PITTSBURGH – For most people, snakes seem unpleasant or even threatening. But Howie Choset sees in their delicate movements a way to save lives.

The 37-year-old Carnegie Mellon University professor has spent years developing snake-like robots he hopes will eventually slide through fallen buildings in search of victims trapped after natural disasters or other emergencies.

Dan Kara is president of Robotics Trends, a Northboro, Mass.-based company that publishes an online industry magazine and runs robotics trade shows. He said there are other snake-like robots being developed, mainly at universities, but didn’t know of one that could climb pipes.

The Carnegie Mellon machines are designed to carry cameras and electronic sensors and can be controlled with a joystick(操纵杆). They move smoothly with the help of small electric motors, or servos, commonly used by hobbyists in model airplanes.

Built from lightweight materials, the robots are about the size of a human arm or smaller. They can sense which way is up, but are only as good as their human operators, Choset added.

Sam Stover, a search term manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency based in Indiana, said snake-type robots would offer greater mobility than equipment currently available, such as cameras attached to extendable roles.

“It just allows us to do something we’ve not been able to do before,” Stover said, “We needed them yesterday.”

He said snifter dogs are still the best search tool for rescue workers, but that they can only be used effectively when workers have access to damaged building.

Stover, among the rescue workers who handled the aftermath (后果) of Hurricane Katrina, said snake robots would have helped rescuers search flooded houses in that disaster.

Choset said the robots may not be ready for use for another five to ten years, depending on funding.  

Which institution is responsible for the development of Choset’s robots?

A. Robotics Trends.               B. Pittsburgh City Council.

C. Carnegie Mellon University.      D. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Choset believes that his invention ______.

A. can be attached to an electronic arm

B. can be used by hobbyists in model airplanes

C. can find victims more quickly than a snifter dog

D. can sense its way no better than its operators

By saying “We needed them yesterday” (paragraph 7), Stover means that snake-like robots _____.

A. could help handle the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

B. would have been put to use in past rescue work

C. helped rescuers search flooded houses yesterday

D. were in greater need yesterday than today

What is the text mainly about?

A. Snake-like robots used in industries.

B. Snake-like robots made to aid in rescues.

C. The development of snake-like robots.

D. The working principles of snake-like robots.

Indonesia’s coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are in trouble. Coral mining, Industrial pollution and poisonous agricultural runoff all play a role in their destruction, but the fishermen have been the worst offenders. They not only bomb fish but also poison them with cyanide, an equally destructive practice. The fishermen are also among the biggest potential victims(受害者). Two thirds of Indonesia’s 7, 000 coastal villages are close to coral reefs and thus depend for their livelihood on the harvest of reef fish. The disappearing reefs are already leading to a dramatic decline in the productivity of coastal fisheries and to increasing fights among fishermen.

Indonesia’s reefs are vast – they cover 51, 000 square kilometers, surround 17, 500 islands and stretch 3,500 kilometers – but they are not infinite. Many foreign experts and Indonesians fear that the region’s entire marine environment could be seriously damaged if the reefs keep dying at their present rate. “The overall picture is depressing,” says Ian Dutton, Indonesian director of an environmental group.

Depressing, but not hopeless. Despite the destruction, environmentalists have in recent years made significant progress in changing the hearts and minds of the fishermen. Working closely with local Indonesian authorities in North Sulawesi and less populated eastern Indonesia, where most of the country’s reefs are located, they have succeeded in preventing destructive fishing practices and coral mining from overwhelming the reefs.

Increasing numbers of fishermen are waking up to the threat and protecting the life-sustaining coral before it’s too late. Nuhung, a 56-year-old fisherman, says, “I always knew blast fishing was harmful. Then I suddenly realized that by bombing the reefs I was destroying not only my own but my children’s future.”

The fishermen are named “worst offenders” because          .

A. they defend their rights of mining the coral reefs too eagerly

B. they wake up too late to realize the terrible situation

C. they use the fishing ways, which destroy the coral reefs

D. they pretend to follow the government’s rules

In the text the author        .  

A. presents us some facts and people’s opinions as well

B. shows that he’s worried about the situation, but still feels a little hopeful

C. says he’s delighted and meanwhile, depressed

D. disagrees with what’s being done and gives suggestions

The underlined word “infinite” in the 2nd paragraph most probably means      .

A. incomplete      B. short        C. unfit        D. limitless

Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the text?

A. But for the fishermen’s protection, the reefs would disappear soon.

B. More and more fishermen have realized their mistakes.

C. Without the coral reefs, the fishermen would have nothing for their livelihood.

D. Some practical measures have been taken to stop the situation worsening.

This passage may be taken from______.

A. a magazine      B. a novel      C. a newspaper       D. a storybook

Narcissus was a beautiful looking boy. He had long, flowing, blond hair, beautiful, bright, blue eyes and even, white teeth. Many young ladies fell in love with him including the nymph（女神）: Echo.

Nymphs were lively spirits who lived near streams and lakes and protected trees in the forest. Echo had upset the Queen of the Gods; Hera. As a punishment Hera made Echo unable to speak except to repeat the last three words of the person she was talking to.

Poor Echo fell in love with Narcissus but could never tell him how she felt. Narcissus teased her and she ran away with tears pouring down her face. Aphrodite, the goddess of love saw what happened and decided to punish Narcissus. As he came to a pool of water Narcissus saw his reflection (影子)and fell in love with the vision he saw. It was of course his own reflection.

Poor Narcissus watched his own reflection, every time he tried to touch the face of the vision he loved it broke up on the shimmering surface of the water. Narcissus stopped eating, lost his beautiful looks and desired to get his love. In the end he anguished gradually and died.

Aphrodite took pity on him and made a flower grow in his place on the bank of the lake. Narcissus flowers (水仙花) can be found to this day growing wherever you can find water and trees.  

Echo fell in love with Narcissus because_________.

A. Narcissus was good-looking.

B. Echo was a lively spirit

C. Narcissus loved her, too.

D. Echo took pity on Narcissus

Why did Aphrodite, the goddess of love, punish Narcissus?

A. Aphrodite envied Echo because she loved Narcissus

B. She thought Narcissus didn’t respect and made Echo sad.

C. Narcissus fell in love with the vision, not Echo.

D. Echo was trapped in love and didn’t protect trees in the forest any longer.

What does the underlined word “anguished” in the fourth paragraph mean?

A. become increasingly thin and weak

B. become very hungry

C. become very fat

D. become out of mind

What is the main purpose of writing the passage?

A. To tell people a sad love story

B. To tell people how Narcissus flowers came

C. To tell the true meaning of beauty and ugliness

D. To tell people not affect others’ love

Shanghai-More Shanghai people are renting cars to travel over the coming National Day holiday, Tom reported today.

Most cars in large local car-rental companies such as Yongda, Anji and Dazhong are leased so far with the Buick Sport Utility Vehichle (SUV) in high demand.

Santana and Jetta were previously the most popular car models rented by Shanghai people for travel, while the high-end Buick models have generated great interest among locals renting cars these years. However, the rent on a Buick GL or GS model is between 650 yuan and 750 yuan a day, nearly double those of the Santana and Jetta cars.

Compared with Santana, Buick looks better, has greater capabilities and is safer and more comfortable, said a car leaser. “I don’t mind paying a higher cost for a Buick to enjoy the holiday,” he said.

SUV cars are very popular in the car renting market, according to some car rental firms.

“All the 31 Buick GL8SUV cars were leased out several days ago,” said an employee with the Shanghai Yongda Car Rental Co.

local people are more inclined (倾向于) to go travel with groups of friends, so SUV cars are a better choice, said an industry analyst (分析家). Moreover, SUV car are safer on rugged and rough roads, the analyst said.

According to the data, most people rented cars for seven days; a less number rented them for two or three days.

What’s the best title for the passage ?

A. How Shanghai People Spend Their Holidays

B. Why So Many Shanghai People Rented Cars for Holidays

C. More Shanghai Rent Cars for Holidays

D. Shanghai Rent SUV Instead of Santana and Jetta

According to the passage we can see SUV is ________.

A. the name of a car-rental company

B. the name of an expensive car

C. the name of an ordinary car

D. the place for the holiday

At present for how much money can you rent a Santana or Jetta for a day ?

A. Between 650 yuan and 750 yuan.

B. Between 350 yuan and 380 yuan.

C. About 450 yuan.

D. Less than 300 yuan.

Why do many people choose SUV cars for their holidays ?

A. Because they are cheaper.  

B. Because they are convenient on rugged and rough roads.

C. Only because they can run on bugged and tough roads.

D. Because no Santana and Jetta can be rented now.

In early summer, one of the most popular fruit is strawberry(草莓). It is said strawberry is the "Queen of fruit" as it has many nutritious elements. But many people feel that the strawberry in the current market tastes different as many strawberries are artificially(人工地)grown and some even have a scent of pesticides(杀虫剂).So finding naturally-grown strawberries is a hot issue. There are some places where you can not only find tasteful strawberries, but also enjoy picking them.

Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden

As one of the biggest strawberry-growing areas, Tianxing is known for its healthy fruits. The strawberries here are pesticide-free with no artificial coloring. And now the farm has a special offer that you can get a kilogram of strawberries for only 12 yuan. Here, visitors can have fun picking strawberries as well as taste their freshness . And if you are a newcomer, you can get a discount card and enjoy an extra 20 percent discount on your next purchase.

Address: Xinzhuang Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District , Beijing.

Tel:13910667270

Taolin Strawberry Garden

This garden is not as famous as the first one, but it is a quiet place and relaxing. The strawberries here are much cheaper than those sold in markets. It only costs 6 yuan per kilogram.You can also buy freshly-picked lettuce and Tonghao, a green vegetable. You can have fun picking strawberries in person, but you can’t taste them for free.

Address: Linzhuang Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District , Beijing.

Tel: 010--88413840

Baihe Green Strawberry Garden

Baihe Town is the biggest strawberry-picking area. Known for the freshest and healthiest strawberries, this place is named as the "Hometown of Strawberries". The price for this fruit is about 12 yuan per kilogram. And you can bargain(讲价) with the local sellers for further discounts.

Address: Zhaotun Village ,Baihe Town, QingpuDistrict, Shanghai.

Tel: 13803456780

People prefer naturally-grown strawberries mainly because ________

  A. they contain many nutritious elements.

  B. they have a different scent

  C. they are pesticide-free and tasteful

  D.they are cheaper and bigger

You should pay Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden________yuan if you buy 10 kilograms with a discount card.

  A. 120 www..com B. 108          C. 96           D. 60

Which of the following is WRONG about Taolin Strawberry Garden ?

  A. It is not better known than Tianxing Strawberry- Picking Garden

  B. Besides strawberries, you can buy green vegetables from it

  C. You can have fun picking strawberries as well as taste them as you like

  D. If you buy 20 kilogram strawberries, you should at most pay 114yuan.

Baihe Town is praised as the "Hometown of Strawberries" chiefly because _______.

  A. it is the biggest strawberry-picking area in the world

  B. the place produces strawberries of high quality

  C. the place is the home to strawberries

  D. you will enjoy special prices because people there are friendly.

What is the purpose of writing the passage?

A. To adevertise Strawberry Gardens

B. To show the magic of strawberries

C. To tell the difference between artificially-grown strawberries and naturally-grown strawberries

D. to tell us the joys of picking and buying strawberries

For some people, the sight of a mouse can be reason to scream. For other mice, the same sight can be reason to sing.

    Mice will probably   1   sing their way to any concert, but researchers in the United States have found   2   that mice do,   3  , sing.

    Scientists already knew that mice make ultrasonic(超声波) sounds—noises that are too high-pitched(高音的) for people to hear   4   special equipment.

    To find out whether mice put such sounds together in song-like   5  , the researchers recorded the sounds of 1 mice. Using computer   6  , they were able to separate the sounds into specific types of syllables(音节), and found the mice produced about 10 syllables per second.

    The results showed that nearly all of the mice repeated sequences(顺序) of syllables in different patterns. That’s enough to meet the definition of what scientists   7   song. But not all scientists are   8  _ that what the mice are doing is   9   singing. To prove it, the researchers must show that there’s learning involved. And, they need to __  10   why the mice sing.

A. almost         B. even                      C. never                     D. usually

A. coincidence  B. evidence                 C. guidance                D. instance

A. at once        B. by means                C. for example            D. in fact

A. during         B. inside                     C. through                  D. without

A. fashions       B. instructions             C. patterns                  D. styles

A. access          B. printer                   C. screen                    D. software

A. call             B. hear                       C. sing                       D. write

A. accustomed  B. convinced               C. involved                 D. qualified

A. actually       B. obviously               C. simply                   D. unlikely

A. figure out  B. get about                C. run across               D. talk over

You may have heard the term "the American Dream". In 1848, James W. Marshall found gold in California and people began having golden dreams. That 19th century "American Dream" motivated (激发起) the Gold Rush and gave California its nickname of the "Golden State".

The American Dream drove not only 1800s gold-rush prospectors but also waves of immigrants throughout that century and the next. People from Europe, and a large number of Chinese, arrived in the US in the 19th century hoping that in America they would find gold in the streets. But most, instead, worked as railroad labourers. They created the oldest Chinatown, in San Francisco, and gave the city a Chinese name "the old gold hill".

In the 20th century, some critics said that it was no longer possible to become prosperous through determination and hard work. Unfair education for students from poor families and racial discrimination almost made the American Dream a nightmare.

Then, in the 1990s, California saw a new wave of dreamers in Silicon Valley. People poured their energy into the Internet. This new chapter of the American Dream attracted many business people and young talents from China and India to form start-ups and seek fortunes in America.

Better pay, a nice house, and a rising standard of living will always be attractive. However, the new American Dream is no longer just about money. It encourages Americans to consume wisely to protect the environment, improve the quality of life, and promote social justice.

The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has become the model of the new American Dream. After years of hard work, he grew from a poor young man from Austria into a movie superstar and then governor. Many people hope his story can save the American Dream and give California a brighter future.  

It can be inferred that _____.

A. America’s golden dream could never be realized

B. America’s golden dream had bought great fortunes to Chinese immigrants

C. each period of time has its own taste of the American dream

D. determination and hard work are the best way to realize the American dream

Why did most of the early immigrants work as railroad laborers?

A. Because they could earn more money as railroad laborers.

B. Because they had to make a living by working as railroad laborers.

C. Because they thought railroad was the first step to find gold.

D. Because railroad laborers were greatly honored at that time.

The underlined sentence “his story can save the American Dream” (in the last paragraph) indicates that _____.

A. the dream of seeking fortunate in America is easy to realize

B. most of the immigrants to America don’t reach their previous goal

C. the success of Arnold Schwarzenegger is among the common examples of the immigrants

D. the immigrants have made great contributions to California

What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Wave of Immigrants to America            B. Make Fortunes Abroad

C. Hard Work Leads to Success                   D. Changes of America’s Golden Dream

A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced to waist-high rains, smelly and dirty.

Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill, she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?” she asked. I said I was, “No charge.” She said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.

As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage(抵押贷款) on our ruined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d began to accept that we’d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kemmedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for state, the online magazine and wanted to give us (“no conditions attached”) a new house across the lake from New Orleans. It sounded a good to her return, but I replied, thinking him for his exceptional generosity, then we to go back. Then the University of Florida offered to let him house to me. While he want to England on his one year, paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kemdedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.

Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing you wordy possessions to be reminded that people really when given had a channel.  

The garage employee’s attitude toward the author was that of        .

A. unconcern               B. sympathy        C. doubt               D. tolerance

What do we know about James Kemnedy?

A. He was a written of an online magazine

B. He was a poet at the University of Florida

C. He offered the author a new house free of charge.

D. He learned about the author’s sufferings.

It can be inferred from the text that        .

A. the author’s family was in financial difficulty

B. rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster

C. houses were difficult to find in the hurricane stricken area

D. the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank

The author learned from his experience that        .

A. wordy possessions can be given up when necessary

B. generosity should be encouraged in some cases  

C. people benefit from their sad stories

D. human beings are kind after all.

Which would be the best title for the text?

A. Terrible Hurricane Katrina.

B. Hurricane Is Heartless While Strangers Are Kind.

C. Study in Florida.

D. The Importance of Helping Others.

When I met him, I had a lot of anger inside of me. I’ve lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem, but in my neighborhood, there are shoot-ups all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up. I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way, too, but Mr. Clark wouldn’t let that happen.

Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact, the scores of our whole class rose. One day, he took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera, and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show, he treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let him down

Mr. Clark was selected as Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year. He said he would draw three names out of a hat; those students would go with him to Los Angeles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names, Mr. Clark said, “You’re all going.”   

On graduation day, there were a lot of tears. We didn’t want his class to end. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta, but he always kept in touch. He started giving lectures about education, and wrote a bestselling book based on his classroom rules, The Essential 55. In 2003,

Mr. Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit the orphanages(孤儿院). It was the most amazing experience of my life. It’s now my dream to one day start a group of women’s clubs, helping people from all backgrounds.

Without Mr. Clark, the writer         .

A. might have been put into prison

B. might not have won the prize

C. might have joined a women’s club

D. might not have moved to Atlanta

The Essential 55 is_____________

A. a show                                          B. a speech

C. a classroom rule                             D. a book

How many students’ names were finally drawn out of a hat by Mr. Clark?

A. None                B. Three                C. Fifty-five.         D. All.

What can we learn in the short reading?

A. It was in Harlem that we saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time.

B. Mr. Clark taught us not to talk with our mouths full, and we did.

C. Mr. Clark was selected as Disney’s 2000 Teacher of the Year in Los Angeles.

D. In 2003, Mr. Clark moved to Atlanta, and he always kept in touch with us.

In the passage, the writer intends to tell us that         .

A. Mr. Clark went to South Africa because he liked travelling

B. Mr. Clark helped to set up a group of women’s clubs

C. a good teacher can help raise his or her students’ scores

D. a good teacher has a good influence on his or her students

You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation（撤离）of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.

During the 20th century ,sea level rose 8—12 inches. As a result .Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.

 Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.

Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions（导致温室效应的气体排放）,which are a main cause of global warming . “By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.

Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries .

Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable （易受影响的）to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.

1．The text is mainly about           .

A．rapid changes in earth’s temperature  B．bad effects of global warming

C．moving of a country to a new place       D．reasons for lowland flooding

2．According to scientists ,the DIRECT cause of more and fiercer storms is           .

A．greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations

B．higher surface water temperatures of the sea

C．continuous global warming                  

D．rising sea levels

3．Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not        .

A．agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions

B．sign an agreement with Tuvalu

C．allow Tuvaluans to move to the US

D．believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real

4．The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is          .

A．Australia             B．New Zealand       

C．the Maldives        D．the United States