In the near future, we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets, even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja.
The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years. But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities, and are very expensive.
“After a while, we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way,” says Gaze’s Sune Alstrup Johansen. “where everybody would have this available."
Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company, the Eye Tribe, which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level.
The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user’s face. After making sure of the user’s eye movements, the technology is then able to easily find where a person’s eyes are moving, and then allow the eyes to control a cursor(光標(biāo)).
“Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you’re looking on the screen to make sure what you’re looking at, ” reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site.
There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world. Recently Xbox released the Kinect device, which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands, legs and voices. But still, most of these devices have been more of a gimmick than a practical way to use one’s hands to control a mobile device. Johansen said a replaceable filter(濾光器)would be a cheap, convenient way for most consumers.
And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users.
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小題1:Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?

A．An introduction of eye-controlling technology

B．An introduction of a new device.

C．An introduction of smart-phones

D．An introduction of a new technology for the disabled.

小題2:The underlined word “gimmick” probably means ___________.

A．a(chǎn) way

B．a(chǎn) trick

C．a(chǎn) lie

D．a(chǎn) dream

小題3:According to the passage, we can learn that ___________.

A．the eye-controlling technology was first developed for the blind

B．the present developing of the technology will bring no good

C．the eye-controlling technology is only intended for the disabled people

D．there is no such a phone as we can use only with our eyes at present

小題4:This passage is probably taken from ___________.

A．a(chǎn)n experiment report	B．a(chǎn) science fiction
C．a(chǎn) science website	D．a(chǎn) school textbook

Today, there are many chances for those who wish to continue their education. However, nearly all require some break in one’s career in order to attend school full time.    　　
Part-time education, that is, attending school at night or for one weekend a month, tends to drag the process out over time and puts the completion of a degree program out of reach of many people. Additionally, such programs require a fixed time commitment which can also impact negatively on one’s career and family time. 
Of the many approaches to teaching and learning, however, perhaps the most flexible (靈活的) is that called distance learning. Distance learning is an educational method which allows the students the flexibility to study at his or her own pace to achieve the academic goals which are so necessary in today’s world. The time required to study may be set aside at the student’s convenience. Additionally, the student may enroll in distance learning courses from actually any place in the world, while continuing to pursue their chosen career. Individual assistance may be available via regular airmail, telephone, fax machine, teleconferencing and over the Internet.
Good distance learning programs are characterized by the inclusion of a subject evaluation tool with every subject, so a student doesn’t need to travel away from home to take a test. Another characteristic of a good distance learning program is the equivalence (等同) of the distance learning course with the same subject materials as those students taking the course on the home campus. The resultant diploma or degree should also be the same whether distance learning or on-campus study is employed. The individuality of the professor/student relationship is another characteristic of a good distance learning program. In the final analysis, a good distance learning program has a place not only for the individual student but also the company or business that wants to work in partnership with their employees for the educational benefit, professional development, and business growth of the organization. Supporting distance learning programs for their employees gives the business the advantage of retaining (留住) career-minded people while contributing to their personal and professional growth through education. 　　
小題1:According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a disadvantage of part time education?

A．It requires some break in one’s career.

B．It tends to last too long for many people to complete a degree program.

C．It affects one’s career.

D．It gives the student less time to share with the family.

小題2: Which of the following is NOT an advantage of distance learning?  　

A．The student may choose his or her own pace.

B．The student may study at his or her convenience.

C．They can pursue their chosen career while studying.

D．Individual assistance comes through regular airmail, telephone and fax machine.

小題3:What benefit will distance learning program bring to a business?   　　

A．Attracting more talented people.

B．Good image of the business.

C．Better cooperation with universities.

D．Further training of employees and business growth.

小題4: Good distance learning program have the following characteristics EXCEPT _______.    　　

A．distance learning course is the same as students taking courses on campus

B．the diploma or degree should be the same as on campus study

C．professor-student relationship is strictly one to one all through the course

D．includes subject evaluation tool

小題5:What benefit will distance learning bring to an employee of a business?    　　

A．Higher salary.

B．Professional growth.

C．Good impression on the employer.

D．Good relationship with the employer.

Online Degrees
Today, you can earn a degree from a major university without ever having sat in one of their classrooms. Many colleges and universities are offering online courses and degree programs now.
Online Learning Programs
With a computer and an Internet connection, you can earn a degree from home, work, or anywhere else for that matter. Online degree programs follow much the same routines as traditional learning, with a few twists. There are lectures, but they won't be in person. There are assignments (作業(yè)) , but you won't hand them to your instructor. In most situations, you are free to "go to class" when it fits your"schedule. If you get a phone call during class, you don't have to miss anything. If you get sick, you don't have to ask for someone's notes, and you just visit the lecture later.
You'll communicate with your instructor by e-mail, chat room and instant messaging. Your  classroom will live in a special software program. Contrary to popular belief, you will have close  contact with other students and the instructor.
Evaluating the Program
There are a lot of questions to ask before you make your selection, such as:
How do students interact with each other?
★Online programs can use chat rooms, instant messaging, teleconferencing, and video conferencing to communicate. The key is to find a program that has this interaction built into it and even requires it.
★What kind of reputation does the school have?
It may seem simple-a good school will have a good online program. This reputation,however, may not be as straightforward as you think. It's not uncommon for a great school to have a weak program or two. So you'd better look at the overall quality of the school and make a judgment.
The Employers' View
As more and more employees get online degrees and use them in the workforce(職場(chǎng)) ,  hiring managers will begin to feel more secure about the quality of education these people have.
小題1:In which way is online education special?

A．If you get sick, you'll miss the lecture.

B．There are lectures, but you don't need to meet the lecturers.

C．If you get a phone call during class, you will miss something.

D．There are assignments, and you must hand them to your instructor.

小題2:What is the most important part of online communication?

A．To use e-mails.

B．To look for a program with interaction.

C．To use chat rooms and instant messaging.

D．To use teleconferencing and video conferencing.

小題3:For whom is the passage probably written?

A．College students.	B．Hiring managers.
C．Adult students.	D．High school students.

Baekeland and Hartmann report that the " short sleepers"  had been more or less average in  their sleep needs until the men were in their teens. But at about age 15 0r so, the men voluntarily  began cutting down their nightly sleep time because of pressures from school, work, and other  activities. These men tended to regard their nightly periods of unconsciousness as bothersome interruptions in their daily routines.
In general, these "short sleepers" appeared ambitious, active, energetic and cheerful. They  stuck to their opinions, and were very sure about their job choices..They often held several jobs at  once, or worked full-or part-time while going to school. And many of them had a strong urge to appear "normal"  or " acceptable"  to their friends and colleagues.
When asked to remember their dreams,  the " short sleepers"  did poorly. More than this,  they seemed to prefer not remembering. Similarly, their usual way of dealing with psychological problems was not to admit that the problem existed, and then to keep busy in the hope that the trouble would go away.
The sleep patterns of the " short sleepers"  were similar to,  but less extreme than,  sleep patterns shown by many mental patients categorized as manic  (躁狂者).
The "long sleepers" were quite different indeed. Baekeland and Hanmann report that these young men have been lengthy sleepers since childhood. They seemed to enjoy their sleep, protected it, and were quite concemed when sometimes they didn't have their desired 9 hours of nightly bed rest. They tended to remember their dreams much better than the  " short sleepers".      Many of the "long sleepers" were shy, anxious, quiet, nervous, passive, mildly depressed, and unsure of themselves ( particularly in social situations) . Several openly stated that sleep was an escape from their daily problems.
小題1:From the passage, we can leam that           .

A．"short sleepers" need less sleep by nature

B．"long sleepers" sleep a longer period of time during the day

C．many "long sleepers" preserve their sleeping habit formed during their childhood

D．many " short sleepers" have to reduce their nightly sleep time because of busy work

小題2:Many "short sleepers" are likely to hold the view that _____.

A．sleep is a good way to escape from the reality

B．sleep is not so important as their daily activities

C．sleep affects their judgment on some important things

D．sleep is the best way to deal with psychological troubles

小題3: It can be learned from the passage that the"short sleepers" _____.

A．do not know how to relax properly

B．a(chǎn)re more unlikely to run into mental problems

C．a(chǎn)re full of energy even under the pressures of life

D．often pay little attention to the consequences of inadequate sleep

小題4: When sometimes they cannot enjoy adequate sleep, the "long sleepers" might ______.

A．a(chǎn)ppear disturbed	B．become energetic
C．feel dissatisfied	D．be extremely unhappy

Black Box
You never see them, but they're with you every time you fly. They record where you're going,how fast you're traveling and whether everything on your airplane is functioning normally. Their ability to resist almost any disaster makes them seem like something out of a comic (漫畫)  book.They're known as the black box.
When planes fall from the sky, as a Yemeni airliner did on its way to the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean on June 30, 2009, the black box is the best method for identifying what went wrong. So when a French submarine(潛水艇)  discovered its homing signal five days later, it marked a huge step toward determining the cause of the disaster in which 152 passengers were killed.
In 1958. Australian scientist David Warren developed a flight-memory recorder that would track basic information like altitude and direction. That was the first model for a black box, which became a requirement on all US commercial flights by 1960. Early models often failed to resist crashes, however, so in 1965 it was completely redesigned. That same year, the Federal Aviation Authority required that the boxes, which were never actually black, be painted orange or yellow to be easier to see.
Modem airplanes have two black boxes: a voice recorder, which tracks pilots' conversations, and a flight-data recorder, which monitors fuel levels, engine noises and other operating functions that help experts reconstruct the aircraft's final moments. The boxes can resist powerful force and temperatures up t0 2,OOOoF. They're also able to send out signals from depths of 20,000 ft. Experts believe the boxes from Air France Flight 447 ,  which crashed near Brazil on June 1 , 2009 ,  are in water nearly that deep, but statistics say they're still likely to turn up. In the approximately 20 deep-sea crashes over the past 30 years, only one plane's black boxes were never recovered.
小題1:What can we leam about the black box from the passage?

A．It helps an airplane function normally.

B．Its ability to avoid disasters is amazing.

C．It is necessary equipment on an airplane.

D．The idea for its design comes from a comic book.

小題2:From the black box on the Yemeni airliner we can get information about _____.

A．the scene of the crash and the damage

B．data for analyzing the cause of the crash

C．the total number of passengers on board

D．homing signals sent by the pilot before the crash

小題3:The Federal Aviation Authority required the black boxes be painted orange or yellow to

A．make them easily identified

B．meet the international standards

C．caution people to handle them with care

D．distinguish them from the color of the plane

小題4:What do we know about the black boxes from Air France Flight 447?

A．They have stopped sending homing signals.

B．They were destroyed somewhere near Brazil.

C．There is an urgent need for them to be restructured.

D．There is still a good chance of their being recovered.

Retail therapy（購物療法）has long been considered as a good way to let off stress. Now, US scientists have discovered not only does retail therapy exist，but that it could be caused by an individual's fear of sudden death.
Researchers found materialistic people thought terrorism and war more stressful than others.
Psychologists believe the rise of materialism around the world and its treatment effect on extreme stress might be a response to fear of death caused by acts of terrorism, disease and natural disasters.
The scientists from Michigan State University said people with possession obsessions（妄想）often have lower self-esteem than others so are more likely to shop as the result of severe psychological suffering.
Ayalla Ruvio，a business professor studying people's shopping habits while rockets fell in Israel, said, "When the going gets tough, the materialistic people go shopping. This stress spending is likely to produce even greater stress and lower well-being. Essentially, materialism appears to make bad events even worse.
Dr Ruvio led a two-part study of Israeli citizens living in a town that came under extreme rocket attacks for about six months in 2007. She compared 139 residents of the southern town with 170 from another town that was not under attack to see how their symptoms of post-traumatic stress and shopping habits varied. Dr Ruvio found that, when faced with a deadly threat, those who are highly materialistic suffered much higher levels of stress，while their tendency to shop was increased.
Dr Ruvio said, "The relationship between materialism and stress may be more harmful than commonly thought.”
The second stage of their research surveyed 855 Americans about their materialistic nature and fear of death. They found shopping was used to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety about death but this was in response to fear of a variety of life-threatening events like car accidents, criminal attacks and natural disasters.
小題1:Which of the following opinion is NOT right according to the text?

A．Terrorism is believed to easily cause the rise of materialism.

B．The materialistic find terrorism and war more stressful than others.

C．The scientists think possession obsessions help people get self-respect.

D．The scientists think people with possession obsessions suffer a lot mentally.

小題2:Why did Dr Ruvio choose to study the two groups of Israeli citizens mentioned in the passage?

A．They enjoy the special shopping culture.

B．The stresses they face are usually deadly.

C．They are in different situation in terms of war.

D．They are usually active participants for researchers.

小題3:What's the result about Dr Ruvio's research?

A．Impulsive spending does good to people's health.

B．Shopping can't lower one's stress as it is expected.

C．Faced with great stress, people feel hopeless for life.

D．Faced with threat，people's wish to shop will decrease.

小題4:Which of the following events threaten people's life?
①Greater stress; ②Car accidents; ③Criminal attacks；. ④Natural disasters;

A．①②③

B．②③④

C．①②④

D．①③④

小題5:What's the main idea of the passage?

A．Greater stress can lead to shopping.

B．Greater stress can cause a lot of diseases

C．Shopping is very important in people's life.

D．Can shopping reduce the stress and relieve the fear of death?

About 35 percent of British adults sleep with teddy bears. Many more share a bed with a partner or spouse. Others still co - sleep, alongside children in a family bed.
But lying with your iPad? A recent survey by marketing agency Rosette found that 68 percent of tablet owners use the device in the bedroom, more than in any other location. The living room took a close second place, at 63 percent, reports AdAge. com, and only 45 percent of respondents said they use their tablets on the go.
But bringing devices into the bedroom is a bad idea, if quality rest is your goal. One of the most important factors of sleepiness is darkness, which signals to the brain that it’s time to start speeding up production of the sleep - inducing hormone melatonin. But as the New York Times points out, in our modern world, we are exposed to light long after the sun sets. While any type of light can disturb your sleep, the blue wavelength light given off by cell phones, laptops, tablets and other gadgets is particularly troublesome. Research shows that this blue light causes alertness so decisively that it can actually be used to fight tiredness.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 95 percent of Americans use some device, whether it’s a TV, laptop, cell phone or other products, within an hour of killing time. “Artificial light exposure between dusk and the time we go to bed at night push our sleeping sense to a later hour - making it more difficult to fall asleep,” said Charles Czeisler, Ph. D. , M. D. , chief of the division of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Instead, experts recommend turning off all devices an hour before bedtime and finding another method for relaxation, like reading a book, taking a warm bath or performing a series of calming yoga poses. It’s also a good idea to exercise and lay off the caffeine several hours before bedtime.
小題1: According to a recent survey, most tablet owners use their iPad ________.

A．in the living room	B．in the bedroom
C．in the office	D．on the move

小題2: What can we know from this passage?

A．The light from cell phones is harmful

B．Modern people have trouble falling asleep

C．Darkness can create a good sleeping environment

D．Blue light can prevent sleepiness decreasing

小題3:If we often play with a laptop just before sleep, we’ll be more likely to ________.

A．dream of it

B．stay awake

C．feel sleepy

D．become tired

  In my last essay, I wrote briefly about a bathtub in the classroom. What really was the use of that bathtub? “Guys, it is Reading Workshop time now. When I call your table, get your things, please!” said Mrs. Toalson. She was holding a cup that had many sticks in it; on every stick was written each student’s name and table number.
What does she mean? Probably books, I thought. Mrs. Toalson picked a stick out of the cup and said, “Okay, Aniqa’s table; Table Two, you may get your things. ”Then my four classmates ran for the cushions（墊子）in the bathtub. Mrs. Toalson kept picking sticks and calling out different table numbers. On hearing their numbers, students would run to get cushions. Because there were not enough cushions for everyone, the last to be called had to go without. Those students sighed, “Oh! They are the lucky ones.”
Finally, Mrs. Toalson picked the last stick ; what is she going to do now?
“Kate, you may use the bathtub. ” Mrs. Toalson said. Gosh! Use the bathtub? Is Kate going to take a bath, I wondered. Kate is the girl who had pretty brown hair. She ran happily with her book to the bathtub and lay down in it. As she read, she hugged a teddy bear. I think it must be comfortable reading in a bathtub.
Except for lucky Kate, everybody had to read elsewhere. Some were sitting on the seats, some were lying down under the table, and everybody’s reading pose（姿勢(shì)）was different.
Just then, my friend found me sitting at my table quietly, not doing anything. She said, “Mary, let me find you a book. ” I nodded. Then she led me to a comer of the classroom where the book-shelf was and picked a picture book for me.
Regina thought that it would be more fun to read outside on the grass. What a great idea! The next day our whole class went to the park across the street from our school. As we read, animals such as squirrels ran around us. It was amazing !
小題1: In Mrs. Toalson’s Reading Workshop, every student can learn _________.

A．briefly

B．comfortably

C．quickly

D．eagerly

小題2: Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?

A．Mrs. Toalson told the student to sit in the bathtub as a punishment.

B．The student who used the bathtub in that class was thought to be unlucky.

C．Not every student can get a cushion in Mrs. Toalson’s Reading Workshop.

D．In Mrs. Toalson’s Reading Workshop, only the best student can lie down reading.

小題3: Who got the chance to use the bathtub in that class?

A．A student whose table was last called.

B．The student who sat at the table quietly.

C．The student who got the last cushion.

D．A student whose table was first called.

小題4: The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．tell us how to use a bathtub in the classroom

B．introduce us a new way of teaching style

C．teach us how to organize reading activifies in class

D．show us the importance of reading poses

It is often said that man has become the enemy of our planet. This is no exaggeration(夸張), for reports show that man’s greed has done much to destroy the earth. Man, in his greedy desire for financial growth, has polluted the air, land and water, and has robbed our valuable natural resources. Man’s industrial plants pour out poisonous waste that pollutes the sea and puts life in the sea under the threat of dying out; at the same time, they release alarming amounts of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants. Small wonder that the air now is much warmer and more impure than ever before.
Of course, this is not just because of man’s greed—it is man’s pressing need as well. For instance, in developing countries, huge financial foreign debts have forced governments to approve the cutting of forests for agriculture or ranching. As a result, forests are cut down just to meet man’s immediate needs.
Perhaps unknowingly，man has changed the make-up of the earth's atmosphere. Scientific studies have shown that CFCs used in refrigerators and industrial cleaners are fast destroying the ozone layer—a protective layer in the atmosphere that protects us against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (紫外線)rays. In fact, documented reports have shown a terrible fact that there are “holes” in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. And they appear to be expanding.
Faced with these environmental problems, world leaders have shown deep concern. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) has arranged international agreements like the Vienna convention of 1985 and the Montreal Protocol of 1989 to preserve the ozone layer by controlling the production, use and trade of destructive chemicals.
There may be some doubt as to how effectual these agreements may be, given that some countries still maintain an “I-don’t-care” attitude. Their attitude is probably due to their failure to grasp the importance of the problem. Then, there is no doubt that environmental education on an international scale（規(guī)模）is greatly needed, so that all countries, great and small—the “haves” and the “have nots”—may realize their responsibilities for our planet.
In the meantime, the UNEP seems to have taken steps in the right direction, and it is hoped that in the not so distant future, all nations of the world will join hands in saving mother earth.
小題1:Which of the following is a reason for the cutting and burning of forests?

A．To build houses for more population.	B．To have land for agriculture.
C．To export trees to other countries.	D．To build industrial plants.

小題2:The holes in the ozone layer are largely due to________.

A．man’s research activities	B．the greenhouse effect
C．the ultraviolent	D．harmful chemicals

小題3:Why don’t some countries care about the problem of the environment?

A．They don’t want to put their lives in danger.

B．They just don’t know how to solve the problem.

C．They haven’t realized the seriousness of the problem.

D．They don’t want to break their international commitment.

小題4:66. What is the author’s attitude towards the future of the environment?

A．Hopeful.

B．Unconcerned

C．Doubtful

D．Objective

Of all the websites, one that has attracted attention recently is myspace.com. Most of this attention has come from the media and tells every reason why the website should be shut down. The danger of internet predators(竊掠者) is indeed a tough reality, but shutting down the site is not the answer. If myspace.com were shut down, another site would quickly take its place. Therefore, the right way is to teach teens how to use the site safely and educate them about who may be predators and how to avoid them.
The key to staying safe on the Internet is to make sure that your profile(個(gè)人資料) is secure. The simplest way is to change the privacy setting on your profile to “private”, which protects your information so that only the people on your friend list can view it. Although this is effective, it is not perfect. Predators can find ways to view your profile if they really want to, whether through hacking(非法侵入) in or figuring out their way onto your friend list. Thus, you should never post too much personal information. Some people actually post their home and school addresses, date of birth, and other personal information, often letting predators know exactly where they will be and when. The safest information is your first name and province. Anything more is basically inviting a predator into your life.
Another big problem is photos. I suggest completely skipping photos and never posting a photo of a friend online without asking permission.
Most importantly, never, under any circumstances, agree to a real-life meeting with anyone you meet online. No matter how well you think you know this person, there are no guarantees that they have told the truth. But you could feel free to chat with people you meet on the site, but just remember that not everyone is who they say they are. Hopefully, the next time you edit your profile, you’ll be more informed about the dangers of Internet predators and take the steps to defend yourself.
Lastly, do not send money to anyone you meet online. A common scam among Internet criminals is to request to pay for “expensive Internet charges” or “unreasonable Internet cafe fees”. While it is indeed true that many countries in Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and South America do not yet have Internet service readily available in all cities and towns, a sincere friend from one of these countries will be more than happy to pay their own Internet charges. Never, under any circumstances, should you send money to a stranger from another country(or within your own country for that matter) who claims monetary assistance is required to continue their contact with you.
小題1:Kids can avoid web predators successfully by________.

A．a(chǎn)ttracting more public attention

B．shutting down the “myspace.com”

C．learning different ways to try other sites

D．recognizing and getting away from them

小題2:68. We can learn from the text that________.

A．everybody you meet online isn’t honest and reliable

B．it is not acceptable to post a photo of a friend online

C．it is not safe to chat with grown-ups on the website

D．only you and your friends can view your personal profile

小題3:What does the underlined word “scam” in the last paragraph mean?

A．A thing that you can have two choices.

B．An unpleasant task that tests one’s ability.

C．A possibility of something happening.

D．An illegal plan for making money.

小題4:What could be the best title of this passage?

A．Personal Safety.	B．Web Safety for Teens.
C．Web Hackers in the past.	D．Predators’ Tricks.