Look closely at ,your hands-are they clean? It doesn't matter how many times you was  your hands. They're still crowded with microbes, which are also called "germs" or "bacteria". Microbes are everywhere. But don't worry-most microbes don't harm you. and many actually help you stay alive.
Now,  scientists say the microbes that live on our hands could be used in a surprising way: fighting crime.
When police visit the scene of a crime, they often look for fingerprints to try to identifythe criminal.  But according to a recent study, investigators could even use microbes to help break a criminal case.
Every person has his or her own set of microbes that live on their hands, according to scientists at,the University of:Colorado. That means the mix of different kinds of microbes on everybody's hand is unique-much like one's fingerprint.
The scientists wanted to know whether this microbe mix could be used as a new kind of fingerprint-especially in a crime scene where fingerprints might be hard to find.  And policemen use forensics such as studying fingerprints to identify the criminal.
"Microbe fingerprints are harder to hide," said Noah Fierer, one of the scientists.
"You can't sterilize(为……杀菌) a surface just by wiping it off. "
His team compared the bacteria on the hands of 273 people with the bacteria found on each person's computer keyboard. For the study, the keyboards had been used only by the people who were being tested. The study showed that the mix of microbes from each per- son's hands matched the mix of microbes on that person's keyboard. The scientists were easily able to tell the 273 people apart-just by looking at their keyboards.
But there are a lot more than 273 criminals. Other scientists wonder whetherthe microbe fingerprint can really be that useful. 
Fierer agrees that scientists have a lot more work to do before the microbe fingerprint will be a useful tool．
【小题1】According to the passage,  microbes on people's hands_____

A．do more harm than good	B．are easy to get rid of
C．are almost the same	D．might help find crimes

【小题2】The underlined word "forensics" in Paragraph 5 probably refers to________.

A．the scientific test used by police

B．a new kind of fingerprint

C．a kind of bacteria'in people's hands

D．a kind of newly invented keyboard

【小题3】What did Fierer's team find through the study?

A．They found the criminal among the 237 people.

B．They could tell who had used which computer.

C．Computer keyboards couldn't keep people's microbe fingerprints.

D．People's characters could be identified by the keyboards they used.

【小题4】We can learn from the passage that ______.

A．your microbes may give you away

B．scientists will come to a clear conclusion soon

C．many scientists think microbe fingerprints useless

D．the microbe fingerprint has been used in many cases

【小题5】The main idea of the passage is about_____.

A．the importance of fingerprints	B．how to clean our hands
C．the usefulness of microbes	D．different germs on our hands

You’re sitting on the train home and the person opposite you yawns(打哈欠). Suddenly, you’re yawning with him, though you’re not tired.

This phenomenon confused scientists for years until a recent study found that people tend to sympathize with fellow humans. Supporting this claim was the discovery that those children who were unable to form normal emotional ties with others did not experience contagious(有感染力的) yawning, which showed that humans communicate regularly with out words.

Hugo Critchley, a neuroscientist, has conducted an experiment recently, which will prove that happiness and sadness can spread like the common cold. According to Critechley, our mind and body are in constant exchange about how we’re feeling. “Emotions are closely linked with states of internal(内部的) responses,” he explained. “ There are also more visible changes in our gestures and facial expression. When we’re in a group, these signals can spread to another person. For example, there’s the obvious tendency to smile when smiled at and there are less obvious changes that reflect emotions of surprise, anger or sadness such as a change in our heart rate and blood pressure.

Hugo Critchley further explained, “Our bodies synchronies and when we like the other person, we ever copy his behavior. Next time you chat with a friend, take note of how you’re sitting— it’s pretty likely that you will be the same. Scientists believe it’s our way of telling each other that we’re partners. Through body language, humans give each other very subtle(微妙的) but clear signals that show emotions.”

So, what lessons can we learn from this? “ Spend time with happy people— otherwise your health could suffer,” said Critchley.” When we’re sad, our body goes into fight or flight mode. But when we’re happy, our body works normally and we feel relaxed and positive. So we look bright, our skin glows, we feel healthy and it affects everyone around us.”

1. According to Hugo Critchley, ________.

A．emotions are as visible as facial expressions

B．we yawn more frequently when we have a cold

C．emotions are connected with states of internal responses

D．the change of blood pressure is not linked with the change of emotions.

2.The underlined word “synchronies” in Paragraph 4 means “_____”.

A．move slowly

B．change rapidly

C．relax temporarily

D．respond accordingly

3.From the passage we can learn ________.

A．sadness is as contagious as happiness

B．anger is less contagious than friendliness

C．surprise is more contagious than smile

D．surprise is the most contagious among emotions

4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Emotions have delicate influence on fellow humans.

B．Children like copying the actions of the fellow humans.

C．Scientists are still confused about contagious yawning

D．People tend to communicate more with body language.

 

Every day Yang Hongwei takes the bus home from work, staring silently at the European-style villas(别墅), luxury cars and twinkling lights from the shopping center that he sees through the window.
Yang works for a software company in Zhongguancun. He dreams of such a life, away from poverty, and that hope has kept him in Beijing for three years since he graduated from university.
Soon Yang squeezes his way off the bus to the reality of his life: his home—a 10-square-metre room that costs 550 yuan(81 US dollars) or about one-fifth of his salary in rent every month. It’s very cold inside the house as it has no central heating system. He has to stand the long and cold winter. Determined to achieve his dream, Yang says he has changed jobs “numerous” times in the past three years and is considering quitting his present job.
Yang’s frustration over his life as a migrant(移民) is shared by many other graduates that have moved into big cities. Together they have come to be called the “ant tribe”, a term created by Chinese sociologists to describe the struggles of young migrants, who, armed with their diplomas, flood to big cities in hopes of a better life only to put up with low-paying jobs and poor living conditions. They share every similarity with ants. They live in colonies in crowded areas. They’re intelligent and hardworking, yet unknown and underpaid. The term, sociologists have said, also reflects their helplessness in a world governed by the law of the concrete jungle—only the strongest survive.
A survey in Ant TribeⅡ found nearly 30 percent of the “ants” are graduates of famous key universities—almost three times the percentage of 2009. Most have degrees in popular majors, such as medicine, engineering, economics and management. In addition, 7.2 percent of the “ants” have at least a master’s degree compared to 1.6 percent in 2009. Most said the economic recovery did not really improve their financial situations, and 66 percent said their incomes fell short of their expectations, the survey also found.
For two years, Lian Si, a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Chinese and Global Affairs of Peking University, who has studied the phenomenon, led a team of more than 100 graduate students to follow the groups in university towns like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Xi’an. Lian evaluates the total population of the “ant community” in major cities at one million across China, with about 100,000 found in Beijing alone. Lian predicts that an increasingly challenging job market will see the ant tribe growing further in number. Another 6.3 million graduates are expected to join migrant workers and other job hunters in what promises to be a fierce labour competition.
The ant tribe’s embarrassing living situations have become a serious social issue, and the government should develop “second-and-third-tier cities” to attract more graduates from big cities. However, “ants” expect more study and training opportunities in big cities, which keeps them in positive mindsets despite their situations. As in the case of Yang, he is optimistic about getting a new job soon, having received eight interview offers in a week after sending out his resume. The prospect of landing a higher-paying job keeps him hopeful of moving out of the slum district(贫民区) soon. The sooner the better.
【小题1】. Yang has worked in Beijing since graduation from university ______.

A．to live in a beautiful villa of European style

B．to have more opportunities to be promoted

C．to struggle for a better-off life in a big city

D．to enjoy a busy life in a software company

【小题2】. Which of the following best describes “ant tribe”?

A．It refers to the group of low-income graduates living in embarrassing conditions.

B．It refers to the people who work hard like ants but are paid little.

C．It refers to the sociologists and scholars researching into some social phenomena.

D．It refers to some well-educated people who can’t survive in society.

【小题3】. What does the writer think of the phenomenon of “ant tribe”?

A．“Ant tribe” has become too serious a social problem to solve.

B．It is the government’s duty to solve the problem of “ant tribe”.

C．Both the government and the graduates have the responsibility.

D．The existence of “ant tribe” has little influence on job markets.

【小题4】. The passage is mainly about ______.

A．a new urban life style—“ant tribe”	B．a recent survey about the “ant tribe”
C．the “ant tribe’s” living conditions	D．the “ant tribe’s” dream and reality

In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination（启示）to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking(破裂, 砸开) through a heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to a novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said, “The theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; It's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature （微型画）。 And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. ”
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character undergoes some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it’s said that short stories usually “say something ”， often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.
Ok, let’s form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words-more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words-a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult-they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. ”
【小题1】The writer of the passage is probably a ______.

A．poet

B．painter

C．teacher

D．student

【小题2】What should the ideal short story be in length?

A．at most 10, 000 words

B．below 500 words

C．over 5, 000words

D．around 2, 000 words

【小题3】The underlined word “undergoes ” in the third paragraph probably means “________ ”。

A．experiences

B．discovers

C．discusses

D．appreciates

【小题4】What’s the difference between novels and short stories?

A．Novels are too long for us to read.

B．Short stories are too short for us to read.

C．Short stories have more details than novels.

D．Short stories are more perfect and difficult than novels.

【小题5】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How Do You Write a Short Story?	B．What Exactly Is a Short Story?
C．Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry?	D．Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete?

Has anyone noticed how, with the passage of time, one’s relationship with one’s grown-up daughters and sons becomes changed? I’ve been aware of this for some time but I’m not quite sure how to deal with it.

Take the kitchen sink for example.

Following a family get-together at my place, I walked into the kitchen to find Kate, my daughter carefully cleaning the sink.

“Don’t do that; what are you doing that for?” I said, unhappy about the hidden criticism.

“Mum,” she said, “you really ought to put your glasses on when you clean the sink. Behind the tap here was black!”

But it’s not just things like kitchen sinks. Another time Kate arrived to pick me up to lunch. She looked at me and then asked, “Mum, why do you use brown eyebrow pencil when your hair is grey?”

A sudden memory of her, aged 14, going to her first mixed party flooded back. She had come in to say goodbye. For a moment I thought she’d been an accident. Both eyes were black. I remember suggesting that perhaps a little less eye make-up might be more effective.

Now I told her, “My hair used to be brown.”

“It looks absurd.”

“Mrs. Menzies had dark eyebrows with grey hair.”

“Yes, but you’re not Mrs. Menzies, are you?” she said triumphantly, as if that proved her point.

But a recent event made me realize that something really must be done.

She had returned some for a few weeks before getting married. One evening I went out on a dinner date. By the time my companion left me at the front door, it was about 2am. As I stepped in, an angry figure in a white nightgown stopped me.

“Well, what time of night is this to be coming home?” she shouted. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick!”

Shades of the past come back to disturb me. But what should I do about all this? Nothing, probably. Maybe, after all, it’s only a stage young people are going through.

1.The daughter thought her mother didn’t clean the kitchen sink well because of her        .

         A．laziness      B．carelessness      C．unhappiness      D．poor-quality glasses

2.From the passage we know the daughter         .

         A．didn’t want to help with the sink

         B．didn’t like brown eyebrow pencils

         C．had an accident when she went to her first party

         D．shouted at her mum because she came home late

3.How does the mother feel after all these have happened?

         A．Shocked.    B．Proud.        C．Envious.     D．Confused.

4.The author writes the stories to prove that         .

        A．their relationship became stronger 

         B．their roles changed as time passed

         C．her daughter very much cared about her

         D．her daughter got upset as she grew up