We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells—but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper(雨刮器)? Shouldn’t we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so．In fact，Mclean，a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range，feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic．In addition to learning “who” invented “what”，however，Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the “why’’ and ‘‘how” questions．According to Mclean，“When students learn the answers to these questions，they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try．’’
Her students agree. One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean’s statement．“If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper’s invention，”said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major，“I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive．”Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer．
So，just what is the story behind the windshield wiper？ Well，Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City. The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights，so she jumped aboard a streetcar．Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield，she found herself wondering why there couldn’t be a built—in device for cleaning the window．Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham，Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions．One of her ideas，a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside，became the first windshield wiper．
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations．It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A. Morgan’s traffic light．It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J. Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible. Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
1. By mentioning “traffic light” and“ windshield wiper”, the author indicates that countless inventions are _____.
A．beneficial，because their inventors are famous
B．beneficial，though their inventors are less famous
C．not useful，because their inventors are less famous
D．not useful，though their inventors are famous
2.Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to _____.
A．add color and variety to students’ campus life
B．inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention
C．carry out the requirements by Mountain University
D．prepare students to try their own inventions
3.Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was_____.
A．not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer
B．inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper
C．due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm
D．not related to Professor Joan McLean’s lectures
4.Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
A．How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers
B．How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window
C．Shouldn’t We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper
D．Shouldn’t We Develop Invention Courses in Universities
Personality is, to large extent, inherent --A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor lives of their children.
One place where children soak up A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the "win at all costs" moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying，"Rejoice, we conquer!".
By far the worst form of competition in school is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful.
Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into Bs. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child's personality to his possible future employment. It is top management.
1. According to the author, what factors contribute to the building of personality?
A. Inheritance.
B. environment .
C. Competition.
D. inheritance, competition and environment.
2. The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to _____.
A. pull up B. take up C. take in D. pull in
3. What attitude does the author hold toward examinations in schools?
A. positive B. negative C. doubtful D. neutral
4.What suggestion does the author make concerning the management of schools?
A. All students be made into competitive A types.
B. A child's personality be considered in regard to his possible future job.
C. All students be changed into B characteristics.
D. Schools abolish all forms of examinations.
Chinese scientist Tu Youyou on October 5 won the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine amongst a trio for discovering parasite therapies(寄生虫疗法). 85-year-old Tu is awarded this world-renowned prize for her contribution to reducing the death rate of malaria, minimizing patients’ suffering and promoting mankind’s health. This is what science is all about.
Tu’s finding has saved millions’ lives during the 40 years. This also proves the value of her research product. The reward is never too late in that aspect. The moment of joy and satisfaction came when she discovered the artemisinin( 青蒿素) after all kinds of failures in experiments.
As the first Chinese mainland Nobel Prize Winner of natural science award, Tu’s winning completely surprised Chinese people, who have long been wondering when the first Chinese Nobel laureate in natural science would appear.
Let’s backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu accomplished the breakthrough findings without access to any advanced equipment, communication with outside world and papers to research. However, over the 40 years, improvements and innovations have transformed everything. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premiere Li Keqiang mentioned in his letter, “Tu’s winning the prize signifies China’s prosperity and progress in scientific and technological field”.
Tu’s record-breaking winning serves as a reminder to those who are too eager for instant success. Science is never about instant success. There is no way to measure how much you spend on scientific research and compare it with how much reward you get.
1. Which magazine this passage may be mostly selected from?
A. The Times B. Science Fiction
C. Fortune D. National Geography
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Science is just about the cure of the disease for mankind.
B. Tu is the first Chinese to win the Nobel Prize of natural science award.
C. Tu’s achievements tell us that victory doesn’t come in one day.
D. Tu made the breakthrough in discovering the artemisinin with advanced technology.
3.What does this passage mainly talk about?
A. Tu’s experience has made her way up to the Nobel Prize.
B. China displays its strength in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
C. Tu honors us Chinese by winning the Nobel Prize.
D. We should not expect to succeed in a short period of time.
Throughout history, people are now aware that Australian cuisine was based on the old British cooking which was handed down by the first settlers. Modern Australian cuisine, however, has been heavily influenced by Australia’s Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors. The trend, motivated by the government health programs, is towards low-fat healthy cookery including low-fat meat and lightly cooked colorful, steamed or fried vegetables. Besides, like many English families, in many Australian homes, a widespread tradition of having roast turkey, chicken, and ham for Christmas lunch or dinner still remains.
Basically speaking, breakfast is comparatively light for most Australians. But in the colder regions porridge or meals similar to the full English breakfast may be consumed. In recent years, however, most Australian people prefer light breakfast in order to control their weight. The light breakfast commonly consists of cereals, toast and fruit. A heavier breakfast will frequently include fried bacon, eggs, mushrooms, etc. Drinks consumed at breakfast include tea, coffee, milk or juice.
The meal in the evening is the main meal of the day for most Australians. When consumed at home, it is often eaten with members of the immediate family. The dishes served will vary widely according to the tastes and background of the family. A typical Australian restaurant might offer sandwiches, chicken or other meat-based dishes and cakes.
In recent years, take-away food is becoming popular in Australia. American style chain restaurants are common including Subway, KFC, and Mcdonald’s.
With the high portion of immigration from the Middle East，South and Southeast Asia，Korea，China and other countries from all over the world to Australia，any authentic and high-quality restaurants are run by first and second generation immigrants from these areas.
1.According to the first paragraph, what does the Australian government encourage its people to do?
A. To have roast turkey for Christmas dinner.
B. To try to eat low-fat healthy foods.
C. To use traditional British cooking methods.
D. To learn from Asian neighbors to cook foods.
2.The main idea of the second paragraph is_____.
A. what Australian people drink at breakfast.
B. what breakfast Australian people have nowadays.
C. that Australians often have a heavy breakfast.
D. that most Australian people don’t have breakfast to lose weight.
3.The underlined part “the immediate family” in Paragraph 3 probably mean people who_____.
A. have the same family names.
B. do some cooking together at times.
C. live next to one another in the same area.
D. are very directly-related members of a family
4. From the passage, we can learn that_____.
A. fewer and fewer immigrants enter Australia every year
B. Subway is a chain restaurant and it is from the South America
C. home cooking is becoming more and more popular in Australia
D. Asian and Southeast Asian countries have a great impact on the modem Australian food.
书面表达
4月23日是“世界读书日”（World Book Day），目的是鼓励人们享受读书乐趣，开阔眼界。培根说：“读书使人明智”。请根据下图和要点提示，用英语写一篇100词左右的短文。
注意：1. 可参照图片内容及所给文字提示，作必要的发挥想象。2. 开头已经写好，不计入总词数。3. 作文中不得提及考生所在学校和本人姓名。
Francis Bacon once said that reading makes a full man. _______________________
短文改错
As it is known to us, fewer and fewer students do sports regularly, what makes them weak and easily tired. There are many reasons about this. First of all, some of the students complained that they have too many homework, resulting in less time to take exercise. Beside, some of them think that it is very difficulty for them to keep doing exercise, because it is a very hard thing.
Because lack of physical activities, many students are in poor health. I suggest that our school must take measures to encourage more students to take part in sports. For us students, no matter what busy we are, it is necessary to spare some time to do exercise.
