What will power your house in the future? Nuclear, wind, or solar power? According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, it might be leaves –but artificial ones.

  Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合作用). Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.

  The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip (硅片) with catalysts (催化剂). Similar to natural leaves, it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell (电池), which uses those two materials to produce electricity, located either on top of a house or beside the house.

  Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card, scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive source of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Docera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.

  An artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial leaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf, by contrast, is made of cheap materials, easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies, Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prorotype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity.

  The wonderful improvements come from Nocera’s recent discovery of several powerful new, inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation (转换) inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now, the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides, the device can run in whatever water is available; that is, it doesn’t need pure water. This is important for some countries that don’t have access to pure water.

  With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “giving energy to the poor”, scientists believe that the new application could be widely used in developing countries, especially in India and rural China.

1.Which of the following order correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?

a. artificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygen

b. the hydrogen and oxygen gases are stored in a fuel cell

c. the artificial leaves are put in water

d. the fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity

A. cbad  B. cabd  C. bcad   D. cadb

2.Which of the following statements about new artificial leaves is TRUE according to the article?

A. They are inexpensive but unstable.

B. They are as efficient at carrying out photosynthesis as natural leaves.

C. They can work only in pure water.

D. They need several catalysts to help them work efficiently.

3.The aim of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaves is to         .

A. build-up more power stations in the world

B. provide cheaper energy for developing countries

C. offer people in developing countries access to pure water

D. gain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process

4.What is the main point of the article?

A. Introduction to the history of artificial leaves.

B. An invention copying photosynthesis.

C. Giving energy to the poor.

D. A mixture of water power and solar energy.

 

I am an English teacher, with over 15 years’ experience of teaching in London. I started the DailyStep audio email lesson service because I noticed that when I started their English course, my students’ speaking and listening skills were much weaker than their reading and writing skills. In my view, this is because education in school does not focus enough on communication skills. DailyStep is designed to remedy this situation by offering more practice in speaking, listening and vocabulary.

I am crazy about the English language and it is a real pleasure for me to see the development of my students’ language skills.

I majored in (以….为专业)law at university and then worked for three years as a researcher and journalist for Sky television and BBC magazines. I decided to change to English teaching because of my love of the English language and my wish to move into more satisfying work.

Then I qualified (取得资格)as an English teacher in 1992. My first teaching job was at a language school in Covent Garden, London, where I taught examination classes and Business English . After two years, I moved to the Nippon Club where I taught General English and Business English courses for 9 years. I also developed a unique course called British Society & Culture, covering all areas of British life, such as politics, law, education & music. At the same time, taught Business， Financial& Law English in the financial centre of London. My students included staff （工作人员）from banks and law firms.

As well as running the DailyStep website, I also provide in-company English speech training for companies in London. If you have an important speech coming up and would like some information about how I can help you, please email me at jane@dailystep.com.

1.DailyStep audio email lesson service __________

A．is an in-company service

B．teaches English communication skills

C．is designed for working people

D．provides English training for free

2.What does the underlined word “remedy” in Paragraph mean?

A．report

B．judge

C．improve

D．practise

3.What’s the CORRECT time order of the following events?

a. The author qualified as an English teacher

b.The author taught at a language school in Covent Garden

c.The author worked as a journalist for Sky television

d.The author taught in the Noppon Club.

A．cabd

B．cadb

C．cbad

D．cdab

4.We can learn from the passage that_______.

A．the author enjoys teaching English

B．all of the author’s students are adults

C．the author majored in English at university

D．the author knows little about how to make a speech

 

Idioms are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don't understand the culture behind it.
　　 For example, if an American boy asks his mother what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say "I'll play it by ear", that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will decide later. "Play by ear" used to mean playing music using the sheet music, but now people often use it when they're not talking about music.
　　 There're many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be more vivid and colorful. English idioms are more common in spoken English. They can be difficult to remember sometimes. Next time when you hear somebody saying to you, "Give me a hand", you don't necessarily stretch out your hand to him/her, but you do need to be helpful. And when the situation is out of hand, you usually can do very little to manage all that. What about a green hand? It's not about the color of your hand! You're a green hand when you are very new at your work and don't have much experience. If you and your partner always work together hand in glove, you two definitely work together very well.
　　 Can you guess the meanings of some common English idioms to do with parts of your body?
【小题1】An idiom is _______.

A．a phrase or a sentence that means exactly what the words say

B．a phrase or a sentence that doesn't mean exactly what every word says

C．so difficult that nobody can understand

D．something to do with parts of your body

【小题2】If a mother says "I'll play it by ear" to talk about the dinner, she means _______.

A．she will cook dinner while listening to music at the same time

B．she doesn't hear what others are talking about.

C．she will play music using the sheet music instead of cooking dinner

D．She doesn't have plans for dinner and will decide later

【小题3】When one says "Can you give me a hand?", he means _______.

A．he needs to hold your hand.

B．he works well with you

C．he needs your help

D．he is a new comer and can't help with the situation

【小题4】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．People use English idioms more in spoken English than in written English.

B．To understand the culture behind an idiom is important in understanding the idiom.

C．Idioms make your English more vivid and colorful so they are easy to remember.

D．You may not understand an idiom even though you know the meaning of each word.

【小题5】Here are 4 common English idioms to do with parts of your body and their meanings. Can you match them?
　　1) to learn something by heart a. to depend on oneself
　　2) to have sticky fingers b. to know something very well
　　3) to stand on one's own feet c. to do something secretly
　　4) to go behind someone's back d. to have the habit of stealing

A．badc

B．bdac

C．cbad

D．cdba

Board, But Not Boring

Roll the Dice and Take a Chance on Something New…

Are you vacationed-out, tired of video-gaming, waterlogged by too many trips to the pool and ready to scream if you see one more “SpongeBob” rerun?

In other words, are you bored with summer?

We’ve got a suggestion: Kill that boredom with some great board boredom games. We went to game expert Lizzy Palmer of Barston’s Child’s Play in the District and ask for suggestions. All the games you see on this page are a ton of fun, she said, and there are sure to be at least one or two that you don’t already have.

Maptangle

Borderline Games

Ages 7 and older, 4 to 6 players, $24.95

This clever take on the classic game of Twister

challenges your gymnastic and geographic

skills at the same time. A huge floor map of

the world serves as the game board. There are

lots of geographic elements: countries, oceans,

rivers, deserts, even man-made landmarks. A

deck of cards tells you where to put one foot,

then the other. The round is over when someone falls.

Jungle Speed

Ages 7 and older, 2 to 8

players, $25.99

This is a fast-paced shape-

recognition game. A wooden totem

(图腾柱) sits in the middle. Players flip

(翻) over cards one at a time. When your

card matches another, be the first to grab

the totem so that you can give your card to the loser. But be careful: Some cards look the same but aren’t!

Enchanted Forest

Ravensburger Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6 players,

$24.99

A classic memory game. Take a winding path

through the forest and check under the trees for

fairy-tale treasure. Remember what you saw so

that when you need a particular treasure you can

go back to that tree to get it. Cool rule: You can split your dice (骰子) roll—for example, move five spaces in one direction and two in the other to land at the right tree.

Go fish for Wildlife Birdcage Press All ages, $9.95

Birdcage has several decks (副) of cards that are

more like trading cards. You fish for sea creatures,

reptiles, wild animals. Each deck has instructions

for several card games, and each card has great

photos and fun facts. Great for a trip.

HedBanz Funrise Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6

players, $13.99

Put on a headband and slip in a card that shows an

animal or thing. Everyone else can see it but you.

Ask questions until you guess what it is—but do it

before time runs out!

1. What’s the purpose of writing the article?

       A. To advertise several board games to attract potential consumers.

       B. To introduce several board games for readers to pass the summer.

       C. To try to persuade readers to give up video games and choose board games.

       D. To make some suggestions on how to spend the long summer.

2. Suppose Doris, a mother with a six-year old boy, wants to buy some board games for her child. How many kinds of board games can she choose?

              A. 2               B. 3                      C. 4                      D. 5

3 Which of the following games will be the best choice for Mr Smith who wants to find an indoor game that can benefit both his daughter’s mind as well as her body?

       A. Go Fish for Wildlife               B. Jungle Speed

       C. Maptangle Borderline Games    D. Hedbanz

4. Which of the following can match the games with their benefits to players?

       (1) Enchanted Forest                          a. to practice your quick response

       (2) Maptangle Borderline Games   b. to practice your memory

       (3) Jungle Speed                                c. to practice your geographic knowledge

       (4) Go fish for Wildlife               d. to increase the knowledge about animals

       A. bacd                        B. bcad                 C. cbad                 D. cdab

Board, But Not Boring

Roll the Dice and Take a Chance on Something New…

Are you vacationed-out, tired of video-gaming, waterlogged by too many trips to the pool and ready to scream if you see one more “SpongeBob” rerun?

In other words, are you bored with summer?

We’ve got a suggestion: Kill that boredom with some great board boredom games. We went to game expert Lizzy Palmer of Barston’s Child’s Play in the District and ask for suggestions. All the games you see on this page are a ton of fun, she said, and there are sure to be at least one or two that you don’t already have.

Maptangle

Borderline Games

Ages 7 and older, 4 to 6 players, $24.95

This clever take on the classic game of Twister challenges your gymnastic and geographic skills at the same time. A huge floor map of the world serves as the game board. There are lots of geographic elements: countries, oceans,  rivers, deserts, even man-made landmarks. A deck of cards tells you where to put one foot, then the other. The round is over when someone falls.

Jungle Speed

Ages 7 and older, 2 to 8

players, $25.99

This is a fast-paced shape-recognition game. A wooden totem (图腾柱) sits in the middle. Players flip (翻) over cards one at a time. When your card matches another, be the first to grab the totem so that you can give your card to the loser. But be careful: Some cards look the same but aren’t!

Enchanted Forest

Ravensburger Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6 players,

$24.99

A classic memory game. Take a winding path through the forest and check under the trees for

fairy-tale treasure. Remember what you saw so that when you need a particular treasure you can

go back to that tree to get it. Cool rule: You can split your dice (骰子) roll—for example, move five spaces in one direction and two in the other to land at the right tree.

Go fish for Wildlife Birdcage Press All ages, $9.95

Birdcage has several decks (副) of cards that are more like trading cards. You fish for sea creatures,  reptiles, wild animals. Each deck has instructions for several card games, and each card has great photos and fun facts. Great for a trip.

HedBanz Funrise Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6

players, $13.99

Put on a headband and slip in a card that shows an animal or thing. Everyone else can see it but you.Ask questions until you guess what it is—but do it before time runs out!

68. What’s the purpose of writing the article?  

         A. To advertise several board games to attract potential consumers.

         B. To introduce several board games for readers to pass the summer.

         C. To try to persuade readers to give up video games and choose board games.

         D. To make some suggestions on how to spend the long summer.

69. Suppose Doris, a mother with a six-year old boy, wants to buy some board games for her child. How many kinds of board games can she choose?

                   A. 2                     B. 3                              C. 4                              D. 5

70. Which of the following games will be the best choice for Mr Smith who wants to find an indoor game that can benefit both his daughter’s mind as well as her body?

         A. Go Fish for Wildlife                                            B. Jungle Speed

         C. Maptangle Borderline Games                        D. Hedbanz

71. Which of the following can match the games with their benefits to players?

         (1) Enchanted Forest                                    a. to practice your quick response

         (2) Maptangle Borderline Games    b. to practice your memory     

         (3) Jungle Speed                                            c. to practice your geographic knowledge

         (4) Go fish for Wildlife                         d. to increase the knowledge about animals

         A. bacd                                 B. bcad                       C. cbad                       D. cdab