The idea of robot rulers,friends and lovers has been a topic of science fiction novels for years.

             But according to one mathematical model of how our brains create consciousness,emotional machines will never exist.

             This is because computers can^，t handle any process that completely integrates infor­ mation,so they cannot be conscious or feel,one expert says.

             A mathematical model for consciousness,developed by Giulio Tononi at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,says that the ability to integrate information is a key feature of con­sciousness.

             He believes that integrated information can^，t be broken down into smaller pieces in conscious minds,because the brain contextualizes (将…融入背景) information.

             For example,when we see a red circle our brains don't see the shape as a colouiiess circle plus a shapeless coloured area,New Scientist reported. Instead we see it as a whole — a red circle; we understand the “wider picture”.

             It's easy enough for machines to edit a collection of individual images (图像) ，but memories are made up of a bank of intertwined(相互交织的) images and experiences and cannot be changed in the same way.

             Researchers have used mathematics to show that computers cannot handle the complex processes needed to fit pieces of information together perfectly.

             Therefore,if consciousness is based on the integration of lots of pieces of information,computers can^，t be conscious and can^，t experience emotions like humans.

             Professor Phil Maguire of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth says that consciousness cannot be created in a physical machine in limited time using limited memory.

            “It doesn’t necessarily mean that there is some magic going on in the brain that involves some forces that can^，t be explained physically. It is just so complex that it's beyond our abilities to change it,” he said.

             His research may mean that lonely humans will not find love with a robot; they are unlikely to be made their slaves either.

32. Why do experts think emotional machines won’t exist?

   A. Machines can^'t solve problems.

   B. Machines can't handle information.

   C. Machines can't integrate information.

   D. Machines can^，t communicate with people.

33. The example mentioned in Paragraph 6 is used to show .

   A. machines cannot feel

   B. the brain has consciousness

   C. the brain can contextualize information

   D. machines can recognize shapes and colours

34. It can be learned from the text that .

   A. machines can edit intertwined images

   B. the idea of robot lovers won⁵1 come true

   C. robots can fit pieces of information together perfectly

   D. computers can experience emotions like humans one day 

35. What would be the best title for the text?

   A. How robots work

   B. Robots will never have feelings

   C. Will robots become people^，s friends?

   D. What will robots be like in the future?

When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry at the door. “I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,” says Baxter, who’d rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. “It’s there and it beckons(召唤). That’s human nature (but)…we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don’t know where it should stop.”
Americans are connected at unprecedented(前所未有的) levels—93% now use cell phones or wireless devices; one third of those are “smart phones” that allow users to browse the web and check e-mails, among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road, staying in touch with friends and family, efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside: often, we’re effectively disconnecting from those in the same room.
That’s why, despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever, 2010 was the year we stopped talking to one another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mails while on a date, the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention, not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it’s time to step back and reassess (再评价).
“What we’re going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,” says Scott Campbell. “It can be a good thing, but I also see new ways the traditional social construction is getting somewhat torn apart.”
Our days are filled with beeps and pings—many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions(干扰) are too much, but we can’t seem to stop posting, texting or surfing. “We’re going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing, ” says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off. “Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,” she says. “We have to reclaim it. It’s not going to take place by itself.”
【小题1】According to Paragraph 1, Gretchen Baxter thinks _____.

When Gretchen Baxter gets home from work as a New York City book editor, she checks her Blackberry at the door. “I think we are attached to these devices in a way that is not always positive,” says Baxter, who’d rather focus at home on her husband and 12-year-old daughter. “It’s there and it beckons(召唤). That’s human nature (but)…we kind of get crazy sometimes and we don’t know where it should stop.”

Americans are connected at unprecedented(前所未有的) levels—93% now use cell phones or wireless devices; one third of those are “smart phones” that allow users to browse the web and check e-mails, among other things. The benefits are obvious: checking messages on the road, staying in touch with friends and family, efficiently using time once spent waiting around. The downside: often, we’re effectively disconnecting from those in the same room.

That’s why, despite all the technology that makes communicating easier than ever, 2010 was the year we stopped talking to one another. From texting at dinner to posting on Facebook from work or checking e-mails while on a date, the connectivity revolution is creating a lot of divided attention, not to mention social anxiety. Many analysts say it’s time to step back and reassess (再评价).

“What we’re going to see in the future is new opportunities for people to be plugged in and connected like never before,” says Scott Campbell. “It can be a good thing, but I also see new ways the traditional social construction is getting somewhat torn apart.”

Our days are filled with beeps and pings—many of which pull us away from tasks at hand or face-to-face conversations. We may feel that the distractions(干扰) are too much, but we can’t seem to stop posting, texting or surfing. “We’re going through a period of adjustment and rebalancing, ” says Sherry Turkle and she wants to remind people that technology can be turned off. “Our human purposes are to really have connections with people,” she says. “We have to reclaim it. It’s not going to take place by itself.”

1.According to Paragraph 1, Gretchen Baxter thinks _____.

A. the new technology always influences people’s life in a positive way

B. the new technology always influences people’s life in a negative way

C. the family isn’t that important compared to the new technology

D. people are too dependent on the new technology to let go

2. The underlined word “downside” in Paragraph 2 probably means _____.

A. advantage B. weakness

C. strengthD. effect

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The wide use of mobile devices has nothing to do with the traditional social construction.

B. Mobile devices play a less important part in American life.

C. Mobile devices create a lot of divided attention and social anxiety.

D. Many analysts speak highly of the wide popularity of mobile devices.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. Something must be done to get connection with people in reality again.

B. Using mobile services can help people get con- nection with each other.

C. Mobile services have a strong impact on people’s life.

D. The connection with people can happen naturally.

LeBron James is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players today. He has an incredible combination of skills, strength, leaping ability and height that make him one of the best athletes in the world.

LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio on December 30th, 1984. He grew up in Akron where he had a difficult childhood. His father was an ex-con(出狱的囚犯) who wasn’t there when he grew up. His family was poor and had a hard time. Fortunately his basketball coach，Frankie Walker，received him and let him stay with his family where he could focus on school and basketball.

LeBron James went to high school at St. Vincent-St Mary High School in Akron. He led his basketball team to three state titles and was named “Mr. Basketball” into Ohio for three years. He decided not to go to college and went straight to the NBA where he was the number 1 pick in the draft(选秀).

LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers where he played his first seven seasons.

In 2010, LeBron James became a free agent. This meant he could play for any team he wanted. Which team he would choose was big news. ESPN even had a whole show called The Decision where James told the world that he was going to play for the Miami Heat next season. He had played for the Heat until 2014.

LeBron James holds a number of NBA records and has received a number of awards. Here are just a few of them. He was the NBA Finals MVP and Champion in 2012. He won two Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

1.LeBron James is considered as one of the best athletes in the world because of __________.

A. his basketball coach

B. his father

C. his combination of skills, strength, leaping ability and height

D. his hometown

2.What was LeBron James’ childhood like?

A. Difficult. B. Naughty. C. Rich. D. Weak.

3.What did LeBron James do after he decided not to go to college?

A. He went straight to the NBA.

B. He went straight to work with his coach.

C. He went to play for Miami Heat.

D. He went home.

4.According to the passage, we know that_________.

A. LeBron James is not a born basketball player.

B. LeBron James was not fit for the sport when he was young.

C. LeBron James is gifted in basketball.

D. LeBron James left sport in 2010.

One day, a farmer’s donkey fell into a dried up well. The animal cried   16  for hours as the farmer tried to  17  what to do. Finally, he decided that the animal was  18  , the well needed to be covered up, and  19   the donkey just wasn’t worth the  20  , so he invited his neighbors to  21   and help him bury the donkey in the well. They all held shovels (铲) and begin to shovel  22   into the well. At first, the donkey  23   what was happing and  24   cried pitifully. Then, to everyone’s  25  , he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked  26   into the well and was  27   at what he saw.  28   each shovel load of dirt that hit his back, the donkey  29   something surprising. He shook it off and took a step up! As the farmer’s neighbors  30   to shovel dirt  31   the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. The donkey stepped  32   over the edge of the well! As with the donkey,  33   is going to shovel dirt  34   you, all kinds of dirt. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, by never giving 35  .

1.A. happily           B. hardly        C. sadly           D. greatly

2.A. carry out        B. think out         C. leave out       D. watch out

3.A. young             B. small           C. old     D. large

4.A. rescuing         B. killing         C. selling        D. buying

5.A. money            B. effort         C. praise         D. time

6.A. come around     B. come over    C. come down   D. come to

7.A. stone     B. earth          C. dirt             D. soil

8.A. realized          B. found         C. heard         D. saw

9.A. again     B. ever           C. never         D. once

10.A. joy       B. amazement    C. disappoint ment    D. excitement

11.A. off       B. down          C. up      D. over

12.A. astonished        B. sorry         C. worried D. angry

13.A. With             B. As      C. For              D. On

14.A. did       B. had             C. made          D. considered

15.A. began          B. stopped C. started      D. con tinued

16.A. at the top of     B. on top of       C. at the foot ofD. in front of

17.A. luckily          B. successfullyC. hard               D. easily

18.A. life       B. world         C. time             D. work

19.A. off     B. on      C. up               D. down

20.A. up       B. away           C. in      D. out

One day, a farmer’s donkey fell into a dried up well. The animal cried  16 for hours as the farmer tried to  17  what to do. Finally, he decided that the animal was  18 , the well needed to be covered up, and  19  the donkey just wasn’t worth the  20 , so he invited his neighbors to  21  and help him bury the donkey in the well. They all held shovels (铲) and begin to shovel  22   into the well. At first, the donkey  23   what was happing and  24   cried pitifully. Then, to everyone’s 25  , he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked  26  into the well and was  27  at what he saw.  28  each shovel load of dirt that hit his back, the donkey  29  something surprising. He shook it off and took a step up! As the farmer’s neighbors 30  to shovel dirt  31  the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. The donkey stepped  32  over the edge of the well! As with the donkey,  33  is going to shovel dirt  34  you, all kinds of dirt. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, by never giving 35  .

Chinese star Yao Ming has retired. Yao made it official Wednesday,telling a news confer­ence that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30.

"I will formally end my career”，said Yao,who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2002. Yao played eight seasons in the NBA.

"Today is an important day for me and holds a special meaning for both my basketball ca­reer and my future”，Yao said. "I had to leave the court since I suffered a stress fracture (断裂) in my left foot for the third time at the end of last year. My past six months were a painful wait. I have been thinking about my future over and over. Today I am announcing a personal deci­sion,ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening."

Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team,the Shanghai Sharks,with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more.

"My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it," Yao said.

He later appeared with his family on the stage to the applause and cheers of the crowd. He thanked a lot of people― his family,former coaches,even players like Shaquille O'Neal ― "for making me a better player".

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was among those attending the farewell (告别) con­

ference Wednesday. Morey made the long trip from Houston. Morey said 20 hours on planes was tiring but "I would be sorry if I wasn't here. " "It's a big moment, " Morey added. "Yao had a sense of humor,a great attitude and sense of responsibility. I hope we can continue his culture in the NBA. ”

(   ) 1. What reason causes Yao Ming to retire from basketball?

   A. His age.    B. His bad conducts on the court.

   C. His foot and leg injuries. D. His poor health.

(   ) 2. What state was Yao Ming in before he decided to end his career as a basketball player?

   A. Yao Ming was peaceful. B. Yao Ming was upset.

   C. Yao Ming was confident. D. Yao Ming was proud.

(   ) 3. According to the passage,which of the following words can't be used to describe Yao Ming?

   A. Talented. B. Responsible. C. Humorous. D. Cautious.

(   ) 4. Towards Yao Ming's performance in the NBA. what's Daryl Morey's comment?

   A. Daryl Morey thinks highly of Yao Ming.

   B. Daryl Morey was Yao Ming's coach.

   C. Daryl Morey is a basketball player in the Houston Rockets.

   D. Daryl Morey is not satisfied with Yao Ming's retirement from basketball.

I.阅读理解

A [2015 •哈尔滨六中二模]

  Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy―they're given after all. Choices can be hard.

I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago. I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2 ， 300 per cent per year. I'd never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast, and the idea of building an online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me. I had just turned 30 years old, and I'd been married for a year. I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn't work since most start­ups don't, and that I wasn't sure what to expect. MacKenzie told me I should go for it. As a young boy» I'd been a garage inventor. Id always wanted to be an inventor, and she wan­ted me to follow my passion.

I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people, and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and fi­nally said, "That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn't already have a good job. " That logic made some sense to me, and he con­vinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it really was a difficult choice, but ultimately (最后)，I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. And I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all.

After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I'm proud of that choice. For all of us, in the end, we are our choices.

1. What inspired the author with the idea of building an on­line bookstore?

A. His dream of being an inventor.

B. The support of his wife.

C. The greatly increasing usage of the Internet.

D.  Millions of exciting titles.

2.  Which of the following is closest in meaning to the under­lined sentence in Paragraph 3?

A. The idea of not trying would keep coming to his mind and disturb him.

B.He would be very excited if he tried it out.

 C. He would be always having a doubt if he didn't try.

D.  The decision to not try the online bookstore would terrify him.

3. We can know from the passage that .

A.the boss thought the idea was suitable for the author

B.the author wanted someone else to try the idea

C.the author might not regret if he failed the idea

D. the author might go back to his boss if he failed

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the pas­sage?

 A. Cleverness and kindness

B.The starting of Amazon

C. Following my passion

D.  We are what we choose

Whether I’m looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose.
I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I’ll bump into someone I know at my “local”, as we British call our nearest pub.
In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone (基础) of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally con­sidered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved (内向的), as the British sometimes are, it’s the best way to open up and get chatting.
However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs.
The gastropub (美食酒吧), with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer.
But not everyone’s happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. “Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive,” Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail.
For my part, I’m going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home.
【小题1】.  The article is mainly about         .

Whether I’m looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose.

I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere.

Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I’ll bump into someone I know at my “local”, as we British call our nearest pub.

In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone (基础) of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally con­sidered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved (内向的), as the British sometimes are, it’s the best way to open up and get chatting.

However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs.

The gastropub (美食酒吧), with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer.

But not everyone’s happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. “Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive,” Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail.

For my part, I’m going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home.

1..   The article is mainly about         .

A. the British pub losing popularity             B. the author’s love of pubs

C. how the British socialize                     D. the local British pub

2..  Many British people say that the pub is a cornerstone of British life because         .

A. it is nearby and convenient

B. it is a great place for meeting friends

C. it is far more comfortable than a bar to have a drink

D. it is easy to bump into people they know in a pub ,

3..  From the text, we can conclude that gastropubs         .

A. will replace the local pubs

B. attach more importance to drinks

C. are somewhere between a restaurant and a bar

D. attract beer lovers as well as wine lovers

4..   Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?

A. The author is in favor of gastropubs.

B. Wine is thought to show one’s class and taste.

C. British people do not go to pubs as often as be­fore.

D. Local pubs are being seriously affected by gastropubs.

Whether I’m looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose.
I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I’ll bump into someone I know at my “local”, as we British call our nearest pub.
In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone (基础) of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally con­sidered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved (内向的), as the British sometimes are, it’s the best way to open up and get chatting.
However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs.
The gastropub (美食酒吧), with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer.
But not everyone’s happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. “Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive,” Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail.
For my part, I’m going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home

1. 1.

   The article is mainly about______.

   1. A.
      the British pub losing popularity
   2. B.
      the author’s love of pubs
   3. C.
      how the British socialize
   4. D.
      the local British pub
2. 2.

   Many British people say that the pub is a cornerstone of British life because______.

   1. A.
      it is nearby and convenient
   2. B.
      it is a great place for meeting friends
   3. C.
      it is far more comfortable than a bar to have a drink
   4. D.
      it is easy to bump into people they know in a pub ,
3. 3.

   From the text, we can conclude that gastropubs ______.

   1. A.
      will replace the local pubs
   2. B.
      attach more importance to drinks
   3. C.
      are somewhere between a restaurant and a bar
   4. D.
      attract beer lovers as well as wine lovers
4. 4.

   Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?

   1. A.
      The author is in favor of gastropubs
   2. B.
      Wine is thought to show one’s class and taste
   3. C.
      British people do not go to pubs as often as be­fore
   4. D.
      Local pubs are being seriously affected by gastropubs

A good teacher is many things to many people. In my own experience, the people I respect the most and think about the most are the teachers who demanded （要求） the most discipline （纪律） from their students.

I miss one teacher in particular that I had in high school. I think she was a good teacher because she was a very strict person. I remember very vividly （清晰地） a sign over her classroom door. It was a simple sign that said, “Laborato­ry—in this room the first five letters of the word was emphasized （强调）, not the last seven.” In other words, I guess, labor（劳动） for her was more important than oratory, which means making speeches.

She prepared her work very care­fully and demanded us to do the same. We got lots of homework from her. Once she had broken her arm, and everybody in the class thought that maybe the home­work load would be reduced, but it con­tinued just the same. She checked our work by stamping her name at the bot­tom of the papers to show that she had read them.

I think sometimes teachers who de­mand the most are liked the least. But as time goes by, this discipline really seems to benefit （有益于） the students.

1. Which of the following is considered a good teacher by the writer?

A．A patient teacher.                                B．An honest teacher.

C．A strict teacher.                                  D．A hard-working teacher.

2. The teacher put up the sign over her classroom door ___.

       A．to remind the students that this room was a laboratory

       B．to advise the students to follow the disciplines

       C．to warn the students not to be careless

       D．to tell the students to work hard in the classroom

3. When the teacher’s arm was broken, she ___.

A．gave her students the usual am­ount of homework

B．gave her students less homework

C．asked her students to check the homework themselves

D．gave her students more homework

4. What’s the writer’s opinion of dis­cipline?

A．It makes the students dislike their teachers.

B．It does good to the students in the long run.

C．It’s too much for young children.

D．It does more harm than good to the students.

Joy Mangano was 33 and divorced, had three kids under age 7, and was barely keeping up payments on her small two-bedroom home by working extra weekend hours as a waitress, "There were times when I would lie in bed and think, I don't know how I'm going to pay that bill," Mangano says．

But she had a special ability for seeing the obvious． She knew firsthand how hard it was to mop the floor． "I was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water, wringing out a mop," Mangano says． "So, I said, 'There's gotta be a better way．"'

How about a "self-wringing" mop? She designed a distinctive tool you could twist in two directions at once, and still keep your hands clean and dry． She set out to sell it, first a few at flea markets．

Then Mangano met with the media． But would couch potatoes（泡在电视机前的人） buy a mop? The experts on shopping TV were less than certain． They gave it a try, and it failed． Mangano was sure it would sell if they'd let her do the on-camera demonstration． "Brave little me． I said, 'Get me on that stage, and I will sell this mop because it's a great item．"'

So QVC, a multinational corporation specializing in televised home shopping, took a chance on her． "I got onstage and the phones went crazy． We sold every mop in minutes．"

Today she's president of Ingenious Designs, a multimillion-dollar company, and one of the stars of HSN, the Home Shopping Network． Talking about her household inventions is "as natural for me as it is for a parent to talk about their child," Mangano says．

Today one of her favorite products is Huggable Hangers． The thin, space-saving implements are the most successful goods ever sold on HSN, with 100 million hanging out there in closets across the US A．Of course, you couldn't possibly sell hangers on TV．

56． The two items that Mangano designed and produced are　　　　 .

　　　 A． welcomed by housewives B． bought by multinational con）orations

　　　 C． seen at flea markets D． found by the media

57． Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

　　　 A． Mangano once had to work seven days a week to support her family．

　　　 B． Mangano got the idea of self-wringing mop from her own experience．

　　 C． The experts on shopping TV were confident about Mangano's mop．

　　　 D． QVC is a business organization that sells goods on TV．

58． From the passage we can know that Mangano now　　　　　　 .

　　　 A． sells her goods mostly at markets

　　　 B． has become famous and got rich

　　　 C． has stopped household inventions

　　　 D． has sold her two-bedroom home

59． Huggable Hanger is the thing that people can use　　　　 .

　　　 A． to clean the floor

B． to take pictures like a camera

　　　 C． to make phone calls like a cellphone

D． to put their clothes on it to keep their shape

  [2015河南郑州三月模拟] The year of 2014 saw smart people al­ways busy inventing useful things,which have helped to make the world better,smar­ter and a little more fun. Now,let's take a look at some of the inventions. Super Banana Australian biogeneticist (生物遗传学家) James Dale visited Uganda,a poor African country,in the early 2000s,where he found that 15〜30 per cent of children under 5 were at risk of going blind because they did not get enough vitamin A. Dale also learned that people there love bananas. They eat 3  to 11 bananas a day. So he came up with the idea to plant bananas containing added nutri­tion in order to improve Ugandans' health. With the help of Bill Gates' foundation,Dale developed the "super ba­nana". He added a gene to the fruit,making it rich in vi­tamin A.

  Coaching Basketball Basketball is popular worldwide,partly because you only need a hoop (篮蟹) and a ball to play the game. But this simple game has experienced a technology makeover this year with the development of a smartsensor basket­ball.

The ball,called the 94Fifty Basketball,has nine sen­sors inside. They can tell you anything from how fast you are going to how accurate your shot angles are.

With a Bluetooth chip inside,the basketball can con­nect to your smartphone and tell you in the voice of a coach to "snap your wrist"» or "go faster", depending on the data.

  The Hovercraft (悬浮滑板) Thanks to the Californiabased company Hendo,fly­ing past your friends on a floating board could soon be­come a reality.

The hovercraft has four small engines. These create a special magnetic field which produces enough force to lift the board off the ground.

  At the moment,the hoverboard can only float an inch off the ground for 15 minutes and must fly over a metal material. It's expensive too,at $ 10,000 (61,810yuan) , but the company hopes that one day the technology could be used.

  Wireless Electricity Most of us could not bear to live without wireless In­ternet. We use it every day for everything from our phones to our cars. But one company wants to go a step further,by combining wireless technology with electrici­ty.

  That's right,no more tangled (缠绕的) wires and no more having to sit and hold your cellphone near a power socket (插座) in the corner of the room. WiTricity,a US company,has invented technology that can power objects up to 2. 4 metres away. It uses a special plugin coil (线圈) that creates a magnetic field！

15. Which of the following statements would James Dale agree with?

   A. Children in Uganda should eat fewer bananas.

   B. Vitamin A is largely found in fruits like bananas.

   C. Super bananas are definitely a safe biological prod­uct.

   D. People's eating habits can be used to develop new food.

16. What is the biggest advantage of the 94Fifty Basket­ball?

   A. The sensors hidden inside can help players run faster in a game.

   B. It can help players to improve their shooting and ball handling skills.

   C. It allows players to connect to their smartphones while playing basketball.

   D. The Bluetooth chip inside allows its users to listen to music while playing basketball.

17. What can we learn about the hovercraft from the text?

   A. It enables its users to float off the ground freely.

   B. It can work on many different kinds of surfaces.

   C. It still needs to improve its power and efficiency.

   D. It is an affordable means of transport for a family.

18. What do the hovercraft and wireless electricity have in common according to the text?

   A. They create magnetic fields to produce power.

   B. They apply technologies to many things in life.

   C. They apply technologies which can produce elec­tricity.

   D. They use wireless technology to improve their products.