阅读理解

　　No one else knew about the extra club in Zach Nash's golf bag．It belonged to a friend, and Zach forgot it was there as he played his way to victory in a junior tournament(锦标赛)last summer in Wisconsin, US．

　　The 14-year-old accepted his medal, celebrated with his grandparents who had come from a long way to watch．But when he stopped by his country club to share the news, a professional player noticed something wrong．“Count your clubs,” he told the teenager．

　　Fifteen－one more than allowed．Zach's eyes filled with tears．

　　If Zach had just won a basketball championship or a soccer game and someone had discovered a violation after the win, it would not have mattered．It is nothing unusual for a soccer player to dive to the turf to draw fouls(假摔以使对方犯规)．

　　Golf is different．In a win-at-all-costs world, the game holds itself to a higher standard．Golf isn't a game where referees watch closely．In golf tournaments, dozens of competitors are spread across acres of land, so officials cannot hope to see each shot．Competitors call penalties(处罚)on themselves．

　　“It was a sport for gentlemen, and gentlemen did not care about winning．They care about doing the right thing,” said Robert Simon, a golf coach at Hamilton College in New York．

　　Honesty became a medal of honor．When one of the game's early stars, Bobby Jones, was praised for calling a penalty on himself at the 1925 US Open, he replied：“You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank．”

　　So even the error had no effect on Zach's final score－he has never used the extra club, the teenager packed up his medal and dropped it in the mail．“But this is golf, and rules are rules．I just knew what I had to do,” he said．

　　Then came another tournament．Before teeing off(开球), Zach counted his clubs-four times．

阅读理解

　　Skiing only caught on for ordinary Chinese in the mid-1990s in the country's north and northeast, but has since developed into a pastime that can be practiced nationwide．Here are four resorts(度假胜地)worthy of consideration．

Yabuli Ski Resort

　　The ski resort, built on Yabuli Sun Mountain, part of the Changbai Mountain Range, is located in China's northernmost province, Heilongjiang．

　　It has the best snow quality, skiing trails and impressive views．Wild animals are often spotted on the site．

　　The resort serves as the primary training centre for China's national teams．It also has a trail vertical drop from 200 meters to 1,200 meters with an average drop of 700 meters．

　　What's cool：The largest ski resort in China．

Beijing Huaibei International Ski Resort

　　This is a great destination for snowboarders and skiers to escape the rush life of the city and is a large recreational spot that boasts excellent ski slopes, world-class facilities, beautiful natural scenery, as well as convenient accommodation and dining services．

　　Travelers are also able to take a bird's eye view of the Great Wall by catching a cable car along 1,200 meters．

　　What's cool：Close to the Great Wall and Beijing's largest ski resort．

Shennongjia Ski Resort

　　Opened in 2004, the ski resort is located in the inland of Shennongjia．It covers an area of 100,000 square meters and is only 0.5 km from the Shennongjia National Nature Reserve．

　　There are ski tracks for beginners and more than 20 coaches for tourists．While experiencing the excitement of skiing, people can also admire Shennongjia's distinctive scenery of countless different odd mountain valleys, unknown beautiful flowers and plants．

　　What's cool：Largest winter sports complex for skiers from South and Central China．

Changbai Mountain Ski Resort

　　The ski resort is an ideal place for skiing and ice-skating because of its well-constructed ski tracks, comprehensive winter sports training facilities and breathtaking environment．

　　Enthusiasts can also choose other activities including motor skiing, sleigh skiing, shooting and hunting．

　　The area's natural hot springs are another attraction of the resort．

　　What's cool：The resort is located in the heart of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve's thick forest and has natural hot springs．

阅读理解

　　Winston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery(谜)inside a puzzle”．Observers of Russia in the 21st century could surely say the same of the country's president, Vladimir Putin．

　　Born in Leningrad, six months before the death of Stalin, the young Putin experienced a poverty-stricken childhood but received a good education．He developed lifelong interests in judo and spy novels, and first applied to the KGB(苏联国家安全委员会)at the age of 17．When they told him to go away and come back with a degree, he completed with an efficiency(效率)that would later serve him well．

　　Putin used his KGB training, plus his own discipline and common sense, in a series of jobs．He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when president Boris Yeltsin resigned in a surprising move．Putin won the 2000 presidential election and in 2004 he was re-elected for a second term lasting until 7 May 2008．

　　Due to term limits, Putin was unable to run for a third presidential term．After the victory of　Dmitry Medvedev, in the 2008 presidential elections, he was appointed to be Russia's Prime Minister．

　　Putin is regarded as one bringing political stability and re-establishing the rule of law．During his presidency, Russia's economy(经济)bounced back, seeing GDP increase by 72％, poverty cut more than half, and average monthly salaries increase from ＄80 to ＄640．Analysts have described Putin's economic reforms as impressive．At the same time, his conduct in office has been questioned by political opposition at home, foreign governments, and human rights organizations for leading the Second Chechen War, and for his record on human rights and freedoms．

　　Whether he wants to drive Russia into a new stage, or believes in the values of its Soviet past, he is determined to put his nation back on its feet．To do this, Vladimir Putin may have to show his true colors sooner rather than later．

阅读理解

　　New media has been growing fast and influencing people's lives in ways few things have done before．In 2010, China's new media industry witnessed explosive development．But with “new” comes uncertainties and challenges．The following are brief reviews on the development of China's new media and outlooks on its future．

●Micro-blogging(微博)

　　Short and convenient, micro-blogs also experienced “a big bang” in China last year, with the number of micro-bloggers at China' s popular portal(门户网站)sina．com．cn almost doubling in less than six months．Afterwards, the other three major web portals, including sohu．com, qq．com and 163．com, each set up their own micro-blogging services．With more government officials and entities(实体)registering, China's micro-blogging services are expected to play a more important role in connecting the public and the governments in 2011．

●Search Engines

　　Baidu's position in the search engine market would face fierce challenges from sohu．com, Microsoft's Bing and goso．cn from the People's Daily．Xinhua is also preparing to start its search engine together with China Mobile, a leading company in mobile networks．Goso and Xinhua both have the advantage of providing content, while Bing has a big edge in technology and funds．They are expected to pose threats(威胁)to Baidu in 2011．

●Internet of Things

　　IoT refers to a network of real-world objects linked by the Internet and interacting through on-line services．China set up its first IoT research center in Shanghai in March 2010．Within the same week, Premier Wen Jiabao stated in the annual government report that it would “accelerate the research and development, as well as application of the Internet of Things．”

　　However, some experts say China's IoT is still in an early stage, and it'll take a long time for it to let the public enjoy its full functions．

阅读理解

　　No one else knew about the extra club in Zach Nash's golf bag．It belonged to a friend, and Zach forgot it was there as he played his way to victory in a junior tournament(锦标赛)last summer in Wisconsin, US．

　　The 14-year-old accepted his medal, celebrated with his grandparents who had come from a long way to watch．But when he stopped by his country club to share the news, a professional player noticed something wrong．“Count your clubs,” he told the teenager．

　　Fifteen－one more than allowed．Zach's eyes filled with tears．

　　If Zach had just won a basketball championship or a soccer game and someone had discovered a violation after the win, it would not have mattered．It is nothing unusual for a soccer player to dive to the turf to draw fouls(假摔以使对方犯规)．

　　Golf is different．In a win-at-all-costs world, the game holds itself to a higher standard．Golf isn't a game where referees watch closely．In golf tournaments, dozens of competitors are spread across acres of land, so officials cannot hope to see each shot．Competitors call penalties(处罚)on themselves．

　　“It was a sport for gentlemen, and gentlemen did not care about winning．They care about doing the right thing,” said Robert Simon, a golf coach at Hamilton College in New York．

　　Honesty became a medal of honor．When one of the game's early stars, Bobby Jones, was praised for calling a penalty on himself at the 1925 US Open, he replied：“You might as well praise a man for not robbing a bank．”

　　So even the error had no effect on Zach's final score－he has never used the extra club, the teenager packed up his medal and dropped it in the mail．“But this is golf, and rules are rules．I just knew what I had to do,” he said．

　　Then came another tournament．Before teeing off(开球), Zach counted his clubs－four times．

阅读理解

　　Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay．

　　Hilary did not like Australia did Australia did not like Hilary．What．he could do seemed to be one of two things：die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．

　　She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" , her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．

　　Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and live as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a sixpence in his pocket．

　　One thing was soon clear：his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him：her will．

　　"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"

　　"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．

　　His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found 1 had no relations．"

　　On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will loses its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest illation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．

　　After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．

　　Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer?Was it not better for her to die now?While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman．

　　One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went：off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．

　　"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want, more than anything, to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary?Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do．Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight'：, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know; and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"

　　Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．

阅读理解

　　Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, a famous scientist has warned．Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans(幅度), encourage instant satisfaction and make children more self-centered．

　　Warnings from neuroscientist(神经系统科学家)Susan Greenfield will disturb the millions whose social lives depend on surfing their favorite websites each day．But they will strike a chord(弦)with parents and teachers who complain that many teenagers lack the ability to communicate or concentrate away from their screens．

　　More than 150 million use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, share photographs and videos and post regular updates of their movements and thoughts．A further six million have signed up to Twitter, the "micro-blogging" service that lets, users exchange text messages about themselves．But while the sites are popular and extremely profitable, a growing number of psychologists and neuroscientists believe they may be doing more harm than good．

　　Baroness Tarot, an Oxford University neuroscientist believes repeated exposure could rewire the brain．Computer games and fast-paced TV shows were also a factor, she said．"My fear is that these technologies are weakening the brain to the state of small children who axe attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and live for the moment．" "I often wonder whether real conversation in real time may eventually give way to these easier and faster screen dialogues, in much the same way as killing and butchering an animal to eat has been replaced by the convenience of packages on the supermarket shelf," she said．

　　Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think．They point out that students no longer need to plan their term papers before starting to write－thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along．

　　A study by the Broadcaster Audience Board found teenagers now spend seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen．Educational psychologist Jane Healy believes children should be kept away from computer games until they are seven．Most games only excite the "flight or fight" areas of the brain, rather than the areas responsible reasoning．

　　Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, said："We are seeing children's brain development damaged because they don't engage in the activity they have engaged in for thousands of years．I'm not against technology and computers．But before they start social networking, they need to learn to make real relationships with people．"

阅读理解

　　From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age．We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases．A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modem medicine．It is almost certain that one clay medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases, The expectation of life has increased greatly．But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads．Man vs the motor-cart It is a never-ending battle which man is losing．Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen．

　　It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel(方向盘), his car becomes the extension of his personality．There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities．People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish．All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to die surface by the act of driving．

　　The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior．Everything is done for his convenience．Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten．

　　It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life．With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax(不严格)and even the strictest are not strict enough．A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate．Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done．The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should tie put through strict tests for safety each year．Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability．Present drinking and driving laws(where they exist)should be nude much stricter．Speed limits should be required on all roads．Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA．All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned．These measures may not sound good enough．But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths．After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars．

阅读理解

　　She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart．She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence．Outside, it was pouring so heavily．

　　We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart．We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day．I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world．

　　Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance(昏昏欲睡)we were all caught in．"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said．

　　"No, honey．We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied．

　　This young child waited about another minute and repeated："Mom, let's run through the rain．"

　　" We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said．

　　"No, we won't, Mom．That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tore at her Mom's arm．

　　"This morning?When．did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

　　"Don't you remember?When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

　　The entire crowd stopped dead silent．I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the rain．We all stood silently．No one came or left in．he next few minutes．Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say．

　　Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly．Some might even ignore what was said．But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith．"Honey, you are absolutely right．Let's run through the rain．If get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said．Then off they ran．

　　We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case．They got soaked．But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars．And yes, I did．I ran．I got wet．I needed washing．

　　You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one pan ever take away your precious memories．So don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories．

阅读理解

　　While scientists are worried that humans are causing higher temperatures on the Earth, a Maryland man, Ace, thinks we can save the world by spraying(喷射)huge amounts of water into the air．

　　Ace told the McClatchy News Service that at least 1,000 places should be chosen to spray water．The water would be sprayed between 20 and 200 feet into the air．Thousands of tons of seawater would be sprayed for years at a time．

　　The 1,000 sites would be picked after more studies．They would be mostly in the Northern Hemisphere．Ace says he would avoid tropical(热带的)areas of the globe．He says water turns to rain too quickly in these areas for his plan to work．

　　The water would be changed into vapor．That process requires heat．The water vapor would rise above the Earth．The vapor would form clouds．The clouds would help in several ways．They would cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight．They would later turn into rains．The rains would provide another way of cooling the Earth．

　　Ace's plan has gotten some support from a limited scientific study．Kenneth Caldeira is a climate scientist．He works at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University in California．Caldeira tested some of Ace's figures on a computer program．The computer model is used by top scientists to study global climate change．The model showed that the plan might work．

　　“More tests are planned in 2009．Ideas like Ace's should be considered carefully and with an open mind,” Caldeira said．“Every brilliant invention in the history of technology looked a little bit mad when first put forward．”