The first decade of the 21st century has been a remarkable period for inventions. Here are some of the most influential inventions in the first decade.

1. iPod and iTunes:

These two inventions from Apple Inc. presented a revolutionary new way for people to listen to music and fundamentally changed the recording industry. iTunes was introduced in January, 2001 and was marketed as a program that transferred (转录) CDs into digital audio files and helped organize digital recordings. Later that year, Apple introduced the iPod, a device (设备)that used a hard disk to store music files. The first model had a 5GB capacity and could hold over 1,000 songs.

2. iPhone:

The iPhone from Apple Inc. was released in June of 2007 and completely changed the way mobile phones are used personally and in business. Older phones typically included voice communications and sometimes a keyboard to send text messages. Phones that offered internet access were usually unreadable and difficult to handle. The iPhone introduced the multi-touch interface(界面) that allows for quick and easy access to data, music, and pictures while providing storage for other important information.

3. Electric Car:

Tesla Motors was formed in 2003. It was the first company to produce a vehicle that did not have significant difficulty in production or sales. Tesla vehicles claim an 88% efficiency rating compared to 20-25% for traditional gasoline-powered cars. According to data from the National Fire Protection Association, a driver is “5 times more likely to experience a fire in a traditional  gasoline car than a Tesla.”

4. Facebook:

Facebook was not the first social networking website, but since its introduction in 2004 it has been the most influential medium. 150 million users worldwide appreciate its multitude of features and easy accessibility. The concept of building connections through internet has changed the manner in which businesses market their products and people interact with one another.

21. What can we learn about iTunes?

A. It is used to store music.

B. It has a hard disk.

C. It turns CDs into digital audio files.

D. It was introduced after iPod was invented.

22. Compared to a traditional gasoline-powered car, Tesla      .

   A. takes in bigger profits     

   B. works in lower efficiency

   C. sells better in the car market

   D. is much safer from fire damage

23. Which two inventions changed the way of doing business?

   A. iPod and iTunes.                               B. iPhone and Facebook.

C. iPhone and Electric Car.               D. Electric Car and Facebook.

Thomas Hardy, probably the most searching and knowledgeable novelist of our time, was born on June 2, 1840, in Dorsetshire, England. He died on January 11, 1928. In his youth, Hardy read much and dreamt of becoming a poet, but he studied and practiced architecture as an assistant to a London architect, winning a prize for design. The fine descriptions of structure in his novels were probably somewhat due to his architectural training.

For five years he worked hard to practise writing poetry, but when he was twenty-seven, Hardy turned to fiction. His first story was accepted two years later, but upon the advice of George Meredith he decided not to publish it. His first novel, Desperate Remedies, appeared in 1871. During the next twenty-five years he published fourteen novels and two collections of short stories.

Under the Greenwood Tree (1872) he never surpassed(超越)in happy and delicate perfection of art. This and his next novel, A pair of Blue Eyes (1873), begin to show deep irony(讽刺) which is so obvious throughout Hardy’s writings.

Far from the madding Crowd (1874) was his first popular success. In it is shown Hardy’s amazing power of describing nature as symbolic background for his characters, an organic part of the action of his story. This was the earliest of what he called his novels of character and environment, which included The Return of the Native, Tess of D’Urbervilles, his masterpiece, and Jude the Obscure. Not until he was fifty-eight years old was his first collection of poems published, and he was sixty-four when the first part of The Dymats, surprised the literary world.

24. How did Thomas Hardy benefit from his architectural career?

A. He could practice writing while working.

B. He made a lot of money to support his writing.

C. He found material for his novels and poems.

D. He applied architectural knowledge in his novels.

25. What is Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree considered to be?

A. One of his masterworks.                             B. One of his best collections of poems. 

C. His best novel in perfection of art.               D. His first popular success.

26. Which of the following is one of his novels of character and environment?

A. Desperate Remedies.                                        B. A pair of Blue Eyes.

C. Tess of D’Urbervilles                                          D. The Dymats.

27. What type of writing is this text?

A. A biography.             B. A book review.         C. A novel.           D. A news report.

For those who have no access to clean water, the phrase “a thirst for knowledge” may soon have a new meaning. Researchers have developed a book with specially treated pages that can make water safe to drink. The researchers say their invention could improve the lives of many in the developing world.

An estimated 600 to 700 million people around the world are at risk of disease or even death because their drinking water is not clean. The water is infected with harmful bacteria or other pollutants. But researcher Teri Dankovich has developed a special book that could turn dirty water into clean, drinkable water. The book contains 25 pages. Each page is about one millimeter thick. The pages contain very small particles (微粒) of silver. The pages can be used as filters (过滤器) to remove harmful microorganisms that can pollute drinking water. The filter kills the organisms that pass through it. Ms. Dankovich says each page can treat up to 100 liters of water. Pictures on the pages show the dangers of dirty water and how to use the book for those unable to read. The pages are made of filter paper. They are designed to be torn from the book. Water can be poured through the paper to be decontaminated.

Teri Dankovich and another researcher tested the drinkable book in Bangladesh, Ghana and South Africa. The tests proved to be successful. At the meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, Ms. Dankovich was asked whether she has considered adding classic literature on the book’s pages. “The idea of classical texts – that’s of interest maybe later. But we have discussed a little bit more exciting text. But we really haven’t had the time to go through that part,” she laughed.

Water for Life, a non-governmental organization, has provided financial support for the project. It costs just pennies per page to produce each book.

28. How does the book help people get clean water?     

A. The tiny metal particles on the pages remove the pollution.

B. Its pages can produce small particles when dropped into water.

C. It contains knowledge of water cleaning on each of the pages.

D. It carries information about the harm caused by dirty water.

29. The underlined word “decontaminated” in Paragraph 2 probably mean______.

A. tested             B. boiled                C. absorbed                D. cleaned

30. What can we infer about the drinkable book with classical texts?

A. It will be available soon.

B. It’s a joke to the researchers.

C. It’s a waste of time to do research on them.

D. It has not been on the researchers’ schedule.

31. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Book pages providing safe drinking water.

B. Water pollution in developing countries.

C. Books designed to improve people’s lives.

D. A new test carried out successfully.

If you’re locking into your career plans, college counselor Nancy has three words for you: Don’t do it. Actually, Nancy isn’t the only counselor advising students to take their time in discovering who they are and what they want to do when they get out of college.

“Preparing broadly makes sense to me,” she explains, “and that the best preparation for a future that is still unfolding, is a broad preparation. It shouldn’t prevent you from following areas that light you up, but a broad preparation will prepare you for multiple careers.” That’s important because jobs change more frequently due to changes in technology and business competition. Some jobs that are available today may be on their way out in 10 years. “The best thing about preparing broadly is that you get to live in a big world,” says Nancy. “You avoid getting stuck in a job or business area, and if your job becomes out of date, you can move on.”

Many students make the mistake of working on "the next step in front of them," avoiding time to explore their interests or reflect on what they're learning about themselves. For example, students will look at a college and try to figure out what the college is looking for in a student. Then they try to remake themselves into that student, even though it might go against who they really are.

Students let the “next-step mentality” hold back their learning as well. Many students don’t take courses outside their comfort zone for fear it will ruin their GPA(平均成绩) and their chances of getting into a certain college. “You may be unwilling to go outside your areas of strength for fear you’ll get a low grade,” says Nancy. “But if you think one grade in one class will ruin your chances of admission, you’re doing harm to yourself. Colleges look at a number of factors in addition to grades. Students often think requirements of colleges are much stricter and narrower than they really are.”

Since colleges work to admit a diverse group of students, the best thing to do is be yourself and explore your options. There are many people in their late 20s who are unhappy in their careers and who regret that they didn’t pursue a wider range of interests while in college.

32. Nancy’s advice is based on ______.

   A. Rising unemployment                         B. Strict college requirements

   C. A fast-changing job market                       D. A lower academic performance

33. What does the underlined phrase “comfort zone” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

   A. Their career plans.                                   B. Their favorite courses.

   C. The jobs they dream of.                       D. The subjects they are good at.

34. According to the text, which of the following is a “next-step mentality”?

A. Studying to meet a certain job requirements when in college.

B. Spending time exploring interests while learning.

C. Taking new courses in varied fields.

D. Reading all types of books.  

35. Who will probably find the text most helpful?

A. Business managers.    B. Job seekers.    C. College students.    D. Employees.

As most of us know, talking and listening don’t go smoothly every time. Will parents take you seriously, believe what you say, listen to and respect your opinions?  36    But some of what happens depends on you, too. Since communication is a two-way street, the way you talk can influence how well a parent listens and understands you. So here are some guidelines to consider when talking to parents:

˜ Be clear and direct. Be as clear as you can about what you think, feel, and want.   37   They can listen better or be more helpful if they understand what you mean and what’s really going on.

˜ Be honest. If you’re always honest, a parent will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth or add too much drama, parents will have a harder time believing what you tell them. If you lie, they’ll find it hard to trust you.

˜ Try to understand their point of view. If you have a disagreement, can you see your parents’ side?   38    Telling parents you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to see yours, too.

˜ Try not to argue or complain. Using a tone that’s friendly and respectful makes it more likely parents will listen and take what you say seriously.   39    If you think your emotions might get the better of you, do something to blow off steam before talking: Go for a run. Cry.  40    Do whatever it takes to sound calm when you need to.

A. Hit your pillow.

B. If you can, say so.

C. A lot depends on your parent.

D. Think twice before you make a decision.

E. Your parents won’t always see things your way.

F. Give details that can help parents understand your situation.

G. Of course, this is hard for any of us when we’re feeling heated about something.