Silicon Valley is a magnet to which numerous talented engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs from overseas flock to in search of fame, fast money and to participate in a technological revolution whose impact on mankind will surely surpass the epoch-making European Renaissance and Industrial Revolution of the bygone age.
With the rapid spread of the Internet and the relentless technological innovations generated through it, the information era is truly upon us, profoundly influencing and changing not only our lifestyle, but also the way we work, do business, think and communicate with others.
It is noteworthy that close to 50% of its skilled manpower, including engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs, come from Asia. Prominent among them are Indians and Chinese, and not a few Singaporeans.
Intellectual challenges aside, it is a common practice for start-ups to offer generous share options to employees in order to attract the right talent into their folds. This is a powerful incentive to motivate the staff to do their utmost and to share in the company's prosperity if it reaches its goal. Many regard this as the foundation of a successful enterprise.（184 words）
1. Why is Silicon Valley compared with a magnet? Because
A. it is very famous.
B. it attracted numerous talented people.
C. numerous talented people flock to it.
D. its impact will surpass European Renaissance and Industrial Revolution.
2. What does “it” in 2nd paragraph refer to?
A. the Internet
B. the rapid spread of the Internet
C. the information era
D. our lifestyle
3. What does “its” in 2nd paragraph mean??
A. Silicon Valley’s
B. the Internet’s
C. Asia’s
D. America’s
4. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the common practice for start-ups?
A. Intellectual challenges.
B. Generous share options.
C. Sharing in the company's prosperity.
D. A successful enterprise.
5. The main idea of the passage is
A. Silicon Valley’s success
B. the information era upon us
C. Intellectual challenges
D. practice of successful enterprise
参考答案：BAADA
To paraphrase 18th-century statesman Edmund Burke, "all that is needed for the triumph of a misguided cause is that good people do nothing." One such cause now seeks to end biomedical research because of the theory that animals have rights ruling out their use in research. Scientists need to respond forcefully to animal rights advocates, whose arguments are confusing the public and thereby threatening advances in health knowledge and care. Leaders of the animal rights movement target biomedical research because it depends on public funding, and few people understand the process of health care research. Hearing allegations of cruelty to animals in research settings, many are perplexed that anyone would deliberately harm an animal.
For example, a grandmotherly woman staffing an animal rights booth at a recent street fair was distributing a brochure that encouraged readers not to use anything that opposed immunizations, she wanted to know if vaccines come from animal research. When assured that they do, she replied, "Then 1 would have to say yes." Asked what will happen when epidemics return, she said, "Don't worry, scientists will find some way of using computers." Such well-meaning people just don't understand.
Scientists must communicate their message to the public in a compassionate, understandable wayin human terms, not in the language of molecular biology. We need to make clear the connection between animal research and a grandmother's hip replacement, a father's bypass operation, a baby's vaccinations, and even a pet's shots. To those who are unaware that animal research was needed to produce these treatments, as well as new treatments and vaccines, animal research seems wasteful at best and cruel at worst.
Much can be done. Scientists could "adopt" middle school classes and present their own research. They should be quick to respond to letters to the editor, lest animal rights misinformation go unchallenged and acquire a deceptive appearance of truth. Research institutions could be opened to tours, to show that laboratory animals receive humane care.
Finally, because the ultimate stakeholders are patients, the health research community should actively recruit to its cause not only well-known personalities such as Stephen Cooper, who has made courageous statements about the value of animal research, but all who receive medical treatment. If good people do nothing there is a real possibility that an uninformed citizenry will extinguish the precious embers of medical progress.
1. The author begins his article with Edmund Burke's words to .
A. call on scientists to take some actions
B. criticize the misguided cause of animal rights
C. warn of the doom of biomedical research
D. show the triumph of the animal rights movement
2. Misled people tend to think that using an animal in research is .
A. cruel but natural
B. inhuman and unacceptable
C. inevitable but vicious
D. pointless and wasteful
3. The example of the grandmotherly woman is used to show the public's .
A. discontent with animal research
B. ignorance about medical science
C. indifference to epidemics
D. anxiety about animal rights
4. The author believes that, in face of the challenge from animal rights advocates, scientists should .
A. communicate more with the public
B. employ hi-tech means in research
C. feel no shame for their cause
D. strive to develop new cures
5. From the text we learn that Stephen Cooper is -
A. a well-known humanist
B. a medical practitioner
C. an enthusiast in animal rights
D. a supporter of animal research
参考答案：ABBAD
