Robots that can chat，find misplaced glasses，draw aeroplanes and play with your children are attracting thousands of visitors during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society．
Robots，such as the sound．sensitive Chapit，answer simple questions and even joke with people to help them fight loneliness and stay alert in old age．
Japan has one of the world’s fastest-ageing societies and the government predicts that by 2050 the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent．”Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to，”said Kazuya Kitamura representative of the expo organizer．“Communication robots accompany people and don’t mind listening to the same stories over and over again．”
Matsumoto’s“Personal Mobility Robot，”equipped with four cameras and a sensor to recognize the user's centre of gravity, is designed to help elderly move around without pressing buttons．using joysticks(操纵杆)or rotating wheels as in traditional wheelchairs．
The robot can also help find misplaced glasses by identifying them with a sensor．
Other robots，such as the award-winning“DiGRO”can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children．The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures，keeping children company while parents work．
While Chapit，a relatively simple robot，managed to attract a corporate partner many researchers，such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto，a professor at the University of Tokyo，struggle to attract sponsors for more expensive projects．
“We have developed a robot that can assist many people，but we still haven’t found a sponsor,”said Matsumoto，who added that the cost of the machine，if mass-produced，would be comparable to that of a car．”In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly project，”he said．
1.It can be inferred from the text that_______．
A．many children lack love from parents
B．robots helpful to the old will be in great demand
C．robots are the most useful to children
D．robots do better than people in healthcare
2.It is difficult to find sponsors for robots because______.
A．Japan is suffering economy depression
B．the robots are of poor design
C．the production of robots costs a lot
D．the future market is worrying
3.What is the author’s attitude towards the robots referred to?
A．Unsatisfied． B．Doubtful．
C.Favorable． D．Regretful．
As I grew older, my dad and I grew further apart. We always had totally different opinions. He thought that college was a waste of time, but for me it was important to finish college. He wanted me to work my way to the top as he had done in his field, but I wanted a different life. There was a time when we did not talk with each other.
A few months ago, I heard that my 84-year-old dad was in poor health. When he called and asked whether I could move from Colorado back to Tennessee to help him, I knew he was seriously ill. I am his only child and so it was time to meet my father's requirement.
Two weeks after moving back，we bought a boat and started fishing again. Fishing was one of the few things that we did while I was young and that we both enjoyed. It is strange but true that as we are fishing we are able to put things that have kept us apart for so many years behind us. We are able to talk about things that we have never talked about before. Fishing has been healing the old wounds that have kept us apart.
It is not important how many fish we catch. It is about enjoying the relationship that we have not had for years. I' m 62 and he is 84. When we are on the lake fishing, it is like enjoying life. It is far better to find a way to put the unhappy past behind. I am so lucky to spend the happy time with my father in his last years. Now my heart is filled with love. A smile always graces my lips.
1.The author and his father became further apart because .
A. they lived very far from each other
B. they seldom went see each other
C. they only communicated by phone
D. they had different views on things
2.Why did the author come back to Tennessee?
A. Because his father invited him to work there.
B. Because he decided to live in a different city.
C. Because his father was ill and needed caring.
D. Because he regretted being rude to his father.
3.For the author, fishing with his old father .
A. helps cure his father’s disease
B. makes him realize the importance of relaxation
C. is a good way to get close to nature
D. provides a chance for them to communicate
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Fishing Brings Us Together B. Forgiving Is Difficult
C. Memories of Old Days D. My Beloved Father
Millions of sports lovers are still thinking about one thing----the Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia. Close to 2900 men and women competed in the 2014 Winter Games about a month ago.
The Olympics brought a lot of attention to Sochi, a city on the Black Sea, which is a popular area for vacation travelers. The area is known for its mild winters.
At least $50 billion was spent on the 2014 Winter Games, making it the costliest Olympics in history. Seven billion dollars was spent on the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada. Olympic officials chose Sochi to host the 2014 games almost seven years ago. At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the games would cost about $13 billion. Yet the actual expenses exceeded his estimate. So where did all the money go?
Some observers say the high cost is partly the result of security measures. Brian Jenkins, a terrorism expert from the RAND Corporation, gave the following explanation. There were anywhere between 70,000 and 100, 000 policemen and military troops deployed around the city.
The main threat came from separatist and Islamist groups from the North Caucasus, especially from Chechnya and Dagestan. One group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings in Volgograd last December. The attacks killed more than 30 people. The city is only about 600 kilometers away from Sochi.
Bruce Hoffman is a terrorism expert from Georgetown University in Washington DC. He says the increased security made Sochi a difficult target for terrorists.
It is thought that the terrorists' intention was to make life difficult for the Russians and to create some sort of incident that would take away the enjoyment.
The last Olympians from around the world on Russian soil were in 1980. That was a year after Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. More than sixty countries didn’t take part in the Moscow Summer Games to show their anger.
1.According to the passage, why did the Sochi Winter Olympics cost so much?
A. Because it was held at an area popular for vacation travelers.
B. Because the Russian government wanted to make it the best ever held.
C. Because security measures at Sochi were stricter than before.
D. Because the original plan was made 7 years before.
2.It can be known from the passage that Bruce Hoffman was .
A. a terrorism expert from the USA
B. the writer who wrote this article
C. an athlete who competed in Sochi
D. a terrorism expert from RAND Corporation
3.Which of the following is false?
A. Sochi Olympics cost about 4 times as estimated.
B. Next winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver.
C. Many countries refused to attend the 1980 Olympics.
D. Security is often a problem in international sport games.
4.The terrorists might have attacked Sochi Olympics because .
A. they wanted to make trouble for the Russians
B. they thought Russia shouldn't spend so much on sport
C. they thought Putin was not a nice president
D. they were not interested in winter sports
Humans aren’t the only ones getting a buzz from coffee．Caffeine can improve memory among honeybees and lead to better pollination(授粉)．According to a recent study published in the journal Science．
The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom．They found that the nectar(花蜜)of some flowers，such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants，as well as certain coffee flowers，contains low doses of caffeine．To get bees to feed on these flowers，the team trained the insects to associate food with the smell of the flowers．They also trained another group of bees to feed on nectar from flowers that were sweetened with a sugar, but did not contain caffeine．After 24 hours，the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants．
Professor Geraldine Wright led the researchers．“Remembering floral traits(花部特征)is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are，”Wright said in a statement．
Improved memory led to the better pollination．That’s because once bees sip the caffeine nectar, they continue to look for more coffee plants to pollinate．This also suggests that caffeine plays a role in improving the bees’ability to search for food．
Researchers found that caffeine’s effect on the bee brain is similar to its effect on mammals．“The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons(神经元)associated with learning and memory in the rat brain，”Wright said．
Bee populations have declining since 2007．The dramatic drop in the insects’numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry．Bees are needed in the reproduction of crops and spreading wild flower species．Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers．
1.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?
A．Caffeine has no effect on the rat brain．
B. Bee population has been increasing．
C．The nectar of lemon plants contains caffeine．
D．Bees dislike nectar from sweetened flowers．
2.After reading the passage，John，who works in the farming industry, will probably feel ____________.
A．annoyed B．angry C．nervous D．excited
3.Which of the following relationship is correct according to the passage?
A．improved memory—caffeine nectar—better pollination
B．caffeine nectar—improved memory—better pollination
C．improved memory—better pollination—caffeine nectar
D．caffeine nectar—better pollination—improved memory
4.What section of a newspaper may this passage be taken from?
A．Science B．Education
C．Culture D．Sports
Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
最近，某英文报就“如何处理师生间的矛盾”发起了一个专题讨论。假设你是李华，请你写一篇不少于120词的短文阐述自己的观点。内容包括以下要点：
1. 师生间冲突时有发生，并举例说明；2. 造成冲突的原因；3. 解决的方法。
Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.
The world of journalism can be very exciting. Journalists are on the cutting edge of local and global events. Before you take a big step for becoming a journalist, please make sure you are aware the climate for newspaper journalists is especially tough right now.
Once you are sure that a journalism career is right for you, here’s what you need to do.
● Education comes first. Besides understanding how to write well, a degree in journalism, English, and communications are also beneficial to those wishing to pursue a career in journalism. In addition to helping you gain the necessary knowledge, many universities offer employment services to new graduates. Attending journalism school, also called J-school, or journalism college is an investment in your future.
● Pick a specialty (专业). Jobs in journalism vary a lot, so it is important to decide exactly what path you wish to take. For newspaper reporters, you must be flexible and able to think on your feet because stories are often fast-breaking. Deadlines are typically tight, so be prepared to write with speed and accuracy (正确). There are also broadcast journalists, investigative reporters, foreign reporters, sports journalists and so on, which require different skills.
● You’ve got to have the right stuff. No matter which branch of journalism interests you, there are a number of necessary qualities that are common to all. Journalists must have a “nose for news”. Additionally ,Good journalists must use high ethics (高尚的道德规范) at all times. At last, a fair attitude is required for almost all areas of journalism; these jobs require a neutral (中立的) reporting of facts rather than opinions.
● Think big, but start small. Although internships (实习) during your last two years of college equip you with much experience, it is highly unlikely that your first job as a journalist will be high-paying. However, getting a job at a community newspaper or local television station is a good start. Once you are working in the field, you’ll have the chance to prove yourself and actively seek advancement.
1. Why does the author think that attending journalism schools is an investment in your future? (No more than 14 words) (2 points)
2. How can a newspaper reporter deal with the problem of tight deadlines? (No more than 6 words) (2 points)
3.What necessary qualities must all journalists have? (No more than 11 words) (3 points)
4.What is the purpose of the passage? (No more than 10 words) (3 points)
