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1 12 真题 Leading scientists around the world are meeting in Britain to consider a proposal that could eventually see Greenwich Mean Time become a footnote in history For more than 120 yeas GMT has been the international standard for timekeeping but it is now under threat from a new definition of time itself based not on the rotation of the Earth but on atomic clocks GMT is based on the passage of the Sun over the zero meridian line 子午线 at the Greenwich Observatory in southeast London and became the world standard for time at a conference in Washington in 1884 France had promoted Paris Mean Time at the same conference In 1972 it was replaced in name by Universal Coordinated Time UTC but that essentially remained the same as GMT UTC is based on about 400 atomic clocks at laboratories around the world but then corrected with leap seconds 闰秒 to adjust itself in line with the Earth s rotational speed which fluctuates But the tiny difference between Earth speed and atomic speed have become a problem for CPS the global positioning systems and mobile phone networks on which the modern would relies The meeting in London are looking at the possible effects of abandoning the leap seconds and moving fully to atomic time That would see atomic tome slowly move apart from GMT by about one minute every 60 to 90 years or by an hour every 600 years and there would need to be leap minutes a couple of times a century to bring the two in line British science minister David willetts has opposed the plan by saying We should stick to real time as experienced by humans Without leap seconds we will lose contact with the reality of Earth s rotation Eventually our midnight would happen at noon In January the International Telecommunication Union will meet in Geneva to vote on whether to adopt the new measure despite protests from Britain 56 Leading scientists are considering replacing 57 What will be voted on at Geneva meeting in January 58 What is new measure of time keeping based on 59 Leap minutes can be used to 60 How did Britain react to the proposal 56 60 答案 56 GMT with atomic time 解析 but it is now under threat from a new definition of time itself based not on the rotation of the Earth but on atomic clocks 由此句可得到答案 57 Whether to adopt the new measure 解析 In January the International Telecommunication Union will meet in Geneva to vote on whether to adopt the new measure despite protests from Britain 由此句可得答案 58 Atomic clocks 解析 it was replaced in name by Universal Coordinated Time UTC but that essentially remained the same as GMT UTC is based on about 400 atomic clocks at laboratories around the world 由此句可得到答案 59 adjust atomic speed in line with Earth speed 解析 ut then corrected with leap seconds 闰秒 to adjust itself in line with the Earth s rotational speed which fluctuates 由此句可得到 答案 60 It opposed protested the proposal 解析 British science minister David willetts has opposed the plan 由此句可得答案 2 Internet use appears to cause a drop in psychological health according to research at Carnegie Mellon University Even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Internet experienced more bad feelings and loneliness than those who was online less frequently the two year study showed Researchers are puzzling over the results which were completely contrary to their expectations They expected that the Net would prove socially healthier than television since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in psychological health researchers hypothesized 推测 Faceless bodiless virtual 虚的 communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation and the relationships formed through it may be shallower Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world through the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives But it s important to remember this is not about the technology it s about how it is used says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel one of the study s sponsors 发起人 It really points to the need for considering social factors in terms of how you design applications and services for technology 56 The research undertaken at Carnegie Mellon University found that 57 What had the researchers expected before the research 58 The researchers supposed that the reason why Internet use may cause the drop in psychological health is that 59 Christine Riley the psychologist suggests that 60 The most appropriate title for the passage would be 56 60 答案 56 Internet use may cause a drop in psychological health 解析 细节题 从第一句 Internet use appears to cause a drop in psychological health according to research at Carnegie Mellon University 我们可以得出研究的结果是网络造成人的心理健康下降 57 Internet use may improve social health 解析 细节题 从文章中第二段最后一句 They expected that the Net would prove socially healthier than television 可以得出 58 it reduces time available for family and friends 解析 细节题 从文章三段第一句话 The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in psychological health researchers hypothesized 推测 可以得出 59 It s necessary to take social factors into account in designing applications and services for technology 解析 在文章中 Christine Riley 所说的话 It really points to the need for considering social factors in terms of how you design applications and services for technology 可 以直接得出答案 60 推荐答案 Internet May Cause Bad Feelings 解析 主旨题 文章的中心思想是网络给 人造成的坏心情及产生这一结果的原因 所以最佳标题是 网络可能导致坏心情 3 A contract is an agreement which is enforceable 实施 by law Without a contract or agreement to bind the contracting parties and international business or transaction would be impossible Once a contract is officially signed by the concerned parties it creates legal obligations in the sense of law A contract is the only document between the parties to which they may refer for clarification 澄清 of mutual responsibilities It should not be viewed as only a document that starts transaction and then filed and forgotten by the contraction parties It must be written with in which the transaction takes place It is proper to obtain legal advice before signing a contract Though most of the contracts have many provisions 条款 in common each is different from the others owing to the nature of the goods Whether we are dealing with a long or preprinted form of the contract there are certain key provisions that every contract should contain to avoid unclear statements and possible future conflicts 56 What is a contract 57 A contract can not create legal obligations in the sense of law unless 58 What should be taken into consideration when a contract is written 59 What functions does a contract have A contract can make clear 60 Why should some key provisions be covered in a contract The key provisions are made in a contract in order to 56 60 答案 56 A contract is an agreement which is enforceable by law 解析 A contract is an agreement which is enforceable 实施 by law 由此句可得到答案 57 officially signed by the concerned parties 解析 Once a contract is officially signed by the concerned parties it creates legal obligations in the sense of law 由此句可得到答案 58 an awareness of the background of the law 解析 It must be written with in which the transaction takes place 由此句可得到答案 59 legal obligations 解析 Once a contract is officially signed by the concerned parties it creates legal obligations in the sense of law 由此句可得到答案 60 avoid unclear statements and possible future conflicts 解析 here are certain key provisions that every contract should contain to avoid unclear statements and possible future conflicts 由此 句可得到答案 4 Michael Faraday was the son of a blacksmith 铁匠 There were four children in his family and with his father often ill and unable to work Michael Faraday had to earn his living from an early age This meant little or no schooling However the family belonged to a religious group and Faraday learnt to read and write at Sunday School When he was only fourteen Faraday found a job as a bookbinder He used to read the books he was given to bind and he became very interested in the scientific books particularly the ones about electricity His interest soon took a practical path and he began conducting his own experiments These were very basic because Faraday had to make all of his equipment himself However he was very careful and kept a clear written record of all his findings One day he was given an entrance ticket to the Royal Institute chemistry lecture given by Humphry Davy Determined to work for this great scientist he sent Davy a job application and included his laboratory reports on the experiments he had carried out In 1813 Davy offered Faraday a job as one of his laboratory assistants Faraday learnt quickly and soon was recognized as a very able analytical chemist Later he went to work at the Royal Institute Michael Faraday was perhaps the greatest practical scientist of the 19th century As a chemist he discovered the benzene 苯 which is now the focal point of chemical study He also proved the relationship between electricity and chemical bonding 化学键 As a physicist he invented the dynamo which led to the later invention of the electric motor He also discovered the effect of magnetism 磁 on light rays 56 Faraday attended Sunday School because 57 Faraday made his own equipment for his experiments when he 58 In order to get a chance to work for Davy what did Faraday do 59 How did Faraday perform in Davy s laboratory 60 Faraday s research covered 56 60 答案 56 his family couldn t afford his normal school education 解析 There were four children in his family and with his father often ill and unable to work Michael Faraday had to earn his living from an early age 由此句可得出答案 57 was working as a bookbinder at his fourteen 解析 由第二段可得出答案 58 He sent a job application and experiment reports to Davy 解析 Determined to work for this great scientist he sent Davy a job application and included his laboratory reports on the experiments he had carried out In 1813 Davy offered Faraday a job as one of his laboratory assistants 由此句可得出答案 59 He learnt quickly and was recognized as an analytical chemist 解析 Faraday learnt quickly and soon was recognized as a very able analytical chemist 由此句可得出答案 60 both chemical and physical fields 解析 由最后段可得出答案 5 The housekeeping department is the backbone of a hotel In a sense it is possible to say that a clean and attractive guest room is the product that the hotel sells The main duty of the housekeeping department staff is to see to the cleanliness and good order of all rooms in the hotel The laundry and valet service and many personal services are also parts of their jobs And they must coordinate the work closely with the front office This department as a whole is required to make the guest s stays comfortable and pleasing Any reasonable request must be fulfilled But good service means more than fulfilling requests Whenever and wherever possible the staff should offer to do extra things for the guests What is more whenever there is an opportunity to sell the staff should take it and suggest that guests use the hotel services as much as possible They should make sure that they are really selling what the guest wants to buy It should be noted that the most important characteristic in the housekeeping department and indeed throughout the hotel world is the willingness to serve and please the guests The housekeeping staff such as chamber maids housemen linen room attendants supervisors and housekeepers can do a great deal to assure a high business repeat and occupancy rate not only through the efficiency in their jobs but also through their heartfelt warmth in serving the guests 56 What s the meaning of the backbone here 57 What s the duty of the housekeeping department 58 What s the aim of the department 59 What are the important characteristics in the housekeeping department 60 How can the staff assure a high business repeat 56 60 答案 56 It means the most important part 解析 In a sense it is possible to say that a clean and attractive guest room is the product that the hotel sells 这句话可以分析出这里的 backbone 是 说重要组成部分 57 To see to the cleanliness and good order of all rooms 解析 The main duty of the housekeeping department staff is to see to the cleanliness and good order of all rooms in the hotel 由此句可以得出答案 58 To make the guest s stays comfortable and pleasing 解析 This department as a whole is required to make the guest s stays comfortable and pleasing 由此句可得出答案 59 The willingness to serve and please the guests 解析 t should be noted that the most important characteristic in the housekeeping department and indeed throughout the hotel world is the willingness to serve and please the guests 由此句可得出答案 60 Through their heartfelt warmth in serving the guests 解析 The housekeeping staff can do a great deal to assure a high business repeat and occupancy rate not only through the efficiency in their jobs but also through their heartfelt warmth in serving the guests 由此句可得出答案 6 It came as something of a surprise when Diana Princess of Wales made a trip to Angola in 1997 to support the Red Cross s campaign for a total ban on all anti personnel landmines Within hours of arriving in Angola television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines I knew the statistics she said But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me like When I met Sandra a 13 year old girl who had lost her leg and people like her The Princess concluded with a simple message We must stop landmines And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message But back in London her views were not shared by some members of the British government which refused to support a ban on these weapons Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press They described her as very ill informed and a loose cannon 乱放炮的人 The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms This is a distraction 干扰 we do not need All I m trying to do is help Opposition parties the media and the public immediately voiced their support for the Princess To make matters worse for the government it soon emerged that the Princess s trip had been approved by the Foreign Office and that she was in fact very well informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government s policy regarding landmines The result was a severe embarrassment for the government To try and limit the damage the Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind claimed that the Princess s views on landmines were not very different from government policy and that it was working towards a worldwide ban The Defense Secretary Michael Portillo claimed the matter was a misinterpretation or misunderstanding For the Princess the trip to this war torn country was an excellent opportunity to use her popularity to show the world how much destruction and suffering landmines can cause She said that the experience had also given her the Chance to get closer to people and their problems 56 Princess Diana paid a visit to Angola in 1997 to 57 What did Diana mean when she said putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me Line 5 Para 1 58 Some members of the British government criticized Diana because 59 How did Diana respond to the criticisms 60 What did Princess Diana think of her visit to Angola 56 60 答案 56 voice her support for a total ban of landmines 解析 It came as something of a surprise when Diana Princess of Wales made a trip to Angola in 1997 to support the Red Cross s campaign for a total ban on all anti personnel landmines 可知戴安娜 1997 年参观 Angola 的目 的是支持全面禁止地雷 57 Seeing victims made her realize the seriousness of the situation 解析 I knew the statistics she said But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me like When I met Sandra a 13 year old girl who had lost her leg and people like her 可知戴安娜是目睹了 受害者才明白情况的严重性的 58 they were actually opposed to banning landmines 解析 But back in London her views were not shared by some members of the British government which refused to support a ban on these weapons 可知批判戴安娜的人都是反对禁止地雷的人 59 She paid no attention to them 解析 The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms This is a distraction 干扰 we do not need All I m trying to do is help 可知她并没有太在意别人的批评 60 It had brought her closer to the ordinary people 解析 She said that the experience had also given her the Chance to get closer to people and their problems 可知她认为这次参观让她 更接近百姓 7 A man s skin is thicker than a woman s and not nearly as soft The thickness prevents the sun s radiation from getting through which is why men wrinkle less than women do Women have a thin layer of fat just under the skin and there is a plus 有利因素 to this greater fat reserve It acts as an invisible fur coat to keep a woman warmer in the winter Women also stay cooler in summer The fat layer helps insulate them against heat Men s fat is distributed differently And they do not have that layer of it underneath their skin In fact they have considerably less fat than women and more lean mass Forty one percent of a man s body is muscle compared to thirty five percent for women which means men have more muscle power When it comes to strength almost 90 percent of a man s weight is strength compared to about 50 percent of a woman weight The higher proportion of muscle to fat makes it easier for men to lose weight Muscle burns up five more calories a pound than fat does just to maintain itself So when a man goes on aa diet the pounds roll off much faster For all men s muscularity they do not have the energy reserves women do They have more start up energy but the fat tucked away in women s nooks and crannies 隐匿处 provides a rich energy reserve that men lack Cardiologists 心脏病专家 at the University of Alabama who tested healthy women on treadmills 单调而又劳累的活 discovered that over years the female capacity for exercise far exceeds the male capacity A woman of sixty who is in good health can exercise up to 90 percent of what she could do when she was twenty A man of sixty has o