Highways in the United States

The United States is well-known for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. __1__ these wide modern roads are generally __2__ and well maintained, with few sharp curves and __3__ straight sections, a direct route is not always the most __4__ one. Large highways often pass __5__ scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally __6__ large urban centers which means that they become crowded with __7__ traffic during rush hours, __8__ the "fast, direct" way becomes a very slow route. However, there is almost always another route to __9__ if you are not in a hurry. Not for from the relatively new "superhighways", there are often older, __10__ heavily traveled roads which go through the countryside. __11__ are good lane roads; others are uneven roads curving __12__ the country. These secondary routes may go up steep slopes, along hilly cliffs or down frightening hillsides to towns __13__ in deep valleys. Though these are less __14__ routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places __15__ the air is clean and the scenery is beautiful, and the driver may have a chance to get a fresh, clean view of the world.

1.

A) Although

B) But

C) Since

D) Because

2.

A) uneven

B) bumpy

C) rough

D) smooth

3.

A) little

B) much

C) many

D) few

4.

A) terrible

B) horrible

C) tolerable

D) enjoyable

5.

A) to

B) into

C) at

D) by

6.

A) merge

B) connect

C) combine

D) mix

7.

A) busy

B) small

C) large

D) heavy

8.

A) when

B) where

C) which

D) that

9.

A) walk

B) go

C) take

D) fix

10.

A) more

B) less

C) very

D) extremely

11.

A) All of these

B) None of these

C) All roads

D) Some of these

12.

A) out of

B) out

C) through

D) from

13.

A) lying

B) lie

C) lies

D) lay

14.

A) direct

B) indirect

C) enjoyable

D) beautiful

15.

A) these

B) which

C) that

D) where

Mad Scientist Stereotype OutdatedDo people still imagine a physicist as a beardedman in glasses or has the image of the mad scientist changed? The Institute ofPhysics set out to find out whether the stereotype of a physics 'boffin' (科学家)still exists by conducting asurvey on shoppers in London. The people were asked to identify the physicistfrom a photograph of a line-up of possible suspects. 98 percent of those askedgot it wrong. The majority of people picked a white male of around 60, wearingglasses and with a white beard.
While this stereotype mayhave been the image of an average physicist fifty years ago, the reality is nowvery different. Since 1960 the number of young women entering physics hasdoubled and the average age of a physicist is now 31.
The stereotype of theabsent-minded scientist has lasted a long time because the media and Hollywoodhelp promote the image of men in white lab coats with glasses sitting byblackboards full of equations(等式)or working withfizzing (嘶嘶响)test tubes. These stereotypes are reallydamaging to society. Very good school children are put off studying sciencebecause they don't see people like themselves on television or in magazinesdoing science. They simply don't relate to the media's image of the madscientist.
This is one reason why feweryoung people are choosing to do science at university. If we want to encouragemore young people to study science subjects, we need to change this image ofthe scientist and make science careers more attractive. But we must alsodevelop children's interest in science.
In an attempt to change thisnegative image, an increasing number of science festivals are being organized.Thousands of people from secondary schools are also encouraged to take part innationwide science competitions of which the most popular are the nationalscience Olympiads. Winning national teams then get the opportunity to take partin the International Science Olympiads which are held in a different countryevery year. These events are all interesting for the young people who take partbut they only involve a small proportion of students who are already interestedin science. It seems that there is a long way to go before science becomesattractive as subjects like computer studies or fashion and design.
1 Most people have similarideas of what a physicist looks like.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
2 The majority of physicistsin Britain today are Cambridge graduates
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
3 The media and the cinemahave played a role in promoting the image of the mad scientist.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
4 There will be more womenscientists than men scientists in. the future
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
5 More children will studyscience if it becomes more attractive.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
6 The image of the madscientist is really encouraging to society.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned
7 The International ScienceOlympiads are held once every two years.
A Right
B Wrong
C Not mentioned