A machine which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave． Using the same technology as a dehumidifier (除湿器)， the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water by getting it from a limitless source－the air． The company behind the machine says not only does it offer all alterative to bottled water in developed countries，but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage．
The machine works by drawing in damp air through a filter(过滤器) and over a cooling element which changes it into water droplets．It can produce up to 12 liters a day．The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the humidity（湿度）in the air increases．In keeping with its ecodevelopment，the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three light bulbs．
Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said：“The demand for water is off the chart．People are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable”．
The machine，which is about 3 feet wide，is likely to cost￡800 when it goes on sale here in the spring．Its maker, Canadian firm Element Four, estimates that a liter of water will cost around 20 pence to produce．
Environmentalists claim half the world’s population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080．One in five humans is said to lack access to safe drinking water．
The Water Mill is not effective in areas with below about 30 percent relative humidity, but with average relative humidity in England of more than 70 percent that won’t be much of an issue here.
小题1:According to the author, the biggest advantage of the machine is its ______．| A．little power use | B．unlimited source | C．proper size | D．high production |
小题2:We can conclude from the passage that the machine________．| A．can be used everywhere | | B．has not been on sale | | C．will replace the water distribution system | | D．will solve the problem of water shortage |
小题3:The underlined phrase “off the chart” in the passage means ________| A．record-breaking． | B．urgent． | C．unbelievable． | D．amazing． |
小题4:What would be the best title for this passage?________| A．Microwave for Household Use | B．Filter to Draw in Damp Air | | C．Mode Dehumidifier on Sale | D．Machine to Make Water out of Air |
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小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:B
小题4:D |
试题分析：文章大意:本文介绍了一项新发明:从空气制水的神奇的机器。
小题1:细节理解题。由第一段可知,该发明最大的优点是空气取之不尽用之不竭。 B
小题2:细节理解题。由第四段“The machine,which is about 3 feet wide,is likely to cost 800 when it goes on sale here in the spring”可知,该发明将取代水分配系统。选C
小题3:猜词题：从第三段的句子：People are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable”．可知人们在寻找一种方法摆脱不可靠的水分配系统，所以对水的需求是很紧急的，“off the chart”=urgent，选B。
小题4:主旨大意题。由全文可知,本文介绍了一项新发明:从空气制水的机器。所以D项正确。 |
核心考点
试题【A machine which makes water out of air could become the greatest household inven】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
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(2013·宜春五校联考)Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers.They use robotic systems to milk their cows.Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations.Only one cow at a time can enter a station.
Once inside，the cow is rewarded with food.As the cow eats，a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine.A few minutes later，milking is complete.The gate is opened，the cow is released and the next cow enters.
The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day.The cows get to decide when they want to be milked.Cows are milked an average of about three times a day.Some are milked four to six times a day.
The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system.A computer keeps records on their eating and milking.A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked.
The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk.Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests.
Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal especially to the next generation of farmers.She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm.Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.
Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm.Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system.A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot costs 175,000 dollars.The second costs 150,000 dollars.
Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot.He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day.
小题1:From the first paragraph，we can infer ________.| A．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor | | B．cows can be raised by robots in the future | | C．robots direct cows into milking stations | | D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms |
小题2:Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can ________.| A．adjust the temperature of milking stations | | B．judge the quality of fresh milk | | C．improve the appetite of cows | | D．keep fresh milk for two weeks |
小题3:Why is the robotic system not popular now?| A．Because young people have no interest in it. | | B．Because it is difficult to learn how to use it. | | C．Because people can"t afford to buy it. | | D．Because it usually causes the waste of milk. |
小题4:According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee per year?| A．$150,000～$175,000. | | B．over $75,000. | | C．$150,000～$30,000. | | D．$30,000～$35,000. |
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The first flights of the new airlines that will take tourists into space are ready to take off in 2012, and getting a seat on one is not all that different from booking a trip someplace on Earth. You can sign up on the website of, say, Virgin Galactic，the most wellknown of the new space tourism companies, or go to an approved travel agency and put down a large deposit. Soon you will be able to buy travel insurance，just as you can for any other vacation.
Until now，space tourism has been limited to the ultrawealthy. Just seven people have paid tens of millions of dollars each for a trip to the International Space Station aboard a Russian rocket.
But that could change this year, when Virgin Galactic intends to start offering flights just beyond the space barrier on a rocket ship it has built, featuring five minutes of weightlessness during a twoandahalfhour tour. At $ 200,000 a seat, this will open the final frontier to far more people.
At least two other specialty airlines have jumped in as well, taking reservations and deposits for future space flights.Allianz, the big insurer, will introduce an insurance product in 2012, lending space tourism the trappings of the regular travel industry.
“Just to be able to sell space travel as a regular part of your business, really, just how cool is that？” said Lynda Turley Garrett, president of Alpine Travel of Saratoga, Calif.，who is one of 58 accredited space agents for Virgin Galactic in the United States.
In five years，Ms.Garrett has sold three seats. But she expects that to change once passengers start going up and coming down to tell their friends. “By 2017，it"ll be just like scheduling a flight to L．A.，” Ms.Garrett predicted.
小题1:If you want to book a flight to space in 2012, you can________.| A．go to any travel agency | | B．telephone Virgin Galactic | | C．pay a visit to Allianz | | D．sign up on the website of Virgin Galactic |
小题2:From Paragraph 2 we can know that ________.| A．only the extremely rich people can afford the space trip | | B．seven people have paid tens of millions of dollars for a space trip | | C．Russia is the first country to build the space station | | D．ordinary people are not allowed to take space tour |
小题3:Which of the following is true of Virgin Galactic?| A．It is one of the approved space agencies. | | B．It is a famous space tourism company. | | C．It sells insurance products to space tourists. | | D．Its rocket has carried space passengers successfully. |
小题4:What does the underlined word “trappings” in Paragraph 4 probably refer to?| A．Standard uniforms. | | B．Traditional decorations. | | C．Symbolic signs. | | D．Personal belongings. |
小题5:What does Ms. Garrett think of the future space travel?| A．Common. | B．Changeable. | | C．Flexible. | D．Reasonable. |
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Many people think of the brain as a mystery.They don"t know much about intelligence and how it works.When they do think about what intelligence is，many people believe that a person is born smart，average，or dumb—and stays that way in the whole life.But new research shows that the brain is more like a muscle—it changes and gets stronger when you use it.And scientists have been able to show just how the brain grows and gets stronger when you learn.
Everyone knows that when you lift weights，your muscles get bigger and you get stronger.A person who can"t lift 20 pounds when he/she starts exercising can get strong enough to lift 100 pounds after working out for a long time.That"s because the muscles become larger and stronger with exercise.And when you stop exercising，the muscles shrink and you get weaker.That"s why people say “Use it or lose it！”
But most people don"t know that when they practice and learn new things，parts of their brain change and get larger a lot like muscles do when they exercise. Inside the cortex(皮层)of the brain are billions of tiny nerve cells，called neurons. The nerve cells have branches connecting them to other cells in a complicated network. Communication between these brain cells is what allows us to think and solve problems. When you learn new things，these tiny connections in the brain actually multiply and get stronger.The more you challenge your mind to learn，the more your brain cells grow.Then，things that you once found very hard or even impossible to do—like speaking a foreign language or doing algebra(代数)—seem to become easy after learning them for a period of time.The result is a stronger，smarter brain.
Scientists started thinking that the human brain could develop and change when they studied animals"brains.They found out that animals that lived in a challenging environment were more perspicacious—they were better at solving problems and learning new things.
小题1:According to the first paragraph，________.| A．the function of our brain is like that of the muscle | | B．until now it"s impossible to explain the brain"s mystery | | C．many people believe one"s intelligence is naturally determined | | D．one"s brain grows stronger as the age increases |
小题2:Training muscles is compared to ________.| A．using the brain | | B．connecting things in your brain | | C．lifting weights | | D．doing research about the brain |
小题3:What does the underlined word“perspicacious”in the last paragraph probably mean?| A．Strong. | B．Smart. | | C．Popular. | D．Active. |
小题4:The following paragraph will most probably talk about ________.| A．the differences between animals"brains and humans"brains | | B．the relation between human brains and muscles | | C．scientists" findings about animals" brains | | D．how to make your brain smarter through selfdevelopment |
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Many people are concerned about the state of the earth in terms of its energy supplies and changing climate.The clear message broadcast by all responsible governments is that every person has a part to play.Here are some detailed instructions.
1．Prevent pollution by disposing(清理) of all your litter and waste in the correct，legal way，such as using onstreet waste receptacles(容器) when you are out and about，or putting it in your domestic rubbish can when you"re at home.Follow local procedures for normal waste disposal.Contact your local authority for advice on disposing of unusual waste items，such as paint and computer parts.
2．Recycle all materials that can be processed by your local authority.Place plastics，metals，paper and glass in the correct collection receptacles.Donate unwanted items to the charities that are happy to accept good condition clothing，furniture and even automobiles.
3．Look after reserves of water by making sure you turn off the tap after use and by repairing leaks(渗漏) and drips.Purchase waterefficient appliances.Take showers instead of baths.Gather rainwater for garden use and use your lawn sprinkler less often or not at all.
4．Save energy by choosing Energy Star products.Turn these off，as well as lights，when you don"t need them to be on.Use air condition and heating less often.Make sure your home is insulated correctly to maintain a steady temperature.
5．Reduce the amount of the material you use.Print emails occasionally or not at all rather than printing them every time.You buy new things when you actually need them rather than on a whim(心血来潮)．Organize a car pool with friends to use fuel efficiently.
In a word，we should try to use the world"s resources efficiently to protect the environment.
小题1:When you have a walk in the park，you________．| A．can throw away the waste freely | | B．had better take along the waste | | C．can throw the waste into rubbish can | | D．should put the waste in your domestic rubbish can |
小题2:Which can"t be recycled according to the passage?| A．Metal. | B．Glass. | | C．Automobiles. | D．Paint. |
小题3:Why should you take showers instead of baths?| A．Because it is comfortable. | B．Because it can save lots water. | | C．Because it can gather water. | D．Because it is convenient to use. |
小题4:What"s the main idea of the whole passage?| A．How to protect the environment? | | B．Reduce the amount of the material you use. | | C．Some instructions in energy supplies. | | D．Why should each play a part in saving energy? |
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A person should eat right，get some exercise，or he or she will look terrible in 25 years.And if the person drinks and smokes? Even____．That"s the message from Blue Cross Blue Shield.The ____，called “Future You”，uses a digital camera and computer to compare a person"s current image with his or her future ____ without changes in bad habits.
“Smoking can ___ your skin，” said Anna，a creative operation manager，“You can see what the results of the toxins(毒素) and the chemicals in____are.” Along with the potentially____sight of one"s older self，Future You offers sciencebased____on what to eat，how much to exercise and other ways to ____ your health.But will it work? Too ____ to tell was the verdict(意见) of Anna.“I want to see some data！” she said.
Generally，Anna said，men show____concern about their appearance than women.“Women say，‘That looks like my ____on the screen，’” she said.“Men are more likely to ____，‘Yeah，go ahead.Put it on Facebook.’” The project was raised more than a year ago to improve the overall(总体的) health of the people who are ____ of this company.In addition，the growth in the ranks of ____customers would bring down the overall cost of health care.In coming weeks，two new ones will be ___ in locations such as the American Tobacco Campus and the Museum of Natural Science.If users ____，their information will be stored as secrets without names to create a database of good and bad ___．
The process is free and the response is not ____，at least according to Valencia Robertson，one of a line of people who waited to ____ the instrument on Thursday.“I"m good，” Robertson said after ____ her future image.“It"s not going to be a big difference.”
| 小题1: | | A．easier | B．happier | C．bitter | D．worse |
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| 小题2: | | A．instrument | B．picture | C．place | D．structure |
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| 小题3: | | A．wealth | B．character | C．appearance | D．education |
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| 小题4: | | A．reflect | B．bother | C．ruin | D．affect |
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| 小题5: | | A．cigarette | B．beers | C．medicines | D．foods |
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| 小题6: | | A．confusing | B．convincing | C．depressing | D．exciting |
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| 小题7: | | A．opinion | B．plans | C．thought | D．advice |
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| 小题8: | | A．break | B．damage | C．preserve | D．change |
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| 小题9: | | A．possible | B．natural | C．early | D．clear |
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| 小题10: | | A．deeper | B．less | C．higher | D．stronger |
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| 小题11: | | A．son | B．father | C．daughter | D．mom |
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| 小题12: | | A．guess | B．say | C．doubt | D．wonder |
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| 小题13: | | A．customers | B．managers | C．secretaries | D．cleaners |
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| 小题14: | | A．cautious | B．smart | C．careless | D．generous |
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| 小题15: | | A．showing up | B．thought out | C．sold out | D．dying out |
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| 小题16: | | A．know | B．agree | C．come | D．listen |
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| 小题17: | | A．habits | B．choices | C．methods | D．plans |
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| 小题18: | | A．nice | B．cool | C．strange | D．bad |
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| 小题20: | | A．drawing | B．viewing | C．picturing | D．imaging |
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