阅读理解：

　　The booking notes of the play “the Age of Innocence”：

　　Price：＄10

　　BOOKING

　　There are four easy ways to book seats for performance：

　　——in person

　　The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a. m.－8 p. m．

　　——by telephone

　　Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card(Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted)

　　——by post

　　Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office．

　　——on line

　　Complete the on-line booking form at www．Satanfiedtheatre．com

　　DICOUNTS：

　　Saver：＄2 off any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday．Savers are available for children up to 16 years old, over 60s and full-time students．

　　Supersaver：half-price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion．It is advisable to book in advance．There is a maximum of eight wheelchair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show．

　　Standby：best available seats are on sale for ＄6 from one hour before the performance for people eligible(suitable)for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers．

　　Group Bookings：there is a ten per cent discount for parties of twelve or more．

　　School：school parties of ten or more can book ＄6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free．

　　Please note：we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances．

阅读理解：

　　Against the supposition(假设)that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia warm the climate, scientists have discovered that cooling may occur in areas where burnt trees allow more snow to mirror more sunlight into space．

　　This finding suggests that taking steps to prevent northern forest to limit the release of greenhouse gases may warm the climate in northern regions．Usually large fires destroyed forests in these areas over the past decade．Scientists predict that with climate warming, fires may occur more frequently over next several centuries as a result of a longer fire season．Sunlight taken in by the earth tends to cause warming, while heat mirrored back into space tends to cause cooling．

　　This is the first study to analyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate．Earlier studies by other scientists have suggested that fire in northern regions speed up climate warming because greenhouse gases from burning trees and plants are released into the atmosphere and thus trap heat．

　　Scientists found that right after the fire, large amounts of greenhouse gases entered the atmosphere and caused warming．Ozone(臭氧)levels increased, and ash from the fire fell on far-off sea ice, darkening the surface and causing more radiation from the sun to be taken in．The following spring, however, the land within the area of the fire was brighter than before the fire, because fewer trees covered the ground．Snow on the ground mirrored more sunlight back into space, leading to cooling．

　　“We need to find out all possible ways to reduce the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere．” Scientists tracked the change in amount of radiation entering and leaving the climate system as a result of the fire, and found a measurement closely related to the global air temperature．Typically, fire in northern regions occurs in the same area every 80 to 150 years．Scientists, however, found that when fire occurs more frequently, more radiation is lost from the earth and cooling results．Specifically, they determined when fire returns 20 years earlier than predicated, 0.5 watts per square meter of area burned are soaked up by the earth from greenhouse gases, but 0.9 watts per square meter will be sent back into space．The net effect is cooling．Watts are used to measure the rate at which energy is gained or lost from the earth．

阅读理解：

　　My father's reaction to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite："You won't catch me putting my money in there!" he declared, "Not in that glass box !"

　　Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I am convinced that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money．

　　In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity(实物)that could be carried, or stolen．Consequently, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze(青铜)doors, to affirm the fact, however untrue, that money would be safe inside．If a building's design made it appear impenetrable(难以渗透的), the institution(公共机构, 协会, 制度)was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol dwelt in the prevailing attitude toward money．

　　But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed．Excepting pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible(切实，实在)commodity has largely been replaced by credit．A deficit(赤字)economy, accompanied by huge expansion, has led us to think of money as product of the creative imagination．The banker no longer offers us a safe：he offers us a service in which the most valuable element is the creativity for the invention of large numbers．It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank．

　　Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture boasts of imaginative powers．From this point of view it is hard to say where architecture ends and human assertion(人们的说法)begins．

阅读理解：

The easy way out isn’t always the easiest．I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal．I glanced through my cook book and chose a menu which included homemade bread．Knowing the bread would take time．I started on it as soon as Doug left for work．As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything．As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl．Soon there was a sticky dough covered with ugly yellowish marks．Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn’t have to face Doug laughing at my work．I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice．He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed．Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise．The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing．Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container．When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in our rubbish bin．Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see．I felt cold．But I stepped closer and looked harder．Without doubt it was my work．The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast(酵母)made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing．I had to admit what the living thing was and why it was there．I don’t know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing－Doug or me．

阅读理解

　　Elena Kagan has reached a lifelong goal：becoming a Justice on the United States Supreme Court．The US Senate confirmed Kagan on Thursday by a vote of 63-37．She replaces Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired in June．

　　Kagan will take a sacred oath(誓言)to uphold the Constitution of the United States on Saturday at a swearing-in ceremony．The new Justice will bring the number of women sitting on the nation’s highest court to three．Kagan joins Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor-all three New Yorkers．

　　Kagan is the fourth woman in history to sit on the Supreme Court．Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was the first female Justice．She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and served from 1981to 2006．

　　Kagan, who is 50 years old, is the second Justice appointed by President Barack Obama．(He appointed Justice Sotomayor in 2009．)Obama told reporters on Thursday that Kagan will make an “outstanding Justice who understands that her rulings affect people．” He also noted that the addition of another woman to the Supreme Court marks a sign of progress for the country．Obama and Kagan will celebrate her confirmation with a ceremony at the White House today．

　　Kagan has spent most of her adult life working with the law．She served in President Clinton’s administration as a legal adviser, was the head of Harvard Law School, and until her confirmation Thursday, was the US Solicitor General-one of the most powerful lawyers in the federal government．Kagan was born in New York City．She grew up in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the strong-willed, independent middle sister sandwiched between two brothers．

　　Kagan’s mother was a public school teacher who taught fifth and sixth grades．Her father was a lawyer．

　　The new Justice once wore a judge’s robe in a picture for her high-school yearbook．Now she’ll be wearing real ones as she and the other eight Justices decide some of the most important legal cases．

阅读理解

　　Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, made his first publics appearance since going on medical leave six weeks ago, taking the stage at a San Francisco media event to introduce the iPad 2, the second generation of the company’s tablet computer．

　　Thin but energetic, Mr．Jobs showed off a thinner iPad．“ We’ve been working on this product for a while and I just didn’t want to miss this day．” He said．

　　His absence has concerned investors, especially since the group has given no details of his condition．He was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and had a liver transplant during almost six months of medical leave in 2009．People close to him said last month his health had been changing．

　　Apple’s stock(股票)rose more than 2 per cent in the minutes after Mr．Jobs began speaking, then gave up some of its gain as he detailed the iPad 2．

　　The iPad 2 will go on sale in black and white versions in the US on March 11 and in 26 other countries, including the UK and Germany, on March 25．

　　Most of the improvements in the latest version had been expected, including a camera in the front and back for video conferencing, taking photos and videos．The iPad 2 is one-third thinner than the original tablet and slightly lighter．In the US it will work with AT&T and Verizon, the top two mobile carriers(运营商)．The pricing will be the same to the 2010 iPad at its introduction, ranging from ＄499 to ＄829 in six models．But Apple dropped prices on the older iPad on Wednesday by ＄100 across the board．

　　Apple has made the most of its year-long head start in tablets, selling 15,000,000 units of the older iPad last year and taking about 85 per cent of the market．It is predicted that the iPad 2 would claim 80 per cent of the US market this year, or 20,000,000 out of 24,000,000 total shipped(出货量)．

　　Motorola, Blackberry maker Research in Motion, Samsung and others have brought out competing tablets, many based on Google’s Android software．

　　Mr．Jobs said the rest of the field was still catching up with the first iPad and their markets for applications designed for tablets had, at best, 100 small programs．This compares with 65,000 on Apple’s application store．

阅读理解

The Best of Alaska

　　Nothing evokes(唤起)Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river．Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska!

　　Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion(远足)to the last frontier! Additional highlights include：a scenic flight over Glacier Bay National Park, a rafting trip through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, historic Skagway, a whale watching cruise and the company of knowledgeable local guides．

　　HIGHLIGHTS：

　　JUNEAU：Juneau, the state capital, is rich in culture and scenic beauty．It is here that we start and end our trip．

　　HAINES：Haines is a small community located along the fiords(峡湾)．The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska．In 2004, Haines was listed by Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventure as one of the best places for recreation and living．The activities listed below are located in Haines．

　　ALASKA INDIAN ARTS：Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation(公司)dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes．Alaska Indian Arts is also the headquarters for several of Alaska’s outstanding craftsmen and artisans．We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading(串珠饰)and culture from these master artists．

　　SKAGWAY：Skagway is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Stampede over 100 years ago．Today, it is a historic yet lively town, which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colorful shops．In Skagway, we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor’s Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway．

　　GUSTAVUS：Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park．We’ll stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights．This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay．

　　DATES/PRICES：

　　2011：May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15．

　　7 days－＄3,500, including lodging, all meals, excursions, guides, park fees, sales taxes, and transportation between Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus．Not included：alcohol, personal items, airfare to and from Juneau．

　　CONTACTS：

　　E-mail：info@alaskamountainguides．com

　　Call：(800)766-3396

　　Write：Alaska Mountain Guides & Climbing School

　　P．O．Box 1081, Haines AK 99827

阅读理解

　　I still remember the days when I was a youthful student in an engineering school．I lived a casual life, without caring about the future．I smoked, drank with friends and made girl friends．Little did I realize that casualness would certainly lead to loss．

　　Two yeas had passed and I was staring down a report card that highlighted FAIL in more than half the subjects．I didn’t care, at least not till my dad found about it．You see, I studied in India and unlike the United States where the students are expected to finance their own education, my dad financed me．

　　Then came the day when my dad found out my habit of smoking．He lost his temper but he just told me, “Son, your allowance is cut in half from this moment on”．It hit me like a roundhouse kick(回旋踢)from Bruce Lee．I was jolted(震摇)out of my bones! I couldn’t comprehend how to pay off the debts that I had accumulated in college．I owed everybody money：the grocery store, the bars, the restaurants, my friends, etc．I was living a life filled with credit．

　　When I went back to college, I knew that if I don’t change the way I live my life I won’t be able to pay everybody off．So I decided to make some changes, drastic changes．I quit smoking, cut off from my friends who led me down the wrong road, starting hanging out in libraries and reading my engineering books．

　　One year later, I went from a miserable failure to a magna cum laude(优等成绩)．Life was never the same again．This incident made me know that anything is possible if you take action and do something about it, however small or large．Even today it still motivates me when I feel that I’m about to lose or give up．It reminds me that I can do it!

阅读理解

　　One day, a man stopped his car at the traffic lights．The woman in front of his car was going through some newspapers in her car, and when the lights changed to green she didn’t go．A green light is more of an order than a suggestion, but she didn’t notice．

　　When the lights turned red again, the woman still had not moved．The man in the car behind now started shouting and hitting his steering wheel(方向盘)．

　　A policeman knocked on his window and asked for his driving license．“You can’t fine me for what I am doing in my own car!” said the driver．The policeman replied, “I didn’t want to fine you for shouting in your car．But I was directly behind you at the light, and when I saw your behaviour I said to myself, ‘That man is out of control．He’s going to hurt someone!’ Then I noticed the cross hanging from your rear view mirror(后视镜)，the bright yellow ‘Love Is a Choice’ license tag, the ‘Give Peace a Chance’ and ‘Patience Changes Things’ stickers(标签)．So I thought you might have stolen the car．”

　　The man’s behaviour did not reflect his car stickers．But are we always who we want to be? Personal change can happen when we act like the person we hope to be．The important question is not “Who are you today?” but “Who will you be tomorrow?”

阅读理解

　　Last week I was in the boarding area of the airport, very excited about my trip home to see my parents．I had many plans for the weekend．But my daydream was interrupted by an elderly woman talking loudly into her cellphone．She kept asking the person to meet her where she was and was repeating the gate mumber into the phone．With each repeat she got a little louder．All the people around were trying to avoid laughing．

　　Then I heard her say, “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you．There seems to be something wrong with my hearing aid．” As I waited for my turn to board, I noticed her tone was becoming increasingly frantic(狂躁的)as she tried to understand the person on the other end of the phone．

　　It was almost my turn to board．I couldn’t stop looking back at the woman．It made me think how lucky I was to have my hearing．Then I realised I could do something to help．

　　I walked over to the woman and shouted, “Let me help you hear．I’ll tell you what the person is saying．” The doubt that flickered(闪烁)across her face was quickly replaced with understanding, then relief(欣慰)．

　　I took the phone from her, listened for a moment,and then told the woman that her husband was waiting for her in the baggage area as he could not enter the gate area．Then I pointed her in the right direction．

　　It took me less than two minutes to help the woman, but my pride in having been able to help her remains strong．