大学英语四级

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大学英语四级大学英语六级大学英语三级专四专八成人英语三级商务英语雅思 GRE

If the salinity(含盐量) of ocean waters is analyzed, it is found to vary only slightly from place to place.Nevertheless, some of these small changes are important. There are three basic processes that cause a change in oceanic salinity. One of these is the subtraction of water from the ocean by means of evaporation--conversion of liquid water to water vapor. In this manner, the salinity is increased, since the salts staybehind. If this is carried to the extreme, of course, white crystals of salt would be left behind.　　The opposite of evaporation is precipitation(降水), such as rain, by which water is added to the ocean. Here the ocean is being diluted(稀释) so that the salinity is decreased. This may occur in areas of high rainfall or in coastal regions where rivers flow into the ocean. Thus salinity may be increased by the subtraction of water by evaporation, or decreased by the addition of fresh water by precipitation or runoff(形成地表水部分的降水).　　Normally, in tropical regions where the sun is very strong, the ocean salinity is somewhat higher than it is in other parts of the world where there is not as much evaporation. Similarly, in coastal regions whererivers dilute the sea, salinity is somewhat lower than in other oceanic areas.　　A third process by which salinity may be altered is associated with the formation and melting of sea ice. When seawater is frozen, the dissolved materials are left behind. In this manner, seawater directly beneath freshly formed sea ice has a higher salinity than it did before the ice appeared. Of course, when this ice melts, it will tend to decrease the salinity of the surrounding water.　　In the Weddell Sea, off Antarctica, the densest water in the oceans is formed as a result of this freezingprocess, which increases the salinity of cold water. This heavy water sinks and is found in the deeper portions of the oceans of the world. 答案解析
Although many of us may feel air-conditioners bring relief from hot, humid or polluted outside air, they pose many potential health hazards. Much research has looked at how the movement of air inside a closed environment---such as an office building---can spread disease or expose people in the building to harmful chemicals.　　One of the more widely publicized dangers is that of Legionnaire’s disease, which was first recognized inthe 1970s. This was found to have affected people in buildings with air-conditioning systems in which warmair pumped out of the system’ cooling towers was somehow sucked back into the air intake (通风口),in mostcases due to poor design. The warm air, filled with bacteria,was combined with cooled, conditioned air andwas then circulated around various parts of the building. Studies showed that even people outside such buildings were at risk if they walked past air exhaust pipes.　　Large air-conditioning systems add water to the air they circulate by means of humidifiers (湿度调节器).Inolder systems, the water used for this process is kept in special reservoirs, the bottoms of which providebreeding grounds for bacteria which can find their way into the ventilation (通风)system. The risk to human health from this situation has been highlighted by the fact that the immune systems (免疫系统)of approximately half of workers in air-conditioned office buildings have developed the ability to fight off the organisms found at the bottom of system reservoirs. But chemicals called “biocides”are added to reservoirs to make them germ-free, and they are dangerous in their own right in sufficient quantities, as they often contain compounds strongly linked to cancers.　　Finally, it should be pointed out that the artificial climatic environment created by air-conditioners canalso affect us. In a natural environment, whether indoor or outdoor, there are small variations in temperature and humidity. Indeed, the human body has long been accustomed to these normal changes. In an air-conditioned living or working environment, however, body temperatures remain well under37℃, our normal temperature. This leads to a weakened immune system and thus greater exposure to diseases such as colds and flu. 答案解析
President Coolidge’s statement, "The business of America is business," still points to an important truth today-that business institutions have more prestige (威望) in American society than any other kind of organization, including the government. Why do business institutions possess this great prestige?　　One reason is that Americans view business as being more firmly based on the ideal of competition than other institutions in society. Since competition is seen as the major source of progress and prosperity by most Americans, competitive business institutions are respected. Competition is not only good in itself, it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity, and hard work are protected.　　Competition protects the freedom of the individual by ensuring that there is no monopoly(垄断) of power. In contrast to one, all-powerful government, many businesses compete against each other for profits. Theoretically, if one business tries to take unfair advantage of its customers, it will lose to competing business which treats its customers more fairly. Where many businesses compete for the customers’ dollar, they cannot afford to treat them like inferiors or slaves.　　A contrast is often made between business, which is competitive, and government, which is a monopoly. Because business is competitive, many Americans believe that it is more supportive of freedom than government,even though government leaders are elected by the people and business leaders are not. Many Americans believe, then, that competition is as important,or even more important,than democracy in preserving freedom.　　Competition in business is also believed to strengthen the ideal of equality of opportunity. Competition is seen as an open and fair race where success goes to the swiftest person regardless of his or her social class background. Competitive success is commonly seen as the American alternative to social rank based onfamily background. Business is therefore viewed as and expression of the idea of equality of opportunity rather than the aristocratic(贵族的) idea of inherited privilege. 答案解析
Oceanography has been defined as “The application of all sciences to the study of the sea”.　　Before the nineteen century, scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work.　　For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that question “What is at the bottom of the oceans?” had tobe answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The had to know the depth profile(起伏形状)of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.mote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask whatlay beneath the surface. The first time that question “What is at the bottom of the oceans?” had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineers had to know the depth profile(起伏形状)of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured.　　It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in 1853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings(测身) were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea.　　The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, afact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.　　Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition(考察), which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in 1895. 答案解析
As high school students flock to social networking sites, campus police are scanningtheir Facebook and MySpace pages for tips to help break up fights, monitor gangs andprevent crime． Some students object to police looking over their shoulders． But officers responsiblefor school safety say routine checks of the online forums often add to the knowledge theyobtain from hallways or schoolyards． In recent years, school administrators have blamed some campus fights on Internetconflicts and urged parents to keep watch on their children's computer activity． But studentswho use the Web to let their 500 closest friends know what they are doing at all times aresometimes surprised that police are watching, too． Police don't have special privileges on Facebook or MySpace． Students who want to gounobserved can change privacy settings so that their profiles are displayed only to a list ofapproved people． But the default (默认) settings leave those profiles open to many Internetusers (in the case of Facebook) or all of them (in the case of MySpace)． Employers and college admissions counselors have examined online profiles of studentapplicants for some time． Police across the country have been doing the same for the pasttwo or three years, said Kevin Quinn, a spokesman for the Minnesota-based NationalAssociation of School Resource Officers． "If you're already familiar with the technology, it doesn't take you but a couple ofminutes to hook into the student population and keep an eye on things," Quinn said． An expedition into a thicket (丛林) of MySpace profiles found high school studentsdiscussing drugs, sex and fights． It was all publicly available (although in language thatcaused a reporter to blush)． Late last month, Fairfax County police announced the arrests of seven Chantilly areateenagers for trying to recruit Franklin Middle School students to a gang． That investigationwas aided when a student showed the school resource officer gang symbols littering one ofthe suspect's Myspace profiles． Fairfax police say they pride themselves on addressing issues in schools before theydevelop into major problems． Keeping an eye on Facebook and MySpace has become anextra tool in that effort, they said．答案解析
Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, thinkthe auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future.　　The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer,and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types.　　Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion (拥挤). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system.　　When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable (可伸缩的) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail,the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car’s movements.　　The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer (蜂鸣器) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway. 答案解析
组织分析包括组织外部环境和内部机制分析，下列叙述中不属于组织内部机制分析的是（）。答案解析
Most of us are neither pilots nor astronauts. We are not trained to steer large hulks of steel and gasoline while manipulating small computers. So there’s something blindingly obvious about the risks of texting while driving. Yet research is beginning to show that driving while simply talking on a cell phone—including using hands-free technology--can prove dangerous，even deadly. In late July，the Center for Auto Safety released hundreds of pages of a study that identified the cell phone as a serious safety hazard when used on the road. And though it’s impossible to accurately calculate how many car accidents nationwide are cell phone related, David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah，estimates that only 2％of people are able to safely multitask while driving. Strayer, who for more than a decade has been studying the effects driving and cell-phone use have on the brain，says those 296 are probably the same people who would be really good fighter pilots. Rarities. Some of Strayer's other findings show that most drivers tend to stare straight ahead while using a cell phone and are less influenced by peripheral vision（周边视觉）. In other words，“cell phones，”he says，“make you blind to your own bad driving. And even though the common assumption is that hands—free technology has reduced the more dangerous side effects of cell-phone use，a series of tests conducted by Strayer seems to indicate the opposite. A passenger acted as another set of eyes for the driver in the test and even stopped or started talking depending on the difficulty of conditions outside the car. Meanwhile，half the drivers talking on a hands-free phone failed bypassing（绕过）the rest area the test had called for them to stop at. Part of the problem may be that when people direct their attention to sound，the visual capacity of their brain decreases，says Steven Yantis，a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University. It can be as if a driver is seeing the image in her head of the person she is talking to，there by decreasing her ability to see what’s actually in front of her. 答案解析
Where do pesticides fit into the picture of environmental disease? We have seen that they now pollute soil,water and food, that they have the power to make our streams fishless and our gardens and woodlands silent and birdless. Man, however much he may like to pretend the contrary, is part of nature. Can he escape a pollution that is now so thoroughly distributed throughout our world:　　We know that even single exposures to these chemicals, if the amount is large enough, can cause extremely severe poisoning. But this is not the major problem. The sudden illness or death of farmers, farmworkers, and others exposed to sufficient quantities of pesticides is very sad and should not occur. For the population as a whole, we must be more concerned with the delayed effects of absorbing small amounts of the pesticides that invisibly pollute our world.　　Responsible public health officials have pointed out that the biological effects of chemicals are cumulative over long periods of time, and that the danger to individual may depend on the sum of the exposures received throughout his lifetime. For these very reasons the danger is easily ignored. It is human nature to shake off what may seem to us a threat of future disaster. "Men are naturally most impressed by diseases which have obvious signs, " says a wise physician, Dr Rene Dubos, "yet some of their worst enemies slowly approach them unnoticed." 答案解析
Paper—More than Meets the EyeA）We are surrounded by so much paper and card that it is easy to forget just how complex it is. There are many varieties and grades of paper materials, and whilst it is fairly easy to spot the varieties, it is far more difficult to spot the grades. It needs to be understood that most paper and card is manufactured for a specific purpose, so that whilst the corn-flake packet may look smart, it is clearly not something destined for the archives. It is made to look good, but only needs a limited life span. It is also much cheaper to manufacture than high grade card.B）Paper can be made from an almost endless variety of cellulose-based material which will include many woods, cottons and grasses or which papyrus is an example and from where we get the word “paper”. Many of these are very specialized, but the preponderance of paper making has been from soft wood and cotton or rags, with the bulk being wood-based.Paper from WoodC）In order to make wood into paper it needs to be broken down into fine strands. Firstly by powerful machinery and then boiled with strong alkalies such as caustic soda, until a fine pulp of cellulose fibers is produced. It is from this pulp that the final product is made, relying on the bonding together of the cellulose into layers. That, in a very small nutshell, is the essence of paper making from wood. However, the reality is rather more complicated. In order to give us our white paper and card, the makers will add bleach and other materials such as china clay and additional chemicals.D）A further problem with wood is that it contains a material that is not cellulose. Something called lignin. This is essential for the tree since it holds the cellulose fibres together, but if it is incorporated into the manufactured paper it presents archivists with a problem. Lignin eventually breaks down and releases acid products into the paper. This will weaken the bond between the cellulose fibers and the paper will become brittle and look rather brown and careworn. We have all seen this in old newspapers and cheap paperback books. It has been estimated that most paper back books will have a life of not greater than fifty years. Not what we need for our archives.E）Since the lignin can be removed from the paper pulp during manufacture, the obvious question is “why is it left in the paper?” The answer lies in the fact that lignin makes up a considerable part of the tree. By leaving the lignin in the pulp a papermaker can increase his paper yield from a tree to some 95%. Removing it means a yield of only 35%. It is clearly uneconomic to remove the lignin for many paper and card applications. It also means, of course, that lignin-free paper is going to be more expensive, but that is nevertheless what the archivist must look for in his supplies. There is no point whatsoever in carefully placing our valuable artifacts in paper or card that is going to hasten their demise. Acid is particularly harmful to photographic materials, causing them to fade and is some cases simply vanish!F）So, how do we tell a piece of suitable paper or card from one that is unsuitable? You cannot do it by simply looking, and rather disappointingly, you cannot always rely on the label. "Acid-free" might be true inasmuch as a test on the paper may indicate that it is a neutral material at this time. But lignin can take years before it starts the inevitable process of breaking down, and in the right conditions it will speed up enormously.G）Added to this, as I have indicated earlier, paper may also contain other materials added during manufacture such as bleach, china clay, chemical whiteners and size. This looks like a bleak picture, and it would be but for the fact that there are suppliers who will guarantee the material that they sell. If you want to be absolutely sure that you are storing in, or printing on, the correct material then this is probably the only way. Incidentally, acids can migrate from material to material. Lining old shoe boxes with good quality acid-flee paper will do little to guard the contents. The acid will get there in the end.Paper from RagH）Paper is also commonly made from cotton and rag waste. This has the advantage of being lignin-free, but because there is much less cotton and rag than trees, it also tends to be much more expensive than wood pulp paper. You will still need to purchase from a reliable source though, since even rag paper and card can contain undesirable additives.I）A reliable source for quality rag papers is a recognized art stockiest. Many water color artists insist on using only fine quality rag paper and board. The main lesson to learn from this information is that you cannot rely on purchasing archival materials from the high street. The only safe solution is to purchase from specialist suppliers. It may cost rather more, but in the end you will know that your important and valuable data and images have the best home possible. 答案解析
YukonGold RushDiscovery In August 1896, three people led by Skookum Jim Mason headed north, down the Yukon River from the Carcross area, looking for his sister Kate and her husband George Carmack. The party included Skookum Jim, Skookum Jim’s cousin known as Dawson Charlie and his nephew Patsy Henderson. After meeting up with George and Kate, who were fishing for salmon at the mouth of the Klondike River, they ran into Nova Scotian Robert Henderson who had been mining gold on the Indian River, just south of the Klondike. Henderson told George Carmack about where he was mining and that he did not want any Indians near him. The group then headed a few miles up the Klondike River to Rabbit Creek to hunt moose.B） On August l6, 1896, the party discovered rich gold deposits in Bonanza Creek. It is now generally accepted that Skookum Jim made the actual discovery, but some accounts say that it was Kate Carmack. George Carmack was officially credited for the discovery because the “discovery” claim was staked in his name. The group agreed to this because they felt that other miners would be reluctant to recognize a claim made by an Indian, given the strong racist attitudes of the time.Gold Rush beginsC） The news spread to other mining camps in the Yukon River valley, and the Bonanza, Eldorado and Hunker Creeks were rapidly staked by miners who had been previously working creeks and sandbars on the Fortymile and Stewart Rivers. Robert Henderson, who was mining only a few miles away over the hill, only found out about the discovery after the rich creeks had been all staked. News reached the United States in July 1897, when the first successful gold seekers arrived in San Francisco on July l5 and in Seattle on July 17, setting off the Klondike Gold Rush. In 1898, the population in the Klondike may have reached 40, 000, which threatened to cause a famine.D） Most gold seekers landed at Skagway, Alaska, or the nearby town of Dyea, Alaska, both located at the head of the Lynn Canal. From these towns they traveled the Chilkoot Trail and crossed the Chilkoot Pass, or they hiked up to the White Pass into the Yukon Territory and proceeded to Lake Lindeman or Lake Bennett, the headwaters of the Yukon River. Here, some 25 to 35 miles(40-56 km)from where they landed, gold seekers built rafts and boats that would take them the final 500-plus miles(800-plus km)down the Yukon to Dawson City, near the gold fields. Gold seekers had to carry a year’s supply of goods—about a ton, more than half of it food—over the passes to be allowed to enter Canada. At the top of the passes, the gold seekers encountered a Mountie post that enforced that regulation. It was put in place to avert shortages like those that had occurred in the previous two winters in Dawson City.A hard lifeE） The climb to the Chilkoot Pass was steep and dangerous, rising a thousand feet in the last half mile(300 m in 800 m). It was too steep for pack animals, and gold seekers had to pack their equipment and supplies to the top. Some l,500 steps were carved into the ice to aid travel up the pass. Even though it was not as high, conditions on White Pass were even worse. It was known as the Dead Horse Trail, since about 3, 000 animals died along the route.F） Others took the Copper River Trail or the Teslin Trail by Teslin Lake, and some used the all-Canadian Ashcroft(the Edmonton trails). The other main route was by steamer about l, 600 miles(2, 600 Ion)up the Yukon River. In 1897, many using this route later were caught by winter ice below Fort Yukon, Alaska, and had to be rescued, but use of this route was implicit in the discovery of gold finds at Nome and St. Michael near the Yukon estuary, and at Fairbanks, Alaska.G） An estimated l00, 000 people participated in the gold rush and about 30, 000 made it to Dawson City in 1898. By 1901, when the first census was taken, the population had declined to 9, 000. The Klondike field continues to be worked today, although most of the original deposits were removed in the early 1900s when small claim holdings were consolidated and were worked by large-scale industrial extraction methods, notably steam dredges.Cultural legacyH） Among the many to take part in the Gold Rush was writer Jack London, whose books White Fang, The Call of the Wild, and “To Build A Fire” , a collection of short stories, were influenced by his northern experiences and adventurer “Swiftwater” Bill Gates. Charlie Chaplin’s silent movie The Gold Rush(1925), one of the highest grossing movies ever, was set in the Klondike, as was the silent epic The Trail of 98(1928)and Mae West’s Klondike Annie(1936).I） The Gold Rush is an important event in the history of the city of Edmonton, which, until 2005, celebrated Klondike Days, an annual summer fair with a Klondike Gold Rush theme. During the rush, Edmonton was believed to be a viable departure point for travel to the Klondike and was heavily advertised as such by local merchants wanting to profit from people’s ignorance, but only a handful made it from that embarkation point long after the rush was over, because of the immense distance and subarctic travel conditions. The tenuous, and arguably fraudulent-connection of Edmonton with the Klondike Gold Rush was a source of much ridicule for years；its origin being but all attempt in the 1960s to imitate the burgeoning success of the Calgary Stampede by finding a historic event the city was in some way involved in to function as a theme. This finally led to the renaming of the city’s annual summer exhibition in 2006 as Capital EX. 答案解析
AstrologyA） Astrology is the study of how the sun, the moon, planets, and stars are supposedly related to life and events on the earth. It is based on the belief that the heavenly bodies form patterns that can reveal a person’s character or future. Many people throughout the world believe in astrology. These people base important decisions on the advice of an astrologer (a person who tells fortunes by studying the stars). Other people declare there is no scientific basis for astrology, and they consider it a form of entertainment.B） Astrology differs from astronomy. Astrology developed from a set of principles that originated more than2, 000 years ago. At that time, astronomy was also based on those same principles. But during the l500’s and 1600’s, several astronomers, including Nicolaus Copernicus of Poland and Tycho Brahe of Denmark, made discoveries about the heavenly bodies that conflicted with the principles of astrology. As a result, astrology and astronomy became widely different in their methods and purposes. Today, astrologers observe the heavenly bodies to understand things that happen on the earth. Astronomers seek scientific knowledge about the various objects in space.Principles of astrologyC） The basic principle of astrology is that the heavenly bodies influence what happens on the earth. Astrologers learn about this influence by casting(drawing)a circular chart called a horoscope or birth chart. A horoscope shows the position of the planets in relation to both the earth and the stars at a certain time. In most cases, it shows the position of these bodies at the time of a person’s birth. The system used by astrologers to cast a horoscope is based on a special view of the universe. This view involves four elements(1)the earth, (2)the planets, (3)the zodiac(黄道), and(4)the houses. The earth. In casting a horoscope, astrologers place the earth at the center of the solar system. Therefore, all heavenly bodies-revolve around the earth rather than around the sun. Astrologers use this arrangement to determine the positions of the heavenly bodies in relation to the earth. They believe that the study of the positions of the heavenly bodies can reveal a person’s character and future.D） The planets. In astrology, the moon and the sun are considered planets, along with Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus. Each planet supposedly represents a force that affects people in a certain way. Astrologers believe the planets influence a person more than do any other heavenly bodies. The zodiac is a band of stars that appear to encircle the earth. It is divided into12 equal parts, called signs. Each sign of the zodiac has certain characteristics, which are determined by a particular planet and other factors. Astrologers believe the signs determine how the planets affect a person’s character. The houses. Like the zodiac, the earth’s surface is divided into12 parts. Each of these parts, called houses, represents certain characteristics of an individual’s life. Astrologers believe the houses determine how the planets and the signs influence a person’s daily life.HistoryE） Astrology began sometime before 2000 B. C. in Babylonia(now southeastern Iraq). Astrologers of that time knew of five planets—Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and Venus. They believed that the sun, the moon, and planets sent out different forces, which had certain characteristics. For example, one of the planets—now known as Mars—appeared to be red. Astrologers linked it with anger, aggression and war.F） The zodiac was probably developed in ancient Egypt, and the Babylonians adopted it sometime after l000 B. C. Astrologers gradually developed a system that linked seasonal changes with specific group of stars called constellations(星座). At that time, for example, heavy rainfall occurred in Babylonia when the sun was in a certain constellation. As a result, astrologers named the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer.G） At first, astrologers studied the heavenly bodies in making general predictions about the future. But between 600 B. C. and 200 B. C. , they developed the system of casting individual horoscopes(以占星术算命). The ancient Greeks and Romans practiced astrology and greatly influenced its development. The Roman names for the planets and the signs of the zodiac are still used today.H） Interest in astrology declined in Europe with the coming of Christianity as people sought guidance from religious leaders rather than from astrologers. Astrology regained popularity during the A. D. 1100’s. By the1600’s, it was particularly strong in England. Several astrological almanacs (历书)were published, and many other books either defended or attacked astrology. The number of followers of astrology fell in England during the 1700’s, but the subject’s popularity returned again in the early 1800’s. By the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, interest in astrology had spread to many other nations. Newspapers in England began publishing horoscope columns during the 1930’s. Such columns soon appeared in newspapers throughout the world, and people became increasingly interested in astrology. Today, astrology is followed more widely than ever before.Astrology todayI） Many people believe astrology is simply a superstition, and scientists declare that its whole basis is unscientific. Scientists point out that the earth’s position has changed in space since ancient times. As a result, the signs of the zodiac used by astrologers no longer match the constellations for which they were named. Some people who believe in astrology support it in terms of magnetic fields, solar storms and other natural occurrences. Others, though they also believe in astrology, claim that it cannot be supposed scientifically. They consider it a set of powerful symbols that can provide a deep understanding of human beings. They defend astrology by pointing out that, in many cases, it works. 答案解析
The popular notion that older people need less sleep than younger adults is a myth, scientists said yesterday.　　While elderly people __1__ to sleep for fewer hours than they did when they were younger, this has a(n) __2__ effect on their brain's performance and they would benefit from getting more, according to research.　　Sean Drummond, a. psychiatrist (心理医生) at the University of California, San Diego, said older people are more likely to suffer from broken sleep, while younger people are better at sleeping __3__ straight through the night.　　More sleep in old age, however, is __4__ with better health, and most older people would feel better and more __5__ if they slept for longer periods, he said.　　"The ability to sleep in one chunk (整块时间) overnight goes down as we age but the amount of sleep we need to __6__ well does not change," Dr Drummond told the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Diego.　　"It's __7__ a myth that older people need less sleep. The more healthy an older adult is, the more they sleep like they did when they were __8__. Our data suggests that older adults would benefit from __9__ to get as much sleep as they did in their 30s. That's __10__ from person to person, but the amount of sleep we had at 35 is probably the same amount as we need at 75."A. alertB. associatedC. attractingD. clingE. continuingF. definitelyG. differentH. efficientlyI. formallyJ. functionK. mixedL. negativeM. sufficientN. tendO. younger 答案解析
Hints and Tips to Save Money Spend lessA） This is not oversimplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long-term money saver. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? Can you do without those coffees you buy at break time every day—would a flask of coffee taken to work save you money? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for ways to spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money.Establish a personal budgetB） This is essential for families and individuals. You will not be able to save money unless you know how much money you have coming in, and how much money you have going out. Once you have prepared a budget of incoming money and outgoing money, you will be able to identify areas where you can save. It is MUCH more difficult to save money over a long period of time (the rest of your life?) without a budget.Bulk is goodC） Think about shopping and buying in bulk. You can also save money by cooking in bulk. This is a real way you can save money with little preparation and almost no extra outlay. Always purchase in bulk when you can. Prepared foods and convenience foods will always be much more expensive than all the ingredients needed to make the food. Preparing food in bulk and in advance also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and be more accurate in your budget. Save money by buying in bulk whenever you can. One thing to be aware of when buying in bulk is to be sure that any product you buy will get used before it goes bad—you won’t save money if you have to throw stuff away. Buying in bulk is not only a good way to save money it is also a good strategy for coping with and surviving emergencies.Make sure a sale is a saleD） By this I mean do your price research before you commit to making an expensive purchase in a retailers money-off sale. You have to be sure the sale really is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of the store to encourage you to spend your money without thinking. Once you have researched the true price of a product (any product) you are in a good position to take advantage of a sale, special offer or discount and really save money. “Buy one get one free”, “50% off”, and “Huge Discount” will only help you save money if the actual price you pay is lower than you would pay somewhere else for exactly the same product.Buy usedE） Sure, we all like to buy new. But there are huge money savings to be made in buying used. Typically cars lose one-third of their value in the first 24 months from new. Why not buy a car 24 months old? Other items such as clothes can be worth even less just the day after new. Look for ways to buy “as good as new” items and save money. Typical products you might consider buying used to save money include: cars, clothes, electrical goods, garden items.., tools and sheds, household items.., pots and pans—the list of used goods where you can save money is endless.Don’t carry excessive debtF） Some debt in our lives may be essential. We may need a mortgage (抵押) to purchase a home, we may need to use our credit card to make purchases until pay-day, but your aim to save money should be to have as little debt as possible. Credit card debt is typically the most expensive debt we may carry. You will be able to save money every month if you make it an absolute rule to pay off your outstanding balance every month. If you can have the discipline to do this you will save money by effectively having no debt and thus no interest charge on your credit card(s).Save moneyG） No, I mean really save some money. Each week or each month get into the habit of putting an amount, however small into your savings. You could start by saving a very small fixed amount each time and then move to putting in larger amounts once you begin to save money from your other money saving strategies. You will find that by saving money on a regular basis you will quickly build up a store of reserve money and also feel motivated to save more. The hardest part is to take the first step and start saving money—so START TODAY and save some money NOW! If you find it impossible to save money once you have it, consider having money deducted from your paycheck direct each month. This can be a great way to save money rapidly as once it is set up you will not notice it is being collected and your savings will grow with no more effort from you.Shop wiselyH） Consider markets, superstores, farmer’s markets, local shops, malls and stores. Anywhere is worth checking out to see if you can save money. Farmer’s markets can be particularly good places to save money. Typically you are buying direct from the producer of the product so the savings are passed on to you. Use your bulk buying strategy here—farmer’s markets often offer opportunities to save money by buying larger quantities of food, for instance potatoes, rice or corn. Save money and shop wisely.Eat in rather than outThis is a huge area where you can save money. A cup of coffee taken out could easily cost you TWENTY times (or more) what it would cost you to make it at home. So think before you drink when you are out. Eating is the same. Fast food restaurants are counting on your eating food that you perhaps don’t really need at that time but buy just because it is quick. Why not wait until you get home and have a more nutritious meal and save money at the same time?Use lessI） This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively but it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat (恒温器) down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money. Huge savings in energy can be made which will save you money and be good for our planet and the other people on it. 答案解析
Google Closes In on Double-Click DealA）Score one for Google. The Federal Trade Commission ruled Dec.20 that it would not block Google’s (GOOG) proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of leading online ad-serving and tracking firm Double-Click. The 4-1 decision in Google’s favor marked a major win for the Web search Goliath, which is battling to expand its considerable share of the $30 billion online advertising market beyond tiny text ads related to Web queries.B）But Google can’t claim victory yet. The European Union’s antitrust commission still needs to sign off on the merger before Google can begin incorporating Double Click into its business. That may not happen without Google agreeing to certain conditions, if at all. Already, the EU has raised concerns about its impact on consumer privacy. “This is round one of a two-round battle,” says Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD), a nonprofit public interest group that opposed the merger. “The EU can kill the deal, there is no question about it.” The FTC said in its decision that it could only consider privacy concerns as they relate to marketplace competition. But it did issue a separate statement with some recommendations concerning online customer data collection and privacy.The Personal Business of Ad PlacementC）Google has faced strong opposition to its online advertising ambitions since it announced plans to acquire Double Click in April (BusinessWeek.com, 4/14/07). Competitors for online ad dollars, such as Microsoft (MSFT), argue the merger will enable Google to effectively control the market. Ads placed beside Web search results account for more than 40% of the dollars spent online, and Google controls more than two-thirds of that market, according to e-Marketer. Much of the remaining online ad dollars go to display ads, the poster-like banners—Double Click’s forte—that run on most Web sites.D）Online ads are priced based on how well they are matched to the target consumer. Google collects data on searches performed by individual computers, and Double Click records information about the computers that visit the Web pages in its network. The more data they collect, the better they can match a marketer’s ad to a potentially interested customer, and the higher the premium they can charge on the ad. But consumer groups see the issue another way: the more data collected, the higher the risk of violating someone’s privacy. For the past eight months, groups voiced concerns to the FTC that a combined Google/Double Click would aggregate too much information about what Web surfers do online, putting consumers at risk. In the end, the majority of the commissioners decided Double Click does not control enough of the display-ad market to give Google an unfair monopoly. “Competition among firms in this market is vigorous and will likely increase,” the commission majority wrote in a statement.Increased CompetitionE）Recent announcements by Google’s chief competitors support this argument. On Dec. 19, Microsoft—one of the few to challenge Google’s merger before the FTC—announced a $500 million, five-year advertising deal to place ads on Viacom’s (VIA) network of popular Websites, including MTV.com. Microsoft will also be able to sell ad space on Viacom pages that are not in a premium position, based on the data it has about visitors to Viacom’s sites. Microsoft also recently solidified multiyear advertising agreements with Face book, the second most popular social network in the U.S., after News Corp.’s (NWS) MySpace, and well-trafficked social news site Digg (BusinessWeek.com,9/19/07). “When Microsoft comes into a room and talks about anticompetitive behavior and threats to privacy, no one can take them seriously,” says the CDD’s Chester.F）It also didn’t help Google opponents that many of the company’s competitors recently struck agreements to buy ad networks themselves, similar to Google’s proposed deal with Double Click. Microsoft bought Double Click competitor a quantive for $6 billion in May (BusinessWeek.com, 5/18/07). Yahoo! (YHOO) and Time Wamer’s (TWX) AOL also scooped up ad-serving and targeting firms earlier this year. Meanwhile, independent players, such as Specific Media, have secured millions in funding to consolidate their operations with other smaller ad networks (Business Week.com, 11/1/07). In a statement on Google’s blog, Chief Legal Officer David Drummond applauded the ruling: “The FTC’s decision publicly affirms what we and numerous independent analysts have been saying for months, our acquisition does not threaten competition in what is a robust, innovative, and quickly evolving online advertising space.”Privacy Violation?G）But will it threaten Web users? The final answer may rest with the European Commission. In November the commission delayed a decision on the deal (BusinessWeek.com, 11/14/07), saying it was more complicated than many competition cases and demanded further review. The EC has until Apr.2 to issue a ruling. Privacy advocates worry that Google, combining its wealth of search data with the information Double Click collects on who visits clients’ sites, would violate consumer privacy. The sheer volume of information that Double Click collects would make it easy for Google to understand nearly everything about what millions of individual consumers do on the Web, critics say.H）Google counters that Double Click clients own information about who visits their sites and what they do there. Many of those clients would consider it a violation of that agreement for Google to, say, sell car ads on its Gmail service to people who have recently visited an automotive site that uses Double Click. As a result, Google says, it can’t simply fuse its data with Double Click’s customer information. However, privacy groups argue that Google could easily encourage Double Click clients to relinquish their data in exchange for, say, free search ads.I）The FTC did offer a ray of hope for privacy advocates. The commissioners issued several recommendations about behavioral targeting, where information about users’ Web activity is used to tailor online ads. The FTC said sites should clearly notify users when they’re collecting data on their actions, and that sites should limit the length of time they store that data to reduce the risk of it falling into the wrong hands. The FTC said it plans to look into whether “heightened protections” are needed to safeguard consumer privacy online. 答案解析
An international committee of doctors says that the number of cases of brain diseases in developing countries is rising. The doctors were reporting the1for the United States National Academy of Sciences. They say that brain diseases2at least 250 million people in the developing world. These diseases include strokes (中风), epilepsy (癫痫) and3sickness such as schizophrenia (精神分裂症) and depression (抑郁症). They also include4development of the nervous system, which causes mental slowness and cerebral palsy(脑瘫). Doctor Murthy says there are two reasons for this. One is a lack of money. The other is a lack of human5. For example, a recent study shows that doctors who6mental sicknesses are not enough in most developing countries. Another7to action against brain diseases is the unfair way in which the public acts toward victims. Many victims of brain diseases are treated8.　　The committee say there are effective and9cost medical treatments for these diseases. Yet these treatments are not often provided in developing countries. The committee says more treatments should be offered to poor countries. It says health care systems in developing countries should provide mental health services for their people. The committee says efforts should be made to increase public10of brain diseases. Finally，the committee says national research programs should be established to study brain diseases.A. understandingB. treatC. resumeD. poorlyE. affectF. promotionG. abnormalH. interestI. physicalJ. barrierK. mentalL. richlyM. lowN. informationO. resources 答案解析
To others and themselves the British have a reputation for being conservative—not in the narrow political sense, but in the sense of adherence to accepted ideas and unwilling to question them. The reputation comes partly from their1.　　For 900 years they have suffered2invasion nor revolution (except in 1649 and 1688) nor disastrous defeat in3.　　Their monarchy (君主政体) survives without serious question. Under its normal4 political arrangements have been so stable that except for the5interruptions in the seventeenth century, they have been adopted throughout6centuries to meet changing needs without violent changes. Britain, in 1978, was7in managing without a written constitution; some fragmentary definitions of 1688 still8. There had been bitter quarrels, social and economic as well9political, but the quarrels had been settled, usually10compromise. The underlying continuity had not been broken.A. warB. theC. popularD.neitherE. byF. twoG. asH. historyI. futureJ. peopleK. leadershipL. studyM. survivedN. uniqueO. month 答案解析
It seems you always forget-your reading glasses when you are rushing to work, your coat when you are going to the cleaners, your credit card when you are shopping...　　Such absent-mindedness may be __1__ to you; now British and German scientists are developing memory glasses that record everything the __2__ sees.　　The glasses can play back memories later to help the wearer remember things they have forgotten such as where they left their keys. And the glasses also __3__ the user to "label" items so that information can be used later on. The wearer could walk around an office or a factory identifying certain __4__ by pointing at them. Objects indicated are then given a __5__ label on a screen inside the glasses that the user then fills in.　　It could be used in __6__ plants by mechanics looking to identify machine parts or by electricians wiring a __7__ device.　　A spokesman for the project said: "A car mechanic for __8__ could find at a glance where a part on a certain car model is so that it can be identified and repaired. For the motorist the system could __9__ accident black spots or dangers on the road."　　In other cases the glasses could be worn by people going on a guided tour, __10__ points of interest or by people looking at panoramas where all the sites could be identified.A. allowB. instanceC. blankD. industrialE. frustratingF. itemsG. indicatingH. highlightI. userJ. complicatedK. whiteL. annoyingM. successfulN. articlesO. simple 答案解析
What is it about Americans and food? We love to eat, but we feel _ 1 _ about it afterward. We say we want only the best, but we strangely enjoy junk food. We're 2 with health and weight loss but face an unprecedented epidemic of obesity(肥胖). Perhaps the 3 to this ambivalence(矛盾情结) lies in our history. The first Europeans came to this continent searching for new spices but went in vain. The first cash crop(经济作物) wasn’t eaten but smoked. Then there was Prohibition, intended to prohibit drinking but actually encouraging more 4 ways of doing it.　　The immigrant experience, too, has been one of inharmony. Do as Romans do means eating what “real Americans” eat, but our nation’s food has come to be 5 by imports—pizza, say, or hot dogs. And some of the country’s most treasured cooking comes from people who arrived here in shackles.　　Perhaps it should come as no surprise then that food has been a medium for the nation’s defining struggles, whether at the Boston Tea Party or the sit-ins at southern lunch counters. It is integral to our concepts of health and even morality whether one refrains from alcohol for religious reasons or evades meat for political 6 .　　But strong opinions have not brought 7 . Americans are ambivalent about what they put in their mouths. We have become 8 of our foods, especially as we learn more about what they contain.　　The 9 in food is still prosperous in the American consciousness. It's no coincidence, then, that the first Thanksgiving holds the American imagination in such bondage(束缚). It's what we eat—and how we 10 it with friends, family, and strangers—that help define America as a community today.　　A.answer　　B.result　　C.share　　D.guilty　　E.constant　　F.defined　　G.vanish　　H.adapted　　I.creative　　J.belief　　K.suspicious　　L.certainty　　M.obsessed　　N.identify　　O.ideals 答案解析
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