(BBC)The "father of the personal computer" who kick-started the careers of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen has died at the age of 68. Dr Henry Edward Roberts was the inventor of the Altair 8800, a machine that led to the home computer age.
Gates and Allen contacted Dr Roberts after seeing the machine on the front cover of a magazine and offered to write software for it. The program was known as Altair-Basic, the foundation of Microsoft's business. "Ed was willing to take a chance on us - two young guys interested in computers , and we have always been thankful to him," the Microsoft founders said in a statement.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak told technology website CNET that Dr Roberts had taken " a critically important step that led to everything we have today".
Dr Roberts was the founder of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), originally set up to sell electronics parts to model rocket hobbyists. The company went on to sell electronic calculator parts, but was soon overshadowed by bigger firms.
In the mid-1970's, with the firm struggling with debt, Dr Roberts began to develop a computer kit(配套零件) for hobbyists. The result was the Altair 8800. The $395 kit (around £1,000 today) was featured on the cover of Popular Electronics in 1975, resulting in a flood of orders.
Amongst those interested in the machine were Paul Allen and Bill Gates. The pair contacted Dr Roberts, offering to write software that would help people program the machine. The pair finally moved to Albuquerque - the home of MITS - where they founded Micro-Soft, to develop their software.
Dr Roberts sold his company in 1977. He died in hospital on 1 April after a long period of pneumonia.(肺炎)
小題1:Why did Dr Roberts probably decide to sell his company?
A.Because he was in heavy debt in the mid-1980's .
B.Because he wanted to take a chance on Gates and Allen.
C.Because he wanted to develop a computer kit for hobbyists.
D.Because he had difficulty competing with big companies.
小題2:What do we know about MITS?
A.It was set up by Steve Wozniak.
B.It sold electronics parts to big firms.
C.It is located in Albuquerque.
D.It is a technology website.
小題3:We can learn that Popular Electronics is likely to be  ____.
A.a(chǎn) newspaperB.a(chǎn) magazineC.a(chǎn) Website D.a(chǎn)n organization
小題4:What is the best title of this passage?
A.The story of the Altair 8800
B.The founder of MITS
C.Father of the personal computer died
D.The story of Dr Roberts

小題1:D
小題2:C
小題3:B
小題4:C
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


The devastation of Typhoon Morakot over Taiwan and eastern China is a reminder that the northwest Pacific is the most dangerous region in the world for tropical storms.The worst of these are typhoons, which are the same as hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific, or cyclones in the Indian Ocean and Australia.They all have winds of more than 118km/h (73mph) spinning around a central core.
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B.How is the typhoon formed?
C.Typhoon Morakot was how to devestate the areas it travelled
D.How terrible is Typhoon Morakat!
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Over 70 percent of the "double single-child couples" in China need help from their parents in taking care of their own kids, according to a recent survey.
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The parents of the "single-child" generation focused more on their children's physical well-being rather than their attitudes and values, according to some psychologists.
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小題2:Which of the following is NOT supported by the passage?
A.The majority of the "double single-child couples" in China depend much on their parents.
B.The parents of the “single-child” generation more care about their study and education.
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A.They are single child in either family and independent of their parents
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BEIJING, Nov. 26—U.S. dollar hit another record low against the euro on Friday, with the European currency climbing above $1.32 for the first time. The green-back fell to its lowest in nearly five years against the yen the same day.
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64. What does “the green-back” refer to in the first paragraph?
A. U.S. dollar                                           B. Another record
C. The euro                                              D. European currency
65. How did Sadakazu Tanigaki feel about dollar weakness?
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

On April 24th, another natural disaster—the oil spill(泄露) in the Gulf of Mexico, happened. Millions of dollars have been used to help stop the spill and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil.Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea.
But governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage.Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run.
Of all of today’s environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious.Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material.In the end, it breaks down naturally.In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Scilly Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tones of oil into the ocean.If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened.      
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A.Oil spills pollution.B.What oil pollution is.
C.Oil tanker accidents.D.How to reduce oil pollution.
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C.By giving an example.D.By drawing a diagram(圖表).
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B.Poisonous oil breaking down naturally.
C.Millions of tons of oil spilling into the sea.
D.More environmental damage being caused.
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A.We should build safer tankers in the near future.
B.We should develop new technologies to cut oil use.
C.Tankers should not be allowed to sail near the coastlines.
D.Countries should build more oil pipelines under the sea.
小題5:Where can you read this article?
A.In a story book.
B.In a science magazine.
C.In a novel.
D.In a brochure.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The Kingdome in Seattle was destroyed on March 26,2000.It was taken down to make room for a new stadium.The blast(爆破)from the failing building caused the earth to shake as if an earthquake had happened.

Scientists placed more than 200 earthquake recorders in the earth to measure the movement.They found which parts of the
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A real earthquake happened on February 28, 2001 in Seattle.The Nisqually earthquake was 6.8 on the Richter scale(里氏6.8級).It damaged the same parts of Seattle that scientists had predicted from the pulling down of the Kingdome.It was a plate quake.It started deep in the earth, 37 miles below the surface on the Juan de Fuca Plate.Sometimes,huge plates under the earth cause earthquakes when the plates move against each other suddenly.
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Scientists plan to blast in the ground near Seattle with the purpose of testing the plate.The shockwaves from the blast will jump off the plate and give them all idea of where the plate is and how it is moving.This will give them more information in case another real earthquake hits the area.
56.Why were the scientists interested in the pulling down of the Seattle Kingdome?
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B.To see which areas near the Kingdome would shake the hardest.
C.To measure the movement of the Earth with earthquake recorders.
D.All of the above.
57.What will happen after a deep earthquake according to the scientists?
A.There will be little damage.       
B.There will be many aftershocks.
C.There will be very few aftershocks. 
D.The Richter scale of the quakes will be 6.8 or more.
58.According to the passage,      have the most aftershocks.
A.deep earthquakes        B.shockwave earthquakes
C.earthquakes close to the surface    D.earthquakes more than 6.8 Richter scale
59.By studying the blast in the ground near Seattle, scientists hope to        
A.destroy the Kingdome
B.learn where the plate is and how it is moving
C.find out how many plates there are in the ground there
D.know which places are likely to have the most damage            

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


B
Hong Kong’s movement has urged the Walt Disney company to cut the maximum number of people allowed into its new park after visitors complained about long queues at trial opening over the weekend.
The park admitted about 30,000 guests on Sunday for a rehearsal, but visitors found themselves waiting in line for up to three hours for some popular rides. Many waited for up to half an hour at fast food outlets.
The park, which was built to take a maximum capacity of 30,000 visitors, officially opens next Monday. But Hong Kong Financial Secretary Heary Tang urged the company to consider lowering the upper limit.
“If it takes in 30,000 people, the queues will be very long and buying lunch would take a very long time,” Tang told reporters late on Monday. “Disney has told us that queues at its other parks are also very long during peak periods, but people may not be used to lining up for so long. So we are discussing with Disney on whether it could manage this more flexibly.”
Asked if the full capacity should be lower than 30,000, he said, “We are now examining this. We should handle it flexibly.”
Disney was not immediately available for comment.
Hong Kong’s government holds a 57 percent stake in the park and Disney owns the rest. The project was launched during a time when Hong Kong was in recession (衰退) and was widely regarded as a best cure to the city’s economic trouble.
The park is expected to draw massive crowds, particularly from Chinese mainland. But, not all news associated with the park has been encouraging.
60.When visitors where lining up for tickets for a long time, they were____.
A.excited     B.upset C.nervous    D.dissatisfied
61.What’s the best title for the passage?
A.HK Disney opens up.
B.HK urges Disney to cut visitors capacity at the new park.
C.HK encourages natives to visit Disney.
D.Disney attracts visitors from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland.
62.By mentioning what Tang said, the author wants to show____.
A.visitors showed great interest in Disney
B.Disney will take some measures to limit visitors
C.why HK governments suggests lowering the number of visitors
D.the HK government tried to co – operate with Disney
63.When HK Disney was launched, ____.
A.people though little of its future development
B.people thought it a way to revive (復(fù)蘇,恢復(fù)) HK’s economy
C.Disney hold belief that it could bring more money
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


C
True End of an Era
SURPRISE, surprise---David Beckham is in the news again! Sure, the England football star was never one to shy away from the headlines. But this time it seems people are talking as much about what Beckham is not doing as what he is.
Beckham won’t be playing for England at the 2010 World Cup in South AfricA. An injury he picked up while playing for AC Milan will likely rule the 34-year-old out for four months. It could be a sad end to the career of a player who has given his all to England since his debut (首次登場) in 1996. But rather than feeling sorry for the loss, some people are finally calling for us to move on from the Beckham obsession (著迷).
“The romantic wish of him seizing the day and inspiring England to glory was poppycock (胡扯),” according to an editorial in the Guardian. It argued that Beckham is past his best and would only have played a minor role at the World Cup anyway. But you might not have guessed it from the reaction of the rest of England.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent Beckham a “get well soon” message, and a Scottish poet even wrote a poem about the injury, comparing Beckham to the Greek hero Achilles.
But is it possible to forget about Beckham? Over his career Beckham has embodied (體現(xiàn)) everything the English like to think is good about their country. Beckham was never the most naturally gifted of footballers, but he reached the top through hard work and determination. He never gave up, even when things looked hopeless. And even as a superstar, he never forgot where he came from.
For this, the English took him to their hearts. Not a day goes by without seeing Beckham’s name in the newspapers, but the reality is his fantastic career is coming to the enD.Of course, it is sad that he’ll miss the World Cup, but this is a chance for England to find a new hero.
As a global icon(偶像) we will certainly miss him playing for England in South Africa this summer. But I think it’s time we finally give Beckham a break from the headlines.
Choose the best answer:
66.Which of the following may not be a result of Beckham’s injury?
A.Not being able to take part in the 2010 World Cup in South AfricA.
B.Not being able to play for England for four months.
C.People forgetting him.
D.This injury perhaps ending his career.
67.______ gave Beckham a negative evaluation.
A.Gordon Brown              B.An editorial in the Guardian
C.A Scottish poet              D.Most British people
68.Which is not the reason for it being hard for people to forget Beckham?
A.He has embodied British good characteristics and traits (特征).
B.He is one of the most naturally gifted footballers.
C.He is determined to achieve his goals.
D.He always remembers his country.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


C
Toronto---A pleasant attitude can do wonders for patients’recovery, according to researchers who reviewed 16 studies that looked at patients’ attitudes toward health. The studies lasted 30 years and looked at patients’ attitudes after operation.
“In each case the better a patient’s expectations about how they would do after operation or some health procedure, the better they did,” said the author  Donald Cole,
of the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto.
“This mind-body connection that we have been toying with for the past couple of decades really does have hard science behind it. The result shows that the power of positive thinking is real,” Cole said.
New York-A Pable Picasso painting sold at Christie’s auction house in New York Wednesday for 55-million dollars. The price  set a new auction record for a Picasso,and is the fifth-highest price ever paid for any work of art at auction.
The painting---Woman with her arms crossed---was purchased by an telephone bidder(投標(biāo)者).Painted in 1902 in Barcelona, the portrait is one of the best-known works from what is called Picasso’s blue period.
Christie’s says the painting by the famous Spanish artist is of a quality not seen on the market in more than 10 years.It sold for more than twice its pre-sale estimate.
Xinhua Agency---It had not come up until the very last minute in Premier Wen Jiabao’s two-hour press conference that concludes the annual sessions of the national legislature and political advisory body. But when it did it, it became an immediate catch phrase at home.
“I think fairness and justice are more glorious than the sun.” said Wen, responding to the laast question in yesterday’s press session. Which turned out to be the most-quoted lines in domestic media.
49.News Item 1 intends to make us believe that______.
A.    positive thinking can make people healthy
B.     a better attitude results in a better operation
C.     researchers have observed 16 patients’ recovery during the past 30 years
D.    great attention has been paid to how attitudes affect health
50.Which of the following is NOT true about the painting Woman with her arms crossed?
A.    The painting was once thought to be worth around $25 million.
B.     The painting is one of the most expensive pictures ever sold at auction.
C.     The painting was purchased through telephone.
D.    The painting has not been seen on the market for more than 10 years.
51. “I think fairness and justice are more glorious than the sun.” where does Wen say this?
A.   At an online interview
B.    At a press conference
C.    At a meeting to all the leaders
D.   At a speech in Beijing University

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