It’s the place where smart people make smart machines work even smarter. But for the people who work in it, Silicon Valley (硅谷) is more than just a high technology hothouse. It’s also in the heart of sunny California, a great place to start a family and raise kids. What could be better?
But something is happening to the children. Up until the age of two they develop normally. Their proud parents watch and smile as they take their first steps and speak their first words. But then everything seems to go backwards. The children become locked into their own small world, unable to communicate at all.
They call it the “curse of Silicon Valley,” but the medical name for the condition is autism（孤獨癥）. It used to be thought that autism was a mental illness. Now doctors are sure that it is a disease transmitted genetically (遺傳). It seems that the people leading the communications revolution are having children who cannot communicate at all.
But even the parents have trouble communicating. Asperger’s Syndrome (綜合癥) is connected with autism. People who have it are highly intelligent and often brilliant with numbers or systems but have no social skills, which makes Asperger’s sufferers into excellent computer professionals. Unfortunately, many of the children of two Asperger’s parents in Silicon Valley seem to be developing serious autism.
There is little anyone can do. And there is no cure in sight. Some argue that no cure should be found．“It may be that autistics are essentially (本質(zhì)上) different from normal people, but that these differences make them valuable for the evolution (進化) of the human race,” says Dr Kirk Wilhelm of the University of California．“To remove the genes (基因) for autism could be terrible.
It seems that the children of Silicon Valley are paying the price of genius.
小題1:A person who has autism usually _____.
A．has difficulty in speakingB．loses communication skills
C．has difficulty in workingD．hates people around
小題2: Which of the following best explains “curse of Silicon Valley”?
A．The children are brought up in Silicon Valley.
B．Autism is just a result of working in Silicon Valley.
C．The children suffer from autism due to their parents in Silicon Valley.
D．Autism makes the children in Silicon Valley unable to communicate.
小題3:Some people think that no cure of autism should be found because ______.
A．a(chǎn)utism cannot be curedB．a(chǎn)utism isn’t a disease
C．harm will be done to the childrenD．a(chǎn)utism is necessary in some way
小題4:What does the writer seem to feel about the children of Silicon Valley?
A．It’s a pity that they cannot have a normal life.
B．They are the pride of the human race.
C．They are sure to have a bright future.
D．It’s likely that they will have a normal life.

小題1:B
小題2:C
小題3:D
小題4:A

小題1:細節(jié)題。根據(jù)The children become locked into their own small world, unable to communicate at all.可知，患了這種孤獨癥的人喪失了交際能力。
小題2:詞義猜測題。根據(jù)Now doctors are sure that it is a disease transmitted genetically(遺傳).可知兒童患上這種病與父母在硅谷工作有關(guān)，是父母惹的禍，故稱之為curse of Silicon Valley（硅谷之禍）。
小題3:細節(jié)題。根據(jù)these differences make them valuable for the evolution(進化) of the human race,” 和“To remove the genes(基因) for autism could be terrible.可知這種不同與普通人的品質(zhì)是必要的。
小題4:推斷題。根據(jù)It seems that the children of Silicon Valley are paying the price of genius.可知孩子們?yōu)樘觳鸥冻隽舜鷥r，可知作者對這些孩子持一種同情的態(tài)度。
練習冊系列答案
相關(guān)習題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空


US president Barack Obama told students that it takes hard work in school to prepare for a rewarding career in his “back to school” speech,   36  last Tuesday in Virginia, US. Here is excerpt （節(jié)選）from his speech:
I know that sometimes, you get the  37    that you can be rich and successful without any hard work –  38   your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things. But the truth is, being successful is   39   .You won’t love every subject you study. Not every homework assignment will seem completely important to your life right this minute. And you may not succeed at    40     the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most   41  .JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was   42  12 times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was    43    his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said. “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures  44   you. No one’s    45  being good at things; you become good at things through hard work.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of    46    . It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new.
And even when you’re  47     , even when you’re discouraged, and when you feel like other people have given up on yourself, you won’t give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
36. A. addressed                  B. claimed                   C. delivered                  D. announced
37.A. feelings               B. definition           C. concept                      D. sense
38. A. that                           B. which                       C. what                          D. whatever
39. A. inaccessible                    B. hard                        C. rough                          D. unavailable
40.A, anything                          B. everything                 C. nothing                        D. something
41. A. effort                B. attempts                   C. failures                        D. successes
42. A. denied             B. turned away        C. declined           D. rejected
43. A. cut from                        B. cut off                       C. cut down           D. cut in
44. A. confirm                          B. define                      C. identify                        D. prove
45. A. brought up             B. raised                        C. fed                           D. born
46. A. strength             B. courage                       C. weakness                      D. perseverance
47. A. struggling                 B. fighting             C. trying                          D. succeeding

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Reading to dogs is an unusual way to help children improve their literacy skills（讀寫能力）. With their shining brown eyes, wagging tails, and unconditional love, dogs can provide the nonjudgmental listeners needed for a beginning reader to gain confidence（自信心）,  according to Intermountain Therapy Animals（ITA）in Salt Lake City. The group says it is the first program in the country to use dogs to help develop literacy in children, with the introduction of Reading Education Assistance Dogs （READ）.
The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea. “Literacy specialists admit that children who read below the level of their fellow pupils are often afraid of reading aloud in a group, often have lower self-respect, and regard reading as a headache,” said Lisa Myron, manager of the children’s department.
Last November the two groups started “Dog Day Afternoon” in the children’s department of the main library. About 25children attended each of the four Saturday-afternoon classes, reading for half an hour. Those who attended three of the four classes received a “pawgraphed” book at the last class.
The program was so successful that the library plans to repeal it in April, according to Dana Thumpowsky, public relations manager.
59．What is mainly discussed in the text?
A．Children’s reading difficulties.              B．Advantages of raising dogs.
C．Service in public library.        D．A special reading program.
60．Specialists use dogs to listen to children reading because they think__________.
A．dogs are young children’s best friends
B．children can play with dogs while reading
C．dogs can provide encouragement for shy children
D．children and dogs understand each other
61．By saying “The Salt Lake City Public Library is sold on the idea”, the writer means the library ______________.
A．uses dogs to attract children           B．a(chǎn)ccepts the idea put forward by ITA
C．has opened a children’s department        D．has decided to train some dogs
62．A “pawgraphed” book is most probably _________.
A．a(chǎn) book used in Saturday classes             B．a(chǎn) book written by the children
C．a(chǎn) prize for the children                  D．a(chǎn) gift from parents

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Brittnie Pemberton listened attentively as Jim Herrick took her and her mother, Tanya, on a brief tour of San Diego State University on Thursday. Her dream is much closer to reality after she received a promise from the university. The university promised that she would get a full four-year scholarship to the school as long as she met the entrance requirements.
Brittnie, 10, laughed. Her mom cried.
They live at the Salvation Army Door of Hope, a living center for homeless women and their children. Photojournalist Linda Solomon met them in August when she came to the facility and taught boys and girls, ages three-and-a-half to 13, how to take pictures. She gave them all disposable cameras and told them to capture images that reflected their dreams. The children's images - a big house, a church, a playground, a backyard and more - are kept. This is a project called“Pictures of Hope" organized by the Salvation Army
"I wish to go to college, so I took a picture of the sign out in front of San Diego State University," Brittnie said last month. The Fletcher Elementary School fifth-grader was pointing to the Christmas card bearing her photograph.
Adrienne Finley, development director at the Salvation Army, hosted a reception for Solomon, who told Finley about the president of a small university who gave a child the scholarship she dreamed of last year.
Finley called his old friend, Herrick, who serves as the SDSU President. "We have a wonderful opportunity here to make a difference in a little girl's life," Finley said. Soon her mom and Brittnie were face to face with SDSU President Jim Herrick.
"You must be Brittnie," he said, reaching out to shake her hand. She quickly pulled her hands out of the pockets of the new SDSU sweatshirt she had been given that morning.
They sat down at a table in his office and talked about college, about science, about her love of math and his hope that she and other girls wouldn't lose interest in those subjects, as happens to many girls as they grow older.
Then they talked about how much discipline she would need over the next eight years to make her dream come true. Both signed the paper outlining their agreement to the terms of the scholarship. Back outside on the sunny campus, Brittnie admitted she's tempted sometimes not to do her homework. "But not anymore," she said.
小題1:According to the first paragraph, we can know that________.
A．it is certain that Brittnie will be admitted into SDSU
B．Brittnie will not need to pay for her university education if she can study in SDSU.
C．Jim Herrick promised Brittnie’s mother to offer her a job in SDSU.
D．Brittnie made a promise that she would never give up her dream. .
小題2:The Salvation Army Door of Hope is intended to ______.
A．recruit young men and young women to help others
B．provide shelters for homeless moms and their children
C．carry out some projects to help those who are in trouble
D．help homeless people no matter who they are
小題3:According to the passage, the following statements are true EXCEPT_______.
A. Linda Solomon taught children photography to inspire them.
B. Children told people about their dreams through their pictures.
C. Brittnie took a picture standing at the gate of SDSC.
D. Brittnie’s picture was so good that it was printed on a Christmas card.
小題4:From what Ferrick said to Brittnie, we can infer that_______.
A．Ferrick has a strong belief that Brittnie will be a scientist in the future.
B．Brittnie, as well as some other girls, is interested in both science and math.
C．some girls would not be so good in science and math as boys as they grow older.
D．Brittnie will never lose interest in science because of her deep love
小題5:Which of the following words can best describe Brittnie’s feelings when she signed
the agreement about the scholarship ?
A．EncouragedB．CalmC．Nervous D．Proud

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Some scientists warn that ice near the Earth’s Poles may indeed be melting. This “polar meltdown” may be the first sign that the Earth is heating up. We could be in very serious trouble if this trend continues. It is estimated that a meltdown of as little as 10 percent of Antarctica’s ice would raise sea levels around the globe by 4 to 9 meters. Floods would cover low-lying regions and turn coastal cities like New York and New Orleans into real life underwater world.
Scientists first predicted in the 1970s that heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere could cause a polar meltdown. Many now believe that human activities are turning up the heat. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, we add carbon dioxide(CO2) gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Cutting down trees also makes CO2 levels raise because trees normally soak up CO2 to make food. Scientists say higher CO2 levels strengthen the “greenhouse effect” and could increase the Earth’s temperature. In fact, CO2 levels have risen by 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Over the past three years, satellite measurements have shown a sea level rise of about a quarter inch worldwide. “If nothing is done to reduce fossil-fuel pollution and global warming, sea levels will rise even more.” says geologist Richard Alley.
But even Alley admits that a polar meltdown would take time. The ice in Antarctica and Arctic locks up nearly nine times the volume of water contained in all the world’s rivers and lakes. These are such big “ice cubes” and it would probably take thousands of years to melt them.
Another scientist Charles Bentley doesn’t think a meltdown will happen at all. “Even if warmer temperatures begin to melt polar-ice,” he says, “the excess moisture would most likely be redeposit as snow.” In other words, the melted ice would evaporate into the atmosphere, refreeze, and fall as rain and snow over the Poles.
小題1:What consequence of global warming is mentioned in the passage?
A．More tropical storms.B．More tropical diseases.
C．Changes in farm productivity.D．Coastal flooding.
小題2: Which of the following statements does the second paragraph support?
A．CO2 in the atmosphere cannot keep the heat from escaping into space.
B．The increase of CO2 gas may warm the planet and help to melt polar ice.
C．Cutting down trees helps to greatly reduce CO2 levels.
D．The end of the short-lived age of fossil fuels is already in sight.
小題3: Geologist Richard Alley most likely agrees that _______.
A．the sea-level rise can be prevented by cutting back on energy-consuming activities
B．the recent breaking off of ice blocks from Antarctica is just a natural part of a long-term cycle
C．Antarctica temperatures have significantly changed since the Industrial Revolution
D．the polar meltdown may be an accidental change of climate rather than a sign of global warming
小題4:Charles Bentley believes that a polar meltdown will not occur because _______.
A．governments around the world are beginning to reduce CO2 levels in the air
B．a(chǎn) melting of the polar ice cannot be achieved with the present technologies
C．the melted ice in the polar areas would change into snow and rain over the Poles
D．the sun’s heat would have no chance of being absorbed by the polar ice
小題5:In which paragraph does the author mention the immense quantities of polar ice?
A．In the second paragraph.B．In the third paragraph.
C．In the fourth paragraph.D．In the fifth paragraph.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a planet in the Milky Way (銀河系)? While the trip sounds exciting, it would take years and years to reach your destination. So in the future, bedtime for astronauts may be more than a few hours of regular shut eye. They would have to sleep for years.
European researchers are now conducting hibernation experiments. The study may help them understand whether humans could ever sleep through the years it would take for a space flight to distant planets. "If there was an effective technology, it could make deep-space travel a reality," said Mark Ayre of the European Space Agency last month.
What seems like a science fiction is not completely unlikely. Researchers have been able to use chemicals to put living cells into a sleep-like state where they don’t age. They have now moved on to the small, non-hibernating mammals (哺乳動物) like rats.
A major challenge is the fact that cells can be very simple systems, whereas body organs are far more complex (復雜的). "It’s like moving from a simple Apple computer to a supercomputer," said Marco Biggiogera, a hibernation researcher at Italy’s University of Pavia．Just like bears and frogs, the hibernation of human beings would cause a person’s metabolism (新陳代謝) to lower so they would need less energy.
Medical research, however, is just half of a space flight hibernation system. There is a challenge of designing a suitable protective shelter (棲身所). Such a shelter would provide the proper environment for hibernation, such as the proper temperature. It would also have to monitor (監(jiān)控) life functions and serve the physiological needs of the hibernator.
According to Ayre, the six-person Human Outer Planets Exploration Mission (使命) to Jupiter’s moon (木星的衛(wèi)星) Callisto could be an opportunity to use human hibernation. The mission aims to send six persons on a five-year flight to Callisto, where they will spend 30 days, in 2045.
小題1:According to the article, the hibernation research ______.
A．is just an ideaB．is always a science fiction
C．has already finished successfullyD．has made some progress
小題2:In a hibernating state, a person needs ______.
A．less sleep B．more foodC．less energyD．more movement
小題3: The first try of the hibernation technology _____ the six-person Human Outer Planets
Exploration Mission to Jupiter’s moon Callisto.
A．will beB．has been planned for
C．is certain to beD．may be
小題4:What is the best title of the article?
A．Hibernation Study For Space TravelB．Welcome To Our Space Travel
C．To Hibernate, To Live Longer D．Welcome To The Milky Way

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

　　For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth’s natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse.
　　Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye-pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants（污染物） can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer, Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution. People began to notice the problem in the early 1970s. It is that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they built buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using manmade building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases. As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building— green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant’s leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and through its tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square metres of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and more healthy place.
　　小題1:Generally speaking, indoor air pollution may be more harmful than the air outside because ________.
A．the man - made building materials let out dangerous gases inside houses
B．there may be more harmful gases outside houses
C．the flow of air indoors is limited
D．indoor air pollution can make a person seriously ill
　　小題2:The most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants because________.
A．they may let out more oxygen which people need
B．they can absorb different kinds of the harmful indoor chemicals
C．they can take in all kinds of indoor pollutants
D．they can make your house prettier and more healthy

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A peer is a person who is about the same age as you. Peers affect your life, whether you know it or not, just by spending time with you.
Peers can have a good effect on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it.
However, sometimes peers affect each other in another way. For example, one kid in school might try to get another to cut class with him, your soccer friend might try to persuade you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to shoplift with him.?
Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group.Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that “everyone's doing it ” may influence some kids to leave their better judgments, or their common senses behind.
　　Peer pressure can be extremely strong and hard to get rid of. Experiments have shown how peer pressure can influence someone to change mind from what she knows for sure is a correct answer to the incorrect answer—just because everyone else gives the incorrect answer!That holds true for people of any age in peer pressure situations.
It can be hard to walk away from peer pressure, but it can be done. Pay attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do. Inner strength and self-confidence can help you stand firm, walk away, and resist doing something when you know better.
小題1:What is the main idea of the passage?
A．Peers have a good effect.
B．Children give in to peer pressure.?
C．Peer pressure is hard to stop.
D．Peer pressure.?
小題2:The underlined word “shoplift” probably means to_______.?
A．do shoppingB．carry goods for shops?
C．steal in the shopD．take the lift upstairs in the shop?
小題3:The writer will NOT agree that_______.?
A．only children change their correct answers to incorrect ones because of peer pressure?
B．peers have an effect on each other?
C．peer pressure can be got rid of ?
D．peers will believe in themselves if there are other peers who agree with them?
小題4:The writer intends to _______ by writing the passage.?
A．warn peers to separate from each other?
B．tell peers to follow others?
C．show it is hard to walk away from peer pressure?
D．persuade peers to do what they think is the right thing??

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A recent study conducted by the Pine Street Foundation showed that a dog’s nose may have the ability to detect cancer. A dog’s nose, which was the “medical device” used as part of the research, is believed to be among the world’s most powerful olfactory(嗅覺的) sensors. The study was conducted with 169 subjects 55 of which had been diagnosed as having lung cancer, 31 have breast cancer and 83 control subjects——people without cancer. During the study, five professionally trained scent dogs were used to distinguish between the breath samples of cancer patients and those who were healthy. With an average of 90% accuracy, the research was deemed a success.
The Pine Street Foundation conducted its research on the belief that cancer cells give off a different type of metabolic(新陳代謝) waste product than normal cells. According to the study, the difference is so great that it can be detected by a dog’s sense of smell, including both early and late stages of the disease.
In the conclusion of the study the Pine Street Foundation said that even ordinary dogs may be trained to identify the presence of cancer with only a breath sample. The organization also said that dogs can recognize the disease with astonishing amount accuracy and, finally, that the dog’s detection was not hindered(妨礙) by the presence of age, smoking or stage of cancer.
The Pine Street Foundation plans to continue their research and is currently seeking funding to launch new studies.
小題1:If we want to add several different detecting examples to the passage, we should write them
__________.
A．between paragraph 1 and paragraph 2B．between paragraph 2 and paragraph 3
C．between paragraph 3 and paragraph 4D．before paragraph 1 or after paragraph 4
小題2:The best title for this passage might be ______.
A．Dogs may smell cancerB．Why dogs can smell cancer
C．A Study on dogs’ special abilityD．A study on breast cancer
小題3:Dogs can smell cancer because ____________.
A．they can detect faster than manB．their sense of smell is very sensitive
C．dogs metabolize the food slowlyD．patients give off bad smell
小題4:People can know from the passage _________.
A．a(chǎn)ll dogs can be used to smell cancer
B．it’s not easy to find out cancer in the early stage
C．most of the research experiments are successful
D．dogs detect cancer by breathing and feeling

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案