UK working day is between 9 and 10 hours, but a further 2 hours is spent responding to or sending work emails, or making work calls.
Almost one in ten admits spending up to three hours outside their normal working day checking work emails. Some workers confess they are on call almost 24 hours a day. Nearly two-thirds say they often check work emails just before they go to bed and as soon as they wake up, while over a third have replied to one in the middle of the night. The average time for first checking emails is between 6 am and 7 am, with more than a third checking their first email in this period, and a quarter checking them between 11pm and midnight.
Ghadi Hobeika, marketing director of Pixmania, said: “The ability to access millions of apps has made smart phones invaluable for many people. However, there are disadvantages. Many companies expect their employees to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and smart phones mean that people cannot get away from work. The more constantly in contact we become, the more is expected of us in a work capacity. ”
24．With a smart phone the average UK working day is _______.
A．2 hours
B．8 hours
C．9 to 10 hours D. 11 to 12 hours
25．It could be inferred from the text that the British people _______.
A．prefer to check emails in the morning B．are crazy about different smart phones C．work extra hours with smart phones D．shorten their normal working hours
26．What does Ghadi Hobeika feel about smart phones?
A．They are unimportant for most of people. B．They have disadvantages for some companies. C．They are useful to improve a work ability. D．They make it impossible for people to rest. 27．What can we conclude from the text?
A．Every coin has two sides. B．All that glitters is not gold. C．It never rains but pours.
D．It’s no good crying over spilt milk.
C
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was straight like a pole when the construction began in 1173. It started to shift direction soon after construction because of poor foundation in addition to the loose layer of subsoil(底土). At the beginning, it leaned to the southeast before the shaky foundation started
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to shift leaning towards the southwest. After the period of structural strengthening at the beginning of the 21st century, now the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.
In 1178, the shift in direction was observed for the first time when the construction had progressed further to the third floor. The tower was heavy for the three-meter foundation that was built on a weak area of land.
For compensating(补偿) the leaning position, the builders started to construct the upper floors with one side higher than the other one. This caused the tower to lean in the other direction. This unusual structure led to the tower being actually curved. In spite of these efforts, the tower kept on leaning.
The government of Italy started to plan prevention of the complete collapse of the tower in 1964. However, a request was put forward by the authorities to keep the leaning position because of the tourism industry of the region.
After nearly two decades of careful planning by engineers, historians and mathematicians, the stabilization efforts for the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1990. The tower was closed for the general public and the people living nearby moved away. For reducing the total weight of the tower, its seven bells which represented the seven musical notes were removed. The tower was reopened for the general public on December 15, 2001.
In May 2008, after removing another 70 metric tons of earth, the engineers announced that the tower had been finally stabilized and it would remain stable for at least 200 years.
[:..]28. The Leaning Tower of Pisa began to lean probably because_____. A. it was too high like a pole B. its foundation shook badly
C. the work of repair was delayed D. the soil of its foundation was too weak
29. People noticed the Leaning Tower of Pisa shift its direction _______. A. as soon as it was constructed B. during the construction
C. at the end of the construction D. as soon as it was completed
30. Who preferred not to change the leaning position of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? A. The authorities. B. The government. C. The engineers. D. The historians.
31. Which of the following is the right order according to this passage? a. People noticed the tower began to shift its direction.
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b. The repair work was carried out last time.
c. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was repaired for the first time. d. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built. e. The tower was opened to the visitors again.
f. The government started to make a plan for the tower.
A. c,d,a,f,b,e B. f,e,a,d,c,b C. d,a,f,c,e,b D. d,e,b,f,c,a
D
A new study, conducted by British company Mindlab International, has found that listening to music at work increases accuracy and speed, The Telegraph reported. Perhaps, some parents disagree with this idea, saying, \off the music and concentrate!\Well, if that's the case with your parents, you might now be able to convince them that you have science on your side.
The company gave 26 participants a series of different tasks for five days in a row, including spell checking, mathematical word problems, data entry, and abstract reasoning. The participants completed these tasks while listening to music or no music at all.
The results showed that while music was playing, 88% of participants produced their most accurate test results and 81% completed their fastest work. David Lewis, chairman of Mindlab International, told The Telegraph, \not only the efficiency of your workforce but also their emotional state... they are going to become more positive about the work.\
However, you may have a list of your favorite songs, but not all kinds of music match all homework. For maths or other subjects involving numbers or attention to detail, you should listen to classical music, the study found. In the study, pop music enabled participants to complete their tasks 58% faster than when listening to no music at all. If you are reviewing your English writing, pop music is the best choice, as it is the best kind for spell checking. It cut mistakes by 14%, compared to listening to no music. After finishing your homework, do you often take time to check your answers? Maybe, some dance music is suitable for you.
32．Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? A. Music helps us to learn
B. We cannot live without music C. Different music, different lives D. Music in the classroom.
33．What did the participants have to do in the study？
A. Persuade their parents to listen to music. B. Listen to the same music together.
C. Try their best to choose the most suitable music. D. Finish tasks with music or without music at all.
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34．What does the underlined word \？
A. tools
B. results
C. tests D. participants
35．When you review your English writing, what kind of music is the best choice？
A. Classical music B. Dance music C. Pop music D. Rock music
第二节 根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项,选项中有两项为多余选项。（共5小题：每小题2分，满分10分）
Physical education plays a vital role in the students’ development and growth. According to recent medical studies, physical well-being of a student is directly related to his or her performance whether in class or in the office. 36 It’s a link to good health.
37 It’s only in physical educational classrooms that students learn the value of taking care of themselves through proper grooming, healthy eating and regular exercise.
38_ Many doctors today agree that obesity is a serious health risk. Without any form of diet management and control with the numerous processed food students intake every day, a student’s health can easily be at risk to many diseases. Physical education in school is a preventive measure to teach students the value of regular exercise.
It promotes academic learning.
Physical health allows students to function better in classrooms. A good cardiovascular system developed from regular exercise promotes excellent blood and oxygen circulation. 39 This circulation produces longer attention span during classes allowing longer concentration and absorption.
[:.]It builds self-trust.
Students who are active in physical activities are more confident with themselves according to most social school studies. It’s probably because of the self-discipline and dedication to excel in a sport that brings out the best in students. In school, the physical education program introduces these sport activities to students. 40 It promotes a physically active lifestyle.
The purpose of physical education is to instill in students, at an early age, the value of self-preservation and choosing a lifestyle that is good for both the mind and body.
A．The article will give you reasons to agree. B．It is the best way to cure your illnesses.
C．The value of physical fitness can never be overstated. D．It’s a preventive measure against disease.
E．They can make choices about which sport they get involved in. F．Some students prefer to abandon such activities.
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