We are all busy taking about and using the Internet. But how many of us know the history of the Internet?

Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer networks didn’t work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way, computer network system would keep on working all the time.

At first the Internet was only used by the government (政府). But in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it, too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mails is more and more popular among students.

The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people’s life.

1.The Internet has a history of more than _________ years.

A．fifty

B．ten

C．forty

D．twenty

2.A new network system was set up to_______.

A．make computers cheaper

B．make itself keep on working all the time

C．break down the whole networks

D．make computers large and expensive

3. At first the Internet was only used by __________.

A．the government

B．universities

C．hospital and banks

D．schools

4. ________ made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

A．Computers

B．Scientists

C．Software

D．Information

5. Which of the following sentences is true?

A．In the 1960s, computer networks worked well

B．In the early 1970s, the Internet was easy to use.

C．Sending e-mails is more popular among students than before.

D．Today it is still not easy to get on-line.

 

Computers can injure you. Most other injuries happen suddenly. For example, if you fall off a bike and break your arms, it happens very quickly. But computer injuries slowly.
　 You probably know how to ride a bike safely. Now learn to use a computer safely.
Your eyes
　 Too much light can injure your eyes, so never sit too close to a computer screen. Your eyes should be at least 50 centimeters from the screen. Remember to look away from it sometimes. This gives your eyes a rest.
　 When you use a computer, the window should be on your left or your right. If it is behind you, the light will reflect on (反射) the screen. If the window is in front of you, the sun and the screen will both shine into your eyes.
Your hands and wrists (手腕)
　　Hand and wrist injuries can happen because the hands and wrists are moved in the same way hundreds of times. If you use a keyboard for a long time, follow these three rules: 1) Rest your wrists on something. 2) Keep your elbows (肘部） at the same height as the keyboard. 3) Stop something and exercise your hands, wrists and fingers in a different way.
Your back
　　Some people sit for many hours in front of a computer. If you sit in the wrong way, you can injure your back or your neck. So you should sit with your back straight. The top part of the screen should all be in front of your eyes. Your forearms（前臂）, wrists, hands and the upper（上部） part of your legs should all be parallel (平行) to the floor. If you are sitting for a long time, get up every 30 minutes and exercise your arms, legs and necks.
　 Enjoy your computer, but use it safely.
【小题1】A computer screen may injure your eyes if __________.

A．you sit 60 centimeters away

B．you remember to look away

C．your eyes are too close to it

D．the window is on your left or your right

【小题2】Hand and wrist injuries are caused when you _________.

A．get plenty of exercise

B．move in the same way again and again

C．rest your wrists on something

D．keep your elbows as high as the keyboard

【小题3】Your eyes and hands will be safe if __________.

A．you work near a window

B．you often take a rest from working

C．you use a keyboard for a long time

D．the window is behind you

【小题4】It is good for your back and neck if you sit __________.

A．in the right way

B．for many hours

C．with the screen below your eyes

D．with your back leaning forward

【小题5】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How to protect your eyes

B．How to protect your hands and wrists

C．How to use a computer safely

D．How to protect your back

Twenty-three-year-old Michael Phelps has become a phenomenon (神话) in swimming.

At the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, he won eight gold medals. That was more than the whole Australian team could put together. He beat (打败) Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven wins in the pool at the one Olympics. Phelps has put his name next to seven world records.

Nine days, 17 games, morning and night he competed and won. He had to beat former (从前的) world record-holders and gold medalists. He had to turn their wins into old news.

Michael Phelps started to swim at the age of 5. Guess which stroke (动作) he first tried? The backstroke. It’s because he didn’t want to put his face in the water.

By the age of 7, he had taken part in a lot of swimming competitions. At 11, he met Bob Bowman who saw the kid’s great talent.

How did Phelps become so good? He was born with the body of a swimmer. He stands 1.87meters high and has a wide wingspan (臂展). He knows how to use his body to full advantage. His hands and feet are like paddles (踏板) in the water and he has a strong kick.

But that’s not all；he also has the heart and will to win. He thinks that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.

Swimming is Phelps’ life. Every day he spends five hours in the water, swimming about 11 kilometers. He never takes a day off. This is a young man who knows what he wants.

“If I didn’t swim my best, I’d think about it at school, at dinner, and with my friends. It would drive me crazy,” he said.

“There are no limits (限制). The more you dream, the further you get.”

1.Who did best in swimming at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games?

A．Bob Bowman.                          B．Mark Spitz.

C．Phelps.                               D．The Australian team.

2.How many games did Phelps take part in at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games?

A．8.               B．9.                C．7.               D．17.

3.Why did Phelps try backstroke first?

A．Because he was born with the body of a swimmer.

B．Because his hands and feet were like paddles in the water.

C．Because he didn’t want to put his face in the water.

D．Because he had a wide wingspan.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Phelps is the best swimmer in Australia.

B．It was Mark Spitz who saw the kid’s great talent.

C．Phelps won 8 gold medals and broke 7 world records.

D．At the age of seven, Phelps started to swim.

5.What can we learn from this passage?

A．The Australian team got 8 gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

B．If you have a wide wingspan, you must be a good swimmer.

C．Phelps was made to spend all his time swimming every day.

D．Nothing is impossible if you put your heart into it.

 

Did you notice the number on the book in a library? That number is part of the system used by libraries to organize their collections of books. And it’s used in many countries. The number on each book tells you exactly what kind of book it is. This system is also useful for knowing where to go in the library to find a book.

In this system, there are ten large groups of books. Each of these groups has its own number, such as 100, 200, etc. So, for example, any books about language will have a number 400. On the other hand, any books about history will have a number 900. So, a number in the hundreds place tells you what general group a book is in. If you find a book that has a number in the 500s, you know it is a book about science.

However, science is a big group, so the tens place is used to make a more detailed set of science books. For example, math books are included in the group of science books. Math books all have numbers between 510 and 519. Books about the history of Africa have numbers between 960 and 969.

The system uses the ones place to give a more exact limit for the subject of a book. A book on the history of South Africa will have the number 968.

As you can see, it is a simple system to use as long as you understand what the numbers mean. With this system, the library can keep its books well organized, and people can easily find the book that they want.

1.The reading is about       .

   A. libraries

B. working in a library

   C. how numbers are organized

D. how books are organized in libraries

2.The number system is NOT used to       .

   A. find where a book is 

B. tell you the title of a book

   C. tell you what kind of book a book is        

D. organize the collections of books in libraries

3.According to the reading, which sentence is TRUE?

   A. The number on a book can’t be bigger than 900.

   B. There are ten big groups for books in this system.

   C. History books can have any number between 500 and 900.

   D. This system uses both numbers and letters for some books.

4.A book about math can be found in the same group of books as       .

   A. reference books   B. school books     C. science books   D. art books

5.Which two numbers would indicate a book about language and a book about science?

   A. 439 and 493       B. 439 and 568      C. 530 and 560     D. 563 and 436

 

 

Are you looking for something fun and would you like to help others in your free time? Then join us to be a volunteer! We’re a non-profit organization. We have volunteer jobs of all ages. Anyone, from twelve-year-old children to seventy –year-old people can become a volunteer.

You can help people in many ways. Schools need help with taking care of children while parents are working. Hospitals need volunteers to look after children while their parents are seeing a doctor. Animal lovers can help take care of those dogs and cats without homes. There is something for everyone.

“As a volunteer, I don’t want to get anything. Seeing the children’s happy faces, I’m happy, too.” said Carlos Green, an old woman of 62. “I often played computer games in my free time before. Now I help older people learn how to use computers,” said another volunteer at the age of 18.

   If everyone helps out a little, we’ll have a better world to live in. Interested? Call us at 010-800-555-5756 or visit our website: www.activol.com.

1.              can be a volunteer.

A. Children        B. Old women      C. Anyone aged 12-70   D. Young people

2. Carlos Green does volunteer work for           .

A. animals         B. children         C. computers         D. older people

3.The passage may be from             .

A. a newspaper      B. a story book    C. a picture book       D. a textbook