完形填空

    Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a1in a cotton mill (纱厂), but he was often 2to work because of poor health. The family couldn't 3to pay the rent or bills, and the children often went4. After leaving school at the age of 14, Jack was 5what to do when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered to lend him ￡100 to start his own6.

    It was just after the war. Raw materials were not enough, and Jack saw a7in scrap metal(废弃金属). He bought bits of metal and stored it in an old garage. When he had built up a large amount, he sold it and8plenty of money.

    Jack9working hard. After one year he succeeded in10 the ￡100.

    By the time Jack was 30 years old he had11 his first million, and he wanted to12this achievement by doing something “13”. With all his money it was14to build a beautiful home for himself and his parents. In 1959, “Baines Castle” was built in the 15of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the country.

    Jack has recently sold “Baines Castle” for ￡500 million,16Jack still can't get used to 17the good life. He can 18be found drinking with the locals at the local pub(酒吧).

    “I remember being very19as a child, but never 20as a child,” says Jack, “and I will never forget where I came from and who I am.”

完形填空

    Jack Baines is a self-made millionaire, but his beginnings were very lowly. He was the youngest of eight children. His father had a1in a cotton mill (纱厂), but he was often 2to work because of poor health. The family couldn't 3to pay the rent or bills, and the children often went4. After leaving school at the age of 14, Jack was 5what to do when Mr Walker, his old teacher, offered to lend him ￡100 to start his own6.

    It was just after the war. Raw materials were not enough, and Jack saw a7in scrap metal(废弃金属). He bought bits of metal and stored it in an old garage. When he had built up a large amount, he sold it and8plenty of money.

    Jack9working hard. After one year he succeeded in10 the ￡100.

    By the time Jack was 30 years old he had11 his first million, and he wanted to12this achievement by doing something “13”. With all his money it was14to build a beautiful home for himself and his parents. In 1959, “Baines Castle” was built in the 15of the Lancashire countryside. It was one of the finest buildings in the country.

    Jack has recently sold “Baines Castle” for ￡500 million,16Jack still can't get used to 17the good life. He can 18be found drinking with the locals at the local pub(酒吧).

    “I remember being very19as a child, but never 20as a child,” says Jack, “and I will never forget where I came from and who I am.”

阅读理解

    Japan's youth are losing interest in science and as a result, threatening the nation's industrial progress. According to Japan Science and Technology Agency, young Japanese are surrounded by high-tech devices(设备), but are not interested in how they work.

    Japanese businesses have succeeded partly because they've a great many engineers. A drop in interest could lead to a decline(减少) in their numbers and quality. "In the past, the young had a big interest in science and technology," said Hirano, director of the agency's policy department.

    There are two main reasons for the problem. The first is known as "black box syndrome" of modern technology.

    Electronic devices depend on tiny silicon chips（芯片）, which can only be made in big factories, whose workings can't be seen by the eyes. The devices, unlike machines of the past driven by gears and wheels, are simply boxes.

    Young Japanese, brought up on video games and at home with computers, enjoy using modern technology, but this is a passive interest and different from the interest in how things work. "You need an active interest to get interested in science. This is declining in the young," said Hirano.

    About two-thirds of Japanese in their 20s use PCs, twice the number of those in their 50s. But only 40% of those in their 20s say they are interested in news about science and technology, compared to 60% of the 50 to 60 year olds.

    "Another reason for it is that life in modern Japan is too comfortable," he said. "A wealthy society reduces people's desire to modernize and develop their country. To a degree, you can't avoid this when the fruits of science and technology are fully developed." Similarly, science in Europe and the US has also suffered a lack of interest.

阅读理解

    Japan's youth are losing interest in science and as a result, threatening the nation's industrial progress. According to Japan Science and Technology Agency, young Japanese are surrounded by high-tech devices(设备), but are not interested in how they work.

    Japanese businesses have succeeded partly because they've a great many engineers. A drop in interest could lead to a decline(减少) in their numbers and quality. "In the past, the young had a big interest in science and technology," said Hirano, director of the agency's policy department.

    There are two main reasons for the problem. The first is known as "black box syndrome" of modern technology.

    Electronic devices depend on tiny silicon chips（芯片）, which can only be made in big factories, whose workings can't be seen by the eyes. The devices, unlike machines of the past driven by gears and wheels, are simply boxes.

    Young Japanese, brought up on video games and at home with computers, enjoy using modern technology, but this is a passive interest and different from the interest in how things work. "You need an active interest to get interested in science. This is declining in the young," said Hirano.

    About two-thirds of Japanese in their 20s use PCs, twice the number of those in their 50s. But only 40% of those in their 20s say they are interested in news about science and technology, compared to 60% of the 50 to 60 year olds.

    "Another reason for it is that life in modern Japan is too comfortable," he said. "A wealthy society reduces people's desire to modernize and develop their country. To a degree, you can't avoid this when the fruits of science and technology are fully developed." Similarly, science in Europe and the US has also suffered a lack of interest.

F{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(幸运地), no one got injured in the accident.