones,students were using the vibration feature to______(61)emphasis to what they were saying. Over time,people even began to transmit their own kind of ad hoc（特别的）" Morse code " , which they would repeat back to show they were______(62)what the other person was saying.
Chang thinks"vibralanguages"could function for the same______(63)as texting:sometimes people want to communicate______(64)without everyone nearby knowing what they're saying."And______(65)actually being able to shake someone's hand when you close a business deal,"she says.
_________(51)
A:taken
B:mixed
C:spoken
D:broken
Vibrating Rubber Celiphones
Vibrating rubber celiphones could be the next big thing in mobile communications.They allow people to press the phone to transmit vibrations along with their______(51)words.According to a research team at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge,Massachusetts,the idea will make______ (52)more fun.
Many mobile phones can already vibrate instead of ringing______(53)you do not want people to know you are getting a call. "But these______ (54) are too simple for subtle（敏感的） communication".______(55)Angela Chang of the lab's Tangible Media Group."They're either on or off,"she says.
But when you hold Chang's rubber cellphone your fingers and thumb wrap around five ______(56)speakers. They vibrate______(57)your skin around 250 times per second.Beneath these speakers sit pressure sensors（传感器）,so you can transmit vibration as well as ______(58)it. When you squeeze with a finger,a vibration signal is transmitted______(59) your caller's corresponding finger,its speed______(60)on how hard you squeeze.
Chang says that within a few minutes of being given the phones,students were using the vibration feature to______(61)emphasis to what they were saying. Over time,people even began to transmit their own kind of ad hoc（特别的）" Morse code " , which they would repeat back to show they were______(62)what the other person was saying.
Chang thinks"vibralanguages"could function for the same______(63)as texting:sometimes people want to communicate______(64)without everyone nearby knowing what they're saying."And______(65)actually being able to shake someone's hand when you close a business deal,"she says.
_________(51)
A:taken
B:mixed
C:spoken
D:broken
It was boring to sit there without anything to do.
A:meaningless
B:monotonous
C:fascinating
D:awesome
A:meaningless
B:monotonous
C:fascinating
D:awesome
共用题干
A Heroic Woman
The whole of the United States cheered its latest hero,Ashley Smith,with the Federal Bureau of investigation saying it was planning to give a big reward to her for having a brave heart and wise mind.
______(46)She was moving into her apartment in Atlanta,Georgia early on the morning of March 12,when a man followed her to her door and put a gun to her side."I started walking to my door,and I felt really,really afraid,"she said in a TV interview last week.The man was Brian
Nichols , 33 . He was suspected of killing three people at an Atlanta courthouse（法院）on March 11 and later of killing a federal agent.______(47)
Nichols tied Smith up with tape,but released her after she repeatedly begged him not to take her life."I told him if he hurt me,my little girl wouldn't have a mummy",she said.In order to calm the man down,she read to him from"The Purpose-Driven Life",a best-selling religious book.He asked her to repeat a paragraph about"what you thought your purpose in life was,what talents were you given.______（48)
"I basically just talked to him and tried to gain his trust."Smith said.
Smith said she asked Nichols why he chose her. He said he thought"I was an angel sent from God,and we were Christian sister and brother",she said,"And that he was lost,and that God led him to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people."______(49)She said Nichols was surprised when she made him breakfast and that the two of them watched television coverage（报道） of the police hunt for him."I cannot believe that's me."Nichols told the woman.Then,Nichols asked Smith what she thought he should do.She said,"I think you should turn yourself in.If you don't,lots more people are going to get hurt."
Eventually,he let her go.______(50)A US $ 60,000 reward had been posted for Nichols' capture. Authorities said they did not yet know if Smith would be eligible（有资格的）for that money.
______(50)
A: The local police were searching for him.
B: Smith is a 26-year-old single mother with a daughter.
C: Smith tried very hard to kill Nichols.
D: She even cooked breakfast for the man before he allowed her to leave.
E: And the two of them discussed this topic.
F: Then she called the police.
A Heroic Woman
The whole of the United States cheered its latest hero,Ashley Smith,with the Federal Bureau of investigation saying it was planning to give a big reward to her for having a brave heart and wise mind.
______(46)She was moving into her apartment in Atlanta,Georgia early on the morning of March 12,when a man followed her to her door and put a gun to her side."I started walking to my door,and I felt really,really afraid,"she said in a TV interview last week.The man was Brian
Nichols , 33 . He was suspected of killing three people at an Atlanta courthouse（法院）on March 11 and later of killing a federal agent.______(47)
Nichols tied Smith up with tape,but released her after she repeatedly begged him not to take her life."I told him if he hurt me,my little girl wouldn't have a mummy",she said.In order to calm the man down,she read to him from"The Purpose-Driven Life",a best-selling religious book.He asked her to repeat a paragraph about"what you thought your purpose in life was,what talents were you given.______（48)
"I basically just talked to him and tried to gain his trust."Smith said.
Smith said she asked Nichols why he chose her. He said he thought"I was an angel sent from God,and we were Christian sister and brother",she said,"And that he was lost,and that God led him to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of people."______(49)She said Nichols was surprised when she made him breakfast and that the two of them watched television coverage（报道） of the police hunt for him."I cannot believe that's me."Nichols told the woman.Then,Nichols asked Smith what she thought he should do.She said,"I think you should turn yourself in.If you don't,lots more people are going to get hurt."
Eventually,he let her go.______(50)A US $ 60,000 reward had been posted for Nichols' capture. Authorities said they did not yet know if Smith would be eligible（有资格的）for that money.
______(50)
A: The local police were searching for him.
B: Smith is a 26-year-old single mother with a daughter.
C: Smith tried very hard to kill Nichols.
D: She even cooked breakfast for the man before he allowed her to leave.
E: And the two of them discussed this topic.
F: Then she called the police.