A.N.Kolmogorov Three approaches to the quantitative definition of information

2019四级考试阅读提高练习(26)Scientists at Sussex University appear to be on the way to ___1___ how the mosquito, carrier of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, homes in on its target. The problem is that they have found that the best way to avoid being bitten is：stop breathing, stop sweating, and keep down the temperature of your immediate surroundings. __2__ the first suggestion is impossible and the others very difficult.Scientists have found that there are three ___3___ stages in a mosquito's assault. Stage one is at fifty feet away, when the insect first smells a man or a animal to___4___ . Stage two is thought to come into operation about twenty-five feet from the target, when the insect becomes guided by the carbon dioxide breathed out by the intended victim. Stage three is when the mosquito is only a matter of inches from its ___5___ the warmth and moisture given off by the victim is the final clue.The researchers then * ___6___ how repellents interfere with its three-stage attack. They found repellents act more subtly than by just giving off a nasty smell. A Canadian researcher says that repellents appear to ___7___ mosquitoes first when it is following the carbon dioxide and second during the final approach, where the warmth and moisture are the insect's ___8___.Air pervaded by one of the many chemical repellents stops the mosquito reacting to the victim's carbon dioxide, and the repellent seems to affect the tiny hairs with which the insect senses moisture in the air. The sensors areblocked so that the ___9___ does not know whether it is flying through a moist current, or the sensors are made to send the ___10 ___ signals.A. examinedB. animalC. wrongD. insectE. biteF. UnfortunatelyG. inventingH. distinctI. prey J. guide K. checked L. definiteM. Unnecessarily N. confuse O. discovering1. O2. F3. H4. E5. I6. A7. N8. J9. D 10. C。

TOEFL托福阅读真题整合托福阅读真题1__ 31Rent control is the system whereby the local government tells building owners how much they can charge their tenants in rent. In the United States, rent controls date back to at least World War II.In 1943 the federal government imposed rent controls to help solve the problem of housing shortages during wartime. The federal program ended after the war, but in some locations, including New York City, controls continued. Under New York's controls, a landlord generally cannot raise rents on apartments as long as the tenants continue to renew their leases. In places such as Santa Monica, California, rent controls are more recent. They were spurred by the inflation of the 1970's, which, combined with California's rapid population growth, pushed housing prices, as well as rents, to record levels. In 1979 Santa Monica's municipal government ordered landlords to roll back their rents to the levels charged in 1978. Future rents could only go up by two-thirds as much as any increase in the overall price level.In any housing market, rental prices perform three functions: (1) promoting the efficient maintenance of existing housing and stimulating the construction of new housing, (2) allocating existing scarce housing among competing claimants, and (3) rationing use of existing housing by potential renters.One result of rent control is a decrease in the construction of new rental units. Rent controls have artificially depressed the most important long-term determinant of profitability —rents. Consider some examples. In a recent year in Dallas, Texas, with a 16 percent rental vacancy rate but no rent control laws, 11,000 new housing units were built. In the same year, in San Francisco, California, only 2,000 units were built. The major difference? San Francisco has only a 1.6 percent vacancy rate but stringent rent control laws. In New York City, except for government-subsidized construction, the only rental units being built are luxury units, which are exempt from controls. In Santa Monica, California, new apartments are not being constructed. New office rental space and commercial developments are, however. They are exempt from rent controls.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) The construction of apartments in the United States.(B) Causes and effects of rent control(C) The fluctuations of rental prices(D) The shortage of affordable housing in the United States.2. The word They in line 9 refers to(A) the tenants(B) their leases(C) places(D) rent controls.3. Which of the following was NOT a reason for the introduction of rent controls in Santa Monica,California?(A) rapid population growth(B) inflation(C) economic conditions during wartime(D) record-high housing prices4. The phrase roll back in line 11 is closest in meaning to(A) credit(B) measure(C) vary(D) reduce5. The word stimulating in line 15 is closest in meaning to(A) experimenting with(B) identifying(C) estimating(D) encouraging6. It can be inferred that the purpose of rent control is to(A) protect tenants(B) promote construction(C) increase vacancy rates(D) decrease sales of rental units7. The word depressed in line 19 is closest in meaning to(A) saddened(B) created(C) lowered(D) defeated8. The information in the last paragraph supports which of the following statements?(A) San Francisco has eliminated its rent control laws.(B) Rent control leads to a reduction in the construction of housing units(C) Luxury apartments are rarely built when there is rent control(D) There is a growing need for government-subsidized housing.9. According to the passage , which of the following cities does NOT currently have rent controls?(A) Santa Monica(B) Dallas(C) San Francisco(D) New York City10. The word stringent in line 23 is closest in meaning to(A) straightforward(B) strict(C) expanded(D) efficient11. According to the passage , which of the following is NOT exempt from rent control?(A) Luxury apartments(B) Commercial development(C) Moderately priced apartments(D) Office space.__ 31 BDCDD ACBBB C托福阅读真题232By 1776 the fine art of painting as it had developed in western Europe up to this time had been introduced into the American colonies through books and prints, European visitors andimmigrants, and traveling colonists who brought back copies (and a few original) of old master paintings and acquaintance with European art institutions.By the outbreak of the Revolution against British rule in 1776, the status of the artists had already undergone change. In the mid-eighteenth century, painters had been willing to assume such artisan-related tasks as varnishing, gilding teaching, keeping shops, and painting wheel carriages, houses, and signs. The terminology by which artists were described at the time suggests their status: limner was usually applied to the anonymous portrait painter up to the 1760's; painter characterized anyone who could paint a flat surface. By the second half of the century, colonial artists who were trained in England or educated in the classics rejected the status of laborer and thought of themselves as artists. Some colonial urban portraitists, such as John Singleton Copley, Benjamin West, and Charles Wilson Peale, consorted with affluent patrons. Although subject to fluctuations in their economic status, all three enjoyed sufficient patronage to allow them to maintain an image of themselves as professional artists, an image indicated by their custom of signing their paintings. A few art collectors James Bowdoin III of Boston, William Byrd of Virginian, and the Aliens andHamiltons of Philadelphia introduced European art traditions to those colonists privileged to visit their galleries, especially aspiring artists, and established in their respective communities the idea of the value of art and the need for institutions devoted to its encouragement.Although the colonists tended to favor portraits, they also accepted landscapes, historical works, and political engravings as appropriate artistic subjects. With the coming of independence from the British Crown, a sufficient number of artists and their works were available to serve nationalistic purposes. The achievements of the colonial artists, particularly those of Copley, West, and Peale, lent credence to the boast that the new nation was capable of encouraging genius and that political liberty was congenial to the development of taste — a necessary step before art could assume an important role in the new republic.1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) European influence on colonial American painting(B) The importance of patronage to artist(C) The changing status of artists in the American colonies in the eighteenth century(D) Subjects preferred by artists in the American colonies in theeighteenth century.2. The word outbreak in line 5 is closest in meaning to(A) cause(B) beginning(C) position(D) explanation3. The word undergone in line 6 is closest in meaning to(A) led to(B) transformed(C) preferred(D) experienced4. According to the passage , before the American Revolution the main task of limners was to(A) paint wheel carriages(B) paint portraits(C) varnish furniture(D) paint flat surfaces5. I t can be inferred from the passage that artists who were trained in England(A) considered artists to be superior to painters(B) barely painted portraitists(C) were often very wealthy(D) imitated English painters6. The word consorted in line 14 is closest in meaning to(A) made decisions(B) studies(C) agreed(D) associated7. The word sufficient in line 16 is closest in meaning to(A) adequate(B) temporary(C) friendly(D) expensive8. According to the passage , artists such as Copley, West and Peal signed their paintings(A) increased the monetary value of the paintings(B) made it more difficult for other artists to copy the paintings(C) supported the artists' image of professionalism(D) distinguished colonial American artists from European artists9. The author mentions James Bowdoin III and William Byrd in line 17 as examples of which ofthe following?(A) Art gallery owners who displayed only European art(B) Art collectors who had a profound influence on American attitudes toward art(C) Artists who gave financial support to other artists(D) Patrons whose helped to encourage artisans to become artists10. With which of the following would the author be most likely to agree?(A) Countries that have not had a political revolution are unlikely to develop great art.(B) The most successful art collectors are usually artists themselves.(C) The value of colonial American paintings decreased after the Revolution.(D) Colonial artists made an important contribution to the evolving culture of the new nation.__ 32 CBDBA DACBD托福阅读真题3__ 33Researchers in the field of psychology have found that one of the best ways to make an important decision, such as choosing auniversity to attend or a business to invest in, involves the utilization of a decision worksheet. Psychologists who study optimization compare the actual decisions made by people to theoretical ideal decisions to see how similar they are. Proponents of the worksheet procedure believe that it will yield optimal, that is, the best decisions. Although there are several variations on the exact format that worksheets can take, they are all similar in their essential aspects. Worksheets require defining the problem in a clear and concise way and then listing all possible solutions to the problem. Next, the pertinent considerations that will be affected by each decision are listed, and the relative importance of each consideration or consequence is determined. Each consideration is assigned a numerical value to reflect its relative importance. A decision is mathematically calculated by adding these values together. The alternative with the highest number of points emerges as the best decision.Since most important problems are multifaceted, there are several alternatives to choose from, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. One of the benefits of a pencil and paper decision-making procedure is that it permits people to deal with more variables than their minds can generally comprehend and remember.On the average, people can keep about seven ideas in their minds at once. A worksheet can be especially useful when the decision involves a large number of variables with complex relationships. A realistic example for many college students is the question What will I do after graduation? A graduate might seek a position that offers specialized training, pursue an advanced degree, or travel abroad for a year.A decision-making worksheet begins with a succinct statement of the problem that will also help to narrow it. It is important to be clear about the distinction between long-range and immediate goals because long-range goals often involve a different decision than short-range ones. Focusing on long- range goals, a graduating student might revise the question above to What will I do after graduation that will lead to successful career?1. What does the passage mainly discuss?(A) A tool to assist in making complex decisions.(B) A comparison of actual decisions and ideal decisions(C) Research on how people make decisions(D) Differences between long-range and short-range decision making2. The word essential in line 7 is closest in meaning to(A) introductory(B) changeable(C) beneficial(D) fundamental3. The word pertinent in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) relevant(B) preceding(C) insightful(D) responsive4. Of the following steps, which occurs before the others in making a decision worksheet?(A) Listing the consequences of each solution(B) Calculating a numerical summary of each solution(C) Deciding which consequences are most important(D) Writing down all possible solutions5. According to decision-worksheet theory, an optimal decision is defined as one that(A) has the fewest variables to consider(B) uses the most decision worksheets(C) has the most points assigned to it(D) is agreed to by the greatest number of people6. The author develops the discussion in paragraph 1 bymeans of(A) describing a process(B) classifying types of worksheets(C) providing historical background(D) explaining a theory7. The author states that On the average, people can keep about seven ideas in their minds atonce (lines 17-18) to explain that(A) most decisions involve seven steps(B) human mental capacity has limitations(C) some people have difficulty making minor as well as major decisions(D) people can learn to keep more than seven ideas in their minds with practice8. The word succinct in line 24 is closest in meaning to(A) creative(B) satisfactory(C) personal(D) concise9. Which of the following terms is defined in the passage(A) Proponents (line 5)(B) Optimal (line 5)(C) Variables (line 17)(D) Long-range goals (line 25)10. The word it in line 24 refers to(A) worksheet(B) problem(C) distinction(D) decision11. The word revise in line 26 is closest in meaning to。

考研英语（阅读）-试卷139(总分40, 做题时间90分钟)2. Reading ComprehensionSection II Reading ComprehensionPart ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer thequestions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D.In theory, a government bailout should provide a short-term" infusion of cash to give a struggling company the chance to right itself. But in its aggressive dealings with U.S. automakers, most recently General Motors, the Obama administration is coming dangerously close to engaging in financial engineering that ignores basic principles of fairness and economic realities toachieve political goals. It is now clear that there is no real difference between the government and GM. For all intents and purposes, the government, which is set to assume a 50 percent equity stake in the company, is GM, and it has been calling the shots in negotiations with creditors. While the Obama administration has been playing hardball with bondholders, it has been more than happy to play nice with the United Auto Workers (UAW). How else to explain why a retiree health-care fund controlled by the UAW is going to get a 39 percent equity stake in GM for its remaining $10 billion in claims while bondholders are being pressured to take a 10 percent stake for their $27 billion? It"s highlyunlikely that the auto industry professionals at GM would have reached such a deal if the government had not been watching them—or providing the money needed to keep the factory doors open. GM is widely expected to file for bankruptcy before the end of this month. If this were a typical bankruptcy, the company would be allowed bylaw to tear up its UAW collective bargaining agreement and negotiate for drastically reduced wages and benefits. Surely, the government won"t let that happen. Still, the threat of a contract abolition probably played a role in the union"s agreement to cost-cutting measures last week. It"s never easy for unions to make concessions, but the sting of handing back money is being softened by the government"s desire to give the union a huge ownership stake in GM. The administration argues that it could not risk alienating the union for fear of triggering a strike that could permanently cripple GM. It also assumes that it had to agree to protect suppliers and fund warranties in order to preserve jobs and reassure potential buyersthat their cars would be serviced. These are legitimate concerns. But it"s too bad that the Obama administration has not thought moredeeply about how its bullying of bondholders could convince future investors that the last thing they want to do is put money into any company that the government has—or could—become involved in.In its dealings with U.S. automakers, the Obama administration hasA been hard on shareholders and auto industry labor force.B helped struggling automakers to right themselves with a short-term cash-infusion.C narrowly avoided ignorance of basic principles of fairness and economic realities.D successfully saved the automaker-giants while striving for political goals.该题您未回答:х该问题分值: 2答案:C解析：事实细节题。

Law of large numbersAn illustration of the Law of Large Numbers using die rolls. As the number of die rollsincreases, the average of the values of all the rolls approaches 3.5.In probability theory, the law of large numbers (LLN ) is a theorem that describes the result of performing the same experiment a large number of times. According to the law, the average of the results obtained from a large number of trials should be close to the expected value, and will tend to become closer as more trials are performed.For example, a single roll of a six-sided die produces one of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, each with equal probability. Therefore, theexpected value of a single dice roll isAccording to the law of large numbers, if a large number of dice are rolled, the average of their values (sometimes called the sample mean) is likely to be close to 3.5, with the accuracy increasing as more dice are rolled.It follows from the law of large numbers that the empirical probability of success in a series of Bernoulli trials will converge to the theoretical probability. For a Bernoulli random variable, the expected value is the theoretical probability of success, and the average of n such variables (assuming they are i.i.d.) is precisely the relative frequency.For example, a fair coin toss is a Bernoulli trial. When a fair coin is flipped once, the theoretical probability that the outcome will be heads is equal to 1/2. Therefore, according to the law of large numbers, the proportion of heads in a "large" number of coin flips "should be" roughly 1/2. In particular, the proportion of heads after n flips will almost surely converge to 1/2 as n approaches infinity.Though the proportion of heads (and tails) approaches 1/2, almost surely the absolute (nominal) difference in the number of heads and tails will become large as the number of flips becomes large. That is, the probability that the absolute difference is a small number, approaches zero as the number of flips becomes large. Also, almost surely the ratio of the absolute difference to the number of flips will approach zero. Intuitively, expected absolute difference grows, but at a slower rate than the number of flips, as the number of flips grows.The LLN is important because it "guarantees" stable long-term results for random events. For example, while a casino may lose money in a single spin of the roulette wheel, its earnings will tend towards a predictable percentage over a large number of spins. Any winning streak by a player will eventually be overcome by the parameters of the game. It is important to remember that the LLN only applies (as the name indicates) when a large number of observations are considered. There is no principle that a small number of observations will converge to the expected value or that a streak of one value will immediately be "balanced" by the others. See the Gambler's fallacy.HistoryDiffusion is an example of the law of large numbers, applied to chemistry. Initially, there are solute molecules on the left side of a barrier (purple line) and none on the right. The barrier is removed,and the solute diffuses to fill the whole container. Top: With a single molecule, the motion appears to be quite random. Middle: With more molecules, there is clearly a trend where the solute fills the container more and more uniformly, but there are also random fluctuations.Bottom: With an enormous number of solute molecules (too many to see), the randomness is essentially gone: The solute appears to move smoothly and systematically from high-concentration areas to low-concentration areas. In realistic situations, chemists can describe diffusion as a deterministic macroscopic phenomenon (see Fick'slaws), despite its underlying random nature.The Italian mathematician Gerolamo Cardano (1501–1576) stated without proof that the accuracies of empirical statistics tend to improve with the number of trials.[1] This was then formalized as a law of large numbers. A special form of the LLN (for a binary random variable) was first proved by Jacob Bernoulli.[2] It took him over 20 years to develop a sufficiently rigorous mathematical proof which was published in his Ars Conjectandi (The Art of Conjecturing) in 1713. He named this his "Golden Theorem" but it became generally known as "Bernoulli's Theorem". This should not be confused with the principle in physics with the same name,named after Jacob Bernoulli's nephew Daniel Bernoulli. In 1835, S.D. Poisson further described it under the name "La loi des grands nombres" ("The law of large numbers").[3] Thereafter, it was known under both names, but the "Law of large numbers" is most frequently used.After Bernoulli and Poisson published their efforts,other mathematicians also contributed to refinement of the law, including Chebyshev, Markov, Borel, Cantelli and Kolmogorov and Khinchin (who finally provided a complete proof of the LLN for the arbitrary randomvariables). These further studies have given rise to two prominent forms of the LLN. One is called the "weak" law and the other the "strong" law. These forms do not describe different laws but instead refer to different ways of describing the mode of convergence of the cumulative sample means to the expected value, and the strong form implies the weak.FormsTwo different versions of the Law of Large Numbers are described below; they are called the Strong Law of Large Numbers , and the Weak Law of Large Numbers . Both versions of the law state that – with virtual certainty – thesample averageconverges to the expected valuewhere X 1, X 2, ... is an infinite sequence of i.i.d. random variables with finite expected value E(X 1) = E(X 2) = ... = µ <∞.An assumption of finite variance Var(X 1) = Var(X 2) = ... = σ2 < ∞ is not necessary . Large or infinite variance will make the convergence slower, but the LLN holds anyway. This assumption is often used because it makes the proofs easier and shorter.The difference between the strong and the weak version is concerned with the mode of convergence being asserted.For interpretation of these modes, see Convergence of random variables.Weak lawSimulation illustrating the Law of Large Numbers. Each frame, you flip a coin that is red on one side and blue on the other, and put a dot in the corresponding column. A pie chart shows the proportion of red and blue so far. Notice that the proportion varies a lot at first, but graduallyapproaches 50%.The weak law of large numbers states that the sample average converges in probability towards the expected value [4][proof]That is to say that for any positive number ε,Interpreting this result, the weak law essentially states that for any nonzero margin specified, no matter how small,with a sufficiently large sample there will be a very high probability that the average of the observations will be close to the expected value, that is, within the margin.Convergence in probability is also called weak convergence of random variables. This version is called the weak law because random variables may converge weakly (in probability) as above without converging strongly (almost surely) as below.Strong lawThe strong law of large numbers states that the sample average converges almost surely to the expected value [5]That is,The proof is more complex than that of the weak law. This law justifies the intuitive interpretation of the expected value of a random variable as the “long-term average when sampling repeatedly”.Almost sure convergence is also called strong convergence of random variables. This version is called the strong law because random variables which converge strongly (almost surely) are guaranteed to converge weakly (in probability). The strong law implies the weak law.The strong law of large numbers can itself be seen as a special case of the pointwise ergodic theorem.Moreover, if the summands are independent but not identically distributed, thenhas a finite second moment andprovided that each XkThis statement is known as Kolmogorov’s strong law, see e.g. Sen & Singer (1993, Theorem 2.3.10). Differences between the weak law and the strong lawThe weak law states that for a specified large n, the average is likely to be near μ. Thus, it leaves open the possibility that happens an infinite number of times, although at infrequent intervals.The strong law shows that this almost surely will not occur. In particular, it implies that with probability 1, we have that for any ε > 0 the inequality holds for all large enough n.[6]Uniform law of large numbersSuppose f(x,θ) is some function defined for θ∈ Θ, and continuous in θ. Then for any fixed θ, the sequence {f(X,θ),1 ,θ), …} will be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables, such that the sample f(X2mean of this sequence converges in probability to E[f(X,θ)]. This is the pointwise (in θ) convergence.The uniform law of large numbers states the conditions under which the convergence happens uniformly in θ. If [7]1.Θ is compact,2.f(x,θ) is continuous at each θ∈ Θ for almost all x’s,3.there exists a dominating function d(x) such that E[d(X)] < ∞, andThen E[f(X,θ)] is continuous in θ, andBorel's law of large numbersBorel's law of large numbers, named after Émile Borel, states that if an experiment is repeated a large number of times, independently under identical conditions, then the proportion of times that any specified event occurs approximately equals the probability of the event's occurrence on any particular trial; the larger the number of repetitions, the better the approximation tends to be. More precisely, if E denotes the event in question, p its probability of occurrence, and Nn(E) the number of times E occurs in the first n trials, then with probability one,This theorem makes rigorous the intuitive notion of probability as the long-run relative frequency of an event's occurrence. It is a special case of any of several more general laws of large numbers in probability theory.ProofGiven X1, X2, ... an infinite sequence of i.i.d. random variables with finite expected value E(X1) = E(X2) = ... = µ < ∞,we are interested in the convergence of the sample averageThe weak law of large numbers states:Theorem:Proof using Chebyshev's inequalityThis proof uses the assumption of finite variance (for all ). The independence of the random variables implies no correlation between them, and we have thatThe common mean μ of the sequence is the mean of the sample average:Using Chebyshev's inequality on results inThis may be used to obtain the following:As n approaches infinity, the expression approaches 1. And by definition of convergence in probability (see Convergence of random variables), we have obtainedProof using convergence of characteristic functionsBy Taylor's theorem for complex functions, the characteristic function of any random variable, X , with finite mean μ,can be written asAll X 1, X 2, ... have the same characteristic function, so we will simply denote this φX .Among the basic properties of characteristic functions there areThese rules can be used to calculate the characteristic function ofin terms of φX :The limit e it μ is the characteristic function of the constant random variable μ, and hence by the Lévy continuity theorem, converges in distribution to μ:μ is a constant, which implies that convergence in distribution to μ and convergence in probability to μ are equivalent. (See Convergence of random variables) This implies thatThis proof states, in fact, that the sample mean converges in probability to the derivative of the characteristic function at the origin, as long as this exists.Notes[1]Mlodinow, L. The Drunkard's Walk. New York: Random House, 2008. p. 50.[2]Jakob Bernoulli, Ars Conjectandi: Usum & Applicationem Praecedentis Doctrinae in Civilibus, Moralibus & Oeconomicis , 1713, Chapter 4,(Translated into English by Oscar Sheynin)[3]Hacking, Ian. (1983) "19th-century Cracks in the Concept of Determinism"[4]Loève 1977, Chapter 1.4, page 14[5]Loève 1977, Chapter 17.3, page 251[6]Ross (2009)[7]Newey & McFadden 1994, Lemma 2.4References•Grimmett, G. R. and Stirzaker, D. R. (1992). Probability and Random Processes, 2nd Edition . Clarendon Press,Oxford. ISBN 0-19-853665-8.•Richard Durrett (1995). Probability: Theory and Examples, 2nd Edition . Duxbury Press.•Martin Jacobsen (1992). Videregående Sandsynlighedsregning (Advanced Probability Theory) 3rd Edition.HCØ-tryk, Copenhagen. ISBN 87-91180-71-6.•Loève, Michel (1977). Probability theory 1 (4th ed.). Springer Verlag.•Newey, Whitney K.; McFadden, Daniel (1994). Large sample estimation and hypothesis testing . Handbook of econometrics, vol.IV, Ch.36. Elsevier Science. pp. 2111–2245.•Ross, Sheldon (2009). A first course in probability (8th ed.). Prentice Hall press. ISBN 978-0136033134.•Sen, P. K; Singer, J. M. (1993). Large sample methods in statistics . Chapman & Hall, Inc.External links•Weisstein, Eric W., " Weak Law of Large Numbers (/ WeakLawofLargeNumbers.html)" from MathWorld.•Weisstein, Eric W., " Strong Law of Large Numbers (/ StrongLawofLargeNumbers.html)" from MathWorld.•Animations for the Law of Large Numbers (/prob:law_of_large_numbers) by Yihui Xie using the R package animation (/package=animation)Article Sources and Contributors8Article Sources and ContributorsLaw of large numbers Source: /w/index.php?oldid=409632062 Contributors: 3mta3, ABCD, Aastrup, Alcmaeonid, Ali Esfandiari, Andrea Ambrosio, Archelon, Atfyfe, Athenean, AxelBoldt, Bearian, Beland, Billjefferys, Bjcairns, Blue Tie, Breadbox, Burn, Burnte, Cedders, Chephy, Cherkash, Christian75, Cleared as filed, Cretog8, Czap42, Dan33gopo,DanielCD, Daqu, Daughter of Mímir, Dcoetzee, DerHexer, DidgeGuy, Dondegroovily, Dougluce, Elwikipedista, Eric Kvaalen, Fangz, Flloater, Func, Gazpacho, Giftlite, Green caterpillar,GregorB, Grendelkhan, Grick, GuntisOzols, Happily ever after, Headbomb, Hede2000, Iwaterpolo, J04n, Jayanta Sen, Jim.belk, Jusjih, Kaanstivonausfern, LOL, Lihaas, MER-C, MarkSweep, Maurice Carbonaro, McKay, Melcombe, Mets501, Michael Hardy, Mickraus, MicroBio Hawk, Mister Magotchi, Moreschi, Mundo tarantino, Mysid, Numbo3, O18, Oleg Alexandrov,OliAtlason, OoberMick, OwenX, PRRfan, Paolo.dL, Patrick, Paul August, Paul Pogonyshev, Phil Boswell, Phobos11, Pkfff, PlutarcoNaranjo, Pokipsy76, Psiphiorg, Qiqi.wang, Qwfp, Rar,Rick.G, Ritchy, Rockoprem, Rsgurevich, Salgueiro, Sanchom, Santhosh Thota, Sbyrnes321, Schmeitgeist, Schutz, Scott Ritchie, Shanes, SheffieldSteel, Shivan Bird, Sligocki, Soup man,Steel2009, Stpasha, Sławomir Biały, Teorth, That Guy, From That Show!, The Anome, TheObtuseAngleOfDoom, Tiagofassoni, TitanOne, TonyW, Trevorgoodchild, Uvaphdman, VMS Mosaic, Viclick, Voidvector, WikipedianProlific, Xaven, Xieyihui, Александър, 187 anonymous editsImage Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Largenumbers.svg Source: /w/index.php?title=File:Largenumbers.svg License: Creative Commons Zero Contributors: User:NYKevinFile:DiffusionMicroMacro.gif Source: /w/index.php?title=File:DiffusionMicroMacro.gif License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Sbyrnes321File:Lawoflargenumbersanimation.gif Source: /w/index.php?title=File:Lawoflargenumbersanimation.gif License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Sbyrnes321LicenseCreative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported/licenses/by-sa/3.0/。

阅读理解第一课Eat Healthy健康饮食1.Parents in the United States tend to ask their children ____.美国的父母往往会问他们的孩子C*not to waste food．不要浪费食物2.Why do American restaurants serve large portions?为什么美国餐馆所供应的很大部分吗?A*Because、Americans associate quantity with value．因为,美国人数量与价值。

3.What happened in the 1970s?在20世纪70年代发生了什么事?D*The American waistline started to expand．美国的腰围开始扩展。

4.What does the survey indicate?调查显示的是什么?A*Many poor Americans want large portions．许多贫穷的美国人想要大的部分。

5.Which of the following is Not true of working class Americans?下面哪句是不正确的工人阶级的美国人吗?C*They don't want to be healthy eaters．因为它们不想成为健康的食用者。

第二课Outside-the-classroom Learning Makes a Big Difference课外学习带来很大不同1. An extracurricular activity like raising a fund of $300,000 is risky because most student leaders一个课外活动像募集基金30万美元是危险的,因为大部分的学生领袖D* wilt not take an interest in it.必不感兴趣。

2019年12月17日雅思阅读真题预测>>>免费试听：【超值特惠】雅思临考预测四科联报核心考点大放送The Triumph of UnreasonA.Neoclassical economics is built on the assumption that humans are rational beings who have a clear idea of their best interests and strive to extract maximum benefit (or “utility”, in economist-speak) from any situation. Neoclassical economics assumes that the process of decision-making is rational. But that contradicts growing evidencethat decision-making draws on the emotions—even when reason is clearly involved.B.The role of emotions in decisions makes perfect sense. For situations met frequently in the past, such as obtaining food and mates, and confronting or fleeing from threats, the neural mechanisms required to weigh up the pros and cons will have been honed by evolution to produce an optimal outcome. Since emotion is the mechanism by which animals are prodded towards such outcomes, evolutionary and economic theory predict the same practical consequences for utility in these cases. But does this still apply when the ancestral machinery has to respond to the stimuli of urban modernity?C.One of the people who thinks that it does not is George Loewenstein, an economist at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh. In particular, he suspects that modern shopping has subverted the decision-making machinery in a way that encourages people to run up debt. To prove the point he has teamed up with two psychologists, Brian Knutson of Stanford University and Drazen Prelec of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to look at what happens in the brain when itis deciding what to buy.D.In a study, the three researchers asked 26 volunteers to decide whether to buy a series of products such as a box of chocolates or a DVD of the television show that were flashed on a computer screen one after another. In each round of the task, the researchers first presented the product and thenits price, with each step lasting four seconds. In the final stage, which also lasted four seconds, they asked the volunteers to make up their minds. While the volunteers were taking part in the experiment, the researchers scanned their brains using a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This measures blood flow and oxygen consumption in the brain, as an indication of its activity.E.The researchers found that different parts of the brain were involved at different stages of the test. The nucleus accumbens was the most active part when a product was being displayed. Moreover, the level of its activity correlated with the reported desirability of the product in question.F.When the price appeared, however, fMRI reported more activity in other parts of the brain. Excessively high prices increased activity in the insular cortex, a brain regionlinked to expectations of pain, monetary loss and the viewing of upsetting pictures. The researchers also found greater activity in this region of the brain when the subject decided not to purchase an item.G.Price information activated the medial prefrontal cortex, too. This part of the brain is involved in rational calculation. In the experiment its activity seemed tocorrelate with a volunteer‘s reaction to both product and price, rather than to price alone. Thus, the sense of a good bargain evoked higher activity levels in the medialprefrontal cortex, and this often preceded a decision to buy.H.People‘s shopping behaviour therefore seems to havepiggy-backed on old neural circuits evolved for anticipationof reward and the avoidance of hazards. What Dr Loewenstein found interesting was the separation of the assessment of the product (which seems to be associated with the nucleus accumbens) from the assessment of its price (associated with the insular cortex), even though the two are then synthesised in the prefrontal cortex. His hypothesis is that rather than weighing the present good against future alternatives, as orthodox economics suggests happens, people actually balancethe immediate pleasure of the prospective possession of a product with the immediate pain of paying for it.I.That makes perfect sense as an evolved mechanism for trading. If one useful object is being traded for another (hard cash in modern time), the future utility of what is being given up is embedded in the object being traded. Emotion is as capable of assigning such a value as reason. Buying on credit, though, may be different. The abstract nature of credit cards, coupled with the deferment of payment that they promise, may modulate the “con” side of the calculation in favour of the “pro”.J.Whether it actually does so will be the subject of further experiments that the three researchers are now designing. These will test whether people with distinctly different spending behaviour, such as miserliness and extravagance, experience different amounts of pain in response to prices. They will also assess whether, in the same individuals, buying with credit cards eases the pain compared with paying by cash. If they find that it does, then credit cards may have to join the list of things such asfatty and sugary foods, and recreational drugs, that subvert human instincts in ways that seem pleasurable at the time but can have a long and malign aftertaste.Questions 1-6Do the following statemets reflect the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 1?Write your answer in Boxes 1-6 on your answer sheet.TRUE if the statement reflets the claims of the writerFALSE if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is possbile to say what the writer thinks about this1. The belief of neoclassical economics does not accord with the increasing evidence that humans make use of the emotions to make decisions.2. Animals are urged by emotion to strive for an optimal outcomes or extract maximum utility from any situation.3. George Loewenstein thinks that modern ways of shopping tend to allow people to accumulate their debts.4. The more active the nucleus accumens was, the stronger the desire of people for the product in question became.5. The prefrontal cortex of the human brain is linked to monetary loss and the viewing of upsetting pictures.6. When the activity in nucleus accumbens was increased by the sense of a good bargain, people tended to purchase coffee.Questions 7-9Choose the appropriate letters A-D and write them in boxes 7-9 on your answe sheet.7. Which of the following statements about orthodox economics is true?A. The process which people make their decisions is rational.B. People have a clear idea of their best interests in any situation.C. Humans make judgement on the basis of reason rather then emotion.D. People weigh the present good against future alternatives in shopping.8. The word “miserliness” in line 3 of Paragraph J means__________.A. people’s beha vior of buying luxurious goodsB. people’s behavior of buying very special itemsC. people’s behavior of being very mean in shoppingD. people’s behavior of being very generous in shopping9. The three researchers are now designing the future experiments, which testA. whether people with very different spending behaviour experience different amounts of pain in response to products.B. whether buying an item with credit cards eases the pain of the same individuals compared with paying for it by cash.C. whether the abstract nature of credit cards may modulate the “con” side of the calculation in favour of the “pro”.D. whether the credit cards may subvert human instincts in ways that seem pleasurable but with a terrible effect.。

正态分布检验的3⼤步骤及结果处理spss7. NormalityBelow, I describe five steps for determining and dealing with normality. However, the bottom line is that almost no one checks their data for normality; instead they assume normality, and use the statistical tests that are based upon assumptions of normality that have more power (ability to find significant results in the data).First, what is normality A normal distribution is a symmetric bell-shaped curve defined by two things: the mean (average) and variance (variability).Second, why is normality important The central idea behind statistical inference is that as sample size increases, distributions will approximate normal. Most statistical tests rely upon the assumption that your data is “normal”. Tests that rely upon the assumption or normality are called parametric tests. If your data is not normal, then you would use statistical tests that do not rely upon the assumption of normality, call non-parametric tests. Non-parametric tests are less powerful than parametric tests, which means the non-parametric tests have less ability to detect real differences or variability in your data. In other words, you want to conduct parametric tests because you want to increase your chances of finding significant results.Third, how do you determine whether data are “normal” There are three interrelated approaches to determine normality, and all three should be conducted.First, look at a histogram with the normal curve superimposed. A histogram provides useful graphical representation of the data. SPSS can also superimpose the theoretical “normal” distribution onto the histogram of your data so that you can compare your data to the normal curve. To obtain a histogram with thesuperimposed normal curve:1. Select Analyze --> Descriptive Statistics --> Frequencies.2. Move all variables into the “Variable(s)” window.3. Click “Charts”, and click “Histogram, with normal curve”.4. Click OK.Output below is for “system1”. Notice the bell-shaped black line superimposed on the distribution.All samples deviate somewhat from normal, so the question is how much deviation from the black line indicates “non-normality”? Unfortunately, graphical representations like histogram provide no hard-and-fast rules. After you have viewed many (many!) histograms, over time you will get a sense for the normality of data. In my view, the histogram for “system1” shows a fairly normal distribution.Second, look at the values of Skewness and Kurtosis. Skewness involves the symmetry of the distribution.Skewness that is normal involves a perfectly symmetric distribution. A positively skewed distribution has scores clustered to the left, with the tail extending to the right. A negatively skewed distribution has scores clustered to the right, with the tail extending to the left. Kurtosis involves the peakedness of the distribution.Kurtosis that is normal involves a distribution that is bell-shaped and not too peaked or flat. Positive kurtosis is indicated by a peak. Negative kurtosis is indicated by a flat distribution. Descriptive statistics about skewness and kurtosis can be found by using either the Frequencies, Descriptives, or Explore commands. I like to use the “Explore” command because it provides other useful information about normality, so1. Select Analyze --> Descriptive Statistics --> Explore.2. Move all variables into the “Variable(s)” window.3. Click “Plots”, and un click “Stem-and-leaf”4. Click OK.Descriptives box tells you descriptive statistics about the variable, including the value of Skewness and Kurtosis, with accompanying standard error for each. Both Skewness and Kurtosis are 0 in a normaldistribution, so the farther away from 0, the more non-normal the distribution. The question is “how much”skew or kurtosis render the data non-normal? This is an arbitrary determination, and sometimes difficult to interpret using the values of Skewness and Kurtosis. Luckily, there are more objective tests of normality, described next.Third, the descriptive statistics for Skewness and Kurtosis are not as informative as established tests for normality that take into account both Skewness and Kurtosis simultaneously. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (K-S) and Shapiro-Wilk (S-W) test are designed to test normality by comparing your data to a normaldistribution with the same mean and standard deviation of your sample:1. Select Analyze --> Descriptive Statistics --> Explore.2. Move all variables into the “Variable(s)” window.3. Click “Plots”, and un click “Stem-and-leaf”, and click “Normality plots with tests”.4. Click OK.“Test of Normality” box gives the K-S and S-W test results. If the test is NOT significant, then the data are normal, so any value above .05 indicates normality. If the test is significant (less than .05), then the data are non-normal. In this case, both tests indicate the data are non-normal. However, one limitation of the normality tests is that the larger the sample size, the more likely to get significant results. Thus, you may get significant results with only slight deviations from normality. In this case, our sample size is large (n=327) so thesignificance of the K-S and S-W tests may only indicate slight deviations from normality. You need to eyeball your data (using histograms) to determine for yourself if the data rise to the level of non-normal.“Normal Q-Q Plot” provides a graphical way to determine the level of normality. The black line indicates the values your sample should adhere to if the distribution was normal. The dots are your actual data. If the dots fall exactly on the black line, then your data are normal. If they deviate from the black line, your data are non-normal. In this case, you can see substantial deviation from the straight black line.Fourth, if your data are non-normal, what are your options to deal with non-normality You have four basic options.a.Option 1 is to leave your data non-normal, and conduct the parametric tests that rely upon theassumptions of normality. Just because your data are non-normal, does not instantly invalidate theparametric tests. Normality (versus non-normality) is a matter of degrees, not a strict cut-off point.Slight deviations from normality may render the parametric tests only slightly inaccurate. The issue isthe degree to which the data are non-normal.b.Option 2 is to leave your data non-normal, and conduct the non-parametric tests designed for non-normal data.c.Option 3 is to conduct “robust” tests. There is a growing branch of statistics called “robust” tests thatare just as powerful as parametric tests but account for non-normality of the data.d.Option 4 is to transform the data. Transforming your data involving using mathematical formulas tomodify the data into normality.Fifth, how do you transform your data into “normal” data There are different types of transformations based upon the type of non-normality. For example, see handout “Figure 8.1” on the last page of this document that shows six types of non-normality (e.g., 3 positive skew that are moderate, substantial, and severe; 3 negative skew that are moderate, substantial, and severe). Figure 8.1 also shows the type of transformation for each type of non-normality. Transforming the data involves using the “Compute” function to create a new variable (the new variable is the old variable transformed by the mathematical formula):1. Select Transform --> Compute Variable2. Type the name of the new variable you wan t to create, such as “transform_system1”.3. Select the type of transformation from the “Functions” list, and double-click.4. Move the (non-normal) variable name into the place of the question mark “?”.5. Click OK.The new variable is reproduced in the last column in the “Data view”.Now, check that the variable is normal by using the tests described above.If the variable is normal, then you can start conducting statistical analyses of that variable.If the variable is non-normal, then try other transformations.。

Test 1 Script[1]There are about 660,000 school-aged Syrian refugee children in Turkey. Government officials estimate only about one-third of them are going to school. Educating the refugee children is an enormous task. One U.S. official says that a huge school system like the one in New York City would be overwhelmed.The United States says it is working with the United Nations to help bridge the education gap for refugee children. Without school, the effects will be negative and long-lasting.The United States provided Turkey with aid for education earlier. [2]In December, it offered an additional $24 million. Human Rights Watch says a quality education will ensure a more stable future for these children. The organization says about 90 percent of children in refugee camps run by the Turkish government attend school. But most of the children living outside of those camps are not receiving education.1. What is the news report mainly about?2. What did the United States do to help refugee children? [3] Eleven Taliban fighters attacked an important airport in southern Afghanistan early Tuesday, killing at least 50 people, Afghan officials said. The Afghan Defense Ministry said 38 civilians, 10 soldiers and two police officers were killed.The attack on the Kandahar Air Field lasted 20 hours, reported The Washington Post. Among the dead were women and children, the newspaper wrote. The airport includes a military base with troops from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. There were no reports that NATO troops were killed or injured in the attack.A spokesman for the Taliban says fighters entered the base and attacked local and foreign military troops. He said more than 150 soldiers were killed in the attack. The Taliban often makes claims about the results of their attacks that are not true. [4] Taliban attacks have grown in number and strength in Afghanistan this year after the withdrawal last year of combat troops from other countries.3. What did Taliban fighters do early Tuesday?4. What led to the growth of Taliban attacks in Afghanistan? [5]The Australian state of Tasmania is considering raising the legal age for buying cigarettes to at least 21 and potentially as high as 25. If the plan goes ahead it will give Tasmania some of the toughest tobacco laws in the world. The current legal age to purchase, possess or smoke cigarettes in all Australian states is 18. Critics have complained the proposed restrictions would be a violation of civil liberties. Australia already has some of the world ’s toughest anti-smoking policies. It introduced so-called plain packaging four years ago, [6] where packs are colored an identical olive brown and are covered in health warnings that include pictures. The country is also one of the most expensive places in the world to buy cigarettes --- from around $15 a pack.Parts of the world already ban cigarette sales to those under 21, including Kuwait, and, from next year, Hawaii. Around on in five Tasmanians smoke, with the vast majority taking up the habit before the age of 25. [7] Tasmanian government1. A. Education problems of American childrenB. Education problems of Syrian children in Turkey.C. A statement published by Human Rights WatchD. Many children in Turkey don ’t receive education2. A. They built long-lasting schools in TurkeyB. They established a huge school system in TurkeyC. They offered financial support to Turkey.D. They sent refugee children to refugee camp.3. A. They killed no more than 50 people B. They fired against NATO troops C. They attacked an airport in Afghanistan D. They killed 10 children and two police officers4. A. Withdrawal of combat troops from other countries B. False claim of foreign military troops C. Decline of the local troops ’ strength D. Last year ’s victory over foreign troops North Atlantic Treaty Organization5. A. Violate the civil liberties in AustraliaB. Increase the legal age to buy cigarettesC. Introduce a plan called plain packagingD. Raise the price of cigarettes in Australia 6. A. Details of anti-smoking polices C. Health warnings including picturesB. Pictures with olive tree D. Data of cigarette sales worldwide7. A. To follow the anti-smoking trend in Kuwait and Hawaii B. To make Tasmania Australia ’s healthiest city by 2025 C. To ease existing tough anti-smoking polices D. To have more tough anti-smoking policesproposals are part of a five-year plan to make the state Australia’s healthiest by 2025.5. What does the state of Tasmania plan to do?6. According to plain packaging, what should be included in the packs of cigarettes?7. What’s the purpose of the Tasmanian government proposals?1. A) The number of adult girls is expected to double by 2050.B) Child marriage in Africa will be ended by 2050.C) Half women will be married before reaching adultho od by 2050.D) The legal marriage age will set above 18 by 2050.2. A) Poverty and lack of education.B) Local culture that undervalues children.C) The low legal age for marriage.D) High risks of becoming teenage mothers.3. A) Waste products of whisky could make biofuel.B) Scotland is the largest producer of whisky in the world.C) A new fuel called Biobutanol is found by a Scottish professor. D) There are many waste products in making whisky.4. A) Corn and sugar cane. C) Strong beer and wheat.B) Rye and corn. D) Rice and wheat.5. A) Getting high skilled people.B) Promoting company’s technologyC) Finding enough employees.D) Increasing members of immigrants.6. A) The number of them decreases dramatically.B) They mainly move from south states.C) They come to Chicago without work visa.D) The number of them increases after the recession.7. A) The law of immigrantsB) The environment for companies.C) The number of work visas.D) Higher salary and better titlesThe number of girls married in African is expected to double in the next 35 years, experts say. (1)That means almost half, or 310 million girls, by 2050 will be married before they reach adulthood, says a United Nation’s report. The African Union says it wants to end child marriage in African.Delegates at a summit in Zambia are expected to set 18 years old as the lowest legal age for marriage across the continent. Marriage before age 18 is already against the law in most African countries.Yet the UN says more than 125 million African women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday. Experts say most were given to men in traditional or religious unions in violation of the law.(2)African Union chairwoman Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma says local culture that undervalues girls and women is to blame. Poverty and lack of education are also responsible, experts say.1.What do we learn from the United Nation’s report?2.What is the reason for child marriage in Africa?(3)Waste products from a popular alcoholic drink could be used in the future to make biofuel. Researchers say the new fuel, based on whisky, could reduce demand for oil.They say using less oil could cut pollution that studies have linked to climate change.Scotland is the largest producer of whisky in the world. And a Scottish professor has found how to take the waste products from distilling whisky and turn them into a form of alcohol called biobutanol. Biobutanol can be used as fuel. Whisky comes from grain, such as corn and wheat. Martin Tangney is director of the Biofuel Research Center at Napier University in Edinburgh. He says less than 10 percent of what comes out can be considered whisky. (4)The rest is mainly one of two unwanted products: strong beer and wheat.Tangney says the two byproducts can be produced to create a new material: biobutanol.3.What is news report mainly about?4.What are the unwanted products in making whisky?For several years, human resources director Pete Tapaskar says it’s been a challenge to fill all the jobs at his suburban Chicago-based technology company. (5)Getting high skilled people is still a challenge. Elizabeth Sue is principal policy analyst for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, who studies Chicago’s recent immigration trends. She said “They are slowly moving into the south, especially Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. (6)What we are seeing right now is a substantially decreased total of international in-migrations.Prior to the recession we wereModel Test 2between 50 and 60 thousand most years. Now, since 2010, we’ve been at about 23- to 24-thousand international in-migrations on a net basis.”S he says that dramatic drop—as much as two-thirds some years—contributes to Chicago’s overall still population growth. Tapaskar says there are many reasons why immigrants choose to live in Southern states instead of Chicago. (7)“The environment there is ideal for starting a business, could be the taxes there are low, and employers are getting a lot of benefits from the state government.”But Tapaskar says one thing that could bring new immigrants to Chicago is increasing the number of work visas that would attract the highly skilled tech workers his business needs.5.What is the problem for the technology companies in Chicago?6.What do we learn about international in-migrations in Chicago?7.Why do immigrants choose Southern states instead of Chicago?Model Test 31. A) The asset of the US there has been frozen.B) The conflict there threatens the U.S. nationalsecurity.C) Rallies are planned to protest the war there.D) The U.N. Security Council is involved in the issue there.2. A) Four Sudanese.B) The U.S. president.C) ReportersD) George Clooney3.A) Consumers give up motorcycles.B) Some politicians suggest cutting down prices of gasoline.C) Oil companies are not satisfied with it.D) Some congressmen think oil companies should be examined.4. A) It might not work.C) It is good for oil company.B) Consumers will finally benefit from it.D) It should also be imposed on other industries. 5. A) At 4:35 pm local time.B) At 4:35 am local time.C) At 4:25 am local time.D) At 4:25 pm local time.6. A) The Us Geological survey first reported the earthquake.B) India’s Meteorological Department has predicted the earthquake.C) A newly-built building collapsed in the earthquake.D) Three thousand people were reported dead in the earthquake.7. A) Because he had a heart attack after the earthquake.B) Because he jumped from a four-floor balcony.C) Because he was badly injured during the quake.D) Because he suffered a stroke after the earthquake.[1] In a statement, the US president says he is taking the action, because the conflict in Darfur threatens the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The asset freeze is being imposed on four Sudanese identified by the U.N. Security Council as being involved in organizing and carrying out cruel and violent actions in Darfur. The president’s order comes days before rallies are planned in Washington and throughout the United States to protest the three-year war in Darfur.[2]Celebrities such as Academy Award winning actor George Clooney are scheduled to speak at the rally. Clooney, who just returned from a trip to the Darfur region, told reporters in Washington the world’s attention need to be focused on what he called the “first massive murder of the 21st century.”1. Why is the U.S. president taking actions in Darfur? B2. Who is scheduled to speak at the rally? DWhen the top U.S. oil companies announced huge increases in profits this week, many consumer raised complaints. At a time when American motorists are paying record-level prices for gasoline, [3]some in the U.S. Congress think the oil company profits should be examined closely. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is seeking tax return information on top U.S. oil companies from the Internal Revenue Service and some politicians are calling for a windfall profits tax.Of course, oil companies oppose such a move, citing similar or even higher profit increases in other industries, such as real estate, that have not caused controversy. [4]Oil industry analysts, however, say awindfall profits tax might be counterproductive. Bob Tippee, editor of Houston-based Oil and Gas Journal, says large oil company profits could benefit consumers in the end.3. What are the reactions to the oil companies’ huge increases in profits? D4. What do the oil industry analysts think ofthe windfall profits tax? AAn earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale has hit northeast India, near its borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, killing at least nine people. [5]The quake hit at 4:35 am local time about 29 km northwest of Imphal, the capital of Manipur state, according to the US Geological Survey. Strong quake have been felt across the region. The earthquake was originally reported to have measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. India’s Meteorological Department said it struck at a depth of 17 km.The earthquake cracked walls and [6]a newly-built six-storey building in Imphal collapsed, police said. Other buildings were also reported to have been damaged. At least six people have been killed in Manipur and more than 30 injured, the Press Trust of India news agency reported. In the neighboring Bangladesh, three people were reported dead while dozens were being treated in hospital for injuries sustained during the quake.[7]A 23-year-old man died when he suffered a stroke after the quake while two others died of heart attacks, news agency AFP quoted police as saying. A university student, who jumped from a fourth-floor balcony to escape, was among the severely wounded, the agency added.5. When did the earthquake happen? B6. What do we know about the earthquake from the news report? C7. Why did the 23-year-old man die? DModel Test 41.A) Their health becomes worse.B) They don’t fight as hard as before.C) They won’t get the benefit of pension.D) They receive less education2. .A) In the late 1970s.B) In the early 1970sC) During World War II.D) In the late 1960s3. A) Nobody was injured in it.B) It was caused by an error.C) It killed 27 minersD) It affected national electricity supply.4. A) Extraordinary expansion of mine companies.B) The laws requiring federal mine inspections C) The decline of coal supply in the world.D) An accident causing thousands of death.5. A) An express company that delivers food.B) A meal replacement diet.C) A report on fast weight-loss diet category.D) An annual ranking of best diet plans.6. A) The food is made by medical workers.B) The food is healthier than made-at-home meal.C) The food is delivered to dieters directly.D) Dieters can order a variety of food.7. A) It is tough to achieve.B) It may change our lifestyle.C)It is unhealthy and unsustainable.D) It can lead to future diseases.The number of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double between now and 2030. This next generation of retirees will be the healthiest, best educated, and most wealthy in American history. (1)But many of them won’t have a retirement benefit their parents’ generation fought hard to get. It is something known as a defined-benefit plan, or “pension”. Retired workers who have a pension continue to be paid a certain percentage of their highest annual salary-usually anywhere from one to three percent-multiplied by the number of years they worked for the company. Pensions first became popular during World War II, when a federally-approved wage-freeze meant unions had to negotiate for retirement benefits, inside of pay increases. (2)Pensions reached the height of their popularity in the late 1970s, when more than 60 percent of Americans had one.1.What problem does the next generation of retiree have? C2.When did pension reach the height of their popularity? AU.S. government health and safety officials are investigating the cause of the recent explosion at a West Virginia coal mine, which killed 12 miners. (3)The accident was apparently an error in an industry, which has prided itself on miner safety at a time of extraordinary expansion. Mine companies operate in 27 states, from West Virginia in the east to Montana in the west, producing a total of about one billion tons a year, or more than a third of the world’s coal supply. The U.S. economy is dependent on coal pr oduction. Coal-fired power plants generate about 50 percent of the nation’s electricity. More than half the nation’s coal is mined underground by thousands of men and women who daily risk injury and death. (4)But the occupation has become much safer since the late 1960s, when the U.S. Congress passed laws requiring federal mine inspections.3. What do we learn about the recent explosion at a coalmine? B4.What made the mining industry safer in the late 1960s? BWhen it comes to dieting, los ing weight fast holds some appeal. Maybe that’s why U.S. News & World Report has added a Fast Weight-loss Diet category to its annual rankings of best diet plans. And one of the diets that comes out on top is the Health Management Resources (HMR) program.(5)HMR is a meal replacement diet that can be done on your own at home or under medical supervision. Instead of made-at-home meals, dieters can order low-calorie milk, soups, nutrition bars and multigrain cereal.The U.S. News reviewers say (6)the plus side to the HMR diet is its quick-start option and the convenience of having meals delivered to you. The down side is “the milk lacks variety,” and it’s tough to eat out while on this diet.(7) “A common misunderstanding is that losing weight quickly is n ot healthy, not sustainable, and will just lead to future weight re-gain,” wrote Carol Addy, the chief medical officer at HMR, in a release. But she says, to the country, “numerous studies demonstrate that following a lifestyle change program which promote fast initial weight loss can result in better long-term success.5. What is the HMR program? B6. What is the advantage of HMR program? C7. What’s the common misunderstanding about losing weight fast? CModel test 51. A) Their persona lifeB) Educational opportunitiesC) Political developmentD) Their views on international issues.2. A) In Morocco, both satisfaction and optimism have doubled.B) Optimism grows generally in the Arab world in recent years.C) Many Arab countries have improved the income of their citizens.D) There is an acceleration of the economic growth in the Arab world.3. A) To arrest the leader of the opposition party.B) To prepare for the presidential elections.C) To answer his charges at home.D) To protect his supporters.4. A) Uganda’s multi-party elections were darkened. B) Economic support from western nations was cut off.C) Uganda’s role model in the region was canceled.D) Uganda’s relationship wit h its donors felt strained.5. A) It was wet and cold. B) It was hot and dry.C) It was cold and terrible. D) It was hot and terrible.6. A) All the extreme weather events.B) El Nino and a warmer climate.C) Light snows and record rain.D) The land’s surrounded by ocean.7. A) There was record-breaking snowfall.B) There was recording-breaking rainfall.C) It were the warmest months ever recorded.D) It were the wettest months ever recorded.Two months ago, Zogby International, a Washington-based research organization, conducted a publicopinion poll in six Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. the respondents, randomly chosen from different neighborhoods in various cities of each country, [1] were asked to give their opinion on a number of issues, including concerns facing their country and their personal life, economic development, employment opportunities and the likelihood of peace in the Middle East. [2]Overall, respondents expressed more satisfaction with their lives and more optimism about their future than they did in the poll conducted ten years ago. In Lebanon, both satisfaction and optimism have doubled. This is not surprising, says James Rauch, a professor at the University of California. “The Lebanese have experienced an enormous change now with the end of the Syrian occupation. They would have good reasons to be optimistic.”1.What were the respondents asked to comment on? A2.What do we learn about the result of the poll? B[3]In October the Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Basigye, returned to Kanpala to prepare for the presidential elections next year. Three weeks later he was arrested. The Ugandan government says he must answer the charges, but his supporters say it’s an attempt by Ugandan President Museveni to prevent Dr. Basigye running against him. [4]The incident is threatening to darken the country’s first multi-party elections in two decades. Western nations which provide essential economic support to Uganda have held up Uganda as a role model in the region, opposition leaders are calling on them to take a stand. In this edition of analysis, Lucy Williamson looks at whether Uganda’s relationship with its donors is feeling the strain.3. Why did Kizza Basigye return to Kampala? B4. What is the consequence of Basigye’s incident? AAt the end of every year, U.S. weather researchers look back at what the nation’s weather was like, and what they saw last year was weird. [5]The year was hot and annoyed by all number of extreme weather events that did a lot of expensive damage.December, in fact, was a fitting end.“This is the first time in our 121-year period that a month has been both the wettest and the warmest month on record,” says Jake Crouch, a weather researcher. The rest of the year was very wet and hot too, he says—the second-hottest period on record for the U.S.[6]The cause: a warming climate and a super strong EI Nino. EI Nino is a weather phenomenon out of the ocean that hits every few years and affects weather globally.Together, climate and a very strong EI Nino pushed the weather in the U.S. as warm as its 20th century average.And even when the atmosphere is only that much warmer, it holds more moisture, [7]leading to record snow in the Northeast last February and March, and record rain in the South and Midwest.5. What was weather in the U.S. like last year? D6. What made last year’s weather so weird? B7. What happened in the Northeast last February and March? A。

When evolution works against us当进化背离我们A Life has changed in just about every way since small tribes of hunter-gatherers roamed the earth armed with nothing but spears and stone tools.We now buy our meat from the supermarket rather than stalking it through the jungle;houses and high-rises shelter us at night instead of caves.But despite these changes,some very basic responses linger on. The short,sharp feeling of heightened awareness that sweeps through us when a stranger passes in a dark alley is no different,physiologically speaking,from the sensation our ancestors experienced when they were walking through the bushes and heard a dry twig snap nearby.It's called the'fight or flight'response,and it helps us to identify dangerous situations and act decisively by,as the name suggests,mustering our strength for a confrontation or running away as fast as we can.自那些仅以长矛石器为装备的小规模的狩猎聚居部落游走于这地球上以来，生命就发生了改变。

The reading passage raises three strong evidences to support the issue that scientists have found some actual tissues in a 70-miHion-year-old dinosaur's fossil, while the lecturer contents the evidences shown in the reading material are unconvincing.SkepticalFirst, the author says the small branching channels in the leg bone can be the hollows in the bones where blood vessels were once located. However, the lecturer argues that some bacteria could have lived inside the bone after the dinosaur died and the channels may just be the traces left by the bacteria.Second, contrary to the reading passage' opinion, the lecturer contends that animalsdidn't have blood cells in that time. For example, the lecturer says that other animals discovered in the same site didn't have blood cells in their bodies. Those "blood cell" may be just some pieces of mirror. Second, contrary to what is said in the reading passage, the spheres are not red cells. The lecturer points that the spheres were also found the other animals’fossils, including some primitive animals without red cells. The lecturer says there is no evidence showing that animals had red cells in that time and the spheres may be some pieces of radish minerals.Third, the reading passage indicates that scientists have found collagen in the fossil, whereas the lecturer argues that it is unbelievable that collagen could be preserved for 700 million years. The presence of collagen may be the skin tissues of the researcher who hands the bone, because we have never found any collagen which can last for more than one hundred thousand years.When you are old and grey and full of sleep,And nodding by the fire, take down this book,And slowly read, and dream of the soft lookYour eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;How many loved your moments of glad grace,And loved your beauty with love false or true,But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,And loved the sorrows of your changing face;And bending down beside the glowing bars,Murmur, a little sadly, how love fledAnd paced upon the mountains overheadAnd hid his face amid a crowd of stars.The furthest distance in the worldIs not between life and deathBut when I stand in front of youYet you don't know thatI love you.The furthest distance in the worldIs not when I stand in front of youYet you can't see my loveBut when undoubtedly knowing the love from both Yet cannot be together.The furthest distance in the worldIs not being apart while being in loveBut when I plainly cannot resist the yearningYet pretending you have never been in my heart. The furthest distance in the worldIs not struggling against the tides But using one's indifferent heart To dig an uncrossable riverFor the one who loves you.。