Among the dead in South Asia’s tsunami① were many tourists at Sri Lanka’s national wildlife park at Yala. But very few of the park’s animals — elephants, buffaloes, monkeys and wild cats — appear to have died. There are theories that animals can sense natural disasters and flee to safety.
First, it’s possible that the animals may have heard the quake before the tsunami hit. The underwater rupture likely produced sound waves known as infrasound② or infrasonic sound. Humans can’t hear infrasound, but many animals including dogs, elephants, tigers and pigeons can.
A second early warning sign the animals might have sensed is ground vibration③. The massive quake would have produced vibrational waves known as Rayleigh waves. These vibrations move through the ground like waves move on the surface of the ocean but faster. They travel at ten times the speed of sound. The Rayleigh waves would have reached SriLanka hours before the water hit. Mammals, birds, insects and spiders can sense Rayleigh waves. So the animals at Yale might have felt the Rayleigh waves and then run to higher ground.
But what about humans? While we can’t hear infrasound, we can feel it, although we don’t necessarily know we’re feeling it. We also experience Rayleigh waves by special sensors in our joints, which exist just for that purpose. Sadly, it seems we don’t pay attention to the information when we get it. Maybe we screen it out because there’s so much going on before our eyes and in our ears. Humans have a lot of things on our minds and usually that works out OK.
Notes:
① tsunami n. 海啸
② infrasound n. 次声
③ vibration n. 振动，颤动
Choose the best answers according to the above: Why did few animals at Yala die when the tsunamis that caused a huge number of human deaths hit?
| A．Because the animals were staying at a higher place in the park. |
| B．Because the animals were able to run much faster than human beings. |
| C．Because human beings cannot hear the infrasonic sound. |
| D．Because the animals might have picked up the danger signals and ran away. |
Which of the statements about “Ravleigh waves” is true?
| A．Rayleigh waves are massive vibrational waves that usually cause quakes or tsunamis. |
| B．Rayleigh waves move on the ocean surface at a speed ten times that of sound waves. |
| C．Rayleigh waves can be felt both by animals and human beings. |
| D．Rayleigh waves, just like infrasonic sound, can only be felt by animals. |
When a tsunami hits, it is possible that＿＿＿＿.
| A．we can’t feel the infrasound so we can’t be informed of the danger |
| B．we can feel Rayleigh waves as well as infrasound so we are able to escape the danger like animals |
| C．we were so busy with things on our minds that we feel neither infrasound nor Rayleigh waves |
| D．we think nothing of the information of its coming even though we can also get it |
What does the underlined word “that” in the last sentence refer to?
| A．Screening out the information. |
| B．There being so much going on before our eyes and in our ears. |
| C．Having a lot of things on our minds. |
| D．Paying attention to the information. |
“The first and best of victories is for a man to conquer himself; to be conquered by himself is, of all things, the most shameful,” says Plato. Self-control is at the root of all the advantages. Let a man give in to his impulses and feelings, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom.
A single angry word has lost many a friend. When Socrates found in himself any temper or anger, he would check it by speaking low in order to control himself. If you are conscious of being angry, keep your mouth shut so that you can hold back rising anger. Many a person has dropped dead in great anger. Fits of anger bring fits of disease “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.” “Keep cool,” says George Herbert, “for fierceness makes error a fault.”
To be angry with a weak man is to prove that you are not strong your self. “Anger,” says Pythagoras, “bring with folly and ends with regret.” You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feelings he conquers, not by the power of those which conquer him.
Self-control is man’s last greatest victory.
If a man lacks self-control he seems to lack everything. Without it he can have no patience, no power to govern himself; he can have no self-confidence, for he will always be controlled by his strongest feeling. If he lacks self-control, the very backbone and nerve of character are lacking also.
5. What does the reader learn from the first paragraph ?
The greatest victory for a man is to conquer everything except himself.
One’s moral freedom is based on the control of himself.
To control oneself is the most difficult in one’s life.
If a person is too stubborn, he will feel most shameful.
6. What is the correct interpretation of “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad”?
If the gods want to kill you, they make you crazy first.
If you always lose your temper, you will soon be finished.
If you cannot control yourself, you will become crazy.
If you are mad, you will be punished by the gods.
7. If a man lacks self-control, he lacks all of the following EXCEPT _________.
the very backbone and nerve of character
the patience and power to control himself
strong feelings
self-confidence
8. The author’s main purpose in writing this article is to ___________.
explain that self-control is the key to success
teach people how to control everything in order to make a great success
distinguish all kinds of self-control and suggest ways for keeping it
advise people not to lose temper so as to make and keep more friends
Every year, on the International Volunteers Day, the world thinks highly of the work of millions of people who give their time to help others. The work they are doing is important. As Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations said“…each contribution—no matter how small—can help make a difference.” Lu Hao and Meng Yu are just two examples of the 13.5 million young Chinese Volunteers who want to make a contribution to society.
Lu Hao is a middle school student, who joined the “1 helps 1” scheme1 of the Youth Volunteer Community Development Project last year. Every Tuesday and Friday he visits an elderly gentleman who lives alone. “Mr. Zhao is weak and cannot do much for himself, so I help with shopping, do jobs in the house, or read the newspaper to him. With his help, Mr. Zhao’s health has improved, and he feels more energetic. Lu Hao has also found their relationship beneficial2. In the past history was his weakest subject, but it is one which greatly interests Mr. Zhao and they often discuss it. Mr. Zhao has encourages Lu Hao to study history lessons harder and his grades have improved a great deal.
Meng Yu is studying for her master’s degree in Canada. She has a busy timetable, but still finds time for voluntary activities during the weekends. “Last month I took part in an event to help starving children in some of the least developed countries. Twenty-two of us went without food for 30 hours! It was a challenge. We wanted to improve awareness3 of hunger because every day children are dying of starvation. It was a great success. The local newspaper and TV reported it and we received many money.” Meng Yu and her classmates organized this activity to raise money for a good cause, and in the process she formed strong friendships.
Lu Hao and Meng Yu are helping to make other people’s lives better, and they also make great friends, gain new skills and increase their chances of getting the job of their dreams. Would you like to make a difference by becoming a volunteer?
阅读短文，回答问题。According to the text, what is the reason why young people choose to do voluntary work?
_______________________________________________________________________________Lu Hao has chosen to volunteer on two evenings every week . How has Meng Yu chosen to give her time? Why has she made a different choice?
_______________________________________________________________________________What benefits has his voluntary work brought Lu Hao?
_______________________________________________________________________________What benefits did MengYu’s voluntary work bring the starving children?
_______________________________________________________________________________
The story goes that some time ago, a man had a very lovely little daughter. One day the man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became angry when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. But the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, Daddy.”
The man was embarrassed by his earlier act, but his anger broke out again when he found out the box was empty. He shouted at her, saying, “Don’t you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside?” The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, “Oh, Daddy, it’s not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They are all for you, Daddy.”
The father was ashamed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.
Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each one of us, as human beings, has been given a gold box filled with unconditional love and kisses… from our children, family members friends and God. There are simply no other things anyone could hold, more precious than this.
阅读短文，判断正（T）误（F）。The girl hated her father because her father punished her and was mean in money.
The story happened on Christmas Eve.
The girl’s father felt very regretful because he didn’t understand the love of her daughter and hurt her at first.
Sadly, the girl died from her self-respect being hurt.
Unconditional love and kisses from our beloved people are the most precious of all things.
Every day we meet people in a number of business and social situations. And the way we meet and greet them creates an impression. It’s important to do so in a proper way, no matter whether you are introducing yourself to someone, or introducing two people. To keep you aware of this, we have gathered tips on how to make a proper introduction.
◎Always stand when making an introduction.
When you are seated and someone comes up to greet you, make the effort to stand up. By doing this, you show respect for yourself and for the other person.
◎Always keep eye contact while making an introduction.
Many people are not aware of the value of this simple action. When you make eye contact, you are giving a confident image.
◎Always introduce a person of lesser authority to one of greater authority. The most important thing to remember is to say the most important person’s name first.
For example, when introducing your supervisor to a job candidate (求职应征者), you would give your supervisor’s name first. “Bob Jones, may I introduce Susan Lee, who has just graduated from ABC University?”
◎In a situation where rank is unimportant, an introduction is based on sex and age. A man is presented to a woman and a younger woman to an older woman.
What if you find yourself in a situation where you have forgotten the other person’s name? Start with a handshake and reintroduce (再介绍) yourself. When doing this, you will usually cause the other person to do the same.
However, if the other person does not take your suggestion, it is OK simply to apologize and let the person know that you cannot remember her or his name. This is not the ideal situation, of course, but it does happen to all of us. The other person should be forgiving.
The article gives you advice on ________.
| A．how to make a self-introduction |
| B．how to make a proper introduction |
| C．how to leave a good impression on people |
| D．how to greet people in social situations |
According to the passage, people will think you are ________ if you don’t make eye contact with them.
| A．not honest | B．not confident | C．shy | D．unfriendly |
What should you do when you introduce a new worker to your boss?
| A．You should not give your boss’ name. |
| B．You should give the new worker’s name first. |
| C．You needn’t give your boss’ name |
| D．You should give your boss’ name first |
If you forget the other person’s name, you’d better _______.
| A．ask him/her directly |
| B．apologize first and then ask him/her |
| C．shake hands with the person and reintroduce yourself |
| D．consider his age first |
1996 Production of the United States
Director: Charles Russell
Major Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger (As John Kruger)
Vanessa Williams (As Lee Cullen)
James Caan (As Robert Deguerin)
After Last Action Hero, Junior and True Lies have been warmly received by the whole world, the best known film actor Arnold Schwarzenegger once again stars as an unbeatable and witty tough man. Together with the pop star Vanessa Williams, he has made it among the 1996’s best movies as well as The Rock and Mission : Impossible. John Kruger, an agent for the Federal Witness Protection Program, is to protect Lee Cullen, an employee of the Cyrez Corporation. Cyrez is supposed to be developing technology for US defense, but they are secretly selling it to the Russian Mafia. Cullen has two computer disks as proof and she is willing to testify (作证). However the disks she gives to the Feds have disappeared and she herself is in danger. Kruger hides her in New York’s Chinatown. Robert Deguerin, Kruger’s director, turns out to be a spy for the Cyrez Corporation. He tries to cheat Kruger into taking them to Cullen. Kruger gets on the plane with Deguerin but gives him the wrong address. A gun battle is started and Kruger parachutes (跳伞) out of the plane. Kruger is reported to be a spy! He is forced to escape and finds Johnny and asks for his help. The three of them break into the Cyrez Corporation to read the disk. Deguerin and the others are waiting, but are outsmarted. In a shipyard of Baltimore, Deguerin and Kruger battle it out. The shipment is stopped and Kruger clears his name.
The film is directed by _____.
| A．Michael Bay | B．Brian De Palma | C．Charles Russell | D．Robert Deguerin |
According to the introduction, Arnold Schwarzenegger once took an important part in the film _________.
| A．The Rock | B．True Lies | C．Mission: Impossible | D．All the above |
The Cyrez Corporation is unlawful because ______.
it is developing technology for US defence.
It is secretly selling some disks to the Russian Mafia.
It is selling technology for US defence to others.
It is to protect witness for the Feds.
Kruger, Johnny and Cullen break into the Cyrez Corporation in order to ______.
| A．steal the lost disk | B．find out where Deguerin is |
| C．stop the shipment | D．find some necessary information from the disk |
What does the underlined word “outsmart” mean?
| A．fool | B．kill | C．catch | D．find |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号