Topping the class academically was certainly an advantage. For Nigel, studying was a piece of cake. The reward was certainly much bigger compared to the little effort Nigel had made. It all began when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories. And the peak of his school career came not when he topped the class but when he was selected for the nationwide competition.
Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join in the contest because he liked playing with the Lego sets(乐高积木) and making something out of them. Nigel spent two months building his robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the big prize for the competition as well as a competitive rival(对手), Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important th
an anything else. Nigel decided to make friends with Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing touches(收尾工作) to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot looked even better than Alicia's and it was able to play a ball with its arm, something Alicia had failed to do.
On the day of the competition, he saw Alicia. Everything became clear the minute she saw him among the competitors. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her.
The flashbulbs (闪光灯) of the camera exploded in Nigel's face. The robot had performed actions so unique and different that the specialists' judgments were the same. Nigel was so pleased with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never have won the competition. What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?
| A．He was offered a part-time job. | B．He was honored with a scholarship. |
| C．He helped his teachers build a robot. | D．He helped in the computer laboratories. |
Nigel's original intention of joining the contest was to ___ .
| A．win honor for his school | B．be the top student of the school |
| C．build a robot with the Lego sets | D．win the thousand-dollar prize |
Why did Nigel help Alicia finish her robot?
| A．He intended to help her. | B．He was fond of building robots. |
| C．He wanted to be her real friend. | D．He didn't want her to suspect (怀疑) him. |
What is the author's attitude towards Nigel's actions?
| A．Favorable | B．Critical (批评的) | C．Doubtful | D．Sympathetic |
| Café en Seine The wildly luxury (奢华) new art style of this huge bar has been a huge hit since it first opened in 1995, and while it may not be the “in” place it once was, it is still very popular with the after-work crowd and out-of-towners. Maybe it’s the glass frames, or the real 12m-high trees; but most likely it’s the beautiful people supporting the wood-and-marble bar. Good for: decoration, cocktails, amazing food and service Address: 40 Dawson St Transport: all city centre Phone: 01 677 4369 |
| Gravediggers (aka Kavanagh’s) The gravediggers from the neighboring Glasnevin Cemetery had a secret serving hatch (舱口) so that they could drink on the job – therefore the pub’s nickname. Founded in 1833 by one John Kavanagh and still in the family, this pub is one of the best in Ireland, almost unchanged in 150 years. In summer time the green of the square is full of drinkers bathing in the sun, while inside the hardened locals ensure that never a hint of sunshine disturbs some of the best Guinness in town. An absolute classic. Good for: Guinness, traditional pub, pub food Address: 1 Prospect Sq Glasnevin Transport: 13 from city centre Phone: 830 7978 |
| Davy Byrne’s James Joyce, an Irish author and a poet (1882-1941), would hardly recognize the bar that Leopold Bloom rushed into for a gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of wine in Ulysses. It doesn’t stop Davy Byrne’s from making the most of its Joyce’s connections, even though today's version is strictly for out-of-towners and the rugby crowd. Good for: socializing with the locals, tasty Irish food, watching TV Address: 21 Duke St Transport: all city centre Website: www.davybyrnes.com Phone: 01 677 5217 |
People choose Café en Seine most probably because they enjoy _____as well as its cocktails and service.
| A．its location | B．its decoration |
| C．its history | D．its environment |
“Guinness” in Gravediggers probably refers to ________.
| A．a kind of tea | B．the name of the boss |
| C．a kind of beer | D．the name of the town |
We can infer that Davy Byrne’s is ________.
| A．a newly-opened bar |
| B．an old-fashioned bar |
| C．a bar with a long history |
| D．a bar popular with foreigners |
What do Café en Seine and Davy Byrne’s have in common?
| A．Their represent the same architecture style. |
| B．They give the same description about transport. |
| C．They both serve cocktails and tasty Irish food |
| D．They are both popular with the rugby crowd. |
Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception.
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land. The place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk.
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit them every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle（喧闹）of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she reminisced.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me.
My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note. From the first paragraph, we know that the writer’s mother ________.
| A．left the small farm with Lord |
| B．passed away four years ago |
| C．left for Lord to live her own way |
| D．preferred to be with Lord |
The underlined word reminisced in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.
| A．shouted | B．comforted |
| C．recalled | D．sighed |
The writer didn’t like staying in the farm for the following reasons except that ________.
| A．she could only sing one song in the small farm |
| B．it was too cold and quiet |
| C．there was nothing more that could make her excited |
| D．the place was rustic, with no indoor plumbing or heat |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage? _______
| A．Cherish(珍惜) life | B．My happy childhood |
| C．Our small farmhouse | D．Mom’s music |
Only after the straight-talking repairman handed me the bill and waved goodbye did I finally acknowledge the painful truth: Our 20-year-old clothes dryer was not going to last.
I turned to my husband. “He says we’re throwing good money after bad,” I sighed. “I think he’s right.”
“When do you want to go shopping for a new one?” my husband asked.
I glanced out the window, admiring the sunlight dancing on the big-leaf maples（枫叶） in our backyard. Perfect drying weather. Suddenly, I recalled my mother hanging laundry on a clothesline during my childhood. My sister and I had played hide-and-seek among the sweet-smelling sheets waving in the wind.
I suddenly had a plan. After the wash cycle, we covered the maples with damp blue jeans, shirts, socks and towels. The only things that didn’t go outside were my underpants. And I persuaded my shameless husband to let his big boxer shorts(男式平角短裤) stay indoors, too.
There is a secret pleasure to hanging laundry outdoors. It is the perfect excuse to get up from the computer. While checking on the laundry in the backyard, I could commune(亲近) not only with cotton T-shirts, but also my cats. I could watch cautious deer run through the yard with their young, listen to nervous squirrels in trees and observe a family of wild turkeys by the road. I returned to my desk refreshed.
And, except for the sandpaper feel of sun-dried bath towels, the drying method was a complete success. When autumn came, I’d scan the horizon each day to evaluate the chances of sun-drying. One morning I saw rain clouds. I had a load of wet clothes in my arms and no place to put them.
I found my husband. Together we hung laundry throughout the house.
Then my husband gave me a hug and a smile. “I think it’s time to buy a dryer…” he said, “… like, today.”
“Good idea,” I said, just as the infamous Oregon rain started.
Our sun-dried laundry habit was finished for the season. Why did the author want to try sun-drying?
a. Her husband insisted.
b. She wanted to cut expenses.
c. Their dryer wasn’t working.
d. She had good childhood memories of using a clothesline.
| A．b c | B．c d | C．a c d | D．b c d |
What could the straight-talking repairman have said to the author?
| A．“Continue to use it even if it is old.” |
| B．“You should have taken better care of your dryer.” |
| C．“You shouldn’t have wasted money on repairing your dryer.” |
| D．“Just buy a new dryer even if it’s very expensive.” |
What was the biggest benefit that sun-drying brought to the author besides dry clothes?
| A．She loves sun-dried bath towels. |
| B．She felt healthier and closer to nature. |
| C．She could bathe in the sunshine, too. |
| D．It gave her a break from her housework. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
| A．The author has stopped sun-drying since autumn started. |
| B．The author later became fed up with the trouble of hanging up her clothes. |
| C．The author listened to weather reports every day when autumn came. |
| D．The author realized sun-drying was seasonal and thus had its disadvantages |
The World Health Organization has for the first time expressed “cautious optimism” that the growth in new Ebola cases in West Africa may be slowing down.
Bruce Aylward, who is in charge of the WHO response to Ebola, said in Geneva that he was particularly encouraged by evidence of a downward trend in Liberia, one of the three worst-affected countries.
The WHO’s official total number of Ebola cases has reached 13,703 – a big jump from the10,141 cases it reported four days ago. But Dr Aylward said that was mainly the result of the data being updated with old cases, rather than new cases arising.
“Do we feel confident that the response is now getting an upper hand on the virus? Yes, we are seeing a slowing rate of new cases, very definitely,” Dr Aylward said.
However, Dr Aylward also urged people not to celebrate pre-maturely over any apparent downturn in the epidemic (传染病). “I’m terrified that the information will be misunderstood and people will think Ebola is under control,” he said.
Any reduction in the battle against the virus might lead to “an oscillating(震荡的) pattern where the disease moves up and down”.
The improvement in Liberia seems to be due to a combination of more treatment facilities, better contact tracing and safer burial practices, together leading to fewer new infections from Ebola patients.
In Sierra Leone the number of cases continues to increase in some areas. “We’re still seeing this thing burning quite hot in parts of Sierra Leone,” Dr Aylward said
Tracing the progress of individual patients, the WHO estimates an overall death rate of 70 percent, though people who receive treatment in a well-equipped clinic are slightly less likely to die. The WHO plans to set up 56 Ebola clinics with 4,700 beds in West Africa. Of these 15 clinics with 1,050 beds are already operational and another 22 clinics are expected to open during November.
Meanwhile, two former NATO(北约) secretaries-general and dozens of leading European politicians have urged the alliance(盟国) to send troops, aircraft and ships to west Africa to help contain the Ebola crisis. In the first paragraph, “cautious optimism” probably refers to ______
| A．Ebola under control thanks to WHO’s caution |
| B．the decline of new Ebola cases though not defeated |
| C．celebrations on the downturn in Ebola in Liberia |
| D．More treatment and relief supplies to West Africa |
Why did Dr Aylward urge people not to celebrate prematurely?
| A．Because celebrations may increases infections. |
| B．Because the pattern of the disease is up and down. |
| C．Because people may be misled to stop the battle. |
| D．Because we are getting an upper hand on the virus. |
Which of the following didn’t contribute to the improvement in Liberia?
| A．better contact tracing |
| B．more treatment facilities |
| C．safer burial practices |
| D．data updated with old cases |
According to the text, “burning quite hot” means ______ .
| A．very severe | B．extremely hot |
| C．on fire | D．well received |
The term “résumé” means a document describing one’s educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines(指南) for preparing a global résumé are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the company culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The following list is a good place to start.
·In many countries, it is standard procedure to attach a photo or have your photo printed on your résumé. Do not attach a photograph to your résumé if you are sending it to the United States, though.
·Educational requirements differ from country to country. In most cases of “cross-border” job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not be enough. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience.
·Pay attention to the résumé format(格式) you use—chronological(时间的) or reverse-chronological order. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format, which means listing your current or most recent experience first.
·The level of computer technology and accessibility to the Internet varies from country to country. Even if a company or individual lists an e-mail address, there is no guarantee that they will actually receive your email. Send a paper copy of your résumé, as well as the emailed copy, just to make sure that it is received.
·If you are writing your résumé in English, find out if the receiver uses British English or American English because there are variations between the two versions.
·Although English is widely accepted today as being the universal language of business, most multinational companies will expect you to speak the language of one of the countries in which they do business, in addition to English. Have your résumé prepared in both languages, and be ready for your interview to be conducted in both languages. Most companies will want to see and hear proof of your language skills.
·Be aware that paper sizes are different in different countries. The United States standard is 8½ by 11 inches, while the European A4 standard is 21 by 29.7 centimeters. When you send your résumé by email, reformat it to the receiver’s standard. Otherwise, when it is printed out, half of your material may be missing!
The passage is most probably intended for _____.
| A．job hunters that seek careers abroad |
| B．companies that do international business |
| C．people that are employed by companies overseas |
| D．graduates that can speak over one foreign language |
Which of the following is always advisable when a global résumé is prepared according to the passage?
| A．Write it in American English. |
| B．Prepare it in more than two languages. |
| C．Attach or print your photo on it. |
| D．Send both a paper and an emailed copy. |
From the passage, we learn that _____.
| A．we can’t list the oldest experience first in a résumé |
| B．Asian countries may have the same standard paper size |
| C．a résumé can help us know about a person’s personality |
| D．a person’s educational background should be included in a résumé |
The passage mainly wants to tell us that a global résumé should _____.
| A．be highly professional |
| B．be especially informative |
| C．be culturally proper |
| D．be completely chronological |
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