Cyberspace,data superhighway,multimedia,for those who have seen the future,and the linking of computers,televisions and telephones will change our lives for ever.Yet for all the talks of a forthcoming technological utopia,little attention has been given to the implications of these developments for the poor.As for all the new high technology,the West concerns itself with the “how”,while the question of “for whom” is put aside once again.
Economists are only now realizing the full extent to which the communication revolution has affected the world economy.Information technology allows the extension of trade across geographical and industrial boundaries,and transnational corporations take full advantage of it. Terms of trade and exchange, interest rates and money movements are more important than the production of goods.The electronic economy made by information technology allows the haves to increase their control on global markets — with a destructive impact on the have-nots.
For them the result is unstable. Developing countries which rely on the production of a small range of goods for export are made to feel like small parts in the international economic machine. As “futures” are traded on computer screens, developing countries simply have less and less control of their destinies.
So what are the options of regaining control?One alternative for developing countries is to buy in the latest computers and telecommunications. Yet this leads to long-term dependency and perhaps permanent constraints on developing countries’ economies.
Communication technology is generally exported from the US, Europe or Japan;the patents, skills and ability remain in the hands of a few industrialized countries. It is also expensive, therefore imported products and services must be bought on credit usually provided by the very countries whose companies stand to gain.
【小題1】 From the passage we know that the development of high technology is in the interests of________.
A.the rich countries | B.scientific development |
C.the local elites | D.the world economy |
A.international trade should be expanded |
B.the interests of the poor countries have not been given enough consideration |
C.the exports of the poor countries should be increased |
D.communication technology in developing countries should be modernized |
A.Because it enables the developed countries to control the international market. |
B.Because it destroys the economic balance of the poor countries. |
C.Because it violates the national boundaries of the poor countries. |
D.Because it inhibits the industrial growth of developing countries. |
A.hinder their industrial production |
B.cause them to lose control of their trade |
C.force them to reduce their share of exports |
D.cost them their economic independence |
A.positive | B.critical |
C.indifferent | D.tolerant |
【小題1】A
【小題2】B
【小題3】A
【小題4】D
【小題5】B
解析【小題1】A
解析 考查推理判斷。文章第一段最后一句指出,西方國家關心的是自己“如何”利用
這些新技術,而這些新技術“為誰”的問題再一次被拋到了一邊;第二段最后一句則說,電子經(jīng)濟讓擁有這項技術的國家加強了對全球市場的控制,而對沒有這一技術的國家產(chǎn)生了破壞性的影響。因此可以推斷出這些技術代表的是西方發(fā)達國家的利益。
【小題2】B
解析 考查推理判斷。文章第一段第二句指出“...little attention has been given to...the poor”,即很少有人注意這些發(fā)展對窮人的意義。而由后文的論述可以看出這里的“窮人”指的就是發(fā)展中國家,因此這句話的意思實際上就是這些發(fā)展并沒有顧及發(fā)展中國家的利益。
【小題3】A
解析 考查細節(jié)理解。根據(jù)第二段最后一句“...allows the haves to increase their control
on global markets...”以及后文的論述可以看出,這里的“the haves”指的就是西方發(fā)達
國家,因此答案為A項。
【小題4】 D
解析 考查細節(jié)理解。文章第四段最后一句說“Yet this leads to long-term dependency...
economies (然而這會導致長期的依賴,也許會對發(fā)展中國家的經(jīng)濟產(chǎn)生永久性的制
約)”,也就是說會使發(fā)展中國家失去經(jīng)濟獨立。
【小題5】答案 B
解析 考查作者態(tài)度。本題較為簡單,通過文中措辭,如第一段“l(fā)ittle attention has...for
the poor”;第二段“Economists are only now realizing...”;第三段“For them the result is
unstable.”等不難看出作者對這種代表著發(fā)達國家利益、不顧及發(fā)展中國家利益的通訊革命是持批評態(tài)度的,故選B;誤選C項和D項是由于不理解詞義所造成的。
科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Back in the early 1900s, American physician Byron Robinson wrote a book proposing an interesting theory: humans actually have two brains --- one in our heads and the other in our stomachs, and the two “communicate” all the time. Interestingly, in Chinese culture, thoughts are also related to the belly in phrases and idioms like fugao (腹稿, a draft), manfu jinglun (滿腹經(jīng)綸, a bellyful of ideas), and yiduzi weiqu (一肚子委屈, a bellyful of complaints).
This may sound a little ridiculous at first. But try to think of a time when you were extremely nervous. Chances are that you also felt uncomfortable in your stomach, didn’t you? This is probably why people use the idiom “butterflies in one’s stomach” to refer to being nervous.
Now scientists from Canada and the US have found that our guts (腸道), if not as bright as our actual brains, are much more than just where we digest the food we eat. They also affect our emotions and even behavior, all thanks to the bacteria in them, reported Scientific American.
In the study, scientists fed timid mice stomach bacteria from mice that were more active and daring. After eating the bacteria, the timid mice grew more energetic and fearless. Sure enough, when bold mice got the bacteria from timid ones, they became more anxious. The mice’s behavior also changed when scientists disturbed the bacteria in their guts by changing their diets and feeding them antibiotics (抗生素).
“If something goes wrong in the gut, that change is reflected in the brain,” Emeran Mayer, a professor at University of California, Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post.
The brain-and-gut connection also works in the opposite way. Scientists studied children with autism (自閉癥) --- a mental illness that makes people unable to socialize with others --- and found that they also have a lot of stomach problems. They have fewer types of stomach bacteria and lower totals of a few key bacteria than healthy children.
This research raises the possibility that scientists could treat patients with brain problems simply by feeding them the right food, which would be much more efficient than providing psychological therapy (療法).
According to CBC News, you can get “good” bacteria that lift your spirits from food like yogurt while “bad” bacteria are usually in high fat and high sugar foods.
【小題1】What is the author’s attitude toward Byron Robinson’s theory of two human brains?
A.Unsatisfied. | B.Doubtful. | C.Positive. | D.Negative. |
A.describe the symptoms of nervousness |
B.suggest a connection between our stomach and our emotions |
C.hint at the danger of nervous feelings |
D.encourage people to calm down and relax |
A.a(chǎn)nxious | B.fearless | C.energetic | D.sharp |
A.people with mental illnesses are more likely to have stomach problems |
B.the use of antibiotics can turn timid mice into daring ones |
C.timid mice have fewer types of stomach bacteria than daring mice |
D.people must consider changing their diets when they feel anxious |
A.psychological therapy has never worked before for autistic children |
B.yogurt is the best solution for anxiety problems |
C.high fat and high sugar foods are responsible for many mental diseases |
D.diet changes can lead to mood changes |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
The extraordinary Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, is said to be the only one in the world to use the same cooling and heating principles as the termite mound(白蟻堆).
Architect Mick Pearce used precisely the same strategy when designing the Eastgate Building, which has no air-conditioning and almost no heating. The building—the country’s largest commercial and shopping complex—uses less than 10% of the energy of a conventional building of its size. The Eastgate’s owners saved $3.5 million on a $36 million building because an air-conditioning plant didn’t have to be imported.
The complex is actually two buildings linked by bridges across a shady, glass-roofed atrium(天井) open to the air. Fans suck fresh air in from the atrium, blow it upstairs through hollow spaces under the floors and from there into each office through baseboard vents(通風口). As it rises and warms, it is drawn out via ceiling vents and finally exists through forty-eight brick chimneys.
During summer’s cool nights, big fans blow air through the building seven times an hour to cool the empty floors. By day, smaller fans blow two changes of air an hour through the building, to circulate the air which has been in contact with the cool floors. For winter days, there are small heaters in the vents.
This is all possible only because Harare is 1600 feet above sea level, has cloudless skies, little dampness and rapid temperature swings—days as warm as 31℃ commonly drop to 14℃ at night. “You couldn’t do this in New York, with its fantastically hot summers and fantastically cold winters,” Pearce said.
The engineering firm of Ove Arup&Partners monitors daily temperatures. It is found that the temperature of the building has generally stayed between 23℃ and 25℃, with the exception of the annual hot period just before the summer rains in October and three days in November, when a doorkeeper accidentally switched off the fans at night. And the air is fresh—far more so than in air-conditioned buildings, where up to 30% of the air is recycled.
【小題1】Why was Eastgate cheaper to be built than a conventional building?
A.It was designed in a smaller size. |
B.No air conditioners were fixed in. |
C.Its heating system was less advanced. |
D.It used rather different building materials. |
A.Fresh air from outside. | B.Heat in the building. |
C.Hollow space. | D.Baseboard vent. |
A.New York has less clear skies as Harare. |
B.Its dampness affects the circulation of air. |
C.New York covers a larger area than Harare. |
D.Its temperature changes seasonally rather than daily. |
A.a(chǎn)llows a wide range of temperatures |
B.functions well for most of the year |
C.can recycle up to 30% of the air |
D.works better in hot seasons |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Men have always believed that they are smarter than women. Now, a study has found that while this is certainly true, men also have to deal with the fact that they are also more stupid than the fairer sex.
In the study, scientists measured the IQ of 2500 brothers and sisters and they found an uneven number of men not only in the top two percent, but also in the bottom two percent.
The study's participants were tested on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities.
Though there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group, there were also twice as many men among the dolts.
The aggregate scores of men and women were similar.
One of the study's authors, psychology professor Timothy Bates, said that the phenomenon may be because men have always been expected to be high achievers and women have been restricted to spend more time taking care of their home.
"The female developmental program may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground.," the Daily Mail quoted Professor Bates, of Edinburgh University, as saying.
The research tallies with past results that men were more likely than women to receive first class University degrees or thirds and women secured the seconds.
It has been said that men are more ready to take risk when it comes to academics. Women have always found to be steadier in their learning.
A past study has shown that women are securing more firsts and seconds, while men are continuing to receive more thirds.
The argument for the change is that the increase of coursework at the cost of exams favors women's steady approach.
【小題1】The purpose of the passage is to tell us that ________.
A.man are smarter then women |
B.man are more stupid the women |
C.a(chǎn) new fact about the IQ of men and women has been found |
D.men are more likely to receive first class university degrees |
A.they are born stupid |
B.they have to spend more time to tale care of their home than men |
C.they don’t like to take risk |
D.they are not expected to be high achievers |
A.a(chǎn)gree with | B.deal with | C.go against | D.go with |
A.Women are steadier in their learning. |
B.men are more ready to take risk in everything |
C.women are securing more firsts and seconds |
D.women are doing much better in academy |
A.Why are men smarter than women? |
B.Why are men more stupid than women? |
C.How does the result go along with the past research? |
D.How can we help the men in the bottom? |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Businesses are witnessing a difficult time,which has in turn produced influence on consumers’ desire to go green.However,shoppers are still laying stress on environmental concerns.
Two thirds of customers say that environmental considerations inform their purchases to the same degree as they did a year ago,while more than a quarter say that they are now even better aware of the environmental effect on what they buy.
This may help to influence how shops store goods on their shelves.And the companies should still make efforts to become more environmentally friendly.Two out of three people think it is important to buy from environmentally responsible companies,with about one in seven saying that they had even decided to take their custom elsewhere if they felt a company’s environmental reputation was not good enough.
Harry Morrison,chief executive(主管)of the Carbon Trust,sympathizes:“I understand this situation where survival is very important now.But from environmental considerations,the clock is ticking—we don’t have much time.In addition,cutting carbon has an immediate effect as costs drop and a mediumterm benefit for the brand.”
Larger companies have an extra motivation to look at reducing their carbon footprint,as new rules next year will require businesses to buy carbon allowances to make up for their emissions(排放).Those that have taken early action will have a head start.More than two thirds of consumers are not clear about which companies are environmentally responsible.This suggests that firms that are able to relay clearly their message to the public will be in a pole position to attract shoppers.
The Carbon Trust believes that it can help by informing customers about the good work companies are doing.“When companies are granted(授予) the standard,they can use a logo(標識) in all their marketing which makes it clear that they are working towards cutting emissions,” Mr.Morrison said. (2010·福建,C)
【小題1】What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.Businesses are finding ways to send their message to the shoppers. |
B.Companies will soon get information about cutting carbon emissions. |
C.Firms are making efforts to encourage customers to keep goods at home. |
D.Firms are urged to cut carbon emissions by shoppers’ environmental awareness. |
A.a(chǎn)ffect | B.change | C.disturb | D.reject |
A.will benefit from cutting carbon emissions |
B.should buy carbon allowances for shoppers |
C.a(chǎn)re required to make up for their carbon emissions |
D.have encouraged shoppers to take their custom elsewhere |
A.have a strong desire to reduce costs |
B.use the same logo in their marketing |
C.gain advantages by taking early action |
D.a(chǎn)ttract more shoppers by storing goods |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
One of the most popular activities enjoyed by Americans is spending time in forests and walking along paths through the country.This activity,called hiking,has led to the creation of paths throughout the United States.
One of the longest is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.The trail is the first completed part of the National Trails System.The trails system was established by Congress and the president in 1968.The Appalachian Trail is more than 3,400 kilometers long.It starts in the northeastern state of Maine and ends in the southeastern state of Georgia.The trail goes through 14 states.They are Maine,New Hampshire,Vermont,Massachusetts,Connecticut,New York,New Jersey,Pennsylvania,Maryland,West Virginia,Virginia,Tennessee,North Carolina,and Georgia.
The path takes walkers through the Appalachian Mountains.They extend from the Canadian province of Quebec to the southern American state of Alabama.
The Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest on Earth.They first began forming about one thousand million years ago.During the millions of years since then,the mountains were changed and reformed by the forces of water and wind.Ice also changed the mountains,making many of them smaller and digging valleys and lakes among them.Many different kinds of trees grow along the trail.And many different kinds of animals live in the forests along the trail.
Lands along the trail are protected by the federal government and by state governments.Some parts are not protected by the government directly.Instead,they are protected by legal agreements with private owners willing to permit people to walk across their property.
Walkers on the Appalachian Trail pass through some of the great valley systems of the mountains.They can look down into these beautiful valleys and see farms and forests stretching across the land for many kilometers.Farmland in the valleys is rich and productive.And some of the great events in American history took place in the valleys.For example,one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
【小題1】The Appalachian Trail________.
A.is more than four thousand three hundred kilometers long |
B.starts in the northern state of Maine |
C.goes through more than fourteen states |
D.ends in the southeastern state of Georgia |
A.a(chǎn)re the first completed part of the National Trails System |
B.began forming one million years ago |
C.were changed by natural forces like water,wind and ice |
D.were around by valleys and rivers and famous for its scenery |
A.a(chǎn)re protected entirely by either the federal government or state governments |
B.a(chǎn)re mainly protected by legal agreements with private owners |
C.can be visited by travelers freely only under the permission of owners |
D.a(chǎn)re protected by both the federal government and state governments |
A.The Appalachian Mountains have some great valley systems. |
B.Farms and grasslands stretch across the valleys for many kilometers. |
C.One of the American independence battles was fought in the Shenandoah Valley. |
D.Lakes in the Appalachian Mountains are one of the most beautiful sights. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by “l(fā)istening” to what the plants growing in water have to say.
By shining a laser beam (激光束) on the tiny pieces of algae floating in the water,the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination (致污物) in the water.
“It is a red light,telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water,” said Zvy Dubinsky,an aquatic biologist at Israel’s Bar Ilan University.“Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.”“The secret,” he said,“is to measure the rate of photosynthesis (光合作用) in the algae,meaning the plant’s ability to transform light into energy.” During photosynthesis,plants also release oxygen into the air.
Dubinsky’s technique is easy to perform because of the overabundance of algae in the planet’s water.Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from algae.A prototype tester that occupies about one square meter of a laboratory desktop,shoots a laser beam at water samples to stimulate photosynthesis in the algae.But not all of the laser’s heat is used.Depending on the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis,some of the heat is shot back into the water,creating sound waves,Dubinsky said.With a special underwater microphone,researchers are able to analyze the strength of the sound waves and determine the health of the algae and the condition of the surrounding water.
“Algae suffering from lead poisoning,like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants,will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins,” said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than laborintensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing.
【小題1】The underlined word “algae” in Paragraph 2 probably refers to a kind of________.
A.instrument | B.plant |
C.wood | D.pollutant |
A.Because it floats on the water. |
B.Because it can have photosynthesis. |
C.Because it is the first to be polluted. |
D.Because it can produce different sounds. |
A.a(chǎn)lgae can produce a loud sound when polluted |
B.a(chǎn)lgae can die easily from pollution |
C.photosynthesis of the algae can only be caused by sunlight |
D.photosynthesis of the algae is related to water quality |
A.Scientists Listen to Plants to Find Water Pollution |
B.A Prototype Tester Is Used to Determine Water Pollution |
C.The Importance of Photosynthesis of the Algae |
D.The Problem of Chemical and Radioactive Carbon Testing |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
After record increase in over 40 countries, Universal Robots’ lightweight robotic arms are now making their US debut (首次露面) at this year’s International Manufacturing Trade Show (IMTS) in Chicago.
The UR5 robotic arm made by Universal Robots has been announced officially “The world’s most innovative (創(chuàng)新的) robot” by The International Federation of Robotics and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Robotics and Automation Society. The US audience will now see the award-winning robot — along with its big brother UR10 — for the first time.
The UR5 and UR10 robotic arms are aimed at small-sized companies that thought robots were too expensive and hard to operate in existing production. The robotic arms are easily moved around the production area and present a simple user interface (界面) which lets workers quickly operate them.
Esben Ostergaard, founder and CTO (Chief Technical Officer) at Universal Robots, explains how the robots were designed to be as user?friendly as possible:
“We decided to make programming easy by developing a user interface worked together with a “teaching function” allowing the user to simply took hold of the robot arm and show it how a movement should be done. The robot can work in any production process very quickly. Our experience shows this is generally done in a few hours.”
The robots weigh as little as 40 pounds, making it possible for them to be moved around the production area to do different tasks. The UR5 can handle a load of up to 5 kilos (11 pounds), the UR10, 10 kilos (22 pounds). As soon as a worker touches the robot arm and uses a force of at least 150 Newton, the robot arm will automatically stop operating.
【小題1】According to the text, the UR5 robotic arm _____.
A.was designed by IEEE |
B.is aimed at small companies |
C.has won a number of awards |
D.made its appearance in 40 countries |
A.the programme | B.the user interface |
C.the robot arm | D.the “teaching function” |
A.An introduction to Universal Robots’ new robots. |
B.The difference between the UR5 and the UR10. |
C.Why the UR5 and the UR10 were invented. |
D.How to operate the UR5 and the UR10. |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Around the world coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are facing threats(威脅) brought by climate change and great changes in sea temperatures. While ocean warming has been the primary focus for scientists and ocean policy managers, cold events can also whiten corals. A new study by scientists compared damaged to corals exposed to heat as well as cold stress. The results show that cool temperatures can cause more damage in the short term, but heat is more destructive(破壞性的) in the long run.
Climate change is widely known to produce warming conditions in the oceans, but extreme cold-water events have become more frequent and serious as well. In 2010, for example, coral reefs around the world faced on of the coldest winters and one of the hottest summers on record.
During a unique experiment, corals under cold temperatures suffered greater damage in just days compared with heat treated corals. Yet the researchers found that corals were eventually able to adjust to the cold conditions, make their health stable and continue to grow. However, over the long term corals subjected to heat suffered more greatly than those in cold, with evidence of severe whitening and growth stoppage, which leads to death.
The coral’s ability to adjust to cool temperatures surprised the researchers, who say the study’s results show the complexities(復雜性) of monitoring coral health in response to different environmental factors(因素).
“Global warming is associated with increases but also decreases of temperatures,” said Deheyn, one of the researchers. “Not much has been known about the comparative effects of temperature decrease on corals. These results are important because they show that corals react differently to temperature differences, which is important for future management of coral reefs in the field of climate change.”
【小題1】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.Corals are unable to adjust to temperature changes. |
B.Cold temperature causes greater damage to corals. |
C.Hot temperature helps coral reefs to grow quickly. |
D.Heat and cold damage corals in their own ways. |
A.scientists used to pay no attention to the effect of cold events on corals |
B.2010 witnessed one of the greatest temperature differences on record |
C.corals prefer warmer conditions to cold temperatures in the long run |
D.global warming has nothing to do with the decrease of temperature |
A.corals may continue to grow in cold events after a few days |
B.cold events help corals grow more quickly in a short time |
C.corals show no response to hot temperatures in the first days |
D.corals are whitened mainly because of warm temperatures |
A.news report | B.scientific study | C.great imagination | D.natural conditions |
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