My Uncle Dave posed an interesting question to my wife and me when he came to visit us the other day. He asked: "What do you think the world will be like in 50 or 100 years, in terms of technology and society and so on?" He says he asks many of the people he meets this question to see what their thoughts are. His point is that no one really knows. I mean, in 1945, could people have even imagined surfing the net or sending e-mails as we do? No way. And the pace of technological innovation is incredible . We're on a more different curve than we used to be. One thing I'm looking forward to is real software agents. There is so much information out there, but I want something that can help me find what I really want. For instance, in about ten years, I think, there will be no longer recorded music, and there will be some big databases from which you can download music onto your hard drive or whatever. At that point, there will be so much music to choose from and you'll be able to sample things before you buy them. But the question will be how I find what I'm looking for and how I do find the music that might interest me. Or more generally, how do I find information that I want without spending all the time myself surfing the net? How do I find people who are like-minded , with whom I might really want to communicate? I want to find those people but it's hard to do. In the future I think that one will be able to build a community of like-minded people who live all over the globe. It's going to be very interesting, I think. No one really knows what the future will be like because _ . A) there is too much information for us to choose from B) technological development is too fast C) people live in different countries D) no one is intelligent enough to answer such a question
B
Suppose you are thinking about attending college in the United States, but perhaps you might not be ready for a university with a four-year program. About 88,000 international students have found solution. They are attending U.S. community colleges. Such colleges are sometimes called junior colleges. They offer two years of education above the secondary or high school level. Community college students can choose from subjects like medical assistance, computer science or law. At the end of their study program, they receive a document of completion, called a certificate. Some students work toward an associate degree in traditional academic subjects like science or history. After getting it, the students can move on to a four-year college or university. They may have only two years of study left before they receive a bachelor's degree. Many educational experts agree that saving money is the major reason to consider a community college. The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) says that a public two-year college costs 3,000 dollar a year on average. That is true if the student lives in the same state as the school. A student at a four-year public college may pay 8,500 dollars a year for classes and user fees. That does not include books and other materials. Some international students may need more preparation in English before entering a community college in the United States. For example, Istrif Montgomery came to the U.S. from Kosovo in 2006. First, he worked to improve his English at Montgomery College for a year. Then for the next two years, he attended classes in basic subjects in a community college. The international students at two-year colleges need to find a place to live. Most community colleges do not provide student housing on their grounds. But Mr Montgomery had a home nearby. He was able to ride the bicycle, and he was able to walk if he wanted. In fact, most community college students live within five to ten miles off the college. What's the biggest advantage of a community college? A) The classes are free of charge. B) The students can save much time. C) The students can save a lot of money. D) It is convenient for students to live in the college.
C
Q: Why don't so many Americans accept the theory of evolution? A 2001 Gallup Poll found that 45 percent of Americans agree with the statement "God created the human being pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so ", while 37 percent preferred a mixed belief that "Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process", and only 12percent accepted the standard scientific theory that "Human being have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process". There are at least four reasons to make people resistant to accepting evolution. 1. The warfare model of science and religion. The belief that there is a war between science and religion where one is right and the other is wrong, and that one must choose one over the other. 2. The belief that evolution is a threat to specific religious tenets . Many people attempt to use science to prove certain religious tenets, but when they do not appear to fit, the science is rejected. 3. Misunderstanding of evolutionary theory. A significant problem is that most people know so little about the theory. In the 2001 Gallup Poll, for example, a quarter of the people surveyed said they didn't know enough to say whether they accepted evolution or not, and only 34 percent considered themselves to be "very informed " about the theory. 4. The fear that evolution degrades our humanity. Darwin revealed us to be "mere animals", subject to the same natural laws and historical forces as all other animals. Believers should embrace science, especially evolutionary theory, for what it has done to uncover the magnificence of the divinity in a depth never dreamed by our ancient ancestors. We have learned a lot in 4,000 years, and that knowledge should never be denied. Instead, science should be welcomed by all who cherish human understanding and wisdom. Which of the following is NOT the reason why people don't accept evolution? A) There is always a war between evolution and religion. B) Some religious tenets can't be proved by science. C) Many people don't know enough about evolution. D) They fear that we will become "mere animals".
A: D
(Question)
One afternoon, in Paris, I took a trip to an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of some great paintings of excellent artists. A young couple looking at the paintings in front of me were talking non-stop. I watched them a moment and decided she was doing all the talking. In fact, I was surprised at this man for putting up with her everlasting speech. Bored by their noise, I moved on. I met them several times as I moved through those rooms of art. Each time I heard her voice, I moved away at once. I was standing at the museum gift shop buying some cards when the couple walked to the exit . "He's a brave man," said the shop assistant. "Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. But he and his wife come in whenever there's a new art show." It explained the non-stop talk! A sudden sense of shame came to my heart for what I was thinking just now. "But what does he get out of the art?" I asked. "His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head." At that moment I realized what is patience, courage and love. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person who can't see and courage of a husband who would not allow blindness change his love towards art. And I felt the love shared by the two as I watched them walking away holding each other's hands. The passage mainly shows us _ . A) patience, courage and love B) how to watch paintings C) how art changed people's life D) a trip
(Answer)
A