“Racism (種族歧視) is a grown-up disease,” declares the saying on Ruby Bridge’s website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school.
Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance (不寬容) of all kinds. Ruby’s photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, “The Problem We All Live With.”
Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic． But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect.
“The Problem We All Live With” belongs to Rockwell’s later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch (草圖) shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched． The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected．
【小題1】Ruby Nell was protected by officers on her way to school, because   .

A．she was a little fighter against racism

B．she was very young, short and timid

C．she was the first black to study in an all-white school

D．she was chosen by the com t0be’wi’th white children

【小題2】According to the passage, “The Problem We All Live With” is a(n)     .

A．social program for American children

B．famous painting by Norman Rockwell

C．photo displayed on Ruby Bridges’ website

D．exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum

【小題3】The word “desegregate” in paragraph 2 probably means“   ”.

A．fight against the white	B．end racial separation
C．struggle for freedom	D．stop the black-white conflict

【小題4】The main topic of this passage is   .

A．how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism

B．how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school

C．how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work

D．how persuasive Rockwell’s earlier work of art is

Cellphones: is there a cancer link?
Could your cellphone give you cancer? Whether it could or not, some people are worrying about the possibility that phones, power lines and wi-fi could be responsible for a range of illnesses, from rashes to brain tumors.
Some say there is evidence to support the growing anxieties. David Carpenter, a professor of environmental health sciences at the university at Albany, in New York, thinks there’s a greater than 95 percent chance that power lines can cause childhood leukemia(白血病). Also there’s a greater than 90 percent chance that cellphones can cause brain tumors. “It’s apparent now that there’s a real risk,” said Carpenter.
But others believe these concerns are unjustified. Dr Martha Linet, the head of radiation epidemiology(流行病學(xué)) at the US National Cancer Institute, has looked at the same research as Carpenter but has reached a different conclusion. “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” said Linet. “We don’t have the evidence that there’s much danger.”
Studies so far suggest a weak connection between EMFs(電磁場) and illness — so weak that it might not exist at all. A multinational investigation of cellphones and brain cancer, in 13 countries outside the US, has been underway for several years. It’s funded in part by the European Union, in part by a cellphone industry group. The final report should come out later this year, but data so far don’t suggest a strong link between cellphone use and cancer risk.
【小題1】From the passage we can learn that some people are worried because   .

A．they have evidence the use of cellphone can lead to cancer.

B．they make a fuss over cellphone use.

C．some expert has given a warning.

D．cellphones are responsible for brain tumors.

【小題2】By saying “I don’t support warning labels for cellphones,” Dr Martha Linet has the idea that   .

A．the worrying is unnecessary.

B．cancer-warning labels should be on cellphones.

C．there is a link between cellphones and cancer.

D．cellphones have nothing to do with cancer.

【小題3】The underlined word “underway” is closest in meaning to   .

A．started.

B．kept on.

C．gone on.

D．in progress.

【小題4】Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards the debate?

A．Optimistic.

B．Objective.

C．Disapproving.

D．Casual.

Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices． The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone． Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security．

    Allan Friedman, the research director, says, “All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks． This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it． Law enforcement（執(zhí)法） agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data． And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information．

    Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices． They said Apple’s newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information． The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded （上傳） to any computer that the device is connected to． The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer．

Allan Friedman says, “This raises additional concerns． There’s the idea that because it’s on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications（惡意程序） that I pay for or that I’m tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it．”

Apple says it is “not tracking the location of your iPhone”． It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cellphone towers near the user’s location． This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed．

Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google． The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems． Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws． He says, “There aren’t strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it． And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?”

1.Why did American lawmakers investigate the use of location-tracking systems on cell-phones?

A.Because the systems can store users’ information

B.Because many users have suffered loss after using them．

C.Because it is thought to threaten users’ privacy．

D.Because many reporters have shown the problem of the systems．

2. Allan Friedman believes that ________．

A.wireless companies focus on personal privacy．

B.people are forbidden to get access to private data at will

C.phone companies may sell private information secretly

D.customers may ask wireless companies to locate their tracking

3. What do we know from Paragraph 3?

    A．  Location tracking information is stored online．

B.Apple’s newest operating systems collect all kinds of information．

C.Location tracking information may be uploaded to any iPhone．

D.Apple’s newest operating systems may reveal the private information of users．

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

A.Apple denies that it tracks the location of users．

B.The researchers may misunderstand the Apple’s systems．[來源:Z,xx,k.Com]

C.The global positioning system is to blame for rogue applications．

D.The iPhone can quickly find its location by using its user’s information．

 

“Racism (種族歧視) is a grown-up disease,” declares the saying on Ruby Bridge’s website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school.

Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance (不寬容) of all kinds. Ruby’s photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, “The Problem We All Live With.”

Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic． But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect.

“The Problem We All Live With” belongs to Rockwell’s later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch (草圖) shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched． The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected．

1.Ruby Nell was protected by officers on her way to school, because   .

A．she was a little fighter against racism

B．she was very young, short and timid

C．she was the first black to study in an all-white school

D．she was chosen by the com t0be’wi’th white children

2.According to the passage, “The Problem We All Live With” is a(n)     .

A．social program for American children

B．famous painting by Norman Rockwell

C．photo displayed on Ruby Bridges’ website

D．exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum

3.The word “desegregate” in paragraph 2 probably means“   ”.

A．fight against the white	B．end racial separation
C．struggle for freedom	D．stop the black-white conflict

4.The main topic of this passage is   .

A．how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism

B．how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school

C．how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work

D．how persuasive Rockwell’s earlier work of art is

 

BEIJING—Apple Inc. is one step closer to beginning sales of iPad2 tablet computers with cellular  network compatibility （兼容） for the first time in the Chinese mainland, where the consumer-electronics giant is in the midst of an aggressive expansion．
According to China’s Telecommunication Equipment Certification Center, a device by Apple with third-generation high-speed wireless data capabilities was issued the network access license needed for the company to begin official sales in China．The device, listed under model number “A1396”, is compatible with the 3G standard WCDMA, and would work with the cellular network operated by Apple’s local iPhone partner, China Unicom （Hong Kong） Ltd．
China Unicom declined  to comment．
Apple already offers the 3G iPad2 in Hong Kong through its partners, but currently only offers Wi-Fi versions of the device in the Chinese mainland．Still, consumers in China, which according to research firm IDC surpassed  the US as the world’s largest PC market in the second quarter, have been purchasing 3G tablets through unofficial channels．
Separately, Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu said Sept 6 that the company’s first Hong Kong store, set to open this quarter, will be located in the city’s central shopping and business district in the International Finance Center’s upscale （高檔的） IFC mall, a commercial center and sightseeing spot along the city’s waterfront．Wu also said that Apple is planning a new store in Shanghai later this quarter, which will be its biggest store in China．She declined to give more details or to comment on the 3G iPad2．
Apple currently has four full-service Apple stores in the mainland, which receive the most traffic of any Apple stores in the world．The company otherwise relies on resellers to get its products into the market．
The new stores reflect Apple’s confidence in rising demand for its products such as smart phones and tablet computers．Sales in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan helped boost （增長） the company’s third-quarter results, newly appointed Chief Executive Tim Cook said in July．China revenue （收益） surged （激增） six-fold to about $3．8 billion during the three months ended June 25．
“This has been a substantial （重大） opportunity for Apple and I firmly believe that we’re just scratching the surface right now,” Cook said at the time, referring to strong sales in China．“I see an incredible opportunity for Apple there．”
From China Daily 2011-09-08
【小題1】According to the news, which of the following statements is true?

A．WCDMA is not the only 3G standard in the world．

B．Apple Inc. sells its products in the market of the Chinese mainland all by its own stores．

C．The consumers in China can only get iPad2 of Wi-Fi versions．

D．Chinese mainland is the second largest PC market in this year’s second quarter．

【小題2】Which one of the following phrases can replace the underlined word in paragraph 1?

A．in the interests of	B．in the front of
C．in the process of	D．in the case of

【小題3】How many full-service Apple stores in China?

A．4

B．6

C．8

D．Unknown

【小題4】What’s the probable meaning of “six-fold” in the last but one paragraph?

A．six times

B．one-six

C．60 percent

D．2times

【小題5】By saying “we’re just scratching the surface right now”, Cook means ________．

A．they don’t know much about China’s market

B．they will sell more products and gain more profit in China

C．they need to obtain more permission from China’s government

D．they ignored the rural market in China