[单项选择]Ricci is compared to Columbus in the passage mainly because


A. they both benefited from Italian sponsors.
B. they were explorers in their own ways.
C. they obtained overseas sponsorship.
D. they got a warm reception in America.

[单项选择]Ricci is compared to Columbus in the passage mainly because _____.


A. they both benefited from Italian sponsors.
B. they were explorers in their own ways.
C. they obtained overseas sponsorship.
D. they got a warm reception in America.

[单项选择]

TEXT C
Ricci’s "Operation Columbus"
Ricci, 45, is now striking out on perhaps ills boldest venture yet. He plans to market an English-language edition of his elegant monthly art magazine, FMR, in the United States. Once again the skeptics are murmuring that the successful Ricci has headed for a big fall. And once again Ricci intends to prove them wrong.
Ricci is so confident that he has christened. his quest "Operation Columbus" and has set his sights on discovering an American readership of 300,000.’That goal may not be too far-fetched. The Italian edition of FMR--the initials, of course, stand for Franco Maria Ricci--is only 18 months old. But it is already the second largest alt magazine in the world, with a circulation of 65,000 and a profit margin of US’500, 000. The American edition will be patterned after the Italian version, with each 160-page issue carrying only 40 pages of ads and no more tha
A. boost Americans’ confidence in their art.
B. follow the pattern set by his Italian edition.
C. help Italians understand American art better.
D. expand the readership of his magazin

[单项选择]According to the passage, as compared with televised speeches, traditional political discourse was more successful at ______.

[单项选择]According to the passage, compared with other EU countries,______.


A. Britain has done a better job in the operation of its health system
B. Britain has done a poorer job in the operation of its health system
C. Britain has achieved little in the operation of its health system
D. British people are favorable to the operation of the health system

[单项选择]

Passage Two
Compared with the robot, the human worker is undoubtedly superior. He is capable of performing a wider variety of work.
Moreover, he is able to adapt his working pattern in order to cope with changing situations which the robot cannot do. On the other hand, the human worker is relatively weak and cannot tolerate work in extreme conditions such as extremely high or low temperatures.
Consequently, we find humans and robots working together in many areas of work. Robots are used to perform dangerous tasks so that their human operators need not risk their lives. To handle harmful radioactive materials, such as uranium (铀), robots in the form of machined arms are used so the human operators can stay from the fatal rays.
Another advantage of the robot is that it never complains about long working hours or that it is boring. It works around the clock and performs equally well in any situation. It needs little servicing and absolutely no
A. robots never complain about the tiring work
B. the management can pay little and benefit a lot
C. it is dangerous for humans to do some harmful work
D. they have their own weaknesses and advantages