There have always been laws against copying other people’s ideas. However, when copying was only limited to copying something by hand, problems were solved easily. The solution was always the destruction or removal of the copy. Nowadays, the rise of the Internet has made the issue of intellectual property (知识产权) more complicated.
Almost every bit of information can be cut and pasted(粘贴) with a few clicks of a mouse. Many art forms such as writings, films, and music need new protection to ensure that people do not simply transfer them for free. Online illegal copying has been blamed for a huge reduction in the sales of many records because it is hard to convince people to buy something that they can get for free. Even the ideas behind traditional games, such as Scrabble, have been used without the owners’ permission.
Old laws have been struggling to keep up. While music companies have been successful in persuading courts that action should be taken against people who illegally download music, the law is difficult to carry out. Furthermore, intellectual property rights vary widely from country to country, so it’s up for debate which laws apply. Finally, there is the fact that many people simply do not see the act as theft(盗窃), since once the work has been digitized there is no clear physical object to steal in the first place.
All of these issues mean that companies involved with intellectual property — ideas or easily digitized information — are fighting desperately to get people to pay for the information they use, rather than paying for an object like a CD that they use. While the companies have sometimes been successful, the practical barriers to full protection seem insurmountable.
Finally, all that concerned parties can do is hope that their few successes scare off others and try to find new ways of making money.
1.Why do writings, films, and music need protection?
A. They are very expensive.
B. They are impossible to copy.
C. It is easy to make CDs, books, and movies.
D. They are easily able to be transferred when in digital form.
2.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem of carrying out intellectual property rights?
A. Laws are not the same in all countries.
B. People do not see copying information as theft.
C. It is very hard to catch people who are breaking the law.
D. Internet service providers do not want to cooperate with the police.
3.The underlined word “insurmountable” in Paragraph 4 means “________”.
A. extremely expensive B. impossible to overcome
C. against the law D. hard to prove
4.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. Music and films will be unnecessary in the future.
B. New laws are necessary but difficult to put into practice.
C. The Internet is likely to become more important in the future.
D. Laws are just a way for greedy companies to control their products.
Bridges House Hotel
Bridges House Hotel is a hotel in the centre of Delft and has shops and museums next door. There are many restaurants in the area where you can eat a lovely dinner in the evening. The market square is within easy walking distance. The comfortable rooms are all uniquely decorated and have a splendid bathroom. Air conditioning and free Wi-Fi are available. There are extra long beds for your convenience.
Breakfast is served in the hotel lounge. In the evenings, guests can have a drink here as well.
Hotel Juliana
Just a 5-minute walk from the centre of Delft, this friendly family hotel is close to everything and offers comfortable rooms at an affordable price. The main priority(优先权) is to provide you with quality service through personal attention and by creating a pleasant atmosphere.
This hotel is also conveniently located near the Technical University of Delft. Other cultural spots and a series of bars and restaurants are just a stroll away.
Shanghai Hotel
This unique hotel features Chinese-style decoration and an elegant bar. Shanghai Hotel is located next to the A13 highway, only a 10-minute drive from Delft city centre. It offers free on-site parking.
Each of the rooms at Shanghai Hotel includes flat-screen cable TV, a desk and tea/coffee making facilities plus a refrigerator. The comfortable modern bathrooms have a shower, a hairdryer and free makeup.
Hotel de Koophandel
Located on the central Beesten Market, Hotel de Koophandel is surrounded by cafes and restaurants in the heart of Delft. In the breakfast room, you can enjoy various breads, toasts, cereals, eggs and fruits in the morning.
The comfortable and uniquely decorated rooms are equipped with a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi. Coffee and tea facilities are available. Because of the perfect location, you can easily walk around the city centre and visit the main places of interest.
For more detailed information, please click here www. booking, com/hotel/nl
1.Which hotel is the best choice if someone is extremely tall?
A. Bridges House Hotel.B. Hotel Juliana.
C. Shanghai Hotel.D. Hotel de Koophandel.
2.If someone chooses Shanghai Hotel, he ________.
A. can enjoy various breads and eggs
B. can go to the Technical University of Delft
C. may be interested in Chinese-style decoration
D. may visit some parks for free
3.What do all the hotels in the passage have in common?
A. They offer free Wi-Fi.
B. They are at Delft city centre.
C. They offer free on-site parking.
D. They offer comfortable rooms.
4.Where can you probably see the passage?
A. In a magazine. B. In a newspaper.
C. On the Internet. D. In a TV program.
To most people, noise pollution is a jet flying over their head. For one Spanish woman, it is a neighbor playing the piano. The woman has taken her neighbor to court. Now she wants to send her neighbor to prison for over seven years on the charges of psychological damage and noise pollution.
In a country known for its noisiness, the case has raised eyebrows. Neighbors often complain about street noise in Spain, but people seeking prison time for someone practicing the piano is unheard of. At the trial, Sonia Bosom says she has been suffering noise pollution up to now due to the practice sessions of Laia Martin, who lives below her. Martin, 27, didn’t admit that she played at home that often, saying she took regular classes in other towns and mostly practiced at home on the weekends.
On the first day of the trial, the newspaper reported that Bosom told the court she now hated pianos so much that she couldn’t even stand seeing them in a film.
Bosom says years of hearing constant playing has caused her “psychological injury”. Medical reports show she has suffered from a variety of problems, including insomnia (失眠), anxiety, and panic attacks.
She says tests by local authorities have found that the sound levels made by the piano are up to 10 decibels (分贝) higher than the limit. City authorities(权威)have asked the family several times to either stop the piano playing or soundproof (隔音) the room. The family told the court they carried out soundproofing work twice but the complaints continued.
The court hasn’t made a final decision. A spokeswoman says the trial will end before May.
1.Bosom wants to send Martin to prison because ________.
A. Martin’s playing the piano damaged her health
B. Bosom suffered from heart attack
C. Martin refused to take regular classes in other towns
D. Martin flew a jet over her head
2.How did Laia Martin respond to the complaints?
A. She stopped playing the piano.
B. She soundproofed the room.
C. She didn’t admit she played at home.
D. She took her neighbor to court.
3.Which of the following may probably be the best title for the passage?
A. A 7-year Sentence Caused by the Piano
B. Pianist Charged with Noise Pollution
C. Health Problems of a Spanish Woman
D. Actions Against Noise by Local Authority
书面表达
假设你是李华,在美国的某中学做交流生。你的同学对中国宴请赴约的习俗很感兴趣,特请你用英语写一篇发言稿,介绍中国的宴请习俗。内容包括:
宴请场所,就餐习俗,饮酒习俗,宴会结束
注意:1.词数120左右,信的开头和结束语已经为你写好(不计入总词数)
2.可根据内容要点适当增加细节,使行文连贯
3.参考词汇: banquet宴会
Ladies and gentlemen,
I feel greatly honored to be here to tell you something about Chinese banquet customs. _______________________________________________________________________________
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I hope what’s mentioned above might be helpful to you. Thank you for listening.
短文改错
Today our class go to climb a mountain. This morning we set off to a mountain by buses. At about nine o’clock we arrived at the foot of the mountain and with the guidance of our teacher, he started climbing. Because at the half of the mountain some of us got tired, we all were very excited. When we got to the top, we cheered excitedly. Seeing from the top of it, the view is wonderful. Unfortunately, when we began to go down the mountain, we were catching in a storm. We shared umbrellas and raincoats each other and walked more cautious. At last we all reached the parking lot safely and got on the bus heading back to home.
完形填空
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
The day before Christmas I pulled into a store parking lot and counted my money again. It wasn’t much. I ________ being poor, not having enough to ________ my small children a few simple toys. As I was ________ I noticed the Salvation Army(救世军) bell ringer at the ________. I felt bad again because I didn’t feel I could ________ anything to give him. I started walking towards the entrance ________ two cars entered empty parking spaces in front of me. The first was a ________, new Cadillac which became the ________ of me the moment I saw it. “How ________”, I thought, “would it be to have enough money to buy a car like that!” The second car, ________, was an ancient car more shabby than the one I was driving.
A man got out of the Cadillac and hurried into the store ________ past the bell ringer without a second ________. Out of the old car came a young mother with three small children following ________ behind her. Her clothes looked as ________ as her car, yet she stopped at the entrance and ________ a bill. In that second a(n) ________ touched me, my envy and dislike ________ me, and all the love and joy filled me. I fished a bill out of my own purse, ________ it in the Salvation Army kettle, and wished the ________ a “Merry Christmas!”
Now I felt I was a poor man but rich on the ________. After finding a few things for my kids, I drove home with my heart singing.
1.A. hated B. permitted C. escaped D. regretted
2.A. make B. buy C. award D. lend
3.A. pulling out B. settling in C. getting out D. cutting in
4.A. parking space B. counter C. parking lot D. entrance
5.A. spare B. split C. spend D. save
6.A. though B. since C. when D. if
7.A. sharp B. dull C. pure D. shiny
8.A. target B. envy C. item D. bargain
9.A. nice B. precious C. rare D. expensive
10.A. therefore B. however C. anyhow D. besides
11.A. merely B. right C. hopefully D. seldom
12.A. smile B. nod C. glance D. wave
13.A. firmly B. bravely C. casually D. closely
14.A. worn out B. cast down C. tired out D. broken down
15.A. paid B. passed C. donated D. rejected
16.A. equality B. sympathy C. approval D. warmth
17.A. left B. visited C. reached D. missed
18.A. took B. handed C. started D. dropped
19.A. salesman B. bell ringer C. woman D. man driver
20.A. wealth B. luck C. inside D. outside