Americans often plan social gatherings（社交聚会）on short notice, so don’t be surprised if you get invited to someone’s home or to see a movie or baseball game without much warning. If the time is convenient (方便) for you, surely accept their invitation. But if you’re busy, don’t be afraid to decline the invitation, perhaps suggesting a time that would be better. Your host won’t be shamed.
Invitations are usually sent in person or over the telephone. The main exception(例外) is for some formal occasions, in which case a written invitation will be mailed. You would normally receive a written invitation to a wedding(婚礼).
For a casual(不正式的)dinner invitation, don’t arrive more than 5 minutes early, because your host may still be preparing for your visit. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is considered rude if very few people were invited. If many people were invited, it’s OK to arrive a little late, even as much as half an hour late. For example, it’s OK to arrive late for a party, for a potluck (家常便饭) dinner or for a social gathering inviting a large group of people.
If you’re invited for dinner, it’s proper to bring the host a bottle of wine, a gift basket of fruit, a box of candy (糖果), or a bouquet(束)of flowers. Don’t bring roses, as men often give roses to women on a date (约会).
If you wish to thank the host for his or her hospitality (好客), it’s right to call or send a brief (简单的) written thank-you note the next day.The passage is to tell us ________.
| A．how to accept Americans’ invitations. |
| B．something about American social visits. |
| C．something about American business visits. |
| D．how to make a living in America. |
The underlined word “decline” in the first paragraph most probably means _____.
| A．accept | B．receive | C．refuse | D．follow |
If an American only invites you to his home for an informal supper at 7:30p.m., you’d better get to his house at ________.
| A．7:15p.m. | B．7:35p.m. | C．7:45p.m. | D．7:55p.m. |
In America, invitations to a wedding are often sent ________.
| A．by mail | B．by fax | C．by e-mail | D．over the telephone |
According to the passage, in American ________.
| A．if you’re invited to a family as a guest, you can stay as long as you please. |
| B．if you’re invited for a party, you must always be on time. |
| C．if you’re invited for dinner, you’d better bring some presents. |
| D．you must make a call to show your thanks after you get home from the dinner. |
It is the women who have only themselves to blame though they are mercilessly exploited (剥削) year after year. Because they tremble at the thought of being seem in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion. When you come to think of it, only a woman is capable of standing in front of a wardrobe packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.
Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time altering the dresses they have. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; neck-lines are lowered or raised, and so on.
No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with vital things like warmth, comfort and durability (耐用). They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn't at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or delicately picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.
When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women's clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers. Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability? That is for you to decide.Designers and big stores always make money _____.
A. by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry
B . by constantly changing the fashions in women's clothing
C . because they are capable of predicting new fashions
D . because they attach great importance to quality in women's clothingThe writer would be less critical if fashion designers placed more stress on the ______ of clothing.
| A．cost | B．appearance | C．suitability | D．comfort |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? ______________
A . The constant changes in women's clothing reflect their strength of character.
B . New fashions in clothing are created for the commercial exploitation of women.
C . The fashion industry makes an important contribution to society.
D . Fashion designs should not be encouraged since they are only welcomed by women.By saying "the conclusion to be drawn are obvious" (Para 4, Line 1-2), the writer means that ____________.
A. men are more stable and reliable in character
B. men are also exploited greatly by fashion designers
C .women's inconstancy in their choice of clothing is often laughed at
D .women are better able to put up with discomfort
Have you ever noticed the colour of the water in a river or stream after a heavy rainfall? What do you think caused this change in colour? It is soil that has been washed into the river from the riverbank or from the nearby fields.
Components of Soil
Soil is made up of a number of layers, each having its own distinctive colour and texture. The upper layer is known as the litter. It acts like a blanket，limiting temperature changes and reducing water loss. The topsoil layer is made up of small particles of rock mixed with rotten plant and animal matter called humus (腐殖质), which is black and gives the topsoil its dark colour. This layer is usually rich in nutrients, oxygen, and water. Below the topsoil is the subsoil, a layer that contains more stones mixed with only small amounts of organic matter. This layer is lighter in colour because of the lack of humus. Beneath the soil lies a layer of bedrock.
Soil forms from the bottom up. Over time bedrock is attacked by rain, wind, frost, and snow. It is gradually broken down into smaller particles in a process called weathering. Plants begin to grow，and rotten materials enrich the topsoil. Most of the soil in Eastern Canada ，for example ，was formed from weathered rock that was exposed when the ice disappeared 12,000 years ago.
Water Beneath the Soil
Surface water collects and flows above the ground in lakes ，ponds, and rivers. Once in the soil or rock, it is called groundwater. Gravity pulls groundwater through the soil in a process called percolation(渗透). Eventually the water reaches a layer called the water table. Under this is bedrock through which water cannot percolate.
As water percolates downward, it dissolves organic matter and minerals from the soil and carries them to deeper layers.This causes a serious problem because plants require these nutrients for growth.
Soil pH
Soil can be acidic, neutral, or basic. The pH of the soil is determined by the nature of the rock from which it was formed，and by the nature of the plants that grow and rot in it.
The acidity of rain and snow can lower the pH of the groundwater that enters the soil. By burning fossil fuels such as coal ，oil and gasoline，humans have been contributing to higher levels of acidity in many soils. When fossil fuels are burned，gases are released into the air and then fall back to earth as acid rain. Acid soil increases the problem of carrying nutrients to lower soil levels. As nutrients are removed，soil is less fertile. Plants grow more slowly in acidic soil，and also become easily attacked by diseases.The layer of soil that provides necessary nutrients for plant growth is called________.
| A．litter | B．subsoil | C．humus | D．topsoil |
The underlined word “dissolve” is used to express the idea that organic matter and minerals from soil are________.
| A．rushed away into the river |
| B．mixed with water and become part of it |
| C．destroyed and carried away by water |
| D．cleaned and purified by water |
According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Soil forms from weathered rock on the earth surface. |
| B．Air pollution is partially responsible for acid soil. |
| C．The deeper layer of soil is darker in colour than the surface soil. |
| D．Groundwater tends to carry away nutrients for plant growth. |
We can infer from the passage that the water table lies________.
| A．between the subsoil layer and bedrock |
| B．in the subsoil layer above bedrock |
| C．between the topsoil layer and the subsoil layer |
| D．in the bedrock layer beneath the subsoil |
Chaplin was one of the famous clown-style actors of the silent time. It was through Charlie Chaplin that the Hollywood comedy movies became famous.
Then in the 1920s came another trend of animated cartoons. They were the most popular Hollywood comedy movies of the time. The several popular characters of that era were Felix the cat, Krazy Kat and Betty Boop. However, the popularity of these movies was blocked out due to lack of sound and color. The end of 1920s, the Hollywood comedy industry marked a change brought about by the introduction of sound into the movies. This has allowed the industry to create dramatic new film styles and use verbal humor. These films were soon replacing silent movies. These films used dialogue of comedians such as the W.C Fields and the Marx Brothers. Charlie Chaplin was the last comedian to have acted in the silent films.
When the United States entered into World War II, Hollywood movies changed its course to themes related to the conflicts, and Hollywood comedy movies described more on military themes. The war time experienced a boom, where restrictions on the traveling made nearly a quarter of the money spent on attending movies.
In the 1950s, the interest shifted where the TV became popular. During this time the release of Hollywood comedy films declined (衰落). The 1960s saw an increasing number of broad, star-packed comedies. In 1970 Hollywood comedy movies reflected the anti-war sentiment, which was popular then.
In the 1980s the gag (笑料) based comedy Airplane was released, and Hollywood comedy movies paved its way for more of the same. The popular comedians of this time included Dudley Moore, Tom Hanks, etc. Jim Carrey, the Canadian actor and a comedian, came into Hollywood comedy movies in the late 1980s where he won the role in such a comedy, Copper Mountain.
The most popular Hollywood comedy movies were of John Hughes, which includes Ferris Buellers Day Off and Home Alone series of 1990s. The later films focused more on family audience. This was a revival (复兴) in comedy movies. Comedy movies remain popular till date. Why did Hollywood movies grow rapidly during World War II?
| A．People had more money at that time. |
| B．People couldn’t travel freely. |
| C．The government spent a lot of money on films. |
| D．People were made to see movies by the government. |
The theme of the 1970s Hollywood comedies is _______.
| A．domestic violence | B．desire for freedom |
| C．protests against wars | D．oversea military activities |
What does this passage mainly talk about?
| A．Development of Hollywood comedy movies. |
| B．Famous comedians in Hollywood history. |
| C．Outstanding comedies made in Hollywood. |
| D．Chaplin’s contribution to comedies. |
Which of the following shows the correct order of what happened to the Hollywood comedy movies?
a. Hollywood comedy movies focused on family audience.
b. Fewer and fewer Hollywood comedy films were released.
c. Animated cartoons of Hollywood comedy movies were popular.
d. Hollywood comedy movies once developed quickly during the war time.
e. The Hollywood comedy industry made a reform of applying sound to the movies.
| A．ecbda | B．dabec | C．cedba | D．decab |
Sometimes you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible． However, chances are that you don't act on your impulse （冲动 ）, but let it pass instead． You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior．
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time． Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting that it was a taboo to even talk about them． Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject．
One of the newest taboos is the topic of fat． Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that people talk about constantly． It's not taboo to talk about fat; it's taboo to be fat． The "in" look is thin, not fat． In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, slim manager to sell their image as well as their products to the public． The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success． The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline and self-respect． After all, how can people permit themselves to become fat? In an image-consciOU6 society, thin is "in", fat is "out"．
It's not surprising that millions of people have become obsessed（着迷） with staying slim and "in shape"．The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for people's obsession with diet and exercise． Recent research has shown the importance of diet and exercise for personal health ． As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of people has changed since last century． Modern machines do all the physical labor． Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point．As a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies can easily become weak． In an effort to avoid such a fate, millions of people are spending more of their time exercising．Parks are filled with joggers and bicyclists, and many companies are providing special exercise equipment for their employees to use during the work day．What does the word "taboo" refer to in the passage'?
| A．A crime committed on impulse ． |
| B．An unfavorable impression left on other people． |
| C．A strong desire to do something strange or terrible． |
| D．A behavior considered unacceptable to the society． |
What does the underlined phrase "in" look in paragraph 3 probably mean?
| A．The fashionable look． | B．The hidden look． |
| C．The usual look． | D．The inside look． |
According to the passage, the common belief is that ．
| A．fat people are full of energy | B．thin people are more successful |
| C．fat people prefer to have fat bosses | D．thin people are less image-conscious |
People pay more attention to diet and exercise because of ,
| A．their need to kill time | B．their love for sports |
| C．their concern for health | D．their belief in hard work |
What's the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To advertise． | B．To inform |
| C．To educate． | D．To compare |
Joe Temper should have known better． After all, he works for a large auto insurance company． It won't hurt to leave the key in the truck this once, he thought, as he filled his gas tank at a self-service gas station． But minutes later, as he was paying the money, he saw the truck being driven away．
In 2010, 1．6 million motor vehicles were stolen in the United States —one every 20 seconds． If present trends continue, experts predict vehicle thefts （盗窃） could be over two million every year by the end of the decade．
Vehicle theft is a common phenomenon, which has a direct effect on over four million people a year． The cost is astonishing．
Many police officials blame professional thieves for the large number of the thefts． It is a major moneymaker for organized crime． Typically, stolen cars are taken to pieces and the parts sold to individuals． But as many as 200,000 cars are smuggled （走私） out of the country every year． Most go to Latin America, the Middle East and Europe．
Only about 15 percent car thefts result in an arrest, because few police departments specially conduct in depth auto investigations． When thieves are arrested, judges will often sentence them to probation （缓刑）, not immediately put them in prison because the prisons are overcrowded with violent criminals．
One exception is a Michigan program that calls for 92 police officers to work full time on the state's 65,000 car theft cases a year． Since 2006, when the effort began, the state's auto theft rate has fallen from second in the nation to ninth．
How can you protect your car? If you live in a high theft area or drive an expensive model, consider a safety system． It may cost anywhere from $ 25 to $ 1,000． Some systems work automatically - simply removing the key disables the fuel pump and the starter． When cars are equipped with such systems, thefts may drop by one third． In some states, you may be able to use a device that transmits radio signals, allowing stolen cars to be tracked by police．What does the author think Joe Temper should be to blame for?
| A．He should have equipped his car with a security system． |
| B．He should not have his car refilled at the gas station． |
| C．He should not have been so sure of himself．． |
| D．He should have shut down the engine of his car． |
What is NOT a reason for the increase of car theft as mentioned in the passage?
| A．Police don't give enough attention to car theft cases． |
| B．More people parked their cars and left the keys inside． |
| C．Measures and laws against car thieves are not effective enough． |
| D．Car theft brings car thieves much money． |
It is obvious that the Michigan program .
| A．has an effect on the whole USA |
| B．involves the development of a new safety system |
| C．involves the construction of larger prisons |
| D．involves much work but proves to be quite effective |
What type （s） of safety system can help the police find a stolen car back?
| A．The device that sends out radio signals． |
| B．The device that disables the fuel pumps． |
| C．The device that disables the starter． |
| D．All of the above． |
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