Local businessmen are increasingly facing competition from online retailers. Larry Pollock, owner of Camera Co/Op on South Congress, said he has been dealing with this kind of problem for years, even before the Internet. The struggle began with mail-order catalogues(目录), which are similar to online retailers in that they have few employees to pay, no sales tax fees and no business venue to lease and manage.
“Their overhead is lower, but they don’t offer a service like we do,” Pollock said.
Pollock, however, said providing a valuable service to customers does not always guarantee continued sales.
“We spend 30 minutes to an hour with somebody and they go home and buy it on line,” he said.
According to the state comptroller’s office, online shopping is developing at a more rapid rate than traditional businesses.
In spite of how fair or unfair online shopping may be to the local businessmen, consumers will continue to turn to the Internet for its variety and accessibility, said Mitch Wilson, an online shopper. “You have a larger selection and it's easier to compare prices.”
Wilson said he built his personal computer and paid a third of the price by shopping on line.
“Before the Internet, I would have had to go and buy an assembled computer from somebody like Dell,” he said. “Before I started shopping on line I could never find all the pieces I wanted. No single store had everything needed, so shopping on line saved me from having to buy from Dell.”
Janny Brazeal, a psychology freshman, said online shopping is too impersonal.
“’d rather see it in person, touch it, know that I’m getting it,” she said.
Brazeal also said she would not give out her credit card number or other personal information on line no matter how safe the site claims it is.
【小题1】Larry Pollock has been facing the problem _____.
| A．before long |
| B．after the Internet |
| C．since there were mail-order catalogues |
| D．since he worked as a businessman |
| A．Traditional business can provide valuable ser- vices to customers. |
| B．People can get cheaper goods from traditional business. |
| C．More and more people will turn to the Internet for their needs. |
| D．There are still many people who don’t like on- line shopping. |
| A．he can easily get what he needs at a lower price |
| B．he can not get the price at traditional businessman |
| C．he is not satisfied with the service of local busi- nessman |
| D．the quality of Dell is not satisfying |
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Millions of kids in the United States attend some kind of camp each summer. Some go to sleep-away camp for weeks, while others attend day camp in their hometowns. There is one thing all those camps have in common, though. More than nine out of 10 kids said camp helped them make new friends and feel better about themselves.
__________________
What else do kids get out of camp? Plenty!
Kids who want to be stars on the football field or basketball court have their choice of a variety of summer camps. Some, such as the Let Me Play sessions offered by Nike, are free and provide a few hours of instruction by professional athletes. Other summer sports camp opportunities are offered by professional teams or university athletic departments. Players and coaches usually lead those camps, teaching basic skills as well as teamwork and good sports behavior.
Open up to fun
It’s easy to be yourself if you have something in common with your fellow campers, even when that something is a disease.
A journal entry by one camper describes the camp’s high ropes course as a symbol of everyone there and the challenges they face. “Climbing it and going through that struggle to get up and push yourself is like getting through the sickness we all were faced with at some point,” she writes. There is another reward that comes once climbers reach the top of the ropes course and hear the words “good job” from their fellow campers. It is, “in a way, coming close to being cured. Even if we aren’t, it felt like it,” the camper says.
Healthy benefits
There are also health and wellness camps for kids who don’t have any illnesses. For Erin H. of Oklahoma, the first thoughts she had about going to a weight-loss camp were that it would be embarrassing and a waste of time. But as soon as she arrived at Wellspring Adventure Camp, she knew it would be awesome. “I had the most fun ever!” says Erin, who liked Wellspring so much. She stayed for eight weeks instead of the four weeks she’d originally agreed to. “This camp has helped improve my self-respect 100 percent, and I’m no longer self-conscious.”
【小题1】The first paragraph serves as _________.
| A．conclusion | B．definition (下定义) |
| C．background | D．comment (评论) |
| A．Setting a goal | B．Developing an ability |
| C．Killing time | D．Forming a habit |
| A．it was an effective way to cure campers’ illness |
| B．it had campers know the difficulty to fight against illness |
| C．it made campers realize the importance of health |
| D．it helped campers feel better about their illness |
| A．gained a lot from the weight-loss camp |
| B．stayed in the weight-loss camp for four weeks |
| C．thought taking part in the weight-loss camp was useless |
| D．felt embarrassed about her appearance now |
| A．give advice on how to choose a suitable camp |
| B．compare sleep-away camps and day camps |
| C．advertise for some famous summer camps |
| D．introduce the benefits of going to a camp |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Rae and Bruce Hostetler not only work very hard，they also relax just as well.Numerous vacations help the couple to maintain their health and emotional wellbeingand it’s no surprise to health care professionals.
“Rest，relaxation，and stress reduction are very important for people’s wellbeing and health.This can be accomplished through daily activities，such as exercise and meditation，but vacation is an important part of this as well，” said primary care physician Natasha Withers from One Medical Group in New York.Withers lists a decreased risk of heart disease and improved reaction time as some of the benefits from taking some time off.“We also know that the mind is very powerful and can help with healing，so a rested，relaxed mind is able to help the body heal better，” said Withers.
Psychologists confirm the value of vacations for the mind.“The impact that taking a vacation has on one’s mental health is great，” said Francine Lederer，a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who specializes in stress and relationship management.“Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation，even if it is a 24hour timeout.” The trips could be good for their health，good for their family and good for their businesses.
The online travel agency Expedia conducted a survey about vacation time in 2010，and according to their data the average American earned 18 vacation days—but only used 14 of them.France topped the list，with the average worker earning 37 vacation days and using all but two of them.Americans’ responses may not be surprising in a culture where long hours on the job often are valued，but that’s not always good for the individual，the family or the employer.
Psychologists have also found that people who don’t take enough time to relax may find it harder to relax in the future.“Without time and opportunity to do this，the nerve connections that produce feelings of calm and peacefulness become weaker，making it actually more difficult to shift into lessstressed states，” Mulhern said.
【小题1】How did the author introduce the topic of the text?
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By giving an example. |
| C．By raising questions. | D．By providing data. |
| A．weaken reaction system |
| B．cure serious diseases |
| C．reduce the level of wellbeing |
| D．decrease the risk of heart disease |
| A．dislike family gatherings |
| B．have the shortest vacation |
| C．enjoy as many vacations as the French |
| D．think much of spending long hours on the job |
| A．One should never wait to relax. |
| B．Work and rest go against each other. |
| C．Time and opportunity wait for no man. |
| D．A relaxed mind determines everything. |
| A．Ways to relax in one’s free time. |
| B．The benefits of taking time off. |
| C．Different opinions on holidays. |
| D．The Hostetlers always on the go. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
This message is to inform all the children that Santa's post office in Himmelpfort, Germany, is open to receive your holiday wishes. That means you can mail your letters to Santa about 6 weeks sooner than that last year. Santa knows you've been good and wants to make sure he and his helpers receive your wish list earlier.
Eight post offices are organized across Germany to answer all letters children send. This year they plan to receive over 250,000 letters. Though the letters fly from over 80 different countries, Santa and his helpers can understand and make sure to answer all the letters.
In 1984, two children from Berlin sent their wish lists to Himmelpfort after spending vacation there. Their letters were answered by postal employees and later Himmelpfort increased its helpers to meet the needs of increased mail traffic. Year after year, Santa and his crew use an ecofriendly powered vehicle to collect the thousands of letters he receives from young boys and girls. The great news for this year is that if you come to the beautiful town of Himmelpfort, you can drop off your letter and visit Santa in person, from Tuesdays to Thursdays until Christmas Eve.
Santa does not currently have an email, Twitter or a Facebook account. He believes in oldfashioned communication. So get out your paper and write your wish list. Just make sure your letter is clear so you can receive an official response, send your letters to：
Santa
Christmas Post Office
Himmelpfort, Germany 16798
【小题1】This year Santa and his helpers ________.
| A．are eager to receive more wishes |
| B．keep traveling around 80 countries |
| C．are able to receive kids' letters earlier |
| D．answer most of the letters from kids |
| A．post offices send kids all the presents they ask for |
| B．children from Berlin like spending holidays in Himmelpfort |
| C．Santa uses a powered vehicle because of the heavy mail traffic |
| D．children can visit Santa in the flesh before Christmas Eve this year |
| A．is not sure about the online security |
| B．trusts traditional ways of communication |
| C．prefers official and formal letters |
| D．thinks written letters are clearer than emails |
| A．tourists coming to Himmelpfort |
| B．teenagers preferring writing letters |
| C．parents preparing for Christmas |
| D．children planning to write to Santa |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
The best of Bali in 48 hours
Bali(巴厘岛) is home to most of Indonesia's Hindu minority. Here's how to get the most out of a 48hour visit：
FRIDAY
3pm—There's nothing like a good meal. La Lucciola is the place to go, with its good food, great service and a beautiful view of the sea.
You can hire a car for some 450,000 rupiah per day. This will help you have more to spare during your trip there.
5pm—About an hour away from La Lucciola is Uluwatu. This southern tip of the island is famous for its temple that lies on the edge, high above the sea. Fire dance is performed here daily at sunset.
8pm—To finish off the evening, head to Jimbaran Bay where restaurants offer candles, dances, boys singing songs. Kick off your shoes, feel the sand, and enjoy the night.
SATURDAY
9：30am—Start the day with another taste of culture by heading for a “barong and keris” dance performance. It's held in many places. One is the Catur Eka Budi in Denpasar, capital of Bali.
12pm—About 50km from Denpasar is Kintamani, a favorite with tourists for the view of active volcano Mt. Batur. It's a good idea to reach Kintamani early as it gets cloudy after 3pm. Have lunch at a local restaurant with a view of Mt. Batur. Tourists can climb to Mt. Batur to catch the sunrise.
6：30pm—Spa(温泉疗养)time! Spa Hati is a good place. Book ahead.
SUNDAY
6am—It's time to go to the sea. Don't forget the camera.
10：30am—Another halfday trip to two of the most famous temples in Bali. Drive down to the Taman Ayun temple at Mengwi.
12am—Next up is the Tanah Lot temple, perhaps the most famous of them all. Built on a rock, it's best seen in the afternoon when it's against the sun or at sunset.
【小题1】How can you save time during your trip in La Lucciola according to the text?
| A．Having a pair of good shoes. |
| B．Preparing early and well. |
| C．Joining a tour group. |
| D．Hiring a car. |
| A．In La Lucciola. | B．In Uluwatu. |
| C．At Mengwi. | D．In Denpasar. |
| A．5 am. | B．4 pm. | C．11 am. | D．9 pm. |
| A．Joining in a “ barong and keris” dance. |
| B．Visiting the Tanah Lot temple. |
| C．Having a spa in Spa Hati. |
| D．Having lunch in Kintamani. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
On May 23rd the United States Department of Agriculture will meet to discuss the pressing topic of wild pigs. These beasts, which number 6 million or so, are an increasing bother. At their worst, they can damage crops, spread diseases, attack humans and kill farm animals. And things are getting worse: a study show that they are likely to double in number over the next 3 years. Why is it so hard to control wild pigs?
Introduced to America in the 16th century, and related to the wild pigs found in Europe, wild pigs can be found in 75% of all states. No single law exists to control them and regulations differ between states: while in Missouri they can only be shot if met by chance, in Texas hunting is actively encouraged. A “pork chopper” law allows Texan hunters to shoot wild pigs from helicopters, and some people in Louisiana have even built their own pighunting drone(无人机). As well as being popular with hunters, wild pigs are cheaper for game raisers to breed(饲养)than deer. In Michigan and Pennsylvania suggested bans on the private breeding of pigs for hunting have caused quarrels between game raisers and wildlife officials.
Wild pigs' double nature——considered pests by farmers, but valued by hunters——makes it hard to pass laws to control them. Two other factors also contribute. Nearly 70% of land in America is privately owned. And it is difficult for lawmakers to impose(强加)breeding and hunting laws on private landowners. Secondly, it is hard to define a wild pig.
In some states, laws are being introduced to redefine the term “wild animal” to keep out wild pigs. This is good news for those raising pigs for hunting, but less are to those who consider them pests whose number should be limited. Meanwhile, discussions continue over how to deal with this problem.
【小题1】People are not permitted to hunt wild pigs freely in ________.
| A．Texas | B．Michigan |
| C．Missouri | D．Louisiana |
| A．It's difficult to raise deer. |
| B．Wild pigs are in large numbers. |
| C．Deer are not popular with hunters. |
| D．They can benefit more from wild pigs. |
| A．The difficulty of passing effective laws. |
| B．The high percentage of land owned privately. |
| C．The farmers' unwillingness to shoot wild pigs. |
| D．The popularity of raising wild pigs in many states. |
| A．Why are wild pigs so hard to control? |
| B．Are wild pigs pests or wild animals? |
| C．Wild pigs——an increasing danger in the US. |
| D．How to deal with the problem of wild pigs? |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
You might notice something new in the next few years as you watch Disney programs: Starting in 2015, there won’t be any candy, sugary cereal or fast-food commercials aimed at kids. 
The Walt Disney Company has become the first major media company to ban ads for junk food on its TV channels, radio stations and websites. It hopes this will stop kids from making poor food choices.
First Lady Michelle Obama called it a “game changer” that is sure to send a message to the rest of the children’s entertainment industry. “Just a few years ago, if you had told me or any other mom or dad in America that our kids wouldn’t see a single ad for junk food while they watched their favorite cartoons on a major TV network, we wouldn’t have believed you, ”said the First Lady, who heads a campaign to help stop child obesity.
The ban would apply to Disney-owned ABC stations as well as Radio Disney and Disney-owned websites aimed at families with young children. In addition, Disney plans to make changes to its kids’ menus at theme parks and resorts(度假胜地). Fast-food options will be replaced with healthier choices, such as smoothies(果汁), apples, vegetables and yogurt.
In addition to candy bars and fast-food meals, other foods that don’t meet Disney’s nutritional standards will be banned from the company’s kid-targeted media. Any cereal with 10 grams or more of sugar per serving will be off the air. There will be no ads for full meals of more than 600 calories. Juices with high levels of sugar and foods with too much salt will also be pulled.
Leslie Goodman, Disney’s senior vice-president of Corporate Citizenship, said a company that wants to advertise will need to show that it offers a range of healthy options.
Disney isn’t the only one pushing away unhealthy foods. Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg suggested a ban on drinks over 16 ounces sold in movie theaters, restaurants and convenience stores in the Big Apple. He says large, sugary drinks are partly to blame for obesity.
【小题1】 What will the Walt Disney Company do from 2015?
| A．Produce more and better cartoons for young kids. |
| B．Stop broadcasting advertisements for junk food on TV. |
| C．Help kids develop healthy lifestyle in the program. |
| D．Provide healthier food for kids while they are watching programs. |
| A．kids didn’t believe what the commercials said |
| B．kids don’t enjoy eating candy, sugary cereal or junk food |
| C．kids would see a lot of fast-food commercials on TV |
| D．kids find pleasure in watching fast-food commercials |
| A．not be broadcast | B．be in need |
| C．become popular | D．be praised |
| A．watch fewer cartoons |
| B．drink less sugary drinks |
| C．not go to movie theaters |
| D．take more physical exercise |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
We all know that the normal human daily cycle of activity is of some 7-8 hours' sleep alternating(交替) with some 16-17 hours' wakefulness and that the sleep normally coincides with the hours of darkness. Our present concern is with how easily and to what extent this cycle can be modified.
The question is no mere academic one. The ease, for example, with which people can change from working in the day to working at night is a question of growing importance in industry where automation calls for round-the-clock working of machines. It normally takes from five days to one week for a person to adapt to a reversed（颠倒的） routine of sleep and wakefulness, sleeping during the day and working at night. Unfortunately, it is often the case in industry that shifts(轮班) are changed every week; a person may work from 12 midnight to 8 a.m. one week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next, and 4 p.m. to 12 midnight the third and so on. This means that no sooner has he got used to one routine than he has to change to another, so that much of his time is spent neither working nor sleeping very efficiently.
The only real solution appears to be to hand over the night shift to a number of permanent night workers. An interesting study of the domestic life and health of night-shift workers was carried out by Brown in 1957. She found a high incidence (发生率) of disturbed sleep and other disorders among those on alternating day and night shifts, but no abnormal occurrence of these phenomena among those on permanent night work.
This latter system then appears to be the best long-term policy, but meanwhile something may be done to relieve the pressure of alternate day and night work by selecting those people who can adapt most quickly to the changes of routine. One way of knowing when a person has adapted is by measuring his body temperature. People occupied in normal daytime work will have a high temperature during the hours of wakefulness and a low one at night; when they change to night work the pattern will only gradually go back to match the new routine and the speed with which it does so parallels, broadly speaking, the adaptation of the body as a whole, particularly in terms of performance. Therefore, by taking body temperature at two-hour intervals(间隔时间) throughout the period of wakefulness, it can be seen how quickly a person can adapt to a reversed routine, and this could be used as a basis for selection. So far, however, such a form of selection does not seem to have been applied in practice.
【小题1】The main problem of the round-the-clock working system lies in .
| A．the inconveniences brought about to the workers by the introduction of automation |
| B．the disturbance of the daily life cycle of workers who have to change shifts too frequently |
| C．the fact that people working at night are often less effective |
| D．the fact that it is difficult to find a number of good night workers |
| A．to change shifts at longer intervals. |
| B．to have longer shifts |
| C．to arrange for some people to work on night shifts only |
| D．to create better living conditions for night workers |
| A．body temperature is higher when the cycle of sleep and wakefulness alternates |
| B．body temperature changes when he changes to night shift or back |
| C．the temperature reverses when the routine is changed |
| D．people have higher temperatures when they are working efficiently |
| A．Body temperature may serve as an indication of a worker's performance. |
| B．The selection of a number of permanent night shift workers has proved to be the best solution to problems of the round-the- clock working system. |
| C．Taking body temperature at regular intervals can show how a person adapts to the changes of routine. |
| D．Disturbed sleep occurs less frequently among those on permanent night or day shifts. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Robots industry is developing so rapidly that there is no denying that we may one day find ourselves surrounded by robots.
The humanoid (human like) robots with two legs such as Honda Motor Co. Ltd’s ASIMO would likely have an easier time climbing up stairs inside homes than a robot that moves on wheels, developers say.
But it will be some time before such devices make their way into people’s homes.
“They may look smart, but they are still quite stupid,” Shimoyama said. “I don’t think they will ever be as smart as humans.”
While safety is an obvious concern, robots also need to be sensitive to people’s needs.
Researchers at Fujitsu Frontech Ltd and Fujitsu Laboratories responsible for developing “Enon”, a guide and patrol (巡逻) robot designed for use in shopping malls and corporate facilities (公共场所), are working on this.
Enon, which has a humanoid upper body but no legs, is equipped with a touch screen on its chest and space in its stomach to carry loads weighting up to 10 kg.
In guide mode, it will check a newcomer and approach the person with a nod and a greeting: “Are you a visitor? Hello.”
Visitors requiring directions can point to icons (图标) displayed on Enon’s chest screen. If the restroom icon is pressed, the screen will display a map that shows the way.
The robot will then face and point in the direction of the restroom, although it won’t actually walk the visitor there.
Enon is now in use at four locations in Japan, including a shopping mall near Tokyo. The main goal is to make it more helpful for the elderly.
“People who work in the transportation sector often ask whether we can build a robot that will find elderly people who look lost in train stations, and ask them if they are all right,” said Toshihido Marita, director of Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd’s autonomous system laboratory. “Actually that is hard to do, very hard,” he said.
【小题1】The advantage of Honda Motor Co. Ltd’s ASIMO is that _________.
| A．it can do any housework for us |
| B．it can talk with patients or old people |
| C．it can climb up stairs as humans |
| D．it can walk smoothly with its wheels |
| A．can be made to do everything humans do |
| B．will be made as smart as humans in the future |
| C．will remain as stupid as before |
| D．can never compete with humans in intelligence |
| A．safe and elegant | B．safe and functional |
| C．elegant and cheap | D．sensitive and cheap |
| A．It can be used as a guide in hospitals. |
| B．It can help shoppers carry goods selected. |
| C．It can be used to welcome guests in restaurants. |
| D．It can be used to stop thieves in malls. |
| A．old people | B．mall owners | C．tourists or newcomers | D．shoppers |
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