When someone says , “Well , I guess I’ll have to go to face the music,” It doesn’t mean he is planning to go to a concert . It is something far less pleasant , like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this or that , and why you did not do this or that . Sour （刺耳）music , indeed , but it has to be faced .
The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American , young and old . It is at least 100 years old . Where did the expression come from ?
The first information comes from the American writer James Fenimore Cooper . He said—in 1851—that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings （侧）to go on stage . After they got their clue（暗示）to go on , they often said , “It’s time to go to face the music.” And that is exactly what they did —face the orchestra（管弦乐队）which was just below the stage .
An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly or perhaps unfriendly , especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out .
So, “to face the music” came to mean : having to go through something , no matter how unpleasant the experience might be , because you knew you had no choice .
The other explanation comes from the army . Men had to face inspection（检阅）by their leader . The soldiers worried about how well they looked . Was their equipment clean—shiny enough to pass inspection ? Still , the men had to go out , and face the music of the band , as well as the inspection . What else could they do ?
1．The phrase “to face the music” was first used by______________.
A．all the Americans
B．the American writer James Fenimore Cooper
C．American actors
D．the American orchestra
2．An actor might feel frightened or nervous when going on stage .One of the reasons is that ______________.
A．his performance might not satisfy most of the audience
B．he might not remember what he should say on stage
C．he had to face the unfriendly audience
D．the audience might be mostly his friends
3． “To face the music” is also used to mean that soldiers were not willing______________.
A．to be examined about their equipment
B．to be found weak
C．to show themselves by their leader
D．to be inspected by their leader
4．This passage is mainly about______________.
A．the meaning of the phrase “to face the music”
B．how to deal with something unpleasant
C．the origin（起源）of the phrase
D．how to go through difficulty
However urban life strikes you, cities worldwide have been growing ever more rapidly. Some of this growth has occurred in the developed world, but the most dramatic increase has been in the Third World. Almost all the world’s population growth over the next 30 years will take place in the cities of developing countries.
By the year 2030, for the first time in history, 60 percent of the world’s people will be living in cities.
This is actually good news in some ways. “Cities are the fundamental building blocks of prosperity（繁荣）,” says Marc Weiss, chairman of the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development, “both for the nation and for families.” Industrial and commercial activities in urban areas account for between 50 and 80 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most countries of the world “there’s the crazy notion that the way to deal with a city’s problems is to keep people out of them,” Weiss continued. “But the problems of the rural life are even more serious than those of the city.” For better or worse, urban-watchers are clear on one point: The quality of life for most people in the future will be determined by the quality of cities. Those cities will be bigger than ever. And yet, population numbers by themselves don’t determine a city’s prospects; after all, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Hamburg, Germany, have the same population. Nor is explosive growth necessarily the determining factor. “City problems,” one authority points out, “mostly have to do with weak, ineffective, and usually unrepresentative city governments.”According to the passage, in the year of 2030 _______.
| A．rural area will be extinct |
| B．most people will live in cities |
| C．there will be 21 cities having a population of more than 10 million |
| D．the third world will keep abreast with the developed world |
In the author’s opinion, _________.
| A．better city, better life |
| B．both urban and rural areas have a larger population |
| C．the larger population, the faster a city develops |
| D．both urban and rural areas have larger gross domestic products |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Cities contribute more to the GDP than the villagers. |
| B．Some problems are more easily solved in cities than in country. |
| C．The developing countries develop faster than the developed countries. |
| D．It’s impossible to solve urban problems by getting people out of cities. |
The last paragraph implies that ____________.
| A．Public services are ineffective |
| B．Cities are increasing too fast |
| C．Population is not linked with development |
| D．Government should be responsible for the problems in the cities |
Glynis Davis:
I first piled on the pounds when I was in the family way and I couldn’t lose them afterwards. Then I joined a slimming club. My target was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I’d lose the weight at slimming classes in the new year… but it didn’t happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I’d lost willpower and tried to believe that the old bag of fish and chips didn’t make any difference — but the scales don’t lie.
Roz Juma:
To be honest, I never weigh myself any more. I’ve learnt to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that I would feel sorry about every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn’t be too much thinking about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super thin body. This is obviously the size I’m meant to be and, most of all, I’m happy with it.
Lesley Codwin:
I was very happy at winning Young Slimmer of the year. I’d look in the mirror unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem — perhaps from then on I didn’t pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though. Because you feel the eyes of the world are fixed upon you. I feel a complete failure because I’ve put on weight again.
Ros Langfod:
Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I’d always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant housework went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every so often I try to go on a diet… I’m really good in a few days, then end up having the children’s leftovers or eating happily chocolate — my weakness. I’d like to be slim, but right now my duty is the children and home. I might take more exercise when my kids are older. What do you think the four women were talking about?
| A．Different diets they prefer. |
| B．Their life after marriage. |
| C．Tex books for students. |
| D．Their own slimming matter. |
Where are these short passages most likely to be taken from?
| A．Talks on the air. |
| B．Advertisements on the wall. |
| C．Books in a library. |
| D．Magazines for children. |
What does the underlined word “scales” possibly mean?
| A．The coach in the slimming club. |
| B．Some tool to measure weight. |
| C．Glynis Davis’ dear husband. |
| D．The salesperson in a food shop. |
Which of the following best describes each of the four women’s attitudes towards slimming?
① Glynis Davis a. I put on weight soon after I got married.
② Roz Juma b. Frame doesn’t necessarily mean success.
③ Lesley Codwin c. Facts speak much louder than words.
④ Ros Langfod d. I like myself as I am, and to be what you are.
| A．①-a; ②-d; ③-b; ④-c | B．①-c; ②-b; ③-d; ④-a |
| C．①-c; ②-d; ③-b; ④-a | D．①-a; ②-b; ③-c; ④-d |
The Rolls Royce logo consisting of the two Rs clearly stands for Rolls and Royce, the two founders of this car manufacturing company.
In 1884 Frederick Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business. He made his first car, a “Royce”, in his Manchester factory in 1904. He was introduced to Charles Steward Rolls in a Manchester hotel on May 4 that year, and the pair agreed a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold by Rolls. A clause (条款) was added to the contract, saying the cars would be called “Rolls Royce”.
The current Toyota logo consists of three ovals: the two perpendicular (成直角的) ovals represent a relationship of trust between the customer and Toyota. These ovals combine to symbolize the letter “T” for Toyota. The space in the background implies a global expansion of Toyota’s technology and unlimited potential for the future.
The Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) is a South Korean company manufacturing automobiles. Their automobiles are available in many countries around the globe. In 2003 it was South Korea’s largest car maker and the world’s seventh largest car maker. The Hyundai logo appears to be an H (symbolizing Hyundai). The oval shape indicates the company’s global expansion and the “H” is symbolic of two people (specifically the company and customer) shaking hands.
The Mercedes-Benz logo represents one of the most famous brands in the world. The Benz logo is a three-pointed star that represents its domination of the land, the sea, and the air. The famous three-pointed star was designed by Gottlieb Daimler to show the ability of his motor for land, air and sea usage. It was first seen on a Daimler in 1909 and was combined with the Benz laurel wreath (桂冠) in 1926 to symbolize the union of the two firms. Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s oldest automobile manufacturers.Which company’s logo is a symbol of two people shaking hands?
| A．Rolls Royce’s. | B．Toyota’s. | C．Hyundai’s. | D．Mercedes-Benz’s |
According to the text, _______________.
| A．Rolls Royce was founded in 1884 |
| B．Mercedes-Benz originally produced motors |
| C．Toyota is having difficulty expanding its technology |
| D．Hyundai has the same long history as Mercedes-Benz |
Which company’s logo stands for both the manufacturer and the seller?
| A．Rolls Royce’s. | B．Toyota’s. | C．Hyundai’s. | D．Mercedes-Benz’s. |
We can learn from the text that ______.
| A．the ovals in the logos have the same meaning |
| B．Hyundai is South Korea’s seventh largest car maker |
| C．the three-pointed star of the Mercedes-Benz logo was first seen in 1926 |
| D．the Mercedes-Benz logo is a symbol of the combination of two companies |
After successfully serving their terms for 4 years, military service men and women are given the choice to stay in the military or return to civilian life.
For some, having to readjust to civilian life is one of the most challenging assignments our returning soldiers and marines（水兵）will ever to undertake. While people may think readjusting should be simple, they must take into consideration all physical and mental stress our servicemen went through.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder（创伤后应急障碍）, or PTSD, is a mental disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat（打仗）.
Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. In the military, the marines are given a two-week course on how to return to civilian life.
Unfortunately, some will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individual may develop PTSD.
People who suffer from PTSD have difficulty sleeping because they are often reliving the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, and feel deserted or often stand off, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly damage the person’s daily life.
Fullerton College, like most colleges, has its own Veteran’s Office. Ray Bustos has been running the office for 3 years. Bustos acts as a liaison（联络）for the school and the veteran（老兵）students. He makes sure the veterans returning to school get the right benefits. There are various types of financial aid for soldiers and marines. He strongly encourages the use of the Veteran Affairs website.
The website is very informative and extremely helpful for veterans as well as for friends and relatives of veterans who want to learn more.One purpose of the writer in writing the passage is ________________.
| A．to introduce some methods to cure PTSD |
| B．to instruct PTSD patients to return to civilian life |
| C．to recommend a website to veterans and people concerned |
| D．to give military service men and women advice on civilian life |
What problems will some returning soldiers and marines meet with?
| A．How to readjust to civilian life. |
| B．How to get rid of mental diseases. |
| C．How to get along with PTSD patients. |
| D．How to return to school for benefits. |
Which of the following is true about Ray Bustos?
| A．He runs Fullerton College with a veteran office. |
| B．He’s in charge of an office dealing with veteran affairs. |
| C．He provides a lot of financial aid for soldiers and marines. |
| D．He’s a veteran who has just come back from a military combat. |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．PTSD: Killer of A Civilian Life |
| B．The Last Assignment for All Military Persons |
| C．How to Overcome PTSD |
| D．Ready for a Civilian Life? |
Little Robby, our neighbour’s nephew, carefully drew some water into a bowl and started for the door. How I hated this water rationing (定量供应). We were forced to bathe in the deep little pond we shared with Jessie, our cow. Wells were dry, and crops transformed to dust.
I watched Robby sitting down onto the steps to my house. Bees buzzed circling his hair, and he buzzed with them. I remembered his aunt’s words: I don’t know what I was thinking when I took him in. The crash killed my sister, and he wasn’t hurt, but he can’t talk. He’s in a world of all his own.
Why couldn’t she see the wonderful gifts this boy possessed? He was blessed with a loving nature and a deep admiration for all living things, and I knew he could talk to animals. My heart ached for Robby, who was to stay with us for the summer, and had already been the dearest part of our world, eagerly tending the garden with me and my husband, Tom.
On a string around Robby’s neck hung a whistle, in case he was ever lost or in danger. After all, he could not call out for help. But he knew perfectly well that the whistle was not a toy. Blowing on it would bring us both running. I had told him the story of the boy who cried wolf, and I knew he understood me.
I sighed as I cleared up the last supper dish. Every ounce of recycled water was saved for a tiny vegetable garden Robby had planted. Tom turned to me. “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about...”
Before he could continue, a scream from the yard made us jump. My God! It’s Robby’s whistle! When we reached him, he was pointing excitedly to the sky. Looking up, we saw the most magnificent sight: Rain Clouds! “Robby! Quick! We need all the pots and pans!”
Robby raced with me to the house. A drop of water fell on my pot and then another. Soon the yard was enveloped in soaking, glorious rain. We all stood with faces held upward to feel the comfort of it. Tom picked up Robby and danced about the pots, shouting and whooping, “Rain for Robby!” Tom swung about to show me Robby’s face: he was laughing right out loud, “W-W-Wobby’s!” “Wobby’s … wain … Mom,” giggling（咯咯地笑）, and stretching out one tiny hand in the shape of a cup to catch the rain.
I hugged them both, tears of joy mixing with the rain.The underlined phrase “the wonderful gifts” in the 3rd paragraph refers to Robby’s ______.
| A．love for nature and all living things |
| B．kindness to help others around |
| C．independence since his childhood |
| D．readiness to accept what happened to him |
It was because ______ that the author and her husband would run on hearing the whistle.
| A．it was going to rain |
| B．Robby often surprised us with his whistle |
| C．something bad might happen to Robby. |
| D．Robby might find something special |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Robby was old enough, but still couldn’t speak. |
| B．Robby’s aunt regretted bringing Robby home. |
| C．Robby didn’t accept the author and Tom as his parents. |
| D．Robby happened to find the rain cloud and was terrified. |
It can be concluded from the passage that ______.
| A．we should show mercy for the disabled children |
| B．every child has his own talent however young he is |
| C．children from poor families take responsibilities earlier |
| D．children’s sensitive hearts are worthy to be taken care of |
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