This week at the British Science Festival, Prof Rory Wilson of Swansea University has been revealing (揭示) the secrets of the animal kingdom, including penguins’diving habits and the emotional(情感的) states of elephants.

“The problem with animals is that we often want to know things about them that they don’t want to tell us or that aren’t easy to find out. The only way to do it is to put something on the animal that will accompany it,” Prof Wilson said. Addressing a crowd of journalists, Prof Wilson said his work was all made possible by a small electronic chip (芯片) his team developed specifically to monitor animals in their private hours.

This chip contains pressure, temperature and light sensors—offering an extraordinary view of an animal’s life. The chip, Prof Wilson explained, does exactly what our smartphones or fitness monitors do, continually tracking and recording the wearer’s position and movements. “This is a novel written by an animal. It’s very exciting to be the first person to open that novel.” This earlier chip was about five times larger than the current version, 27mm across and 4mm thick—and weighing 1.2g.

So far the group at Swansea has recorded the lives of more than 1,000 animals and 100 different species. Prof Wilson said the whole enterprise was a team effort. His group consists of academics, postdocs and students, who spend months searching through all the data collected by the chips.

Presenting results from a chip on a penguin in Argentina, he said the penguin was a personal favorite; he still analyzes these birds’ data himself. Looking at the huge screen in Prof Wilson’s lab, we could see the penguin’s individual steps. A change in movement and a drop in temperature indicate the exact moment of a dive into the water. The sensors within the chip are so accurate that they can easily detect behaviors that humans might not notice—even offering deep understanding into some animals’ emotional state.

Think of the way we humans walk. If someone is happy, this can be reflected in our physical behavior—it is often said that they “have a spring in their step”. To observe if this sort of phenomenon also occurs in animals, Prof Wilson’s team analyzed the walking movement of elephants in a zoo. They realized that an elephant walking towards something it liked would walk in a particular way. When that same elephant though was made to go away from the thing it liked, it would walk in a different manner. “How well you can predict the behavior of animals and protect them is dependent on how well you understand the rules by which they’re working.” Prof Wilson said.

1.According to Prof Wilson, what contributes most to his team’s discovery?

A. The cooperation of experts from different fields.

B. The use of a special electronic chip.

C. The personal interest in penguins.

D. The special way of data analysis.

2.It can be learned from the passage that the sensors can ________.

A. evaluate stress resulting from animals’ fighting

B. examine penguins’ unusual behavior while diving

C. distinguish different walking manners of elephants

D. provide information about the animals’ inner feelings

3.Monitoring animals’ behavior helps ________.

A. set rules for them

B. control their behavior

C. change their habits

D. understand and protect them

4.Which is the best title of the passage?

A. Inspiring ‘Novels’ Written by a Group from Swansea University

B. Pioneering ‘Diaries’ Uncover the Secret Lives of Animals

C. Penguins and Elephants Tracked for Emotional State

D. Scientists Made a Breakthrough in Animal Study

Earthquake in Japan.Donald Trump is accused of planting story about actress’s height after she rejected him. Mexico arrests ex-police chief in case of 43 missing students. Do you really need to know all these things?

Three years ago, I began an experiment. I stopped reading all newspapers and magazines. Televisions and radios were rejected. I deleted the news apps from my iPhone. I didn’t touch a single free newspaper and deliberately looked the other way when someone tried to offer me any such reading material. The first weeks were hard. Very hard! I was constantly afraid of missing something. But after a while, I had a new understanding. The result after three years: clearer thoughts, more valuable ideas, better decisions, and much more time. And the best thing? I haven’t missed anything important.

A dozen reasons exist to give news a wide berth. Here are the top three: First, our brain reacts differently to different types of information. Shocking, people-based, fast-changing details all appeal to us. News producers capitalize on this. The result: Everything complex, abstract, and profound(深刻的) must be systematically singled out, even though such stories are much more relevant to our lives and to our understanding of the world. As a result, we walk around with a misrepresented mental map of the risks and threats we actually face.

Second, news is irrelevant. In the past year, you have probably consumed about ten thousand pieces of news. Be very honest: Name one of them, just one that helped you make a better decision—for your life, your career, or your business—compared with not having this piece of news. No one I have asked has been able to name more than two useful news stories—out of ten thousand. News organizations claim that their information gives you a competitive advantage. Too many fall for this. If news really helped people advance, journalists would be at the top of the income pyramid.

Third, news is a waste of time. An average human being spends half a day each week reading about current affairs. This is a huge loss of productivity. Take the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. Let’s say a billion people viewed the minute-by-minute updates and listened to the chatter of a few “experts” and “commentators.” Thus our conservative calculation: One billion people multiplied by an hour’s distraction equals one billion hours of work stoppage. News wasted around two thousand lives—ten times more than the attack.

I would predict that turning your back on news will benefit you as much as removing any of the other ninety-eight errors we have covered in the pages of this book. Read long background articles and books. Nothing beats books for understanding the world.

1.How did the author feel at the beginning of his experiment?

A. He was in constant fear.

B. He enjoyed it very much.

C. He had a better vision about life.

D. He missed his friends and relatives.

2.What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A. Refuse to read news.

B. Select newscarefully.

C. Question news.

D. Help circulate news.

3.In the author’s opinion, news ________.

A. represents a competitive advantage

B. offers a mental map of the world

C. leads to a loss of productivity

D. brings journalists’ income up

4.What’s the main purpose of writing the passage?

A. To offer tips on choosing news.

B. To advocate giving up reading news.

C. To share experiences on avoiding news.

D. To criticize media’s misleading choice of news.

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的七個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Casual Dress in the Workplace

For Ruth, an employee at an insurance company, Friday isn’t just another workday. It is the day when she can wear a sweater and casual trousers instead of business suit. 1. “It is a real treat. It puts us in good mood and winds the week down.” Ruth has joined thousands of workers across the United States who happily change from jackets, ties, and dresses to jeans, polo shirts, and sweaters on Fridays.

Why dress-down Friday? “I think it gives an atmosphere of less formality（正式）,” says President Matthew of Entex Industries. Today, dressing casually on the job is a way to show your company is in style. Another contributor is faxes, voice mail and email, which have reduced public contact. 2.

However, even though dressing down is popular, the trend is controversial. Some workers remain strongly opposed. “You have got all the time in the world to dress down when you retire,” declared one woman. 3. “We had some very important guests come in on a Friday a few months ago,” says another worker. “These people dressed in navy suits. Our people dressed way down. I thought it was embarrassing. It sent the wrong message about our company.” Many people feel that suits, ties and dresses are superior to casual clothes in creating a positive professional image.

4.Some experts think it will go away one day. As long as the trend continues, though, dressing casually can cause a little confusion in the workplace. Business people aren’t sure what to wear, and many people just put on whatever they feel like in the morning. 5. They believe dressing down at work is one of the signs that the society is lowering its standards of everything. Czardas and John T. Malloy, author of Dress for Success, say psychological changes occur when people dress up. “There is no question what you wear affects what you do, your performance, and your attitude,” says Malloy.

A. Will the dress-down trend last?

B. Will dressing casually become popular?

C. The casual dress trend worries some fashion professionals.

D. It is when she feels more confident and gets ready for next promotion.

E. She loves the day away from her usual dressy suits and high-heeled shoes.

F. Others worry that dressing casually lowers an employer’s professional image.

G. With fewer out-of-the-office meetings, people are dressing less to impress and more for comfort.

假設(shè)你是紅星中學(xué)高三學(xué)生李華。你的英國(guó)朋友Jim即將過生日。你打算送給他一件具有中國(guó)特色的禮物。請(qǐng)給他寫封信，內(nèi)容包括：

1. 生日祝福；

2. 禮物介紹；

3. 選擇該禮物的原因。

注意： 1. 詞數(shù)不少于50；

2. 開頭和結(jié)尾已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。

Dear Jim,

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Yours,

Li Hua

假設(shè)你是紅星中學(xué)高三學(xué)生李華。上周，你班同學(xué)為迎接新年的到來，為元旦聯(lián)歡會(huì)精心策劃準(zhǔn)備。請(qǐng)你按照以下四幅圖的先后順序，以“Preparations for New Year’s Party”為題，給�？瘜懸黄�英文稿件，介紹準(zhǔn)備聯(lián)歡會(huì)的全過程。

注意：詞數(shù)不少于60。

（請(qǐng)務(wù)必將情景作文寫在答題卡指定區(qū)域內(nèi)）

近年來，很多父母選擇陪伴孩子讀書學(xué)習(xí)，陪讀已成為一種普遍現(xiàn)象。請(qǐng)你根據(jù)以下要點(diǎn)寫一篇短文，內(nèi)容應(yīng)包括：

1．簡(jiǎn)要描述陪讀現(xiàn)象；2．分析父母陪讀的原因（2至3個(gè)）；3．發(fā)表你對(duì)此的看法。

注意：詞數(shù)120詞左右。

Should Our Parents Accompany Us in Studying at School?

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Everyday Food

by Martha Stewart

No matter how busy you are, at the end of the day you want meals that are easy to prepare. And you want lots of choices and variations. You'll find all of that in this book:

250 simple recipes for delicious meals that bring freshness and nutrition.

Paperback, published by Random House,$16.79

Zeroes

by Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti

New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld teams up with Margo Lanagan and

Deborah Biancotti in the book about six teenagers with amazing abilities. These teenagers have powers that set them apart. They can do things ordinary people can't.

Paperback, published by Simon&Schuster,$12.99

Mrghty Jack

by Ben Hatke

Jaek dislikes summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his sister, Maddy. It's lots of responsibility, and it’s boring, too, because Maddy doesn’t talk. Ever. But one day, at the market, Maddy does talk to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made.

Hardcover, published by First Second,$14.15

Only Daughter

by Anna Snoekstra

She's caught stealing. She’s homeless and on the run. But she happens to look the same as a girl who went missing a decade ago, Rebecca Winter. She assumes Rebecca’s identity, using it as a way out. Little does she know her new life as Rebecca is itself a prison and it looks like a killer might be after her.

Kindle edition, published by Harlequin Enterprises,$8.88

1.Who wrote a book to help you cook a meal?

A. Martha Stewart.

B. Anna Snoekstra.

C. Ben Hatke.

D. Scott Westerfeld.

2.How much should readers pay for a story about a boy's amazing experience?

A.$8.88B$12. 99C.$14. 15D.$16. 79

3.How is Zeroes different from the rest books?

A. It tells a story.

B. It's in paperback.

C. It's quite popular.

D. It's a co-written book.

4.What do we know about Only Daughter?

A. Its heroine enjoys her life on the run.

B. Its heroine lives with a false identity.

C. It provides different kinds of editions.

D. It is written by Harlequin Enterprises.

I remember the first time I got on a horse. When I was a little boy aged two, my mom agreed to let me take a short ride and that was it! From then on, I drove my parents crazy Begging for a horse.

When I was four, I had Mutism, in which children stop speaking in certain social situations. I went days, weeks months without a sound at school. At most, I might quietly whisper to a friend. I suffered silently through school until I was ten when a psychologist had an idea. He asked me what I wanted more than anything else in the world. He explained I was going to be given an opportunity to work for that. And I was permitted to whisper the answer in my mother's ear, "A horse."

I was to get a pony, but I had to live up to my end of the bargain. I had a chart of weekly tasks I had to accomplish. I had to answer the phone five times per week, something I had never done before. I had to say one word to my teacher at school and the list went on. For a child with Mutism, saying one word to someone can be like climbing Mount Qomolangma. I did everything that was asked of me and the day came. His name was Sequoia, whom I fell in love with immediately. When I was in Sequoia's presence, I forgot all about my problems and felt strong and secure.

I am a fully participating member of society these days. My horses and I made it through a master’s degree. I may have made it otherwise, but I’m not sure. I feel I owe my life to the horses and I try to give it back to them every day. They have given me the best gift I could ever imagine, my life.

1.What was the situation like when the author was four?

A. He didn't say a word at all.

B. He learned how to ride a horse.

C. He found his classmates unfriendly.

D. He had difficulty in communicating.

2.What can we infer about the author from Paragraph 3?

A. He completed some tasks easily.

B. He pushed himself extremely hard.

C. He fell in love with Sequoia gradually.

D. He found the psychologist's idea ineffective.

3.What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

A. To share his unfortunate childhood.

B. To give tips on how to cure Mutism.

C. To show his deep gratefulness to horses.

D. To inspire kids struggling against Mutism.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the headache of communicating in a different language?

In a recent Wall Street journal article, technology policy expert Alec Ross argued that, within a decade or so. We’ll be able to communicate with one another via small earpieces with built-in microphones. That's because technological progress is extremely rapid. It’s only a matter of time. Indeed, some parents are so convinced that this technology is imminent that they're wondering if their kids should even learn a second language.

It's true that an increase in the quantity and accuracy of the data loaded into computers will make them cleverer at translating "No es bueno dormir mucho" as "It's not good to sleep too much. " Replacing a word with its equivalent (同義詞) in the target language is actually the "easy part of a translator's job". But even this seems to be a discouraging task for computers.

It’s so difficult for computers because translation doesn't-or shouldn’t-involve simply translating words, sentences or paragraphs. Rather, it’s about translating meaning. And in order to infer meaning from a specific expression, humans have to interpret a mass of information at the same time.

Think about all the related clues that go into understanding an expression: volume, gesture, situation, and even your culture. All are likely to convey as much meaning as the words you use.

Therefore, we should be very skeptical of a machine that is unable to interpret the world around us. If people from different cultures can offend each other without realizing it, how can we expect a machine to do better? Unless engineers actually find a way to breathe a soul into a computer, undoubtedly when it comes to conveying and interpreting meaning using a natural language, a machine will never fully take our place.

1.What does the underlined word "imminent" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Ready.B. Approaching.C. Helpful.D. Advanced.

2.Why is it hard for computers to replace a word with its equivalent?

A. Their data is not adequate enough.

B, The real meaning of words can vary.

C. Their accuracy needs big improvement.

D, A soul hasn't been breathed in them.

3.What view does the author hold about translation?

A. Proper translation can be tough for humans.

B. Slight distinctions matter little in translation.

C. Some machines will interpret our world properly.

D. Cultures deserve more attention than words used.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A. An Expert's Precise Prediction

B. The Complexity of Translation

C. Who Will Be a Better Translator

D. Will Language Barrier Actually Fall

Lucy, whose skeleton(骨骼) was discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, died shortly after she fell out of a tree, according to a new study published Monday in the British journal Nature.

For their research, Kappelman and Dr. Richard Ketcham used a CT scanner to create more than 35,000 "slices" of Lucy's skeleton. Scientists named her Lucy from the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", which was played at the camp the night of her discovery.

The following analysis of the slices showed sharp, clean breaks seen at the end of Lucy's right humerus(肱骨) are similar to bone breaks seen in victims of falls.

The researchers concluded that these and other breaks in her skeleton show that Lucy, who is believed to have stood about 3 feet 6 inches and weighed about 60 pounds, fell feet first and used her arms to support herself — but that the injury was too severe to have been survivable.

The researchers estimate that Lucy was going about 35 miles an hour when she hit the ground after falling from a height of roughly 40 feet, according to the statement.

That sounds plausible. But other scientists are doubtful. "There are countless explanations for bone breaks," Dr, Donald C, Johanson, director of the Institute of Human Origins and one of the scientists who discovered Lucy, said, "The suggestion that she fell out of a tree is largely a just-so story and therefore unprovable." Johanson said it was more likely that Lucy's breaks occurred long after she died, saying that "elephant bones appear to have the same kind of breaks, It's unlikely they fell out of a tree. "

But the new research focused on "a small number of breaks" that are consistent with "high-energy bone-to-bone influences" and which differ from the sorts of breaks commonly seen in other collected bones. Kappelman responded in an email, "These appear to have occurred at or near the time of death."

1.What can we know about Lucy from Kappelman and Dr. Richard Ketcham's research?

A. She got her name from a song.

B. She had more than 35,000 slices.

C. She couldn't use her arms properly.

D. She made an effort to save herself.

2.What does the underlined word "plausible" in Paragraph 6 probably mean?

A. Reasonable.B. Creative.C. Surprising.D. Unbelievable.

3.Which of the following would Johanson probably agree?

A. Elephants are unlikely to die from falling.

B. Lucy got breaks at or near the time of death.

C. Other reasons for the breaks should be considered.

D. Lucy's bone breaks differ from other bone breaks.

4.What conclusion can we draw from the passage?

A. Lucy didn't die from falling out of a tree.

B. The newly published study was meaningless.

C. The argument on how Lucy died will continue.

D. Scientists will find another way to solve the problem.