3 快速阅读.doc

CET-4 Reading 快速阅读Passage 1Animals on the MoveIt looked like a scene from “Jaws” but without the dramatic music. A huge shark was lowly swimming through the water, its tail swinging back and forth like the pendulum of a clock。Suddenly sensitive nerve ending in the sharks skin picked up vibrations of a struggling fish. The shark was immediately transformed into a deadly, efficient machine of death. With muscles taut, the shark knifed through the water at a rapid speed. In a flash the shark caught its victim, a large fish, in its powerful jaws. Then, jerking its head back and forth, the shark tore huge chunks of flesh from its victim and swallowed them. Soon the action was over。Moving to SurviveIn pursuing its prey, the shark demonstrated in a dramatic way the important role of movement, or locomotion, in animals。Like the shark, most animals use movement to find food. They also use locomotion to escape enemies, find a mate, and explore new territories. The methods of locomotion include crawling, hopping, slithering, flying, swimming, or walking。Humans have the added advantage of using their various inventions to move about in just about any kind of environment. Automobiles, rockets, and submarines transport humans from deep oceans to as far away as the moon. However, for other animals movement came about naturally through millions of years of evolution. One of the most successful examples of animal locomotion is that of the shark. Its ability to quickly zero in on its prey has always impressed scientists. But it took a detailed study by Duke University marine biologists S. A. Wainwright, F. Vosburgh, and J. H. Hebrank to find out how the sharks did it. In their study the scientists observed sharks swimming in a tank at Marine land in Saint Augustine, Fla. Movies were taken of the sharks movements and analyzed. Studies were also made of shark skin and muscle。 Skin Is the KeyThe biologists discovered that the skin of the shark is the key to the animals high efficiency in swimming through the water. The skin contains many fibers that crisscross like the inside of a belted radial tire. The fibers are called collagen fibers. These fibers can either store or release large amounts of energy depending on whether the fibers are relaxed or taut. When the fibers are stretched, energy is stored in them the way energy is stored in the string of a bow when pulled tight. When the energy is released, the fibers become relaxed。The Duke University biologists have found that the greatest stretching occurs where the shark bends its body while swimming. During the bodys back and forth motion, fibers along the outside part of the bending body stretch greatly. Much potential energy is stored in the fibers. This energy is released when the sharks body snaps back the other way。As energy is alternately stored and released on both sides of the animals body, the tail whips strongly back and forth. This whip-like action propels the animal through the water like a living bullet。Source of EnergyWhat causes the fibers to store so much energy? In finding the answer the Duke University scientists learned that the sharks similarity to a belted radial tire doesnt stop with the skin. Just as a radial tire is inflated by pressure, so, too, is the area just under the sharks collagen “radials”. Instead of air pressure, however, the pressure in the shark may be due to the force of the blood pressing on the collagen fibers。When the shark swims slowly, the pressure on the fibers is relatively low. The fibers are more relaxed, and the shark is able to bend its body at sharp angles. The animal swims this way when looking around for food or just swimming. However, when the shark detects an important food source, some fantastic involuntary changes take place。The pressure inside the animal may increase by 10 times. This pressure change greatly stretches the fibers, enabling much energy to be stored。This energy is then transferred to the tail, and the shark is off. The rest of the story is predictable。Dolphin Has Speed RecordAnother fast marine animal is the dolphin. This seagoing mammal has been clocked at speeds of 32 kilometers (20 miles) an hour. Biologists studying the dolphin have discovered that, like the shark, the animals efficient locomotion can be traced to its skin. A dolphins skin is made up in such a way that it offers very little resistance to the water flowing over it. Normally when a fish or other object moves slowly through the water, the water flows smoothly past the body. This smooth flow is known as laminar flow. However, at faster speeds the water becomes more turbulent along the moving fish. This turbulence muses friction and slows the fish down。In a dolphin the skin is so flexible that it bends and yields to the waviness of the water。The waves, in effect, become tucked into the skins folds. This allows the rest of the water to move smoothly by in a laminar flow. Where other animals would be slowed by turbulent water at rapid speeds, the dolphin can race through the water at record breaking speeds。Other Animals Less EfficientNot all animals move as efficiently as sharks and dolphins. Perhaps the greatest loser in locomotion efficiency is the slug. The slug, which looks like a snail without a shell, lays down a slimy trail over which it crawls. It uses so much energy producing the slimy mucus and crawling over it that a mouse traveling the same distance uses only one twelfth as much energy。Scientists say that because of the slugs inefficient use of energy, its lifestyle must be restricted. That is, the animals are forced to confine themselves to small areas for obtaining food and finding proper living conditions. Have humans ever been faced with this kind of problem?1.According to the passage, a shark can use movement to do something except_。Ato find food Bto avoid being chased by its enemiesCto find a new place to live Dto show its braveness2.Examples of automobiles, rockets and submarines are used to show that _。Ahumans are the most clever living creatures in the worldBhuman inventions enable us to travel in almost any kind of environmentChumans are very successful in inventing transportation toolsDhumans cant move like other animals in any circumstances3.What is the key to the sharks swift locomotion in water?AThe skin.BThe tail.CThe muscle.DThe jaw。4.According to the Duke University scientists, when does the shark stretch its to the greatest extent?AWhen moving its tail rapidly。 BWhen finding its preys。CWhen staying without any movement。 DWhen bending its body in swimming。5.Why is the area just under the sharks collagen fibers similar to a belted radial tire?ABecause it is also full of blood pressure。 BBecause it is also filled of air pressure。CBecause it is also inflated by pressure。 DBecause it also can be used again and again。6.A laminar flow is formed when a fish swims_。Aslowly through the water Brapidly through the waterCagainst the current Dat the fastest speed in water7.Consuming the equal amount of energy as a slug does, a mouse can travelas long as it_。Aone twelfth times.Bthe same.C12 times.D1.2 times。8.A shark finds its prey by_。9.According to the passage, _can be compared to the string of a bow for both of them store energy when stretched。10.When the shark detects an important food source, _take place。Passage 2Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stressFinding work-life balance in todays frenetically (疯狂) paced world is no simple task. Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult.Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress along with its harmful effects is the result.The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance.How work invades your personal lifeThere was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Heres why:Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs. International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting.Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this.Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than theyre scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory (强制性的). If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations.Changes in family roles. Todays married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community.Married to your workIt can be tempting to rack up the hours at work especially if youre trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a childs education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload.But if youre spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance:Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when youre tired. This means youre less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation.Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your childs first bike ride, your fathers 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones.Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if youre spending time at the office instead of with them, youll find it difficult to nurture those friendships.Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges.Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you wont be able to avoid it, but you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when youre too tired, when its affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations.Striking the best work-life balanceFor most people, juggling (巧妙处理) the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. With so many demands on your time from overtime to family obligations it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you.Here are some ideas to help you find the balance thats best for you:Learn to say no. Whether its a co-worker asking you to spearhead (充当先锋) an extra project or your childs teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that its OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, youll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy.Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer.Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it.Get enough sleep. Theres nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when youre sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes.Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary.Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate (使年轻) you.Remember, striking a work-life balance isnt a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesnt mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.1. What will happen if your work life and personal life feel out of balance?A) You will have little time to finish your work. B) You may feel stress, which will affect you negatively.C) You will have a lot of time to share with your family.D) You will never balance the combination of life and work.2. The boundaries between work and home have blurred for the following reasons, EXCEPT _.A) global economy B) changes in family rolesC) advanced communication technology D) high divorce rate3.