Everywhere I look outside my home I see people busy on their high-tech devices, while driving, walking, shopping, even sitting in toilets. When connected electronically, they are away from physical reality.

People have been influenced to become technology addicted. One survey reported that “addicted” was the word most commonly used by people to describe their relationship to iPad and similar devices. One study found that people had a harder time resisting(抵抗) the allure of social media than they did for sleep, cigarettes and alcohol.

The main goal of technology companies is to get people to spend more money and time on their products, not to actually improve our quality of life. They have successfully created a cultural disease. Consumers willingly give up their freedom, money and time to catch up on the latest information, to keep pace with their peers or to appear modern.

I see people trapped in a pathological(病態(tài)的) relationship with time-sucking technology, where they serve technology more than technology serves them. I call this technology servitude. I am referring to a loss of personal freedom and independence because of uncontrolled consumption of many kinds of devices that eat up time and money.

What is a healthy use of technology devices? That is the vital question. Who is really in charge of my life? That is what people need to ask themselves if we are to have any chance of breaking up false beliefs about their use of technology. When we can live happily without using so much technology for a day or a week, then we can regain control and personal freedom, become the master of technology and discover what there is to enjoy in life free of technology. Mae West is famous for declaring the wisdom that “too much of a good thing is wonderful.” But it’s time to discover that it does not work for technology.

Richard Fernandez, an executive coach at Google acknowledged that “we can be swept away by our technologies.” To break the grand digital connection, people must consider how life long ago could be fantastic without today’s overused technology.

1.The underlined word “allure” in Paragraph 2 probably means ______.

A. advantage B. adaption C. attraction D. attempt

2.From the passage, technology companies aim to ______.

A. provide the latest information

B. attract people to buy their products

C. improve people’s quality of life

D. deal with cultural diseases

3.It can be inferred from this passage that people ______.

A. consider too much technology wonderful

B. have realized the harm of high-tech devices

C. may enjoy life better without overused technology

D. can regain freedom without high-tech devices

4.What’s the author’s attitude towards the overusing of high-tech devices?

A. Optimistic B. Objective

C. Approving D. Disapproving

根據(jù)短文內容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。選項中有兩項為多余選項。

Out of sight, out of mind. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 1. . Each of the phrases mentioned above teaches a common truth. But what exactly is a proverb? It’s a short statement that contains a general truth. It is popularly known and often repeated.

Every culture has proverbs. 2. .For example, many cultures value old people for their wisdom and experience. This idea can be found in proverbs. A Chinese proverb says, “An old horse will never get lost.” And a Portuguese proverb states, “An old pan is the one that makes good food.” 3. . The English say, “Good and quickly seldom meet.” The Chinese say, “Think three times before you act.” A Russian proverb exclaims, “Take your thoughts to bed with you, for the morning is wiser.”

There is a saying: To truly know a people, learn their proverbs. Proverbs contain a culture’s values and morals. 4. . People in Saudi Arabia value books and learning. One of their proverbs says, “A book is a garden carried in the pocket.” The French say, “There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.” So that culture thinks that being honest is important. Egyptians know the value of friendship. One of their proverbs say, “Friendship doubles joy and halves grief.”

In Africa, many proverbs also use images familiar to Africans. For example, “The best way to eat an elephant in your path is to cut him up into little pieces.” 5. . Or “A roaring lion kills no game.” This means that one cannot achieve anything by sitting around and talking about it. One must get out and strive for it.

Learning proverbs in another language is fun. You can make a good impression with your language ability. But remember, proverbs are usually used in spoken language. They are rarely used in writing. If you use a lot of proverbs when you write, people will think you don’t have original thoughts.

A. What is your favorite proverb?

B. Have you heard any of these proverbs before?

C. Many cultures also agree that acting in a hurry is not a good idea.

D. And while some are special for one culture, there are common themes.

E. In other words, the best way to solve a problem is to work on it bit by bit.

F. Proverbs are short and easy to remember.

G. So you can learn what is valued in different cultures through their proverbs.

完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A，B，C和D）中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

It was December 2013, and I decided to return to India after spending five years in the US studying.

I was in the process of _________ and among the items I put up for sale was an old computer. A student agreed to take it for $ 20. I decided to wipe it clean _________ handing it over , but while doing so, a tiny spring (彈簧) _________ and disappeared somewhere on the floor.

I put the _________ off for a week and found a small downtown repair shop. The repairman there, a tall gentleman, was kind and helpful. “It’s a _________ job,” he said, examining the computer. “We only _________ a small fee.”

When I returned the next day, I noticed that the spring had been _________ and that the computer was in working order. But I was served a bill for $ 50! I tried to _________ my troubles to the store manager, who although _________ , was unmoved. “Sorry,” he said to me, “I can’t break the rules.”

However, he did suggest a (n) _________ . “We can undo what the repairman has done,” he said. “That way you can take back the computer without having to pay our _________ .” I agreed, somehow feeling both _________ and disappointment. The repairman removed the spring, then handed the computer back to me.

I tucked (裹起) it under my arm and hurried towards my _________ , eager to forget the whole thing. Just then, in the deserted parking lot, I felt a_________ tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find the tall repairman standing behind me with a_________ .

“Hey man, take it easy,” he told me. “_________ a spring isn’t that difficult. You can do it yourself.” He then walked back to the store after having _________ two tiny computer springs into my palm.

I guess he gave me two pieces _________ I broke or lost the first one while trying to fix it myself. I really wanted to go back to the store to _________ him, but I didn’t know what to say or how to say it without getting him in _________ with his employer.

1.A. counting B. relaxing C. packing D. gathering

2.A. before B. since C. after D. while

3.A. turned up B. came off C.tried out D. broke down

4.A. repairman B. flight C. graduation D. buyer

5.A. simple B. tight C. precious D. diverse

6.A. pay B. owe C. charge D. spend

7.A. cleaned B. replaced C. furnished D. removed

8.A. reflect B. argue C. share D. explain

9.A. sympathetic B. cruel C. selfish D. marvelous

10.A. favor B. wish C. alternative D. example

11.A. offer B. bill C. effort D. work

12.A. anxiety B. excitement C. anger D. relief

13.A. car B. college C. company D. neighborhood

14.A. constant B. rough C. heavy D. gentle

15.A. book B. spring C. smile D. computer

16.A. fixing B. buying C. finding D. making

17.A. pushed B. slipped C. kept D. held

18.A. even if B. now that C. in case D. as though

19.A. praise B. greet C. comfort D. thank

20.A. touch B. trouble C. agreement D. Harmony

I could still remember that hot afternoon when my mother ordered me to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. In this way, she hoped to defeat my strange problem — inability to read.

In the library, I found my way into the “Children's Room.” I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the shelf. The cover of a book caught my eye. It presented a picture of a beagle. I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal friend I ever had as a child. He was my secret sharer, but one morning, he was gone, given away to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.

There on the book's cover was a beagle which looked similar to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos, the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.

Under the shade of a bush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together.

My mother's call returned me to the real world. I suddenly realized something: I had read a book, and I had loved reading that book. Everyone knew I could not read. But I had read it. Books could be so wonderful. I was going to read them.

I never told my mother about my wonderful experience that summer, but she saw a slow but remarkable improvement in my classroom performance during the next year. And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, was awarded a PhD in the literature, and published his own books, articles, poetry and fiction. The power of the words has held.

1.The author's mother told him to borrow a book in order to ___________.

A. help cure him of his reading problem

B. encourage him to do more walking

C. let him spend a meaningful summer

D. make him learn more about animals

2.The author managed to read the book through because .

A. he was forced by his mother to read it

B. the book told the story of his pet dog

C. the book reminded him of his own story with his dog

D. the happy ending of the story attracted him

3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The author's mother read the same book.

B. The author has become a successful writer.

C. The author has had happy summers ever since.

D. The author's mother rewarded him with books.

4.Which one can be the best title of the passage?

A. The Charm of a Book B. Mum's Strict Order

C. Reunion with My Beagle D. My Passion for Reading

WE NEED FOREIGN TEACHERS ALL OVER CHINA

Ad No. 90374

Posted: Mar 12,2016 13:27 by Amanda Expire Date: Apr 12, 2016

Tag: Beijing Language Teaching Part Time

We are looking for teachers, whose native language is English, willing to teach in China. Most schools are in South of China.

The benefit package for foreign teachers includes:

One-year Contract: 1st September 2016 to 31st August 2017

Salary: 4,000RMB to 5,000RMB/Month

Teaching load & schedule: 20 teaching hours per week

A rent-free apartment with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom with full furniture

Kitchen facilities provided, other electric appliances will be supplied, water, heater, microwave, etc.

If you are interested, please read the information above and kindly send your application to attach the following documents (in .doc or JPEG format). The subject to be mentioned, as “teach in China”.

1. CV/Resume (簡歷)

2. A copy of academic degree/diploma/certificate/or college transcript

3. A photocopy of the data page of valid passport

4. A recent color photo

5. A letter of recommendation or release letter from your previous Chinese school (Only if you worked in China previously)

6. Any other related information that you think might help your application

1.This advertisement is about_______.

A. introducing a school

B. taking on foreign students

C. looking for English teachers

D. seeking a teaching position

2.What is NOT needed to apply for the job if you come to work in China for the first time?

A. Your resume. B. Your personal passport data.

C. Your photo. D. A recommendation letter.

3.If you are employed, you will_______.

A. work full time

B. not have to prepare the furniture

C. pay for apartment rent

D. work four months for two years

Around every Lunar New Year holiday, China becomes a country on the move. The holiday crush (客流量) this year is estimated to be even heavier than before.

Government officials suggest that Chinese people will take to the air, roads and railways 3.62 billion times over a 40-day period around the nation's most important holiday this year as people push their way home for family gatherings or to satisfy their new-found passion for travel.

Getting tickets to all those would-be travelers is a discounting challenge that tries your patience annually. And the pressure for the railway system is always the greatest. Railways are the transport of choice for low-cost long-distance travel, and that's where the ticketing system regularly falls down.

Much of the criticism has focused on the railway's online purchasing system, which has been unable to keep pace with the huge demand and also failed to stop scalpers (票販子) from easily getting many of the hard-to-find tickets.

Railway officials believed that online sales were the fairest way to get tickets for travelers, and told reporters that the public need to be patient. While by now the railway service is far from satisfying, efforts are being made to provide online identity checks that would reduce the ticket scalping problems, and the situation is expected to get better in a few years. Meanwhile, for those traveling by car, good news is that the country's extremely expensive highway tolls (通行費) will be removed for the period of the official holiday.

1.Which of the following words can replace the underlined word "discounting" in Paragraph 3?

A. Pleasing. B. Rewarding.

C. Promising. D. Discouraging.

2.According to the text, getting tickets_____ around the official holiday.

A. is convenient for travelers

B. costs more money

C. requires great patience

D. is just a piece of cake

3.We can learn from the text that around the New Year holiday, _______ .

A. there will be 3.62 billion people going home

B. many people have to buy railway tickets from scalpers

C. the railway system will break down as usual

D. not railways but cars are the best choices for traveling

4.Which of the following can best describe the author's attitude to the railway service?

A. Optimistic. B. Doubtful.

C. Satisfied. D. Worried.

Now scientists believe that global warming affects hibernating animals, causing them to wake up earlier. While this may seem a little concern, it is in fact a serious environmental problem. The shortened hibernation period could actually lead to significant decreases in the population of several species.

Some of the first evidence of the problem came from Colorado, where researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab have been observing marmot (旱獺) hibernation behavior since the 1970s. In the early days of their studies, marmots generally hibernated several weeks into the month of May. Nowadays, however, temperatures in the area have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and the marmots wake up about a month earlier.

At least the marmots are still hibernating. Several other animals have not been hibernating at all recently. Brown bears in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains did not hibernate last year. Chipmunks (花鼠) in the US and some snakes in Australia also skipped the hibernation period. The bears seem to have survived without losing many individuals. The chipmunks and snakes, however, were not so lucky. Many of the animals died of starvation during the winter.

The problem with animals waking up early, or skipping hibernation altogether, lies with the creatures' metabolism (新陳代謝). When the animals hibernate, their metabolism drops significantly. The animals' heart rate slows, and they require very little energy to live. When the animals awake in the spring, their metabolism returns to normal.

But while their metabolism may be as active as it was before hibernation, food sources aren't as available as they were before. A marmot may wake up when temperatures get warmer, thinking it's spring, but plants will not have got the amount of sun they need to grow. So until the plants grow, the marmots have no reliable food source.

Many scientists believe the problem will continue to get worse. For many biologists, that's a scary prospect. Terry Root, an animal expert at Stanford University, said, “I do think what we will be facing is the extinction of many species.”

1.What is the viewpoint of the writer?

A. Global warming will continue to get worse as time goes on.

B. Waking up early in spring may lead to the extinction of some animals.

C. Shortened hibernation will definitely decrease the population of animals.

D. Animals which do not hibernate die of starvation.

2.The writer sets the example of the marmot in order to .

A. indicate that global warming influences animals' hibernation

B. explain that the weather gets warmer and warmer now

C. show that the weather in the United States is quite different

D. say some animals do not hibernate now due to warm weather

3.Judging from recent observation, which of the following animals suffered the LEAST from shortened hibernation?

A. Brown bears.

B. Marmots.

C. Some snakes in Australia.

D. Chipmunks in the US.

4.Why can't marmots find enough food when they wake up?

A. Because there are too many marmots in the wild now.

B. Because more and more animal species skip hibernation now.

C. Because winter days end much earlier than before.

D. Because plants haven't received enough sunlight for spring growth.

根據(jù)短文內容，從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。(特別提示：請將答案填在答題卷上，并在機讀卡上的相應位置留出空白。)

How to Help Save the Environment

Cleaning up the existing damage to our environment and preventing further destruction is a huge job. It can seem that there is no way one person, especially a young person like you, can make a difference. 1. , starting with changing some simple everyday habits and working with others to spread the importance of protecting the environment. Here are a few suggestions.

Avoid unnecessary driving (or being driven). Every teenager looks forward to a driver’s license and a first car, but automobiles are one of the primary causes of air pollution. If it’s too far to pedal a bike, take a bus or share your car ride with someone else. 2. , but it undoubtedly benefits the environment more.

Unplug electrical equipment when possible. Even when turned off, some appliances may still use power. 3. . So it is best to unplug anything that you do not expect to use in the next 36 hours (or more).

Carry a bag and a reusable water bottle. 4. . On the contrary, plastic bags and disposable bottles may bring convenience to you, but the environmental damage caused by them is almost permanent. Every plastic bottle not made and plastic bag not used helps a little bit.

Raise awareness. Talk to family and friends about simple changes they can make, and why they should do so to help protect the environment. 5. . It’s acceptable to just show them that you have thought a lot about the subject, are passionate about making a difference, and really could use their support.

A. But you can make your contribution

B. This saves you money with fewer trips to the gas station

C. It might not seem as cool as driving yourself

D. They may be the secret sources of the large number on your electric bill

E. This can help start a dialogue in your community about a particular environmental issue

F. You don’t have to give lectures or force them to accept your opinions

G. They don’t take up much space but can prevent a lot of waste

完形填空

One day, my wife suggested that I should spend some time with my mother. My mother lived alone, but the _________ of my work and my three children made it impossible to visit her _________ . When I _________ to invite her to go out for dinner and a _________, she was surprised by my _________ request but agreed with _________ in her voice.

That Friday after work, while I was _________ over to her house, I was a bit _________ . When arriving, I _________ her waiting in the door with her coat on, appearing to be anxious about our date as well. With her hair curled, she was wearing the dress that she had worn on her last wedding _________ . “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were _________ ,” she said proudly, as she got into the car.

We went to a restaurant that, although not _________ , was very nice and cozy. During the dinner, we had a _________ conversation - nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.

As we arrived at her house later, she said firmly, “I'll go out with you again, but _________ you let me invite you.” I agreed.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant _________ from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill _________ . I wasn't sure that I could be there; _________ , I paid for two plates after all — one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night _________ for me. I love you, son.”

At that moment I understood the _________ of saying, in time, “I LOVE YOU.” And to give our loved ones the time they deserve. Because nothing is more important in life than family... and they shouldn't be _________ until “some other time.”

1.A. ordersB.demandsC. suppliesD. worries

2.A. happilyB. recentlyC. casuallyD. frequently

3.A. wroteB. visitedC. calledD. claimed

4.A. partyB. concertC. movieD. theatre

5.A. uncommonB. suddenC. anxiousD. strange

6.A. astonishmentB. sorrowC. embarrassmentD. delight

7.A. walkingB. drivingC. ridingD. coming

8.A. cautiousB. nervousC. excitedD. frightened

9.A. watchedB.imaginedC. noticedD. recognized

10.A. anniversaryB.ceremonyC. dayD. scene

11.A. satisfiedB.doubtfulC. awkwardD. impressed

12.A. hospitableB. elegantC. peacefulD. convenient

13.A. smartB. specialC. politeD. pleasant

14.A. in caseB. even ifC. only ifD. as if

15.A. invitationB.advertisementC. receiptD. application

16.A. on purposeB.in returnC. in advanceD. for long

17.A. thusB.howeverC. meanwhileD. instead

18.A. meantB. didC. introducedD. suggested

19.A. functionB.importanceC. difficultyD. influence

20.A. put backB.put downC. put awayD. put off

語法填空

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當?shù)膬热荩?個單詞）或括號內單詞的正確形式。

Brenda Bongos was an enthusiastic girl 1. dream was to play the drums in a band. But one big problem 2. (lie) in her way. 3. (be) good enough to play in a band, she had to practice a lot, 4. she lived next-door to a lot of old people who she could not afford to annoy. One day, while 5. (watch) a science program on TV, Bongos learned that sound cannot travel in space, because there’s no air. She 6. (immediate) decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.

With the help of a lot of time, books and work, Bongos built a big glass ball 7. (connect) to a machine which sucked out all the air inside so that no sound could escape from it. 8. (wear) the special space suit, she entered the glass ball and played those drums like a wild child. Months 9. , her invention was so famous that the government even suggested she 10. (take) part in a real space journey.