Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans．Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction．“No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated（刺激）,” Edwards points out．“The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help．A robotic dog could be a solution．”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone．Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks．These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO．Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner．
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady．“When I'm watching TV, he'll stay in my arms until he wants down．He has a mind of his own．”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders．The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people．Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it．A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns．
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says．“But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief．”
“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper．They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms．AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds．”
1.The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to______．
A． understand human-animal relationship
B． find the causes of old people’s loneliness
C． make lonely old people’s life better
D． promote the animal-assisted research
2.In the research, the old people are asked to______．
A． note the activities of AIBOs
B． keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks
C． analyze the collected information
D． record their feelings and activities
3.What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
A． It can watch TV with its owner
B． It can help the disabled people
C． It responds to all the human orders
D． It is easier to keep at home
4.The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may______．
A． keep old people active
B． cure certain diseases
C． change people's beliefs
D． look more like real dogs
The historic center of Vienna has been added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list．Thus, St．Stephen's Cathedral, the Imperial Palace and many other historic buildings are now recognized as being among the 700 outstanding cultural and natural monuments of mankind - others include the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur, the historic center of Rome, the Kremlin with the Red Square, the Chinese Wall, the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon．
Vienna's historic center, in its unity, is considered one of the most beautiful city landmarks in Europe．Three eras left their mark on the former residence of the Habsburgs: the Middle Ages with Gothic St．Stephen's Cathedral whose spire points toward heaven, one of Vienna's landmarks; the Baroque whose most important achievement is the Imperial Palace with its sumptuous cupolas（奢华的圆顶）．And the Ring Boulevard era of the late nineteenth century, when such splendid buildings as the Vienna State Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts were built to replace the former city walls．
The imperial flair of the center of Vienna is enhanced (加强) by numerous churches, mansions and parks, as well as by rich art collections gathered by wealthy rulers．And the centuries-old musical tradition ranges from the Court Chapel of the Imperial Palace to Mozart's immortal（不朽的）music and the waltzes of Johann Strauss．Also inseperably linked to the center of the city are the delights of Viennese cuisine, the gemütlichkeit of Viennese coffeehouses and nostalgic shopping at former purveyors（伙食承办商）to the imperial court．
1.Which of the following is not mentioned as cultural and natural monuments of man-kind?
A． the Taj Mahal
B． the Pyramid Fields
C． the Kremlin with the Red Square
D． the Court Chapel
2.The second paragraph is developed mainly by ____．
A． following the order of place
B． providing examples
C． making comparisons
D． analyzing causes
3.What does the underlined words “imperial flair” in the last paragraph mean?
A． culture atmosphere
B． art style
C． royal style
D． royal palace
4.What is the passage mainly about ?
A． The universal value of the world heritage in Vienna
B． Vienna’s becoming one of the cultural and natural monuments of mankind
C． The introduction of the historic center of Vienna
D． The special culture atmosphere of the historic center of Vienna
Experience the newly opened Grand Canyon（大峡谷）West Skywalk in Colorado．Departing from Grand Canyon's South Rim by Airplane to Grand Canyon's West Rim, you will land and take a ground tour to the Skywalk! Walk on air for 70 feet over the edge of Grand Canyon West．
This Skywalk has been open since March 28, 2007．Daily visitorship to the Skywalk has been over 4,000 people．Please be patient to enjoy your moment on the Skywalk．
After you have experienced the one and only Grand Canyon Skywalk Glass Bridge, you will return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and take your Airplane for a flight back to the South Rim of the Canyon．This is a tour never to be forgotten as you will have walked on air over the Grand Canyon．
Tour Itinerary（行程）
1.This advertisement is for ____．
A． Grand Canyon West
B． the Skywalk
C． Grand Canyon
D． Grand Canyon South
2.The package fee does NOT cover the cost of ____．
A． 
B． 
C． 
D． 
3.The Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge is made of glass because ____．
A． it looks stranger
B． it is cheaper to build
C． it gives you a better view
D． it looks more beautiful
4.According to the Tour Itinerary, the route is ____．
A． South Rim→West Airport→Guano Point→Eagle Point→West Airport→South Rim
B． South Rim→Guano Point→West Airport→Eagle Point→West Airport→South Rim
C． South Rim→West Airport→Eagle Point→Guano Point→West Airport→South Rim
D． South Rim→West Airport→Eagle Point→West Airport→Guano Point→South Rim
“Soon, you’re going to have to move out!” cried my neighbor upon seeing the largest tomato plant known to mankind, or at least known in my neighborhooD．
One tiny 9-inch plant, bought for $1．25 in the spring, has already taken over much of my rose bed, covering much of other plants, and is well on its way to the front door．
Roses require a good deal of care, and if it weren’t for the pleasure they give, it wouldn’t be worth the work．As it is, I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year．Bushes must be pruned(剪枝) in early spring, leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later．It was the space available in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant．A big mistake．
Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out to be even more perfect for tomatoes．The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing(施肥) have turned the little plant into a tall bush．The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long since disappeared under the thick leaves．
Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is two fold（方面）：First, I have to find the red ones among the leaves, which means I almost have to stand on my head, and once found I have to reach down and under, pick the tomatoes and withdraw my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won．Second, I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June, but they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light．
Here I am faced with a painful small decision: To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses．Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind, I’ll think about that tomorrow．
1.What are the requirements for the healthy growth of roses?
A． Frequent pruning and fertilizing
B． Tomato plants grown alongside
C． Cages placed around the roots
D． A lot of care and the right soil
2.The writer planted the tomato because_______．
A． there was room for it in the garden
B． it cost only $1．25
C． the soil was just right for it
D． the roses’ branches needed to be covered
3.This year the writer’s roses were _______．
A． removed from the rose bed
B． picked along with the tomatoes
C． largely hidden under the tomato plant
D． mostly damaged by too much sunlight
4.By saying “the prize so dearly won” in paragraph 5, the writer wants to_______．
A． show the hardship of growing the roses
B． show the difficulty in picking the tomatoes
C． express her liking for the roses
D． express her care for the tomatoes
It is normal to feel that you don’t know what to say to someone who has cancer．You may have or close relationship with the person．The most important thing you can do is to acknowledge the situation．You can show interest and concern, you can express , or you can offer support．
While it is good to be encouraging, it is also important to show optimism or to tell the person with cancer to always have a attitude．It is widely considered that doing these things may their fears, concerns, or sad feelings．
Humor can be an important way of coping．Let the person with cancer take the ．It is healthy if they find something funny about a side effect, like hair loss, and you can certainly join them in a good laugh．This can be a great way to stress．
When the person with cancer looks good, let them know! Hold back comments when their appearance isn’t as good, such as “You’re looking pale．” Cancer and its treatment can be very , so be prepared for good days and bad times．
Avoid telling the person with cancer stories about family members or friends who have had cancer．Everyone is different, and these stories may not be helpful． , it is better simply to tell them you know something about cancer because you’ve been through it with someone else．
1.A． long B． strange C． clear D． distant
2.A． joy B． sorrow C． encouragement D． unhappiness
3.A． sensitive B． objective C． negative D． positive
4.A． increase B． reduce C． form D． delay
5.A． charge B． lead C． responsibility D． action
6.A． stop B． reflect C． relieve D． get
7.A． unpredictable B． flexible C． unforgettable D． acceptable
8.A． Otherwise B． Specially C． However D． Therefore
The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the joB． A flat tire made him_______an hour of work, his electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start,so I offered him a________．While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence．
On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family．As we walked together toward his house, he_________at a small tree by the front door, touching the branches with his hands．
The moment he opened the door, he had amusing_________．His eyes lit up and he ran to his two small children_________and hugged them and gave his wife a kiss．
After leaving the joyful family, I passed the tree and my_________got the better of me, so I asked, “Before we went in the house, _________did you stop by the tree?”
“Oh, that’s my trouble tree．” he replied, “I know I can’t_________having worries both on the job and in my life, but those_________don’t belong in the house with my wife and children．I know I can_________one thing for sure, so every night before I walk into my home I hang them up on the tree．”
“Funny thing is,” he_________, “when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as_________as I remember putting up the night before．”
1.A． lose B． find C． expect D． finish
2.A． tip B． ride C． car D． coffee
3.A． stared B． waved C． sat D． paused
4.A． expressions B． kids C． changes D． stories
5.A． willingly B． quietly C． carefully D． cheerfully
6.A． pity B． curiosity C． habit D． satisfaction
7.A． how B． when C． why D． what
8.A． keep B． help C． appreciate D． allow
9.A． problems B． jobs C． facts D． duties
10.A． correct B． remove C． learn D． control
11.A． admitted B． suggested C. insisted D． smiled
12.A． many B． good C． interesting D． free
