BUILDING up a close bond (关系) with friends is important in all cultures. But different cultures have different ways of socializing.
The Chinese love going to restaurants. Family, friends and colleagues all go out to eat as a way of relaxing. So Chinese restaurants are much louder and noisier places compared with those in the Western world.
Although British people do socialize by going out for dinner, most people meet in pubs. They go there in the evening and sometimes during the day. Most people order wine or beer.
Going for a drink with colleagues after work is a particularly important British tradition. A recent survey of office workers foun
d three-quarters of people regard the after-work drink as the key to building positive relationships with colleagues.
But for the French, the preferred place to socialize is in cafés. They are a central part of daily life in France and its culture. People will go to cafes at all times during the day.
In the morning, people may go there to buy a newspaper and a cup of coffee. At lunch they may go there for something to eat. Then when it's evening they may return to enjoy a glass of wine.
While the meeting place is different from culture to culture, "Essentially (本质上) they serve the same purpose, which is that humans need a place to come together to meet," said Aidan Saunders, a professor of social history at the University College London. "We are sociable animals."
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other. What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Different cultures and different people. |
| B．Different places where different people love to go. |
| C．Different ways of building up relationships with friends |
| D．Different relationships in different countries. |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．The Chinese love to dine out. |
| B．The Chinese always talk loudly in restaurants. |
| C．Making friends is an important thing in all countries |
| D．French people spend all their time in cafes. |
What does Aidan Saunders mean by "We are sociable animals."?
| A．Human beings need society to survive in. |
| B．Human beings need to communicate with each other. |
| C．Human beings are the same as the other animals. |
| D．Human beings are also animals belonging to the society. |
The following are all mentioned as ways of socializing except .
| A．dining out with friends |
| B．drinking in pubs with colleagues after work |
| C．going to the cafes to have a cup of coffee |
| D．going to the cinema to see a film |
Who are the intended readers of the passage ?
| A．People in general. | B．Adolescents. |
| C．Business people. | D．Educators. |
E
Educating girls quite possibly brings in a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world.Women education may be an unusual field for economists,but increasing women's contribution to development is actually as much an economic as a social issue. And economics provides guideposts that point to an explanation for why so many girls are deprived(被剥夺) of an education.
Parents in low-income countries fail to invest in their daughters because they do not expect them to make an economic contribution to the family: girls grow up only to marry into somebody else' s family and bear children. Girls are thus seen as less valuable than boys and are kept at home to do housework while their brothers are sent to school－the prophecy (预言) becomes self-fulfilling, trapping women in a bad circle of neglect.
An educated mother, on the other hand, has greater earning abilities outside the home and faces an entirely different set of choices. She is likely to have fewer but healthier children and can insist on the development of all her children, ensuring that her daughters are given a fair chance. The education of her daughters then makes it much more likely that the next generation of girls, as well as of boys, will be educated and healthy. The bad circle is thus transformed into a good one.
Few will question that educating women has great social benefits. But it has enormous economic advantages as well Most obviously, there is the direct effect of education on the wages of female workers. Wages rise by 10 to 20 percent for each additional year of schooling. Such big returns are impressive by the standard of other available investments, but they are just the beginning. Educating women also has a significant effect on health practices, including family planning.
77. By saying "the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling..." in the second paragraph, the author means that_______.
A. girls will turn out to be less valuable than boys
B. girls will be capable of realizing their own dreams
C. girls will eventually find their goals in life beyond reach
D. girls will be increasingly discontented with their life at home
78. The author believes that a bad circle can turn into a good circle when_______.
A. women care more about education B. girls can gain equal access to education
C. a family has fewer but healthier children D. parents can afford their daughters' education
79. What does the author say about women' s education?
A. It deserves greater attention than other social issues.
B. It is now given top priority in many developing countries.
C. It will bring in greater returns than other known investments.
D. It has aroused the interest of a growing number of economists.
80. The passage mainly discusses_________.
A. unequal treatment of boys and girls in developing countries
B. the potential earning power of well-educated women
C. the major contributions of educated women to society
D. the economic and social benefits of educating women
D
To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Regardless of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are — always!
We allow past problems and future concerns to control our present moments, so much that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless.We often convince ourselves future will be better than today.John Lennon once said, "Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans."When we're busy making other plans",our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying,our bodies are getting out of shape,and our dreams are slipping away.In short,we miss out on life.
Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isn't. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future—we won't have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever.
To struggle against fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, "I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened." I don't think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now and your efforts will pay off.
73. The purpose of this passage is to tell readers ______.
A. people who are busy making plans are living actively
B. how to help others overcome fear
C. we ought to learn to live in the present moment
D. someone who only enjoys the present time usually wastes his time blindly
74. It implies from the passage that ______.
A. many people know how to fight against fear
B. it isn't necessary to fear for future
C. you can gain more happiness by putting off your pleasure
D. some people make plans for their children to improve their lives
75. "Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal" suggests that ______.
A. they always wish to be an actor or an actress
B. they believe that their present life is well prepared for their future
C. they are always busy making plans for future
D. They all have a guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow
76. Why are some people depressed and anxious day and night?
A. Because they fear they cannot pass their tests.
B. Because past problems and future concerns control their present moment.
C. Because the people they love want to leave them alone.
D. Because they make some mistakes in the past.
C
Nowadays, people in China are increasingly interested in celebrating foreign festivals, especially those western festivals.
A survey conducted recently by sina. com. showed that among the 18,222 people surveyed 63.90% said celebrating Christmas is just another way of recreation, nothing serious while 17.85% surveyed considered the festival as a fashion act, showing they were not "out". These two parts clearly indicate the general opinion of the young. 10.45% people involved said the celebration of a religious western festival with so much enthusiasm is absolutely ridiculous pursuit of foreign goodness. Only 7.80% of people define Christmas as a kind of festival colonization(殖民）.
The arising of celebrating foreign festivals clearly has something to do with the advancement of China's economy. In my point of view, Christmas and other festivals celebrated in China have difference from the origin. They have lost their religious background and turned into a big occasion to have fun and enjoy life. Shop owners' pockets are filled, the public's hunger for happiness is filled, and that is enough. Foreign festivals in China are more like carnivals giving people pleasure and enjoyment.
The crisis(危机)of traditional Chinese festivals that are losing their attraction may be linked to the culture tradition and background of the festivals. Most Chinese festival culture is related more or less with real life. "The country is based on its people while the people are relied on their food".
But the western culture shows much of romance. Some festivals have their religious background while others have much to do with culture and people. At this point, food seems to be too plain. Flowers and chocolates are more welcomed.
Foreign festivals in China today are celebrated for fun.They give people opportunities to relax and celebrate,to show appreciation and gratefulness.The acceptance of foreign festivals generally depends on the openness of the public, the familiarity with the western culture, and most importantly,on people's economic status.
69. From the survey we know that among the people surveyed ______.
A. most think celebrating foreign festivals is ridiculous
B. many fear that traditional Chinese festivals will disappear soon
C. some think that celebrating foreign festivals is a sign of foreign goodness chasing
D. half think celebrating foreign festivals make people not go out of fashion
70. The writer thinks that foreign festivals celebrated in China ______.
A. have lost their religious background
B. are the same as those celebrated in the West
C. can give more fun than traditional Chinese festivals
D. may reduce the hunger of public people
81. What is the main difference between foreign festivals and traditional Chinese ones?
A. Foreign festivals can make Chinese shop owners' pockets full quickly.
B. The food at foreign festivals is too simple.
C. Chinese festivals always have something to do with culture.
D. Foreign festivals are romantic while traditional Chinese ones are connected with reality.
72. Which of the following may NOT be the reason why so many people accept foreign festivals?
A. People can relax themselves.
B. People can show their thanks to others.
C. Foreign festivals have longer histories than Chinese ones.
D. People have known more about the western culture.
B
If you want to take the whole family on holiday, and keep everybody happy, then I have found just the place for you. I recently went with a group of friends to stay at the Greenwood Holiday Village, which is open from May until October.
Built in the centre of a forest, Greenwood is a great place to stay whatever the weather is like. Its main attraction for families is the indoor World of Water, where young and old can have fun in the different pools. Some of these, however, are for serious swimmers only.
For sporty people, the Country Club offers tennis, squash and badminton. If your children are too young to join in these sports, there are activity clubs. Greenwood is a good place for families as it is traffic-free-you explore on foot or by bike. Some people complained that this was inconvenient, but I was pleased to be out in the fresh air. For evening entertainment, there are shows and cinemas.
Accommodation is in a variety of apartments of different sizes. These have up to four bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, as well as a dining area. Before going, I thought the apartments might not be big enough for all of us, but I was pleasantly surprised ― it was not too crowded at all.
I'll definitely go back to Greenwood next year. Why don't you give it a try? Visit their website for further information now!
65. From the text, the reader can find out ______.
A. the best way to get to the holiday village
B. the best time of year to visit the holiday village
C. what activities are available at the holiday village
D. how to reserve accommodation at the holiday village
66. What does the writer think about the holiday village?
A. The apartments there are not big enough.
B. It is not convenient because you cannot use your car.
C. It can only be enjoyed in good weather.
D. There is something there for all ages.
67. Which of the following statements about the apartments is TRUE?
A. There is not much space between them. B. Each one has its own bathroom.
C. They all have four bedrooms. D. Not all of them have dining areas.
68. Which postcard would somebody send from the holiday village?
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分,满分40分）
阅读下列短文,从每篇短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
On November 8,all flags in Finland were flown at half-mast(半旗). People were showing their respect to the victims of a high school tragedy. The day before, an 18-year-old boy opened fire at his high school, killing seven other students and the principal before ending his own life.
The first school shooting in Finland since 1989 stunned the nation where gun crime is rare and people enjoy a high standard of living. While the police are busy searching for the killer's motives, another issue is creating debate in the North European country - the right to carry a gun.
Finland is one of a few developed Western countries that allow private possession of guns. The right to bear arms is deeply rooted in Finnish culture. Anyone older than 15 can buy a gun from certain shops, and gun clubs are popular places to hang out. The high school shooter was a member of the Helsinki Shooting Club, which has 1,500 members.
Descendants (子孙) of hunters, Finns have survived by hunting and fishing for thousands of years. But today hunting is just done for entertainment. And its land, half of which is covered by forest, provides an ideal site for hunting.
In Finland, there are about 56 guns for every 100 people. That figure is higher than any other country in the world except for the United States and Yemen. In comparison with those two nations, however, Finland has largely avoided bloodshed caused by firearms, at least until last week. However, the recent event proved the need for stricter gun laws.
Petri Oinonen, a gun dealer, said the shooting did not surprise him. "It was only a question of when this was going to happen, not if it was going to happen."
61. The underlined word "stunned " in paragraph 2 probably means ______.
A. shocked B. excited C. announced D. stopped
62. Which of the following statements is NOT true about Finland?
A. There was a school shooting in Finland in 1989.
B. Finland has much bloodshed caused by firearms.
C. The ancestors of Finnish people are mainly hunters.
D. Finland has the world's third rate of gun ownership.
63. According to Petri Oinonen, we can learn _______.
A. the school shooting was really an unexpected event to him
B. Finnish people were asking the question when this would happen again
C. a disaster like this was sure to happen because of loose gun laws
D. nobody knew whether this was going to happen again
64. What would be the best title for the text?
A. School shooting: A disaster! B. Finns, think again about gun possession!
C. Finland, a danger to the world! D. Finns, protect yourselves!
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